Week 3 Deep Pantry / Food Storage Challenge

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“A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. Proverbs 27:12

Remember having a deep pantry isn’t just about having extra food on hand. It is also about having the means to survive in an emergency situation, having all the extra food isn’t going to do you much good if you can’t cook it when the power is out. If you are having a hard time trying to afford filling a deep pantry read my post on “having a Deep Pantry on a tight budget.

Don’t forget to share what you were able to do this past week to have a deep pantry/food storage. Let’s encourage each other. And if you have a question feel free to ask or if you have the answer to a question feel free to answer. If you have a tip or idea you can share that also. As I said let’s make this a place where we can share and encourage others to get that deep pantry.

This first month will be a jump start to get a little ahead so if things go south before you can get everything you want, at least you have something to survive on.

The amounts are for two people If you have more just double to what you need.

This week you will want to get.

50 pounds of oats / 5 pounds of salt.

These two things I get at IFA (our local feed store) if you don’t have an IFA check your local feed store.
They have a 50-pound bag of rolled oats for 30.00 dollars. I checked the price at Wal-Mart and their 10 pounds in the food storage section was 13.58, this was in a sealed bucket. They also had a 2 lbs.10 oz. box for 1.68.

I also get my salt at IFA, it is Morten stock salt it comes in a 50-pound bag for 6.95. It doesn’t have the iodine in it but we do take extra iodine pills. This is great for canning as it doesn’t have any additives in it. If you are worried about the iodine you could get this salt for canning, cooking, preserving, and tanning hides ( no I don’t know how to tan hides yet, but the lady at IFA said a lot of people use this salt for that) and then buy the table salt or sea salt  with iodine to use while eating. A 1 lb 10 oz. box of salt at Wal-Mart is .88 cents.
I keep my salt in 5-gallon buckets with lids, I don’t do anything extra to it. It will clump up if there is moisture in the air, not too big of a deal you will just have to break it up. You can also use smaller containers such as 2-liter bottles or gallon sized storage bags If you use the gallon storage bags put them in a 5-gallon bucket to keep them from ripping open.

The action item for this month will be to get in shape. If things go south you will be having to do a lot more physical work you will need to be in shape so that you will be able to do the things you need to do.

The extra item for this month is a car kit if you don’t already have one. You Can go here to see what I have in ours. You will want one for each vehicle that your family drives. Even the teenagers. They may balk at it but do it anyway.A few years ago there was a bad accident about 20 miles from us that had the highway closed down for most of the night. people were stuck on each end that lived on the other side, so a lot of people were displaced. Joleen’s boyfriend and his grandmother had come to town and were unable to get back home, and had to stay with us. But I was able to use that example as to why you should always have a car kit in your vehicle, even if you don’t travel very far from home.

Every week you will want to put back water. You can buy it, or fill your empty juice and soda bottles. You can also store water in your empty canning jars, as you empty your jars just add some water and put the lid back on. You don’t have to can this water but if you wanted to you could. You can also put it in bleach and detergent bottles ( this will be non-potable but you could flush and wash dishes with it.). You can go here for more information water

Every week you will also want to put back a few dollars, even if it is a small amount it will add up.

What I was able to get done this past week.

Before we went to Denver I was able to put up 60 pints of chicken potato soup, 14 quarts of Beef mushroom soup, I had 3/4 of a case of oranges that I dehydrated and put in the freezer. I peeled and sectioned about half of them to put in the freezer  The rest I peeled then sliced to dehydrate.  Then cut the pith off the peels and dehydrated the peels, I also dehydrated the pith for fire starter and the ends to use in water on the stove with a few added spices to make the house smell good. 

Have to admit since we got back I have just been trying to get caught up so haven’t got much else done.

What were you able to get done this past week?

 

4 Replies to “Week 3 Deep Pantry / Food Storage Challenge”

  1. Lady Locust

    Perfect timing:-) I just stocked up on cooing salt. My mom saves the 1/2 gal. pickle jars for me (thoroughly washed) so I store it in that. Also, keep Epsom salts and rock salt. Yay! I got something done. Wow! You sure added to the pantry – nice!

  2. NRP

    My 2¢ worth, I’m thinking your amounts are for 2 people for a year’s supply, correct?

    If so I believe the Salt is wayyyyyy under what I would store. Especially for Canning and Salt Curing of meats if it comes to that.

    I would recommend a start of 100 pounds of the “cheap” Morten stock salt for curing and preserving. And 100 pounds of Rock Salt.

    Get at least 10-20 pounds of table salt, it’s very inexpensive and will last a VERY long time. I personally like Redman salt out of Salt-Lake-City for my table salt.

    As far as Oats, I’m not a huge Oats eater but I agree at least 50# from the feed store.

    BTW, great series.
    Thanks

    1. watkinsranches@yahoo.com Post author

      NRP,
      Thanks once again. I do suggest more salt a little later on, just trying to break everything down into more manageable purchases. I don’t have rock salt on the list but that is a good idea need to incorporate it into a later date.
      Have a great day
      Connie

      1. NRP

        Ranchers Wife
        I actually use the Rock Salt for curing meats more that “regular” salt, it seems to work better and is a LOT cheaper…..