Food storage does it matter, why? (Contest)

[Rand]

In my opinion, water is more important. Without water, you won't live long. With water only, you can live for months, depending on your internal food storage.
There is a study about a man who did a water fast for 382 days. He lost 160 lbs, but no muscle mass. He did take vitamins, but no food.

If you don't have water, you can't prepare or eat most of the food we store, at least for long. A week with no water, and you are in deep trouble. A week with no food, but with enough water, you are healthier than you were the previous week.
Water wins.

[Older/wiser?]

We have to do as we are counseled, advised, as it is written. And that goes for Robin Hood, even tho' he refuses to trust the arm of man, but will instead just rely on his socialist government.

I have been trying to work on food storage for more than 3 years, but only around 3 years ago found myself a member of the church and thus learning that divine inspiration has been given to us to do so.

However, what I am doing is primitive and initial at best.

But. I attend on Tuesday night a local preparation group (almost all, or perhaps all members) which has a different prep presentation from an expert every week (after pot luck). Local experts, with some experience in a preparation product or program.

I also know of a Thursday night similar group a town or two over.

I could certainly inquire at either of those meetings if someone could and would use such a grinder. I know I wouldn't know what to do with it.

Also, it's electric and we are all preparing for no electricity as problems begin. But I don't know if that's significant or not. This is all a learning experience for me.
dc

David 13 do you have a water purifier? What can I do to help you? Your a fairly new member so I would be glad to send you something, Sarah I might have a hand grinder if you would like one. Paid to play I will get some things together for you. Bison what do you need.. I am out of town till the 19th all who would like something pm me and I will arrange to bring things down when I get home. I truly consider it a privilege to help anyone out with their supplies. Mirkwood I know your set,do you need anything ?what water purification do you think is best, I have a big Berkley, a katadyn, life straws any others I should get? and yes I guess I've been know to double up on stuff .

[BeNotDeceived]

In my opinion, water is more important. Without water, you won't live long. With water only, you can live for months, depending on your internal food storage.
There is a study about a man who did a water fast for 382 days. He lost 160 lbs, but no muscle mass. He did take vitamins, but no food.

If you don't have water, you can't prepare or eat most of the food we store, at least for long. A week with no water, and you are in deep trouble. A week with no food, but with enough water, you are healthier than you were the previous week.
Water wins.

Here’s a simple experiment to try. Fill a glass with ice water.

Does water condense on the outside of the glass?

Iff no, then try using a metal container and adding salt until not all of it dissolves.

Also note ambient temperature and relative humidity in cases where it doesn’t work.

Here’s why:

Physicists have achieved record levels of temperature reduction using the process of radiative cooling, by which heat is beamed from Earth’s surface into outer space. Zhen Chen and his colleagues at Stanford University lowered the temperature of a thermal emitter – a device designed to give out more heat than it takes in – to 42.2 °C below that of the surrounding air

“To achieve high-performance cooling, the key is to couple whatever object you want to cool with outer space and to decouple it from the ambient environment,” says Chen. The researchers placed the emitter in a ...

Please report cases where water doesn’t condense, or when ice-water in a glass won’t quite do it.

Free cooling means free water, except in rare cases; this is an update to: viewtopic.php?f=56&t=46499&p=807390

[mirkwood]

David 13 do you have a water purifier? What can I do to help you? Your a fairly new member so I would be glad to send you something, Sarah I might have a hand grinder if you would like one. Paid to play I will get some things together for you. Bison what do you need.. I am out of town till the 19th all who would like something pm me and I will arrange to bring things down when I get home. I truly consider it a privilege to help anyone out with their supplies. Mirkwood I know your set,do you need anything ?what water purification do you think is best, I have a big Berkley, a katadyn, life straws any others I should get? and yes I guess I've been know to double up on stuff .

I'm good to go for the most part. I'm heading to bed, I'll get back to you on water, or you can go to my blog post and read it there: preppercop.blogspot.com

[Older/wiser?]

