food prepping

[barfife]

To my prepping friends new and old:

If your house is starting to look like a small grocery store and you have run out of room to store your containers. I have a suggestion. Canned dehydrated food storage.

I know that it is a bit costly. But add up what your family spends on food for a year and there are some cost effective options out there.

So many of the companies making/marketing canned dehydrated foods have had all of their inventories purchased and sent to Japan recently. It will take some work to find available supplies.

The good news:
I found that Sam's Club is still offering the Arguson's surival food kit for 4 (1400 cal/day) for a whole year for $3k... delivered? That's right...free shipping! And was is still in stock as of yesterday. It is delivered to your house in about 10-14 days and it is all on one 1500 lb pallet and it has a 25-35 yr shelf life. (If you don't use it, you can always "will it" to your kids and their families.) They have smaller 2 week, 1 month, 3 month and 6 month kits also so you can start smaller if you are on a budget.

You have to order it on line but doing so you save on sales tax , picking it up and, using the right credit card, you can get either miles, points or cash back. (Remember to pay the card off...cause debt is bad.)

Just a point to ponder. No affiliation with Sam's Club, etc. YMMV.

[monkeybird]

I've been ordering freeze dried and other survival food from COSTCO for over 2 years. Free Shipping, excellent quality!

[Lowdown3]

Despite rumors their is no huge everything shipped to Japan food issue. It's just like the "gubmint is buying up all the storable food" rumors that circulate REGULARLY.

Their is a rush going on, but it's not from the gubmint buying up "all the food" and it started long before anything happened in Japan.

Food is still shipping in normal lead times.

Your looking for factory fresh food, not sitting on shelf (for how long already and at what temps?) food.

Dehydrated food is actually MUCH CHEAPER than buying wet packed grocery store items. We've done numerous posts about that on the net wherein true "costs" where shown. For example, your paying for a LOT of water in grocery store wet packed foods. When you drain that can of green beans, pat the beans down with a paper towel and then weigh them, it actually comes out similar price to dehydrated. PLUS you'll be replacing those wet packed cans 4-5 times or more in the same time period the dehydrated stores for.

I couldn't find any Sam's in my state nor in the northern section of Florida offering these products.

They are the same dehydrated food products you can purchase from established long term food suppliers also. Their is nothing special about getting them from Sam's club unless you have some special Sam's account with zero interest or some such deal.

[Lowdown3]

Their is also the PRIVACY issues with Sam's, they keep detailed records of EVERYTHING you have ever purchased.

Also, when your there picking up your big order of clearly marked boxes of storage food, hopefully your grasshopper neighbor won't be coming in to pick up a carton of cigs and 12 pack...

[barfife]

Despite rumors their is no huge everything shipped to Japan food issue. It's just like the "gubmint is buying up all the storable food" rumors that circulate REGULARLY.

Their is a rush going on, but it's not from the gubmint buying up "all the food" and it started long before anything happened in Japan.

Food is still shipping in normal lead times.

Your looking for factory fresh food, not sitting on shelf (for how long already and at what temps?) food.

Dehydrated food is actually MUCH CHEAPER than buying wet packed grocery store items. We've done numerous posts about that on the net wherein true "costs" where shown. For example, your paying for a LOT of water in grocery store wet packed foods. When you drain that can of green beans, pat the beans down with a paper towel and then weigh them, it actually comes out similar price to dehydrated. PLUS you'll be replacing those wet packed cans 4-5 times or more in the same time period the dehydrated stores for.

I couldn't find any Sam's in my state nor in the northern section of Florida offering these products.

They are the same dehydrated food products you can purchase from established long term food suppliers also. Their is nothing special about getting them from Sam's club unless you have some special Sam's account with zero interest or some such deal.

We did a spreadsheet comparison of Sam's Club with the manufactor Arguson's comparing apples to apples on the 1 yr kit for four people and Sam's Club was $127 cheaper than Auguson's for what it is worth. And both only ship to your home.

[becky3086]

Humm, interesting. Not that it would ever help me any, lol.. I can't fit a pallet full of food in here, don't have nearly that sort of money and wouldn't want anyone to know I had that much food. So I think I'll just keep growing or buying whatever is on sale and dehydrating it myself but it is interesting to know that there are places out there that will have that much food.

[manowar]

i am in agreement with becky. i will continue to harvest and package my own food, here is why i think it is important.
1- sure you have purchased stored food, but what is the quality and are you limited by what the pallet contains as dar as prepareing it, yes you can store some seasonings but i think a pallet like that gives a false sense of confidence.
2- my second thought behind this is this-what happens when the ballon goes up, lets assume its a long term scenario and you have a yrs food stored, while you are way better off than most, what do you do from there what happens when that stuff runs out.
For me the confidence of building my own storage and tailoring it to my tastes and honestly local food stuff(think 100 mile diet) imho it will be very simple for me to peplace and have a continuous supply of food.
now that being said some stuff is hard to replace, salt pepper sugar oils, but i am working on that
dairy and eggs, flour easy for me to replace as i have leanred alternatives to these from the wild (and not so wild ) sources
manowar

[Lowdown3]

I think the best approach is to own the FACTORY as well as the WAREHOUSE.

Most "preppers" look at it simply as "I need X amount of food" (usually not much if they call themselves a "prepper". Most hardly understand the need for at least a year supply any more). Therefore they go and buy or pack themselves an "X amount of food." In their mind then, food is done. Cross it off on the cute little list and move on to the next accumulation drive.

Most homesteaders look at it in kinda the opposite way- "I grow a pile of food every year, their are edibles and wild game all around so I don't need food storage" blah blah blah. They are counting on a continual replenishment just as the "prepper" is counting on his stockpile.

