How can I search my directory tree for contents within a file for a git managed project?

I like the unix find command but I always find it too 'fiddly' to use when I want to search through my project looking for a piece of text in any file in any directory or subdirectory.
Is there an easier way to do this?

Solution

git grep "your text string", from the applcation's base directory is a great way to do this.

Also as Christopher points out ack is useful.

His install method didn't work for me. I had to do:

sudo apt-get install ack-grep

and then for convenience

alias ack='ack-grep '  # So that I can just type ack "string"

which I'll also add to my ~/.bash_aliases file.