Introduce yourself and help break the ice...

[UnknownChef86]

Welcome to the Emergency Food/Supplies forum! And now, for a few questions to break the ice!

How did you become interested in Emergency Food/Supplies preparation?

How did you hear about this forum?

Have you ever had an emergency (natural, man-made, or financial) that caused you to dip into your supplies? How much of a difference did it make?

How long have you been using preparedness techniques?

What is your best tip to those just starting out?

What is the best thing to avoid for those just starting out?

Thanks for your input, and I look forward to seeing you in the forum!

[UnknownChef86]

How did you become interested in Emergency Food/Supplies preparation?
It's something that's intrigued me for years...probably because we've spent too many years living paycheck to paycheck. You learn to tuck away for the lean times. This is just an extended version of it, imo...however, the disaster/emergency preparedness part of it is a valid concern.

How did you hear about this forum?
It was originally spearheaded by another 'Zaar member, Annie H. and Marie Alice. They dragged me in as a host but they didn't have to pull very hard. I was a willing victim...err, volunteer.

Have you ever had an emergency (natural, man-made, or financial) that caused you to dip into your supplies? How much of a difference did it make?
Yes...and it made a huge difference. Ours has been (as mentioned before) primarily financial...and it's made the difference between being able to feed my family without having to go on public assistance. Not saying we haven't been there...we have, and the help was appreciated...but it's nice not to have to go back.

How long have you been using preparedness techniques?
I've been canning most of my life, as my mom taught me how, and tucking foodstuffs away for when the times are tight for the majority of my marriage (21 years). We're finally getting to the point that it isn't as tight financially (thank You, God!), but I still want to be prepared for any emergency situations that may come up.

What is your best tip to those just starting out?
Take it in small bites. Don't think you have to do it all at once.

What is the best thing to avoid for those just starting out?
Panicking and getting taken advantage of by shysters that are more than willing to take your money for things that would cost much, much less (think "Y2K" suppliers).

[saylaveev]

Hello there,

I just happened upon this forum for a totally different reason. Then spent 2 hours reading all the stuff in here.

I've been thinking for a while now that I need to get something going (we live on the ring of fire and are always under warning for an earthquake). But I've never done anything about it.

I was speaking with DH about it and he thinks it a good idea to get started slowly with stuff, so that's what I'm going to do.

I'm spending a few days reviewing what we might need and then will start slowly building up supplies. I already fill empty 2L pop bottles and freeze them (actually to help keep my freezer cold when its empty) but they are a source of fresh tap water that could easily be used for cooking or drinking.

Nest up, I'm not sure, my DH is a level 3 first aid guy (meaning he can deal with the really scary stuff) and has a good kit in his van for work, but we really need a little something inside too.

Thanks for the great ideas!

[Kim D.]

What a great forum! I think being prepared for an emergency is very important. I can't wait to learn from others and hopefully suggest some ideas that could help someone else.

[UnknownChef86]

saylaveev wrote:
Hello there,

Hi!

saylaveev wrote:
I just happened upon this forum for a totally different reason. Then spent 2 hours reading all the stuff in here.

That's what I like to hear!

saylaveev wrote:
I've been thinking for a while now that I need to get something going (we live on the ring of fire and are always under warning for an earthquake). But I've never done anything about it.

Same here. WA state is supposed to be getting "the big one" at some point, and I shudder to think of how many folks truly aren't prepared!

saylaveev wrote:
I was speaking with DH about it and he thinks it a good idea to get started slowly with stuff, so that's what I'm going to do.

That's the best way to do it. Figure out what you can reasonably put away each month...and just make it a priority. Even if it's only $20 a month, that's $20 (in supplies) more than you would have had otherwise. There aren't many folks that can afford to just go out and buy everything they need in one fell swoop...I know we can't. But by taking it a little bit at a time...it gets done.

saylaveev wrote:
I'm spending a few days reviewing what we might need and then will start slowly building up supplies. I already fill empty 2L pop bottles and freeze them (actually to help keep my freezer cold when its empty) but they are a source of fresh tap water that could easily be used for cooking or drinking.

That's a great idea! I know I've done that before, in the past, but need to get back into the habit.

saylaveev wrote:
Next up, I'm not sure, my DH is a level 3 first aid guy (meaning he can deal with the really scary stuff) and has a good kit in his van for work, but we really need a little something inside too.

Reminds me of a true story... One time I called our local fire department and talked to one of the paramedics. Told him I had his "strange question of the day". He laughed and said, "I don't know, I've had some pretty strange ones!" Told him, "Okay...here goes: I know there are different colors, in an emergency, for different degrees of injury. What are they?" He said, "Think of it like a stoplight: green for minor injury, yellow for walking wounded, and red for emergency. Black is for dead..." (pause) ..."Now I have a question." (pause) "May I ask why you want to know?"

