Living Off Our Pantry: No Grocery Shopping Until Spring!

[@FairlyRooted]

Just to be clear, this is how we live, for us it's not a challenge anymore, it's just what we do/how we live. We've been building up to the point where we can go 6 months doing this, and then we start harvesting from the garden.. We could most likely go a year, but like I said I like to stock up with pantry staples twice a year. I called it a challenge, because that's how many people would see it. We've started out doing what I called a pantry challenge in 2015 and just continued. Started and building up what we grow to get to get to this point. It's not overnight. Otherwise it’s just stockpiling food if we were to buy more food on top of what we have, then save more food from the garden. I guess some of our rules: 1. We don’t go grocery stores at all. Nothing. 2. We go as long as possible, usually from October to May. 3. We do this to clear space for preserving food in the spring/summer. 4. We can barter/trade with others for items/food, but this usually happens during the spring/summer/fall months and not the winter. 5. That’s about it. It’s a way to be creative and thankful for what we have. If we absolutely needed to go grocery shopping we would.

[@teribennett7687]

It would be interesting to see some of the meals you make from your food supply

[@alittleheavenonearth]

Agreeee❤❤

[@HarmoniousHome]

I would like to see meals of the week. Breakfast’s/dinners/lunches. Etc

[@Togepikt]

Thank you for always trying your best to show others a different yet simpler way of living. I have been watching your channel for years now. You have grown so much. It has been amazing to see. Eatting out of season is definitely a luxury indeed.

[@thebodieshomestead15]

It is not odd. 99% of people on this planet do not eat in season. You are an amazing example of how we SHOULD be eating. If you want tomatoes in January you better grow them and put them up. Otherwise you dont get them. A great example, going to Walmart to get strawberries in January...Where are those from? When were they grown? How? Cause they sure as hell are not in season, lol! LOVE this channel. I love all homesteaders but YOU have the RIGHT idea. This is what I am striving for right now on my homestead too. We are going to eat seasonally 100%!!! LETS DO THIS SISTER!!!

[@FairlyRooted]

Thank you so much for your kind words and enthusiasm! You're absolutely right-eating seasonally makes such a difference, not just for the planet but also for the way we connect with our food. Those out-of-season strawberries may look tempting, but the story behind them? Not so much, haha! It’s amazing to hear you’re striving for the same on your homestead-I’m cheering you on! Together, we can show that seasonal eating isn’t just possible; it’s delicious and rewarding. LET’S DO THIS!!

[@alittleheavenonearth]

Agreeee

[@black_cats_enthusiast]

I completly agree qwith you and that was one of many reasons why i moved back to Poland from UK. Here in Poland canning and preserving is our big national tradition and we do have 🍓 in Winter but its rare anybody buys them not only because they are not tasty but also very expensive, simply not worth the water taste. And we do know good berries. Same with 🍅, those which are grown in a soil, taste much better then hydroponic method or those big monster bushes that grow for years. I also worked at the Jersey tomatoe farm and stuff that are run trough them plants dont look tasty. I noticed on the 🥟 bag it says pierogis. Pieróg is singular & pierogi is plural 🤭 As you have inspiride me in the past with a few things before... I'm doing my first "no spend" January So far so good 😃

[@tabearebecca4037]

Rather 99% of the people in the richest countries ☺️

[@Tamar.x]

This 🙏🏼 I don't have a homestead or a big garden to grow a lot of food but I find it important to eat only what is seasonal available. Our bodies thrive so much better eating this way 🙏🏼

[@nancyperry9166]

You are not alone in eating seasonally. This is how we all should be. Spending the next 3 months eating through my pantry. Love the challenge of it😊

[@robynbrown8071]

You are looking so healthy, your pantry and freezers (especially all the poultry) looks great. Well done you. So happy for you.

[@FairlyRooted]

Thank you, you are too kind, and I really appreciate you saying that. I'm honestly probably the healthiest I've been in my whole life despite my health challenges!

[@robynbrown8071]

@FairlyRooted All the best to you and your family. I hope you have a wonderful growing season and that your good/better health continues. It is inspirational to see.

[@Birdiescabin]

These videos are wonderful! I feel inspired!

[@FairlyRooted]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@ArmindaHeart]

Would LOVE your menu plan or a look at your weekly meals. I grow a lot of food too and am always trying to come up with meal ideas from my garden goodies. I’m planning on making pumpkin soup tonight, for instance, with grilled cheese sandwiches.

[@bintlooda]

Managing pantries, freeezers, fridges etc is not easy at all . I admire ur attempt to not have something go bad on u . I loved seeing the bare shelves, it’s great knowing that ur hard work is not going to waste

[@FairlyRooted]

Thank you so much 😊

[@ZeroWasteFamily]

Please make more videos about meals you cook.

