Long Term Food Storage Revisited

Long Term food storage isn't a new invention, but Quite the opposite!
And it sure does help us to eat it and use it... and it helps if there is variety (short term storage is great at variety, but has to be rotated). Here are lots of whole food ideas that double as long term or even indefinite storage.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ai3zK3S0SNBWdDg0RHlHckRuejZ3N1JfVkxMWU5ZZnc

Fermented Cod Liver Oil review needed

Perhaps you're aware of the profound differences between Cod Liver Oil in it's Viking Traditional Fermented Purity and the fake illusion that is typically sold by those who don't know any better yet.  oh wait, I can't stop there, so I guess you'll get my rant:
"Typical" Fish oil is just damaged oils, yes there is unmistakable benefit, but it plateaus and only carries limited benefits. It has only a tiny list of actual nutrients much of which has been damaged by heat, processing, chemicals or even the acclaimed "molecular distillation" that ruined it for me.  It is a split food, a partial glimpse of the whole fish.
Fish Liver Oil has an increased scope of benefit esp when just compared by label on the bottle.... but it is also a split food that has been damaged and plateaus,  hopefully before it causes damage because of and (likely depending on the individual body) via it's synthetic additives. -- Notice: It isn't even just food - Sadly it is another food that has been adopted too much as just a profit making tool and instead of being what it should be it instead has been altered and unwritten on its label attempts to look like the real thing by merely matching some well published number goal.

The real thing is the uncommonly found and strikingly unique Fermented Fish Liver Oil:
This is the kind that isn't included on any comparison in the typical nutrition book or pamphlet and isn't included in the big market studies.  This is the real thing that even Norway has stopped most of it's production of. --- Instead, this is the kind that modestly placed itself in World acknowledgment and continuing survival from becoming History, maintaining it's reclaim by it's very real results in those aware enough to take it and discover it's profound benefits! 
It is just the real Liver, slowly, 'cold' fermented the way they've done it successfully for thousands of years - learned in the same region and from descendants of this heritage.

The ONLY company I know of still making it completely the traditional way is Green Pasture. They are great!  Lately I've been reaping the benefits from the Fermented Skate Liver Oil.  I have family members that love it as their joint supplement (and the elimination of their joint pain)
(buy in bulk with friends for a discounted price)

My little one's are "tough enough" to take it and smile. Why do grown men shirk? I'm reminded of Mark Twain's character Aunt chasing down Tom to get him his dose for his own good.  Perhaps a little more maturity is needed in our current generation of caretakers.

Many of the great historical cultures had one sacred food which they relied on to ensure strong mind, body, and spirit; fermented fish/fish liver oil. The Mighty Roman Soldier was given a daily ration of fermented fish oil. The Stoic Scandinavian Viking had a drum of fermenting cod livers outside the door of his home. Grandma always had a bottle of cod liver oil in the back cupboard. link

 Perhaps you've learned the benefits of fermentation and/or raw products such as the increase of nutrients and the enzymes and probiotic life in other foods such as sauerkraut/kimchi or yogurt.  Well, suppressing that sidetrack, this is similar.

And the list of nutrients is amazing.  That slow fermentation process ripe with living organisms has increased and enlarged it's density.  It has more than just the Vitamins listed on the label (One has to request which Form of Vitamin D is to be tested when sent to a lab.) This FCLO, of the Vitamin A and Ds tested, is "off the chart" in comparison to typical Fish liver oil on store shelves. But in addition to that, there is over 150 different types of Naturally occurring Vitamin A AND D.  Also, Because of the process of that fermented life, It is also a source of Vit K2 - something our diets are severely deficient in as well. (likely the X factor that facilitates the Minerals and such in our bodies - ie. beautiful teeth/ smiles/structures of the "Natives" that are so elusive now)

