Food Storage

Ok time for an update. I have been lax about keeping up with these posts as I have been mostly working on genealogy and I am finding it slow but fascinating.  The other thing I have been working on is trying to find good spread sheets to record Food Storage. If I can figure out a way to include them in this post I will and then you can look them over and decide if any are worth it to you.  If I can’t find a way to include a spread sheet into the post I recommend doing a Google search for spread sheets.

Next I would consider a way to stock whatever shelves you have and keep rotation as easy and simple as possible. On the top left of this page you will see a link to a site that carries fairly inexpensive Shelf rotation boxes. I haven’t used these yet but hope to soon. I have been using another brand made from plastic. They cost more but do hold quite a bit.

Your food storage once it is built up to acceptable levels will save you money. You will find that everything you eat will be at last year’s prices.  Also with a stock of XYZ you can wait for store sales to repurchase more.  Also don’t forget about using coupons. If you have the time please use them they can save you quite a bit.

Another thing that can come into play is food safety. There is often food recalls If peanut butter is recalled you can go back and check your stocks and see if it includes what you may have. It will be less likely that the jar in your cupboard that is half gone will be one that is included in the recall. (Because you correctly rotate, Right?)

There are a lot of good reasons for keeping food storage. As a Latter day Saint it has been a commandment for many years. To be used in times of trouble, emergency, unemployment, sickness, economic unrest, disaster or terrorism.

Medications

I and my wife are somewhat dependent on prescription medications. So in an emergency I have tried various ways to have at least a small stock pile of medication we rely on. In some cases where insurance was an issue and medication cost were affordable I would skip the insurance and buy what I needed out right and pay cash. When the cost was prohibitive I would get the prescriptions refilled as early as possible each month, as early as the insurance company would allow. In this way you can add 3, 4, 5 days a month to your stock of on hand medication. In this way I have been able to build up a 6 month supply of some of the medication needed by my wife and myself.

If you make your self up a 72 hour bag or bug out bag or what ever you elect to call it don't forget to include a small supply of your medications.

Other medications that would be worth while to stock up on include but are not limited to otc;
Aspirin
Tylenol
Ibuprofen
Cold Eeze (sp?) really does work for cutting a cold short.
Other cold and flu remedies
topical ointments for, cuts and scrapes, muscle aches and general pain relief.
this can include Ben-Gay, aspercream for pain, or anti bacterial cremes for small open wounds.
Don't forget the band aids of various sizes and a box or two of Nitrile gloves or the cheaper plastic gloves work OK for small but messy jobs.

I once worked as a Nurses Aid and used to tell my co workers I could handle any messy job around as long as I had gloves. That included handling of the deceased and of course diaper changes.

also don't forget disinfectant sprays like Lysol, or hand sanitizer gels.

And soap.

This of course is only a small list of what can and should be in your supply for you and family. Do not use anything you do not have the training for unless it is a dire emergency. The do or die type. If you keep on hand items that a professional would or should use that is great. Try to find a professional to be a part of your team, or take some basic to advanced first aid classes. Even a local community college may offer EMT training at an affordable price.

Peace