Grugger’s Way

Downsizing the grandparent’s kitchen and pantry would prove to be the most difficult, although not the biggest part of the downsizing process.

The kitchen and pantry are grandmother domains.  Not much room allowed for intruders; however, with cooperation, it is possible to thin out some of the extraneous things that are not needed any more:  like twenty years worth of plastic containers from margarine and other foods.  These containers were thought to be a good backup in case grandma ran short of tupperware containers.  No chance of that ever happening either.

We were amazed at the neatness of the saved “backup” materials.  Baggies that had only been used once were neatly folded. Plastic grocery bags were used for garbage bags, but at least a one-year supply was on hand.  Aluminum foil is so difficult to throw away as it can be used over and over again (but never was).  Nice neat piles of nice neatly folded pieces of aluminum foil were neatly stacked in a drawer.

Then there was the “backup” foodstuffs.  Of course canned goods will keep for quite a while–way beyond the recommended “use by” dates.  Cans with expiration dates that were two-years-past?  Not a problem.  But cans that expired in 1987 were going bye-bye.  If the cans were “bulging” they went bye-bye, regardless of how recent.  Culling out the cans periodically is the solution for the future.

Dry goods have a reputation for lasting a long time, too.  But there is a limit to how MANY bags of elbow macaroni folks can possibly eat.  In fact, unless it is a FAVORITE food, a single two-pound bag may last for twenty years.  I have proof.

And look out for Jell-O.  This old favorite is inexpensive, so always easy to stock up with a few extra boxes whenever the urge strikes.   Ramen noodles last a long time too, but…see macaroni above…it is not most folk’s favorite food.

Okay.  I am not making light of the”hoarding” habits of older folks.  In fact, I recognize the “hoarder” in myself.  The “Mature” generation, as they are known, those who gave birth to the “Boomer” generation, grew up during the Great Depression.  The memories of the scarcity of food and essentials, the unemployment, the soup lines, and the homeless, were deeply ingrained into the psyche of that entire generation.  It is no wonder that they became “hoarders.”  They learned to do without and they learned to share the burdens of want, and they learned to “stock up” when times were good and be prepared for the days when times would not be so good.

We can learn much from them.  Our fortunes in the days and years ahead are unknown to us.  We are warned about global warming, lack of clean water, dangers of cropland overuse, over-development and asphalting our farmland and fields.

We modern consumers could use some lessons in making things last longer and in living more simply.  Our grandparents remember what it was like to live without, and know what it could be like again.  We need to listen to them. 

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