Well, the thing is -- healthy meals *can* be "elegant," if one puts the time, effort, and energy into that culinary creativity. And I share your passion for urban homesteading/gardening. Right now, we're even planning on WHAT to plant in our garden for this upcoming summer.

I'm sad to hear that your neck-of-the-woods has limited access to affordable seasonal crops. Here, in the summer, we are very fortunate where I live to have local Amish communities who sell their fresh eggs, corn, beets, green onions, cucumbers, etc. at affordable (at least, for my household) prices. On the downside, that growing/selling season is only from May through approximately October. So, in the winter and early-spring, we're right back to "junk food" plus nonperishable staples plus anything we've frozen or pickled.