Inspired by another thread...stockpiling A LOT of food ???

[Lisa loves Pooh]

okay--that was weird (posting problem prevented my first post from posting)....now on with the post!

I am wonderfully good at math but stink at quanititative guestimation--so I'm asking for the low-down on this whole stockpiling thing.


I was wondering about the stockpiling of food for long term...the 6-12 months spoken about in the other thread.

Why are you stocking this much? (beyond that it is recommended by the church)...is it for job loss, natural or man-made disaster?

What are you stocking?
Is this merely for survival--or is their some nutrition going into the stockpile?
What do you do about fresh fruits and veggies...can they be canned "fresh" with minimal if any preservatives?

What about breads and meats?

And where exactly are you stocking this stuff?

I know that some stuff can be frozen...but frozen foods just don't last forever and would have to be cycled through.

ETA: and pretty much, the expiration date thing, how do you handle that?

Thanks!

 

[imsayin]

I'm curious too.

* Do you keep an inventory?

* Do you rotate you food everytime you shop?

* How do you know how much is enough for a year?

 

[Lyn5]

I was curious about this too. The LDS website had some info on it....the food seemed to be healthy basics.

 

[wdwpluto]

I know nothing of the LDS (other than what I've read on that thread) but if I can get a really good deal on something that I know we'll use, I'll generally buy a bunch. For example, sometimes canned veggies with a sale + a coupon are nearly free. So I stock up. Yes we prefer fresh veggies, but that isn't always convenient.

There's really not a lot of method to my madness. I don't try to keep a set amount around the house and I do try to make sure that we use things up before buying more. If I see that there's something we're not using, I may donate it to a food drive (well before the expiration date, of course).

I stockpile more with health and beauty stuff than foodstuff. We have a bunch of shampoo that was free or nearly so, along with dish soap, razors, tissues, etc.

DH lost his job after 9/11 and money was tight. That's when I learned about hardcore couponing (getting things free or nearly so). It helped us out then until DH was working again. Now, I just hate paying full price for stuff when I know I could get it at a fraction of the cost.

 

[wide awake]

I've always wondered if the LDS plan on sharing with non-LDS neighbors ? Or do they think that their non LDS neighbors won't know about their stash ?

 

[Danemom]

I guess I missed the original post because I don't know what you're talking about. Why are people stockpiling food? And what is LDS?

 

[JoEllen]

We've always stockpiled enough for a week to eat/drink. Our local government is always warning us that in the event of an earthquake or volcanic eruption we need to have enough until local authorities can get to us.

I buy lots of bottled water and rotate it. Also like to buy the "pop tab" cans of soup/stew to make it easier to open.

Because of the events of Katrina, we dug thru our "earthquake bag" and found alot of expired stuff. It's a pain to keep it current but could be necessary someday.

 

[blanq]

I am not LDS, but my family does food storage. I currently do have about 12 months worth of food stored and available for our family of three. I will answer the OP's (and other) questions, based on my experience only:

Why am I stocking this much?
For preparedness. If there is a disaster, job loss, etc., my family will still be able to eat. You can find internet sites, such as www.providentliving.com, that can provide sound reasons for food storage.

What do I store?
The basics: grains (flour, rice, oats, pasta), legumes, powdered milk, sugar/honey, oil, salt, and water. Also, pancake mix, drink and smoothie mixes, biscuit mix, TVP (textured vegetable protein, which is a meat substitute), powdered eggs, baking powder, tomato powder, dehydrated and freeze-dried fruits and vegetables, instant oatmeal, peanut butter powder (you add oil to make peanut butter), soup base, margarine powder, potatoes, MRE's, canned hams. I guess that covers a good chunk of it. I even have some dessert items stored, such as pudding mixes and blueberry muffin mixes. Almost everything I have is in #10 cans, and is dehydrated or freeze-fried. Also, I store soap, shampoo and hygiene basics. My food items will store for many, many years. Water has to be rotated more frequently. I have a cookbook I purchased, that is specifically geared toward cooking with food storage. As you can tell by my list, many of the items are in a form that most of us are not used to cooking with.

