I can definitely say that growing/raising your own food this year is going to be very important. The credit crunch is beginning to affect the big corporate contracted farmers and grocery stores. They are not getting the credit for operating and stocking their shelves. There is a good chance of food shortages this year, in my opinion. Regarding costs of raising/growing organic, there are many alternatives that you can do to lower costs. Do a search on permaculture. I also recommend a film by Geoff Lawton called "Establishing a Food Forest". I have been studying these concepts for the last year and half and have begun to impliment them and test them on my small 12acre farm. Within 3 years I should not have to buy any feed for any of my animals. It will all be produced right on my own land. It can be done on a much smaller, or much larger piece of land as well. I've seen it done on less than an acre.