How to Build a Natural Food Pantry

Stretch the measuring tape along the inside walls of the closet to measure the depth of the closet. Write this measurement down to remember later.

Activate the stud finder along the inside walls of the closet to find the studs. Mark the studs lightly with a pencil.

Cut out a strip of wood about two inches shy of the measurement of the closet walls taken in Step 1. Make sure the wood is at least 2 inches deep and 2 inches tall, as the shelves will rest on these strips.

Hammer one strip into the studs of the closet wall. Using a level, make sure the strip sits level along the length of the inside closet wall. Using the measuring tape, measure directly across the closet and mark where the tape touches using a pencil. Write this measurement down. Hammer the next strip of wood into the opposite wall studs, so that the top of the strip rests even with the pencil mark. Using a level, make sure the strip sits evenly along the length of the wall. Repeat this step to account for the total number of shelves to be installed.

Cut the wooden boards to create shelves. Using the measurement across the closet taken in Step 4, cut the boards so they are about 1/2 inch shorter than this measurement. Insert the cut boards diagonally into the closet above the strips, and rotate to rest on the shelf support strips.

Stock the shelves with natural foods. Organize food types as desired on the installed shelves. Refrigerate any highly-perishable foods, and leave fruits and other non-ripe foods in a bowl outside the pantry to ripen.