Storing Grains

As we've mentioned before, grains will store for a much longer period of time than ground flours, if you store them properly.

There are many ways to store grains, depending on your needs and how you use them.

Many bakers I know keep some of the grain they are using often in their freezer to keep it fresh and to keep the grain at a cooler temperature when they grind it fresh from the freezer.

This works if you aren't storing a lot of grain or if you have a dedicated space in your freezer for keeping your grain.

We keep our grain in a couple of categories: immediate-use, short-term storage and long-term storage. The key is to keep your storage grains so they won't get bugs or rodents in them, and in a relatively temperature-stable condition in order to get a long storage life from your grains.

Our immediate-use grain is in a 5 gallon bucket with a gamma seal lid. I keep this grain handy so I can scoop out of it for use whenever I need it.

Our short-term storage grains are in sealed 5 gallon buckets. We put the grain into mylar bags with oxygen absorbers, sealed the bags (we use a hair straightening-iron for sealing our bags, you can pick one up at any discount retailer in the hair products section), then sealed the buckets. They are stored in an accessible area and are used to replenish my immediate use grain bucket when it gets low or runs out.

Our long-term storage grains are also in sealed 5 gallon buckets. Some we did ourselves using the mylar bag and oxygen absorber method mentioned above and some we purchased already sealed. These are stored in an out-of-the-way area that we only access about twice a year for rotation purposes and these grains are intended as part of our long-term food storage program.

You can purchase grains from many, many different places and it is best to research food co-ops in your local area as a starting point for purchasing your grains.

We have purchased many of our long-term storage buckets of grain from Emergency Preparedness - they will ship the 5 gallon buckets of grain to you with a minimum order of 6 buckets. They come via FedEx on a pallet delivered right to your door. This is one of the best ways we've found to get our long-term storage grains; shipping is only a flat $12.00 for any order over $120.01!!! This is an very cost-effective way to get heavy items like buckets of grain delivered to you.

Another option we have in West TN is a local farmer who places a bulk grain order twice each year for customers who pre-order. He does a spring and fall order and then you pick up your order from him in North Mississippi when it arrives. You can order in sealed food grade pails (not in mylar, but in sealed buckets) or in bags. We've known the Funderburk family for awhile now and they are fantastic to work with: FunderFarm is the link to their website. They also sell grains and mixes already ground and ready to use, as well as different grinders.

In another post we'll talk about the different grain grinders and what we've found that we like best.
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Add to Your Preps AND Help Haiti!

Okay all you preparedness friends out there - if you need to add something to your preps and want to help Haiti at the same time - please go to MRE Depotfor your shopping - they are offering 3 different ways to help:

1) 10% off any purchase and they will send the 10% to Haiti - PROMO CODE IS HAITI, and/or

2) place an order of goods and they'll pay to ship it directly to Haiti and/or

3) make a cash donation and they'll match it.

This is a very reputable company we've used them a lot for our purchases - they have great prices, good shipping and fantastic customer service.

If the item is on their website, they have it in stock.

We can personally recommend (meaning we've tried these ourselves) the Red Feather Butter, the Yoder's Canned Bacon, the Costa Rica Green Coffee Beans, and the Canned Taco Meat.

Chia Seeds - Excellent EFAs

Image courtesy of Natural Remedeez

We've recently discovered this fabulous little seed - Chia Seeds. Yes, these are the very same seeds used for those horrendous Chia Pets that make their way through the stores during this time of year for Christmas presents.

But don't let that discourage you. Keep on reading - you'll be amazed.

Research on these little seeds reveals what a truly wonder seed they are. We've long tried to figure out good ways to have long term storage for Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids. Most things that are high in these oils go rancid quickly or it would be cost prohibitive to store.

Enter Chia Seeds. Here is some info for you:

From Wiki:

It is still widely used in Mexico and South America, with the seeds ground for nutritious drinks and as a food source.

Chia is grown commercially for its seed, a food that is very rich in omega-3 fatty acids, since the seeds yield 25-30% extractable oil, mostly α-linolenic acid (ALA). It also is a source of antioxidants and a variety of amino acids.

