What Food Prepping Have You Done?

[CC1]

Most of my emergency food purchases for storage up to this point has been canned goods and other staples with a shelf life of 1 1/2 to 3 years.

I bought a lot of canned white chicken breast meat from Sams Club along with SPAM, tuna, etc. Also 25 lb boxes of rice and quite a bit of salt.

Also found that spaghetti sauce in jars sometimes has a long shelf life with expiration dates a couple of years out so stocked up on that also.

Now that I have a decent stash of short term emergency food I am starting to buy "real" emergency food that has a very long shelf life so I don't have to worry about using it every couple of years before it expires.

My first purchase was twelve 28oz cans (21lbs total) of canned hamburger meat with a 15 year shelf life. My second purchase has been a 38 lb bucket of corn meal and 45 lb bucket of red wheat that both have a 30 year shelf life. Sams Club has started carrying emergency food at their online store and even with pretty expensive freight due to the weight the pricing was great.

I plan on buying more of those two items along with bulk sugar, beans, rice, etc that all have a very long shelf life.

I also plan on buying the buckets of freeze dried emergency good that efoods, Wise foods, Mountain House, etc produce along with some high calories emergency food bars.

Not actually food but related to it are a couple of other things on my to buy list. One is a Big Berkey water filter and another is a solar oven. Both are big ticket items so I will have to budget for them over time ($260 for the Big Berkey and around $200-250 for the solar oven)

[ILG]

Hey, CC1! For some reason, I had the idea you would be a bit critical about prepping. Glad to see that is not the case! What made you decide to do this?

[Roagiesgal]

Sounds like you have a good start...there are so many web sites out there...if your a milk drinker we found through our own taste test of 4 different brands we liked "Provident Pantry" to be the best tasting and next "Thrive" brand. I have both powered and instant, powered from "Thrive" powdered we use for cooking, it has to have hot water to dissolve and doesn't taste as good as the instant.

For me and our prepping I built a big pantry...most anything I want to prepare I can get my ingredients from there, and not have to go to the store. We only need to shop about every 10 days for bread and fresh produce...every time I shop I look for things I might need to add or bulk up on...canned goods will keep longer than a couple of years if they are in a dry and cool location, also we keep our supplies in as dark a place as we can, we have opened cans that were more than a few years old. I got can rotators for our canned goods so I don't have to restack every time I get a new can of an item...you can build them yourself which I had not seen till after I bought my racks...

We have a snack rack also which I keep chips, crackers, candy, nuts, dried fruit, etc on because you need variety and treats to keep your spirits up if your in a long term stress situation.

You really need to take into account your family size, your likes and dislikes...prepping is fun and can be addictive...LOL! I will post a couple of pictures of our pantry later today if I get a chance.

[mizpeh]

What are you prepping for?

[navygoat1998]

What are you prepping for?

Dinner

[Praxeas]

You gotta wonder about canned hamburger meat with a shelf life of 15 years....whats in it?

[navygoat1998]

Canned bacon and powered eggs.

[Praxeas]

Canned bacon and powered eggs.
Powdered eggs and milk is one thing but canned bacon? How much sodium is in that? What preservatives do they use?

BTW after you all get cancer from eating that food, will there be any doctors around to help you during this "crisis" you are prepping for?

[navygoat1998]

Powdered eggs and milk is one thing but canned bacon? How much sodium is in that? What preservatives do they use?

BTW after you all get cancer from eating that food, will there be any doctors around to help you during this "crisis" you are prepping for?

Don't know???? I am not a prepper. My experience with powdered eggs and canned bacon was in the Navy. Along with canned pork-chops. The bacon was really salty but it is good.

[RandyWayne]

That is a good start CC1. I have 6 buckets of Wise stuff along with several from other companies just to mix things up. I also bought a few cans of powdered butter and powdered cheese, both with a shelf life of 10+ years. In addition I am building up a good stockpile of SPAM, canned chicken and corned beef hash. I've been doing some research on shelf lives and those last three SAY they are good for several years but the actual useable life is a LOT longer -we're talking 15 years or more. Regardless we do plan on rotating them out as we use them in our regular cooking (unlike many, I do not find SPAM that distasteful!).

