I Am Getting Ready for the Pantry Challenge, Are You? |

[@susanwheeler949]

I completely agree about the electric canner. No babysitting frees you up to do other things. I love mine! We do not have a homestead, we live in a town home and do not have gardening space. There are plenty of farms near us where we are able to buy delicious produce which I preserve. I'm fairly certain we, a 3 generation household of 5 people, would easily make it through the pantry challenge with the exception of fresh produce. I may end up doing this challenge this year just so I don't have to go out in the cold! Another great video, Penny! ❤

[@OpenHandFarm]

Hi Susan! I love the fact that you are not a homestead and buy from local farmers. That is amazing. I want people to know that they can preserve and be more self-sufficient, even without a garden or a homestead. Thanks so much for being such a great example of this! I hope you do the challenge and see how amazing it feels to eat from the work of your hands! 😁🤗

[@susanwheeler949]

​@@OpenHandFarmYou've talked me into it! 😂 Thank you for your kind words! ❤

[@simplecountryliving7555]

You explain things very clearly. It’s my first time on your channel. Thank you.

[@OpenHandFarm]

Well, thanks for stopping by! My goal is to be as clear as possible so thank you for that compliment. I hope to hear from you again! Blessings on your new year!🤗😁

[@regularmompantrylife2587]

I love my electric canner too. It's nice not to have to babysit it so closely once it's up to pressure. I only wish it held more. I'm with you on not doing a huge stock up in December but I think topping up is a good idea. I had to really lean on my pantry this year so I'm low on some things. I bought a few things last week and I'll likely continue to restock during the challenge. I guess some would say I'm not really doing the challenge but it is what it is when times are hard! I'll still be challenging myself to use up things and be thrifty, I'll just keep filling little holes.

[@OpenHandFarm]

I think anyway that we can challenge ourselves and accomplish that challenge is a wonderful thing. We all have different lives and different lifestyles and we all have different challenges. You are so right about needing to top things off and if you can’t afford to top things off in one month then you just keep going through the challenge months. But like you say, we can still top things off being thrifty and using the things we have. Blessings on your challenge! I hope it grows you as it should! 😁🤗

[@goingcagey5991]

I have heard Jessica (3 Rivers Homestead) say that each person who participates in her Pantry Challenge (January and February) may make their own rules. It's the spirit of the challenge that matters and not that everyone has to follow the details of the plan she participates in.

[@OpenHandFarm]

Oh absolutely! That’s why I encourage people to just try even a little bit. If it’s something they want to do. The first year I heard about it I didn’t do too great but what I did do, I was proud of. I figure if you could even do one meal a week or one meal a month from what you have on hand it lets you realize if you want to be able to do more or not. Thanks so much for commenting! I appreciate it. 😁🤗

[@iartistdotme]

AND I'm very excited to see your microgreen video. I want to learn a lot about how to do it - I know people say it is easy but---. I have some microgreen seeds and some regular seeds and am ready to go. THANK YOU for thinking about this and sharing!!!!!!!

[@OpenHandFarm]

Hi Mary! I should have it up next week fingers crossed! 🤞 It all seems easy but definitely a learning curve! I am so excited though! Yet another thing we have in common sis! 🤗😁❤️

[@KimberlyBaker-v3w]

First time viewer!! Thank you for sharing

[@OpenHandFarm]

Well, welcome Kimberly! It’s so good to hear from you. I hope to hear from you again. I love getting to know our viewers! Blessings on your week! 😁

[@southwesthomestead1234]

We will be participating in the challenge for January and Feb. We actually have already begun. I'm looking forward to seeing what I can come up with.

[@OpenHandFarm]

Yay you! I’ll have to check in and see how you are doing! I know you will do great! Blessings on this adventure! 😁🤗

[@TheInquisitiveFarmwife]

I am excited for this.... always love watching this challenge with you along with your garden one.... I am not as good as you... someday, lol!

[@OpenHandFarm]

Awww, you are amazing! You have so many good videos! We just are different in what we focus our efforts on. Love you and your energy friend! 🤗😁😘

[@stephencameron1709]

You are a great inspiration Penny! Great advice and I can’t wait to see the micro greens video. I agree about store bought chicken! Wishing you a blessed New Year! Val C ❤️🙏🏻

[@OpenHandFarm]

Hi Val, it’s good to hear from you. Thank you for your kind words. I am inspired by all of you! I’m really excited about the micro greens too! I pray blessings on you and your new year! ❤️🙏🤗

[@barb9181]

Looking forward to your microgreens video. Wishing you blessings in the New Year.

[@OpenHandFarm]

Thanks Barb! Hopefully next week. Definitely a learning curve! Blessings on your new year as well! 😁🤗

[@oldchickenlady]

There's a store in Bonner Springs that carries Amish type foods. It's called Karen's Country Kitchen. I buy my flour and other goods from Dutch Country store in Tipton but this lady can order the same things and it's only about30 minutes from my home. Next year I will order my 50# of Wheat Montana flour and not have to wait until we are headed to Tipton. Since you are just across the state line, I wanted to share! We buy our meat from Bichelmeyer Meats in Armourdale (KCK). It's a family owned business and they support the local 4-H groups. I enjoy your videos!!

