By Heather O.

1. Honestly, I don’t do more than a few weeks because the most likely emergencies in my area are the kind that destroy the house and require evacuation- fire and earthquake. I just can’t justify stocking up on even more food that would be destroyed / burned / abandoned.

   The other emergencies in mind would be job loss (so save money, not food) and disease (store a few weeks of ALL household supplies including food and medicine to cover that)

   Comment #1 by cchrissyyMay 13th, 2008 at 3:15 pm

2. I want Tracy’s recipe. What is it?

   Comment #2 by mmilesMay 13th, 2008 at 3:17 pm

3. my biggest obstacle, is cuz I am lazy, but, besides that…

   First of all I have never ever been to a canary. So to me, it is the scary unknown. I don’t really know what kind-of stuff I can get there, or how it works to go there and get it. I think I recently heard it changed a little bit, at least where I am but I still don’t really get how it all works. I don’t know if I am the lone idiot, or if other people are similarly ignorant about how it works, but I think it could be cool to set something up with the young woman/young mens for a mutual activity or something to go help out at the canary and teach them how it all works.

   Second obstacle for me, is how to use the stuff I get. I don’t want to buy something just to have it sit out in my garage until it goes bad or worse, until there is some sort of disaster and I open it up to realize I don’t know how to turn it into a meal. I think learning recipes that use food storage items both for emergency use, and also for rotating would be really helpful. For my part, I love using canned chicken when I make soups, because it is so much cheaper, easier, and after it simmers in the broth, no one can even tell the difference; and it helps rotate that item for my storage.

   Lastly, and this kindof goes along with being lazy, is that I am not really motivated. I know my MIL’s ward has emergency drill every once in a while where they have a fake scenario, and you are supposed to see how well you are prepared for it. I think it has really helped them see where their weak spots are, and motivates them to be more prepared.

   Anyway, I look forward to everyone else’s suggestions, because I need to to a lot better in this area.

   Comment #3 by aprilMay 13th, 2008 at 3:21 pm

4. Um… right now we don’t have job- so right now, buying rice and wheat and water in bulk seem like a luxury. I hope the wheat I do have is enough.

   Working on some more recipes…!

   Comment #4 by Tracy MMay 13th, 2008 at 3:26 pm

5. Cannery. Too lazy to call and ask when/how to come in and can the food we’ve bought that needs to be, uh, canned for long-term preservation. Or to ask to borrow the home canner, which we’ve done before (that’s pretty fun, actually).

   Sheer, cussed, due-to-give-birth-in-four-weeks-to-#4 laziness.

   Comment #5 by KermitMay 13th, 2008 at 3:28 pm

6. OK, mmiles, I put a link to the recipe in the post. It should work.

   Comment #6 by The WizMay 13th, 2008 at 3:29 pm

7. My issue is I never know just *how* prepared I’m supposed to be. Like, do I plan on having electricity? If I don’t have electricity, then what use is all this flour if I don’t have a working oven to make bread in? In that case I’d rather have a jillion pounds of pasta instead of canned flour because I can boil water without electricity, but I can’t make bread without it. Same with meat, I can have several months worth of meat in a freezer, but we’d have to eat it in a few days if we had no power.

   Comment #7 by StarfoxyMay 13th, 2008 at 3:34 pm

8. Um, I don’t know how to do the cannery thing either, so I am a total retard. Also, we haven’t had tons of money so I always worry about spending it on food we might not need. But now I am doing food storage for 2 adults for $5 a week and it’s working out well.

   I think the biggest thing for me is also not knowing what to put in my storage and when to rotate it. I am just not that awesome.

   Comment #8 by KrisMay 13th, 2008 at 3:41 pm

9. Before we bought our house, we never had any food storage. I justified it with the excuse that we lived in tiny apartments and we had moved 4 times in 5 years and I was not about to try and move 50 gallon drums of red wheat.

   Since we have bought the house, I have been sucked into the whole food storage/emergency preparation whirlpool by my mom and my aunt. I have a kit that I bought at Sam’s club that has 90 meals for 4 people in it. My mom gave us a big rubbermaid container with 4 sleeping bags, a tent, mess kits, and a tiny propane stove and lantern it it. I have flashlights, batteries, and maxie pads in a ziplock bag on the floor of my closet (because I just KNOW that if there is a natural disaster of some sort, it WILL be while I’m on my period and I am not about to be unprepared for that!). Two years ago I started working at the cannery (when a Saturday session is available) and I now have some flour, red wheat, rice, onions, sugar, potato pearls, canned chicken, and powdered milk.
   The problem that we have run into is that we are on a strict budget and don’t have a lot of room for “extra” purchases and I get in panic mode when people start telling me that I have to have a 3 month supply RIGHT THIS INSTANT and I just can’t afford it. So I have had to learn to calm down and purchase what I can when I can. Buying a case of wheat here and there is better than not having anything.
   Wow, that turned out to be a lot longer than I thought. And it isn’t very coherent either. Sorry.

   Comment #9 by fluffychickyMay 13th, 2008 at 3:47 pm

10. You actually don’t have to use bleach or purification tablets for water that is coming from your water treatment plant - i.e., if you’re filling up “blue barrels” don’t add anything. However, if you are in the middle of a natural disaster that has compromised the integrity of your water system, you can use either. If you’re at home, run to the laundry room and grab some bleach. I store the tablets in my 72 hour kits, since I don’t know what type of water I’ll have access to.

    I make wheat bread from scratch - my kids love it. I make it weekly, since it’s the only healthy thing I feed them. Which BTW is very quick, simple and easy. Trust me, if I can make bread, anyone can.

    My food storage room looks like a supermarket and my kids know where to find everything. Even my 5yo.

    I’d better put the keyboard down, since I could pontificate forever on this subject.

    Comment #10 by AbbyMay 13th, 2008 at 3:49 pm

11. The cannery just added pancake mix to what it has.

    I have to say, I think going to the dry pack cannery is fun if you go with a group, although now they have changed the rules and yo u can only can what they are doing on that day. Before, you could go and can whatever you wanted that they had.

    You can’t take your own food to the cannery–you have to use the home unit. Which, is actually pretty fun. We canned some flour and sugar a few months ago, and decided to prank my brother and his wife by putting a clown figurine inside a can of sugar and giving them a couple of cans to start their food storage. Boy where they surprised to scoop out some sugar and find a clown! Hee hee–they don’t know there’s one in the flour too!

    The wet pack chicken isn’t too bad in enchiladas.

    Comment #11 by LindsayMay 13th, 2008 at 3:52 pm

12. My husband is in law school, we live on a teensy tinsey income and have a teensy tinsey apartment. If we don’t eat the food we have, I’ve been known to combine it all into the crockpot and call it dinner.

    I know we’ll be in trouble, but I don’t know what the Lord wants us to do. I pray for a higher paying job often, I’m qualified, but I chose the wrong major for good pay. I just don’t know.

    Comment #12 by NatalieMay 13th, 2008 at 3:55 pm

13. I would love to get more info on this. Our ward just sponsored a big event with lots of this info (we live in San Francisco, we are pretty much always ready for an earthquake). We just moved into a home and for the first time are NOT in the situation where we have minimal storage..

    I have a booklet of recipes and all the info from the fair. Want a copy? I can e mail it to you. Also, my friend Lisa has some good ideas about food storage. I’ll put it in the email.

    Also, this seems picky but my soul hurts a little bit when I hear people use the word “retard” in context such as this. I know the user probably didn’t mean to be offensive and often people don’t realize the connotation, but it is offensive. I am the mother of a child that is mentally retarded, so maybe I am more sensitive. I don’t want to turn this into a “thing”, but just like when I hear people use words that are insensive to my adopted kids, or african american kids, I feel like I need to pipe up. There are other words that we can use to get the same point across.

    And, to show that I really am not being stinky about this, I agree with the above poster. I have NO idea how to use/order from/ find the cannery. The whole thing makes me kind of nervous.

    Comment #13 by mammaMay 13th, 2008 at 3:55 pm

14. One of the big issues we found in our ward was that people did have some food storage, but they had no idea how to use it. So, we had a class on using your wheat if you don’t have a wheat grinder. We had a cooking with whole grains class. We did a recipe exchange where we asked the sisters to bring a dish that had at least 3 items from their food storage. If you have any questions about what we’ve done, email me and I’ll get you the information!
    For me, personally, I don’t know where to put it all. We’re in Southern California, so storing anything in the garage just isn’t an option. I’m just not into the stacking cans and throwing a table cloth over it in my entry way… I want it completely out of sight.

    Comment #14 by MelissaMay 13th, 2008 at 3:58 pm

15. I also am too embarrassed to ask about what “using the cannery” means. Can someone post spelling out exactly what that entails? Every few months they stand up and say “cannery orders are due” and I have no idea what that means. Does that mean I order wheat and then have to go can it myself? Huh?

    We are also in the small apartment/no money camp, so that is a barrier. I try and stock up on things that are on sale, so I probably have 2-3 months worth of food in my house that I could use if for some reason we couldn’t go to the store (like job loss or breakdown of food delivery). But I’d be in trouble without electricity or in some other sort of disaster. I guess that’s part of it too–I don’t have a clear vision of what I’m preparing for. Also, I’m in the group of people who don’t know what to do with all those cans of wheat. I don’t even like bread and don’t eat it.

    Comment #15 by FoxyJMay 13th, 2008 at 4:10 pm

16. We just moved into a house, so I finally have the space and am slowly working on it. We are working on the staples for the 1 year supply (wheat, rice, water, etc.) right now and have a little bit. And next is getting a grinder. I try and pick up a little extra in our grocery trips for the 3 month supply. But honestly, the thing that keeps us from having more finished is $$$$. Hopefully we’ll be blessed because we ARE working on it if we ever have to use it, but it’s not easy on a small one income!

    Comment #16 by MelissaMay 13th, 2008 at 4:12 pm

17. We also live in a place where we would have to evacuate. I got a Trader Joe’s bag for each person and filled a ziplock with things that they need for each day (milk and juice boxes, crakers, beef jerky, fruit snacks, gum, suckers, water bottles) and added enough for three days. Then I threw in a few things like candy, coloring books, stickers, etc and a few “extras” like peanut butter in one, a few can’s of tuna in another and stuff that could round things out. Then I put it all in a rubbermaid box in the garage (and have been known to store it in the back of the gar). It is there if we need it. I also switch this stuff out every six months by pulling out the bags of stuff and letting the kids eat it for one day. It helps me know what they would eat and also helps them get used to the idea of actually eating that stuff. I had a wise friend who once told me to make sure you put in things that they would want to eat. If you use conference weekend as your marker of when to switch it out, you always have pretty fresh stuff… just a thought that could be fun for the little ones.

    As for the big people stuff, I have heard that you should think of 4 or 5 meals that your family really likes to eat (that can be made or adapted pretty easily for food storage ingredients) and then buy enough to make it 6 or 7 times. Volila, food storage meals for 3 months. That made it seem MUCH easier than having to have all new meals… but I would love to get some recipes from other readers….

    Comment #17 by bekMay 13th, 2008 at 4:14 pm

18. Mamma, I’m sorry. I’ve thought about that before and have been working on not saying it anymore but sometimes I slip. I’ll try harder.

    How about, I am a total dweeb when it comes to cannery stuff?

    Comment #18 by KrisMay 13th, 2008 at 4:15 pm

19. Let me give this a big second:

    Second obstacle for me, is how to use the stuff I get. I don’t want to buy something just to have it sit out in my garage until it goes bad or worse, until there is some sort of disaster and I open it up to realize I don’t know how to turn it into a meal. I think learning recipes that use food storage items both for emergency use, and also for rotating would be really helpful.

    I’ve found some ways to store stuff in my small apartment. Behind my sofa (which is pretty much futon-style) I’ve got tons of old juice bottles filled with water. Behind my DVDs I’ve got some cans of stew, fruit, beans and etc. Under my sofa I’ve got a big bag of all-purpose flour and another of rice. That’s my storage.

    Not only would knowing how to use the food be helpful but alternatives — recipes, ingredients, all of it –for allergies would be VERY helpful. My husband used to be lactose intolerant. We tried something that has greatly increased his ability to digest milk but it’s still not perfect. Yet dried milk seems to be a huge part of food storage. When I asked the leader at one of the last “do your food storage!” meets, all she said was to buy those tablets. They’re not an efficient solution; they’re about $20 a box and are only good for a year or so. Also my husband (and mother and aunt and many other family members) are allergic to nightshades. They can’t have tomato, potato, peppers, rhubarb or eggplant. One thing people love for food storage is stew, which is often tomato based, full of potatoes or both.

