Food Insecurity & Food Shortages
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 ต.ค. 2024
- What can we do to combat food shortages? I give you my tactics for coping.
Frugal Queen in France
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We are a British couple living in Brittany on a budget.
Frugal recipes, days out, home renovations and day to day making do in France.
We’ll give you hints, tips, advice and an insight into our life in France.
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Great video, Jane. I sympathize with everyone who suffers from food or money insecurity. I was laid off in 2018, which gave me the idea of a vegetable garden. I started with 3 raised beds in January 2019 which became 5 raised beds by the fall of the same year. My unexpected passion for growing vegetables had taken over. I learned a lot from trial and error and watching TH-camrs like Liz Zorak, Huwe Richards, and Charles Dowding. I did not spend a fortune. I used scrap wood to build the beds and only paid for compost and seeds. When the pandemic hit in 2020, I extended my garden and built 5 more beds in the spring, followed by a big pumpkin patch in the fall. I went to Aldi and stocked up on the foods that I could not grow or not in the desired quantity, such as lentils, rice, pasta, beans, nuts, spices, flour, sugar, oil, tea, coffee, cacao etc. Of course, I stocked up on laundry detergent, dish liquid , toilet paper, soap, shampoo, tooth paste. This allowed me to stay at home and only go shopping once a month for fresh fruit and non-dairy milk. By that time I had switched to a vegan diet. Oh my, this by itself cut my grocery budget into half, which came in handy the following year. In 2021, when the talk about a pending inflation emerged, I decided to expand my pantry to have a 1 year supply of everything to be prepared for a potential recession. Every month I bought things to put in the pantry and by the end of 2022, I was fully stocked with everything. My vegetable garden grew to a whopping 2500 square feet. I can apple sauce, tomato sauce, salsa, and potatoes. I refrigerator -pickle vegetables for the winter. I dehydrate mushrooms, carrots, onions, celery, and parsnips for soups and stews. I freeze green beans, carrots, and peppers, as well as my strawberries. My winter squash and pumkins are store in the basement and last through the following year. I buy fruit when it is in season. I refuse to pay more than a dollar per pound. This means I am looking at flyers all the time to see what is on sale. I set money aside to buy peaches, berries, apples , and sweet potatoes in bulk when they are in season a dirt cheap. Fruit gets frozen for the winter. The list goes on and on. In short, we all have to be creative to make ends meet but we all can do it. Start today. Make a plan and have fun in the process.
Thanks for watching
That sounds awesome, well done xx
What a beautiful story ❤
Love this❤️
Do you have your own youtube channel?? I’d totally watch that journey ❤
I can relate to anxiety for both money and food. My parents were refugees who when young were poor and often had very little to eat. By the time I came along, the cupboards were filled with a stockpile of the essentials and that was my normal. When I moved out to begin my own family I also kept a stockpile of food. (My husband, who grew up in a wealthy family, joked that I was a food hoarder.) Also, every time we had a little extra cash, I would pay ahead on the mortgage and car payments (just in case someone lost their job).
Those things really eased my anxiety. Today, my adult daughters have used my example - both have paid off their mortgages, have no car payments and pantries full of food. Their husbands joke about food hoarding. I taught them well ;o)
Thanks very much
I agree with you. Wealth can be gained but also lost. Preparation is key :)
You are so right! I have three 60’ rows of Blackberries and Raspberries, but there’s only a window in the summer/fall when we have them! I can can jams for us to eat all year, or can some for cobblers later. But not fresh. I dehydrate lemons, limes and oranges to add to waters and teas when they aren’t in season. I remember in about 1970, asking my grandfather for “cherries” because the last time I was at their farm, we had the most delicious cherries! When we went back, I asked him for some. He said “it’s not. Cherry season”! That was nearly sixty years ago and I still remember it.
Thanks for sharing
Here in the US, English muffins from Aldi are still really cheap. It only costs $1.29 for 6 of them. We eat them toasted with butter and jam, or make egg, ham, and cheese sandwiches with them, or make mini pizzas out of them with left over tomato sauce and cheese. Sometimes we have them with canned soup for dinner. My husband and I both work full time, so I need cheap, convenient, foods that can be used for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. English muffins are one example. Another example is cheddar cheese sold in a block / bar. I can slice it for grilled cheese sandwiches, grate it to put on tacos or mini English muffin pizzas, and melt it into a cream sauce for tuna noodle casserole. One block of cheese is about $4.29, but it makes at least 3 different meals. I am the one who does all the cooking. It is easier to avoid spending money on take-out food when I am exhausted at the end of the workday if I have food at home that can be quickly and easily made into a variety of dishes. This does not directly relate to food security, but I think that being able to be creative with what you have is a helpful skill when there are shortages.
Thanks for watching and commenting
For food security of my family I try to preserve and to can our harvest as much as I can. We have had a veggie garden for years and it was most of the time only a hobby. But last year I started with planning my garden for growing much more veggies. And it works so good. Also my daughter started a veggie garden in the old home of my in laws, who died some years ago. This year we will make a big family garden of her little garden. My mother in law has worked in her garden until she died with 84 and the soil there is very good. Every veggie we grow was and will be eaten or preserve. I also change my buying habits from organic food to non organic food, from new stuff to used stuff. And so we can save a lot of money. I am working halftime, because of my health I can not work fulltime. We will and have to save for our retirery. Your videos helps a lot!
Thanks for watching
Great video! Thank you!!
When i saw that food was going to start going up i purchased a good amount of butter and made/canned ghee and also canned meats that I found on sale. I have a year supply of butter at 1/2 the cost it is now. I now just pick up some on sale for freezer. My pantry is also stocked well enough that I can pick up the set $$$ amount per month, without panicking. My long term pantry is also well set.
I share the anxiety!!! I need to work on it and stay calm.
If I may, I would like to share our experience from the war and that is: if you have at home a flour, salt, some sugar and some grease of any kind - you will not starve. So start with the essentials and than you can add some seasonings and greens (even from the suroundings - there are so many edible plants around us) - you will live even through the hardest of times. You will definitly not get fat - but it's not fasionable anyway 🙂.