[@northernkarma9296]

Hi! 12:16 Cool you should say that. I'm 58 yrs old and I was just saying to my mom the other day (in the car as we were leaving a grocery store) that, I remember as a kid, we didn't have fresh tomatoes or salad fixing stuff in the house in the middle of winter. I also clearly remember how expensive tomatoes were in the store (if they were even there.) I also remember that it was "an event" if we had oranges or any other "fancy" fruits in the winter time. It was NORMAL and we didn't die of scurvey!! We weren't malnourished. We have gotten SO spoiled over the last 3 or 4 decades, it's astonishing, really!! Oh! Edited to add: Much love from NW Ontario (on top of Lake Superior)

[@chrisward7928]

I remember us all getting an orange in our Christmas stocking every year. What a treat that was!

[@robihawley368]

I am 60 years old and just beginning this self-sufficiency lifestyle. I have been feeling very down on myself because I'm not planting EVERYTHING I need. I do not have the physical capacity to plant, harvest and process all of the beans for my pantry! Thank you for sharing that you just can't do everything yourself because I watch these videos and kinda feel like a loser and really feel my age! To see a healthy young strong experienced woman admit she can't do it all alone has really brightened my day! I'm feeling actually empowered now! Again, thank you for putting reality into perspective for me!

[@VibinJivin]

❤❤I'm 56..,,and I understand how you feel but you're never too old to do something new...my motto is..,little by little and it's OK to live and thrive within our limits. Peace and love to you ❤

[@melodyfordham7878]

So glad I found your channel. I’m 74, in Maryland, USA. Was raised with grandparents of this philosophy. Thank you. Blessings.

[@FairlyRooted]

Thank you so much for being here and sharing that! It’s wonderful that you were raised with those values-it’s such a beautiful way of living that connects us to the past. Sending blessings right back to you from Ontario!"

[@amandaheslinga1690]

Yes we do. Eating in season and what we have in the pantry from our garden is the most rewarding gift for all that hard work in the summer.

[@amygillette5528]

I love this! Thank you for sharing! We live in a tiny house in a city so we can't stockpile like this. I'm jealous of that lovely pantry and all of those freezers! Hoping to get land soon and follow your lead. I love the idea of growing and storing and eating seasonally and hope I can move more in that direction. Thank you for being so very you!

[@jillgott6567]

I live in a city, rent an apartment and have no where to grow food and only have the freezer on top of my refrigerator and a hallway I use as a pantry. My freezer always has a good amount of meat purchased on sale or at clearance prices, I freeze fruit I buy, I make soups using leftover bits and pieces- I have not yet gotten into dehydrating or drying food but may do so starting with fruit. I commend you for eating the way you so. I try to keep to a low budget and if I continue ue as I am, I will have saved over $1,000 I'm the next year. Crazy amount to save while eating more mindfully. Great video I am a first ti e viewer

[@Afroyogacollective]

Great video, thanks for sharing. Been seeing your content here and there for years, glad to see how far your homestead and homegrown food journey has come. Hadn't seen your content for a long time, you look fabulous.

[@1973InternationalKid]

GOALS. Thanks for sharing Amber!

[@FairlyRooted]

Thanks for watching!

[@gracens5548]

Interesting video, Amber! I am definitely inspired to do this more. Thanks for sharing:)

[@bjcdownunder]

I used to think that it wasn't worth messing with the small daily pickings of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, etc, so they would sit out and often go to waste. This year, I've been bringing in the harvest, and no matter how small, I've washed them and laid them on a tray to freeze. Each day, I bag the produce from the day before in sandwich bags and put them in the fridge freezer. As the bags fill, I move them to our storage freezer and start a new bag. I now have a beautifully stocked freezer that will give us tasty and nutritious smoothies, etc, all through the winter. I've been doing the same with the tomatoes, zucchini, capsicum, celery, onions, garlic, and herbs and turning them into pasta sauces, lasagnas etc.. Small batch canning has filled my storeroom shelves. All the while, we're enjoying our produce fresh and sharing with our children and grandchildren. We also have the peace of mind that comes from a fully stocked pantry. It's a thing of beauty.

[@funnybunny81]

yes! I love your last sentence especially. It's beauty 🖤

[@LouiseLucy]

So interesting! Would love to see a week of meals made with your stored food. So cool! P.S it feels extra interesting because I’m in Australia and it’s the middle of summer here - strawberries are a winter fruit here so they’re expensive at the moment too haha.

[@linds1986]

I admire you! Thanks for sharing this ❤

[@FairlyRooted]

Wow, thank you!

[@bmor1074]

You are who inspired me to start gardening about 4 years ago now. My garden space is only about 375 square feet and I still have to rely on the grocery store but I haven’t had to buy tomato products in the last 4 years. I’ve been able to grow and can enough tomatoes! I also have grown a years worth of garlic the last 2 years. I try to grow as many of my own herbs and am able to at least grow a few months of other things like potatoes, butternut squash, carrots and beans.

[@torih5766]

LOVE LOVE LOVE videos like this! Thank you.

