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It seems silly not to touch upon food you have preserved yourself when discussing how to stock a pantry, so this article is about growing your own food.
Food you grow yourself are able to be preserved by canning, drying and freezing, and some items may not even need processing in order to store. Pumpkins, potatoes, herbs and acorn squash are examples of foods that do not need to be processed.
Food can be grown organically, providing you with healthy alternatives to store bought canned foods. Many university cooperative extensions provide lessons in home canning and drying foods, and information can be found online at such sites as Mother Earth News.
Canning jars can be expensive at first, but are reusable year after year, as are the rings. The only parts you will need to purchase each canning season are the lids.
Ideas for Saving Money on Canning Jars
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Yard sales
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Thrift shops
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Antique shops
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Friends and family may find some in their attics.
NOTE: Grow an indoor herb garden year round for the freshest, organic herbs possible.
ACTION STEPS:
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Look for sources (online or in the community) for heirloom, organic seeds. These will provide you with the best tasting produce. Plus, you will be able to save seeds at the end of each season to use the next year, so you may not have to purchase new seeds again.
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Decide where you will plant the garden. Make a plan and begin purchasing the necessities. Will you start an organic compost pile? What seeds will you purchase?
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Purchase eco-friendly pots, organic soil and heirloom, organic seeds for an indoor herb garden.
UP NEXT: Weekly Follow Up on Wednesday
Shannon
http://livingthelowincomelife.wordpress.com
http://frugalrecipes.wordpress.com/february-2012-create-a-pantry-in-1-month-challenge/
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- Quick Tip: Save Money by Growing Your Own Herbs (frugalrecipes.wordpress.com)