I'm also bought several buckets of white rice that Walmart started carrying. I looked at the expiration date and it actually said 2030!

THIS is just our long term emergency preps. My wife is in charge of the pantry where shelf life isn't AS big of a deal and we just rotate through things with the idea of having 2-4 weeks worth of food at any given time.

Water is the thing that concerns me. Living in the desert there isn't that many ways to gather it should the electricity quit and the utility water pumps stop working. I have over a dozen cases of bottled water that we rotate through and I'm adding a rain catchment system to our roof -hopefully soon. With enough notice, I have several large containers that I can and will fill up to give us a 100+ gallons of emergency storage, along with a nice water filter that I could stick into any rancid swimming pool and get potable water out of.

[Praxeas]

Powdered butter?

[RandyWayne]

What are you prepping for?

"I am preparing for an alien invasion!"

http://preparednesspro.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/dennis-evers_on-Doomsday-Preppers.jpg

[mizpeh]

That is a good start CC1. I have 6 buckets of Wise stuff along with several from other companies just to mix things up. I also bought a few cans of powdered butter and powdered cheese, both with a shelf life of 10+ years. In addition I am building up a good stockpile of SPAM, canned chicken and corned beef hash. I've been doing some research on shelf lives and those last three SAY they are good for several years but the actual useable life is a LOT longer -we're talking 15 years or more. Regardless we do plan on rotating them out as we use them in our regular cooking (unlike many, I do not find SPAM that distasteful!).

I'm also bought several buckets of white rice that Walmart started carrying. I looked at the expiration date and it actually said 2030!

THIS is just our long term emergency preps. My wife is in charge of the pantry where shelf life isn't AS big of a deal and we just rotate through things with the idea of having 2-4 weeks worth of food at any given time.

Water is the thing that concerns me. Living in the desert there isn't that many ways to gather it should the electricity quit and the utility water pumps stop working. I have over a dozen cases of bottled water that we rotate through and I'm adding a rain catchment system to our roof -hopefully soon. With enough notice, I have several large containers that I can and will fill up to give us a 100+ gallons of emergency storage, along with a nice water filter that I could stick into any rancid swimming pool and get potable water out of.Why are you doing this? What has prompted you to do this?

[navygoat1998]

Powdered butter?

Powdered water :happydance

[Digging4Truth]

You gotta wonder about canned hamburger meat with a shelf life of 15 years....whats in it?

"Canning" your own meat has a very long shelf life and nothing is added. Keeping food in a vacuum gives is a long shelf life in and of itself. But I'd rather eat food I canned than something processed... although keep processed food isn't a bad thing to do either.

[Digging4Truth]

Why are you doing this? What has prompted you to do this?

People have put food up for most of history. The Bible uses the example of the ant who puts up food as a demonstration of a prudent person.

It is only in the last generation or two that a lifestyle that doesn't look beyond our next trip to the grocery store has become "vogue". For the vast majority of the history of mankind we have put up food and planned ahead. I think we have removed ourselves from the wisdom of a life that doesn't solely depend on the assumption that our economy will always be there... there will be no droughts... there will be no disruption of the "food" supply that we find at our corner grocer. To live without putting food aside is living with these assumptions on a daily basis.

[Digging4Truth]

We keep rice in buckets with Gamma lids. We powder our own eggs from our own chickens. We can our vegetables from our garden. Last year we put up 106 quarts of tomatoes. And... we don't do enough.

I am pleased that so many are living a lifestyle that looks to the future.

[Praxeas]

"Canning" your own meat has a very long shelf life and nothing is added. Keeping food in a vacuum gives is a long shelf life in and of itself. But I'd rather eat food I canned than something processed... although keep processed food isn't a bad thing to do either.
What about Sodium? All canned goods have extra sodium from what I have seen

How do you can your own stuff?

[Praxeas]

We keep rice in buckets with Gamma lids. We powder our own eggs from our own chickens. We can our vegetables from our garden. Last year we put up 106 quarts of tomatoes. And... we don't do enough.

I am pleased that so many are living a lifestyle that looks to the future.
It's impossible for me to do that. I don't own farm land

[RandyWayne]

Why are you doing this? What has prompted you to do this?

People have put food up for most of history. The Bible uses the example of the ant who puts up food as a demonstration of a prudent person.

