image by edenpictures

With all the talk about food storage and growing our own food, I did a little digging around to find out what some people ate during America’s Great Depression of the 1930′s.  Surprisingly, a few of these were made by my mother and grandmother, traditions, I’m sure, from a more frugal era.  I still have a soft spot for Chipped Beef on Toast!  How many of these are familiar to you, and do you have any others to add to the list?

Milk toast

Chipped beef on toast

Cucumber and mustard sandwiches

Mayonnaise sandwiches

Ketchup sandwiches

Hot milk and rice

Turtle/tortoise

Gopher

Potato soup – water base, not milk

Dandelion salad

Lard sandwiches

Bacon grease sandwiches

Sugar sandwiches

image by Tony the Misfit

Hot dogs and baked beans

Road kill

One eyed Sam – piece of bread with an easy over egg in the center

Oatmeal mixed with lard

Fried potatoes and hot dogs

Onion sandwich – slices of onion between bread

Tomato gravy and biscuits

Deep fried chicken skin

Cornbread in milk

Gravy and bread – as a main dish

Toast with mashed potatoes on top with gravy

Creamed corn on toast

Corn mush with milk for breakfast, fried corn mush for dinner

Squirrel

Rice in milk with some sugar

Beans

Fried potato peel sandwiches

Banana slices with powdered sugar and milk

Boiled cabbage

image by Blue Mountains Library

Hamburger mixed with oatmeal

American cheese sandwich, ‘American’ cheese was invented because it was cheap to make, and didn’t require refrigeration that may or may not exist back then.

Tomato gravy on rice

Toast with milk gravy

Water fried pancakes

Chicken feet in broth

Fried bologna

Warm canned tomatoes with bread

Butter and sugar sandwiches

Fried potato and bread cubes

Bean soup

Runny eggs with grits

Butter and grits with sugar and milk

Baked apples

Sliced boiled pork liver on buttered toast (slice liver with potato peeler)

Corn meal mush

Spaghetti with tomato juice and navy beans

Whatever fish or game you could catch/hunt

Tomato sandwiches

Hard boiled eggs in white sauce over rice

Spam and noodles with cream of mushroom soup

Rag soup: spinach, broth and lots of macaroni

Garbanzo beans fried in chicken fat or lard, salted, and eaten cold

Popcorn with milk and sugar – ate it like cereal

Lessons learned from this list?  Stock up on ingredients for bread, including buckets of wheat.  Bread, in some form, is one of the main ingredients for many of these meals.  Second, know how to make different types of bread.  Next, have chickens around as a source for meat and eggs, and if possible, have a cow or goat for milk.  Another lesson is to have a garden that will provide at least some fresh produce, and plant fruit trees and bushes.  Finally, don’t waste anything, even chicken feet!

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

image by lululemon athleteica

Multi-use items save space in a survival kit or bug-out bag, and they are fun!  Here are a few that are worth stocking up on and most are budget-friendly.

Petroleum Jelly – Most everyone you know has used petroleum jelly for chapped lips and dry skin, but how many have mixed it with another multi-use item on our list, cotton balls, to make a quick fire-starter?  Simply mix a few cotton-balls with the jelly in a Ziploc bag and have enough tinder for multiple fires.

Cotton Balls – Of course cotton balls are used for cleaning, sanitation, and skin care.  As mentioned earlier, they can be mixed with petroleum jelly for fire-starter, or even used as ear-plugs or for blister relief.

Shoe Goo – This awesome adhesive can repair shoes, backpacks or purses, and can even be used to glue fishing lures and flies!

Alcohol Swabs – These should be saved for medical use in the cleaning of cuts and scrapes, especially when soap and water are not available.  They are also flammable, and in a pinch can be used as an alternative tinder for a fire.

Iodine – 2% Iodine Tincture can be used to sterilize wounds and to purify water.  5 drops will purify 1 quart of clear water,  10 drops should be used if the water is cloudy.

Kids love to learn about multi-use items like these, so the entire family can join in the fun!

What other multi-use items are you stocking up on?

John is the author of The Survival Template.

