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 to fill a deep pantry read my post on “having a Deep Pantry on a tight budget.”
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 to fill a deep pantry read my post on “
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.
The amounts are for two people If you have more just double to what you need.
This week you will want to get.
5 Cans of cream of chicken soup. If you plan on making your own ( I will post the recipe soon) then get a couple jars of chicken broth granules.
Detergents, Bleach, and cleaners. If you plan on making your own then you will need some bleach, borax, and lye ( make sure it is 100% lye ) The borax you can get at any grocery store but the lye you usually have to go to a hardware store. You will need Baking soda but we will get that a little later on.
The Action Item for this month is to get your garden planned, even if you only have a small area, you can plant a lot ( there are all kinds of information on the web for small area gardening). If you have already had a garden try to expand and add a few more things, maybe even some things you haven’t tried to grow before. You might want to look into berry bushes and fruit trees also. If you have landscaping in your yard you might want to think about replacing some things with edibles (If you have to water might as well water something that gives something back).
The extra item for this month will be garden seeds, bushes, trees, and herbs. After you get your garden planned try to start ordering the seeds and things you need for it. Also, start getting your seeds started.
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 water 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. Save your ones and if you can your fives and all your loose change from paying with cash. It will add up pretty quickly.
5 Cans of cream of chicken soup; I would make that a full carton of 8/10 from Wally or Sam’s Club.
Also add a carton of cream of mushroom soup.
There are sooooo many recipes that use CoC or CoM soups, make a GRAET base for lots and lots of dishes.
Detergents, will last for years if stored cool and dry, Stock Up, the cost is only going to increase over the years (look at the cost of everything). Buy the HUGE size and divide it into smaller containers.
Agreed on the Gardening Planning, I actually made my seed list this past weekend for ordering. And yes I buy Heirloom Seeds, unfortunately I do not save as many as I would like to, but that’s soon to change.
I personally like Burpee Seeds, but have had GREAT luck with off the shelf generic seeds. I do keep the “left overs” from last year in the fridge so not so many to buy this year, except to keep the “Prepper” amount stored.
Water, one can NOT store enough, just imagine if you have zero power and water for a month, don’t think that can happen???? Enough said.
Lastly, on the Money Front. Take a good hard look at the Dow, going up and up, is that good or bad?
Well let’s look at that, the higher the Markets go is an indicator of the prices you and I will spend on ‘goods’. Plus China is effectually shut down “for now” does anyone really think the prices of 99% of goods are not going to go up?
My additions to the Deep Pantry, 4 cases of “wet” dog food, my best friend also needs to eat. Also added some more V-8, Condiments, Soaps, and yes even a few bottles of Gin hehehehe
Y’all have a GREAT week, looking forward to more articles from Connie.
NRP,
I am getting ready to get my seeds also. I want to try a couple new things this year like a loofa sponge plant and some broom corn ( make my own brooms lol) I would like to see if I could grow tobacco ( just cause) and some sugar beets. With these, it would be less that I have to get at the store.
And this China thing has me very concerned I did go stock up on a few things that I hadn’t planned ( totally ruined my 200 a month) I will have more on that in my 200 a month update.
And you are so right on the water I have a lot put back but no where near like I would like to have.
Have a great day
Connie
Greetings from Niagara Falls Ontario!
Thanks for sharing so much important information! Do you have a list of your pantry stock? Like some kind of living inventory? For example, how would you know that it’s time to be using up and replenish those cans of chicken soup? I have about 80 different items (not counting multiples of course) in my deep pantry with the expiry date or canning date written on them, but I think there must be a way of seeing everything all at once – written inventory?
How do you ensure everything gets used in time?
Thanks so much!!
Best wishes always!
Toni (in Niagara);
Yes I do keep a fairly detailed Inventory, remembering this is for the Deep Pantry only, not the Kitchen Pantry, which changes wayyyyy to fast to keep an inventory updated.
I use Excel for the Inventory;
There are basically 5 different major categories.
1. Food Stuff, including Water
2. Cleaning and bathing supplies
3. Fuel
4. Ammo and Alcohol (drinking)
5. MIsc.
Each of these will be broken into smaller categories aka “Soups” or “Canned Vegetables”
I have several columns for Information on each item, a line example of the sheet;
| —–Name of product——-| # stored| # wanted to store| Date of oldest Case |
|Cream of Mushroom Soup | 35 | 50 | 2/15/2017 |
| Bar Soap | 40 | 100 | 5/23/2019 |
I do keep it updated once a month, , I do print it out so I always have a hard copy, I write on the printed copy what I add/remove each month than update the list once a month or so.
Please notice I do have a “# wanted to store” column, this is important to figure out how “much” you will need for the number of days you want to store, I shoot for 1 year now, but PLEASE do not set your goals to high if your first starting out, set it for 2 weeks, than update to one month, that 3 months and so-on.
Some people claim there is no reason to buy all that stuff and you’re a Hoarder…. IT IS INSURANCE!!!! No different than Car or Fire Insurance in my view. Thinl of how much one spends on Auto Insurance a year. WHAT would you or anyone do if the JIT inventory stopped, of there is a real SHTF??????
Toni,
Also, remember that you can still use after the expiration date. When I buy in bulk there are times I don’t use it up before the expiration date and it is still fine when I go to use it. 🙂
Wow Connie! Thanks so much for taking the time to respond! Yes, I’m ok with the kitchen pantry, but the deep one requires more upkeep. I dust down there (basement) about once a month and check to make sure critters did not get into anything. I use mostly glass and metal containers: Sugar, flour and oatmeal are in metal garbage pails. I had grape juice in plastic bottles and a rodent chewed a hole in the lid of one. So…….I now have traps there too and check them regularly. I’m glad you use Excel for your deep pantry….I thought about doing that but figured I was being too fussy. But really, that’s the best way of making sure you use what you have, and see what you need. I especially like your “# wanted” column – very neat!
Thank you again for sharing!
Best wishes always –
Toni,
NRP has the best idea of keeping track. I have a notebook that I write in, I did do a pretty good inventory of everything this past summer, I wish when I started I would have used a spreadsheet it would make doing an inventory a lot easier. I have three places that I store things so I pretty much rotate that way. I also store most things in glass I do have a rodent-proof storage container that I store most of the dried goods in and the celler I have is also rodent proof so I have a lot of my herbs and such in there that since it is more temperature controlled. The other place I store can get rodents so I am very careful what I put in there just mostly canned goods.
Have a great day
Connie