I am a southern girl and have lived through many a hurricane! The worst one was Hugo where Charleston SC was ground zero 😳 We were without power for ONE MONTH 😳‼️ We had to go out and purchase a generator to keep things working in the home. My sister and brother drove in once the roads were clear and brought us tons of non perishable food, bottled water, and other household items. We sent our children back home with my sister during this time, and picked them back up once we had power. Home canned food on the shelf would have been a blessing at that time, but I didn’t can back then.... Having canned food on the shelf now warms my heart ❤️ Blessings to you and your family 🌟🌺🙏
Thanks, guys! I appreciate the mention. :) It is an honor to be a small part of what you are doing. Equipping individuals and families to take charge of their food supply is worthy work. And it's as simple as learning to bake a loaf of bread or plant a seed! ~Michele Ps. I can't wait to get a peek into Carolyn's Book of Secrets!!
So excited to see Michele mentioned here, and unbeknownst to Josh! I just subscribed to her channel and appreciate all the advice given in our bread baking group!
One good place I've found for bulk beans, rice, and spices is in ethnic grocery stores. There's one that specializes in Indian and middle-eastern things that I can get huge 10 and 25 bags of beans and spices by the pound, and there's an Asian one that sells bulk vegetables and all kinds of huge bags of rice and other grains all within a 45 minute drive from my house
I would love to know how you guys tackle things other than food in your large family: hygiene products, disposable products, clothing, cleaning products, school supplies, etc. We're a homeschooling family of eight now, and have our own systems for a lot of those, but I always find it fascinating to see how other large families address their needs.
Freeze-dried avocados work very well. You can pulverize them in a blender and make guacamole, etc. easily! My favorite snacks are apple and strawberry slices, and pineapple wedges.
I appreciate your comment on inflation. I feel a lot of people don't think about that, or they didn't before 2021. Inflation is actually the reason my husband and I bumped up our storage from 3-6 months to a year. We are still in the suburbs but dream of homesteading someday. These videos fill the void of not having my dream setup. I am beginning to learn canning and plan to take Carolyn's classes. Thank you for contributing your insights to the rest of us!
I started this process about 2 solid years ago. When I started, I took photos of prices at Walmart. I started with just buying canned goods, and then converted to the home canning. In Jan 2018 in my area, Walmart brand pasta sauce was selling at $.79 per jar. Today, the same jar is $1.50 If your not paying attention, your not going to make it. Prices are increasing monthly if not weekly on certain items. Food shortages are increasing due to trade across the globe. BULK buying is always your best option, because your not paying for additional packaging....... Great information.
I may have a great "Stock-Up" hack. I shop at restraunt supply business. Some places require a restaurant license, my restraint supply business does not require this. I buy 50lb Chuck roast ($2.50 per lbs), or 50 lbs bags of rice, oatmeal, dry beans..... other items. These things are less expensive. I can the meat in quart jars for soup, stews. I also keep a cut for pot roast for the freezer. I also, put the dried goods in 6 gallons buckets, lined with Mylar, moisture absorbers, and oxygen absorbers.
I am currently going through old ones you’ve done. I had been seeing you pop up in my recommended but due to my prejudices/preconceived notions I hadn’t checked you out. I am an older woman getting ready to retire and have already purchased my retirement homestead and have been watching lots of videos to refresh my memory of my childhood and to learn new things. So I first saw thumbnails of Michelle in the kitchen and thought you were in your late teens/early 20’s. There are many young people who are very knowledgable but there are even more that are just starting the lifestyle and decided CZcams is a way to help supplement their new lifestyle and what they do is watched the more experienced homesteaders and then try to duplicate their videos before they have experienced it. There is no way I would have thought you were old enough enough to have 9-10 children and have years of knowledge and exemplary organizational skills as well as being a phenomenal teacher (that actually goes for both of you) I could continue to detail all my judgemental preconceived opinions of you based on a picture but my foot tastes really nasty and I would like to remove it from my mouth. Michelle, you are a very lovely, youthful woman which is obviously a testament not only to your good genes but also your healthy lifestyles. You both are excellent at teaching combining not just providing information but doing it in an interesting manner. Glad I finally watched one.
Listen to what they said about strategy! I remember well my first garden and having a bumper harvest, OOPS! Now that I grew it, what am I gonna do with it?! After a ton of sales my wife learned to make jam using tomatoes, believe it or not it's s great! Overloaded all my friends with summer squash. My second wife goofed when she planted two, two hundred foot rows of cucumbers. Poor girl, carrying up bucket after bucket after bucket of cukes because she didn't want to waste them.
Hello guy's, have watched your videos from the beginning live in Spain with my family and have learnt a lot from you. And our small home garden and vegetable garden is thriving Thank you so very much love Aguilar family 🤗
Good luck with your hunting. We don’t hunt but we barter a lot with the extra chickens we grow, garage minor repairs and undercoating. Just now I am bottling moose and I have deer in the dehydrator. We also have wild duck. This way we always have a good variety. We are only a family of 2 so we bulk buy enough to get us through till the garden starts. Then I start buying again for the next winter season, so the expense doesn’t come all at once on the fall.
I don't know how I didn't see this 4 years ago! 😳 But, nonetheless, I am watching it now! This is perfect because I told my husband this year that we are starting to build up our long-term storage! Thank you, Carolyn and Josh!!!!!
