The Wendy DeWitt Food Storage Seminar

A few years ago, while perusing the internet, I stumbled onto this video, which I watched in it's entirely, and have watched several times since then. I've also shared it as much as possible, since I believe it's one of the most clear and concise seminars on Food Storage I've ever heard.

As you create a plan for your family, you're going to have to tweak things based on your budget, family size, storage arrangements, what you're comfortable storing, etc. There are many things in this seminar that might not be for you. But I believe it's a great beginning to get you thinking about possibilities and how you can start today to get your family prepared.

 

After watching this video, I began working on a specific "plan" for our family. We have always tried to set some extras aside, and have done a pretty good job of it. But as far as having a specific plan, or any rhyme or reason for what we were storing, well...that was an area that could use some improvement. We began to think more specifically about what we wanted to do. This is when things really got fun, and when we were really able to incorporate preparedness as a way of life. Family home storage, food storage, production and preservation isn't something we do. It's how we live. This makes life a lot more simple, organized and less financially stressful. It does take planning, organization and the desire to do it...as well as a healthy dose of adventure - being willing to be a bit flexible with learning new skills, and in some cases changing a lot about your family's shopping, cooking & eating habits.

 

By formulating an outline for your family, you'll have specific, measurable goals...and suddenly the whole thing doesn't seem so overwhelming. In any area of life, careful planning allows you to use your time, effort and resources more efficiently, thus getting more out of anything you're doing. Getting more "bang" for your buck! Family home storage is no different. Watch this video and then sit down for a few minutes and create an outline of the various areas of preparedness that she talks about. By planning your work, and then working your plan, you will be able to attain steady, measurable progress towards the preparedness and peace of mind that you so obviously want for your family. You know you want to...otherwise you wouldn't be taking precious moments out of your crazy day to read blogs like this...so go do it!

The booklets discussed in this class are offered free of charge in both English and Spanish. Email Wendy DeWitt at wdewitt22@gmail.com and put "booklet" in your subject line. She will email you a pdf copy. Her blog is also available with other information at everythingunderthesunblog.blogspot.com.

My Favorite Food Storage Calclulator

I finally found my favorite food storage calculator! The gals over at foodstoragemadeeasy.net have put together a fabulous calculator, complete with an instructional video if needed. You can find both of these goodies at the following link, about a 3/4 of the way down the page:

http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/babysteps/step-4-long-term-food-storage-planning/

The calculator is an excel spreadsheet, and is perfect for creating a plan, working your plan and tracking your progress. I wish I would have had this thing five years ago! Customize it to your family's needs, (if you're not familiar with Excel, the helpful video walks you through everything) and you're on your way!

How To Do Food Storage on $50 a Month

This is a basic guide mainly to show that it is possible to make significant progress towards your family home storage goals on a minimal budget. The items listed are suggestions and should help to get you thinking of items that would make the most sense for your family. The three sources I use in this example are Costco, the LDS Canning Center and Emergency Essentials, but you will know better than I where to get the best deals locally. Most of the time, buying in bulk will get you the best price. Please note that I made this list two years ago for a class I was teaching, so these prices are not current. I feel it's still a good illustration of making a plan, and what you can do with a small amount, consistently over time.

**If you are starting from scratch on a limited budget, I highly recommend focusing on the basics: Wheat, Rice, Oats, Pasta & Other Grains. This basic food could keep you and your family alive if necessary. Once you have these basic staples, you can begin to have fun with all the other wonderful options out there!

Month #1:
50lbs. Blue Ribbon White Rice @ Costco, 2 @ $17.99 each $35.98
25lbs. Diamond Crystal Salt @ Costco, 1 @ $3.25 each $3.25
25lbs. All Purpose Flour @ Costco, 1 @ $6.99 each $6.99
Month #1 Total: $46.22

Month #2:
50lbs. Blue Ribbon White Rice @ Costco, 1 @ $17.99 each $17.99
25lbs. All Purpose Flour @ Costco, 1 @ $6.99 each $6.99
20lbs. Bulk Elbow Macaroni @ LDSCC, 1 @ $20.25 each $20.25
#10 can Quick Oats @ LDSCC, 2 @ $2.50 each $5.00
Month #2 Total: $50.23

