[poulsbohemian]

I know rice and beans can get old really quickly, but... so much of food expense comes down to what you choose to buy. In my grocery store, pork has been super cheap, but bell peppers are crazy expensive. I buy the peppers anyway because they are a healthy, tasty option. When we consider food - especially if we are going to compare to 30 years ago - we have so many more, and more healthy options today than the past. I was in high school before I'd had anything other than velveta, cheddar, or generic "swiss" cheese. Why? I don't recall there being any other options at our grocery store - and my family was relatively well off compared to others. I've tried explaining the sugary, processed crap of the 1980s - white bread, oscar meyer bologna, kraft cheese, sugary drinks - to my kids and they sit in awe as they snack on their brie. Truly, the range of cuisines and types of food available to us today even in middle America is absolutely astounding - and unsustainable. You can't tell me it makes any sense at all that I can get tropical fruits in a middle America grocery store in the middle of winter.

[hmcq6]

> pork has been super cheap

The meat industry is subsidized so we end up paying for it in other ways.

But rising prices shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. We still use fossil fuels to transport practically all our food. Every increase in fuel cost will be passed on to the customer.

In some cases farmers are chasing profits and competing for resources in resource insecure areas.

I keep seeing products "produced in Israel" despite a "war" going on. There's a war in Ukraine, violence in Congo, a civil warn in Sudan. Russia is under heavy sanction. All of these have impacts on the markets.

And how are the bees doing? Has anyone checked on the bees?

[poulsbohemian]

>And how are the bees doing? Has anyone checked on the bees?

Generally speaking you want to wait for days when it is in the 50sF before you check your bees this time of year. I am hearing in some places because it’s been a mild winter people are starting to check… I think my last hive was a dead out. For many northern beekeepers it will be April before we start new hives of any kind

[ProllyInfamous]

My hives just survived 8°F, and a week below freezing. I was happy to see scouts exploring, two days ago... but I imagine I'll be shuffling frames around here again before not-too-long (to make each healthier).

Four years ago I lost three hives (of four, total).

[phone[phone]]

Beans, rice, seasonings, frozen vegetables, and cheese will get you through a lot pretty cheaply.

Though speaking from inside the US, by all measures a wealthy country, the fact that anybody has to worry about food security is a gigantic shame.

[ProllyInfamous]

WalMart's bell peppers keep getting smaller, and more expensive... luckily, they stock a packaged bundle (of about a dozen) "sweet peppers" which costs under $3.

I dice these, with an onion, and then freeze the 3/4's I don't use in the present dish. This way, they'll "keep" forever, and I don't have to chop but 25% of the time (for freshies).

Having been poor for the majority of my life (until just two years ago), please don't hesitate to ask for more "hack$."