Food Storage Solutions: Part 1

For the Stake Relief Society activity, I was asked to lead a class about food storage, mainly focusing on ideas of where to put it once we start buying it.  Here you'll find the pictures I used, and the links (if applicable) to where you can find the original source.  If you have any additional ideas, please share your ideas by leaving a comment at the end of the post.


You have some food storage, now where do you put it?  The best way to get started:

• De-clutter, de-clutter, and de-clutter some more!
• Get organized and determine just how much space you really have to work with! (I bet you'll be surprised!) 

Here are a number of ideas that will hopefully give you some ideas for your own home:

Building garage overhead storage is great utilization of what would otherwise be dead space. On these shelves you can store all your non-food items which will free up indoor space for food storage.

My husband built these shelves pretty quickly and inexpensively.  If you're interested in learning more, my email address is at the top of the blog!

 

Our long term food storage is mainly in the large closet under the stairs.

The can rack in our garage hold small canned food that's part of our 3 month supply so it gets rotated regularly.  This can rack holds over 700 cans!

Overhead storage shelves aren't just great in the garage though.  Think creatively and put some over the door shelves in your bedrooms or bathrooms too!

click here for photo source

 Another idea for indoor storage is to convert a coat closet into the food storage closet.  Move all the coats into regular closets.

click here for original source

 Put rotating can racks in any excess closet space as my fellow ward member did in her closets.

This next idea is also from a fellow ward member.  They turned their linen closet into a food storage closet.  Her husband built excess shelves in their master closet for the excess linens to free up this closet for food.

Consider converting any large closet into a storage pantry and build shelves all the way to the top to utilize all your space.

click here for photo source

Unused shower?  A fellow ward member stores some of her food there!

Most of us have lots of kids.  Perhaps we should use this woman's idea and utilize all this bed space!  Plus, we can save money by not having to buy bed frames or box springs!  24 boxes (144 cans) under a twin.  Or 36 boxes (216 cans) under a full or queen.  Multiply those numbers by the beds in our houses and that's a lot of food storage!

click here for photo source

If your beds already have frames and box springs, you can raise the beds to store boxes or buckets under the beds.

click here for photo source

Here's another great idea to hide buckets of food and utilize free space under a cubby shelf.

click here for photo source

Create a "table" in the playroom with food storage covered in cute fabric.

click here for photo source

 

This woman made display shelves in her master bedroom by covering the top of the food storage with plywood and then some fabric.

click here for photo source

Can racks are fairly easy to build and there are a lot of varieties with the plans on how to build them all over online.  Here are some examples I found:

click here for photo source

click here for photo source

click here for photo source

 Click here  for a complete YouTube video of another couple building a great can rack for their pantry (sorry, no picture).
 

Another family turned their kitchen island into a rotating can rack where they could load the cans on one side, and retrieve them from the other.

click here for photo source

Another cheap, easy (and CUTE!) way to make your own small rotating can system:

 This next shelf would take up a lot of space, but it would be amazing to have a few of these!  All the plans are online that explain exactly how to build your own.

click here for photo source and building plans

And here are a few more great ideas, without the pictures:

•Make a stage in the playroom by topping boxes of food with plywood and carpet.  Hang curtains on the wall to make it feel like a real theater

•Wide, shallow plastic bins with wheels for rolling them under the beds

•Create false bottoms in your closets!  Line the floors with cans and top with plywood

•Look for available dead space in the walls to cut out and make shelves.

•You can put adjustable organizers under the sink that can fit around all the pipes.  It’s a great way to have shelves in that awkward space.

•The food storage boxes fit nicely between the wall and the couch

•Stacked boxes of food storage, covered in fabric can make great end tables

•20 six gallon buckets serve as a platform for the bed in the spare bedroom

 


 Click here  for a few videos that show some additional ideas of how others have utilized space for their food storage.  Some of the ideas in these videos that I really liked are:

• using the upper decorative ledges for storing food
• under the bed storage with a map of where each food is located
• extending the shelves in closets so they are wider
• guest bedroom "false" wall (shelves curtained off)

Click here for another great YouTube video of a can storage rack a lady built to put behind her couch.

Emergency Preparedness FHE Lesson

Need an idea for FHE this coming Monday night? Click here for a complete lesson on Emergency Preparedness!

10 iPhone Apps for Emergency Preparedness

While the ability to contact someone in the event of an emergency has always been part of a cell phone’s appeal, today’s technological advances have allowed mobile devices to evolve far beyond simply making and receiving phone calls. With the power of the iPhone backed by the talents of the many developers whose products fill the App Store, you now have unprecedented access to emergency assistance, information and alerts through your cell phone. These 10 apps are among the best for ensuring that you’re prepared for any emergency, and are wise investments to make.