    Help? Please?

    Comment #19 by Proud Daughter of EveMay 13th, 2008 at 4:18 pm

20. P.S. My mother in law teaches classes in the stake about how to use your food storage. She knows how to make CHEESE (from like wheat or something like that). it was VERY complex. We should have a folder where you can post the link’s to the resources that people have or the recipes that they use.

    Also, I had a stake president that once said they would stock nothing but asprin and Diet Coke because everyone else would forget that and he could barter for what he needed! Good point!

    Here is a dilemma. I have the money to buy what I need and the space to store it (finally) but I don’t know what to do. How does one go about finding what they need? I am sure there is a church booklet about this, but is there a place where someone breaks it down so I can just go out and buy it all in one trip ??? Random, I know, but we really want to be prepared and want to use our last bonus for this stuff….

    Comment #20 by bekMay 13th, 2008 at 4:18 pm

21. We have been working on our storage each year. When we get a tax return we put a percentage towards it.

    It seems to me that the call to get your food storage is something like the modern day call to get on the proverbial Ark. The prophets can only call on us to do it so many times before we drown.

    Cchrissyy ~ I don’t believe that we are asked to get food storage in case of emergencies such as natural disasters, but also because the cost of food will skyrocket and you won’t be able to afford it or find it.

    Fortunately we got our year supply of rice and wheat a few years ago, and boy am I glad, the cost of wheat and rice has gone up, and that is IF you can find it…just food for thought!

    Comment #21 by LeiGulMay 13th, 2008 at 4:22 pm

22. When we lived in DC, even in an apartment, our storage closet and under our bed was full of cans from the cannery. However, we are now (for the next 20 or so years) overseas because of DH job, moving every 2-3 years. When we moved to our current location we gave most of our food storage away to a family in need. We keep enough canned goods on hand for 2-3 months and as we are now approaching time to move we will eat that food gone and restock 2-3 months worth in our new home. We don’t see in feasible to have as much as recommended when we are moving that often and weight is an issue with each of our moves. We found having enough for where we are is what works for us. When we finally move back to the US, and into a house we will restock our full food storage.
    I think the point is to be doing something…anything. Do what is within your means and add to it as you can. You will find what works for your family. Like I said, we would take a different approach if we lived in a home, stable environment, but we feel very confident in what we do have.
    Just me two cents worth…

    Comment #22 by KMay 13th, 2008 at 4:30 pm

23. My biggest obstacle, sadly, is money… We have a big house with an unfinished basement, so space isn’t an issue. I just have a tough time making room in our budget for food storage. I’d love to have someone break it down so it felt really affordable for me.

    Comment #23 by BeckyMay 13th, 2008 at 4:36 pm

24. I’m back in a teeny tiny apartment in order to live in the part of town where I need to live — and I’m with Melissa in that I don’t want to live in a warehouse with barely disguised cartons of survival gear stacked everywhere.

    But I decided that a little was better than nothing, and being able to get through two or three weeks of the disruption of an earthquake or truckers’ strike was doable, and more likely than needing to survive for years in some sort of doomsday scenario. So I make sure that my cupboards are always as full as I can stuff them, rather than letting myself get low (that’s like always driving on the top of the gas tank instead of habitually almost running out). I found I could shoehorn a couple of cartons of canned goods in a closet, and stack extra toilet paper in the linen cupboard behind the towels. I could hang a wire rack over the top of another closet door. I could keep an extra 10-lb. sack of flour in the freezer. There’s even a couple of dozen cans of condensed milk and tomato paste in the bookcases behind the rows of smaller books. Out of sight, but there.

    It isn’t much, but it’s better than nothing.

    Comment #24 by Ardis ParshallMay 13th, 2008 at 4:37 pm

25. Bek- if you go to ProvidentLiving.org (a church run website) they have a calculator where you put in the ages and sexes of your family, and it will tell you exactly what you need. Pretty handy.

    Actually, Ardis and PDoE, I’m very impressed with your engenuity in storing things- I would never have though about stashing things around the house- that’s a great idea.

    Comment #25 by Tracy MMay 13th, 2008 at 4:42 pm

26. At our cannery, you don’t have to stay and can if you just buy in bulk. Last week, I went to Sam’s and got empty icing buckets from the bakery (with the lids that seal). The manager let me have 10 for free, so I went to the cannery and got wheat, rice, oatmeal, flour and oxygen packets. Just pour the contents into the buckets with oxygen packets and you’re done!

    Comment #26 by Sarah Z.May 13th, 2008 at 4:56 pm

27. Why aren’t we doing food storage? Because, IMHO, it is a relic of cold-war era thinking. I won’t live in a place that is the equivalent of a civil defense bomb shelter circa 1961.

    However, we do always keep a well-stocked panty of groceries, and do stock up on foods we like when they are on sale. But no 55-gallon drums of wheat, or 200 2-liter soda bottles of water.

    Comment #27 by PhouchgMay 13th, 2008 at 5:09 pm

28. Food storage is intimidating to me. Other than that, my lists of reasons (read: excuses) include not a lot of extra money, we live in an apartment and don’t have a lot of room to store it, we plan on buying a house in a year (or so) and I don’t want to move a ton of food, I have no idea what we need or how much, or how to rotate it or cook with whatever we have.

    I’d appreciate a how-to class one night, explaining what is needed and how to get it. I hear talk of the cannery but I have no idea where it is or what I need to do or even CAN do. And maybe pairing some people up - someone who knows with someone who doesn’t - so they can learn whatever they need to.

    It’s just so overwhelming. I don’t even have 72-hour kits because I have no idea what I need.

    Comment #28 by Erin MarieMay 13th, 2008 at 5:10 pm

29. Heather, you will be great at this calling. Sure wish I lived near you. Here are a few thoughts:

    1. You know those mylar bags from the cannery? Um, mice have no problem chewing off a corner, eating a bit, leaving surprises, and then moving on to the next bag. My town dump recently acquired about 50 bags. Never again.

    2. This is how I got started with food storage: my ward had a great set-up. Each month I could place a dry pack order and it would all magically appear on my doorstep. Twice a year, I went to the cannery with a couple other people and then helped with deliveries. It was the best. The woman with your calling organized everything, but even she only did the work about four times a year. This was in Idaho and my ward was geographically very close. I’m guessing your ward is more spread out, so you could just have everyone pick up their stuff at the church.

    3. My current ward has a food storage group as part of enrichment. We meet once a month and share recipes and ideas. Very helpful. But not nearly as helpful and easy as just paying the money and having stuff show up at my house.

    Comment #29 by AhnaMay 13th, 2008 at 5:10 pm

30. My biggest problem is space. My house is not too tiny, but I just don’t have much storage space (no basement, smallish pantry). It’s a hot, humid climate so the garage and attic are out of the question. I keep as much as I can fit in my pantry, and try to store things under my bed or in my closet, but that’s about as creative as I want to get. (I giggle when I think of the “furniture” in the movie “The RM”. I really don’t want furniture made of cans, or mattresses made of MREs!)

    I live in an area most likely to be affected by hurricanes and tornadoes, so my first priority is 72 hour kits (if we’re evacuated), and things that I can prepare and eat without electricity (if we are stuck in our house until roads are clear), because should disaster hit my area, we’d be out of power. This means peanut butter, crackers, granola bars, cans of fruit and vegetables, etc. And LOTS of bottled water. Big cans of wheat wouldn’t do me much good in this scenario.

    Comment #30 by MichelleMay 13th, 2008 at 5:24 pm

31. I am not an expert by any means. A year’s supply of rice for us in 1 bag. I definitely buy extras of stuff we use regularly that is on sale. Even if you don’t have a lot of money, an extra box of pancake mix, an extra bag of oatmeal,…these kinds of things go far and are easy to use in non-emergencies. I also started dating everything. I thought this was one of my grandma’s crazy obsessions, but it really does help me rotate things.

    Another thing people don’t often think about is how they will cook without electricity. I think that would make a great home…um, I mean enrichment meeting activity.

    Comment #31 by LisaCMay 13th, 2008 at 5:55 pm

32. We have a few extra cans of propane for the grill if we don’t have electricity (and assuming we are at home). I was talking to a friend that lives in China (thankfully far from the quake area) but it reminded me of the last big earthquake here in the Bay Area, sometimes it just takes awhile before help can get to you, so it is nice to have enough food/water for three or four days, even if you have to hunker at home or in a car. The one year supply is a whole different ball game..

    Thanks Tracy for the tip.

    Also, there was a booklet that a friend of mine had that gave a list of things to add to each week’s grocery list and in 52 weeks you had a full supply. It seemed like stuff that would be easy to get without breaking the budget..

    Comment #32 by bekMay 13th, 2008 at 6:06 pm

33. I think part of what gets people overwhelmed is that people think food storage and mentally go to unfamiliar territory and preparing for crazy, drastic natural disasters rather than simply following the counsel we have. We don’t have to be able to anticipate every possible scenario, especially not when starting out. Everyone can keep a few extra cans and boxes and packages of what they like to eat, and then add some more, add some water to the mix, and save money when they can, and that is the foundation of preparedness.

    This recent panic with the rice and all shows the variety of things that could make it important to have extra food on hand — as a buffer against rising prices and also as a buffer against real or perceived food shortages.

    IMO, food storage is made a lot easier by simply following the Church’s current counsel. The staples are part of it, but not before having a three-month supply of food (the stuff you actually eat), a supply of water, and a financial reserve. So, Heather, my advice would be to focus first on what everyone can do — little by little, build up what they already eat. Buy an extra box of pasta, or can of soup, or bag of whatever…build up the stuff used on a regular basis. That saves a lot of ‘I need recipes to use this stuff’ because people know what they eat. Eventually, you can build up to things like blender wheat pancakes and pinto bean fudge, but that is not the main focus of the current counsel.

    I pulled together some of the stuff I like to keep stocked up on a three month supply blog, which I created when I had your calling. threemonthsupply.blogspot.com — all the different ideas are in the January archives…they changed our ward boundaries so that isn’t my calling anymore.

    I also have a really good planning worksheet that my friend came up with that helps one plan for 12 weeks of meals and figure out what to buy to get to that level of storage. If anyone wants it, email me at hotmail dot com — my username with my email is mulling_and_musing.

    I don’t even have 72-hour kits because I have no idea what I need.

    I think they are a good idea (and so does the Red Cross) but I think one of the ways to keep from getting overwhelmed is to focus specifically on what we have been told to do by our leaders…and this isn’t on the list! Don’t know if that helps.

    Comment #33 by m&mMay 13th, 2008 at 6:42 pm

34. It sounds like I live in the same area as #30 because those are my problems too. It’s too hot here and no basements. Houses are not built for food storage, so even though my house isn’t tiny I still have nowhere to put it. I do have a bunch of food storage in an upstairs room but can’t imagine where I’d put an actual year’s supply of wheat for a family of 6 inside my home.

    Comment #34 by FairchildMay 13th, 2008 at 6:48 pm

35. My biggest obstacles are being able to organize the whole food storage endeavor and then maintaining consistent effort and energy to keep at it. I tend to go in spurts. We’ll have an enrichment class, so I’ll go gung ho for 72-hour kits for a month or two. Then I let other things get in the way, and six months later we hear about food storage in RS again, so I start doing something, but quickly forget about it. I don’t feel like I have an efficient system for planning for food storage, and then for implementing my plans, budgeting for it, etc. Because of this, I waste money, and I continually have to redo things I’ve already done.

    I do like, and tend to do best with, step-by-step methods that tell me exactly what to get each week or each month. Right now our ward is doing a “72-hour-kit in a year” thing where each month there is a list of items to focus on. The first month it was water, the second it was a container for the kit, the third month was clothing, this month is tools, etc.

    Comment #35 by eljeeMay 13th, 2008 at 7:06 pm

36. What April and Tracy said.

    I’m not sure the cannery is really relevant to how we eat and cook. I have this feeling that anything I bought there would just sit out in the garage for a hundred years. But that could just be because I’m not sure what really happens at the cannery.

    In RS the food storage lady usually just stands up and says something like, “You can come to the cannery on Tuesday and if you want to borrow the dry pack machine, call Sister Jones.” She might as well be speaking GREEK.

    I don’t know what a dry pack machine does, or why I would want to use it? What do you do at the cannery? What kinds of foods? When you go to the cannery, what are you doing? Canning stuff? Buying stuff? Putting stuff in bags? I have no idea, but everyone else nods their heads appreciatively, so I always thought I was the only one.

