Week 6 Deep Pantry/ Food Storage Challenge

 

 

 

 

 

I am going to start something new this week. I want to add a place where you can share what you were able to do this week to fill your deep pantry. To start off I am going to add it to the bottom of the challenge ever week and then if I have a good response I will move it to its own post. Please fill free to comment on others comments I would like it to be a place to also share ideas or sales you have found, anything having to do with a deep pantry.

So come visit us at The week 6 deep Pantry/ food storage Challenge to see the weeks challenge and join in on the conversation. Hope to see you there.

What is a Deep Pantry, and Do You Have One?

How long would you be able to feed you family if for some reason you couldn’t get to the store, or had no money to buy groceries with ? Click here to read more.

Week 1 2017 Food Storage Challenge

Wanting to start a Food Storage or a deep pantry? Click here to get started. I will be doing the food storage challenge on the new site. Hope to see you there.

Week 6 Food Storage Challenge

25 pounds of Sugar or 5 pounds of Honey / Detergents

25 pounds of sugar at Wal-mart is 13.24. Sugar is the cheapest sweetener to store and it does last a very long time. It may clump up but it is still good. If you store it in 5 gallon buckets it wont clump as bad, I have some stored in buckets and some stored in the bags it came in, it does clump up a lot more in the bags. I've not stored any in Mylar but I am assuming it wont clump up in the Mylar bags.( If you have stored it in Mylar please share about how well it stores).

Honey is a little more expensive,5 pounds of honey at Wal-Mart is 19.98. Honey stores forever it may sugar a little, if it does this just warm up to liquefy it back to where it was. If you can afford it it is great to have, but if not sugar also works. They also make a honey powder it is 10.76 for 3 pounds at Wal-Mart. I have looked at the ingredients and it is mostly sugar with flavoring ( no honey in it). I have some and it dose taste like honey though so if you want the honey flavor with out the huge expense you have a choice.

Detergents You can store detergents or you an store things to  Make your own. I didn't price the different detergents since there are so many different ones and the prices vary ( all expensive). If you plan to make your own you will need to store Borax, Washing Soda ( if you have baking soda you an Make your own washing soda for a fraction of the price of store bought ), Fels Napta or Zote, ( unless you make your own soap then you need lye, hope to do a post soon on making your own lye).   


The Action Item for this month is to get your garden planned, even if you only have a small area you can plant a lot ( there is all kinds of information on the web for small area gardening). If you have  already had a garden try to expand and add a few more things maybe even some things you haven't tried to grow before. You might want to look into berry bushes and fruit trees also. if you have landscaping in your yard you might want to think about replacing some things with edibles (If you have to water might as well water something that gives something back).

The extra item for this month will be garden seeds, bushes, trees and herbs. After you get your garden planned try to start ordering the seeds and things you need for it.

Continue to put back water, either fill your own or buy store bought.

Keep adding some to your money stash. Add what you can, try to set a weekly goal even if it is only a few dollars every little bit will help and will be more then you had.

Have a great week.

Week 2 Food Storage Challenge

This week you will want to get, 
50 Lbs flour or wheat and 1 lb yeast ( More if you can afford it).

I don't remember the exact price of flour at Wal-Mart, but I know it was right around 9.00 for 25 pounds. So a little under 20 dollars for 50 pounds.
1 pound of yeast is 5.69 at bulk foods where I buy mine. Not sure how much at Wal-Mart.

50 pounds of flour or wheat, if you have a grinder you can get wheat, if not get flour. White flour will last longer then wheat flour in storage. If you live in a place that freezes during the winter get your flour now and you can store it out in a shed or somewhere where it will freeze. Just pour in a bucket, add a couple pieces of spearmint gum, and put the lid on.  If it freezes real good for at least a few days, it will last a very long time ( I opened some flour a few months ago from 08 and it was still good). If you don't live where it freezes you will need to put it in some Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers.  If using Mylar bags you still need to put them in buckets, this will keep varmints from trying to chew through.

