“A poor man’s field may produce abundant food,
but injustice sweeps it away.” (Proverbs 13:23, New International Version)
“Banks foreclose on the farms of the poor,
or else the poor lose their shirts to crooked lawyers.” (Proverbs 13:23, The Message)
Additional Readings
From Simply in Season: “The rise of agribusiness” (2005 p. 292 / 2009 p. 308); “Providing our food and living in poverty” (2005 p. 258 / 2009 p. 270); “No lack of choice” (2005 p. 256 / 2009 p. 267); “Why poor people are getting heavier” (2005 p. 129 / 2009 p. 131)
Guest Post
This week’s guest post is by Michelle, who blogs at www.selfsufficienthealth.com
Stewardship is our relationship with God. He owns everything; created everything. We are here to manage everything for him. A good steward will manage everything in their life according to how they thing God would want it managed (as defined in the Bible). Most people think of finances when they hear the word stewardship, in relation to tithing specifically. I’d like you to think about stewardship in how you manage not only your money, but also the other people on Earth, “stuff”, and earth itself.
Stewardship and Low Cost Food
What is low cost food? This is truly based on perspective. I once viewed most processed foods as low cost food, especially using coupons and shopping weekly promotions. However, I find it to be high cost food now. Processed foods contain ingredients I would now prefer to keep out of my body, such as high fructose corn syrup, MSG, and aspartame. Between sugar, carbohydrates, and toxic additives that create these products, you are probably going to pay far more in health care costs down the road. How are you being a good steward to your body by providing it with malnutrition?
Today, I still think I buy a lot of low cost food. My focus has just changed. I have learned to utilize ingredients to provide nourishing meals for my family. Cooking from scratch is the easiest way to enjoy “low cost” food and still be a good steward to your body.
Farmers and Money
First, let me tell you I am a dairy farmer’s daughter. My dad and mom own and operate a conventional dairy farm, with the help of my eldest brother and sister-in-law. I will be the first to tell you, farmers spend money. When farmers make money, they invest it. It will either be spent to buy feed for animals in advance (preparing for economical downfalls), payoff loans, purchase new equipment, complete maintenance that has been put off, and the list goes on.
Stewardship and Buying Local
A good steward of money will know where every penny in their procession goes. When you buy your food, do you know where that money is going? Based on the USDA’s Economic Research Service, farms received an average of $.19 per every dollar you spent on food in 2000. The other portion was spent on downstream marketing activities. I bring this to your attention because like The Local Cook, I believe in buying local. By buying local, you can decrease some of the $.81 that is spent on marketing. If you are able to buy directly from the farm, this is dropped dramatically.
Example of a Dairy Farmer’s “Paycheck”
Dairy farmers are paid per hundred weights on their milk. Don’t try to understand it. Just know that there are 11.6 gallons of milk in 100 weight. This past month, my dad was paid $16.67/100 weight. This is equivalent to $1.44/gallon gross income on whole, raw, milk. After deductions for marketing and paying for the milk to be delivered to the processing plant, my dad got paid $1.37/gallon. This sounds like a lot, maybe to some of you. A gallon of whole, pasteurized milk is $3.85 from my dad’s contract company in the store. However, let’s say my dad sends 300,000 pounds of milk to the plant in one month equaling 3,000 hundred weight. For one dollar in milk price change, he loses or gains $3,000 in one month! Milk price can fluctuate dramatically ($11-20/100 weight for example).
Buying Local = A Good Steward
My dad contracts the sale of his milk with a locally owned company. The milk he sells stays right here in our region. Milk produced on many dairies, here in PA, can be shipped as far as Florida! If you go to the store though, you will also find, the company my dad’s milk is from is ALWAYS more expensive. I’m willing to pay that extra. The best scenario, in the ideal world, is to buy directly from the farmer. In this case, you can completely manage where your money is going. You can choose the farmer, the products, and go home, knowing your money was well spent. The farmer can take those funds to adequately pay for hired help you can meet, food for his own family, and stay in business.
Purchase Fresh Food
Purchasing directly from the farmer can be more expensive than buying mass produced food. However, you will be getting products that are without a doubt fresh. You can know if they were produced and/or grown to your ethical standards, as well. How much better can you manage where your food money is going than directly putting it in the hands of the farmer? In my opinion, this is the best way to be a good steward of your money, your health, and our economy all at once.
