This $20/$20 Challenge is bringing out some big-time canners. I’m loving it! Also, my OCD is loving everything about how Melissa arranges her built-in canning pantry. And how organized her kitchen is! Here’s her story:
Hey Mavis,
Our house was built in the 1920s back when most people preserved their food. Somewhere along the way our house had a canning pantry put in right off the kitchen. We cant decide if it was part of the original design or not, but either way we fell in love with the house and soon as we saw that pantry. Is that crazy, buying a house just for the pantry?
Oh well, I’ve included a picture of our little kitchen to give you a reference for where the pantry is located. All the shelves are space exactly to fit one half gallon size canning jars, two jars deep. There are old nails placed in the wood slats below the shelves to hang onion, garlic, or potato bags on. At one time we kept a small chest freezer in the pantry but then were able to upgrade to a small upright freezer we keep stored in a spare bedroom.
I try to can or freeze any and all produce I can get my hands on during the spring, summer, and early fall. I of course keep track of everything in my kitchen journal. We have just a small garden so I mostly get my produce direct from the farms in our area or at local farmers markets. I always find a bargain.
My husband likes to tell about the time he drug me along to a flea market with him (I hate flea markets) and I managed to find a farmer selling tomatoes. It was almost closing time and he still had tons of tomatoes left over. I asked how much for all the tomatoes left in the truck and scored the whole load for $30.00. Our best estimate is that we ended up with around 175lbs of tomatoes that day! It took me a whole week but I got them all canned and put away.
Another time I drove to a farm about 25 minutes outside our town to buy a couple of cases of squash. They had to send some workers out to pick the squash for me and while I was waiting around I wandered into their walk in cooler at the farm stand and there were cases and cases of day old blackberries. The girl working came in and casually mentioned I could have all I wanted at $4 a flat. Holy Cow, I brought home a lot of blackberries that day!
I hope you enjoy my pics!
-Melissa
Are you getting your pantries camera ready? You can participate in the $20/$20 Challenge by simply sending in pictures of your pantry. Find out more about the $20/$20 Challenge: Show Your Pantry – Fill a Pantry!
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Tamara says
Beautiful! Reminds me of my Grandma’s!
Karin C says
Looks fantastic, love all the canning. I am a fellow canner , I put up over 400 jars last year. I learned last year that the USDA recommends that All rings are removed form jars after they have been processed, I have been canning for years and love canning for family and friends and want to always be safe.
J says
What a beautiful pantry! I love that it sits just outside of that cute kitchen.
maria lewis says
Beautiful from a fellow canner.
judy says
I’m always so envious of pictures like that. Then I realize there are only two of us! But what a sense of accomplishment for all you canners with families. Great job.
Mavis says
We’re getting close to just the two of us and I’m not sure if I can scale back! Is canned corn an acceptable Christmas gift for friends. 🙂
judy says
Homemade anything is an acceptable gift to a lot of people. Feel free to send some my way 🙂
Annabel Smith says
I enjoyed this so much! Also I will be following your challenge from now on.
I started building up my pantry and preparedness at the beginning of this year. In Australia not many people prepare. But I feel a strong conviction to do it. I do well in challenges so I will follow yours.
Seeing beautiful pictures like this is a joy to me!
In my own blog I do a series on Wednesdays to document my progress and encourage others. It is just two of us too but two people deserve food in a shortage or storm or economic bad time as much as anyone else. Also I know we would help my grown children in hard times. One of my readers sent me 19 photos of her extensive pantry. The US ladies are very good on this I am finding. Maybe because of snow and storms? Whatever it is I am learning a lot. With thanks. http;//thebluebirdsarenesting.blogspot.com.au/
Em says
“Good on ya” Annabel! Thanks for the link to your blog, too!
Susan says
The pantry looks wonderful. My jams, spaghetti sauce, and salsa that I will be canning
ARE going to be part of my Christmas gift giving!
Cynthia Northrup says
I love Melissa Pantry!! My Military OCD went crazy to and the house remained me of a house we rented years ago.
It had the same style and a work table with built in drawers for Flour, Sugar, etc. I enjoyed Melissa’s story on the blackberries..I just went strawberry picking with my family and co-workers. It was my co-workers first time and hared how to make strawberry jam.
I learned about pantries as a teenager; my grandmother’s home. I could sit in there for hours looking at the different spices, dry stock and dream of ideas. Thank you for sharing.
Cynthia N.