jill wrote:
> Buy local from farmers: fresh, better tasting than grocery chains,
> saves on gas, good for the local economy.
> jill stardust
>
That's all well and good, a noble sentiment and all that, but one does not
always have access to a farmer's market.

There is one at the Agricenter in Germantown, TN, however the hours are a
bit constrictive, especially for people who work. A hypothetical he
Assume you get off work at 5PM. The market closes at 6PM Mon-Fri and at
5:30PM on Saturday. Not open on Sunday. If you work in the *city* of
Memphis, given the traffic you just can't be sure you'll get to the market
before it closes during the work week. Saturday is an option, but only if
you don't have a million other things to do. I'm fortunate in that I don't
have children to chauffer all over the place to different events but for
others it could be an issue.

The other farmer's market is all the way downtown in Memphis and this is the
first year it's been there. No way would that be convenient for me, to say
nothing of saving on gas money since it's a good 30 miles from where I live.
It also appears from what I read online to only be open for a half a day on
*Saturday*.

Jill

> OmManiPadmeOmelet wrote:
>> My budget is getting squeezed tighter and tighter due to the rising
>> cost of living. I chalk most of it up to the price of oil/fuel.
>> Everything has to be transported so fuel prices affect _everything_!
>>
>> Now that we've gotten used to eating a healthier diet, I'm refusing
>> to go back to eating crap just because it's cheaper! Our main diet
>> consists of fresh meats and fresh produce. I don't like frozen
>> veggies, I've tried. I know they are cheaper. The "No salt added"
>> canned" however are not bad, but I still don't even use a lot of
>> those.
>>
>> I think the biggest area I've had to cut back on has been red meat.
>> We eat more chicken than anything else but fortunately, there are a
>> million and one ways to cook it.
>>
>> As far as greens go, I won't compromise! Salads for instance. Our
>> preferred green is fresh pre-cleaned baby spinach leaves followed
>> closely by boston butter lettuce. After that it's red or green leaf
>> lettuce, then romaine. We really don't care for iceberg. Good texture
>> but no flavor.
>>
>> We do eat a lot of brocolli and some cauliflower as well as a lot of
>> carrots and squash, but we only eat asparagus when it drops below
>> $3.00 per lb. We do not eat potatoes. Period. No pasta either and
>> limited amounts of bread. The only beans we eat are black soybeans.
>> Tomatoes and avocados are included depending on current prices.
>>
>> Has anyone else had to make any compromises due to rising prices?
>> I've just had to cut back on other items but I'm reluctant to
>> "cheapen" our diets. It's too important.
>>
>> I mostly just shop sales. ;-)
>> --
>> Peace!
>> Om
>>
>> "My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch"
>> -- Jack Nicholson