[@FairlyRooted]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kenziemacdonald4386]

I’ve been following you for years. Youre my favourite KZbin channel. I’m living in Kitchener in an apartment and I Grow on my balcony. You taught me how to grow in containers. In a month we are moving to 50 acres 3 hours up north. And again. You and your videos will help me then too. Youre an inspiration to me. I don’t have anyone in my life that lives this way. So your videos seem like sitting down with a like minded friend. Thank you for sharing this with us ❤️❤️

[@FairlyRooted]

Congratulations! And wow, thank you so much for your kind words-they mean more than I can say. It’s incredible to hear how far you’ve come, from growing on your balcony in Kitchener to now moving to 50 acres up north! What an exciting new chapter. I’m so glad my videos have been a source of inspiration and support for you! You’ll do amazing things, one step at a time. And I hear you about not having like-minded people nearby! I’m so excited for what’s ahead for you, and I hope my future videos will continue to feel like sitting down with a friend. ❤️

[@maryegerton6848]

I haven’t been to the grocery store since just after Christmas. I live off my canned stuff and frozen seasonal stuff for the winter. My heat bill is kinda high so it’s a life saver. I’ll probably go to Napanee in February some time to pick up some tea bags and garbage bags and potatoes and carrots. I will be planting more vegetables this coming spring. Fantastic video, Amber. Well done.

[@FairlyRooted]

Wow, that’s amazing-that's the way to do it, making the most of your canned and frozen seasonal food! It’s such a great way to save on groceries and offset those high winter heating bills (I hear you on those, so we burn wood). Napanee isn’t too too far from me-it’s nice to hear from someone nearby! Best of luck with your garden this spring-I’m sure it’ll be a great help in stocking up for next winter. Thanks so much for watching and for your kind words!

[@AngelaLaMunyon]

I wish I could. My family is not on board. But I do my best by growing, making and storing the staples that I am able to.

[@FairlyRooted]

Just do the best you can!

[@northernkarma9296]

Keep going, you do what you love. They will remember the delicious foods you made!

[@brendak3862]

I freeze all my garden grown strawberries and we use them in smoothies, etc...all fall/winter long and we love them! I agree with not buying them in the wrong season, we eat frozen blueberries in the winter too, we are still eating our garden butternut and our own sweet potatoes, I dont have a pantry quite as full as yours, but hopefully this will be a better growing year, last year was tough here! I'm impressed by your hard work and knowledge! Thanks for sharing!

[@iancampbell168]

I don’t like the distance travelled for out of season foods either. It’s weird, doesn’t sit right. Certain things I’d much rather enjoy when in season. Thanks for sharing!

[@paigevingarette5158]

In my state they have a couple of farms where you can go pick your own strawberries and blueberries. We pick a bunch then we go home and freeze some and eat them during the winter.

[@FairlyRooted]

Yes we do that here as well!

[@christina7088]

I think this video was soooo interesting and helpful.❤ i would love to see/listen to how you eat these things. I know cooking videos aren't everyones jam but even just a off the top list of how you serve them to the family.

[@christina7088]

I don't pantry challenge but i do have a set list of meals and ingredients that i buy each month and I work through those. We do get a few luxury foods but for the most part I stick to the list and buy a few extra of the canned goods/dry good each time just in case we have to prolong our monthly trip to the grocery store. We will be starting our garden this year though. So hopefully soon I can start adding to my home grown stock. Last year I preserved pear sauce from trees that were on our property and it was so fun. Now we have pear sauce to last us awhile.

[@FairlyRooted]

That sounds like such a smart and practical system! Having a set list and working through it is such a great way to stay organized and prepared, especially with those extra canned and dry goods as a backup. How exciting that you’re starting a garden this year! It’s such a rewarding experience to grow and preserve your own food. Nothing beats the taste of homegrown, homemade food!

[@charissatroup5611]

I love your pantry shelves. We only have one more squash left, and I need to go through our potatoes, and can them, because they're sprouting, but we have lots of preserved veggies, etc. I only go to the store, like you, for basics I can't grow or make myself.

[@FairlyRooted]

Thank you! We used wood we had lying around and I put a lip on them just to make sure no accidents happen haha Happy to meet a like minded preserver!

[@Jubu_love]

We eat down our pantry and freezers periodically throughout the year. We don't have a set schedule. Now that we live somewhere with seasons (Oregon), we do grow seasonally and preserve more for winter.

[@courtnez]

Such a traditional way of eating. I'm excited for another gardening season. This will only be my 3rd full season at our new house.

[@petermanmom]

Loved this! Some health issues last year kept me from growing and preserving as much as I would have liked. I DO NOT like all this money we are spending at the store for things that don't taste nearly as good and I know have less nutrition. I'm recommitting to my preservation goarls as I plan this year's garden.

[@stacyfredette260]

Love all of this

[@FairlyRooted]

Thank you so much!

[@shirleysparks1148]

I would love to see how you prepare the geese. I've never had one before. Beautiful food storage.

[@loneholst7679]

You are totally right about stuff like eating strawberry in season - however I like freezing some in the summer from my garden and make jam in the winter. And as you said, then getting the taste of july 🍓in january ❄️. Your food looks absolutely wonderful - I really like your way of thinking, it seems very wholesome to me. Best wishes from Denmark😊

[@FairlyRooted]

Thank you so much, and best wishes to you in Denmark! Freezing strawberries and making jam is the perfect way to capture that sweet taste of summer for the winter months. 🍓❄️ There’s something so satisfying about opening a jar of homemade jam and being reminded of sunny July days. I love that we share the same appreciation for seasonal eating and preserving-it’s such a wholesome and rewarding way to live!

