Friday, November 15, 2013

the cost of food


Raised garden beds repurposed from the box that carried our communities UV water filter.

Possum and kangaroo proofing the garden.

Our garden now. Our garden in winter.

Why is there always an abundance of garlic in our supermarkets from overseas when garlic is so easy to grow here. Local variety in taste and smell is so much more pungent and delicious. Photo taken November 2012.


The truth is, I spend a lot of money on food. I shop a few times a week and never add up the receipts for fear of the truth. I convince myself because I hardly buy any packaged food and avoid artificial additives and preservatives that somehow it is cheaper but it is definitely not! I buy organic often and wherever I can get it. Where we live there is only a relatively small supermarket so I supplement my shopping with a Healthfood store in the next town and for a long time I was able to pick up an organic box that was delivered in to my town.

We are a 'live to eat' kind of family and we increasingly get dissatisfied with the taste of meat and produce including packaging that accompanies food with shopping at supermarkets but unfortunately don't have that much choice at the moment. I do my best with what is available at the time and reassess how much money I have left in my fortnightly budget.

I don't save! I'm not even quite sure what 'balancing a budget' really entails. I am however a proud homemaker. I've raised a beautiful, creative and confident son who is very kind and caring. I am busy raising another beautiful son. There are new traditions I am creating for our family that will hopefully be passed on.

But there is so much more I could be doing in the home to make a difference. We are renters. The wellness and longevity of a family involves long term planning, strategic thinking and budgeting just like a corporate business. These are important areas I need to invest mindful time and energy in to, especially the latter.

Our garden is very challenging. What we thought was now finally animal proof is feral rabbit friendly. And lets not talk about the reappearing frost and ferocious winds! We need to learn how to grow sufficient food in these conditions.

I am grateful to have found Rhonda who continually reminds and inspires 'us simple lifers' on our true path to contentment through the home and to be part of this sharing and supportive community.


9 comments:

  1. Zena, your garden looks great! We also have a resident possum but he seems to feast on some of the fruit trees and leaves the vegies alone thankfully. However, I have noticed that this year the birds have been eating our lettuce which hasn't been a problem before. We bought some NetPro nets a while back so might have to dig them out and cover our garden where the lettuce is growing.

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    1. Possums are so cute but they are a pain sometimes.

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  2. Your garden looks wonderfully productive despite the problems you face! There's always a new challenge to face, isn't there?!
    -Jaime

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  3. Hi Zena - couldn't find a follow button but I have added your blog to my list that comes up on my page - love your vegie garden - looks great. be careful starting patchwork and quilting!!!! It is ADDICTIVE!!!lol

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    1. A follow button is probably a good idea. I will look in to it. I already have a long list of quilting projects. Just waiting for my skills to catch up. Welcome!

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  4. You have a wonderful garden Zena. We are going to try container gardening this next year, as we have a small patio with some dirt. I laughed about the garlic. I use to get the same small package time after time. One day at the local farm stand I noticed they also have 'fresh' garlic. Turns out the garlic I had been buying was from China!!!!!!!!!

    Take things slow,you will and can learn about budgeting and such as you go.
    blessings,jill

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  5. Hi Zena, I'm a first time visitor to your blog. Looks like you're doing a great job with your garden and your endeavours to live more simply. I'm a big fan of Rhonda's blog too. Nice to 'meet' you. Anita. x

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    1. Hi Anita. I see you have two blogs. You are a good multi-tasker!

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