Yep…we’re up to Fourteen now…
Fantastic series, all pages:
Part I Part II Part III Part IV Part V Part VI Part VII Part VIII Part IX Part X Part XI Part XII Part XIII
Eccles – at 15:39
Kathy in Fla. - One question that may help you save some energy money. Are all of your lamp shades white and translucent? or do you have darkly colored lamp shades?
Eccles – at 15:39
We use flourescent bulbs in light colored shades. <grin> I rarely use regular bulbs anymore … don’t even have them in our ceiling fans. Besides using up more electric … they are just plain hot. <grin>
We run our ceiling fans to ease up on the ac usage. We also have ceramic tile on the floor in all the living space, except bedrooms. Pain to clean, but does keep it cooler. I put down rugs on the tile in winter to do the opposite.
My big culprits are my dryer, the ac, the well pump, the pool pump, hot water tank, and the dishwasher. Dishwasher solved by going to washing by hand except for one load per day. Well pump I really can’t control … we did get a larger bladder last year which has helped some. Pool pump is only used about 1/2 the year on a regular basis … we close the pool about October and don’t open it until April or May … but when that sucker is in use it can eat a lot of power. Hot water tank we can’t turn down or the bathroom on the other side of the house wouldn’t get hot water.
That leaves the dryer and the ac. We have a two unit system because of the size of the house … we turn one off during the day and close those two rooms off. The other unit is set at 78 or 79 at all times.
I’m hoping that the clothes line helps with that problem.
Just not a lot you can do with a family of 7 … that’s a lot of laundry, water, cooking, cleaning, etc.
Well, one of the bug hitters for your utility bill that you might get a handle on is hot water usage. Try to keep from doing things like running continuous water while washing dishes (We got a neat little aerator that reduces flow, puts out two kinds of spray, and has a little lever thing on it to let you shut the water at the end of the faucet and only run when exactly needed but it stays adjusted).
Its old news to repair sink drips, but they really do add up. Warm water was and cold water rinse.
Close blinds and drapes to keep all sky light out during hot days
Beyond that, we need to talk some more
Kathy in FL – at 18:12 --- I’ve found that my utility bill has dropped by about $150 a month by setting my thermostat at 85 during the day. I’m not home anyway, but I do have three cats, and if not for the A/C, they would cook in the house with outside temps up into the 100+ range. And a change from being outside in 100 degree heat to walking into a house at 85 degrees? Nice and cool…
Of course, I don’t have the humidity in FresNo that you do in FL either…in fact, yesterday was really muggy. Somewhere up around 23% humidity here. ;-) But that’ll change once I get to VA!!
I’m looking for some “nutty” advice! I have a number of large Hickory trees and I’m wondering if it worthwhile to attempt to harvest and store some of the nuts before the squirrels make off with them.
Do hickory nuts taste any good?…I never see them for sale anywhere.
When and how do I collect, shuck, and preserve them.
Is it worth the effort?
analyst4mkts, it all depends on what kind of hickories they are. Here’s some info to get you started.
http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/pages/carya-fruits.htm
Do hickory nuts taste any good?… Yes if you are a squirrel.
Is it worth the effort? IMO, no.
Seriously, I have black walnut trees and chestnut trees on my property and have found that neither of these are worth the trouble. Of course I’m sure some will disagree, but when I can buy cans of mixed nuts and cashews at Aldi’s for $1.39, I can’t see spending hours of labor to get a handful of nuts that may be wormy if the trees have not been sprayed.
analyst4mkts – at 10:35
Hickory Nuts are wonderful!!!!! But they are a pain in the butt to crack. A common method is to dig a shallow trench about as wide as your tire and lay a piece of cardboard on the bottom. Fill the trench with your nuts. Then drive over said nuts. <grin>
I’m not kidding. That’s the way my grandparents used to do it. You won’t find hickory nuts except in a gourmet shop because of this. Pecans are just easier, but hickory nuts are just … well they just have something about them. And hickory nut pies and cakes are scrumpdillyicious!
I believe the Foxfire books have a good section on hickory nuts. You could also try looking on line. You store them the same way you would any nut. In the shell you can hang them up in a burlap, or similar, bag to keep a air flow about them. After you shelf them the nutmeats will go rancid unless kept in the fridge or freezer. In other words, store them the same way you would walnuts and pecans.
Soooooooo………how long do pecans last outside of the freezer? Like if I found some from last year (or year before, I can’t remember) and they were bought in bags, shelled, whole, ‘recon they’re still good??
I’m workin’ -
Doubt it. My family harvests a lot of pecans from their own trees. The nutmeats go promptly into the freezer and never see the light of day until time to use them.
I’m with OKbirdwatcher. Nutmeats have oils in them. Oil goes rancid.
I don’t think the nuts would kill you but they would taste fairly hideous. Double check for safety though.
That’s what I figured about the pecans, but it’s like almost wanting to hold a funeral for them as I discard them, they’re so precious — life just got in the way of me using them.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 12:05
Throw ‘em to the squirrels or racoons or ‘possums or other varmint in your area. You’ll know soon enough just how “bad” the bad was. If not even the critters will touch them …. that’s nasty bad. <grin>
Black walnuts stain things black, but they are good. If you are starving you’d gather them up and use the car methods to get them cracked. I have three big ones. The wood is also valuable harvested, so try and sell it if the trees come down.They aren’t a very attractive tree, last to get leaves in the spring, first to lose them in the fall, bt when the squirrels do courtship rituals and scamper up and down across and around it is an entertainment. Time to start swimming and walking. Injured shoulder(butsitis) so am having physical therapy, injured foot so wasn’t walking and it is amazing how quickly a few pounds accumulate without exercise. Not buying any water until shoulder is back to normal. What I have been doing is buying frozen new foods and trying them out. With coupons as enticements. How they sell a second at full price is beyond me. My husband flatly refused frozen food except for Stouffers macaroni and cheese. Sorry to say I think he was right and a lot haven’t improved over the years. I am just going through the supermarkets experimenting. And stocking up a little if something is palatable.
Electric bills went down when I pulled plugs on a few things. Microwave when not in use, anything that has a light on it.
Amazing how quickly useful info comes back from the knowledge base on this forum!
Kim – at 10:40 Thanks for the insites and references on the nuts. I could possibly have one of the bitter varieties. I will have get leaves and nuts to compare to internet references to be sure (maybe taste a few).
Hillbilly Bill – at 10:42 Kathy in FL – at 10:44 Either way I look at it, it seems the critters love ‘em and probably can get the meat out easier than I. I may still give it a whirl…more for entertainment and educational project for my kids who are into scouting.
Tonight, my boys will be overnighting in the treehouse that spans between 3 hickory trees. When the squirrels are active, you need a helmet to protect against the “incoming” nuts. This is their first overnight without Dad, so any guesses when they acve and return to the house?
Well, my prep for today was to buy 1.9oz bottles of Texas Pete Hot Sauce at Winn Dixie 2/$1.00!! Great for my bug-out bag — gotta have something spicey on those MRE’s if I ever have to use ‘em.
