Costco has a metal bed frame that sits 14" off the floor. I have 8 totes under a queen. One tote holds 2 25 lbs of rice, one holds a years worth of shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, cough syrup, Tylenol etc, there's 2 huge packages of costco t.p. one large paper towels, one tote holds 20 lbs pasta 8 lbs lentils 20 lbs beans. It's amazing and the dust skirt covers it all
I have a small dining room that we rarely used. Today I converted it into a food pantry. It’s not done yet but will be working in it for the next week.
For longer term storage, might I suggest powdered milk, rice, dry beans, olive oil, dehydrated onion and garlic, flour, sugar, and yeast. The things you've chosen will do very well for a short time. I am fortunate to have a small room, about six by six feet, just off the utility room, that we use for our pantry.
You can hang chips with pant hangers on the rod above your bookcase.. that would help keep chips and other things pristine plus give you more room. Great job!
Another trick is to use a platform bed frame. That gives you about 10” of vertical space under a bed, it’s hidden from prying eyes, and doesn’t infringe on precious closet space.
I just did the same with an old heavy duty cupboard i picked up from a thrift store for £10 ..i placed it inside one of my built in wardrobes which i wasn't using except as a messy storage unit ..I have around 1 months supply of dried and tinned food in it plus a few extra soaps shampoos tooth pastes etc ..i have around i months supply of water which i had for ages as i hate the tap water here where i live ....Just remember to rotate everything and try to keep to a balanced diet ..
Love that the messy storage unit is now serving a great purpose! I need to work on our water supply. I have 2 weeks worth for 4. But I need to set up more the rain barrel or something like that.
Hi we’re going to keep our stock of food going for emergencies it’s nice when you run out of things and going to your stock it’s like having your own shop I enjoy it
I recently did an inventory of my kitchen pantry and duplicated our most used items. I bough a "cube storage organizer" from Walmart and put it in the closet under my stairs then I went to Costco and purchased the items that I listed as our most used. Coffee, rice, pasta, tomato products, beans and corn ect. I keep about a month of core pantry stock in the kitchen already so this just bumped up my prep to about 2 month of food that I can make meals from. I only need to go to the store for fresh items and it feels really good.
Jennifer, this is exactly what I did this morning at 5am! I sat by this pantry and listed all the things we ate and enjoyed. I wrote those down and how many I would need for the next 6 months. So now I have a list to work through for the next 2 months. And I will do exactly what you said - only get the fresh items. Love it!
I only have a small flat and kitchen so I'm having to use storage boxes that can fit under my bed for smaller items and rucksack with emergency supplies. I've reconfigured my flat so I should be able to slide larger items under my sofa without it causing any problems and I will also be able to fit in a couple of book cases onto the office side of my bedroom in the near future (my bed is in an alcove so the rest of the room is functional space). I'm trying to remember that having the stock in should be the priority rather making it look pretty. So I'm focusing on that first and just stacking boxes or storing shelf-stable food items under the sofa with bottles of water in a corner near my front door for now.
You have a perfect plan. I agree...stock up first and see what you are using and what you can hold. Then you will be able to assess the space needed or being used in order to organize it better and even try to make it "pretty". I've wondered about under the couch. So glad you are making it work in your flat.
@@SimplyCherie I didn’t get far with the boxes. The place started to feel very cluttered so I managed to clear an area and have already put up one shelving unit on the functional side of my bedroom (the sleeping area is an alcove), with another prob going up over the next few days. I also set up shelves around the sink for storing surplus toiletries and cleaning supplies on the unit I’d set up in a corner In there. That way I’m not storing that stuff with food. Whilst I’m very far from filling all these shelves up, I’m now able to use the few cupboards in the kitchen for clearing the small worktop and feel much happier with the set up. Nice feeling organised and being able to clean easier. It’s amazing how much room you can find sometimes, when you prioritise it.
All the furniture my apartment has storage minus my couch which has storage under it. I have two tall pantry cabinets, plus 4 ikea billy bookcases, and 2 long storage ottomans and 4 smaller ones that I also use for seating when I have company, I have over the door storage on every door in my apt as well. and I added a huge bookcase in between my washer and dryer in my tiny laundry room.
That's a month storage especially if you even just add more rice and pasta. It's important to try to stay out of the stores especially for may and June Two week food supply should have a few items that are very easy to make in case your sick Like soups crackers oatmeal My prep started with rice pasta canned meat and fish canned fruit Then added frozen vegetables and meat later. And other items such as pickles relish catahup and bulk nuts My Pantry has very little cookies and chips but I do have flour sugar and butter to make cookies pancakes bread and pastries I have three months of food
Converting a guest room closet into a prepper space by building in some very heavy duty shelves, one foot above the other, on one end to hold many cases of canned goods. The closet is two feet deep, and my shelves are 2'X2'.
As our Children are moving out, we are converting an empty 4th bedroom into a small storage room, i invested in a dehydrator in March and through this Covid-19.. have used my time building up a storeroom. We also planted a garden of vegetables in the back yard. Did you know you can even dehydrate fresh as well as frozen veggies from the store to dehydrated and store in mason jars. I canned lots of Jam this Summer. Thank-you for You-Tube you can learn from to start a food Storage. Finally have a new goal in life to work on sense I retired.
I absolute love this idea. I usually have in my cleaning supplies in the linen closets. This weekend I will pick up some shoe organizers and go organize my bathrooms. I use the shoe organizers for my craft supplies. I don’t know why I haven’t thought of that earlier. Thanks for sharing.
OMGOSH, I thought I was silly for using my bedroom walkin closet to store long term items. I have mason jars stacked along side my scarfs and gloves...I like the way you think🙌
I converted my hall coat closet. Those become clutter catchers. Empty it. Seriously thin out what's there. Put puffy winter items in vacuum bags. Disburse items to the users closet, or under beds. Put in adjustable shelving so it can change as what you store up changes.
