Grocery Help for Family of 7....

[LuxLiving]

just an idea:

Have ya'll got scrub oaks coming up in the yard right now from all the acorns? Can your kiddos dig them up and put them w/a little dirt in papercups to sell maybe in a Walmart or grocery parking lot? Maybe a way to make a little extra food money right now. You could donate a percentage to a cause you support.

Also on the general financial front - in relation to various needs, do you have
a freecycle organization in your area?

[SnoopyCool]

Do you live near a LDS church? They have a food program for families in need thru their Bishop's Storehouse. CALL THEM!!! Even if you don't take the food they give away for free, they have a canning program where you can go in and can up some great food for your family at a very low price. edited to add: I went there once and canned. It was great. There was absolutely no prostelyzing.

In order to use the Cannery, you have to go in with an LDS member (or you are supposed to, anyway). They have foods there you can purchase for cheap. For instance, a 3# can of red wheat buds is about $2.05. You have to grind it yourself. The foods are packed in such a way that things like sugar and wheat will last 30+ years. Rice is cheap, too, and will also last 30 years.

To use the Bishop's storehouse, you can call the Bishop in your area (go to Mormon.org and type in your address to find out where your local Ward (congregation) meets). However, if you use this you will have to - eventually- do a budgeting-type meeting with the Bishop (congregation leader), that's if you continually use the program. And the Relief Society president (woman in charge of the women's organization) will want to go over your food plan with you.

You can also try the LDS website Provident Living Home.

Here is another website I like: Pinching Your Pennies Home

I don't have any suggestions for you, as you are already my hero for being able to do what you're doing currently. I would just look into a local dairy farm for milk (assuming they pasteurize it and sell it off the farm - I don't think that is the norm, but they are around). Do you can your food from the garden to use all year long?

[LuxLiving]

snoopycool, back when I went we didn't have to do those things you mentioned. Maybe times have changed. Maybe it depends on the area? I only went once and it was a good 2 hour drive across my state to get to the cannery. But I had a fun day doing it!

I agree aukxsona is already a hero for working herself as hard as she does to take care of her children!

I wonder if she's considered owning a goat? Or who was it that used to raise fish in a barrel???

[SnoopyCool]

It may just be the area I'm in that you have to go with a member. That's what the lady who runs the cannery here told me a couple of weeks ago when I was there. You can also purchase some things online at www.lds.org .

[aukxsona]

I do can my harvest. I also dehydrate and freeze. I have looked into a goat many times, but my husband always felt it was more trouble than it was worth. He is changing his tune now though.

I also make jams and jellies with found foods. In the center of Batesville city there is a peach tree. No one ever eats from it, but it is just loaded with fruit. No one owns it. I mean it grew in a parking lot from a crack! Anyway, we (last year) collected peaches form it. About 30 lbs. I made 12 pints of peach jam with what was left from the kids snacking. It lasted about 4 months. Totally free except the sugar. I cut per 2 lbs.

[klbb90]

I would look at the sugar, butter and fresh vegetables. I'm not sure of its purpose, but could you cut down on the amount used. I saw that you can, I remember reading that you can cut down on the amount of sugar used to can fruits by adding baking soda. Do a google search, I know the answer is out there on how to can with less sugar. Butter, (I would never recommend margarine even if it is cheaper) look closely at how it is used and see if it could be cut back even if you go from 5lbs to 4lbs it would help. Fresh vegetables, foraging is great and the kids can help. Dandelions are okay, but I prefer plantain. Its like any salad green and is everywhere there is disturbed soil. The young leaves are best. My yard could easily support a family of 6 in wild greens if need be and I don't even have to plant or work for them (except harvesting). There are even garden flowers that can be eaten like day lilies (root, bud and flower). They come back year after year with little to no effort and look good. Wild grape leaves are another great green. The leaves, even when young, are pretty big so require less work to harvest. The Greeks have been eating them for centuries. An excellent source of protein that is wild that will come available in a month is the pollen from cattails. Its easy to harvest and fun. Just put a plastic/paper bag around the top, tilt the top and tap. Something that is available right now is the seeds from maple trees. I have silver maples. As kids we called them helicopters and threw them in the air to watch them float to earth. Your kids could help you gather them. The seeds actually have a slightly sweet taste to them like maple sugar. Don't use the seeds of a Norway Maple.

