Best foodstuff to stockpile?
- Thread starter sumi
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wooddustmaker
Lovin' The Homestead
The best foods to store what you eat, and eat what you store.......
Denim Deb
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Chocolate. 
Britesea
Sustainability Master
lol @Denim Deb ! But you are right- cocoa powder is a good thing to stockpile- it adds all kinds of comfort foods to your repertoire, and would probably be a good barter item as well.
Water and a way to purify more water -- The rule of three! You can live 3 weeks without food, but only 3 days without water (3 hours without shelter, and 3 minutes without air, lol)
Rolled Oats -- high protein, quick cooking, stores well, very cheap, and in a pinch it doesn't even need to be cooked.
Honey -- stores forever, gives good energy, tasty, and has some medicinal properties as well
Wheat Berries or other whole grain such as quinoa, barley, corn, etc.-- these can be ground to make flour for some sort of bread, they can be sprouted for greens, with beans they provide a complete protein, complex carbs for energy, and they store well as whole grains
Rice -- with beans they provide a complete protein, not very allergenic-well tolerated by most people, unfortunately only white rice has a long storage life though
Beans -- one of the best vegetable proteins around, very filling, they can be sprouted for greens, but they take a long time to cook (lots of fuel!) and the longer they are stored, the harder they get.
Lard or Olive Oil -- as long as it is kept in an airtight container it has a very long shelf life, fat is one of the hardest things to find in a subsistence situation. Coconut oil also has a long shelf life, but I wonder just how helpful it would be as it appears to help in LOSING weight, and in this situation, calories will be KING.
Enough seeds to plant a garden at least 3 years in a row-- vacuum sealed and kept away from light seeds will keep for years, store 3 years' worth in case of crop failure.
I think these cover the bare basics of life support. Everything else would be icing on the cake.
Water and a way to purify more water -- The rule of three! You can live 3 weeks without food, but only 3 days without water (3 hours without shelter, and 3 minutes without air, lol)
Rolled Oats -- high protein, quick cooking, stores well, very cheap, and in a pinch it doesn't even need to be cooked.
Honey -- stores forever, gives good energy, tasty, and has some medicinal properties as well
Wheat Berries or other whole grain such as quinoa, barley, corn, etc.-- these can be ground to make flour for some sort of bread, they can be sprouted for greens, with beans they provide a complete protein, complex carbs for energy, and they store well as whole grains
Rice -- with beans they provide a complete protein, not very allergenic-well tolerated by most people, unfortunately only white rice has a long storage life though
Beans -- one of the best vegetable proteins around, very filling, they can be sprouted for greens, but they take a long time to cook (lots of fuel!) and the longer they are stored, the harder they get.
Lard or Olive Oil -- as long as it is kept in an airtight container it has a very long shelf life, fat is one of the hardest things to find in a subsistence situation. Coconut oil also has a long shelf life, but I wonder just how helpful it would be as it appears to help in LOSING weight, and in this situation, calories will be KING.
Enough seeds to plant a garden at least 3 years in a row-- vacuum sealed and kept away from light seeds will keep for years, store 3 years' worth in case of crop failure.
I think these cover the bare basics of life support. Everything else would be icing on the cake.
baymule
Sustainability Master
What Britesea said. Plus sugar. Sugar is a good preservative for jams and jellies. Lots of jars and lids and rings. Planting fruit trees and berries for repeat seasonal food is a good idea.
If things got really bad, let yard grow up in weeds and plant root crops scattered throughout. Most people wouldn't know what they were looking at.
If things got really bad, let yard grow up in weeds and plant root crops scattered throughout. Most people wouldn't know what they were looking at.
Lazy Gardener
Super Self-Sufficient
Not really SHTF deal, b/c one can't depend on a freezer to keep food safe during long term power outages. But, based on current information re: food crops in US, and pork E-Bola in China, I intend to clean the junk out of the freezers, and load up. Pork is at a good price right now. My chickens will be eating well. Some old veggies, and frost bitten meat needs to go their way.
I continue to jump on my soap box when ever possible: If every one who COULD... WOULD:
1. Grow some of their own veggies. Even a tub planter can harbor cukes, tomatoes. A window box can produce salad and herbs. Tuck some veggies into flower beds. Many garden plants are beautiful: Bright Lights Swiss Chard, lettuce comes in all colors and shapes. Squash or beans can be trellised to provide height and shade accents. Corn would provide a nice height accent. Tomatoes, cukes, zucchini would lend themselves to the flower bed. Even potatoes would make a nice addition to a flower bed, or could be grown in a tub at the front door! Hay/straw bale gardening. Hydroponics for the city dweller. If you've got the space, go bigger. Even square foot gardening can provide food for the summer, and more to preserve for the winter. Challenge any HOA or zoning laws against small back yard (or even front yard) gardens.