1 Pound yeast, yeast will keep for a very long time in the freezer. I keep mine in the freezer and have a smaller container that holds about a cup that I  fill and keep in my fridge to use. 

How are you coming along on getting in shape if you are not already there?

Don't forget to keep putting water back.

Add a little more to you money stash, even if only a couple dollars, ever little bit helps, and it all adds up.


Have a great week.

Week 1, 2016 Food Storage Challenge

As I mentioned before, this first month will be a jump start to get a little ahead so if things go south before you can get everything you want, at least you have something to survive on.

The amounts are for two people, If you have more just double to what you need.

This first week is 50 pounds of rice. More if you can afford it.
I get white rice as it will store longer then your brown rice.
Also 50 pounds of beans, get what your family will eat. I get pintos they go a long way and are very nutritious.
(A little update, I checked the price of beans and rice at Wal-Mart. for 20 lbs of rice it is 8.92 and 20 lbs of pinto beans are 13.42. So for 60 lbs of rice it would be 26.76 and 60 lbs of pinto beans are 40.26. )

The action item for this month will be to get in shape. If things go south you will be having to do a lot more physical work  you will need to be in shape so that you will be able to do the things you need to do.

The extra item for this month is a car kit if you don't already have one. You will want one for each vehicle that your family drives. Even the teenagers. They may balk at it but do it anyway. A few days ago there was a bad accident that had the highway closed down for most of the night. people were stuck on each end that lived on the other side, so a lot of people were displaced. Joleen's boyfriend and his grandmother had come to town and were unable to get back home, and had to stay with us. But I was able to use that example as to why you should always have a car kit in your vehicle, even if you don't travel very far from home. 

Every week you will want to put back water. You can buy it, or fill your empty juice and soda bottles. You can also store water in your empty canning jars, as you empty your jars just add some water and put the lid back on. you don't have to can this water but if you wanted to you could. I will be doing a separate post on water in the near future.

Every week you will also want to put back a few dollars, even if it is on a small amount it will add up.

Have a great week

Week 15 Food Storage Challenge

 

 

12  Boxes of Mac & Cheese / Tomato Products

 

12 Boxes of Mac& Cheese or if you have your own cheese powder that you like, use that and get extra macaroni.

 

Tomato Products. Tomato sauce, whole, crushed, rotel or what ever you use. I buy tomato sauce in # 10 cans (cheaper that way) and recan it into smaller jars. You might want to grow extra tomatoes so you can can a bunch. I can my own rotel, stewed, crushed,salsa and basil. If I have enough tomato's left I will can tomato sauce.

 

Add some more to your water.

 

Put back a few more dollars in your money stash.

 

Have a great week.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 14 Food Storage Challenge

5 Pounds Peanut Butter / Cheese

 

5 pounds of peanut butter. If you have someone in your family who is allergic to peanuts, you might want to get some different nut butters like cashew, almond butter or nutela in addition to the peanut butter. Also if you have a way to grind your own nut butters you can store some different types of nuts.

 

Cheese you can freeze your cheese, or you can can it. I put the shredded in the freezer then can some block cheese. Some people dehydrate their cheese, I have tried this with out much luck so canning and freezing are my options. If you make your own cheese be it the soft or hard cheeses be sure to put back extra supplies for this.  You can also buy the powdered cheese, if you do this buy a small amount first and try it, some are ok and some are not. I bought a large container and did not like it, so start small and make sure you like what you are getting. You can also look into the canned cheese sauce. I have some of this put back, but like the cheese powder buy a small can and try it before you buy the larger cans. I have tried waxing the cheese and not real crazy about this either , you have to be very careful to make sure it is completely waxed because if there is even a small tiny hole the cheese will mold. This also continues to age the cheese, so after it has sat for a  year or so the cheese will be very very strong. 

 

Add more to your money stash even if it is only a few dollars.

Keep putting back water.