And that's just a glimpse of the fat soluble vitamins present.... A brief mention of the fat profile is equally impressive.  How many types should you be taking? Let's see, Omega 3, maybe 6, DHEA, CoQ, glucosamines for joints, antidepressants, painkillers, hormones, cholesterol control, etc?.....
.........Well, A tiny little dose of this Fermented Fish Liver Oil just blew your array of supplements out of the water! and with no synthetic attempts, fillers, or partials of a whole.  This is a seriously potent and dense whole food source of all them with their cofactors that we're unlikely to even heard of.... let alone understand!
Omega 3, 6, 7, 9, 12 in great ratios
Quinones, Vit E, Vit K, CoQ Enzymes
Vit A, Vit D, EPA, DHA,
Minerals, Life, Glucosamine, ETC!

Try it and discover the famine you've been in.... Every cell in your body and brain needs these nutrients!

Bottling Meat

Surprisingly simple way to store your food =
Pressure cooker, Glass jars, cut up Beef roast (or chicken), salt...
I add bay leaf and onion, dried or not. (It appears any herb can go in, but little bits may get in the lid edge and sage turns bitter in the pressure cooker)

 If you have the materials on hand, give it a try next time you are making dinner
- and eat just one of them that day
(perhaps chosen for you by the every time occurrence of one jar that doesn't seal -- seems is the standard when using the Mason jars from Walmart (Made in China?!))
putting the rest on a dark shelf for a day when you are in a hurry, the power is out, or meat prices sky rocket again.

Expect a flush of beef in the market now and through the next (few+?) months. = low and low(!) prices.
The ongoing drought is slashing the corn supply grown as feed for the cows and a higher % are butchered. (headlines news, no secret here)
With the following years of high and high(!) prices as the beef supply has been diminished.
(I'm reminded of Joseph in Egypt once again)

This, of course, will also mean deeper damage to food prices across the board as especially corn is in thousands and thousands of processed products (and I suppose the corn portion of our fuel) to further damage the prices of the already subsidized, cushioned, illusion of the food prices we are paying,.... as well as other midwest crops.

P.S. = I still don't promote the eating of the beef that is fed unidentifiable foods or foods that cows are not made to eat such as corn -- this would lead to sickly cows = sickly meat = sickly people -- but!! When the market is affected, grass fed beef prices are affected as well - and not always in the direction that your predict for your given rancher/source.

- And of course the corn based (GMO Contaminated) processed products are not food,  so I don't promote them as your primary food source either...
("There is no such thing as 'junkfood', only junk and/or food")
You know,.... use your common sense!  If it has been processed so far from it's God given identity to a product that kills rats (after they go looney tunes and eat their equally diseased companions) then it will eventually kill you too, just as a slower rate.

Sorry, I'm not sourcing my many mental references here, just use the phrases as search terms!

"canning" vegetables the world history way

Preserve your own raw vegetables in a method that INCREASES nutrition and does not use cooking. (personal opinion echoed from gardening posts - seeking out a higher nutrient density yields a superior product)

My original introduction to fermented veggies: http://www.westonaprice.org/food-features/lacto-fermentation

video summary: http://www.westonaprice.org/beginner-videos/fermented-foods-and-beverages-video-by-sarah-pope

overview/ideas: http://www.wildfermentation.com/resources.php?page=vegetables

I've done sauerkraut, I am currently doing pickles for the first time... peppers are next:
http://www.pickl-it.com/blog/410/3-way%20pickled%20peppers/
http://wellpreserved.ca/2011/08/18/naturally-pickled-fermented-jalapeno-peppers/
http://www.woodwifesjournal.com/2010/10/marinated-peppers.html
http://realfoodlittlerock.blogspot.com/2010/06/peck-of-pickled-lacto-fermented-peppers.html

Beef and peanut butter shortages

I have contemplated posts on these, but haven't had the time to compose the facts. I happened upon a blog today that did this better than I can.

http://preparednesspro.com/

Which gives me time to mention a few other factoids regarding Being smart when spending your money. We want to use our hard earned funds (after saving everything we can) to fill our homes with products that will benefit, not entertain or go out with the trash when it breaks or falls out of favor when the whim is over.

