rising cost of energy, rising cost of food

It's nice to see mainstream media finally talking about the connection between energy and food. I particularly like how Openshaw lists animals that eat corn--cow, chickens, and hogs. None of these animals eat corn in the wild; all of them are fed corn on farms in order to supplement a lack of sufficient green pasture or insect protein. But anyway.

But I found her list of ways to respond to rising food costs very disappointing. She idly dismisses gardening for yourself, ignoring the fact that growing even a little of your own food can cut back surprisingly on costs, and is a lot less laborious than most people realize. And there are many other ways to save money that are better for you and the environment than just buying bulk and substituting. So here are my environmentally-friendly ways to save money on food.

1. Grow your own. Seeds are way cheaper than processed food. When I first started gardening, I thought it was going to be a lot of work requiring a lot of expert knowledge. But, though neither of those things hurts, the truth is that gardening isn't that hard. You put seeds in the ground; you water them; you see what comes up; you eat it. As the manager of my garden frequently reminds me, it's not rocket science. And you don't need that much space--even a small, sunny deck will do for a couple of tomato plants and herbs. Little pieces add up a lot.

2. Join a CSA. It feels expensive when you look at the bill, but $20 for a week's worth of vegetables for a family of four? That's a good deal. It might not last you the entire week (depending on how fond you are of vegetables), but, especially if you can get them somewhere within walking distance, you're saving a lot on gas and hassle, too. And they're fresher than anything you'll ever find at the grocery store.

3. Eat lower on the food chain. Skip the meat; use vegetables and grains instead. It's healthier, and it's a lot cheaper. Even a few meals a week can make a big difference. And do you really need to be eating meat at every meal?

4. Avoid processed food. Most processed food are just corn syrup anyway, and since one of the reasons behind rising food costs is rising demand for corn for ethanol, processed food will see the effects of rising costs even more than other types of food. Skip the chips and packaged desserts; buy ingredients and cook something for a change. Canned goods and grains are cheap, long-lasting, and a great staple for many meals. Dress them up with some vegetables and maybe a little meat, and you'll be amazed how much you can get out of a little.