Correction…..make that our local Bruno’s, not Winn Dixie!
Found a very nice propane space heater on craigslist today for an excellent price. Last week we picked up some free 55 gallon food grade steel drums also from craigslist. I’ve been watching it like a hawk lately!
analyst4mkts at 15:46 -
~~Sooner~~ rather than ~~later~~ is my guess. Depends on their ages, maybe. Sounds like fun.
I’m-workin’ at 12:05 -
I understand. You have my sympathy. I *love* pecans; thus, they’re a highly protected and pampered item in my food supply. I would toss something less valued if I had to in order to make room in the freezer for my precious pecans:)
Analysts 4 mkt. Guess about when dusk falls and the mosquitos zero in, first on ankle, then arm, and so on. Nothing like the itch to get you back in the house to watch something on T.V. and get something cool to drink.
Lily sounds like you’re having a peaceful night — ‘cept for the itching!
The boys surprised me…they made it all night. Two 9 yr olds and one of their buddies slept peacefully after 3 group trips to the loo, 2 trips for supplies (popcorn, water and games), and 1 trip for the forgotten flashlight on previous loo trip. Luckily, the night couldn’t have been better with cool dry air (low 60s) and little activity with biting insects. There are about a dozen mosquito magnets in the hood and a healty population of bats so that helps.
I haven’t begun to explain anything about panflu to the kids yet…it is not a burden that nine yr olds should shoulder. I want them to enjoy the innocent fun of youth right now. I am trying to educate them in skill sets that will be useful in a pandemic or even life in general…things like preparing meals, hygiene, laundry, first aid, etc.
With the comments about nuts and all, I guess this is the right thread to bring up all the free food kind of “hiding in plain sight”. There are lots of ignored apple trees in my area. Yep, they are tiny and buggy, but when cut, culled and run thru the pressure cooker, they make good apple sauce. We’ve got 45 pints in the freezer at this point and maybe 20? 40? more on the tree. The woods produce blackberries in the early summer. As previously mentioned, black walnut trees grudgingly yield black walnuts. Every spring, the first thing up in our lawn is the wild “onions” (really garlic). The neighbor has a pear tree dripping with pears that will likely be left to rot. Mulberry trees produce about the same time as the black raspberries (they come before the blackberries). There are intire Indian tribes that subsisted on acorns. It is worthwile to get a book on edible wild plants and peruse it. It is one of the most long lasting of preps.
Gary - During my childhood it was a ritual every spring to gather wild “onions”. My mother would chop them, then boil for a short time and then add them to scrambled eggs. Delicious!
In our neck of the woods there is a wild fruit called a paw-paw that is pretty tasty. We have persimmons too.
Rosemary grows like a weed here, and pomegranate trees are all over the place. I put a rosemary plant in my herb garden and the little neighborhood girls were grossed out — “eew, you put that in your garden??”
I love pomegranates.
So today I mounted and used, for the first time, my Country Living Grain Mill and Home Workout Center. Eating the bread might just even out the calories I burn grinding and kneading.
The hickory nuts I could find as a kid were delicious. It was a lot of work to get them out of the shell-we used sewing needles- but the taste was worth it. Just think of it as entertainment rather than nourishment, unless you are disciplined enough not to eat as you go.
Pat in AZ – at 18:19
Yeah, sure takes a lot of work to grind whole wheat. I tried some rolled oats a while back, and they were very easy to make into oat flour. It kinda made me wonder if something could be done to roll or crack wheat to make it easier to grind. In fact I was thinking of buying some cracked wheat just to try. Maybe someone with some experience along this line can chime in now. There has to be an easier (no power) way to make wheat into flour than hand cranking whole wheat.
Cracked wheat for sale. No recommendation implied.
AVanarts, I’m just putting it down to exercise that I need anyway. But clearly if someone is ill or had little strength, this would not be practical.
I wonder if the “soft” wheats are actually physically softer and would be easier to grind — though I understand hard wheat is recommended for bread.
I was using soft white when I tried. I also have a bunch of hard red which I didn’t want to experiment with.
Generally, the hard red us prefered for bread due to the higher protein content. The soft white is used for pastry flour, although I know people who make bread with it.
When I was in Southern Oregon, a friend of mine knew a farmer who was about to harvest a field of soft white and he made a deal for us to buy direct from the farmer for the same price he would get selling to a bulk buyer. We showed up with our pickups and a stack of burlap bags. I bought two tons and sold a ton and a half of it at just enough of a profit to pay for the half ton I kept.
Somehow the idea of hand grinding half a ton of wheat makes me feel tired.
Me too. That’s why I’d like to find an easier way. I’ve even dreamed of finding a way to hook the thing to an excercise bike so at least I can “leg grind” it, so to speak. I have a feeling that the key will probably be to find a way to roll it and get the grains broken down before putting it into the grinder though.
Country Living has some pictures of grinders set up with bicycles.
Thanks for all of the help and links on breadmaking in the previous installment (prep 13). I experienced somewhat of a meltdown in the past few days (for no concrete reason I can point to) and am just getting back to replying. It pretty much bypassed my brain and went right to a visceral reaction. Better now. :)
Not sure if this is the right thread for this but here goes anyway …
I have put bells on the collars of my cats so they cannot catch birds. When they last lost their bells I neglected replacing them but I have donne so now. I hope this will lower the chances of them becoming infected from birds should the virus make its way here that way. I look upon it as a form of social distancing for the cats :-)
AnnieB —
Won’t work if the birds are dead. Seems like the tigers in the Thai zoo that got it were feed dead chickens. I am thinking I should get a muzzle for my dog — do they make cat muzzles?
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 11:08
Soooooooo………how long do pecans last outside of the freezer? Like if I found some from last year (or year before, I can’t remember) and they were bought in bags, shelled, whole, ‘recon they’re still good??
I have several bucket loads of pecans on the back porch from last years crop. My dogs grab them when they come in from outside (they think they are candy). No drop off of their interest due to age (the nuts, not the dogs.) When I get home from work I’ll get the sledge out and crack a few and do a taste test and let you know.
My pecan trees (6 huge ones) surround the house, and it looks like a huge new crop will soon be dropping. With all these nuts around me, maybe I’m going nuts from association?
Melanie,
back in #9 thread, you’d asked for a link on the Hormel/Dinty Moore shelf-stable meals I keep on hand in bulk…someone posted a link, but there is no link to the individual meals there. What I did find was a picture of one of the meal packets; it’s the oval one to the right of the canned goods — that’s what you should look for, and be aware that the Dinty Moore ones have DM written on the sleeve covering the oval bowl, the others have Hormel on them. All of them are oval!!
I’m-Working-on-it: Can you please tell me what the shelf life is on the Dinty Moore shelf stable meals is?
I just bought some Hormel Teriyaki Chicken w/rice shelf stable meal, it has an expiration date of 11/09/07
Chesapeake - Thanks much - looks like I will be making a little shopping trip.