How is the knitting or crocheting coming along?

Keep working on your car kits if you are trying to get these together.

 

Have a great week.

Week 13 Food Storage Challenge

1000 multi Vitamins/ Canned Vegetables

1000 Multi Vitamins, You may not be able to eat as well as you should so a multi vitamin will help ensure you have all the nutrients that you need.

Canned Vegetables, Even if you can your own it would be good if you had a few extra cans or jars on hand (You can also have dried if you don’t want to have to try and store all the extra cans or jars).  Just in case you have a year that your garden doesn’t produce as well as it should.

If you don't have a lot of extra vegetables from your garden that you can dehydrate,  a quick and easy way to dry vegetables is to buy the frozen at the store then all you have to do is put them on your dehydrator trays and dry. (No need to blanch or anything they are ready to go.)

The thing to get this month is seeds. Try to get heirloom if at all possible, then you can harvest the seeds for next year. Get extra and keep in a cool place.

If you haven’t planned you garden yet now is the time. Even if you only have a small place, you can plant a few things. There is a lot of info on the Internet for small space gardening, there is some really good information Here. If at all possible grow extra so you can put back enough for winter.

If you don’t already have a car kit in each vehicle try to do that this month. Be sure to include extra food ,water and blanket,

The skill for this month is to learn to crochet or knit. This way you can make blankets, socks, scarves, sweaters and baby things and many other things.

Add some more to your money stash.

Have a great week.

Week 12 Food Storage Challenge

8 Cans of Tuna / Spices and Herbs

8 Cans of tuna, If you don't care for tuna or are afraid of the contaminates in it, just get some sort of canned meat, Store bought or home canned.

Spices and Herbs, get what you use. You might even want to try and grow your own. If you grow your own, just get what you can't grow. If you are going to grow your own you might want to get a little bit of them, just to make sure you have enough for what you use until you have them growing real good. It may take a year or so to adjust how much you  grow, to how much you use. You can grow outside or inside. I try to keep some growing in the house in the winter then I have some to set outside in the summer. I even have ginger growing in the house and will try to put it outside in the summer.

Add more water to your water storage. Even if  you are filling your own containers you might want to go ahead and  get a couple cases of  bottled water to have on hand.

Put a little more into your money stash.

How is your alternative cooking coming along? Some one mentioned that they had gotten a thermal cooker, I had never heard of these so I looked them up they are great, and I want one now haha. You can go Here to learn more about them.

Are you finding canning supplies?

Have a great week.

Week 11 Food Storage Challenge

Week 11 Food Storage Challenge

25 pounds Sugar/ 25 pounds Oats

25 pounds sugar or a gallon of honey If you buy honey try to get local honey it is better for you. If you do get it from the store make sure it is 100 % honey with no added corn syrup or other things.

Add more water to your water storage.

Put a little more money in your money stash.

Keep working on the cooking source and the herbs.

Have a great week.

Week 10 Food Storage Challenge

The government will not take care of you the only one you can relie  one is yourself. 

 

6 pounds of yeast/condiments

6 pounds of yeast you can store this in the freezer to keep it good.After you open it keep in the fridge so it will last longer.

Condiments, get what you family uses ketchup,mustard,Steak sauces,mayo,ect. Some of these things you can make yourself.

Add more water.

Put a little more in your money stash.

Keep working on your alternative cooking source.

As you learn about herbs try to start using them so you are familiar with them.

Have a great week.

 

Food Storage on a Tight Budget.

You will not be able to depend on the government for help when things go south. The only one you can depend on is your self.

 

You are seeing where things are going and know you need to get food put back but you barely have enough money to get by month to month.
Starting a food storage when money is super tight can be a little daunting to say the least.

First off don't get discouraged when you see some one who has been working on food storage for years, believe me they started with nothing and had to work at it to get where they are. It takes lots of little baby steps. It also takes determination and the willingness to make a few sacrifices. Remember this will not happen over night it takes time. 