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

image by tarap

Make a list of all the sundries that you use.  Sundries are your everyday items, like toothpaste, toilet paper, soap, etc.  Include items like toothbrushes and washcloths.  Make a list of these along with how long the item lasts.   For example, how long does it take your family to go through a tube of toothpaste?  Figure out how much of each item you’ll need to last 3 months.

Determine how much you can afford, and go out and get the stuff, with the goal of having a full year’s worth.  Check out coupons in the Sunday paper and online and watch for store sales to make this less expensive.

In my house, we tend to buy in bulk and then don’t realize that we’re using up the items and will suddenly find ourselves low on stuff.  One way I’m countering this is by putting 3 months worth into a duffle bag.  Not only does it remind us we’re getting low, but it provides an easy way to grab toiletries and stuff in case of an evacuation.

We try to keep at least 6 months on hand at all times (ideally), so on our next purchase run, I plan to put another 3 months in a different bag.  This will make it easier for us to keep 6 months on hand and when we dip into one of the bags, we know that it’s time to go out and buy replacements.

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

image by motograf

It’s getting cooler out where I live, which is not Arizona, so I’m drinking more tea and (slightly) less soda. It took me a long time to start drinking tea because, frankly, I don’t like black tea and that’s what has been offered most often in this country. Times change, though, and there are a lot more kinds available today. I recently bought Red Velvet Chocolate Tea – really. (I actually sacrificed and donated that to a school silent auction so I can’t tell you what it tastes like.) I have black, green, white, red, and herbal teas. It’s a veritable rainbow!

Calming:

Chamomile is a classic herbal tea. It definitely helps me calm down to go to sleep. We have several varieties. Celestial Seasonings’ Tension Tamer Tea also includes chamomile, but not as the primary ingredient so it isn’t as sleep-inducing. My husband recently told me to go get some to help me calm down, so it clearly makes a big difference!

Energizing:

Mint tea is a great wake-me-up tea. It’ll never substitute for Five Hour Energy, but if you need a smaller energy boost, mint is a real help. (I even sometimes simply eat a mint leaf from the garden.) I recently drank some of the “get charged” tea from The Republic of Tea and was able to skip the afternoon nap that I had felt coming on. It’s a long way from an espresso, but it helps.

Medicinal:

image by Mags

Herbal laxative tea works. I find that it’s much milder than medicine and it doesn’t leave me feeling the need to stay extremely close to a toilet. My husband tried the “get soothed” tea for his scratchy throat and it felt better. Of course, lemon tea with honey is a classic for sore throats. There are lots out there, and we’re trying to use more of them.

Brands:

This is not really about taste or quality, but more about packaging and long-term storage. There are tons of great tea brands, but these are two different popular brands with the two most common types of packaging. Celestial Seasonings teas are inexpensive and easy to find at the grocery store. However, they are boxed in cardboard with a papery liner. For longer term storage, that won’t keep your tea fresh. Bentley’s tea ships in tins with a sealed foil pack inside the sealed tin. That will keep significantly longer, but it also costs more. (I buy most of mine at Tuesday Morning.) Sealed tins are supposed to be the best way to store tea to keep tea fresh.

The Republic of Tea

Normally I wouldn’t call out one company when so many make a great product, but these folks make Chocolate Tea! That deserves notice. As I said, I sacrificed and donated my Red Velvet Chocolate to the school, but I have tried the Chocolate Strawberry and it really does taste like chocolate strawberry tea. The first product I bought from them is their Strawberry-Vanilla Children’s Tea. My kindergartener just loves it, which is why I sought out their website and found all their other teas. He is excitedly awaiting the new Blueberry and Key Lime Teas that he’ll get at Christmas. They also have a line of wellness teas including “get soothed” and “get charged.” Their tea comes in tins with foil packs, and you can get refill packs for your favorite flavors.

P.S. There is also something called Horny Goat Weed Tea. Horny Goat Weed is an herb that supposedly does what the name implies, according to an internet search. If you try it, let us know if it works!  Or not.

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

You say potato, I say po-tah-toe.

You say tomato, I say to-mah-toe.

You say hoarding, I say prepping.

image by Seattle Municipal Archives

That may not be exactly how the lyrics go, but to some people, stocking up/stockpiling is the same as hoarding, and hoarding is evil.  I disagree, and here are five reasons why it’s smart to stockpile everything from food to tools to toiletries and beyond.

