It’s not you, grocery store, it’s me. I think it’s time we see other markets.
Have you ever thought of breaking up with the grocery store? I wrote a post on July 4th called Declare Independence From Processed Foods, but my mind has been churning since then with the possibilities of living without constant trips to the store to pick up one thing or another.
I think it must be on a lot of people’s minds, actually, because in the past couple of weeks, I have seen this post about a family who went a year without shopping at a supermarket, go viral in my Facebook news feed.
So now I’m thinking, could I do it?
Could I be content with the foods I produce here or that I can buy from a farmer’s market? Surely we are more equipped to take on such a challenge here at Green Eggs & Goats Farm than the average American family would be, but the thought of not dashing into the store whenever I want a package of mushrooms makes me want to panic a little. What if I NEED the mushrooms?
People NEED mushrooms, right? That’s normal.
“The first supermarket supposedly appeared on the American landscape in 1946. That is not very long ago. Until then, where was all the food? Dear folks, the food was in homes, gardens, local fields, and forests. It was near kitchens, near tables, near bedsides. It was in the pantry, the cellar, the backyard.”
― Joel Salatin, Folks, This Ain’t Normal: A Farmer’s Advice for Happier Hens, Healthier People, and a Better World
One Obstacle: My Book
If you follow me on Facebook, you might already know that I am writing a book. It is a homesteading book that includes lots of seasonal recipes. Of course, the problem with writing a book including seasonal, farm-made recipes during ONE season is that you need to buy a bunch of non-seasonal ingredients (while cringing and rolling your eyes at the irony) at the grocery store. I don’t feel like I could engage in a challenge until I’m done at least with cooking and photographing recipes.
So, as I weigh the possibility of beginning a no-grocery-store challenge with my family, I want to hear from you.
Could you do it? Have you done it? What would you miss the most if you were breaking up with the grocery store?
Until then, I’ll be busy researching mushroom growing kits *affiliate* on the internet just in case!
If you want to know what I decide about a grocery challenge, or if you want to hear all about my book when it comes out, please sign up for Beulah’s Moooooooosletter. She’ll keep you posted, while bringing you all the farm news from the cow’s point of view!
***This post contains affiliate links. A small percentage of the purchase price of items bought through these links goes toward keeping this blog up and running and food in Beulah’s bowl, so thanks!***
My response to this is: Why? Yes, years ago people did not use grocery stores. They also ate much simpler meals. It would never have occurred to my mother, born 1012, to cook with mushrooms, for instance, but I have grown to love them. Not likely to grow them here in the Arizona desert, where we think 30%+ humidity is awful, but why should I not eat them just because they’re sold by a grocery store? (BTW, that store provides employment for a number of local folk.) I think it’s a worthwhile goal to provide most of your own food, to eat food that is not full of pesticides, preservatives, and other additives, but there really is no reason to get compulsive about it. Be mindful of what you purchase at the grocery. If you can support local farmers and mom-and-pop food stores, bravo! For the rest, hit the grocery store! Just learn to be mindful of the marketing ploys used and resist the temptation to buy things you don’t need or really, really enjoy. Like mushrooms.
Those are all good points Libby! I think the main reason for me wanting to do a no grocery challenge is to stretch my creativity and learn to be more selective when I DO go back (which I intend to do!) I NEED my coffee and, as much as I support local foods, I feel like life is just better with good olive oil and Parmesan cheese! I would never intend to do without those just on principal, I would just like to pay more attention when I go out to shop and I think a “break up” would bring on that mindfulness. 🙂
All I can hear is Ross from Friends:
“WE WERE ON A BREAK!!”
That cracked me up! I will answer back with a Rachael “FINE BY ME!”
That made my day. Really. 🙂
Our goal is to get there. We want to produce most of what we eat and then find reliable resources for the rest. For us, and we eat a lot less processed foods than most, it would be a huge adjustment for the simple fact that our selection of foods would be MUCH less.
I understand the sentiment that Salatin was going for, but in a way it’s misleading. Supermarkets may not have existed, but neighborhood markets did. My grandparents owned a small town grocery and slaughter house for 25 years or so in a town of 800. People still shopped at markets, they just weren’t superstores.
Good point! I would love to see a resurgence of the neighborhood market! I think it’s the idea that everything is available at any time at a huge supermarket is off-putting to me. Yes, you can get peaches in December, but they won’t be any good. I’d rather wait for the real deal!
Unless you choose to live without flour,salt, pepper, spices, coffee and tea, not doable. Even old time families bought or traded for those items. None of us have a convenient salt lick out back these days,and contrary to modern myth, salt is a necessity. I do know that about1959, my family spent $25 one summer for just those items, plus cornmeal.
I agree completely. My life is greatly enhanced by the things you mentioned (and good Parmesan cheese!) I’m just thinking of a short term challenge, and I would stock up on the things you mentioned beforehand. Trust me, y’all don’t want to see this girl without coffee! 🙂
I don’t think breaking up with the grocery store means going without basics like flour, salt or sugar. Honestly, when I think grocery store, I think chain stores such as Kroger, Piggly Wiggly or HEB. You know, ones that can afford to print plastic bags with their name on them. My farmer’s market sells staples like flour, butter, sugar and salt as well as fruits and vegetables, meats and much more. I can even get gluten-free flours there! So, my idea of not using the grocery store doesn’t necessarily mean I make, grind or barter all my items. It means I forgo heavily marketed, chain stores that promote national brands. Now I’m interested to see how everyone else interprets this challenge.
That is such a great point Cherise! We have a little local store near us that is part feed store, part hardware store, part gift shop, and part local and organic market. I doubt I would make it off-limits. I could buy most of their items at the Farmer’s market, but I would have to drive an extra 30 miles each way to get there. That just seems silly! And, like you said, they don’t have their name on their bags! What a great way to measure!
I love the idea of breaking up with the grocery store. We live in a farming county and during this time of the year it would be relatively easy for a month or so. However, my son works at a grocery store, I have a grocery store as a client and my job requires frequent trips to a grocery store. My hands are pretty much tied if it includes work. BUT, if you decide to do a 1 month challenge I’m up for it on the personal/home side! Sounds like a lot of fun! And … it would force me to plan my market and farm trips better. Always a good thing.
Cherise, I agree, forcing me to plan better and stretch my creativity are my major goals. And this time of year is MUCH easier than January! 😀
Most of my grocery budget goes to animal feed! One of our goals is to grow all our own animal feed, but that’s a long term goal, unfortunately. Several times, when my husband was in between jobs, we had to rely solely on the garden, fresh eggs and goat milk, and food storage. It really wasn’t that hard to not go to the grocery store!
I included recipes in my book too, but in the end chose only those that used mostly homegrown ingredients. Some things, like salt and baking soda have to be purchased anyway, but the rest of the ingredients were homegrown. 🙂
Leigh, you make a great point about the feed costs! I think it is a common misconception that if I’m saving money on groceries, I therefore have more money in my pocket! Nope! Raising animals costs at least as much as shopping at the store!
With or Without You…that is the question??? I think it can be done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g5D8DOe77k