I can’t believe it is already May, how time flies. It’s a great time to asses what you have used since the start of the year and make sure that you are replenishing what you have been using. Coming up with a rotation system is key! Here are a few rotation ideas.
Weekly container method
This method works well if you organize your food storage with weekly menus. Create as many seven-day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) menu plans of your family’s favorite meals (personally I would use this method only for the dinner meals) as fits your families eating preferences (a minimum of two different menu plans is recommended). Label each different seven-day menu plan with a different letter (A, B, C, etc.). Place all the non-perishable ingredients needed for each one-week menu in a separate container (plastic or cardboard box). Label each container according to the meal it contains (A, B . . .). For a three-month supply, you will need twelve containers – 6 each for each of two different menus (A and B) or four containers each of three different menus (A, B and C). At the beginning of the week, empty the next container in your rotation and place all the food in the pantry closest to your kitchen so you can use it during the week. To rotate your storage, refill that container with the same foods you took out. Don’t forget to date the foods or the container so you know in which order to use each one-week box of food products. Do not include in these containers food items that last a long time after they are opened such as oils, condiments, spices etc.
Two Columns Method
The idea is to arrange the items to be stored in two columns. Every time you need to remove a product from the shelf, take it from the right (these should be the ones that need to be used first). When the right column is empty, you slide the whole left column to the right, and re-stock on the left. This method is more practical to use when you just have about 20 or less of a certain item(s) you normally store in your pantry.
Color sticker method
Select colored stickers to represent year or half-year expiration periods (the frequency depends somewhat on the foods you are labeling). Place a sticker on all or some items in your food storage to correspond roughly with when the food items expire or should be used. This provides a quick visual key to how frequently or when foods should be rotated. Personally, I think placing stickers on every single can or box would require purchasing too many stickers to regularly use this method on all the products I store. This method works well for items stored in different areas of the house (under beds, tables etc.) where the expiration date is not easily visible. Place the stickers on an area of the products that can be easily seen.
Sticky Notepad Method
This is simple, practical and easy. Place a sticky notepad on the cupboard door, or near the storage shelf where your food storage is kept. Every time you remove an item, write what it is on the notepad. When it is time to prepare the weekly grocery list, tear off the sheet from the pad and stick it on your grocery list or write the item’s name directly on it.
Sticky Notepad Method
This is simple, practical and easy. Place a sticky notepad on the cupboard door, or near the storage shelf where your food storage is kept. Every time you remove an item, write what it is on the notepad. When it is time to prepare the weekly grocery list, tear off the sheet from the pad and stick it on your grocery list or write the item’s name directly on it.
Rubber-band method
One practical and easy method I personally like is the rubber band method. I find this method to work well with items that take longer to use after they are opened such as boxes of bouillon cubes, vanilla flavoring etc. Your food items should be organized in a row and a rubber-band should be wrapped around the second-to-the-last container in the row. As you use your supply you’ll eventually come to the container with the rubber band around it then you know its time to buy more.
DIY tips for pinching pennies:
Use cinnamon as a substitute for rooting hormone. It also kills fungus and bacteria at the same time.
Next time you boil eggs, save the water and pour in on your garden and plants. The water becomes enriched with calcium from the egg shells. And speaking of eggs, if you haven’t already planted your tomatoes, crush egg shells and place them at the bottom of the hole when planting your tomatoes.
DIY fertilizer: 1 teaspoon of epsom salt in 4 cups of water, spray on your plants for an increase in productivity due to a boost of magnesium. Works great for tomatoes, peppers, even roses.
DIY weed killer: Every where I look, everyone seems to toot vinegar as a great, natural weed killer. Honestly I have not be super impressed, but it is definitely a safer option than Round Up. I just recently read that baking soda works as well. I’m willing to try, since you can buy a 5lb bag at Costco for about $5. Sweep baking soda in your sidewalk cracks and rock pathways to discourage weeds.
DIY nontoxic ant killer: 1 cup water, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons of Borax. Just mix till dissolved, soak a cotton ball with the solution, and place where you find unwanted ants. That’s it!
Now with all the money you have saved, you can add to your 3 month supply or year supply!