1. Pocket First Aid & CPR from the American Heart Association – If you live or work with children, there’s a chance that you will one day be faced with the need to intervene due to a choking incident. With this $1.99 American Heart Association-approved app, you can access accurate life-saving information about how to best proceed in the event of choking, drowning or a cardiac episode.
2. Emergency Survival Handbook – The free version of the Emergency Survival Handbook for iPhone is packed with important information on a variety of subjects ranging from earthquakes to hazardous household chemical exposure. From general preparedness for smaller, everyday urgent situations to catastrophic events, this app touches on everything and will leave you better equipped to face any situation.
3. Intellicast HD – As one of the most advanced weather applications in the App Store, the free Intellicast HD app offers a variety of tools for staying apprised of weather-related risks and knowing when a severe storm is approaching “natural disaster” status. Push alert notifications will also give you real-time warnings from the National Weather Service, so you’ll never be caught unaware by an escalating storm.
4. ICE (In Case of Emergency) – Keeping your emergency contact and medical information at the tips of your fingers is simple with this free app, which will allow you to store one emergency contact and your driver’s license with the lite version. Higher functionality and more features accompany a purchase of the full, paid version.
5. American Red Cross: Shelter View – Should a natural disaster or catastrophic event leave you and your family in need of emergency shelter, this free app will let you know when new shelters are opened and where they’re located in order to facilitate the quickest possible move to safety. Offered by the Red Cross and functional across the United States, this is one free app you’ll definitely wish you had should you find yourself in need of shelter and assistance.
6. iMPrepared – Within the free download of iMPrepared, you’ll get a flashlight, compass, S.O.S signal and access to disaster RSS feeds. Recording relevant contact numbers and medical information will also help you to create a full family preparedness plan in advance, so that you never find yourself in need of such information when every moment counts.
7. POM Alert – POM stands for “peace of mind,” which is something that this $0.99 app offers in spades. Location-based alerts and real-time notifications keep you informed of any essential public alerts that are issued, including severe weather, disease control and Homeland Security information.
8. ubAlert – Disaster Alert Network – When disaster strikes, getting relevant information can be difficult. This free app allows you to connect with others in your area and around the world to access reports and event details, ensuring that you’re able to determine the best way to proceed and supplementing the existing emergency alert and information systems.
9. ELERTS – Whether the emergency in your area is a natural disaster or the result of human action, the free ELERTS app will keep you up to date so that you don’t inadvertently wander into dangerous territory. People on the streets in your area can take pictures to warn others around them of an emergency event, potentially saving lives in the process.
10. FEMA – The official iPhone app of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA is free of charge and contains preparedness information for various potential situations, emergency kits, safety tips and an interactive checklist. After a major emergency, you can also access maps with the locations of FMA Disaster Recovery Centers around you.

Your iPhone may be one of the most powerful devices on the market, but it’s still dependent upon a battery for functionality. It’s wise to invest in portable solar chargers, extra batteries and other power supply alternatives to keep your phone charged and ready to use in the event of power failures and extended outages.

http://apartmentprepper.com/?p=8069

3 Month Supply of Food: Getting started

Here is what Provident Living Today suggested:

1. Pick out 2 weeks of recipes. Use easy meals your family eats now.



2. Convert each meal to “non-perishable” foods. If you use fresh chicken, use canned. Fresh or frozen corn, use canned. You get the idea.



3. Write each converted recipe on a 3 X 5 card. Run each card off 6 times.



4. Times each ingredient by 6 and write how much or how many you need on a shopping list. There you have it a 12 week supply of food.



5. Go shopping!!! Remember to take some help! You can do this in one big trip if you have the money, or gather the supplies over the next few months.
   
   
   Note: Use name brand labels.
   The metal is heavier and stores longer.
   
   
6. Take each recipe and all the ingredients and put them in a gallon freezer bag - right down to the spices and cup of rice.
7. Use Ziploc freezer bags, they hold up better. You can also buy the Jumbo size bags for a large family. Put the spices in a snack size bag. The ingredients like rice or a cup of biscuit mix can go into a sandwich size bag.
   Now put the recipe in and ZIP . . . It’s “ in the bag!” Store them in boxes under the bed or bins in the closet. You want them to be easily accessible.

Keep a few meals ready to eat in the pantry and use them on busy hectic days. Keep the recipe cards. When you have a few stacked up, go to the store and replace the ingredients. This is a great way to rotate your three-month supply of food. Start eating your food storage now and save money.

Things you may not be storing, but you should be!

This woman lived on only food storage for one year and has shared some of the things she definitely does not want to be without in her food storage.  Her blog is found here.  Here is her list of things we should all make sure that we store! -Lisa
 

• White Beans -

White beans have multiple uses. First off, of course, they can just be cooked and eaten. Secondly, they can be cooked, mashed, and added to recipes in place of oil. Just take cooked beans (reserve the cooking water) and blend in your blender with enough water to create a thick paste. (Basically enough water to make all the beans turn into a puree.)

