My Stockpile's First Photos

**greekislandgirl** · 11-01-2011, 05:14 AM

I started my stockpile in mid-July and now it's November 1, so I thought it was a good time to get it all out and inventory it. I decided to photograph it because I do think it helps to see it all out and it actually showed me that I had a lot less than I thought I did. My storage is very deep so it doesn't show very much. My focus has been on non-perishable food and I did this on a severe budget and in a hurry because of inflation.

I couldn't figure out how to get captions on the photos so here's a description of what is there, more or less. I know the brands and packaging are totally unfamiliar to you all.

#1: pasta: whole wheat spaghetti, spaghettini, penne, fusilli. white orzo, penne, shells, lasagne, fettucine, rigatoni, 3 kinds of Greek traditional pasta, macaroni.

#2: rice (whole grain, white, and parboiled), oats, bread, tortillas, breadsticks

#3: black eyed peas, chickpeas, large lentils, small lentils, cranberry beans, yellow split peas, navy beans

#4: cans: sour cherries, pineapple, sardines in water, kidney beans, corn, whole jalapenos, tomato paste, whole tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce. In front in bags: sundried tomatoes from my mom's garden.

#5: jars: olives, olive oil, ginger juice, soy sauce, mild tabasco, regular tabasco, horseradish, hazelnut praline, PB2 peanut butter powder, mayo, dijon mustard, worcestershire sauce, rice vinegar, red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, apple vinegar, balsamic vinegar, basil pesto, pesto concentrate, chicken bouillon, beef bouillon, peanut oil, pickles, grape leaves.

#6: beverages: Hemo chocolate milk mix (DH's breakfast every morning!), plain soda water, coffee, decaf coffee, tea bags, herbal tea, decaf instant coffee, red wine

#7: baking (plus whatever I forgot to put elsewhere): all purpose flour (about 30 lbs), durum flour, cornmeal, semolina, unground wheat, white granulated sugar, dark brown sugar, powdered sugar, table salt, flake salt, honey, baking powder, baking soda, yeast, coconut, raisins, crystallized ginger, lime powder, corn starch, dried blueberries, unsweetened dutched cocoa, molasses, sweetened figs, white chocolate, dark chocolate, olive paste.

#8: paper/cleaning: paper towel, tissues (regular and pocket packs), TP, kitchen sponges, glass stove sponges, sponge cloths, Swiffer cloths, dishwashing liquid, dishwasher detergent, laundry detergent, fabric softener, color catchers, washing machine cleaning tablets, steel wool pads, gloves, brita filters, wax paper, paper napkins for guests, mop heads, coffee filters, butane gas.

#9: flavorings: extracts (about 10 different kinds), spices, seeds, and herbs. Most of my spice/herb collection is not in the photo because it's in use, not in the stockpile. This is the "extras".

I also have a freezer stockpile... forgot all about that... but it's not much.

I only have one of most cleaning supplies and I keep them in my cleaning cabinet and I forgot to photograph them (and they're not really stockpile anyway) but I do have a big bottle each of bleach, glass cleaner, stain remover, etc.

I also was too tired after carrying all this stuff around the house and putting it all away to do the HBA stockpile. I'll add that when I get a second wind! It's not huge by most people's standards but it's heavy and I'm tired!

So all this stuff is for two adults. It probably doesn't look like much to some of you but I have run out of storage space for it so there's that. I'll find more space of course.

**ladytoysdream** · 11-01-2011, 06:07 AM

I think you did excellent

I made a master list this weekend of what I have in 3 cupboard areas. Good thing I did, so I now know what to concentrate on when I see it on sale. I am going to transfer that info into something on the computer and print it off. Hopefully then I can subtract as I pull something out to use. That's the plan anyways

**greekislandgirl** · 11-01-2011, 06:18 AM

Ladytoysdream, if you can do it and keep it up, that's awesome! I tried to do something along those lines with a notebook, honestly I did, but I got behind in it, and then it became overwhelming/confusing to get it going again. I was able to do it last year when my stockpile was MUCH smaller than it is now. I really want a good running inventory so I don't have to pull it all out every few months and count everything.

**wanderlusting** · 11-01-2011, 06:22 AM

that's a great start!

**ladytoysdream** · 11-01-2011, 07:01 AM

Originally Posted by greekislandgirl

Ladytoysdream, if you can do it and keep it up, that's awesome! I tried to do something along those lines with a notebook, honestly I did, but I got behind in it, and then it became overwhelming/confusing to get it going again. I was able to do it last year when my stockpile was MUCH smaller than it is now. I really want a good running inventory so I don't have to pull it all out every few months and count everything.