FYI-I LOVE every one of your videos. I often go from one to another so quickly and I forget to like them. Thank you for everything you do from teaching your family to teaching us as viewers. Both of you work so well together but I appreciate how diligent Carolyn is at teaching so well in detail. Actually both of you do that. I’m wanting to learn so much so quickly I’m getting overwhelmed a bit. My greenhouse is full of trays of plants that I started from seeds. I also am switching over to no dig because I’m so tired of the washing away of the topsoil and weeding. I have spent hours every week weeding and tilling and my new system thanks to Charles Dowding’s uTube channel will hopefully change that. It’s a LOT of work in the whole process but I believe it will be very much worth it in the long run. Because of Jess from I forgot her uTube channel, I finally have a passion to plant. I am planting flowers and herbs and companion plants so I can cut down on the insects and pests. This has taken me several hours of studying and thanks to Carolyn’s advise I’m prepping meals ahead of time so when I’m working outside or having a huge work day, dinner will still be easier to finish and have a healthy meal. Ugh, I’m tired just thinking about my days.
I really love your channel, you don't just teach one or two subjects, you teach them all.!! Thanks so much for all you do, I can't wait to go over and see if I can afford your masterclass lessons. God Bless you and your family. ~SuzyJC in Ohio~
When I did the soup class you recommended checking to see if store would reduce the cost per pound of tomatoes if you bought the box. This never crossed my mind. In the produce tables the tomatoes were 1.54 lb/ by the 25 lb box .99 per lb. If you can thus is much cheaper
I absolutely love watching the two of you interacting on camera! You glow together, and it's so lovely!❤❤ may God bless and keep the Thomas family in all their endeavors!
Im not Christian or any religion but I do love Yeshua my messiah. I been feeling a few months ago that I need to save food bc a hard time its coming to the earth. I never believed in all this bc I never been In a very hard situation. The word of God says that all Good comes from God and I believe that me feeling this is good and comes from God. Looking for how to do that I discovered your channel and I really love it
I so enjoy your pantry chats and have learned so much. Though I started all of this later in life- I am enjoying the journey. It gets better every year.
I have a freeze dryer and have been trying many different foods. I have done avocados. I don't care for avocados but knowing how healthy they are , I freeze dry them then powder the end result. This way I can incorporate them in other foods, like smoothies, breads, soups, and many others. We have solar so the electricity used is offset. Watch for sales. We bought ours during one and received a discount because Robert is a veteran.
Very jealous! The freeze dryer is on my "wish" list. Keep us apprised of what foods work or do not work and what you would do to improve your freeze drying. Much appreciated!
Did your tomato soup but I'm not a patient person so when I was waiting for the recipe I canned other stuff. My dining table is covered with cases of canned food ready to put away when I finally get my store room taped,muddied and painted. Was going to be a family room but it morphed. This week I'm still on the canning meals kick and trying to clean my winter dead garden. Feels like the faster I run the behinder I get
One thing I found to help me is to write the purchase date on everything I place on my storage space. Time flies by and I can think something hasn’t been long on my shelf or in my freezer but the items are aging, and I should be thinking about how to use them. It is obvious to date home canned items but I date EVERYTHING I bring into the house, including spices.
I used to write the purchase date on food items when they arrived in the house. I agree that it is very easy to forget when each item is purchased, especially as the stash grows. One week I discovered that the best by date on a few items were later than the dates on the same items I had previously purchased. Now I write the best by date in an area that is easily found. I also make sure that the date is bold and black, and written large enough that I can see it without my glasses.
Wonderful video! So many great tips and reasons to build a pantry :) Thank you for sharing your knowledge, I’m still fairly new and always trying to learn.
Yes! You can save thou$ands over time, just buying at the grocery store. Watch the sale ads. We love XYZ spaghetti sauce. Usually $2.99, but sometimes on sale as low as $1.39-$1.69. We buy a case of 12. It'll keep. When we get down to 3 jars...time to watch for it to go on sale again. Just watch your dates and ROTATE when adding more. Multiply that on many shelf stable items and watch your grocery bills go down in the long run. Same with a deep freeze. You'll save lots of $'s on meat. Package in meal size portions and be sure to write a date on it. Thanks for the topic!
A few years ago I learned to can from a friend who goes to church with me. (Her pantry is awesome!) I have canned jams, relishes and apple pie filling - also French onion soup. In 2 weeks she begins a class at our church that will meet every Weds for 6 weeks. She will teach us how to make and freeze our own bread and other baked goods. We will be going deeply into canning real meals safely. I plan to learn how to make and can bone broth as well. We bought a freezer for the two of us (71 and 66, retired) and we are stocking up on meats and frozen fruits and veggies. We do have a generator if it's ever needed. I keep at least a two-month supply of our meds at home also. Lastly - within 2-5 years we will be moving closer to our oldest son. He hunts and freezes meat. Our youngest son has 20 acres and has pigs and chickens. It sure helps as they have four healthy children to feed! We also Commissary shop and keep plenty of paper goods, coffee, canned foods and rice at home as well. I really enjoy your website and posts. We have family members who think we're odd or funny. Another reason it's helpful is that we both have some aging problems and aren't always at 100%. So neither of us need to drag ourselves to the grocery store if we aren't up to it. Take care. Looking forward to learning more in 2022.
