Sos Roofline Systems

Posts Tagged ‘food storage’

Every able-bodied individual should participate in an emergency preparedness plan. But, in order to make it an efficient pursuit, it shouldn’t be done chaotically. Many people start off with fine intentions, but are ill-advised in their preparedness and food storage actions. They have a lofty purpose in mind (i.e., being ready for the worst should a disaster or emergency occur), but there is no approach to their madness. After they have randomly accumulated some of the requirements for any feasible perceived threats, they are not then sure if they have all they need, and if they have allocated their means properly. It is always better to have done at least something to prepare, but you should start at the beginning and progress through to the end in a methodical way– from short-term planning to a longer-term scenario. Of course, you won’t be able to think of everything, but it is definitely better to be over- than under-prepared, and the best approach is to put together a rock-solid emergency preparedness foundation and increase it in the proper sequence.

The proposed sequence is as follows: the first thing that everyone should store in case of emergency is a 72 hour emergency kit. A 72 hour emergency kit is an easy-to-carry and easily accessible package that contains items such as three days of water (principal) and non-perishable food items (preferably ready-to-eat goods), personal toiletry/hygiene items, first aid kit and medications, flashlight and batteries, blankets and sleeping bag, a radio, pocket knife, etc. 72 hours is the designated period in which it is most likely that after a disaster occurs regular services can resume. You should plan on being self-reliant for at least these three days.

The next level up in the readiness pyramid is a three-month supply of food storage that would include items that you ordinarily eat and can be rotated easily, eliminating any waste. These are such things as canned goods that fit easily into your food pantry or an extra closet, as well as frozen foods (meat, preserves, and vegetables).

MRE’s (meals ready-to-eat), freeze-dried foods, and dehydrated foods are the next move up in prioritization. These food storage items store for long periods of time in a climate-controlled environment, usually between 10 to 30 plus years.

Dry-pack storage items such as wheat, white rice, and beans progress us even further up the readiness pyramid. These things are very nutrient dense, and take more effort to prepare meals with, but are exceedingly versatile and can be included in too many recipes to count. They can be eaten as a regular part of most meals. Other dry-pack items include powdered milk, powdered eggs and powdered butter, bullion (chicken and beef), flour, pasta noodles, etc.

Taking things a step further beyond food, it is time to move up the readiness pyramid to the level that includes extra clothing and footwear. Remember you must bear in mind the climate in which you live and the change (or not) in seasons. If you reside in a territory that has harsh winters, be certain to have plenty coats, sweaters, thermal underwear, warm clothing, gloves, boots, and blankets.

The next level up the pyramid is firearms and ammunition. First and foremost these serve as tools for killing game animals for meat should this become required. Secondly, these may serve as security in the event of a disorderly societal breakdown (rioting, looting, etc.) where you may need to protect your family from harm.

Camping equipment basics such as tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, camping stoves/Dutch ovens, fishing pole and tackle, a Leatherman, matches, a lantern, and porta-potties will all make you much more sure in your abilities to survive in the outdoors if you need to move even further up the readiness pyramid, and have to leave your home for whatever reason for a period of time.

Showering isn’t an absolute do-or-die . That is why this category of personal hygiene items is closer to the summit of the readiness pyramid, but still very much a valid and useful part of it. The specific items you should include here are soap, shampoo, toothbrush and toothpaste, a razor and shaving cream, deodorant, feminine napkins, and diapers.

After you have come this far, finalize the readiness pyramid with an emergency fund. This should cover as much as three to six months of living expenses, and then be supplemented with gold and especially silver (poor man’s gold) bullion.

Think of having to make use of your emergency food storage and eating for a very prolonged interval of time foods that have been dehydrated and freeze-dried. To a substantial extent such foods mimic in taste, texture, and nutritional content foods that we have become used to eating on a normal everyday basis. Dehydrated and freeze-dried foods are particularly functional inventions, and should be integrated in every food storage program, one of the core reasons being their lengthy shelf lives. These products are low maintenance and necessitate less rotation than the majority of all other types of emergency food storage foods. But, when it comes to having something fresh and easily digestible, many of the above-mentioned food selections are found wanting. Surviving in an emergency situation is one thing, thriving is another.

Most individuals comprehend that a regimen rich in fresh fruits and vegetables is healthy, and that foods packaged with preservatives are less so. It should also be ordinary knowledge that eating foods that we grow ourselves that are not treated with the -cides (herbicides, pesticides, insecticides) are healthier and more wholesome as well. So what of a calamity that occurs in the dead of winter when the growing season in many climates has obviously passed? You’ll be thankful to know that without a greenhouse or a plot of land, and in the brief space of a few days you can still have living, wholesome food that in some cases is more wholesome than totally grown and harvested garden vegetables.

Used in conjunction with dehydrated and freeze-dried foods, sprouts are an valuable part of every emergency food storage program. They enhance your existing food storage by their enzymatic action, gently helping your body to better break down, digest, and use the components of the other factors in your diet. Sprouts are also jam packed with vitamins, minerals, amino acids, protein, and antioxidants. Want an energy drink? Forget Red Bull or Rock Star and other artificial stimulants! Juice up some fresh homegrown wheatgrass! Coca-Cola, Pepsi, et. al may entice by producing vitamin fortified drinks, but the real fortification comes with sprouts whose vitamin content multiplies by factors of up to four or more over the vitamin content of the seedling itself, and far surpasses the amounts found in mature fruits and vegetables, too. You get several of the b-vitamins and a gravy portion of C.

Sprouts are about 95% water. As they grow they get edema. Not really, but they retain water well, which is a good thing. That means that they can satisfy a hearty appetite with much less cost than most any other food type. The mantra here isn’t: “Less filling! Tastes great!” but rather: “More filling! Tastes great!” Sprouts are just pennies per serving. Precise budgeters will be keen on the prudence of participating in a food plan so reasonably priced for their families! Sprouts take only between 4 and 6 days to grow to ready-eating, and require minimal effort, care, or space maintain. It is simple to set up your brown thumb in the kitchen and turn it green in a hurry.

One of the primary causes of disease from a holistic point of view is a regimen that is too acidic. Most Americans are guilty of having such a nutritional regime. It is said that acidity causes mucous to form, the mucous then gives rise to inflammation, and the inflammatory process in the body eliminates the homeostatic balance initiating the disease process. Sprouts are an alkalyzer, and can be used to neutralize the high level of acidity in the blood stream to lessen the causes (and thus the symptoms) of inflammation and impede the disease process in its tracks. Broccoli sprouts are claimed to be powerful cancer fighters because of their high content of antioxidants. In any case, sprouts are the perfect solution for storing as an substitute to fresh vegetables which categorically will not store for any lengthy period whatsoever. So break into your freeze-dried and dehydrated, but only so long as it takes for you to make a nice sprout salad. Eat up!