Thanks for sharing xx
Excellent contribution. Thank you
I took the broccoli salsd i didnt eat and fried it. Made 2 eggs that i cracked removing from the fridge.made a wonderful breakfast..less waste
Foraging is such an important lost art! The plants in your area.that grow wild are far more nutritious than the ones grown in depleted soil that they sell in stores. Look up the top ten for aged plants. It is eyes opening. I have fallen in love with nettles!!
Great talk Jane, I’ve taught myself to make bread from scratch, the no knead method, it’s quick, cheap and easy and gives you a great finished product. I’ve also learnt to make jams and pickles and other non pressure canned food. I had a really hard time back in the 80’s and learnt my lesson back then. I have a well stocked pantry but never at the expense of leaving none for someone else, and if someone (especially if they have children) really needed a meal or two I would have no hesitation in giving them some. I have re thought meals and what constitutes a meal and changed some of my meals to be more like the times I grew up, where any food was better than none and some of the simplest meals are the best. I like baked beans on toast and will eat them happily once a fortnight, I also like stuffed jacket potatoes with a salad. I also eat lentils, red and brown and beans like chickpeas, cannellini, kidney beans etc. I love to make hearty soups and stews with them as well. I also will make things like corn and zucchini fritters, zuccchini slice, I’ve even crumbed slices of zucchini as a meat substitute. The kids liked it so it was good. One thing I have done is cut the amount of clothes washing powder or liquid down to half and I find it is just as good and lasts twice as long and I’m finicky about my clothes and how clean they look. I’m lucky in that my grandmother lived to be 95 and passed on a lot of her tips and tricks onto us and that my father was a chef, my grandmother was a really good pastry cook and my mother also worked a cook. So we got taught very early on in life how to make the most in life out of practically nothing in the kitchen.
Good for you
I take comfort in these stressful times from all the comments here. Seeing how everyone is coping, seeing how different everyone's situations are, seeing how we are all using similar approaches but still learning from each other - it makes me feel far less alone and that is wonderful.
Thanks and so do I
I share your money anxiety. We grew up on the edge of being poor. Often the power would be cut off, but we always had food. I made a mortgage payment at the age of 15 from my baby sitting earnings. Today I am financially comfortable, but I am still frugal.
Thanks Christine
For food storage I like to buy tomato paste instead of spaghetti sauce and other tomato products. From the tomato paste I can make my own sauces, or add it to soups, and even make ketchup if needed. Tomato paste is less expensive than some ready made sauces. I have grown my own oregano, thyme, garlic, and basil to add to the tomato paste. It has worked well for me. The tomato paste cans or jars take up less space in the cupboard, too. And I know what is in my sauces since I made them. Thank you for your helpful videos!
Thanks very much
My go to recipe on days when I'm busy is rice, frozen veg, 1 chicken breast, sweet and sour sauce made with ketchup, vinegar, soy sauce, sugar and cornstarch to thicken. Next would be chili, tinned tomatoes, beans, ground beef or pork, frozen onion and a can of corn or mushrooms thrown in to bulk out the meat. From my stock pile in the closet I can make all our meals for a week if needed. Flour, rice, pasta, yeast, baking soda and powder, jam, etc are always in the stock ready to go, if a storm hits us we can easily survive without leaving the house as we don't drive. It's not about prepping for the end of the world but prepping for the snow storm here in Canada lol
Sounds great to me 👍
Jane,. I feel your pain. I have money insecurity anxiety also. Always checking my accounts to make sure everything is okay.
I remember growing up in the 1960s in the US and eating seasonally because that's what was available. I'm also a food security person. Fortunately, I have a greenhouse and am able to can/preserve much each year. My adult children (and grandchildren) are local so part of my supply goes to them.
It’s good that you preserve food
I grew up in a household that ate like your mother's advice. We had many all vegetable meals during the summer (which were delicious), butchered meat at specific times of the year, canned, pickled and cold stored a lot of food. In the fall my mother made wonderful end of summer soup which she also canned. Occasionally we had a small soft serve cone or a " baby beer" at the root beer stand when we went to town on Saturday night to buy what we did have to buy. My mom raised chickens and sold excess eggs. People stood around and socialized on main street when they went in to buy groceries. After church on Sunday my mother often brought people home for dinner (which she had cooked a lot of before we left that morning). They understood the cycles of food and we always ate well. Sometimes she would pop popcorn or make a little batch of muffins s for an after school treat when we got off the bus. Life as it should be lived. Lots of hard work but a wonderful life. Keep up the good advice.
Thanks very much
I live in Canada. We live in the countryside and have always had access to farmer's markets, roadside stands and grocery stores with good sales. Now I keep stocked up by having a second freezer, and keeping them both supplied with meat and sale items. I switched buying my beef to the farmer next to me who we are friendly with to make sure I am near the head of the line for sales. His butcher is down the road so keeping Transport costs down. I just got a generator, a dehydrator and food processor and building a raised garden. Not so much for me and my husband but very concerned for our children and 9 grandchildren and want to do what I can for them. Our parents lived through the depression and war (my mother was an English war bride) but we were spoiled post war. Now I am resurrecting those lessons. I just recently stocked up on medical supplies, dressings, sutures and medications as it is a 8 hour wait at hospital ER . I stocked up on sewing supplies and made sure of enough bedding. My husband has been making sure all the extra petrol tanks are full and our machinery kept in good trim. Enjoy your videos very much as it helps me to keep informed about the rest of the world thanks so much.
