Foodstorage | Being prepared today

September 11, 2021September 26, 2021

How to be water independent by rainwater harvesting

Water is the most abundant resource on this planet but only a small percentage is actually drinkable. What’s more frustrating to most is that municipalities will charge you for this precious resource. What a lot of people don’t understand is what goes on behind the scenes: where that water comes from and what has to be done to it to make it usable or drinkable. It goes through chemical treatments and a couple different filtration processes and that’s what you’re really paying for. Not the water itself. Fortunately, there are a couple different ways to make yourself water independent and a big one is a technique called rainwater harvesting.

Here are some ideas to pull from to collect as much water as you can .

Roof runoff rainwater harvesting

Probably the best and most efficient way to collect rainwater is from the runoff from your roof. When it rains it will run off your roof into your rain gutters and down the spout. By directing your downspout to a barrel/barrels or even a tank that has a large enough opening, you could fill a 250 gallon tank or larger depending on location and climate.

It is efficient in the way it covers such a large area for rainfall and requires very little effort on your part besides redirecting your rain gutters and keeping algae or mosquitoes from growing. Piping the water system to your home or desired use is completely up to you just be sure of permitting and local laws concerning this subject.

rainwater harvesting with rain barrel funnels

The rain barrel funnel method, as I call it, is a technique that requires food grade barrels and a tarp or other high coverage, rain collecting surface. Using rope or string you can tie the corners of the tarp to a structure or build supports for your high coverage idea. Now you can funnel the water into the barrel using the tarp or other high coverage surface of your choice.

It’s a pretty simple concept but requires quite a bit of space and some ingenuity so try to be inventive.

Storing rainwater in the ground

By understanding how rainwater acts and moves you will be able to redirect water for the convenient use of you and your family. Obviously water flows downhill because of gravity so building the appropriate channels, guides or gutters will accomplish this. A cistern is an underground water storage that can be made of concrete, metal or even plastic. But, again this is also subject to permitting and local laws.

Trees help keep water in the ground by the shade they provide and in their root systems. By the shade they provide it prevents the moisture from being evaporated in to the air. Gardening near trees will provide extra moisture for your garden and conserve your collected water usage.

Well water

In the old days a well would be dug by hand where groundwater would pool up in the bottom of the hole. Sometimes these holes would be dug to depths of twenty feet or more and a rope would be needed to pull the digger out. A pulley structure would be built over top of the hole to lower a bucket to collect water.

In present times a well is drilled by machinery to depths of around 100 or more feet to collect water from aquifers which are basically underground reserves of water and occasionally an underground river. Electric or motor driven pumps will pull the water up to surface level and store it in a tank for use.

Purifying for potable water

There are several ways to purify water and it is my belief that only two of them are really that efficient and cost effective. One way is to boil water and the other is through a gravity filtration device. There is also the potential to send your rainwater directly into filtration devices or even to direct greywater (water from sinks, showers and laundry) into garden systems to effectively deal with and distribute the water.

Here is an article on water purification methods and efficiencies,

Here is a link to a PDF of a Plan of Action for water purification for you to check out!

Start collecting

However you go about being water conscious and self-sufficient be sure to keep you and your family safe and healthy by reading into water purification and hazards. Collecting rainwater could save you quite a bit of money on municipal or even help you on your journey to becoming a great gardener. Whatever your path is, start collecting and good luck!

I hope this article was helpful and informative. If you have any questions comments or input please feel free to do it in the comments box below.

Thanks

Resources used:

Ready.gov

Theprovidentprepper.org

June 27, 2021June 27, 2021

Important items for your Food Storage

Maintaining a Functioning Food Storage can be time-consuming and require effort, does it not? All the rotating, packaging and mindfulness of the expiry dates? Also, trying to think of what’s important to have in there. For a food storage to be proper it has to be in use at the same time. It should include: dry foods, canned foods, foods that are packaged by you in some instances and even boxed foods. Some foods keep longer while some foods are going to be more beneficial to you and your family.

