I do not claim to be fully self-sufficient. While I continually strive to improve that, there are just some things that I’ll never be able to produce myself – and I’m not willing to do without. I still depend on growers in other climates to produce the wheat, the oats, and the corn that I use in baking, granola, and polenta (among other things). However, when I buy those products I aim to buy whole, organic, non-GMO versions that are often unavailable (or very expensive) at the supermarket. Buying these in large quantities allows me to keep the ingredients I use regularly on hand and means fewer trips to the store for supplies, which lowers my gasoline consumption. Bulk buying also eliminates waste – there’s often less packaging to deal with.
Finding a source for organic foods and bulk products can be difficult. Food co-ops and bulk buying clubs are often private; fine if you know somebody who knows somebody, but if not? There could be one right down the street and you wouldn’t know about it.
Your local health food store – presuming you have one – might be willing to order items in bulk for you. Mine offers a 15% discount on regular retail when I order items like bulk dry goods or products by the case.
Believe it or not, Amazon carries a fair number of bulk organic items, including things like rice, tea, dried fruit, and grains. Bonus? A fair number of the items qualify for free shipping.
Based in Oregon, Azure Standard specializes in natural, organic, earth-friendly foods and products. There are a variety of delivery options, including deliveries directly to customers and also to buying clubs. If there’s a buying club already set up in your area, Azure will put you in touch with the contact person who can give you a special “drop code.” You place your order online, pay for it by credit card, and include the drop code, which tells Azure where to deliver it. When the organizer takes delivery of the order, you’ll get a call you to arrange for pick up. United Natural Foods, Inc is another provider of bulk products available to buying clubs in limited areas of the United States.
If there’s not already a buying club in your area, start one! I gathered with several other ladies years ago and ordered through Mountain People’s Warehouse (now a part of UNFI). It was not difficult to set up and we had the option to split big purchases between us.
If none of these options work for you and you just don’t have a great local source for natural or organic food, check out The Green Polka Dot Box. While they don’t offer much in the way of bulk dry goods, they carry a wide variety of natural foods at discounted prices. Shipping is reasonable; it’s a flat rate of $9.95 for orders under $150. Spend more than $150 and shipping is free.
Photo: Flickr user KevinLallier
After changing my whole diet I finally also switched my salt to a Himalayan pink salt from Sustainable Sourcing https://secure.sustainablesourcing.com since it is non-GMO, gluten-free and made in their own facility with no cross-contamination. I'm always so happy when I come across these finds and just have to share!
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