This Week’s Challenge
Questions for Reflection (share your response below for any one of these for an entry in this week’s drawing) ?
- Using our money to buy fresh, local food–which may or may not cost more than the supermarket equivalent–is an exciting way to put our values into practice. Even the smallest step in that direction makes a difference. Thinking about buying local food in this way, how might it be good stewardship to buy local, seasonal food even if it costs more than other options?
- What role can the church (or you individually) play in seeing that access to fresh, local food is not limited to the middle class and wealthy?
Challenge to Action (post on your blog and add a link below to the specific post about this challenge or email me before Friday for an additional entry into this week’s drawing).
- Evaluate your food budget. Are there processed items or restaurant meals you can give up so more money is available for fresh, local products or fair trade items? Or would you consider increasing your food budget itself for this purpose?
- Share YOUR money-saving tips.
- If you know a local farmer well enough to discuss financial issues, (or if you ARE a farmer), ask if it is getting harder or easier for them to meet financial goals. How else to they consider “success?”
- Post (or email, or leave in comments) information about an organization in your community that is trying to make fresh, seasonal produce available to those with lower incomes.
The prize: I’m so excited to announce that the prize isReal Food on a Real Budget, an e-book graciously donated by Stephanie at Keeper of the Home. I know you’ll love her practical tips and suggestions to help you become a better a steward of both your finances and your health!
This week’s winner was Cindy who blogs at FarmGirlCyn.
Wow, what a wonderful post. This is something that I really struggle with. I believe firmly in stewardship “outside the box.” As in, stewardship to the land, others, our bodies. This issue touches on all of those things. You should feed your body real food. I should be feeding my children real food. We should be supporting people who grow our food, especially those who grow it in a way that is not toxic to the earth.
I don’t have my own blog, so…
The more I think about this issue, the more I wonder how much I would save each week/month if I were to buy everything with thoughtful intention…
If I were to buy milk from the dairy man, and grain from the farmer, and veggies from my CSA, ect… I wouldn’t make the “extra” purchases anymore. I wouldn’t have bought the Popsicles this week (that i feel guilty about each time my kids eat), I wouldn’t have gotten the supplies for samores… I wouldn’t have bought a new shirt for myself… How much would I save if I took out these purchases? They seem so inexpensive at the time, but I know that adds up. Maybe I should try…
I really try to eat more whole foods and more locally-grown foods, and we shop at a store that supports local growers. I’ve checked out the local CSAs, but they are rather expensive, as is the local farmer’s market. I know that the small growers have to charge more, but we’ve got a large population of fairly affluent folks in town who will pay a premium for locally-grown food, and that sets the price up out of our reach quite often. We’ve got some great farms you can drive to in the surrounding towns, and they really do offer good food at a reasonable price, but we can’t squeeze a drive out of town into our weekly shopping trips so we mostly stock up on the less perishable items there. We also try to grow as much as possible in our tiny yard, and though it’s a lot of work, it pays off in amazingly fresh produce and less money spent at the store.
Our area has a large farmers market all summer long to help people eat locally.
I am lucky enough to live in a great agricultural state, California, so I can buy locally grown fruit and vegetables easily and at reasonable prices.
I belong to a local CSA, which, tho expensive at first glance, really works out to be a very smart investment.
I buy local, when I can. Just purchased local, 100% grass-fed beef, and shop the farmers market at least every other week for odds and ends not available thru our CSA. I am a firm believer in making do, or doing without, and have learned some new skills in the process. Homemade yogurt, sourdough breads, cream cheese…all items that I used to purchase at the grocers are now being made by me. And if I can learn something new at age nearly 58, then anybody can!
Cindy
.-= cindy50.blogspot.com/´s last blog ..GOODBYE THOMAS’, HELLO HOMEMADE! =-.
Would you share your cream cheese recipe?
For homemade Nourishing Traditions cream cheese, I follow this video exactly.
http://thehealthyhomeeconomist.blogspot.com/2010/05/video-liquid-whey-and-cream-cheese.html
Cindy
.-= cindy50.blogspot.com/´s last blog ..GOODBYE THOMAS’, HELLO HOMEMADE! =-.