Month #3:
50lbs. Blue Ribbon White Rice @ Costco, 1 @ $17.99 each $17.99
25lbs. All Purpose Flour @ Costco, 1 @ $6.99 each $6.99
6lbs. Busy Bee Honey @ Costco, 1 @ $13.99 each $13.99
#10 can Quick Oats @ LDSCC, 4 @ $2.50 each $10.00
Month #3 Total: $48.97

Month #4:
20lbs. Bulk Elbow Macaroni @ LDSCC, 2 @ $20.25 each $40.50
#10 can Dry Chopped Carrots @ LDSCC, 1 @ $8.30 each $8.30
Month #4 Total: $48.80

Month #5:
25lbs. Bulk Spaghetti @ LDSCC, 2 @ $23.85 each $47.70
Month #5 Total: $47.70

Month #6:
25lbs. Bulk Hard White Wheat @ LDSCC, 4 @ $11.45 each $45.80
#10can Apple Slices @ LDSCC, 1 @ $5.70 each $5.70
Month #6 Total: $51.50

Month #7:
25lbs. Bulk Hard White Wheat @ LDSCC, 4 @ $11.45 each $45.80
#10can Apple Slices @ LDSCC, 1 @ $5.70 each $5.70
Month #7 Total: $51.50

Month #8:
25lbs. Bulk Spaghetti @ LDSCC, 2 @ $23.85 each $47.70
Month #8 Total: $47.70

Month #9:
50lbs. Blue Ribbon White Rice @ Costco, 2 @ $17.99 each $35.98
25lbs. All Purpose Flour @ Costco, 1 @ $6.99 each $6.99
Month #9 Total: $46.22

Month #10:
20lbs. Bulk Elbow Macaroni @ LDSCC, 2 @ $20.25 each $40.50
#10 can Dry Chopped Carrots @ LDSCC, 1 @ $8.30 each $8.30
Month #10 Total: $48.80

Month #11:
25lbs. Bulk White Sugar@ LDSCC, 2 @ $21.15 each $42.30
#10 can Dry Chopped Onion @ LDSCC, 1 @ $6.90 each $6.90
Month #11 Total: $49.20

Month #12:
20lbs. Bulk Elbow Macaroni @ LDSCC, 1 @ $20.25 each $20.25
#10 can Dry Chopped Onion @ LDSCC, 1 @ $6.90 each $6.90
6lbs. Busy Bee Honey @ Costco 2 @ $13.99 each $27.98
Month #12 Total: $55.13

Month #13:
25lbs. Bulk Hard White Wheat @ LDSCC, 4 @ $11.45 each $45.80
#10can Apple Slices @ LDSCC, 1 @ $5.70 each $5.70
Month #13 Total: $51.50

Month #14:
25lbs. Bulk Hard White Wheat @ LDSCC, 4 @ $11.45 each $45.80
#10can Apple Slices @ LDSCC, 1 @ $5.70 each $5.70
Month #14 Total: $51.50

Month #15:
This month you invest in a basic wheat grinder!
Victorio Hand Grain Mill @ Emergency Essentials 1 @ $64.95 $64.95
Month #15 Total: $64.95

Month #16:
25lbs. Bulk Hard White Wheat @ LDSCC, 4 @ $11.45 each $45.80
#10can Apple Slices @ LDSCC, 1 @ $5.70 each $5.70
Month #16 Total: $51.50

Month #17:
25lbs. Bulk Hard White Wheat @ LDSCC, 4 @ $11.45 each $45.80
#10can Apple Slices @ LDSCC, 1 @ $5.70 each $5.70
Month #17 Total: $51.50

Month #18:
25lbs. Bulk White Sugar@ LDSCC, 2 @ $21.15 each $42.30
#10 can Dry Chopped Onion @ LDSCC, 1 @ $6.90 each $6.90
Month #18 Total: $49.20

Month #19:
50lbs. Bulk Powdered Sugar @ Costco, 1 @ 34.25 each $34.25
23oz. Hershey’s Cocoa @ Costco, 3 @ $5.99 each $17.97
Month #19 Total: $52.22