They’re great lessons
Yes, big food and money anxiety here. I grew up through the 2008 recession and remember watching my mother lose everything. It was hard, we lost our home, she lost her job. To the point now that I grow seasonal fruit and veg (and herbs) because I'm scared of there not being enough. xx
That’s not fear, that’s good sense from experience
I am almost 60 and I can remember my Mama on Fridays only had a can of soup or tomato paste and other small tins of food. She had to shop as soon as dad came home on payday to shop for dinner. It was so tight but we never knew real hunger. We had a roof and full bellies but few extras. As I had my family I always put back extras as I could as my budget allowed. Now I have a stocked pantry - we are also debt and mortgage free so I feel so blessed and help others❤️ thank you for the content y’all share- it really means a lot ❤️❤️
Thanks Mary
I feel quite strongly that we've been encouraged, for far too many years, to believe we can eat what we want, when we want. Having spent my childhood subject to seasonal food supplies, and later, 16 years spent living on a small Caribbean island, I really don't get into a panic when i can't have tomatoes or strawberries in January. (Even if they are available they taste pretty lousy anyway). And isn't this why canning, and later freezing, became so popular to start with? I remember as a child yearning for a roast potato in the summer months, instead of really appreciating the flavour of new season potatoes which was all that was available. And in the Caribbean never being able to eat an avocado followed by a mango as they came into seasons at differing times. If I wanted an imported cauliflower there it cost me the equivalent of £5, and I jolly well soon learned to do without them. What I'm also noticing is that the current shortages in UK are definitely a problem of the big supermarket chains. My local greengrocer is groaning under the weight of its usual supplies, if you want them. But frankly I'll leave those tomatoes where they are. They are hard and taste of nothing. I'd so much rather savour the flavour of those which have had all the summer sun on them from local sources. So well said Jane.
We are lucky here in Australia that fresh produce is available year-round BUT why the hell we import asparagus from Peru and Mexico when it's out of season here is beyond me. Asparagus is not an essential food and I refuse to buy it unless it's local. I'm not a hard-core virtue signaling greenie but the resources used to bring that produce here is RIDICULOUS - not to mention that much of the growing is controlled by cartels and asparagus production has had a horrible effect on the water tables in Peru, leaving those who rely on their wells with dry wells! You are so right - the anticipation of asparagus season, or mango season, or peach season is a joy in itself - and it's cheaper and tastes way better!
Thanks very much
I started a sinking fund (single person-vegan) I started thinking 800 was enough. I now plan on 1k. I live in very rural area. Food is expensive here. I do have a garden that family shares. I believe in having at least 6-9 months of food on hand.
Thanks for sharing
I can relate to food anxiety and money anxiety. My husband has the food anxiety; his parents who went through the great depression taught him to buy many of each item. I learned to rotate in order to utilize this process. Thank you, Jane and Mike, for another great video.
That’s an important skill
Yes the great depression was harsh time. My parent had to experience poverty in their childhood which also has shaped the way they are also. I don't blame them
I can relate to you, but I'm the one who can never buy just one item, I tend to buy in two's or threes.
Yes Jane, I also suffer food and money anxiety....a product of hard times growing up and being a lone parent...
Poverty is a very exacting teacher and some of us were well taught.
@@FrugalQueeninFrance it never leaves a person..never
I am a farmer and although the government is pushing us to grow more cereals, vegetables and fruit there is no help. It takes time and huge costs to convert the land from dairy or animal rearing to arable farming. Fertilizer is in very, very short supply and very expensive. Seed is also in short supply and expensive. Another problem growing food is that it is labour intensive and people are reluctant to work on farms. Mechanical equipment for sowing, spraying and harvesting requires huge loans to buy the attachments for the tractors which cost up to €250,000 and beyond, even second hand.
There are many other problems including climate issues, pest control, farm legislation and control but I won't bore you with them.
Thanks Juli, where do you live?
This is very timely for me, Jane. As of today, I'm losing $260 a month food stamps. A lot of that was because of the pandemic, so now that it's considered over, the government has cut food stamps extremely. Plus, for those who live on the government retirement income (in the States, Social Security), the amount went up this year because of inflation. For me, it's about $200 extra a month. That's great, and I'm thankful! That $200 increase has eliminated about $600 total in other benefits, like food stamps. All the other benefit programs have not allowed for inflation. I'm facing food insecurity. I have a vague awareness of it now, but it seems to me, that insecurity could increase more in coming months. I'm always happy, content with what I have, hopeful, and trust in God's provision for us all, but now I'm feeling a bit "antsy." I've also been one to take care to have enough food and money. But, sometimes the best laid plans fall apart, due to, say, a bad health event with lasting repercussions, or an unexpected legal bill, or not being able to save up enough money for a car repair before it's required, etc. I'm not complaining. I'm thankful for all I have, and all God provides...and I know He'll provide all I need one way or another. I just can't see how right now. Well, I guess it wouldn't be "faith" in God if I could see the answer. This is a time of waiting patiently, with faith and contentment for right here and now.
I've been trying to stock up little by little on extra food, so I do have some, but certainly not a year's worth. I have been buying 2 extra of things, to have on hand. I'll buy 1 extra until I've used up the leftover food stamps I have, and then there won't be any extra money for stocking up. That's the time I need to find a way to handle. I have NO excess in my budget at all. There's nothing left to cut. Utility bills have gone up a LOT. I use the tiniest bit of utilities I possibly can. I'm in my 3rd no-spend year, although I only made it to October the last 2 years. But, even in a no-spend year, there are things that come up. I've already had to spend about $1000 this year on car repairs and a new phone. I put away a tiny bit, because that's all I have, toward car repairs and electronics. It took me 3 years to save up for those purchases. I've also been saving up the last year's for an eye exam and new glasses, and a dental visit. I can afford the eye exam and glasses, but there's no way I can afford to see a dentist. I just need a cleaning and exam, but the price is exorbitant. The government has a program for retired seniors (like me) to have eye and dental insurance. It's through a health plan that, if you have to go to a regular doctor or specialist, the price is so high it precludes those doctor visits. I had that coverage for a year. I had to stop going to all specialists...I had regular check-ins with 5. Had to stop going to all of them, and only go to my primary physician once a year. So, I left the plan which covered dental and vision needs. I haven't figured out how I'll be able to go to a dentist again. I take good care of my teeth, but seeing a dentist is mandatory for continuing healthy teeth. I haven't been able to go for about 5 years while I've been saving up...and I still can't afford to go now.