[@Annaloveless7]

This is absolutely incredible and inspirational. Been following you for years and years and it’s been fun to grow and evolve in life alongside you! Appreciate you continuing to invite us into your home and show us better ways to live and thrive! Dreaming of the day we can own a homestead and live off our land as much as we can :)

[@FairlyRooted]

Thank you so much for sticking with us over the years-it means so much to hear that! 🧡 When we first started, we only aimed to live off our pantry for about four months in the winter, but as we’ve learned to preserve more from the garden and plan better, we’ve been able to stretch it further. It’s definitely been a journey, but one that’s so rewarding. I’m so excited for you to start your own homestead one day! Even starting small with a few things-like a garden or pantry staples-makes a big difference. You’ve got this, and I can’t wait to see your dreams come to life! 😊

[@alicerenieri329]

Hello, your videos are always delightful...and very interesting! I try to do pantry challenges but I don't why, I usually fail: maybe there's something about the mood of the day that is holding me back...

[@Miss.sassycassy]

I love this so much

[@misaexner1037]

Your videos are so inspiring and I love that you are not talking about it like its the hardest thing to do! Like people dont need to be ride or die.. i hope it makes sence. I love seeing your videos please keep going ❤

[@FairlyRooted]

Thank you so much! ❤️ Sustainable living doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing thing, and I love sharing ways to make it approachable and enjoyable. I really appreciate the encouragement. I’ll definitely keep going-thank you for being here!

[@kdonor]

Yes I do. I made pesto pizza yesterday from garden basil (I had frozen the pesto in the summer)

[@FairlyRooted]

Oh that sounds amazing!!

[@cindylarade]

I love what you're doing, it's just awesome!!! I'm preserving our food & meat chicken as well, but on a smaller scale! You're inspiring to listen to! How do you prepare/cook all that squash? I'd love to eat more squash but I'm not really sure how to serve them, other than spaghetti squash lol

[@kaileyd]

I’d love a video on your meat chickens if you haven’t already (I looked but I think I having some catching up to do😂). I’d love to do meat chickens this year so I’d be super interested in your experience with them.

[@Meemagolding]

I REALLY enjoy all of your videos!!

[@FairlyRooted]

Thank you so much!!

[@alittleheavenonearth]

Girl ❤ you keep doing what your doing 👏 blessings ❤❤❤❤

[@FairlyRooted]

Thank you so much!!

[@cindiemoore2530]

Have you ever tried freeze drying your tomato sauce. Huge space/energy saver and the powder rehydrates beautifully. I use way more tomatoes in powdered form than my canned sauce. Freeze drying also works so well for veggies, I make soup in jars that I pour into my crockpot, add water or broth and they rehydrate beautifully.

[@FairlyRooted]

I dehydrate tomatoes and then blend them for powder! I have a ton of jars. I am actually starting to pull things from the freezer and pressure canning and dehydrating them now to free up space.

[@brandynash1409]

I do have some “dooms day” food put back. 5 gallon buckets that have some dry goods in mylar bags. It wouldn’t get my family of 6 very far, but it would definitely help. It would however get my 2 dogs pretty far. Outside of those buckets, I do what you do. Grow a ton of food and spend the winter eating it because we need the jars and space to be able to preserve the next year. We are in very rural Arkansas. So, we grow different things, but same mindset. We also feed animals and share with people too. I plan my garden according to what we eat each week. Our pantry looks a lot like this. Canned tomato sauce because we have homemade pizza every Friday night. And we eat a lot of chili in the winter. Canned and frozen purple hull peas (cowpeas). We eat theses usually once a week. Dry corn. For cornbread with the peas. Dehydrated yellow squash and zucchini for soups. Canned butternut in cinnamon and tiny bit of sugar for pancakes and muffins. Lots of regular and sweet potatoes. Lots of watermellon and cantaloupe in the summer Looooooots of freeze dried herbs Freeze dried goat milk Pickles and relish Green beans Freeze died eggs. Onions and garlic I buy ingredients only. Wheat to grind and yeast/baking powder/salt. Butter and cheese. Coffee. Honey (our bees haven’t given us honey yet).

[@GrowCookPreserveWithKellyDawn]

I also challenge myself to use my own food over the winter and to use something I grow and/or preserve every day of the year. My husband is rather selective and doesn't like a lot of garden food, so it's primarily me that lives this way. I used to feel like a hypocrite, but he likes what he likes and I have to respect that. He is also opposed to raising our own meat source, so it's just egg-laying hens (for now). But we balance each other, mostly. And he is very supportive of my passions.