Good stuff, Thank you both. I really enjoyed you past video and this was helpful as well. My family and I love the Lord Jesus Christ and doing things are selfs as best as we can. God bless
Thank you for sharing your life..your keeping my life long dream alive with skills I'll need.. Making my waiting room my class room...♡♡ I'm in an apartment in SF Bay area.
Excellent presentation of how to grow a food pantry!! We have done a lot of what you suggest, and it is incredible how our food storage has grown in size, quality, and reduced cost in groceries! I like how you suggest how to start, it reminds me of a "debt snowball", except this would be a "bulk food snowball", haha. We have been doing this for about two years and can now easily fit bulk food purchases into our grocery budget.
Natasha S. Congratulations! I thought so, when you said debt snow ball. I am debt free, but because my dad taught me. I have given Dave Ramsey to family though. So nice not to live paycheck to paycheck. We got hit by a semi out of state and believe me it was nice to buy a new vehicle without a loan. Insurance settled a month or so after we got home.
@@carolhamilton5164 Yes, we didnt have the best role models, but luckily have learned better. Paycheck to paycheck is not fun, and we love not being there anymore. I'm sorry to hear about the accident. Those are scary enough without facing having to buy a new car with no money.
Wonderful chat again. I look forward to waking up on Sunday mornings with you and a cup of tea. Speaking of tea, Where are those cups you're using from? I love them! Love & Light from Minnesota to all of you!
We are not big rice eaters, but love beans so that is what we stock the most of. I dry can them and also mix them for 13 bean soup. Tripled the size of my garden this year. I'm finally learning what to grow here in McCall, Idaho.
Our local grocery store just had a sale on 5# bags of brand name sugar - 3/$5.00. It was still in small packages but cheaper than buying a 25# bag, I consider that to be bulk buying. For the price of 2- 25# bags I was able to get 75# in the smaller packages.
Lots of useful tips, thanks. I've started on buying bulk and buying an extra item or two each shop and gradually expand my reserves. When something I normally buy is on special offer I buy plenty extra. Over time it's bringing down my overal food expenses. Growing my own comes next. I also forage for a few wild things which I dehydrate or turn into shrubs.
Oh my, pie pumpkins! Yes, I’ve grown them and they seem to take up less room. I was trying to explain to a friend what a pie pumpkin was, and what to look for.
When I started buying bulk and didn't have a bunch of money I just budgeted $50 a month on bulk and then eventually that evened out to bigger savings. Dairy products and fresh veggies is really the only reason I go to the store. Working more to get our garden up and going next season and hopefully a cow is in our future.
Now I'm anxiously awaiting the pumpkin spice dehydrator cookies!!! 😋 Especially with them being sugar free and with maple. That's right up my alley!!! I love your journal!! I have a much smaller book I'm filling... Come to think of it I should have one in the kitchen then I will stop losing the recipes 😉
Thank you for sharing your great information and positive energy! I found your channel recently and have been enjoying several past videos. I'd love to hear more about a brief comment I heard on a previous video about having temporarily eaten a vegetarian diet (maybe just Josh). If you don't mind sharing, what made you decide to try that, and what made you switch back? Regarding this week's video, I am at the point of needing to get my small amount of potential storage space in my suburban home cleaned out so I can use it more efficiently and effectively. I'm just learning to ferment (have a whole THREE jars going currently 😆) and hope to build up to canning, etc. Baby steps...
a funny story about not being ready to can what you get . I got a box [64-68 ] apples and set them out back while I looked for someone to help me make applesauce , found no one so I went to can them . problem was the squires got into the box and ate all my apples. they taught me not to procrastinate any more
Having spent 25 years in retail stores I do not care to shop and I also learned budgeting years ago so I believe in stocking up at lower prices. An having worked in restaurants when I was young eating out is not something I really care about I prefer scratch cooking at home very few restaurants can measure up.
our grocery store is a mile away BUT DRS. Home dept Costco are 45 minutes one way. but im not complaining.! don't want those places in our town!!! like the old days it takes a day to go to all the stores so ww only go once ir twice a month.
I was watching a video on another channel and someone had commented to them that a loaf of bread could be bought cheaper than made. I would like to point out here as well. If I had to buy all the ingredients, I can make a loaf of bread for 70 cents Canadian. The advertisers like people to believe that walmart's 88 cent loaf and other products are cheaper than you can make it. But it's not true. Bread here is $3.00 per loaf
Once you add the cost of the power required to make the bread that might be true. But there are clearly other reasons to make at home! I'm trying to cut way back on packaging, especially plastic, and bread is something that's hard for me to buy without plastic.
Love this channel. Lots of information. Around here there is a grocery store called Woods they have sales at times like 10 for 10. You can also mix & match.
I live you guys. I grew up on squash of all sorts but a few years ago I developed a crazy dangerous allergy to squash. I know, strange. Yes, that means melon, zukes, cukes. It's painful. Watching your pumpkin begining made me so jealous!
