Getting Started With Food Storage (a chat with Johanna Fugal)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ม.ค. 2017
- Another chat with Johanna for the skill-of-the-month club. This time we're getting into the "how" of food storage. Let us know what you think!
the food storage calculator Johanna mentioned: providentliving.com/preparedne...
You can also hop over to the Skill of the Month Club FB group to share your thoughts or brag your homework! / 363729293988483
About the skill of the month club:
Part community, part skill-share, we're just a group of people hanging out together and trying to encourage awesomeness in every category having to do with simple living, intentional living and homestead life. Esther will do the lessons in the first month, but as we go on to different skills we'll be hearing from all sorts of experts!
Esther Emery is "the Homestead Wife" and the daughter of Carla Emery, author of The Encyclopedia of Country Living.
Esther's book: What Falls From the Sky: How I Disconnected From the Internet and Reconnected With the God Who Made the Clouds -- www.estheremery.com/books/ and everywhere books are sold.
Esther's mom's book: The Encyclopedia of Country Living amzn.to/2fMuOQM - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
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nice chat. your both such good moms. we take care of our children. and yes food is emotional. not just to live. the family table is our connection to our hearts while we share the earths gifts. and the skill of how to can and store is another way to know we can take care of them and us. keep being a shinning example . thanks
Another great video with solid advice thank you Esther and Johanna
I started with jars as I needed them for what I was planning to can. I then bought a large quantity to store dried goods for my working pantry because I lost one cupboard full of food from mice (I really hate mice). The jars were very expensive, but now I have them and I have thwarted the next mouse. I've always had a full working pantry even as a student. My mom was born into the LDS church and food storage was how I was raised. For long term food storage I started with rice and beans and dehydrating bags of frozen vegetables. I bought a one month supply of those every two weeks (rice $10, beans $9, vegetables$10). In six months I had a year's supply. I actually like rice, beans and vegetables and eat them regularly (yes I know I'm weird). I then got pasta and canned enough sauce for a year during the seventh month. Then I got oatmeal for a year during the eighth month. After that I started storing canned and dried fruit and picking up powdered milk every time I shopped. As I've gone along I've been learning how to make things like cheese, yogurt and a butter like spread from food storage. (I'm trying to perfect chocolate). My emergency evacuation plan now includes my 21 year old cousin so I've been adding some more for him although he has his own two month supply which I made up for him in case of a short term emergency like a nasty ice storm taking down power lines. I've got friends who just simply have no financial means to buy anything extra through no fault of their own and we've decided together that a two month supply of rice, beans, pasta, oatmeal long term food storage is much more practical as a gift than something they have to dust. The main thing I need to do is open my buckets and shift things around so that I have supplies in a more organized way.
Thank you, ladies! Feeling like I've had a nice visit...with very informative friends.♥
Such an awesome series. Thank you both. I also just picked up your book and am settling in for a good read.
This has been a great kick in the pants for me and my family. My husband and I were really doing great with storing extra, buying on sale, stocking up etc. Then wham, for reasons that we can't quite put our finger on, we have been finding ourselves OUT of so of our more stocked items. One of the best things I did for us to help, I took a plastic sheet protector and hung it inside one of our cabinets, with a dry erase marker. Now, every time I get something out of our stores and see that they is ONE left it goes on the shopping list. Sometimes, if it's a frequently used item it goes on the list when we are down to two. Then we watch the sale bills till it goes on sale. Johanna tips of knowing how many times you eat a particular meal in a month is something I'm going to add to our calculations! I would love to be buying in bulk more often but our resources here are limited for that option.
Thank you for reminding us to not be afraid to eat our food storage. I, too, have been guilty of allowing beautiful apples rot in an effort to 'save' them. My mindset became so geared towards 'saving' and 'storing' that I forgot about enjoying what's in front of me. Big lesson for me! I'm so grateful I eventually learned from it. Thank you for sharing all your wisdom!
Thank you!
I live alone and find buying in bulk and storing SO satisfying, but sometimes it's just too much food for me. I often buy 10 kilo bags of rice at a time. I'm also an extreme couponer. I put at least ten ziploc bags full of rice in my ... for lack of a better word "food bank". I run a food bank out of my house. I have so much abundance, I often creep the Recycling Kindness or Freecycle or wanted ads for people who are in need of food, and give it to them. Food banks in these parts only give three days worth of food, but most people run out before payday. Food banks often don't accept "ziploc baggies" of bulk food separated, but the people (humans, face to face) that I donate to, accept it. I find giving food, face to face, the greatest of my joys in life. I've saved so much buying in bulk, it's really no budget buster to regift some of it.
Great ideas!
I got free jars from my grandma and her neighbors at her elderly apartment complex and they are now saving them for me, also I buy jars on Craigslist if I find a good deal. I recently bought 2 dozen for $5, you just have to keep your eyes open.