Some families have an “Everyday use” pantry and a separate long term storage but here, I would like to suggest an easier style of food storage, discuss all these topics and give some suggestions of important items as well as the “why’s” and “how’s” to maintain your Food Storage safely and efficiently.

Food Storage ease of maintenance

Finding a system that works for you when it comes to maintaining your food storage is important. Cans are easy but tedious to rotate and watch expiry dates but, however have a long shelf life of almost 5 years. Knowing what to have and what conditions to store it in for maximum shelf life is pretty important. Items that don’t require frequent replacement is a good start. Even though you will be rotating and pulling from your food storage, I suggest items that will keep for long periods of time because of the “unknown” situations that may arise.

Having enough space is something to consider. You will need the space as you add items and come up with other ideas for that area. A cold storage or separate pantry room with shelving will probably serve best to observe and access your storage for rotation and replacement use.

Food Storage items that can last a long time

Having a moisture content of less than 10% and when properly stored in #10 cans, dry foods such as rice, beans, corn, potato flakes, most dehydrated fruits and even nuts will keep for around 30 years. I personally use a bucket system and a few bulk storage containers, that involves airtight lids and trash bag liners for storing and rotating my dry foods. They are labeled with the dates that I filled them, just to keep track.

Freeze dried or vacuum sealing is an amazing way to store foods! You can prepare your favorite meals and freeze dry them or in some cases vacuum seal them and they keep for around 15 or 20 years in a cool, dry and dark room. Personally I use …….. And it works great!

Pre canned foods are a good start as they are already canned and really convenient to just throw on the shelf and walk away for a while but you need to

consider the expiry dates. They can last up to 5 years depending on storage conditions and as you buy more canned foods from the store you should put the new cans behind the old cans for ease of use. Self-canning and Jarring are fun ways to discover your power to be self-sufficient by storing your own food choices or even seal away the top picks of your garden treasures. There are several recipes for several different styles of jarring so research what you might like best and have fun!

Smoked meats can also last a while if stored properly in the freezer. Some sources say 3 months but I believe 6 months might be possible with proper wrapping and sealing procedures. Cured meats are close to the same but extended by about half again the time frame. For instance, if stored properly in the freezer it could last up to 18 months. Use a proper curing salt like Prague #2 or another salt that has needed levels of Sodium Nitrate as it will create inhospitable conditions for unwanted bacteria to grow.

Keep in mind calorie intake and nutrition! While some sources report differing totals, to be considered healthy an adult male will need around 2500 calories while an adult female will need 2000. Children will do good to get around 1500 making it a healthy total for proper growth. A 1-cup serving of cooked, long-grain brown rice contains 5 grams of protein, 45 carbohydrate grams, 2 grams of fat and 216 calories. The same serving size of cooked black beans without salt has approximately 15 grams of protein, which is 30 percent of the daily value set by the FDA based on a 2,000 calories per day diet, 41 grams of carbohydrate, less than 1 gram of fat and 227 calories.

Jarred and home made foods

The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints has counciled it’s members on food storages and principles of provident living and charity. Many of the members enjoy aspects of these principles and lifestyle. The Church is a great resource to receive and learn from.

There are a lot of ideas for jarred foods that can be stored for long periods of time. Almost anything you can think of to seal in a jar, can be sealed in a jar. Some foods will naturally keep longer just because of the nature of the item or product. Vegetables grown in a garden and fruits from trees in your yard can be jarred and also jellied to sustain and provide for during the winter months and even save money throughout the year. Provident Living is a lifestyle more and more people are trying to acquaint themselves with as life and finances get tighter and tougher.

There are a lot of recipes for items that can keep for long periods of time after prepared such as Pemmican and some styles of breads. Shortbread cookies keep for a decent amount of time, between 4 to 8 weeks if kept in an airtight container and kept cool. Learning how to make bullion and bone broth cubes could also be beneficial as they will last indefinitely if made and stored properly.

