Establishing a Basic Food Stockpile
If you’re living in the city or in an apartment building, your options for storing or preparing food may be limited by space or by practical safety precautions. No one really wants to survive on a diet of cold SpaghettiOs, so your strategies for storing food should be adjusted accordingly.
- Store shelf-stable food that doesn’t require extra preparation. Jerky, peanut butter, dehydrated fruits, nutrition bars, unrefrigerated single-serving juices, canned tuna, ham, and chicken, meat spreads, nuts and seeds or trail mix are all excellent options. Individual condiment packets (mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, relish, hot sauce) can add a bit of punch if the diet starts to feel boring. Crackers are a good option if you can keep the boxes in an airtight bag and rotate them frequently. These are a great help to create mini sandwiches. A can of tuna mixed with mayonnaise and relish packets, served with crackers and accompanied by some dehydrated fruit doesn’t sound half bad!
- Canned food from the grocery store is convenient, but you may want to avoid the preservatives, salt, sugar and other additives that are so common. One excellent option is to prepare your own shelf-stable food. Dehydrators are good options, and you can save most foods for 6 months or so if stored in airtight containers with moisture absorbents. Freeze dried food can be an even better option, since it can last for decades when properly stored. Store freeze dried food in airtight containers (mylar bags easy, packable, and often the most cost-effective option) with an oxygen absorber. A surprising variety of foods can be freeze dried, including nutrition drinks, eggs and dairy, and even ice cream! The biggest downside to using a freeze dryer is the cost (in the range of 2-3 thousand dollars), but with an incredible shelf life, flavor, and top nutritional value, you may find a way to work it into your budget.
Building a Comprehensive Food Stockpile
If you’re planning for a longer-term emergency, or periods like severe food shortages and hyperinflation, you may want to store enough food for 3 months or more for each member of your family. This kind of stockpile requires more than a few cases of canned vegetables and Spam. Let’s look at some important products in include in a comprehensive stockpile.
- Grains: whole wheat, rice, corn, flour, dried pastas, etc.
- Dried legumes: kidney beans, black eyed peas, lentils, green peas, chickpeas
- Dairy products: powdered milk, powdered cheese, canned cheese
- Sugars
- Salt and spices: salt, pepper, and any favorite herbs or spices that you can’t grow in your greenhouse (perhaps chili flakes, curry powder, or cinnamon).
- Fats: vegetable oils, shortening, canned butter
It can be shocking to calculate how much food is necessary to have on hand to sustain you for 3 months, especially if you have a family. It may be helpful to research useful guidelines for making the most of your space, getting complete nutrition, and how to rotate and maintain your stockpile.
Providing Fresh Food
Of course, no matter how long (or brief) your reliance on a stockpile will last, there’s not much that can beat the nutrition, taste, and appeal of fresh produce and herbs. Establishing even a small greenhouse can provide you with an abundance of fresh produce for canning or freeze drying without the use of chemicals and preservatives. It’s also possible to maintain a year-round supply of leafy greens like spinach, kale, chard, and more. The flavor of fresh herbs can be particularly satisfying, and you can always dry and store the surplus. Even in an unheated greenhouse, winter crops can provide delicious Brussels sprouts, carrots, parsnips, collard greens and more. A big bonus: some of these vegetables have their best flavor after a freeze.
If you have the room, a greenhouse is a wise investment to supplement your strategic stockpile and provide a cushion against natural disasters, severe food shortages, or hyperinflation where food may simply become unaffordable.