Project: Food Budget Weeks 25-28

Tip of the Week: Subscribe to a CSA (Community Shared Agriculture). This month marks the first of 16 weeks of fresh, local, organic vegetables we receive weekly from our CSA, Roots and Shoots Farm. For 16 weeks we paid $510, that is about $33 per week. At the end of the last growing season our CSA gave us an overview of our bounty; what we received throughout the season compared to the market value at the local farmer’s markets. Our weekly cost was $33 and the market value was about $54!

What is a CSA?

Community Shared Agriculture is an intentional relationship between farmer, consumer, and the land that produces your vegetables.

By becoming a supporter of this model of agriculture, you are part of a community supports viable farm operations and, in turn, you are guaranteed a box of fresh, local vegetables, while helping to protect natural ecosystems. Not only do you know exactly where your vegetables are grown, you can be confident that your food is being grown in an environmentally sustainable manner.  Both the risks and bountiful harvest are shared between the farmer and you, the shareholder.

This month we also purchased a medium sized meat box from our local butcher. Now that we are eating a little meat on a more regular basis, it was time to invest in a box of top quality, grass-fed, locally raised chicken and beef. On a weekly basis, at the counter we were spending about $17 on 1 lb of ground beef and 2 chicken breasts. The fully customizable meat box cost $125. It will last us 10 weeks, reducing our weekly meat spending to $12.50, a 25% savings on top quality food and we are supporting our local farmers.

Week 25-28 Spending

Budget:

$200/week or $800/month

$200/month at Costco

Total: $1000/month

NOTE: We were on vacation during week 26.

Menu Plan Week 27

Pizza

Hamburgers

Salmon

Chicken Stir Fry

Spring Rolls

Pesto Pasta

Vegetarian Chili

Week 28 Menu Plan

Pizza

Hamburgers

Lemon and Dill Salmon with Chilled Zucchini Dill Soup

Sweet Potato Cauliflower Soup

Taco Salad Salad

Inside Out Chinese Spring Roll Salad

Creamy Roasted Tomato Coconut Soup and Salad

 

I wonder how all my fellow Project Food Budget participants did this week?

• Emily Levenson
• Dairy-Free Cooking
• Cook Write Heal
• Warm As Pie
• xox, b
• Project Food Budget 2.0
• That’s Just Me
• Two Eggs Over Easy
• Eat Whole Be Vital
• Four Happy Violets
• Pgh Dad
• yogabeautylife
• naMAMAste
• Six Dollars a Day
• What da Health?
• French Press
• Veggie Meal Maker
• Eryn Says…
• Charmingly Modern

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