Food Stock Pile

[Deleted]

I've been so concerned over the past 6-12 months on getting a good supply of non-food items tucked away, that I've been neglecting some of the basics in food storage. While I've got quite a good start, still got a ways to go. I think the better half and I could probably go 6 months without hitting a grocery store if we had to. I'm not real smug about that amount.

Just wondering what some of you others think is a good supply...in months, or years? How much do you have tucked away in case of a very bad crisis?

[Admin]

Although I'd love to have a big stockpile of chow, I never seem to get there.

[tsr07]

That is not a bad start. till would be nice to have at least a year on hand

[patricimo54]

I learned a lot about food storage when I lived among the Mormons in the great state of Utah back in the late 70's / early 80's.

There was a common phrase that I heard often back in the day, "All Mormons have a years supply of food storage, all good Mormons have a three year supply."

I am not a Mormon, but I do know that they are good people. Far removed from this entitlement majority that reelected our current leader.

A strong independent people that love freedom and self sufficiency.

There is great wisdom in having stores of all kinds. I would suggest at least a 30 day supply of food and household products. The more the better.

Paper is good for clean up after preforming bodily function or starting a fire. If the paper has trade value you are better off redeeming it for food storage and shelving it.

Sweet potatoes were $.20 a pound during the Thanksgiving holiday, long term storage item, we stocked up. Chicken broth reduced by a third, we stocked up. We found russet potatoes at $.10 a pound again we stocked up..

Not meaning to be a thread jacker I just got mentally derailed.
I think we have a good years supply of wheat that we can grind into flour, a little spotty on the rest of our stores.

As we have moved forward on our Ozark project we have leaned on our storage to make certain things happen.

[onebadboy2]

I can't disagree with anything the above poster said. I think that whatever you have is better than most. When you start off go for a week, then when you have that try to double it. Honestly, I think that 3 weeks should be the basic starting number because a lot of bad stuff will happen over a three week period when there is a situation or others don't have food. After that amount of time you better have more stashed away and protected or seriously consider the fact that you will have to take someone else's from them in order to survive. If everyone had basics set aside, then the initial panic that always ensure, would at least be delayed.

I have at a good amount set aside, but it's probably silly to be bragging about a specific number, because when a person is hungry they will do anything to not die. At least this site is full of hunters capable of trapping live food, and certainly live food doesn't spoil. That is a huge advantage over others folks without any question. Not many else who know how to catch a beaver, let alone that its edible. Way to go everyone. What a head start on the pack.

Also important is to consider what water source you have available to you. A person could die within 3 days without it. How far would I have to walk to collect it if an EMP hit and no vehicle? How easy would it be to transport back to my location? Do I even own anything with a wheel to strip and make into a cart? Consider storing rain water or doing a roof collection system to practice filtering it and cleaning it up well enough to drink.

Medicine is also something to consider too. They say beans, bullets and band aids are the essentials. Maybe even in that order. I remember starting out and it was absolutely depressing. Just grab two extra cans of something you find on sale and keep it in a dry, dark and cool area of your house, you have already done more than half the population. Then two more then next time and the next. Pretty soon you feel more relaxed and content and you can focus another direction.

Finally something that I know a little bit about. Thanks for asking. ;D

[barkspud]

We don't have a very big stock pile we may be able to go a month...to many growing children...we do have a stock pile of ammo, traps and fishing gear so we would never go hungry.

[Deleted]

When I first started stocking up on supplies, my better half wasn't too sure about all of it. In the recent months, watching the news, she's become more receptive to the idea, and recently watching the footage of the east coast, and some of the rioting, food shortages, gas shortages, she's now fully on board.
We can't make it all happen overnight with a good stock pile, but it's amazing how much you can save up over a year, just buying an extra item each time your at the store. Quite a satisfying feeling knowing we'll be better prepared in an emergency/crisis situation.