Yes! I have extra blankets that I have on the top shelf here that will go in vacuum bags and under my bed so that I have more space for long term food storage. Love it!
Hello, lovely Ms.Cherie. I hope you are doing well. Please, please, do an UPDATE OF YOUR PREPPER PANTRY ORGANIZATION/STORAGE. I have been trying to organize mine . And I am sure I am not the only one who are looking/searching ideas. I know I can count on you for any storage tips and organization tips . YOU ARE THE BEST!!! Thanks in advance. May you and your loved ones continue to be blessed and continue to be a blessing to all. ❤️❤️❤️
You are reading my mind! I actually was going to film it this weekend. But there are a few more bins I want to get and Target is out of stock! everywhere! So I might just get another type of basket. Anyway, I set it up over a month ago. But as with most things, if it's new, I want to try it out and see if it is actually a system that works for me before I share it. Anyway, I feel ya! Organizing these preps is a whole 'nother job.
Hi. Can you please DM on IG or email me at cherie@simplycherie.com to let me know what your challenges or hurdles are? It would help me in doing a video. I’m thinking of doing a Live video.
You did really great! I've been doing this for a while. Our home is under 900 sq. ft. including basement. My favorite way to store food is in mylar bags w/ oxygen absorbers. I start with basic recipes. Say you want to store chicken soup. I buy frozen mixed vegetables and dehydrate them. If I want noodles I add them to the recipe and chicken bullion (make my own), I have freeze dried chicken to add. Write on the bag how to prepare. You can leave out the chicken to add canned chicken when preparing. You need to write on the bag how to prepare. Dehydrated food takes up very little space. Also it will last several years when vacuum sealed. If you make a lot of the packets, you can store them in buckets, like 5 gallon ones. I can fit 24 two serving meal packets in a 3 gallon food grade bucket. To prepare each meal you will need water. I try to make meals easy to prepare like soup, stew, casseroles, skillet meals. They are also nice to take camping. Anything high in fat will not store long term as well as dairy.
Absolutely amazing!! Thank you for the tips and info. My plan is to start more with canning. But I think now I will simultaneously work on these mylar bag recipes. I am also planning on getting a dehydrator.
@@SimplyCherie I think it's best to have different types of storage. Canning is awesome. We just don't have much space. Under beds is already used for out of season clothing and things I have to keep that there's no room for :-( Make sure you get a dehydrator that has a temperature setting. Also, I tried the round Nesco ? I think the brand is, and it was terrible. It did not dry evenly. I had to move the trays around. I ended up splurging on a 9 shelf Excalibur and I LOVE IT! Turn it to your temp setting and walk away for how many hours your product takes.
I am cleaning out some old metal cabinets in the basement, bought a FoodSaver with attachments and caught a new shipment on mason jars. Over the past few weeks I've been buying items that won't be in my regular rotation. If we're locked down again this fall, i want a variety of healthy foods and supplies to sustain me for a few weeks.
YT4Me57 This is motivating! I was able to get a food sealer but the wide mouth mason jar attachment has still been out of stock when I go to look. I also had no luck with mason jars this week. I will try again every few days.
We are empty nesters , so I used a bedroom for my prepper pantry . I got slanted shoe racks to store canned food . I rotate everything . Don’t forget your fur babies !
Great Ideas! I have been vac sealing pasta because it goes stale. Hoping to keep it fresh longer. i had to put storage bins in the laundry room and write the expiration date like 2023 on the outside and fill them up with food that expires that year, I made one for 2024 etc. I love the little shelves in the closet idea.
Welcome! Thanks for subbing! Yes. I remember starting. Since I live in AZ, I just couldn't figure out where to put food since I am so unsure of having it in the garage in the extreme heat. So this was a great beginning solution. Have a great journey prepping!
Mine is in my upper level linen closet. I have a second full linen closet in the upstairs bathroom (My house is a raised ranch.) I moved my sheets downstairs to a cupboard in my laundry room. The food is now just a few steps down the hall from my kitchen instead of all the way downstairs.
I live in a raised ranch also. I hate having having to carry everything I buy upstairs. I fell down my stairs in March and broke both my legs in 4 places.
Hi Cherie Thanks for this video I appreciate how simple you made this because we are family of 4 as well I plan on using our small walk in closet space under or stairs, good tips and easy enough to maintain.
This is a good idea. I have my snacks in my bedroom on a white shelf. I also have been using some of the organizers from dollar tree I got a few years ago.
I don't like book shelves out in the open because they always look so messy, but I never thought about putting them into a closet. Genius! I put a desk in a closet to hide it, why not a set of shelves!? I have a butcher block rolling thing for my kitchen that has 2 shelves and a big drawer. I use those shelves plus on cabinet in my kitchen as my long-term food storage area, but I'd really like to organize this differently. You've got me thinking now! I can free up space in my garage by divesting myself of unused stuff. Then I can use the shelves out there for long-term food storage!
Good idea Nancy. Bare this in mind though, depending on where you live, will your garage heat up in the summer? Will the food turn rancid as a result? Paper goods might be ok to store there and then food inside the house etc
Perfect! I got rid of a lot of stuff in my garage. But since I live in AZ, I try not to put food in there. But my stock of toiletries and personal care items are there. That is why I freed up this closet for the food. Happy prepping to you!
@@likeargamanflaming940 Living in AZ and the heat was an obstacle for me as far as prepping more food. But when I finally got over the stuff in my garage and in this closet, I was able to prep more. I don't keep any food in the garage, after much going back and forth. Since the garage was no longer an option, it forced me to look in my home and be intentional about what I use the space for.