It is only in the last generation or two that a lifestyle that doesn't look beyond our next trip to the grocery store has become "vogue". For the vast majority of the history of mankind we have put up food and planned ahead. I think we have removed ourselves from the wisdom of a life that doesn't solely depend on the assumption that our economy will always be there... there will be no droughts... there will be no disruption of the "food" supply that we find at our corner grocer. To live without putting food aside is living with these assumptions on a daily basis.

What he said.

Although to be a bit more detailed, I see a hard economic collapse coming sometime soon -"soon" being anytime ranging from the next few months to 10 years, although probably much closer to the sooner part.

[ILG]

People have put food up for most of history. The Bible uses the example of the ant who puts up food as a demonstration of a prudent person.

It is only in the last generation or two that a lifestyle that doesn't look beyond our next trip to the grocery store has become "vogue". For the vast majority of the history of mankind we have put up food and planned ahead. I think we have removed ourselves from the wisdom of a life that doesn't solely depend on the assumption that our economy will always be there... there will be no droughts... there will be no disruption of the "food" supply that we find at our corner grocer. To live without putting food aside is living with these assumptions on a daily basis.

Right!:thumbsup

[Roagiesgal]

What he said.

Although to be a bit more detailed, I see a hard economic collapse coming sometime soon -"soon" being anytime ranging from the next few months to 10 years, although probably much closer to the sooner part.


What he said. Also


My husband and I are retired and have very limited income...we have stocked up in preparation of having limited income...also inflation, every thing is getting more expensive every day!

I prefer to be prepared and not have to depend on others for my survival, in what ever comes our way....pretty simple really!

[Digging4Truth]

It's impossible for me to do that. I don't own farm land

You'd be surprised what you could do with very little space. Go to youtube and search square foot gardening... pallet garden... small space gardening. Every little bit helps and it puts us back in touch with our own food supply.

[RandyWayne]

When it comes to food preps it is also important to remember the following:

Paper plates and plastic cups
Plastic utensils
Rolls of aluminum foil
As many bags of charcoal as you can afford/able to store
A secondary small backpack/camping stove for being able to heat water by the quart
Lots of matches

I also have a nice solar oven for cooking and boiling water

Other preps to consider is multiple bags of dog food (if you have dogs). We have 3-5 at any given time and always rotate the oldest first then immediately buy a new bag to replace it.

[Digging4Truth]

When it comes to food preps it is also important to remember the following:

Paper plates and plastic cups
Plastic utensils
Rolls of aluminum foil
As many bags of charcoal as you can afford/able to store
A secondary small backpack/camping stove for being able to heat water by the quart
Lots of matches

I also have a nice solar oven for cooking and boiling water

Other preps to consider is multiple bags of dog food (if you have dogs). We have 3-5 at any given time and always rotate the oldest first then immediately buy a new bag to replace it.

I have a linear fresnel lens on a stand that I can use to cook with sunshine. It's pretty cool.

[ILG]

When it comes to food preps it is also important to remember the following:

Paper plates and plastic cups
Plastic utensils
Rolls of aluminum foil
As many bags of charcoal as you can afford/able to store
A secondary small backpack/camping stove for being able to heat water by the quart
Lots of matches

I also have a nice solar oven for cooking and boiling water

Other preps to consider is multiple bags of dog food (if you have dogs). We have 3-5 at any given time and always rotate the oldest first then immediately buy a new dog to replace it.

I don't see how having 3-5 dogs and rotating them from the oldest to the youngest will help anything. :heeheehee

[Roagiesgal]

When it comes to food preps it is also important to remember the following:

Paper plates and plastic cups
Plastic utensils
Rolls of aluminum foil
As many bags of charcoal as you can afford/able to store
A secondary small backpack/camping stove for being able to heat water by the quart
Lots of matches

I also have a nice solar oven for cooking and boiling water

Other preps to consider is multiple bags of dog food (if you have dogs). We have 3-5 at any given time and always rotate the oldest first then immediately buy a new bag to replace it.

