I’m in the window covering industry so I have a shelf cover option that comes to mind. I’d mount wave top drapery hardware (if you don’t have access to that then grommet drapery hardware) to the ceiling not to the shelves. A drape looks the best when it hangs in nice deep 5-6” folds which you will accomplish easily with a ceiling mount. They will draw back and open with ease as well. Wish I could share an photo :) The storage cabin shelf situation of protecting the potatoes my mind went to a nice heavy duty stick on Velcro with a white corrugated cardboard on the side of the shelf where the window is. The white will reflect the nice south sun rays to warm the cabin but it doesn’t let light pass thru so the spuds in behind should be protected.
The ceiling mounted drapery hardware sounds like the best idea! I was thinking of a simple hook and eye lift across and up to hold back a drape but it wouldn’t resolve the top shelf issue. I’ve got a similar issue in our kitchen and will DEFINITELY use your suggestion. 🙏🏻
What a great tour. I'm very impressed with everything you have. And yes, sometimes with our small spaces, we just have to do what we have to do. 😊 Thanks so much for sharing and showing off all of your hard work!
Just a thought for storing potatoes-my favourite way to store them is in paper food bags like old flour bags, sugar bags, etc. This protects them from the light and still allows them to breathe.
Hey, I totally understand what u meant when u said u dislike staring at the shelves all day. I had a work space/ office for many years and even though it seemed totally backwards to do on a whim I turned my desk around to face a window and it was an absolute surprise to me what a mood changer it was! Especially living in MN, it is a long time inside so to b able to see out a window was wonderful! Added some bird feeders and would never face a wall again! I even turned my sewing machine towards a window too.
Wow!!! Such a fantastic tour 👍 You are so very blessed with everything you can harvest from your land. All of the berries, apples and greens for tinctures. AMAZING!!! You shouldn't be Ashamed of how it looks right now. You do what you can and have too 🤷🏼♀️ Be proud of the fact that you figured out what works best for you right now. I was surprised to see so many Azure products on your shelf that you haven't put in vacuum sealed jars. Also, I was surprised that you didn't mention how much healthier freeze dried food is. It retains like 98 percent of vitamins. Maybe you should start storing away extra freeze dried produce so if you have a horrible year the NEXT year, you won't have to be so sad (carrots) 🤷🏼♀️ Anyhow, it was so fabulous to see how well you guys did this year. I just watched on IG some of your deer processing. Good for you both!! Love you, girl ❤️
I attached curtain rods to the wall that the racks are pushed against and use floor length grommet hook black out (black, grey, brown)curtains and slide open when I need to get something out. U may need to use the additional wall anchor for the rods. Or at least this could be a starting point for brainstorming... ❤❤
I've just found you so binging on your channel!! I am also in a small space, so need to use every inch. The space between your jars and the top of the next shelf has me screaming to add another shelf. LOL All that space for jars! But then again, I am the one who also stores jars behind the kickplate in the kitchen.(;
Our short growing season -yours- is limited by the cold spring with late frosts and early frosts in fall. Hot tunnels and cold frames are very effective. Did my first tunnel, almost a greenhouse this year and it worked very well. Spring long days are the gain with warmer soil, start your seeds many weeks earlier to take full advantage. Fall production is huge for some crops too.
Loved this video! We are up in Northern Alberta Canada so can appreciate the short growing season and the need to make things last as long as possible! We heat with wood and have turned a small walk-in closet in a far back bedroom into a cold storage that keeps my spuds good til April. Can also keep extra ferments that don’t fit in my fridge in there as the temp stays about 6-7 degrees Celsius if we keep the door closed. My canned goods also share the space along with all the batteries my hubby brings in for the winter 😂. Do whatever works!