Ok, I'm sorry. This sounds too much like complaining. It seems to me I'm only musing over what I can and can't do. Right now, a dental visit seems remote, but I have saved up enough for new glasses. We'll see what happens with food. No matter what, I can ALWAYS say, glory be to God for ALL things! There's always a reason, a lesson to be learned, a virtue to try to pull out if ALL circumstances. I know that sounds a bit Pollyanna-ish of me, but I've been through some really horrible circumstances, that I wouldn't wish on anyone and now...some in which my very life was in jeopardy. But now, I've come to a point where I'm VERY thankful for all of it...because of all I learned and gained from the circumstances.
OK, I've gotten way off track. I need to stop now and go to bed.😊😌
Does your church give you food? I hope you can get food from somewhere.
Try to contact your area agency on aging. You may be able to get
Some resources through them agree with dental cleaning priority. Even if you have make payments to the dentist. Federally qualified health centers might have dentists doing work for free in their clinic. God bless you
Since no one has mentioned it, are you going to food pantries? Where I live in the US they are in even the smallest of communities and on top of lots of tinned/pantry foods they even have fresh. We also have lots of venues that provide free meals, especially to seniors. Vets clubs, senior and community centers. Often there is a recommended donation for some of these meals, but it's well posted that you can just walk past the pay station. I know lots people who can afford and go more for the socialization. We lost so much of that during covid, we need more of it now.
Great advice Jane. . One extra tip for food security is for those of us who grow some of our own vegetables/salads. Make sure to buy enough seeds for what you will need around the year, buy them in good time, and if possible buy heritage varieties so you can save the seeds to carry forward to start next year's crop. Periodically we have been seeing some seed shortages, and it's good to stay ahead of that with timely ordering of seeds and an extra packet or two in store.
Great advice to buy extra seeds! Look for heirloom or open pollination varieties of seeds because they will give you a true replica of whatever you are growing and saving your seeds from.
Great tip!
Great video - you talk a lot of sense. A couple of weeks ago, I had a veg box delivery from my local farm - I got a large box of veg for £13.00. The veg was so much better quality, larger and tastier. Made me feel good to give my money to a local farmer and I think I have eaten veg than I would normally do. I will be getting another one next week.
Good to hear that
My husband is from the UK and grew up in a household where his parents didn't always have enough money. So sometimes food was short and he was one of four kids! He has money and food anxiety and always seems to over stock up on food when it is on sale, dry food stuffs or canned. I grew up where we never had food insecurity but sometimes money was tight but never broke. It's a completely different perspective because we grew up different! But I have learned a lot from him about budgeting money better than my parents ever did.
Thanks
USA-18 months ago we turned our backyard into vegetable gardens, we froze the excess in our new freezer. We saved seeds to plant again. We have compost piles to save on dirt and fertilizer, we use home products for pest control such as hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, dish soap and baking soda. I shop weekly flyers, we stock on sale items and visit more than one store. I have watched many videos on making your own shampoo, conditioners, skin products from herbs and flowers which we are growing. We buy meat and eggs from our local farmers. It is different, not impossible, and we are enjoying the nuances.
Good to hear that
If you had your own channel, I would watch it.
I have had periods of both money and food insecurity in my life- I am a single mom and there were a few times that the cupboards were quite bare, with no money to buy more- I work to avoid ever being in that position again and when i was able to return to work (I was out of work for 1 1/2 yrs while dealing with a significant medical issue) I started slowly building a pantry- I keep a 3-6 month rotational pantry that i carefully rotate to avoid food waste- I only buy what I consume regularly, and just replace as I use it- It brings me peace of mind to know that if the unexpected should happen AGAIN, I still would be able to feed my family, including my pets. I have tea, coffee, pastas, beans, rice, sauces, tins of my most commonly used fruits and vegetables, seasonings, honey, maple syrup, and baking supplies- I own a cook woodstove and cook- bake with that exclusively 10 months a year- This lifestyle was built one extra box or tin at a time and didn't take as long as i thought it would- i am wishing you all the very best and i very much enjoy your channel!
Thanks very much
I bought my vegetable seeds yesterday, this year I'm going to try onions, potatoes and carrots in 5 gallon buckets. We will have our usual plot at the Y for tomatoes and beans. I freeze a lot when things are in season. The black raspberries (very short season and tender), I froze last July taste wonderful now, same with the blueberries and strawberries. Mych better than what's available in the store. I try to frequent the local farmer's markets, butchers, etc. They are a little more expensive but I know where the things are coming from. I like to support our local food producers.
Thanks Lauri
Hi Jane, I’m with you. My two big anxieties are money and food. I didn’t grow up poor, but my Mom’s family struggled, and she spoke very often about the Great Depression of the 1930s, when she was growing up. “Waste not, want not” was one of her favorite expressions. My husband and I struggled when our kids were little. I don’t over buy, but I’m very happy when there is plenty of food in the house. I suspect you and I have lots of company. Love your channel! 💜
I lived through the 1970s and 80s in the UK and it was normal for many of us that we never had enough. A lot of us didn’t feel any better off until the mid 1990s.
I always helped mum with the grocery shopping and cooking and baking for our family of nine. I have inherited the food and money anxiety so I do understand how you feel Jane. It is really important not to over buy because that defeats the purpose of all our careful planning and waste is something our brains cannot contend with. I am finding that as well as writing a proper budget now I am also writing an inventory or stock list of everything we already have in the cupboards, fridge, freezer and fruit and veg baskets. I then write our meal plans based on what we have and write a grocery list for the other things that are needed for those meals, that are not already in the house. Only then do we go shopping and will buy the things on our list and some items for our back up pantry in case of sickness, being snowed in or whatever. We are gardeners but give away a lot of stuff because we only have a fridge freezer. We've been thinking about a dehydrator because we grow so much fruit but not sure. Thank you for your channel as it helps me a lot. I used to be able to depend on my memory but my brain is frazzled now so I write things down and this helps me enormously. William is going to help me sow little and often so we always have fresh produce but fewer wasteful gluts. He is also talking about building a DIY greenhouse and I find that exciting. Love vera in Northern Ireland
Thanks Vera
I do have major food anxiety. I remember not having enough to eat as a child and that has stuck with me all my life. I tend to buy too much at times. I also worry about my son's family not having enough if worse comes to worse. They have a tiny apartment with a tiny fridge and freezer. They can't really stock up on anything. I have been buying lots of cans of infant formula because there has been a shortage and some recalls in the U.S. I need to stick to a budget for real. I have been slacking when it comes to the budget. We are trying to use our farmer's market every Sunday for produce. It is so much cheaper at the farmer's market than in the stores. I finally subscribed!
