Comments on Leaving Excess: Food Storage Basics - Getting Started

Robin - Here are the basics, as I understand them....

2009-01-15T09:38:28.583-06:00

Robin - Here are the basics, as I understand them. When the foundation for a house is poured, so is a foundation for the front stoop area. Usually, when the house is backfilled (the dirt is moved back around the basement and foundation), dirt is put into the area below the front stoop. BUT, if you put a door into one wall of the foundation (a wall that will be inside the house) and put a ceiling up over the opening (my husband used plywood and steel), then the front stoop will be poured over the top of the room and the whole thing is concrete. It is not heated, so it is not as warm as the house, but it is warmer than outside in the winter. Generally, it is about 50 degrees all year long in there. We put up shelving and use it as fire proof storage, and now are converting it to a root cellar. It would also be great for wine storage.

If you want more details (I am sure my rendition is a crude picture of the reality), please email me with your email address and my husband can provide more details.

I would love the information on the root cellar!

2009-01-14T13:04:00.000-06:00

I would love the information on the root cellar!

Great post and information!! A great resource to h...

2009-01-08T09:23:00.000-06:00

Great post and information!! A great resource to help those interested in building up a food storage is www.shelfreliance.com. In fact, they got a great mention on a Utah radio station recently: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=545&sid=5065869 Their Thrive line of food is fantastic and easily incorporated into everyday meals. Also, if you use the coupon code save15 you can save 15% at checkout!!

I really believe having a good stock of food is IM...

2009-01-04T22:03:00.000-06:00

I really believe having a good stock of food is IMPORTANT! It has been important for my family (TODAY). My husband is in construction and the past month has been SLOW! (It is picking up now, but folks just don't do a lot of remodeling over Christmas). For the last month we have primarily eaten out of our food storage (except for meat, eggs (chickens are on winter strike), milk and cheese, and fresh produce). We have eaten well, had a wide variety and have survived with very little shopping.

The week before Christmas we were hit with an ice storm (we hauled out 7 LARGE truck loads of branches) that caused us to loose power for 35 hours (2 days and one night). Thanks to our wood stove we were warm and well fed. I had a plan and was perfectly able to cook three meals a day on the wood stove. Having a PLAN is the first step. Implementing it is IMPORTANT!!! I was blessed to have been raised with this as "normal"!!!
Thanks for the GREAT post!!!!
Heather

Anonymous: (Obviously) I did not know that - you ...

2009-01-04T19:30:10.885-06:00

Anonymous: (Obviously) I did not know that - you learn something new every day! Thanks for taking the time to comment!

FYI: Latter-day Saints and Mormons are two titles ...

2009-01-04T16:24:00.000-06:00

FYI: Latter-day Saints and Mormons are two titles for the same group. :)

I have always been somewhat of a "be prepared" kin...

2009-01-04T08:04:00.000-06:00

I have always been somewhat of a "be prepared" kind of person. Not so much for religious reasons. I guess I am more of a survivalist in case of storms, or worse. When a storm is blowing in I make "storm stew". Just in case the power goes out my family will have a hot meal. I have been "collecting: and storing food for some time. But really don't have much of a plan. I have an excel table that I made myself for inventory. I am so excited to check out these sites and see if I can really get organized!!!

Thank you.
Debbie

Michelle,I just wanted to leave a note to thank yo...

2009-01-03T21:56:00.000-06:00

Michelle,

I just wanted to leave a note to thank you. Your posts have really motivated me and I find your reflections on the state of things often reflect my own. I found these sites through your blog and I have slowly been learning about food storage. I like your idea of the storage shelf by the door - that will work for me. And I will admit I whave been a bit overwhelmed by the thought of beginning food storage since my goal has been to cut back my food budget each month, not add more by doing food storage. But your taking it on is motivating and I think I'll get started this week. :0)

Jodi - THANK YOU so much for helping me to underst...

2009-01-03T20:04:19.124-06:00

Jodi - THANK YOU so much for helping me to understand the Mormon teachings - that is so interesting and I never had heard about that aspect of Mormon beliefs. I really did not realize (despite three looong semesters of theology in college) that there were passages in the bible preaching preparedness, so I think it is great that some religions have emphasized it. I'll bet it has helped lots of people be more prepared.

It would be great if more religions taught preparedness and offered support as the Latter Day Saints and Mormons seem to (by having canning equipment to use and selling goods ready to store).

Your comment is a testament to why we really do need to be prepared - especially today. We will keep your family in our prayers - I hope your husband returns to a good job soon. In the meantime - good for you for having food ready to use!

And thanks for helping those of us new to food storage (and of different religous backgrounds) work through the process. Right now I am finding it overwhelming to try to plan out a full 31 day menu - three meals, snacks and all, but I am plugging along!

Wow thanks so much for the nice comments about us ...

2009-01-03T19:10:00.000-06:00

Wow thanks so much for the nice comments about us :) Our three month worksheet has been so popular we are working on other similar tools coming out soon!

Also, you asked for clarification about some of the Mormon church teachings. You had it basically right, but I just wanted to note that they also recognize the value in preparing for an economic emergency equally if not MORE than natural disasters. We do try to prepare for possibilities where you might not have power, heat, etc. but we know that most likely you will use your food storage in a time where money is tight, food is scarce, etc.

My husband has been out of work for 3 months and it has saved us about $200-$250 a month in groceries just by being able to eat mainly out of our food storage. We still pay for electricity so we can cook our food just fine.

Another benefit of food storage is that by implementing a food storage program you really can save a lot on your monthly groceries by only buying items at times they are on sale.

I love your blog and am so grateful that you have found our site to be a help to you :) Thanks for spreading the word!

Thanks, Frugal Angel-Guided Psychic!Lisa - great p...

2009-01-03T18:54:58.061-06:00

Thanks, Frugal Angel-Guided Psychic!

Lisa - great point, and one to definitely consider. Yes, I am storing items for 3 months and rotating through them, so that they are being used within their expiration dates.

Thanks for writing a great blog. Your entry about ...

2009-01-03T17:23:00.000-06:00

Thanks for writing a great blog. Your entry about stockpiling 3 months worth of food had me wondering if you were also factoring in expiration dates. There are tons of health and beauty items that expire also, like toothpaste and sun screen. I amassed quite a stockpile last year only to lose some of it because the items expired. Unfortunately I didn't donate it or buy less.

Great ideas and sites, Thanks Michelle! I do this...

2009-01-03T08:31:00.000-06:00

Great ideas and sites, Thanks Michelle! I do this every Fall around the end of Oct., begnning of Nov. since my DH is a contractor. I stock up 3-4 months worth of food.

We have had our own business for 3 years now and preparing for the lean months of winter has taught me a lot.

DH's work has become year round now that he has a building/shop where he can build furniture and cabinets and sell flooring.... but, I don't ever want to worry about not having food here in our house. Financial considerations yes, but for me it is a "feeling of safety" more than anything.

Great post, thanks for some new resources.

Oh, I almost forgot. I've ordered by bulk (from different companies) since we don't have any health food stores near us. I've been thrilled with the quality of dried goods.... especially the mushrooms LOL! No, really!

Here are two posts I've done that you might like: http://frugalangel.blogspot.com/2008/12/saving-money-on-groceries-in-rural-area.html and http://frugalangel.blogspot.com/2008/12/one-cookbook.html

Blessings,
Kara