|
GUIDE TO
FOOD & WATER STORAGE
VERSION 3.0
By Jesse
Reed
posted January
23, 1999 |
|
Disclaimer:
This guide is designed to provide
general information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is
distributed with the understanding that the author is not engaged in
rendering any professional services. It is not to be utilized as a
substitute for professional advice or services. We believe the
following information to be true and accurate, but make no claim as
to the accuracy or reliability, either expressed or implied. This
information is presented for informational purposes only. The author
permits individuals to copy or distribute this document -in whole or
in part- with accompanying credits. However it is not to be sold
without written permission from the
author. |
What To Store
Grains
The foundation of all food
storage programs should be grains, which are nutritious, as well as
inexpensive and easy to store. (See below for a list of bulk food
suppliers. You should also be able to get these products locally.)
Hard red winter wheat is a
good variety of wheat for baking bread and sprouting. Thus you will
probably want the majority of your wheat to be hard red winter
wheat.
Corn should also be a part
of your food storage program. Whole corn has a longer shelf life and
retains its nutritional value better than storing cornmeal. Dent
corn can be stored for making tortillas.
Brown rice has an advantage
over white because of its high nutritional value. However, because
of its high fat content, it will not store very long (up to 2-3
years at room temp. with low oxygen levels). White rice will store
many years.
Oats are most easily stored
in their "rolled" form, as whole oats will have some of the hulls
left on.
A variety of other grains
such as rye, barley, millet, and pastas can also be included in your
storage program.
A grain mill will also be
needed for grinding these grains. Sources below: Christian Family
Resources, Azure Standard and Millennium Outfitters, L.L.C.
Beans
Soybeans are an essential
part of any food storage program, because of their high protein
content. Soy can be used in baked goods, or as milk and meat
substitutes. Soybeans have a shelf life of only 3-4 years unless
packaged in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere.
It would be good to have a
variety of other beans, including ones that cook quickly, such as
lentils and black beans.
Dehydrated and Freeze-Dried
Fruits, Vegetables and Dairy Products
Fruits, vegetables and dairy
products, etc, should be purchased professionally dehydrated and
prepackaged from a reputable food packing company. The following
dehydrated food products are recommended: Milk, butter, egg and
cheese powder, and a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Freeze-dried foods are more
expensive, and take more space than dehydrated food. However, they
have better flavor, and meat is only available
freeze-dried.
Sprouts
Because of the fact that
storage foods do not include fresh fruits and vegetables, which
provide important vitamins and minerals, it is important to be
prepared to grow sprouts to replace those “live” foods. Sprouts have
higher concentrations of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids than
either the seed or the grown plant. Sprouts are fun and easy to
grow, and can be used in a variety of ways. Add them to salads,
sandwiches, meat loaf, casseroles, bread recipes, etc. Liquify them
and add to beverages.
How to
Sprout
Soak seeds, beans or grain
overnight in 1-Qt. wide-mouth jar filled 1/2 full with warm water.
(Start with 1-3 Tbsp. seeds and adjust amount later depending on how
full jar becomes when sprouted.) Cover top of jar with cheesecloth,
gauze or pantyhose and secure with rubber band or jar ring. In AM,
drain water and rinse and drain again well. Store jar in dark place,
such as inside kitchen cabinet, or just covered with towel. Rinse
seeds 2 - 3 times daily for 2 - 4 days, draining well each time.
They may then be eaten or stored in a plastic bag in the
refrigerator. If sprouts seem tough or bitter, they probably were
sprouted too long.
Caution: Do not sprout seeds
intended for agricultural use as they have been treated with
insecticides. Also, tomato and potato seeds are poisonous and must
not be sprouted.
Miscellaneous
Foods
Items like baking soda,
baking powder, gluten, yeast, sugar, honey, salt, bouillon, oils,
nuts, peanut butter, etc. also need to be stored. Several of these,
including Crisco and oils, can be purchased at a supermarket and
stored in their original container safely for a couple of
years.
Also you should have a
sprouter and sprouting seeds because of their high nutritional
value.
Travel
/ Camping Foods
Travel and camping foods are
definitely not essential to a food storage program, but would be
useful in certain types of emergencies, such as when you need to
leave your home for a period of time.
MRE’s (meals-ready-to-eat)
are military meals that are packaged in metalized bags, and can be
eaten directly from the package.They have a shelf life of up to ten
years if kept at the right temperature. MRE’s can be purchased as
either entrees or complete meals. When purchasing MRE’s it is
important to be sure that they are fresh and have not been sitting
in a hot warehouse for an extended period of time.
