Would you like to know how many calories per day each person will receive when one of our packages is used as an exclusive source of food? We have calculated the daily calorie content of our food packages and placed this information in printable PDFs.
Read More...Since the entire idea of a food storage program is that it should be available for you and yours in times of need, it is desirable to gain an understanding of those conditions that can affect the edibles stored in your pantry.
Your storage program is only as good as the original quality of the food that goes into it. It cannot get any better than what originally goes in, but it can certainly get worse. In the fullness of time, all stored foods will degrade in nutrient content and palatability until they reach the inevitable end where even the dog won't eat them. It's because of this eventuality that every article, book, and teacher concerned with putting food by gives the same advice: date all food containers and rotate, Rotate, ROTATE.
Read More...One of the most important decisions in planning your long term food storage are the kinds of grains you are going to store. Too many people do not give this adequate thought, and just buy however much wheat they think is necessary to meet their needs and leave it at that. Others rely upon pre-packaged plans made for them by the storage food retailer who put together the food package they've purchased. For many, either decision could be a major mistake.
Read More...The fastest and easiest method is fanning, a form of winnowing. This is done by pouring the grain slowly through the air stream of a fan or blower into a clean, deep container such as a cardboard box or trash can. The wind blowing through the falling grain will blow out most of the broken kernels, chaff, smut balls, mouse droppings, etc. If you're losing too much good grain, try turning the fan down or moving it further back from the container. The deep container will cut down on the amount of kernels that bounce out. Repeat fanning as necessary until the grain is clean enough to suit or you've blown all of the lighter contaminants out.
Read More...Dry milk will absorb moisture and odors from the air so storage containers should be impervious to both air and moisture. The dryer it can be kept, the better it will keep. Oxygen also speeds decomposition. Powdered milk canned with nitrogen or carbon dioxide to replace air (which contains oxygen) will keep longer than powdered milk exposed to air. Vacuum canning also decreases the available oxygen.
Read More...Corn syrup stores poorly compared to the other common sweeteners and because of this it often has a "best if used by" dating code on the bottle. It should be stored in its original bottle, tightly capped, in a cool, dry place. New unopened bottles keep about six months from the date on the label. After opening, keep the corn syrup four to six months. These syrups are very prone to mold and to fermentation so be on the lookout for bubbling or a mold haze. If these present themselves, throw the syrup out. You should always be certain to wipe off any drips from the bottle after every use.
Read More...Table Salt is by far the most widely known type of salt. It comes in two varieties; iodized and non-iodized. There is an ingredient added to it to absorb moisture so it will stay free flowing in damp weather. This non-caking agent does not dissolve in water and can cause cloudiness in whatever solution it is used if sufficiently large quantities are used. In canning it won't cause a problem since there is very little per jar. For pickling, though, it would be noticeable. If you are storing salt for this purpose, you should be sure to choose plain pickling salt, or other food grade pure salt such as kosher salt. In the iodized varieties, the iodine can cause discoloration or darkening of pickled foods so be certain not to use it for that purpose.
Read More...In examining the offerings at my local grocer I see that infant formula is also offered as a dry powder to be mixed by the parent. I could not come to a ready idea of how long the formula powder might be good on the shelf since it seemed to vary radically depending on exact type and manufacturer. The shortest use-by date was only a year, but some had use-by dates three years into the future. Clearly, this is an area that is going to need much investigation. I hope some of our knowledgeable readers out there will be able to help out.
Read More...The Federal government and the various state governments continuously monitor food and forage crops. Those products which are prone to mold growth and toxin production are not allowed to be sold for food. Once purchased however, it is up to you to keep your food safe from mold growth. If you have already found mold growth in your whole grains, meals, flours or other grain products, they should be discarded. Most mycotoxins are not broken down or destroyed by cooking temperatures and there is no safe way to salvage grain that has molded.
Read More...The easiest method to prevent mold growth in your stored grains and legumes is simply to keep them too dry for the mold to grow. The Aspergillus and Fusarium molds require moisture contents of 18% and above to reproduce. This is subject to some variability, but in all grains and soybeans, they must have a moisture content of that level. If you are storing raw (not roasted) peanuts, in the shell or shelled, you want to get the moisture content to less than 8% as peanuts are particularly susceptible to mold growth. The recommended moisture content for all other grain and legume storage is no more than 10%. (Please see part 2.A.3.1 Grains and Legumes for a method to determine moisture content.) At 10% moisture, it is simply too dry for fungi to grow.