27:36 I have an idea for the curtains for the shelves to use a magnet sewn into the material, and it can be moved easily. Love watching your videos I learned lots
I just stumbled across your channel..... I'm a former Minnesnowtan- Winona - opposite end of the state from you. We flew the coop 7 yrs ago down south. We retired and decided to go where the bones don't ache so much- lol I enjoyed this so much that I subscribed :)
Thank you for the tour. It’s really interesting learning about what works for different people depending on their circumstances. Always come away with great tips or ideas. Saw the screen note about ending up harvesting 40lbs of carrots 🥕 🥕 what a surprise bonus! We have harvest suppers in rural UK. I’m more thankful these days when I look back on a season’s preserved/stored successes. Disappointments are forgotten and there’s always next year. Wishing you a happy Thanksgiving. 🫡🇬🇧
I love how simple you are about things. This is my first time watching one of your videos. I enjoyed seeing how you do things for two people. It is just me and my husband as well. And also, like you, have found spots to put my goods after I can them. I haven't jumped in to freeze drying yet only because of the cost of the dryer. I wish they would come down in price. Anyway...loved watching and I subscribed to follow:)
Just found your channel. I really enjoyed your Tour, We are a family of 2 also, but on the near retirement end. Salsa was one of my favorite things to make and freeze dry, easy to add in so many recipes, and make it thick or thin. I never thought of freeze drying radishes. Your freeze dried onions will be great for holiday casseroles. I also prefer water glassing as apposed to the other also. I also noticed when you wash the eggs in a bowl of water, bad ones float, I still crack in separately but found that interesting. Ramps was another favorite for me too. Agree on canned pickles. A goal for next year for me is to focus on fermenting. Our chickens love freezer burned veggies. I really enjoyed your video.
Loved your tour! I'm interested in learning about medicinal plants and plan to grow some next year. What do you recommend starting with? And I would love to see more films about tinctures, salves etcetera.
That’s so exciting! I’d start with things like calendula, chamomile, elderberries, and comfrey. There’s many medicinal plants you can forage for too, depending on where you live
Use magnets . You have metal shavings. Get some sheets and sow the magnets on one end . That way you can open and close easily. Good luck ! I really appreciate the way you live .
In the hospital or ER they have curtains draped on a tract on the ceiling…easy to pull. Maybe something similar that follows the front of your racks, so it covers the front from the light?
So I found you while looking for zone 4a gardening, we just moved from zone 4b last year , so there’s a bit of a learning curve for me, especially since I went from sand to clay😬 Anyway, we must be pretty close to each other, since I’ve since realize we share the same Azure pick up. I’ll say Hi next time, I was in a hurry last pick up😉
@@thehomesteadingrd - Thanks! Although I'm a Calif. boy raised along the Pacific coast, I do miss the 1st snows every year, and the Ice Fishing on the lake.
Thank you for the video. I have shared it with my 15 year old daughter. She is eagerly learning about homesteading and I know she will love this video. Also, I believe the curtain idea is a good one. Perhaps some inexpensive blackout curtains. All the best with the channel.
Great tour and so helpful to see your use of space. We have a smaller home as well with a detached shop/garage. My stuff is also spread out between a small kitchen pantry, a spare closet in the office and some shelves in the shop. Slightly off topic question though- do you have a cat door for your cats in the shop? We have a couple of barn cats and I'm trying to figure out how to have them go in and out of our shop without allowing predators (skunks or raccoons or even neighboring cats) getting in there as well?
Great question! Yep, we have a cat door. We haven't had any issues at our new homestead, but we had a few incidents at our last homestead where stray cats would come in (and then fight with our cats - no good!). When we noticed it happening, we'd secure our own cats and then set up a live trap inside the kitty door. The stray cat would jump through the kitty door and into the live trap.
The lady at Sparkman Homestead, (her name flew out of my head), she has kind of the same set up and she has curtains around her shelves. Maybe you could get ideas there.
Are your herbs dehydrated or freeze dried? I’ve been dehydrating herbs and recently got a freeze dryer but it’s not hooked up yet. I’m wondering what foods are best for each method of preserving. We live on half an acre just northeast of the Twin Cities so it’s nice that we’re in the same state.
Hi there. I understand having a small cabin (we are 975 sq ft) and trying to make room for food storage. lol. It’s a real issue. I’m curious for your broc and green beans do you blanch before freeze drying? We got a FD early this last summer and I’m still learning. Also, you’re taking about stir frying FD green beans. Are you rehydrating first or just dumping into a pan and rehydrating in the cooking pan?
