Starting a stockpile

[historian]

I just read Ted Koppel's book, Lights Out. It freaked me out enough that I'm looking to build a small stockpile. The problem is that we generally eat frozen veggies, and frozen meat. We don't eat that many canned goods (outside of tuna). We wouldn't eat enough canned good too keep a rotation going, so what does INGO recommend?

 

[cerebus85]

well you could learn to can things. its not really that hard and most the stuff you can get cheaply. have you looked into freeze dried items as well?

 

[Vigilant]

I just read Ted Koppel's book, Lights Out. It freaked me out enough that I'm looking to build a small stockpile. The problem is that we generally eat frozen veggies, and frozen meat. We don't eat that many canned goods (outside of tuna). We wouldn't eat enough canned good too keep a rotation going, so what does INGO recommend?

Freeze dried, 25-30 years shelf life, no rotation really needed.

 

[2in1evtime]

Freeze dried, dehydrateded, home canning of meat. Just remember you need a water source to reconstitute a lot of items. But it is the way to go shelf life is long .

 

[Clarity]

Get to know the Mormon's. Seriously. And second on the freeze dried stuff, unless you are going to be diligent about rotating stock.

https://store.lds.org/webapp/wcs/st...vMCoIyl8Q==&ddkey=https:SetCurrencyPreference

It was the book "One Second After" for me. Make a plan and get busy. Better to have and not need than need and not have.

 

[Leadeye]

Loss of electricity for an extended period is what I prep for. I don't want to have to go anywhere for the duration.

 

[jd4320t]

Start eating canned goods.

 

[Cpt Caveman]

From the mormons I've talked to they prep at about the same percentage rate as the general public. Very few actually have a deep larder.

 

[churchmouse]

Freeze dried, 25-30 years shelf life, no rotation really needed.

^^^THis^^^^

And can goods/water/etc. Water is the key. Canned soups put in rotation will last a few years if stored in a cool dry place.

Water. Water. Water.

We have genny's and stocked freezers. That will run you out for a while.

 

[Bsubtown]

Start eating canned goods.

This.

Figure out what canned goods you can use in recipes you make often and use those. Canned goods are not tasty on average as frozen or fresh, no getting around that. When cooked right you can mitigate some of that.

 

[churchmouse]

This.

Figure out what canned goods you can use in recipes you make often and use those. Canned goods are not tasty on average as frozen or fresh, no getting around that. When cooked right you can mitigate some of that.

Being able to cook.
We have 2 dual burner Colmens and a good stash of 1# Propane bottles.

 

[Bsubtown]

Good point on the cooking part. Pretty easy to source an adapter for a 20# propane to hook up to your stove. Add to that spices so that you can mask the taste of things that in the best of times you wouldn't want to eat.

 

[GIJEW]

Being able to cook.
We have 2 dual burner Colmens and a good stash of 1# Propane bottles.

CO would be an issue indoors, no? What kind of ventilation plans do you have?

 

[Clarity]

From the mormons I've talked to they prep at about the same percentage rate as the general public. Very few actually have a deep larder.

I was referring to the distribution centers, where you can purchase bulk goods for long term storage.

 

[Bsubtown]

CO would be an issue indoors, no? What kind of ventilation plans do you have?

I don't think it would cause too much of an issue. Millions of people cook with natural gas or propane stoves in their home on a daily basis.

 

[Dbeasley2771]

Freezedried stuff is the way to go. However, I'm currently working on my water supply...an in-ground pool. That's a joke

 

[JayPea]

I agree with what 2in1Evtime & Churchmouse suggested; and not to put words in their mouth, I say yes to all. Keep the freezers stocked with what you eat, learn to can meats on your own also for added shelf life and stock some pre-canned meat to use in particular recipes. I saw an article here recently I believe, that many of Hormel's canned products have very long shelf life. I realize the taste of these products isn't like fresh meat, but if I have a recipe that calls for two pounds of ground beef I may use 1 lb fresh / frozen and 1 lb canned / pre-canned meat and combine in the recipe to help with rotation; and nobody in the fam knows any different. I also have a backup of freeze dried for long term storage and I use that from time to time on camping trips; family will eat anything when camping.

Ive been trying build my home canned meat supplies as we are trying to buy meat from local farmers and looking to have fewer crap in the meat. Not to go off on a tangent.

 

[flagtag]

Here are a few sites to check out: Wise Food Company, Food4Patriots, Emergency Essentials, Food Insurance. (There are more sites)You can often get "free" 72 hour kits (just pay shipping/handling - usually around $6.95) at some of the sites. 4 packets which serve 4 people. That way you can sample some of their products to see if you want to spend more and get more (week, month, year)

 

[woowoo2]

For freeze dried foods, Mountain House is the only thing that I will purchase.

 

[flagtag]

Emergency Essentials carries Mountain House. I haven't checked the other sites lately.