@@SimplyCherie Ah, yes. I see. Good going! It's not easy for sure. The stores here are still light on stock-especially canned goods. I really think it's going to get worse. Thankfully my family doesn't think I'm nuts....👍
I have some storage in my basement, where I also have my workshop - daughter says it looks like a meth lab! That's where I work on dehydrating meals - I recently discovered this! Talk about saving storage space! Anyways, we can always use MORE storage space and your video gave me some more ideas. Thanks! Also looks like you have room in that closet to add one of those portable butane cookstoves for emergency cooking of your preps! :) Cheers!
Love your idea. Want to fix my pantry, right now it's bear, but eventually I will get it going again. times are hard now so hopefully I will get there. Great job. thank you for sharing.
Buy a vacuum food sealer...Well worth every penny...You don’t need anything fancy - I bought a very good one for about $70.00 at AMZ - It will change the way you think about prepping!
@@SimplyCherie 1/2gal ball jars, gallon pickle jars & big metal popcorn tins are all great & rodent proof. Also "dead" freezers & fridges on their sides for grain storage in the barns.
Wowziers great idea!! I’ve been trying to coax family and friends into prepping some don’t feel they have the space. Im hoping this idea is perfect for them 👍🏻
I have a cabinet/armoire that I keep much of my food storage in. It sits right in the living room and no one would ever know. I have a bookshelf in the kitchen that I keep my dry foods (beans, lentils, rice, etc) in decorative jars on the whole of it. It is very interesting to look at...almost like art. I've squirreled away other things in various nooks and crannies but mostly downstairs in my house. I also have two small chest freezers...a 5 cu ft and a 7 cu ft...that I keep meats, frozen tortellini, frozen veggies, some milk decanted into smaller containers, some bread and rolls, and fresh berries I got on sale and put into freezer bags. Some of the berries are intended for jam when I have time to make and can them. I would hope that I have a year's supply on a lot of things...that's what I've planned for, but I still have "holes to fill" in that "plan".
I've been doing that, but I only stack them two high. Problem is when I need something from the bottom crate, I have to unload the top one because it is too heavy to lift. Also have long, rectangular bins with lids under the bed. Important to be able to get to the items easily, to check on them for rotation & doing inventory.
So when do you access the prepped food....saying nothing extreme happens? Does it stay past expiration or do start eating it once your everyday food is exhausted🤔
Go dollar stores get plastic containers like you store off season clothes or decorations fill them with food and stack them high as you can pull sofa out store cases food behind it get the boxes off the grocery shelves that hold cases food use those get much food as you can
Great idea I'm thinking under my stairs as that's a great space for me. As we don't have basements here in the UK 🇬🇧. I would say that's a good two week stock you have there.. Possibly more. 👍💜
My actual pantry is under the stairs. But I found more space under the stairs if I knock out a small wall. lol. We don't have basements in Arizona. I love the UK!
I can’t afford to use a closet. We have very little closet space. I tuck shelving wherever I can (like next to the fridge) and use those plastic drawer towers to hold stuff here and there.
Thanks for sharing, Cherie. You certainly have a nice variety of items. My only thought is that, with the addition of bread, rice, pasta, you could comfortably feed one person for two, most likely three months on your store. If you've ever done a use-it-up fridge, freezer and pantry challenge, it's amazing how long and far food actually lasts. That should be comforting to anyone who may look at this and think it's not enough. Again, thanks for a very informative video. (:
Thanks for the tips! I have done a use it up for all 3 but didn't film it. I know that some look at this as a lot and some not so much. So my other video shows how I've divided it into meals. There are a lot of snacks here.
I have rotated through this and added more. But yes, I am thinking of doing a video to show the meal plan with this type of food storage...without power.
Do you have water stored? I know this is pantry items, but you have to have water and lots of it everyday. I gallon for each person for each day just for drinking. And don't forget your pets. Water food and treats. That is something I am working on, because now in Marchnod 2021 cat food especially, but ,dog food too the wet kind is now having a shortage in Virginoa at least. I should have done this last year but was dealing with health issues. Anyway have a good day
I'm glad to hear you are working on your pet preps. There is no shortage with pet food here (as of now). Yes, I have water stored for two weeks for 5 (4 + our dog). I have a water bob and water filter straws. I plan to get a 55-gallon drum but have used my prepping budget through March. So I have to wait a little bit. I have preps for our dog, too, and a bug out bag for her.
I would only say less 'treats' or canned fruit and more canned 'veggies', calorie dense foods fill you up. Also, rice. Got a lot of 'pasta' but maybe a little less with 'Rice' instead. Both last long. Also, a few bags of 'Dried Beans', they last FOREVER! You need seasonings: Salt, pepper, etc...
@@SimplyCherie Good for you! *I applaud you for seeing the need to have a stash of food for your family for emergencies or just 'Hard times', cause 'Stuff happens', lol!*
@@SimplyCherie Agree! More concentration on pantry staples that can be used to prepare "snacks" and such, puts more good calories in a limited space. An example - canned tomatoes gives flexibility for sauces, soups and stews. Flour and cornmeal, baking powder & soda = a variety of breads. Rice takes up less space than pasta. Consider more cans of plain greens, peas, beans, mixed veggies, corn, etc. Again for variety of flavors and a variety of uses. Especially, mix & match for soups & stews. I don't store soups, as I store ingredients to make soups. On another note, if you go to Lowes and buy a shelf or have a piece of 1/2"-3/4" plywood to fit the top of your bookcase(s) you can stack another one or 2 on top of the 1 or 2 of those you already have. This "plank" on top of existing gives extra support to distribute the weight you'll be putting in them. You can also have boards cut to go underneath each existing shelf & the top, to better support the weight so your shelves won't sag, as easily. Think of this support as sliding a book that exactly fits the height of the bookshelf. Doesn't take up much space, yet offers a great deal of support, especially if they are all in a vertical line with each other. BTW, be sure to stock up on salt, pepper, oils, flavorings, Butter Buds, bullion and such to further extend the variety of things you can do with simple pantry staples. Thank you for sharing and encouraging others to find self-reliance storage within their homes. Hope these thoughts are useful.