Thom, Cesapeake is probably about right……..I WILL tell you that I buy some every time I go to the grocery because my husband is addicted to these things. They’ve gotten me through work Saturdays when there wasn’t time to cook, grief periods when I just didn’t want to bother eating much less cooking, and husband’s meals to take to work when I ran out of left overs! They have a Southwestern Beans that is (as far as I know meatless) in their entrees too. What I like most about them is that they are covered with a THICK white seal — not a thin see-through film. That means that, in a pinch, you can drop the whole container in a pot of boiling water using a little Sterno stove for the least amount of fuel usage, leave it for awhile, fish it back out with tongs, peel back the white film, and have a hot meal WITHOUT the microwave.
I’m heading up to the pantry now….I’ll check several and let you know so you’ll have an overall idea!
I will report the Dinty Moore Rice-n-Chicken meal is one food my picky eating 4 year old will eat in non-survival, non-hungry situations. He’ll even eat it cold! (-:
Thom, I checked my pantry (currently have 86 of the rascals) and the fartherest out expiration date I have is 12/07. I don’t check for long dates when I buy though because I know we’ll go through them rapidly!
I’m-Working… & all - Again, Thanks much - This is just one GREAT group…
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 07:59
This link will give a list of all the “oval” Hormel products you were discussing. They are listed as microwave trays under Hormel.
Hey, analyst4mkts, that’s GREAT! I even found one there I didn’t know existed — Au Gratin Potatoes with CURE 81 Ham. I’ll have to hunt for it.
I should tell everyone that my brother called me one day, after having been sick & I had taken some of these things over for him and my SIL, who has MS and doesn’t cook a lot, to get by on if they felt like eating at least something while he recovered. Anyway, he called me the next day to tell me that the Turkey and Dressing one was the BEST turkey he’d ever eaten in his life (keep in mind he had been sick). His wife, how had spent years cooking a turkey every Thanksgiving was sooooooo thrilled to hear this exclamation of the wonders of Hormel Turkey dinners, that she swore that this coming Thanksgiving that’s what he’s getting for his holiday meal!
I can’t say that I will vouch for the flavor and nutrient content of any of these, but I will say that kids tend to love ‘em. They tend to be high in fat and sodium and are fairly filling. One of the favorite quickie dinners for my kids (after a late game) is DM beef stew over white rice. I usually try to augment the stew with additional lower-carb veg such as green beans, carrots or diced tomatoes. During SIP, this will be a regular meal in our house.
I have only tried the canned product so far…I will give these micro dinners a try given endorsement regarding heat and eat with hot water. Water could also be recycled for washing up after dinner.
Actually the water would most likely be suitable for cooking other products, whether they are ‘boil in the bag’ or loose veggies — at the least it could be used to steam fresh veggies from the garden!
When I go for physical therapy for bursitis (carrying water bottle) will stop and look for Dinty Moore products. Bought bounce for the mosquito repellent qualities, (never used it for clothes) and will put in a few sheets into the dryer with my jeans. Bought sea salt, pomograte and orange flavored teas, and real vanilla extract from the clearance shelves of T.J Maxx. I heard that vanilla will also repell insects. Will be checking the shelves for more bargain high end items. I like luxury and quality, just don’t like paying top dollar for anything. A chintzy streak I share with a lot of women of my generation.
I haven’t tried any of the DM redi-to-eat packages yet; however wanted to mention that I have seen them at the Dollar Store in our area. May now pick up a few for the I’m-too-sick-to-cook emergency box.
Tried the Dinty Moore shelf stable Beef Stew the other evening when DH was out of town. I thought it was pretty tasty and filling. I tried to ignore the fat and salt content. Also bought the Hormel lasagna and chicken and rice but haven’t tried them yet. I could certainly eat these during any emergency situation with no problem. Plan to stock more.
Posted this on another thread, thought I’d post it here too. got a 10% discount with Honeyville Grains today by using discount code AATW. Found it through a google search. I didn’t think it would work because it was from 2004 (Atkins All The Way), but it did.
My prep was six five gallon food buckets from Sam’s bakery. DH picked them up…two were half full with frosting! The others were just really messy. I also learned that my supposed 40 gallon hot water heater really has about 20 gallons of hot water, and 20 of tepid, as I cleaned these out with hot water in a bath tub. I feel better having them, plan to use them to grown potatoes and to collect rainwater. Isn’t it odd how the little things can give such piece of mind? Does anybody have any other ideas for these buckets?
OK, folks, one note about plastic buckets.
I have around 2500 pounds of dry grains and legumes packed in “4 gallon” square plastic buckets. I always keep d-con in the storage space where I keep them. BUT, a couple of weeks ago, I looked on my stock and noticed a real mess, with what looked like either the remains of wheat or oats all over the place and also a lot of mouse poop.
Like a good trooper, I hauled everything out, cleaned up the buckets (did an updated inventory) and cleaned up the mess. What I found was a hole in one of the (now empty) wheat buckets. This hole was about 3/4 inch in diameter and almost perfectly round. In fact it looked like it had been drilled.
Moral of the story: Keep a close eye on anything you have in “chewable” containers and don’t rely on d-con alone to take care of the meeses.
Orlandopreppie, uses for buckets……
step stool
storing shampoo, etc. (things that could get messy)
battery storage
art supplies
get a luggable lou toilet seat & connect the two for a portable potty
cat food/dog food storage
store tools to keep moisture from harming them
line with trash liner for a barf bucket for sick room
others?
Thanks IWOI…the only one I hadn’t thought of yet was the barf bucket. Already have the toilet but want a second one for DH. I don’t want to share if one of us gets sick.
Water container, for tap water at the beginning of SIP or for catching/storing rain water caught by tarps. Or from downspouts, depending on your type of roof.
Contact the vet for likely drugs for your pets.
I’ve been growing things in my buckets-I have some very nice peppers-both hot and sweet that are doing nicely in the buckets on the back porch. Ive also been using them to water the gardens-a five gallon bucket is really too heavy to carry but the 3 gallon is great.
I don’t know that I would store pet food in them-as mice really dig pet food. I keep my pet food in metal containers.
Lily- I also have bursitis and what I have found to really help is Omega Three oils-either the fish oil or the flax seed oil. I found some very reasonably priced at a Dollar General Store-they can be outragous at other types of stores. It takes a few days to start working-unlike ibuprophen which works pretty much right away. Hope you feel better.
Thanks all on tips about storable dinners-I think I’ll try some.
Orlandopreppie, uses for buckets……
I thought of another one!
As you begin to use water, you’ll want to recycle as much as you can. For instance, if you use a boil in the bag (or bowl) type meal you can reuse the water you boiled again and again for the same type thing before you’re done with that amount of water. So you need a container to store it in, one marked “Kitchen Reusable Water” for instance. Once you don’t think it’s OK to cook with it anymore, it still may be clean enough to mix with Clorox & put in a spray bottle, etc..
Rotate your water usage down and down until you put it into your final bucket — “Flush Water”. I need some more buckets myself!