Jarring fresh fruits and vegetables will provide for concentrated nutritional needs especially vitamin C, which an essential vitamin.

Miscellaneous items

Many people don’t think of water when they are considering items for their Food Storage. It’s actually quite important. Clean water sources may be abundant now but what if hard times come around like a drought? Believe it or not even a flood can wipe out clean water sources.

A non-food item that I believe is essential to any storage is toilet paper and feminine higene items. In and extended emergency situation they will not only provide an ample amount of comfort but also prove to be important to sanitary conditions and personal health.

Multi-vitamins provide a small portion of essential vitamins and minerals and although synthetic, they are beneficial in the sense that they can keep you from being nutrient deficient and they will keep for years unopened in a food storage setting.

Iodized salt is extremely important and I believe most people do not realize just how important it is. Food grade Iodine or rather potassium iodide, is an essential mineral that most vitamins do not offer unfortunately. It is also very scarce in the food we eat because it is mostly removed during processing. Iodine is used by the thyroid gland to produce hormones essential for the body and brain to function properly, including hormones related to growth and development.

Baking soda and cooking oils like vegetable oil and coconut oil are items I also highly recommended. Baking soda not only goes into baking goods like breads, cookies and pie but also removes odors by absorbing them without effect on itself. Vegetable oils and Coconut oil are a necessity for baking. A bonus is that coconut oil is very tasty when used as a substitute for vegetable oil and Coconut oil is also very healthy!

Tailoring your own food storage to your families needs

While not everyone has the same diet or digestive needs, most items in your storage room can be made into quite creative inventions. A food storage plan built around you and your family’s diet is definitely something to closely consider. If you are going to be using an active rotating food storage (this is just what I am calling it) then you will obviously not have too much of a problem keeping items common to you and your families dietary usuals. A drastic change in food items or in the nutrients that your family takes in wouldn’t be a matter of life or death but might cause some complaining and resistance.

While using an active rotating food storage is a good way to keep up on expiry dates and such things, if an emergency does arise you will have plenty of food, water and other essentials to keep you for a good while.

I hope this article was informative and helpful. If you have any questions, comments or other input you can do so in the comments below as it will help me to bring increasingly better information to you!

Thanks

Sources:

ChurchOfJesusChrist.org

Ready.gov

Theprovidentprepper.org

Google search

June 11, 2021June 11, 2021

The importance of being Self Sufficient

Being Self Sufficient can feel daunting and quite difficult. It doesn’t have to be though. For some people it is a lifestyle, passed down to them though their family for generations, In the form of recipes and processes but most of all – a way of thinking. Some people think of it as a lifestyle long-forgotten but in reality there are still people that live that way, and prefer it! They enjoy the “unplugged” way of living and highly enjoy doing things for themselves. Believe it or not, it can be quite rewarding.

Learning and being Self Sufficient

Learning to be Self Sufficient can be a life long process of developing skills and knowledge. It should be fun. Pick a direction, a subject to learn about or try out for yourself, something that is interesting to you and branch out from there. Something as simple as learning to bake bread from scratch can be a good start and will lead to other subjects like jarring food or even growing a

garden and building a root cellar. Doing things off-grid without electricity can be a good way to learn the “official” way of being self-sufficient.

Many reasons for being Self Sufficient

Enjoying the connection with nature or to look at it from a different angle, “disconnecting” from technology for a bit is a huge reason why many people try to be or are self-sufficient. Others live this way for reasons of preparing for hard times and for them it won’t be a major shock when those times come around. There are folks that were raised in that lifestyle and it is second nature to them as they were taught some of these skills from birth.

The American way of life promotes Self Sufficiency and rejects the idea that the government should take care of and provide for all the needs of people. The saying rings true as anything: Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him to fish and he will eat for a lifetime.

