Welcome Knoxville Coupon Fair Attendees!

I had a great time getting to meet several of my readers as well as new people at the Knoxville Coupon Fair today. Welcome to all of you who are new readers to my blog. I hope you were blessed by the fair today and that you learned a lot. Please remember you can also email me if you have any other questions.

Several of you had suggestions of topics you would like to see me cover on my blog. I have made a list, and I hope to begin covering some of those if I have not already covered them. Below is a list of some things which I have already covered here on my blog. Click on each item to get information on those topics. You can also search for information in the search bar on the left side of the page.

Gardening/Farming

Earth Fare

Ingles

Kroger

Homeschooling

Gluten Free

Ways to Save

If you have other areas in which you would like to see more information, please let me know and I will try to post more information or point to someone who knows more about the topic than I do.

Thank you so much for stopping by at the coupon fair and for taking time to read my blog. Below is a copy of the information which was on the handout I had at the coupon fair. Thanks again for reading.

Alternative Affordable Resources for Organic Foods
There are many resources other than the local grocery store chains for finding natural and organic foods at affordable prices! I have found several and have been able to keep my grocery budget for eight people to about $50 per week!
1. Grow your own! We grow many things we eat. I did not begin with a large garden. We started small. A perfect place to start is to get a large container, potting soil to fill it, and something you like to eat either from seed or a plant. A good starter is either lettuce or tomatoes. They are easy to grow. For tomatoes, look for compact, dwarf, or bush varieties. These grow wonderfully in containers or hanging baskets and require little care! I will be more than happy to help you get started. Just send me an email! You can also contact your local extension agent!
2. Shop at Farmers Markets or Purchase from local Farmers/Gardeners! There are many people out there who have gardens and often have excess fruits and vegetables! I give away things from my garden each year. Last year I had so much okra, I could not store it all. I contacted friends and told them they could HAVE whatever they pick! Pick your own farms are also great resources for safe food which may not be certified organic. You can go to www.localharvest.org to find local farms in your area where you may pick your own food or who sell items. For Tennessee you can go directly to www.picktnproducts.org. There are also farmers markets during the late spring through the early fall. Going at the end of the day you can usually get a better price, but not necessarily a good selection! The websites mentioned above should also mention some farmers markets in your area. We also sell beef. For more information, please contact me using the information at the end of this handout.
3. Shop at close out grocery stores! United Grocery Outlet (UGO) is a great place to find very inexpensive and fresh organic foods and produce! You can find a store at www.myugo.com. There are several locations in East Tennessee including Knoxville, Lenoir City, Harriman, Athens, and Oak Ridge! At these stores, I have found many organic and gluten free items which were completely affordable without using coupons! Within the past few months I have purchased Glutino bread and bagels for only $1 a loaf or package! These items are at least $5 each at Kroger, Ingles, or Earth Fare! I have also purchased Organic apples for $1 per 3 or 5 pound bag and many other organic and locally grown items! UGO's items change from week to week, so if I find a good deal, I typically try to stockpile the item. UGO has rock bottom prices and does not accept manufacturer's coupons!
4. Email your favorite Organic Food vendor! You can always email or call the company who sells your favorite products and ask for coupons or other items they may have! I have received many free product coupons from companies such as Odwalla, Amy's Kitchen, Food for Life, and Meyenberg Farms!
5. Look for markdowns or manager's specials at chain grocery stores. Kroger and Ingles mark down their almost expired products every morning! Coupled with coupons and sometimes even without, I am able to get organic items including meat and produce for really cheap or for FREE!
Additional Resources
1. www.frugallyfarmingfamily.blogspot.com- My blog with information on organic deals, gardening, frugal living, and more!
2. www.organicdeals.blogspot.com- another blog which focuses only on organic deals!
3. www.myugo.com- Find the nearest UGO near you!
4. www.localharvest.org- Find local farms, co-ops, and farmer's markets near you!
5. www.picktn.org- Listing of Tennessee Farmers!
6. http://www.utextension.utk.edu/publications- Many PDF files for gardening, farming, canning, preserving, etc.