One: WATCH for better than average Prices and spend money! :) The beef at your grocery store might be having some really good prices (or already did) on at least some of the cuts at the time(s) that the markets are flooded with cattle downsizing. (get it?: drought kills grass = less grass on ranches = fewer cows they can feed = they are taken to market = you might be getting a higher percentage of grass fed before the cost of everything else pushes the lesser desirable feed lot cows are sent to market)
So, please keep your pocket book closed when in the superfluous fluff and fashion sections so that you can stock up on extra food when it is there looking at you in the case - flaunting it's ability to feed you and provide benefit when you no long want or can to choose between the two.

Which brings me to the second factoid. Beef and Peanut Butter aren't the only products that have been and will be increasing substantially in price. The price increase across the board has been as much added together as one of these on it's own in my neck of the woods. And that isn't been something that's been picked up by reporters and published with the grocery ads. (Must we always wait for someone else to look for us?)
I'm sure we are all more than aware of the shrinking ice cream (and now "frozen dessert" because it isn't even real food) cartons and ever higher prices. (the same is being done in other areas now that they have proven our ignorance and complacency - 3# bags instead of 5# bags, 10 count instead of 12...)
But there are other methods being used as well. Walmart brand has been adding corn syrup to the canned beans for years now. And you thought they were cheaper!? no, they are just padding it elsewhere and they are just selling you less bean in the same size/weight can.... and the filler isn't even neutral, it's an addictive poison.
This isn't "just business"; In my opinion, this is personal. Instead of honest upfront product sales, ...more than one someone is making immoral choices and deception that public has to wake up from and choose to see. We need to at least read labels before parting with or tossing our money at the products we bring home. We still have that as consumers, even if they don't expect the masses to read, we have the individual choice to break the trend and inform ourselves.

So, Ditch that pretty paper (responsibly - to a good purpose, not the bulk garbage bin) you bought last year and instead stock the shelf with edibles that are as good as gold.

Dehydrating 2010

As long as the nights remain above 80* and humidity is below 60% (=basically here in Phx means 'not raining') then you can continue to dehydrate outside.
EDIT: GRAIN DOES NOT NEED THOSE TEMPERATURES - STILL TESTING FOR LOWEST WORKING TEMP.

This week I have a box of pears that I bought when the forecast was predicting clear and sunny for days/weeks. However, they have done surprisingly well despite the higher humidity putting pears onto my list of fruits that can be dried successfully. :)

Give it a try! Dehydrate some fruit in your backyard this year! Banana slices are easy for anyone since many of us regularly find 'overripe' bananas in our homes. They do, however; take longer than one day to dry. Just leave them until they are leathery and yummy :)

Buy a little extra

Your regular shopping trip can become part of your storage plan by simply buying a few "extra" items each time. You will be purchasing things you already want and use, and usually at prices you already know to be affordable. When you get home, put it toward the back and pretend it isn't there (so that next time you go shopping, you are increasing and not merely maintaining.)

To the Right (and below)is a price sheet that you can save to your computer (or open with "open office" or Google documents) and alter to work for your family. Items are my attempt for a complete shopping list of (mostly shelf stable foods) typical items good for storage. Prices are just general and far from perfect. Feel free to change them too. Perhaps print one sheet how it is and make notes on it when you shop. Then adjust and reprint it if for yourself to carry in your purse.

online:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tltpDTIYJdG3ev2VPIMyv_A&output=html

As pdf:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tltpDTIYJdG3ev2VPIMyv_A&output=pdf

as Excel:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tltpDTIYJdG3ev2VPIMyv_A&output=xls

As Open Office:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tltpDTIYJdG3ev2VPIMyv_A&output=ods

There are three sheets within this file. The first two sheets are identical except that one prints in Landscape (sideways) and the other in Portrait (upright). The third sheet is my "2 cents" on where to buy and how to use/store it.

