Basics of Storing Food

Storing Long-lasting Food and Water
for our Family

Obtaining food for a shorter amount of time, like 3 months, is referred to as a “Shelf Pantry Storage”. This can also be looked at like “insurance” for our family!

Our FOOD INSURANCE, so-to-speak

See main topic “Pantry Storage” for guidance in acquiring this.
I use my personal Shelf Pantry plan in order to give others an idea and to visualize what would be needed in acquiring their own personal plan.

Pantry Shelf Storage can be as simple as obtaining food in cans or boxes.
However, if we don’t already eat like that, then we might wonder how to obtain a Shelf Storage, thought of as a shorter term storage because the cans/boxes have about a 1-2 year shelf life, but would be eaten up from our day to day menus.
The main topic just mentioned “Pantry Storage” will assist in this.

The wisdom behind having even a one week’s food supply up to a 3 month’s food supply readily available on our shelves is to BE PREPARED for whatever situation may occur…being laid off from work, an illness that prevents us from working, a natural disaster, etc.

This should be OUR FIRST GROUND LAYING EFFORTS….focusing on getting “something” on our shelves so we can take care of our family in an emergency situation. This is very personal to tastes and preferences.
We can start by observing what we’re eating for meals and making notes and start in that manner.
Refer to “Pantry Storage” for more guidance, advice and helpful ideas.
After obtaining up to a 3 month SHELF STORAGE IN OUR PANTRY,
then we can start considering to store food, that is generally thought of as “putting away” and only being used in an emergency situation. This so-called LONG TERM FOOD is generally sealed in double enamel #10 cans (or pouches) that will last 25 years plus!

Look at “Understanding Church Websites” subtopic to guide us in where to purchase such long lasting foods!

I mentioned “generally thought of as putting away”….
We can also use this “long term” food in our everyday pantry.
A #10 can of of white rice or sugar or macaroni noodles obviously might be part of our day to day diet, so we might as well be using this right now. They come with plastic lids once they are opened.
By doing this, we help to rotate our stored long term food (and replenishing when necessary), but also are buying these foods in the most economically way possible.

So let’s get started:

First read over these 3 main topics on this website to get a “feel” for everything:
“Basics of Storing Food”, “Storage Needs”, and “Getting Started”

This will give us a fantastic background understanding, which will start answering our “Storing Food” questions! This will ease our minds and we will see how “do-able” and easy this “storing of food” actually is! Just one step at a time.

Paul of the Old Testament warned the saints “to prepare” in 1 Timothy 5:8….
“But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith…” and also in 6:19…. “Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come….”

We buy health and accident insurance “to prepare…in case”, but what about so-called “food insurance”?  We’ve seen the shelves empty out in half a day with a hurricane threat or other natural disaster depending on where we live. It is just plain foolish to not “plan for a rainy day” food-wise. 

The grocery stores are plentiful now, so it IS hard to get serious and take action now in our busy lives to get this done. But, IF such a day should come… how long might scarcity last? or financial/economic disaster last? 

But not to worry ~
Take baby steps one at a one and surely we will cross that finish line!

FIRST STEP is to just read through those first 3 topics mentioned above on the website.
This gets us “thinking” and getting familiar with this concept of putting food away for a rainy day!

NEXT STEP is to observe what we are eating on a day to day basis, and as budget allows, start acquiring a little more to keep on our shelves. We can stay right here for awhile, thinking and planning our Shelf Pantry Storage.

Then having read those first 3 topics and getting it “into our heads” we will be prepared now to CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD.
It’s really not a lot to learn at all, just getting familiar with some things. It’s really quite simple. Involve the children and family in your efforts. You’re not alone in this and everyone can participate. Throw change into a big mason jar on the table for your own “food bank” etc.

It’ll all be OK and you will be greatly blessed for any and all efforts!
At least you don’t have to wander through countless information and websites in doing this.
I have developed this website to take the guess work out and have provided step by step guidance in this endeavor.

BEST OF LUCK!