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.
Soups; I would get a 10 pack from someplace like Sam’s Club or Costco, usually for less than $9 per case of 10, Also get a 10-pack of Cream of Mushroom. For less that $18 you have the base for 15-20 meals. Seriously add a handful of rice, and a few vegs, there ya go, a meal for two.
As far as cleaning supplies, I would and do, add two items. Muriatic Acid, BE CAREFUL, but it’s a great cleaner and can be used on a lot of surfaces, do NOT use it on brick/concrete/stone, it will eat it, BUT 1/8 cup in a toilet it will clean that sucker in 3.5 seconds.
Also I use what’s called PBW (Professional Brewers Wash) another great cleaner and is a LOT safer that Muriatic. And can be used on most any surfaces, I make my own, 30% TSP (Tri-Sodium-Phosphate) you can get in most Paint Stores, and 70% Oxi-clean Free. Both are a powder and mixed in any bowl. I restore it in the Oxi-Clean container.
Action Item; If you do have a smaller garden, look up “Square Foot Gardening” a lot of great information on the net. I basically do this method, with just a few raised beds, tired of bending over to the ground to work the soil, and I get more produce than I can use in a year or more. Also try to move more and more to Heirloom Seeds for those that need one more thing to do, try saving your own seeds each year….
My Deep Pantry was stocked with another 50# of rice and 40 pounds of Anasazi Beans, yummmmm good Beans. Picked up 2 HUGE containers of Gatorade, more soups as above, also another First Aid kit, one of the big-ens for the Garage.
Did really good at the $200 challenge this week, it helps when you don’t stop at a store… HAHAHA
Have a GREAT week everyone…. How about some more comments from you-all???? Rancher’s Wife wont bark at ya, honest 🙂 🙂
Yum, Anasazi beans! Haven’t had any in years, but so much better than pintos.
I save all “crisp” ones and five dollar bills. It’s like a game to me. Last year I added up what I saved, $170. So far this year I have more than $50. It sure does add up fast.
Mik,
It does add up quick and you hardly miss it. And yes Anasazi beans are so so good.
Have a great day
Connie
NRP,
Thanks for the tip on the muric acid and the PBW will have to try them. Also good tip about the square foot gardening.
And Thanks for the support I really do appreciate that you are always visiting and commenting.
Have a great day
Connie
You are putting together a wonderful plan with this post and all the others you have composed. It is important to have a well stocked pantry, and you’ve got some great ideas for how to do that. Thank you for sharing, and for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party. Hope your week is going well.
April,
Thank you and you are so right a well-stocked pantry is so so important. And thank you for hosting the Hearth and Soul linky party.
Have a great day.
Just found your blog and read this post with great interest. You are doing a real service for people! Also wanted to let you know that the idea of filling empty bleach bottles with water is a great idea. I was stationed at Keesler AF base in Mississippi in 1969 when Hurricane Camille hit the area. Due to contamination, we had no water to shower with for 2 weeks and they trucked water in large vats in for us to drink and poured bottles of bleach into it to make it drinkable! So maybe storing water in empty bleach bottles might be the best way to keep it from getting contaminated.