Food storage is a important aspect here on the homestead. With the nearest store 20 miles away if SHTF you could imagine how much trouble I would be in without food stocks on hand. This also accounts for winter months. The roads here are mainly stone and dirt which turn into a mess for weeks often making it impossible to leave the homestead. In this post I want to bring awareness of how and why it's important to build food storage for yourself, family and friends.
Food storage is split into three layers. Short term, Mid term and Long term.
Short term is your pantry, your every day items and often blends with your mid term that would be canned foods, pastas or any food you enjoy on a weekly basis. It's easy access and readily available. There isn't much else to this layer besides taking inventory of what you have, what you may want to add (a new food you enjoy) or remove (something you don't enjoy and has a short shelf life)
Mid term is often split between your panty and your long term. It's food that lasts about a year or longer. It's moved from your long term storage area into your short term pantry storage often so taking inventory in your long term area here is very important so you can replenish those stocks as they deplete. Get in the habit of rotating your foods in this way from oldest to newest. This could be your foods placed into a jar or canned foods you prepared yourself through water bath canning (your jellies and jams) or pressure canning such as tomato's, meats, stews, stocks and the bone broth I canned in the picture you see here.
Long term is often stored in a dark, cool, dry place such as a root cellar. I was lucky enough to have one with the old farmhouse I bought and is where I currently store my long term food storage. These are your bulk items and ones that last 15+ years. Many of these have a self life of 30 years! Number 10 cans such as the ones you see in my last picture with dehydrated apple slices and hard wheat allow me to have wheat and fruit for years. The hard wheat allows me to grind it down to make breads and gamma lids which is what you see in the picture with the green lid are 5 gallon buckets of sugar, salt, grains and other such foods that are locked with is known as a gamma lid. These lids are air tight and spin closed keeping moisture and air out keeping these foods fresh for many years.
I know this can seem like a lot to take on. What's important is you start building a stockpile of foods you enjoy. Is there a sale on your favorite canned food? Consider buying one or two extra and keeping it in your mid term food storage. Over time your food storage will grow and allow you to be ready for whatever life might throw your way or a family members way. A job loss, high inflation, food shortages or even the end of the world! You'll now be well prepared with one of the essentials you need, FOOD.
Stay safe, stay health and most of all stay prepared my friends.
For the best experience view this post on Liketu
