Stockpiling 101

[Joyous_5]

Hi all,

Not sure if this is the proper place for this thread (moderator feel free to move).

I'm interested in building a little pantry area/stockpile for emergencies. I came across this great blog (http://www.littlehouseliving.com/) last night and wanted to share it in case others find it useful. Not only does the author have an ENTIRE page dedicated to stockpiling (http://www.littlehouseliving.com/stockpiling), she has lots of other great posts on DIY skills, making gifts, organization and more. Enjoy!

[rosarugosa]

Thanks for the link, Joyous!

[Joyous_5]

You're welcome--hope it helps. I really REALLY like her blog!

[happystuff]

Nice website! Thanks for the link. I plan to go back and explore it more.

[rosarugosa]

When TSHTF, I've got the black olives :)

[Joyous_5]

Well, that's a good start! I haven't got much--just my weekly overflow. Sometimes menu items don't get made for whatever reason and so I hang on to the leftover ingredients. Unfortunately, nothing that would taste good together. Canned crushed pineapple and roasted red peppers with navy beans anyone? :)

[Joyous_5]

You're welcome happystuff--yes, it's a site I want to go back to again and again--lots of good information.

[Float On]

I stockpiled for a few years but it got overwhelming trying to remember which closet or under which bed did I have what stashed. I let it go. We ate up the stockpile or donated it (I really don't like canned foods anyway) and we used up the cleaning supplies and went more natural and now I only buy toilet paper when we're down to the last two rolls (instead of having a closet full). It was very freeing. If TSHTF then I'll just deal with it when it happens. We always have enough cash and keep full tanks of gas so we could get to the farm if we needed to.

[Tiam]

I stockpiled for a few years but it got overwhelming trying to remember which closet or under which bed did I have what stashed. I let it go. We ate up the stockpile or donated it (I really don't like canned foods anyway) and we used up the cleaning supplies and went more natural and now I only buy toilet paper when we're down to the last two rolls (instead of having a closet full). It was very freeing. If TSHTF then I'll just deal with it when it happens. We always have enough cash and keep full tanks of gas so we could get to the farm if we needed to.


I think I've become comfortable with the level of my emergency pantry. I'm pretty sure two or three of us could get by on what we have for about a week. I like having a stock of TP. I have some extra water. Which came in handy during this last freeze and people's pipes were bursting. But I thin my pantry is enough. I also can't keep up with it, I don't eat enough canned foods and some are probably getting a bit old.

[Tiam]

However, I did find a food dehydrator today for about 3 dollars. I'm hoping to make my own dried tomatoes next summer. Too bad it's so big though.

[gimmethesimplelife]

I am a big believer in stockpiling meds - things like Lisonopril and Amlodipine - two blood pressure meds I take - and I have the chance to do so living so close to Mexico as they are non-controlled and in Mexico are sold over the counter and I can just declare them and cross the border with them. Some advice to anyone considering this - Don't try this at the Nogales, Arizona Customs Building - they are nasty about this.

I also stockpiled some rice and beans during the government shutdown as I didn't have much faith it was going to end well - well it ended but I am not really out anything as I am using them now. Something that I think is more scary than a government shutdown is how in America food is done on a just in time system, meaning that there is not a lot of excess supply so that if something catastrophic were to happen, food would run out fast. I think it's wise to stock up on some canned goods and rice and beans these days - even if it's only to sleep better at night - as things in general seem less stable to me with each passing year. But this is just my take, YMMV. Rob

[Float On]

If I put more effort into it, I could garden year round by building simple tunnel covers over the raised beds. It's December and I'm still getting lettuce, carrots, onion. I do fish year round. (I'm 5 minutes from 2 lakes) I do have my egg chickens and meat chickens so I guess I do still stockpile just in live things.

[Blackdog Lin]

I saw the writing on the wall and became a "prepper" in 2008. It gives me comfort.

For instance, tonight we are in the midst of a small ice event. DH went out this evening to check and water the chickens, and then checked the house (eves, gutters and drainpipes), and came in saying the house looked okay, but we could lose some trees, as the wind seemed to be coming up. (false alarm, still no real wind 2 hours later, we do have a moderate layer of ice on every surface outside.) But it got me thinking about how the power lines could go out, we could end up without utilities, it could get ugly etc etc.

