Monday, January 3, 2011

Food storage list

In case anyone is interested... Here's what I got off a website a while ago. I've started a word document with all kinds of food storage/canning/stockpiling/saving things I'm copying and pasting from different places. (Remember I don't' plan on going this crazy [yet] and most sites/people say to start with a two week supply then build to a 3 month and then to a 6 month and then to a year's worth for food storage starters. We'll see how it goes....)

Anyhow, I don't remember which site this if from but here is what one mom writes...

Here is what one basic year’s supply of food includes: it will provide about 2200 calories a day, which means you’ll probably get 1800 and your husband will get 2600. This is less than most people are used to, but it will keep you alive! You’ll have to ration, too, to make it last. Quantities are per person.

300 lbs grains- includes Wheat, Rice, Rolled Oats, Dried Corn, Popcorn, Flour, Pasta Products, Dried Potatoes, Quinoa, Amaranth, Spelt, Buckwheat, etc. Some lists say 400 lbs per person, but the current Church site says 300. Take your pick, according to what you can handle, storage-wise or hunger-wise. That extra 100 lbs provides an extra 435 calories per day.

16 lbs. powdered milk- this is just enough for cooking, about ¾ cup per day. You can store instant, regular powder, and canned milk. It takes about 5 (12-oz) cans to equal one pound of powdered milk

60 lbs sugar- this includes white sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, honey, molasses, jam/jelly, corn syrup, fruit drink mix, gelatin. If you have honey that crystallizes, set the bottle in the sun on a warm day, or put it in a pan of water on lowest heat overnight. It will become liquid again. You will want more sugar than 60 lbs. if you can your own fruit.

10 quarts cooking oil (2 ½ gallons)- yes, YOU NEED FAT. Your brain is made mostly of fat. Guess what happens if you don’t get any fat in your diet? Plus, it’s a lot of calories for very little storage space. The darker & cooler you keep it, the longer it lasts. Fats include shortening, cooking oil, butter/margarine, mayonnaise, peanut butter.

8 lbs salt per person- this is the cheapest of them all! In addition to the round canisters, you can buy salt in 4-lb rectangular boxes; these stack together more efficiently. At Sams’ Club, these boxes are just under $1. Woo-hoo! Two bucks and you have your personal salt for the year!

60 lbs. legumes, dried- includes soybeans, pinto beans, white beans, kidney beans, lima beans, anything that ends with ‘bean’ (unless it begins with ‘jelly’), black-eyed peas, split peas, and lentils. These are a great, inexpensive source of protein. Store the same as wheat- dry, clean, dark and cool if possible. It takes 4 ½ (15 oz) cans to equal one pound of dry beans.

14 gallons water per person. This is just 2 weeks’ supply, for drinking and a tiny bit for washing; the minimum our church leaders have counseled. You may also want a way to purify water for longer-term use. To purify, you can boil water for 2 minutes, or use chlorine bleach (plain only, not scented!) If the water is clear, use ½ tsp. per 5 gallons of water. If the water is cloudy, use double; 1 tsp. per 5 gallons of water.

Children do not need a full adult’s portion. For them, figure age 3 and under= 50%, ages 4-6= 70%, ages 7-10= 90%, ages 11 and up= 100%.

Obviously, kids' ages are always changing, so when I calculate what to have on hand (I inventory every Conference), I project out six months to a year. For instance, if someone is 6 years old, I count that child as 7 years. That way I'm not always slightly behind when it's time to replenish.


This is from a different mom on either the same or a different site... Here's what she keeps in storage.


WATER! (I have two 55 gallon drums sitting on my porch.)
Wheat berries (red and white) - this is absolutely the best grain to store because of it's long shelf life, however, you will need to invest in a wheat grinder if you want to use it. I got the Wonder Mill for Christmas last year. Even if you don't have a grinder or are saving up for one, I suggest buying wheat anyway. Buy it while we have it. I always think about the Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat story in the Old Testament where he had the dream about the 7 years of plenty and the 7 years of famine.
Flour
Oatmeal
Grits (I live in the South)
White rice
Cream of Wheat
Popcorn
White sugar
Brown sugar
Pasta/ Spaghetti
Dry beans
Peanut Butter
Jelly
Ready to eat cereal
Crackers
Butter
Cheese
Powdered Milk - I suggest storing this in sealed #10 cans to extend it's shelf life. There are several sites that sell this. It's kind of expensive though.
Canned vegetables, fruits, spaghetti sauce, and beans
Canned meats (tuna, chicken, sardines)
Juice (concentrate and bottles)
Powdered eggs
Salt
Baking soda
Alfalfa seed (these are good for sprouting as well as some other dry beans)
Chocolate and candy

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Kate,
Check out http://peggylayton.net/

You will get some good advice and help from this site.

Love
Dad