[@OpenHandFarm]

I’m glad you enjoyed the videos! Thanks so much for the information. I do love that Montana wheat flour. I buy it when I go to Lilac Lane in Windsor Missouri. We actually went to pickle Meyer the other day and got a chicken. We did like it. I wanted to go back another day and look at their other meats. Thanks so much for all the good information. I hope it is helpful for anyone else in the area that reads this comment. You are a blessing! 😁🤗

[@BigValleyLiving]

Looking forward to clearing food and avoiding waste in 2025!

[@OpenHandFarm]

Good for you! I just subscribed so I can see how it goes for you! Blessings on your adventure! 😁

[@BigValleyLiving]

@, thank you! Already setting up my indoor garden.

[@OpenHandFarm]

@ oh wow! Awesome!!! 🥰

[@soniahenney9827]

I love my Prestp electric canner. Wanted to get a second on but we had to get a new furnace so maybe in the future I’ll get #2.

[@OpenHandFarm]

Hi Sonia, I’m so glad to hear that you like it too! It took me a year to be able to get my second one so I totally understand! Thanks so much for watching and for commenting. I hope to hear from you again soon. Blessings on your new year! 😁🤗

[@BeckyCreger-vs5ce]

I could never do the challenge because I do not have the storage room for because I live in a small apartment. I do have a pantry and freezer. I don't have the income to do this. I have been slowly adding to my pantry and freezer.

[@carolynparker7007]

It helps to look for sales or sometimes ppl give extra things they grow away for free. Especially zucchini :)

[@OpenHandFarm]

I understand having a small space. I have been in situations like that as well. You just keep slowly adding and that’s how we all get started. If you are not a canner, maybe looking into that would be good. That’s a great way to buy things on sale and preserve them. I know a lot of people who store their canned goods under beds. They store produce there as well. It’s amazing how people can find storage in small spaces. I’m always so proud of them for their creativity. I’m proud of you for slowly adding to your pantry and freezer. That’s where it has to start. Thanks so much for watching and for commenting. Blessings on your storing adventures. 😁🤗

[@OpenHandFarm]

Sometimes, if you go to food pantries at the end of the day, they will have extras that they’re needing to get rid of as well. I have some friends that do this and come home with boxes of chicken and stuff like that that they end up canning. It’s amazing!

[@susanwheeler949]

​@@carolynparker7007 Can you start with just one week? I obviously do not know your situation, but maybe that one week can show you other possibilities. The nice thing is you don't only have to do this in January and February. And since you get to make your own rules with the challenge, you don't have to do the full month! Make it fun and don't be stressed if you have to pick something up at the store. It does not mean you failed the challenge. It just means you learned something new! I will be rooting for you! 🥰

[@OpenHandFarm]

I believe this was meant for Becky. But thanks for the encouraging words! 😁

[@robininva]

I’ve never really understood the challenge, hence never done it. It seems to me it wouldn’t be a money-saver because everything would have to be replaced (a lot of work and things are more expensive). I’m making this comment before watching….so forgive me if you explain it. Going to watch now….😊

[@OpenHandFarm]

I have had other people not understand this as well. The reason I preserve things is for us to eat them. We do not eat everything in that two month. But if we don’t eat them, I won’t have room to preserve more next year. In my mind, it’s just like buying groceries for two months, except that I am preserving them myself, and then eating them. Then starting over again. So basically, I’m just preserving things for my family to eat and realizing how satisfying it is to be able to preserve enough food for us to eat for two months without depending on someone else. Thanks so much for coming along even though you don’t understand. I appreciate that! I hope that something I do or say helps you to understand better. Blessing’s! 😁🤗

[@robininva]

@@OpenHandFarm you’re so kind. I wish we were neighbors. ❤️ I think I understand the challenge better now due to your explanation. In a sense you’re preparing for a make believe hard times….yes? To “challenge” yourself to see if you can ride it out??? Sort of?? No? Yes? Do you learn a lot each time you do it?

[@OpenHandFarm]

@ Oh how sweet! I would love to be your neighbor! I am so glad you understand better. Yes, I suppose you could say we’re figuring out how to ride through a storm. I learn so much each time! Last year I learned that I needed to have more basic things on the shelf this time around. I also learned that I did not want to spend a lot of money in the month of August, but wanted to try to preserve things that I could grow or was given and that made a huge difference in my mindset. It helps me to know that as we are eating in January and February from our larder, pantry and freezer, we are eating from the labor of our hands. We have grown it, preserved it, and now cooked it. It is such a satisfying feeling to know that you don’t have to depend on someone else. I hope you follow along through these next couple months and be sure and comment. I would love to hear from you again soon! Blessings on your day, sweet friend (and pretend neighbor 😜). 🤗

[@robininva]

@ 🥰 💞 🥰 I will totally follow along….and consider the challenge.

[@11Aradia11]

The goal is to rotate your pantry/larder/freezers, using up the oldest stuff first and making space for the upcoming harvest season/sales by emptying your jars/ shelves - effectively saving you money on your annual food costs. Anyone with a pantry/freezer can join in 😊 even if its for only a week. I live in a duplex with a courtyard garden so I rarely grow enough to preserve but I do take advantage of sales throughout the year. Now is my time to buy produce/ meat as it's summer here and the best price. Being in the southern hemisphere it more practical for us to do the 3 rivers challenge during July/August so that's when I attempt this challenge. Do the best you can with what you've got 😊