This, along with meat and fish, should be the only thing eligible for the SNAP cards that our government forces us to fund with our tax dollars. Using government funds to buy soda, cake, cookies and candy, that only make the indigent fatter, lazier and sicker is madness. Vote out the Congressional parasites that force this insanity on hardworking American taxpayers.
I always get a kick out of Dave Ramsey's "rice&beans, beans&rice" guidance for folks trying to get out of debt. But he just adds another dimension to what Dr Malone says here, delicious, nutritious, cheap!
When my best friend was living in abject poverty after her divorce from her evil ex, there were periods when she lived on rice and lentils. The nice thing about those ingredients is that some minor changes in seasonings gives you an entirely different meal, even when you're eating it day after day.
I started out years ago with Peterson's "A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants". You'll also learn which plants are poisonous. You might want to consider a guide to wild plants in your state with descriptions and full color photos. The most common ones in KY in my area are wild violets, dandelions, Chickweed, and Lamb's Foot. I eat all of those. Many wild edibles also have medicinal properties, and some, like Red Clover and Yarrow, while not edible (not poisonous but I don't like the taste) have amazing medicinal properties. Mostly used as an infusion (tea). There's a plethora of information on the net....many books as well. Your local library should have a wide selection too. Have fun exploring! Harvest from areas that have not been treated with chemicals or near roadsides.
As I was reading the last lines of this post I was already thinking SNAP...and then you said it! Hope on hope that some of this stuff gets put into law, and that someone on the Trump dream team carries the ball forward in 2028...what this country needs is the very stuff of this article -- return to healthy, common sense fundamentals.
This is what my mealy mouthed Congressman, James Himes of CT 4 said in response to my question as to why he voted against prohibiting SNAP funds for garbage such as candy, cake and cookies.
May 21, 2026
Mr. Bruce V. Miller
Greenwich, CT 06830
Dear Mr. Miller,
Thank you for contacting me about federal nutrition assistance programs. I appreciate your thoughts and am grateful that you took the time to reach out to me.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has been one of the most significant and effective programs for reducing food insecurity in low-income households nationwide. Millions of eligible Americans use their SNAP benefits every day to purchase healthy food. The program, which serves 41 million Americans, has been especially beneficial for families with children, who make up nearly 70% of participants. SNAP assists nearly 400,000 Connecticut residents and helps them put food on the table for their families.
Every five years, Congress must reauthorize the Farm Bill that sets our national agriculture, conservation, and nutrition policies, including SNAP and The Emergency Food Assistance Program. This bill should meaningfully address the needs of American agriculture, rural communities, emergency food distribution organizations, and food-insecure households while responsibly balancing our sustainability goals to address the climate crisis.
I have long advocated for robust funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), SNAP, and other programs that provide those most in need with access to nutritious food. You will be pleased to know that I joined my colleagues in urging the House Appropriations Committee to allocate $7.7 billion for WIC in Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25), ensuring the program is fully funded. Additionally, in the Fiscal Year 2024 government spending legislation, I proudly supported the appropriation of $123 billion for SNAP, and $32 billion for child nutrition programs, and $7.2 billion for WIC. Unfortunately, Republican lawmakers have threatened to slash SNAP funding. I will continue to advocate for nutrition programs because they have proven to be one of our nation’s most effective tools in combatting poverty, improving health outcomes for low-income individuals, and delivering aid directly to those who need it most.
I will monitor developments on the Farm Bill closely and will keep your thoughts in mind once the complete legislative package comes before the full House of Representatives for my consideration and vote. In the meantime, I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure that no American—especially our most vulnerable—is left without help.
Sincerely,
James A. Himes
Member of Congress
What a poltroon. I didn't ask about the climate scam. I didn't ask how much he wanted to lavish on waste and fraud. I simply asked why I - as a taxpayer - should support garbage that make people fat and sick. The reply is patently idiotic.