Historically, chia seeds served as a staple food of the Nahuatl (Aztec) cultures of Central Mexico. Jesuit chroniclers referred to chia as the third most important crop to the Aztecs behind only corn and beans, and ahead of amaranth. Tribute and taxes to the Aztec priesthood and nobility were often paid in chia seed.

Chia seed may be eaten raw as a dietary fiber and omega-3 supplement. Ground chia seed is sometimes added to pinole, a coarse flour made from toasted maize kernels. Chia seeds soaked in water or fruit juice is also often consumed and is known in Mexico as chia fresca. The soaked seeds are gelatinous in texture and are used in gruels, porridges and puddings. Ground chia seed is used in baked goods including breads, cakes and biscuits. Chia sprouts are used in a similar manner as alfalfa sprouts in salads, sandwiches and other dishes.

Another source for excellent info: BuyChiaSeed.com

Chia seed is high in calcium, 5 times the calcium of milk. 631 mg per 100 grams of seed.

Chia seed is also high in protein, with 18 grams per 100 grams of seed.

The optimum ratio of Omega-3 to Omega-6 should be 3:1

Chia seed provides that ratio.

Chia seed is hydrophilic. Absorbing up to 14 times (Mix @ 9-10 times) its weight in water. This helps extend energy and endurance.

Chia seed is rich in antioxidant oils.

Chia seed contains chlorogenic acid, and

caffeic acid as well as myricetin, quercetin, and kaempferol flavonols. These compounds are both primary and synergistic antioxidants that contribute to the strong antioxidant activity of chia seed.

Chia seed is also low in sodium, only 19 mg per 100 grams.

We buy ours here: Natural Remedeez

from their website:

Chia turns out to be the highest known whole food source of omega-3s. 3 1/2 tablespoons contains as much omega-3 fatty acid as a 32-ounce Atlantic salmon steak. Chia is an excellent source of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, and copper. It has as much magnesium as 10 stalks of broccoli, as much calcium as 2 1/2 cups of milk and as much iron as half a cup of kidney beans.... The Chia seed contain high levels of fiber, and more antioxidants than many berries. it can also help regulate blood pressure and other risk factors for heart disease. Chia stabilizes blood sugar levels by reducing blood sugar swings through its ability to slow down the release of carbohydrates and their conversion into sugar. Chia seed is considered to be nature's perfect food.

We've eaten ours by the spoonful, have ground them into smoothies, and I've ground them into a flour and put them in pancakes. We've sprinkled them on top of salads and waffles.

I encourage you to give Chia Seeds a try and add them to your long-term storage preps!

Why We Should Store Food

The Basics of Being Prepared with Food & Why We Should Do It

In this country, we have become used to a certain way of living. We don’t have to hunt for food any more, our time is taken up with making or spending money and we have time for leisure activities and hobbies. Time for household chores has been cut dramatically, and cooking can be as quick as you want it. You can “drive thru”, go to a restaurant, cook on the bbq, create a home made masterpiece or “nuke” a hot pocket. Your local grocer has everything you could ever want to feed your family.

There are several problems with this.

The first is especially obvious in these current times, and that is the economy. Food prices are rising, nothing goes down…well, unless you believe in Wal Mart’s “roll back” pricing signs! Our very paycheck is at risk these days with such high unemployment. The prices go up even more when gas prices increase, which brings us to reason #2.

Our lovely, fully stocked grocer is only 3-7 days away from being almost empty! Your grocer (drug store, gas station, home depot) depends on a delivery to remain stocked. Raise the price of transport, raise the price of groceries. Stop the transport (due to a flu pandemic, an electrical outage, a natural disaster etc) and stop the groceries.