1. Stockpiling buys you time. If the store shelves are empty, it’s a whole lot easier to begin using food in your storage pantry than it is to suddenly become a master gardener, growing your own fresh produce and raising your own animals for food.  You can get the garden started and not go hungry because you have a pantry filled with stockpiled food.
2. We still live in a land of plenty.  If I decide to go to Costco and buy a dozen packages of their toilet paper, it doesn’t mean that some poor soul across town is going to have to start using pages from the phone book.  There is plenty of food, plenty of toilet paper, plenty of batteries, etc. to go around.  It may not always be that way, but it is now, and we can use that to our future advantage.
3. Stockpiling is a whole lot easier than scavenging.  If you have extra machine parts, extra windshield wiper blades, extra light bulbs, and extra laundry detergent, you won’t have to dig through dumpsters, scavenge in alleys, or prowl through a junkyard.
4. In certain crises, having a stockpile of food and supplies can keep you safe.  You can hunker down in your home rather than brave crowds of equally desperate people.  You’ll be able to stay far away from a pandemic outbreak or a run on the banks.  You’ll have what you need while a panicked society settles back down to a new ‘normal’.
5. If your family can remain fairly self-reliant, at least for a while, the family can remain together and intact, without individuals venturing out looking for supplies, water, and the like.

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

image by RambergMediaImages

We are taught to think in a monthly budget or a paycheck-to-paycheck budgeting manner. What would you say if I said it’s time to throw that idea out the window for your food and supplies?

image by GranniesKitchen

This information is great. Realize that I won’t cook this much ground beef every week. Some weeks I might be veggie heavy or chicken is on the menu. If I get this amount of ground beef, though, I know that I have five meals a week fully covered.

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

• Sugar – Regardless of whether your sugar is white, brown or powdered, it will never spoil because it doesn’t support bacterial
  

  image by afiler

  growth. The challenge with sugar is to keep it from hardening into chunks. To keep sugar fresh, store it in an airtight container or seal it in a plastic bag. If your brown sugar is more like a brown rock, you can revive it with just a minute in the microwave on low heat.

If you don’t use sugar very often, store it in canning jars and even sealed, small mylar bags.  The price of sugar has been rising, so     now would be a good time to stock up on at least 40 pounds, which is the recommended amount for one person for one  year.  If you’re planning on making preserves, you’ll need a lot more.

• Pure vanilla extract – If you have pure vanilla extract in the back of the cupboard, there’s no need to throw it out because it lasts forever. It may be more expensive than its imitation counterpart, but its shelf life certainly outweighs the extra cost. Keep that vanilla flavor at its best by sealing the bottle after each use and storing it in a cool, dark place.

If you buy extracts for storage purposes, they should all last at least four years if stored in a dark, cool place.  Most contain an amount of ethyl alcohol, which has preservative elements and lasts for years.

Love that rice! photo by Leandro H.

• Rice – White, wild, jasmine, arborio and basmati rice all keep forever so there’s no need to throw them out. Brown rice is the one exception because it has a higher oil content so store it in the refrigerator or freeze it to maximize its shelf life. Once you’ve opened a bag or box of rice, move it to an airtight container or resealable freezer bag to keep it fresh.

You simply can’t go wrong by stocking up on plenty of rice.  It’s a meal-stretcher and can be prepared in so many different ways that it’s one of my favorite food-storage basics.  Save up 2-liter soda bottles, clean them and let them air dry for super storage containers for your rice.

• Corn starch – You can thicken gravies and sauces for years with just one box of corn starch because it keeps indefinitely. Store this kitchen staple in a cool, dry area and be sure to reseal it tightly after each use.

If you don’t normally use corn starch, stock up on a few cans since it can double as a treatment for diaper rash and skin irritations of all kinds.  Corn starch mixed with some water effectively cools sunburned skin and can even be used in fun craft activities for kids.

• Honey – Whether you use it in your tea, on your toast or as an alternative sweetener, that jar of pure honey is good forever. It may get grainy or change color, but it’s still safe to eat — and delicious — because its antibiotic properties keep it from spoiling. You can help keep it fresh by storing it in a cool area, and you can improve the quality of crystallized honey by placing the jar in warm water and stirring it until the grainy parts dissolve.