Thanks for subscribing
Hi Jane, I have almost totally cut out meat. Not for moral reasons as much as saving money. I’ll see how it prices out.
Thanks for sharing
We stepped up everything we can. I got more chickens. I am growing as many herbs and veggies as I can and getting better at it. We have three big fruit tress which we look after and net and now bringing in a lot of fruit. I dehydrate, make jam and recently we got a freeze drier. I have a lot of long term storage. This was a great video!
Sounds great!
Another great video Jane. I am a keen vegetable gardener and so am preserving more of what I grow. We live totally off-grid so running a dehydrator isn't an option, so I bottle or freeze the veg. My friends donate jars and are repaid with bottled tomatoes. To buy jars costs a fortune so I reuse jars and just buy new lids. I also barter quite a lot. I swap veg peelings and leaves for eggs or cabbage for oranges. In S. Portugal water is an issue so I harvest rain water for drinking and for irrigating the veg during the summer. This year I am reducing the tomatoes as I always grow far too many and inevitably some are wasted except they feed my friends pigs and chickens. I am only growing veg that give a lot of return for the water used - tomatoes, green beans, winter squash, cucumbers peppers and onions. Green leafy veg is reserved for autumn through to late spring when water requirements are reduced.
I buy meat as whole animals from local farmers and freeze it. Last year we invested in a solar oven so all the tougher cuts of meat can be slowly cooked all day and then eaten the following day.
Thanks for sharing
I do agree with you regarding not overbuying for things that spoil in a short time, however, canned foods like tomatoes, I will buy a case and store in our basement pantry. They last well over a year. I use at least a can a week making dinner. The key is being organized and knowing what is down there. We also have a master list of dinners (about 40, some are seasonal. I have dishes we enjoy in winter and others we like when it's summertime). Knowing and using what we buy in bulk, when on sale, allows us to enjoy the meals we love on a regular basis.
I live in a very tiny condominium and don’t have outdoor space to grow. So I do grow sprouts and micro greens in my kitchen. I did have food anxiety until about 15 years ago. I learned how to buy in bulk at low prices, and preserve properly for my climate. Then I learned to buy only what I enjoy eating (instead of cans/bags of food that I wasn’t too fond of eating but that stored well): I’m at a place now that my closet turned pantry could feed me for a year. Of course I would miss fresh fruit and veg, but I do store cans and frozen. It’s just a skill that you hone over time for your family. So currently I don’t spend much on food bc of years of preparing. Much luck to all on their journey! You can do it! PS- I didn’t go into debt for any of this, just a bit at a time. Rotation is also key.
Microgreens and sprouts can be done year round INSIDE! So easy and so much nutrition. I can’t grow lettuce to save my soul lol. Very grateful for the sprouts and microgreens. All that’s needed for sprouting is a jar 👍🏻
Sprouts are a great idea
Just got 2 dz. fresh eggs from the farmer. He said just leave them on the counter, don't clean them, etc, etc. and they will last up to 6 months. I was just happy to have fresh farm raised; were $5/dz. each. Better and cheaper then some of the supermarkets.
That’s great if you can buy them direct
Shopping at 3/4 shops. Checking what Lidl and Aldi have for their super six each Thursday. Menu planning from these.
Very wise
i can agree with you about food security has been on my mind at all times, i make sure i keep up with sales , and markdowns etc... i usually keep our deep freezer full and the regular one as well. i"ve taught my kids to do the same as well. i have taught them also about thrift shopping as well. i usually keep a stock pile of cleaning supplies but in 2020 learned me a lesson and when supplies came back on the shelf i most defiently got back to my stock pile
Well said!
Thanks for this. We all have anxiety about being able to feed our family.
Thanks for watching
Thank you Jane; great insights on what we are living through. Never thought I would reach retirement and have to worry or wonder about food security (amongst other things). I live in the country here in Quebec and have started more and more to research and find local suppliers , farmers, growers, etc... I also have a veg garden which I plan on maximizing even more this year. I also bought a patio green house to grow veg and flower seedlings. I've learned to say NO to food that is outrageously expensive. For example, brussel sprouts were $4.99 a bag last week. I found frozen baby ones for $1.98 and they are delicious. More and more, we need to expand our horizons and find alternatives. I look at it as an adventure and celebrate every little victory.
We will ALL have to pay more for our food.
I understand what you mean by insecurities! My weird one is a fear of no electricity for several days. In the area I live in, (southern US) we are prone to hurricane winds, tornados, etc. I'm always worried about having enough items I can cook over a fire if need be, or not need electricity at all. I tend to stock up on dry beans, canned soups or chili when i find them on a great sale. I'm also fortunate to not only live close to 2 grocery stores, but be home most days. I've learned if i can hit the stores around 10 am, I find very good markdowns on meat. That time of day seems to give the workers time to do the markdowns, but before the other shoppers who tend to come after school or work, or even on lunch breaks. Fingers crossed you hit 25k soon!!
Thanks Very much
Your fear of no electricity isn't weird in the least - EVERYTHING relies on it today! I've a friend with a disabled child uses a CPAP machine 24/7 and she's bought a generator, here in suburban Sydney, because of the uncertainties. EFTPOS machines, petrol pumps, refrigeration, mobile phones, an endless list of things - without power, our society will grind to a halt.
Dehydrator, FTW! I spent a lot of time with both sets of grandparents who toughed it out through the Great Depression so many life lessons have served me well. Really appreciate your down-to-earth, no-nonsense presentations!
Thanks for watching
Very informative. Even though I am still aware of the vegetables and fruits are actually seasonal, I had forgotten that the meats were also seasonal. Thinking back, I do remember that lamb was a big item in spring time. Thanks for the reminder.
Glad it was helpful!
