Living the Pantry Lifestyle

If there were a title on this post it would be This, That, and Links... for my mind is wandering all over the place with nothing really profound to say (not that any Saturday post is all that profound) and it has been awhile since I have provided some favorite links.

The picture above shows one of my two tea shelves in the kitchen.  After having tea falling on me in various sizes (boxes, teabags, even metal canisters), I decided to sort through and find new places for some of the tea.

All "medicinal" type teas went into the medicine cabinet of the tiny bathroom as it had plenty of room and then everything else was sorted in their usual places.

On the shelf above, I placed everything that would make good iced tea all in one location.  I suspect that will be changed out around September.  :)

As a continuation of our other pantry project of checking expiration labels, I gave the tea boxes a quick look and was astounded to find three boxes (all herbal teas I don't use often) that were so old I decided to throw them away.  One box was labeled 2009!  Time does go quickly in the pantry.

Now when I decide to make a quick batch of sun tea, I no longer have a multitude-ness of others falling down.  I must admit... after moving the medicinal teas and getting rid of the "out of date" boxes... it almost looks bare on the shelves.

My pantry lifestyle project this week was the cleaning and cooking of a few veggies from our own garden and lots brought home yesterday from the organic farm.   For dinner, along with a simple crustless quiche, we enjoyed organic corn on the cob, organic tomatoes, and organic broccoli... all picked the same day.

As I have written, Hubby has been bartering his work to help the organic farmer (in his 80s) for the vegetables.  Both are very pleased with the results.  I think he would have worked the hours just for the corn on the cob. 

I appreciated his efforts so much that while he took a nap after arriving home from the farm (for he no spring chicken, himself!), I prepared some of the veggies for dinner... even cleaning the corn.  That is a job I usually give him for through the years I have been unpleasantly surprised by creepy crawly things.  These were just fine.  Thank you, Jesus.

If you get a chance to read The Feast Nearby, you learn so many ways to provide good food on an extremely limited budget (like hers and ours).  Bartering has blessed us and the farmer.

Links
I have been bookmarking a number of links lately that are of interest to a pantry lifestyle.

• Grow the 7 Most Profitable Vegetables in Your Garden... here.
• 4 Easy Steps to Efficiently Stock an Emergency Pantry (good beginner info)... here.
• 12 Months of Prepping, the First Year (also good for a beginner)... here.
• 30 Things to Make Instead of Buy... here.
• 31 Things You Can Freeze to Save Time and Money (fabulous information!)... here.