Self-sufficient living
is a way of life that involves being practical, thrifty, and wise,
preparing for the future while attending to today's needs. Learning to store and use basic foods, along
with other necessities ("Stocking Your Ark") will help
you be self-sustaining in whatever situation you find yourself,
whether it be a loss of work, war, civil unrest, famine, tornadoes,
hurricanes, earthquakes, fires or floods. Start "stocking"
now using this easy chart!
Water is free and easy to store and purify (be sure
to store a supply of GSE (Grapefruit Seed Extract) to kill bacteria,
viruses, parasites, fungus), so good quality food will be your
most important storage purchase. The BEST foods are basic foods
- beans, grains, and sprouting seeds. They just happen to be the
cheapest and easiest foods to store. A year's supply of these wholesome, basic foods
costs only about $150 per person!
Many diseases can be cured or avoided by simply eating an
adequate supply of raw
foods. If you can't eat raw food
year-round from a garden, eat SPROUTS! Canned, bottled or dehydrated fruits and veggies
will fill you up and add variety to stored beans and grains, but
they take up a lot of space and will not supply the key nutrients
your body needs to heal. If
you can't afford to store everything all at once, start with at
least a 1-month supply of the first six items on this list, purchasing
the other items as your budget permits.
| STORAGE ITEM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Water |
|
|
| Water purification drops (I recommend Nutribiotic GSE) *1 |
|
|
| Wheat |
|
|
| Other GRAINS |
|
|
| Sprouting Seeds (to eat and plant) |
|
|
| Legumes (beans, peas, lentils) |
|
|
| Honey (or substitute) |
|
|
| Salt |
|
|
| Powdered Milk (or alternative)*2 |
|
|
| Fats (olive oil preferred) |
|
|
| Seasoning
herbs, spices, mixes (store your favorites) |
|
|
| Bouillon (for soups and sauces) - enough to flavor... |
|
|
| Vegetables & Fruits (dehydrated, bottled, canned) |
|
|
| Yeast (also starters to ferment soy, sourdough, etc.) |
|
|
| Baking
Supplies (leavening agents, carob chips, etc.) |
|
|
| Medical (first aid, and medications) |
|
|
| Fuel (for cooking, lanterns, etc.) |
|
|
| Cooking
equipment (stoves, pans, grinders, etc.) |
|
|
| Sanitary
Supplies (toilet paper, and personals) |
|
|
| Personal
Care ... (toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss, shampoo, hair spray, deodorant) |
|
|
| Laundry
soap, Clorox bleach, misc. cleaners |
|
|
| Nutritional Supplements *3 (Use Whole Food Supplements ONLY - NOT isolated supplements like vit. A, B, C, calcium, iron...or even multiples) |
|
|
| Camping
Gear (tents, tarps, backpacks, coats) |
|
|
| Bedding
(sleeping bags, blankets, pillows) |
|
|
| Scriptures
and Legal Documents (waterproofed) individual and family birth certificates, shot records |
|
|
*1 GSE (Grapefruit Seed Extract) is the perfect water purifier AND first aid kit in a bottle. It is an extremely potent liquid concentrate - antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic. Call (770) 516 5000 (or order from this website) to order a 2 oz. bottle to purify up to 126 gallons of water for only $10.95.
*2
A U.S. government study on maintaining nutritional adequacy during
periods of food shortage suggests that 64 quarts, or 16 pounds,
of dry milk powder per family member per year, will maintain minimum
health standards. (Ensign, March, 1997, p. 71.) What are the alternatives?
The reason for storing milk is to provide a source of calcium
and protein. All beans (especially soy), dark green, leafy vegetables,
and sprouts are good sources for both. Powdered soy milk is a
good replacement.
*3 Choose only a 100% natural active enzyme supplement containing ALL the colors, and made from fruits, vegetables and grains, with additional enzymes and fiber. Especially in times of stress, you need a supplemental source of vitamins, minerals, ANTIOXIDANTS and enzymes. Please take a few minutes to read a recent article entitled "Dietary Supplements No Substitute" . For more information on the Whole Food Supplement my family uses every day and the only one I recommend for storage because it is MUCH cheaper and infinitely more nutritious than any dehydrated, canned or frozen fruits and vegetables on the market... click HERE. READ the research for yourself. Pay special attention to the DNA repair study...done at Brigham Young University!
* These
items should be stored on an as-needed basis. Certain areas of
the country require preparations for winter, others for hot weather.
Some people can grow gardens year-round, so would not require
nutritional supplements or as many sprouting seeds. Store the
types of vegetables and fruits you use in preparing basic preparedness
recipes. The space available for storage will determine the types
of foods you can store. Most people are limited on space, so only
the most basic essentials can be stored.
**Experiment
with recipes to find out what kinds of seasonings you like, then
store a year's supply of them. For instance, if it takes 6 bouillon
cubes (2 T.) to season a soup or a casserole for your family,
assume that you will use some type of bouillon at least 4 days
a week, throughout the year. You would need to store about 21
cups of powdered bouillon. Choose recipes wisely so you can vary
the recipe to use either vegetable, chicken and beef bouillon.
If you use taco or other seasoning mixes and you use them once
a week, buy 52 packets of your favorite brand. OR, purchase seasonings
to make your own.
Choose wisely. When purchasing storage foods, pay special attention
to the nutritional needs for your individual family members. Store
foods that are free of harmful preservatives and chemical additives
to give your body the best chance possible to be healthy.
Prioritize your storage.
What would you absolutely NOT want
to live without? Next to water and food, I'd choose toilet paper,
tampons, sanitary napkins, etc. I'd even eat all my food raw (sprouted)
if it came down to a choice between cooking equipment and sanitary
supplies!
Practice Runs. Spend several days a year living without electricity
(try camping!) so you will know where your supplies are, and how
to use them.
GET HEALTHY!
1) Eat "whole foods" (whole grains, legumes, and fresh sprouts) every day. These high-fiber, low-fat, cholesterol-free foods contain more far more essential nutrients than
processed foods.
2) Eliminate man-made or “fake” foods containing hydrogenated oils, refined sugars, and artificial flavorings and colorings.
3) Exercise strenuously at least 1/2 hour each day, 1 hour if you are sedentary most of the day.
4) Take time to de-stress. Toxic emotions can cause more health problems than a poor diet. Are all the things you add to your days really essential? Is there still time to “smell the roses”?
What else
should be stored?
72-Hour Kit. For each family member, put together a backpack
or duffle bag containing a 3-day supply of things to use if you
were away from home. The basics include: food and water, a change
of clothing, small first aid kit (and medications), blanket, personal
supplies and medication, matches, candle, flashlight, money, scriptures,
personal documents.
Fuel. Where possible, store a year's supply for heat
and light (wood, coal, alcohol, etc).
Money is nice!! Plan to have at least $20 for each person's
72-hour kit in small denomination bills and coins. Save at least
a month's salary in a safe place.
Emergency Preparedness
Library. Look for books on home-health
care, outdoor survival, cooking with basic foods, building emergency
shelters, finding and purifying water.
Emergency Response
Plan. What would you do if your family
was separated by a disaster? Where would you meet? Develop a plan
to work in any emergency circumstances.
Battery-operated
radio. This is essential when the
power is out for a long period of time, especially during a time
when you need to hear a message on an emergency broadcast station.
Keep spare batteries on hand and buy fresh ones at daylight savings
time changes each year.