The Curious Case of the Crumbling Carrots

When Carrots Crumble, Prices Pop! A rhyming romp through scarcity, substitutes, and squirrel-sized supply-side smarts.

By Ross Boulton (c)2025

In the valley of Rootford, where gardens ran deep,

Grew carrots so tasty, they dazzled in heaps.

Crunchy and golden, a farmer’s delight,

They glowed like small lanterns by day and by night.

But trouble soon brewed—a sneaky, mean mold—

That nibbled the carrots and ruined the gold.

The carrots all crumbled, the fields turned to mush,

And farmers stared sadly at baskets of slush.

With carrots now scarce, supply hit the floor!

Yet folks still loved carrots... even more than before.

At market, the price tags shot up to the sky,

"Five coins for one carrot!" cried Rabbit and Wry.

Rabbit fainted flat at the coin-counting stall,

While Wry wailed, "I can’t afford carrots at all!"

The critters all gasped at the shocking new cost,

And wondered if carrot-time truly was lost.

"Supply drops, price pops!" hooted Olive the Wise,

"When goods become rare, they soar toward the skies!"

Some critters chose radishes, spicy and bright,

Or crunched on sweet turnips that tasted just right.

When prices climb high, folks look left and right—

Substitutes sparkle when costs take a bite!

Meanwhile, young Sprig the Squirrel, quick on his feet,

Planted new carrots on a hill with no peat.

"Where carrots are rare, there’s treasure to find—

A garden of gold for the quick and the kind!"

He watered, he weeded, he sang to each sprout,

"Grow sturdy and strong! We'll all help the drought!"

He knew crops could fail, but he planted with cheer,

Hoping a harvest would bloom by next year.

For markets reward those who risk and who try—

Not just those waiting for prices to fly.

Seasons turned slowly, not faster by cheer;

It takes patient planting to fix a bad year.

Yes

Do you think Sprig’s plan will work?

No

Some critters grew restless and sang to the soil,

While Chipmunk did cartwheels and tripped in the toil!

The critters lent paws and helped water the land,

With teamwork and hope stirring fresh in the sand.

By harvest next fall, the fields were a sight,

With orange-tipped treasures that glowed in the light.

The baskets grew full, and the prices fell low—

As markets do best when there's plenty to grow!

Supply and demand—it’s the market’s sweet song:

When supply shrinks, prices rise... but not for long!

---

🧠 Did You Know?

In real life, when a farm disease damages crops like carrots, the sudden shortage makes prices jump—and smart shoppers often switch to other veggies like turnips and radishes until farmers grow more carrots again!

Pick you favorite

• When there’s less stuff, prices go up fast!
• Prices rise and fall — just like seasons!
• Brave planters grow the best gardens!
• If one treat is too pricey, find a new snack!

✍️ Why I Wrote This

I wrote this story to help young readers—and curious adults—understand one of the most important ideas in economics: supply and demand. When goods become scarce, prices tend to rise. But that’s not the end of the story. People adapt. They find substitutes, get creative, and sometimes even plant the seeds of recovery themselves.

In Rootford, when mold destroys the carrot crop, panic sets in. But characters like Sprig the Squirrel show that smart choices, patience, and teamwork can restore balance to the market—and the garden. This fable turns economic shifts into something kids can see, feel, and laugh along with, all while planting seeds of critical thinking.

Because understanding the price of a carrot today… might just help someone grow a better forest tomorrow.

—Ross Boulton