    Plus, for a while there we were dirt poor, so the measly food storage I HAD managed to accumulate (mainly things like canned fruit, and soup, and ramen and oatmeal and stuff like that) we ate. We have to start all over again, poo.

    Comment #36 by SueMay 13th, 2008 at 7:45 pm

37. Definitely go with the #10 cans over the mylar bags. Mice also love flour in bags.

    We are fortunate enough to have a decent amount of food storage, which came in really handy when my husband lost his job and we couldn’t afford any food. My in-laws are currently rebuilding their supply which was almost depleted when my father-in-law got cancer and my mother-in-law did not have time to go grocery shopping other than to grab milk and other essentials. So it’s not just for disasters.

    There is a dry pack cannery in Spanish Fork, Utah. It is right behind the fair grounds by the river bottoms road. If you are planning to can items there, you need to call ahead for an appointment. And it’s a good idea to call to reserve the home canner.

    The cannery has all of the different equipment and supplies you need to can, and there are different stations set-up. The couple that is serving their mission at the cannery can walk you through how to do everything. It is really easy. The areas have pour spouts so it’s easier to pour into the cans. If you are packing flour, shake the flour down in the can so you can pack more in. The price is per can, not by weight.

    The locations of the various canneries are listed on ProvidentLiving.org under Home Storage Centers.

    Comment #37 by LindsayMay 13th, 2008 at 7:52 pm

38. My biggest obstacle is storage in my small apartment. I’d love to learn how to have the most basic of basic food storage systems that don’t take up a lot of space. Maybe start with a very complete 72-hour kit, then work up to having a month?

    Comment #38 by Barb @ getupandplayMay 13th, 2008 at 8:24 pm

39. I haven’t b/c we’re currently living with my parents, and my mom has the most extensive storage you can imagine. When we move out (someday) we will start our own storage.

    Regarding the storage of feminine hygine products. Look into a reusable product like The Diva Cup (www.divacup.com). Instead of having to worry about having boxes and boxes of tampons or pads, you have ONE cup that, if you’re like me, is always with you, so you can never be caught unawares. I keep mine in my purse.

    Comment #39 by tisheliMay 13th, 2008 at 8:31 pm

40. I’m snubbing the cannery since they got rid of potato pearls and dehydrated refried beans.

    When we were in our student ward at the U, we did a 72 hour kit in one of those cannery cans. Pretty awesome! I’m sure you could google the instructions and put together an Enrichment activity to do it.

    Comment #40 by SallyGirlMay 13th, 2008 at 8:58 pm

41. my obstacle… hubby not a member… thinks it is a waste of money, space, and will be destroyed when emergency comes..(saw someone else say earthquake, fire) I have 72 hour kits… and a few things in basement(hiding) and I keep the cupboards as full as possible… so maybe a month or two… but that is it..
    nancy….

    Comment #41 by nancyMay 13th, 2008 at 9:28 pm

42. They got rid of the REFRIED BEANS???? NOOOOOOOO!!!!

    Comment #42 by Tracy MMay 13th, 2008 at 9:29 pm

43. I agree with #28. At least offer to set up the newbies with those more experienced with food storage. In fact, I would spread the word among the men too. You never know who is really in charge of food storage in a family, the husband or wife. See if there are any willing to guide the new ones through getting started and making heads and tails of things. I think that would be great. Oh, and make sure that you know if any sisters in Primary need help with food storage, too.

    Comment #43 by naomletteMay 13th, 2008 at 9:45 pm

44. I think its sort of messed up to be hoarding food when there are millions who can’t even afford a handful of rice to feed their kids.

    I also sort of think this a great example of american overconsumption. I know you are supposed to use your food storage, but, it just seems so wasteful.

    Comment #44 by veritasMay 13th, 2008 at 10:01 pm

45. I went to the store house a week or so ago and they had refried beans and potato pearls. They are also on the website. Things were, however in very limited supply. The day I went they ran out of rice, pinto beans, and a few other products.

    Another note: Our family services/welfare regional rep lives in our stake and we are lucky to hear from him often. His take? Avoid storing what you don’t already eat. He says he and his wife have 18 months of Cheerios, and he’s serious. He says he could eat them every day, so why not? He advises that everyone try to find balanced food groups, but store what you eat.

    An extra can/box a week of anything will add to your storage.

    I am (at knotinthestring.blogspot.com) in week three of a series on building a 72 hour kit that costs almost nothing…you build it from things you probably already have. We are also heading into a 12 month program (beginning next month) which helps you build a years supply for two in one year- also with minimal cost. Check it out every Tuesday.

    My ‘amen’ if you will. Back in the day I got on board and put an extra can in the cart here and a box of this there and worked our way up to about an 8 month of goods in the pantry (down the hall, in the closet…), things we ate every day. The bottom of the market hit, jobs were lost and we ate off that stored food for THREE YEARS ladies, no joke, 3 years. No job that lasted more than 2-3 weeks from time to time and we (7 people) never went on assistance from either state or church. I’m sold on food storage for ALL emergencies, not just giant lizards destroying my city.

    and lastly, I know not save the Lord [commanded] me. ; )

    Comment #45 by s'meeMay 13th, 2008 at 10:23 pm

46. When I think of food storage I always think of stuff like wheat and dry milk, stuff I don’t use. I’d love to grind wheat (used to work at a bakery) but I don’t have a grinder. We drink tons of milk but I know I couldn’t get Sean to drink powdered milk. So I worry about rotation and using thins before they go bad.

    I do buy extras of staply stuff like beans, chili, peanut butter, pasta and rice. We’d make it for a while. My mom always gives all her kids emergency stuff for Christmas so we have battery free flashlights (they aren’t very bright) and a crank radio (no batteries) even a suitcase for clothes etc… but I don’t think I could make it a year.

    And I second (or third, or twentieth) the whole cannery intimidation thing.

    Maybe start with food storage for dummies.

    Comment #46 by Alison WonderlandMay 14th, 2008 at 1:01 am

47. Well I can tell you why we DO have food storage. It all started when my husband took over the grocery shopping. You may recall the coupon post of a few months ago. Yep, that’s my husband. Once we started getting awesome deals on food, in large quantities, it became easy to stock pile food. Sometimes too easy. Occasionally we got so much of an item that it went bad before we could eat it all.

    Thankfully we are in a stage of life where we own a home and have space for food storage. And I suppose I’m pretty lucky to have a husband who likes to do coupons and grocery shopping.

    Even before these days of bliss, we worked weekly on adding to our small food storage. (Back when I did all the grocery shopping…Gasp!) We had acquired a list from somewhere of food storage basics. And each week we purchased one item on the list. It was slow going for sure, but it was something. We stored our small supply under our toddler’s crib because we lived in an apartment at the time.

    So even if you don’t have much money or space, don’t let that stop you. Just get started.

    Comment #47 by apple pieMay 14th, 2008 at 4:43 am

48. You have lots of great comments so I’m sorry if I repeat anything.

    The reason I have had a hard time building our food storage is that I don’t know how to begin. Mind you, we have a pantry in our basement in addition to our tiny one in our kitchen that is stocked with costco-sized packages of rice, flour, tomatoes, canned veggies, soup, mac n’ cheese, etc - but we bring that food upstairs as needed and then refill it. But beyond that, we don’t have wheat (nor would I know how to use wheat), we don’t have potato pearls or powdered milk or whatever else the church cannery has. And water. Oh water. We have like 2 bottles and I haven’t attempted to store more. It’s all just overwhelming and so I tend to avoid it!

    I have no idea how long our extra pantry would feed us, but it does feel good to have extras on hand. I would love to learn how to get started.

    Comment #48 by MaryMay 14th, 2008 at 5:16 am

49. I think s’mee is one of the few that mentioned this, but, food storage isn’t only about what you can get at the cannery. I mean, it’s helpful to have some of those items, but if my family had to eat only what was sold there, we’d be in real trouble. For my family, I buy what we would eat normally. I have a deep freeze, so when meat is on sale, I buy extra. When canned goods or other groceries are on sale, I buy more than usual, and I also take my coupons, so I can really get a great deal and stock up. One day this past fall, I realized that I probably had a 6-8 month supply, without hardly trying, it seemed. One thing I always do is buy two when I’d normally buy one. It works wonders for food supply building.

    Comment #49 by BMay 14th, 2008 at 5:19 am

50. Another couple ideas I have….for our water storage, we just buy the 24pkgs of water bottles whenever they go on sale. When the expiration date gets close, we put them in the refrig and use them up. Also, a good way to get protein in your food supply without a freezer for meat, is cans of Campbell’s Chunky Soup. Tons of meat and vegies and would be a great meal in times of need. Also, we put canned fruit in the food storage. My kids always eat fresh fruit, so eating canned is not the norm, but they’re willing to eat it in say, jello or something.

    Comment #50 by BMay 14th, 2008 at 5:25 am

51. The Cannery! Ha! You crazy westerners. We don’t have any of those things near by, and believe me we’re doing fine.

    Anyway, I forgot to mention that tomorrow we’re having a special enrichment night about preparedness. I’ve been told that this isn’t going to be the same old stuff we always hear. There’s a woman in our ward who works for P&G in water purification and she’s going to show us some of the awesome new products that they have for that. I’m really excited to see what it’s all about because from what I hear P&G has done some awesome advances with water purification.

    I’ll get back with y’all about the information I gather tomorrow!

    Comment #51 by apple pieMay 14th, 2008 at 5:29 am

52. S’mee! I think I’ve deduced from other comments/posts that you live in the general direction of where I do. You have to tell me where your cannery is!!! I was told that churchwide they were discontinuing the refried beans because it was too expensive and that the pearls were switched to flakes.

    I hate fake potatoes, but if you must… it has to be potato pearls!

    Comment #52 by SallyGirlMay 14th, 2008 at 5:50 am

53. In response to Veritas, I don’t think that it is wasteful to have food storage, nor does it signify that we overconsume. The point of food storage is to be prepared for anything, whether that be a job loss, a serious natural catastrophe, food shortages, or (gasp!) war.

    If you or your spouse lost your job, but had food storage, that would be a tremendous blessing. And food storage, created and used properly allows your family to continue to eat well in difficult times. And the reality of this day and age is that anybody can lose a job. So I don’t think that it is an overactive imagination or hysterical thinking to prepare for that possibility.

    I once read a book where the author taught that building a pantry by carefully budgeting, watching sales religiously, using coupons wisely and buying extra of items you normally eat, you free yourself from going to the grocery store. Basically, you build up a pantry of foods that your family will eat. I think that rather contradicts the notion of overconsumption as one then is focused primarily buying what is strictly on the list and following a steady program of supplying for a family.

    And with such a philosophy, one can wisely extend additional money and resources in fast offerings or donations to charities which feed the hungry. Or if you haven’t the resources do that one month, there are always extra cans of food from your personal pantry to donate to your local food cupboard.

    The argument that there are millions of people around the world starving isn’t good justification to avoid building food storage. I have a moral duty stronger than anything to provide properly for my family. Food storage, for me, falls under that category. In an event of whatever emergency, I will continue to provide for my children because of wise planning. The food I purchase is not necessarily slated to go to countries with starving populations, nor does drive up the price of goods for those living in my neighborhood. We pay the same price for the item regardless of our financial situations.

    Perhaps if you wanted to build a food storage, you can build it slowly month by month and buy additional items (those great sale items–called loss leader items that entice you to the store) to donate to your local food cupboard.

    Comment #53 by TiffanyMay 14th, 2008 at 6:01 am

54. And finally, the biggest reason that I am working on food storage is that I have a testimony that what the prophet teaches is true. We have had several prophets urge us to build a food storage. And since those men communicate with Heavenly Father perhaps face to face, I have to think that there is a darn good reason behind the counsel. I think the building of food storage is a big test for all of us to see if we will follow the prophet.

    Of course there is a very real concern for those who are starving. But if we were following all the counsel given, get out and stay out of debt, save money, pay your tithing and fast offerings, and build a food storage, I believe that we would all have a little extra to spread around for charities and directly for the poor.