I couldn't help but think of my parents and how they barely made it thru WWII when Holland was occupied by the Germans. Forced starvation in the winter of 1944. They were in the cities (Haarlem and Rotterdam) and entirely at the end of the food chain. People would bicycle to farms and exchange jewelry for basic staples. Farmers were in a relatively good way as they always are. Never glamorous but necessary. It's still pretty much the same these days: agrarians have it relatively good (especially if a small diversified farm) and the city folk are at the end of the food chain. This dichotomy has existed in so many civilizations.
I look forward to reading your book. It will be a good pairing with John Klar's "The Coming Food Crisis" that I'm just starting in now.
My mom, who grew up on an 80 acre farm in Ohio during the depression, commented many times that she barely noticed the depression, except for the hobos who showed up from time to time looking for food and work. Interesting, they had no electricity, outdoor plumbing, wood stove heating. No utility bills!
My mother, born in 1930, said the same thing, although they mostly lived in small towns since Granddad was a teacher.
Grandma raised chicken and turkeys, kept a cow, grew and canned a big garden every year and kept them all fed. The depression-era struggle for cash for the mortgage and doctor bills was real, even though they ate well.
My mother herself never kept livestock, canned or had a garden. But starting in the early 70s and the "back to the land" movement, her daughter and son-in-law sure did! We eventually became full-time dairy farmers, bottled and sold our own Jersey milk via home delivery and farmer's markets, right up until my husband's illness made that life impossible in the late 90s..
Even today, long since a widow, and certainly nearing the end of my life, I still have hens and a fair-sized raised bed garden, although I have only a small village lot on which to do so.
I freeze, dehydrate and ferment as well as canning; I can, not just vegetables but proteins including bacon and butter, and "whole meals" (chili, Brunswick stew, beef stew, green chili stew, beans and so on). It allows me to buy meat or whatever on sale (hah! some sales these days) and save it not just for 6 months or a year in the freezer but for years on the shelf.
Like anything, all these things takes skills and practice. Where does one learn? I taught myself, for the most part, and read books voraciously.
One of my disillusionments with "prepper" groups was the general and to me- stunning- lack of interest in learning food storage. I had offered to teach anyone the basics, over several years and 3 different groups I was affiliated with and got not one single taker.
Occasionally I find myself in a Facebook group or subreddit about canning, and am proud to say I've been banned from several, for my non-authoritarian take on the USDA. So many of these groups are noobies, certainly, but also massively risk averse.
My wife does much the same canning type stuff and, yes, we know NO ONE around here doing fermenting, canning, dehydrating(deer jerky) like us. In 20 years or so it will be lost.
My wifes parents and mine are gone, of course; hers had a tiny and very poor farmstead in Southern Illinois; lived in a long hollow with two creeks to drive through to attain the house at the top of a muddy hill path.
My understanding is that by the end of the war You couldn't buy anything with jewels money or anything else, simply because by then provisions were sparse and you can't eat gold or jewels
That could be. I know they were eating tulip bulbs. When the German military (not the Gestapo) knew they were losing, they actually allowed airlifts of food to be dropped by the Canadian Air Force. A true and rare piece of forgotten history.
I lived in Holland in the early 60s for a while and what happened during the war was still very high on their minds. The family I lodged with lost their youngest daughter due to starvation. And another thing I learned and that was never, ever say that Dutch is similar to German! I also learnt Dutch good enough that people thought I came from Brabant where the letter 'g' is not so guttural. Oh, yes, I forgot to say I lived in Haarlem and worked in Amsterdam op het Kaisergracht!
Good illustration Doc. Don't forget animal the feed during winters. Critters have to eat too. Some of those items, those that contain fats, should be stored in mylar bags with O2 packets and heat sealed to prevent rancidity. Those in plastic will breathe and should not be exposed to light. If possible, store flour as whole grains then hand mill (the grid may be gone), they contain fats and when milled, exposes more surface area for turning rancid. Flours last up to 3 years before tasting off. Rancid food won't hurt you but will taste off.
When the O2 is removed, it leaves just the nitrogen and inert gasses or "blankets" the food - like in a bag of potato chips. That's not air, it's a nitrogen blanket to preserve freshness and slow rancidity. Vacuum sealing removes air. O2 still remains and most of the nitrogen is removed.