Month #20:
25lbs. Bulk Black Beans @ LDSCC, 3 @ $16.80 each $50.40
Month #20 Total: $50.40

Month #21:
25lbs. Bulk Pinto Beans @ LDSCC, 2 @ $18.55 each $37.10
#10 can Dry Chopped Onion @ LDSCC, 2 @ $6.90 each $13.80
Month #21 Total: $50.90

Month #22:
25lbs. Bulk White Beans @ LDSCC, 3 @ $16.00 each $48.00
Month #22 Total: $48.00

Month #23:
25lbs. Bulk Pinto Beans @ LDSCC, 2 @ $18.55 each $37.10
#10 can Dry Chopped Onion @ LDSCC, 2 @ $6.90 each $13.80
Month #23 Total: $50.90

Month #24:
25lbs. Bulk Non-fat Dry Milk @ LDSCC, 1 @ $47.20 each $47.20
Month #24 Total: $47.20

Family of Four Recommended Monthly Basic Minimums:
100lbs. Wheat, Rice, Oats, Pasta & Other Grains
20lbs. Beans, Split Peas, Lentils & other Legumes

Take a look at what your family could have stored if you followed this plan for 24 months:

GRAINS
600lbs. Hard White Wheat – Storage life 30+ years
300lbs. White Rice – Storage life 30+ years
100lbs. All Purpose Flour – Storage life 10 years
100lbs. Spaghetti – Storage life 30 years
100lbs. Elbow Macaroni – Storage life 30 years
16lbs. Quick Oats – Storage life 30 years

LEGUMES
100lbs. Pinto Beans – Storage life 30 years
75lbs. Black Beans – Storage life 30 years
75lbs. White Beans – Storage life 30 years

DAIRY
25lbs. Non-fat Dry Milk – Storage life 30 years

SUGARS
100lbs. White Sugar – Storage life 30 years
50lbs. Powdered Sugar – Storage life 30 years
18lbs. Honey – Storage life 30 year

OTHER COOKING/BAKING
25lbs. Salt – Storage life 30 years
4.5lbs. Hershey’s Cocoa Powder
7 cans Chopped Onion – Storage life 30 years
2 cans Chopped Carrots – Storage life 25 years
6 cans Apple Slices – Storage life 30 years

Some Helpful Resources:
www.beprepared.com (Emergency Essentials)
www.augasonfarms.com (Food Storage with cheap shipping)
www.providentliving.org (LDS Temporal Preparedness website)

Three Month's Storage: Getting Started!

I made a conscious decision several years ago that I was going to make preparedness a priority. I began by simply buying one “storage item” each time I went to the store. Sometimes all I could afford was a few extra cans of fruit or veggies. If I had a little extra one week, I would buy a $20 bag of rice or flour. Sometimes I would buy two packages of toilet paper, or two bottles of hand soap, rather than just one. But I was consistently thinking about my short-term storage item on each shopping trip. In a short period of time, I began to accumulate a decent stock that has continued to grow over time.

There are many reasons for having a short-term storage. For me, the biggest reason is simply the peace of mind of knowing that if anything were to happen beyond our control, we’ll still have what we need to survive and be comfortable for at least the foreseeable future. As a practical matter, we have literally saved hundreds of dollars on groceries over a year, since we are not dependent on trips to the grocery store every week. We shop once a month, and make a list of what we need to restock or add to our storage, and as we have accumulated a decent “pantry stock” we usually only purchase items that are on sale, since we rarely run out of things and have to make “emergency” trips to the store.

Getting Started: Start small, and work up. As you are building your short-term storage, you should buy what you currently eat and will use. Shop the ads, and clip coupons for storage items and fresh meats and produce. This will allow you to stock up when things are on sale. This puts you in the driver’s seat as to what you are paying for groceries, rather than being at the mercy of the market price for what you need. By maintaining a short-term storage, you should be able to completely avoid ever paying full price for most items that you use on a regular basis.

