Pantries and Preparedness. Something is better than nothing!

One of the highlights of the week is the great letters I get! I am learning so much!  Some time ago Helen and I both watched a series on You Tube called War Time Farm. It was wonderful. It is a British series about England in the war and how they had food shortages, rationing and everyone had to work together to survive. It is really interesting and educational.
I know from my Nan's that they both lived through similar here as Australia had rationing also. We also had a "Dig for Victory" plan that encouraged everyone to grow everything they could and make the most of all produce that could be harvested anywhere.
Rations were pretty minimal.  I know here it was one egg per person per week for a long time. It is easy to look up what rations were  in your country. Mostly it was a little butter, some sugar, a small amount of meat and so on, down to soap rations. People supplemented these rations as best they could with home grown produce etc. Imagine the advantage of having a garden and chickens back then!

Now and then I wonder how people would go today? To begin with there would be a riot over the rations as people would start on individual dietary requirements, is this egg organic? was the chicken free range? and 101 other things. People have come a long way from just being grateful for something to eat.  While I understand preferences when things are ideal ,could people cope with just having to make do?

Conversations such as this led to a lovely email from Vicky which I thought I would share as she touches on the idea that something is better than nothing and it is better overall to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it!

Vicky herself recently experienced living near somewhere with civil unrest. Now apart from natural disasters, weather events and economic issues this is a reason to stay at home we haven't even talked about! But this it seems is becoming quite an issue for some of us. I have several ladies who have written that they fear riots and civil unrest generally and they are now a reality. This is also a time when you would need to stay home and wait it out. Anyway this is from Vicky...

"One of the things I wanted to touch on about stocking our pantries and living frugally is I think that a lot of people think it means going without. Although I have to say yes we do sacrifice to stay home and build our pantries I think some people think it means that you have nothing and go without everything. For new learners I tell them that is really not the case. I don't feel poverty stricken. It is about getting the most bang for your buck! And yes you can have really nice things, it is just a matter of waiting for the best price.  And even though I prepare I am not an obsessed loon I cook and we eat I just do it all on a budget and I have everything budgeted and if it is not in my budget for the month I do not get it. As I said before at first your pantry may look like a mish mash of things, but just a few things at a time and it starts falling into place and that is really all it takes is a few things at a time to start. You know my motto, It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it! One is better than none.

Since you are building your pantry and starting to prepare for whatever may occur let's assess what we may need. For example people talk about bugging out. I am staying right here unless forced so I don't need a bug out bag. If I had to I am confident I could throw things together in a timely fashion so bug out bags are not on my list. As to the main parts it is obviously food, water, being most important and then being able to cook have heat and light and protection.

 So when thinking about your pantry building and what you would like to have, store what you eat and eat what you store (I have had people tell me we only eat fresh, organic no processed foods etc, and I say good luck!) if you are looking at survival you have to compromise. Herein lies the some is better than none. For example if you like a pot of coffee if you could not get coffee would instant be worse than going without? Plus a lot of instant coffee is freeze dried so stores for years longer than regular. If we do happen to eat out which is not often I take sugar, salt and pepper packets home with me. I know what they retail(not expensive) for and all of it is factored into the cost of a meal. They go into my food storage. If I get a free sample of instant coffee or creamer it goes in there too. So could I not get or run out of coffee guess what lady will still be having a cup! And for free to boot!

Assessing the pantry: Do you need or have? These are just examples:

Do you have:

canned goods like vegetables, fruits, soups, broth and gravies

baking products like flours, yeast, boxed cake and brownie mixes, baking cocoa, baking powder and soda and cornstarch

fats like butter, vegetable oil, shortening, lard(which has a longer shelf life),olive oil

proteins like canned meats, tuna, peanut butter, beans, nuts(I keep dry roasted peanuts)

sweeteners like sugar, honey(neither ever expire), brown sugar, powdered sugar

pasta and rice maybe soup mixes

drink items like coffee, hot cocoa tea, chocolate milk mix, protein shakes(can serve a dual purpose), powdered juice mixes or juices and lots of water maybe a little wine or vodka if you like a nip or two.(I am not a drinker, but keep wine given as gifts) instant ice tea and coffee

assorted spices, bouillon, vinegars, flavored extracts, etc.

comfort foods like chocolate, popcorn ( I have lots of M&M's they store well and have many uses), fruit snacks or leathers, things like that 

disposables like paper plates, utensils, foil pans to bake in(in case water is an issue), aluminium foil

household items like toilet paper, hygiene products, garbage bags(sanitation is something to consider) matches or lighters, candles or lamps, batteries

medicines like cold and flu, aspirins, allergy meds or if you are on a prescription somehow getting ahead on those.

Also even just having a little if possible of powdered milk, powdered butter, powdered cheese(I have all of these, but would like) powdered sour cream and buttermilk

and of course anything we are able to can or dry ourselves.

Everyone has different amounts they will want or need, but this is how I see my pantry and know what I need to look for to stock. Since winter will be here before I know it I plan on restocking flour, butter, more canned broths and lots of cheeses when they are a great price. I use a lot of these items in the winter and other things I find at good prices will be for food storage."

Vicky also made a good point that I loved about space and priorities...

"I know a lot of people who say they don't have room to store food, but have 500 cookbooks or a collection of 10,000 stuffed animals. I had a lot of cookbooks and noticed that there were a select few I used a lot and the rest sat on the shelf, so I took a day and went through each one and pulled out the recipes I wanted to keep and put them in a folder and donated the rest of the cookbook. I then had room for a lot of canned goods."

I also did this with cook books. Most sat there while I used over and over a collection of favorites. And beyond that I go searching on Taste.com, Jamie Oliver or Doona Hay if I need a new recipe. If I find a great one I then copy it into my scrap book. In my kitchen this also saved a while shelf of room.

Next this very good point. As above, we may prefer a Latte with no fat milk and vanilla BUT in a crisis is some coffee better than NO coffee? Are will going to be grateful for powdered milk rather than no milk? and so on...  the next step is if I am cooking on the gas BBQ because the power is out am I willing to do easier things and will I need to make some compromises?

"And even though I cook a lot from scratch I still have "instant" foods that only require water to cook. Pancake mix, instant potatoes, gravy packets, ramen noodles, stuffing mixes etc. Under duress is not the time to have to cook from scratch and figure out how your going to manage it especially if it were to be a grid down situation."

Realistically it's like camping. You do not attempt lasagne from scratch while camping. You do easier stuff. It's about making the most of what you have and can do!

So something is usually going to be better than nothing. Compromises need to be made in not so perfect circumstances. Do not have nothing on hand! Vicky's patience was tested a few times...

"Seriously I really cannot help someone who "wants to build a pantry", but then every suggestion you give is answered we don't eat that or we can't have that or I can't afford foods. I admit to being totally at a loss with those people." lol 

It is true that we need to think in terms of plan B and plan C and no, they might not be as great as plan A but they are all better than having nothing.  I think a lot of people will just have nothing.  Or expect the government is coming to help or to be rescued somehow. But even just now around the world there are so many people wishing they had put away SOMETHING rather than nothing! The basics can look so wonderful when there is a need or shortage. The humble bar of soap became the most exciting thing ever during the war. As did butter or sugar. These basics are wonderful to have on hand. 

Thank you very much to Vicky for teaching me via "long distance learning!" Thank you for the message that we need to be realistic and sensible too. xxx

The flowers are from my current, winter and messy, garden.