Something else. Don't look at just the raw food cost but the cost to prepare. Perhaps cutting down on the fuel cost to cook would squeeze out a few more food dollars. Make a solar oven. Cost can be as low as a few dollars depending on what you have around the house to use for materials. Try to use beans that require less cooking, therefore less energy = lower electric/gas/ect bills.

Hope something here helps. Best wishes.

[ScrimpAndSave]

What is your annual income?

[LuxLiving]

She said in another post that together she and her husband gross 27K a year.

[ScrimpAndSave]

Thank you I apologize for not seeing that.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

In another thread in which aukxsona described how incredibly thrfty she and her husband are, she said they gross $27,000 a year. It looks like part of that may be unreliable income as aukxsona has a number of projects for profit that she works on from home. But, ScrimpAndSave, would that make a difference to you in what recommendation you have for saving on food spending?

My suggestions to cut back on tea:

Dig Sassafras roots for tea. You can dig enough to store and the roots store very well. You can get more tea out of the roots by shaving them and using the shavings rather then just big chunks of the root. Some people who are clearing land to build, make a fence, etc would probably be happy to let you dig. If you've never done it before, you'll need a shovel and an ax or hatchet. Heavy duty loppers or a small pruning saw can help you cut off root pieces, too.

Collect rose hips. Makes a tart tea containing vitamin C. Also can be used to perk up your store bought black tea with lemony flavor. Can be used to extend the volume you get from your black tea,

Grow Fennel, Agastache tea ( Agastache foeniculum), and lemon balm With fennel, you can use the seeds or leaves for tea. The seeds retain their flavor for years. Crush seeds before using to get more out of less. If you grow the "bulbing" fennel, also called Finnocchio, you will have a delicious gourmet vegetable that is so good simmered in chicken broth. With Agastache, use the leave fresh and green; do not dry and store these leaves as they taste like crayons after dried. Lemon balm leaves are used fresh and green, though you might like them dried as well. Lemon balm likes to grow in a bit of shade, so right up against a house, shed or barn is great. Lemon balm is refreshing as an iced tea by itself, or can also extend and freshen your store bought black tea.

See if you can talk to a section manager or two where you grocery shop. If you can catch them at a time when they can listen, they might be happy to set aside mark downs for you personally when they have it, especially if they would be able to give you a call and have you show up at the store with in an hour or two. Really be personal and tell then your situation, as up front as you have here. Sometimes stores just need to get rid of food fast and if they know they have a customer for it, they will let it go hugely marked down. Otherwise it may very well hit the dumpster.

Please come, when you have time, to talk gardening in the gardening section that is sort of hidden in the Food, Recipes, and Coupons forum. I'd love to hear what are your most production, nutritious substantial foods you grow. I have always said that sweet potatoes would be one of my survival crops as they are so productive, nutritious, filling, and long-storing.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Oh yeah, someone mentioned using the quicker cooking beans to save on fuel costs. That is something I do, too. Actually the cheapest beans are usually the faster cooking ones anyway. I cook a lot of lentils. Thye cook in just 40 minutes and adjust well to all those southern ways of cooking beans. (I'm from TN) But of course, always soak your beans before cooking to bring cook time down, ands thereby save on fuel. Beans can be pressure cooked to save, too. Rice can be soaked a bit before cooking, but depending on how you want the texture, you may not want to pre-soak.

If ever you get the chance to get into a big city that would have an import store that caters to immigrants, save some of your "souvenir money" for shopping. I get incredible deals in such stores. Spices very cheap, all kinds of beans and rices very cheap. They might also be a good source of vegetables that you could grow for your own eating. The roots crops especially can often be replanted in your own garden and gotten to grow. Also fresh lemon grass, yucca root, hmmm, in Arkansas maybe even manioc. The advantage of this kind of crop is that just once small piece can grow with very little attention form Farmer Aukxsona into a nice patch. Good to eat...good to sell at farmer's market? (I don't know...I once knew a woman from Mountain Home who had a hard time selling even different varieties of vegetables as familiar as green beans and tomatoes. But maybe near Batesville people are more curious and adventurous with their eating.)

