Backyard Agriculture Grows in Popularity

July 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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As the economy continues on its sluggish path, many people are becoming more interested in gardening. The high cost of getting basic foods to the grocery store has driven prices to an unmanageable place for many, so the urban farm is starting to gain popularity among many families.

The Family Budget Improves with Backyard Farming

Although it’s pricey in the beginning, the longterm savings of introducing agriculture to your backyard can have a huge effect on your family economy. Once those vegetables start to ripen, you’ll also have a great time learning to create new and fresh meals for the family. You can also learn to can so that those summer vegetables are available all year-long. Eventually, what you save with a little backyard farming can make a very positive impact on your household finances.

The Cost of Farming at Home

Even though a family garden will save you money, it still requires money to keep up. If you want to make sure you don’t overspend while taking up the farming business, then use a reach prepaid card and dedicate it to agriculture. When you go to the hardware store, you can only buy as much as the limit you set on the card.

Backyard agriculture is big business, so the retailers will definitely try to sell you more than you need, so set a budget and stick to it. For example, a trashcan will make a good compost barrel. You can save hundreds of dollars with simple tips like this. Spend some time with a longtime gardener, and learn how to farm effectively and economically. Your trips to the grocery store will virtually disappear.

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How to Save Money on Your Grocery Bill

June 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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As television shows like “Extreme Couponing” are becoming popular, many are intrigued with the idea of saving money on their grocery bills. Although the people who are on many of these shows are extreme examples, paying miniscule amounts on their large orders, the methods that they use to save money certainly do work, and should be considered by all to save money.  Here are a few tips on how to save money on your grocery bill.

Look at the Sales Paper

Prior to going on your weekly shopping trip, it is important to check out the sales paper.  This way, by seeing which items are on sale, you can save money.  For example, the person who normally buys one brand of an item out of habit and not out of preference may find that they can get a comparable item on that particular week for a much lower price.

Write Down a List

It is so important to write down a grocery list prior to walking into the store, and it is equally important to stick to it.  So easily we can become distracted while grocery shopping, causing us to walk out the store with more than intended.  Granted, picking up an extra item or two won’t break necessarily break the weekly budget, but the constant adding of unnecessary items can really add up in the long run.

Coupons

Coupons can truly be a life saver, especially at stores that double them.  Smart shoppers can clip them out from their local Sunday paper, or even print them out online and watch the savings pour in.

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How to Avoid Grocery Store Manipulation

June 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Unlike Department Stores, there is something about grocery stores that does not seem like they are trying to get as much money from you as possible, but they are.  Grocery stores are strategically set up so that they can manipulate shoppers into purchasing the items that they want you to buy.  So, this mean, your grocery list that may have only had a few items on it, can quickly grow to a list that is double what you intended on getting.

In order to avoid becoming victim to grocery store trickery, here are a few tips to assist with your trip.

  1. Write a shopping list prior to coming into the store, and stay focused.
  2. Don’t shop when you are hungry.  Hungry shoppers tend to be more impulsive shoppers because they are enticed by the delicious smells radiating throughout the store.
  3. Store brand items are often made by name brand companies but are sold for a much lower price.
  4. The items around the checkout counter can be very tempting, and although another brand of the same type of item can be purchased elsewhere in the store, the most expensive type of a particular item will be located near the register.
  5. Just like hunger can fuel impulsive shopping, so can lingering.  If you shop when you have nothing else to do, there is no rush, meaning that you will spend more time in the store than necessary, which will lead to purchasing a few extra items.
  6. Items that “go together” are usually placed near each other, therefore some customers feel like they cannot buy one without the other, like chips and dip.
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Three Healthy Alternatives to Consider for Your Next Grocery Store Trip

June 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Good nutrition is so important for both children and adults alike, yet very few people make it a point to actually purchase healthy foods for their families.  This can be a very problematic scenario for a few reasons, with the largest one being that eating unhealthy foods leads to an unhealthy lifestyle.

In order to ensure that the best habits are learned to promote a balanced diet, here are a few tips to make the most out of a grocery shopping trip, which can lead to a healthier lifestyle.