When storing sugar, do not remove the oxygen. Just store it airtight. Removing just the oxygen will turn the sugar into a brick. Storing honey is a no-brainer. When sealed, it lasts for centuries.
When properly prepped, dry goods can last up to 20 years or longer. When your stash is assembled, keep your mouth shut about it.
And as Kim postulated - chocolate - make it dark chocolate. Even when it blooms (turns chalky) it's safe to eat. Don't become a dinosaur. Good call Kin!
I anticipate that in times of severe disruption, there will be efforts to take from those who have (AKA those who prepared). That might come from thieves, or from government; and it can even be difficult to distinguish between these two.
A rural area with neighbors who draw together would be less favorable turf for the roving and the desperate. More populated areas might require different tactics, but storing some of these goods (beans, rice, etc) still has the same advantages. When they storm the property demanding all the Ho-Hos and Hotpockets and Mountain Dew, the visitors may lose interest when all they see is the simple foodstuffs.
One might try setting up decoy Nike or Apple stores to draw away attention. Or post signs above the door that read, "BOOKSTORE." Bookstores can be the safest places in town in times of crisis.
Consequently I have learned to make my own bread, saerkraut, grow 100 heads of garlic and whatever veggies will grow. Unfortunately living on the north shore of Newfoundland the growing season is short and tricky. We've had snow in June. So if you planted at the end of May good luck. The first year that's exactly what happened and we lost 130 plants. But it so gratifying when you pick snow peas from the greenhouse and put them with your mushrooms.
Row covers! In midcoast Maine we have had snow mid May, not quite as bad as June, but row covers and hoops until the end of June do wonders for crops. Amen to the greenhouse. I used to have one until I moved a few years ago, and now I'm looking for the perfect spot for another one. Fresh greens and herbs in December, and early starts in March, is so worth it.
And raised beds. I live on the Pacific coast, and our normal summertime temps are in the mid 60s. I manage to grow most heat-lovers quite well (with the exception of melons) in raised beds.
for me with very gravelly sandy soil, raised beds are out. Raised beds were started in holland which is below sea level and good for soils that are wet. For me, sandy soil, best with hay or straw mulch to keep soil moist and prevent nutrients from draining down to china.
This year we had so much snow we couldn't even get into the yard. I have a 5 foot fence and our escape dog could have walked right over the top. So no using the greenhouse in winter.
I have a young relative who, with a husband and two small children, does not know how to cook much and gets DoorDash for almost every dinner. Oh, and they have some financial problems. My husband and I were not prosperous when our kids were little, but I wasn't going to spend my money on something I could do myself!!
What about canned tuna, dare I say, sardines or other canned or potted meat? I know sardines are great but I can feel the back of my mouth already just typing it.
i am big on canned pink salmon 5.99 for one pound can for my cat, half and half from dry drech food. I like it too. Fifty cans a year. I am up to a dozen.
Disagree. Fish is good for cats, obligate meat eaters, just don’t make it a large part of their diet. Also, the recommendation is canned fish in water (think sardines, mackerel) vs oil but this should be talked with a grain of salt - partly because too many tinned fish in oil has added stuff (salt, other seasonings, tomatoes, mustard) which shouldn’t be fed to your feline favorites.
When I’m in a tinned fish cycle, I’ll share a plain drained sardine with the clowder every once in a while with their evening meal. Why evening meal?, probably ‘cause I some how don’t thing of sardines as a breakfast food — may have to rethink that 😉.
Yes, on the obligate carnivore. They also are historically desert animals. How many wild cats play or hunt or just are ever in the water? Tigers and...? Domestic cats like moving water because they are wired to test for living/fresh water vs stagnant water that would be often found in arid places. Cats get most of their "water" from their food. Dogs can drink "like a camel," but I have never known a cat to. There again, you may have more experience on this. Most of my knowledge comes from researching species appropriate diets for dogs (opportunistic carnivores) which were most often accompanied by the species appropriate diet information on cats. Perhaps we DO agree; they can eat it and they love it because it smells so strong, but should eat it more as a treat.
