Stop Complaining About High Food Prices And Start Your Own Damn CSA!!!

I'm getting sick and tired of people complaining about high food prices! Seriously, I don't care where you live in the US, you are not immune to the great drought of 2012... You are not immune to Climate Change and more disastrous weather events coming... And you are not immune to guaranteed price hikes! So, let's face it, you can either eat cheap canned food or you can get to know your neighbors better. Let' me make this simple.

If you live in or near an urban neighborhood or a long established residential neighborhood, then chances are you're not tapping into the best kept secret for low "real food" prices! The backyard homesteader. I'm talking about your neighbors or someone less than 5miles away who's really into backyard beekeeping, sustainable gardening, composting, and free range chickens! Most of which are either retired and young couples hyper focused on self sufficiency. Now, I've been going to such a master for about 8 months now to buy delicious organic eggs, local avocado honey, and loaves of honey baked bread made with fresh ground organic wheat berries.

His name is Don Axe and his wisdom is deep. He grows a lot of organic food. Kale, chard, onions, garlic, peas, broccoli rabe, beets, carrots, fennel, parsley, leeks, butternut squash, and other cool season crops. And just this week I made a visit to buy eggs and bread, and toured his latest endeavor, a hydroponic green house, when I saw his raised bed full of what I love to eat and the LED light bulb turned on!

I grabbed a box and asked him if I could start a CSA box with him. He said, "Well, what do you want in your box?" And I said, "I'm willing to buy weekly for eggs, bread, and vegetables for some much money per week, what do you think?" He said, "Ok!" Now for anyone who knows all about CSA's or currently subscribes to one, you already understand the benefits of eating seasonally, but guess what... It doesn't get any cheaper and more local than in your neighbors backyard. Cheaper because you can barter for each bunch by buying in bulk. And they'll let you help grow the food! Also, I'm asking him to grow my favorites too like Romanesco broccoli, and strawberries!

Now, I don't want to create the false expectation that every Backyard Homesteader uses sustainable gardening practices nor is right for you. Many gardeners still know nothing about the harmful effects of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, or feeding their animals with GMO crop feeds like corn, alfalfa, or soy beans, so I cannot guarantee the quality of the food. However, if you discover that the homesteader you're talking to is either studying or teaching (and implementing) permaculture, biodynamics, organic soil amendments, vermicomposting, and or seed preservation, well then at least you're on the right track. Also the San Diego Master Gardeners has a program you can introduce your homesteader to be called a certified Earth Friendly Garden!
 
If you like my idea, follow me on Twitter and Facebook and use the sharing options below. Let's also share what kind of subscription agreements we come up with and boast about how much money we're saving in 2013! It's time to stop complaining and start getting to know the passionate people around us and live GMO free.

Men And Our Meat - The No GMO Way

There's just no doubt that Beef prices are about to get whacky in early 2013. And with GMO, hormone injected cuts projected to be the most economical choice, well then maybe it's a good time to quit.

Now I'm not going to tell someone to stop eating red meat. I still eat it from time to time and it's un-American to tell people what to do.  However, meat eaters must beware of the new normal created by the devastating realities of Climate Change. The Great Drought of 2012 by in large will change how and where you buy your next prime and if you choose to shop at the big box stores, you better believe your "Choice" won't be GMO free.

So, let talks about What you should buy and how you do it. A buddy of mine once joked that Whole Foods really means Whole Paycheck. While that may be funny now, no one will be laughing over the rise of food cost by 3% - 4%, and Beef to rise by 4% - 5% (not to mention the pending bacon apocalypse)! But I'm determined and joyous after searching around San Diego for solutions.

First, I can join a beef CSA. My new buddy, Justin Noble, works for his Father Phil Noble at Sage Mountain Farm and they both tout that their steers only eat grass and vegetables and have never even seen corn or dry grains. These are good people selling local certified organic food and their prices are reasonable. I believe that buying into a CSA now will lock in the price for 2013 but you'll have to check with my boys. http://www.sagemountainfarm.com/

Also check with Edibles San Diego: http://www.ediblecommunities.com/sandiego/

The other way to do this is to find a good ole fashion butcher who sells Grass Fed Beef where the cows graze on native, organic grasses (aka a GMO free diet) like our new friends at Homegrown Meats up on Palomar Mountain.

I recently tried a Chuck Roast (top picture) for a beef stew and it was amazing! Their selection was great, their hours are convenient, and their prices are decent considering we might have another Dust Bowl on our hands.

By the way, did anyone see Ken Burn's The Dust Bowl on PBS? It was awesome!

Read more about their cows and take a trip over to see them before the lines look like a Black friday sale! http://www.homegrownmeats.com/about-our-cows/about-our-cows

I also recommend a good GMO free Digestive Enzyme.