Grow your own food and save money! - was the advice from Darryl Cohen, the editor and publisher of "Foodism" magazine in San Francisco.

"Most people think it's expensive or that you need a big garden to grow your own herbs and vegetables", he says while fetching some parsley from his back yard to prepare pasta with freshly picked morel mushrooms, "but it's not."

His back yard got recently cemented by the landlord. This got Darryl a little bit upset, but still optimistic. It downsized Darryl's garden to a small 9x4 foot wooden box with soil that he keeps outside where the garden used to be.

In this box he grows parsley, salad greens, beans and tomatoes and recommends everyone to try this.

"A $50-dollar investment can save you up $500 a season," insists Darryl.

Darryl who's been writing about food for decades and only advertises food products in his magazine that are worth advertising (green, sustainable, organic) gives a few other tips about food.

"Shop at local farmers markets" where the food is brought up from local farms. Ask them how they grow it. Make sure there are no pesticides used.

"If you absolutely must shop in the supermarket," he says, "shop outside the aisle."

"Pay attention to the packaging and how much was invested in that. Foods that don't come to your table in packages tend to be healthier. Packaged food is more processed food. And packaging itself negatively impacts the environment."

"Do not buy prepackaged meat". Darryl advises to find a farm where animals are kept in healthy and humane conditions and buy from them. "Make it a special trip and a special occasion."