Food for thought for sure. Do have an egg a day (from the store - no chickens). My MD has said no milk (severely limit calcium). My most promising encounter with beans - boston baked beans.
It's clear, I would need a cook book tailored to these staples. Then to adapt to my glass dish and mw.
That noted, with the insane taxes, fees, energy and maintenence costs, prepping needs serious consideration.
Love your book cover! Have your book ordered
OFF TOPIC:
Your cows look magnificent. They've filled out over the winter and look very well satisfied
i see the IMA has written in to Thune requesting Cassidy be replaced. As of this am, he's already spitefully changing a critical vote to oppose Trump. Hope there will be additional support to get him off the medical committee. Between now and January he could reek havoc.
. I would add one critical thing to make sure every single one of those items is organic. Glyphosate is sprayed on most grains and legumes to bring them to harvest more quickly. What that does is rob them of nutrients, as well as interfering with all sorts of metabolic functions And other harms Too numerous to lift list Too numerous to lift list here. There are places that you can get organic in large quantities, such as as azurestandard.com or myunfi.com. There are usually local groups where you have a drop point to pick up from once a month
I'd also like to point out that there are many organic farms worth checking out as suppliers that are not certified. The only reason they are not certified is bc of the onerous government regulations and related expense. Simply converting soil takes about 3 years and many farmers can't afford to fallow land that long. If they make it that far, then comes an even bigger drain on any crop profits. Those that have sacrificed income to convert, deserve consideration even when they are not "officially certified."
Good point, my brother has a 14 acre "organic" farm and is not certified for the reasons you cite. The problem with an organic farm is you have no control over what your neighbors are doing or are doing when the wind blows. Last time I visited, boy howdy, did I get a couple earfuls.
Diligently read reviews on Azure products - there have been a few instances when a substandard product has slipped through. Caveat: Azure "substandard" review may be a comparable issue. Not Azure, I’ve had an instance or two buying local grain/berries (Montanan) where I’ve had to do a final cleaning of grain that arrived with too much chaff for my preference - which was a new issue. 🤔 come to think of it, forgot to cry or leave a bad review. Dang
One of my fav complaints, even post "pandemic." All of the generic grocery stores ‘round here have probably doubled the number of aisles with refrigerators and freezers - and it ain’t all bagged veggies. While at the same time shelf space for rice/beans/pulses etc seems to decrease every year.
Reading this post and all the comments made me realize how I am such a product of my city upbringing! I know nothing truly about surviving on my own. Your new book, Drs Malone, will perhaps start me off in the right direction. At my advanced age, it will be educational to learn new skills that will sustain me if the Sh&t hits the fan while I am still walking on our beautiful earth!
Adding to the food is also a well stocked safe of various ammo. You can also hunt for the meat proteins that you may not have raised yourself as venison has tremendous value in the protein dept. Depending on where you live you could have wild turkey plus ducks (I’m a lover of ducks though and couldn’t kill them unless it was a serious survival situation). Living off the land can sustain you more than anyone realizes.
In an extreme emergency, soy is a complete protein. That is why it is included in the list.
People worry about estrogens in soy - but... it contains p"hytoestrogens, specifically a class of compounds called isoflavones (primarily genistein and daidzein). While these plant compounds share a structural similarity with human estrogen and can bind to estrogen receptors, they are chemically distinct and do not convert into the estrogen produced by the human body."
I have relied on unsweetened soy milk for a long time because dairy causes itchy eyes, runny nose, and sneezing if I have it more than once or twice a week (especially during spring and fall). Most of the soy milk is used to make yogurt, and fermented soy foods are especially valuable. Soy has gotten an unjustified bad rap concerning phytoestrogens, but most soy is GMO and sprayed with glyphosate, so it’s especially important to buy organic soy foods.
If you also can’t eat dairy, coconut milk has benefits and it’s delicious, but has no protein. A lot of nut milks are watered down. Making your own in a blender by soaking them first is not difficult, and you can make it richer and more nutritious.
