Could Food Shortages Affect Your Grocery Bill?
Why Growing a Little Food at Home Might Matter More Than You Think
You've probably seen the headlines.
Food shortages. Fertilizer shortages. Rising food prices. Global supply chains. The Strait of Hormuz.
And if you're anything like me, your first thought might be:
Well...I guess I should go buy 47 cans of beans.
Before we all start building bunkers in the backyard, let's take a breath.
There is a real story here. But it isn't quite as simple as "the grocery stores are going to run out of food."
What's happening with fertilizer and global agriculture is worth paying attention to—and it actually gives us a pretty good reason to talk about something I already believe in:
Growing at least some of your own food.
Not because you need to become completely self-sufficient.
Not because you need a 2-acre homestead.
And definitely not because you need to panic-buy anything.
Just because growing a little food yourself can give you something valuable:
options.
So What's Actually Going On?
The recent headlines are tied in large part to disruptions in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a major global trade route.
According to reporting from The Wall Street Journal, about one-third of global fertilizer shipments normally pass through the waterway. The disruption has significantly reduced available fertilizer capacity, raising concerns about what could happen to agricultural production and food prices if the disruption continues.
And fertilizer matters. A lot.
Farmers don't simply sprinkle some fertilizer on their fields because it makes the plants happy.
Fertilizer provides nutrients crops need to grow, and modern agriculture depends heavily on reliable access to those nutrients.
When fertilizer becomes more expensive or harder to obtain, farmers have some difficult choices:
Pay more. Use less. Find another source. Change what they plant.
And eventually, if farmers can't get enough inputs at the right time, crop yields can be affected.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has warned that fertilizer disruptions can carry forward into future harvests because farming operates on a crop calendar. If fertilizer isn't available when it's needed, farmers can't necessarily just wait a few weeks and make up the difference later.
That's where the food-price conversation gets interesting.
Does This Mean We're Headed for Empty Grocery Store Shelves?
Not necessarily.
And I think this distinction is important.
There is a difference between:
"Food is going to disappear."
and
"Producing and transporting food may become more expensive and more difficult."
Those are two very different things.
The current situation is complicated. Some fertilizer markets have actually seen prices retreat from earlier peaks, while phosphate supplies remain tight and sulfur—a key input for some fertilizer production—has become a significant bottleneck.
At the same time, the FAO reported that global food prices rose in September to their highest level in nearly four years, with cereal prices increasing 5.1% from August. Weather concerns, shipping disruptions and other global factors are all contributing to the pressure.
So no, I'm not suggesting you sprint to the grocery store and buy every bag of rice you can find.
But I am suggesting that it's worth thinking about where your food comes from.
And This Is Where Your Garden Comes In
Here's the part I find encouraging.
You don't have to solve the global fertilizer supply chain.
You don't have to grow all your own food.
You don't have to become a farmer.
You can simply grow something.
Maybe it's a few tomato plants.
Maybe it's lettuce.
Maybe you grow green beans.
Maybe you plant herbs on the patio.
Maybe you put garlic in the ground in the fall and forget about it until spring.
(Yes, garlic is wonderfully low-maintenance compared with some of its vegetable friends.)
Every little bit counts.
If you can walk into your backyard and pick a handful of lettuce for dinner, you've reduced your dependence on the grocery store for that handful of lettuce.
And I think there's a big difference.
10 Foods You Can Grow at Home
If the headlines have you thinking about growing more of your own food, don't start by trying to recreate a commercial farm.
One of my favorite seed options is Survival Garden Seeds because the planting information includes guidance on saving seeds from your harvest. That means you’re not just growing this year’s garden—you can start building your own seed supply for future seasons, too. 🌱
If you’re new to gardening and want an easy place to start, this beginner seed kit is a great option: https://link.amazon/B0hIkxklR
(As an amazon associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases)
Start with things that make sense for your space and your family.
1. Green Beans
Green beans are one of my favorite beginner crops.
They're productive, relatively straightforward to grow, and you can eat them fresh or preserve them for later.
Plus, there's something deeply satisfying about walking outside and picking dinner.
2. Lettuce
Lettuce doesn't require a huge garden.
You can grow it in a garden bed, raised bed, or container.
And unlike a giant pumpkin that takes over the neighborhood, lettuce generally understands personal boundaries.
3. Herbs
Don't overlook herbs.
Basil, parsley, chives, dill and other herbs can provide a surprising amount of value from a small amount of space.
And fresh herbs from the garden can turn a very ordinary meal into something that feels considerably more impressive.
4. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are popular for a reason.
A few plants can provide fresh tomatoes throughout the growing season, and extras can be frozen, canned, dried or turned into sauces.
There's also nothing quite like a homegrown tomato.
The grocery-store tomato may never recover from the comparison.
5. Zucchini
Let's just say it:
Zucchini is not afraid to produce.
If you're trying to grow food rather than simply admire your garden, zucchini can be a good choice.
Just make sure you know your neighbors before planting six plants.
6. Potatoes
Potatoes are another practical crop if you have the space.
They're filling, versatile and store reasonably well under the right conditions.
And digging potatoes out of the garden is basically vegetable treasure hunting.