How many people do you have to feed. How big is your family? Great video and thanks for telling people to use bookshelves.. Every time I hear someone say, "I don't have room." I tell them buy or use the bookshelves you have...People don't listen.
Costco has a metal bed frame that sits 14" off the floor. I have 8 totes under a queen. One tote holds 2 25 lbs of rice, one holds a years worth of shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, cough syrup, Tylenol etc, there's 2 huge packages of costco t.p. one large paper towels, one tote holds 20 lbs pasta 8 lbs lentils 20 lbs beans. It's amazing and the dust skirt covers it all
I have a small dining room that we rarely used. Today I converted it into a food pantry. It’s not done yet but will be working in it for the next week.
Amazing! Your intentionality will pay off.
For longer term storage, might I suggest powdered milk, rice, dry beans, olive oil, dehydrated onion and garlic, flour, sugar, and yeast. The things you've chosen will do very well for a short time. I am fortunate to have a small room, about six by six feet, just off the utility room, that we use for our pantry.
Thanks for the tips! I got powdered milk, dry beans, long term food storage of onions. I still need to add more.
This is not hoarding, it is being prepared.
Thanks!
It's like having a savings account
@@s.leeyork3848 thats a brilliant way to look at it.Here in England you are called greedy and selfish if you prep.its just not a big thing here..
Thanks. My prepper pantry is in my bedroom closet. Good thing there's two!
You can hang chips with pant hangers on the rod above your bookcase.. that would help keep chips and other things pristine plus give you more room. Great job!
omg genius! Thank you!
Words of Wisdom: "You're going to find space if you look for space".
God Bless💖You Cherie and Your Family. TFS
gmgmusic02 Thank you! I didn’t plan for that. But after I said it, I thought “that is so true”.
Another trick is to use a platform bed frame. That gives you about 10” of vertical space under a bed, it’s hidden from prying eyes, and doesn’t infringe on precious closet space.
Agree!
I just did the same with an old heavy duty cupboard i picked up from a thrift store for £10 ..i placed it inside one of my built in wardrobes which i wasn't using except as a messy storage unit ..I have around 1 months supply of dried and tinned food in it plus a few extra soaps shampoos tooth pastes etc ..i have around i months supply of water which i had for ages as i hate the tap water here where i live ....Just remember to rotate everything and try to keep to a balanced diet ..
Love that the messy storage unit is now serving a great purpose! I need to work on our water supply. I have 2 weeks worth for 4. But I need to set up more the rain barrel or something like that.
i love this! i cant wait to start my food storage
That’s great that you have started.
Hi we’re going to keep our stock of food going for emergencies it’s nice when you run out of things and going to your stock it’s like having your own shop I enjoy it
Agree!
I recently did an inventory of my kitchen pantry and duplicated our most used items. I bough a "cube storage organizer" from Walmart and put it in the closet under my stairs then I went to Costco and purchased the items that I listed as our most used. Coffee, rice, pasta, tomato products, beans and corn ect. I keep about a month of core pantry stock in the kitchen already so this just bumped up my prep to about 2 month of food that I can make meals from. I only need to go to the store for fresh items and it feels really good.
Yes, MUST have coffee!
@@paulastrachan4053 and chocolate
Jennifer, this is exactly what I did this morning at 5am! I sat by this pantry and listed all the things we ate and enjoyed. I wrote those down and how many I would need for the next 6 months. So now I have a list to work through for the next 2 months. And I will do exactly what you said - only get the fresh items. Love it!
@@marthagonzalez5528 Let's not talk about the 30 chocolate bars that I have in my freezer. Total impulse buy but has come in handy!!!
@@JenniferPerryMyScraproom sorry for waking up chocolate monster 🤗🙋
Cherie, you did an EXCELLENT job here, very organized and condensed, you know what you’re doing, well done!
Thank you so much!
I only have a small flat and kitchen so I'm having to use storage boxes that can fit under my bed for smaller items and rucksack with emergency supplies. I've reconfigured my flat so I should be able to slide larger items under my sofa without it causing any problems and I will also be able to fit in a couple of book cases onto the office side of my bedroom in the near future (my bed is in an alcove so the rest of the room is functional space). I'm trying to remember that having the stock in should be the priority rather making it look pretty. So I'm focusing on that first and just stacking boxes or storing shelf-stable food items under the sofa with bottles of water in a corner near my front door for now.
You have a perfect plan. I agree...stock up first and see what you are using and what you can hold. Then you will be able to assess the space needed or being used in order to organize it better and even try to make it "pretty". I've wondered about under the couch. So glad you are making it work in your flat.
@@SimplyCherie I didn’t get far with the boxes. The place started to feel very cluttered so I managed to clear an area and have already put up one shelving unit on the functional side of my bedroom (the sleeping area is an alcove), with another prob going up over the next few days. I also set up shelves around the sink for storing surplus toiletries and cleaning supplies on the unit I’d set up in a corner In there. That way I’m not storing that stuff with food.
Whilst I’m very far from filling all these shelves up, I’m now able to use the few cupboards in the kitchen for clearing the small worktop and feel much happier with the set up. Nice feeling organised and being able to clean easier.
It’s amazing how much room you can find sometimes, when you prioritise it.
