The Basics and a New Reality

Money is tight.  It is for just about anyone these days. 

In an effort to reduce my cash expenditures for food I have been looking online for deals that might help defray the costs of food.  One of them is a blog called The Money Saving Mom.  Upon first glance some of the ideas that she has are good.  Buy in bulk when you can and take full advantage of coupons.  However, looking at the deals that she lists there is almost nothing on her list of deals that I would ever eat. 

I don't like biscuits in a can, I do not like packaged dinners that require less than four steps to complete and I do not like pre-packaged pastries that will have a shelf life of up to 3 years.

I have previously waxed poetically about beans and rice.  I have said that oatmeal is better than no meal.  And I have stated that soup about the best thing since sliced bread.  (I don't like most store bought breads either.)

So what is a guy supposed to do with limited resources and a dislike for pre-packaged bullshit that will kill a person if it is consumed even in moderation?

Here are some of my thoughts.

I could shop at the local food co-op with the dirty fucking hippies and pay too much for still questionable items on the shelves.  Yes they are locally produced but unless I can actually talk to the farmer that made the item or see the factory that the packaged stuff produces I will be far too skeptical.

I am less skeptical about beans and rice.  Because they ingredients listed are "Beans" and "Rice."

My solution is this:  Get my food from as close to the farmer or farm as I can get.  Any processing of the food that needs to be done I will do myself if possible.  And preserve my finds as much as I possibly can in order to have a pantry that is well stocked and ready for the lean times.

There are several tools necessary for this to happen. 

First, I need to know a farmer.  Now the local farmers markets will have this and I will take advantage of the produce that they have.  The only thing that would improve that is if I was in a position to have my own garden.  Until that happens the farmers markets will definitely do the job.

I am in the position of not only knowing a farmer but I also work on this farm almost every weekend.  I do not generally get cash for my labor but I do get food.  This is a Grazing dairy farm but they also have chickens and pigs.  There is also beef available at the end of the year when the bulls are subject to their final fate and turned into food.  All of this is done locally and the processor is also local.  As a matter of fact they slaughter the animals on the farm premises so if I am on the farm the day of the slaughter and purchase said animal I can see the health of the animal from the inside out.  These are free range animals so the worst day that they have is their last day.

Eggs are also available from the chickens.  Because they are not stuck in a cage and force fed nasty feed they are free to roam and find the food they chose to find.  It makes for better than best eggs in terms of flavor and color.  Also, I see white eggs as being abnormal.  If they are short on eggs there are several Amish homesteads that sell eggs by the bucket load cheaper than any grocery store.

Now that I have accurately described some of the sourcing of food that I would like to do I have three means of preservation that I would like to achieve.

First and foremost, using the technology that is on hand I can freeze all of the meat that I get.  Unfortunately I am stuck with a small freezer at the moment but I hope to get the chest freezer that my ex-wife has at the house that I currently still own but do not live in.  Once a chest freezer is procured then I can preserve in bulk several pounds of meat.  The freezer will also work for various veggies that have been blanched.

Second thing that I would like to have is a dehydrator.  This can be used to dry vegetables that can then be stored in a dark dry place and used quickly without much effort.  It can also be used to make several types of jerky and dry fruit for long term storage as well.  This is something that can be purchased or I figure I can build one that will also act as a piece of furniture when not in use.

Third is to get a pressure canner and a water bath canner and get into some serious canning.  This can be anything from vegetables, jams and jellies we well as soups and stews.  Hell I can even pickle eggs to have as a fast source of protein when needed.  This will be key because in the event of a long term power outage I will be able to can the frozen foods thawing in the freezer.  If I prepare for a huge canning run I can produce a ton of meals in a short period of time that will last for a very long time.  Also the canning jars will be reusable and therefore there will be little wasted.

I am guessing that after the initial investment that the savings over time will be recouped quickly.  And as I make this type of preparation a regular activity it will reduce my stress load as well.