Our Mini Market...AKA Food Storage!

Our Emergency Preparedness Closet has been a long process. But, it is finally finished (well, is it really ever finished? No, it's a work in progress.)

When we were looking for a home a few years ago, I specifically looked for closets or rooms that could be a Food Storage/Emergency Preparedness storage. That was one thing I really liked about this home, it had two master bedroom walk-in closets.

I am happy to say, that I finally finished the closet this month. It is difficult to see in the photos, but it is a large walk in closet in the master bathroom. It is an interior room of the house, under the stairs. As you walk into the closet on the right I have two large metal shelves, where I will store 3 months worth of groceries, hygiene, and laundry needs. (I do not have even close to 3 months but I am slowly adding to it weekly. It won't be long until I have the 3 months). I chose foods for these shelves that are every day groceries, that I can use to cook a breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Here is an idea for those of you looking to begin your 3 month grocery storage. I make a grocery shopping list every two weeks. I shop for two weeks worth of food for my family. At the end of the two weeks, before I go shopping again, I clear out of my pantry any meals we did not use over the two weeks. (we either went out for dinner, we were invited to someones home for dinner or I changed my menu and made something else.)

Say there are three meals left over, I clear those out of the pantry and put them into the food storage closet. So, instead of setting aside money each month to purchase food storage, I am doing it backwards, and putting in storage what I didn't use...and there is always something I didn't use. (I must add, I do purchase cases of canned fruit, vegetables and other items at Costco and toss them itno the storage frequently) My kids are even getting into storage. They will look in the pantry and say,"mom, we didn't open this box of cereal! Can it go into storage!" Why, yes it can! I love getting to the end of the two weeks and clearing the pantry and filling up shelf space in the food storage closet! :)

Onto the next pictures. Looking straight into the closet, I have on those shelves, lanterns, flash lights, batteries, two way radios, a hand crank radio, wheat grinder (electric and hand) and the generator. (grinder and generator on the floor)

To the left as you walk into the closet is the 72 hour kits. We have a piece of small rolling luggage, and inside that are all of the backpacks. We also have pillows, sleeping bags, portable 72 hour kit food and water, matches, candles, first aid kits, card games, etc. in this area. It is all packed and ready to go if an emergency should arise.

Up on the shelves above the 3 month groceries (near the ceiling) is TP and paper plates, paper bowls, paper cups, napkins and plasticware. I have kept these in stock since Hurricane Ike hit us last Fall. When you don't have electricity for 14 days, doing the dishes by hand and by lantern light, get's old real fast.

Surrounding the walls of the closet are boxes and boxes of #10 size canned food. I call it our foundation foods. Wheat, rice, all assortment of beans, salt, oil, white and wheat flour, sugar (brown and white), oats, pasta, powdered milk and dehydrated foods.

Dehydrated foods I store:
TPV meats- Beef, chicken, ham, sausage, bacon, taco, BBQ Beef, sloppy joes.
Vegetables - Green beans, peas, corn, carrots, potatoes, veggie mix.
Fruit - Banana chips, apples, peaches, strawberries.
Powder Eggs, powder butter & margarine, powder cheese.
Cornstarch
Baking soda
Baking Powder
Tomato powder
Soup Mixes: (just add water) cream soups and broth soups (all varieties).

Water storage. I plan to purchase 20 case of bottled water and keep in the storage room. Out in the garage I have (7) 50 gallon drums of water (with pump) and several 10 gallon jugs of water.

I have to say, I feel at peace.

If anyone would like to come over and take a tour, you are more than welcome. These pictures don't show the room very well.




(I promise that is Martinelli's sparkling cider on the shelf. Nothing else! :)