[@---Cybil---]

That's crazy prices for strawberries. My strawberries here in the south were actually popping up but that cold that came though knocked a bunch out. Somehow, my volunteer lettuce is still growing. It got snowed on and somehow still doing good. I'd love to see some videos on how you preserved everything to last so long if you have time. Love your videos! Hope you all are staying warm. It's been a weird winter here in the south(USA based)

[@PegsGarden]

Hello Amber, I found this video very interesting, seeing how you store your food for the winter, I do the same, we freeze a lot of our food also, so much easier for me, thanks for sharing 💞

[@FairlyRooted]

Thank you so much for watching and sharing your thoughts! 💞 Freezing food is such a great way to preserve it-it’s quick, convenient, and keeps so much of the flavor and nutrients intact. I’m glad to hear you do the same for your winter food storage! It’s always inspiring to connect with others who value putting up food for the colder months. Thanks again for being here! 😊❄️

[@PegsGarden]

@FairlyRooted 🥰🥰

[@chantaldavies]

I couldnt agree with you more Amber, regarding seasonal food eating. I have a belief that the food types available seasonally are as such for nutritional reasons. Salad in summer as its light and hydrating, and root vegetables in winter to keep us fuller for longer through hibernation! Silly perhaps but that's what I think 😊

[@59kuphoff]

You are so nonchalant about this and I'm like What????!!! Thanks for the inspiration! I was thinking about growing my own dry beans but you have made me re-consider. I tried growing my own wheat. Oh boy, so much work! Yep, I'm buying my grain 😂

[@FairlyRooted]

Yep I buy my grain. I have lots of our own dried beans, but not enough to live off of haha!

[@FreedomMotivationalVideos]

Your videos are crystal clear. What camera are you using???? Or is it just great settings?

[@ToBelongNowhere]

Wow, what an amazing and inspiring pantry! Can I ask how you store your potatoes to make them last so long? I find that when I buy them they almost instantly start growing eyes and then get all shriveled up. Any tips you have would be much appreciated!

[@FairlyRooted]

I store our potatoes in our cool, dark, and well-ventilated pantry-which is usually very cold in the winter between (4-10°C). A basement, root cellar, or even an insulated garage can work well if it stays consistent in temperature. I also keep them in wooden crates to allow good airflow. It’s important to store them away from onions, as the gases they emit can make potatoes sprout faster. Lastly, I check on them regularly and remove any that are starting to sprout or soften to prevent them from affecting the others! Hopefully, these tips help your potatoes last longer! Let me know how it goes. 🥔✨

[@hollyjobitner3285]

We scrub and cut our potatoes, then pressure can them. They are yummy with onions and garlic. A great addition to food storage. I just finished my last 2023 quart. 🖖💙

[@ToBelongNowhere]

@@FairlyRooted That helps a lot thank you!! Going to hunt for a wooded crate so I can stick them in our basement. Thanks again!

[@ToBelongNowhere]

@ Sounds delicious!

[@theclumsyprepper]

Hi Amber. I love your pantry and am envious of your freezers - I don't have the space for them myself. I agree on eating seasonally, but there's nothing better than cracking open a jar of tomatoes or fruit in the middle of the winter. Btw, have you ever tried fermented tomatoes? I make them every year and they are so good and easy to do as you ferment them whole.

[@LifeUnfiltered89]

Hey Amber, it’s Amanda here. I just wanted to let you know that I live in Oregon and even though I don’t live on a homestead, I live in a single wide manufactured home in a park and I do seasonal eating as well. We live off of our freezers and what is in our pantry a part of the year and then I go bulk buy once maybe twice a year. Most don’t understand I don’t buy rice, beans, oats or many things like flour sugar or baking supplies once or twice a year. Where is the rest of your grocery haul? They ask how can you only spend X amount of money a week by shopping without these things. I save on my low income to bulk shop these items once a year honestly. My freezer is packed for winter and it’s going to help in slower working month like January (we are grateful to have it with my hours lowered) and February is slow in Oregon too. It might pick up around April or May because I live in a tourist area but I have to be prepared or we go without

[@kimdobson1808]

In aus and nz our most common pumpkin is called a Kent pumpkin or I guess squash in Canada, I haven’t seen a lot of the varieties you are showing except the butternut. Kent is my favourite to eat, so tasty and an awesome texture, and I grew my first giant one this year I just picked!

[@FairlyRooted]

That's so neat! Haven't heard of a Kent pumpkin here before!

[@philbalasa8056]

I too eat within the seasons, and I eat from my pantry as soon as my crops die in the colder weather. I’m in Washington State! Oh my name is Julie, my husband and I share social media. We have a 5 acre homestead. So I also do the pantry challenge ( really just how we eat! I also have a TBI from 2022! I can now process enough to pressure an again. It will get better! Just remember to give yourself grace and take everyday as it presents!

[@FairlyRooted]

Yep, it's really just how we eat as well! Sorry to hear you've also had a TBI as well... I've met so many people here who have told me about their TBIs and it's honestly made me feel less alone, so thank you for sharing with me! And thank you so much for your kindness!

[@marly-paigepetersen]

An idea for ur channel: a series. A day un the life. Prepping certain vegatables eg a day in the life of prepping tomatoes. Showing ur audience how u prep it for freezer. For dehydrating canning etc. Love ur channel

[@FairlyRooted]

Thank you so much for the suggestion and for your support! That’s a fantastic idea-I love the concept of a "day in the life" series focused on prepping specific vegetables. I’ll definitely keep this in mind for future videos-thank you for the inspiration! 😊✨

[@HHeirloomIA]

Love to see some seasonal recipe/cooking ideas too!

