stocking up for a non survivalist

Daniel · 02-05-2010, 04:35 AM

Hello all,

I'm looking to get a years supply of food for 2 adults and 2 children and I'm seeking some advice. I'm not a survivalist but having a plan and food on hand just in case something big happens would be nice. Not having the time to do the freeze drying and caning thing myself I have been looking on-line for some package deals. I checked out a site called survivalacres.com which sells dehydrated meals with a shelf life of 10 years or so. They have package deals which is nice but it's not cheap. Does anyone know about this company or any other companies that may be worth checking out? I don't have to do the package deal thing but I really don't know what to get on my own. Is there a good resource out there for someone who wants to stock up but not make a hobby of it?

Thanks for your time!

Dan

mosquitomountainman · 02-05-2010, 04:30 PM

Not trying to cause problems here but what is wrong with being a "survivalist?"

I've tried several varieties of dehydrated canned food (not that particular brand) and all have been "edible" and most have been downright good. You might want to try a small order to see what you like. Regarding storage...the stuff last a llllooooonnngg time.

Averall you're better off storing stuff you're used to and also be sure you have the ability to utilize (cook?) what you have.

Dean · 02-05-2010, 05:37 PM

Welcome Daniel! The locals will be by shortly to point you in the right direction. While your on here you might want to check out some of the threads on foraging and canning. You may not have time now but the knowledge is something you will be able to use eventually.

NaeKid · 02-05-2010, 06:58 PM

In general, none of us are survivalists in the style that main-media portrays crazies like those in Waco or TimMcVeigh.

What you will find here are people who realize that they are responsible for themselves, their families, and that waiting for government or military or (fill in your blank) to take care of you is not a viable option.

Now - go get to an answer of your original posting, what many of us will do is slowly double our grocery purchases. If you like rice, instead of buying a small thing of "UncleBen's", get a rice-cooker (relatively inexpensive) and a 50-pound bag of rice for $15.

If you like spagetti, instead of getting a small "single-meal" container of noodles, purchase in "restaraunt-sized" bulk containers.

I personally can't afford to drop a grand on food in one month with my other bills, but, I can afford to drop an extra $150 to $300 in a month on extra food-stocks. The easiest thing to do is to build a giant pantry in the basement with lots of shelves and floor space and take your time filling it up. Mark all the cans / boxes / bags with their "best-before-date" and use them by that date and put the newest stuff at the back - rotating the foods forward.

Also, consider water-cooler style bottles and rotate 10 (or more) bottles worth of water. You can also plumb-in a cold-water tank (similar hook-up as a hotwater tank but without the heater) with a flow-control regulator (so that the water in the house does not flow back into the main pipes).

In my house, I have a section in the basement for food supplies. In that area, I have cupboards with doors for dry-goods. I have shelves attached to the walls for jar-goods. I have free-standing tin-shelves for metal-canned goods. I have my large deep-freezer in that area as well for all my frozen goods and, because the walls are not "finished" in that area, I use the area between the 2x4's for "mini-shelves" for items like my 2lb propane bottles, bulk-spices and noodle-soup-packs.

Daniel · 02-07-2010, 03:33 PM

Thanks for the advice! Any info is a big help. I didn't mean to imply that there is anything wrong with being a survivalist but rather was trying to convey that I may not have as much time on hand to pursue avenues that someone who considers themselves a "survivalist" may pursue.

Boy, you Survivalists are touchy...

kidding and thanks again,

Dan

bunkerbob · 02-07-2010, 03:45 PM

WELCOME,

Daniel from a touchy long time preparer.

Look forward to your replies and posts.

mdprepper · 02-07-2010, 04:21 PM

I am very new to prepping too. But let me state the obvious. Consider these things; if there is no power:

Do you have a manual can opener
Do you have a way to heat
Do you have a way to cook
What about lighting

Those are my big concerns.

We had a power outage a few years ago during the winter. We could keep warm with the fireplace, but my pots and pans were not very good for cooking on an open flame, so I started getting castiron for it. I also struggled to get my cans open because I did not have a manual can opener. I went out and bought 3 when we could get out to the stores. I also only had candles to light our way. The candles were just the decorative ones, so I laid in a supply of emergency candles and flashlights and lanterns.

I also went out and bought a bunch of non-electric and non-battery operated toys and games. Connect 4, Yatzee, cards, checkers, etc to keep the kids entertained.

Daniel · 02-07-2010, 07:16 PM

Good point. I'm coming up with a list of Priorities and things needed in case of a large disaster. For me time will be a big issue because I live in a heavily populated area near the city and if something went down it's not the place I want to be. I'm thinking of leaving my stockpile at my parents place because I'm pretty confident that I could get there via back roads and they have a much better setup for a long term stay then I do. I'll post my check list and plan when I get it together.

on another note I found this and I think it looks pretty interesting... Free Plans To Build your own Bicycle Generator Pedal Power Station

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdprepper

I am very new to prepping too. But let me state the obvious. Consider these things; if there is no power:

Do you have a manual can opener
Do you have a way to heat
Do you have a way to cook
What about lighting

Those are my big concerns.

We had a power outage a few years ago during the winter. We could keep warm with the fireplace, but my pots and pans were not very good for cooking on an open flame, so I started getting castiron for it. I also struggled to get my cans open because I did not have a manual can opener. I went out and bought 3 when we could get out to the stores. I also only had candles to light our way. The candles were just the decorative ones, so I laid in a supply of emergency candles and flashlights and lanterns.

I also went out and bought a bunch of non-electric and non-battery operated toys and games. Connect 4, Yatzee, cards, checkers, etc to keep the kids entertained.

mosquitomountainman · 02-08-2010, 03:56 AM

Sophistry! I didn't mean to sound gruff regarding being called a "survivalist." I'm just tired of letting others denigrate terms. My first wife didn't like the term "survivalist" so I began being "prepared." The only difference was the word I used. I still had guns, ammo, food, etc just as before but being prepared was a more politically correct term than being a survivalist. As I've gotten older I care less about what people think of me so I'm now very proudly wearing the label "survivalist." If that means someone who has stock-piled food, medicine, guns and ammo, etc. and is trained and willing to properly ventilate anyone who would try to take such things away from me then think the term over very carefully before you try. I found out through experience that people think you're weird being prepared too and still give you strange looks so why would I want to have any regard for their dainty sensibilities. If TSHTF they will go to their prepared friends first and leave the hardcore survivalist alone. And that suits me just fine.

I guess the thing I really want to say is that if you are concerned enough about the future to make some preparations to survive then you are survivalist. My intention is not to prepare. My intention is to survive, therefore I prepare. If I didn't have very real concerns for my/our future and feel responsible for my own well-being rather than expect others to take care of me why would I "prepare?" I realize from past experience that it's easier to sell "preparedness" to a spouse who isn't as concerned about the future as you are but when you get right down to it, why do you prepare?

NaeKid · 02-08-2010, 04:07 AM

MtnMan,

I believe that anyone can be prepared - from your average soccer-mom with 2.3 kids driving a big SUV to a country bumpkin with 2.3 teeth and a shotgun that knows how to use it and a truck that is held together with bailing twine and duct-tape.

I am a country bumpkin living in the city and hating it. I am more of the 4-wheel-driving, mud-slinging, devil-might-care red-neck-type of guy than anything else and I believe that everyone needs to prepare for the situations that will affect them the most.

Being a "prepper" is a term that can encompass more people than just a survivalist who expect to eat grubs and squirrels. Prepare for the worst, but, continue to hope and pray for the best. We can call ourselves anything we want, but, I hope that we can call each other friends in the end.