Here's a great starting point for our dehydrated food storage wall!
When it's time to create more storage space for your buckets or bins, and boxes, check out my great wall of storage that started with a blank wall (well, I took some artwork down and moved a chair first!)
When you've found suitable space, it's time to get some closet organizers from The Container Store.
If there's truly no room in the house itself, please consider putting your closet organizer out in the garage (preferably an air-conditioned garage if you're that fortunate).
My husband went to the local hardware store and purchased two of the cheapest closet organizers that span 5' to 8' width and two extra 48" wire shelves. Turns out I still need some extra shelf-supporting clips, but they're on their way!
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If you don't have such a helpful-hubby (or wife!), then by all means, shop online and have it delivered! See the ClosetMaid system(s) at Amazon.com by clicking on the Amazon ad. It's not very hard to put together these closet systems—get a spirit level and just follow the instructions that are included in the closet shipping boxes. From start to finish, it took about three hours to do the entire job!
I do intend to have some drapery on a rod for the dehydrated food storage wall, so that the whole shelving unit is hidden behind it.
I may have another row of shelves right on top as there's still enough room left on the four uprights to do that but I'm not sure if I'll be able to access it... but right now I'm worn out, so maybe tomorrow!
I just wanted to share this with you all to give you an idea of what you can do at your home. The buckets contain dehydrated peas, carrots; you name it!
See how to dehydrate ALL our veggies here. And see ALL our fruits here.
Total cost so far: $100
(NOTE: the price of the closet rack has shot up to around $130 since I got mine, but don't let that put you off if you need to buy the organizer; also my $100 cost didn't include the food and buckets!!!) and I was SURE I had some drapes up in the attic...
Yessss! I found the drapes... I used round curtain rings which I sewed to the tops of the curtains.
Well, look at that—I finally finished the dehydrated food storage wall—it only took me around six months to get "a round tuit"!!!
I simply used an old curtain rod and wired it up to the top of
the shelving's upright posts (drilled a hole in the tops first for the
wire). We all agree it certainly looks much better! And unless you know better, it looks like there's a giant window behind it... yeah, right! :-)
For information on how to safely store dehydrated food, check out our food storage page.
If you wish to learn more, tune in to Susan's free Podcast: "Create Food Storage Space Out of Thin Air" here.
Susan Gast began Easy Food Dehydrating in December 2010. Read Susan's story of what sparked her interest in all things related to "food dehydrating."
She is featured on Mother Earth News blog, and on Solo Build It (SBI) who host this site. Read her first SBI interview, and her second SBI interview.
Since 1980, Susan's involvement in publishing - in one form or another - led her to create a "review site" of products related to the publishing industry. Visit ePubTechReviews today, also hosted by Solo Build It. Susan also runs her namesake site SusanGast.com on Solo Build It that showcases the books she has written since 2010.
Do you want to send Susan a quick message? Visit her contact page here. She'd love to hear from you!