[@TwinBarnsFarm]

I eat strawberries in January… via whatever I picked from my garden. Jam or frozen. I’m the same way. My family isn’t as excited about all of my food things. I tend to do a no buy winter challenge and empty our freezers before I have to start filling them back up.

[@home_edventure]

Would love to get to this stage of growing our own 😍

[@FairlyRooted]

You can do it!!

[@jennjones5835]

We have been doing a pantry challenge Jan to march for the last few years. Today was the first meal out since before New Years Day.

[@lorimcmichael5846]

Very interesting 😊how about what you cook for a week or two?

[@maryf1467]

I love the pantry. Do you dehydrate any fruit?

[@FairlyRooted]

I do! Most of the dehydrated fruit its gone- besides rosehips and blueberries which I still have. I still have tons of dehydrated veggies!

[@rustictraditionshomestead]

The farms in my area grow strawberries now and they get shipped all over. I'm hoping to grow a lot this spring but if I had to rely on my garden to live, well I wouldn't make it long. By May the bugs will be devouring most things and then we get so hot by July the rest of the plants die off. I have ideas this year though that will hopefully save my plants. Thanks for sharing the possibilities.

[@fairyandco]

Where I live we can only buy food that is in season, if it's not in season you can't find it in the store. Now that's how you know that your food is fresh! 🥦🍓

[@FairlyRooted]

That's it!!

[@hillarywattenbarger3203]

I shouldn’t be howling at your child picking all the corn seedlings but man, made me giggle 😂 reminds me of the time I was a small child and went to pick tomatoes with my papa…he told me to pick them “ a little green still is ok”. Apparently my kid brain thought GREEN. So about 30 min later I walked up to him with a huge bucket of green hard tomatoes 😭😂

[@FairlyRooted]

😂 Oh no, that’s such a classic kid moment! I can just picture your papa’s face when he saw that bucket of rock-hard green tomatoes. Kids and gardening make for some hilarious (and memorable!) stories, don’t they? Thanks for sharing-it’s so funny how these little mishaps stick with us. Makes me feel better knowing I’m not the only one with garden chaos courtesy of tiny helpers!

[@DebraE.Carlson]

You have so much food put away. That is wonderful! Food security is important in these troubled and unsure times.

[@FairlyRooted]

Thank you! Food security has always been a priority for me, especially because I’ve experienced food insecurity in the past. I think that’s a big part of why I’m so passionate about growing and preserving as much as I can. It gives such peace of mind to know there’s always something to rely on, especially with how unpredictable things can be. I appreciate your kind words-it means a lot! 💚

[@bn5202]

Hey Just found your channel, and loved this vlog. What region of Canada are you in? Im east coast😊

[@FairlyRooted]

Ontario :) Nice to meet you!

[@bn5202]

@FairlyRooted Great to meet you! I look forward to following your journey, and getting tips for growing/preserving foods. Cheers:)

[@nicolephillips9991]

I'm with you! Seasonal eating is best when you can. Obviously, you need to build up to having your own pantry. Mine is not quite big enough to make it all through winter. But like you, I prefer root vegetables from the grocery store.

[@FairlyRooted]

Exactly! Seasonal eating is such a great goal, but building up a pantry takes time. It’s all about making steady progress. I have to buy potatoes, no way I can grow enough right now, but maybe one day! It's about being able to do what you can, but not everything, that's what community should be for!

[@danamama6766]

Eating seasonaly was how it was always done years ago before the whole world of food changed and you could just get it now. And I always go with my guts of the Fall foods I crave, the summer food I crave the Spring food I crave etc., that are available when in season local. Because it makes sense. What is available when it is is the best quality. Where I live. Maybe where it comes from it is there. So yes I get you totally. I think that wherever we live in the world what is in season is how everyone eats. Or should. So all is good. It is normal. hugs

[@FairlyRooted]

Exactly! Eating seasonally feels so natural because it’s how people lived for generations before convenience took over. I love how you listen to your cravings-they really do align with what’s fresh and best during each season. Local, in-season food always tastes better and just feels right. Hugs back to you, and thank you for sharing your thoughts!

[@danamama6766]

💕

[@kathleenhughes5149]

Hi from Australia, summer here, getting sick of zucchini’s though.

[@littlehomesteadbythebeach]

It's not weird eating your own vegetables and fruits in winter. This is why we are doing it! I just ate basil pesto (froze from this summer) pasta with pumpkin seeds I grew myself and fresh tomatoes that stay fresh for a very long time (long keeper). And yes, I'm with you with that, buy in season. Some exception for special events. We go to grocery store every week but for liquids (juice, milk) and dairy produces (cheese, cream, etc.) mostly. A rabbit is now cooking on the fire stove. We will do few recipes with it like a chili con carne.