Eating seasonally makes a lot of sense for many reasons. Better availability, cheaper price, and less expense to ship things to where they won't grow at that time of year.
Be prepared as well to pay more even if it is in season, farmers are farming less as they’re not making money.
I’ve had a large garden for several years. Canned, froze and dehydrated everything. I recently used my dehydrated potatoes for scalloped potatoes. Soaked for 15 minutes in boiling water. Drained then made my usual recipe. Worked out great.
Sounds great!
I stock up a little every time I go shopping.
I bought grow lights and am growing all my lettuces in my house over the winter. I have a small backyard and have put raised beds all along my fence to grow everything we need to dry herbs for seasonings, make pestos and pickles, and to have fresh salads daily all summer. I have found that the more time I spend gardening the less stressed I feel. Thank you for all the good advice you give,
Sounds great!
Im buying tinned vege specials and stacking them under the bed , also I have heaps off frozen veges I've bought on special , we had a flood up north that has destroyed many crops , so veges are going to go sky high here soon
Good advice
I relate to money & food insecurity, mine started with my divorce & 2 teenagers to feed + their friends who came over to visit...I moved 2x before starting to garden/can foods/freeze foods, I hunted & fished so that helped a lot...things are better now but I still have those worries.
Thanks very much for sharing
The 2 things I have changed are to keep a larger supply of flour, beans, rice, frozen fruit, frozen vegetables and canned goods than before. The second thing is a subscription to an urban farm that grows food in rooftop greenhouses all year. They also stock food from local farmers, and suppliers. At one point I couldn't find tofu in my local grocery for weeks and was able to get it through my subscription.
Thanks for sharing!!
I over-reacted early last year and bought (over bought) as I was able, at the time. Getting shelving up, and rotating those purchases is very important. I don't regret now, my over reaction last year due to reports of low production for the past two seasons. I hadn't even contemplated low production for the next few seasons. Thank you for bringing my attention to that. What I am doing more routinely? Portion control has been helpful. I'm putting in my first garden in the next few weeks. We shall see how that goes. Love this video. You consistently put out quality, helpful, content. Thank you very much.
Thanks so much and I’m glad to hear you’re prepared
We started some raised beds for veggies a few years ago, but this past summer I really concentrated on dehydrating everything I could. We did our research and purchased a Cosori dehydrator - love it. I learned about dry canning - there's an inexpensive gadget that fits over the lids of canning jars, and pulls the air out, sealing the lid tight. Pretty cool! Kept in a cool, dark location, the dried foods will keep a long time, and are easily reconstituted and used in soups, stews, etc. You can make powders out of your dehydrated veggies, which take up fewer jars, and can be added to all kinds of things to boost nutrition.
Those are great skills
I do the same. We grow a garden but when I find markdowns Like mushrooms or frozen vegs onto the dehydrator they go
I agree with having the ability to dehydrate, if possible. I was so glad to have picked up 2 50 lb sacks of potatoes last fall for $15.00 each which I dehydrated into hashbrowns and stored into mylar bags. Same bag of potatoes is now $30.00. My jaw hit the floor when I saw the current price!
@@sams.9745 Wow! I didn't realize how high they've gone. We're still working on the ones we grew last summer - we're lucky to have a nice cool cellar to store them in. I hope we can find seed potatoes in the spring, but maybe we'll be able to use some of the ones we have left at this rate.
@Nancy Quarella I did not grow any this last year but definately plan on dedicating a section of our garden to them this year!
The changes I have made have taken years. I've been growing a vegetable garden since 1989. The garden is getting smaller as I have aged. Have become really picky over what I grow. It must be something I love to eat. Every purchase I make now is geared to make me more self sufficient. A year after the ice storm (in Ontario/Quebec)1998, a cookstove was put in, so like you I have a fireplace in the living room and a stove in the kitchen. I gear my cooking around being able to cook on the wood cookstove to save money. I live on a property that supplies the wood. I have some supplies but not a years supply (not yet anyway). I really pay attention to the environmental news. Madagascar is a place that much of the world's vanilla comes from. They have had their problems and this year still have problems, so I try to connect the dots and had a supply of fresh vanilla beans and a supply of vanilla extract before it shot up in price a couple of years ago. I try to plant a fruit tree every year. Last year I planted native rose bushes (rosa rugosa). A tea made of rose hips have a ton of Vitamin C. I try to be mindful to not only plant food, but to plant flowers to attract the cross pollinators. Heaven help us if we lose bees and have to go out and pollinate flowers on squashes by hand. Good video!
Thanks for sharing your story
I also feel the pressure and urgency to bulk-up and stock-up, but I remind myself to be filled with gratitude for what I already have and not to buy/prepare unreasonably more than I need or can eat before expiration. Food waste can be a bit tricky and problematic in our society. "No buy pantry challenges" keep things in an easy equilibrium for me, as does being vegan as the grocery costs are much less without the purchase of animal products and also vegan pantry foods often have a much longer shelf life. I'd like to thank you for occasionally featuring vegetarian main dish options for your meal preparation videos!
Thanks for watching
You always speak sense wise one 👏
Thanks Stu
Hi Jane and Michael, it's great to hear from like-minded people like you who are setting a wonderful example of how to cope in these times.
Thanks so much
You are not the only one with food insecurity. By far, there are many of us.
Sorry to hear that
Hello Mike and Jane,
My grandmother on my moms side had MS and was practically a single mom of 5 due to my grandfather working away. There was not enough food and this shaped my mother and the way she shops and therefore me too. My mom to this day is not happy unless she has a lot of tins in etc. I feel bad for my mother how she struggled growing up. She has taught me many lessons in life however. Thanks for the video, Much Love
Thanks for watching
When my first son was born
I found myself in a different state with no family. I went 8 days with no food at one point
So, I too have food anxiety. I also, have a leg. Family six kids. I constantly have to remind myself I'm only cooking for 3 people! Not for 8-10 anymore 😆
Thanks for sharing
Hi Jane and Michael, I invested in a vacuum sealer a few years ago which has helped me to extend certain foods by a good few years. I even vacuum seal some of my dog's dried food in case I can't get out and of course, buying goods at the right time and vacuum sealing them and at the right price always helps with the coppers.