Orlandopreppie …
My folks grow a lot of their veggies in 5 gallon buckets they find on the side of the road. <grin>
The dirt on my parents 5 acres is really bad. When they moved in it was pure “sugar sand” and covered over with Live and Black Jack oaks and little else … well, deer moss too.
For 10 years they’ve been amending the soil, etc. to have 2 garden plots. The problem is that all the oaks surrounding them suck the nutrients out just about as fast as they can put them in.
So they make their own soil mixture and use 5 gallon buckets to grow stuff in … tomatoes, okra, bush beans, peppers, etc., even small fruit trees until they are big enough to survive against the oaks.
You can grow potatoes in garbage bags filled with soil … just make sure the soil doesn’t get saturated or you’ll get stuck with rot.
An order for Zatarain’s seafood mixes arrived from Amazon today. The box is sealed with bule tape and stamped across the blue tape several times is, “SDF1 DON’T OPEN”. Does anyone know the meaning of this?
anonymous at 16:25
Tried one of the Zatarain’s mixes, very tasty, but so much sodium my head almost exploded! Why do they have to put such outrageous amounts of salt in so many items? Try some of the Trader Joe preparted rice, much lower in sodium…
Kathy in FL, would it be a good idea to drill a couple of holes in the bottom for drainage in the buckets I use for veggies?
IWOI, what an EXCELLENT idea about the buckets for kitchen. I’ll definately implement. I can see that I might want to go ahead and get another 7 to 10.
anonymouse, I’ve got no idea what that blue tape is about. Does it look like the carrier put it on or the packager? If it’s carrier, contact them. Otherwise, I’d be calling Amazon.
Orlandopreppie – at 21:29
I think they may put one hole in the center of the buckets they use … something that is easy to repair if they want to use the bucket for something else.
They put drainage material … such as gravel … in the bottom of the bucket before adding the soil mixture.
Zatarain’s rocks! I love the jambalya and red rice and beans in the “sixty second microwave packs”.
Today I found a portable (read free standing on wheels), 10k BTU/hour 110 v. air conditioner at Big Lots. We are using it to cool the garage (seriously—my husband putters out there, and I have lost some preps already to the AZ heat), but in a pinch we could run it off the genny for some much needed cooling.
Anonymous @16:25. I’ve received several orders from Amazon Grocery. I’ve figured out that the “don’t open” message is so that the clerks filling the orders do not open the boxes, which are sold as a set, and take out items. We are buying in bulk — whatever the amount in the box is: 6 items, 8 cans, etc.
Just read about a great tip to deter mice. They avoid mint. So-I’m off to the store for some mint teabags to place all around my food stores. Hope it works.
I guess I am just sick of thinking of food, or something. Lately, I have found myself stocking up on books. And no rinse bathing stuff.
Another great mouse deterent - steel wool. They chew on it and it cuts their mouths and they stay away. Good if they’ve started a hole in a wall.
Witness- I hope your teabags work-I’d like to hear about it, but I’ve heard the same tip and I havn’t found the mint deters them. I used mint leaves, maybe the smell wasn’t concentrated enough.
For gardening in buckets-I don’t put any holes in my buckets-most of the time the problem of growing plants in buckets is that they dry out too fast. I do put gravel in the bottom, to act as a resivour, and to keep roots from getting waterlogged. I have also had great success using styrofoam packing peanuts in the bottom of growing containers-its really good if weight is a problem-i.e. buckets on a deck or balcony.
Enough Already- I think I know what you mean. I get tired thinking about stocking up on different things. I’ll work on meds, or plants or homeschool supplies of something else for a while. It gets overwhelming, and I don’t know, kind of depressing or something thinking about buying all that food, and trying to find a place for it, and worring if youve bought the right thing, or enough, or if its going to keep. Even when I’m in one of my “off” moods, I’ll still try to pick up one or two extra things and put them away so when I swing back into full prep mode, I don’t feel devestated by the feeling of having lost ground by not prepping. I hope that makes sense. Sometimes I get really depresed by the whole flu thing. Still- “Todays prep” is my favorite thread!!!!
Jefiner- Do you know, or can you read the data plate to find out, how much power that A/C uses. A 10K BTU unit sounds a little hefty to run on 110V, but if I could get my hands on an emergency A/C to keep DW and DS comfortable, even for an hour a day, it might be wirth it. Also, how much costs it?
I used my propane grill to bake biscuits for breakfast this morning. I put 4 fire brick on the grill to evenly distribute the heat and to keep open flames off the baking pan. The biscuits cooked in about the same time as in the stove, or would have if I hadn’t kept opening the lid of the grill to see how they were doing. The bottoms are a little cripsy and the tops not completely brown, but with a little expirimentation I think I can get better. Sure I could buy a camping propane stove, but for the same bucks I can buy two filled 20lbs tanks of propane. I’m a “use what ya got” kinda guy.
Green Mom and Enough Already:
Whenever I feel like that, I just take a break from buying anymore food. What I do focus on is trying out some of my plans, making meals strictly from preps, etc.
I’m taking a break from spending money. So I’m dong anything that is free. Meals all from pantry (we do get fresh veggies delivered from a farm though, so not a true test)build shelves from scrap lumber I find lying around, getting buckets from bakeries (haven’t had too much success) inventorying stuff I have; and printing out info I want from the web. Oh, and selling stuff I don’t need to have room for stuff I do.
Ya’ll might like to take a look at this website that describes pioneer cooking. Seems to have very good instructions. I’ve already saved it to my favorites. I believe it is wise to gather info concerning how to do things the “old way”, pre-1900. Very good site.
Eccles – at 09:06
Eccles, the Electrical Engineer (in other words, DH) is still in bed, so I went out and copied all the info off the information plate on the side of the unit:
This is a refurbished unit with no brand name I purchased from Big Lots for $250. We have had it running all night, and it has slowly brought the temps down in the garage from 102 to 80--there was a lot of mass in there to cool off! There is a duct that we ran to a vent in the outside door (it can be configured for window exhaust) and the air coming out is HOT!!! muy caliente!
HTH-
Havwe to restrain myself. They are starting to put things out for refuse pickup. Resisted a striped market umbrella and a set of outdoor ironwork furniture, only because I knew they wouldn’t fit in the car. Lucky no pickup in my town this month. If I do pull over, it better be in tip top condition, and suprisingly sometimes it is. I have known of people doing this and selling it at auctions, but it requires a pick up truck and a good back. I still have scruples about this, but occassionaly someone does put a sign up, Take me, or Free, and I feel less grad student poor. Am going to be very thrifty and very picky about anything I buy from here on in. Should check in at odd lots which I haven’t done for years. RAn into friend who goes to Rices in Pa. Where I went years ago, have an invite to join her any time. You do well at some flea markets. I’m sure anyone in Bucks county Pa, knows Rices.
Hi Everyone, I took the plunge and bought 2 150-gal aquatanks today. I also bought 2 large tarps for putting underneath the aquatanks and a food grade hose. This was my biggest prep layout so far but I feel good about the decision, I’ve learned more about water here at FW then I ever thought possible!
