As we head into the new year, and things seem a little shaky around our country, we should be taking a look at the rising cost of healthy food for our family.  I don't know about you, but I have spent countless hours growing food, whether it be fruits and vegetables, meat, dairy or eggs.  I've spent many hours learning about herbs (I still don't know very much really) and how to make teas and tinctures that could help us in a crisis.  I've learned new preserving technics and have been putting away food for winter or..... 

After doing all of this, I was thinking.... could we go just one-month without going to the grocery store, or out to eat, ordering in or picking up junk from the gas station when we get gas?  Most of these things for me anyway are being lazy, because I've been busy all day and didn't think about what to make for dinner or just don't want to think about what to make for dinner. 

So, I'm challenging our family to see just what kind of grit we have.  Because if that time comes when "IT" does hit the fan, will we be prepared?  Are we survivors?  This challenge is just the tip of the iceberg.  There are many ways we need to prepare ourselves. 

Anyway, if YOU are up for this challenge, please join us.  Here are some of the rules that we have set up for ourselves:

1.  Cannot go to the grocery store for anything.

2. We cannot go out to eat or order food into our home. 

3. Cannot stop off at the gas station for a quick snack and a pop. 

4. No eating at snack machines.

This is a real challenge for us.  We love to eat out.  However, I will say that I did go grocery shopping to be sure that I had healthy options for the month like long storage veggies (carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussel sprouts).  I also stocked up on flour to be sure that I could make our weekly bread.  Some say that may be cheating.  But I wanted to prepare for this as well.  I will try to post some of our pantry meals on my Facebook group "Homesteading from the Heart".  You can check us out there as well. 

January 1, 2024  begins the Pantry Challenge and ends January31, 2024.

CAN YOU DO IT??? 

(Can I do it?)