Being poor/ food insecurity

We've been there. It's a hard place to be. We accepted all food offerings, my husband has a farmer friend that gave us potatoes, when neighbors had fruit or veggies from their garden, we gladly accepted. I learned to can, to preserve any and all extras. What I didn't can, I froze or dehydrated. I took a tiny flowerbed and grew carrots, peas and green beans in it. (much to the chagrin of my elderly neighbor with immaculate flower beds, lol.)

I honestly can say, that at times, we weren't very healthy (potatoes and a few things from wic for weeks) but we were lucky enough to never go hungry.

Beans can be your best friend once you know what to do with them. I wish you didn't have to go through this.

Anyone who has lived through this stocks a full pantry ever afterwards. Is there a food bank or a church alms giving service you can take advantage of?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Soup

Yes to the ramen noodles as they are inexpensive calories.
Also bread and rice. Also lentils, beans, canned or frozen veggies, peanut butter, peanuts. cabbage, potatoes, onions, carrots, collards.

We have 4 (almost) teenage sons who eat ALOT and despite my husband working full time and my working part time, our grocery budget needs to be stretched.

I save money by buying in bulk, using coupons and I plan my weekly shopping trips/menu's based on sales. I make sure to do my shopping mid week as often i come across fruits and veggies marked 50% off. (Stuff that didnt sell on the weekend) I often buy "day old" bread and other 50% reduced bakery items.

Without access to a car noone of the above will be helpful to you but maybe it will help someone else reading this thread.

In addition to the above we pick alot of fruit from mother nature. In May we pick fiddleheads along the river. Strawberries in June, Raspberries in July, Blueberries in August, Apples in October. And when i say we pick some, i'm talking buckets and buckets enough to do the whole year. I freeze, can and dehydrate the excess. My husband hunts rabbits, duck, partridge, deer and moose. I have a huge garden and grow most of our veggies from May-September.

I hope your situation changed for the better Nothing worse than food insecurity! Take care.

Sm413, next summer a large vegetable garden. Then, can like crazy. Hunt or trap if that's an option

Where do you live? There might be someone in this thread or reading it who can be a resource to you. I would love to know if I can help. I will mail you free seed and gardening seeds when winter is over if that would help at all.

I think that more people can relate then you'd realize.

Since you're having to haul whatever you get back without a car, it's good to realize that foods like dried beans, peas, and lentils, rice, dry store-brand pasta, oatmeal, grits, and dried milk are light-weight as well as inexpensive. I think dried eggs are as well, but I haven't done the price comparison to fresh eggs to know for sure. I just keep some on hand in case I get snowed in and want to do some baking and save my fresh eggs for frying and scrambling.

sallymarcus413 wrote: »

Some friends had a dinner party last week and gave me all of their leftovers, and it felt good to ask for help in that way.

If people know of a need, they're usually more than happy to contribute. I know I would be, if a neighbor were suddenly up against hard times. Ask for help. It's usually a win-win.

Also, do check out any churches that may be in proximity. Again, when a need is known, there is often gladly-given help provided.

Wow I had to Google where you lived. I just can't imagine living somewhere so remote. I always say I would love to live out in the country, but even so, where I consider "country" is probably nothing like where you live.

I live in Leeds, England. I live less than 3 miles outside the 3 or 4th biggest city in the UK. So I could walk in to the City Centre. But I have a shop like 2 minute walk from where I live. And a decent sized supermarket 15 minute walk and a 30 minute walk would bring you to a huge superstore where you can buy groceries / clothes / household items.

I just found it really interesting trying to imagine the different way of living. I'd love to see what it would be like.

One thing you might consider is setting up a weekly ride into town. Put the word out to neighbors that you are looking for someone to ride along with into town, and are happy to help them with a few chores in exchange (although they probably won't take you up on it). I know most of the farmers around here run into town to the hardware store and such regularly- ask them to text or call you if they are going, and you can run out to the road and hop along.

Regarding hunting, if you have enough land to get away with it without tags, yup, i'd go ahead and hunt. Around here we have deer coming out our ears and most farmers have nuisance permits so they can shoot unlimited all year long. Everyone would be thanking you if you took an extra one If your area is similar, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

I don't know how cold it is up where you are, but we still have veggie gardens straggling along. I have herbs that are still chilling. Ask friends with gardens if they have any parsley, sage, rosemary, etc left, and if you could cut a but since you didn't get a garden in this year. Herbs liven up boring food like rice and beans, and provide micronutrients that you might not be getting many of at the moment. You might even score a plant or two that a friend lets you dig up and put in a pot on your windowsill (I've got rosemary on mine right now!).

If there are any facebook or similar groups in your area that cater to homesteading type of folks, I find our local one a great source of all.the.things. You can put a specific request out for stuff like herbs, but also people are regularly trying to find homes for old chickens that don't lay and whatnot. They just want their old/extra stuff to get used. Take advantage of that stuff!

Good luck. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Call around to social services agencies in town and ask if they have sources for stuff like winter gear as well.

sallymarcus413 wrote: »

Yes, I plan on gardening this coming year! I can hunt and fish on my property, but I don't have any tags or anything. I might anyway...
I can also probably ask some friends who recently filled elk tags if I can have a bit of meat.

Do you need permits on your own property? In my state you don't, but I know laws vary.

Look for groups on Facebook for your area where ppl in need can ask for assistance. I have helped a few ppl out with canned food and cat food. You will be surprised the amount of ppl willing to help. Maybe even see if you can arrange a ride to town once a week or so. We were pretty bad off this time last yr. We planned all our meals 2 weeks at a time. We also got our meat at a meat market and stocked up for a month at a time which made the meat much cheaper. Dry rice, dry beans, broth, chicken leg quarters or any chicken that is on sale. You can bulk by eggs and bread and freeze them.

vivmom2014 wrote: »

sallymarcus413 wrote: »

Some friends had a dinner party last week and gave me all of their leftovers, and it felt good to ask for help in that way.

If people know of a need, they're usually more than happy to contribute. I know I would be, if a neighbor were suddenly up against hard times. Ask for help. It's usually a win-win.

Also, do check out any churches that may be in proximity. Again, when a need is known, there is often gladly-given help provided.

Another vote for churches. They might be willing to drop food off for you. Churches always need volunteers - you could always return the favor by volunteering when you are back on your feet again.