Living the Pantry Lifestyle - What does that mean?

When I think of what it means to live a Pantry Lifestyle, I think of planning today for what is needed at a future time.  Never is that more apparent then in planting season.  After a week of cold and rainy weather, I will mosey out to the garden for the first time in days to check for damage.

Oh, did I mention there was a possible frost last night?  In mid-May?  That's late even for our part of the country.

But like the women of all past generations combined, I realize if I am going to have a harvest I have to persevere.  I must look past crazy weather, weeds, critters, and anything else that would come between veggies, herbs, and the dinner table.

Some have written that those of us who believe in stocking a pantry and having at least "a little extra" put back have no faith that God will provide.  Ummm... no.  If anything, we are just more attuned to the warp and woof of all the generations before there was anything such as refrigeration.

We are actually people of faith.  We truly believe we hear from God, that it is Him who planted within our hearts the desire to keep a pantry no matter how small, how deep, or how extensive.

When one is living a Pantry Lifestyle, one simply desires to be prepared for life such as it often happens.  We understand there are seasons of life just as there are seasons of planting and harvest.

How do you know you are a Pantry Lifestyle sort of person?  Well, here are a few indications:

• You receive a bonus or financial gift and you use it to deepen your pantry instead of going to a spa.
• You decide to use a small part of your yard to plant a raised bed garden.
• You live in an apartment in the city but grow fresh herbs on your balcony and have "a little extra" food and essentials tucked in closets.
• You decide to grow all your own food.
• You purchase food from a farmer and learn the art of canning.
• You can't pass up a 10 for $10 sale of your favorite canned goods even though you already have a couple of cases.
• You understand that there is no such thing as too much TP in your pantry.
• You spend time pondering what items your family would need to have on hand in a job loss or emergency situation.
• You become absolutely giddy when you come across good quality flashlights and a wind up radio at a thrift store.
• You shop garage sales and thrift stores for nice clothing in your children's next size.
• You have a supply of books, sewing materials, craft projects, yarn, art supplies, paper, pens, pencils, and any other creative outlets stocked "just in case".
• Just to name a few symptoms...

How do I know?  It is where my mind lives.  It is the way I am wired up.  If you read the Saturday Posts regularly... it may be the way God made you, too.

I'm convinced God makes Pantry People for a purpose and hopefully each family has at least one.   In my part of the world, you may find them planting and weeding at this time of the year.  Pantry People in other parts of the world are harvesting and preserving at the moment.

My husband has often told me every time he thought he would give up the frustrating game of golf (when he still played), it took only one amazingly good game to keep him playing.  For the person who lives a Pantry Lifestyle, it takes only having on hand what is needed to make a last minute recipe to keep them going. 

Or perhaps having found the winter coat your child needs at a garage sale for a couple dollars.  Or serving green beans and tomatoes in January that you canned in August.  Or having the money saved to get you through a season of unemployment. 

Pantry People are not hoarders.  You probably will not see them on Doomsday Preppers because they are more normal than what Reality TV chooses to show. They know what they have, what they need, what to look for used and when to purchase brand new. 

They are wise people living the planting and harvest cycle of those who went before them.  It can look a little different in this 21st century... or just the same.

Pantry People do not fear the future because they have faced it long ago.  They know they do not stock up out of a lack of faith.  No... if anything there can be great joy and peace found in the Pantry Lifestyle.

Now, I must put on my thick soled shoes and make my way to the garden to see the affects of the rain and cold.  Hopefully nothing needs to be replanted and all is well.  If not... we plant again.  For that is what Pantry People do. ;)

LINKS
I was asked about planting a garden in a shady area.  Half of my garden space becomes fairly shady once the big trees near it become full of leaves.  That is where I have my larger herb raised bed and the raised bed where I grow lettuce, kale, and such.  They seem to thrive better in the shade once it gets hot.

The tomatoes and green bean plants need full sun so they get planted in one of two raised beds that receive full sun and rotated between the two.  This year the tomatoes are planted where the green beans were last year and then next May... visa versa.  We hope to expand the garden a little to receive more full sun.

Just this week I came across a very good article and what grows in shade.  It can be found... here.  Anything you can grow will be fun and helpful.  Growing your own herbs alone can help save money at the grocery store as well as being absolutely yummy.

Image:  Three Hens with Coop; allposters.com