All the furniture my apartment has storage minus my couch which has storage under it. I have two tall pantry cabinets, plus 4 ikea billy bookcases, and 2 long storage ottomans and 4 smaller ones that I also use for seating when I have company, I have over the door storage on every door in my apt as well. and I added a huge bookcase in between my washer and dryer in my tiny laundry room.
Absolutely love this!
That's a month storage especially if you even just add more rice and pasta. It's important to try to stay out of the stores especially for may and June
Two week food supply should have a few items that are very easy to make in case your sick
Like soups crackers oatmeal
My prep started with rice pasta canned meat and fish canned fruit
Then added frozen vegetables and meat later. And other items such as pickles relish catahup and bulk nuts
My Pantry has very little cookies and chips but I do have flour sugar and butter to make cookies pancakes bread and pastries
I have three months of food
I would like to know why May and June, too. Yes, I need to stock up on the baking supplies.
Converting a guest room closet into a prepper space by building in some very heavy duty shelves, one foot above the other, on one end to hold many cases of canned goods. The closet is two feet deep, and my shelves are 2'X2'.
Thanks. I’ve been reevaluating this space and looking into having shelving for canning.
Came over from My Life full of hope 😁 I love REALISTIC prepper pantry videos 💙
Thank you, Ione!
As our Children are moving out, we are converting an empty 4th bedroom into a small storage room, i invested in a dehydrator in March and through this Covid-19.. have used my time building up a storeroom. We also planted a garden of vegetables in the back yard. Did you know you can even dehydrate fresh as well as frozen veggies from the store to dehydrated and store in mason jars. I canned lots of Jam this Summer. Thank-you for You-Tube you can learn from to start a food Storage. Finally have a new goal in life to work on sense I retired.
Bravo, Gail! You have been working hard and strategically. Thank you for the inspiration.
I absolute love this idea. I usually have in my cleaning supplies in the linen closets. This weekend I will pick up some shoe organizers and go organize my bathrooms. I use the shoe organizers for my craft supplies. I don’t know why I haven’t thought of that earlier. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve since made this space my long term food storage for canning and #10 cans. So I am looking at different ways to store in other areas of my home n
Amazing when you start getting your pantry together and you can see what you have, you realize you need to get your act together fast. :)
Yes. I’m building up fruits and veggies.
OMGOSH, I thought I was silly for using my bedroom walkin closet to store long term items. I have mason jars stacked along side my scarfs and gloves...I like the way you think🙌
Mari S Yes!! Where’s the spaghetti? Next to the scarves. 😆 love it 💗👏🏼
Mari S
You can fill your mason jars that are empty with water. Might as well they take up the same space.
Lots of wasted/unused space in guest room closets, for sure!!
I converted my hall coat closet. Those become clutter catchers. Empty it. Seriously thin out what's there. Put puffy winter items in vacuum bags. Disburse items to the users closet, or under beds. Put in adjustable shelving so it can change as what you store up changes.
Yes! I have extra blankets that I have on the top shelf here that will go in vacuum bags and under my bed so that I have more space for long term food storage. Love it!
12 cases of bottled water behind the living room couch!
me too
Woohoo!
Fantastic!
Spread water in differents spots, because water is heavy.
Good start!
Hello, lovely Ms.Cherie. I hope you are doing well.
Please, please, do an UPDATE OF YOUR PREPPER PANTRY ORGANIZATION/STORAGE. I have been trying to organize mine . And I am sure I am not the only one who are looking/searching ideas. I know I can count on you for any storage tips and organization tips . YOU ARE THE BEST!!!
Thanks in advance. May you and your loved ones continue to be blessed and continue to be a blessing to all. ❤️❤️❤️
You are reading my mind! I actually was going to film it this weekend. But there are a few more bins I want to get and Target is out of stock! everywhere! So I might just get another type of basket. Anyway, I set it up over a month ago. But as with most things, if it's new, I want to try it out and see if it is actually a system that works for me before I share it. Anyway, I feel ya! Organizing these preps is a whole 'nother job.
Hi. Can you please DM on IG or email me at cherie@simplycherie.com to let me know what your challenges or hurdles are? It would help me in doing a video. I’m thinking of doing a Live video.
Non-electric can openers in case electricity goes out.
Got them. Thank you.
Your money will be well spent if you invest in a high quality hand can opener. It will last! Dollar ones won't..(Ask me how I know! Lol)
BEST OVERALL
EZ-DUZ-IT Deluxe Can Opener
www.reviewed.com/cooking/best-right-now/the-best-manual-can-openers
You did really great! I've been doing this for a while. Our home is under 900 sq. ft. including basement. My favorite way to store food is in mylar bags w/ oxygen absorbers. I start with basic recipes. Say you want to store chicken soup. I buy frozen mixed vegetables and dehydrate them. If I want noodles I add them to the recipe and chicken bullion (make my own), I have freeze dried chicken to add. Write on the bag how to prepare. You can leave out the chicken to add canned chicken when preparing. You need to write on the bag how to prepare. Dehydrated food takes up very little space. Also it will last several years when vacuum sealed.
If you make a lot of the packets, you can store them in buckets, like 5 gallon ones. I can fit 24 two serving meal packets in a 3 gallon food grade bucket. To prepare each meal you will need water. I try to make meals easy to prepare like soup, stew, casseroles, skillet meals. They are also nice to take camping. Anything high in fat will not store long term as well as dairy.
Absolutely amazing!! Thank you for the tips and info. My plan is to start more with canning. But I think now I will simultaneously work on these mylar bag recipes. I am also planning on getting a dehydrator.