I have briquettes and keep at least three months of dog and cat food on hand...the dog food can be stretched by adding some cooked oatmeal. Dogs don't need protein to survive but cats do. I also found online and then Costco had them, a small propane stove with an oven...Its called a "Camp Chef"...I have several small bottles of propane and about a half dozen large one. We have firewood also, and we have cast iron pans, and a Dutch oven. I also have a couple of the kerosene camp stoves and lanterns...redundancy in some area's but you need back ups for your back ups...

We have lots of paper plates, plastic ware, paper towels, napkins, and don't forget toilet paper...:happydance

[Roagiesgal]

I don't see how having 3-5 dogs and rotating them from the oldest to the youngest will help anything. :heeheehee

:heeheehee

[seekerman]

I probably have a couple of weeks of food on hand and if things get so bad that there is a food shortage nothing longer would really help. A complete breakdown in society would allow those stronger, hungrier and more desperate to risk their lives for food for themselves and food for their families. A few guns in the house might stop a few, but it's not going to stop the starving.

Folks will end up dead with a great stockpile of food for those who killed them.

[Roagiesgal]

I probably have a couple of weeks of food on hand and if things get so bad that there is a food shortage nothing longer would really help. A complete breakdown in society would allow those stronger, hungrier and more desperate to risk their lives for food for themselves and food for their families. A few guns in the house might stop a few, but it's not going to stop the starving.

Folks will end up dead with a great stockpile of food for those who killed them.

WOW...you don't have much hope. I do...and I am going to do the best I can to protect and provide for my family and friends...because its important for good to prevail and I believe it will in the end. If I don't see it...I will be with my Lord! I am not afraid...I am prepared! I believe God is leading me and He has provided a way for us to do this...

[RandyWayne]

I probably have a couple of weeks of food on hand and if things get so bad that there is a food shortage nothing longer would really help. A complete breakdown in society would allow those stronger, hungrier and more desperate to risk their lives for food for themselves and food for their families. A few guns in the house might stop a few, but it's not going to stop the starving.

Folks will end up dead with a great stockpile of food for those who killed them.

Which is why you do not tell anyone about your food stockpiles. Not even family members other than those living in your home. It is all about not making your home a target and being prepared to deal with the threat that does show up. (One example of this are a night vision scope and night vision goggles that I acquired. In a night time situation they give me such an advantage in a confrontation that it almost isn't fare to the person trying to break in.)

WOW...you don't have much hope. I do...and I am going to do the best I can to protect and provide for my family and friends...because its important for good to prevail and I believe it will in the end. If I don't see it...I will be with my Lord! I am not afraid...I am prepared! I believe God is leading me and He has provided a way for us to do this...

Exactly. :)

[CC1]

Roagiesgal - Thanks for the tip on brands of powdered milk. I haven't tried to drink any since I was a kid but I remember I hated it then. However in an emergency I am sure I could adapt and that is an item on my list to get!

RandyWayne - I don't think I have ever seen a big bucket of rice at WalMart. Was it with the regular size bags and boxes of rice? I bought a 25 lb box of rice at Sams Club. Also appreciate the tip on dog food. I have not done that but do need to stock up a 90 day supply since we have three large yard dogs in addition to our little house dog and they go through quite a bit of food. I also want to stock up on toilet paper, paper towel, soap, etc.

[bbyrd009]

Ha amen.
You'd be surprised what you could do with very little space. Go to youtube and search square foot gardening... pallet garden... small space gardening. Every little bit helps and it puts us back in touch with our own food supply.My fave. You could feed 4 for a month on a strip of sweet potatoes 1x10, beside your house. Most of the rest of that stuff is pretty...yacky, innit? Could you guys unclench a little, maybe Google "80 year cycle" or something? I mean, preparedness is great, but when does it become paranoia? Powdered eggs is God's way of telling you to get a chicken! :lol

[Roagiesgal]

Ha amen.
My fave. You could feed 4 for a month on a strip of sweet potatoes 1x10, beside your house. Most of the rest of that stuff is pretty...yacky, innit? Could you guys unclench a little, maybe Google "80 year cycle" or something? I mean, preparedness is great, but when does it become paranoia? Powdered eggs is God's way of telling you to get a chicken! :lol

Not paranoid just prepared and I have freeze dried eggs and "OVA eggs", powered for baking and blending in things...Ova's cook up like regular scrambled eggs. Not as good as fresh but better than hunger...we had chickens at our old house, we had to move from there and can't have any where we are now...OH how I miss my girls they laid beautiful and yummy eggs!

