Economic Collapse / Food Storage

[Castle]

Hi everyone!

I joined up here a while back, but haven't been on here lately, just because of keeping busy with life. I'll give you a bit of a background, and I'll try not to make it too wordy.

I'm a married 35 year old father, live in the waterloo region. For the past 10 years or so, I've had an avid interest in reading about and studying politics and history, as much as I can get my hands on.

Some people may dismiss me completely, and that's fine, I hold no ill will or bear no grudge. But for those of you who have a feeling that something is terribly wrong in the world right now, or believe as I honestly do....that the world is pretty much on the brink of a global collapse which will send the entire planet into chaos, well, let's talk.

I think we are about to see another depression, but this one will be global, and will probably surpass the great depression. Having a few months food supply may not last the entire duration (however long or whatever the outcome may be), but having some food storage is better than no food storage.

We already see prices going up seemingly weekly on grocery bills, and I think it will only get worse. I want to get my family as independent and self-sustaining as I can. When people get scared and hungry, people get stupid, and will usually follow any voice (no matter whose voice that may be) that promises them safety.

I'm not here to argue with or convince anyone, if you want to discuss this further, I'm open to that, if you think I'm a crackpot, that's fine too, but I'm basically here just wanting to discuss food storage plans & preparations. I'm looking for ideas / charts, anything helpful for successful food storage. I figure that I have maybe a one month supply right now, but ideally I'd like to take it up to either a 3 or 6 month supply.

I'd like to try and find a community of people who are interested in the same thing.

Thanks!

[Tantum]

While I may not agree with your end of the world type predictions, I do agree that everyone should be well prepared with an emergency food storage. You never know what's waiting for you around the corner, be it a family emergency or a situation where one is laid off. I've been there one too many times myself and learnt the hard way.

I was raised in the LDS faith, where things like emergency storage and family preparedness are taught and reviewed starting at a very young age. If you're looking for information and how to's, you'll find a lot of very useful information on their websites

[Valiant]

For lots of support in getting your finances in order, and frugal living, preparedness and survival:

www.frugalvillage.com

[ame555]

I agree somewhat with you, I remember reading a long time we've actually been in a recession for years (pre-2008) and we would actually be in a depression right now if credit wasn't so easily available.

I grew up in a house and grandparents who came as very poor immigrants and having a food stockpile with the norm...(ie. canned all their veggies from the gardent for winter, tons of flour to make bread etc - they could have easily gone 6 months without food!)

But having said that, a depression today is going to b different then the 1930s...a lot of people have a lot of non necessities - cell phone, cable, a car, 10 pairs of shoes, etc, etc etc.

[DaveP]

Canada is in an interesting position globally in that we are energy and food self-sufficient. If the rest of the world vanished we'd still be able to feed ourselves and keep the heat and lights on. Unfortunately, in the event of a global economic collapse the rest of the world will not disappear and what happens to us when an economically and societally ravaged U.S. decides to eye us as a tasty morsel?

[AmberLab]

Fascinating subject. I haven't got a stockpile of any means. Just enough for a few weeks, like most. I was watching the Red Cross commercial the other day (I think it was CRC) and it was a storage bin full of emergency supplies. I thought to myself, I have two under-bed storage bins for my sons (for keepsakes or to stash future gifts). Why don't I have a bin like that for an emergency too? I should.

I was reading a blog the other day, a mom has a backpack filled with 72 hours of supplies for each family member. Those backpacks were thorough and stuffed. If I ever got that organized!

[avoncallingu]

I can remember getting things together for a possible issue when the millenium changed. All my friends and family laughed but then we had that electricity outage in August 2003 I felt more prepared than others but I admit, I have become complacent.

I have jokingly said to my husband - well at least we can grow veggies and raise chickens. That may not be a big joke!<

Look at all the many weather emergencies that catch people unprepared. I`m making myself nervous. We have no real storage space in our home and I know my dh would not be too thrilled about turning a bedroom into a food storage area!

I just saw a news program predicting that any Peanut product (like peanutbutter) will quadruple in price due to a bad peanut crop - so one easy product containing protein will be as expensive or more than meat. Current stocks of peanutbutteer should not be affected - so stock up, if you use it.

