As we transition to fall and the garden is being put to bed, it’s interesting to see how very much of the garden has been moved inside and not just inside our bellies.
It’s satisfying to see the pantry shelves fill not only with jars of salsa and jam but to know that all the beans and veggies will be fully seasoned as well with dried, homegrown herbs. To see not only the pantry but the medicine cabinet get filled with foraged and homegrown herbs turned into tinctures, salves, and other dried herbal goodness is more than just gratifying it’s exhilarating.
As we move from stocking to using the pantry, I’m committed to keeping better track of how and when use everything. I’ve always been a journaler but in the last year or so, I’ve been trying to just keep better track of the garden and all the various ‘homesteading’ activities we do. Tracking our meals seems like a natural extension of that, besides it’s kinda fun to look back and see what we’ve learned, how we’ve changed, and what we can do better. It’s also a great way for me to stay connected to how the earth provides for us and a reminder to make use of that bounty as much as I possibly can.
Do you keep a pantry journal? If so, care to share any tips? If not, want to join me as I embark on this new journey?
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Yes! I’ve kept a journal for years, since I bought the farm. I like to tape plant tags/photos/seed packs & even seeds in there with dates of planting. I like to include weather conditions as well as wildlife movement (like, the 1st lightning bug; a visiting flock of migrating Cedar Waxwing; Hercules Beetles in my fireplace; when the chickens quit/started laying; etc). This info comes in handy year to year when I plan crops and trips away.
Personal events even find their way into my gardening journal so it’s very interesting to look back on a cold or rainy day inside.