Eggs have come along way.....

[ILG]

Ha amen.
My fave. You could feed 4 for a month on a strip of sweet potatoes 1x10, beside your house. Most of the rest of that stuff is pretty...yacky, innit? Could you guys unclench a little, maybe Google "80 year cycle" or something? I mean, preparedness is great, but when does it become paranoia? Powdered eggs is God's way of telling you to get a chicken! :lol

I think there is a fine line between paranoia and preparedness. Not sure where that line is but I think it's safe to say that preparedness is positive and helps relationships and paranoia is negative and strains them. It's up to everyone personally to figure that out for themselves. Some people are so afraid of paranoia they won't do any preparing. It works both ways.

[RandyWayne]

Too much?

http://self-sufficient-blog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/bulk-food-storage.jpg

This isn't our house. I have no idea who's it is, but I am looking to eventually have close to this amount of freeze dried and dehydrated stuff. :)

[bbyrd009]

"I have freeze dried eggs"
"Not as good as fresh"
"can't have any where we are now...OH how I miss my girls..."
"Eggs have come along way....."
("Regressed" is the word you are looking for here, I think)
"freeze dried and dehydrated stuff."
Ty for not calling it food, at least. Really, people? Listen to yourselves, if you will. Are you saving enough food for...tomorrow? Isn't the lesson of manna plain enough to you? I am eating smoked elk, and day-old-eggs, because this is what God is currently providing me (ty, Abba); and tomorrow never comes, folks. Please consider this, and again, I urge you to Google "80 year cycle," your grandparents are laughing in their graves.

[RandyWayne]

I think there is a fine line between paranoia and preparedness. Not sure where that line is but I think it's safe to say that preparedness is positive and helps relationships and paranoia is negative and strains them. It's up to everyone personally to figure that out for themselves. Some people are so afraid of paranoia they won't do any preparing. It works both ways.

The last year has been a wild ride in the area of "prepping" for me. Thankfully as the world keeps sliding into the abyss I've actually shifted more toward enjoying life rather than preparing for the inevitable end -which I am still doing, but not feeling the same amount of depression in the process. We actually spent the last few weeks working on all sorts of landscape projects in our yard!

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t9iZ0fwTiLQ/UBCHg6jK3aI/AAAAAAAACOc/pY7iJrYVR68/s1600/paranoia-funny-humor-demotivational-poster-1238220879.jpg

[Roagiesgal]

"I have freeze dried eggs"
"Not as good as fresh"
"can't have any where we are now...OH how I miss my girls..."
"Eggs have come along way....."
("Regressed" is the word you are looking for here, I think)
"freeze dried and dehydrated stuff."
Ty for not calling it food, at least. Really, people? Listen to yourselves, if you will. Are you saving enough food for...tomorrow? Isn't the lesson of manna plain enough to you? I am eating smoked elk, and day-old-eggs, because this is what God is currently providing me (ty, Abba); and tomorrow never comes, folks. Please consider this, and again, I urge you to Google "80 year cycle," your grandparents are laughing in their graves.

We all do what we feel we need too, to mock is really not productive, but you have a right to your opinion, so I say...inflation is a reality...my income is limited, I want to continue to eat when milk is $7.00 a gallon and bread is 10. There are many reasons for prepping, while I am happy for your riches, not everyone can do as you are, and so we do what we can.

[RandyWayne]

We all do what we feel we need too, to mock is really not productive, but you have a right to your opinion, so I say...inflation is a reality...my income is limited, I want to continue to eat when milk is $7.00 a gallon and bread is 10. There are many reasons for prepping, while I am happy for your riches, not everyone can do as you are, and so we do what we can.

Actually, Bigbird isn't rich, quite the opposite. He is essentially bragging about mooching off of other people and saying it is "God providing". The question for you, me, and others like us is, when there is no more easily attainable food, will we give some of our stores to someone who openly brags about NOT preparing?

[Roagiesgal]

Actually, Bigbird isn't rich, quite the opposite. He is essentially bragging about mooching off of other people and saying it is "God providing". The question for you, me, and others like us is, when there is no more easily attainable food, will we give some of our stores to someone who openly brags about NOT preparing?

