Week 20 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. 

 

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 was 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.
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” 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 first month was 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. If you are just starting you will want to go back and start with January’s challenge. The amounts are for two people If you have more just double to what you need.
Also while you are doing this if you see something on sale that you think you will need to pick it up. You can catch up with the list later. Always better to buy when on sale than not.

 

50 Lbs Wheat or Flour / 25 lbs Rice
50 pounds of flour or wheat, if you have a grinder you can get wheat, if not get flour. I don’t remember the exact price of flour at Wal-Mart, but I know it was right around 9.00 for 25 pounds. So a little under 20 dollars you can get 50 pounds of flour. White flour will last longer than wheat flour in storage. If you live in a place that freezes during the winter get your flour now and you can store it out in a shed or somewhere where it will freeze. Just pour in a bucket, add a couple of pieces of spearmint gum, and put the lid on.  If it freezes really good for at least a few days, it will last a very long time ( I opened some flour a few months ago from 08 and it was still good). If you don’t live where it freezes put it in the freezer for a couple of days to kill all the little bugs that are in it. Then put it in some Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers.  If using Mylar bags you still need to put them in buckets, this will keep varmints from trying to chew through.
Rice, I get white rice as it will store longer than brown rice.  rice at Wal-Mart. for 20 lbs of rice it is 8.92  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. You can also get brown rice to use for sprouting just be sure to rotate,

This month’s action item,  This Months Skill to learn is to Cook from Scratch the more you can make yourself the less you will have to have in food storage and it will save you a ton of money.

The extra item for this month is alternate light sources.
Obviously, lots of candles would be extremely useful. You can often find used ones for free or next to free at yard sales. If you have bees you can make your own. Save the wax from old candles and broken crayons to make new candles from.
Oil lamps are great to have too. I’ve been picking these up at yard sales for really cheap as well. The larger, outdoor style oil lanterns would be handy as well as the more decorative indoor lamps. Lamp oil is expensive; kerosene is cheaper and works just as well, although it may produce a little smoke. I’ve also read that you can burn olive oil in lamps… something I want to experiment with.
We plan on picking up some solar flashlights on top of these other things.
They have battery-powered lanterns now that are real nice. If you plan to use flashlights or any battery power item make sure to have lots of batteries on hand maybe even a solar battery charger.
Use your daylight wisely. Go to bed soon after the sun goes down, and rise with the dawn. This way you won’t use up your resources “burning the midnight oil”.
Keep a supply of lamp and candle wicks, oil, and matches on hand

 

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.
What were you able to get done this week?