For years I’ve made a practice of having the ability to feed my family and friends for many months if the need arises. I’m not suggesting that you must do the same, but I will say that a bit of advance preparation can make such a difference in how you face an emergency. The peace of mind in knowing your family will emerge from the storm unscathed can’t be beat.
Gardening
Don’t forget the benefits of gardening as part of your food storage plan. Some locations are warm enough to grow vegetables year-round, but for most of us, that’s not the case. Still, there’s a lot we can do to make our gardens productive longer each season and grow veggies that are known to be long keepers. Greenhouses and cold frames will extend the harvest season, and root cellars will hold veggies well into the deep part of winter. Don’t have a root cellar? There are ways to get around that potential limitation with alternate storage options.
An unheated garage or basement is great if it is a cool, dark, and relatively moisture-free area. The most common root vegetables for storing all winter include hard-skinned winter squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, onions, shallots, garlic, beets, turnips, and rutabagas. Carefully examine the vegetables you plan to save. You don’t want any blemishes to mar the skin, because those are the places where contaminants can sneak in and spoil the veggie.
Make a DIY garbage can “root cellar”: You can fashion a root cellar of sorts with nothing more than a metal garbage can, wood shavings, and some sweat equity. Locate an area that has a bit of a slope if possible, so rain flows away from the top of the can when it’s buried. Dig a hole a bit wider than the garbage can and only slightly shorter than the garbage can with the lid on. Set the garbage can into the hole and backfill with the soil around the sides of the can, sloping the dirt up at the sides to just the lip at the top of the garbage can.
Fill the can with your vegetables, beginning with a layer of wood shavings and then a layer of vegetables. Continue layering in this way until you run out of veggies or reach the top of the can, ending with a layer of wood shavings. Place the lid back on the can, making sure the lid is on tight. Place some straw or hay over the lid in a thick layer. Over that, place a piece of plywood or hard insulation; hold it in place with a weight of some kind (two or three large rocks will do the trick).
Where to Store It All
A well-stocked pantry that can supply a family’s needs for winter will take some serious space. Add in the space needed to store potable water, and you could easily double the area you’ll need. You may be lucky enough to have a large garage, basement, laundry room, underused bedroom (such as a guest or craft room), or outside insulated shed, but many of us are not so fortunate. Even so, there are ways to get around a perceived lack of space. But wherever you stash your food and other essentials, just make sure that they are well contained, with tight-fitting lids, because you don’t want to inadvertently “share” your food with unwanted bugs and critters. Especially if you live in a humid climate or—like me—live where the winters are wet—it’s a good idea to place a desiccant packet in each container. I get mine online, and the cost is minimal.
Squirrel away canned goods, bags of flour, boxed mixes, and so forth in plastic tubs with fitted lids under your beds. If there is limited space under a bed, long and shallow gift wrap tubs usually fit; lay your cans, boxes, and bags in the tub, on their sides if needed to still allow you to close the lid. Closets are another great area to store things: Gallon jugs of water can easily be stored along the side and back walls without getting in the way. An empty drawer or cabinet shelf can house even more food, and you can hide a few items in seldom-used equipment (think large pots and canners). A storage bench by the front or back door or an ottoman with a top that opens make good spots too. If your hallway is wide enough, you can place sturdy, decorative cubbies or baskets along one edge. A little bit here, a little bit there, and suddenly you have quite a stash built up. And don’t forget your walls! Adding some sturdy shelves can hold even more food.
Don’t wait for an emergency to use your stash of food and water. Use it! As you use up your food, buy replacements so you never run out, and when you do replace something, remember to rotate your stores—first in equals first out. That way you’ll never have to worry about freshness.
***
Essentials for Any Emergency.
The Homestead Winter Pantry, by Georgia Varozza, helps families prepare for the what-ifs of daily living and experience the peace and confidence that come with a well-prepared pantry. Wherever you live and whatever the event, chances are you will experience a situation where getting the food and supplies your family needs isn’t immediately possible. This book features several ways to prepare ahead of time by providing big-picture basics, an extensive list of food, medicine, and healthcare items, and tasty seasonal recipes that take advantage of what you have stored at home.
Learn more about the book and how to purchase here.
Leave a Reply