Unlike MRE’s, emergency food
bars, such as "MainStay" brand, (not to be confused with sports
bars), can be stored in a hot environment like the trunk of a car
without going bad.
|
How Much To Store
The following list gives
approximate amounts for each type of food for one adult for one
year, at approximately 2450 calories per day.
• Grains = 300
pounds
• Beans & Legumes = 75 pounds
• Dairy = 40-50
pounds
• Meat/Meat Substitute = 10 - 20 pounds
• Fruits
& Vegetables = 20 - 30 pounds
• Sugars = 60 pounds
•
Fats = 20 - 30 pounds
For anyone on an extremely
tight budget, the U.S. government recommends the following as a
minimum amount to sustain life for one person for one
month:
• Wheat = 20 pounds
•
Corn = 20 pounds
• Soybeans = 10 pounds
• Ascorbic Acid
(vitamin C) = 15 grams
• Salt = 1
pound
|
Where To Buy It
|
|
CAVEAT EMPTOR -- LET THE BUYER
BEWARE:
We make the following
DISCLAIMER: Vendor names listed on our site have not been screened
by us and we make ABSOLUTELY NO claim relative to their product,
quality, reliability, service, or ability to make accurate,
efficient, or timely deliveries of goods and/or services.
We
recommend that you exercise all diligence and take precaution when
ordering, especially by mail. Make certain (for future reference),
that you obtain a customer number, an order number, and record all
pertinent information about the name, address, telephone number, and
name of the person and the department who processes your
order.
We also suggest that you obtain the name of the shipper
(e.g. UPS, FedEx), the shipping charges, the estimated time of
arrival (ETA), and ask for full disclosure of the company's return
policy in the event that items are not shipped on time, with
accuracy, or are damaged or destroyed in transit.
This list is
supplied as a public service and we do not endorse or sponsor any
vendor, nor do we have any financial gain in any of the companies
listed herein.
If you do not receive satisfactory service from
any of the vendors listed below, please list your complaint in
writing and send us a copy.
If you know of other
vendors not listed here, but some, based on your experience, you
believe are worthy of consideration, please e-mail the vendor's name, and
(toll-free) telephone number, website URL, or e-mail address. |
|
Bulk Food Suppliers
Ashland
Community Food Store
237 N. First
Ashland, OR
97520
482-2237
Azure
Standard
79079 Dufur Valley Rd.
Dufur, OR
9702l
541-467-2230
Complete line of bulk foods, health foods,
and nutritional supplements, Country Living Grain Mill,
etc.
Minimum order: $400.00 per drop-off point; includes free
delivery. Catalog: $0.45
Butte Creek
Mill
402 Royal N.
Eagle Point, OR
97524
541-826-3531
Some grains are in stock while others may
need to be ordered. It could take a month to receive some
items.
Cantwell’s
Market
310 Oak
Ashland, OR 97520
488-2120
Cantwell’s
Market
2630 E. Barnett Rd.
Medford, OR
97504
858-5444
Cash &
Carry
2033 Cardinal Ave.
Medford, OR
97504
773-9849
Costco
Wholesale
3639 Crater Lake Hwy.
Medford, OR
97504
541-734-0058
Beans & rice in 25 & 50 pound
sacks, and dehydrated potatoes in # 10 cans.
Food-4-Less
2230 Biddle
Rd.
Medford, OR
541-779-0171
Check with Bulk Foods Manager
for large quantities.
Medford
Grange Co-Op
253l S. Pacific Hwy.
Medford, OR.
97501
541-772-4730
Grain not approved for human consumption,
but for those of you who have animals to feed this is a good
source.
Mormon
Storehouse
7575 Pacific Ave.
White City, OR
97503
541-826-4220
Packing supplies and product by the pound.
Good prices. #10 canner can be rented by the week to use in your own
home.
Mountain
People’s Warehouse
12745 Earhart Ave.
Auburn, CA 95602
800-679-6733
Minimum order: $500.00. Catalog:
$4.50
Shop’N’Kart
2268 Hwy.
66
Ashland, OR 97520
488-1579
Wheat
Montana Farms
10778 Hwy. 287
Three forks, MT
59752
800-535-2798
4,000 pound minimum
Wild Berries
Community Market
106 E. Main St.
Rogue River, OR
97537
541-582-3075
Bulk Dehydrated Food Supplier
Best Prices
Storable Foods
1737 Cascade St.
Mesquite, (Dallas) Texas
75149
972-288-1262 (Bruce Hopkins)
Web Site: http://web2.airmail.net/foodstr2
This food would have to be
properly canned, by renting the #10 canner from the Mormon
Store.