  1. White bread is perhaps the most popular type of bread that the general public purchases, but it is not the best option.  Whole wheat bread and other multigrain breads should be purchased instead.  These breads not only contain fewer calories, they help to fight quite a few health problems like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
  2. The need to eat salt on foods is a learned behavior, therefore it can be unlearned.  Herbs can be a great alternative to salt, but also Mrs. Dash seasoning comes in a wide variety of flavors that have no sodium or calories to help spice up any meal.
  3. They say that a piece of pork bacon can make anything taste great, and although that may be true, when the statistics on a piece of pork bacon is put out there, many people may be ready to make the switch to turkey.  Two slices of turkey bacon can have only about 1 gram of saturated fat and 50 calories, where pork bacon can have twice as many calories and fourteen times the amount of saturated fat.
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The Work of an Agricultural Scientist

May 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Agricultural scientists perform the very critical work of ensuring that a nation’s food supply is safe for public consumption. Additionally, these scientists scrutinize the crops of farms and animal life to foster both the quality and number of food sources for the public at large.

Research as a Primary Tool

Agricultural scientists are heavily involved in research into technologies and chemical processes. They use manufacturing technology to ensure that the food delivered to the public is not infested with contamination or invaders.

A Variety of Agricultural Scientists

An agricultural scientist may be focused mainly on food technology. This may involve finding the best ways to package and preserve food to retain its nutrition and safety.

A plant scientist may focus mainly on how to get rid of pests that invade food sources. In addition, a plant scientist may find ways to stop the spread of plant diseases caused by insects.

Yet another kind of agricultural scientist is one who focuses on the soil. This type of scientist studies the mineral and chemical composition of the soil to determine best farming practices.

Some agricultural scientists focus mainly on animals and animal products. Their work may involve providing guidance to farmers on how best to treat and maintain the animals to enhance production and manage incidences of animal mortality.

Becoming an Agricultural Scientist

The path for becoming an agricultural scientist involves study of subjects such as food chemistry, plant pathology, biochemistry and related subjects taught in traditional agricultural programs. To work in professional positions, advanced degrees are typically needed, including evidence of fieldwork and research.

 

 

 

 

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How Your Grocery Store Affects Your Health

May 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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The argument that your grocery store affects your health may seem unreasonable. After all, the average grocery store carries fruits and vegetables and the basic foods you need to stay alive and healthy. However, grocery stores do vary greatly from one another. Depending on your beliefs about food and nutrition, choosing your grocery store carefully can make a difference in your overall health.

Convenience and Affordability

Your average large grocery store offers you convenience, tremendous selection and affordability. By virtue of offering bulk products, such stores are able to deliver cheaper prices. The larger the packaging, the better price you generally receive per unit or weight amount. Purchasing giant bags of potato chips and multiple gallons of ice cream makes sense from an economic standpoint, but do they benefit your health?

The Alternative Grocery Store

As society establishes the link between nutrition and health, alternative options are appearing. Larger health food stores that carry healthier food are becoming more prevalent in larger cities. Organic and pesticide-free produce allows you to avoid harmful toxins that have the potential of accumulating in your body through repeated exposure. Healthier, non-chemical sugar substitutes are made available, along with alternative options for the lactose and gluten intolerant.

The Mom and Pop Grocery Store

The smaller health food stores have their unique advantages as well. When management is deeply interested in learning about and promoting health, this is reflected in the foods stocked and sold to the public. When visiting these stores, you often find individuals who have studied the impact of food on the human body and have carefully selected healthy options for your consumption.

 

 

 

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Choosing the Best Grocery Stores

May 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Grocery store choices are plentiful. The traditional supermarket, organic grocery store and your corner grocery market are some of the possible options. You may be choosing grocery stores based on matters of price or location. When it comes to choosing the healthiest options, you might consider a few other factors.

Shopping at the Corner Store

One of the conveniences, particularly for city dwellers, is shopping at the corner grocery market. If you’re coming home late from work and are hungry, these stores are often the most attractive option simply because they’re nearby. However, the corner market generally offers fewer items at higher prices. Additionally, a smaller store may not be frequented as much, so you’ll want to make sure to check the expiration dates on items such as milk and bread.

