Stockpiling do's and don'ts

**WV_mom_of2** · 03-31-2009, 01:40 PM

I know alot of people have questions about stockpiling. So how about if we post some of our favorite do's and don'ts for stockpiling? It might help someone get started!

My biggest DO is to have a plan! Here is how I plan my stockpile......

1. WHY do you want to stockpile? Are you stockpiling for a weather emergency and for just a few days? Do you foresee a job loss or layoff and need to stockpile for a few months? Do you think something really extreme will happen like Y2K and want to be prepared for a year or more? Knowing WHY you are stockpiling leads to how much to stockpile.

2. WHERE will you store your stockpile? How will you keep it rotated and fresh?

3. WHAT will you need to use your stockpile? Do you have a hand operated can opener? Do you have a cooking source if the electric/gas is off? Do you have a gas or charcoal grill? Can you build a fire outside and cook? What will you need for this? Extra gas, charcoal, matches, etc.

4. WHAT will you buy for your stockpile? I made a list of all the meals we eat on a regular basis. Then a list of ingredients to make each meal. My goal is for us to be happy! If we have to live off my stockpile I want to be able to cook foods we like and that will keep us well fed, but happy! I refuse to stock up on foods that noone likes just because I can get them cheap or free! Don't forget to add some treats into that stockpile! Will you only stockpile foods or will you stockpile hba, paper goods, pet foods,etc.

5. HOW will you get this stockpile? Will you take an amount out of savings and just go buy it? Will you use your tax refund? Will you buy it slowly, over time using a set amount each week/month? Will you build it up using only coupons and sales?

Then don't forget to rotate that stockpile so it doesn't spoil!

**LastDragonfly** · 03-31-2009, 01:51 PM

Sherri,

You've got some great starters.

I will add:

How will you protect your stockpile? No not guns n stuff, but from, insects such as ants or weevils? Rodents?

and not to mention children/spouses/ friends

It never fails, I show up with capri sun to add to the stockpile and wow the kids will drink it in a week....dh will snag cookies (so I don't even stockpile them anymore...if he eats 1--he'll eat 7)

I've also learned that my pantry is VERY HOT in the summer and nice and cool in the winter...I used to think it was because my water heater is in there...not so....it faces w/sw....and is the outside wall of our house...therefore it's really hot in there...I'm thinking about putting a little fan in there this summer just to keep it from being 89 all summer. It really doesnt cool off until November.

I am also in the process of repackaging some food that "could" get weevils. I hope to finish that job by June. It's rather time consuming.

I would also suggest an initial inventory...I wish I would have done this when I first started...it would have saved so much time.

I cant wait to see what you all suggest...I always learn something from everyone.

**mauimagic** · 03-31-2009, 02:02 PM

My DH does not believe in stockpiling beyond our small pantry - process should be discussed with family. It can be worked out - I stockpile canned goods and other items like tp and pt in my sewing room. It works for me and doesn't bother him!! Need to find out what works best for all.

**Pemberleyan** · 03-31-2009, 02:13 PM

I have only just begun, so to speak, and I am not very organized -- I don't have an inventory yet. One of my biggest concerns is not wasting any of it. I have begun stockpiling because I think we are in for very bad times and it will only cost more later and food may become scarce. I won't be stockpiling a large quantity of things which will become rancid, like peanut butter and oil.

For stockpiling I am using some freezer space, some home-canning, and putting things in the air-tight food-safe buckets.

So far I am trying to stock basic things that have long shelf lives, in bulk, like wheat, sugar, salt, soda, popcorn (which can be made into corn meal), vinegar, canned meat and tuna, dry beans, canned vegetables and fruit.

I am also stocking things which would be difficult to do without if we were without electricity, like matches and candles.

I have begun dehydrating things like onions. When I find a great sale, say on spaghetti sauce, I buy a lot of it. When someone gives me a lot of pecans, say, or venison, I freeze it.

**knotme** · 03-31-2009, 02:30 PM

Store what you eat, then eat what you store..... rotate, rotate, rotate.

No use storing something that No one will eat, even if it is a great deal. (a BIL of mine will buy "all this great stuff" free with coupons etc, but he won't eat it and expects others in the family to eat it , just because he got a great deal on it.) It is a waste of time and money and shelf space to store things no one will use

**Spirit Deer** · 03-31-2009, 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by Penascodragonfly

I've also learned that my pantry is VERY HOT in the summer and nice and cool in the winter...I used to think it was because my water heater is in there...not so....it faces w/sw....and is the outside wall of our house.

I'm assuming you don't have shade in that area.

I've hung shade cloth (available from some garden stores) from hooks under the eaves outside and it makes a world of difference in solar heat gain. The shade can be taken down in the winter. This would save the cost of running a fan.

If the space adjacent to the pantry is air conditioned, it would be helpful to leave the pantry door open, too.

**WV_mom_of2** · 03-31-2009, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by Pemberleyan

I have only just begun, so to speak, and I am not very organized -- I don't have an inventory yet. One of my biggest concerns is not wasting any of it. I have begun stockpiling because I think we are in for very bad times and it will only cost more later and food may become scarce. I won't be stockpiling a large quantity of things which will become rancid, like peanut butter and oil.

For stockpiling I am using some freezer space, some home-canning, and putting things in the air-tight food-safe buckets.

So far I am trying to stock basic things that have long shelf lives, in bulk, like wheat, sugar, salt, soda, popcorn (which can be made into corn meal), vinegar, canned meat and tuna, dry beans, canned vegetables and fruit.

I am also stocking things which would be difficult to do without if we were without electricity, like matches and candles.

I have begun dehydrating things like onions. When I find a great sale, say on spaghetti sauce, I buy a lot of it. When someone gives me a lot of pecans, say, or venison, I freeze it.

