The Art of Preservation: Guarding Your Food, Home, and Heart in a World That Wastes Everything

In a world that throws away food, relationships, and even convictions when they feel inconvenient, The Art of Preservation invites you to slow down, look around, and start guarding what truly matters.Author R. A. Calkins weaves together the very practical skills of food storage and home care with the deeper work of tending the heart. Drawing on the rich imagery of Scripture and the everyday rhythms of the kitchen, this book helps you see that learning to fill jars and stock a pantry is about far more than surviving hard times—it’s about becoming a faithful steward of what God has already placed in your hands.Inside you’ll discover:Simple, beginner-friendly explanations of canning, dehydrating, and other preservation methods so you can build a peaceful, dependable pantry without fear or overwhelm.How order, preparedness, and hospitality in your home can become daily habits that bless your family and quietly push back against a culture of waste.Honest reflections on anxiety, scarcity, and distraction—and how God uses ordinary tasks to train our hearts to trust Him.Practical checklists, questions, and next steps that help you move from theory to action, one small, sustainable change at a time.You don’t need special equipment, a farm, or a survivalist mindset to benefit from this book. Whether you are a young family trying to stretch groceries, a homemaker longing to bring more peace and stability into your routines, or a believer who senses that God is calling you to live more intentionally, you will find step-by-step help that assumes real-life limits like tight budgets, small spaces, and full schedules.Along the way, Calkins tackles hard questions many Christians quietly carry: How do I prepare for uncertainty without being ruled by fear? What does it look like to be ready to serve others when crises come? How can I resist the pull of constant consumption and live a life marked by gratitude, patience, and care? Through gentle teaching and vivid stories, you’ll see how acts as simple as labeling jars, organizing a cupboard, or planning meals can become steady, hopeful practices in the hands of God.Whether you live on acres of land or in a small apartment, The Art of Preservation will help you:Waste less and enjoy more of the food you already have.Turn your home into a place of refuge, stability, and shared meals.Trade panic and doom-scrolling for patient, hopeful routines rooted in God’s care.Build rhythms that prepare you to bless neighbors, guests, and those in need when unexpected moments arrive.If you feel the pull to simplify, prepare wisely, and live more intentionally before the Lord, this book will give you both the tools and the courage to begin. One shelf, one habit, one jar at a time, you can learn to guard your food, your home, and your heart in a world that wastes everything.