An Oxymoron? Just Why Is It?  

Yes I don't think any of us would mind if the cost of organic foods was just a tad less, but the prices really are ridiculous of what they charge--I would think the opposite is true, that if there is more demand for it, the price would actually go down??? Notice now how really expensive seafood it now? I bring this up because I remember years and years ago, seafood was so much cheaper...but then when people become more chloresterol conscious and realized that there was less in fish than red meat..up went the price and down came the cost of meat..No, I just really wouldn't have any room to grow my own food in an apartment...LOL--wish I could though

I think they raise the price because the demand is high and the quantity is low.
On seafood I'm not sure either. But I've heard that the fishing industry hasn't been as good as it once was. Though I wouldn't doubt them raising just because it's more popular now.

I think it's so much easier to get more "natural" foods in a rural area...I live in the Big Apple..so of course everything is so much more in cost and especially organic or natural foods.. :(

Oh...can I move in with you??..LOL. Where you are sounds ideal. Of course being here in the Big Apple everything is so darn expensive...I guess they also have to consider costs of transporting foods into our area, especially the organic/natural stuff.

Sure, pack your bags and come on over..all of you. My niece moved out so now my spare room is empty again. lol I love my lil piece of paradise even thou it's now an island for a week or 2 with all the rain and melted snow. My town is on flood warning till late tomorrow morning which means I'll prolly be missing a few customers tomorrow being their roads always flood.

LOL--I plan to call my friend out in CA tomorrow...she's in Northern CA, near Sacramento...she was always boasting how "Oh, we NEVER get any snow..." LOL...I've been hearing about the weather there...guess what..it's snowing...hehehee...The weather has been weird all over. We're having a heat wave here, near 70 today in NY...in JANUARY??????

I've been worried about a few friends in CA with all the rain and now snow they are getting. Snow is one thing but rain can cause flooding which isn't good. Come to think of it, snow can cause flooding as well if it melts quickly enough like it did here.

I know....flash floods are terrible--kind of ironic though...elsewhere the rain in parts of the country are wrecking havoc with flooding, while GA has had the worse drought conditions in decades and need rain

Alas, no patio. I live on the second floor of an apartment building. :(
Years and years ago though, I did have window boxes in each of my windows...I did grow some beans, cumbers, green peppers and tomatoes..yikes never realized how TALL tomato plants got..LOL--Then my smuck of a landlord told me to take them down..the window boxes, claimed they were a hazard and could fall down and maybe injure someone..bull do-do...I had those suckers installed so secure that short of a monsoon nothing could dislodge them...also even if they did fall, all they would have fallen would be the little "land/garden" area in front of the building--but the landlord made such a fuss about it..so took them down..

I think I'm going to cut back on red meat myself..oh, don't tell me about cheese...my downfall is cheese too, just call me mouse..LOL

I love V-8 juice, irishmist. Thanks for the reminder, I'll have to get some. My daughter can't stand it, but, oh well.

I think one of the keys is moderation in certain foods, although this can be hard. I too 'love' cheese, but have had to cut back of late, as I really need fibre in my diet, if you catch my drift, and too much cheese, 'isn't good for me,' along these lines. I'm trying to cut back on 'pop' and chips too. I buy some once in awhile for a treat, because everyone has to have 'at least' one vice. hehehe.

What you said there about natural foods not being tasty...ever get foods that are sodium free or less sodium??...suppose to be more healthy without so much salt...and guess what I do? Add salt cause it taste so plain and blah--LOL

I've never tried 'the less salt foods,' but can only imagine ... yuck.

I love whole grain bread, since I've switched, and don't really care for just the plain ordinary white bread anymore. This is 'all' I used to buy. I do like those loaves that you cut yourself though, like French stick etc., but don't buy them very often.

Oh and I recommend seeking out Farmer's Markets in your area - sometimes the drive itself is a pleasant way to spend a few hours on weekends.In some states they have orchards open to the public too.

You must live in a pretty much rural area?? At least not a big city like the NY area to have all those markets available to you--sure wish we had that here..I think part of the large cost of everything is to take in account of transportation costs to bring all the food in. Alas, can't drive to a Farmer's market either. No car and never learned to drive...waaahh

NYC has a Trader Joes and they deliver if you don't drive and take the bus. You go to the store, pick out your groceries and for 4.95 they deliver within two hours. I've lived in cities and it can be difficult to lug groceries on the bus - or worse the subway.

I used to live in NY - born in the city and moved to the island but left when I was nine. Now I live in the largest city in NM but that doesn't say anything - its like one huge sprawling suburb - much like Anchorage.

