I make less than $2000 a month, but not much less. So about $20K a year. BUT I am paying medical bills due to cancer. About $500 a month but sometimes it's more. That really puts a wrench in my budget some months.

Raising 11 kids - wow.

I took public transport when I was in grad school to go to ethnic markets. Now? There is one just a few blocks from where I live and the Chinese market that I like to go to - a friend of mine takes me. :-)

Having a large family and the responsibilities that come with it of course meant you had less time than I did. OTOH, with the cancer - I have so little energy that cooking even a simple meal can sometimes exhaust me. Everyone has their own challenges. We all do the best we can, hopefully.

I agree with you re. factory farming and commercial agriculture.