And I am comforted knowing that, as opposed to pre-2008, our household is so much better prepared for situations like this. We have a kerosene heater, and a week's worth of kerosene to fuel it, in the garage. We have emergency water supplies on hand. Lots and lots of easily-prepared foodstuffs in the pantry, and several possible ways to cook them (propane camp stove w/supply of propane canisters, charcoal grill w/supply of charcoal etc.), and a cabinet full of emergency candles, a couple of kerosene lamps, Coleman lantern w/spare parts, all the flashlights in one place w/spare batteries.....

I am a firm believer in stockpiling. It makes us better prepared for life's "little" emergencies (like the potential one we face right here right now in our area); and with a little effort (knowing what is on hand and rotating), it saves us money. I mean, think of the inflation we've all seen on all the common household necessities.

(we had salmon patties from canned salmon this week that cost a little less than half the price of the cans of salmon in our grocery store today. yep, the cans were 14 months old, but they tasted exactly the same as something I would have purchased today. easy savings.)

[bae]

The true measure of a "prepper" is how much toilet paper you have on hand. Word to the wise...

[Liv]

Thanks for the link, looks interesting. We usually stock up about a months worth of supplies, all we have room for anyway. I heard the whole state is only about a week ahead of needs so it's a bit scary.
We may not have to worry about being frozen in but we do have tsunami warning sirens they test each month and that reminds us of how easily we could get stuck up on the side of the volcano waiting for the marines to save us, lol.

[gimmethesimplelife]

I saw the writing on the wall and became a "prepper" in 2008. It gives me comfort.

For instance, tonight we are in the midst of a small ice event. DH went out this evening to check and water the chickens, and then checked the house (eves, gutters and drainpipes), and came in saying the house looked okay, but we could lose some trees, as the wind seemed to be coming up. (false alarm, still no real wind 2 hours later, we do have a moderate layer of ice on every surface outside.) But it got me thinking about how the power lines could go out, we could end up without utilities, it could get ugly etc etc.

And I am comforted knowing that, as opposed to pre-2008, our household is so much better prepared for situations like this. We have a kerosene heater, and a week's worth of kerosene to fuel it, in the garage. We have emergency water supplies on hand. Lots and lots of easily-prepared foodstuffs in the pantry, and several possible ways to cook them (propane camp stove w/supply of propane canisters, charcoal grill w/supply of charcoal etc.), and a cabinet full of emergency candles, a couple of kerosene lamps, Coleman lantern w/spare parts, all the flashlights in one place w/spare batteries.....

I am a firm believer in stockpiling. It makes us better prepared for life's "little" emergencies (like the potential one we face right here right now in our area); and with a little effort (knowing what is on hand and rotating), it saves us money. I mean, think of the inflation we've all seen on all the common household necessities.

(we had salmon patties from canned salmon this week that cost a little less than half the price of the cans of salmon in our grocery store today. yep, the cans were 14 months old, but they tasted exactly the same as something I would have purchased today. easy savings.)I have some money in Amazon.com gift codes that I have earned doing surveys online and I am thinking of getting a solar powered AM FM NOAA weather radio that can also be handcrank powered - I saw one online for 27.99 and the price is right - maybe I'll never really use it but I do like the idea of having it and I understand I can't turn my Amazon.com giftcard credits to cash, so.....Rob

[Blackdog Lin]

bae: have 56 spare rolls on hand in the storeroom. It's not enough, I know, but geesh, toilet paper is bulky! Haven't been able to figure out a good storage system for t.p. (mice in the attic, you know?)

[Tradd]

Thanks for the link!

[try2bfrugal]

I have really started stockpiling this year. I do it mostly to save money. We just bought some food grade, BPA free storage pails from Lowes for storing rice and dog food when they are on sale. I cleared out a lot of the kitchen clutter to make room for non-perishable food storage. Plus we have a small, energy efficient chest freezer for stockpiling meat and veg.

If I can find freezer stuff or non-perishables at half or more off regular prices, I try to stock up. If I can average 50% off retail prices on most of our food, over a year for us that save thousands of dollars.

I am also big on emergency kits. Our power went out a few weeks ago when it was pitch black out and we had emergency lights go on right away. Plus we had all sorts of battery, solar, and hand crank lights, radios and chargers to use so we could read as well as listen to the radio, audio books or music.

[Gardenarian]

I am not a stockpiler at all, but I really enjoyed that website. Thanks!