Thanks Mirkwood the link posted above said 500 internal server error ,so I will try to find your blog another way.

[mirkwood]

http://preppercop.blogspot.com/

[FamilyFunnyFarm]

I think food storage is about obedience. We may not need it today or tomorrow or next month but there will come a time we may need it. It may not even be an apocalyptic event but something as simple as a job loss, injury or weather event. I don’t personally store excess amounts wheat as we have diet restrictions but I strongly believe in food storage and how to use it.

[Vision]

I have a friend that opened my eyes to a different perspective on food storage. He brought to my attention the millions of pounds of food that has been wasted over the years by the practice of food storage. How many families have moved and had 100's of pounds of wheat that goes to the dump because it's old or no longer needed? It happens all the time. I don't think wasting food is in the Lords plan.

Added 2/15. I was on a job site today and looked at an old storage shed that needs to be torn down and here is what I found, how ironic

IMG-0326.JPG (78.67 KiB) Viewed 8576 times

[Older/wiser?]

I have a friend that opened my eyes to a different perspective on food storage. He brought to my attention the millions of pounds of food that has been wasted over the years by the practice of food storage. How many families have moved and had 100's of pounds of wheat that goes to the dump because it's old or no longer needed? It happens all the time. I don't think wasting food is in the Lords plan.

I agree wasting any gift from the Lord is not His way. First people are not always educated, wheat never needs to be dumped, I would rather have old wheat than new modified wheat. I witnessed a woman throw out 2 50 pd buckets of white honey Why? because it had crystallized and gone hard, she didn't want to eat that old hard honey. Have you priced honey lately. I like the old saying " use it up wear it out, make it do or do with out. People LDS included have so much we assume we always will. Wheat if stored properly will last forever. I store mine 6 50pd. bags in a 55 gal. steel drum, I would never throw it out finding a good home for it would be an easy job. Food is so plentiful we place no value on it. "All grain is ordained for the use of man...to be the staff of life D&C 89:14 the word of wisdom states all grains are ordained for the use of man, wheat for us. The plenty and abundance given us these many years seems to have lost value but what an insurance policy which I can pass down to my children for a day of need. We still use my dad's wheat and the bread made is amazing . The old sayings had a lot of impact "waste not want not" "a penny saved is a penny earned" history reveals Major wars happen about every 75 yrs we are over due. Wouldn't every one sleep better at night if our shelves were full, our homes paid for, no debt , and some financial reserve ( not my advise Pres. Hinckley) no financial advisor can top that. What to do with it? Learn how to make a good loaf of bread. Get it incorporated into your diet, if dietary needs require a substitute get that done your families physical lives may depend on it. I promise you will sleep better at night.

[gardener4life]

You know...if it came to it where an event would occur to need our food storage, I have three close relatives that would hurt people to get food. I know that because even with no 'events in play' they already practice predatory relationships.

I thought I might say something about this because if society as a whole had to use food storage, or even if a family did have to use it only themselves, a lot of people really aren't asking and teaching each family member to contribute to the well being of the family whole and pull their weight. People sometimes use their families in predatory relationships. A lot of families allow someone in their family to be acting out selfishly often to always be getting more than their share at another's expense.

How do you deal with that? It's not something you can control. Even if you point out so and so is able bodied and should have a job, others won't always enforce it. Or if you have to enforce it some will put up such a fight against being self sufficient to need outside help. And that's not counting people suddenly feeling bad about not wanting to kick out Little Johnny, who is actually Gangster Johnny. They will sometimes even agree something isn't right but then decide they don't have time to deal with it or whatever.

For people that aren't able bodied how do you be a contributing person in the family, or bring these people to be included in family events? You know a lot of stuff like food storage and family planning a lot of people leave out people that aren't able bodied, or they sort of push them out psychologically. I wonder how other people deal with people in their families that are good and want to help but aren't able bodied because of health, etc? I mean this question in not just food storage, but how a real question of how you deal with acceptance and including people in the family that aren't able bodied in activities?