Weekly Trips to the Supermarket

Traditional supermarkets typically offer better prices and a large selection. This type of store is your best bet if your concern is stretching your money as far as possible. With a larger selection of foods from which to choose, you also benefit from greater access to nutrition. Keep in mind, though, that unless your supermarket is located in a highly health conscious part of the country, you may not have access to organic foods and alternative food options, such as Stevia for sugar avoiders and almond milk for the lactose intolerant.

Occasional Trips to Health Food Stores

To guarantee greater access to organic products and wholesome nutrition, visit large-scale health food stores. The extra dollars you spend there may be offset by the savings you gain in fewer visits to the doctor.

 

 

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The Role Corn Plays Today

March 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Corn has played a major role in the American economy and our farmers are not about to give up their seat as number one any time soon. Our farmers are producing so much corn that America can save some of it for the future. Although corn might not seem to be a big deal in your life it has brought America where it is today and has kept us there for years.

Corn has been grown in America even before the colonials arrived here from the European countries. Native Americans showed the pilgrims how to raise corn in harsh weather states. Ever since then Americans have been growing corn for their families and to sell or trade with. Today corn has many uses and you can find it as filler for almost everything that is marked down. Corn is cheap filler that companies love to use in their products. They don’t have to spend so much on the more expensive ingredients and still keep the taste that Americans will want to eat. Most of the corn in America is grown on family owned fields or individually owned fields. Only a little percentage of corn is grown from corporate land.

There are many uses for corn today and the production rate in America will not fall anytime soon. Farmers today are growing a lot more corn today than they were in the 30’s and on almost 20% less land. Farmers also use less fertilizer than they did in the past and can grow more corn on less land. Our farmers are growing more with less and they are doing it faster than ever before.

 

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E Coli and the United States

March 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

E coli can be a big problem for American grocery stores and if they want to keep their customers safe they have to inspect all of their foods. E coli is a bacteria that lives inside your intestines that breaks down certain food particles that you can’t digest naturally. The bacteria can be passed from feces to food from poor hygiene practices. Most of the infected victims could have saved themselves from contamination if they had just practice safe food handling practices.

You can fight the spread of E coli by washing your all your produce very well before consuming it. You should also wash your hands when you handle food to eat or prepare. E coli can be found on the produce that you are about to eat or on any surface that the produce has touched. This is why it is so important to keep a clean prep and cooking area in your kitchen. Bacteria can spread very quickly in uncontrolled cooking areas and can make many people sick with just one infected surface.

Some of the produce that has been detected to have E coli has come from undeveloped nations like Mexico. When the produce crosses the border it gets inspected by a health food inspector for any signs of infected produce. There is a lot of produce that passes across the border into the United States and most of the food does not have a chance to get inspected. The only way you can protect yourself from E coli is to wash everything you eat and all the surfaces that it touches. To prevent the spread of E coli you must also wash your hands regularly.

 

 

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You Can Change Rising Food Prices

March 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

As the price of oil climbs higher our food will start to cost more as well, because of our way of farming. We don’t use tools or bulls and oxen to farm our land, we use machinery that runs on fuel. The machinery we use today uses large amounts of fuel to do everything the farmer used to do. Plowing the land, planting crops, and even sowing the fields are all done by machinery. Not only do the farms rely on oil, but so does our way of transporting the produce.

There are millions of semis on the roads transporting produce all of the country every day of the year and there is no stopping in sight. Trains are a cheaper way of transporting produce around the country, but trains cannot go everywhere that semis can.  This kind of system works well, but there is a problem it’s all dependent on oil. If we can’t find another way of producing and transporting our crops then we will be in serious trouble in the near future.

The price of oil will rise even more there is no question about that, the question is can the American people afford higher priced foods? There is no straight answer for this question, but there is an answer to higher food prices. We start growing our own food and start trading what we made with each other to get what we need. This is a very simple concept, but no one wants to do it, because of convince at the grocery store. If we are to protect ourselves from hunger we need to start thinking more about the future and less about our accounts.

 

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