@@SimplyCherie I think it's best to have different types of storage. Canning is awesome. We just don't have much space. Under beds is already used for out of season clothing and things I have to keep that there's no room for :-(
Make sure you get a dehydrator that has a temperature setting. Also, I tried the round Nesco ? I think the brand is, and it was terrible. It did not dry evenly. I had to move the trays around. I ended up splurging on a 9 shelf Excalibur and I LOVE IT! Turn it to your temp setting and walk away for how many hours your product takes.
You are not hoarding, you are prepared, and being smart.
Love it. This pantry has now expanded. I’ll do a video soon.
I am cleaning out some old metal cabinets in the basement, bought a FoodSaver with attachments and caught a new shipment on mason jars. Over the past few weeks I've been buying items that won't be in my regular rotation. If we're locked down again this fall, i want a variety of healthy foods and supplies to sustain me for a few weeks.
YT4Me57 This is motivating! I was able to get a food sealer but the wide mouth mason jar attachment has still been out of stock when I go to look. I also had no luck with mason jars this week. I will try again every few days.
L
I do not can or bake,but grandma canned peaches and apples, that she used for cobblers , pies, and just with home made ice cream.
We are empty nesters , so I used a bedroom for my prepper pantry . I got slanted shoe racks to store canned food . I rotate everything . Don’t forget your fur babies !
I love the shoe racks idea! Thank you.
Great Ideas! I have been vac sealing pasta because it goes stale. Hoping to keep it fresh longer. i had to put storage bins in the laundry room and write the expiration date like 2023 on the outside and fill them up with food that expires that year, I made one for 2024 etc. I love the little shelves in the closet idea.
Wonderful!
I find it handy to date my storage items. Sharpie with month an year. Just so I can rotate
That does sound easier than an inventory sheet. I will do that for my long term food storage.
New subscriber here 👍🏽. Thank you for making becoming a prepper less stressful 🙏🏾
Welcome! Thanks for subbing! Yes. I remember starting. Since I live in AZ, I just couldn't figure out where to put food since I am so unsure of having it in the garage in the extreme heat. So this was a great beginning solution. Have a great journey prepping!
I love your idea. I am going to do this too. I have book shelves with shoes that I don't wear. Again thank you for posting. God bless you.
Hi Alberta! That is great to declutter and be intentional about that space. It's a great place to start.
Love the organization...seems like more than a couple weeks!?!
It’s for 4 adult eaters. But yes, I’ve been told that. I’ll have to get more precise.
6 months for me .
Mine is in my upper level linen closet. I have a second full linen closet in the upstairs bathroom (My house is a raised ranch.) I moved my sheets downstairs to a cupboard in my laundry room. The food is now just a few steps down the hall from my kitchen instead of all the way downstairs.
Sounds perfect! That makes so much sense to move the sheets to the laundry room.
Omg! Thanks a million for this suggestion!
I live in a raised ranch also. I hate having having to carry everything I buy upstairs. I fell down my stairs in March and broke both my legs in 4 places.
Kids are at college, so I took over their shared walk in closet... prepper pantry started.
Wow. That’s like prime real estate. Awesome.
we have a metal shelf unit against the wall of our bedroom.. you can store a lot on those 5 foot shelves and cover !t w!th a blanket to look n!cer.
Perfect idea!
Or put a piece of pretty fabric in front of it.
I would have added rice and dried beans along with canned tomato paste, sauce and crushed tomatoes. Also a big bag of sprouted oatmeal.
Shelley Orenstein I’ve never heard of sprouted oatmeal. I’ll have to look it up.
Rice is in my regular pantry (a lot). I have added dried beans. Thank you.
Hi Cherie
Thanks for this video I appreciate how simple you made this because we are family of 4 as well I plan on using our small walk in closet space under or stairs, good tips and easy enough to maintain.
Glad it was helpful!
simply beautiful....😎👍👍💖 *I **_LUV_** food organizational management videos*
...thanks again for another great video production
My pleasure 😊
Great vedio!!! good to see more and more people are starting preppering
Kathy D Yes! Thank you.
Thank you , great presentation, thank you for you time. Very organized and easy because its brilliant
This is a good idea. I have my snacks in my bedroom on a white shelf. I also have been using some of the organizers from dollar tree I got a few years ago.
Sounds great!
Love this Cherie! Lots of good ideas! I had a space in my laundry and I used a bookcase, I want to bring that back for more food storage. Tfs!
That's great that you saw the space in your laundry!
I don't like book shelves out in the open because they always look so messy, but I never thought about putting them into a closet. Genius! I put a desk in a closet to hide it, why not a set of shelves!? I have a butcher block rolling thing for my kitchen that has 2 shelves and a big drawer. I use those shelves plus on cabinet in my kitchen as my long-term food storage area, but I'd really like to organize this differently. You've got me thinking now! I can free up space in my garage by divesting myself of unused stuff. Then I can use the shelves out there for long-term food storage!
Good idea Nancy. Bare this in mind though, depending on where you live, will your garage heat up in the summer? Will the food turn rancid as a result?
Paper goods might be ok to store there and then food inside the house etc
Perfect! I got rid of a lot of stuff in my garage. But since I live in AZ, I try not to put food in there. But my stock of toiletries and personal care items are there. That is why I freed up this closet for the food. Happy prepping to you!
@@likeargamanflaming940 Living in AZ and the heat was an obstacle for me as far as prepping more food. But when I finally got over the stuff in my garage and in this closet, I was able to prep more. I don't keep any food in the garage, after much going back and forth. Since the garage was no longer an option, it forced me to look in my home and be intentional about what I use the space for.
@@SimplyCherie Ah, yes. I see. Good going!
It's not easy for sure. The stores here are still light on stock-especially canned goods.
I really think it's going to get worse.