Neither are completely right but both are on the right track.

The food stockpile is like a warehouse full of goods. The "warehouse" can be small (couple months worth) or it can be larger (couple years worth). However everything used from the warehouse adds to the depletion of the warehouse. Sooner or later, the warehouse is EMPTY. Might be "72 hours" from now, might be 72 days or 72 weeks.

The food PRODUCTION capabilities you are currently working are like a factory. The factory can grow/raise/kill/capture etc. more food. Presenting the possibility of a regular amount of new food being added to the warehouse.

Without the FACTORY, the warehouse will eventually deplete and your done.

Without the WAREHOUSE, one serious problem at the factory (crop disease, severe drought, NBC event) and your done.

We need both.

For most people the "warehouse" is easy cause 80% of the time, it's simply a function of money, using your CC to go and buy what you need. It's the "factory" that's work...

[barfife]

I think the best approach is to own the FACTORY as well as the WAREHOUSE.

Most "preppers" look at it simply as "I need X amount of food" (usually not much if they call themselves a "prepper". Most hardly understand the need for at least a year supply any more). Therefore they go and buy or pack themselves an "X amount of food." In their mind then, food is done. Cross it off on the cute little list and move on to the next accumulation drive.

Most homesteaders look at it in kinda the opposite way- "I grow a pile of food every year, their are edibles and wild game all around so I don't need food storage" blah blah blah. They are counting on a continual replenishment just as the "prepper" is counting on his stockpile.

Neither are completely right but both are on the right track.

The food stockpile is like a warehouse full of goods. The "warehouse" can be small (couple months worth) or it can be larger (couple years worth). However everything used from the warehouse adds to the depletion of the warehouse. Sooner or later, the warehouse is EMPTY. Might be "72 hours" from now, might be 72 days or 72 weeks.

The food PRODUCTION capabilities you are currently working are like a factory. The factory can grow/raise/kill/capture etc. more food. Presenting the possibility of a regular amount of new food being added to the warehouse.

Without the FACTORY, the warehouse will eventually deplete and your done.

Without the WAREHOUSE, one serious problem at the factory (crop disease, severe drought, NBC event) and your done.

We need both.

For most people the "warehouse" is easy cause 80% of the time, it's simply a function of money, using your CC to go and buy what you need. It's the "factory" that's work...

Well put.

Personally, my family and I started prepping (half-heartedly) about 2 years ago. We upped the game about a year ago when I closed my business due to the economy. By this time, we had almost a year's worth of food stored and were very glad (and proud of ourselves) to have that reserve. With more time on my hands, I started reading, researching and, upon gathering more knowledge, became aware of how ill prepared we really were. And then we started getting serious.....and on a budget.

We purchased the Sam's Club (Augustason Farms) with our income tax refund. We thought it a good investment in our family's future. It provides us with a better insurance policy as we continue to learn skills and refine our prepping. Now our store of food is two years and we are focusing on other items and skills we need to survive.

My wife and I joke between us that, even if we don't need it for WSHTF, we have a food reserve when we get old and broke and won't have to eat dog food!

We continue to grow, to prep and to learn. Thanks to those on this site that continue to mentor those of us playing catch up.

[manowar]

I think the best approach is to own the FACTORY as well as the WAREHOUSE.

Most "preppers" look at it simply as "I need X amount of food" (usually not much if they call themselves a "prepper". Most hardly understand the need for at least a year supply any more). Therefore they go and buy or pack themselves an "X amount of food." In their mind then, food is done. Cross it off on the cute little list and move on to the next accumulation drive.

Most homesteaders look at it in kinda the opposite way- "I grow a pile of food every year, their are edibles and wild game all around so I don't need food storage" blah blah blah. They are counting on a continual replenishment just as the "prepper" is counting on his stockpile.

...

that is the dilema isn't it! my concern is making thru the first yr or 2 then hoping life will normalize out generally thru attrition. i live outside a very small town about 300 or so miles north of 5 million folks who all think food is just running around up here. they are wrong and will suffer greatly for it.how to survive the first yr is the challenge. keeps me on my toes trying to outthink a scenario in which i cannot imagine the outcome nor predict a the variables

[SylviyaDsouza]

No one likes prepping at home..

[1Admin]

No one likes spammers either..

[becky3086]

I do believe you should have some storage and I don't believe I have enough but I also believe I have to know how to produce and store what I produce as well. I just keep working at both.

[Bearman202]

The problem I have with the packaged plans is that they contain a LOT of stuff that I don't eat on a regular basis. I'm on a bit of a restricted diet, (low carb due to pre-diabetes) and many of them contain wayyyy too many. The other problem I've noticed is with places like the Survival Seed Bank or whatever they call it. It's just chocked full of stuff I have never eaten, probably never will eat, and have no interest in trying. If I'm going to plant something and nurture it to maturity, it's going to be something I LIKE to eat....

[monkeybird]

Your right Bearman - the survival seed banks do have a lot of vegetables I've never eaten either. I bought mine from Costco and the seeds are guaranteed for 7 years. They are in a sealed container and I keep them in the freezer. I bought them as a 'just in case' type thing. That said, I planted this years garden with seeds from last years plus 3 more non-hybrid additions.

I've been working toward being able to produce enough food for my family to eat during the PAW. I've learned a whole lot. First of all, the number of plants needed to supply a family with vegetables in not one or two but a row of them. I plan on having my first fall garden this year. I'm trying to get my garden area set up with augmented soil etc, so that I'll have it when it's really needed!