1 Figure out a budget you can go here to see ways to save money that maybe you hadn't thought of. Every penny, every dime, you save is a little more you can put towards your food storage.

2 Learn to cook from scratch. I can not stress enough how important this is, you save a ton of money, it's way more healthy, and it cuts down what you need in your food storage. ( you don't need boxed dinners ect. You can make your own)

3 Learn skills. If you can sew just a little you can mend or make some of your clothes ( esp. children's clothes). Make your own soap ect. The more skills you have the less money you need to spend on these things, the more money for your storage.

4 Do not cater to picky eaters. I have a rule in my house I cook for my Husband if the kids do not like it they go hungry, or learn to eat it. ( I know harsh) It doesn't really take that long for them to come around to eating what I am cooking. Like they say picky eaters are made not born. In my daycare I can tell which kids have to eat what is given them at home and the ones that look at something and say they don't like it and don't have to eat it. The ones that have to eat what is given them will eat what ever I give them. The ones that don't are very hard to feed. Having to learn to eat these foods during a crisis situation is going to be a whole lot harder on them then learning to eat them now.

5 Grow as much as you can. If space is tight there are a lot of ideas on the internet for small space gardening. If water is an issue use drip systems, container gardening , collect your rain water, use water that you save in the house from waiting on hot water, there are lots of ways to save water so you have water for your garden.
(I will be doing a post soon on water , water storage and saving on water.)

6 Buy on sale and in season. When something comes on sale buy as much as you possible can. Even if it isn't on your list for that week put what ever was on the list in the pace of what you just bought. Buy in season it general is much cheaper when in season. Don't forget after holiday and end of season sales.

7 Yard sales,auctions and second hand stores always be on the look out for things you need. Just be careful not to over pay and don't get things you really don't need. Have a list with you of things you are looking for .

8 Think outside the box. You just found a whole stack of sheets at the second hand store for next to nothing. Do you look at them I think well I have enough , these are the wrong size. Or do you think what could I use these for. Make curtains, dresses for your  daughter, shirts for your son,cut in do dish rags, backing for a quilt, cut into cloth paper towels, so many things you can do with that stack of sheets if you are always thinking outside the box.

9 Barter, If some one has an excess of fruit or vegetables or anything that you can use for that matter, try to trade them for something you have or trade for work.

10 Know your prices. When I first started food storage I made a list of all the things buy then I went to the two stores that I shop at . We have 3 stores in our town one is Safeway which for what buy is way to expensive and they always have a limit on the sales. That leaves City Market and Wal-mart. I went to Wal-mart with my list and wrote down the price of everything I buy. I now had a base for prices when something came on sale at city Market I could compare prices if the sale was cheaper I would go and buy as much as I could afford. City Market is real good at ordering cases if you want a couple cases of something. Be sure to check your unit price also sometimes the larger isn't always the cheaper.

11 On my Food Storage Challenge I have two Items the first is the most important it is for two people so if you have 4 people in your  house you will need to double that. This will get you your basic basics so if money is real tight this is what to get. The second is extras that would be nice to have so if you have a little extra money try to get some of these. I also have skills to learn every month and things to get or make if you can.

12 When storing water you do not need to go and buy all bottled water. Use containers you have around the house, ask friends and family for their soda bottles, Gatorade bottles,  juice bottles, even bleach bottles,(when I was  a kid and my Dad always had a bleach bottle filled with drinking water.)  fill them with tap water. I don't recommend milk jugs but if they are all you have then use them just be sure to wash them very well and  watch them for leaking.

13 Put away as much extra money as you can even if it is only a couple dollars. This has two purposes one you are building a little nest egg and second you have a few extra dollars if something comes on sale you may be able to get a little more.

14 Can and dehydrate as much as you can if you don't have a dehydrator look on the internet on ways to make your own or do it  the old fashion way in the sun. 

