Getting Ahead of Food Shortages During the Pandemic
Farmers have recently warned that new rules barring the entry of farm workers from Mexico and Central America to the United States could result in food shortages. Rather than panicking, you should be proactive. We are familiar with the recommendation of stocking up on shelf-stable foods like dried legumes and pasta, but what if you want variety in your diet or cannot eat certain foods due to medical restrictions? This article will walk you through the basics of growing your food, joining community-supported agriculture (CSA), and preserving your food.
Full disclosure: I am not a professional in any of these areas. I am merely speaking from my own experience to help prevent widespread panic during the COVID-19 pandemic and to help others be more self-sufficient after the pandemic bottoms out.
Now is a great time to start growing fruits and vegetables. You can do this whether or not you have a backyard. I live in a second-floor apartment, but I managed to grow a bumper crop of heirloom tomatoes along with some strawberries and peppers last year on my balcony. If you don’t know where to start, Growing a Greener World is full of informative articles and videos. Good Housekeeping also offers some helpful tips for the first-time gardener. You can also find a wealth of great information on YouTube and your favorite podcasting platform.
If you don’t have any space for a garden or want to reduce your dependence on food grown thousands of miles away, look into community-supported agriculture (CSA) in your area. It’s a great way to eat healthier and support your local farmers. My local health food store has teamed up with area farmers to offer a 20-week CSA that will supply us with seasonal produce for less than $30 per week. If the cost of a CSA subscription is too expensive for you, look into weekly payment plans. If you are on public assistance and live in the U.S., ask if your CSA accepts SNAP benefits. U.S. residents can find their local CSAs here. UK residents can find theirs here. If you’re outside the U.S. or UK, you’ll have to do some research, especially if CSA is called something different in your neck of the woods.
Now, what if you grow a bumper crop or have more CSA food than you can eat? You could share your wealth with your neighbors. (Of course, you should never handle food with unwashed hands and take precautions when engaging with others.) You could also learn how to preserve your food and store it for later. One easy way is dehydration. (Dehydrated veggies make ideal soup ingredients, and dehydrated fruits are a perfect snack or cereal topping!) Food dehydrators are easy to operate. Don’t have a food dehydrator? Check out this handy guide about using your oven to dehydrate food. Canning is a lost art that can preserve your food for six months to a year, depending on its acidity. Freezing is another option, although you do have to do more than just toss your fruit and veg into a freezer bag if you want to avoid freezer burn. This page offers some pro tips on properly freezing food.
These tips are just a few jumping-off points. If you would like to add your own tips or share relevant resources that have helped you, please do so in the comments.