Thanks for this post, Michelle. I think that what you said about needing a change of perspective of what qualifies as “low cost foods” is so true. My problem is that I’m willing to pay for the real foods but haven’t quite found the way to make that low cost yet!
There are several churches in my area that are really making an effort to get real, local foods to the community. One church houses a buying club that provides local and organic foods to its members (we just joined!). Several churches have offered part of their land to be used for community gardens, and a few others host “soup kitchens” where local farmers donate what’s left after market and community members spend an afternoon cooking and eating the local foods together. I also know of a some church members involved in the lobbying aspect of getting fresh and local foods into the areas of town that have been known to be food deserts. It’s so good to see God’s people being stewards in this way, and I hope it spreads because it really is only in a small circle of churches that these things are happening.
.-= Kelly @ quest for real food´s last blog .. =-.
Kelly…Could you post more info on the church buying club? I believe we live in the same area.
Thanks,
Cindy
.-= cindy50.blogspot.com/´s last blog ..GOODBYE THOMAS’, HELLO HOMEMADE! =-.
Cindy, Send me an email kelly@ questforrealfood.com I would love to give you more info!
Thank you for the kind words Kelly. Perspective is the biggest hurdle that has helped me in our food budget. I have to remember that I am buying low cost – just differently than I’ve always known growing up. Love the buying club through your church. It sounds like a fabulous idea/opportunity!
We try to be good stewards of our health, money, and community by growing herbs and veggies, getting the rest from a CSA, wasting as little of that food as possible, composting, and using a rain barrel.
I don’t have a blog, so I will just comment. I’m lucky enough to live in So Cal where I can garden year round (now that I’m really making the effort to do so)! My goal several years ago was to have something from my garden coming into my kitchen every month of the year. I’m doing it! I have lots of areas that I’m working on improving (planting more/better cool weather crops for our winter… lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, etc and more and different summer crops…). I’m also fighting a losing battle against the bunnies who think of my yard as ‘Bunny Buffet Unlimited!’. I’m going to end up fencing to keep them out of some of the things I tried and lost this year (mainly green beans). But, I do have lots of fruit trees and vines (apples, pears, nectarines, figs, avocados, oranges, lemons, limes, mandarin oranges, blackberries, raspberries, blue grapes, green grapes) and then the summer veggies (tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, white pattypan squash, cucumbers…). And, I get enough goodies from the yard that I can and dehydrate and freeze lots for use the rest of the year. So, to me, eating local means expanding my own garden and use of it!
Oh my word, I am so jealous! Would LOVE to be able to grow that much variety! I do have my own bunny problems, though. Let me know if you have any luck keeping them out.
Suzanne,
I think you just gave me the final reason I needed to move back to So Cal 🙂 I am also jealous of all that variety!
I think that as a society we have to teach people we meet to change their thinking. Most don’t realize how much you can impact the local economy, the environment and your own health and wellbeing by buying local real food. I think it is good stewardship as it supports your neighbors, it is good for the land when you buy sustainable (even if you don’t it is better than buying something trucked across the country or world) and it is really does improve your health to eat fresh, local foods. I have found that when we started changing our buying habits many years ago it really cut down on our medical bills which freed up more money to buy more things locally and in bulk, in season.
I think it is important for individuals and other organizations (churches, etc.) to help spread the word about buying local and by helping those less fortunate to afford access to healthy food.
I am lucky to live in SE Michigan. There are many wonderful organizations that help others gain access to fresh foods. Our Temple in West Bloomfield plants a community garden that produces organic produce for the local food bank.
I have found that my CSA saves me money. The amount of produce we get weekly in the height of summer far surpasses what we pay. If you went to the local farmers market and bought the equivalent you would pay at least double. We also get the opportunity to purchase from other farmers since we are a large group collectively we can get a better price on other local foods such as eggs, berries, corn, etc.
I also get beef once a year as freezer beef and it equals out to less than $4 a pound for everything from steaks to ground beef. We get it locally and have it custom slaughtered locally so we support a farmer and a meat processor locally and we know how our meat is processed and raised. That to me is good stewardship!!
Thanks for a great topic and blog.
