Are you in full-on food preservation mode? We are here on the farm – every centimeter of counter space is packed with jars, both empty and full as well as herbs immersed in oils in prep for salves. Plus tinctures in the making, dehydrated everything everywhere, and peaches covering every table and counter as they finish ripening for canning.
It’s utter chaos.
And I absolutely LOVE it!
Plus, we have a pig and a cow coming from a local farm in about a month, and we are harvesting 100 meat chickens in a couple of weeks.
And, of course, we just placed our bulk pantry order so we have everything from wheat berries to chocolate chips in full stock for winter’s store.
Whew! The freezers, pantry, and canning cupboards will all be stuffed full – and it is so good!
I absolutely LOVE this time of year and as I’m able to slowly move produce from processing to shelves – it is such a wonderful feeling of accomplishment!
However, have you ever gotten all stocked up only to be overwhelmed with how to use it all?
Me too!
Or I get too overwhelmed ….
Or I forget something we have stocked up on and go buy more …
Or worse, go to use something and it has spoiled or gotten bugs in it …
I hate all of these scenarios! But don’t worry – there are some super simple solutions you can put into place so you remember to USE what you have – and keep your stock rotated so it’s always fresh.
The goal isn’t to stockpile food for “just in case” that will never be eaten. The goal is to get ahead on your regular groceries – so that you have an abundance of nutrient dense food for your family, no matter what tomorrow brings.
For that reason, you need a system to rotate your stock so that it’s always fresh and you are always supplied.
Ready? Let’s do it!
1. Make a Master List
This might sound elementary but I don’t know how many times I’ve finished up a bucket of oats then wondered – is there another bag in the totes?
I keep a master list in my daily notebook that has a basic list of what I have but I also keep track on the containers what is inside. (Thus, the next section…)
2. Label Everything
If you use packaging like buckets or totes – invest in an inexpensive label maker and have fun! Label everything! Use a separate label for each item in your totes and buckets and just remove the label when you use up the item. (And, be sure to add it to your Azure Standard cart or grocery list right away!)
I also like to label my shelves and keep things organized but sometimes that feels more like a wish list than a reality. #truth!
3. Meal Plan
Meal plan around what you have. The only way you can utilize your stock and keep it fresh is to actually use it.
But to really do this thing right …
Don’t order things you or your family won’t eat. Don’t like beans? That’s okay! There’s plenty of other things to stock up on without adding beans which will end up just being thrown out eventually after taking up precious space for years.
4. Reassess Quarterly
I go through everything quarterly to check for low stock and also to inspect for things that may be getting old. I do this in January, April, and July. I often don’t do it in October because I’ve just been processing everything for winter so I have a clear idea of what we have. Also, we get our beef and our pig in October so I give my freezers a yearly deep clean in October.
TIP: We process our chickens in September so my goal is to get my freezers cleaned out for the chickens, the pig, and the beef by the time we butcher chickens. Most anything that’s leftover I will process into jars somehow. Sometimes if I have lots of veggies and meat I’ll make up a huge pot of soup and can that up, or if I have lots of chicken, I’ll put that in pints to use for quick meals or chicken salad. It’s a really great way to make sure everything gets used and nothing goes to waste.
Honestly, I look at it this way. I could spend an hour or two each week at the grocery store (and hundreds of dollars) or I could spend my time (and save my money) by taking excellent care of my own grocery store. :)
Thank you so very much for these encouraging words. We all need encouragement at this time, and this is right on time! Shalom.