Thankfully my family doesn't think I'm nuts....👍
So smart ,everyone needs this
know thy self Thank you. And yes, I hope everyone can start one.
Excellent use of limited space!
Hisbeautiful Truth Thank you!
Looks great. We just created an overflow space in our hall coat closet.
That is awesome!
I keep my food storage under my bed.
Fantastic, Liz!
Is it okay there even if the Temperature is warm in the bedroom?
I have some storage in my basement, where I also have my workshop - daughter says it looks like a meth lab! That's where I work on dehydrating meals - I recently discovered this! Talk about saving storage space! Anyways, we can always use MORE storage space and your video gave me some more ideas. Thanks! Also looks like you have room in that closet to add one of those portable butane cookstoves for emergency cooking of your preps! :) Cheers!
Love your idea. Want to fix my pantry, right now it's bear, but eventually I will get it going again. times are hard now so hopefully I will get there. Great job. thank you for sharing.
Hi Mayella. I hope you were able to add some.
Don't give up you will get there.
Put your dry food in glass jars they fresher longer and keeps bugs and rodents out
It has been hard to find the right size mason jars. But I will keep looking and will do your suggestion.
Buy a vacuum food sealer...Well worth every penny...You don’t need anything fancy - I bought a very good one for about $70.00 at AMZ - It will change the way you think about prepping!
@@SimplyCherie 1/2gal ball jars, gallon pickle jars & big metal popcorn tins are all great & rodent proof. Also "dead" freezers & fridges on their sides for grain storage in the barns.
Wowziers great idea!! I’ve been trying to coax family and friends into prepping some don’t feel they have the space.
Im hoping this idea is perfect for them 👍🏻
Hi Cherie from Cherie! Thanks for being an advocate for prepping.
Wow! That looks like more than two weeks worth!
I have a cabinet/armoire that I keep much of my food storage in. It sits right in the living room and no one would ever know.
I have a bookshelf in the kitchen that I keep my dry foods (beans, lentils, rice, etc) in decorative jars on the whole of it. It is very interesting to look at...almost like art.
I've squirreled away other things in various nooks and crannies but mostly downstairs in my house.
I also have two small chest freezers...a 5 cu ft and a 7 cu ft...that I keep meats, frozen tortellini, frozen veggies, some milk decanted into smaller containers, some bread and rolls, and fresh berries I got on sale and put into freezer bags. Some of the berries are intended for jam when I have time to make and can them.
I would hope that I have a year's supply on a lot of things...that's what I've planned for, but I still have "holes to fill" in that "plan".
Sound perfect! My mom is giving me her deep freezer. So I will work on that soon. Sometimes I wonder if there will be no more holes!
This is so satisfying
Glad it is!
Looking very organized and very prepared...good show.
Thanks.
Nicely done my friend thanks for sharing with us💚💚💚
Thank you! Cheers!
Plastic crates protect food and you can stack them use the space up very high
Thanks, Vivian. I started looking at some crates today.
I've been doing that, but I only stack them two high. Problem is when I need something from the bottom crate, I have to unload the top one because it is too heavy to lift. Also have long, rectangular bins with lids under the bed. Important to be able to get to the items easily, to check on them for rotation & doing inventory.
So when do you access the prepped food....saying nothing extreme happens? Does it stay past expiration or do start eating it once your everyday food is exhausted🤔
It has to be a rotating pantry. These foods are used up as part of everyday eating. Then they get replenished as they’re used.
Under bed storage bins also work well.
Go dollar stores get plastic containers like you store off season clothes or decorations fill them with food and stack them high as you can pull sofa out store cases food behind it get the boxes off the grocery shelves that hold cases food use those get much food as you can
Awesome!
That is the smartest thing ever. I should do something like that.
Awesome! Yes!
Yes you should!! What are you waiting for??
I have a pantry in my small living room and bins under my bed.😊😺🐶👍🌼🌺
That is awesome!
A great storage idea.
Thank you!
Great idea I'm thinking under my stairs as that's a great space for me. As we don't have basements here in the UK 🇬🇧. I would say that's a good two week stock you have there.. Possibly more. 👍💜
Was there any tea or coffee in there
@@cherilewis2899 No tea or coffee. I will keep prepping.
My actual pantry is under the stairs. But I found more space under the stairs if I knock out a small wall. lol. We don't have basements in Arizona. I love the UK!
We store food in the closet of a room off of our living room which is currently being used as a toy room.
Great use of the space!
Coffee, tea, coffee creamer, juice
Yes, I need to prep those for the long-term food storage.
I can’t afford to use a closet. We have very little closet space. I tuck shelving wherever I can (like next to the fridge) and use those plastic drawer towers to hold stuff here and there.
Perfect. So glad you are finding places to store.
I love the organization!
Thanks so much!
Thanks for sharing, Cherie. You certainly have a nice variety of items. My only thought is that, with the addition of bread, rice, pasta, you could comfortably feed one person for two, most likely three months on your store. If you've ever done a use-it-up fridge, freezer and pantry challenge, it's amazing how long and far food actually lasts. That should be comforting to anyone who may look at this and think it's not enough. Again, thanks for a very informative video. (:
Thanks for the tips! I have done a use it up for all 3 but didn't film it. I know that some look at this as a lot and some not so much. So my other video shows how I've divided it into meals. There are a lot of snacks here.
@@SimplyCherie Thank you, Cherie. Just to be clear, I think your video was excellent: very informative and encouraging. (:
Do you have a meal plan for this pantry? Could you do a video on it?
I have rotated through this and added more. But yes, I am thinking of doing a video to show the meal plan with this type of food storage...without power.
This is a great idea!!
Glad you think so!
Nice stash
Thanks!
I love this idea
Thanks!
Thanks for the great ideas!
You are so welcome!