Lisa
sign me up
I really enjoyed this post. I believe stewardship applies to just about everything, including food and energy. I’m trying to be more diligent about not wasting food or anything else. This is especially tricky with produce. I’m fortunate in that I have a local farm less than 10 minutes from my house, and I’ve participated in their winter CSA before. In addition, there is another local farm which is much smaller, only 2 minutes from my house. I used to shy away from higher prices for local food or organic foods, but have since tried to make up the difference some where else in my budget. I feel better giving my money to friends and acquaintances in my community, and I also feel more comfortable feeding this food to my family. I also have a garden each summer and raise my own beef and eggs, which is the most economical and rewarding way to feed my family fresh healthy foods. However, this is a fairly new way of life for us, as we have been doing this for only a couple of years.
.-= Robin´s last blog ..Yard Sale Finds =-.
I love to shop at local farmers markets. I not only feel good about the food I’m buying, but its nice to know that my money is going to a local person to support them. I love the idea of passing money around locally, instead of handing it over to big corporations.
My husband wants to eat meat at dinner every night, and grass-fed beef is very expensive. We belong to a wonderful grass-fed beef CSA and I’ve gotten creative with trying to deal with various low-cost cuts of meat.
Although I’m not a Christian, I do agree with a lot of what you wrote regarding stewardship of the body. I grow most of my own organic vegetables. The produce I don’t grow, I buy exclusively from local farmers at the farmers’ market. Nourish the body, nourish the soul.
this is such a great post. as christians, too often we make thrift into an idol–and ignore the ethics of spending. Jesus never commanded us to get the best deal, but we are called to love our neighbors. where we spend our dollars IS a moral challenge!
my husband is a hunter, so we buy little meat and eat mostly venison. we just got chickens and have been getting milk from a local farm. i used to “save” lots of money couponing, but just shopping the perimeter for staples frees up my food budget a ton for farmer’s market purchases that may be spendier, but support local farms and are delicious:) (and we eat less junk.)
can’t wait for our garden to really produce, but we’re enjoying lettuce and herbs now.
Our family is trying to improve our local buying habits, especially after watching The Futre of Food and Food, Inc. We don’t buy processed foods at the grocery store any more, and when the farmer’s market is open, we shop there. We’ve started an heirloom garden and are growing our own beef too.
There is one thing I’d like to present with a different perspective though. I know that eating out is expensive and the food is probably more processed than we’d choose, but that’s still supporting our local economy in some ways. The server lives in our town, so our tip helps him or her. The rest of the employees live here too, so their wages are supported by our dining out. Some of the places are locally owned, thus helping a local business owner too. I doubt that the food is locally grown though.
The health food store in my town is locally owned and she tries to stock products made by local people. I think that’s another great way to keep the dollars right here.
Thanks for a good post!
Excellent point, Kelly. We have a locally owned Thai restaurant that is our go-to for takeout 🙂 I’m also lucky to live in an area where there are a number of locally owned restaurants that put a priority on sourcing their food from local sources. I’ve debated about doing reviews of them on my blog, since I doubt whether non-West Michigan readers would be interested in it.
Here’s my post for this week’s topic. I think my biggest challenge is successfully sharing my passion for real foods with my husband, who is not quite as commited to the whole idea. I’ve got him on the boat when it comes to the CSA, since he actually sees a cost savings – but the cost of healthy, happy local meat to him is beyond comprehension!
oops! forgot the link: http://daftlysmitten.blogspot.com/2010/06/food-faith-challenge-money.html
WE have changed how we eat after going gluten free and watching King Corn, Food Inc, and reading Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon. My tip is making your own yogurt. So good and so easy.
http://lovinglifeslittlemoments.blogspot.com/2010/04/homemade-yogurt.html
and homemade dishwashing detergent.
http://lovinglifeslittlemoments.blogspot.com/2010/05/homemade-dishwashing-detergent.html
I just have tried to change things a little at a time as I am learning and not get overwhelmed by it all. =0)
My husband wants to eat meat at dinner every night, and grass-fed beef is very expensive. We belong to a wonderful grass-fed beef CSA and I’ve gotten creative with trying to deal with various low-cost cuts of meat.
I’ve heard about food co-operatives where people pool their money together and can buy products at a lower price. Perhaps farmers can have people buy directly from them using these co-ops.