For those of you who might be going on a frugality binge, vs. spending, perhaps you might want to check out http:www.totalyfrugal.com… I think I’m gooing to investigate it next week. Money only stretches so far and with taxes skyrocketing in Jersey and everything else I think its time to do whatever I can to cut back.
Lily – at 15:15 That looks like a great link, thanks! (BTW, I live in Jersey, too).
Lily - The link you posted was a bit flawed Here is the Correct Link
(A free public service from totally Eccles, at no additional charge)
Thanks, Eccles, was just going to put the // in that I missed out on. Nothing gets past the people here.
welp… today… my oldest son delivered a new dog to us. He had a friend in the service who got stationed off and had the dog who needed a home. It is part golden retriever and part something that starts with a M (full breeds get 300 pounds… ~gulp~) He weighs 109 pounds and is 3 years old. Our Australian Sheperd drinks out of an automatic watering bowl. This dog… we had to get a large silver/tin feeding pan for his water… he sticks his hole head in it!! ~snicker~ He loves water… he found a ditch on our property with water on sprawls out in it. Guess I am gonna have to get him a kiddie swimming pool. We put the dogs in the dog run tonight, because of the new dogs first night. They finally quit whinning. One thing is for sure, he will make a great guard dog. The two dogs have been running and playing all over the yard and pasture all day. I am definitely going to have to rethink dog food prep now… something on the line of silo. So, that’s today’s prep. New guard dog. He is sure a sweet dog… loaded with personality. First dog loves him, and visa versa… and the grandkids love him and he is great with them. First dog junps on the trampolines with the gkids… it’s gonna be interesting to see if new dog joins them.
EnoughAlready – at 02:22 thanks for taking him in and giving him what sounds like iwll be a GREAT new home!!! That was a very good thing for you to do, to take that load off our solder’s shoulders.
I have a LOT of prepackaged foods, because we keep that in our pantry usually, but I’m working on building up my stash of baking supplies, rounding out spice varieties, adding more lean white meat, instead of beef, getting things that have the least amount of salt (the Zatteran’s French Market instant mix is the lowest of that line of products), and labeling, listing & organizing better.
Yesterday’s prep was to finish labeling the pantry, & have the last 3 shelves installed. Later I plan to upgrade the plastic bookshelves I use, to the real metal can storage racks, but that will take some $$.
Today’s prep, I think the hardest will be calling a cousin who’s father died a month ago…I’m not good at dealing with grief, especially when I’ve been bogged down in my own lately……the easiest prep will be setting up a plan of action for what I want to can this week.
Today we replaced all light bulbs in the house with the compact flourescent style bulbs. I was pleasantly surprised in the quality of the light—not harsh or bluish, but pleasant and easy to read by, and best of all, no heat! My next project is to assemble some emergency food kits for neighbors and friends. I am thinking of a pound each of rice and beans, two liters of water, multivitamin tabs, water purification tabs, little bottles of hand sanitizer and the travel size packs of baby wipes. Maybe throw in some ibuprofen as well. I want to be able to help, but I am trying to keep the expense reasonable.
Hey Jefiner
Are those bulbs the ones that are spirly looking? Are they safe to use with lamp shade? (Not critisizing, just curious). I thought of doing that too, but thought there was a fire danger from them. Thanks!
Bought a couple of those electronic rodent repellers at half price. I don’t know why. The ones I put in year ago just sucked up kilowat hours, and the mice snickered.
YEP..im a prepper.Just got back from the store.Foodlion this time.MORE gravy, canned meat,cornmeal and bleach.I started a bio chicken shed experiment this week and will pour the floor tommoro nite.when i was cleaning out the 200 yr old shack i found a 55 g barrel of #2 stove oil!3/4 full.wondering how good that is and will have to run a test.also does anyone know how long that stuff can sit?bought 3 buff orphingtons and before they were in the pen were laying eggs.Got the c.b. working finally in my music room,with wind up radio and police scanner,4 walkie talkies and acrap pile of batteries.a new generator “still in the box”.I havent broke that out yet.just got off the phone for 200$ of wood delivered next weekend”in case towelboy” does something stupid on the 22nd.30 gallons of gas and some atabilizer,3 security cams not installed yet!dammit the more i write the more i find i got to do!I did move to a big colonial farm in the country surrounded by 300 acre of field corn and woods in feb.1 woodstove,2 kero heaters,2 dogs,5 chickens and a rabbit.no guns yet.tons of canned and dry goods.also a well but no hand pump but a couple small ponds nearby.im hopin to hook the well to the generator if i need to.satttelite internet and t.v.,6 guitars,1 drum set,1 fiddle,1 mandelin,and a partridge in a pear tree.What am i missing?
forgot..25 small cans of propane,3 gallons lamp oil,1 gas camp oven and stove.Bags of seeds,wind up flashlights,toilet paper,not enuff.hand sanitizers and some meds,3 boxes of gloves,3 boxes of masks.1gallon of grain alchohol!
Amak, we use the compact fluorescent bulbs almost exclusively. Both the small “spirally” ones and “straight” ones. If they fit inside the lamp shade they work fine, but they will not fit all lamps. I have also seen them in the lamps in most of the motels that I stay in.
We even use them in our ceiling fans with good results. I was concerned that the vibration might shorten the life of the bulbs, but an electrician friend told me to not be worry about that.
EnoughAlready – at 02:22 - congratulations on your new dog! Is the breed called a Mastiff? I used to have one (I miss her terribly, she died last year), they’re fantastic dogs, super-friendly and excellent guard dogs. Lots of drool.
Amak, I found floodlight style CFB’s and we replaced all the bulbs in the “can” lights. Some bulbs are different than others; the cheapos I bought at big lots fit almost everything, but I found with my desk magnifyer lamp I had to use a brand name “Sylvania” to make it work. It is amazing how little heat they put out.
On the new portable a/c: we found shortening the exhaust hose and insulating it with some fiberglass insulation helps the unit work more efficiently; a lot of heat was radiating out from the hose as it went from the unit to the vent in the door.
I am trying to tighten up my preps in the next few days. Politics aside, recent world events are giving me the willies, so I have reorganized my personal bug out bag that I carry in my car, and I’m not going to let the gas tank get below two thirds (just in case I have to make a night journey of my own!)
TOdays prep-Laying around on the couch with hubby and a big ol’ bunch of magazines. Kids are away FOR THE WHOLE WEEKEND! with relatives so dh and I are having some much needed downtime. How is reading mags related to prepping? Its all in the mags! Example: Countryside and Small stock journal has a great article on building and using solar ovens. Unfortunantly this particular issue also had quite a long letter from a reader stating bird flu is just government hype and will in no way actually happen. Oh well. In general this mag is really great if your into homesteading/self reliance. In my opinion its the best of the “back to the land” mags. In fact, I have a subscription. I can get Mother Earth News at the library, and occasionally I’ll pick up one of the others off the stand. Countryside is an old favorite and during my house cleaning frenzy a couple of weeks ago, I pulled out a grate of back issues dating around 2000. They had a big 10 issue countdown to y2k. I thought there would be some good info for dealing SIP issues.