[@andreamortimer2610]

We just processed some rabbits the other day, too. Cooked some in a red-wine gravy, some as Thai curry, and some as Taco meat and then canned it. Soooo delicious! I also try to use as much of our own produce as possible and stay with seasonal fruits and vegetables. Just finished up my last persimmons and still have some Chinese cabbage and Pak Choy leaves in the fridge from plants that kept on producing till we had this Arctic snow blast coming in. I was amazed how well they were holding up with slight freezing temperatures. I use them as lettuce substitute. Also still have one huge watermelon from last summer that seems to be holding up really well in storage - at least judging from the sound and firmness. Going to cut into it this week and hoping to get a sweet treat there. If not, the chickens and rabbits will have a feast.

[@phillippinter7518]

Thanks for addressing the dry beans and grains, some people online say they grow almost all their own food when they really only grow most of their fresh produce and would probably starve to death without their dry staples

[@FairlyRooted]

Haha yep, we can't do everything. We don't have big machines, I do everything by hand, so it's just not going to happen- not realistic or needed, which is why community is important! You can't do everything yourself.

[@phillippinter7518]

When does your garden typically start producing? Just wondering because you said until May but I thought canadian gardens typically don't get big harvests until around August. But Idk I don't live in Canada

[@FairlyRooted]

I start planting certain seeds in April, by May I'm foraging wild ramps in the forest and might get a few peas from the garden haha. By the very end of June I get my first greenhouse tomato, zucchini, etc! July-August it's a heavy harvest time, which starts to taper off in September. It's really dependant on growing zone, and mine is treated as a zone 4.

[@tabearebecca4037]

Do you have some kale, brussel sprouts and similar winter vegetables in your green houses? Its awesome how much food you have at home!

[@FairlyRooted]

This year no, but next year I will. 2024 was a hell of year for me with mu accident, but next year will be a better year. I'm currently growing sprouts, spring onions and kale indoors!

[@tabearebecca4037]

​@@FairlyRooted I have a garden since a year, trying to learn how to use it now :) You are always an inspiration! I should grow some sprouts, too, its such an easy way to get fresh vitamins in winter...

[@wonderingsanna]

Hi! I am all witth you on not eating fresh food in wrong season. What one have in storage frozen or preserved that was growing nearby and taken care of is another thing. In tthe freezer it´s always "in season". Every year I challenge myself the first 100 days of the year. We eat out our food storage food isn´t museum artefacts at home, it needs to be rotated and eaten. We try to have a really low low low buy on food and everything else) I have a small budget set aside for some fresh food and ingredience really needed for doing a dish but I really try to not go to the grocery store. I try to sort all kinds of little projects that have been laying around half done and I declutter and clean the whole home during this time to. I live on the south west coast of Sweden and this time of the year is so dull, it rains, it´s fog and since we seldom get any snow it´s dark to. A challenge like this is for me a good way of doing things and staing on top of everything instead of a slow hibernation.

[@FairlyRooted]

Hello! I love everything about your approach-it’s so intentional and inspiring! You’re absolutely right: food in the freezer is always 'in season,' and rotating through your storage is such a smart way to prevent waste. Your 100-day challenge sounds like a perfect way to stay focused and make the most of what you already have, especially during the dull winter months. I love how you’ve tied in decluttering and finishing projects, too-we do the same here! Sending you some winter sunshine from Ontario to brighten your rainy, foggy days!

[@wonderingsanna]

@@FairlyRooted Thx for the sunshine, much needed.

[@deettetripp9227]

It is a Fun Challenge to see what you can do, And what you can create, I also rotate what I plant like tomatoes I put away for 2 years. I also dehydrate Every thing to make my own spices, Last year I had so many Blackberries I made everything and just dehydrate the rest. I dislike buying from the store. Hope 2025 is a Productive Year!!!

[@gabib.1780]

Just came across this video- well, we just got our house, were rentinh on short term so far but we still set up a garden and for 2 past 2 years we've produced almost all the tomatoes we needed for the whole year, we did buy some fresh cherry tomatoes every now and then for my toddler who loves them, but I have enough canned to last till summer. I forage for berries and buy sone fruit too, pick it up from local fruir farms when in season becaude I'm a jam junkie. We did pumpkins and squash last year too amd we had a ton of zucchini the year before so I actually still have pasta sauce from 2 years ago made with our own veg which was a lifesaver tjis winter as we have a newborn and zero time...and nope not weird to eat what's in season- it tastes better when it's picked ripe, even if it's imported like oranges a d pomegranates- I buy them when they're in season in their countries of origin. Imported strawberries out of season will never be tasty because Strawberries are so perishable they won't be ripe

[@frugalsweetlife3427]

Ja ich habe Vorräte und lebe den ganzen Januar davon... Februar vielleicht auch noch

[@connielupe7984]

I make sure to eat up items before spring rolls around. I eat in season, I will not pay the ridicules prices for them.

[@brendahere]

I feel its the distance more than not eating out of season. I totally get not eating FRESH out of season. You don't know where it came from, how it was grown and its not frugal for the house hold.

[@zabmcauley5647]

I prefer frozen strawberries to fresh, and they have spread so much in my garden that I harvest enough to last all winter. Hopefully this year I'll be able to plant other stuff too. 😁

[@FairlyRooted]

That is so awesome!! Preserving is the way to go!

