In this year’s Deep pantry/Food Storage Challenge, I will be doing it a little different than last years so be sure to check out each week’s challenge. I will also be focusing a little more on skills which I will have a separate post for in the next couple of days.

“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 first week is 50 pounds of rice and 50 pounds of beans

More if you can afford it. I get white rice as it will store longer than brown rice. Also, 50 pounds of beans, get what your family will eat. I get pintos they go a long way and are very nutritious. The price of beans and rice at Wal-Mart. for 20 lbs of rice it is 8.92 and 20 lbs of pinto beans are 13.42. So for 60 lbs of rice, it would be 26.76 and 60 lbs of pinto beans are 40.26. ). I store my beans in the original bags but you can put into 5-gallon food grade buckets if you want, they do make it easier to store. The rice I pour into 5-gallon food grade buckets and add a couple of bay leaves this helps to keep the bugs out. These can be stored in sheds outside freezing will not hurt them, in fact, it is good for them as it will kill any little bugs that might be in them.

Every month I will post an action item something that you need to work on for the month. I will also post an extra item that if at all possible you should try to get.

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 (at the time) and his grandmother had come to town and were unable to get back home, and had to stay with us. Andy had been checking on his Mom and was stuck on the other side.  I was able to use that example for the girls 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. ). I will be doing a separate post on water in the near future.

Every week you will also want to put back a few dollars, even if it is a small amount it will add up. Save your ones and if you can your fives and all your loose change from paying with cash. It will add up pretty quickly.

What were you able to do for your deep pantry?