Spending Choices

 The whole topic of what we choose to spend our money on is massive.  Two things have reminded me of this in the last day or so.  Firstly, I found this link - thanks, Pat.  The level of minimalism is a bit beyond me as I love my collection of books and artwork far too much.  However, the text reminds of a lot of the things I do, particularly with regard to buying food.

The only non-recyclable packaging which we routinely generate is the plastic wrappers from cheese,lids from bottles of milk and juice as well packets from dried pasta and frozen peas.  I look forward to the day when I am able to make all of our own pasta and grow enough peas for our own needs.  Cheese is a little more problematic although I expect I could buy it cut from a block.

I should also mention the things I buy without any packaging.  I take containers to the butcher who puts the meat directly into them, tulle bags (that I made) for fruit and vegetables and paper bags (constantly re-used) for bulk dry goods.  Refillable bottles/jars for honey, peanut paste, oil, shampoo and conditioner from the local co-op.  I do buy packaged products but try to make sure they are in glass or paper/cardboard.  I only use my calico and silk bags for carry bags.  Remember, the 'green' bags are still made from a plastic compound (which is oil-based).

The other choice I made was this afternoon when I went to the shop because I needed some vegetables - we had nothing except an abundance of home-grown pumpkin and some frozen peas.  I spent over $9 to get some mushrooms and broccoli!  Then I remembered the sweet potato vine growing over an enormous area so came home and got out in my gumboots and in 10 minutes managed to dig about 2kg of white sweet potatoes.  I also picked a big bundle of young leaves.  I have never used the leaves but everything I read makes me confident that they will be good.

I plan to boil and mash the tubers - they are yummy with garlic added to the mash.  The excess can be successfully frozen for later use.  The leaves will be used in a stir-fry with a small quantity of beef as well as finely sliced broccoli stalks and a few of the mushrooms but tonight will be salmon on garlic mash with pumpkin, peas and broccoli.  I plan to use the rest of the mushrooms in beef stroganoff and chicken & mushroom pancakes.

Fruit and vegetables are only going to become more expensive in the light of the extreme weather events we are experiencing all around the country so we need to be as smart as we can with what is available.  I like to grow at least some of our own but unfortunately my garden has suffered a similar fate to that of many commercial growers - waterlogged.  In the meantime the next best thing is to eat seasonal produce (less expensive and more nutritional value) and not to waste a scrap of what we have got.

Perhaps it is time to take a leaf from the book of our ancestors who lived through the shortages of wars and the Great Depression.  That sounds like a topic for another day.