Nasty stuff is out there…we’ve heard of the poisonings and illnesses created by eating contaminated food. The government has the controls in place to prevent much of that, but they’d rather create more restrictive bills that will have us relying on big agribusiness. (another rant and a debate for another time lol). However, from time to time, things will slip by FDA and inspectors. Much of the problem is because we are spoiled and continue to demand food from other countries, out of season. We can add to that, our needs are so great that farms use chemicals to ensure the demand is met. This all can be solved by following what is called “The Hundred Mile Diet”. Eat food that is locally grown! Not only are you supporting local economy, you are eating food that is better adapted to your body. It’s also more likely to be less contaminated with harsh chemicals. Better yet, grow your own! A by-product of our eating habits is that we don’t always make meals that were once considered wholesome, hearty and healthy. We view them as too plain or fattening. This need not be true! All we need to do is make appropriate substitutions. But by fixing your own food from scratch, you definitely help with a variety of issues. Not to mention that your family will be very happy.

So, what does this have to do with Being Prepared? Well, the first thing that you need if something goes wrong, is food. FEMA, Homeland Security, Ready.gov, every state in the country, and even the White House suggest that every family be prepared for an emergency/interruption of services with food and water for 72 hours. However, that wouldn’t have done the people stranded in Katrina much good! The NEW suggestion is that you have at least 2 weeks worth of food, if not 30 days. That is the beginning of your basic food “preps” (preparations/emergency supplies).

So, how do you go about getting 2 weeks to 30 days worth of food? Do you have to resort to buying MRE’s (meals ready to eat like Army rations)? Are you going to turn into one of those wierdo’s that lives in a bunker with a thousand cans of Spam? Of course not, and it’s easy to do!

I follow the principle of “storing what I eat and eating what I store”. It’s kind of like having my own grocery store. It’s what used to be known as a full pantry in the old days.

Every time I go grocery shopping, when something I use is on sale, I get as many of that item as I can afford. For instance, we eat spaghetti often. When pasta is on sale, I pick up 10 boxes instead of two. When spaghetti sauce is on sale, I pick up 10 cans/jars. The shelf life of pasta (properly stored) is about 10 years. The shelf life of your canned/jarred sauce is about 5 years. I know that I have enough food for 10 meals without my family noticing that I haven’t been to the store! Of course, I do the same with tuna and mayo, flour and sugar and many other things. Make a menu for three meals a day for a week. All the stuff you would normally make, include comfort foods like brownie stuff) and then multiply the ingredients by 4 and then as the items go on sale, you can purchase enough. Soon, you will have enough to feed the family for a month with no hassles.

Consider why this might come in handy:
Economic/unemployment
Flu/quarantine (yes, the government CAN quarantine you for 2 weeks! NO trips to the store)
Natural disaster (hurricane, earthquake, fire)
Civil unrest (probably due to unemployment and high taxes lol)
Martial Law
Terror Attack

Your first responsibility to yourself and your family is to feed them, then defend them…can’t defend, can’t start a new life, can’t wait till the problem is solved if you starve to death!) You can’t be a Patriot and fight the government when they have food and you don’t.

Author: HerbalPagan
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Global Wheat Fungus Inevitable

An excellent read here for those of you not familiar with the Ug-99 Durable Wheat Rust fungus that is spreading - most scientists say containment is likely impossible. Read more here:

For a brief overview:
Survival Blog: Ug-99 and The Ugly Times Ahead - There'll Be Fungus Among Us

For more in-depth information:
Borlaug Global Rust Initiative

Summary: Now is the time to be putting away your stores of wheat if you haven't already, before prices start to rise more than they already have. As a reminder, hard wheats are usually used for bread making since they are higher in gluten. Soft wheats are usually best for pastries and pastas. Also, consider alternate sources of grains: spelt, millet, barley, rye, kamut, triticale, amaranth and quinoa.

Some sources for ordering grain:

Bob's Red Mill

Honeyville Grain

Emergency Essentials

Walton Feed

Amazon.com

Frontier Survival

Bulk Foods

Aaoob Foods

What's In The Pantry?

I thought it would be nice to take a peek at some of the items that we have stored in our home pantry - most of this was put in place in the past 6 months to one year, as we rotate our items regularly. We make it a habit to try to stay 1+1 or more on almost everything. Each time we go to the store, in addition to buying what we need, we try to buy 1+ of each item and then put it in our reserve pantry. This is a quick and relatively inexpensive way to steadily increase your storage supplies.