On the other end of the spectrum is MAKE magazine which is a really cool DIY mag for tech types, but lots of great info for everybody. This month we learn how to build a small engine from tin cans, extract DNA from plant cells right in your own kitchen, and power a LED with an Icecube tray, paper clips and some spare change. (Somehow, I kept thinking of Eccles as I was flipping through these pages.) Its rather pricey (this was a Christmas gift subscription for us), but its packed full of articles, with surprisingly few adds.
Also reading Vegetarian Times-hoping to pick up some good vegetarian recipies, and NAtional Geographic-just because its a great mag-last year they did a really good (scary!) article on Bird Flu.
I’m curious if anyone else has any good recommendations for mags that might help with Flu issues? I think there was a book thread-but I don’t know if anyone did anything on mags.
Green Mom – at 15:57 - Hi, have you read Backwoods Home? I’ve never seen the mag itself, but I’ve found lots of really useful info on their website: http://www.backwoodshome.com/
Yes-I lucked out and was able to buy two compilation volumes of their first three or four years at a library sale. Occasionaly I’ll pick up an issue, but money is really tight so I really have to be picky about what I buy. Alas. I’d probably get a subscription if I had more funds. Our problem here is that the nearest decent newstand is over an hours drive away so we tend to fork out money for subscriptions, or ask for them for Christmas, or try to con the local library into getting them. Yesterday we were in THE CITY! THE DAY AFTER PAYDAY! (whoo hoo! Our idea of a big time-the bookstore and the China King buffet!)
Backwoodshome does have a really good website.
Knowall… yes, that’s it! Mastiff. He is such a sweet dog… and yes, he drolls like crazy. He was use to being kept in a small yard, being walked on a leash. He was loved and very well taken care of, making him a stable dog. He is going nuts out here on all this land!! Chasing rabbits, etc. We sure are enjoying him! The dogs are getting along great… playing like litter mates! We were honored to help the soldier friend out, and consider ourselves extremely fortunate to have been on the recieving end of such a precious animal!
Hello yall, newbee herer, I’ve been readin this site for months and months, I even have lots of favorites among you guys but , haven’t seen any from missouri that are prepin. I’ve been preppin for about six months. it’s funny but I live in the country, own my little house, am disabled and live on limited means but I feel so blessed. I do relate to yall about that hurry up feeling. I order from three different places and have cans stuffed everywhere. I have a huge order comin in this next week and haven’t figured where I will hide it yet. Thats what’s fun. yup. my problem is I have some questions and hopefully someone can answer them for me. can the law come in and take your food away from you? and I don’t know what to do about my neighbors. they don’t lilsten to me and I also don’t tell them I have preped cause if they knew they would take it away from me. I love life and enjoy everyone but there is some nasties in it too. LOL. thank for listening to me. I’m here lurking in the shadows. and am learning a lot. love yall…….thanks
yup I’m cannin too. I just put up 24 pints of punkin butter. mmmmmmm I’ve done the peaches and peach butter, and gettin ready for apples. I don’t worry about cookin cause I’m totally propane and don’t need electric for cookin or heatin. and have my own well. can ya believe it , LOL my well is in the house. in my laundry room with a cabinet built around it. no one would know if I don’t tell them. lil brother said I could put a hand pump on it if need be and no one would know. I like that thought.
Hi lady biker! Nice to meet you! I believe you might be “sitting pretty”, as they say around here.
Hi lady biker glad you’ve come out of hiding!…here’s a link to one of the Martial law links here…it’s actually continued into a second thread which you can access at the bottom of this first link.
And you might want to start a new thread looking for Missouri people! I couldn’t find one right off the bat!
thanks Swann, and I’m-workin’-on-it, makes me feel welcome. and that Martial law stuff is scary thank you. I just keep thinkin throw some more pillows and table covers on the stuff and maybe it won’t be noticed. and I gotta remind myself not to look too anxious, my lil brother tells me I look guilty permanently. now I got a guilt complex and would confess to anything. lolol shoot me and get it over with. but seriously I’m kinda enjoyin myself , I feel llike maybe I can do some good. I got a brother, two sisters and some of their kids to think about if things get nasty,cause right now they think I’m goofy as all get out. and I hope they are right but I consider it insurance. yup. so keep on havin fun.:)
lady biker: It appears you and I are in the same boat. I have a brother, three sisters, one SIL, one BIL, several nieces and nephews, and an elderly great-aunt and cousin to worry about. None of them think I’m goofy (I think!), but I have not been able to convince them that the danger may very well be imminent. I am frustrated beyond words. I too am partially disabled and getting by on a retirement income, so prepping is difficult. Too many people to worry about, not enough money/storage space. Still prepping though. They are the beings who make up my world; what happens to one, happens to all.
Treyfish…A banjo :)
well Swann-at 00:22. guess we just gotta paddle that boat a little harder. eat your cheerioes and dig in. just kinda relax and remember we’re all workin toward the same thing. and with a little faith and lots of encouragement from our friends we are gonna do it. I look for the fun in finding good bargins and even more fun finding somewhere to hide it in plain sight. hahahha and the way food prices keep climbing if no flue appears we are all gonna eat well. nothing takes the place of a good pot of ham and beans , fried potatoes and a big pan of cornbread. it just don’t get much better. so onward and upwards my preppin friends. never say never…….and now it’s my bed time. but tomorrow I’ll shock ya all when I tell ya what I bought first to squirrl away…hahhahah and I’m still laffin about it. and feelin good too……..nite nite everyone
anonymous – at 17:32
Thanks for the great tip about the Honeyville discount code. worked for me too!
Good night! Thanks for sharing….I think I am needing a bit of cheerfulness right now…you popped up at just the right time.
when I first started prepin I did a lot of reading. Read a lot about food fatigue and starving to death, and it scared the livin daylights out of me. I have a tooooo vivid imagination. So when I started to checkin on what a person could buy to store for long term if need be and what could all happen to keep ya from goin to the grocery store, well needless to say , this little girl panicked. hahhaa. So I prepped from the bottom up. got the comfort foods and goodies first and am now gettin the solid staples and major meals and meat. My first big purchase was Chocolate Chip cookie dough and Oatmeal Cookie dough mix. just add water and bake all the cookies ya want. hahaha. then I got pudding, then lots of dried fruit and cases of raisins. whew. figured nothing was gonna stop my baking if I could help it. yup…. and lots and lots of cocoa for homemade fudge. gotta have my chocolate……..if I go, I’m gonna go with chocolate smeared all over my face and be smiling……..LOLOL
Lady Biker - you are a hoot - and that’s from a Canuck! Your attitude is refreshing.
lady biker - I love your upbeat preppin’ philosophy!!! I approached the whole thing differently than you, but maybe a prepper should start with the comfort foods first. Anyway, I’m getting to that now. Like you, I’ve gotta have baking ingredients on hand and that always begins with chocolate:)Good luck to you!