One of the great things about only stocking what your family will use is that you have no waste! We use from my stockpile constantly and I replace with sales. The newest goes in the back and we use from the oldest!

**LastDragonfly** · 03-31-2009, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by Spirit Deer

I'm assuming you don't have shade in that area.

I've hung shade cloth (available from some garden stores) from hooks under the eaves outside and it makes a world of difference in solar heat gain. The shade can be taken down in the winter. This would save the cost of running a fan.

If the space adjacent to the pantry is air conditioned, it would be helpful to leave the pantry door open, too.

Nope no trees. My landlord wouldnt let us hang anything out in the front yard. The only adjacent space to my pantry is the fireplace...Our kitchen is "open" and has all south facing windows (which are covered with shade cloth) and one west facing window...it's just in an inconvenient place...The landlord added on to this house about 10 years ago....(you can tell a man planned....the pantry is all the way across the kitchen) I do however hang up damp clothes in there and they dry quickly.

**WV_mom_of2** · 03-31-2009, 03:00 PM

Originally Posted by Penascodragonfly

Sherri,

You've got some great starters.

I will add:

How will you protect your stockpile? No not guns n stuff, but from, insects such as ants or weevils? Rodents?

and not to mention children/spouses/ friends

It never fails, I show up with capri sun to add to the stockpile and wow the kids will drink it in a week....dh will snag cookies (so I don't even stockpile them anymore...if he eats 1--he'll eat 7)

I've also learned that my pantry is VERY HOT in the summer and nice and cool in the winter...I used to think it was because my water heater is in there...not so....it faces w/sw....and is the outside wall of our house...therefore it's really hot in there...I'm thinking about putting a little fan in there this summer just to keep it from being 89 all summer. It really doesnt cool off until November.

I am also in the process of repackaging some food that "could" get weevils. I hope to finish that job by June. It's rather time consuming.

I would also suggest an initial inventory...I wish I would have done this when I first started...it would have saved so much time.

I cant wait to see what you all suggest...I always learn something from everyone.

LOL I am prepared to protect my stockpile from rodents and neighbors! I keep my flour in the freezer. I put anything that comes in a box and isn't also sealed in a bag inside that box in ziploc bags (pasta, rice a roni). Once things are opened, they go into ziplocs(cereal, crackers, brown sugar, etc.)

I protect from dh and the kids by hiding certain things. I have large rubbermaid tubs in a corner in my bedroom and anything I don't want them to attack goes in there. Noone messes in them but me so I don't have to worry about it. I also have the rule that noone eats or drinks things without asking. If my kids want a Capri Sun they have to ask. This keeps them from pigging out on junk before a meal and from depleting the stockpile LOL.

**Pemberleyan** · 03-31-2009, 05:08 PM

I forgot to add that when I find things on sale like shampoo or when I buy dishwashing liquid, I stock up and have a place in the basement for anything that can't be bothered by humidity.

WV_Mom_of_2, I am planning on replenishing the pantry from the under-bed stash first, so that should help me rotate.

**Cricketlegs** · 03-31-2009, 08:50 PM

When I do inventory I enter the amount of each food I have in my stockpile book. When I shop I add how many of each item I buy beside the number and add them and place the new number in the book.

Fast and easy.

Also, one each line I have for each food item I have the price of the item so I can tell at a glance what is happening with prices and fix what needs to be fixed as I shop.

Then when I get home all I need to do is mark the food with a sharpie and put it in its proper place and walk away.

Another thing, I don't buy grab it foods much because my family will grab grab grab!

**2ndGenGranola** · 04-01-2009, 08:38 AM

Keep it simple!

-- Rather than buying single use type items (enchilada sauce, spaghetti sauce) that take up space and don't really save time, buy spices and tomato sauce that can be combined in multiple applications. The powdered milk, flour and butter/oil can take the place of the cream of soups. Tape the quick recipes to the pantry or cabinet wall until you have learned them. If you learn a few simple ingredient/spice combos, you will save space and money.

**Luv2BeFrugal** · 04-02-2009, 05:12 PM

Great tips! I've been actively working on building up our stockpile in a major way. I'm concerned about supply and distribution issues with our economy the way it is...wouldn't be surprised if things get quite a bit worse than they are now.

And, it's great to stockpile it all, but if you can't protect it - it just makes you a target (if anyone knows about it and times get very bad). So, we're all about the guns and ammo, too.

**Tai** · 05-13-2009, 11:32 AM

Do: have ingredients rather than "products". I have dried beans, which can become refried, baked beans, or used in beans and rice. I don't stock "specialized" stuff, like the canned refried beans or baked beans (I'll keep one or two cans around for 'quicky meals' but they're not on the stock-up list). I want to have at least 2-3 directions I can go in with an ingredient if I'm going to have a stockpile of it.

Do: protect it. I repackage the rice, beans, and cornmeal into clean 2L bottles, then store in the cabinets. Protected from pests, and they're not "visible" to visitors. My "visible" stockpile is cereal, cake mixes, and basic pantry items- but I have 30# of various types of rice, 15# of cornmeal, and 40# of beans, peas, and lentils in the "not obvious" storage. Someone visiting would think that we eat a lot of cake and cereal, would see the 1/2 full "current use" containers of rice, and probably won't make the mental note of "these people have lots of food".

**justpeachy92** · 05-13-2009, 12:11 PM

Another way to hide treats is in the freezer. If I get a good deal on chocolate chips, I wrap the bag in foil, and write on it that it contains brussel sprouts or some other vegie. After almost 16 years of being married my husband still hasn't figured out that I don't put vegies in the chest freezer. I put those and bread in the freezer above the fridge.