Before pulling out the Neosporin or some other antibacterial ointment, try dabbing a little honey on scratches, scrapes, and bug bites.  Do a little research on the benefits of honey, other than as a sweetener, and you’ll want to stock up on a whole lot more of this sweet stuff!

• Hard liquor – Mixing drinks at your holiday party? There’s no need to replace those decades-old bottles of gin and whisky.
  

  image by *~Dawn~*

  Distilled spirits like vodka, rum, whisky, tequila and gin don’t ever spoil — even after opening. The taste, color or aroma may fade over time, but it’ll hardly be noticeable. Keep the bottles tightly closed and store them in a cool area away from direct heat or sunlight.

Plenty of preppers talk of making their own stills and having alcohol on hand as an item for barter.  It’s good to know that those little airplane-size bottles you buy of vodka, rum, or whatever will last a very, very long time, and historically, bottles of alcoholic beverages have always been popular for trade and barter.

• Salt – The contents of your salt shaker will never spoil, regardless of whether it’s basic table salt or sea salt. Simply store it in a cool, dry place and salt will keep indefinitely.

Try Celtic Sea Salt for a healthy version of salt and remember to stock up on about 5 pounds of salt per person.  It’s main enemy is moisture, so make sure it’s stored off the ground, away from outside walls, and if possible, in glass jars or commercially sealed cans.

• Corn syrup – If you come across a years-old bottle of corn syrup in your pantry, don’t throw it out. This sweetener keeps indefinitely as long as you keep it sealed and store it in a cool, dry area.

It’s good to know that the bottle of corn syrup I’ve had for at least five years is perfectly fine!  You can always make your own , another good reason for stocking up on plenty of sugar.

• Maple syrup -  What good are pancakes or waffles without maple syrup? Luckily, this flavorful syrup will never spoil if you refrigerate it or freeze it. For long-term storage, seal it in an airtight plastic container and freeze it.   “The freezer is such a useful tool that can really save you money because there are very few foods that don’t freeze well,” says Janice Revell of Still Tasty.
  

  image by Kai Hendry

Except that where food storage is concerned, the freezer is only a back-up since it’s so vulnerable to power outages and even something as simple as someone leaving the door open.  It’s possible to make your own maple syrup.  If your family enjoys pancake, French toast, and waffle breakfasts, you’d better have plenty of syrup on hand or a few maple trees out in the backyard!

• Distilled white vinegar – This wonder product can be used for everything, from making marinades and salad dressings to cleaning house and doing laundry. But the best thing about distilled white vinegar is that it lasts for years. Simply close it tightly after each use and store the bottle in a cool, dark place.

My own recipe for a multi-purpose cleaner is simply equal parts vinegar and water.  I use it for just about everything.  The LDS Food Calculator suggests just a half gallon per person per year, but I recommend much more in order to take advantage of its many uses.

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

1. Heat – The longest possible shelf life is attained when food is stored somewhere between 40 degrees and 72 degrees.  For every 18 degrees above 72, food will lose its’ nutritional value by half, and over time, it will lose much of its’ original flavor, texture, and appearance.  If you can keep your food consistently cool, you’re in great shape.
2. Humidity – It’s important to keep food as dry as possible.  An air-conditioner or a dehumidifer can help as well as making sure the food is packaged with as little moisture as possible. Store food off the floor and away from outside walls where moisture might seep in.
3. Oxygen – Over time, oxygen changes the appearance, flavor, and texture of food.  When fats oxidize they become rancid.  Use oxygen absorbers, rotate food to reduce the chances of oxidation, and pay attention to the other five enemies of food storage.  Working to eliminate oxygen will also kill any bacteria, and vacuum packing food can help with this.
4. Pests - Many dry foods can be popped in the freezer for at least four days to insure that microscopic insect eggs will never hatch.  Keep food in air-tight containers.  Make sure there aren’t any food particles on the shelves or floor, and keep all food storage areas very clean.  If mice are a problem, well, you know what you’ve gotta do.
5. Light – If possible, keep your pantry area dark.  Light can and will affect the flavor and appearance of food, but it’s also the easiest enemy to keep at bay.  If you have food stored in clear containers, keep them in labeled boxes with lids.  It won’t be as attractive as all those pretty jars filled with homemade preserves and canned veggies, but they’ll last longer.
6. Kids – So far, I’ve lost entire boxes of granola bars, energy bars, and two or three cases of Capri-Suns have mysteriously been emptied.  Perhaps a kid-proof lock on the pantry door can take care of this particular hazard.