In a word.........NO

I am so tired of feeding the moochers...poachers...lazy lay about! Socialism is not how I want to live! I will help my family, and do what I can for my friends...some are starting to realize they need to prep!

I don't know who Bigbird is, but I see him and those that live off others as the sickness that has taken over our country...I don't know what happened to the American pride, strength, and independent spirit, but I am glad there are still those few who what the country to be stronger and freer!

God is providing NOW...just saw a report last night about Madagascar, the locust are stripping their crops and they are expecting a famine. We are setting into some draught conditions which will create food shortages here, which brings higher food prices and shortages! Will it all come crashing down...I have no way of knowing, but I feel God has prompted me to be prepared.....

[bbyrd009]

Actually, Bigbird isn't rich, quite the opposite. He is essentially bragging about mooching off of other people and saying it is "God providing". The question for you, me, and others like us is, when there is no more easily attainable food, will we give some of our stores to someone who openly brags about NOT preparing?Well, I apologize if my attitude struck you as gloating, or anything. I pay $20 a gallon for milk, and I am not mooching off of anyone. It was a difficult adjustment, but frankly, I'm not sure my post, at least, would have been any different 4 years ago; it merely was meant to suggest what Randy restated better, possibly, but see where there comes a point, at times, when ones pov can become so skewed that any reference to the contrary will be perceived as a slap.

Wadr, if you think that preparing to eat dried eggs in some mythical tomorrow is following God's plan, then I have to tell you that you have lost your way. While children may complicate this scenario--briefly--still, what can you really say? That you can take better care of 'your children' than God, their real Father, can? Think about the lesson this teaches your kids! You do this, like I did, because you are Codependent, and you insist upon delving into areas that God has already proclaimed to be His to 'usurpervise.'

I certainly don't mean to be rude; what is the nice way to say "You're crazy?" Now, I might be eating turnips, tomorrow; don't know where I'm sleeping tonight, but I can say this; God takes wonderful care of me, and it is my prayer that you might be taken care of, too. Peace to you all.

[bbyrd009]

And just so you know, I have a garden, that I planted myself, and I am not advocating non-preparedness. I am prolly more prepared than you could imagine. Randy, you know this, and that was a cheap shot. I am a strong advocate of "If they don't work, they don't eat." Sorry for my manner here. I guess.

[ILG]

The last year has been a wild ride in the area of "prepping" for me. Thankfully as the world keeps sliding into the abyss I've actually shifted more toward enjoying life rather than preparing for the inevitable end -which I am still doing, but not feeling the same amount of depression in the process. We actually spent the last few weeks working on all sorts of landscape projects in our yard!


Yes, there is nothing better under the sun than that a man should eat, drink and enjoy his labor, for this is his portion. ;)

[ILG]

Well, I apologize if my attitude struck you as gloating, or anything. I pay $20 a gallon for milk, and I am not mooching off of anyone. It was a difficult adjustment, but frankly, I'm not sure my post, at least, would have been any different 4 years ago; it merely was meant to suggest what Randy restated better, possibly, but see where there comes a point, at times, when ones pov can become so skewed that any reference to the contrary will be perceived as a slap.

Wadr, if you think that preparing to eat dried eggs in some mythical tomorrow is following God's plan, then I have to tell you that you have lost your way. While children may complicate this scenario--briefly--still, what can you really say? That you can take better care of 'your children' than God, their real Father, can? Think about the lesson this teaches your kids! You do this, like I did, because you are Codependent, and you insist upon delving into areas that God has already proclaimed to be His to 'usurpervise.'

I certainly don't mean to be rude; what is the nice way to say "You're crazy?" Now, I might be eating turnips, tomorrow; don't know where I'm sleeping tonight, but I can say this; God takes wonderful care of me, and it is my prayer that you might be taken care of, too. Peace to you all.

Milk is $20.00 a gallon in Colorado?

[bbyrd009]

Well, raw milk is not cheap anywhere. Makes one bulletproof, though. Kids who drink it are rarely allergic to anything, or so the tale goes.

[ILG]

Well, raw milk is not cheap anywhere. Makes one bulletproof, though. Kids who drink it are rarely allergic to anything, or so the tale goes.