For canned beans: Dump entire contents of can (beans and water) into a blender and blend until it is a thick paste. Substitute for oil in your baking recipe. Think how much healthier that is too!

Finally, and most importantly, white beans make the world's BEST thickening agent!  It's MUCH better than corn starch or flour.  I Just put the dry beans in my wheat grinder and grind into a fine powder that I keep in the freezer for when I need it.  Added to chicken drippings it makes the best gravy you'll ever taste.  Just add the powdered beans and cook at least 3 minutes to allow time for thickening.  So yummy AND healthy!

• Applesauce -

Great for a quick side dish when generally nothing about eating off food storage is quick. Good source for vitamin C when you might not otherwise have access to fruits and veggies. Can also be used as an oil (and sometimes egg) substitute.

• Spices -

Eating food storage can become monotonous. Often the only thing to give it variety is the spices. The difficulty comes in storing them since spices have a very short shelf life of about 1 year. To get around this, I have started using my favorite spices in bulk. That way I am using them and should an emergency arise, I should have plenty on hand.

You can see in the picture how I have them organized. Here is a list of spices I found I needed the most while living off food storage. Your own family's taste may vary.

1. Salt and Pepper
2. Basil
3. Bay Leaves
4. Beef Bouillon
5. Garlic Salt
6. Cayenne Pepper
7. Chicken Bouillon
8. Chili Powder
9. Cinnamon
10. Cumin
11. Dried Onion
12. Garlic Powder
13. Italian Seasoning
14. Lemon Pepper
15. Onion Powder
16. Oregano
17. Parsley
18. Seasoning Salt
19. Thyme
20. Vanilla

• Brown Sugar -

You can also make brown sugar by mixing white sugar with molasses but it's more convenient to store it.  You can purchase it from a food storage website in #10 cans, or you can store it yourself by packing it in mylar bags and sealing them.  I have used brown sugar stored more than 5 years in mylar bags and it was as soft and delicious as the day I packed it.

• Stewed Tomatoes -

Give variety to your meals and they are quick and easy to use.  I store them in a variety of flavors.

• Hand Meat Grinder -

This is not essential unless you want to make wheat meat, then it is a must to get the texture right. You can read more about wheat meat on my blog. I have the recipe I used posted for you as well. Because of how the posts are published you have to start at the bottom of the wheat meat recipe page and then work your way back to the top post.

• Cheese Making Tools -

Even though you technically need cream to make good cheese (I tried it with powdered milk - YUCK!) I'm still storing rennet and cheese wax on the off chance there is milk available.  Again, not essential to survive but sure would be nice.

• Spreadable butter -

This is what I missed the absolute most while living off food storage.  I eat SO much toast and it's just not the same without butter.  There aren't a whole lot of options here.  Currently I have my freezer stocked with cubes of butter which is one option.  Some people "can" butter and swear by it, but others say that is very unsafe due to the botulism risk.  I did finally come cross one brand of powdered butter that was edible enough to reconstitute and put on toast, however, I used oil rather than just water to reconstitute with the following recipe:
1 TBLS butter powder
1 scant tsp water
1 scant tsp veggie oil
pinch of salt or sugar (depending on which you prefer - I preferred the sugar)

• Lemon Juice -

Good for flavoring and it can be added to reconstituted powdered milk to create buttermilk.  Plus, you can use it for water bath canning tomato sauces which must have bottled lemon juice added.

• Sprouts and Gardening Seeds -

When living off food storage adequate vitamin and mineral consumption can be a problem.  Fresh sprouts pack an enormous punch relative to their size.  In a long term emergency situation, they may be the only fresh food you can get your hands on.  You don't need a fancy sprouter, a simple canning jar with nylons, or cheesecloth in place of the lid will work beautifully.  One thing to remember, if you stored your wheat using dry ice, or if it has been subjected to high temperatures, it will not sprout for you.  I keep a couple of #10 cans of wheat in the house so that I know I have sproutable wheat available.

Garden seeds are also invaluable. They would allow you to supplement your canned goods with fresh produce. You can purchase seeds many places online but local seeds are best since they are climatized for your particular locale. You can buy them vacuum packed and store them in the freezer and they will last many years. If you are feeling very adventurous, you can let your garden go to seed at the end of each season and save your own seeds. Just remember that in either case you MUST purchase non-hybrid seeds. Otherwise your plants will not produce seeds of their own and you can not perpetuate your garden beyond one year.

• Vitamins -

Eating off food storage can leave our diets lacking in vitamins and other nutrients.  Vitamins can help keeps us healthy.  Vitamins also do not have a very long shelf life so I buy in bulk and use them now so that we always have a fresh bottle