Self-reliance: Recession-proof your pantry

by Backwoods Home Magazine, Jeffrey R. Yago, Sylvia Gist

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.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Cookbooks, Cooking, Self Help

154 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 2, 2012

Reviews

[Alfred Wolf]

“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.

[Angela M]

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

[Mother Hen]

This book was written around the turn of the millennium right before the Internet really took off...and it was probably a lot more useful then. I am rating it based on when it was written and only removed one star for lack of design and imagery. Today? Skip this and watch some YouTube videos and read a canning book from Ball.

[Shelly]

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.

[Elie]

I already knew much of this. But it was still helpful in thinking about planning to live off the food only in the pantry

[Ranay Knabe]

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.

[Rye Thomasdatter]

A small booklet with great beginner information.

[Jeanne]

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.

[Melanie Darrow]

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. :)

[Samantha Bryant]

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.