Food storage is really wonderful as a concept. Even with nothing going on you can save so much money by practicing it after your initial investment. Consider Beef Ravioli canned goods at Walmart...in my area part of the year the price for these goes up to $1.20 or even $1.30. But the low point in the year it can get as low as 80 to 88 cents per can. If someone were to put those in their supply at the very lowest point of the year they would save a % of (1.05-80)/80 converted to a percent figure. Other goods are the same way. This is how you plan and deal with food storage.

(130+80)/2 = 105 or $1.05 (Obviously this isn't exact but it's approaching and close to accurate for getting an idea for how it works, assuming the low and high price can be for certain periods of time in the year that average out well.)

[Older/wiser?]

I look at the picture Vision posted knowing that this waste is common, but we are a throw away society. From dishes to people, we want everything fast easy and cheap. A few comments on that picture, I see their mistakes, the barrels are flimsy tin, my folks used those, not durable won't easily hold that much wheat. I use steel drums found on KSL classified (food storage section) I used to get them free from meadow gold in SLC. anyplace where they use food grade bulk liquids will give them away, buckets I get free from the bakery at Smiths, they used to be 5gal. now there 3 (store all kinds of things in them ,easy to move). I don't take my wheat out of there double plastic bags and 6 bags fit nicely in a barrel. You can then move your barrels by unloading them. Gardener4life (I bet I know what you do with you spare time) mentioned people, we all at some point won't be as able bodied that's why I do what I do now, you want my stuff it's a packaged deal , in ten yrs I will be less able than now but I have prepared for that. Families are devided now and hard times I assume will create more division. I guess I will deal with things as they come. Thats the great thing about being prepared, I know where the "Goodies" are and knowledge is power. Please don't think I am not relying on the Lord I have been doing that these many years, that is why I am prepared in more ways than one.

[mirkwood]

Somebody did it wrong, so food storage is a bad idea.

[gardener4life]

Food storage not followed right isn't an excuse to tell others not to do it or that practicing it is wasteful.

Food storage is something you have to learn as you go just like everything else. You learn a bit, and then figure out what you are doing wrong. Then you do so again and again. That's why you need to start early. You realize how much you save on groceries right away. The money you save by being smart and thinking about how to take care of others is important. One of the benefits of self sufficiency is that you start to learn how to really take care of a whole family and not just only yourself. There's tons of life lessons on this in not being selfish and figuring out how to care for others.

Here's an example...they have this brand of canned corn, peas, and string beans at walmart for 40 cents a piece. The traditional brands are sometimes nearly a whole dollar. I wouldn't have found this brand without thinking about how to be 'self sufficient'. And this brand is just as good as the other. I opened up the can and its delicious bright golden corn with a nice wonderful smell to it.

[Teancum]

To me the thought of why is because it teaches you to have the proper attitudes and thoughts:

If you rely upon the store and the economic structure of work to buy the next meal, then you are paying homage to work to exist. if not work, then welfare, or something else. in effect you can end up worshiping whatever keeps you alive.

By being obedient, you are paying homage to God and are more apt to acknowledge his hand and give thanks to him (all commandments BTW) . It is building your character in more ways than one.

Then the result of agency, freedom and peace as has been stated above is a big blessing. So is the knowledge and comfort you receive from learning how to do it.

"Preparedness runs strong in your forum, pass on what you have learned"

[tribrac]

Does it matter? I don't know anymore.

A neighbor of mine works on one of the top floors at 50 North Temple.... one day I mentioned something about food storage to him. His next comment to me made me feel backwards, behind the times, and a little ashamed for having any food storage at all.

For context, I don't have alot of food storage, not much more than a well stocked pantry.

