With our insane energy policy were financially less free. Ethanol has pushed up the price of food to record highs...taking your money. With a shinking economy your employer can cut your pay...make you work more hours and with 6 other poor souls lining up for your job....
I found this cool WWII era USDA instructional video on growing a victory garden. If you did half of this stuff today the USDA, OSHA, EPA and a half dozen other federal agencies would show up with SWAT teams. (The kid in the cloud of pesticide is a personal high point.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31hB5d__UT4