There are a couple of important things to remember
about your home food supply
that seem to be a hang-up for some folks.
Thing number 1:
The first is knowing how much and of what your family eats.
To help my meager little pea-brain,
I made labels that I showed you here.
Peas will be the first thing due to harvest and can.
You can see on the shelf, we still have quite a few left.
Last year was a good pea year.
The year prior wasn't as much so.
If we have a few jars left over, I'm okay with that.
It will be a comfort to know if this year they don't produce as well
that we will still have plenty.
I had to buy tomato sauce:(
This year I'm planting more canning tomatoes in hopes to remedy that.
Also, we've eaten more corn than usual, because it taste sooo good!
Wow, that was a good box of corn.
Thing number 2:
You might notice all the empty jars.
As we eat the food, I put the jars back where they were - only empty.
This acts like a place holder,
but what it really means is we are eating our food!
I can't believe how many people 'stock up'
but don't eat their stock pile.
I guess that means it's just for decoration ???
Weather it is food purchased from a store
or you have preserved your own store,
food really only last so long.
Go ahead and use it.
If you find that it's been on your shelf for a while and nobody in the house
is interested in eating it,
ask a neighbor if they would like it.
Our neighbors love it when I do that,
though I've become pretty good at declining things we don't eat
so don't have much in that realm any more.
Pantry space is just too valuable.
So with those 2 things in mind,
what's on your shelf :?)
Looks like a good system.
ReplyDeleteyou put me to shame have never grown any veg etc and do not have a real store of things, just have 3 tins of baked beans, chopped tomatoes and kidney beans plus tins of mackerel also a freezer that I have special offers of meat etc in
ReplyDeleteIt is good to reevaluate our contents... And I always run out of tomato sauce too! So versatile that I don't think you can ever have enough!!!
ReplyDeleteFunny, today I was just reorganizing my jars and lids. I decided instead of storing them separately I will put the lid back on the jar. I am getting better at planning and organizing.
ReplyDeleteGreat advice! We ran out of some things this year too. I need a bigger salsa garden :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for adding this to From The Farm! This has been chosen as one of this week's favorites! Hope to see you again soon!
ReplyDeleteI think we're going to have a small garden this year. If I can just get my husband to plant what we really will eat!
ReplyDeletePlease drop by and say hello!
ஐღLauraღஐ
Harvest Lane Cottage
...doing what I can with what I've got where I am
on a short shoestring budget!
~~~~~
Hi! I just found your blog and truly enjoyed this post. I can produce from our garden and can meats from the store. We just bought a run-down, foreclosure farm so hope to have our own livestock in the near future. I look forward to reading your blog and look forward to receiving new posts (I signed up to follow you).
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your knowledge with us - I truly appreciate it.
Happy Day To You ~ Bobbie
Love your canning shelf! Thanks for linking to the Homestead Blog Hop!
ReplyDelete