Printable Price Sheet for 3 month food storage (pantry)

All of these links are of the exact same information. They are merely different so that hopefully one is compatible with you and your computer. :)

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=ta3gsMdzoY4qkJr6tR0kq8A&output=html

Sneak peak of above link.


As pdf:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=ta3gsMdzoY4qkJr6tR0kq8A&output=pdf

As excel file (slight adjustment needed in column widths...):
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=ta3gsMdzoY4qkJr6tR0kq8A&output=xls

About the 3 Month Price sheet

Alter it to fit you!

The bulk of the foods included in your 3 month storage should be those that can keep at room temperature and that can make meals that your family can live off of if nothing else if available.

Items should be bought frugally, used and restocked on a regular basis.

Buy when on sale in large amounts when ever possible to give you more power over the dollar. If you know what a "good enough" price is AND what a "great deal" price is then you are already winning!! :)

The prices and items are just to give you a start, please update them or change them as needed.

Organize your pantry for efficiency. It doesn't have to stay in perfect rows, but at least aim for groups so that all the beans are together and such. This way you'll be more aware of what you possess (and can put the newest in the back.)

3 Month Supply

Choose to do this in whatever way seems the simplest and most frugal for your family.
You will want to buy, store, and use food that you eat on a regular basis that you could live on for 3 months.

Short Term Storage is Easy

Short term food storage can be changed to whatever works best, for you, right now.
Some simple ideas

• "Build a small supply of food that is part of your normal, daily diet. One way to do this is to purchase a few extra items each week to build a one-week supply of food. Then you can gradually increase your supply until it is sufficient for three months. These items should be rotated regularly to avoid spoilage." link
• a monitored, stocked pantry and freezer from planning ahead when typical meal items were on sale.
• the portion of your long-term storage that you are using in order to rotate it.
• a combination of the above
• Start with (one month, then) three months, then 6 months.
• Don't forget the water storage.
• Store, don't Hoard.
  

Ideas for improving your short term storage plan:

• keep track of what you actually do eat.
• If you don't know, then make a list of "acceptable", "cheaper", and "cheap! stock up prices" for everything.
  
• Teach your family to be prudent and smart; Tell them the steps you are taking before they are usually a part of it.
  
• Don't eat it just because it is there. create and live in a budget/plan.
• Save containers as you empty them. I use empty baking soda cans for spices; ice cream buckets for flour, sugar, pancake mixes etc. This makes using your long term storage more accessible for rotation without constantly exposing it.
  
• Start a garden, eat fresh and process your own food.
  
• Learn to cook more from scratch - make your own mixes, soups.
• Teach your kids, in 'olden' days, they were helping, including neatly, as soon as they could reach.
  
• Find local sources (in emergencies of any type the stuff from furthest away often is gone first)
• Read the ingredients in every product you buy. (educate yourself even if you don't use it yet.)
• Add in your household needs, simplifying them when you can, such as soaps.

Use your Short term Storage as training to improve your long term storage.
Consciously, make more choices instead of reacting to the easiest.
By becoming more aware, we often are unknowingly improving our diet and budgeting. As soon as we are aware of a new area to improve, then things just got easier - again!
With practice, the previously daunting ideas become routine.
Food storage and frugality (and all these related concepts) are Gospel Principles and so Gospel blessing apply. For your efforts, You Will be Blessed!

My Additional Staples Source List

http://sites.google.com/site/swiftpearlstorage/home/sources-list-2

Coconut Oil and Palm Oil

Staple for Long Term Storage and Regular Use

BOTH have indefinite shelf life
(although the expiration date often reads 2 years and others, 10 yrs)

Order most frugally from Tropical Traditions using the Buyers Club Membership:

• Coconut Oil LINK
• Scroll ALL THE WAY to the bottom of page-The text is in Blue.
• The cheapest price per weight is $105 for 5 Gallon Bucket (~ 7*5=35lbs).

