First, I want to clarify something from the first post. I mentioned picking up and heading to Oklahoma. I don't want people to think that I am unhappy here in AZ. We are very happy. The biggest reason not to leave AZ (and on the other hand to go to OK) is our family. We have such a great family who love to love on our kids. I couldn't imagine not having that. So, just wanted to clarify.
Now on to the subject at hand. I mentioned in the first post that I have so many thoughts bubbling in my already full brain. (Forgive me if I have trouble coherently expressing them) I've been reading on the importance/benefits of eating organic, buying local, eating grass fed/free range beef, buying eggs from free range chickens, etc. I love the idea of all of it. However, my biggest frustration is the cost to do all of this. We are a family of 5 on a single income. That doesn't leave much room for the cost of eating/buying this way. My mom went to a local farmers market last week and told me about some free range eggs she picked up. I was excited, until she told me she paid $5 a dozen for them. I was a bit shocked. At this point, I am not ready to pay $5 a dozen for eggs. Do I feel a bit guilty about that? A little. But I just remind myself that my goal is to get to a point where I am comfortable about doing what I can within the means that I have. Right now, that doesn't fit and that's OK. I have also decided that it's OK to start small. (Like I said before, I like to dive in deep) For us, that means that I am only buying organic produce to make my sons baby food. I am going to start our garden, but am not planning on a big harvest yet. I do buy a few other items for the kids and myself like Earth's Best's snacks and Stoneyfield yogurt. At the same time, I do buy regular old fruit snacks too. We are not at a point and frankly don't know if we ever will be where everything I buy has to be organic/gluten free/hydrogenated oil free/etc. If you can do that, I think that's great. If you can't or don't even want to, I think that's great too. I am not going to beat myself up over not buying that way or judge anyone else who does or does not do it. That is just our "fit" right now. I would love to hear what your "fit" is and how you handle the financial cost of going green.
5 comments:
Hey Angela! I really appreciate this post. I too am one that likes to do something 100%, and I've also found that we can't do that (financially) when buying organic. It is hard to find a balance between "going green" and stretching our "green" to live wisely on one income. Honestly, I've had to cut WAY back on organic groceries and such since Eric is looking for a job. I also have to realize that is where we are right now, and you just have to do the best with your circumstances. Before this though, I did try to buy certain organic produce...such as apples and lettuce. Things where there isn't a peel. We also have a couple of cherry tomato plants that we are enjoying the fruits of right now! I will be interested to read more about what you are learning.
oops--that last comment was from kylene but i was signed in on eric's account!
Hey Ang. I admire your sharing of this journey that you're taking.
Disclaimer: I am just sharing what works for the Nordlunds and not trying to "should" on anyone. : )
Nathan and I started buying organic milk in 2002. I distinctively remember a conversation about our desire to eat better and be better consumers but it felt too financially difficult to just delve right in. Now I don't even flinch at the $6 gallon of milk because it's what we are used to and what our budget is used to.
It's been my experience that shopping at organic grocery stores (Whole Foods mainly) are not always more expensive than other chains (Albertson's, etc.). It's just a matter of learning the tricks of the trade.
For us, I've found that buying bulk for oats, spices, pasta and granola tend to be a lot cheaper than any boxed product at Jewel/Dominicks (and also cuts back on all of the packaging). Trader Joes has some nice organic items at a fair price too, a good place to go for free range meat, environmentally friendly cleaning products (although you can make most of those at home yourself) and nuts/dried fruit.
I also think that buying in season and freezing/canning works well. We pick blueberries, strawberries and raspberries in the summer and then, throw them in the freezer eat them all year long. Great in smoothies which are a nice protein filled healthy snack if you throw in some plain yogurt and peanut butter.
We also can apples in the fall and make applesauce. Super easy if you have a food mill and ball jars and something your kids might enjoy doing. Then all year we have seasonal/local/cheap applesauce with no sugar or preservatives. (We "pick" windfall apples because they sell them at 1/10th of the price (you just need to ask at the orchard).
I realize that the climate in AZ is totally different so you're working with different produce.
One piece of advice as you embark on this journey, and you mentioned yourself, is to pace yourself and pick your battles. There are certain foods that are more effected by pesticides, antibiotics, etc. that you may want to focus on and others that can wait.
XO.
Barbara
Thanks you guys so much for your comments!! I really appreciate the support and the ideas. I'm on a big learning curve with this and it's so great to hear what others have found to work well. Thanks again!!
Ooh one other idea is to have "vegetarian days" . . . cut the meat back in half and then the quality, grass fed organic meat won't break the bank.
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