Really important to watch cost per unit on the tag on the shelf. Sometimes I find stuff cheaper to buy TWO small count than one "in bulk". Retailers can be sneaky. Reminds me when I was a youth and worked at Walmart. Manager ran a sale on Certs breath mints. 3/$1. Except to buy ONE was 31 cents. Suckers bought them like a BOGO. I prefer to buy two of a smaller size than bulk if price is close because once you open a product, expiration begins to accelerate; also, smaller is better for bartering.
I always buy hams (if my husband wasn’t allergic I would also buy turkey) around the holidays. I also do corned beef around St. Patrick’s day. Usually only buy these around the particular times of year they are super inexpensive.
I enjoy your channel very much? I am curious about the canned food in jars on the shelf behind you. If its suppose to be stored in a cool-dry-dark place, then why is it on open shelving? Im concerned about food safety is all. Thanks for all your amazing content.
I love your guys Channel I really enjoyed the talk this week I tried to buy in bulk as much as possible and I'm lucky enough to work at a local store that provides bulk options and I get a discount got a case of assorted pastas for 8.95 and a 50 lb bag of potatoes for $14
To publish your Book of secrets .... I am a small publisher (not a vanity press - you don't Pay me - beware anyone that asks $$ up front) but if you are ready - send a submission in to vanvelzerpress.com we love Americana topics ! and you are right up our alley.
Hello from Ontario, Canada. Nit sure where you guys are. But so glad I came across ur channel . Looking for homesteading property this spring. Any advice?
Rule # 1 learn how to cook...having a stocked pantry and not knowing what to do with it is bad...you'll be surprised how many people don't know how to cook.
I looked up how much the Nature RIte's medium freeze dryer is now and it's $800 dollars more now than it was in 2021 when I 1st started seeing ppl on youtube with one. Crazy expensive.
Great videos! Thank you! I watch and listen to so many of your videos as I go through my day, that now I can’t find the session that you talked about purchasing ForJars with your 10% discount. I’m looking at purchasing a 1,000 piece mix of WIDE mouth and REGULAR mouth lids. Would you be so kind as to send me the link? Thanks in advance❣️
I go to winco, costco, smart food service (formally cash & carry), azure standard, pilgrams market, natural grocers etc. A lot of these places give you a discount for a 25lb bag purchase. I only buy pinto beans for $20.00 for 50lb and black beans $23.00 for 50lbs at smart foods service. There is unfortunately no food co-op near me that is reasonable. Thanks for the video.
With bulk buying. I want to suggest those of you like myself that only have one or two people or a smaller family. Don't buy those huge cans or bottles of must use quickly foods once opened, such as mayo, canned beans, canned sauces, canned fruits and vegetables etc. Buy these during case lot sales in the size that your going to be using in one meal or in the time before such items are still good. Your not saving any money if you end up throwing away the half a container of ketchup, mayo, beans, etc, due to spoilage.
I would love to know how you balance out the duties and work as you incorporate all these different areas on the homestead? We are in our first year and right now we have chickens (egg layers) and plan on getting cows, a pig and meat chickens this year. Goats being on the list too but want to take it slow. Also starting our garden as well. My husband is a big public land hunter. It’s to bring in sources of meat but it’s also a huge spiritual hobby of his. Sometimes I get discouraged on bringing in new tasks that although would benefit our family seems daunting for me to take on while he is away. Any advice?
I am a southern girl and have lived through many a hurricane! The worst one was Hugo where Charleston SC was ground zero 😳 We were without power for ONE MONTH 😳‼️ We had to go out and purchase a generator to keep things working in the home. My sister and brother drove in once the roads were clear and brought us tons of non perishable food, bottled water, and other household items. We sent our children back home with my sister during this time, and picked them back up once we had power. Home canned food on the shelf would have been a blessing at that time, but I didn’t can back then.... Having canned food on the shelf now warms my heart ❤️ Blessings to you and your family 🌟🌺🙏
Best homesteading channel. You educate..... PRICELESS!
Thanks, guys! I appreciate the mention. :) It is an honor to be a small part of what you are doing. Equipping individuals and families to take charge of their food supply is worthy work. And it's as simple as learning to bake a loaf of bread or plant a seed! ~Michele Ps. I can't wait to get a peek into Carolyn's Book of Secrets!!
So excited to see Michele mentioned here, and unbeknownst to Josh! I just subscribed to her channel and appreciate all the advice given in our bread baking group!
Thank you, Erica!
I love the content as well as the recipes. You are truly doing a great service to society. You are blessed.
One good place I've found for bulk beans, rice, and spices is in ethnic grocery stores. There's one that specializes in Indian and middle-eastern things that I can get huge 10 and 25 bags of beans and spices by the pound, and there's an Asian one that sells bulk vegetables and all kinds of huge bags of rice and other grains all within a 45 minute drive from my house
I would love to know how you guys tackle things other than food in your large family: hygiene products, disposable products, clothing, cleaning products, school supplies, etc. We're a homeschooling family of eight now, and have our own systems for a lot of those, but I always find it fascinating to see how other large families address their needs.
Freeze-dried avocados work very well. You can pulverize them in a blender and make guacamole, etc. easily! My favorite snacks are apple and strawberry slices, and pineapple wedges.
I appreciate your comment on inflation. I feel a lot of people don't think about that, or they didn't before 2021. Inflation is actually the reason my husband and I bumped up our storage from 3-6 months to a year. We are still in the suburbs but dream of homesteading someday. These videos fill the void of not having my dream setup. I am beginning to learn canning and plan to take Carolyn's classes. Thank you for contributing your insights to the rest of us!
