Food Storage Challenge

I just heard about a Food Storage Challenge that is being done at http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/. I might be a week late in telling you about it, but it is still interesting to go there and learn about it.

They are going to announce, on a surprise date in September, when you are supposed to experience an "emergency", whether it is an electrical blackout, or loss of water, or an evacuation, etc, and you are supposed to try to live as if you are in that emergency. I doubt if I will do it, but I am going to follow along and read the blog posts of everyone else. I need to learn how to get through those types of things.

Wayne and I did a somewhat similar challenge when we were engaged. Our student ward bishop at BYU surprised us one sacrament meeting by asking the whole ward to go without shopping at the store for one whole month, to see if anyone could do it. Wayne and I made it through a couple of weeks I think. I know his roommate Dave quit after just a few days, because he was forced to eat popcorn for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Bakin' with Powdered Eggs

I want to heartily recommend using powdered whole eggs for all your baking, they don't taste different at all. I have used them for at least 21 years, since we moved to North Carolina. I never have to worry whether I have eggs in the fridge for baking. (I only use them for baking. I use real eggs for scrambling, boiling, etc.)

You just use 1 Tablespoons of egg powder and 2 Tablespoons of water to substitute for one egg in a recipe. Easy!

P.S. I was asked where to buy this product. I order it from Emergency Essentials. Their website is www.beprepared.com.

Gotta Have Toilet Paper

I've always been a fan of food storage, but only in the last couple of years have I realized how many non-food items are super important to my happiness and wellbeing. So I have started trying to calculate how much of each thing I need, and to store a year's supply of it.

Carolyn Nicolaysen in Totally Ready blog said to keep track of how much toilet paper your family uses, and then use that figure to calculate a year's supply. I bought a package of Quilted Northern 12 "double rolls" and waited until we were out of toilet paper inside the house, then opened the package. It took us from Apr. 28 to May 19 to use it up, that is 22 days, that is about half a roll per day.

I am going to make sure I have at least 182 double-rolls of toilet paper (365 days X 1/2 roll per day), because I don't want to go without it.

(Of course, if we were stranded at home 100% of the time instead of going to work and school, we would use more, so I should include that in my calculations.)

I store food inside the house where it is airconditioned and heated. But paper goods don't need airconditioning, so here is how I store toilet paper and Kleenex and paper towels in my attic. Seth built these shelves in between the trusses.

Solar Ovens

As you know, I am interested in emergency preparedness, and I worry about things like hurricanes and ice storms, which knock out power in our area on a regular basis, every few years. So I like to see ways to cook or heat without power. Here are several articles with instructions and photos of solar ovens, which can boil water or bake bread or whatever.

Now I am trying to collect the cardboard boxes, plexiglass, black spray paint, etc. that I need to build one.

Making and using a solar cooker

Inventor turns cardboard boxes into eco-friendly oven

Solar-powered Cardboard Cooker

Websites: Food Storage, Pandemic

I found two excellent websites about food storage. The first is called Food Storage Made Easy, written by Jodi and Julie. Check it out.

One of their posts that I really liked was entitled "Lies about Long Term Food Storage Debunked!!" You can find it by clicking HERE.

The next website is one that tells you how long the shelf life is for all different foods, including the ones opened in your fridge. The website is called StillTasty.

Non-fiction Books I Really Liked

These books gave me a greater understanding of what types of disasters can happen, and what things I need to think about.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

The Edge of Disaster- by Stephen Flynn
America the Vulnerable- by Stephen Flynn

The Unthinkable: Who Survives when Disaster strikes and why- by Amanda Ripley (See my lengthy book review of this book in my blog Aug. 6, 2008)


MANMADE DISASTERS, CATASTROPHES

Curse of the Narrows- by Laura M. MacDonald (Dec. 6, 1917 Halifax Explosion) This was the largest accidental manmade explosion in history, and wiped out a whole town.

The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland- by Jim Defede

The Year of the Great Crash: 1929 by William K. Klingaman

Fire Extinguisher Care

I was worried that my fire extinguishers were too old so I called the fire department to see if they would inspect them. The fireman said they don't inspect fire extinguishers, but he said to just look at the dial and see if the arrow pointed to the green area that says "Full". He said once it is discharged it has to be serviced.



He also said that the powder inside can get crusty on top from settling. Here's what to do to prevent that: Every six months or so, turn it upside side down and back again. Rock it back and forth, you should be able to feel the powder pouring back and forth inside. If not, knock on it with a rubber mallet to loosen up the powder.

Masks for Flu Pandemic

After studying the bird flu pandemic for months now, I finally bought a supply of N95 face masks. (Every article I read said to buy "N95" masks.) The cheapest price I found on the internet was from ZefonInternational. I was able to get 3M 8000 N95 Particulate Dust Masks, 30 per box for $9.85 ($0.38 each). (For comparison, Emergency Essentials is selling these for $12.99 for a box of 20, $.65 each.)