Your food storage is an investment.  Taking a few extra steps to keep it safe from these six enemies will be worth the effort.

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

image by Kirti Poddar

There have been more than a couple of times that people have posted here about stocking up on 5 Hour Energy drinks, chocolate, coffee and other similar “luxury” items only to have one or more people give a rather withering reply about how foolish they are to even think about anything beyond water, wheat, and bullets. I’m going to guess those folks don’t have young children at home.

If you’re a single guy who isn’t looking out for anyone but yourself, that approach might work. You would still probably end up with taste bud fatigue, but that’s your business. However, a lot of those “frivolous” items have very real value in a SHTF situation, and not just for barter. If you are forced to stay up all night driving to get to a safe place or doing guard duty, wouldn’t a 5 Hour Energy drink come in handy? Chocolate has been proven to be calming in stress-filled situations, among other things, and that can be invaluable. (Besides, it really does rock as a barter item.) If I have to get my kids to drink powdered milk, I really don’t want to try it without adding some Hershey’s Chocolate (or Strawberry) Syrup. Besides, my stockpile of Teriyaki sauce buys me some time in the event that my sons favorite brand should ever (please NOOOOO!!!!) change the recipe.

So, what “frivolous” items do you have, and what is your defense of them?

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

image by usedtobelost

One of the things, I enjoy most about summer is shopping the various swap meets, flea markets and yard sales. In my area when the weather starts to warm the flea markets begin to buzz with activity. Some sellers simply set up shop at various pull-off areas along the roadside, using their car hood as a makeshift table to display their wares.

This past Saturday was absolutely beautiful, despite being a brisk 51 degrees.  It was one of those days that can make a person forget about the state of the world and our own dreaded affairs. It’s been unseasonably cold here for the past few weeks, making a day reaching 51 degrees feel like the warmth of summer had arrived early.

I avoid going into town as much as possible, preferring the quietness and solitude of the land and trees that surround my small homestead. But I do need to make the trip a couple times per week to visit with my mother and a few friends as well as taking care of business matters like mailing letters and such.

This Saturday was different; I looked forward to the trip because I knew there would be at least a few people setting up yard sales and at the local flea markets. But even I was shocked at the number of people trying to sell their goods. It seemed as though every fifth house or pull-off along the way had someone hoping to make a buck.

image by BallGame68

As the economy continues to worsen, more and more people attempt to sell off their assets in hopes of getting enough cash to pay the bills for one more month. The county where I live has the highest official unemployment rate in the state at over 20%, so lots of these sales can be expected.

Judging by some of the stuff up for sale, I think they go through their house, garage and storage building looking for anything they can sell for a buck or two. You can buy most of this stuff way below retail; the trick is to get out early before all the good bargains are gone.

One of the things I love most about this type of sale is the fact that you never know what you will find. It’s like a treasure hunt and Christmas all rolled into one big adventure. While there is a lot of junk to sort through before finding anything useful, you will be surprised at quality of survival items that can be found with a little effort.

Some Things I’ve Found

• A box full of Mother Earth News magazines for $5
• Ten boxes of #6 shot – 12 gauge shotgun shells for $4 per box
• A single shot 12 gauge shotgun in like new condition for $65
• Countless how to books on gardening and preserving
• A copy of the Turner Diaries for .25 that I resold on eBay for $14
• Most of my gardening tools were bought at these sales
• A new meat grinder for $10
• Cast iron skillets for $2 each
• Hand tools

Don’t dismiss yard sales and flea markets as only having junk. Spring is only a few months away. Get out, and stop at a few of these sales. You may be surprised at the survival related items that you can find – all far below retail.

M.D. Creekmore is a full-time blogger and emergency preparedness consultant. He can be found on his survival blog where he provides free information to help others prepare for and survive disaster.

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.