I literally LOL! Told him that I'd taken disaster training from the Red Cross, but always had a tough time remembering those colors...kept wanting to get them mixed up. I remembered black, but not the others. Told him it was for my disaster first-aid kit I kept in my car.

Pause...

He said, "That's a pretty complete first aid kit!"

I told him it was his "strange question of the day"! Always wondered what he told his family that night when he went home...

I'm glad you wandered in, saylaveev...hope you stick around for awhile! As my dad would have said, "Take your coat off and sit awhile!"

[UnknownChef86]

Kim D. wrote:
What a great forum! I think being prepared for an emergency is very important. I can't wait to learn from others and hopefully suggest some ideas that could help someone else.

Welcome! Feel free to start a topic or three!

[Dib's]

How did you become interested in Emergency Food/Supplies preparation?
Having lived in States that have/had Earthquakes, Tornados, Hurricanes and Blizzards, you get interested real fast.


How did you hear about this forum?
I heard about the "back to basics" in CC. I drop in from time to time, but with tornado season just a storm away, I thought I would jump back in.


Have you ever had an emergency (natural, man-made, or financial) that caused you to dip into your supplies?
One tornado followed by a hurricane 2 weeks later caused us to live without power of any kind for 6 weeks, with a 4 year old, a two year old and an infant. I made jerky out of everything we had in the freezer which helped allot. I had stored allot of dried beans, pastas, and canned (homemade and store bought) veggies/fruits and sauces. We didnt just dip into the supplies-we tore them up.
(blizzard that lasted for 5 days-no power for 8, toooooo many earthquakes to count-minor power outage, 4 hurricanes with 3 to 10 day power outages)

How much of a difference did it make?
Kept us fed and healthy. Restocking was costly but well worth it.

How long have you been using preparedness techniques?
Over 25 years.


What is your best tip to those just starting out?
Make a list of everything you think you need. Then be realistic.


What is the best thing to avoid for those just starting out?
Counting on others for your survival. They will be looking out for #1, so should you.

Di

[Trail Girl]

Hi!

Long time Zaar fanatic...just never noticed this section of the forums I'll be sure to visit this section on a regular basis!

How did you become interested in Emergency Food/Supplies preparation?
Lets just say I grew with back to nature parents who didn't trust the government. I grew up canning and preserving with my mom.

How did you hear about this forum?
Noticed it tonight as I was scanning the other sections of the forums as usual.

Have you ever had an emergency (natural, man-made, or financial) that caused you to dip into your supplies? How much of a difference did it make?
Yes, I have lived thru a couple floods and a volcano. In a couple cases of extended power outages we have lived quite nicely. We ate well, and never wanted. In fact, it almost seemed bad when the power came back on!

How long have you been using preparedness techniques?
As long as I can remember. But as an adult, the past 5 or so years I have become more serious.

What is your best tip to those just starting out?
Buy only what you actually like to eat. Just becuase it is cheap or affordable doesn't mean you will want to eat it!
Make sure that the food you do stock is rotated every couple months, this helps when your stock is similar to what you eat normally.
Make sure that the food you do have can be prepared without power, on a camping stove or over a fire.
Keep a bug out kit with 72 hours of supplies that you can grab and throw in a vehicle.
If storing food in a garage, be sure to store it in rodent proof containers.


What is the best thing to avoid for those just starting out?
Don't buy too much. Start small, and add as you go.


I am an avid backpacker as well, and run a free website www.freezerbagcooking.com The basis of our website is to show how one can eat simply, economically and fast in the backcountry. And why do I mention this? Well, many of the recipes are great ways to use up dry supplies in your stock, and all are designed to be made with a simple camp stove. Think of it as freeze dried meals without the price.
we have quite a few recipes and a growing section on how to dehydrate foods on the site.

[Maymie]

Hi, nice to meet all of you. I have been a member for several months, but haven't spent much time in the forums. I was looking for some tech support when I ran across this topic.

I guess I have always been interested in being able to take care of myself. I have spent most of my adult life trying to make more of the things I need for myself rather than depending on the nearest grocery store. I believe in being independent (but, my brother calls me cheap).

My husband and I became interested in emergency preparedness a couple years ago when our families were wiped out by Hurricane Katrina. We were lucky, we live about 50 miles from New Orleans. We personally did not take any damage, but in a matter of 2 days my already big family of 6 swelled to 32 people. You wanna talk about an emergency? How about 26 uninvited guests for breakfast, lunch and dinner for 3 weeks? without power? Thankfully, we have a gas stove (won't have it any other way, personally) and we were still able to cook, and as 'luck' would have it, our freezer was defrosting. So all the meat inside of it had to be cooked, quickly.

