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Self-reliance: Recession-proof your pantry

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Recession-proof your pantry with these ideas on long-term storage, what to keep in your pantry, canning basics, freezing and dehydrating foods, and recipes to help you in good times and bad. This self-reliance guide from Backwoods Home Magazine is a must-have for everyone starting on the road to self-reliance as well as those well along their way.

154 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 2, 2012

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Backwoods Home Magazine

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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Profile Image for Alfred Wolf.
Author 4 books2 followers
September 4, 2025
“Self-Reliance: Recession-proof your pantry” is a practical survival manual for times of economic instability. The authors, from Backwoods Home Magazine along with Jeffrey R. Yago and Sylvia, go beyond simple storage tips to outline a whole philosophy of autonomy. Their premise is clear: a household can become a fortress in a crisis if it is properly prepared.
The strength of the book lies in its concreteness. It offers plenty of actionable advice: what staples to stockpile, how to store them correctly, how to stretch resources without sacrificing nutrition. Drawing on the experience of farmers and off-grid living, the authors translate that know-how into language accessible to urban readers who want to be less vulnerable to inflation and supply-chain disruptions.
But the book is not limited to dry instructions. It carries the spirit of American self-reliance, echoing both the prepper movement and the ethos of simplicity. This gives it an inspirational edge: preparation here is not framed as paranoia, but as reclaiming control over one’s life.
The weakness is that some advice may feel too obvious, or heavily tailored to the American rural context (e.g., large-scale storage solutions). For urban dwellers elsewhere, many practices may be impractical. Still, Self-Reliance: Recession-proof your pantry works as a wake-up call — a reminder that resilience and preparedness are never wasted.
Profile Image for Angela M.
1 review
February 13, 2021
Filled with lots of great recipes and information, a must read !

I enjoyed reading and learning some new and different ways of doing things, this book will be one of my to go books for some recipes, especially the meat canning, have done it but seems our venison comes out dry but now maybe it won’t 😁 its a must read and a go to book for stirring canning, recipes
Profile Image for Shelly.
2 reviews
February 7, 2019
I am making a transition to a more self-sustaining lifestyle so I’m playing a bit of catch up. This is a perfect reference for someone who is just learning or brushing up on an old skill.
Profile Image for Elie.
134 reviews
March 2, 2021
I already knew much of this. But it was still helpful in thinking about planning to live off the food only in the pantry
Profile Image for Ranay Knabe.
1 review
September 9, 2021
I already knew most of the information but it was still interesting to read how one woman stocks her pantry and the amount of some ingredients she has stored away.
1,398 reviews
January 11, 2013
This was a free Kindle download, mostly by Jackie Clay, who writes for Backwoods Home Magazine. Not a lot new as I already am familiar with home preserving methods. There are some interesting recipes and ways to use your pantry.
Profile Image for Melanie Darrow.
50 reviews3 followers
February 6, 2015
I didn't want this book to end. So many interesting bits of knowledge regarding canning and developing a working pantry. I really enjoyed finishing this book. Now I need to purchase a food dehydrator. :)
Profile Image for Samantha Bryant.
35 reviews3 followers
November 21, 2015
It was a good book but very basic so I already knew most of it, I can see that it will be good for beginners. Recipes are ok but I can find these on the web, going to keep it on my shelf for the recipes just to have handy.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews

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