Read More...When you get right down to the bottom line, it is seldom practical strictly in terms of dollars and cents to put up your own food in jars. When you count the cost of your equipment, including the jars, rings, lids and all the rest, along with a not inconsiderable amount of your personal time, the cost of purchasing or growing your produce, you'll almost always come out ahead to buy food canned for you by the commercial canning industry. That said, forget about the strict bottom line and examine more closely why you want to put up your own food. For many, gardening is a pleasure and they have to have something to do with the food they've grown! There's also the fact that for many, you simply cannot buy the quality of the food you can put up for yourself. The canning industry tries to appeal to a broad spectrum of the general public while you can put up food to your own family's specific tastes. Home canning is not so much about saving money as it is about satisfaction. You get what you pay for.
Read More...Food storage specialist Alan T. Hagan shares his expertise in the Food Storage FAQ. This excellent resource provides advice on a full range of food storage issues.
Read More...So you've followed the emergency preparedness guidance of the experts by stocking up on food storage for yourself and your family. No matter what the future brings, your outlook is bright because you know you're ready for even the direst times. But how long will your preparation efforts last? Do they have an expiration date? There are varying points of view on this topic, but the short answer is your food storage will have a "sustain life" shelf life of at least 20 years.
Read More...All THRIVE food storage ingredients.
Read More...Instructions for soaking and cooking beans:
Quick soak: After rinsing and sorting dry beans, place beans in a large pot with 3 cups of water for every cup of dry beans. Bring to a boil; boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover and let sit for 1 hour. Drain and rinse beans.
Slow soak: After rinsing and sorting dry beans, place in a large pot with 3 cups of water for every cup of dry beans. Let sit overnight or 6-8 hours. Drain and rinse beans.
Cooking: In large pot, add 3 cups of water for every cup of dry beans. Bring to a boil; simmer with lid tilted until tender, about 1 ½ to 2 hours. Beans are done when they can be easily mashed with a fork or between two fingers.
Cooked beans should be refrigerated or frozen. A cup of dry beans equals 3 cups of cooked beans.
Read More...Freeze-drying is a process that allows food to be shelf stable while retaining the maximum amount of nutrients. Freeze-dried fruits and vegetables retain their original color, form, size, taste and texture. They also retain their original nutrients which many other heat-utilizing processes can destroy. When reconstituted, freeze-dried products come back to their original state. They are ideal for eating and cooking and have excellent flavor and texture. Because they are harvested and dried at peak freshness, you can have the nutrition and taste of fresh fruits and vegetables all year round.
Read More...TVP is very shelf stable and can sit in a sealed container for at least a year. When sealed in an airtight container (where the oxygen has been removed) the shelf life is much longer. TVP is best stored in a cool, dry place.
Read More...Be Practical. Store the food you eat and eat the food you store. It doesn't make sense to buy food storage that your family isn't accustomed to eating. Although it is true that there are many items such as wheat, flour, oats, and dried milk that are needed to sustain life, these are already included in many of the foods that we enjoy each day. Become familiar with recipes that include ingredients contained within your food storage. This will not only enable you to become familiar with the preparation of foods within your food storage, it will also allow you to rotate your food in a timely manner.
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The following link will connect you with additional food icons.
Read More...Please click on the following link to find assembly instructions for our FRS units.
Read More...Does it seem like everyone is making a big deal about storing food? For many, the issue may seem hardly worth addressing. After all, we live in a country known for being the "land of plenty." It is sometimes hard to imagine that one day we could find ourselves in a situation that would require us to rely upon the food we have stored in order to provide for our families.
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When planning for an emergency situation, there are four vital areas that must be taken into account. These include identification items, financial information, material possessions located in your home, and family mementos that are irreplaceable.
Identification documents should be stored in a fire-proof safe. These include social security cards, birth certificates, military papers, financial institution information, visas, school transcripts, passports, and other personal documents. Although your driver’s license can’t be stored in your fire-proof safe, you should make sure you know its location.
Read More...Although you may have carefully planned out an emergency plan for your family, you may not be fully prepared when an emergency actually befalls you. The main cause for this is that we often forget to replenish our emergency kits on a regular basis. For example, you may have bought an emergency kit for every member in your family five years ago, before you had another child. If every member of your family has a kit, it may be 10 years old and in need of a serious overhaul.
Read More...Emergencies are stressful for everyone—that’s no secret. However, there are several ways you can prepare to make them more comfortable for you and your family. One of the best options for keeping things calmer is to choose the right “emergency” foods. Here are some suggestions:
Store high calorie comfort foods in your emergency kits. Foods high in sugar and calories may not be the healthiest option for your family, but they have unique calming qualities. Chocolate is an especially good option. Fruit bars, granola bars, energy bars, cereal, and other foods high in calories are also good options.