Raw milk should be cheaper than store bought, I would think....

[Digging4Truth]

Ha amen.
My fave. You could feed 4 for a month on a strip of sweet potatoes 1x10, beside your house. Most of the rest of that stuff is pretty...yacky, innit? Could you guys unclench a little, maybe Google "80 year cycle" or something? I mean, preparedness is great, but when does it become paranoia? Powdered eggs is God's way of telling you to get a chicken! :lol

I have chickens and I dehydrate my own eggs. :)

[bbyrd009]

Raw milk should be cheaper than store bought, I would think....Ha, and yet it is intentionally quite difficult to buy; one must purchase a 'share' in a herd; for goat's milk anyway--which tastes exactly like cow's milk, btw, until it is adulterated or processed--it just works out to $20 a gallon. A share in a cow herd would likely have more output. It is illegal to sell raw milk. Vast sums have been spent to condition us to believe that raw milk is dangerous; when in fact it is the processing that renders cow's milk (chosen strictly due to their output), which is not a great source of anything to humans, into some fairly hard-to-digest protein and a load of soft metal that must be eliminated, all enzymes and most of the nutrition lost. With the calcium that is digested likely a chief source of 'scarred arteries,' having been rendered into shards in the homogenization process.

Do you know why milk is "Vitamin D 'fortified?'" Because cows no longer eat grass, which is loaded with Omega3 and VitD, so their milk is deficient, and so it gets 'fortified.' Whenever you see something that has been 'fortified,' it has invariably been nutrient-stripped. :lol your milk primer for today...do your kids drink a lot of milk? Those people at Safeway are not your friends, sorry. A shame, because they are the second largest donor to charities, behind Kroger, by %. Guilt?

[Titus2woman]

Raw milk should be cheaper than store bought, I would think....


Nope. Store milk is no longer 'real' milk at all but is a pseudo food. Cows are mostly raised dry-lotted (no grass) and eat bakery waste, candy bars, spent grain from breweries, silage, and poultry litter (yes, that is chicken ........). They are bred to give 10 gallons a day plus on this food but have very short productive lives, usually spent or culled for illness in their 3rd or 4th year. All commercial milk is broken down in to components... milk fat, protein and water, the water and fat are remixed to desired levels of Skim, 1%, 2% and 3% (whole) milk. The rest of the fat is used for value added products like cream, ice cream, etc. Protein is added back, if it is low sprayed dried milk from China (much cheaper) is added back. Then it is cooked (pasteurized) shaken (homogenized) bleached white, vitamins added, and bottled. Some places are also adding Aspartame to increase sweetness. All this production keeps costs way down.

Raw Milk costs look more like this.
Cow $2.000 X2 amortized over 5 years= $66 per month
Milking Machine $1,200 or $20/mo
Fencing, Barn, pasture improvement $60,000 amort. over 20 years= $250 mo
Organic feed for 2 milking cows per month $400
Quality unsprayed, non-GMO alfalfa for 2 cows per month $480/ mo.
vaccines, vet care, etc. $40 mo

$1,256/mo in expenses here in Texas. This is hugely variable depending on where in the US it's being done and each farmers program.

Cows produce 8 gallons of milk per day x 10 months per year or about 96 gallons per month at approx $6.40 per gallon.

This allows nothing for the farmers labor. I charge $8 a gallon for raw milk and hope I'll live long enough to recoup some of my investment. :)

But I get fresh raw milk for myself and my family and the joy of keeping my own family cows.

On the prepping food front... We have about a years worth of food in a very well stocked pantry, root cellar, garden and a resupply plan for beef, milk, chicken, eggs, turkey, duck, venison, pork, goat, fish, cheese, butter, cream, whey, veggies, fruits, and nuts. Hundreds of pounds of salt and grains in the form of oats and wheat. We will not starve for sure. Now we need a water containment system... because we certainly will die of dehydration pretty quick.

[ILG]

Yikes! Okay, I had no idea raw milk was so expensive. I used to buy it for cheaper than store bought (about 15 years ago). Now, I only drink almond milk and coconut milk. I feel much better!

[Timmy]

http://www.stuttsuniversity.com/kegs.jpg

[RandyWayne]

There's enough there at darn near last all weekend!