    Comment #54 by TiffanyMay 14th, 2008 at 6:04 am

55. Ok, way too many response to read them all, but basically it looks like people are basically just too lazy. That means you have to do all the work for them and make it fun. We did this in 1999- right before the 2000 thing. We got everyones order at church. One guy went down to the cannery and picked it all up and then we used the local armory (we had a national guard unit in the area) to set up a little canning party. We did this every month. We had so much fun at those canning parties. I have suggested it in every other ward, I have been in, but no one is up for it. I think we got the majority of the ward up and running with food storage that way.
    I think a lot of people just don’t have enough of an imaginiation when it comes to disasters. First of all, if you are in an area that would have to be evacuated, how many of you would get out in time? I know in our area, I doubt we would get out of the city in time, let alone the whole area. Way too many people in a small area. Then there is trucker strikes. They say in 3 days the stores would be bare. How long could a strike last- a long time! How about finacial ruin- saving money wouldn’t help you much in that instance. This country has gone through it before. What makes you think it wouldn’t again? Every war we have ever been in, except this one (so far) we have had some kind of rationing. What would happen if we were ever attacked on our own soil or the war escalated. What about famine and pestilence. We are due, you know. We have had way too many good food years. Then there is the whole storms, whirlwinds, etc in diverse places. Just because you are in an area that isn’t big with one natural disaster, doesn’t mean it won’t happen. I could go on for a long time. The fact is the Prophets have said we need to do it, and if you just think for a few minutes, you could come up with a few more reasons why and I am sure we don’t even know the half of it!

    Comment #55 by DebMay 14th, 2008 at 6:05 am

56. SallyGirl, the storehouse is across the street from Arrowhead Memorial Hospital off Pepper street in Colton. It is weird to get to because you have to go around the block to get to it. (They have the driveway blocked at the street)

    PDOE - my lactose intolerant self stores and uses almond milk. It is available in a non-sweetened variety and that’s what I use. It is shelf stable and can be stored anywhere. I also like the fact that if I run out and have some almonds on hand I can grind them up with a little water and put it through a sieve and I have almond milk! It is way better than rice milk and powdered milk is just gross in my opinion. The only reason I store the powdered stuff is so I can bake if I want.

    I don’t store hardly anything the church recommends. I eat what I store and store what I eat. Wheat, a little. Quinoa a whole bunch! Quinoa is such a perfect protein I can’t imagine not having in the storage/bulk bin. I also store chocolate and good quality canned meats. I am trying to add my own canned vegetables this year. We’ll see how it goes.

    Comment #56 by chroniclerMay 14th, 2008 at 6:38 am

57. We have the stuff recommended by the church for food storage. We also have a lot of peanut butter and jelly. and oatmeal. We bought a non-electric grinder. we have a portable (propane) gas stove and oven. We could live on pb&j and oatmeal for a long time.

    And we do have a cannery in cleveland, ohio.

    Also, I stock ibuprofen and tylenol. and anti diarrhea meds for when we go whole wheat all the time. and milk flavorings (chocolate and strawberry) in case the canned milk is REALLY bad.

    Comment #57 by annahannahMay 14th, 2008 at 7:14 am

58. Oh, and spices. A little cinnamon with your oatmeal is a nice change.

    Comment #58 by annahannahMay 14th, 2008 at 7:16 am

59. I think most people are overwhelmed when they hear “Food Storage”. The first thing that comes to their mind is “Wheat”. So, my suggestion is make the process manageable. When I have been the specialist in my various wards, I broke the process down into areas: Food Storage, Water Storage, 72 Hour Kits, First Aid, Financial Planning, Alternative Fuel, etc. because they all fall within the Temporal/Provident Living category. I did monthly newsletters that were handed out on Fast Sunday (which I still have if you’d like I can email them to you and you are welcome to use them.) I would give them a list of things to acquire through the month.

    It’s really simple, but boring, so people don’t really like doing what’s boring, they want to do what’s fun. I agree with Deb #55, it’s more than preparing for a major disaster. I focus on telling members it’s a way to eliminate multiple runs to the grocery store each week, have things on hand in case you’re sick for a week, loss of job, snowed in, etc. I too only store what we eat, and eat what we store, rotation isn’t difficult then. I call it “practical storage” - like chocolate chips, mac n’ cheese, peanut butter, pancake mix, pasta sauce, etc.

    Most members aren’t aware of the new changes to the program that came out a little over a year ago - i.e. store 3 months of what you each for meals and then work on a longer term storage. Most still focus on “Wheat”.

    Comment #59 by AbbyMay 14th, 2008 at 7:34 am

60. Here are a few thoughts, sure to be too lengthy…

    Ahna commented about automatic food storage (ordering and it shows up on your doorstep). Places like Red Cross Store and Costco, among others, sell ready-made 72 hour kits ($50 from Red Cross). Could you contact someplace and make a bulk purchase and take orders from the ward?

    The church also sells food storage online now. This is what my brother and his wife are getting for their wedding present from us (as soon as they move across the country).

    Fairchild: doesn’t know where to put food storage in home. Real consideration. You don’t want to compromise your house structurally. You don’t want to crack your foundation or joists because you have ten tons of wheat. Do what you can. Don’t do nothing.

    72 hour kits. When we lived in San Diego during the wildfires (2003?), we were faced with evacuation (never had to). We went through our 72 hour kit that we had made from multiple lists provided by various wards. It was basically useless. We needed pictures, documents, food, water and very basic sanitary stuff and it needed to fit in the car. You should tailor your 72 hour kit to the potential disasters in your area. Here it’s hurricane remnants, power outage, and problems with the nearby nuclear power plant.

    Food storage: After living in tiny apartments for how ever many years where we would always store a little (a la Ardis). We now have a basement. We’ve stocked up on the things we use and my DH is good about volunteering at the storehouse in South Jersey, then picking up a few boxes of whatever.

    Last year my husband told a ward member in casual conversation about a problem with our heat pump, not knowing that the guy used to work in that field. A few days later he was over fixing the heat pump and wouldn’t think of accepting payment. However, my husband pulled out a few boxes and helped him stock up from our food storage since he was in-between jobs at that point. That’s not one of the uses they mention in conference, but it worked for us.

    M&M mentioned pinto bean fudge. Cracks me up. It’s things like this that put the other 98 percent of church members off food storage.

    (Not that there’s anything wrong with pinto bean fudge, but really.)

    And now that the cannery offers white wheat, that’s all we buy. Sure it has less protein, but if we’ll eat it and we won’t eat red wheat, we’re that much further ahead. My sister said a few years ago that she switched to all white wheat pancakes and since then, her kids don’t like the taste of pancakes made with white flour. So we did the switch and sure enough, you can even use 100% white wheat flour in chocolate chip cookies and no one knows the difference.

    You store chocolate chips, Abby? How do you manage to not eat them all?!?

    Comment #60 by ResearcherMay 14th, 2008 at 7:44 am

61. I wanted to make one more comment separately.

    A couple of weeks ago one of the moms on my online support group (I mean another one, not MMW) was complaining about the pharmacy mixing up an order for her daughter’s feeding tube formula and they ran out. She didn’t know what to do besides vent online.

    Several people including myself told her how to deal with the problem. Among other input, I asked what would happen if there was a natural disaster or other problem.

    She went back to the pharmacy and explained that her daughter was going hungry and the pharmacist ended up actually driving to the Nestle plant (Canada) to get some formula.

    After that incident, the pharmacy put a plan in place to always have an extra couple of boxes on hand.

    Moral of the story: if you are on meds, make sure you have enough extra.

    (And now that I tell this story I’ll have to admit that my son was on his next to the last dose of one of his meds before I picked up the prescription yesterday. Never again.)

    Comment #61 by ResearcherMay 14th, 2008 at 8:04 am

62. My goodness, people, you are totally OVERTHINKING this. Buy some food that you like to eat. Store it. Food storage started. There you go. I sometimes think people think it is harder to have food storage than it is. Start small, get bigger, go from where you are. It’s like FlyLady, only for food storage instead of housecleaning. And seriously, I’ll take working on food storage any day of the week over housecleaning.

    PDOE- I don’t know about lactose intolerance. That’s tricky. You’ve tried to boxed soy milk and stuff, I’m sure. That’s all I can give you right now.

    For those who don’t know about the cannery–basically, you send in an order of how many cans of stuff you want–basic stuff, like wheat, beans, rice, carrots, onions, flour, milk, etc. The cannery has these items in bulk, and you go, rip open a big bag of whatever you have ordered, and can it. Usually lots of women go, and it’s a party. You should go–it’s fun!

    Comment #62 by Heather O.May 14th, 2008 at 8:18 am

63. My husband has the same name of a pharmacist in our area, and I can’t tell you how many panicked calls we got from the elderly on weekends because they had run out of heart pills. So many that we ended up having our phone number unlisted because they wouldn’t believe us when we said there was nothing we could do.

    If you are on something that you can’t skip for a few days, definitely get refills as early as you can or talk to your doctor about getting a 90-day prescription. For example, I’ve made sure my dad has extra insulin on hand.

    Comment #63 by LindsayMay 14th, 2008 at 8:32 am

64. Researcher - We are in CA as well but in the Central Valley area. Not down south (darn it! I want that Colton cannery!), but we could easily be hit by fires or flood, as I hear this area was right before we moved here. Then just two years ago the river overflowed, but big! These levees are not in the best of shape, you know? Anyway, we’ve got great 72 hour kits we created with the idea in mind that we’d actually want to eat what was in there, and we also included waterproof games & things to occupy our kids. But important papers? Now there’s something I hadn’t thought of. Thanks for mentioning it, I’ll probably go out and photocopy/laminate some stuff today!

    I also take medication for anxiety. I missed a morning and night dose while we were camping over the weekend. It was not pretty. If I had to go longer? WOW. We’d need to keep a straight jacket with our kits as well!

    Heather O. has it right, it’s only as hard as we make it to be. Store what you eat, eat what you store.

    Comment #64 by SallyGirlMay 14th, 2008 at 9:32 am

65. Tiffany you said what I was going to. “And finally, the biggest reason that I am working on food storage is that I have a testimony that what the prophet teaches is true.” Really do you need any more incentive to get SOMETHING? I don’t see the down side of getting extra food. I only get what we would eat, or something that is a whole food. Wheat has protein, carbs, and vitamins all in one grain. If you prefer something that is similar ie. quinoa…ect. Sometimes we don’t understand ALL the reasons for doing something, we just need to do it, as little as we can.

    BTW under the beds is a great place to put food storage, also in closets, how much space is really used in a closet? Get creative! Only buy what you will eat, and what will keep you alive!

    Comment #65 by LeiGulMay 14th, 2008 at 9:53 am

66. If you’re going to store in cans, buy extra can openers. I put several inside a #10 can, added an oxygen packet for good measure, and sealed it tight. My kitchen drawer manual can opener will open that can if there’s ever an emergency (or I could smash it open if I really had too).

    It would be sad to have everything in cans and discover you had no way to open the cans.

    Comment #66 by Chad TooMay 14th, 2008 at 9:55 am

67. I’m willing to bet hungry people would find a way to open the cans

    But you’re right- those #10 cans dull an opener pretty quickly.

    The cannery IS fun. I love going.

    Comment #67 by Tracy MMay 14th, 2008 at 10:24 am

68. I live in Missouri and we have a cannery within 30 minutes of our home.

    We don’t store wheat but have a wheat grinder LOL. I store lots of veggie’s and fruit in cans. They last a long long time and we tech wouldn’t even have to cook them to eat them, and they get used constantly at our house too. Also have several months worth of peanut butter, noodles, ect.

    When my DH lost his job last september the food storage that we had helped alot although we still got wic, food stamps (only for a couple of months) and the church helped out. It is hard to go without fresh food.

    What helped us more was having detergent, shampoo, soap, ect that we didn’t have to purchase. I stock up on that stuff when it’s dirt cheap.

    Comment #68 by SarahMay 14th, 2008 at 10:36 am

69. Researcher #60, I do eat them. I make cookies and a delicious triple chocolate cake on a frequent basis. (BTW I got this amazing chocolate chip oatmeal recipe from Kulturblog in March and it’s yummy, the best I’ve found.) I don’t buy food to store it until it expires, I rotate everything.

    I also store: homemade salsa, lunch items for the kids, snack bars, pudding, etc.

    Comment #69 by AbbyMay 14th, 2008 at 10:41 am

70. Well, Dang, people! This is awesome! I think I might just have to print this little post out, with all the comments and get myself back into the food storage state of mind.

    Thank you, Heather!

    Comment #70 by cherylMay 14th, 2008 at 11:07 am

71. Checkout simplylivingsmart.com. She has a video tutorials and info and recipes.

    I am in the middle of replacing my longterm storage. It was previously stored in bags the manufacturer said would protect it. Manufacturer did not take into consideration screwdriver-weilding children who loved to poke hole is bags.