That’s sensible
I absolutely love my vacuum sealer and use it after I do my monthly bulk shopping hauls. I've also switched up my eating habits. I eat my bigger meal during the.midday and in the evening I have a simple supper. I hardly ever buy take out or prepared foods. If it's late when I get home and I'm hungry, I usually have leftovers or a homemade meal I have in the freezer.
You may have seen so called shortages in U K well the local greengrocers have had the best week ever the supermarket's won't pay a decent price for produce
Like I said, be prepared to pay more as the cost of production has drastically increased. No fresh vegetables shortages here but we pay 2.50€ at least for a cauliflower
I've been super lucky where whenever I food shop the items are there even the salad vegetables which is hard to find for some here in the UK. I do count my blessings though. I'm in a better place than a lot of people.
Thanks for sharing
Hi Jane...I do share your food anxiety. Not sure why other than being only one generation removed from very poor grandparents who survived the Great Depression. We always had plenty growing up but I feel much more comfortable with a full freezer and cupboard. You and Mike are an inspiration!
Thanks Pam
Awesome video, it is Autumn here in Australia and you are so right, I need to stock my freezer with frozen veggies and fruits. I have the same two anxieties, being in my 50’s I am quite anxious about superannuation changes.
Keep stashing as much money away as possible
@@FrugalQueeninFrance We have our financial plan in place but it is goverment changes to taxes etc that causes me massive anxiety as it is out of my control. I am determined for my husband to retire early, you are right stass as much away as we can
Only recently discovered your website. Frantically viewing your back catalogue of advice as I really need to become more frugal due to life style changes. Feeling your influence already, yesterday's grocery shopping was from a list, prices compared and receipts kept and checked. Gathered up all my financial paperwork to work out my outgoings, income and put together a budget. Bit of food planing done and Friday I'm searching my freezer to see what I've actually got in there, plan some more meals round the contents and by the weekend have a bit of batch cooking under my belt. I'm already figuring a date for a no spend week, get a few of those done and I'll be ready to try a no spend month. As a singleton I assume I'd be pretty accurate to half what you budget for food ect? Am in the UK not sure if that makes much difference? All your advice/tips is much appreciated and well timed. Subscribed to your channel so I won't miss anything in the future. Thanks for inspiring me to finally get my act together.
You’re welcome and thanks for watching
I love alone, I budget £30/week for groceries. And £10/week for "fun" stuff ie drinks or dinner out with friends, clothes, anything that is not essential
Look on TH-cam for Cash Budgeting it is fab. I have made 4 weeks of meal plans, and on that sheet is a list of fresh items I need to buy and items I always have available ie chicken, Passata sauce, cheese, rice. Shelf stable items I look in bargain shops like b and m, pound land, etc. They have Mugshots for 50p they are £1 in the supermarket!
We are stocked up in a similar way as you and Mike are. We are just 2 people. I do try and purchase a small number of “pantry-shelf stable” items each time I grocery shop. Love all your videos….never miss viewing them. The quilt should be done by Easter! I care for our 8 month old grandson daily making it hard to sew every day. But he is a JOY to have gere
Thanks very much
Hi from snowy Nova Scotia. Love your videos. They are very inspiring. My neighbour built me a small raised bed, only 4ft by 4ft. I planted green and yellow beans in that small plot. I picked them in July and am still eating them from my freezer. Tons of veg from that small plot. One doesn't need a lot of space to grow food. Thankyou for your great videos.
Thanks very much for sharing
Hi Jane! I do all the same things you do. In the last couple years, I've created a small prepper pantry for long term food storage. I changed my shopping day and shop at up to 4 stores for the best prices. I plan my menu after doing a freezer and pantry inventory. And plan meals around what's on sale as well. If a certain ingredient is too costly, I substitute a different one or plan a different dish to make. Thanks for all your down to earth advice!
That is awesome!
Agree! Same here ❤️
I am buying the largest amount of meat available from supermarket because the unit price is so much lower. So this week I bought 1.6 kg of chicken breast because it was on offer for £9. Batch cooked chicken curry (4 portions) and chicken fajitas (4 portions) the other 4 chicken breasts have gone in the freezer as 2 bags of 2. Next week I will buy the biggest amount of mince and do the same. We also now have 2 meatless meals a week just to try and save money
That’s very wise
Everything but two items I bought in January from a certain place has increased in price. I have been on the lookout for marked down chickens. Today those chickens were far from their normal location in the store. Eating seasonally is an outstanding way to stay healthy.
Thank you for your excellent video! Yes, it is vital to remain calm.
Thanks very much
@@FrugalQueeninFrance my pleasure!
Jane,i.always listened to
My dad and I'm glad I did
Thanks Julie
Gary and I. Ought our seeds in January and are starting our early seeds this week in gallon water jugs outside this week! We are saving the bottoms of our celery, romaine, and spring onions yo plant outside instead of composting them. I learned you can start potatoes from just the peelings that have started to sprout and don’t need the whole potato and that they will produce just the same. We bought a dehydrator last summer and plan to use it even more this year. We are going to exchange fruit from our trees and vegetables with our friends who grow some of what we don’t grow. Even more important we have seen that they are genetically modifying a lot of our cereals and that wheat and other National brands of grains may have some questionable additives so have found a county source that grinds their own flour and is locally sourced. We are using a lot more homemade cleaners and shampoos etc. so we know what is in them.
Thanks for sharing. Where are you based?
I am shopping in a very similar way. Portion control is important and checking the pantry ever week and shopping the offers.
So true!
Years ago before all these imports, you had to eat seasonal. Pickeling is easy and extends the life of the food 4 to 6 months.
It was more than 50 years ago that there were very few imports.
Lacto fermentation is an even cheaper way than using vinegar to preserve your veg..
Sound advice that everyone, regardless of income level, needs to follow.
We can all do a tiny bit each week.