Have you considered an Aero Garden - at least for vegetables. There are certain places that deliver meat and other things that aren't too expensive and hormone and antibiotic free.

Look up Farmer's markets online and you will find several in different areas. Garden of Eden, Bryant - even an Amish market. The NY state dep't of agriculture is looking at the feasability of establishing a wholesale farmer's market. You can even find a community garden in your neighborhood. Look up CENYC dot org. There are even co-ops like the norwood food co-op - community supported agriculture. Co-ops can be more expensive but you actually get money back - like profit sharing - my neighbor just got a fifty dollar check from hers. Most of them work with charities and volunteer organizations so you get free food that way too. Like another friend volunteers at the bio-park and gets free co-op food. Good luck on your healthier choices at better prices quest.

http://well.blogs.nytimes...

BTW - never knew we didn't have never learning to drive in common!

I was just looking...there actually is a Trader Joe's not that far from me, yet far if you know what I mean--it would mean taking the subway, then a bus--so even if I did travel by public transportation that would mean double fair or $8.00 round trip for me...yeesh. If there was a way to order stuff on-line and then they could deliver no problem..but main problem...for food I rely on food stamps...It'd be different if say I went there, picked the food out then used my food stamps, then had them deliver, but it just still would be too expensive for me to travel there and back and , then add the $4.95 delivery charge...For the cost of the travel ($8.00) then delivery charge ($4.95) I could instead buy more food. --As far as other markets like that..I would probably run into the same problem as far as all the cost involved just getting to these places and delivery charges. Being on SSI benefits can suck--I don't even have stuff delivered to me from my local supermarket that I go to, but luge it home with my wagon

It can be frustrating not driving. I always got a monthly pass for the subway and bus and saved money. If you ever take a class you can get a student rate which is nice. So the only think I can suggest is to join a community garden near by, aero garden - go to trder joes and buy food for the month and have it delivered - that way its 15 dollars just once. And see if there's a food bank in your area where you can get free food to supplement as well - if you're okay with doing that . A lot of it is organic and donated by places like Wild Oats. Try the local Farmer's Market.

The delivery ption at Trader Joes makes it possible to buy more food at once and not have to lug it - at all. And yeah fifteen is lot but so is our health. Darn it why is it so darn difficult to be healthy? And sooooooooo expensive.

The few food banks that are around me have basically junk food...LOL.. nothing really healthy and definitely not organic...all canned stuff, and pasta (which I don't like eating too much of) --nope no community gardens around here either. and nope, no local Farmer's Market around me either--where I am it's pretty urban, not quite like Manhattan but close to the way the neighborhood's are...in other words a lot of apartment buildings --for now the only way I get to anywhere is by walking ...that is until recently with all the pain in my feet and ankles, so even going down the block from me is a challenge with the pain

NYC is teeming with community gardens - yes the city. And Farmer's Markets and even co-ops. Try the links I gave. I can't remember if I can give a full link so I just gave the word and .com - you can also find them in manhattan as well.

http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com/regionmetro.htm

http://www.oasisnyc.net/r...

http://www.greenguerillas.org/

Don't think that just because you're in a city these kinds of resources aren't available to you - I've lived in a lot of cities!

Just looked up those links...those farmer's markets are still to far away from me to walk it..especially now....and the others would still need to take public transport--maybe once my darn feet and ankles ever get better I might be able to walk to the one that is listed

I'm glad there's one in walking distance (isn't it funny how walking distance for drivers and non drivers is different - for some drivers a block is way too far). I forgot to say earlier that I'm sorry about the problems you're having walking.

Its not quite the same, but getting pregnant has curtailed my freedom somewhat. I used to be able to go anywhere by bus - even to Sante Fe. Sometimes it took two hours to get someplace it takes fifteen minutes to drive to but still I could go anywhere. You know some buses only run every like hour and a half while others run every ten minutes.

Then I got pregnant and first, the problem was throwing up on the 15 minute walk to the nearest bus stop and then it was my migraines - with no hope of pain reliever! Now I have a baby. My husband works swing shift at the base and gets home around twelve. He then stays up and he is out of shape and needs about nine hours sleep or more so by the time he wakes up I have time to shower ( a really really long shower) and then he has to get ready for work. I love where I'm living now, but its outside the city - just outside so to get anywhere - whether its the co-op or just well anywhere - I have to wait until the weekend. He sleeps late then too so by the time he's awake I can't do too much and I'm already exhausted. I stay up to have time to myself and then the baby wants to be up early and with me still nursing I'm tired by late afternoon. I ask him to go to sleep earlier but he claims he can't. I'm not the type to nag. When the baby is weaned, I'll just leave the baby with him and go off with my friend/neighbor/landlady to yoga class, the co-op the bio park or whatever. Or go with the baby depending.