[lekate]

The world is definitely heading for a collapse, the way our food system works is not sustainable, I hope to be more independent when I've moved out/have my own house when it comes to growing veggies and what not.

There's sooo much unrest in the world, there's too many people, not enough jobs, we're so unkind to animals and the Earth as a whole....

I went to school for political science but have become obsessed with food systems and how "Big Food" works. So deceiving... I'd prefer to buy all local and whole foods, none of that prepared garbage...

[RobynCD]

I am currently working on building my family 72hr Emergency Kits...after that it will be a kit for the car, grab-and-go kit, and some long term food storage. I think the biggest thing though is to learn to be self-sufficient. Learn how to bake bread from scratch, learn basic home repairs, how to sew and repair clothing, how to grow (and yes kill...) your own food. I have been doing a lot of research on LDS websites and blogs...lots of great info.
I agree with you that we are teetering on the brink of something...whether it is economic or political collapse, or something environmental...even a natural disaster. Better safe than sorry!

[Darth Penguin]

I can remember getting things together for a possible issue when the millenium changed. All my friends and family laughed but then we had that electricity outage in August 2003 I felt more prepared than others but I admit, I have become complacent.

Of course us peeps in Qc were totally unaffected since we weren't linked into the US grid. My InLaws kept driving over to Gatineau for thier essentials.

[Lynn49]

Interesting subject, but I'm wondering where our OP is and why he hasn't taken part in this discussion he started...

Personally I'm a bit of a Pollyanna (as a former prof sweetly called me) when it comes to global collapse, but I do agree that having some provisions in case of natural disasters, power outages is wise. Did I read somewhere that one could live on cans of beans, since they can be eaten straight out of the cans, and drink water and survive quite nicely? With a can opener, of course. I don't know why that stayed with me...

[Castle]

Interesting subject, but I'm wondering where our OP is and why he hasn't taken part in this discussion he started

Been busy with my family this weekend! Sorry

Thanks for all the feedback. Like I said, I have maybe a months or so supply, I try and cycle all of the stuff, newer items to the back, older ones at the front.

When I started to do this kind of thing I went about it the wrong way and went out and bought a whole bunch of stuff at one time which means it would all expire at the same time. I also bought things without thinking it through, now I have about 10 cans on my shelf of something we rarely eat! Now, I try and buy just a few extra items a week here and there, nothing crazy, maybe an extra bag of flour or sugar, or 3 or 4 extra canned items a week. Nothing to break the bank, but at the same time, it will grow my food supply weekly.

The only thing that I do buy a lot of, is when something goes on sale for a really good price (which my family uses consistently), I'll go and buy 10 or 12 of whatever that product may be. I don't think that's necessarily a food storage thing as much of just good money management.

I just look back maybe a generation or so ago, and they didn't have 24 hour grocery stores, things like that. Grandparents did canning and jarred food. You don't have to go back far in history for that kind of thing. I've had people look at me like I'm crazy when I tell them what I do, but I am more and more thinking that it's more crazy NOT to have some type of storage.

I've just read too many accounts in history of people who weren't prepared when something bad happened, which no one ever expected to happen. If I'm right, then I've got some extra supplies that I can hopefully support my family with, and help others with too, if I'm wrong, then I'm a guy with some extra food in my basement and some people think I'm weird. I think I'll go with the first.

[ame555]

I'm not sure if this is true or not, but I remember hearing but in Ottawa when all the "war time" home were built they were all on these HUGE lots and the purpose was the wanted every soldier and family to be able to grow all their own produce should another depression come.

[DiamondLil]

I agree with you, I only buy cases of food (when its on sale) if its food that my family consumes on a regular basis... its just throwing away money if its something you or your family never eats.

What I really would love to have is a wood burning stove. I find those are the handiest things to have around in the winter months (as a source of heat plus a stove to cook with). If something should happen (winter storms or hurricanes) that disrupt the power supply, that would be a godsend.

Can someone explain what LDS stands for?

[saradouce]

LDS is a religious movement that begin in the early 19th century. They think that God send prophets on Earth to warn them about the way people were living. They founded Salt lake City. They're also called Mormon.
They think they have to be prepared for a disaster. i don't know wich one...
Hope that help.