Pantries

We officially ended our 2 weeks of eating out of our pantry. We did it with no problem at all. We could easily do a month, but I really don't want to deplete supplies I keep on hand. If we had gone a month I would have had to buy some milk and cheese. So that being said, we didn't spend any moola on food or other household supplies. We even had fresh produce (i thought i would have to buy) from our garden!

Today's topic (if you haven't guessed) is Pantries. Do you have one? Do you want one? Why have one?

I think we'll start with the why have it:

• Plan meals in advance or on the fly.


• When prices are high you can shop your pantry for deals you've already snagged.
  
• Eases your burden in a financial crisis or lean times.


• Prepared in case of short or long term emergency.
  

This is a short list( it could be much longer). The reason why we keep our pantry? All of the above and I grew up seeing my Mom and Grandmother do it. It makes great sense for any budget conscious family (aka us).

I remember going to my Grandmother's house and getting things out of a very long, narrow closet (which I think was made from part of a bedroom by my Grandfather) lined with shelves on one side. It was dark, cool and a lovely place to be in Florida. She never seemed to run out of anything!

My Mom used laundry rooms and extra cabinets as we were growing up. Now she has a small walk- in one in her kitchen and neat cubbies my Dad built years ago in their laundry room. The grandchildren always find what they are looking for and it's easier to keep treats out of sight.

My all time favorite pantry would have to be of our neighbor's, the West family. For a short while we lived in a small farming community in the Utah town of Pleasant Grove. People had acre lots with HUGE gardens and the apple orchards abounded! (We'd pick fresh apples on our walks home from school.) The West's had a dairy cows and would bring us fresh milk over every other day. Yumm!

One time their oldest daughter took me on a tour of their home. Their entire downstairs (semi- basement) was a pantry. Be still my beating heart! I think that's where my love of all thing homey, and agricultural may have come from. Seeing shelves lined with buckets upon buckets of dried fruits (ohh the cherries!). I'm getting all tingly just thinking about it. They also had lots of canned items and anything you would need to whip up a meal for 10 on the spur of the moment or for a year. What a lovely place.

They stored food according to their religious convictions, but I think we all can learn something from them and the Bible. Be as prepared as you know how and the Lord will provide the rest.

Types of Pantries:

Well if you don't have one there are so many ways to create one. You can start out small and grow larger as your needs grown and decrease if it becomes necessary.

• plastic bins


• crates


• under bed storage boxes ( great for people in apartments)


• book shelves,
  
• dressers
  
• armories


pickles and jellies and salsa Oh My!

• closets (our's houses clothing not in use)

These are my uncreative ideas. I'm sure there are many other types of containers and spaces that could be used...foot lockers, bedrooms, etc.

This dresser was part of a bunk bed that we didn't need.

Back to our reasoning. The past two years have brought very tense times at my husband's job. We've been on a roller coaster! Will they get rid of his department or will they keep it another year? Due to the strains on this agency we have lost income to help save jobs. So we took quite a hit and insurance etc. went up creating an even larger strain. But for the time being he is still employed and not far from retirement. (Superman is very young- he started his job at 21) So we decided to make a plan. Ways to keep us afloat if the bottom fell out.

First we had been budgeting with a vengeance (and we have almost completed a long awaited goal). We also knew that we had a small savings. So we decided to take my bi-weekly shopping fund and really work the sales and co-ops to create a pantry that might sustain us 3 months.

Sales!

We then looked at where in our home this might take place. We decided to use a very small 8 x 10 bedroom and create a pantry/clothing storage/ gift giving center. We didn't want to spend any money to accomplish this so we looked around the house and garage for storage items. We found old bookshelves, plastic shelves, a dresser from a bunk bed set and armorie. We did end up finding one metal shelving unit on clearance for $19.99.

I use a thermometer to keep an eye on my temperature and generally run the ceiling fan to move air. It's a work in progress. I'm glad we started it. I'm not sure if we will "always" have one of this size. But I think I'll always have one. It's in my blood.

This pantry has been a huge blessing already. I can't control everything, but I've done what I can. I leave the rest in my Father's hands.

Do you have a pantry? What do you store in yours? I'd love to hear from you!

julie