The economic downturn has made it hard for many families to buy groceries, let alone the sometimes pricier organic foods. Being on a budget doesn’t mean giving up eating well, however, as there are many ways that you can spend very little and still eat foods that haven’t been sprayed with pesticides or loaded with harmful preservatives. Whether you’re cutting back for personal reasons or because you’re afraid of your financial security, these tips can help you save big without sacrificing your health.

1. Shop the farmers market. Food at a local farmers market might be considerably cheaper than that at your local grocery store. Many communities, even small ones, have farmers markets during the weekend, so look up where one might be near you. You’ll likely find a wide assortment of fresh, organic foods that better yet have been grown locally rather than brought in.
2. Join a co-op. There are many communities where you can go out and join a co-op as a way to get reasonably priced groceries. You’ll pay a yearly or monthly fee but you may find that the savings outweighs the initial costs. Do some research to find out what options are available near you.
3. Buy into a community supported growing program. This can be a great way to get loads of in-season veggies without shelling out a fortune. Members of these groups will pay to buy a share in the program, and get boxes of produce in return at harvest time.
4. Focus on the important stuff. There are some foods that are much more important to buy organic than others. You can look online for a list of these and take this into consideration when you work up your food budget. When times are tight you may want to cut out those foods that have thick skins and don’t absorb pesticides as much as a way of saving money but still eating (mostly) organic.
5. Grow it yourself. If you have a backyard, it may be the perfect place to grow your own organic foods in the warmer months of the year. If you start early and grow from seeds you’ll pay very little for all the great foods you get when your plants are ready to harvest. Even if you only have a small balacony there are loads of inventive ways you can make the most of the space and grow some great food to eat.

This post was contributed by Kelsey Allen, who writes about the organic food coupons. She welcomes your feedback at KelseyAllen1010 yahoo.com