How I Fed My Family of 6 Tonight For Less Then $3

Tonight we had a delicious and nutritious dinner for less then $3 that fed 6! I want to share to inspire you that food doesn't have to always be so expensive if you plan ahead and grow some yourself. What was on the menu? Giant baked potatoes (grown in the garden from leftover organic sprouted potatoes from the grocery store), sour cream and cheese from Costco (I am guessing what we ate tonight of that is about $1.75 worth), topped with stir fried broccoli and tomatoes (both fresh from the garden) and black bean soup. The black bean soup is super easy and delicious and costs about $1.19 depending on where you buy a bag of dried black beans. I rinse them well and put them in the slow cooker and high in the late morning and check a few times to make sure there is plenty of water. I add a little oil, salt, and garlic powder. That's it! By dinner time the beans are soft, falling apart and delicious.  You can top the black bean soup with cheese too if desired. The approximate total out of pocket for this dinner was $2.94. I understand that food grown in the garden isn't completely free- but it is close!

Back to Eden Film

I just watched the Back to Eden Film last night and it was so good and interesting! I loved how the gardener, Paul, prays about his garden and hears from the God of the Universe. His story reminds me of George Washington Carver.
He had some great gardening tips on there that really make sense, and are mirrored more after nature then traditional gardening/farming techniques. His techniques save water, time and energy, and lead to healthier plants. It is not all new. I have read somewhat similar ideas in organic gardening magazines, but he takes it to a higher level and aligns his gardening with God's Word. He also talks about having a generous spirit and the health giving properties of home-grown organic produce.
I loved that it was free to watch online at http://backtoedenfilm.com/.
It is a must see for any gardener, whether your garden is a small backyard one like mine or you have a farm.
Here are a few photos from my garden taken this week. I live in the Pacific Northwest so our growing season is shorter then most- but I love to make the most of it!

Short season corn

Spinach and chard

poppies from seed from a neighbor

tomatoes

potatoes, and herbs and lettuce behind

zucchini

Here Comes the Sun

here comes the sun. . . do do do do. . . here comes the sun and I say, its all right. . . .

The sunflower in my garden today made me want to start singing the most wonderful Beatles song ever: Here Comes the Sun. This brave sunflower was starting to bloom on a day with rain and thunderstorms. I hope my attitude can be as strong and joyful as this through trials.

"Always be joyful." 1 Thessalonians 5:16