More on Food Storage

Short Term Food Storage

Over the last few months we have focused on short term food storage.  Just to re-cap here is a paragraph about short term food storage from "All is Safely Gathered In":

"Build a small supply of food that is part of your

normal, daily diet. One way to do this is to purchase a

few extra items each week to build a one-week supply

of food. Then you can gradually increase your supply

until it is sufficient for three months. These items

should be rotated regularly to avoid spoilage."

Also, a list of items to work on from the March 2012 Ensign article: "Everyday Home Storage". 
Review this list and choose at least one that you can improve on this week:

• Designate an area in your home where you can keep your food storage.
• Each time you go grocery shopping, pick up a few nutritious items that will store for several months to add to your storage.
• Stock up on items when they are on sale, and buy in bulk when practical. Be sure to check expiration labels before you make the purchase.
• Buy only items you know you’ll use so you can easily rotate through your food storage.
• Store water in sturdy plastic juice or soft drink bottles that you have emptied and rinsed.
• Order basic long-term food items such as wheat, flour, and oats from a Church home storage center or other trustworthy organization.
• Designate a percentage of your monthly budget for food storage.
• Start putting a percentage of your income or a certain dollar amount in a savings account each month.
• Help others establish home storage by giving food storage items or money for savings accounts as gifts.

Long Term Food Storage

Another paragraph from "All is Safely Gathered In" on Long Term Food Storage:

"For longer-term needs, and where permitted, gradually

build a supply of food that will last a long time

and that you can use to stay alive, such as wheat,

white rice, and beans.

These items can last 30 years or more when properly

packaged and stored in a cool, dry place. A portion of

these items may be rotated in your three-month supply."

As you build your long term storage, set a goal to learn how to use and rotate it just as you would your short term storage.  If you don't know how to use wheat and beans, it won't help you when you need it.  So, when you purchase some, learn how to prepare meals with it.

In addition to storing wheat, rice, beans, and other long term items, I am going to look into long term meal storage such as Daily Bread and Thrive.  These are said to store 25 years and are meals that are easy to reconstitute.  I will report what I learn about these other long term storage programs on the blog.

Goal

As always, I encourage you to act upon what you just read.  Choose at least one thing you can do to improve your short and/or long term food storage and do it this week.  It can be as simple as 'find a recipe that uses beans' to 'buy extra salsa for short term storage'.    Please report what you did by commenting on the blog or sending me an e-mail.