Classifications of stockpiles? (Or am I getting too technical)

**madhen** · 09-19-2008, 05:21 PM

I just started trying to get my stockpile going, and I find that I am having to think in terms of different types of stockpiles. For example, I have quite a few cans of various everyday items (tomato sauce, veggies, dried pasta, etc), then I have a small pile that I would classify as emergency rations (dehydrated, just add water type mixes, including soup, biscuits, etc). Now I am starting to think that I should be stockpiling for the pets and livestock, as well. So I have a dry goods stockpile, a freezer stockpile, a paper products stockpile, emergency food AND non-food (propane cylinders, matches, batteries, ammo) stockpiles, etc and so on. Is this normal, or am I just really over-engineering all of this?

If it IS normal, I am wondering how one practically "uses" one's emergency rations, as they would in theory be saved for emergencies, but in reality, they mostly have expiration dates a few years out. I am not necessarily wild about eating dehydrated soup if I have "real" soup around, but if no emergency hits, then it is either eat the "MRE" or throw it away.

**TexasPeanut** · 09-19-2008, 06:47 PM

I don't think you are over engineering the separate areas of stockpiling at all. I do the same thing. We have all of our bathroom/personal needs stockpiled in one area. Extra goodies for pets (litter, collars, teetee pads for the little monster dog just in case she needs them) we don't stockpile that much extra food that won't be used within a couple of months since dry pet food will go rancid after awhile. Canned food you could definitely stockpile. We have like you dry goods, freezer goods, and non food items stockpiled.

I make a habit to not purchase anything we won't eat within a certain time frame. We eat from our stockpile frequently and immediately replenish what was eaten just to keep it all up to date and rotating. I do keep some "emergency" type of foods on hand but I make sure it's something we will eat up and replace at some point so it's not wasted. Like you I would rather eat some real soup or homemade soup instead of something like those. I do keep a lot of dehydrated fruits around because we eat those a lot so maybe you can try something like that for your emergency meals? Possibly making your own trail mix of some sort with the fruits and nuts and vacuum sealing it if you have one, that will keep quite a while and every now and then just eat it and make some more.

**dcompton** · 09-19-2008, 07:01 PM

Hmmmm. I don't know that I really think of these as official "categories" but when I set up an inventory sheet it did, of course, naturally fall into these groups -- non-perishable food, frozen food, household (cleaning, paper goods), personal (HBA). I don't really think of an "emergency" category as such. I don't plan special food for it. I'm in an all electric apartment and if the power goes out I'm pretty much dead in the water, period, other than opening a can of beans and eating them cold! I guess the only thing I think of as really an emergency supply would be having a case of bottled water on hand, because that's something I don't normally use. Matches, candles, things like that are things I would have on hand for the household anyway. Of course, if I lived in a disaster prone area, this would be different. A crank flashlight and crank radio is pretty much it for my emergency preparedness. Obviously, I would have been a terrible Boy Scout!

As for using it up, I suppose just watch the expiration dates. If it's stuff you're not really wild about eating, move it to a "must use up" spot and make yourself use one item of it a week. That's how I occasionally work through the "what was I thinking when I bought this?" things in the pantry.

**madhen** · 09-19-2008, 07:16 PM

I am all electric as well, which is why I have the small propane cylinders. I have a propane lantern and a propane heater, and am looking into getting a propane camp stove. Last year, my power went out for four days, due to storms. Happily, it was winter, so my woodstove kept things warm and served as a great place to boil water, heat soup, make coffee, etc. In the summer, I can't use the wood stove because it is a fire hazard if a hot bit of debris makes it up the chimney.

I lose power a couple of times a year, usually no more than one day, because I am out in the middle of nowhere and if some idiot drives his car into a power pole, I'm one of the last ones they think about. That is why I started stockpiling batteries (for the flashlights and battery powered lanterns), water (because I'm on a well and when the electricity goes out, so does the pump), and propane. One of these days, Santa will bring me a generator.

**missyali** · 09-19-2008, 09:22 PM

Our biggest emergency stockpile concern currently is water. We have about 10-15 gallons for our water cooler (I don't like our well water) to drink & wash in if need be (and if needed to be this week). What I am working on now is using the dehumidifier water to fill 5 gallon buckets (with a dash of bleach) to flush with. And perhaps some for washing with so we can keep the cooler water for only drinking. Perhaps Santa will bring us a generator too......

**Patty A** · 09-20-2008, 10:23 AM

I think a real important part of keeping a good stockpile is making sure you have an inventor sheet. It helps you keep track of what needs to be use, what has been used and what you have left. Its easy to do, just write what you have down and mark it off as it is used. Add it back to the store note to be replaced and then it goes to the back of the pile as it has the newest date. I also do one for my freezer and for personal goods like TP, shampoo, and toothpaste.

**WV_mom_of2** · 09-22-2008, 11:58 AM

I think everyone has their own idea of what stockpiling and being prepared means. I've been without power for nine long days before so being prepared to me is having EVERYTHING I need to get by for days or weeks without power. I have a generator. I have an outdoor firepit with cooking grate. I have a plan to haul water from the nearby creek if I have to, etc. To me being prepared is having a plan for every possible thing you can think of(where can I find water and how will I haul it? etc.)

I also have a canned food stockpile, a freezer stockpile, a hba stockpile, etc. I just know what we use, what we need and buy accordingly when items are on sale.

Like someone else, I only buy what I know we would eat. I don't do the dehydrated items because it's not something we eat and it might go to waste. Instead of dehydrated soups I buy canned, etc. I would either find some way to use them up before the expiration date or possibly donate them somewhere.

**itlw8** · 10-01-2008, 01:18 PM

I do not stockpile for an emergency but I keep a large pantry in the basement ( it has expanded with learning to shop sales with coupons) I have always done so because that is what my mom and her mom did though theirs was home canned food.

It is not there for an emergency but a way that I buy when I see great sales so I do not have to pay full price.. but incase of an emergency we would be fine for quite a while.

With the power outage last winter after the ice storm I have adjustded my thinking a bit and now make sure the flashlights have fresh batteries and to have a few extra and an extra bulb or 2

with our gas grill and extra tank we could cook for a long time with out even pulling out the camp stove... Boy Scout training has come in handy several times.