Back to Our Roots: Gardening & Backyard Chickens Hedge Against Inflation

"You don't need to be self-sufficient in everything, just be self-sufficient in something. Produce a little and rely more on local, community-centered products and services wherever possible."

Independence and interdependence are in an endless dance with one another. When we can provide for ourselves, we can better provide for others, too. During tough times, people look to local solutions such as gardening, canning, and backyard hens to provide for our families and communities. While we cannot control the greater economy, we can take a few simple steps to improve our own situation and make a difference in our local economy.

As spring is fast approaching and prices have escalated for food and essentials, many people are looking to gardening and backyard hens as a hedge against inflation and supply chain issues. Not only can a little self-sufficiency save hardworking families money, the quality control and satisfaction that comes with one's own effort can be priceless. There's nothing quite like eating a tomato fresh off the vine or an egg from hens allowed to frolic in the sunlight and eat bugs from your yard. Homebrews can even be made from plants such as elderberries, mulberries, juniper, grapes, and apples which grow well in Nebraska.

In 2021, Maine passed a right to food Constitutional amendment which declared that, "all individuals have a natural inherent and unalienable right to grow, raise, harvest, produce and consume the food of their own choosing for their own nourishment, sustenance, bodily health, and well-being." Food sovereignty laws that affirm the freedom to produce and sell food not only ensure that people can provide food for their families, it also allows individuals to experiment and even begin small businesses without great barriers to entry compared with corporations who have an interest in complicated regulations and permits to keep local, grassroots competition low.

Inflation is pressuring families to think outside the box when it comes to their budget. Real currency is something that has value -- we intimately know the value of food. When you produce a bell pepper, you essentially print your own money in the form of sustenance. A bell pepper may be $1 or more at the supermarket (they used to be $0.45), and an egg may be up to $o.50 or more ($6-7 a dozen where they used to be priced $3-4 per dozen). No matter how much the prices fluctuate in stores, you will always have the inherent value of the food. As some shelves are bare due to supply chain issues, growing a garden can ensure that your family has healthy food on the table for the 'price' of a little time and attention.

Even if you don't have space for backyard chickens or a large garden, patio gardening can produce a little food without hassle, and even a little is something worthwhile. Look for a community garden in your area you can volunteer with or invest in a co-op to receive seasonal, locally produced food that supports our Nebraska workforce. For those who do have the time and space, excess food production can be given to neighbors or donated to hungry people in need, where so often fresh produce is the healthiest option instead of the more commonly donated packaged items.

Advocate for More Freedom Around Local Food in Nebraska!

Now is the time to advocate for less restrictions around backyard chickens in towns and cities across Nebraska and more freedom around farmers markets and access to selling small scale production in grocery stores.

• Write your city council and ask for reduced barriers to owning chickens which often require cumbersome restrictions, permits, and fees.

• Contact your Senator and tell them you want more freedom around local food production and markets. For instance, allowing the sale of raw milk in stores and farmers markets can help local farmers and provide more convenient, healthy options for Nebraska families.

Demand common-sense fiscal policies:

• Proposals such as eliminating taxes on social security and benefits are helpful to people living on fixed incomes.

• Demanding more tax credits can help alleviate household financial struggles. Senators should give back to the people instead of funding pet projects, especially during inflationary periods.

Let's work together to create a sustainable food network and help Nebraskans struggling to afford baseline expenses. You don't need to be self-sufficient in everything, just be self-sufficient in something. Produce a little and rely more on local, community-centered products and services wherever possible so that everyone has the opportunity to live the Good Life!

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