Thursday, May 8, 2008~ How To Start Stocking Your Food Pantry ~ |
The Pantry
(My Notes are typed in Maroon)
The price of food continues to rise, an estimated 7% this year alone, and you need ideas for how to afford the foods you love. One very good idea, that our ancestors knew well, is to stock your kitchen, or pantry area, with enough food to last a long time. People had no choice but to do this in the days without refrigeration or easy access to the foods of the world, and as prices rise, the pantry idea has come into it's own again. Once again, having a fully stocked kitchen pantry just makes good economic sense.
Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Step One
What to store. Canned vegetables, fruits, soups, canned meats, peanut butter. Plus all the condiments and baking items you use, especially flour and sugar. Beans and legumes, grains, pasta. Tea. Coffee.
In other words, any easy to store food item, that you like and eat right now.
You can go to one of the survivalist, food storage, web sites for tips on how much food to buy per person for 3 months or more. A year is even better, but start with three months worth and work up.
Step Two
How to store. Again, consult the food storage experts. The good folks who are Mormons, or Latter Day Saints, can offer lots of advice on food storage, as they have been doing this for a long time.
You don't need a pantry or room just for food storage, although that is nice. Put pails or boxes of foods in closets, or under your bed, or wherever works for you. Just avoid damp places, or places of extreme temperature variations.
Step Three
How to afford the extra food for your food storage program.
If you still have some savings, set aside some of it to use just for your food storage program, and get going.
If you have no savings, then set aside some money on each grocery shopping trip, to spend just on your food storage items. It could be twenty dollars, or five dollars, but use what money you have and get started.
 I have found when I am planning my menu and it requires for instance just 1 can of creme of mushroom soup, I budget so I am able to buy 1 extra can, so that way I will always have on hand an extra can of it around. I try to do this on most things if the money allowance allows it.
Step Four
What about water and other items? Check with the food storage sites online for how to store water, as well as the other non-food items that you might want to have just in case you lose your electricity and heat for a few days for some reason.
- Do what you can, with what you have. A little bit of preparation is better than none.
- Don't stock up on foods you hate, you won't like them any more when that's all you have left to eat.
- Plan carefully. The size of your family and you families food likes and dislikes matter and must be taken into account.
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Thursday, May 8, 2008 - Untitled Comment |
| Posted by Anonymous |
Hi Jeannie,
We do a lot of preparedness stocking-up around here (not crazy so, but ever-conscience of it). Currently we have 75 lbs. of grain and 50 lbs. of rice and lots of peanut butter & tuna. I should go to the store today and get more cooking oil - I use olive oil (not cheap). I started using a food buyers club that saves me lots on grain. With the way the world is going, I think it's only smart to do so.
Blessings, PlainJane |
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Thursday, May 8, 2008 - Untitled Comment |
| Posted by Schatzi |
What a great post....awesome ideas....thanks for sharing.
Connie |
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~ All About Me ~
Hello, I am Jeannie wife to a Sgt In the Army, Mother of two spunky kids, I enjoy reading, and learning new things. I am very passionate about my faith and convictions, some folks may consider " extreme" but I see it as Embracing what I believe not merely just saying so. Some of what I have to post wether it be from me personally or some one else that I totally stand up for or against, may be to much for you, if so then I suggest you go visit someone elses blog.
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