Short-term food items include canned soups, fruits, vegetables, beans & meats; boxed crackers, pasta mixes, baking mixes, etc.; pasta, rice, lentils, seeds, nuts, and other dry goods. While you’ll want to include your refrigerator/freezer in your short term storage plan, most short-term food items should be non-perishable and not require refrigeration, in the event that you lose power for an extended period of time.

What To Get: Imagine that because of a storm, you couldn’t get to a grocery store for several weeks, or that food shortages, trucking strikes or unexpected price increases create a situation where you are suddenly limited in your choices at the grocery store. What would you want to have on hand? The more you think about this question, the more creative you can get. I have been working on experimenting with storage items that I don’t normally use in recipes, (ie., switching 2% milk out for powdered or canned milk, or using chopped up SPAM in split pea soup in place of a ham bone.)

Rotate Your Supply: Keep a Sharpie permanent marker in your kitchen drawer. When you come home from the grocery store, before putting any groceries away, mark them with the month & year they were purchased. Mark cans on the top and boxes on the side for quick & easy reference. This will help you remember when they were purchased and how quickly they need to be used.

When you put your groceries into the cupboard or pantry, be sure to put the newest items behind the older ones. This assures that the next time you go to grab a can of tomato sauce, you’ll be grabbing the one that needs to be used up first. Generally speaking, commercially canned items have a 2-plus-year shelf life, so be sure to rotate accordingly so that you will use the oldest items before the newer one. Obviously, boxed items have a much shorter shelf-life than canned goods. Most commercially packaged food items list a “best if used by” date, which can be used if necessary.

NOTE: Canned Pineapple & Mandarin Oranges are an exception to the 2+ year rule. Because of the enzymes and acidity, they can actually corrode and rust through the cans. This corrosion could lead to loss of your investment on the minimal side, or possibly botulism or food poisoning on the other extreme. Because of this, I try not to let mine sit for more than a year. NEVER eat food from cans that are dented, rusted, or bulging in any way. Dents, rust or other corrosion can mean that the seal has been broken, and your food could be spoiled. Don't risk it. Toss any cans that have become damaged. 

We don’t have much cupboard space or a kitchen pantry. Instead, we bought three 4-shelf plastic storage shelves at WalMart for about $20 each. We have organized them so that each shelf has a specific category: baking, fruits, vegetables, proteins. We have them set up in our basement (it’s not a finished basement, so we only keep canned food items that will not attract critters downstairs.) We also bought an inexpensive cabinet at Lowe’s Hardware (about $100) that sits in our dining room and this is where we keep boxed or packaged items that would be inappropriate for storing in the basement. Basically anything that rodents or insects could get into stays in the cabinet upstairs.

Be creative when thinking about storage space. You want to keep your food items in cool, clean, dark places in order to provide ideal storage conditions and extend the life of your supply. Extra closets, under beds and even inside furniture (wardrobes or chests.) If the time comes when it’s necessary to live off your storage, you won’t mind the clutter or crowded space. You can maximize your storage space by using different packaging options and storage containers, but more on that later.

Keep in mind that the idea of “short-term” storage is that you become self-sufficient based on items you have in your home to sustain yourself for up to three months. These items will be different for each family, but staples should be the same, and you should be careful to keep your stock well-rounded enough to supply both nutrition and variety.

Some of Your short-term pantry items could include:

Grains
Oats, (regular or instant oatmeal, rolled oats, etc.)
Wheat, (white, red, etc.)
Rice, (brown, white, etc.)
Pasta (spaghetti, macaroni, lasagna, egg noodles, etc.)
Farina, grits, other cereals
Popcorn

Protein Sources
Beans, (dry or canned: black/kidney/garbonzo/pinto/refried/lentils/etc.)
Clams, (chopped/whole/smoked)
Chicken, Turkey, Beef chunks
Tuna, (or other canned fish)
Chili, Pork-n-Beans, canned soups

Fruits, dried or canned
Peaches
Apple Sauce
Strawberries
Fruit Cocktail
Pineapple (slices/chunks/crushed)
Grapefruit
Mandarin Oranges
Dried fruits, (apricots/prunes/berries/fruit leather/etc.)
Pie fillings, (cherry/blueberry/blackberry, apple, etc.)
Veggies, dried or canned
Green Beans, (fancy & regular cut)
Corn, regular & creamed
Spinach
Asparagus
Green Peas
Black Olives
Green Chiles
Mushrooms
Tomato Sauce/Paste
Tomatoes, stewed/whole/diced
Split green peas (dry)
Spaghetti Sauces
Dried onions, carrots, mushrooms, other cooking essentials