• Palm oil Shortening LINK
• Scroll ALL THE WAY to the bottom of page-The text is in Blue.
• The cheapest price per weight is $78 for 33 pound box.
• The box comes with a sealed bag (zip-lock style) inside another bag (twisted closed).
  

Alternative purchasing:
(1) Watch for sales which bring smaller quantities to the same $/amount, but membership would need to be timed right also.
(2) Buy with friends in a group buy so the Shipping and Membership fee is split up.
(3) Small containers During Thanksgiving Holidays are on sale at Fry's and Sprout's bringing the price to nearly the same per amount. In addition, it is handy to buy a few of these so that you have small containers to refill and keep handy in kitchen/ bath.

Coconut oil is a healthy oil that is to replace (unhealthy) Canola, soy, peanut, and other 'dead' oils typically labeled as "vegetable oils". It Can be Used in Any Recipe.
Use it for any recipe that calls for oil (or butter, fat, etc). It can be used in high heat and baking, but switch to palm when frying, such as meats.
The version that I recommend above for purchase has no smell or taste (no Coconut proteins).
It is solid at room temperature but melts just above (such as when you use it as lotion (wonderful!)) and so is very liquid in my house in the summer time.

Palm oil is a healthy oil that is to replace hydrogenated Shortening (crisco type) which is (simply stated) a poison. It can be used in baking such as pastries and pie crusts AND for Hot frying, such as in cast iron pan, or when deep fat frying.
This is NOT Hydrogenated. It is solid like shortening for most of the year. At over 80 degrees or more, outer portions melt a little bit. It has NO taste or smell and is pure white.
(There is more than one type on the site, I recommend the shortening. The other product listed here is virgin palm oil which is red, flavored, and not commonly used in American cooking.)

For those of you who want more information:

Palm Oil is the most commonly used oil in the world when the US is taken out of the list. Coconut oil comes soon after in that list. They have been extracted and eaten for millennia by peoples where coconut and palm are grown, which includes very hot places. They are completely safe and very beneficial to health and wellness. They are one of the few places outside of Mammal milk that provides Lauric Acid; which is a large portion of the fatty acid chain in coconut/palm oil. (this is the 'miracle' immune boost in Mother's Milk). Coconut oil is the perfect staple for making Baby formula and food when weaning and wonderful for food storage for families even if for this reason alone. (powdered milk is very insufficient and potentially damaging for infants (and adults); more on that under milk)

There are a few higher quality coconut oils (processed less, taste and smell like coconut, higher nutritional value, contains coconut proteins, etc), but they cost more and (in my opinion/research) don't provide enough additional benefit to outweigh the cost. This one is still processed in a healthy, traditional way so the oil retains it's natural properties and is good for us. For those interested in the higher nutritional content - the primary difference is the antioxidant content which specifically would benefit cancer concerns and skin/aging concerns.

Different Oils provide different balances of vital nutrients to our diet, So, in ratio to Other Oils, lipids, Fats:
Butter and animal fats (ghee, lard, cod liver oil, etc), should take up the largest portion in your diet, Coconut and Palm can be second in amount, and Cold-Pressed Extra Virgin Olive oil, Sesame, Nut, Avocado etc be third.

The ones you want to eliminate are Hydrogenated (such as Crisco type shortening, Margarine) and Denatured such as Soybean, Canola, Cottonseed, Peanut oil, Corn and blends of these that are commonly labeled "vegetable oils." However, those do make great bio-diesel fuel, if you would like How to directions. ;)

To read more about what makes some fats healthy and "vegetable oils" unhealthy, Here are a few sites to start on. (1) post list 'overview' (2) simple: Coconut (3) lengthy: Lipids & Fats (4) Coconut oil article site (5) List of benefits (6) books (diet): Eat Fat, Lose Fat