That reminds me-- Have you tried Jerusalem artichoke? It will grow without cultivation and all you need to do is dig when you want some. The patch will expand greatly every year, so best to plant in a space where it will not overtake your other plants. The tubers are starchy, but not as starchy as potatoes. They taste a bit like artichokes (no surprise) or sunflower seeds. This is a vegetable you might be able to get a state of in an import grocery.

[LuxLiving]

I remember some of the best iced tea as a child was that my mom made from the peppermint growing by the back door.

And I have a friend that grows & shares the Jerusalem artichokes. They slice up kind of like water chestnuts...nice and crunchy on a salad!

[crazyliblady]

Grocery Help for Family of 7

Auxsona,

My heart goes out to you. I have a higher family income and no children and my husband and I are struggling to pay off hospital debt and a credit card.

Do either you or your spouse close enough to work to walk or ride a bike? If so, you could considerably reduce your gas consumption and have more money for food.

Have you heard of Freecycle? Freecycle is a web-based group where people exchange stuff they do not need. I have seen people list everything from cars, to children's clothing, and computers. If you were able to obtain other needed items via Freecycle, it would free up money for food. The only stipulation with freecycle that I know of is that the requestor has to go get the item from whoever is giving it away. You can join a freecycle group in your area by going to Yahoo! Groups - Join or create groups, clubs, forums & communities.

Try Craigslist also. There is a category for free stuff.

Please let us know how things are going for you.

crazyliblady

[aukxsona]

Wow so many replies. Hmmm... I have never collected Sassafrass. (I can't spell) I have collected crab apples, persimmons, black berries, and grape leaves. You can even pickle the grape leaves. I have a recipe some where. The tea... it is a problem. I spend about 3 dollars a month on it.

Our car is currently broken down, so we already bike. My husband is getting a new tranny in it. He has to do it himself. Quite a bit of work. We are also a part of freecycle in both Izard and Independence Counties. However, with out a car...it makes it hard to get stuff. I had someone offer me 20 some odd tires, would have really helped build my potato hills, but I can't get to them right now. Hopefully he'll hold them for me.

We do use rose hips already and peppermint. We also do the lentils a lot. Our sugar is mostly used to season the oatmeal, baking, and tea or coffee. My husband uses about a cup! I don't know how else to cut down other than not buy it and have the family complain. (They will too)

So unusual veggies aren't selling for your friend huh? I hope they do for me. In New London, CT where I used to live they were huge sell outs. I know the locals just want fresh. Our Mayor knows my plan and said he would buy from me. So I have one committed customer. Another gardener from the Master gardener program was very enthusiastic about rare veggies. Plus last Fall I entered Lemon Cucumbers into the North Central Arkansas District Fair and won Best of Show for them. So may be folks around here are ready...I hope.

Jerusalem artichokes are delicious. I can't find a bulk supplier to buy from. The only places I saw, offer may be 3 a piece. (14 dollars) Not very cheap at all. May be if I didn't harvest for a couple years until it spread to a decent size...I don't know. Potatoes and sweet potatoes are proven performers in this house. They take the least space and give the best yields.

About going to the big city, I have looked in Batesville, no ethnic stores that are cheaper. I have looked in Searcy, some. May be I am not looking close enough. The only ethnic store I found sold everything in Spanish, in kilos and at higher prices. I could read the Spanish a little, (go me) but converting the kilos to lbs had me with a calculator. Then converting the price per pound and comparing it...ugh. To find out only Masa was worth it.

The solar oven is on my to do list. I think that might replace my slow cooker if it works in the summer. It will be a great home school project. Thanks for all the ideas.

[scfr]

25-cents for a loaf of bread is a great price. Does your husband's company allow him to buy more than 2 loaves per month, can he buy more than what your family consumes, and if so do you have neighbors who would want to swap with you? For example, a loaf of bread for whatever fruits or vegetables they grow (or for a grocery item such as rice)?