@ thanks. I’m literally just finishing that video. lol. I had to stop and start so many times. Definitely put those cats in your root crack at cabin!! lol
I’m in the window covering industry so I have a shelf cover option that comes to mind. I’d mount wave top drapery hardware (if you don’t have access to that then grommet drapery hardware) to the ceiling not to the shelves. A drape looks the best when it hangs in nice deep 5-6” folds which you will accomplish easily with a ceiling mount. They will draw back and open with ease as well. Wish I could share an photo :) The storage cabin shelf situation of protecting the potatoes my mind went to a nice heavy duty stick on Velcro with a white corrugated cardboard on the side of the shelf where the window is. The white will reflect the nice south sun rays to warm the cabin but it doesn’t let light pass thru so the spuds in behind should be protected.
The ceiling mounted drapery hardware sounds like the best idea! I was thinking of a simple hook and eye lift across and up to hold back a drape but it wouldn’t resolve the top shelf issue. I’ve got a similar issue in our kitchen and will DEFINITELY use your suggestion. 🙏🏻
These are excellent suggestions - many thanks!!! I'll see if I can find some supplies and fabric when I'm in town next :)
What a great tour. I'm very impressed with everything you have. And yes, sometimes with our small spaces, we just have to do what we have to do. 😊 Thanks so much for sharing and showing off all of your hard work!
That's so kind of you to say. It's been a lot of work! 😊
Just a thought for storing potatoes-my favourite way to store them is in paper food bags like old flour bags, sugar bags, etc. This protects them from the light and still allows them to breathe.
Great idea!
Hey, I totally understand what u meant when u said u dislike staring at the shelves all day. I had a work space/ office for many years and even though it seemed totally backwards to do on a whim I turned my desk around to face a window and it was an absolute surprise to me what a mood changer it was! Especially living in MN, it is a long time inside so to b able to see out a window was wonderful! Added some bird feeders and would never face a wall again! I even turned my sewing machine towards a window too.
I love that idea! I’ve been debating moving my desk over to face the window if I can get that small chest freezer out of there 😏
Wow!!! Such a fantastic tour 👍 You are so very blessed with everything you can harvest from your land. All of the berries, apples and greens for tinctures. AMAZING!!! You shouldn't be Ashamed of how it looks right now. You do what you can and have too 🤷🏼♀️ Be proud of the fact that you figured out what works best for you right now.
I was surprised to see so many Azure products on your shelf that you haven't put in vacuum sealed jars. Also, I was surprised that you didn't mention how much healthier freeze dried food is. It retains like 98 percent of vitamins.
Maybe you should start storing away extra freeze dried produce so if you have a horrible year the NEXT year, you won't have to be so sad (carrots) 🤷🏼♀️
Anyhow, it was so fabulous to see how well you guys did this year. I just watched on IG some of your deer processing. Good for you both!!
Love you, girl ❤️
Thank you!! 🫶🏼
I attached curtain rods to the wall that the racks are pushed against and use floor length grommet hook black out (black, grey, brown)curtains and slide open when I need to get something out. U may need to use the additional wall anchor for the rods. Or at least this could be a starting point for brainstorming... ❤❤
I've just found you so binging on your channel!! I am also in a small space, so need to use every inch. The space between your jars and the top of the next shelf has me screaming to add another shelf. LOL All that space for jars! But then again, I am the one who also stores jars behind the kickplate in the kitchen.(;
Fellow Nebraskan here is very impressed with your herbal remedies and your small pantry has a nice variety of goods.
Thank you so much!
Our short growing season -yours- is limited by the cold spring with late frosts and early frosts in fall. Hot tunnels and cold frames are very effective.
Did my first tunnel, almost a greenhouse this year and it worked very well.
Spring long days are the gain with warmer soil, start your seeds many weeks earlier to take full advantage. Fall production is huge for some crops too.
Awesome tour and I love how you two just “make it work”!! Very inspiring!
Thank you! We’re just doing our best 😅
Loved this video! We are up in Northern Alberta Canada so can appreciate the short growing season and the need to make things last as long as possible! We heat with wood and have turned a small walk-in closet in a far back bedroom into a cold storage that keeps my spuds good til April. Can also keep extra ferments that don’t fit in my fridge in there as the temp stays about 6-7 degrees Celsius if we keep the door closed. My canned goods also share the space along with all the batteries my hubby brings in for the winter 😂. Do whatever works!
Sounds like we’re on the same page!! Great job
I LOVE all your storage and wish I had an area just like it, you should be very proud of yourself. Great job & GOD bless!
