The Four Corners Pantry System
with Mary Schrader
Session Notes
from the 2024 Modern Homesteading Conference
The Modern Homesteading Conference, produced by Homestead Living Magazine, is held annually in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Drawing attendees from around the country (and the world), it features 2½ days of presentations. Recognized leaders in the homesteading grassroots movement cover every imaginable topic of interest for homesteaders. For information regarding the 2025 conference see our RESOURCES PAGE.
Mary Shrader has been on the Traditional Foods journey for over 20 years. Through her Mary’s Nest website and you tube channel, she teaches how to prepare nutrient-dense meals through the use of traditional foods. She also provides exceptional insight regarding building resilience through the development of a robust pantry system.
what are traditional Foods?
Mary included a little bit of information regarding Traditional Foods to set context for her presentation. Traditional Foods are nutrient-dense real foods that have been eaten by traditional cultures throughout history. They include:
Bone Broths and Bone Marrow
Cultured Dairy (yogurt, cheese, kefir, etc)
Ferments, including Vegetables, Beverages, and some Fruits (kraut, kombucha, fermented veggies)
Grass-Fed Meats
Organ Meats
Pastured Poultry and Eggs
Sourdough Breads
Sprouted Grains
Wild-Caught Fish and Shellfish
And More
what is the four corners pantry system?
The Four Corners Pantry System refers to the four areas in your home where food is normally stored:
- The Main Kitchen Pantry can be a cabinet or closet in your kitchen where you have close by everyday essentials that you frequently use.
- The Refrigerator is where you’ll keep all fresh produce, raw milk, grass-fed butter and temperature sensitive foods, such as cheese and fresh herbs. The top shelf and door shelves tend to be slightly warmer than the rest of the refrigerator, so they are a good location to keep your ferments. They prefer a slightly less cold environment.
- The Freezer is very handy in a Traditional Foods Kitchen. There you will keep your grass-fed beef, pastured chickens, and wild-caught fish. It is also a great place for you to keep one and two cup measured portions of bone broth for preparing soups, stews, rice and grains.
- The Extended Pantry holds non-perishable foods that you can stock up on for emergencies. Extras of anything you cook or eat on a regular bases should be in your Extended Pantry. It is also a great place to store items that you buy in bulk, and those items needed in emergencies, such as water.
IT'S AN EXTENDED PANTRY BECAUSE IT HAS EXTENSIONS!
NOTE: As you work on developing your pantries, you’ll find the Extended Pantry can be expanded with sub pantries:
- Backup Pantry holds non-perishable foods to restock your Working Pantry. There you keep multiple units of the items that are in your Working Pantry.
- Emergency Pantry holds two weeks of non-perishable foods and supplies for any time there is a halt in electrical power or water supply.
- Healing Pantry is where you keep supplies for home remedies, such as herbs, oils, and salves.
- Survival Pantry is where your long-term storage foods, dried beans, white rice, etc. can be stored. It becomes your supply when there is an extended emergency situation. Consider what you would need to feed and supply water for your family for one to three weeks without leaving your home.
10 Important pantry items and their uses
You may be surprised by this list. Although its items are not typically found as the first elements for the pantry, they prove to be essential for a prepared home.
1. Beeswax
Beeswax is essential in making natural remedies. It is used in healing oils and homemade salves. Also, you can use it to make reuseable food wraps.
2. Oregano
Oregano has antimicrobial, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. You can infused it in oil or honey. In addition, you can use it in poultices
3. Tallow and olive oil
Tallow is also called suet (fat around the kidneys of cows). It has a high smoke point, is shelf-stable, and nutritious. You can store it at room temperature and it has a long shelf-life. Olive oil has been found to lower cholesterol, fight inflammation, and lower blood pressure. While you can store it at room temperature, it is best to keep it in a dark location, becasue light will degrade its quality.
4. honey
Honey can come as pourable or creamed. It has antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. You can use it for culinary, home remedies and boosting the immune system.
5. chickpeas
Chickpeas can be stored as dried or canned goods. They are very versatile and can be ground into flour for gluten-free baking or to use in dishes like hummus.
6. Mushrooms
Mushrooms are very nutritious. They can be used in soups, stews and casseroles. There are several varieties for you to choose from, including gourmet mixes, white button mushrooms, and portobellos.
7. all purpose flour
All Purpose Flour is essential for baking and can be used for feeding sourdough starter. When properly stored it can have a long shelf life.
8. canned diced tomatoes
Tomatoes are a versatile element in many different types of meals. They can be used in soups, stews, and casseroles. Either home-canned or store-bought can be stored in your extended pantry.
9. dried beef
Dried Beef has a long shelf life and is versatile. You can use it in many different recipes and it is excellent to have available for emergency meals. Keep some in both your working pantry and your back up pantry.
10. iodized salt
Iodized Salt prevents iodine deficiency. It can be used both in culinary and emergency situations. Keep at least one container in the pantry.
where to go from here?
A short session at a conference cannot provide in-depth information needed to establish an efficient and practical pantry system. Hopefully, though, this information is enough to pique your curiosity to learn more. Perhaps you were anticipating more traditional items to be listed. Never fear! Mary’s website, www.marysnest.com, provides many resources to help you on your way to building your pantry. In fact, she has an entire category of posts related to the Four Corners Pantry system. I encourage you to explore and enjoy!
Related post:
If you are new to home preserving of foods, you might enjoy this post: Preserve Your Food: 3 Simple Projects For Beginners