    I really need to find water storage containers. I have my 3 months supply of spaghetti and sauce, veggies, fruit, rice mixes, canned meats, and sauces (bbq, thai, soy, asian, indian) as well as cereal, peanut butter, honey, puddings, granola bars, etc.

    72 hour kits renovations will be next. I need to get new sweatshirts, tee shirts, pants and tennies in the right sizes and check the MREs. I have battery operated lanterns and flashlights. Tents, sleeping bags, car first aid kits.

    MY BIG PROBLEM - how do I keep this all recorded/inventoried and organized in an easy fashion?

    Comment #71 by ScarehaircareMay 14th, 2008 at 12:43 pm

72. I second the recommendations for storing things like shampoo and soap. I stock up when they’re on sale, and I like it because it saves all those “little trips” to Target where you plan on buying one thing and end up with 10.

    My main problem with prescriptions is that my insurance won’t let me buy more than one refill at a time and they keep track of how often I fill them so I can only get another refill after enough time has passed.

    Comment #72 by FoxyJMay 14th, 2008 at 1:11 pm

73. My 72-hour kit would take care of us for about 6 hours. And it’s in a Wal-Mart bag. However, I do have the portable toilet kit that doubles as a washbucket for laundry.

    Comment #73 by LindsayMay 14th, 2008 at 1:16 pm

74. My husband found some big blue seven gallon water storage containers at Wal-Mart (camping section) and has two of them for each person in the family (one gallon per person per day for two weeks). I find it excessive (takes up a lot of space in the furnace room) but if it makes him happy, why not?

    Comment #74 by ResearcherMay 14th, 2008 at 1:27 pm

75. I hit the local grocery store’s case lot sales pretty hard. We use many different types of beans (black, kidney, etc.) for several recipes, along with canned tomatoes of all kinds. I also get the canned beans and corn.

    I do have several cans of things from the canery, but those tend to gather lots of dust. I don’t have a pantry, so I store all this stuff on top of my kitchen cabinets and under my bed. Looks fabulous, but you do what you can in a rental.

    Comment #75 by AndreaMay 14th, 2008 at 1:47 pm

76. I wanted to clarify a couple of things.

    First, a 72-hour-kit is a good idea, particularly if you are in an area prone to natural disasters (earthquake, hurricane, etc.)

    Secondly, my pinto bean fudge comment was supposed to be funny…my point was more along the lines of Heather’s. Food storage is often associated with foods that require great amounts of creativity and effort to make palatable at all. That’s not the focus anymore. Buy extra of what you use. If you don’t know where to start, that is it. And it’s simple, usable, and practical. I grew up with Mom’s store downstairs, and it was so cool to see how she could cook night after night with what was in the basement and in the freezer. Get to the point where you only have to get fresh stuff at the store and your other ingredients are stocked up in your house. It’s a great convenience, and if you buy on sale, it can save money. And when the next panic or trucker strike or emergency happens that affect supplies of food and/or prices, you don’t have to panic.

    And the more of us who do this, the less panic there would be…which, in the end, would help everyone out.

    Comment #76 by m&mMay 14th, 2008 at 1:55 pm

77. I wanted to clarify a couple of things.

    First, a 72-hour-kit is a good idea, particularly if you are in an area prone to natural disasters (earthquake, hurricane, etc.)

    Secondly, my pinto bean fudge comment was supposed to be funny…my point was more along the lines of Heather’s. Food storage is often associated with foods that require great amounts of creativity and effort to make palatable at all. That’s not the focus anymore. Buy extra of what you use. If you don’t know where to start, that is it. And it’s simple, usable, and practical. I grew up with Mom’s store downstairs, and it was so cool to see how she could cook night after night with what was in the basement and in the freezer. Get to the point where you only have to get fresh stuff at the store and your other ingredients are stocked up in your house (of course, this takes continuous replenishing, but having that three-month level of food is a great feeling). It’s a great convenience, and if you buy on sale, it can save money. And when the next panic or trucker strike or emergency happens that affect supplies of food and/or prices, you don’t have to panic.

    And the more of us who do this, the less panic there would be…which, in the end, would help everyone out.

    Comment #77 by m&mMay 14th, 2008 at 1:56 pm

78. Sorry about the double posting…the second one has a comment I added, but I thought I had stopped the first before it was sent.

    Comment #78 by m&mMay 14th, 2008 at 1:58 pm

79. Oh also when my son was on Nutramagin for 10 long months because he would poo blood if you gave him reg formula I had at least 3 months supply of that stuff because I did not want a problem, in a disaster, of running out of formula for him, knowing that the redcross or the church would not have stock of that stuff.

    Comment #79 by SarahMay 14th, 2008 at 1:59 pm

80. My SIL says a guy in her parents ward is telling everyone not to stock up on food because the church has enough stored for all church members. Hmmm…if that’s the case, why are we always being told to get our own food supply?

    The prep person in my old ward has stocked up on smokes to barter with.

    Comment #80 by LindsayMay 14th, 2008 at 2:09 pm

81. Sorry m&m, I didn’t mean to offend you about the pinto bean fudge. I understood that you were joking and I didn’t mean to say that you would drive people away from food storage which is how I read my comment now. I just wrote my comment poorly.

    I think we were both making the point that the concept of food storage in the church is in transition and you don’t want to avoid it because of these rabid food storage types who are making their own tofu and raising fish in their backyards. (Now I’ll offend someone else.)

    Comment #81 by ResearcherMay 14th, 2008 at 2:09 pm

82. A few things I have to remind myself about food storage: Nobody said you have to buy it all at once- the Lord will bless you for making your best efforts. Also, stock what you’ll eat. If you never eat beans, wheat, jello, why use space to store it? I’m the queen of stocking canned food for two reasons: I’ll use it, so it will get rotated, and my family will eat it in an emergency. For apartment dwellers- here’s a storage space idea. I had a friend who put her bed up on top of a bunch of #10 cans. If you have a queen bed that would store maybe 50 cans?

    For Heather: things you can do to help your ward: pass out recipes, lists of items to store and quantities, and 72-hour kit supply lists in Relief Society. You could also make a bulk order from a supplier for items needed for 72-hour kits by sending around a sign-up sheet in R.S. Our ward did that and it was very helpful and much less expensive than buying things separately.

    Comment #82 by JewelsMay 14th, 2008 at 2:38 pm

83. I doubt they have enough food storage for 10 million or so members. That’s a lot of food.

    In a disaster they routinely make up boxes of food and necessities to go out to the area. Usually it’s more for out of country disasters although I know they did it for Katrina as well.

    Comment #83 by SarahMay 14th, 2008 at 2:45 pm

84. We have been on a big food storage kick this last year. It really isn’t as hard as it seems, but at first I was totally overwhelmed. I have an amazing book called “Preparedness Principles” by Barbara Salsbury. It has EVERYTHING you need to know and more about getting prepared for disasters, 72 hr. kits, rotating your existing F.S. and how to create space to store things. It is an amazing resource. We are preparing for a job change soon, and are fulling planning on using our food storage when money will inevitably be a little tighter. Also, I have a cookbook called “The Essential Food Storage Cookbook” by Tami Girsberger and Carol Peterson. It has really good recipes and info on how to cook from you pantry.
    Being prepared is only as hard as we make it. Make a checklist of things you need to do. Break it down into small steps and go from there. The main reason I am getting prepared is the fact that I couldn’t stand the thought of my kids starving because I was too lazy or overwhelmed to get it together. I’ve talked with so many people that say they will just go to their parents and use what they have, but it defeats the purpose of preparing for ourselves and our families.
    As far as the cannery, visit or call and ask any questions you have. The people are always so nice and are more than willing to answer any questions you have. Sometimes things are cheaper at the cannery, sometimes Costco/Sam’s has better deals. It’s depends on what you want and how you can it. You can buy cheaper in bulk (20-50 lb. bags) and can it yourself in buckets with dry ice. It saves a lot of $$$ sometimes. Also, now when I shop for groceries, home stuff, I always buy extra. Two or three of a few extra things don’t really cost that much. I inventory my rotating pantry and write down what I have and how many on a piece of paper. It’s taped inside my closet and when I use something or add something, I mark it down. Whew, what a novel, sorry. Good Luck!!!

    Comment #84 by AngieMay 14th, 2008 at 2:46 pm

85. Just thought of something else. Maybe what you have stored doesn’t really taste that great (dry milk-yuck!) but if it really came down to starvation, we would still eat/drink it and be glad we have something. The basics of food storage are the most important, ie. wheat, rice, beans, water etc. but what you add to it will make all the difference. Add some fruits and vegetables, spices or extra little things and it will at least be tolerable.

    Comment #85 by AngieMay 14th, 2008 at 3:44 pm

86. researcher,
    No offense taken…just wanted to be sure people didn’t misunderstand me. Yes, you can make pinto bean fudge, but you don’t have to know how to do that to have a good food storage program.

    Comment #86 by m&mMay 14th, 2008 at 4:30 pm

87. Maybe what you have stored doesn’t really taste that great (dry milk-yuck!) but if it really came down to starvation, we would still eat/drink it and be glad we have something. The basics of food storage are the most important, ie. wheat, rice, beans, water etc. but what you add to it will make all the difference. Add some fruits and vegetables, spices or extra little things and it will at least be tolerable.

    Actually, this isn’t necessarily true. I think I have read that children won’t necessarily eat things they don’t like, all the less in a stressful situation. Also, if you don’t condition your body to eat high-fiber foods like wheat and beans, you could get pretty sick, or at least throw your digestive system off pretty badly, if you do it all at once.

    All the more reason to store first what you eat, and then eventually learn how to include staples that aren’t so common in your usual fare into your diet.

    Comment #87 by m&mMay 14th, 2008 at 4:36 pm

88. I think the best way to do food storage is store what you eat now. At one time I had a year supply of chocolate chips, and all the ingrediants for ch. chip cookies (powdered eggs, butter, etc).
    One easy way to do it is to make a menu for 1-2 weeks. If Spaghetti is on the menu, then buy 52 boxes of noodles (if once a week) and 52 jars of sauce (or whatever you use). If you can’t buy them all at once, buy one extra every time you shop. Eventually, you have a year supply of spaghetti. What else is on the menu? Rice once a week? 52 days of of rice with whatever. You get the idea. It works great.
    We too have RS meetings on using food storage in creative ways (ie bean fudge). But why bother? Dude, if I’m making fudge, it’s the real deal. If I want fudge in my food storage, I put the stuff for fudge in it (which means opening cupboard and it’s there). That’s all food storage is, having it on hand. So I would say I have about a 2 month supply of pasta right now, a week supply of cereal, a 3 day supply of milk, a year supply of salt, a 3 month supply of rice….a definitely at least a day supply of fudge making stuff.

    Comment #88 by mmilesMay 14th, 2008 at 4:58 pm

89. Heather, I’ll teach you how to make gluten when I come. It’ll be a party!

    Veritas, does your name come from Smallville? Just wondering if there is a closet Cal-el fan in the midst.

    Comment #89 by wbprawMay 14th, 2008 at 5:22 pm

90. Ummm. Make gluten? or make dough conditioner?

    Comment #90 by mmilesMay 14th, 2008 at 5:35 pm

91. Gotta agree with m&m. The church has actually come out and said do not just store wheat. Many people if they tried to go to a nearly all wheat diet would find themselves very sick. They’ve learned a lot with dealing with those starving in Africa that you have to be very careful in what you feed them so they don’t get sick from it.

    Comment #91 by SarahMay 14th, 2008 at 6:16 pm

92. Do I know Bek’s MIL?? Maybe. There is a gal in my area that teaches classes on making gluten ie. fake meat from wheat storage, and cheeses, sour cream, cream cheese, etc. from her dry milk storage.

    Also, she has figured out the best combination of cannery dry milk and country cream dry milk that is VERY close to the stuff off the shelf at the store…

    These are the things that have helped me get on the food storage bandwagon.

    Also, as far as grinders go, I thought that the church had a deal with the blendtec company out of utah? I borrowed a grinder from the cannery and then ordered the same model from blendtec. I saved $100 because they had negotiated a group purchase rate…

    oh, yeah. And I totally appreciated the recent coupon post. My sis had me read over it and we started researching… in the past few months, we have stockpiled essentials such as cleaning products, shampoo & cond., bath soap, baby soap and lotion, toothpaste, and tp (and cereal and granola bars) for super super cheap. So thank you for that wonderful post.

