Many have talked about stocking up for what looks like a long haul. How much do you keep and what types of things do you stock and how much????

How long will items like rice, etc. last if sealed? What about things like toilet paper, shampoo, etc.? How much do you keep?

For Y2K you knew eventially it would all get worked out; however, with the latest events, it looks like we could be in the LONG haul! I'm not sure a years worth of items will be enough -- especially if rationing happens. I am confused on what we will need...seems kind of overwhelming!

As always, thanks for your imput!

-- Karen (db0421@yahoo.com), September 21, 2001

Answers

At the house we try to keep six months food supply for everyone. Can't manage that, yet, for the animals but even there I try to keep at least a few weeks. Always keep two weeks worth of water, spare fuel, and as much other general consumables as I can find room to store except for motor oil which I just realized last weekend I stupidly allowed myself to run out of.

We don't plan against any one scenario but just against an uncertain and indifferent universe.

For folks looking for good info you can check out Alan Hagan's website at http://www.providenceco-op.com . He's the fellow who wrote the Food Storage FAQ and also hosts several other FAQs as well.

He told me the other day that he's going to have to take that site down sometime soon as he can't afford to keep it much longer so you might want to print off copies while you can.

={(Oak)-

-- Live Oak (oneliveoak@yahoo.com), September 21, 2001.

Well, my HTML is lacking today. That should put a stop to it.

={(Oak)-

-- Live Oak (oneliveoak@yahoo.com), September 21, 2001.

For the last couple of years we've kept stocked up on rice (keeps well), instant potatoes, powdered milk & cheese, tuna, sardines, flour, toilet paper (very inconvenient to run out, esp. in winter!), home canned chicken, veggies & fruit, dried fruit, shampoo & soap. I buy non-perishables any time they are on sale. We've had a hard time keeping any kind of oil - it goes rancid too fast. Eggs are no problem cause ducks lay year round. We plan on getting goats in the spring to help with meat & milk. I've tried different kinds of storage buckets & my favaorite are the big ones with gaskets from M&M Industries. I bought mine from Bob's Red Mill in Portland OR. They seal well and are easy to open. Hope this helps.

-- Bonnie (stichart@plix.com), September 21, 2001.

I was brought up to keep two seasons harvest back and compost out the leftovers from the third season back (the longest on the shelf).

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), September 21, 2001.

On keeping oils - there was a post a long while back about canning butter! (Cool, huh?). Also, if you clarify butter (it's called ghee) it will stay good pretty much indefinately, and I understand it has a really nice nutty taste as well (and a higher smoking point), although I'm not sure about the last.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), September 22, 2001.

Soni, you're right. Chefs' use what they called "clarified butter" all the time. It has a real long shelf time without being refrigerated.

-- Annie (mistletoe@kconline.com), September 22, 2001.

Thanks Soni -

I've read about canning butter but forgot all about it. I'm going to give it a try.

-- Bonnie (stichart@plix.com), September 22, 2001.