Have you ever tried "black" fermented garlic, last forever, it is what I call vegan candy. You can buy a cooker from amazon, cook up about 10 pounds, and leave it in your pantry, no refrigeration necessary. It will complement stir fries, great in salads, and you never know the fantastic nutritional value this garlic contains.
This, along with meat and fish, should be the only thing eligible for the SNAP cards that our government forces us to fund with our tax dollars. Using government funds to buy soda, cake, cookies and candy, that only make the indigent fatter, lazier and sicker is madness. Vote out the Congressional parasites that force this insanity on hardworking American taxpayers.
Rice and beans goes a long way. Throw in some greens and you're good to go on the cheap.
I always get a kick out of Dave Ramsey's "rice&beans, beans&rice" guidance for folks trying to get out of debt. But he just adds another dimension to what Dr Malone says here, delicious, nutritious, cheap!
When my best friend was living in abject poverty after her divorce from her evil ex, there were periods when she lived on rice and lentils. The nice thing about those ingredients is that some minor changes in seasonings gives you an entirely different meal, even when you're eating it day after day.
There's an abundance of wild edible roots and greens out there too.
Any good resource for that? Thx in advance.
I started out years ago with Peterson's "A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants". You'll also learn which plants are poisonous. You might want to consider a guide to wild plants in your state with descriptions and full color photos. The most common ones in KY in my area are wild violets, dandelions, Chickweed, and Lamb's Foot. I eat all of those. Many wild edibles also have medicinal properties, and some, like Red Clover and Yarrow, while not edible (not poisonous but I don't like the taste) have amazing medicinal properties. Mostly used as an infusion (tea). There's a plethora of information on the net....many books as well. Your local library should have a wide selection too. Have fun exploring! Harvest from areas that have not been treated with chemicals or near roadsides.
And those greens can be seeds that you've sprouted.
As I was reading the last lines of this post I was already thinking SNAP...and then you said it! Hope on hope that some of this stuff gets put into law, and that someone on the Trump dream team carries the ball forward in 2028...what this country needs is the very stuff of this article -- return to healthy, common sense fundamentals.
Was the way it was...called commodities.
This is what my mealy mouthed Congressman, James Himes of CT 4 said in response to my question as to why he voted against prohibiting SNAP funds for garbage such as candy, cake and cookies.
May 21, 2026
Mr. Bruce V. Miller
Greenwich, CT 06830
Dear Mr. Miller,
Thank you for contacting me about federal nutrition assistance programs. I appreciate your thoughts and am grateful that you took the time to reach out to me.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has been one of the most significant and effective programs for reducing food insecurity in low-income households nationwide. Millions of eligible Americans use their SNAP benefits every day to purchase healthy food. The program, which serves 41 million Americans, has been especially beneficial for families with children, who make up nearly 70% of participants. SNAP assists nearly 400,000 Connecticut residents and helps them put food on the table for their families.
Every five years, Congress must reauthorize the Farm Bill that sets our national agriculture, conservation, and nutrition policies, including SNAP and The Emergency Food Assistance Program. This bill should meaningfully address the needs of American agriculture, rural communities, emergency food distribution organizations, and food-insecure households while responsibly balancing our sustainability goals to address the climate crisis.
I have long advocated for robust funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), SNAP, and other programs that provide those most in need with access to nutritious food. You will be pleased to know that I joined my colleagues in urging the House Appropriations Committee to allocate $7.7 billion for WIC in Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25), ensuring the program is fully funded. Additionally, in the Fiscal Year 2024 government spending legislation, I proudly supported the appropriation of $123 billion for SNAP, and $32 billion for child nutrition programs, and $7.2 billion for WIC. Unfortunately, Republican lawmakers have threatened to slash SNAP funding. I will continue to advocate for nutrition programs because they have proven to be one of our nation’s most effective tools in combatting poverty, improving health outcomes for low-income individuals, and delivering aid directly to those who need it most.
I will monitor developments on the Farm Bill closely and will keep your thoughts in mind once the complete legislative package comes before the full House of Representatives for my consideration and vote. In the meantime, I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure that no American—especially our most vulnerable—is left without help.
