Building the best food pantry for your homestead is easier than you think. Follow these instructions and you'll have your own designated space for your food in no time. This is a must-have during a collapse.

For a busy family, a food pantry makes perfect sense. It’s more economical, saves you time running to the store for forgotten items, and will also help in times of disasters.
Considerations When Starting a Pantry
Before you begin, it helps immensely if you have a plan or an idea of how you want your food pantry to best serve you. Keep these considerations in mind:

The number of people in the household
Serving size of the food
Vitamin content in the food
The expiration date or “best if used by” labels on the food
Special health conditions for family members
How long you want to the food to last
Versatility of the food

Those who are beginners in starting a food pantry should start looking at foods that have long shelf lives. This will help your food pantry last longer and ensure the investment you make into food will pay itself off. For instance, there are some foods that have the capacity to last a lifetime, if stored correctly.

It would be advantageous to have a two-week supply (at a minimum) of these shelf-stable food items on hand to care for your family. Those who plan on taking the first steps toward getting their pantry in order may feel a bit overwhelmed at first. After all, there is a lot of food to choose from at the grocery stores.

Do an inventory check every six months to make sure that canned goods, preserves, and other storage items are within their expiration dates. In addition, it is a good idea to have a checklist of supplies so that it can be looked upon during an inventory count.

Hopefully, this primer will get you started on your food pantry endeavors. Remember to keep the dietary needs of your family in mind when stocking up and stay organized. Next time, we will discuss some frugal tips you can use to bulk your food pantry up.

That wasn't so hard. With this helpful list, you can get started on your fully stocked food pantry. Don't stay unprepared and make sure you include this in your homestead plans!

For more information, be sure to check out Mother Earth News.