LEARN HOW TO PRESERVE FOOD. DON'T JUST LEARN ABOUT IT. COLLECT THE NEEDED EQUIPMENT AND START DOING IT. EXPERIENCE IS THE BEST TEACHER.
2. Keep a back yard flock for eggs/meat/fertilizer. Even an urban homeowner with a postage sized lot COULD keep a mini flock of bantams. Challenge the city zoning laws regarding keeping a small back yard poultry flock. If your zoning laws allow dogs, they should allow chickens. A flock can be kept with minimal impact on neighbors. One can even put sound proofing fencing in place.
3. Compost, vermicompost. Challenge HOA and zoning laws against composting. Composting can be done neatly, without odor, and without even being visible to the neighbors.
4. Consider rabbits or goats, hair sheep if you live rural, and have the time and energy, desire for these animals.
5. Make purchase choices of meat/veggies in season or when these items are offered at discount.
6. Spend less than you earn. Make a conscious decision to get out of debt. Use, reuse, recycle. Before taking your wallet out of your pocket, consider why you are buying that item. Is it a need? Want? Desire? Do you have something at home that will get the job done? Can you wait till it's on sale? Drive your car until it becomes the oldest car in the Walmart parking lot. And... until it simply can't be depended upon to get you there and back safely. While working to get out of debt, build a 3 month emergency fund. Make eating out a special occasion, not a usual event. Consider how you can enjoy the eating out experience while cutting the cost. Hubby and I will often split an entree. (who needs all those calories in the mega portions served?) We never do dessert, but might pick up a package of choc. chip cookies after dining out! Cook meals at home. Cook enough for the next meal. Make meals to freeze.
If individual families became independent in all of these measures, our government would be turned on it's ear. This country just might turn it'self around b/c it would be populated with folks who are able to think for themselves, take care of themselves, and therefore are not willing to hand over their freedom in the mistaken belief that our government leaders are working hard to take care of us. While some government is necessary, and a good thing, we are currently living in the era of the "fox guarding the chicken house."
And, finally... most importantly... get your spiritual house in order. How can we as a nation ask God to take care of us when we ignore and defy Him at every turn?
I continue to jump on my soap box when ever possible: If every one who COULD... WOULD:
1. Grow some of their own veggies. Even a tub planter can harbor cukes, tomatoes. A window box can produce salad and herbs. Tuck some veggies into flower beds. Many garden plants are beautiful: Bright Lights Swiss Chard, lettuce comes in all colors and shapes. Squash or beans can be trellised to provide height and shade accents. Corn would provide a nice height accent. Tomatoes, cukes, zucchini would lend themselves to the flower bed. Even potatoes would make a nice addition to a flower bed, or could be grown in a tub at the front door! Hay/straw bale gardening. Hydroponics for the city dweller. If you've got the space, go bigger. Even square foot gardening can provide food for the summer, and more to preserve for the winter. Challenge any HOA or zoning laws against small back yard (or even front yard) gardens.
LEARN HOW TO PRESERVE FOOD. DON'T JUST LEARN ABOUT IT. COLLECT THE NEEDED EQUIPMENT AND START DOING IT. EXPERIENCE IS THE BEST TEACHER.
2. Keep a back yard flock for eggs/meat/fertilizer. Even an urban homeowner with a postage sized lot COULD keep a mini flock of bantams. Challenge the city zoning laws regarding keeping a small back yard poultry flock. If your zoning laws allow dogs, they should allow chickens. A flock can be kept with minimal impact on neighbors. One can even put sound proofing fencing in place.
3. Compost, vermicompost. Challenge HOA and zoning laws against composting. Composting can be done neatly, without odor, and without even being visible to the neighbors.
4. Consider rabbits or goats, hair sheep if you live rural, and have the time and energy, desire for these animals.
5. Make purchase choices of meat/veggies in season or when these items are offered at discount.
6. Spend less than you earn. Make a conscious decision to get out of debt. Use, reuse, recycle. Before taking your wallet out of your pocket, consider why you are buying that item. Is it a need? Want? Desire? Do you have something at home that will get the job done? Can you wait till it's on sale? Drive your car until it becomes the oldest car in the Walmart parking lot. And... until it simply can't be depended upon to get you there and back safely. While working to get out of debt, build a 3 month emergency fund. Make eating out a special occasion, not a usual event. Consider how you can enjoy the eating out experience while cutting the cost. Hubby and I will often split an entree. (who needs all those calories in the mega portions served?) We never do dessert, but might pick up a package of choc. chip cookies after dining out! Cook meals at home. Cook enough for the next meal. Make meals to freeze.
If individual families became independent in all of these measures, our government would be turned on it's ear. This country just might turn it'self around b/c it would be populated with folks who are able to think for themselves, take care of themselves, and therefore are not willing to hand over their freedom in the mistaken belief that our government leaders are working hard to take care of us. While some government is necessary, and a good thing, we are currently living in the era of the "fox guarding the chicken house."