7. Peas
Sugar snap peas are especially fun because you can eat them right off the plant.
They're also a great option for getting children interested in gardening.
8. Onions
Onions are useful in an incredible number of meals.
They're also one of those crops that can make a garden feel much more practical.
You're not growing something just because it's pretty.
You're growing an ingredient you'll actually use.
9. Garlic
Garlic is one of my favorites for anyone who wants to start thinking about growing food for the future.
Plant it in the fall, let it overwinter, and harvest it the following summer.
And once you've grown your own garlic, you may find yourself looking suspiciously at grocery-store garlic.
Wait...why is this bulb so tiny?
10. Whatever You Actually Eat
This might be the most important one.
Don't grow something just because somebody on the internet says you should.
If your family doesn't eat kale, you don't need a 40-foot row of kale.
If nobody likes beets, you probably don't need a beet plantation.
Grow food you'll actually use.
That's how a garden becomes useful instead of becoming another chore.
You Don't Need a Huge Garden
One of the biggest misconceptions about growing food is that you need a massive garden.
You don't.
You can start with:
A few containers
Grow herbs, lettuce, peppers or tomatoes.
One raised bed
Choose a handful of vegetables and learn as you go.
A small backyard plot
Grow things your family eats regularly.
Or even one plant
Seriously.
One tomato plant counts.
One pot of herbs counts.
One row of green beans counts.
One garlic bulb planted in the fall counts.
You don't get extra gardening points for making yourself miserable.
What About Fertilizer?
This is where things get really interesting.
When you hear about fertilizer shortages, it can be tempting to think:
"Well, great. Now I need to stockpile fertilizer too."
Not necessarily.
A backyard garden and a commercial farm are two very different things.
One of the most useful things you can do in a home garden is to build healthy soil.
Compost, organic matter, crop rotation, cover crops where appropriate, and good gardening practices can all play a role in maintaining soil health.
You don't need to turn your backyard into a chemistry experiment.
In fact, one of the best long-term garden investments you can make is simply paying attention to your soil.
The Bigger Lesson
The fertilizer story is bigger than gardening.
It's a reminder of something we don't always think about: Our food system is connected.
A conflict on the other side of the world can affect shipping.
Shipping affects fertilizer.
Fertilizer affects farmers.
Farmers affect crop production.
Crop production affects markets.
And eventually, those changes can make their way to the grocery store.
That doesn't mean disaster is inevitable.
It means the system has weak spots.
And when you know where the weak spots are, you can make small decisions that give yourself a little more flexibility.
No Panic. Just Preparation.
This is where I think we sometimes get preparation wrong.
We see a scary headline and immediately think we need to do something drastic.
But preparation doesn't have to look dramatic.
It can look like:
Planting a garden.
Learning how to preserve food.
Keeping a few basic pantry staples.
Learning how to save seeds when appropriate.
Growing herbs instead of buying them every week.
Learning one new gardening skill each season.
Paying attention to what grows well where you live.
None of those things are particularly exciting. But together, they make you a little more capable.
And capable feels a whole lot better than panicked.
You Don't Need to Grow Everything
This is probably the biggest message I want you to take away.
You don't need to grow everything.
You don't need to become completely self-sufficient.
You don't need to produce every calorie your family eats.
You don't even need a traditional garden.
Just grow something.
Grow the herbs you use.
Grow tomatoes for salsa.
Grow lettuce for salads.
Grow beans for the freezer.
Plant garlic in the fall.
Try potatoes.
Grow something your kids will eat.
Start somewhere.
Because the goal isn't to escape the grocery store.
The goal is to become a little less dependent on it.
And if grocery prices continue climbing, that little bit of independence might feel pretty good.
So What Should You Do Right Now?
Don't panic. Don't clear the shelves.
Don't order 500 packets of seeds because you're suddenly convinced, you're going to become Farmer Brown.
Instead:
🌱 Pick one thing to grow.
🌱 Figure out where you'll grow it.
🌱 Learn when to plant it in your area.
🌱 Buy what you actually need.
🌱 Plant it.
🌱 Learn from what happens.
Then do it again.
That's gardening.
It's not perfect.
It's not always predictable.
And sometimes a cucumber plant will decide that your entire backyard belongs to it.
But that's okay.
Because gardening isn't about controlling everything.
It's about learning to grow something anyway.
Ready to Plant Something?
If you're brand new to gardening, I've created a simple Plant Something Guide to help you get started without becoming completely overwhelmed.
You don't need a giant garden.
You don't need expensive equipment.
And you definitely don't need to know everything before you begin.
You just need to plant something.
And if you're ready to take the next step, explore more Rooted in Reality garden planning resources and practical gardening tips.
Because around here, we're not trying to grow perfect gardens.
We're growing real food, learning as we go, and trying not to lose the shovel along the way.
A FINAL THOUGHT
Maybe the most useful thing you can do when the world feels uncertain isn't panic.
Maybe it's learning a skill.
Planting a seed.
Growing something.
Saving something.
Teaching your kids where food comes from.
And realizing that you can do a little more for yourself than you thought you could.
-Rooted in Reality.
Grow what you can. Learn what you can. And keep your feet in the dirt.
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