What about breads and meats?
As indicated above, I have TVP, and canned ham for meat. I do not store bread, as obviously it has a short storage life. I do store the grains and mixes listed above for carbs. Legumes are a good source of protein also.

Where am I stocking this stuff?
I purchased a number of shelving units and have everything stored in my basement on those shelves. Items will last longer if you keep them in a low-humidity and moderate temperature environment. Heat will lessen the shelf-live of stored food.

Do I keep an inventory?
Yes, of what I have on hand and when I purchased it.

Do I rotate food ever time I shop?
No, not that often. But, I do use my food storage, and replenish items when needed. The stuff I have you cannot buy at the grocery store. I purchase it through companies that specialize in food storage, like Mountain House, Walton Feed, Nitro-Pak, and Alpine Aire.

How much is enough for a year?
Food storage companies, like the ones listed above, can assist you in figuring quantities. For example, you can purchase pre-determined cases that will feed, one or two people, etc. per year. I happened to purchase a years worth all at one pop, but it is expensive and many people are not in a financial position to do so. You can slowly build a food storage program. To start, it is recommended you buy basics (grains, legumes, powdered milk, sugar/honey, oil, salt and water) and then build from there.

Most people, who are not LDS or familiar with food storage, might think that this concept is a wacky one. I think it's smart. To me it is another form of insurance, like life insurance and home owners insurance.

 

[canwegosoon]

I probably have 6 months worth of food...3 months of meat in the freezer, a years worth of personal hygiene.
I have storage in a large pantry 9x9 off the kitchen. I store like items with those due to expire first on top. I use these items until I get down to about one month (or a sale/coupon) and replinish. it helps keep the food budget down, but I do not do it for any religious reason.

 

[lbgraves]

What is LDS? I stockpile based on what I can get free or cheap. We are set for 4-6 months on some things. You can actually use most food after the best buy dates. I have called the companies & that is the target for when they want it off the shelves. We have used item 6 months after the expiration date without a problem. Now, we don't do this with dairy items obviously...unless it is yogurt that has been frozen. I get enough bread for 2 weeks so I don't consider that stockpiling. I use every inch of cabinet space to store everything and have a pantry with 2 foot wide shelves that usually stay full. I also store cereal & other boxed items over the washer/dryer in the laundry closet. I don't keep a written inventory. I pretty much just make a mental note when something is running low and start looking for a sale to restock that item.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We've always stockpiled enough for a week to eat/drink. Our local government is always warning us that in the event of an earthquake or volcanic eruption we need to have enough until local authorities can get to us.

I buy lots of bottled water and rotate it. Also like to buy the "pop tab" cans of soup/stew to make it easier to open.

Because of the events of Katrina, we dug thru our "earthquake bag" and found alot of expired stuff. It's a pain to keep it current but could be necessary someday.

I understand that..we are in hurricane land....

But I'm talking 12 months worth of food for the family (and I assume drink...perhaps bottled water?).

I'm stockpiling with my new grocery savings....and not sure how long we could live without hitting the store...considering I would need milk and stuff..and don't have the aseptic containers stockpiled. But maybe 2 weeks or so.


LDS--is the Church of Latter Day Saints...the thread was about someone who needed help with their budget--and they are members of this church--and in detail someone explained the tithing...and the notion of having 12 months of food stockpiled, which sparked my question.

I can understand a month--maybe 3 with ample pantry and freezer space.
I understand for a natural disaster prep kit.

I cannot comprehend how one would stockpile for 12 months...and how you rotate the food b/c most things--unless very preserved, has an expiration date.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Most people, who are not LDS or familiar with food storage, might think that this concept is a wacky one. I think it's smart. To me it is another form of insurance, like life insurance and home owners insurance.

Wasn't saying it was wacky--I'm very touchy-feely and visual....and I just couldn't picture it.

Thanks for the details...it pretty much sounds like a disaster kit--but not to be used for just disasters (as in loss of job).

The reference to LDS--was due to circumstance...as that is the first I heard of a population who strives for this amount of preparation.