And, finally... most importantly... get your spiritual house in order. How can we as a nation ask God to take care of us when we ignore and defy Him at every turn?
Last edited:
Marianne
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Agree 100%. The only thing I'd add is to plant fruit bearing trees and bushes, have a medicinal herb patch and print off recipes and instructions right now for how to treat various ailments with those plants (like how to use Hawthorn for high blood pressure, etc). You might not have power later.
I have a bunch of binders in my kitchen - cookbooks that I put together with recipes that we like, and sections for cooking on a wood stove, master mixes, substitutions for ingredients, etc. I may not need any of them next week, but they'll be there.
I have a bunch of binders in my kitchen - cookbooks that I put together with recipes that we like, and sections for cooking on a wood stove, master mixes, substitutions for ingredients, etc. I may not need any of them next week, but they'll be there.
Mini Horses
Sustainability Master
I like some of the plant info we have seen appearing on various threads for health and personal/animal care. Many are natural plants & bushes that may not be "food" but have serviceable use.
Beauty berry & smartberry -- for instance -- both have bug protection for us/animals, eating qualities for animals & we can eat the Beauty berry. Elderberries, wild blackberries, blueberries, nuts, plantain, dandelions, on & beyond foraging, health benefits. So, keeping some list of things would be beneficial in one of those binders. It would give guidance to hunt them. In times of stress, we often don't think of such things as what may be there, just not in our "possession".
OK, in times of aging we don't either...
I have books which tell you how to make find & collect water, sanitize it, make lye & test for strength, make vinegar, ferment for kraut & such veggies, make traps, etc., etc. OLD fashioned & survival ways that many don't always know to do. Winters I often scan thru them, vet & herbal books, etc.
Beauty berry & smartberry -- for instance -- both have bug protection for us/animals, eating qualities for animals & we can eat the Beauty berry. Elderberries, wild blackberries, blueberries, nuts, plantain, dandelions, on & beyond foraging, health benefits. So, keeping some list of things would be beneficial in one of those binders. It would give guidance to hunt them. In times of stress, we often don't think of such things as what may be there, just not in our "possession".
OK, in times of aging we don't either...
I have books which tell you how to make find & collect water, sanitize it, make lye & test for strength, make vinegar, ferment for kraut & such veggies, make traps, etc., etc. OLD fashioned & survival ways that many don't always know to do. Winters I often scan thru them, vet & herbal books, etc.
Marianne
Super Self-Sufficient
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I've been trying to start a similar binder here! Most of it's currently recipes tho lol
I agree! Anyway we could convince you for some wisdom from those pages?.?
hahahahaha
I have 5 binders of varying thickness at this point, most with recipes. I just grabbed one that has:
All kinds of cleaning recipes, including ones that I don't use now. You never know what you're going to have available if the worst-case scenario hits or you are doing the eco friendly/minimalist/no buy kind of lifestyle.
Treatment for cats and dogs: Ear mites, yeast infections, hot spots, fleas, homemade cat food, etc.
Various recipes for outdoor plants and critters: Insecticidal soap recipe, supposed weed killer, dealing w/moles (plant some chocolate lilies or skunk lilies around your yard or garden and that will help repel them), white flies, etc.
Some medicinal related recipes and notes: Elderberry syrup, various wart removal, skin tag removal, various medicinal uses for ACV, how to make mustard plasters, how to make drawing salve, etc.
Everything that I have was printed off from the internet. Some I googled, others are notes from what I read in forums or groups. I'm pretty sure I have a lot printed off from this one, as well. Some other sites I used were Earth Clinic, maybe the Boy Scouts...Doom and Gloom forums, camping forums, alternative energy, passive solar... You can look at your own lifestyle, then research what you'd need or want. Print it off. Scribble notes on those pages.
I overthink many things. One day when I was washing a few dishes, I thought 'what would I do if this was the last dish soap I could ever get'. After that moment, I looked at everything with a different view. And started researching.
In a perfect world at my age and health, I'd have elderberry bushes, soap nut trees, hawthorn bushes, apple trees (to make ACV, too!), bee hives, herbs, etc, everything and anything I could grow out here for medicinal use. With a small garden, a stash of dry foods, and with a few hens, I hope I could barter for some occasional butter, milk or lard.
Oh crap... and flour and sugar. Ha! It's been a while since I was overthinking this!!
CrealCritter
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I believe you... When I first started brewing beers I went to great lengths to clarify the beers I brewed. But here recently with the German styles I've brewed, I don't clarify at all. Yeast really does contribute to the flavor profile and seems to be working very well for my gut health.
I just poured a glass of what I'm calling a finished traditional bock beer now. Like you said it's liquid bread. I'm quite certain unfiltered beer is higher in calories than filtered beer. That's just another reason to exercise moderation.