Good advice!
These are such great tips. I buy food when it's on sale, and stock up. Then I don't have to buy it at a regular price. Great point on buying food that you actually will eat.
You ladies did wonderful. One thing that really helped me when I started my food storage was to make a list of 14 meals you cook for your family. Dinners and include a few breakfast meals like oatmeal, cream of wheat etc. then decide how many times you would serve that meal to your family a month. Then slowly build up a 1-3 month supply. If that works for you then times that by 6-12 months. This has worked out well for us.
Great advice!
Also... I got SOOOO lucky... I found mason jars on the side of the road one day. About 200 of them! I used to live in Dutch Reform country and I guess some lady had given up her stash on the curb. I nearly died. I gave so many away, but kept probably 100 for myself, and they are amazing.
Great ideas and information!
Thanks!
Alot of great tips and ideas. Somewhere to begin and not be overwelmed. Thanks
over the past 3 weeks I posted either in response or as a request on the local buy nothing, recycle, free store groups looking for canning jars and since Christmas I had a response of 3 people giving me 325 canning jars so now I've got about 12 or 15 canning jars I can now use. I also got some really large canning jars 1800 milliliter or two later ones which I can't seem to see if I can can in them but if I can't can in them I did receive for Christmas from my husband the FoodSaver attachment to use the canning jars for dry storage and vacuum seal them. so all it cost me was the bus fare to go and get them which was $3 and I took one bus there and then went to next stop then went to the next up and then return on the bus as it took less than the transfer would run out. also I just picked up canning jar lids for a $1 or the regular size and a$1.33 for the large size Canadian at the end of the year stock to different stores just before Christmas. Unfortunately they were not marking down their canning jars. also I found that the Walmart brand or here in Canada the Canadian Tire brand which is quite comparable to Bernadine or Ball canning jars have worked just as good as the Bernardin name brand jars and are regularly priced about $7.88 or 8:50 unfortunately I have not seen them in wide mouth Jars. also beginning of December there was discount grocery store like a warehouse store that a friend went to and she knew I was looking for canning jars and she messaged me that they were on sale there mark down all their summer stuff and I got a couple of wide mouth Jars and a couple of 1 liter regular Mouth Jars for $6 Canadian a pack of 12.
Thank you for staying so real on videos . I love to watch all of them. and have learned alot.
Excellent. I think you've helped a lot of people get over being overwhelmed by the whole thing!
I found a great deal on canning jars at my local thrift store. I was so grateful to find affordable options for food storage. I go to town once a month to purchase food. I find that I spend less money when I don't buy weekly. January is a month that I like to dehydrate meat. My family enjoy it a lot and it makes me feel good knowing I can provide food they like.
Those who wish to begin food storage should not be overwhelmed. Just add a little of something each week. A extra package of yeast, a added can of a veggie, great advice. That's how we built up our storage. It is surprising how fast you can have extras.
thank you ladies!
Thank you for watching!
Thank you. I have been stressing that I am not storing fast enough. .
Thank you for the great tips.
Chocolate chips in your pancakes on Saturday?
Please share your recipe! Yum! :-)
Thanks!! Great info!!
In England, our fish and chip shops sell pickled eggs in huge jars. It's worth asking them if they throw them out when they are empty and if not offer to take them They are really handy for storing bulk buy items. Thanks for the video!
Thank you for this video!
Good advice! I just started to build my foodstorage with the essentials, I haven't even got a space for them yet :D
Can't wait for the next episode
you can ask for jars on freecycle or on the board at store or library there seems to be people down sizing i also pick up lids when i would get groceries they add up i only can with new lids but i say save the used as you can use them when vacuum sealing food they work the very best for that...
In the winter, especially with all the snow we've gotten, I have only been able to go "down below" for groceries about once a month. Spring and summer, every other week or so. I've got my grocery runs down to an art. I shop at Albertsons, and I always shop by their circular. Many times (when the weather is cooperating), I will check on Tuesdays when they put up the preview for the next week's sale. Then I can compare what is on sale to what I need and how much I could save. If I will get more savings by waiting for the next cycle, I'll go on Wednesday or Thursday instead. I also use their app, which is FANTASTIC. I recently hit my all-time record of savings at the grocery store at 53% off. No traditional coupon clipping as their app has all the major manufacturer's coupons and will apply them at checkout. I have a good idea of "rock bottom" prices and will stock up. It's not unusual for me to come home with a cooler full of nothing but chicken breasts. Then I use my Foodsaver to repack it and put it in the freezer for later. Being able to "shop" from my pantry and freezer when we get snowed in has been a major blessing, but moving out more remotely has shown me some holes I need to address. When we lived in town, we were a block away from the small town grocery store, so it was no big deal to pick up something real quick. I've had to be creative and improvise a LOT more.