15 Food storage when money is tight is a struggle I know. But if you are determined you can do it. Even if it is picking up a pound of beans here and a bag of rice there.  Something is better then nothing.

If you have any other ideas please feel free to share.

Week 9 Food Storage Challenge

Soap / First aid supplies

Bath and dish soap. If you plan to make your own soap you will need to get lye (make sure it is 100% lye)  some extra lard , shortening, or some kind of fat.

First Aid supplies I have a list here of some of the things you should have in your first aid kits.

Add more to your money stash.

Get more water.

For March you need to try and figure out some alternative ways for cooking. If you have a wood stove you might practice cooking on it. I do this in the winter when we are using our wood stove to heat the house. B B Q, rocket stove, solar oven, or a wonder oven are all other options. You can make your own wonder oven and solar oven, there's   lots of patterns on the internet.

Andy got me a solar oven for Christmas I am hoping as soon as it gets a little nicer outside I can start using it. So hopefully I will have some solar oven recipes to share soon. I am wanting to make a wonder oven to use in place of the crock pot also.

The skill for the month is Herbs, try to learn and collect  information on medicinal herbs. Learn about what grows in your area and what you can grow yourself, so you are not dependent on store bought herbs. I am taking an online herbal class that has a ton of information. I am working on a post about that so should have it up in a couple days.

The item to get  for the month is canning supplies. If you don't have  canner try to get one. If you do have a canner, stock up on jars and lids, you might want to think about tattler reusable lids. I have some tattle reusable lids that I haven't tried yet, as soon as I do I will let you know how they work.

Week 8 Food Storage Challenge

 

50 pounds wheat or flour / garden seeds

50 pounds of wheat or flour, If you store wheat be sure to have a grinder. Would really be bad to have to do it the really old fashion way with a rock lol.

Garden seeds, now is the tame to start getting seeds to plant, when you order or buy get a few extra you can keep them in storage. Keep in  a cool place, or in the freezer. Try to get some non hybrid then you can have seeds from now on, just be sure to save some each year.

Add some more to your water.

Put a little more in your money stash.

Have you be able to come up with some alternative heat sources? If you are in a smaller space you might try the tea candle and clay pot heater. I haven’t tried one yet so don’t know how well they work ,but some people are saying they work pretty good. You can find the instructions on the Internet.

How is that cooking from scratch? Remember the more you cook from scratch the more money you will be able to save.


And always remember anytime you find a good sale on something you use try to buy as much extra as you can. This way you are not paying full price for the things you need.

Week 7 Food Storage Challenge

25 pound sugar / 10 pounds pasta

25 pounds of sugar, or you can get honey, a half gallon of honey. If it is possible you might think about getting bees, now is the time of year to get them. We got two hive last year, and just ordered another. I am hoping to not have to worry about having to much sugar on hand.

10 pounds of pasta, remember you can always make noodles so try to get pastas that are harder to make such as macaroni, and spaghetti.

　

Add some more to your water, you can never have to much water.

Put a little more in your money stash. Every little bit helps.How is the cooking from scratch coming along ?

Week 6 Food Storage Challenge

 

Here is this weeks food storage challenge.

10 cans of soup / Detergents

10 Cans of soup store bought or home canned, pick what your family likes to eat no point in having something they wont eat.

Detergents, if you MAKE YOUR OWN then get the things you need to make it with borax, bar soap, washing soda ( you can MAKE YOUR OWN WASHING SODA out of baking soda, much cheaper) and if you make your own bar soap just make some plain soap and throw a small piece in your washer. My Mother in law talks about when they were young they made all their soap and would just throw  small pieces in when they were washing.

Keep adding to your water. A small town not to far from us had the water pumps go out at the water plant they have been with out water couple days. It just shows that it can happen anywhere.

Put a little more money back if you can. I know that part is hard but if you have an emergency you will be so glad that you did.

How is the cooking from scratch coming? I am going to try and start posting a few dinner recipes that I am using in my menus, that are quick and easy but from scratch.