I appreciate that! 😊
Ohhh mice ... are... good at getting in places. I hope you can stay on top of the removal of them cuz your homegrown food looks mighty tasty!
27:36 I have an idea for the curtains for the shelves to use a magnet sewn into the material, and it can be moved easily.
Love watching your videos I learned lots
I have those same shelving units.
Magnets, magnets and magnets 🤣😂
You can hang up fabric or curtains or just about anything you like.
Nice video!!
I just stumbled across your channel..... I'm a former Minnesnowtan- Winona - opposite end of the state from you. We flew the coop 7 yrs ago down south. We retired and decided to go where the bones don't ache so much- lol I enjoyed this so much that I subscribed :)
Thank you for the tour. It’s really interesting learning about what works for different people depending on their circumstances. Always come away with great tips or ideas. Saw the screen note about ending up harvesting 40lbs of carrots 🥕 🥕 what a surprise bonus!
We have harvest suppers in rural UK. I’m more thankful these days when I look back on a season’s preserved/stored successes. Disappointments are forgotten and there’s always next year. Wishing you a happy Thanksgiving. 🫡🇬🇧
I love that you have a harvest supper! That sounds lovely :)
I love how simple you are about things. This is my first time watching one of your videos. I enjoyed seeing how you do things for two people. It is just me and my husband as well. And also, like you, have found spots to put my goods after I can them. I haven't jumped in to freeze drying yet only because of the cost of the dryer. I wish they would come down in price. Anyway...loved watching and I subscribed to follow:)
It’s such a great feeling to make it work with the space you’ve got, isn’t it? Thanks for being here!
Just found your channel. I really enjoyed your Tour, We are a family of 2 also, but on the near retirement end. Salsa was one of my favorite things to make and freeze dry, easy to add in so many recipes, and make it thick or thin. I never thought of freeze drying radishes. Your freeze dried onions will be great for holiday casseroles. I also prefer water glassing as apposed to the other also. I also noticed when you wash the eggs in a bowl of water, bad ones float, I still crack in separately but found that interesting. Ramps was another favorite for me too. Agree on canned pickles. A goal for next year for me is to focus on fermenting. Our chickens love freezer burned veggies. I really enjoyed your video.
I’m so glad you found me! ☺️ I’ll have to try freeze dried salsa next - sounds great!
Loved your tour! I'm interested in learning about medicinal plants and plan to grow some next year. What do you recommend starting with? And I would love to see more films about tinctures, salves etcetera.
That’s so exciting! I’d start with things like calendula, chamomile, elderberries, and comfrey. There’s many medicinal plants you can forage for too, depending on where you live
I would put ceiling mounted curtains in that office/pantry.
That’s a good idea!
I was told to put a lot of bay leaves out and in your cabinets. Lay them around everywhere to keep the rats away.
My favorite freeze dried snack is the orange cherry tomatoes!!
Yum!!
For your shelf curtain you could sew magnets into the hem.
I love that idea!! Thanks!
Use magnets . You have metal shavings. Get some sheets and sow the magnets on one end . That way you can open and close easily. Good luck ! I really appreciate the way you live .
That’s a really great idea!! Thank you!
@
You are welcome! Be well !
In the hospital or ER they have curtains draped on a tract on the ceiling…easy to pull. Maybe something similar that follows the front of your racks, so it covers the front from the light?
🎉🎉🎉 I'm always looking for your videos 🎉🎉🎉this is a real life video ❤❤❤🕊️
It sure is! We're just making it work, one day at a time
I wish I had your office and pantry storage. My extra room is a gaming room for my grandson. We are converting a large closet for pantry storage.
So I found you while looking for zone 4a gardening, we just moved from zone 4b last year , so there’s a bit of a learning curve for me, especially since I went from sand to clay😬 Anyway, we must be pretty close to each other, since I’ve since realize we share the same Azure pick up. I’ll say Hi next time, I was in a hurry last pick up😉
How fun!! Yes, come say hi! ☺️☺️
Attach a rod to the ceiling and make curtains that hang from the rods. Grommet curtains slide best.
Great idea! Thank you!
Great video! Could you share what salt you like and maybe the pros/cons of some common types?
When I was a kid back in the 60's, we lived in a little town called: White Bear Lake, MN Just 7 miles NW of St. Paul, MN
That’s a great town!