 

[canwegosoon]

I find it very intresting, and as long as you use the food (and not let it go bad) I think it is a good thing. I am posting a link if anyone else is intrigued http://www.providentliving.org/content/list/0,11664,2018-1,00.html

 

[wide awake]

One of those ideas that sound great until you think about it and realize that if your neighbor's kids are starving you're not going to be sitting on 12 months of food for long. May work great in Utah or Idaho where the majority of the population is LDS, but not too smart if you're living amongst non-LDS people. I personally think anything more than a week is asking for violence...and I cannot believe that there is anyone on this board that doesn't have a week's worth of some type of groceries on hand...may not be what you like, but I'm betting your family could live on what is in the cupboards for a week or more. I don't care what the religion, if there is some kind of disaster where no groceries are available for the forseeable future, do you really think you can defend your stock against those that haven't stocked a week, a month, or a year just in case ? Has anyone read "The Long Winter" ? Read books or seen films about the Jewish ghettos during the Holocaust ? Why would you want to keep this much stuff on hand, given that you're not going to be able to feed just your family, given real life conditions ? If you want to feed the starving do it now, don't wait for them to steal it during a disaster.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

And my "weird" comment was due to a failed first post--and then I had to do a post that I didn't have much in it--and was able to post....

not a comment about the food...I will go and edit.

 

[blanq]

Wasn't saying it was wacky--I'm very touchy-feely and visual....and I just couldn't picture it.

Lisa loves Pooh, I didn't read your post to mean that food storage is wacky! I made the wacky comment from my own experience in discussing food storage with others. A lot of people I talk to think the whole concept is weird, so that's why I made the comment I did. Really, unless you are LDS, you'll be hard pressed to find many who store large quantities of food. I think my family is probably unusual!

 

[blanq]

I cannot comprehend how one would stockpile for 12 months...and how you rotate the food b/c most things--unless very preserved, has an expiration date.

Food storage is somewhat difficult to comprehend, because when most people think of storing food, I they think of what they get at the grocery store during their weekly grocery shopping. Most people who do food storage do not purchase day-to-day groceries for food storage. As I indicated in my previous post, I purchase #10 cans of "dehydrated and freeze-dried foods". This stuff lasts 15 years, unopened! It is about as preserved as you can get.

 

[punkin]

I guess my question would be why? Are you expecting some serious disruptions in the food supply? I can understand a month or so for emergencies, but 12 months?

 

[blanq]

One of those ideas that sound great until you think about it and realize that if your neighbor's kids are starving you're not going to be sitting on 12 months of food for long. May work great in Utah or Idaho where the majority of the population is LDS, but not too smart if you're living amongst non-LDS people.... Why would you want to keep this much stuff on hand, given that you're not going to be able to feed just your family, given real life conditions ? If you want to feed the starving do it now, don't wait for them to steal it during a disaster.

If there was a natural disaster, my family absolutely would share our food with others. If that occurs we will feel very blessed to be able to provide for our own needs as well as the needs of our neighbors. As far as feeding the starving, we are regular contributors to our local food shelf, and have given some of our food storage to others in need at different points in time.

 

[crisi]

I live in Minnesota, and I think everyone around here has a snowstorm pantry. We are always confused when there is a run on grocery stores in the South for a hurricane warning - everyone I know could live (not well, but live) off a pantry of spaghetti sauce, pasta, canned soup, and a freezer that probably has half a deer and six meals of fish in it.

But not a year. Plenty to get snowed in for a few days, even if I badly needed to run to the grocery store for milk and eggs and bread when the storm hit. Kids might get sick of pancake mix, concentrate orange juice, soup and spaghetti before the plow came through.

Its probably important to realize that when the LDS founded Salt Lake City (and surrounding areas) it wasn't (and still isn't) the world's most hospitable place. A town on the edge of a huge salt lake where not much grows, high enough in the mountains for a short growing season, and high enough to make getting anyplace else difficult (and they chose the location in part because it wasn't too accessible to strangers). If I lived in Salt Lake City 100 years ago, I'd want to stockpile food, too. And I'd want to make sure my neighbors did it, because you wouldn't want to have to feed ten families off the stockpile of one.