But after the first three days and the BBQing was over. Now what? My husband and I realized one thing right away. We were NOT prepared for an emergency. We had to drive almost 100 miles to get to a grocery store and we spent way too much money, but we survived the next few weeks. After things began to settle down again we began to prepare for the next time, because, now I am convinced there will be a next time.

The best advice I can give anyone else is that you should begin with the little things like a 3 day pack for each member of your household, then work your way up to a supply that could hold your family for several months.

The thing I would like to help other people avoid is falling into the trap of thinking that the 'calvary' is going to show up anytime soon when a emergency arises. Be ready to take care of you and yours for awhile.

Now I can look back and thank God we were in the position to help people, but it sure was scary trying to find food for so many people in what was essentially a wasteland. Still, we were the lucky ones, and now we know what can happen and how to get ready for it.

[Maymie]

Quote:
I am an avid backpacker as well, and run a free website www.freezerbagcooking.com The basis of our website is to show how one can eat simply, economically and fast in the backcountry. And why do I mention this? Well, many of the recipes are great ways to use up dry supplies in your stock, and all are designed to be made with a simple camp stove. Think of it as freeze dried meals without the price.
we have quite a few recipes and a growing section on how to dehydrate foods on the site.

[/quote]

Dear Queenie,
'Small world' story. I actually have been to your site before. I found a link to it from another preparedness website months ago. I have had some fun playing with your recipes and ideas. Thanks for sharing with me.

[Trail Girl]

Melifacent wrote:
Dear Queenie,
'Small world' story. I actually have been to your site before. I found a link to it from another preparedness website months ago. I have had some fun playing with your recipes and ideas. Thanks for sharing with me.

I love seeing where our site ends up on

[UnknownChef86]

FBC Queenie wrote:
I am an avid backpacker as well, and run a free website www.freezerbagcooking.com The basis of our website is to show how one can eat simply, economically and fast in the backcountry. And why do I mention this? Well, many of the recipes are great ways to use up dry supplies in your stock, and all are designed to be made with a simple camp stove. Think of it as freeze dried meals without the price.
we have quite a few recipes and a growing section on how to dehydrate foods on the site.

That's a great website...I just spent awhile poking around. Nice info and very well presented.

For those that haven't seen it...I'd highly advise checking it out.

Welcome to the forum!

[Trail Girl]

Thank you! I love Zaar.

I am goofing off instead of making strawberry jam tonight..like I should be doing!

[Flourgirl51]

HI
I am new here. I live in a very rural area of northwestern Minnesota. The weather here changes like the wind and you never know if you will get a tornado,flood or winter storm. We have been snowbound in past years and without electricity for long periods of time- especially in winter. I love to cook and can. There is just a sense of security knowing that I have canned food on hand in case the power goes out. We also have a backup source of heat and would be able to cook on the woodstove if need be.
In these changing times of contaminated foods from the store shelves it is good to know that what we are eating is safe.

[Chef on the coast]

UnknownChef86 wrote:
Welcome to the Emergency Food/Supplies forum! And now, for a few questions to break the ice!

How did you become interested in Emergency Food/Supplies preparation?
I live in Tillamook, OR. I have 4 boys and a DH. I think I have always been interested in emergency preparedness. Our church is very big on being prepared and I know my parents are as well.

How did you hear about this forum?
[color=brown]I was browsing and came across the forum.[/color]

Have you ever had an emergency (natural, man-made, or financial) that caused you to dip into your supplies? How much of a difference did it make?
YES! Here in the coast we get flooding. At least once a year. No one comes to the house and we don't leave. House is high enough but we are surrounded by water. During school for DH and a few years after - finances were not ideal. Having started the process of food storage when we first married - and continuing always - we had what we needed AND liked.

How long have you been using preparedness techniques?
Ever since I've been married. I have watched my dad at home and learned bits and pieces mostly from others at church and finding info on my own.

What is your best tip to those just starting out?
I remember just starting out. We budgeted a certain amount for groceries each week. My DH and I were both working. Bringing a good income. We set aside $80 a week for 2. Way more than we needed. So I would shop the adds and buy only what was on sale for starting our food storage. Within 6 months, we had a good variety to live on when needed. We also rotated this food as well. On top of it - we were married in the summer and MIL gave me a canner and some jars. That fall I did pears and applesauce and peaches.
We pretty much stored food either from the store or homecanned for the first year we were married. We ended up living on the majority of it over the next couple years when DH went back to school. Income was low - however - I knew enough to replace what I could when I could.
Having said that mouthful - shop the sales. If you were planning storing food - at least get it on sale!

What is the best thing to avoid for those just starting out?
Before you start storing your food - have a place to put it. If you are in doubt - start with under the beds.

Thanks for your input, and I look forward to seeing you in the forum!