I would like to see a meal plan!
It’s on my long to film list. Thanks.
Do you have water stored? I know this is pantry items, but you have to have water and lots of it everyday. I gallon for each person for each day just for drinking. And don't forget your pets. Water food and treats. That is something I am working on, because now in Marchnod 2021 cat food especially, but ,dog food too the wet kind is now having a shortage in Virginoa at least. I should have done this last year but was dealing with health issues. Anyway have a good day
I'm glad to hear you are working on your pet preps. There is no shortage with pet food here (as of now). Yes, I have water stored for two weeks for 5 (4 + our dog). I have a water bob and water filter straws. I plan to get a 55-gallon drum but have used my prepping budget through March. So I have to wait a little bit. I have preps for our dog, too, and a bug out bag for her.
Maybe do a double stackable of shelves.
Great idea!
I definitely need Organizing oh boy ☺️💯
The "oh boy" made me laugh. Thank you.
I live in New England and I use my basement as my storage
M.B.G. That’s a dream pantry! Here in AZ, it’s very rare to have a basement. I think it’s hard to dig into theses rocks. lol
No basements in Texas
I just can't imagine this being eaten by 1 person in just two weeks. With that said, how many people are you basing this two weeks worth of food,for ?
I know right. I'd be fat as hell after two weeks.
I was thinking the same thing! No way that we could use all that in 2 weeks!
I think she said it was for four people.
@@kimd.7846 2 children that she counts as adults. 4 people total.
Great ideas!
Thank you! 😊
I would find some space under our Bed But sometimes its very warm inside the room, is it still ok for the food to be under the Bed?
Yes, under the bed for canned goods is great. Even though it gets warm, it is not enough to destroy the food.
@@SimplyCherie thanks!
You can rebuild a metal box that will drop in your close floor that has double sliding doors.
Oh wow. Those are goals.
How do you prep ? If you are just starting . Need to build up .
Yes. Still building. I have a budget for the month.
I would only say less 'treats' or canned fruit and more canned 'veggies', calorie dense foods fill you up. Also, rice. Got a lot of 'pasta' but maybe a little less with 'Rice' instead. Both last long. Also, a few bags of 'Dried Beans', they last FOREVER! You need seasonings: Salt, pepper, etc...
Sounds great! I will add more canned veggies and dried beans.
@@SimplyCherie Good for you! *I applaud you for seeing the need to have a stash of food for your family for emergencies or just 'Hard times', cause 'Stuff happens', lol!*
@@SimplyCherie Agree! More concentration on pantry staples that can be used to prepare "snacks" and such, puts more good calories in a limited space. An example - canned tomatoes gives flexibility for sauces, soups and stews. Flour and cornmeal, baking powder & soda = a variety of breads. Rice takes up less space than pasta. Consider more cans of plain greens, peas, beans, mixed veggies, corn, etc. Again for variety of flavors and a variety of uses. Especially, mix & match for soups & stews. I don't store soups, as I store ingredients to make soups.
On another note, if you go to Lowes and buy a shelf or have a piece of 1/2"-3/4" plywood to fit the top of your bookcase(s) you can stack another one or 2 on top of the 1 or 2 of those you already have. This "plank" on top of existing gives extra support to distribute the weight you'll be putting in them. You can also have boards cut to go underneath each existing shelf & the top, to better support the weight so your shelves won't sag, as easily. Think of this support as sliding a book that exactly fits the height of the bookshelf. Doesn't take up much space, yet offers a great deal of support, especially if they are all in a vertical line with each other.
BTW, be sure to stock up on salt, pepper, oils, flavorings, Butter Buds, bullion and such to further extend the variety of things you can do with simple pantry staples.
Thank you for sharing and encouraging others to find self-reliance storage within their homes. Hope these thoughts are useful.
@@oldtimerlee8820 Awesome. Rice is in another pantry. But I will add more baking supplies and beans.
Maybe I missed it, how many people are you feeding. Because that looks more like a 3 month supply for 1. One can of Spam lasts me 3 days.
Family of 4, all considered adults.
I guess that is correct. 3-month supply for 1 is 12 weeks. And for us 4, it is 2 weeks x 4 = 8 weeks worth?
@@SimplyCherie Three weeks worth for 4 people equals 3 months worth for one person. (4 weeks in a month)
Yesss you are smart I took Notes. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏❤❤❤❤
Awesome!
This is not 2 weeks. Perhaps 4 weeks. Don’t forget, you probably also have food in the fridge and freezer too.
But yeah, pretty cool stuff.
Yes, very probable.
If money was tight I’d just buy single item storage, like flour, then make your own cookies and snacks
It plays longer that way too
Wonderful advice.
Thank you. I will be storing flour, etc, soon.
Freeze your rice and flour for 3 days.
How do you know how much to buy…..or do you work off a menu?
How many people your family have ?
This is not 2 weaks prep , this is 2 months preparing for me at least .😅
4 - is it still too much for 4?
Don't forget the pets!
My pet's preps are in a different area. But yes, love our pets!
How many people do you have to feed. How big is your family? Great video and thanks for telling people to use bookshelves.. Every time I hear someone say, "I don't have room." I tell them buy or use the bookshelves you have...People don't listen.
michelle apple There are 4 of us (older kids). Keep encouraging people with your advice. When the time is right for us, we listen. 😉
That food would last our family of 3 for 4-6 weeks
That's great.
Great ideas thanks for sharing
Margarita Betancourt Thank you, Margarita!
That’s more than a two week supply 👌
Yeah, I think you are correct. But it was for 4 people.
Flour and baking powder and dried milk and cereal and chocolate and sugar
The chocolate never lasts here. But yes, I am adding more baking supplies.
Good job
Thanks, Andrea!