Well the written plan and actually keeping it going, may not work out in the long run. But I figure it's worth a try

Right now with a snug budget and these terrible high grocery prices, I need to stockpile what is actually needed. Not buy more stuff I already have in good numbers. I was low on coffee, so bought 3 more yesterday, on sale. I was thinking about getting peanut butter, but have more than I thought for already. I really wanted to buy some cans of kidney beans, but I know how many bags of dry beans I already have here. Plus the current price is really turning me off. Plan is to pressure can some quarts sometime soon. Yes I also have a pressure cooker but I don't like doing one batch at a time.

I need that second list made on the computer. I used the back side of my master list for my shopping list. I thought I lost it a couple of times yesterday when I was grocery shopping. That's way too much information to misplace

**greekislandgirl** · 11-01-2011, 07:17 AM

I love how easy canned kidney beans are, but I much prefer the taste of dried kidney beans. Unfortunately for me, they only sell dry kidney beans in the really expensive organic brand name, so I don't have any. But I love having the canned ones on hand, they've saved me so many times!

I am going to try to keep up with my inventory this time. I updated my old pantry inventory notebook, and I'm going to renew my effort. I do think it's important to keep it updated. I had abandoned the inventory and was just keeping the price list section updated (which is REALLY important!).

So... I decided I was going to photograph the HBA stockpile, so I started lining up all the deodorants and cotton swabs and dental floss... and then DH came home!! I felt like I got caught with a spoon in a quart of ice cream LOL!! I was so embarrassed, but I pretended that I was just reorganizing the cabinet instead of actually photographing my deodorant to publish on the internet hahaha! He knows I am in love with stockpiling but I don't think he realizes it's reached this stage!

**Palooka** · 11-01-2011, 09:46 PM

LoL, that's funny about DH coming home in the middle of it. I think you're doing great and I want more pasta in my stock. Thanks for sharing.

**NicJean** · 11-01-2011, 10:24 PM

I've tried many inventories, but what works best for me is a small 4x4 inch notebook. In a separate place I have "shelf stable dinner recipes". My notebook includes the different ingredients, what price I paid last time I bought them, and how many I need to make the recipe a certain number of times (followed by a N), as well as the # I have on hand (followed by a number H). Although I am okay about recording purchases, I still take a thorough inventory about every three or four months, to make sure everything is up to date, and that I am actually using what I "planned on" using. I usually find an ingredient or two put on the wrong shelf, or some things I need to use up soon (date-wise). It's an ever evolving system for me.

**Debbie-cat** · 11-01-2011, 10:28 PM

I think you have a really good start going there! Funny about feeling like you were being naughty when your DH came home.

**NikoSan999** · 11-09-2011, 09:06 PM

You're doing great! It sounds like it's a pretty good size. Pix are great

**cheles2kids** · 11-12-2011, 07:38 PM

Okay this is what a well-rounded stockpile should look like.

While I'm all for stocking lots of beans/rice...a person can only eat them for so many days before get tired of them.
I love that you've even covered the spices/flavorings...and such a variety! What an AWESOME job!

As far as it not looking like alot, I think it looks like plenty, especially for two people & another thing that I would like to add is that I didn't see alot of 'convenience' foods, you have mostly "REAL" food, which to me is a much better choice to stock.
Having more real foods & knowing how to prepare them is a much smarter choice than alot of canned 'junk'.

Loved the pictures!

**oheoh's momma** · 11-12-2011, 08:36 PM

That is excellent and it is a very good start mine is little heavy on baking goods right now cuz of the holidays..hugs pen

**valerian** · 11-13-2011, 10:55 AM

Looks like a great start! I love how bright and sunny your pics are...must be all of that Greek sunshine!

**Libby** · 11-13-2011, 04:05 PM

Your stockpile looks great! Love how you displayed it across your dining table.

Questions I had when I read your list: What are cranberry beans? And what do you use ginger juice lime powder for/in?

**greekislandgirl** · 11-13-2011, 04:24 PM

Cranberry beans are like navy beans but spotted... they are used in pretty much the same way.

Ginger juice is for making ginger ale. It's also good in Asian stirfries.

Lime powder is for lime flavor in baking. It replaces lime juice or lime extract. (Limes are really expensive here and I like having the powder on hand so I don't have limes going bad if I don't need them for a while.)