Baking Supplies
Cooking Oil, (vegetable, canola, olive, etc.)
Salt, Pepper, spices & seasonings
Flour
Sugar, (granulated, brown, powdered)
Baking Powder
Baking Soda
Cornstarch
Cocoa Powder
Yeast (bulk packaged or in packets)
Lemon juice
Corn Syrup
Molasses
Any other items needed for the things you bake regularly

Dry Mixes
Jello/pudding mixes
Cake/muffin/brownie mixes
Stovetop Stuffing mixes
Soup mixes
Gravy, sauce, taco seasoning mix

Drinks
Bottled Water
Apple/Cranberry/Orange/misc. bottled juices (use empty bottles for water storage)
Box sealed soy or rice milk (no refrigeration before opening, 1 year shelf life)
Powerade of Gatorade (great when someone has the flu)
Hot chocolate drink mixes
Lemonade/KoolAid mixes
Herbal Teas
Soda, (orange, root beer, sprite, etc. adds variety or is great for a special treat)
Ginger Ale (I drink lots of ginger ale to help my nausea, so we have a stock of that)
V-8, other canned fruit juices

Supplies for Your 72 Hour Kits

Where Do I Get Supplies for Our Emergency Kits? It's a great question, and one that many people ask as they start on the road to self reliance and emergency preparedness. Spend a little time researching, but remember that in today's world of online shopping, we literally have the world at our finger tips. Because we are a young family and on a limited budget, I have found that shopping around and being selective, prioritizing our needs and then making the best purchases possible, are all things that have really helped us stretch our emergency preparedness budget.

You can get most of the supplies at WalMart, K-Mart, Target, Home Depot or other type store. Outdoor and Sporting Goods stores are also a great resource, but watch the prices. A lot of the smaller supplies are even available at the dollar store. If you’re preparing kits for several people and don’t have unlimited amounts of cash, it will save you a lot of money to do a little shopping around.

For specialty emergency items that you can’t find other places, Emergency Essentials has many supplies for this specific purpose. They can be found online at www.beprepared.com or you can call them at 1-800-999-1863. Doing a quick internet search for emergency supplies will also produce many results and allow you to shop and compare prices as well.

I am an admitted cheap skate, and my husband is even worse. The following supplies are examples of the ones we found at our local Dollar Tree store:

Box of 10 Earloop Masks
Box of 100 assorted bandaids
Roll of 2” Gauze
Roll of 3” Gauze
Roll of 4” Gauze
Second Skin
Instant Ice Pack
Tube of antibiotic ointment
Package of 2 emergency ponchos
Set of Phillips & flathead screwdrivers
Roll of (420ft.) cotton twine
Box of 12 particulate masks
Super Glue

We have gotten many more items at the dollar store, but be careful to be selective. There is a delicate balance between which items can be “disposable” or limited-use quality, and which items need to be very durable and high quality. Keep in mind that your 72-hour kit is designed for a three day period where you might have to leave your home, but where you’ll eventually (with any luck) be able to go back. Many items can be temporary. The items that I would not cut corners on would include a good knife/pocket knife/multipurpose tool, batteries, a sturdy pair of shoes, a P-38 can opener or any other item that will be used constantly if you ever have to pull out your packs.

A lot of the small items are for different contingencies and scenarios, and may never actually be needed. The screwdrivers that we found at the dollar store are sturdy enough to be used in a pinch, but they’re not what my husband would want to use all the time. One last word to the wise: I love the dollar store, but some of the items are totally worthless. Before “stocking up” on something, I always make sure to open one up and make sure it will actually work for what I need.

Also, we have stocked our family first aid kit at the dollar store. Gauze, band aids & ice packs are all items that are more than three times the cost at other stores, and they are the same product! There are plenty of first aid items you’ll want in your kit that will be expensive. Save your pennies where you can.