Every year, I make the basis for miso soup, two tubs of fresh natto paste from 4 Tbs of old natto paste and fresh soy beans, keep them in the fridge. In case one tub goes bad, I always have the second tub to continue with. I use one pound plastic tubs. One plastic tub of natto makes sixty bowls of miso soup.
The broth base is made from a cup of shrimp shells with the heads and tails on, i freeze those till I have a cup full. You can also buy ground dried shrimp or bonito soup stock in dried form in Hispanic or Asian stores or on amazon.
When fresh shitake mushrooms are abundant, I slice and dry eight pounds on the picnic table outside to make one pound of dried mushrooms and save for soup. I grow very mild chinese garlic green chives year round in a planter pot or window sill glass bowl.
Slivered firm tofu makes the soup complete. My recipe for home made tofu is here on cookpad.