Inexpensive appliances?

omnithought

I’m very new to raw foods and have been scouring the net for info, and it seem s a lot of recipes are calling for dehydrators, juicers, blenders, food processors, etc. Plus, it seems that the blenders and whatnot are $300-$400 for the VitaMix and similar quality.

Do I really need top of the line appliances for this, or will a nice trip to the thrift stores and craigslist still work just fine?

Also, I live in Phoenix and the farmers markets aren’t that great, and Whole Foods costs too much. What do those of you on a more limited budget do to stay raw? I’ve already intentionally simplified my life quite a bit, so the common “Simplify!” response won’t be of much help.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

msrawdiva

i live in the phoenix area, too. i’ve subscribed to a local farm for produce from http://www.localharvest.org/csa

i hit sprouts a LOT when some things are on sale…for instance, their grapes were $.29/lb last month, and i jsut got some good d’anjou pears for $.99/lb – a pound was 2.5 pears. they also always have raw nuts for sale – in their bulk section.

i also got some things from trader joe’s like their raw almond butter and their freaky veggies, like the black cherry tomatoes and persian cucumbers.

have you hit the farmer’s markets yet?

and come through the east valley to pick your own citrus fruit from people’s trees – we got about 17lbs or oranges for $5…people NEED their fruit to be picked, so they supply you with the manual pickers and sell your picks to you.

all this combined with deals on amazon keep me frugal.

oh, yeah…someone on craiglist is ALWAYS selling a dehydrator in the phx are, so check it out.

omnithought

msrawdiva -

Excellent advice! Where do I find out about the personal farms?

msrawdiva

go to http://www.localharvest.org/csa

it should work!

msrawdiva

they sent me an application by email. i would pay about $200 or so for 12 weeks of produce – i believe they guarantee at least 10 lbs weekly and they have a chart giving what normally comes during that particualr quarter. if you join after the start date, they prorate the price. they either deliver, depending on where you live, or you pick up. you can also get a compost bag to put the scraps in and turn them in every week with delivery/pickup.

here’s my local farm info:

http://www.desertrootsfarm.com

http://www.localharvest.org/csa/M6736

jsorensens2

msrawdiva – Thanks for the info on local organic farmers! You’re a wealth of info! I’m going to trial a trial membership if they have room for me. Here’s the link again for others to find local organic farmers in their area. http://www.localharvest.org/csa

msrawdiva

oh gosh! you are very welcome. it’s great to be of some help after all the help i’ve received from this site. funny thing is – i’m SO embarrassed about my spelling in my initial post! i was in a training class and sneaking on this site…lol!

i’m always sneaking on this site.

winona…that’s a cute device…i’d love to splurge on it! but, did you see this one:

World Cuisine 200100 – Rouet Spiral Veggie Slicer

The Rouet spiral vegetable slicer cuts vegetables and fruits into curly, ribbon-like slices. By placing the vegetable or fruit on the prongs of the wheel and turning the wheel while pushing the base toward the vertical julienne blade, continuous spiral strands and curled julienne strips are created. This vegetable slicer is equipped with multiple blades… (See Full Description)

OUR PRICE: $324.71 Original Price: $650.00 You Save: $325.29 (50%) SKU #WCS1441 Seen this item for less?

WOW!!!!! have i seen it for less? how about i’ve never seen a slicer that expensive! lol!