Prepackaged Dehydrated Food
Suppliers
Walton Feed Distributors
Emergency
Essentials
National Catalog Sales Office
165 S. Mountain
Way Dr.
Orem, Utah 84058
801-222-9596
800-999-1863 (order
line)
Nitro-Pak
Preparedness Center
147 N. Main St.
Heber City, Utah
84302
800-866-4876
Perma Pak Food Distributors
Preparedness
Resources
3999 S. Main, Suite S-2
Salt Lake City, Utah
84107
801-268-3913, ext. 125 (Scott)
Emergency
Food Storage
322 Buckingham Pl.
Prescott, AZ
86303
Perma Pak
Food
1-800-822-0436 (Steve Shank)
Other Prepackaged Dehydrated Food
Companies
Bigfoot
360-256-9131
Carolyn
Ghena
2384 Upper River Rd.
Grants Pass, OR
97526
(541)-476-0620
Food counseling is provided for $50.00,
but is deducted from the price of your order. $350.00
minimum
Dehydrated prepackaged and bulk foods as well as other
survival items.
Alpineaire
Foods
PO Box 926
Nevada City, Nevada
95959
800-322-6325
Quality shelf stable foods which have a
long storage life, and are free of artificial additives. We
specialize in foods which require no cooking - just add
water.
Country
Harvest Foods
325 West 600 South
Heber City, Utah
84032
Orders: 800-322-2245 / 801-654-5400
Full line of
dehydrated foods.
Future
foods
PO Box1922
Orem, Utah
84059-1922
800-949-3663
Buy a year’s supply of groceries in
advance for no money down and 0% interest for an entire year. Pay as
little as $50 per month for an entire year’s supply. No shipping
charges on multiple units purchased. Receive entire order within 14
days of credit approval and make no payments for 30 days.
Golden Eagle
Enterprizes
9449 N. 90th. St.
Scottsdale, Arizona
85258
1-(800)-447-7911 (Jack Webber)
Homestead
Foods
PO Box 96
Victor, MT
59875
800-838-3132
Alpineaire gourmet reserves, shelf-stable
food storage systems available.
Major
Surplus & Survival
435 W. Alondra Blvd
Gardena, CA
90248
800-441-8855
Large selection MRE’s; emergency food bars,
dehydrated and bulk foods. 3 different catalogs available.
Nitro-Pak
Preparedness Center
147 N. Main Street
Heber City, Utah
84302
800-866-4876
Dehydrated and freeze-dried "no-cook"
storage foods. Catalog - $3.00
Preparedness
Resources
3999 S. Main, Suite S-2
Salt Lake City, Utah
84107
Full line of dehydrated foods.
Ponderosa
Sports & Mercantile, Inc.
PO Box 1016
Eagle, Idaho
83616
208-939-1513
26 page catalog - $1.00
Ready
Reserve Foods
PO Box 697
Beaumont, CA
92223
800-453-2202
100 different dry food products.
Sam Andy
Foods
800 W. Airport Fwy., Ste.#1100
Irving, Texas
75062
214-445-4144 / 800-331-0358
Periodic newsletter - call
to request your Free copy.
Star Food
Processing Inc.
3444 E. Commerce St.
San Antonio, TX
78220
800-882-MEAL
Fully cooked Heat & Eat serving trays.
Shelf stable and requires no refrigeration or freezing for storage.
Shelf life - 2 yrs.
Storehouse
Products
PO Box 690021
San Antonio, Texas
78260
210-690-7632
Complete line of dehydrated foods. Free
catalogue.
|
|
How To Package Food For
Storage
Preserving Your Own
Food. Some foods need to be purchased prepackaged
from a food storage company, but for dry foods such as grains and
beans, you can cut back on the expense by packaging them
yourself.
First you will need to
purchase plastic food-grade buckets. After putting the food in your
buckets, you will need to have some way of removing the oxygen to
preserve the food. One way this is done is by displacing the air
inside the bucket with carbon dioxide (CO2), or nitrogen. To do this
you will need a gas regulator and wand. The actual process is done
by filling your bucket with food, and inserting the wand to the
bottom of your bucket. Then just barely crack the valve of the gas
cylinder. The bucket will fill with gas in about two to five
minutes. To be sure all oxygen has been displaced, hold a lighted
match over the bucket. If the flame goes out immediately, you have
removed all the oxygen. You may now add an oxygen absorber on top of
the food if you wish, to absorb any oxygen that may be left in the
bucket, and put the lid on.