I used to walk everywhere too, even 45 minutes to school or work rather then waiting for the bus and to get some excercise - weekends I just walk around the city exploring - its almost like meditation - in a wierd way - very relaxing. But now with a baby, that would be too much time away from him when he's nursing and I am all for nursing anywhere anytime but I won't nurse in public. Just won't. He stopped liking the bottle. And right now its too cold for him to be out too long. I take him into our large backyard, to see all the animals and the gardens to play on the swing, but I don't even take around the neighborhood - too many dogs allowed by irresponsible owners to stray. My last walk woman told me a dog attacked her soooo....

Anyway, I just want you to know I feel for you. Your feet are your main transportation and with these problems, its like your car is in the shop. I hate to say it, but if there's a Walmart around you - they are starting to carry organic. Its just more expensive then many Trader Joes items.

See if there's a community garden in your area - if you think you can donate two hours a week that is with the things you have to deal with.

I know its hard, when we were on base, some weeks we had ramen noodles - its what we almost had for Christmas Dinner with the expense of moving and staying in an exteded stay hotel for a month - but I did some origami for a card maker on a deadline and made enough for a turkey and some canned/boxed sides. Thankfully, we'll have a bit more so that I can shop at Sunflower Market. I'd like to support the local farmers with the co-op but Sunflower uses 'local' too - New Mexico and Colorado.

I love the way you put it..."Your feet are your main transportation and with these problems, its like your car is in the shop...."
Oh how true that is...it's been really depressing how bad my feet and ankles have been. And what really drives me batty, I've always made it a habit of getting out of the apt. everyday, no matter what...how I felt, what the weather..never bothered me, until now. What's that saying, if your feet hurt you're whole body feels it. So now I tend to stay home more. It's like I have to alternate..one day I hobble out --lol--and then next day home to rest up my feet--driving me nuts. One of the reasons I do love to get out everyday is so I never fall back to being completely housebound like I was years ago due to my agoraphobia problem...I NEVER want that again..also by getting out everyday, I just feel better..more energized or as you put it...like a mediation thing...but like I said, with these foot problems I have to stay home more.
LOL--nope no Walmart near me either...they are either upstate NY or out in Long Island

Hehe..yes I know you were elsewhere..hope you had fun there :)
Mmm....I love peanut butter, and while yes, it's protein it's also pure fat too, and the worse is the commercial brands that have hydrogenated oil. I love seafood too and would rather eat more but as you say it's expensive...remember years ago, fish was actually cheaper than any other meat...then when people became more chloresterol conscious and ate less meat to switch to fish..boom the price of fish skyrocketed. I have some of my own theories about my now occurring health problems...maybe I'll get into that "elsewhere" ;)

I had a lot of fun 'there,' thanks.:) I too, realize this about peanut butter, but then ... I love seafood, and especially enjoy salmon, and I don't mean the canned variety. I like the canned stuff too, but the 'real deal,' is one of my favourites, and unfortunately, cost prohibitive for me (most of the time). I'll be interested to hear your theories, regarding your health concerns, 'elsewhere.'

The only time I use canned salmon is when I make "salmon" fish cakes out of it...but yes, love salmon steaks....yikes they are expensive though--used to make them with a White Wine sauce and julienne stripped carrots and leeks....yum!

I find canned salmon to be a treat for me too, as I like the red kind, and I need to find it on sale. I love it in a sandwich, with low fat mayo. Thanks for the reminder, as I love 'fish cakes,' and salmon loaf too. Now for these, I could use the pink type. Your salmon steaks sound yummy. My mom used to make a white sauce for salmon, minus the wine. We loved it. There's a restaurant in our city, called 'Montannas,' and they have the best salmon steaks, with a wonderful glaze. When I go there, it's usually for a treat, by someone else.

Wow, this discussion has made me so hungry for these things. I'll have to get some salmon soon, at least the canned variety, and maybe just pink, for fish cakes, etc.

Just looked up Seven Seas..seems to be only a UK company, but did look at their website and saw the products for joints...it's that glucosamine stuff

Oh I see and I guess you can't get it from there and it is not cheaper

Yuk...I'm no great fan of soy products and especially not tofu...blaugh! No, live in an apartment building and a small apartment..look at my response to #4 here and you'll see the problems I ran into, when I DID grow a few things...lousy landlord..LOL

Well that's a bummer and no patio to boot..yeesh! Have you tried to grow some things inside? Just curious. I'll have to ask my Mom how she did it, and I'll get back to you on this.

I've tried growing at least herbs indoors, but I guess I just don't have a green thumb..they never survive for long...but I keep trying.