How expensive is an organic chicken really?

The other day when I got my Riverford delivery Alan commented on how expensive the whole chicken was that I'd ordered. I'll admit that it wasn't cheap but was it really that expensive when you consider how far it went?

This is what I did with it and how many people it fed:

• Meal 1: Roast chicken with all the trimmings for 2 adults and a toddler
• Meal 2: Coronation chicken for 2 adults
• Meal 3: Chicken pie for 5 adults and a toddler
• Meal 4: Chicken and root vegetable soup (3 large portions)

So without the soup that one chicken fed 9 adults and 2 toddlers good hearty meals. And I have to say if we hadn't had the relatively expensive and high meat roast dinner at the start of that the number would have been nearer 12 adults and 3 toddlers. 

So can you forgive me for buying an expensive chicken that was ethically and organically reared rather than a supermarket cage reared one? I know that I'd rather have one expensive joint that I need to make go a long way. If nothing else I love the challenge.

I've already posted a recipe for leftovers pie. I'll post the other recipes later this week and you can see what I've been cooking and how so little meat can serve so many people.

When did I become a hippy mum?

So when did I become a hippy Mum?

Ivy, who is currently 10 weeks old, is breastfed on demand, cloth bummed, carried in a sling and was born in water at home. And when she's 6 months old we'll be weaning her using baby led weaning.

I'm not exactly your typical earth mother. I'm a technologist in a high tech job. I can't live without internet access. Each of the decisions that led to the things listed above were taken in isolation. It's not a  case of one thing leading to another. Instead I did my research and I chose what was best for me, my daughter, the rest of our family and the world in general.

• I breastfeed because it's best for Ivy and it's best for me not to mention considerably cheaper
• She's cloth bummed because it's cheaper and better for the environment
• She's carried in a sling because it's more convenient than trying to get a pram in and out of the car
• She was born at home because nearly 30% of births at my local hospital ended in a ceasarian last year
• She was born in water because even NICE admit that the only painkiller that's better is an epidural
• We'll be using baby led weaning because it just seems more normal and natural and better for Ivy

Each decision on its own was simple and easy, it's only when you put them all together that it seems like I've turned into the image of a hippy earth mother. I have to say I'm happier for it.