Another method is to use
about 1/4 lb. dry ice, wrapped in butcher paper, in the bottom of
the bucket, with the lid sitting very loosely over the top. Wait
about 20-30 min. and close lid. Then watch carefully to see if lid
starts to bulge. If it does, loosen lid and wait a few more minutes
for dry ice to finish melting. Once the lid no longer bulges, you
may close it.
CO2 (dry ice or a CO2
cylinder) has a disadvantage over nitrogen in that it sometimes
causes the bucket to suck in and deform, making it impossible to
open the lid. The problem is due to the fact that CO2 expands and
contracts with the temperature, so the trick is to: 1. Package the
food when the temperature is not very hot or cold (lest the buckets
collapse or bulge). 2. Be sure the buckets are filled as full and
tightly as possible with food, so there is less CO2 to contract, or
expand.
NOTE: DO NOT
store your food buckets on a concrete floor. Put boards underneath
them to keep them off the concrete.
For ordering buckets, gas
regulator and wand, and oxygen absorbers, see page 12 &13 . |
Related Food Storage
Products
|
|
CAVEAT EMPTOR -- LET THE BUYER BEWARE:
We make the following
DISCLAIMER: Vendor names listed on our site have not been screened
by us and we make ABSOLUTELY NO claim relative to their product,
quality, reliability, service, or ability to make accurate,
efficient, or timely deliveries of goods and/or services.
We
recommend that you exercise all diligence and take precaution when
ordering, especially by mail. Make certain (for future reference),
that you obtain a customer number, an order number, and record all
pertinent information about the name, address, telephone number, and
name of the person and the department who processes your
order.
We also suggest that you obtain the name of the shipper
(e.g. UPS, FedEx), the shipping charges, the estimated time of
arrival (ETA), and ask for full disclosure of the company's return
policy in the event that items are not shipped on time, with
accuracy, or are damaged or destroyed in transit.
This list is
supplied as a public service and we do not endorse or sponsor any
vendor, nor do we have any financial gain in any of the companies
listed herein.
If you do not receive satisfactory service from
any of the vendors listed below, please list your complaint in
writing and send us a copy.
If you know of other
vendors not listed here, but some, based on your experience, you
believe are worthy of consideration, please e-mail the vendor's name, and
(toll-free) telephone number, website URL, or e-mail address. |
|
M&M
Industries Inc.
Chattanooga, Tenn.
423-821-3302
White
food-grade buckets in various sizes, including 5 and 6 1/2 gallon,
with latching screw-top lids and gaskets.
Make sure you ask
for white buckets with gaskets, as they also carry grey and
black buckets which are NOT F.D.A. approved for food
storage.
Berry
Plastics
Evansville, ID
208-266-1277
Standard white
food-grade buckets
Olson’s
800-258-4292
Standard
white food-grade buckets
Medford Tool
& Supply
2160 N. Pacific Hwy.
Medford,
OR
772-0144
Gas regulator, hose & wand (for
CO2)
A & L
Welding Products
3100 N. Pacific Hwy.
Medford,
OR
779-0167
CO2 Tank
Impap
419 Del Monte
Ave.
Pasadena, CA. 91107
1-(626)-398-7300
Oxygen absorbers
and mylar bags
Millennium
Outfitters, L.L.C.
860 Board Shanty Creek Rd.
Grants Pass,
OR. 97527
541-862-2486 / 541-865-3370
Fuel, water & food
storage systems, non-electric lighting & appliances, grain
grinders, sprouters, medical kits, portable shelters, &
more.
|
Water Storage Products
Storing water is quite
simple. In fact everything you need to know is included in the
printed copy of this
Guide which includes
excerpts from the catalog which may be requested from the following
address.
Optimum
Preparedness Center
Yelm, WA
1-(360)-458-4602
50 page
catalog $3.00
|
What's New in
Version 3.0
Addition of sections
"Sprouts" and "How to Sprout" listed under "What to Store." Also
removal of advice formerly listed as "Update 7-27-98" because,
according to the author, it is not always true.
|
How to Order
a Printed Copy of this Guide
Copies of the GUIDE
TO FOOD & WATER STORAGE (including advertising copy not
available in this HTML version) are available for $2.00 each
(including postage) by sending cash, check, or money order
to:
Jesse
Reed
PO. Box 442
Eagle Point, OR 97524
If you have any questions,
please send them to the above address.
NOTE: The author is NOT
associated with any of the companies mentioned in this
guide.
|
|