    Comment #92 by hayngrlMay 14th, 2008 at 7:21 pm

93. Actually, the church is saying both. (1) 3 month supply of the non-perishable foods you already eat, and (2) a year’s supply of the cheap stuff that would sustain life (wheat, beans, powdered milk, etc.) The note on the bottom of the Lindon Cannery order form actually said that you should not counsel people to “Store what you eat and eat what you store” for the long-term storage items.

    Comment #93 by Sara RMay 14th, 2008 at 7:27 pm

94. a good tip to store the most important documents in your house is scan them all and burn to CD. keep one in the 72 hour evacuation bag, and mail at least one to an out of state relative.

    that would be your birth and marriage certificates, diplomas, maybe a backup of your family history and all your photos.
    really easy to do, it’ll cost only a buck to mail. or back up your photos and files some other way, what matters is that the photos and important files are stored somewhere besides in your house.

    Comment #94 by cchrissyyMay 14th, 2008 at 7:54 pm

95. I hate to admit it, but we bought a huge amount of food storage in 1999(Y2K scare). We already had the old barrels of wheat, but we bought buckets of sugar, rice, beans, pasta, powdered milk, other dried stuff– I don’t even know what– and lots of flour. Over the next few years we ate all of the sugar and flour, some of the rice and pasta, and almost none of the beans. As for the other stuff, well, we’ve moved three times since then, and it is all currently sitting in the back of a storage unit.

    The first introduction I had to the newer way of thinking about food storage was this really great short term storage plan by Vicki Tate. The old way was siege storage– the wheat and honey buckets stashed away in the basement. Now it’s all about storing what you usually eat, and learning some pantry meal recipes so as to be able to survive with less trauma for the days to weeks that it takes for local and government help to reach areas in emergencies.

    And a few more ideas I like:

    Find recipes in food storage cookbooks that you would actually eat, then store the ingredients to make them.
    Store flavorings: tomato, bouillon, cheese powder, dried onion bits, spices
    Always store staples: oil, shortening, baking powder, soda, salt, yeast, powdered eggs, flour
    Have some quick and easy foods that are psychological boosters: jello, pudding, candy
    Think about: How and what did the pioneers eat?
    We can live off bread and soup so store ingredients for them

    Comment #95 by C JonesMay 14th, 2008 at 8:11 pm

96. For my 72 hour kit I have it in a larger reubbermaid container that has little wheels on the bottom. It has enough food and other items for the 5 people in my family for the 3 days and I have a container that can be wheeled around. Though each of us has a back pack filled with clothes and a flashlight to grab also.
    As for my food storage…I am no where near a year supply. I do have sugar, flour, spaghetti, beans, potato flakes, rice, oatmeal, and some pwd. milk. Not the recomended amount for a year for a family of 5 but I also keep on hand a lot of what we use on a daily basis. When I go to Costco and Sams I usually will buy 2 of some of the things and build it that way. My husband, not a member, decided he wanted to start grinding and brewing coffee(he drinks like 2 cups a year)so he bought a fancy grinder/maker and since he bought fancy beans he bought one of those food savers, kind of on the same lines as the pouch sealers at the canneries. He told me it’s for me. I wasn’t very happy at first but then I realized I could “pouch” my food storage in this stuff. I did pwd. milk, flour, oats, rice. I also do my meats in it to freeze. I think he got the Food Saver at Costco for $129. I’m not sure how much the rolls of plastic is but you can buy them just about anywhere and save just about anything in them. I also just “pouched” instant oatmeal packets. Oh ya, my husband has only used he coffee maker 2 times but I have got a ton of use of the Food Saver!

    Comment #96 by ValerieMay 14th, 2008 at 8:29 pm

97. I know I am coming into this late…sorry.

    The problem I have is not one that is common. I can’t live off of bread, because I have celiac disease. We store rice and looked into storing quinoa because I lurve it and it’s so darn good for me, but it has a relatively short shelf life (compared to wheat) because It has a pretty high fat/oil contnet. the shelf life is about one to two years, which is okay, but not as good as rice. Not to mention that quinoa is a bit pricey compared to rice. Can rice keep me alive as well as wheat or quinoa? (well, wheat would probably kill me, but you know what I mean). I guess if I paired it with beans or something? Anyway, we have enough for about three or four months, and after that, we are in trouble. I really just need to figure out what the best thing is to store for someone who can’t eat any wheat at all. (and that includes my family. It seems silly to me to have two seperate food stores.)

    My other problem is that I HATE making phone calls and appoinments and doing things alone. Once last year our ward sent around a sign up for people to go to the cannery together and fill out an order form. It was all set up, all I had to do was show up, and I was OKAY with that. I got a lot of food storage that night! Canning is easy, it’s setting it up and figuring out what you need that is the hard part for me.

    Comment #97 by mellocelloMay 14th, 2008 at 8:39 pm

98. Not to mention that quinoa is a bit pricey compared to rice. Can rice keep me alive as well as wheat or quinoa? (well, wheat would probably kill me, but you know what I mean).

    Here’s what I do…I buy rice and when I make it, I mix in some quinoa, so it adds the great protein benefits without being overly strong in flavor and overly high in price.

    And even if you don’t store quinoa, beans and milk can balance out your diet protein-wise. Throw a bottle of multivitamins for good measure, maybe?

    I’d go with rice (longest shelf life, comparable to wheat), oats (the new shelf life estimates put oats at long-term storage of 30 years now, when sealed in oxygenless cans like those at the cannery), quinoa (less for issue of price and shelf life), and a few other grains like that. I’d say, though, if your family can eat wheat, it’s probably not a bad idea to include that, too. I wouldn’t see it as two separate stores, but just including what balances out a good storage and can feed your family, and give you more flexibility over the long haul (you can make them bread and make your rice, quinoa, etc. last longer for you). Just a thought.

    Sara’s 93 is important, imo.

    Comment #98 by m&mMay 14th, 2008 at 9:01 pm

99. And I need to stop commenting so much…this is just one of those topics I get excited about… Sorry.

    Comment #99 by m&mMay 14th, 2008 at 9:03 pm

100. I love the FoodSaver! My ward did a bulk purchase, and I ended up with a big box of macaroni–I thought it would come in packages–nope, just a big box. Bagged it down in the FoodSaver, and to be on the safe side put the bags inside a large plastic tub just in case we have another mice infestation.

     And the FoodSaver is great for stocking up on meat. Just don’t buy the off-brand bags. They don’t work.

     If you seal your 72-hour kit stuff, be sure to put something to open the bags with in your kit.

     Comment #100 by LindsayMay 14th, 2008 at 9:23 pm

101. OK, so I will start out by confessing that I love food storage and emergency preparedness. I was recently released as our ward food storage specialist after serving for close to 3 years. The thing I think most people struggle with is “I don’t know where to start,” and so they don’t. This is what I have been telling people in my ward for a few years now. Start with your 72 hour kits. Think about food, water, shelter, and sanitation as well as a light source and heat. Now move on to water. You need 14 gallons per person to have a 2 week supply. Once you have that done, think about what you want to eat. I don’t like concocted lists because everyone eats differently. We have a child with a life-threatening food allergy, so stocking up on peanut butter doesn’t work so hot for us. My advice is try before you buy. I will insert a shameless plug here that there is a company called The Ready Store that has phenomenal items like freeze-dried pinepple chunks and whole raspberries. My kids eat this stuff like it is candy. They have started thorwing parties where you can come and taste the food before you buy anything. You can go to www.thereadystore.com for more info.
     We have tried to balance out storing rice, wheat, and beans with items from case lot sales and then freeze-dried fruits and entrees like scrambled eggs and pasta primavera. No matter how hard you try and how hard you pray, there will be some people who won’t prepare. Do your best and know that even if you only help one family (which may well be your own), then you have done your job.

     Comment #101 by Mayoress of crazytownMay 14th, 2008 at 9:26 pm

102. While it is true that eating a ton of rice/wheat etc. all at once without eating much beforehand will throw you for a curve, that is the exact reason why I said to add in other things along with it. If you plan accordingly, it won’t be as terrible as we think. Of course I don’t plan on eating using wheat for breakfast lunch and dinner. It’s a good basic staple that stores well and is versatile. Also, the church recommends that your 400 lbs. of grains include whole wheat, rice, oats, pasta, flour, popcorn and barley. If you incorporate other foods with these, it probably is not too different from how we eat normally, although less processed. It’s all about variety.

     Comment #102 by AngieMay 15th, 2008 at 7:55 am

103. o.k. here’s a thread jack:

     Leaders in our area have also, in President meetings not over the pulpit, have suggested that we get used to the idea that this storage is not necessarily only for our personal family use.

     One explanation being: “Suppose XYZ Town goes down. They call us, we gather the storage and send it over to them. Or if we (meaning our town) has a major event, it should be expected that we share with our neighbors. The best way to do this would be to bring all we have and create a “storehouse” at one of the buildings to be used as a distribution center.”

     I have absolutely no problem with this idea of “what’s mine is yours”. (for *me* it is a matter of a covenant I made. kind of like it’s not mine to begin with) However, there are some in my immediate acquaintance who have stated they would shoot anyone who came for their food.

     How do you feel about sharing what you have stored?

     Comment #103 by s'meeMay 15th, 2008 at 8:44 am

104. We don’t have much food storage because money got tight and we had to eat it. There’s a reason to make sure you’re stocked up.
     When our new ward stocked up on wheat I skipped it because I don’t generally use it and it wouldn’t be logical for us to have in an emergency. I have a lot of recipes that use the same canned ingredients, so every time we go shopping I buy a few more than I need of those items. I don’t have a lot because of space, but I did stick some extra shelves here and there. I learned my lesson about buying in bulk simply to buy in bulk when I got a case of peas and a case of green beans at the case lot sale and my kids won’t touch them(along with my dh). One thing I do have several of are boxes of boullion cubes in all kinds of flavors. You can do amazing things with gluten if you add some flavor!
     I really enjoy the cannery. I usually go with the same group of people. Once you know what you’re canning they bring out one big bag at a time and you do as much as you need from the orders and then whatever is left in the bag. Basically you fill cans, stick an oxygen packet in, and pass it on to be sealed in the machine. They have a great system set up, it only takes a few minutes to figure it out, and everything runs pretty smoothly. There’s always a lot of talking and laughing whenever I go and we’re usually totally finished and gone within an hour if you can believe it. Though I think I’ll be going less now that they have potato flakes instead of the pearls, or “crack beads” as I like to call them. Thank goodness I bought a case before they changed them…
     For some reason I always buy toothpaste. I think I’m oral health obsessed. We’ll have plenty of toothpaste if anything ever happens. Flossing party at my house! Toilet paper however, usually escapes my notice until it’s too late.

     Comment #104 by mo mommyMay 15th, 2008 at 8:56 am

105. As far as sharing food storage, that one can be kind of tough. I look at the parable of the 10 virgins, the 5 who were prepared did not share with the 5 who were unprepared. I can’t imagine shooting my neighbors over a bag of rice, but I also can’t imagine taking food from the mouth of my own children in desperate times. I had a friend say she thought it would be like the law of tithing where we are asked to give 10% of our storage to help those who were unable to store food. I think that bishops will have a tough time as they will probably be forced to turn people away. Most studies I have read estimate that only 5% of the U.S. LDS population has a year supply of food. So, I guess what I am rambling about is that I will share what I can and have actually built that in to my food storage program. I have more than a year’s supply of flour and sugar so that I could give those to people with no sense of it being a begrudging act. But I also know people who would rather spend their money on boats and ATVs. I would have a hard time giving to those who chose to not prepare over people who were unable to prepare due to individual circumstances. I know this makes me sound like a Scrooge, but we have made sacrifices to follow the counsel of the prophets and build up our food storage. My first responsibility as a mother is to my own family, my own children, and then I plan to help others as much as I can.

     Comment #105 by Mayoress of crazytownMay 15th, 2008 at 12:16 pm

106. I was just at the Storehouse/Dry Pack Cannery this morning. They are only allowing appointments at this time. Their supplies have dwindled and cannot supply just random walk-ins currently. Two weeks ago it was a madhouse there. Today 3-4 women only.

     Comment #106 by chroniclerMay 15th, 2008 at 12:43 pm

107. It’s just like the stock market. When the price goes up everyone wants to rush out and buy as much (rice/wheat/stocks/gold) as possible.

     I guess that’s good if it gets you into the (market/food storage program) for the first time and you keep it up when/if the price comes back down.