Sincerely,
James A. Himes
Member of Congress
What a poltroon. I didn't ask about the climate scam. I didn't ask how much he wanted to lavish on waste and fraud. I simply asked why I - as a taxpayer - should support garbage that make people fat and sick. The reply is patently idiotic.
It’s also canned, clipped and pasted into every letter he writes. I know because I do it too sometimes 😱
You forgot chocolate. As you said in a previous post, dinosaurs didn’t have chocolate and look what happened to them.
😂😂
No! Without chocolate, the rest isn't worth the effort!!
But watch out for the new fake chocolate that is coming down the pike!
oh no :( I had no idea. Maybe it’s time I give up this weakness...
some of us are allergic to coffee tea chocolate. so go figure
Excellent observation.... :)
100% accurate.
I couldn't help but think of my parents and how they barely made it thru WWII when Holland was occupied by the Germans. Forced starvation in the winter of 1944. They were in the cities (Haarlem and Rotterdam) and entirely at the end of the food chain. People would bicycle to farms and exchange jewelry for basic staples. Farmers were in a relatively good way as they always are. Never glamorous but necessary. It's still pretty much the same these days: agrarians have it relatively good (especially if a small diversified farm) and the city folk are at the end of the food chain. This dichotomy has existed in so many civilizations.
I look forward to reading your book. It will be a good pairing with John Klar's "The Coming Food Crisis" that I'm just starting in now.
My mom, who grew up on an 80 acre farm in Ohio during the depression, commented many times that she barely noticed the depression, except for the hobos who showed up from time to time looking for food and work. Interesting, they had no electricity, outdoor plumbing, wood stove heating. No utility bills!
My mother, born in 1930, said the same thing, although they mostly lived in small towns since Granddad was a teacher.
Grandma raised chicken and turkeys, kept a cow, grew and canned a big garden every year and kept them all fed. The depression-era struggle for cash for the mortgage and doctor bills was real, even though they ate well.
My mother herself never kept livestock, canned or had a garden. But starting in the early 70s and the "back to the land" movement, her daughter and son-in-law sure did! We eventually became full-time dairy farmers, bottled and sold our own Jersey milk via home delivery and farmer's markets, right up until my husband's illness made that life impossible in the late 90s..
Even today, long since a widow, and certainly nearing the end of my life, I still have hens and a fair-sized raised bed garden, although I have only a small village lot on which to do so.
I freeze, dehydrate and ferment as well as canning; I can, not just vegetables but proteins including bacon and butter, and "whole meals" (chili, Brunswick stew, beef stew, green chili stew, beans and so on). It allows me to buy meat or whatever on sale (hah! some sales these days) and save it not just for 6 months or a year in the freezer but for years on the shelf.
Like anything, all these things takes skills and practice. Where does one learn? I taught myself, for the most part, and read books voraciously.
One of my disillusionments with "prepper" groups was the general and to me- stunning- lack of interest in learning food storage. I had offered to teach anyone the basics, over several years and 3 different groups I was affiliated with and got not one single taker.
Occasionally I find myself in a Facebook group or subreddit about canning, and am proud to say I've been banned from several, for my non-authoritarian take on the USDA. So many of these groups are noobies, certainly, but also massively risk averse.
interesting post.
My wife does much the same canning type stuff and, yes, we know NO ONE around here doing fermenting, canning, dehydrating(deer jerky) like us. In 20 years or so it will be lost.
My wifes parents and mine are gone, of course; hers had a tiny and very poor farmstead in Southern Illinois; lived in a long hollow with two creeks to drive through to attain the house at the top of a muddy hill path.
First time I saw it. . . Whoa!
My understanding is that by the end of the war You couldn't buy anything with jewels money or anything else, simply because by then provisions were sparse and you can't eat gold or jewels
That could be. I know they were eating tulip bulbs. When the German military (not the Gestapo) knew they were losing, they actually allowed airlifts of food to be dropped by the Canadian Air Force. A true and rare piece of forgotten history.
