In gathering oatmeal, white sugar, brown sugar, white rice, brown rice, cornmeal, flour, beans etc. for our large family, we initially bought them in bags from our local Sam's Club. These were cheap, and we could buy large bags for relatively little money. Even our larger home which we custom built for the purpose of adding extra storage, cannot accomodate so many things, and then, when the kitchen had a brief infestation of pantry moths, we were left reconsidering how we stock extra food.
Now, within the kitchen itself and within the pantry, we store only what we will use within six months. Anything beyond that, we are storing in a disaster supply room in industrial sized #10 cans which are freeze dried. The #10 cans which are freeze dried are a more expensive way of buying things than in the sacks, but many of them last 20-30 years, and once opened, have plastic lids which will keep them consumable for a year. So now, we gather more expensively than we did, but we have more confidence about our supplies lasting longer. They also require much less storage space than was required by all those sacks. With two family members moving out now, we also have a needs shift, which is allowing us to think a little differently also.
Each family is different. Special family needs dictate that certain supplies will be needed, and some families won't benefit or enjoy things I like to stock. Each family must therefore take a serious look at what they are willing to give floor and closet space to, and what would be a waste.
As I mentioned in a prior post, our favorite emergency food source is Augason Farms.
www.augasonfarms.com
Our daughter is a juvenile diabetic since age 9, when a virus (Coxsackie B4 variety) wiped out her beta cells, and her ability to make any insulin at all. Therefore, I can't stock up exclusively on rice, peanut butter, and some of the starchier foods that many of us tend to buy when stocking up like squirrels. I do wish to call your attention to the fact that once these foods are properly reconstituted, that they are very helpful in the diets of diabetics, of wither Type I or Type II diabetes melliitus varieties. She especially likes the fruits and the vegetables when reconstituted. We also make a chili soup which she can have, which involves reconstituting Augason Farms chili, and then taking a half a reconstituted cup and adding it to our daughter's favorite low salt tomato soup. It makes a great and easy soup which she enjoys with a salad. (Don't forget to stock up with lots of cans of chick peas, also called garbanzo beans. These also come low salt and can be a wonderful source of protein on a salad, especially with a creamy salad dressing you make yourself.)
This is an Augason Farms link on their foods found in large #10 cans:
http://www.nbcguide.com/food/AugasonFarms.htm
Sam's Club in different parts of the country carries a limited number of the Augason Farms line.
You might wish to check www.samsclub.com to see if the items you like might be available, as sometimes, it is less expensive to have these items shipped to you from Sam's than it might be from Augason, depending upon your location. Some Sam's Clubs in the midwest and west actually sell the large #10 cans on their shelves too.
Augason Farms also sells a large range of gluten free foods for the gluten intolerant.
Of course, those who need a fair number of daily carbohydrates and calories will find plenty of food at Augason Farms that they can eat.
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Another source of canned freeze dried food is Nitro-Pak. I have also purchased from them on occasion.
http://www.nitro-pak.com/products/freeze-dried-foods/mountain-house-10-cans/?gclid=CJfh78r4tLECFYfe4AodQkMAGQ
They also have their website structured for those who are looking for certain prices, special food needs such as specific allergens, and for reduced or controlled calories.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another company my family has used is Emergency Essentials. This is a link which will take you directly to the #10 cans of freeze dried foods.
http://beprepared.com/category.asp_Q_c_E_950
Their very own brand, Provident Pantry has some unusual things you may wish to add to your food stores.
I like the freeze dried Monterey Jack cheese, sharp cheddar and the Mozzarella cheese also. I have not yet tried the Colby cheese. They also sell sausage crumbles.
To meet the food needs of our families in the future it is likely to take more careful planning and buying, and some reliance on our emergency food supply. It will take combining foods you can obtain freshly, along with foods you bought recently with some of these items from long term storage. These are simply some alternatives to consider.
Now, within the kitchen itself and within the pantry, we store only what we will use within six months. Anything beyond that, we are storing in a disaster supply room in industrial sized #10 cans which are freeze dried. The #10 cans which are freeze dried are a more expensive way of buying things than in the sacks, but many of them last 20-30 years, and once opened, have plastic lids which will keep them consumable for a year. So now, we gather more expensively than we did, but we have more confidence about our supplies lasting longer. They also require much less storage space than was required by all those sacks. With two family members moving out now, we also have a needs shift, which is allowing us to think a little differently also.
Each family is different. Special family needs dictate that certain supplies will be needed, and some families won't benefit or enjoy things I like to stock. Each family must therefore take a serious look at what they are willing to give floor and closet space to, and what would be a waste.
As I mentioned in a prior post, our favorite emergency food source is Augason Farms.
www.augasonfarms.com
Our daughter is a juvenile diabetic since age 9, when a virus (Coxsackie B4 variety) wiped out her beta cells, and her ability to make any insulin at all. Therefore, I can't stock up exclusively on rice, peanut butter, and some of the starchier foods that many of us tend to buy when stocking up like squirrels. I do wish to call your attention to the fact that once these foods are properly reconstituted, that they are very helpful in the diets of diabetics, of wither Type I or Type II diabetes melliitus varieties. She especially likes the fruits and the vegetables when reconstituted. We also make a chili soup which she can have, which involves reconstituting Augason Farms chili, and then taking a half a reconstituted cup and adding it to our daughter's favorite low salt tomato soup. It makes a great and easy soup which she enjoys with a salad. (Don't forget to stock up with lots of cans of chick peas, also called garbanzo beans. These also come low salt and can be a wonderful source of protein on a salad, especially with a creamy salad dressing you make yourself.)
This is an Augason Farms link on their foods found in large #10 cans:
http://www.nbcguide.com/food/AugasonFarms.htm
Sam's Club in different parts of the country carries a limited number of the Augason Farms line.
You might wish to check www.samsclub.com to see if the items you like might be available, as sometimes, it is less expensive to have these items shipped to you from Sam's than it might be from Augason, depending upon your location. Some Sam's Clubs in the midwest and west actually sell the large #10 cans on their shelves too.
Augason Farms also sells a large range of gluten free foods for the gluten intolerant.
Of course, those who need a fair number of daily carbohydrates and calories will find plenty of food at Augason Farms that they can eat.
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| ( Photo: leahkillian.com ) |
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| ( Photo also: leahkillian.com ) |
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Another source of canned freeze dried food is Nitro-Pak. I have also purchased from them on occasion.
http://www.nitro-pak.com/products/freeze-dried-foods/mountain-house-10-cans/?gclid=CJfh78r4tLECFYfe4AodQkMAGQ
They also have their website structured for those who are looking for certain prices, special food needs such as specific allergens, and for reduced or controlled calories.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another company my family has used is Emergency Essentials. This is a link which will take you directly to the #10 cans of freeze dried foods.
http://beprepared.com/category.asp_Q_c_E_950
Their very own brand, Provident Pantry has some unusual things you may wish to add to your food stores.
I like the freeze dried Monterey Jack cheese, sharp cheddar and the Mozzarella cheese also. I have not yet tried the Colby cheese. They also sell sausage crumbles.
