Backyard Pantry

Maybe you’ve got a few raised beds and a shelf of mason jars. Maybe you’re starting with a pot of herbs on a balcony and want to know where that goes. The Backyard Pantry covers the full range — from your first season growing to a functioning pantry system that feeds your family through winter.

The goal is the same wherever you’re starting: grow more in the space you have, preserve what you grow, and build a pantry system that actually holds. Whether you’re in year one or year ten, the next step is here.

What you’ll find here

Practical methods for growing more in the space you have. Preservation techniques that actually hold up through winter. Real talk on what works in a backyard setup — tested in real conditions, not ideal ones.

No guru speak. No aspirational nonsense about “living your best life.” Just the craft of feeding your family from what you can grow — wherever you’re growing it.

Where to start

If you’re building your pantry system from scratch, start with the fundamentals of homesteading — what to grow, how much to preserve, and how to store it through the seasons. If you’re already three years in and want to level up your fermentation or extend your growing season, go there directly.

Pick your starting point and go from there.

When you’re ready to take your food storage further, the food security section covers 30-to-90-day supply planning, caloric baselines, and sourcing in bulk without hoarding. And if you’re just getting oriented, the Start Here page walks you through where to begin based on where you actually are.

When you’re ready to extend shelf life beyond canning and dehydrating, Freeze-Drying Food at Home covers the full method — from DIY approaches to home freeze dryer setup and realistic cost expectations.