Thank you so much for making this video! I really got a lot out of it :)
I am definitely on grid, but I still follow some of these principles. We always have lots of tomatoes, extra beans (usually black beans, but frequently chili beans or other types of beans), tomato paste.
Something we did was get 3X5 cards and made 7 for breakfast and 14 for dinners. On the front we put the meal and on the back a list of the ingredients this way when we shop we have a list of the items we need and all 11 of us like them. Most of us are at school or work for lunch so we don't do those, that is something we need to work on this year. Then you just times the dinners by 26 and you have your year supply.
There are some great suggestions here. I hope that you do a couple of tutorials on different kinds of canning. Gauging food use for the produce that I put up got trickier for me this year as my kids got bigger and started eating more. There were a few batches of applesauce that were eaten fresh out of the pan and never even made it into the jars. I do try to pace our usage so that we are using up the last few jars just before the next season starts. For example, we love applesauce and I make a lot for the year but the cherries from our tree are such a treat that I tend to save them for special occasions. This resulted in having a dozen or so jars left at the start of the next cherry canning season--which felt ridiculous. I also finally came to the realization that my family size means that I need to start using quart jars instead of pints for certain things. So rather than getting stuck with what I have that isn't working for me anymore, I'm gradually passing along the smaller ones and looking out for the bigger ones at the end of the season and at thrift stores.
Mouse proof storage is essential. I use popcorn tins and free buckets from bakery and just put pasta in right in the store boxes. I put bay leaves in the bottom of the container and on top of the food to deter pantry moths.
Fillmore Containers is an excellent source for all sorts of low cost bulk buying food storage jars, bottles, jugs and vessels. Another great source believe it or not is Uline.
I just found your channel and I'm catching up on the videos. I grew up on a farm and learned a lot of the skills that you talk about but now I live in a large urban area with an extremely high cost of living so for a long time I've only been able to afford small studio apartments. Recently I moved to a one-bedroom that actually has a small yard shared by the 4 apartments and a large basement storage room. So I've been thinking on how I can put some of those useful skills to work and save some money on food. These videos have been exactly what I needed. It's very overwhelming to start with. I had already started sprouts in a jar because that's one way to get fresh greens in an apartment. I also roast chicken in my crockpot so I had committed to roasting a chicken a week since that'll make several meals plus broth for soup for me. This video was encouraging in that I can start small with food storage. I decided to start with breakfast storage for 1 month. I typically eat eggs, oatmeal and on occasion pancakes. All easy ingredients and all pretty much storable except the eggs. I can even store milk since we have the UHT shelf stable stuff here. I'm about out of my flours (I'm gluten-free) and oatmeal so I made a list of the ingredients and this week I'll buy double which should last me to the end of the week. Thanks for the encouraging, practical tips.
oops. I meant to say it'll last me to the end of the month. Also, for those who favor raw milk, I'm also in favor of it when you know the source (like when I'm visiting family and it comes from my brother's cows) but since I don't know where it comes from, I'm a little leary of their cleanliness practices.
It's nice to meet you! And I'm excited to hear what you're working on. It's always inspiring to hear from someone else making an effort. And yes, sprouts are such a good way to get fresh greens. Very wise!
Hi there, I just thought I would check your channel out. I heard about you from Sherry over at Home Spun Wife. She has you listed as one of her top 10 channels to watch.
Man I would fit in with you two big time. We got loads in common and I'm not even off grid. Love this series for sure!!!
plus it you divide the cost of the jars by the years of use the cost is really good. i bought 3 dozen about 5 years ago. useing your price of $8/dozen the cost per dozen is $4.80 a dozen. so the investment upfront pays for itself over time.
johanna is right about the lids. the cost of them can be called storage maintance. buy enough to replace all the used lids for all your jars that you own. that way you wont run out in the middle of canning something. they do have shelf life so write the year on the box when buy them. about 2 years is what i have found out for the rubber inside the lid it gets brittle.
make a binder of your family's favorite recipes like we like green bean casserole which is hamburger cooked or canned to this add a can or pint tomato soup a tbsp dried onion one pint of drained green beans mix well top with mashed potatoes bake three fifty till golden fill your binder with favorites and store accordingly
I in the autumn at first put in the freezer. What not fit I mothball. First we eat in the banks. Thank you for exchange.
I love your videos! My family is looking into homesteading and have always had some small food storage. I've been looking for ways to increase storage without refrigeration. I've came across Thrive life foods, which is freeze dried and pre prepped, but no one near me has tried it! Have you tried or heard of this?
