The prospects do not look too good for food prices in the near future. U.S. farmers continue to suffer from the worst drought to hit them in the last half century. And as the U.S. is a major food exporter this is affecting food prices across the globe.
And on the local front the steep increase in production costs and ever increasing fuel price (a major input cost in commercial farming) is already filtering through to the consumer.
How will you deal with the rising costs?
By doing something proactive your grocery bill can actually go down whilst food prices skyrockets.
For starters, grow more veggies. Not by increasing the size of your food garden but by increasing the harvest from your existing garden. The easiest way to do this is to space your crops according to their nutrient needs and your soil quality. For example, if you have a poor soil don't grow veggies with a high nutrient demand.
Next, grow better veggies. Better quality equals better nutritional value. Meaning you'll harvest more nutrients and vitamins from the same area. The easiest way to do this is to plant according to the seasons and to grow crops adapted to your climate. For example, don't grow cool season crops in summer.
And finally, grow your soil. A healthier soil will result in more and better veggies. It is the key to more and better vegetables. Start by cutting down on chemical fertilizers and by making your own compost. There are as many compost making systems as there are food gardeners. The best systems pack punch by using a combination of proven compost making techniques.
So what specifically will you do to beat the rising food prices?