In a previous thread, we were having a discussion (heated at times) about how many people in America had food storage in truly adequate amounts. Several thought that all of the 5 million or so Mormons could be counted in to that number. I had shared that I knew that Mormon compliance with their food storage counsel was not widely followed. This was met with one Mormon Fluwiki member flaming me seriously and yet another member backing up those assertions of the low compliance. I have since found a Mormon document (the newest LDS Food Storage booklet- available for free on the net) which states the following:
“…the latest surveys indicate that in North America the average membership with a years supply of food is around 3%. That would drop the numbers down to around 150,000 people in North America.”
This quote can be found on page 207 of the book, which can be downloaded for free at: http://www.dtmb.biz/LDS/Preparedness/Preparedness.pdf
This is an EXCELLENT book on Food Storage at the very least. It will be helpful to everyone who wants to learn about Food Storage.
My point here is that there is an INCREDIBLY small portion of the US population who have food storage of any depth. If a religious group who have this as a major element of who they are and what they do —do not take it seriously— how low is the number of the general population who have a month, three months, six months, a year of supplies laid in???? It’s rather amazing when you look at it that way.
On the flip side.. those of us who are making a daily effort (even if it’s just mental planning) to set aside food and supplies to maintain our families, friends and neighbors are a very, tiny miniscule portion of a self-absorbed population and we should take pride in our efforts, no matter how measly we may feel they are at the current time!
Now on a completely different thought:
Hubby went on an exploration trip to Tuscson with my military kid and they drove by the camps that used to be used for the Japanese internment (one of many), and they had all new razor wire on them and were all spruced up and ready to go………for what, one wonders??? Yikes!
BTW- Many of the LDS families who claim to have a year’s worth a food only have the “Mormon 4″-- wheat, dry milk, oil and honey! I dare you to stay alive on that! Notice not even yeast in that list or salt!!! Many have these items, but no fuel, and no grinder!! This is a common “complaint” amongst the stake preparedness leaders who are trying to help their members with compliance of the food storage counsel (it’s not a commandment- just counsel that is highly important). Don’t assume your mormon neighbors will be well stocked! You may be able to inspire them however, and get them over that hump and then they’ll be coming to YOU for help in figuring out how to put in a Food Storage that is truly eatable.
I homeschooled my three kids and found through the grapevinve of relatives that over 30 families began to homeschool their kids because of us. We had never even met these families! But someone who knew us would talk about us to someone and on and on. They found out how great our kids were doing and they decided to take the plunge. They knew about homeschooling, but until someone was ‘successful’ at it, they didn’t take the plunge. Your food storage may be influencing people you may never know! The gal behind you at the grocery store, the inventory specialis that sees lots of beans flying off the shelf…we never know where that influence will end. So just by doing what you are doing now, you may be saving future lives!!! That’s a pretty good feeling and something to hold on to when you are feeling overwhelmed with the whole process.
BTW- Many of the LDS families who claim to have a year’s worth a food only have the “Mormon 4″-- wheat, dry milk, oil and honey! I dare you to stay alive on that! Notice not even yeast in that list or salt!!! Many have these items, but no fuel, and no grinder!! This is a common “complaint” amongst the stake preparedness leaders who are trying to help their members with compliance of the food storage counsel (it’s not a commandment- just counsel that is highly important). Don’t assume your mormon neighbors will be well stocked! You may be able to inspire them however, and get them over that hump and then they’ll be coming to YOU for help in figuring out how to put in a Food Storage that is truly eatable.
I homeschooled my three kids and found through the grapevinve of relatives that over 30 families began to homeschool their kids because of us. We had never even met these families! But someone who knew us would talk about us to someone and on and on. They found out how great our kids were doing and they decided to take the plunge. They knew about homeschooling, but until someone was ‘successful’ at it, they didn’t take the plunge. Your food storage may be influencing people you may never know! The gal behind you at the grocery store, the inventory specialis that sees lots of beans flying off the shelf…we never know where that influence will end. So just by doing what you are doing now, you may be saving future lives!!! That’s a pretty good feeling and something to hold on to when you are feeling overwhelmed with the whole process.
Nemo-thanks for the encouraging words! I’m feeling a little edgy about my preps this morning. Thanks for the link as well.
Welcome aboard Lady Biker!- My family got through the snow storm of ‘78-no power for a month! by eating fried potatos, ham and beans and cornbread. I surely could do it again. Thanks for your cheery words.
Welcome Lady Biker! I’ve got a lotta that comfort food type stuff put away as well.
Things have been time-tight around our home this passed month and after using all of the stuff that I did for the Prep Test I did and then getting into the preps again because I just literally did not have time to make a grocery run … I feel like I’ve depleted a lot of areas.
I need to stock back up on several food items but on the up side have found that many of my food items are lasting longer than I originally expected. You live and you learn. <grin>
Oh … and the idea about drinking some broth before meals to control hunger pangs really does work. I have 2 kids going through growth spurts at the moment. The broth also helps control the craving for salty snacks. My kids have a tendency to crave salties rather than sweets … I think they picked it up from hubby.
yup I grew up on ham beans and cornbread.and still love it….sorta ranks up there around fried chicken…LOLOL depends on the occassion. and thank yall for makin me feel welcome. I do have a big order comin in this week from Mt.House and am excited and sorta worried where I’m gonna stash the stuff. I cleared out the bottom of three closets but it’s all full so now am lookin at my linen closet. put the bedding in boxes and stash the food. I know I’ll get it worked out somehow. but yall have given me lots of good ideas and I do thank ya. :)
I gotta ask yall something……..have any of ya tried the B&M Brown bread in a can? I just got two cases of it last week. had to hide it cause everyone was takin it . I ended up with one case left. half plain and half with raisins.so yup it’s in the closet. LOL
Lady Biker: It’s delicious! It’s better, of course, warmed a bit, but could easily be eaten out of the can. Some of my family says it makes ‘em “go” like crazy, while the other half claim the opposite…so you might want to try a bit of it so you will know how your family will react to it.
Lady Biker, I read about this, and although it is excellent, it apperas to be more of a snack than a bread. Do you think it could be eaten as a bread at meal time. Probable not good for sandwiches. Did you order if from internet and if so how much did you pay? Do you know the shelf life? Sorry for so many question, but I am interested in this, but have not ordered it.