Just another thing in a long list of things I don't know what I should really believe or do, and jadedly waiting for someone to tell me I did it wrong all along. You know, either 1- I was not faithful in getting a full years supply, or 2- I wasted all that money & time listening to dead prophets when I should have listened to the live one. -sigh

In other news....old food storage feeds pigs just fine. find a farmer and make a deal.

[mirkwood]

Does it matter? I don't know anymore.

A neighbor of mine works on one of the top floors at 50 North Temple.... one day I mentioned something about food storage to him. His next comment to me made me feel backwards, behind the times, and a little ashamed for having any food storage at all.

For context, I don't have alot of food storage, not much more than a well stocked pantry.

Just another thing in a long list of things I don't know what I should really believe or do, and jadedly waiting for someone to tell me I did it wrong all along. You know, either 1- I was not faithful in getting a full years supply, or 2- I wasted all that money & time listening to dead prophets when I should have listened to the live one. -sigh

In other news....old food storage feeds pigs just fine. find a farmer and make a deal.

Ignore him. Clearly the church has a different position then he does:

https://providentliving.lds.org/food-storage?lang=eng

[Michelle]

We have tried to keep a year supply of what would keep us alive and a 3 month supply of what we are accustomed to eating since we got married. It's easier if you start early and use it regularly. (Just add enough for another person when you have a baby and there is not big out of pocket expense trying to do the whole family at once.)

We use what we store and we have needed it when my husband was laid off for 5 months.

I believe using food storage has kept us healthier and saved us money.: wheat, oats, beans, rice, etc. cost less than pre-packaged store bought food.

I prefer to store real food both for health and because I doubt those willing to steal food someday will want mine. I think they will happily take the "just-add-water" pre-made food storage and the canned food items, but most people, even now, don't have the first clue what to do to turn wheat, oats, beans and rice into something edible. I know, because people have often asked me I how use that kind of food. (Hint: water alone can turn any of them into edible food.)

One last point, it is very affordable. When my friends talk about grocery budgets mine is always the lowest by a lot, and mine includes non-food items like toilet paper and diapers as well.

I can feed my family of 9 oatmeal for breakfast for $2, with milk and real maple syrup that goes up to about $4
Cream of wheat is $1.50 for the whole family
Homemade whole wheat waffles with butter, pecans and real maple syrup is a regular breakfast at our house.

Lunch of beans and rice? $3, with sauteed veggies on top (zucchini, onion, peppers) about $4.50
We also like grilled cheese sandwiches or burritos.

Dinner whole wheat spaghetti with sauce (meatless) and a side of veggies $3-4

Sometimes we like to splurge and I make a "restaurant dinner" at home. This meal costs about $10.30 for the whole family, and everyone is stuffed with leftovers to spare:
Chicken Pozole
#10 can of hominey $3
1 can of chicken from Costco $1.70
onion $0.15
garlic $0.10
chili guajillo $0.30
chili ancho $0.30
1.5 pkg tostadas $3.45
sour cream $1
lettuce $0.20
oregano, salt, lemon juice $0.10

We drink water mostly (sometimes milk) and for snacks I like to bake homemade whole wheat muffins with blueberries, bananas or pumpkin or make fruit smoothies.

These are all real meals we eat and enjoy. Meat is eaten sparingly and almost never outside of winter.

Also, I'll never complain about receiving old food storage from others and feed it to my chickens if it is questionable for human consumption.

One more thing, a story of faith:

We ate up quite a bit of food storage when we were planning on moving. We only had about a 3 month supply left after we arrived at our new place.

I immediately prayed, made a plan and started re-stocking, but with the unexpected events of life, one year later I still only had about a 3 month supply. I felt strongly that we were suppose to finish our year supply again by the next month, since I had received that answer when I first prayed about re-stocking. I went back to the Lord in prayer and explained I had done my best, but I was not any further ahead. This was on a Tuesday.

