Food Politics

We’d have to look at the numbers to figure out at what point grow-your-own becomes cheaper than buy-from-the-industrial-food-companies. They can exploit economies of scale that we can’t touch. The only reason I can think of that grow-your-own would be cheaper is that the cost of transporting from an industrial farm to us is too high. It’s not clear which of those — economies of scale or transport costs — will dominate.

that’s a little tough when you live in a third floor apartment.

Some apartments can have “urban gardens” on the rooftops.
If there is some lawn or some type of space outside, you could also band together with other people in the building and request to have a green space set aside for residents to grow a couple items.
Window boxes might work for you and at least you could have some potted herbs. I just love the fresh basil, mint, rosemary and chives!
For information on
*Hydroponics *Urban Rainwater Collection
*Urban Pest Control *High yield in small spaces
visit: http://www.urbangardeninghelp.com/

I have a patient who says she gets about $100 worth of food for each $10 she spends in seed and fertilizer. She grows a garden each summer in her yard, tends it herself as a woman in her 70s!
She uses no fancy tools or soil additives, just composts the veggie scraps and yard cuttings/leaf rakings. She freezes and cans a lot, which is a lot of time and energy. but she says she has more of those than money to spend at the grocery store.
I also know some people who use cold frames to extend their growing season, made those cold frames themselves from recycled materials. And I know people who grow smaller amounts of key favorite veggies and herbs in pots on their balconies. It would seem possible to help the family food budget at least somewhat in many home circumstances.