I just love your channel. It’s like watching PBS on a Saturday afternoon 😊😊😊
I started this process about 2 solid years ago. When I started, I took photos of prices at Walmart. I started with just buying canned goods, and then converted to the home canning. In Jan 2018 in my area, Walmart brand pasta sauce was selling at $.79 per jar. Today, the same jar is $1.50 If your not paying attention, your not going to make it. Prices are increasing monthly if not weekly on certain items. Food shortages are increasing due to trade across the globe.
BULK buying is always your best option, because your not paying for additional packaging....... Great information.
I may have a great "Stock-Up" hack. I shop at restraunt supply business. Some places require a restaurant license, my restraint supply business does not require this. I buy 50lb Chuck roast ($2.50 per lbs), or 50 lbs bags of rice, oatmeal, dry beans..... other items. These things are less expensive. I can the meat in quart jars for soup, stews. I also keep a cut for pot roast for the freezer. I also, put the dried goods in 6 gallons buckets, lined with Mylar, moisture absorbers, and oxygen absorbers.
I just stumbled onto a restaurant supply site as I was searching for bulk items! Can't wait to explore :)
I am currently going through old ones you’ve done. I had been seeing you pop up in my recommended but due to my prejudices/preconceived notions I hadn’t checked you out.
I am an older woman getting ready to retire and have already purchased my retirement homestead and have been watching lots of videos to refresh my memory of my childhood and to learn new things.
So I first saw thumbnails of Michelle in the kitchen and thought you were in your late teens/early 20’s. There are many young people who are very knowledgable but there are even more that are just starting the lifestyle and decided CZcams is a way to help supplement their new lifestyle and what they do is watched the more experienced homesteaders and then try to duplicate their videos before they have experienced it.
There is no way I would have thought you were old enough enough to have 9-10 children and have years of knowledge and exemplary organizational skills as well as being a phenomenal teacher (that actually goes for both of you)
I could continue to detail all my judgemental preconceived opinions of you based on a picture but my foot tastes really nasty and I would like to remove it from my mouth.
Michelle, you are a very lovely, youthful woman which is obviously a testament not only to your good genes but also your healthy lifestyles. You both are excellent at teaching combining not just providing information but doing it in an interesting manner.
Glad I finally watched one.
Nov. 2019 food security, and trips to town. If they only knew.
Listen to what they said about strategy! I remember well my first garden and having a bumper harvest, OOPS! Now that I grew it, what am I gonna do with it?! After a ton of sales my wife learned to make jam using tomatoes, believe it or not it's s great! Overloaded all my friends with summer squash.
My second wife goofed when she planted two, two hundred foot rows of cucumbers. Poor girl, carrying up bucket after bucket after bucket of cukes because she didn't want to waste them.
Hello guy's, have watched your videos from the beginning live in Spain with my family and have learnt a lot from you. And our small home garden and vegetable garden is thriving Thank you so very much love Aguilar family 🤗
This video was totally prophetic for the Spring of 2020!
Good luck with your hunting. We don’t hunt but we barter a lot with the extra chickens we grow, garage minor repairs and undercoating. Just now I am bottling moose and I have deer in the dehydrator. We also have wild duck. This way we always have a good variety. We are only a family of 2 so we bulk buy enough to get us through till the garden starts. Then I start buying again for the next winter season, so the expense doesn’t come all at once on the fall.
I don't know how I didn't see this 4 years ago! 😳 But, nonetheless, I am watching it now! This is perfect because I told my husband this year that we are starting to build up our long-term storage! Thank you, Carolyn and Josh!!!!!
FYI-I LOVE every one of your videos. I often go from one to another so quickly and I forget to like them.
Thank you for everything you do from teaching your family to teaching us as viewers. Both of you work so well together but I appreciate how diligent Carolyn is at teaching so well in detail. Actually both of you do that. I’m wanting to learn so much so quickly I’m getting overwhelmed a bit.
My greenhouse is full of trays of plants that I started from seeds.
I also am switching over to no dig because I’m so tired of the washing away of the topsoil and weeding.
I have spent hours every week weeding and tilling and my new system thanks to Charles Dowding’s uTube channel will hopefully change that. It’s a LOT of work in the whole process but I believe it will be very much worth it in the long run.
Because of Jess from I forgot her uTube channel, I finally have a passion to plant. I am planting flowers and herbs and companion plants so I can cut down on the insects and pests.
This has taken me several hours of studying and thanks to Carolyn’s advise I’m prepping meals ahead of time so when I’m working outside or having a huge work day, dinner will still be easier to finish and have a healthy meal. Ugh, I’m tired just thinking about my days.
I really love your channel, you don't just teach one or two subjects, you teach them all.!! Thanks so much for all you do, I can't wait to go over and see if I can afford your masterclass lessons. God Bless you and your family. ~SuzyJC in Ohio~
Great video, tis the season for squirreling away the fall harvest .
Watching this is March 2020... Food security during an international crisis is great to have!
Oh, and I love Azure Standard. They even come up to the Minnesota Northwood.
