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Farm Kitchen:  Organic  |
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SusieK
True Blue Farmgirl
167 Posts
Texas
167 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 22 2010 : 07:04:30 AM
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| Wanting to go more organic but cannot pay high prices any ideas |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Apr 22 2010 : 07:39:53 AM
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Grow your own!! And buy bulk food - the organic bulk oats at the organic store I work at are cheaper than the store brand packaged ones at the supermarket.
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22937 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22937 Posts |
Posted - Apr 22 2010 : 07:44:14 AM
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Hi Susie-
If you have room at your house for a garden, that is a great way to get super fresh, organic foods. Another idea is to visit any local farmer's market or roadside fruit/veggie stands when in season. Those are often not too expensive. Another idea is to try to buy things like meat and eggs directly from the farmer and try to buy in bulk. If you can buy the raw product such as wheat berries and grind your own flour that can help too. A great place to buy organic flour is Bob's Red Mill and also MaryJane has and AMAZING flour that she sells!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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clothedinscarlet
True Blue Farmgirl
1333 Posts
Siobhan
Battle Creek
MI
USA
1333 Posts |
Posted - Apr 22 2010 : 07:53:32 AM
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I agree with Alee. Raise as much of your own food on your own land as possible. My mom just got me the coolest book ever called, The Backyard Homestead. It's all about how to raise everything you need all on as little as a quarter of an acre (including livestock and everything!). It also has plans for raising almost everything you need on less land than that. I've learned so much from it already. It really goes into detail about how to do everything too, like harvest your own seeds from your own garden to use for the next year and such. Awesome! You should check it out if you're interested in being more self sufficient and knowing where your food came from.
Farmgirl Sister #1110
Siobhan - AKA Liza-Jane (my farmgirl name), wife to my best friend, Trent, and mommy to Camden (11/28/05) and Bennett (7/11/07). and Truman (7/28/09) |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Apr 22 2010 : 08:12:09 AM
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you could also look for a community garden if you have no space. you could offer to work for food on a farm. i have a friend who would love to have you work. you could volunteer to help at a booth at a farmers mkt. for food. i trade a lot of products i produce for other things i cannot produce. sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farmgirl #1014
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traildancer
True Blue Farmgirl
485 Posts
Loyce
Glide
OR
USA
485 Posts |
Posted - Apr 22 2010 : 1:26:30 PM
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Siobhan--can you post any more information on the book you just got, The Backyard Homestead?
The trail is the thing.... Louis L'Amour |
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TeresaJ25
True Blue Farmgirl
975 Posts
Teresa
Medford
NY
USA
975 Posts |
Posted - Apr 22 2010 : 2:00:42 PM
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Siobhan~ I really would love to get a look at that book!! Going on Amazon.com right now!! Then I will try Ebay! :)
~Teresa
Farmgirl Sister #1348
*Anyone can criticize and complain and predict doom and gloom.
Be the person who fills the room with sunshine! |
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TeresaJ25
True Blue Farmgirl
975 Posts
Teresa
Medford
NY
USA
975 Posts |
Posted - Apr 22 2010 : 2:06:40 PM
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Got it!! :)
~Teresa
Farmgirl Sister #1348
*Anyone can criticize and complain and predict doom and gloom.
Be the person who fills the room with sunshine! |
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SusieK
True Blue Farmgirl
167 Posts
Texas
167 Posts |
Posted - Apr 22 2010 : 6:17:43 PM
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| I got the book too it looks very good |
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MaryLD
True Blue Farmgirl
861 Posts
Mary
New Braunfels
TX
USA
861 Posts |
Posted - Apr 22 2010 : 7:46:38 PM
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Food co-ops often have large, less expensive bulk foods bins. You can order 25 lb bags of organic rice, beans, etc, at tthe food co-op, with 10% mark up over retail usually. You can also get case prices on some things. Some places have food buying clubs where you can buy in bulk or near wholesale. I was in one through Azure Standard but I was careful I only bought things that let me save money. They do not serve TX. ALso, if you live near a Grocery Outlet, they often have organics at unbelievable deals. They are not in TX either. I go to the food coop and the farmers mkt, and I grow a garden.
Mary LD
Haflingers- You can't have just one!
( I'm just one short of a drill team!) |
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MommaJ9
True Blue Farmgirl
157 Posts
Kimberly
Longview
Washington
USA
157 Posts |
Posted - Apr 23 2010 : 08:39:27 AM
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We buy organic, but have to be careful because of costs. We have a huge garden, visit our local Farmer's markets every Saturday, visit other local farms and order grains online. A rule of thumb...to keep costs down, go organic on foods that have soft flesh, where the skin is eaten. It's more important to eat an organic berry than an orange that gets peeled! And if you can only afford to do 1 thing...make it milk! We started small and gradually added things as finances allowed. Check to see if you have any CSA's in your area...for a small fee, you get weekly farm-grown food, some even have organic beef/chicken/lamb/pork. Good luck and be persistant! There are more organic deals out there as everyone seems to be getting on the bandwagon!
Also, don't rule out "beyond organic"...this is food that doesn't have the organic label, but still is grown without pesticides and such. Usually, it will be the local, small farms that just can't afford or choose not to have the special certification!
