Tuesday, October 5, 2010

What to Stock Up On (Your Emergency Food Storage)

If you are in the path of a current Hurricane or other storm, please go HERE: Immediate Emergency Supplies


I got asked the other day "What should be the BASICS for one person to have in their *preparedness pantry*?"
I realized I had never posted a *basics* list here, so, gathering all my lists (yes, another list maker here!), I sat down and made a comprehensive list.

Don't let the size scare you. You could buy just a few items each month and by the end of 3 to 6 months, have a well stocked preparedness emergency food pantry.
Please remember, this is for ONE person. Many of the items you can find at Family Dollar or similar discount stores.
As for the stuff in #10 cans, I suggest http://www.shelfreliance.com/  or http://beprepared.com/ .For all my LDS friends, get thee to a cannery!
A few items I suggest you make yourself...more about those later as I will explain how to make and store certain food items yourself.



Let's get started...
BASICS:
6 #10 cans wheat
6 #10 cans beans
6 #10 cans rice
6 #10 cans potatoes (not *instant*! Get dehydrated potato slices or dehydrated diced potatoes. More versatile)
6 #10 cans pasta
6 #10 cans dehy. refried beans
6 #10 cans flour
4 #10 cans sugar
4 #10 cans oatmeal
4 #10 cans instant/dried milk powder
3 #10 cans farina (cream of wheat type hot cereal)
3 #10 cans instant mashed potato flakes
3 #10 cans dried corn (suitable for grinding)
2 #10 cans granola
2 #10 cans dehydrated onions
2 #10 cans dehy. peas
2 #10 cans dehy. carrots
2 #10 cans dehy. broccoli
2 #10 cans of dehy. corn (not dried corn for grinding!)
2 #10 cans mixed vegetables
2 #10 cans raisins
2 #10 cans dried apples
2 # 10 cans dried fruit of choice or mixed fruits
2 #10 cans trail mix (mixed nuts and fruits)

MEATS: I don't buy them dehydrated in # 10 cans(as of yet). They are pretty pricey when you get them that way! Maybe when I get more income or someone hands me a winning lottery ticket....If you are vegetarian, get extra of the basics and double up on the beans and rice!
For meats, here is what I suggest:
40 cans of water packed tuna
20 cans of oil packed tuna
20 cans of sardines
NOW, if, like me, you are allergic to seafood, substitute other meats!
30 cans chicken
15 small canned hams (the kind you do not have to refrigerate)
20 cans ham (the shredded kind in cans like tuna)
40 cans SPAM (choose your favorite flavor or mix and match flavors for variety)
20 cans Beef Stew
20 cans chili
40 cans soup (your choice of flavors)

SPICES:
I buy my spices in the square 5 ounce containers, then again, I use spices a lot! You can make tea from some spices (like ginger), so you may want more or less of a particular spice.
Ginger
Oregano
Cloves
Cinnamon
Curry powder
Garlic powder
Pepper
Cocoa Powder (unsweetened)
Chili Powder
Red Pepper Powder
Bay Leaves (get LOTS of these! Bay leaves ward off insects in your food storage!)
Other spices you use


OTHER ITEMS:
Beverage mixes, coffee/tea as you prefer
 Sprouting seeds
1 gallon honey
48 packages of Ramen Noodle soup (2 cases)
3 jars coconut oil
1 gallon corn oil
1 gallon canola oil
2 containers all vegetable shortening
6 containers of Corn Starch
6 boxes Baking Soda
3 containers Baking Powder
4 containers beef bouillon (cubes or loose)
4 containers chicken bouillon (cubes or loose)
4 containers vegetable bouillon (cubes or loose)
5 containers salt
8 1 quart bottles of lemon juice
10 jars peanut butter
6 jars jam/jelly/preserves
12 bars of soap
6 bottles baby shampoo
24 rolls toilet paper
24 rolls paper towels
3 bottles of body lotion
2 jars petroleum jelly
1 large bottle aspirin
1 large bottle non-aspirin pain reliever
3 containers baby powder

MAKE YOURSELF:

6 pint jars tomato powder
2 pint jars celery powder
2 pint jars mushroom powder
Other powders you like or find useful

Also, GET A GRAIN GRINDER!!! Manual is best (in my opinion), but if you must, get an electric one...just be sure you have a manual one for *back up* in case of long term power outages!
Get CAST IRON cooking pans. These add iron to your diet, will wear absolutely forever and are easy to clean up after being seasoned properly.
Other Good Things to have in your emergency pantry are a small grill and some bags of charcoal and some strike anywhere matches.


This is a ONE YEAR supply for ONE ADULT PERSON. Breakfast, lunch and dinners. You won't have meat at every meal, but you'll have enough.
It provides ample calories, variety to ward off *appetite fatigue* and extra in case of spoilage. You may have to adjust for food allergies, personal likes and dislikes, etc.
I am sure I forgot a few items, so add what you need that I may have forgot!

4 comments:

  1. 24 rolls of TP? I would increase that amount if it is for a year. While I can use a bandanna for the nose blowing; I've been watching how I use TP for this very reason. They have been putting less on a roll now: the "double" roll is what the "single" roll USE to be... since I actually LIKE the Always Save brand: not to soft and not to harsh, regular roll (cheapest: 89 cents a 4/pack) I've noticed I go through about 6 to 8 rolls a month. Being a "better to have too much then not enough" person: that makes 96 rolls a year. (sorry I am NOT Sheryl Crow) And I've noticed that one double roll does NOT last twice as long as two regular rolls. So the single rolls are still the most economical for me. I've about a six month stock up right now and will be adding to it this week or next.

    Also, a manual grain grinder: do you have a link? or picture of one? I keep thinking "meat grinder". Do they look similar? thanks! I appreciate your blog and insight.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I guess I use a frugal amount of TP, lol! I am figuring two rolls per month per person. I guess adjust upwards to take in to account personal preference of usage...
    As for manual grain grinders:
    Check this page out at amazon.com:
    http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_21?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=manual+grain+grinders&sprefix=manual+grain+grinders

    You might have to copy and paste that into your search bar.
    I have two manual grain grinders...one was an el cheapo 19.99 one--it works, but I have to grind through the grain two or three times to get the texture I want/need. The other is an 80 dollar unit and one grind through works just fine.
    I'll write up a review of both and include pictures in the next few days. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I would suggest stocking up on washcloths/fabric for use as TP. It's soft, absorbent, cheap, reusable and nowhere near as bulky to store! And before you think 'gross!', you could just use it for urine and save the real TP for poo. You can colour code for different family members too.
    It comes in handy for use in feminine hygiene emergencies too (but I recommend this http://www.naturallycozy.com/ otherwise).
    I use an old flannel sheet I got from an op shop for $1, cut into squares and simply hemmed to stop fraying.
    Amanda

    ReplyDelete
  4. Amanda, I absolutely agree! I have a stash of washcloths for TP purposes. Each family member gets their own color. If it comes down to off-grid living and doing the *humanure* thing (which we plan on doing), we will definitely go for the washcloths.

    ReplyDelete

Because of a couple of rude people that left comments that included links to porn pages and such, I have been forced to start moderating comments again.