     Comment #107 by ResearcherMay 15th, 2008 at 1:58 pm

108. Loving all of this. Keep it coming, ladies.

     Comment #108 by Heather O.May 15th, 2008 at 4:05 pm

109. Mayoress of crazytown-I don’t think that is scrooge like. I have a very good friend who does have quite a bit of food storage, probably not a year supply but a few months, and her husband who is a member also always tells her not worry and stop “stock piling” food (I don’t think she is stock piling since that don’t have a full year). She has since said, I’m sure kidding though, she will not share with him when the time comes to needing to use it. Kind of like the little red hen.
     I do think there is a very big difference between those who can’t financially afford to do food storage and those who choose recreational items and trips over preparing their family.

     Comment #109 by ValerieMay 15th, 2008 at 7:30 pm

110. And then there are the people who are stockpiling firearms and ammunition. Personally, I’m stockpiling toilet paper. I figure that will be really good to barter with.

     Comment #110 by LindsayMay 15th, 2008 at 7:59 pm

111. I haven’t read the whole thread, so pls excuse any repeats. My ward has a schedule of food storage for about $5 a week. The RS handed it out last year in full and each week the week’s item is also printed in the Sunday bulletin. It is a great way to know what/how much to get and when, it spreads out the cost, and it organizes it for you. I can provide a copy for anyone interested.

     The cannery is fun! Ask someone to let you tag along if you haven’t been and you are interested. Dry pack is the most fun and go with a group. Think Laverne and Shirley…

     My favorite recipe (and I am a VERY picky eater) is for taco soup. It is so easy and you can use browned/seasoned ground beef, chicken chunks, or no meat at all. For the rest you just open the cans and dump it in the pot.
     1 can chili beans
     1 can kidney beans
     1 can corn
     1 can diced green chiles
     1 small can tomatoe sauce
     1 can diced peeled tomatoes (I use home bottled ones from my mil)
     1 packet taco seasoning
     chopped onion to taste (can use freeze dried)
     You don’t drain anything, just dump it and heat it through. Add the browned/seasoned ground beef at the end. If you have it, shredded cheese, sour cream, and tortilla chips are great.

     P.S. Seriously, I am stocking up on “women’s products,” contact solution, and toilet paper too.

     Comment #111 by RubiaMay 17th, 2008 at 8:07 pm

112. I’ve hesitated to say this for fear of ridicule … I’ve also built up a several months’ supply of pet food. While I wouldn’t hesitate to put human life above animal life, I still am responsible for the health and safety, as long as possible, of this furry little guy curled up between me and the keyboard. I can adapt to odd/skimpy meals better than he can, and emergency shipments coming in after a natural disaster are a lot more apt to contain water and diapers and canned chili than pet food.

     If you have pets, are you prepared to handle your children’s distress at seeing their pet go hungry? (I know, I know — they never notice the dog is hungry to the extent of actually feeding it, but I think they might notice eventually.)

     Comment #112 by Ardis ParshallMay 17th, 2008 at 9:04 pm

113. Seriously? I have a family of five, 3 children under 7, and my wife. The church web-site says I need over 1800 pounds of grains. In 5 gallon buckets, which can take about 33 pounds of grain, it means I need around 55 buckets of grains. Where will I put 55, 5 gallon buckets? Do people on this board seriously have that much grain? I am thinking about cutting that down, at least in half, and doing what others do, and what I have begun to do. Make a two week meal plan, and buy food for a year to make those meals. Speghetti, rice broccoli cheese caserole, etc. That sounds much more realistic.

     On a second point, some people are food storage extremists. I wonder what the balance is between cautious and conservative, and armageddon food storage nazi’s. It is hard to judge. I just don’t see armageddon. Maybe shortages, or rationing of food in a crisis, but not the shoot your neighbor and their kids to keep them from getting to your food storage. I cannot imagine turning away another family who did not prepare. Maybe I am wrong, but there is a balance to food storage, and it is hard to tell where the line is.

     Please respond!

     Comment #113 by MikeMay 17th, 2008 at 11:12 pm

114. Ardis,
     Thinking of your pet is kind and very rational. Not thinking of your pet is negligent.

     Comment #114 by mmilesMay 18th, 2008 at 12:10 am

115. What I was trying to say was, why would anyone ridicule you for that?

     Comment #115 by mmilesMay 18th, 2008 at 12:11 am

116. Ardis, when we had a dog, we had pet food in our storage too.

     Mike, you have to do what you feel is right for your family- our family is the same make-up as yours, and we have nowhere near what is prescribed. I do know people who built special rooms to house their food storage- that’s just not for us. For me, I think one of the MOST important things, that some overlook, is water. We buy an extra case or two every time we’re at Costco, and have them stacked in the corner of the garage. Water keeps forever.

     Comment #116 by Tracy MMay 18th, 2008 at 8:12 am

117. #115 — Just that when the thread is about why we *don’t* store, with so many expressions of struggle about finding money and space, some might think it was frivolous to use those scarce resources for catfood instead of another case or two of peoplefood.

     On the other hand, especially since most of the events for which we would draw on food storage would be short term — truckers’ strike, or natural disaster — adding petfood to 72-hour kits and stocking a few weeks’ worth to get through an emergency may be more practical than adding another week’s worth of family food to an already long-term supply.

     Comment #117 by Ardis ParshallMay 18th, 2008 at 8:34 am

118. Mike-
     I think the balance is different for everyone. I think you could fill a house completely with little caches of food and supplies and still not feel prepared. I think it comes down to personal choices. I store toilet paper and shampoo as well as wheat and brownie mixes. I have talked to lots of people about different scenarios from an earthquake to a pandemic to nuclear attacks. I can’t prepare for everything because I am not that imaginative ( I never would have imagined that people would hijack planes and fly them into buildings). But I have taken steps that would help my family weather through an emergency whether it be a natural disaster or the death of my husband and the loss of his income. Preparedness comes down to individual choices because each family is different.

     Comment #118 by Mayoress of crazytownMay 19th, 2008 at 7:52 pm

119. Hi, I’m Mike, we live in Edinburgh, Scotland it’s quite a distance from the cannery!!***!! the folks in our ward have as long a list of reasons and/or excuses as the next ward. I don’t have a calling to promote food storage but feel quite passionate to advance the advice of the brethren in my area. I found a very good document in pdf format from the university of Utah, it gives great advice and breaks it down to a level that’s easy to understand. If anyone wants to view it, you could probably find it on their website or email me on mmsc19274@blueyonder.co.uk and I’ll send it on to you.Adice I give to our people is ” Store What You Use!! ” Mike.

     Comment #119 by MikeMay 31st, 2008 at 4:28 pm

120. Food storage is a must, and worrying about where you will store it is not an excuse in my opinion. I spread the word about being prepared whenever the chance arises. I get so many excuses about why it is not done–like no room, no money, how to do it, etc. I look at the supply sitting out in the open at the end of my small kitchen, in my guest coat closet, in my downstairs food storage room, under my bed, in my garage (paper products), and wherever else I can think of. A camp stove is also a must in case of power outage, or even a charcoal cooker will do in a pinch (make sure you have matches and charcoal). Anything you would normally use to feed your family is considered food storage: canned meats, soups, canned fruits and veggies, peanut butter/jelly, and so much else. There are so many lists on the internet that are helpful. 72-hour kit lists can be found everywhere. I use polyurethane buckets for my kits because they can be used for potties and other things in case you are out where there are no other facilities, and they are easy to carry. I could go on and on, but the bottom line is just to get started. Mark your food purchases with date and use FIRST IN, FIRST OUT (FIFO) method of rotating, That way your food never goes bad. Finally, REMEMBER, water, water, water, water, water. Most important of all your supplies! You can’t survive without it. Good luck to everyone in your efforts to prepare.

     Comment #120 by BeverlyJune 4th, 2008 at 3:40 pm

121. Interesting comments by everyone! I live in a small studio apartment and am living on a small fixed income, but I have my food storage. I have been slowly saving food during the last 3 1/2 years and then used my entire gov. rebate for food storage to finish it up! My apartment doesn’t have much storage space, so I purchased 3 utility cabinets. I took out my bed & couch and replaced them with a 3 in one day bed to make space for the cabinets! It worked! Don’t depend on freezer for meat &veggies..bottle them and you will have them when you need them!

     Comment #121 by Jill williamsJune 8th, 2008 at 9:51 pm

122. […] Why aren’t you doing food storage? - Basically, it means that I coordinate the cannery trips, encourage people to get their food storage going, and field questions like, “Which one is better for purifying water- bleach or purification tablets? … […]

     Pingback #122 by How Prepared Are You?June 25th, 2008 at 5:59 am

123. My mother is the preparedness person in her ward, although she does not organize the cannery trips. Once a month she does a little two minute blip on some sort of preparedness thing. Once, she made a variety of cookies (with included recipes) and had the sisters taste and try to guess which one was made without “fake eggs”. The trick was, the only recipe she didn’t use fake eggs in, didn’t call for eggs to begin with. (”Fake eggs” are a mixture of a starch and water that can work in all sorts of baking.) She also has made up a 60 page packet of basic uses for food storage items, even making sweetened condensed milk from the powdered. She varies her topics according to what she is inspired to teach, money, food, paper goods (like TP), personal hygiene. There are several times when my dad was out of work, or underemployed and we used the food storage. He has been on workman’s comp for the last three years after an injury and their storage has saved them.

     We live where the supplies can be cut off for weeks at a time, and electricity for up to a week. The grocery stores empty out in 1-2 days. Having some sort of storage is essential. By making trips to the cannery twice a year, we have built our year supply plus an additional 6 months of staples. Every six months we buy a six month batch of staples and rotate it. We eat wheat, porridge, rice and beans as a regular part of our diet. It’s far cheaper to buy it at the cannery in bulk.

     We are blessed to live in an area with vast natural resources of fish, wild game and different sorts of wildberries. We process these by freezing, canning and making jams, relishes and fruit rolls. It adds to the staples in our storage. Hopefully next year we’ll have a functioning garden, we had one at our old house.

     I believe that as long as we are earnestly trying to do what we can to follow the prophet’s counsel we will be blessed. Not everyone can do everything at once, and some countries even have laws restricting food storage. Being prepared is a sacrifice. For some, it’s money, for others space, for others learning new things, and for many, it is changing to a different and most often healthier way of eating. Although we have a food storage, we are struggling in other areas of preparedness, like money savings after circumstances beyond our control ate our savings. And, I don’t have enough TP. If it ever comes down to it, the children are using the cheap scratchy stuff as my hiney refuses to give up the soft stuff.

     Comment #123 by JulieLynJune 25th, 2008 at 10:25 am

124. If I am storing mylar bags, in boxes, in a bedroom closet — should I do anything else to keep them rodent proof? Mothballs? Peppermint oils?? I’ve seen rats running on the electric wires outside our new house, but no evidence of any IN the house… still I’m worried, and hate to have to go buy more plastic bins to put the mylar bags into if I don’t have to. Any suggestions? Please e-mail me back a reply at relativelycurious (at) yahoo.com - THANKS!

     Comment #124 by tamiJuly 1st, 2008 at 6:33 am

125. Okay ladies…….here’s two things I cannot find an answer for and hope you can help!
     1. I know if you freeze flour then store it in sealed buckets the bugs won’t come…those bugs that seem to already be IN the bags when you buy them(my grandmother called them ‘millers’)…
     BUT I do not have freezer space to first freeze flour- so how do I keep those bugs out???
     2. Can you give me a website where I can buy one of the “home canneries”????
     3.I’ve not used our cannery either, but can non LDS friends be a guest and purchase/can at a local LDS cannery?
     4. What is your answer to people who say, “if it comes to our country needing to live this way, thieves are just going to come take it from all you LDS so you’re putting your family at danger in the long run by building a storehouse?
     I guess that was more than 2 questions huh?
     I’m leaving in the morning for a week’s vacation so hurry and answer if you can!!!

     Comment #125 by SueJuly 13th, 2008 at 5:01 pm

126. Sue:

     1)If you put flour in the fridge, you can keep the bugs out. I’ve been doing this for years, and have had no problem.

     2)I don’t know exactly what you are referring to when you say “home canneries”–if you mean a portable sealer, you can borrow one from your cannery, as well as purchase what you need from the cannery to can your own flour, etc, at home. Be careful what you can at home, though–some things are not recommended for long term storage. Stick with things you know are safe: rice, flour, m&ms

     3) As far as I know, yes, non LDS friends can go with a group of LDS people to can at the cannery. We have had this situation in our ward, and nobody has said anything about it.

     4) Whatever. Seriously, I have WAY more things to worry about than thieves stealing my stuff if the apcolypse comes. What a stupid thing for somebody to say.

