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Show A J Food Storage: An Essential In Snrvival an Nov by Margaret Profile Writer Most people wouldn't be caught life insuram e. line wav 10(011111x1 to lie a joke, but while mot Kople do make provision (or the contingency of death, many do not nuke provision for the contingencies of life. ITS NO JOKE to lie without funds if unemplos incut or illness should strike, or to lie without heat or cooking facilities should there lie a prolonged power outage, without food should there lie a shortage or a drought. Although none of us wants to face emergencies, ignoring their prospect will not prevent them. It is a fad that with inflation, unemployment, strikes, energy shortages, and crop failures, our affluent standard of living is now tottering. Making plans and providing for future problems makes sense. Actually, it's not a new idea. We are only alsont a generation and a half away from a time when storage was a way of life. Time w it Ik nit Hut was when everybody stored at least enough to get themselves through the winter. It is frightening to realize that now, there are many people who could not get through a week on what they have on hand. (Hememlier Aesops fable of the grasshopper and the ant.) Those of us who lived through the depression of the 30, the dustlmwl and drought of the same period know that it can happen here. Did we learn a lesson? if any of the Could we lie at Hive circumstances came to pass, adding (IimkIs, earthquakes or other natural disasters? UNEMPLOYMENT, accident or illness may affect any family at anytime. If you have not given much thought to preparedness, begin now. A good place to start is w ith your financial situation. Economists tell us that now is not a good time for credit buying. If you are in delit, make every effort to get out from under, except for vital purchases for shelter or t ransportation. Medical insurance is almost a must with today's skyrocketing costs. Many 2-We- ers that can lie readdv picked up and young couples have foregone hospital insurance in favor of some other immetransported elsewhere if necessary. diate need, only to find to their grief (bice you have your basic and emerthat it should have lieen iiumlier one on gency storage taken care of, start extheir list. panding with items which allow for vaIT SEEMS iuiHissihlc for most of us riety, taste preferences and nutritional to save anything with inflation chipping needs. This would include your fruits and vegetables, juices, soups, cooking away at every penny, but in spite of this, savings six mid rate high oil your preparsupplies, (lurking powder, yeast, spices, edness list. It may lie a matter of changsoda, etc), soap, eggs, canned milk and more first aid supplies. ing our stamlard of living drastically, but it can lie dime. YOUR STORAGE should be deMore people engaged in planting and signed for a one or two year period maintained over as many years as it growing a garden this past summer than ever liefore. The small investment of takes to continue to lie self- - supporting which could lie a lifetime. money and lalnir and time is now paying As soon as we big dividends for those who not only enspeaking of storfruits and vegetables joyed home-growage, several questions come to mind: IT hat to store, where to store, and hate during the summer but who preserved some of their harvest to see them to store. through the winter. People who live in small apartments Home food storage, then, is someor trailers or those who must move alMiut such as armed forces personnel will have thing in which you should liecome acmore of a problem than those who live tively involved, whether it lie canning, in permanent, larger homes. But no matfreezing, drying, smoking or pickling, etc. ter what your living situation is, you should have some sort of storage. No exis cuse is valid! Should you lie told in adIn-gi- n better to hare It storage that trill sustain you for a few weeks , or months than to have no storage at all. THERE ARE several types of essential storage that should lie considered in your plan. Batic tlorage includes both s foods and that are and will store reasonably well for long periods. This includes such items as grains - principally wheat or other grains such as rice, com, cereal grains, etc.; powdered milk; sugar in some form; salt; and water. Basic storage non-food- should also include fuel, liedding, clothing, and medical supplies. In cases of fire, flood, earthquake, hostile attack (don't count this out), each family should have a portable emer- gency tlorage. These are items that would sustain you for a short period of time, and which are packed in contain vance that all fiMx! supplies would vanish within a week, you would find some place to store the necessities such as under beds, on closet shelves, attics or even in a relative's basement, or in rented storage units. THERE IS also the option of storing dehydrated foods which are conveniently packaged to take up little space. They do need adequate water storage also. But whatever plan you decide on, keep in mind: fl it belter la hare tar-ag-e lhal trill tutlain yon for a fete week. or month than to hare no tlor-ag- e at all. Adapt your storage to meet your individual familys needs, lime', tr hat' and where' of storage should pose no problem. There is a wealth of information as near as your library, grocery store, or book store, or university extension office or government agencies. These sources have (looks and pamphlets answering the above questions plus information on shelf life for each item you Emergency Food Plan ek are considering, amount necessary for individuals, and varieties needed to sustain giMid health. The LDS Church has an excellent 29 page publication, "Essentials of Home Production and Storage" which covers not only food production and storage, but items, recipes, and production of a list of helpful publications almost everything you need to get started. It can lie purchased at the Distribution Center, 1999 West 1700 South, Salt City. non-foo- d 81104. BASE YOUR choice of storage items on cost, availability, nutritive and storage qualities. Store enough of a variety of foods so that your family will get all the necessary nutrients. Store a high quality food to avoid spoilage. For instance, wheat should lie cereal grade, double cleaned, at least 1 1 percent protein with no more than 10 per cent moisture. There are many different types of containers for storage. Most grocery stores, variety stores and food storage specialty stores (of which there are many), feature plastic and metal containers and other types especially const meted for storage. Store food where it is easily accessible. Temperature has a profound effect on successful storage as does humidity. STORE FOODS that your family likes - foods from your daily menus. Use them. The key to successful storage is rotation. Use the foods and replace them