Farmgirl #783
http://jabezfarm.blogspot.com |
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ellie966
Farmgirl in Training
18 Posts
Ellen
Taylorsville
utah
USA
18 Posts |
Posted - Apr 23 2010 : 10:59:49 AM
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Thank all of you for the suggestions. I would love to go organic, but we live in a suburban area so no chickens or livestock. When I checked at our local grocery store an organic chicken was priced at almost $16.00 and eggs $3.00 per dozen. Since we are on a fixed income that just isn't in the budget. We have planted a vegie garden and I will be thankful when we can eat those things. The meat is just out of our reach. Since my husband was raised a farm boy his favorite meal is meat & potatoes!! I don't think I can ever get him to give that up. I am going to see if I can find local eggs and milk that may be better than what we can get in the store. I do a lot of baking and make most of our bread and all of our cookies and cakes so I go through a lot of eggs.
Please keep the ideas coming! I need help :).
Ellen |
Edited by - ellie966 on Apr 23 2010 11:00:46 AM |
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pamcook
True Blue Farmgirl
228 Posts
Pam
Chapel Hill
NC
USA
228 Posts |
Posted - Apr 23 2010 : 11:52:09 AM
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Siobhan (and others) - check www.half.com for books. I get mine there whenever I can. I have Backyard Homestead, too. It's a great book. Buying organic can be pricey. Some areas are more remote and I realize you have to factor in driving costs, too. Google "local harvest" with your zip code - you might find farmers selling from their farms. I found several in our area that way.
www.ikat.org
www.longaberger.com/pamcook |
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sw80689
True Blue Farmgirl
207 Posts
Sharon
Papillion
Nebraska
USA
207 Posts |
Posted - Apr 23 2010 : 1:01:00 PM
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I just found the book, Backyard Homestead on Amazon.com, good price! Can't wait to start reading it. This year is my first vegetable and herb organic garden. Can't wait to start planting everything, this is going to be fun:)
Smiles,
Sharon
Farmgirl Sister #1393
*We are all angels with one wing, the only way to fly, therefore is to embrace one another* |
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highlandviewpantry
True Blue Farmgirl
214 Posts
WV
USA
214 Posts |
Posted - Apr 23 2010 : 1:45:28 PM
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Sprout organic seeds. It is relatively inexpensive and they add crunch and vitamins to salads and sandwiches. Make your own cultured milk products like yogurt, kefir, sour cream, cheese. Don't buy processed organic foods. Buy basic organic ingredients and make your meals from scratch. Eat organic oatmeal and eggs for breakfast not boxed cereals. Grow your own and learn how to can. freezing your own veggies can be cheaper that canning in the beginning. Make your own bread. Make changes slowly. I've been incorporating more and more organics over the last few years as I figure out what works for my family.
www.thehighlandviewpantry.blogspot.com |
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mrsamy
True Blue Farmgirl
167 Posts
Amy
Milwaukee
WI
USA
167 Posts |
Posted - Apr 24 2010 : 04:45:37 AM
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If you don't have an affordable grocery definitely look into a CSA. Some seem expensive on the front end, since you often pay up front for the season, but it pays off in farm fresh produce and many have eggs. Here in WI you can't sell or buy raw milk, but I believe some CSA's elsewhere may also include milk. Some also let you buy shares with labor if you are able. How wonderful is that?
Prayer costs nothing, but is worth the most. |
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bvfarm
Farmgirl in Training
27 Posts
Christine
Santa Fe
texas
USA
27 Posts |
Posted - Dec 19 2011 : 7:18:49 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by clothedinscarlet
I agree with Alee. Raise as much of your own food on your own land as possible. My mom just got me the coolest book ever called, The Backyard Homestead. It's all about how to raise everything you need all on as little as a quarter of an acre (including livestock and everything!). It also has plans for raising almost everything you need on less land than that. I've learned so much from it already. It really goes into detail about how to do everything too, like harvest your own seeds from your own garden to use for the next year and such. Awesome! You should check it out if you're interested in being more self sufficient and knowing where your food came from.
Farmgirl Sister #1110
Siobhan - AKA Liza-Jane (my farmgirl name), wife to my best friend, Trent, and mommy to Camden (11/28/05) and Bennett (7/11/07). and Truman (7/28/09)
Liza,
My DH got that book at the HOme & Garden show this past year. I love how it shows just how much produce you can grow/harvest from a certain size of land/garden/animal coop etc. Its all about starting from beginning or wherever you are - takes the complications and intimidation out of things!! Until I saw that post here, I was wondering where to go for more info & you reminded me - better go track down his book. Think its next to the bed.
great!
BaileyVille Farm Farmgirl #3624
God is the only cure without sideeffects. Gratitude and Coincidence are His footprints. - CMV; I thank God for my handicaps for, through them, I have found myself, my work, and my God.- HK |
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bvfarm
Farmgirl in Training
27 Posts
Christine
Santa Fe
texas
USA
27 Posts |
Posted - Dec 19 2011 : 8:56:29 PM
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Is anyone still posting on the organic topic?? Organic seed suppliers, and organic meat or free range chix ideas - we're not doing chickens yet, but have a spot for a coop one day. Organic non=hormonal meat would be nice!! I'm even open to mail order - prices at Krogers/HEB are outrageous, even Whole Foods - WHEWeee $$$$! But since my health issues...I pay it anyway and just go w/o updating my wardrobe!
BaileyVille Farm Farmgirl #3624
God is the only cure without sideeffects. Gratitude and Coincidence are His footprints. - CMV; I thank God for my handicaps for, through them, I have found myself, my work, and my God.- HK |
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Wildcrafter
True Blue Farmgirl
340 Posts
Suzanne
Seattle
WA
USA
340 Posts |
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Farm Kitchen: Organic |
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Organic