I keep holding off on ordering that BIG order from emergency essentials. It is around 1500.00. Mostly dried foods for long term use. These are items we would not normally eat, but ITSHIT, it won’t be normal for a long time. I really am unsure what to do and would like some advice. I know there will be a flu pandemic. But when? If money wasn’t an issue, I’d do it in a minute and talk DH into it. I guess my question is, how long do we have? A lot of people on here believe maybe this fall/winter…
a lurker – at 15:21
This is just my opinion, but I would not order any food you do not normally eat. I do have powdered eggs and powdered milk in my preps, but we have made the switch to using them on a regular basis. Other than that, we have stored canned goods and lots of dry goods, all of which we eat regularly. Since what I have bought will keep for years, I don’t see the advantage of buying expensive emergency supplies. So far we have used up everything we bought in January and are working on supplies bought in February, so there is no danger of any of our preps going bad. With $1,500 I could buy one heck of a lot of food from a regular grocery store.
a lurker - at 15:21
I have no idea how long we have (sure wish I did); but a lot of the freeze-dried/dehydrated foods will keep for 5–30 years. I am beginning to incorporate these foods and ingredients into our food plan now, figure out what we like/don’t like and expect them to become pantry staples for the long term. No waste goin’ on here:)
oh yea I checked it all out. and yea everyone was grabbin it and so I had to hide what is left..one case out of two ain’t bad I reckon. and NJ Jeeper……yup….I talked to the man who sells it in Main. yup I did. and he informed me that it is a wonderful bread with baked beans and yup NEMO can be toasted and warmed up and even eatin with meats and yup NJ Jeeper……it has a shelf life of two years but if kept cold could make it last longer. I ordered it from the Net. and they sent me a small catalog with my order and now got another order to send off. I bought two cases, one plain and one with raisins. and they both together cost me $99 so figure 50 a case of twelve cans which are a Lb each.and I got it in a week. he said he sends off his orders the same day he gets them. It’s called MainGoodies.com . and it is a heavy brown molasses bread. always good to try something new………..:)
HB, what food do you buy that last for years. Almost everything I buy or see has a 2 year ± shelf life. Since I don’t rotate, it I put in a good size order of freeze dried food, so I could put it in the basement and forget it.
Now, lurker if you can rotate it and use it I agree with Hillbilly Bill.
HB, got your tickets to the MU game labor day weekend?
a lurker - As HBB pointed out, the freeze-dried/dehydrated foods are only part of the food preps. They supplement lots of canned and dry foods from the grocery store. Does stretch the prep dollars that much farther.
you know I was worried about havin stuff as near normal as I could. I ordered my big stuff from emergency essentials and it’s wonderful and more comin this week. BUT I don’t order stuff I have never eaten before. I got pancake mix, potatoes, beans, rice, you know stuff you usually get at the store. only thing is if I don’t get it used up it will keep for ever. and yea my crackers I ordered and got three cases of btw are….lololol…..dated to be used by 2031………I figure if I don’t have them nibbled up with my case of cheese or the peanut butter that something is wrong big time or I died. ……………:)
a lurker – at 15:21, check out honeyvillegrain.com Although their selection is not as great as Emergency Essentials (I’ve ordered there too) their prices on basic dehydrated fruits, vegetables, milk and egg products is better, plus shipping is cheap. Best thing I bought from Emergency Essentials was their Gamma lids - a true emergency essential!
Hey NJ Jeeper I was checken on the web for normal foods and how long they would last and what was the best to buy at the store and did find out that Libby’s and Green Giant have a shelf life of 48+ months and Jiff peanut butter too and French’s mustard. and of course the cooler the longer they last.
LadyBiker-welcome to our world now that you have entered your stuck with us! The B&B Brown bread is more like cake but dense and a little dry, we love it sliced and heated in the microwave a little and smear on the cream cheese. OKbirdwatcher— I am with you, I got to have my baking supplies—to Hell with protein!!!!:)
Lady Biker, where did you get your crackers. I could not find them anywhere. I like the long shelf life.
Thanks for the tip on Libby’s and Green Giant.
NJ Jeeper – at 15:35
The 2 year shelf life works just fine for me, although I believe that you can safely go a year past the expy date on everything except tomato-based canned foods. Our plan is to keep about 6 months of canned goods on hand and continue to rotate those as we use them up. Flour, rice and dry beans store for a longer time and we have a good supply of those. I just don’t find it practical to store foods that we are not used to eating, no matter how long the shelf life may be.
“HB, got your tickets to the MU game labor day weekend?”
Nope, I’m going to listen to that one at home. I expect a GREAT game!
Pilot Crackers http://tinyurl.com/ndus5
Lady biker - What crackers? How far out is expiration date? I can’t find any that have good shelf life and I’d love to have some on hand. Thanks!
I got my crackers yup called Pilot crackers, your right Chesapeake at 17:05 I ordered them from BPSF here on the net. and the expiration date is 2031…but really I think they will be long gone before then. they are good and there are 70 crackers in a can and I was thinkin that with little kids as welll as us bigger kids might like them if we end up eatin lots of soupy stuff. S:)
Thanks lady biker - I’ve seen those but thought they might be tasteless. Glad to hear they’re good.
ok, 70 crackers in a can, must be these http://tinyurl.com/nax5t
Pilot Crackers are a New England staple. They go with chowdah.
yup Chesapeake you got it. You guys tickle. Yall make me laff most of the time. sure glad this web site is here. oops time to go……..gotta go take my shot so later yall………..:)
Here’s a link to buy the B & M Brown Bread in a can (cheap)
http://www.mybrandsinc.com/ShopOnline/Catalog.asp?t=7&s=BG&ss=0&p=140
and B & M Brown Bread w raisins in a can (cheap)
http://www.mybrandsinc.com/ShopOnline/Catalog.asp?t=7&s=BG&ss=0&p=140
I don’t have time to check out this “My Brands” store, but it really looks interesting. They’re supposed to carry hard-to-find grocery products. By the way, I found the link to this My Brands store on B & G’s (who is the mfr of the B & M brown bread) for people who want to buy their products and can’t get it locally.
B&M Brown Bread is seriously good. This was a treat when I was a child.
Aaaak, don’t know what happened with the link for the plain brown bread above. Oh well, from the link above just click on Manufacturer search A-Z and click on B & M.
NEMO – at 12:17
Thank you for the link to the excellent article by the Mormon Church, they are “WAY” !!! ahead of most of us in preparing for any and all potential disasters.
Kathy in FL – at 13:41 wrote: Oh … and the idea about drinking some broth before meals to control hunger pangs really does work. I have 2 kids going through growth spurts at the moment. The broth also helps control the craving for salty snacks. My kids have a tendency to crave salties rather than sweets … I think they picked it up from hubby
This falls in line with our test today. Dug a pit for charcoal or wood cooking and tested it out for dinner tonight. I figured we could boil water(broth) with the high flames, cook with the coals and make dessert with the fading embers. Worked out great, although the entire neighborhood knew we were cooking. But we had enough marshmallows for everyone :-}
All this talk of Brown Bread brings back happy memories of growing up here in New England. Every Saturday night, especially in the Winter, the stove was always on cooking Boston Baked beans in the family beanpot, and a wonderful treat for me was B&Ms brown bread, w/and w/o raisins. Along with these we usually had hot dogs or hamburgers, heaven for a youngster. In the warmer months we ate B&Ms canned beans. The B&M factory is still there on the outskirts of Portland, Maine, go by it every year, and their website states they still make their beans the old fashioned way, baked in brick ovens. And our old family beanpot gets a good workout as soon as the cold weather comes in every year!
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