as you use them. This will minimize waste, a common problem in long- - term storage. Sit down and plan your storage. This is another essential step. Then shop systematically. Here again, do not go into dcM in order to store. If you cannot buy in case lots, buy two cans of an item instead of one, or double amounts of some different food items each week. Put half in your storage. Many people's plan calls for buying one case of food a week, or a container of honey, or a 100 pound bag of wheat. Bulk buying is usually cheapest. There are outlets who sell to both wholesale and retail customers. Most grocery stores also cater to storage and economy- - minded shopiers with features and sales. A ERY EXCELLENT way to store is to go in with a group and purchase items in bulk (at a cheaper price). Whether you storage conscious to insure your future needs or not, living the storage way is more economiIn-co- cal, a great Ikmhi iu inflationary times. More Special Hints An essential part of your storage plan is an inventory. Use either an inventory sheet or card file li Hated near your storage area. Include on your list or card, amount on hand, and date purchased. Each time an item is removed, it should lie recorded so that you know at a glance how much you have. When you make out your shopping list, include such items, date them and replace them. Since water is an alisolulely necessary item for survival even for a short period of time, it should lie an essential part of your plan. A human lieing can go longer without fiMid than he can without water. EXCEPT IN unusual circumstances, one family can not store a year's supply of water, but you should have at least a two week's supply as a minimum for each member of your family. A two week supply is 14 gallons per family. This includes seven gallons for drinking and seven for other uses (cooking, washing, etc.) Water may lie stored in plastic or glass jugs. If you are lucky, you may find regular water containers which can hold as much as 55 gallons. These are hard to come by. When an emergency arises, don't forget the water in your hot water tank, or water beds. Also keep in mind that fluids can come from canned juices, and other sources. The wisest thing to do is to store water purifier tablets along with water. THE CONTAINER is important. One woman in California had 600 gallons of water in glass jugs. When the area was hit by an earthquake, all the lioUles broke, and she had 600 gallons of water awash in her storage room. In your emergency storage do not Iwst-tle- s, forget provision for personal documents such as wills, insurance policies, contracts, passports, birth certificates, etc. Keep them in easily, removable fireproof containers. If you have family memliers who are on medication, keep a fair amount in Also your personal emergency storage. make provisions for infant feeding supplies. one change of HAVE AT each for person along with clothing or sleeping lag. Fuel and light are important too. Dont forget candles, matches, a lattery- - powered light, signal flares, and other equipment such as can opener, ax, shovel, radio (battery poforwered), paper and pencil. And don t It kit. cash in some emergency your get will come in handy. Here again, rotate lied-din- medical items as needed. We cannot stress too much the goods, frozen goods, and bulk goods. Food manufacturers are finding through testing and time that food will often keep much longer than is indicated in these charts. The important thing is to watch for bulging cans, discoloration, or cans that squirt liquid when opened. Throw these out. the shelf life indicated will give you the optimum in taste and quality. Here again, this problem will not arise if you rememlier the cardinal rule in successful home storage: Use and rotate. WE CAN COVER only a small amount of the information you may need to get started with your storage plan in one article. Rememlier to use the experts - many of them are in print. These are not hard and fast rules. Estimates of quantities necessary for self preservation and expanded food storage will vary. Use your own experience and judgment and suit your plan to your own families needs. But whatever you do, do it now! Basics UTAH STATE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES One adult per year Item Wheat Powdered milk (Nonfat) Sugar Honey Salt Water 7 to 14 gallons One-ha- gallon per person per day (drinking and food lf preparation) Bleach Matches Candles Coal (lump) Bathroom tissue Vitamins The key to successful storage is rotation. Use what you store , and then replace it. After the Basics Non-Foo- d Items A listing of suggested d items for storage purposes. Choose any of these items that will best serve your storage needs. Item Estimated amount per family per year Bleach. 1 gallon Matches 2 boxes Candles 365 Coal (lump) Approximately 1 ton Bathroom tissue 60 rolls s Additional in alphabetical order: Aspirin Ax (Scout) Blankets, quilts and other bedding items (sleeping bags) Battery run radio Batteries (extra) Bum medicine Bandages (in addition to first aid kit) Cooking pots Can openers (2 or 3 good ones) Canning supplies (lids, rings, jars, etc) Cleaner (cleaning and cleanser supplies, include antiseptic cleaner or spray) First Aid Kit Flashlight (Extra bulbs and batteries). Perhaps one for each family member) Fire extinguisher (keep one in the home) Gloves - heavy Hot water bag Hand wheat grinder Knives, forks, spoons non-foo- Item Shortening Margarine Soda Baking Powder Estimated amount for per year (average) 3 to 6 pounds 12 to 20 pounds 3 pounds 1 adult 3 cans Soap: Hand Clothes wash etc. Dish W'ashing 15 bars bath size 20 - 40 pounds (depending upon size of average wash) 12 quarts or 50 to 60 pounds powdered Next, These Items Might Be Added: Item Food Canned Products: Meats Vegetables Fruits Juices Soups Milk Powdered eggs Dried beans, peas, lentils Gelatin Dessert Powder Yeast: Packages dry These shelves open out into a basement, but they are actually located outside next to the foundation. Others have dug out and cemented in the area beneath front cellars and pit storage, are also coming back into or back porches. d Canned Potatoes-Drie- d Estimated amount for 1 adult per year (average) 75to 100 cans 75 to 100 cans 75 to 100 cans 48 cans 100 cans 20 cans 1 can 20 pounds VA cases (W'atch expiration dates on package. Keep small supply on hand.) 1 can 3 cans(32 ounce size) contains 48 (V4 cup) servings im- portance of rotation to the success of inforyour fiKxl storage. In most of the find will lnaiks or mation pamphlets you information on the shelf life of canned s These Items Might Be Added: g non-food- Paper supplies (include plates, cups, napkins, towels and tissues; also plastic bags, large and small) Pliers Personal items kit (makeup, brush, comb, etc) Sewing kit with needles, straight and safety pins, a variety of thread, scissors, etc. Warm clothing Toothpaste or powder |