Buy wheat, beans, rice, etc. in bulk and package it yourself in food grade bucketw with mylar liners and oxygen absorbers. By far the cheapest way to get the food and you know exactly what you are storing. The wheat and beans stored this way will last at least 30 years and the white rice 15. Sam's carries white rice in 50 lbs bags for like $19. Can't beat that.
I don't know what part of the state you are in, but in Shipshewanna up by South Bend there is a store called E&S Sales that is like an Amish grocery store. If you buy more than 200 lbs you can get in their wholesale program and its like way cheap. I made a trip up there last march and came back with an enclosed trailer full of assorted goodies and it ended up being less than 50 cents a pound.
Stage 5-is a renewable meat source such as rabbits and chicken, knowing how to hunt and can your meat, and if you got the land a few cows or goats.
you can starve to death eating just rabbit lol dont waste your time
The best food for LTS is what you know you and your family will eat.
If you are new to prepping. I would start with the canned goods you already purchase for consumption. Stock up on those and do a shelf life rotation. New in the back, and oldest on the plate.
The freeze dried "meal in a " can or pouch are very convenient, just add hot water. But, they are expensive per serving. Lots of brands you can get samples of or find in single serving pouches. Buy some and try them for yourselves.
I personally think bulk staples is the best way to go.
Like buckets of
Home canned or dehydrated
- Rice
- Wheat
- Beans
Plus lots of salt and bulk multivitamins.
- Meats
- Vegetables
- Cheese / Dairy
- Spices and seasonings
Just be sure whatever route you go. That it is something you and your family will eat. Short term its stocking things they will eat. And for the longer term work on getting them to eat things that you can store. LTS is as much lifestyle as it is storage.
Why would it be a waste of time if it is just an addition to your other supplies and you get plenty of other fats, since they multiply quickly? Is there something I haven't read about rabits?
So do you can or dehydrate your cheese? I really enjoy cheese but do not want to pay for all the freeze dried cheese if I can help it.
I ordered my bags and absorbers from Amazon. I think it was $23 for 60 3.5mil bags and 60 300cc absorbers. You will obviously want a thicker bag when storing sharper items. I put 5 pounds of rice in each 1 gallon bag, and used 1 absorber for each bag. After pushing most of the air out, and then sealing it, the absorber basically vacuum sealed the bag (which I was told isn't supposed to happen, but oh well).I know many of you store with mylar and buckets. I have found a supply of buckets. Can anyone point me to place to buy mylar and O2 asorbers at a fair price for good quality? What size bags? What thickness? How many O2 absorbers in each unit?
Thanks