The last Alaskan Frontier dream

As I was in bed last night... I had visions of Thrive, as I do every night. I'm going to let you in on a little secret of mine... I've watched the "Last Alaskan Frontier" on Netflix. Inside I've always thought, WOW, how incredibly awesome is that?!?! They have their gardens, and they hunt during the summer; but they get enough to sustain them through the winter. I've secretly thought that was sweet! I could hibernate for the winter!! This last spring, I set out, again, and planted a garden. My hopes were to have enough to can and have enough to get us through the winter. I, too, want to live in the last Arizona Frontier! For the exception that I love using the restroom in the comforts of my own home.. No running out into the forest in the below freezing in the middle of the night (or using a can in the corner of my room!) I'll pass.  Plus, you have bears. No bears. No, I don't do bears. At. All.

Last night though, I started to think about my corn. Last year I had a good little crop, until the rains came, and ruined it!! This summer, it looks oh so pretty. I went out yesterday to look at one, and much to my disgust, they all had worms!! This was suppose to be my corn... I wanted to can it, and sustain my family over the winter. Who cares that I only had enough to get us through the summer, the worms are now enjoying themselves. But I will have the last laugh, as my chickens will enjoy them and the corn, and we will enjoy the eggs!


So here I am. Cornless, but not Thriveless! I started thinking about what it would be like if I could build up my pantry, to where I would only have to go into town and only need to spend $30-50 at the grocery store a month! I live 20 miles away from the closest grocery store. Imagine having almost everything you need for meals, on hand, any time of the month? How great that would be. While today I am not there, I can see it happening in a matter of months!! Thanks to the Q!

This month I sat down and started planning out my meals, and my budget (yes, BUDGET!!). I looked at what I could get through Thrive, and what I needed to go to the grocery store. My sample menu looks a lot like this:
Meal sample-

1. Crock-pot Beef stew
2. Taco Salad
3. Pork roast, potato's, pea's and rolls
4. Pizza
5. Meatloaf 
6. Chicken Pot Pie
7. Chicken salad pita's 

Thrive Q order sample -

1. Tomatoes (pizza, pita's, beef stew)
2. Pea's (beef stew, pork roast, chicken pot pie)
3. Carrots (beef stew, meatloaf, chicken pot pie)
4. Ground beef (taco salad)
5. Chicken (chicken pot pie, pita's)
6. Onions (All)
7. Potato's (beef stew, pork roast, meatloaf side garlic style)
8. Celery (beef stew, chicken pot pie, pita's)
9. Chicken bouillon (chicken pot pie)
10. Tomato sauce (meatloaf, pizza)
11. Cheese (meatloaf, pizza and taco salad)

Grocery store sample:

1. Taco seasoning
2. Flour - if you don't already have some from Thrive - Chicken pot pie
3. Mayo & mustard - chicken salad pita's
4. Beef stew meat
5. Pepperoni - and other toppings for pizza
6. Pita bread
7. Pork pot roast
8. Frozen rolls - can be used for pork roast and for beef stew

And like that, you have a week worth of food... BUT the food you have in your Q, will be used towards so much more during the rest of the month! And you can substitute stuff off your Q and put on your grocery list, if it's way above and beyond what you want to spend. Sit down. Make a months menu and plan around that. You will find ordering off your Q will in fact save you MORE money, and trips to the store! 

Love,

Thriven With Rachel ~ Rachel Maroney