These have a metal bar that can be shaped across the bridge of the nose, and would be worn for short times and then discarded. (Note: Since I bought mine, the 3M 8000 Dust Masks have been repackaged as 3M 8200, which come 20 to a package for $8.75, which equals $0.437 each. So the prices are going up.)

I also bought the fancier ones, with the valve in front to help you breathe longer without moisture building up inside, and then discarded. Those were 3M 8511 N95 Particulate Respirators, 10 per box for $15.80 ($1.58 each).



Those were the ones I bought, March 2009. I can't tell you if they were the best for the job or not, just that they were the best prices I found when I searched the web.

More Information:

Why to store masks, who is storing masks, what kind of masks to buy.
"Pandemic--Face Masks"

How many you need, what sizes.
"Pandemic-N95 Face Masks and an update on the Peanut Butter Recall" written Jan. 1, 2009

The following quote is from the article "FDA Clears First Respirators for Use in Public Health Medical Emergencies"

"An N95 filtering facepiece respirator is a type of face mask that fits tightly over the nose and mouth. It is made of fibrous material that is designed to filter out at least 95 percent of very small airborne particles...

"While the exact nature and concentration of the biological agent or germ may not be known in a public health medical emergency, we believe that minimizing exposure will help reduce risk," said Daniel Schultz, M.D., director, FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health. "These respirators are only one part of a combination of approaches that can be used to help reduce the spread of infection between individuals during such events."

I thought this was important enough that I wanted to spend some of my food storage money on it.

Canned Butter, Canned Cheese

I'm sure you saw yesterday's post concerning how much one person needs for one year of food storage. We have a lot of things, but we don't have any butter and cheese stored, we just buy it every week at the store.

I just ordered some of this canned cheese and canned butter, and I hope to tell you later if we like it.

Here is a website describing the butter: http://www.internet-grocer.net/butter.htm


Here is a website describing the cheese: http://www.internet-grocer.net/cheese.htm


We are buying it at a discounted price from the internet price, because we are all buying it in a bulk order.

Women in my stake wrote this about the cheese and butter:

"What are canned cheese and canned butter? Canned butter is just what it sounds like - cream and salt made into butter, put into a can. When you remove the butter from the can, it is just like the butter you buy in the store. Real butter, NOT powdered. It costs more than the store, and it is possible to can it yourself in glass jars cheaper than buying it. Instructions are on the internet. The process requires turning the jars every five minutes for several hours, however, so I personally go with having a machine do it for me. I just know I'll forget. Canned butter is $4.25 per can, which is 3/4 lb, or the equivalent of three sticks of butter. 24 cans per case. $109 per case. Prices include shipping, and are discounted from the internet price.

"Canned Bega / Red Feather cheese - this is also real cheese, NOT powdered. I have several cases of this that I got on clearance last year, and my kids like it a lot. It is a cross between cheddar, American and gouda. It is white in color. You can shred it and put it on your lentil or split pea soup, melt it over pizza, make grilled cheese sandwiches, or whatever with it. $3 per can, slightly larger than a tuna can, weighing 8 oz; 36 cans per case, $100 per case."

"The cans i have had an expiration date on them of about 2 yrs from when i got them but "they" (whoever "they" are) say it will still be good from 10-15 years. the manufacturer has to put a pretty conservative expiration date. as for taste, the butter is just like any butter you buy fresh at the grocery. the cheese is ok; i'd say its very good for canned cheese but i would have to be very hungry to want to eat it plain by itself. still, it's better than powdered cheese by far. i have used it to make mac and cheese and it turned out pretty yummy. even my very picky eating kids ate it up."

I am also going to order "freeze dried grated mozzarella cheese" in a #10 can, that is $25 from Emergency Essentials, in their Group Specials for March 2009. Anybody want to buy some with me? We've got to order a minimum of 6 cans to get the $25 price.

What a Year's Food Storage Looks Like

(Note from Amy: These photos and text came from someone in a ward or stake somewhere that did a food storage display. See note at end.)

Exactly What Does a Basic 1 Year Food Storage for 1 Person Look Like?
These are the MINIMUM Basic Amounts of Food Needed for Survival for ONE PERSON for ONE YEAR: (Click on photos to make them bigger.)




DO YOU REALLY THINK YOU'RE READY TO LIVE ON THESE SURVIVAL RATIONS?











BARE-MINIMUM LDS Church Food storage requirements for
1 adult male for 1 year Appx. 2,300 calories per day. (only 695lbs total)
This will keep you fed, but leave you hungry.
TOTAL FOOD PER DAY = 24.65 Ounces
It seems like we beg, plead, and even offer to help anyone that will listen in an attempt to get others to get their food storage. We try to explain why they need it, and it feels like we are beating a dead horse. Some people try to rationalize that we "really" don't need to store everything that we have been asked to store. As I'm sure most of you have experienced, we hear every excuse for reasons why we can't store. The regular excuses of no money, no room, no time, don't know how to use wheat, or don't eat wheat, etc. But lately, I've heard "that is so much to store", that "our family would never use 400 pounds of grains per person in an entire year". Also, "we don't use that much salt or oil", therefore they don't feel they need to store it.
As what felt like my last feeble attempt to try to help, the thought came to actually create a display to show 1) what does that one year basic survival food for one person look like (the amounts the First Presidency has recommended), and 2) how much does that really work out to be per day?

