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Packed first buckets today (newbie)

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  • #16
    I get wheat from the local health food store for about $28 for 50 lbs. That is the cheapest I can find it around here. It comes from Country Life - I think that is the store.... when I looked into buying it direct from them the shipping was CRAZY! So, we pack it ourselves. MUCH cheaper.

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    • #17
      Originally posted by goatlady View Post
      "except for what I grow, dry, ect."
      When you say "dry" I assume you dehydrate at home? Does your dehydrator get things dry enough that you can bag it and not worry about mold?
      I ask this because I have not had much luck getting things dry enough with my little round unit..

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      • #18
        Have not had any problems with mold on my home dried foods, but I only do veggies, not meat. They come off the trays basically crisp and snappy. I just put in canning jars and store on the pantry shelf with no problems. What are you having a problem with? Part of the success is being as sure as you can to cut each piece the same thickness and not very thick to start with. I've even dried veggies in my oven using the propane pilot light as the heat source with no problems getting things crisp.

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        • #19
          Any ideas on where to get dent corn for making grits/corn meal? Also, large quantities of navy/kidney beans? It seems that Sams club assumes folks only eat pinto beans. Like 'em, but want some variety. I'll be packing another couple of grab-n-go buckets this weekend but, after four of those, I'll prabably go to full buckets of grains/beans, etc....with seperate buckets of 'add-ons' like the salt, sugar, spices, etc...
          "Common sense might be common but it is by no means wide spread." Mark Twain

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          • #20
            corn could be had from the feed store. ....
            Hey Petunia...you dropped your man pad!

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            • #21
              Originally posted by goatlady View Post
              I far prefer to do my own packing of foods as that way I know exactly WHERE that food came from and most usually how it was handled. So much of the prepacked stuff comes from out of this country and I personally do not trust the food safety available there or here except for what I grow, dry, ect. Just my personal choice. It's not so much a cost savings to me, it is a healthy precaution. Besides those prepacked buckets are chock full of stuff I don't eat and the costs of those buckets is outrageous!
              You're right. It is a concern, not knowing what country some of this stuff comes from. You know the conditions are probably bad. I agree the cost is probably much less. I'm just thinking of the time involved when we're trying to do so many other things to prepare.
              Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.

              Ronald Wilson Reagan (1911-2004)

              JOSEPH WAS A PREPPER!
              NOAH WAS A PREPPER!
              I'M A PREPPER TOO!

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              • #22
                Originally posted by goatlady View Post
                Have not had any problems with mold on my home dried foods, but I only do veggies, not meat. They come off the trays basically crisp and snappy. I just put in canning jars and store on the pantry shelf with no problems. What are you having a problem with? Part of the success is being as sure as you can to cut each piece the same thickness and not very thick to start with. I've even dried veggies in my oven using the propane pilot light as the heat source with no problems getting things crisp.
                goatlady what kind of dehydrator do you have? Anybody have any recommendations on brand, size, etc...?
                Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.

                Ronald Wilson Reagan (1911-2004)

                JOSEPH WAS A PREPPER!
                NOAH WAS A PREPPER!
                I'M A PREPPER TOO!

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                • #23
                  I have always used the large round tray American Harvest dehydrator. Temp. control dial and fan to circulate air so you don't have to move the trays around at all. I can stack 20 trays on the base and it works like a champ.

                  jimmy, you can get a really nice dent/field corn variety pack of 5 or 6 different OP corns from R.H. Shumway seed company. Vermont Bean & Seed company has 3 full pages of different drying beans available in bulk for growing your own. Otherwise it is hard to track down varieties for storing/eating. Try a local health food store in their bulk department, that's where I got mine many years ago. They will do special orders by the 25 and 50"# bag, but buy a scoop and try first to see if that particular bean suits your palate.
                  Last edited by goatlady; 05-15-2012, 09:32 AM.

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                  • #24
                    Thanks, goatlady!!! Since I live in 'yuppyville', I can't grow my own. There are a few feed stores around I might check out for the corn, but that's about it. I'll try to find some health food stores and see what I can find. We had one of the folks in the subdivision that wanted to raise chickens in their back yard. They were almost stoned at the HOA meeting. Bunch of Nazis. Can't move out of town because of my job...gotta pay the bills :-) Until I can find something else I'll keep on with the pinto beans/rice/condiments. The way I'm packing with the one gallon mylars I can open the buckets and mix/match varieties when I find them. I like to keep things flexible. I've also got some 2 1/2 gallon buckets for the veggies if/when I can find them. I might have to go with the commercial #10 cans on them but prefer locally grown if possible. They have some informal farmers markets around here so I might try them. Thanks again for all your ideas!!! You, MustanGal and Protus have especially helpfull here. One of the reasons I love this forum...everybody's VERY willing to share their experience. Us newbies need to stop and give thanks more often :-)
                    Last edited by jimmycthemd; 05-15-2012, 09:56 AM.
                    "Common sense might be common but it is by no means wide spread." Mark Twain

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                    • #25
                      I'm glad I could help. I have only been doing this for a bit over a year. Reading "One Second After" was a life changing event for me. I don't feel anywhere near ready, but when I look where we were at a year ago and where we are today, we have come a long way.

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                      • #26
                        Yeah, it's been about six weeks for me. Have always had about three week's food in the house but now have another month of core LTS. I've started a plan for water (rain barrels) but it's on hold while the house is being re-sided. We have a river about a mile away and am thinking of ways to get water to my house from there. Always had some firepower but have been slowly stocking up on ammo and have basic first-aid stuff started. Long way to go but like the saying goes...the longest journey starts with the first step :-) Thanks again, you guys have been a God-send.
                        "Common sense might be common but it is by no means wide spread." Mark Twain

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                        • #27
                          Thanks for the recommendation goatlady. I'll pass it on to Patriot Lady. She handles the food and medical and I take care of communication and security.
                          Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.

                          Ronald Wilson Reagan (1911-2004)

                          JOSEPH WAS A PREPPER!
                          NOAH WAS A PREPPER!
                          I'M A PREPPER TOO!

                          Comment


                          • #28
                            Jimmy, if you live in a "yuppyville" there has got to be a bulk health food store in your area! See if you can find some Adzuki beans - old, old native american variety, very small, fairly quick cooking and wonderful flavor. Standard in the south are, of course, black eye peas and butter beans, I like dried BABY limas slow cooked with a bit of ham and onion and a side of cornbread! Lentis are versatile though not really a bean, but very high protein and very fast cooking (no pre-soaking necessary) I prefer the yellow or reds over the brown, but that's just my taste. They make a really good thick soup or cooked a bit less they have a nice texture as a salad or side for a meal.

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                            • #29
                              My wife makes beans and ham using navy beans. She's a midwesterner and that's just the way the do it there. Ham bone, onion and a little garlic and it's great!!! I think I found a health food warehouse not too off the path between work and home. They didn't say much on the online add so I'll have to stop by tonite and see if they have bulk as well as small quantities of beans to try. If I can get kidney, lima (red or white) or navy beans that'll be a start. I've had all those and like them. Wifey doesn't like black-eyed peas so I guess that's out. Never had/heard of Adzuki beans. I'll have to look for a small quantity and give them a try. I tend to be omniverous (I'll eat almost anything....not too picky). Haven't had much experience with Lentils...have to try them, too. Would rather over-do than under-do the variety.
                              "Common sense might be common but it is by no means wide spread." Mark Twain

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