When I did the soup class you recommended checking to see if store would reduce the cost per pound of tomatoes if you bought the box. This never crossed my mind. In the produce tables the tomatoes were 1.54 lb/ by the 25 lb box .99 per lb. If you can thus is much cheaper
I absolutely love watching the two of you interacting on camera! You glow together, and it's so lovely!❤❤ may God bless and keep the Thomas family in all their endeavors!
This is the very best Homesteading channel! Thank you both!!💗🙏
Love your advice and knowledge! Thank you for being inspiring!
Im not Christian or any religion but I do love Yeshua my messiah. I been feeling a few months ago that I need to save food bc a hard time its coming to the earth. I never believed in all this bc I never been In a very hard situation. The word of God says that all Good comes from God and I believe that me feeling this is good and comes from God. Looking for how to do that I discovered your channel and I really love it
If you Love the Lord, you are a Christian, by definition. Welcome !
good job, guys!
I so enjoy your pantry chats and have learned so much. Though I started all of this later in life- I am enjoying the journey. It gets better every year.
Yes I'm a big stockpile of food (what we eat and do use) and things we will need for everyday living too...great video thanks for sharing with us ❤
I have a freeze dryer and have been trying many different foods. I have done avocados. I don't care for avocados but knowing how healthy they are , I freeze dry them then powder the end result. This way I can incorporate them in other foods, like smoothies, breads, soups, and many others. We have solar so the electricity used is offset. Watch for sales. We bought ours during one and received a discount because Robert is a veteran.
Very jealous! The freeze dryer is on my "wish" list. Keep us apprised of what foods work or do not work and what you would do to improve your freeze drying. Much appreciated!
Loved your drumroll! - lol :) You are very inspiring for my 20 year old self. Thank you so much! - Linnae
Did your tomato soup but I'm not a patient person so when I was waiting for the recipe I canned other stuff. My dining table is covered with cases of canned food ready to put away when I finally get my store room taped,muddied and painted. Was going to be a family room but it morphed. This week I'm still on the canning meals kick and trying to clean my winter dead garden. Feels like the faster I run the behinder I get
I did a lot of this when we lived in NE in the mid 1970s. 😊
One thing I found to help me is to write the purchase date on everything I place on my storage space. Time flies by and I can think something hasn’t been long on my shelf or in my freezer but the items are aging, and I should be thinking about how to use them. It is obvious to date home canned items but I date EVERYTHING I bring into the house, including spices.
I used to write the purchase date on food items when they arrived in the house. I agree that it is very easy to forget when each item is purchased, especially as the stash grows. One week I discovered that the best by date on a few items were later than the dates on the same items I had previously purchased. Now I write the best by date in an area that is easily found. I also make sure that the date is bold and black, and written large enough that I can see it without my glasses.
Very inspirational...and well done. Thank you!
A good place to get 5 gallon pails is from a bakery. I get them for $1.50 and that includes the lid. They are food grade, too!
Wonderful video! So many great tips and reasons to build a pantry :) Thank you for sharing your knowledge, I’m still fairly new and always trying to learn.
Yes! You can save thou$ands over time, just buying at the grocery store. Watch the sale ads. We love XYZ spaghetti sauce. Usually $2.99, but sometimes on sale as low as $1.39-$1.69. We buy a case of 12. It'll keep. When we get down to 3 jars...time to watch for it to go on sale again. Just watch your dates and ROTATE when adding more. Multiply that on many shelf stable items and watch your grocery bills go down in the long run. Same with a deep freeze. You'll save lots of $'s on meat. Package in meal size portions and be sure to write a date on it. Thanks for the topic!
A few years ago I learned to can from a friend who goes to church with me. (Her pantry is awesome!) I have canned jams, relishes and apple pie filling - also French onion soup. In 2 weeks she begins a class at our church that will meet every Weds for 6 weeks. She will teach us how to make and freeze our own bread and other baked goods. We will be going deeply into canning real meals safely. I plan to learn how to make and can bone broth as well. We bought a freezer for the two of us (71 and 66, retired) and we are stocking up on meats and frozen fruits and veggies. We do have a generator if it's ever needed. I keep at least a two-month supply of our meds at home also. Lastly - within 2-5 years we will be moving closer to our oldest son. He hunts and freezes meat. Our youngest son has 20 acres and has pigs and chickens. It sure helps as they have four healthy children to feed! We also Commissary shop and keep plenty of paper goods, coffee, canned foods and rice at home as well. I really enjoy your website and posts. We have family members who think we're odd or funny. Another reason it's helpful is that we both have some aging problems and aren't always at 100%. So neither of us need to drag ourselves to the grocery store if we aren't up to it. Take care. Looking forward to learning more in 2022.
Good stuff, Thank you both. I really enjoyed you past video and this was helpful as well. My family and I love the Lord Jesus Christ and doing things are selfs as best as we can. God bless
Thank you for sharing your life..your keeping my life long dream alive with skills I'll need..
Making my waiting room my class room...♡♡
I'm in an apartment in SF Bay area.
Excellent presentation of how to grow a food pantry!! We have done a lot of what you suggest, and it is incredible how our food storage has grown in size, quality, and reduced cost in groceries! I like how you suggest how to start, it reminds me of a "debt snowball", except this would be a "bulk food snowball", haha. We have been doing this for about two years and can now easily fit bulk food purchases into our grocery budget.