Our 2009 Storage Pantry:

FOOD PRESERVATION (things I canned)

Apple Butter = 11.5 pints
Brandied Pears = 4 pints
Bread and Butter Pickles = 6.5 pints
Cucumber Relish = 5.5 pints
Fig Preserves = 3.25 pints
Hot Pickled Veggie Mix = 13.5 pints
Peach Cobbler Preserves = 20.5 pints
Pear Butter = 9.5 pints
Pears In Syrup = 7.5 pints
Pear Pickles = 9.5 pints
Pickled Okra = 10 pints
Squash Pickles = 9.5 quarts
Squash Relish = 15.5 pints
Stew Meat = 7 quarts
Sweet Pickle Relish = 11 pints
Sweet Pickle Spears = 6.5 pints
Tomato Preserves = 4.5 pints
Seasoned Ground Beef

FREEZER STORES

Apple Slices = 10 pounds
Bell Pepper Slices = 4 pints
Blueberries = 10 gallons
Green Beans = 4 quarts
Peach Puree = 4 gallons
Peach Slices = 4 gallons
Peas, Various = 2 gallons
Yellow Squash = 2 quarts
Home Canned Pesto
Coffee Beans
Butter
Cornmeal
Cheese
Nuts
Extra Ice Packs
Pizza
Meatloaf (homemade)
Lasagna (homemade)
Soup Stock

In the Freezer From our Pasture-fed Ranch:

Beef = 1 whole
Lamb = 1 side
Pork = 1 whole

Grain and Other Stores in our Overflow Pantry:

Kamut = 25 pounds
Millet = 10 pounds
Spelt = 25 pounds
Wheat = 300 pounds
Rice = 200 pounds
Pasta = 40 pounds
Pumpkin Seeds = 5 pounds
Unbleached All-Purpose Flour = 50 pounds
Sugar = 30 pounds
Oats = 20 pounds
Cornmeal = 15 pounds
Wheat Germ
Flax Seeds
Sprouting Seeds
Heirloom Vegetable Seeds
Popcorn
Baking Soda
Baking Powder
Yeast
Spices
Powdered Milk
Peanut Butter
Oils
Vinegar
Salt and Pepper
Borax
Canning Jars and Lids
Spaghetti Sauce
Ketchup and other condiments
Coffee Beans
Tea
Walnuts, Pecans - vacuum sealed
Dehydrated Apples
Dried / Dehydrated Fruits
Various canned goods from the store, such as pineapple rings, mandarin oranges, whole corn, green peas, carrots, broths, whole tomatoes and the like.
Feminine Hygiene Items
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Rubbing Alcohol
Various Over-the-counter medicines

I'm sure I'm forgetting a few items in my overflow pantry, as I don't have my list handy right now, but you get a good idea of what we're keeping on hand at the moment.

It is comforting to know that we have plenty of food on hand for many reasons. One is that I'm not pressured to go to the grocery every week and pay whatever the going prices are. I usually grocery shop only once a month. By preserving my own food or buying in bulk on occasion, I stay away from the grocery and weekly spending. Also, the food that I've preserved is fresher, free of artificial colors and preservatives and, in our opinion anyway, tastes much better.

From an Emergency Preparedness standpoint, you never know when these food stores might come in handy due to job loss, economic downturn, bad winter weather or the like.

Please feel free to share what's in your pantry!

Food Storage Buckets

Pulling a link for you to check out from SurivalistBoards about a sale on Food Grade 5 Gallon Buckets going on now at Lowe's - sale price is $2.83 per bucket versus a regular price of about $5.

This is a good thread with discussions about the various different plastics out there and whether or not they are food grade.

I know many of us try to get our buckets free whenever possible from places like bakeries, doughnut shops, ice cream stores and the like.

But we've been noticing here in the Memphis area that many stores aren't freely giving up their buckets anymore. Many of the area grocery chains and the chains like Costco and Sams have been refusing to give away or even sell their used buckets, stating they are now required to return them.