[@alittleheavenonearth]

Beautiful 😊

[@auntkitty1787]

Me too

[@marimuru891]

Hello, is it so that you do not use butter, margarin, cheese, milk, yogurt or any other perishable items? 👍

[@FairlyRooted]

We don't buy butter or margarine really, they are too expensive here in Canada. Cheese I stockpile and freeze, but it lasts in our fridge for months!

[@ppfgwie9490]

How much do you regularly spend on groceries on things that you can't produce yourself by month?

[@FairlyRooted]

Well, some months are at zero since we don't usually shop from Oct/Nov to April- May. But I do keep track of everything we spend in total... Maybe I should make a video?

[@christiegrows2022]

I made a spaghetti bolognaise using squash as a base for the sauce and adding tomato purer rather than using a tomato sauce base. Game changer

[@FairlyRooted]

Yes!! I make this!! So good!!

[@glendabyford8074]

There is something about eating like grandma and great grandma ate… we grow and store our food or food from our local area when it is in season. I buy wheat in bulk and I make all bread products. We hunt and store as much meat as possible.. we don’t do a winter storage challenge we call it life. We eat what we grow and what we store all year round…

[@FairlyRooted]

Yep that's pretty much it... it's not really a challenge for us, it's just what we do. From May to October we are stocking our pantry and freezer, by preserving what we grow, forage and raise. It's a good way to live, it's seasonal, and it's nutrient dense.

[@stefanierosanna]

Wat kind of meal do you make with squash?

[@FairlyRooted]

I put them in everything- stews, soups, muffins, stir fries... everything haha!

[@marly-paigepetersen]

Here in south africa. I do do a pantry challenge in January . Where my son and i do eat mostly whats left in our freezer and cupboards with the exception of certain tin beans and lentils. Which i biy and store for more hearty meals. We need in the winter. Winter is usually between end of may till beginning of august(roughly) i use tin beans to load up soups and stews. Ww are currently in summer now. And we prefer lighter meals like salads, tomato pasta or mac and cheese and sandwichs. We also eat alot of chicken due to the price affordability. And its healthier than red meat. Apparently. We prefer white breast meat from chickens.

[@FairlyRooted]

Your summer meal lineup sounds delicious-lighter meals like salads, tomato pasta, and mac and cheese are perfect for the heat. . It’s wonderful how you’re adapting your eating habits to both the seasons and your budget. Thanks for sharing-I love hearing about how others around the world approach food storage and meal planning! 😊🍗🥗

[@dunyadonuyor]

You don't have to put the canned tomatoes in the fridge. We always do; after cutting the tomatoes into pieces we boil them for once and put them in the can. Since they can stay outside for one year. You can do this better because our town doesn't even have snow. It preserves the energy and the electricity you put in.

[@dunyadonuyor]

Additionally, we spend all our summer preparing for winter like ants. We do tomatoes, canned olives, olive oil, pomegranate sauce, loaves of bread, a variety of pickles, etc. This is the very traditional way of living.

[@FairlyRooted]

My tomatoes aren't canned, they are just in canning jars and frozen. I have a TBI that happened last year, so couldn't can my tomatoes, instead I froze them. I'll be canning tomatoes this coming summer.

[@alternativehomesteadingchannel]

That's exactly how I live in preparedness. I rotate through real food that we actually eat.

[@FairlyRooted]

That's the way to do it!

[@stricknitt0184]

You could still waterbath cann the tomatos. Just defrost them and put them in a pot. And I love Gold Nuggets. Only the fruit, not the plant😅

[@FairlyRooted]

Oh definitely have thought about it! As soon as I get ahead in other winter projects I may can some tomatoes and make some jam!

[@PLANTLIFE-lq1my]

❤❤❤

[@abigailk402]

As I watched this I was eating a tomato that we got in the discount produce section of our grocery & before you even said anything I just thought it felt so so wrong this time of year ….

[@stschubs]

We are like you, we grow most of the food we eat minus grains and stuff. I'd challenge you to try to grow at least one of your fav beans if you haven't on this new property! It's not as bad as you think! Especially with all the space you have. we did black beans our first couple of years, and now I grow various amounts of 15ish types of beans. Tehy're all low maitenance crops that if you have the space, you should try! hand picking and is a bit time consuming (also small scale here) but then you just pillow case them and the rest is easy! For anyone liking this kind of video, totally go read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barabra Kingslover, she talks lots about eating seasonally, and how fulfilling it can be :)

[@FairlyRooted]

I grew 17 types of beans this year and saved the seed from them. I have a few videos up of how I save the seed! I have tons of it, and we do eat it, but I also know it's not enough for our family to get through the winter... Same with potatoes, I grow potatoes and save them, but still can't grow enough! So we buy extra.

[@mariannemay2669]

Can you “Water bath eggs?” I have heard people do this maybe that could help when you get lots of eggs. FYI hope that helps

[@FairlyRooted]

You can "Lime Bath" eggs, I've seen them before. That said, we sell out of eggs every week, and get enough for ourselves, so we're doing ok on eggs!

[@anonanon1982]

❤