Poor Man
Survival
Self
Reliance tools for independent minded people…
ISSN
2161-5543
You do not need 5 acres and a degree in
horticulture to become self-sufficient…self sufficiency is about taking control
and becoming an effective producer of whatever your resources allow!
--John Seymour
How to
Build a Local Food Community
by Emily English
I am blessed in that there are several
farmers markets, farm stands and even an Amish market in the rural area that I
live…I do miss the Amish cheese factory where I grew up in Ohio and the annual
Apple Butter Festival, events which are rare where I live now.
It is estimated a family of four spends an average
of $1200 per month on food and prices continue to climb and will do so for the
foreseeable future.
As I continue to develop our mini-farm I’m
discovering it isn’t just food costs that are soaring, anything construction or
home improvement related seems to be a budget buster. I marvel at how young families and small
farms manage today.
Young people today often have the desire to own
small farms, work with livestock, to take care of things but often lack the
land, the capital and the know-how to start their own farm operations.
I grew up in a more urban setting and was an area
leader and teacher for Junior Achievement but have learned the importance of
4-H and AgLink programs available in many areas. As I write in my book on How to Survive the War on the Middle Class,
food stocks and seed can prove to be the best investment any family can make
today…
Here’s guest
contributor Emily English’s take on building a local food community.
When it comes to food satisfaction, few things compare to
eating lettuce from the yard, eggs from your neighbor’s chickens and butter
from cows raised on a farm you’ve visited yourself. Besides locating
better-tasting, more nutritious and fresher food, buying locally puts you in
the center of a web of food producers, transparently connecting economy and
nutrition. But for those of us who don’t live on or next door to a farm,
finding local food sources can seem difficult. Where do we start? How do we
find others who want the same thing? All it requires is a little research,
relationship-building and action.
Dig in
The first step in building a food community is meeting the
right people. Search for local farms via websites such as localharvest.org and
eatwild.com. Find farmers market listings at the United States Department of
Agriculture or visit “Our Markets” at LocallyGrown.net to find online farmers
markets. When visiting area stores and restaurants, look for signage that indicates
local products are sold there. Once you track these down, start talking to
people about where and how they source their food. “Like” farms and other
producers on Facebook, or visit their websites to see if you can sign up for
emails or other communication.
You might also make good connections by tapping into the
foodie culture in your area. Check bulletin boards at the library, natural food
stores and grocery co-ops for cooking classes and speakers. Try culinary
academies, area colleges and libraries. Check event listings on the websites of
local publications and the chamber of commerce. When you meet people who seem
connected with area food culture, ask them how they stay in touch — many groups
have listservs, enewsletters, websites or Facebook pages dedicated to
communicating with one another.
Straight
to the Source
Food sourcing doesn’t get more direct than buying from the
farm. Find farms at LocalHarvest, then call to see if they sell direct to
consumers. Buying directly often results in lower prices, especially if you
pick it yourself. For example, Clark’s Pecan Grove in Mayflower, Ark., lets you
take home half of what you pick for free. Berries are 20 percent off if you
pick them yourself at Blue Heaven Blueberry Farm in Springdale, Ark.
Or buy an entire share of one year’s harvest from a farm by
joining a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program. Most CSAs provide
ample opportunity to connect with other members. When I was the farm manager
for a small CSA in rural Arkansas, it was incredible to see the relationships
forged over fresh produce. At weekly pickups, strangers realized they were
neighbors and members shared recipes, traded gardening tips and made plans to
attend food-related events together. Find a CSA program near you through the USDA’s
National Agricultural Library.
Excerpted from Mother Earth Living, a national magazine
devoted to living wisely and living well. To read more articles from Mother
Earth Living, please visit www.MotherEarthLiving.com or call (800) 340-5846 to
subscribe. © 2014 Ogden Publications Inc.
For additional resources, go to:
Video: Saving Money with Home Maintenance
Could an unexpected home repair bill throw your finances into a tailspin? It happens to a lot of families each year. Why not prevent some of those costly home repairs with a bit of frugal home maintenance.
Survival
Seed Bank-Non GMO ½ Acre- 8500 Vegetable Seeds
The solutions to
surviving the war on the Middle Class can be found in our new e-book.
Discover life-saving ways in which you can survive and
prosper during The End of the
Monetary System As We Know It. This is the information that your financial advisor, your
doctor, your police precinct and your government hope you never discover…plus
learn how food is your best investment!
Yours in freedom,
Bruce ‘the Poor Man’
Got a News Tip or Resource to Share With the Poor Man?
Send it to: PoorManSurvivor@Gmail.com
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We always find your posts interesting and useful!
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