Hope you have a great week

Week 5 Food Storage Challenge

 

6 Pounds of salt /  Gelatin's and Puddings

6 pounds of salt. If you can find it in bulk it will be cheaper. I get my salt from the feed store. It doesn’t have the Iodine in it so we take extra iodine. It also doesn’t have the added things such as the anti- caking stuff so I can also use it for canning.

Gelatin and puddings, I use the unflavored gelatin then use kool aid or juice to make my own jello, takes up a lot less room and is cheaper to do it this way. You can go Here to see how to make jello with the kool aid.

Pudding. I do store a few instant puddings for when I am in a hurry. It is easy to make your own pudding it does take a little longer since you have to cook it and then let it cool down.

Add to your water either fill your own containers or buy a couple cases or a couple jugs of water. Water is one of the harder things to store try to look for places you can stash a few bottles or cases try under beds or in the corner of a closet. We have some lifts under the bed to raise them up they sure add a lot of extra room under the beds. If you store outside be sure not to fill all the way so you can allow for expansion if they freeze.

Add a few more dollars to your money stash.

　

This Month’s   Skill to learn is to Cook from Scratch. The more you can make yourself the less you will have to have in food storage and it will save you a ton of money.

　

The item for this month is kitchen hand tools like a manual can opener, egg beaters, potato masher, Kitchen tools that do not require electricity.

The action item this month is to try and find alternate heating sources.

 All across the country right now heat is a big concern for many There are many places that are with out power right now. How would you heat your house with out power? A wood stove is ideal but some people are unable to have a wood stove so they will have to find alternatives. There are some real good propane heaters out there but you will have to have propane stored also. Be careful about ventilation when considering your heat sources. Endless people have been asphyxiated due to carbon monoxide poisoning because they chose the wrong option to heat their living space. Some buildings have windows which will not open, and this must be considered when thinking through your heat sources.
If you do not install a wood stove (and even if you do), you’d be wise to at least have some extra warm clothing and blankets on hand. Long underwear, thick socks, gloves, hats (something comfortable enough to sleep in), warm outer clothing, and good sleeping bags and/or blankets for every member of the family are a must. I’d consider co-sleeping as a family during the coldest of nights as well. Nothing like body heat to warm you up!

Week 4 Food Storage Challenge

 

 

6 pounds of Shortening or oil / 10 pounds dry Beans

6 pounds of Shortening, Lard, or oil. Shortening has a longer shelf life then oil, so you may want to consider shortening over oil. You can store oil but be sure to rotate so you don't have any go rancid. I store Lard since that is what I cook with, I just try to make sure and rotate.

10 pounds of dry beans. Get what your family will eat no point in storing something that they will not eat. We eat a lot of pinto beans so that is what I try to store the most of.

Keep putting back your water. Just think of all the places that have had their water contaminated. Wouldn't it be nice knowing if that happened where you are you have some back up water, and don't have to depend on the store or someone else.

Put a little more money into your money stash. Even if it is only a few dollars as I say every little bit will help.
How are the sewing skills coming along?

Food Storage Challenge week 3

10 pounds of Powder milk/ Baking Soda, cream of tartar, Baking Powder
10 Pounds of powder Milk be sure to put it in an airtight container when you bring it home.

Baking Soda, Cream of tartar. As I have mentioned before you can buy baking soda in bulk at the local feed store. You can use it to cook with and in your homemade cleaners. Get cream of Tartar to add to your baking soda to make baking powder.

Baking Powder

1 Teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon corn starch or arrowroot (this is optional it acts as a anti caking agent)
Mix well makes 1 Tablespoon baking powder

If you want to make a little more at a time.

¼ c. baking soda
½ cup cream of tarter
¼ Cornstarch or arrowroot (optional )

Mix well store in an air tight container Makes one cup.

Keep putting water back

Add a little more to your money stash,

Keep working on your sewing skills and finding alternate light sources