Save your grocery bills this month...because...

Some good ideas, Gordon. Unfortunately, some of this is water under the bridge because it's already happening. Last night Safeway sold out 20 boxes of bananas, all their milk, all the bread...and it was just put out that same day!

Here are some concrete suggestions to help you become self-sufficient AMAP. Money is secondary because money can't buy what isn't available for sale.

Consider container gardening on a deck or patio if you don't have land you can put into productive garden use. That's what we're going to do ASAP.

Consider purchasing or making a food drier to keep things longer term in minimal space and container requirements.

Buy or build a sprouting system for the kitchen and have your own fresh spices and sprouts. I had one years ago that was six round white plastic trays, perforated for drainage, that stacked. Easy to use and keep fresh...hope I can find another one. If you know of a good source for something similar, please share the info.

Buy your seeds as fresh as possible in most cases. Save containers for use in starting plants for your container garden. Eventually, save your own seeds for drying and planting the next crop.

Use liquid fertilizer rather than powdered...easier to store and better absorbed by the plants...especially in containers.

Buy Ziploks and containers for flours and cereals on sale as available.

Re-consider the value of a stand alone freezer if you live in an area, like I do, that has frequent power outages. If you use one, get content insurance and/or have a safe means of keeping power going. Don't forget the fuel to run the power source...lots of folks discovered that, when the power went out, so did the ability to pump gas etc. Be prepared but remember: SAFETY

To save root crops, consider building simple boxes and filling them with organic earth to put the crops in and cover them. Store them in a cold, but protected, area during the winter. Apartment dwellers can do this in outside storage units that are usually provided with most apartments.

Well, I could go on and on but this is long. What tips/ideas do YOU have to share?

BTW don't forget, if you have a bumper crop it'll be well worth offering it for sale to those less able to grow their own...prices will be up as will demand.

Sandi Bowman