Food Security Friday-Preparing for Uncertain Times

Published June 5th 2026

GRID's Faithful Friday: Food Security-Preparing for Uncertain Times Through Food Preservation

Food Security Starts at Home

Over the past several years, many households have experienced something previous generations understood all too well: access to food should never be taken for granted. Whether caused by extreme weather, supply chain disruptions, economic uncertainty, transportation issues, or rising food costs, many communities are witnessing empty store shelves, and limited product availability that results in concern about food affordability.

These experiences have prompted many families to ask an important question: "How prepared are we if access to fresh food becomes limited?" Welcome to Food Security Friday, where we explore the concept of faith over fear while upskilling to learn a loss art form of food preservation. This level of learning recommends practical skills that help us become more resilient, resourceful, and self-reliant.

Understanding Food Security vs Food Desert

Food security exists when individuals and families have reliable access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that supports health and well-being. Before we discuss food security, it is important to understand another issue affecting many communities: food deserts.

A food desert is generally defined as a geographic area where residents have limited access to affordable, nutritious foods, particularly fresh fruits, vegetables, and other whole foods. These areas are often characterized by a lack of supermarkets and grocery stores within a reasonable distance, making it difficult for families to obtain healthy food options.

Historically, food deserts have disproportionately affected low-income communities, rural populations, and some urban neighborhoods. In many cases, residents may have access to convenience stores and fast-food restaurants but limited access to fresh produce and nutrient-dense foods. While many factors influence food security and food desert outside of their control, households can strengthen their own resilience by developing practical food management skills.

Ancient Wisdom for Modern Challenges

Long before refrigeration and modern food distribution systems, communities around the world relied on fermentation to preserve seasonal harvests. When vegetables were abundant, they preserved them. When food was plentiful, they prepared for future seasons. When harvests exceeded immediate needs, they stored food rather than allowing it to spoil. These practices helped families survive periods of scarcity and uncertainty. Today, those same principles remain relevant.

Why Fermentation Matters for Food Security

Fermentation allows families to extend the usefulness of fresh produce through a natural preservation process. Benefits include: (1) extended shelf life, (2) Reduced Food Waste, (3) Friendly Storage, and (4) Increased Household Resilience.

Stay Ready: Build Skills Before You Need Them

One of the most important principles of preparedness is simple: Learn the skill before you need the skill. We purchase insurance before accidents occur. We create emergency plans before emergencies happen. We save money before financial hardship arrives. The same principle applies to food preservation. Waiting until food becomes scarce to learn fermentation is much harder than developing the skill while resources are readily available. Preparedness is not panic, rather wisdom. These practices benefit not only our households but also our communities.

Small Steps Lead to Greater Resilience

Food security does not require a bunker, a warehouse, or years of experience. It begins with small, practical actions. Perhaps it starts with:

• Learning how fermentation works
• Preserving your first jar of vegetables
• Reducing food waste in your kitchen
• Building confidence in traditional food skills

Because: every skill learned increases your household's resilience, every successful ferment represents knowledge gained, every jar reflects a commitment to preparedness and wellness.

Coach Adasadebuts her Fermenting 101 virtual session:

When: Sunday, June 7, 2026

Time: 4:00 p.m. Eastern

Final Thoughts

Food security is not built overnight. It is built one skill at a time. One lesson at a time. One jar at a time. The generations before us preserved food because they understood that knowledge creates options. Today, we have an opportunity to rediscover that wisdom and create a legacy that can be passed on to the next generation. As we move through uncertain times, perhaps one of the most valuable investments we can make is not simply in food itself—but in the skills that help us preserve it. I hope you'll join me this Sunday as we begin that journey together.

Whole Health. Whole Life. Whole You.

References

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2023). The state of food security and nutrition in the world 2023. FAO. https://www.fao.org

Marco, M. L., Sanders, M. E., Gänzle, M. G., Arrieta, M. C., Cotter, P. D., De Vuyst, L., Hill, C., Holzapfel, W. H., Lebeer, S., & Reid, G. (2021). The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics statement on fermented foods. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 18(3), 196–208. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-020-00390-5

National Center for Home Food Preservation. (2023). Fermentation and food preservation resources. University of Georgia. https://nchfp.uga.edu

Tamang, J. P., Cotter, P. D., Endo, A., Han, N. S., Kort, R., Liu, S. Q., Mayo, B., Westerik, N., & Hutkins, R. (2020). Fermented foods in a global age: East meets West. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, 19(1), 184–217. https://doi.org/10.1111/1541-4337.12520