Natasha S. Are you doing Dave Ramsey?
@@carolhamilton5164 Yes, we are nearly debt free!😊
Natasha S. Congratulations! I thought so, when you said debt snow ball. I am debt free, but because my dad taught me. I have given Dave Ramsey to family though. So nice not to live paycheck to paycheck. We got hit by a semi out of state and believe me it was nice to buy a new vehicle without a loan. Insurance settled a month or so after we got home.
@@carolhamilton5164 Yes, we didnt have the best role models, but luckily have learned better. Paycheck to paycheck is not fun, and we love not being there anymore. I'm sorry to hear about the accident. Those are scary enough without facing having to buy a new car with no money.
Wonderful chat again. I look forward to waking up on Sunday mornings with you and a cup of tea. Speaking of tea, Where are those cups you're using from? I love them!
Love & Light from Minnesota to all of you!
I loved that you mentioned the local CO-OP. That is great, a lot of people including myself haven't or hadn't heard of them.
We are not big rice eaters, but love beans so that is what we stock the most of. I dry can them and also mix them for 13 bean soup.
Tripled the size of my garden this year. I'm finally learning what to grow here in McCall, Idaho.
Our local grocery store just had a sale on 5# bags of brand name sugar - 3/$5.00. It was still in small packages but cheaper than buying a 25# bag, I consider that to be bulk buying. For the price of 2- 25# bags I was able to get 75# in the smaller packages.
Once again, great video covering a very important subject. Growing your own food is a foundation stone of food storage.
Great information and advice. Thanks for all you do!
Lots of useful tips, thanks. I've started on buying bulk and buying an extra item or two each shop and gradually expand my reserves. When something I normally buy is on special offer I buy plenty extra. Over time it's bringing down my overal food expenses. Growing my own comes next. I also forage for a few wild things which I dehydrate or turn into shrubs.
Oh my, pie pumpkins! Yes, I’ve grown them and they seem to take up less room. I was trying to explain to a friend what a pie pumpkin was, and what to look for.
When I started buying bulk and didn't have a bunch of money I just budgeted $50 a month on bulk and then eventually that evened out to bigger savings. Dairy products and fresh veggies is really the only reason I go to the store. Working more to get our garden up and going next season and hopefully a cow is in our future.
Will you post how you made the pumpkin leather 😀
great idea! would love to see that!
Yes please!!!!! I have 25 little pie pumpkins to use and store up those sounded wonderful
Cookbook!!!
Now I'm anxiously awaiting the pumpkin spice dehydrator cookies!!! 😋 Especially with them being sugar free and with maple. That's right up my alley!!! I love your journal!! I have a much smaller book I'm filling... Come to think of it I should have one in the kitchen then I will stop losing the recipes 😉
you guys have taught me much especially since I am older than you ... I have forgotten so much over the years ..cheers from Canada
Thank you for sharing your great information and positive energy! I found your channel recently and have been enjoying several past videos.
I'd love to hear more about a brief comment I heard on a previous video about having temporarily eaten a vegetarian diet (maybe just Josh). If you don't mind sharing, what made you decide to try that, and what made you switch back?
Regarding this week's video, I am at the point of needing to get my small amount of potential storage space in my suburban home cleaned out so I can use it more efficiently and effectively. I'm just learning to ferment (have a whole THREE jars going currently 😆) and hope to build up to canning, etc. Baby steps...
I've done food storage for years. Living out in country was a big part but always kept a Pantry full.
You guys are amazing❤
Shopping with my twins is a whole other ball game lol. Cooking from scratch and starting to get in the swing/schedule for my baking.
Winter luxury is the best!!!!
Try Thelma sanders sweet potato for a super fabulous long storing acorn type squash
I really love you guy's!I hope you are all safe and sound.Your channel really just "hit the spot" lol sorry that's the only thing I could think of.
You guys are so great for putting this utube channel up for funnies like me. 🙋➕🙏♥️
a funny story about not being ready to can what you get . I got a box [64-68 ] apples and set them out back while I looked for someone to help me make applesauce , found no one so I went to can them . problem was the squires got into the box and ate all my apples. they taught me not to procrastinate any more
Having spent 25 years in retail stores I do not care to shop and I also learned budgeting years ago so I believe in stocking up at lower prices. An having worked in restaurants when I was young eating out is not something I really care about I prefer scratch cooking at home very few restaurants can measure up.
Excellent ideas. Glad to know I am doing it right so far.
our grocery store is a mile away BUT DRS. Home dept Costco are 45 minutes one way. but im not complaining.! don't want those places in our town!!! like the old days it takes a day to go to all the stores so ww only go once ir twice a month.
Really looking forward to your Thanksgiving video!
I was watching a video on another channel and someone had commented to them that a loaf of bread could be bought cheaper than made.
I would like to point out here as well. If I had to buy all the ingredients, I can make a loaf of bread for 70 cents Canadian.
The advertisers like people to believe that walmart's 88 cent loaf and other products are cheaper than you can make it. But it's not true.
Bread here is $3.00 per loaf
Cheaper, perhaps, but not as 'clean' and definitely not as fresh
Once you add the cost of the power required to make the bread that might be true. But there are clearly other reasons to make at home! I'm trying to cut way back on packaging, especially plastic, and bread is something that's hard for me to buy without plastic.