WinCo=a.maz.ing. Besides the exhaustive bulk section in-store, you can order online bulk to be picked up in-store-if what you want is, say, 55lbs of Himalayan pink salt, or 40lb tubs of honey, or 50lbs of rice or lentils, or, or, or. Their mason jars are also cheaper than almost any other brick-and-mortar I've seen. If you have a fridge and/or freezer, there's a boon of CHEAP dairy and meats.
Anyone who lives in Washington, Idaho, Nevada, California, or Oregon (WINCO) that hasn't checked out WinCo, I can't suggest strongly enough that you google it. They can be spread out, but depending on your food and gas budget, it can be truly worth the drive. I've been shopping there since 2008 and sometimes it still blows my mind when I really go crazy in their bulk section.
Also, I buy coconut and red palm oils in gallon buckets. Once those are empty, they make fantastic dry-goods containers as they have heavy-duty lids that it takes some real elbow grease to get back off, honestly. Three and five gallon versions of such buckets (with awesome heavy-duty re-useable lids) can sometimes be gotten from your local restaurants, if you ask. Mayonnaise, salad dressing, other foods come in those, making them food grade.
Other, more minor things, like saving the re-sealable mylar bags I order bulk herbs in, or the enormous baking soda bags, etc., can be re-purposed with excellent results.
Also, I forgot to add, while Costco has its purposes, another source for BULK foods is restaurant supply, cash-and-carry type places.
Wonderful information ladies! Thank you so much for the video! I do have a few questions:
1.) Rice is a HUGE staple in my family's diet, what have you found to be the best way to store it when bought in bulk? 2.) I've often heard the term dry canning in regards to dried foods like rice, beans, oatmeal, etc. do you or will you be doing a video on dry canning in the future (please)?
3.) When your buying bulk quantities, where to you buy them? We currently buy our bulk items at Costco.
4.) Have you had any experience with the silicone reusable lids for ball jars? I know they're more expensive initially but think they'd pay for themselves quickly if canning a lot.
Thanks again!!!!
1. I store rice in glass to keep mice out. Half gallon jars are affordable and each one holds 8 cups, which for our family is four dinner-sized quantities as we cook two cups at a time.
2. Sure. I have done dry canning in the oven, though storing things a few months at a time you really don't need to. We also have a pal with a dry canning machine which we can show off! What a great excuse.
3. I buy my bulk items at our local WinCo. I have done some online shopping, but the WinCo is just as cheap and I can do other shopping at the same time.
4. I have tried the reusable lids for ball jars and I don't prefer them, though some other people do! I've had to replace the red rings a lot and also I like writing on the metal lids with a marker when I do my canning. I do reuse the metal lids now and then, though they say you shouldn't. The nice thing about risking it with the lid is that if the seal isn't good you'll know it. It won't surprise you with botulism or anything. But I've never lost any food that way.
Great questions. Thank you!
I also stockpile little silica gel packs and put one in each of my jars of dried goods (rice, lentils, powdered buillion etc.). Keeps out the moisture.
PS I used to eat a lot of seaweed which comes in single serving packs of eight sheets of seaweed, and each pack had a silica gel pack! I developed a huge stockpile this way. They also come in shoes and electronics.
I use those, too! Excellent to have.
Also- you said you stock up on tortillas. That is one we seem to be going through a lot, too. Have you ever tried making them? I'm wondering if it's worth it to get a press and make from scratch, or just stock up when they are on sale since they last so long?
Johanna could you give us a link to the food storage calculator you mentioned?
Sorry, I was supposed to do that already. Here it is. Thanks for the reminder! providentliving.com/preparedness/food-storage/foodcalc/
Thank you! I know you are very busy! I appreciate all you both do!
This is advise for your own protection:I know that you are trying to be helpful and want to disseminate information on food storage and pantries. You even mentioned someone with eating problems; however, you do not sound like a dietician or physician. If you are one of these, please identify your credentials. For your own protection, it is best that you acknowledge you are not a trained and/or certified professional. You have great suggestions from a personal experience review. There are trained professionals that are happy to assist where you may have questions. The American Red Cross offers emergency preparedness classes. They also have free books for emergency preparedness, which includes what should be in a pack for each person for short term emergencies (tornadoes, floods, etc.)The Church Of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints has what is called t Women's Relief Society and they have professional written books on pantries, food canning & storage. The church teaches to do food pantries to have enough food per person for so many months in advance (long term). The women have collected years of knowledge and always happy to share.Because I have been trained to teach emergency preparedness and be a first responder, in addition, my husband and I are now homesteaders at an older age and disabled. So of course I am very interested in what you are teaching for homesteaders and what may be added to what I call my toolbox (knowledge). You are kind and considerate to share your lessons from experience where so few do that.Thank you for your willingness to share your knowledge. good luck and God bless with your homesteadSister BAnn LaughlinBeacon Of Hope Women's Outreach