The deeper meaning to Self Sufficiency

The idea being discussed in this blog article is one that many people find that they may not “have the time” or “have the money” but I find that trying to be Self Sufficient doesn’t really come with a high price tag. It could even become an important skill in the coming years. It means to be independent and capable of providing most things you need by yourself or your community.

Indigenous and native American people have, still to this day, a connection with the land and a sense of self-sufficiency that is almost unrivaled. Being able to provide for yourself, everything that you could need to stay alive and be healthy enough to continue that lifestyle, gives the sense of independence and self-worth or self confidence. Being a part of a community that grows food, jars or cans food, makes their own clothing and has a knowledge of building both furniture and structures is the most ideal for a self-sufficient setting. That sense of community and independence is a pillar of early American life and still continues in some parts of the country.

Google defines “Self Sufficient” as:

-Needing no outside help in satisfying one’s basic needs, especially with regard to the production of food. “I don’t think Botswana, due to the climate, could ever be self-sufficient in food”.

-Emotionally and intellectually independent. “Their son was a little bit of a loner and very self-sufficient”.

Location and ideas

In Alaska, A lot of people live “off the grid”. That means that they live on either their own electricity and gas supplies or they have no permanent link to society. When and if needed to completely “unplug” they would not have a hard time doing so. It would be a minor adjustment to their current lifestyle. The climate there can be harsh but its not impossible to live off the land, as the natives did so for thousands of years.

In Pennsylvania, we also have the Amish. They are a prime example of self-sufficiency! They live without electricity or fuel gases of any sort really, make their own clothing and build their own homes. The Amish grow and store their own food and even churn their own butter! They truly have held onto and passed down the old-world skills of independence and self-sufficiency.

Personally, I have been trying new recipes with my Dutch oven in the coals of a dying fire and finding it to be a really tasty way to cook. In Mexico and even in the southern states here in America, a whole pig is slow roasted on a spit over an open fire pit, not wasting any part of the animal. If you have a fire pit you can make your own spit fairly easily or purchase one pre fabricated only needing to install it. Smoking and curing meats is almost self explanatory and keeps meats for quite a while. That is a skill that has been around for a really long time.

Root cellars and dry cold storage should be separate. Dry cold storage for canned, jarred and dry/dehydrated foods as well as any other dry storable items you can think of and here is a link to an article on food storage. A root cellar is kind of self explanatory again, it is technically a garden storage room for roots, fruits or anything that needs to stay damp and here is an article on root cellars.

Making your own clothes is a skill that is dying out. Give it a try sometime and you might be surprised. You could even save a butt-load of money!

Rising costs

Rising costs and inflation of everything is pushing people to be a little more frugal with their money and even to seek alternatives to some things to try to mitigate or counter that cost increase. Those alternatives include learning skills that teach them to be self-sufficient like growing some of their own food and composting. Tomatoes are a good start and easy to grow. Melons, garlic,

potatoes and even turnips are hardy staples that be grown in a lot of climates.

Whatever the reason is for you to become more Self Sufficient, my opinion is that these skills are important and can be very fun and rewarding. Do some google searches to familiarize yourself and get some ideas then give it a try.

I hope that this Blog article was informative and that you enjoyed reading. If you have any questions, comments or input of your own please feel free to do so in the comment section below. It helps me to bring you the best information possible.

Thanks

Category: Foodstorage

How to be water independent by rainwater harvesting

Roof runoff rainwater harvesting

rainwater harvesting with rain barrel funnels

Storing rainwater in the ground

Well water

Purifying for potable water

Start collecting

Important items for your Food Storage

Food Storage ease of maintenance

Food Storage items that can last a long time

Jarred and home made foods

Miscellaneous items

Tailoring your own food storage to your families needs

Sources:

The importance of being Self Sufficient

Learning and being Self Sufficient

Many reasons for being Self Sufficient

The deeper meaning to Self Sufficiency

Location and ideas

Rising costs

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