There are plenty of foods designed and processed for long-term storage. But what about everyday foods from the grocery store? Anyone prepping for a catastrophic event is thinking about long-term survival foods. These are foods manufactured, processed, and packaged in a way that makes them shelf-stable for up to 20 or 30 years. They’re good … [Read more...]
27 Foods That Last For Decades
If you're stockpiling emergency foods, hopefully you have a system for rotating that food. My husband and I have a room with metal shelving units sticking out from the wall, so it's easy to pull old cans and boxes of food from one side while putting foods we just bought on the other side. There are some foods, however, for which our system is a … [Read more...]
Dutch Oven Cooking: The Complete Guide for Beginners
There are articles all over the Internet about the new kitchen gadgets you "absolutely must have in your kitchen". Unfortunately, the vast majority of these gadgets are single-use appliances and are cheaply made. If you’re serious about cooking delicious meals from scratch, you don’t need the latest plastic gizmo. You need a few quality kitchen … [Read more...]
5 Off Grid Kitchen Gadgets You Need
Setting up an off-grid kitchen is easier said than done. Most rely on electricity and electronics more than they realize (ovens, blenders, mixers, timers, and so forth). But with the right tools, you can do you everything you would do with an "on-grid" kitchen. In this video, Stacy from Off Grid with Doug & Stacy shares five of her favorite … [Read more...]
Diatomaceous Earth: The Miracle Mineral With Dozens of Uses
So what exactly is diatomaceous earth (DE)? Well, it's the fossilized remains of small aquatic organisms that are usually found in the bottom of rivers, oceans, and lakes. These little organisms are called Diatoms. To create DE, these Diatoms are ground up to create a smooth food grade powder that is easy to use in a multitude of ways, from skin … [Read more...]
18 Strange Meals People Ate During the Great Depression
The great depression brought out both the resiliency and ingenuity of literally millions of people. With few options, people had to make do with what was on hand. Clothes were sewn with spare flour sacks and shoes repaired with cardboard. Food, however, is where things got really interesting. Some foods were still plentiful and reasonably … [Read more...]
Why You Should Store Wheat Berries Instead of Flour
There is a debate among homesteaders about which form you should store your wheat in - whole berries or ground flour. One camp touts the many uses of raw berries while the other side praises the immediate use of the prepared flour. So which is better? There is no real right answer. As with so many other things in life, it comes down to your … [Read more...]
7 Ways to Bake Without an Oven
Play with your food! It’s time to start experimenting with different baking methods that don’t require a traditional oven! That means getting your hands messy, buying some new toys, and deep diving into some YouTube videos... for science. Remember, bread making and primitive baking go back centuries before electricity was even invented. We don’t … [Read more...]
Farming Insects for Easy Superfood Nutrition and Livestock Feed
Modern western culture may irrationally view eating insects as a disgusting idea, but insects are an extremely abundant source of high quality calories and nutrients, and humans have been feasting on these high protein superfood creepy crawlies since our species emerged. These days, eating insects is called “entomophagy” and can refer to the … [Read more...]
9 Ways to Preserve Dairy for Long-Term Storage
Keeping your "perishables" from perishing can be tricky. Most chickens don't produce eggs all year, and homestead cows go through dry periods. How do you make sure you have enough milk, eggs, butter, and cheese to keep your family eating well all year round? Here are 9 methods... 1. Freezing Freezing is a dependable way of extending shelf … [Read more...]
4 Ways to Collect Water When Living Off the Grid
Amidst the chaos of phones that recognize your face, smart homes that recognize your voice, and drones that make you feel like eyes are everywhere, there is a rebellion that is cutting the cord. As the power of technology intrudes on our sapien lives, it would seem only rational that some would turn and run. When I look at the swelling movements … [Read more...]
14 Foods You Shouldn’t Store for More Than a Year
When you are setting up a survival pantry, you want to choose foods that will last. Stored properly, many foods – such as beans, pasta, and white rice – can last indefinitely without refrigeration. Other foods, however, can spoil or lose their taste in less than a year. Here are 14 foods that do not store well for more than 12 months. Since many … [Read more...]
2 Ways to Make Tasty Homemade Pickles
If you like pickles, making your own can be a fun and healthy way of preserving the abundance of your summer harvests. Pickles are a useful preservation method for a multitude of different veggies. While canned pickles usually rely on vinegar, brine, and heat for preservation, there is also a way to naturally ferment most veggies, and even some … [Read more...]
27 Essential Spices That Should Be In Every Kitchen
Whether you're stockpiling food or just organizing your first kitchen, be sure to include lots of spices on your list of necessities. By having the following essentials on hand, you'll already have all the spices you need for almost any meal. And in addition to being able to flavor your food, you'll also be able to heal many ailments. First, you … [Read more...]
25 Items to Stock From Sam’s Club
There are plenty of great emergency foods and supplies you can buy online, but if you want to stock up without spending more money than necessary, your best bet is to get a membership to Sam's Club (or Costco). It costs about $50 a year, but you'll save so much money buying things in bulk that it's more than worth it. Sam's Club doesn't have … [Read more...]
6 Ways to Dehydrate Food Without Electricity
Dehydrating foods is one of the oldest methods of preservation, and it was practiced by people around the world long before the advent of electricity. When water is removed from food, the bacteria that cause spoilage cannot grow and multiply, which means that dehydrated foods are shelf stable for extended periods. Any modern electric food … [Read more...]