@@thehomesteadingrd - Thanks! Although I'm a Calif. boy raised along the Pacific coast, I do miss the 1st snows every year, and the Ice Fishing on the lake.
Very Helpful!
I’m glad you enjoyed the tour!
Great tour!
Thanks so much!
You could check out magnetic curtain rods they make them just don't know how good they are
Thank you for the video. I have shared it with my 15 year old daughter. She is eagerly learning about homesteading and I know she will love this video. Also, I believe the curtain idea is a good one. Perhaps some inexpensive blackout curtains. All the best with the channel.
That is awesome! Thanks so much for sharing my video and the blackout curtain idea
Love your video
Thank you!
Would love to see what you all do with your gf flour!
Our female cat is also named Lucy!
Love that!! ☺️
Great tour and so helpful to see your use of space. We have a smaller home as well with a detached shop/garage. My stuff is also spread out between a small kitchen pantry, a spare closet in the office and some shelves in the shop. Slightly off topic question though- do you have a cat door for your cats in the shop? We have a couple of barn cats and I'm trying to figure out how to have them go in and out of our shop without allowing predators (skunks or raccoons or even neighboring cats) getting in there as well?
Great question! Yep, we have a cat door. We haven't had any issues at our new homestead, but we had a few incidents at our last homestead where stray cats would come in (and then fight with our cats - no good!). When we noticed it happening, we'd secure our own cats and then set up a live trap inside the kitty door. The stray cat would jump through the kitty door and into the live trap.
Same I must be gluten free and it is hard however, adjusting.
The lady at Sparkman Homestead, (her name flew out of my head), she has kind of the same set up and she has curtains around her shelves. Maybe you could get ideas there.
Thank you!
Is your sauerkraut recipe on your site? Yours looks so good!
It's beautiful! ❤❤🙏🙏xxoo
Great tour. It was great to see a pantry for 2. What size FD did you get for a family of 2.
Thank you! I have a medium size
Please put the carrot video up!
I use apple scraps for apple cider vinegar.
Me too! 😁 I forgot to show my jar of that. It’s in the kitchen
What vacuum sealer do you use for your jars? Mine has stopped working and never worked that well to begin with. Great video. Thank you!
This one! It’s great -> geni.us/AmazonJarSealer
Fun pantry tour. I don't have a freeze dryer but I do a lot of canning. Do you share what part of NE you live in? I'm in the southeast part.
Nvm, I saw a comment that said Nebraskan but I re-watched your intro and you mentioned MN.
How about tension rods and black out curtains?
Do you vacuum seal the jars when you first fill them with freeze dried things and then re-vacuum seal them when you open them to get some food out?
Yep!
What about wire with magnets holding it up.. then just clip on your material and slide back and forth
I really like that idea. Thanks!
Was forced to each liver as a kid. HATE IT!!
Are your herbs dehydrated or freeze dried? I’ve been dehydrating herbs and recently got a freeze dryer but it’s not hooked up yet. I’m wondering what foods are best for each method of preserving. We live on half an acre just northeast of the Twin Cities so it’s nice that we’re in the same state.
All of my herbs are freeze dried :)
@ thanks!
Hi there. I understand having a small cabin (we are 975 sq ft) and trying to make room for food storage. lol. It’s a real issue. I’m curious for your broc and green beans do you blanch before freeze drying? We got a FD early this last summer and I’m still learning.
Also, you’re taking about stir frying FD green beans. Are you rehydrating first or just dumping into a pan and rehydrating in the cooking pan?
Yes I blanch first. It depends on how saucy the thing is that I’m cooking!
@ thanks. I’m literally just finishing that video. lol. I had to stop and start so many times. Definitely put those cats in your root crack at cabin!! lol
Is there liquid in the jars with the items? Or is it just air? (obviously not the freeze dried.)
Hello, I'm hoping to purchase a vacuum sealer at black Friday, and noticed you own 2. What brand is your?
Here’s the main one we use now (we just kept the other as backup just in case): geni.us/AmazonVacuumSealer
Thank you, definitely will be watching and subscribing to you. Never, expected you to respond. That's what I have became used to.
Wishes to visit to stay places farming gardening .
Put curtain rod up you want see it
Hang some beautiful scenes from shower curtains etc.
❤❤❤❤
Thanks for watching!