Not cheaper! 70¢ for me to make it vs 88¢ to buy it at Walmart.
Love this channel. Lots of information. Around here there is a grocery store called Woods they have sales at times like 10 for 10. You can also mix & match.
Cannot wait for the membership to open!
I live you guys. I grew up on squash of all sorts but a few years ago I developed a crazy dangerous allergy to squash. I know, strange. Yes, that means melon, zukes, cukes. It's painful. Watching your pumpkin begining made me so jealous!
Really important to watch cost per unit on the tag on the shelf.
Sometimes I find stuff cheaper to buy TWO small count than one "in bulk".
Retailers can be sneaky.
Reminds me when I was a youth and worked at Walmart.
Manager ran a sale on Certs breath mints. 3/$1.
Except to buy ONE was 31 cents.
Suckers bought them like a BOGO.
I prefer to buy two of a smaller size than bulk if price is close because once you open a product, expiration begins to accelerate; also, smaller is better for bartering.
I always buy hams (if my husband wasn’t allergic I would also buy turkey) around the holidays. I also do corned beef around St. Patrick’s day. Usually only buy these around the particular times of year they are super inexpensive.
Please do publish the book, I'm sure it will be worth waiting for!!
Azure Standard is awesome! I am sooooo thankful that the drop off point is only 15 minutes from my home 🥳🥳
Lol! I know what you mean about getting extra things at Walmart: and food security is definitely important!
Good luck with your hunting season. Im interested in attempting canning some of my meat this year
Canned roast in pints and it is awesome. Makes about three sandwiches per pint. Check out “Sutton’s Daze” too.
I enjoy your channel very much? I am curious about the canned food in jars on the shelf behind you. If its suppose to be stored in a cool-dry-dark place, then why is it on open shelving? Im concerned about food safety is all. Thanks for all your amazing content.
Lots of good information Thanks!!
I love your guys Channel I really enjoyed the talk this week I tried to buy in bulk as much as possible and I'm lucky enough to work at a local store that provides bulk options and I get a discount got a case of assorted pastas for 8.95 and a 50 lb bag of potatoes for $14
To publish your Book of secrets .... I am a small publisher (not a vanity press - you don't Pay me - beware anyone that asks $$ up front) but if you are ready - send a submission in to vanvelzerpress.com we love Americana topics ! and you are right up our alley.
Could you please put the link to Michelle’s UTube Channel in the comments. I don’t see the link
If you enter Chocolate Box Cottage in the search bar, you'll find her.
czcams.com/channels/qm9GGkiqPZX35m0V7V-T4Q.html
Colonel Littleton where I live in Lynnville Tennessee.I know exactly where that store is, smells so good.
Thank you for your wonderful videos! Will you please provide the Michelle’s Chocolate Cottage CZcams link.
I just typed Chocolate Box Cottage in the search bar and it popped right up.
czcams.com/channels/qm9GGkiqPZX35m0V7V-T4Q.html
Mama Bear Minett Doh! thank you, I forgot the “box” in title & couldn’t find her.
Hello from Ontario, Canada.
Nit sure where you guys are. But so glad I came across ur channel .
Looking for homesteading property this spring. Any advice?
Rule # 1 learn how to cook...having a stocked pantry and not knowing what to do with it is bad...you'll be surprised how many people don't know how to cook.
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I looked up how much the Nature RIte's medium freeze dryer is now and it's $800 dollars more now than it was in 2021 when I 1st started seeing ppl on youtube with one. Crazy expensive.
You need a video on what you use the show what you use for your bulk food
Where do you buy the organic coffee beans?
Great videos!
Thank you!
I watch and listen to so many of your videos as I go through my day, that now I can’t find the session that you talked about purchasing ForJars with your 10% discount.
I’m looking at purchasing a 1,000 piece mix of WIDE mouth and REGULAR mouth lids.
Would you be so kind as to send me the link?
Thanks in advance❣️
I go to winco, costco, smart food service (formally cash & carry), azure standard, pilgrams market, natural grocers etc. A lot of these places give you a discount for a 25lb bag purchase. I only buy pinto beans for $20.00 for 50lb and black beans $23.00 for 50lbs at smart foods service. There is unfortunately no food co-op near me that is reasonable. Thanks for the video.
With bulk buying. I want to suggest those of you like myself that only have one or two people or a smaller family. Don't buy those huge cans or bottles of must use quickly foods once opened, such as mayo, canned beans, canned sauces, canned fruits and vegetables etc. Buy these during case lot sales in the size that your going to be using in one meal or in the time before such items are still good. Your not saving any money if you end up throwing away the half a container of ketchup, mayo, beans, etc, due to spoilage.
You should be able to refill that journal, and just order lay flat refills from Amazon or wherever.
I would love to know how you balance out the duties and work as you incorporate all these different areas on the homestead? We are in our first year and right now we have chickens (egg layers) and plan on getting cows, a pig and meat chickens this year. Goats being on the list too but want to take it slow. Also starting our garden as well. My husband is a big public land hunter. It’s to bring in sources of meat but it’s also a huge spiritual hobby of his. Sometimes I get discouraged on bringing in new tasks that although would benefit our family seems daunting for me to take on while he is away. Any advice?
Sharing!
I have one for my Crochet but not my homestead yet
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