This display has been amazingly successful in our Stake.

We purposely bought food that they could get at a grocery store, rather than overwhelming them with seeing tons of dry-pack cans or buckets. We broke out each item and gave them the prices of what this would cost locally. We even gave them the price of a shelve to store it on.
When I measured out the amounts to show what you would get per day, per person it was impressive. We took all those ingredients and by adding yeast (which we know is not on the basic list – but hopefully we have stored), we were able to make one loaf of bread and 1/3 cup of beans. That would be your food for the entire day. Not much. You would survive, but it won't be pretty.
Grains (400lbs)
Unless your family already eats 100% whole wheat homemade bread, white flour should be used in the transition process to whole wheat.
Adding rye flour (10%) helps make wheat bread a more
complete protein. Dent corn is used to make tortillas.

Beans & Legumes (90lbs)
{minimum reduced to only 60lbs in 2002}
Black beans cook quickly, make a good salad complement with a vinaigrette dressing over them.
Soybeans can be used to make soy milk and tofu, a protein food you should be prepared to make.
Familiarize yourself with sprouting techniques.
Learn how to make wheat grass juice - the best vitamin supplement you can use.
Milk-Dair products (75lbs)
{minimum reduced to only 16lbs in 2002}
Milk powder can be used to make cottage cheese, cream cheese and hard cheeses.
Ideally your milk should be fortified with Vitamins A & D.
When reconstituting aerate to improve flavor (special mixing pitchers can accomplish this). Whole eggs are the best all-purpose egg product.
Powdered sour cream has a limited shelf life unless frozen.
Meats / Meat substitute (20lbs)
{minimum reduced to only 0lbs in 2002}
Use meat in soups, stews and beans for flavor. Freeze dried is the best option for real meat. Textured Vegetable protein is the main alternative to freeze dried meats.
Fats / Oils (20lbs)
This group can boost the calories one is getting from food storage products, and supply essential fatty acids.
Sugars (60lbs)
Store your honey in 5 gallon pails.
Candy and other sweets can help with appetite fatigue.

Fruits / Vegetables (90lbs)
{minimum reduced to only zero lbs in 2002}
Some fruits and vegetables are best dehydrated, others freeze dried (strawberries & blueberries).
Fruits are a nice addition to hot cereal, muffins, pancakes and breads.
Auxiliary foods (weight varies)
Vanilla extract improves the flavor of powdered milk. T
he production of tofu requires a precipitator such as nigari, epsom salt, calcium chloride or calcium sulfide (good calcium source).
Learn how to make and use wheat gluten (liquid smoke adds good flavor).

Chocolate syrup and powdered drink mixes help with appetite fatigue.
Vitamins and protein powders will boost the nutrition levels of foods that may have suffered losses during processing.


Note
For an average adult Female - multiply the weight by 0.75
For children ages 1-3 multiply by 0.3, 4-6 multiply by 0.5, 7-9 multiply by 0.75
For adults engaged in manual labor multiply by 1.25-1.50


(Note from Amy: My sister forwarded these photos and this text to me. I emailed a note back to the originating person to get her permission to post this. When I find out who that is, I will credit her or take this off my blog and direct you to hers, if she has one.)

No Veggies

I just became aware of the drought in California. California grows one-sixth of the nation's produce, but look at their water situation:

"The US Bureau of Reclamation, which manages water allocation in arid regions, announced last week it will not provide vital irrigation to Central Valley farmers this year because of drought, and the California State Water Project expects to meet only 15 percent of water requests." (for full article, click HERE)

So what is that going to do to the availability and the price of fruits and vegetables? I have high hopes to begin my own small garden soon and I hope that will start our family on the path of growing more of our own food instead of ZERO.

I truly believe that we are living in the last days, prophecies are starting to be fulfilled all around us, and we need to follow our latter-day prophets and get our food storage and gardens and savings. Hard times are upon us and may get much worse.

I highly recommend the Totally Ready blog, it covers all these kinds of subjects.

Starting a Food Storage Plan for the Year

I have to tell everyone that Carolyn Nicolaysen on her Totally Ready blog has just restarted her one-year food storage program. (It is her Feb.2, 2009 entry, entitled "Our General Store").

Today is the day it begins, and if you read her blog every day and do what she says, you would have a great food supply built up by next year.

I love her blog, and have learned great things about emergency preparedness from her.

If you don't want to wait a year to get the whole program, you can go back and read her posts from the past couple of years, she has already been through the whole thing before. She also has a book you can pay $6.95 to download.