By Thursday of the same week we had our year supply. A wonderful convergence of sales, inspiration and finances made that possible. It was not something I could have made happen, but I was prepared by the Spirit to take advantage when it did.

Food storage still matters.

[brianj]

One more thing, a story of faith:

We ate up quite a bit of food storage when we were planning on moving. We only had about a 3 month supply left after we arrived at our new place.

I immediately prayed, made a plan and started re-stocking, but with the unexpected events of life, one year later I still only had about a 3 month supply. I felt strongly that we were suppose to finish our year supply again by the next month, since I had received that answer when I first prayed about re-stocking. I went back to the Lord in prayer and explained I had done my best, but I was not any further ahead. This was on a Tuesday.

By Thursday of the same week we had our year supply. A wonderful convergence of sales, inspiration and finances made that possible. It was not something I could have made happen, but I was prepared by the Spirit to take advantage when it did.

Food storage still matters.

The Thank button seems to have disappeared again so I have to type a comment.

Thanks for sharing the story! It is quite impressive.

[Istymay77]

I believe food storage is any absolute necessity! Honestly even if some do not want to see it as being prepared for a huge catastrophe, it's necessary for smaller but still very real scenarios. Job loss can happen to anyone and being prepared financially and especially with food can help anyone feel like then can tackle the situation. How about a freak storm. They happen where I live a couple times where we get snowed in. Sickness also, if prepared you can have everything necessary to provide for family without going out as much during "flu seasons." Only to recent our area had a malfunction with our cities water system and we all had to go with bare minimum water rotations for 3 months. Now the surrounding cities lent water but it was rough and lesson learned here. Since then we had to shut off our water for a drain leakage one time and were very grateful to pull out our water supply and use that to teach our kids about the importance of being prepared.

We are working on always rotating our food storage and keeping it fresh! A wheat grinder would be absolutely amazing and something we are saving up for. I truly believe working with your food storage on an everyday basis makes it so you can be prepared and confident for when you truly need it.

I know I'm late in the game but that would be amazing to get a wheat grinder! If not thank you anyways! Happy prepping!

[dafty]

We have to do as we are counseled, advised, as it is written. And that goes for Robin Hood, even tho' he refuses to trust the arm of man, but will instead just rely on his socialist government.

RAF supply-drops to snowbound villages

https://goo.gl/sqKhQR

...I guess not every government is filled with evil Gadiantons
PS. I do have a food storage by the way.

[David13]

We have to do as we are counseled, advised, as it is written. And that goes for Robin Hood, even tho' he refuses to trust the arm of man, but will instead just rely on his socialist government.

RAF supply-drops to snowbound villages

https://goo.gl/sqKhQR

...I guess not every government is filled with evil Gadiantons
PS. I do have a food storage by the way.

Again, you miss the point entirely. It goes right over the top of your head.
dc

[iskatel]

It shows where your heart is. When the time comes, my food storage will be consecrated to the Lord and it will then be His to do with as he wishes. Whether it is for me to share or he has a purpose for it that doesn’t include me is totally up to Him since it will be His. I am completely prepared to sacrifice it.

[JohnnyL]

Here's why food storage matters:

"The Taiwanese government announced late February that the price of tissue fiber (imported) was going up a lot, so there were non-violent riots at all the big stores; people rushed in and bought all the tissue. Then the government said prices wouldn't be raised, but all the tissue shelves were empty for like a week--and some stores STILL don't have it."

Anyone not convinced it's important?

[Swarrior]

I recall (I think it was Marion G. Romney) it was said. that your food storage would be as necessary to your survival as Noah's ark was to his. nuff said right?

[mirkwood]

I recall (I think it was Marion G. Romney) it was said. that your food storage would be as necessary to your survival as Noah's ark was to his. nuff said right?

“The revelation to store food may be as essential to our temporal salvation today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah.” Ezra Taft Benson – Prepare Ye – Ensign, Jan. 1974, 69