Jane,I feel the same about having enough food in the house. I like to have a good supply, as we live in the country, I think that is really sensible,but sometimes it verges into the ridiculous, and I have to pull myself in. I had a period in my life as a si gle parent when money was very tight, and that is when the anxiety about food started. You never forget it. Loraine
Nope, you never forget.
I've created a price spreadsheet that tracks the UNIT prices of the usual foods and items we purchase. I'm learning what is really a "sale" and what isn't. Before I buy something I find the cheapest price for it at a couple of local stores. I do this by looking everything up online first. Yes, it takes time, but it really saves a lot of money! For example, I compared the cost of bay leaves between four brands at two stores. The cheapest item was TEN TIMES less per unit price, which wasn't that obvious when seeing just the price itself.
Thanks for watching
Im learning to forage. I have over a years worth of staples, and grow veges. So just need to supplement with foraging. Great video, and yes no need to panic, one may have to change the way you eat but we wont run out of food.
You won't but there's still a shortage making it unaffordable to many. Thanks for watching.
Thank you Jane. Another fine video jam packed with useful ideas in sourcing our food and supplies.
You are so welcome!
I watched your video with great interest last night, you always have something useful to offer. As a child, we ate seasonally and I've never quite been comfortable eating out of season. I do understand both food and money insecurity. I married late and a single woman at that time did a lot of planning and budgeting not to end up over her head. These days I buy one or two extra of staples at the grocery and try to keep as much shelf stable as possible. Some of my pantry staples, such as canned fish, preserved fruit and pickles have been disappearing from the local grocery. I have been making sure we have herbs, spices and sauces to liven things up. We have a greenhouse, although the seasons are somewhat reversed here in the the Arizona high desert - still learning how to manage that. We are also adding more raised beds every season. We are fortunate to have access to several farmers' markets and if I can buy locally I do. I do have to be early to come home with eggs still. I am also able to purchase manure locally to help build up our soil as well as compost. We are adding to our rainwater catchment system this year, I understand that is not an option or even desirable for some, but it helps reduce our water bill. I have also sprouted seeds just to give us greens for salad and sandwiches.
I had the sense this might be coming to be. I started a vegetable garden in 2020, and tripled it's size last year. I started putting up a stockpile over the past year, rotate as needed. I learned to can food, and dehydrate lots. Put up all my own canned tomatoes, pizza sauce, pasta sauces. I am noticing that the most used everyday grocery items are tending not to be on sale as much. What I didn't grow I purchased from a local farmers market. I live near an apple orchard so was able to purchase apples and made lots of applesauce to save purchasing as much fruit in the winter. I have a small deep freezer so am able to keep a few months ahead for meat. I remember growing up we ate food that was in season, except at Christmas time we would have a variety of fruits. The items I bought last year have now doubled or tripled in price. I only purchase the items I need when they go on sale, and purchase 2. I am noticing that the most used everyday grocery items are tending not to be on sale as much. Shopping between different stores to get the best buys is a must for me.
All good sense
I'm making agreement with my local farmers to get put up quantity.also I have planted peach and apple trees to go with my pear one
I have been checking online the different stores and make a list of the best prices. I'll buy different items from the stores easy to get to. I don't have a car so I usually take my cart and take public transportation or walk. I have found that I have been saving on the food budget.
Thanks Cheryl
Thank you Jane, here to in the Netherlands very expencif now ,!many food 1 kilo tomates 9.45 Euro and the fruit to we hope for better times stay safe we think about you greetings,Maja.
Oh wow!
I am not aware if this is happening in France or the UK but it is a must here in the United States to check your receipts. I checked my last receipt before I left the store and I was charged more on 3 items then what the shelf label said. I did have to go to customer service and they had to go and check the shelf labels but I was reimbursed the difference. It was quite a sum of money. I was wondering why it was so high as I add the item prices as I shop.
It’s good that you check
Just supporting your sense of panic/fears for food insecurity. I have got worse since having my son, and, even though he's now 16, still have to work to try and keep it at a sensible level. I'm also the same about financial security and constantly worry about the future, specifically his future. Having no debt, other than a mortgage, has really helped with this. And of course, having a budget and sticking to it.
It’s real. We know there’s working professionals out there who are thrifty to the penny and still don’t break even.
Thank you ❤
Great video Jane & Mike . I’m the same food and money anxiety. I need to keep well stocked up and have savings incase of emergency. Even hearing you speak on your video or hearing about shortages on the TV panics me and makes me feel like I need to stock check and in my worst moments go to the shop immediately to buy some stock !! We grow our own fruit and veg but of course that takes time so there’s always an interim when you need to shop .
Thanks Clare. When professionals can't afford food, we know that inflation is unsustainable!
yes Jane your not alone
Thanks Jennifer
We bought a dehydrator and I have several quart jars of various frozen vegetables. Also have dehydrated fresh mushrooms, kale, spinach, celery. I love knowing we can have these should times get worse.
Thanks for sharing
Wonderful video thank you so much.
You are so welcome!
I'm the same as you, I purchase in 2s. If I've used out of my backstock,, then I'll buy 1 to replace what I've used. I can't buy a lot of meat at a time because I have a tiny freezer and I need some space for frozen veggies. But, yes, I have food insecurity as you. I've been doing my long term pantry for about two years a little at a time. I may be odd, but I don't believe in credit cards. If I don't have the cash/money, I don't get it until I can.
I haven’t owned a credit card since 2009 so not odd
I definitely have food anxiety. I have always felt much calmer when the fridge is full and the pantry is stocked but then I have always lived rurally and that makes you aware that sometimes it is not easy to get what you want when you want.
Funnily the pandemic panic buying did not overly affect me as I knew that I had heathly stocks at home.
It’s real, you’re not alone.
Im working on having a six month pantry. I previously had a three month pantry. I had an unexpected hospitalization and was out of work for over three months. During that time I ate mostly from my three month pantry due to my work and health limitations. I started back to work this week and will be starting a six month pantry to help ease my food anxiety. Thank you for the video and sharing your experience with us.
Thanks for watching
Another great video Jane, I share your anxiety so I keep us well stocked up but stay within our budget so that we can still save.
Thanks Jan.
Thank you for the video.
You're welcome