     Have fun on your vacation!

     Comment #126 by Heather O.July 13th, 2008 at 5:57 pm

127. M&M has started a new food storage group blog. Come take a look and participate! http://mormonfoodstorage.blogspot.com

     Comment #127 by Sara RSeptember 1st, 2008 at 12:59 pm

128. Hello, Just started foodstorage useing oxygen absorbers,and
     I’m trying to find out what foods I can use them with,I want to use quart canning jars. I do alot of home canning with veggies and fruit even potatoes.
     I really would love to get a list of dry foods I can store using the oxygen absorbers.

     Comment #128 by JaneOctober 8th, 2008 at 8:07 am

129. Jane-

     I don’t know how to seal quart jars with dry foods. The only way I know of to dry pack with oxygen absorbers is to use a portable sealer with a #10 can. How were you planning on sealng the quart jars?

     Comment #129 by Heather O.October 8th, 2008 at 11:24 am

130. Heather-
     I am using the lids and rings for the jars. I called today to find out. It is easier then I thought. With all purpose flour and self rising flour you use 2 in a quart jar one at the bottom and one on top then wipe off the rim of the jar and add the lid and ring. And I can do dry cereal and noddles pretty much any type of dry food. I do alot of home canning and with this I feel like a kid with a new toy.
     Every time I buy a bag of flour I can store 1=2 jars away. And when cereal is on sale I can do the same thing.The Ageless oxygen absorbers are very good from what I have read about them and the storage life on the flour that I do in the jars is about 5+ years and the powdered milk the same. My niece has a foodsaver vacum sealer with jar sealer and I did 5 quart jars of sugar when I looked up shelf life for it I almost passed out…they said it would store this way for “almost ever”. I’m so excited to find easy ways to store food.
     With everything going on in the news today, really makes one want to store and save. Thank you Heather
     Jane

     Comment #130 by JaneOctober 8th, 2008 at 9:15 pm

131. But with the lids and jars, how do you actually get them to get an airtight seal? Is it with that foodsaver vacuum sealer? Where can you get one of those? Or is just using the oxygen absorbers (2, I guess you are saying) enough?

     I use a lot of flour, and sealed it with the portable sealer I got from our cannery into #10 cans. I would love how to do it quart jars. I can a lot
     of jelly and applesauce and tomatoes, but I’ve never done dry goods in a quart jar. Very cool. Let me know how it works out.

     And yeah, if done properly, sugar has a shelf life of 30 years. So does wheat, apple slices, oats, and rice. Powdered milk has a storage life of 20 years. With such a long storage life, these are good things to store.

     Seriously, I’d love to hear how it works out with the quart jars. Thanks for your comments!

     Comment #131 by Heather O.October 9th, 2008 at 5:59 am

132. Heather-
     If you can then you know how important cleaning the jars are, so after that is done they need to dry really good, Then pour some flour in the bottom of the quart jar place in one oxygen absorber now finish filling jar to 1/4 inch of top, place another oxygen absorber on top of the flour and wipe off the rim as you do for canning and place on the lid and ring screw down tight and wait to hear the lid seal as when you can. I called the Quality Lab for informatation on how to do this.
     Now here is the beauty…when I had canned some beef and my lids didn’t seal,I had to take those lids off and put on new lids to recan them. I saved those lids, of course washing them very very good. Then I used those lids on the jars of dry cereal with the oxygen absorber in them. and they sealed. If you have lids you take off from jars and they are not bent or rusty, They can be reused for this and vacum-sealing.
     Food saver has a very good jar vacum sealer and very easy to use. I have found several on ebay and some times if you call the company they will offer a discount on them. Jane

     Comment #132 by JaneOctober 9th, 2008 at 8:19 am

133. Seriously, just some oxygen absorbers, and you’re good? Wow!

     Comment #133 by Heather O.October 9th, 2008 at 9:32 am

134. Heather
     Yes, Isn’t this easy. I just done 2 quarts of mac & cheese,
     Its in the jars and I can not decide if I want to do vacum sealing or the oxygen absorbers. I am thinking for long term storage(5 yrs) the vacum seal would be better. Also called today to find out about storing wheat flour and they said in a quart jar is good and use 2 oxygen absorbers like with the flour, one on bottom and one on top. Stores like this for 5 years. These little oxygen absorbers are truly amazing. You can even use one in a jar that you vacum seal.
     Seriously! I feel like a kid with a new toy. I have canned for many many years and have taught others, I usually can veggies,salsa,stewed tomatoes,chicken ala king,swiss steak,and beef, People tease me I can anything that will set still long enough.hehe
     And now that I found how easy it is to store dry foods,My shelves will certainly look like I’ve been busy.
     If you decide to store food in jars just make sure you keep them in a cool dark dry area. I store mine in dark basement. I read about canning butter and I’m thinking next year I will try it. Also one thing that I will be doing is rotating these food every 2 years. Jane

     Comment #134 by JaneOctober 9th, 2008 at 11:59 am

135. Canning butter? Coo-ooll. If I had to live on my food storage, butter would sure help! Butter makes everything better. mmmm…butter….

     Comment #135 by The WizOctober 9th, 2008 at 12:03 pm

136. I found the recipe for canning butter at www.endtimesreport.com
     I was wondering if anyone knows if I can use powdered milk to make the Amish Friendship starter?
     I really love Amish Friendship Bread and have found many good recipes for useing the starter with ,one is making sour dough bread.
     I’m thinking when my electric is off I can still make my bread using this starter since it doesn’t have to be refridgerated.
     All my efforts for making bread usually fail and this is one I can not mess up. Jane

     Comment #136 by JaneOctober 9th, 2008 at 12:42 pm

137. Greetings from the sun shine state…just stumbled across this site…very interesting. As you know we prepare once a year for hurricanes. After reading MOST of the comments I felt maybe I could add a couple notes of help,too. If it becomes necessary to use this food storage,i.e. natural or man-made, most likely we could have a situtation where we have also lost power. Any food storage plan that needs power puts your family at a disadvantage. Imagine a total meltdown of communications and power, then begin to build your food storage plan from there. I used to think baking bread was a good idea, but, if the grid has been compromised where you live…no bread. So either buy cases of MRE prepared food (takes very little storage and feeds your for weeks)or store only items you could imagine eating without heat or cold to preserve it. The only thing I am counting on is being able to boil water on our grill. And even that I can do without if we have to. Paper plates, etc. is another good thing to have on hand. I don’t want to use my stored drinking water to wash anything in..even me. And its not just food; remember batteries or other lighting that doesn’t plug in. I alsoj keep plenty of stored batteries for kid toys…this can be a very stressful time for little ones and it also helps the adults stay calm if the little ones (or big ones) are otherwise occupied. I guess thats all I can offer. You folks have pretty much figured out the rest…oh, and remember to have some spare empty gas cans handy to grab and fill up in case you need to evacuate to safer territory (relatives or friends homes)or across county. Remember 9-11.

     Comment #137 by ptarltonApril 6th, 2009 at 7:07 pm

138. Oh my. Some of the comments here frighten me. You admit you’re too lazy to not starve? You admit you’re too lazy, or afraid to learn about food storage, thereby admitting you’ll watch your children starve? Oh my!
     C’mon, ladies. As LDS members you believe you are born into these times because you were (in your heavenly pre-existance) among the bravest, staunchest, most valorous, of Our Fathers children. He needed YOU among his troops in the final trials of these latter days. And you’re too lazy to simply store some food and matches?
     I love these blogs, and the sweet and happy people I meet here. Please ladies. Prove to yourselves that you are what God thinks you are. His heroines.
     Quit finding reasons why not, and find reasons how!

     Comment #138 by BarbaraNovember 3rd, 2009 at 12:14 am

139. One word– Ovens. I’ve seen way too many comments thinking you can’t cook or bake without a modern electric or gas oven. Hmm… then they eat no baked goods in poor third world countrys? The pioneer women made no bread along the primitive trail across the plains? Your Great Grandmother made no bread in that log cabin in the valleys of Idaho?
     Another word– research. You have a computer here. Mud ovens, brick ovens, apple box ovens, propane ovens, brick ovens, solar ovens, flowerpot ovens, the list goes on forever.
     Find the option best for you. Build one, try it out, learn how they work. It can be a lot of fun– really!

     Comment #139 by Everyone's MomNovember 3rd, 2009 at 12:26 am

140. Great comments ladies! but lazy is not going to help anyone. My friend and I have been preparing for the last two years as part of a survival group and find that on many levels we are ahead of the game–Thanks to letting people do what they know best and are strongest in doing. For instance, I’ve been given the official titles of doctor and cheif cook, Dianne is teacher and cheif liason.
     We take each “job” and decide what it is we need to support our individual needs in that capacity and as a result we are more prepared. We now have much more than a band-aid to fix things, more spices than any market has singurlarly ( hey, if I got to eat a bug it’s gonna at least taste good!! Survive or survive well!!)books, games, toys, and teaching items for all ages, wind mill, electric and solar power, mud ovens(Makes great pizza by the way!)etc. so I guess my comment is to brainstorm your ideas and then plan accordingly. I’ve personally used the Jaycees chair planning guide (CPG) in my careers and privately to great advantage–all the bugs are generally worked out and you have back-up plans. And have a buddy to do it with–it’s always easier to do anything yucky like digging ditches to bury food with someone of like mind and can be fun as well–laughing your tail off with stupid “chain-gang” jokes or singing “nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen” on triple lattes!!

     Comment #140 by AureliaJanuary 13th, 2010 at 10:48 am

141. when first married I agonized over how to get food storage and what to store. After prayer and study this is what worked for me: I kept a record of what we used for a month, then I multiplied that by 12 and voila! I had the amount we would need for a year. Then I took the first $25 of food money for the month and purchased storage items. I marked each item with month/year purchased and made sure I rotated through the items using oldest first. If you don’t eat it now, you won’t eat it in a crisis. Rice is good but how many of us eat it without salt and/or flavoring? Heavenly Father will bless us if we are ‘working’ towards following his counsel, so lets get off our duffs and get busy.

     Comment #141 by MamaBearFebruary 9th, 2010 at 9:32 am

142. How imaginative article, I have never seen such a good article.

     Comment #142 by kohls couponsApril 21st, 2010 at 7:08 am

143. I have been doing food storage for several years. I have found that with faith and just beggining to do what has been asked of us for 70 years that the Lord will direct you to things that may bring you and your family survival. We as women and men are responsible for the temporal well being of our children, are you willing to watch your children die of starvation, simply because you did not heed the words of the Prophets. All the signs are now with us, wars, rumors of wars, oceans heaving beyond there bounds. on thing after another is happening. When I heard the Prophet speak to us in 1997 I became engaged in food storage, and I can tell you I have some wonderful experinces and felt the hand of God as He led me to things that I might need for survival. All you have to do is begin. follow the words of wisdom from our Prophets and church leaders and don’t think for a moment that the worst of times may never come. God Bless…

     Comment #143 by SusanMay 13th, 2010 at 7:04 pm

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     Comment #144 by Tashia NeilsonDecember 5th, 2010 at 8:50 am

145. This really makes you think. There are so many options out there for food stores. I found a great option at armageddonoutfittersonline.com.
     Patrick

     Comment #145 by PatrickMay 17th, 2011 at 8:42 pm

146. People like to get freeze dried food for their food storage, but I don’t recommend it for long term stuff. Meat is always a no-no, and unless you like dried apples, don’t buy them. Food storage should be non-perishable foods you already eat, that way you keep it in rotation and will use it when push comes to shove.

     Comment #146 by Marvin SkidJuly 5th, 2011 at 8:42 am

147. An additional issue is video games can be serious as the name indicated with the most important focus on learning rather than enjoyment. Although, we have an entertainment facet to keep the kids engaged, each one game is normally designed to focus on a specific group of skills or area, such as math or scientific discipline. Thanks for your write-up.

     Comment #147 by Lemuel AuwarterJuly 16th, 2011 at 10:26 am

148. http/:/www.FamilyFoodSource.com has the the absolute best-tasting, long-term, emergency food-supplies available – and they’re reasonable too. It breaks down to about $1.35/serving. Lower calories than MRE’s, low sodium, high protein, freeze dried for freshness, and a 15 year shelf life make these ideal for the food pantry. Try Before You Buy. 12 free servings. The U.S. has 20% unemployment, foreclosures are at a record high, natural disasters all over the country – earthquakes, floods, heat-waves, tornadoes, and hurricanes. We need to be prepared in order to protect our families

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