Read More...Many Americans live paycheck to paycheck, and those of us who save money continually are dwindling in number. With the cost of daily life increasingly on the rise, it is often difficult to keep up with even the most essential expenses. However, keeping yourself financially safe is one of the best and most important aspects of emergency preparedness. From small emergencies like a flat tire to large disasters such as a house fire, keeping yourself financially stable is essential for peace of mind and emergency recovery. If you find yourself to be in insurmountable debt, work out a plan to free yourself as soon as possible.
Read More...Keeping the Holidays Safe is a gift you can give to your entire family. Each year we hear about holiday disasters that emerge as a result of not being properly prepared and making sure our families and homes are safe during the holidays is our responsibility. Keep your belongings and loved ones protected by following a few easy steps!
Read More...Although family members should be your top concern when preparing for emergencies, family pets should not be overlooked. Once you have developed a thorough emergency preparedness plan for your family, it's a good idea to incorporate any pets you may have into your plan.
Read More...Keeping emergency contact lists within the reach of every family member is an important part of emergency preparedness. If you are unrecontact lists within the reach of every family member is an important part of emergency preparedness. If you are unreachable during an emergency, your family will need to know where to turn.
Make sure you keep an emergency contact list in a noticeable location in your house. Keep all personal phone numbers, work numbers, and addresses on the list. Also remember to include the numbers of other trusted emergency contacts who can help in your absence.
It is also important to update the emergency contact information at your child’s school on a yearly basis. This way you can make sure your emergency contact information is up to date and refresh your and your child’s memories as to who the contact person will be if you are unavailable.
Your children should also have a personal emergency contact list they can take to school and leave in their desk or locker. Having this information readily available will bring you and your child peace achable during an emergency, your family will need to know where to turn.
Read More...The sad truth is hard times can befall us at any moment. In the last few years it has seemed like large scale natural disasters are occurring at a more frequent rate. Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of these events is we can't predict their coming. And even when we have some idea of where and when they'll strike, we can never be sure.
Read More...Creating an evacuation plan is an important step your family should take toward emergency preparedness. If a disaster requiring evacuation strikes your household, you and your family members will need to know where to safely meet. It's also a good idea to decide on a safe meeting place inside your home should a disaster not requiring evacuation strike. Once your plan is constructed, practice it at least four times a year. Make sure you frequently remind family members, especially small children, of your emergency evacuation plan.
Read More...From the area where the tsunami originates, waves travel outward in all directions. Once the wave approaches the shore, it builds in height. There may be more than one wave and the succeeding one may be larger than the one before. That is why a small tsunami at one beach can be a giant wave a few miles away.
Read More...Hurricane Safety
Make sure you have enough emergency supplies for your entire family
Gather non-perishable food and extra water for your family members
Battery powered radios are a must have. If your power goes out, you'll want to know what's going on
Prepare multiple alternative light sources in case a power outage occurs
Keep a supply of extra batteries
Plan in-home activities that may help distract you and your family from the unease of the storm
Don't Panic!
Read More...Please click the following link for our emergency preparedness lesson guide.
Read More...Does it ever seem like the more money you make the less you have by the end of the month? If so, you aren't alone! There are many people whose savings trend drops as their income increases. Do not fear; there are many helpful money saving options out there.
Read More...Starting an emergency plan is important for all families and age groups. The younger a child is when he/she is taught about emergency planning, the better things will go in the event of a disaster. Please keep in mind that emergency planning is not exclusive to giant attacking monsters or the earth freezing over. Make sure you include minor calamities in your emergency plan such as cuts, power outages, bug bites, CPR, etc.
Read More...Unexpected events arise in everyone's life. From small surprises to huge problems, the best way to handle any situation is preparedness. This quiz is not only the perfect way to let you know if you are prepared, but it will also tell you just how prepared you really are.
Read More...The average American adult spends over 30% of his or her time at work? Whether you are a full-time hero or a part-time student, emergencies have a good chance of striking while you are away from your primary emergency supply - assuming you have a primary emergency supply.
Read More...Emergency kits are vital to any emergency preparedness plan. Everyday comforts such as running water and telephone services may be unavailable in the aftermath of a disaster. Experts strongly recommend that every person be prepared to be self-sufficient for the first 72 hours after a crisis to allow time for relief workers to reach the area and get organized. Read the list below to see the most important items every emergency kit should contain.
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