FIRST THOUGHTS

When we begin to talk of food storage, people react in strange ways. They think of hording or religious cults who require members to store food. Let us take a balanced and rational look at the issue.

Storing food is not hoarding food. Our modern day grocery stores in America have about a 72-hour supply on the shelves at any given time. In case of a disaster or pending disaster supplies can be gone in hours, if not minutes. Storing food means you have taken yourself out of the 72-hour supply line and are not one of the people panicking to buy food. You now are not adding to the mayhem of the moment.

How much food you store depends on your family, community, weather and other needs. This is where you must find God's direction.

To think you will store multiple years of food is not reasonable. Someone will find out you have it, whether it be the government or individuals banding together. This being said, a reasonable supply of food should be stored. Ask God what you are to do and then do it. If you walk in obedience now you can trust He will provide beyond what you can do when the time comes. Remember the manna?

Only tell those you trust that you have supplies. Do not allow neighbors to see you bringing in a truckload of food. They will remember where it is.

You cannot feed the whole world, only those you are responsible for.

There may be a day when you have to turn away those you love because they have refused to listen. This may be God's way of drawing them to Himself, don't get in His way.

HOW MUCH

As stated above previously in this course, we are not to walk in fear, but by God's voice. Hoarding is caused by fear; storage is from obedience. Go to Him and ask how many days, weeks or months you should plan for. Keep a diary of what you eat and how much you eat for a month, then plan from there. A two hundred pound man needs about 1800 calories per day just to function. Add work and the stresses of survival, this can go up to 4000 calories a day easily. Exercise will not be something you go to the gym for, it will be a part of daily life!

WHAT TO STORE

The typical American diet is killing us. White sugar, white flour and other highly processed foods are causing disease, sickness and fatigue. It is a good idea to clean up our diets now, before it is too late. By all means, do not store the junk foods of today and expect to survive in such a way that you will be of any good to anybody.

The best way to begin to store food is to simply buy a bit more than what you would normally. If you eat one can of tuna in a week, then buy two; eat one and store one. If you do this regularly over a few months you will be surprised at the amount of food you have stored without a strain on the budget. Once you have the storage you desire, then begin to eat from your storage, replacing items as you go through them. This is also a good hedge on inflation as once you have bought the can of tuna, the price can never go up. Canned goods can last a number of years if stored in a cool dry place. Short on storage area? How about under your bed?

Beans, grain and rice are good storage foods. White rice can be rancid when you buy it and the processing has removed most nutrients already. Buy the better organic rice and store it properly. There are many resources on the Internet to tell you how.

Also remember to store toiletries. A roll of toilet paper, a bar of soap and a toothbrush can make any situation seem just a bit better.

Once you have stored a supply of foods you eat on a daily basis, it may be time to look to dehydrated foods. Not all dehydrated foods are alike. There are many varieties on the market today. We have experimented and tasted many through the years. With some, the quality, texture and taste are questionable at least. Our research has shown Ready Reserve Foods to be one of the best on the market. The taste is also appetizing, which is very important. They have a shelf life of 7 to 10 years plus, due to heavier cans and nitrogen packing. You may order Ready Reserve Foods through our web site, and receive special discounted pricing. Sample packs are available. TAKE A LOOK , CLICK HERE

It is said that variety is the spice of life. Peanut butter is a great survival food, but by the second week of breakfast, lunch and dinner it may cause unnecessary loud emotional rage. Buy variety and don't forget to buy a few as my wife calls, "Comfort foods." A bit of chocolate or a Twinkie here and there is not bad; just don't overdo.

HOW TO STORE

Foods need to be stored in a cool, dry place so they will last longer. Canned goods and moisture just do not get along. Closets may need to be cleaned out and items you haven’t used in a while thrown out or sold in a garage sale, but find the room. Think of such areas as under beds or in a dry crawl space.

Do not buy large containers at first. Warehouse stores may look good at first, but how long will it take you to go through that five gallon bucket of mustard? Think about what you and your family eat when you consider storage. A good deal is not a good deal if no one eats it or it goes bad before you can find the bottom of that five gallon bucket of mustard.

There is a time and place for bulk food storage. Many people during Y2K bought five gallon buckets of grain but did not have a grinder nor did they know what to do with it if they did grind it. Before deciding to buy bulk foods, look into storage and also the time and effort it will take to prepare it. Maybe dehydrated is the better way to go at first!

GROW YOUR OWN

There are many people today who are once again growing at least a portion of their own food. The joys of watching the plants grow and the satisfaction of knowing where the food came from, as well as what chemicals and processing did not go into the food, are beyond value. No matter where you live or the greenness of your thumb, you can grow some of your own food.

Begin with a tomato plant and work your way up from there. Besides the monetary savings, the taste just cannot be beat. Try a couple of plants and freeze or can the extra they produce. It is like money in the freezer.

Try growing your own spices such as rosemary or mint for tea. What about fruit or nut trees? Have you seen the price of an apple lately? Do a bit of research into what grows best in your area during various times of the year.

RAISE YOUR OWN

About a year ago a friend was moving out of the state. She had some chickens she wanted to get rid of. I live in town, but it is a town where you see horses and cows off the main street. My first reaction was that I did not know about chicken raising, nor did I have the equipment. A long story short, she gave me a ten-minute lesson on chickens and I bought a book. With the chickens came an 8x8 chain link dog run and a plastic doghouse. I bought a feeder, a bag of food and in no time was in the chicken business. I can tell you, our chickens have been a great joy to the whole family as well as giving us eight to ten eggs per day from ten chickens. And once you eat a fresh egg, you will never be able to eat the ones you buy in the store.

I just wonder how the cow is going to fit in the back yard? :+)

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

Again, let me mention hording. Hording is done out of fear, which is not God's way. He is able to turn a few loaves and fish into a meal for some fifteen thousand. He can do the same for you. One thing to think about though is that He began with something, not with nothing. Yeshua took what one young boy had prepared and fed the multitudes. He expects us to do our part, and then He does His.