I lived in Holland in the early 60s for a while and what happened during the war was still very high on their minds. The family I lodged with lost their youngest daughter due to starvation. And another thing I learned and that was never, ever say that Dutch is similar to German! I also learnt Dutch good enough that people thought I came from Brabant where the letter 'g' is not so guttural. Oh, yes, I forgot to say I lived in Haarlem and worked in Amsterdam op het Kaisergracht!
Good illustration Doc. Don't forget animal the feed during winters. Critters have to eat too. Some of those items, those that contain fats, should be stored in mylar bags with O2 packets and heat sealed to prevent rancidity. Those in plastic will breathe and should not be exposed to light. If possible, store flour as whole grains then hand mill (the grid may be gone), they contain fats and when milled, exposes more surface area for turning rancid. Flours last up to 3 years before tasting off. Rancid food won't hurt you but will taste off.
When the O2 is removed, it leaves just the nitrogen and inert gasses or "blankets" the food - like in a bag of potato chips. That's not air, it's a nitrogen blanket to preserve freshness and slow rancidity. Vacuum sealing removes air. O2 still remains and most of the nitrogen is removed.
When storing sugar, do not remove the oxygen. Just store it airtight. Removing just the oxygen will turn the sugar into a brick. Storing honey is a no-brainer. When sealed, it lasts for centuries.
When properly prepped, dry goods can last up to 20 years or longer. When your stash is assembled, keep your mouth shut about it.
And as Kim postulated - chocolate - make it dark chocolate. Even when it blooms (turns chalky) it's safe to eat. Don't become a dinosaur. Good call Kin!
WRT mylar bags, if mice are a problem at all, they'll be into them. I have mine stored in metal trash cans and aggressive mouse and rat control.
Too true about not letting others know about your stash! Sharing is one thing, but having it taken by force is quite another.
I anticipate that in times of severe disruption, there will be efforts to take from those who have (AKA those who prepared). That might come from thieves, or from government; and it can even be difficult to distinguish between these two.
A rural area with neighbors who draw together would be less favorable turf for the roving and the desperate. More populated areas might require different tactics, but storing some of these goods (beans, rice, etc) still has the same advantages. When they storm the property demanding all the Ho-Hos and Hotpockets and Mountain Dew, the visitors may lose interest when all they see is the simple foodstuffs.
One might try setting up decoy Nike or Apple stores to draw away attention. Or post signs above the door that read, "BOOKSTORE." Bookstores can be the safest places in town in times of crisis.
Also "JOB CENTER" can be used as a deterrent to urban ferals. Or perhaps "PATERNITY LAB".
Or Learing Center -- get the fear of both books and Muslims together
Urban ferals are more likely to be allies of Muslims than fearful of them.
I dunno about that, unless they're also Muslims.
So true
Since I retired I have more time
Consequently I have learned to make my own bread, saerkraut, grow 100 heads of garlic and whatever veggies will grow. Unfortunately living on the north shore of Newfoundland the growing season is short and tricky. We've had snow in June. So if you planted at the end of May good luck. The first year that's exactly what happened and we lost 130 plants. But it so gratifying when you pick snow peas from the greenhouse and put them with your mushrooms.
Row covers! In midcoast Maine we have had snow mid May, not quite as bad as June, but row covers and hoops until the end of June do wonders for crops. Amen to the greenhouse. I used to have one until I moved a few years ago, and now I'm looking for the perfect spot for another one. Fresh greens and herbs in December, and early starts in March, is so worth it.
And raised beds. I live on the Pacific coast, and our normal summertime temps are in the mid 60s. I manage to grow most heat-lovers quite well (with the exception of melons) in raised beds.
for me with very gravelly sandy soil, raised beds are out. Raised beds were started in holland which is below sea level and good for soils that are wet. For me, sandy soil, best with hay or straw mulch to keep soil moist and prevent nutrients from draining down to china.
This year we had so much snow we couldn't even get into the yard. I have a 5 foot fence and our escape dog could have walked right over the top. So no using the greenhouse in winter.
This is what I have waiting for…pre-order NOW! Done, thank you
Thank you!
Thank YOU!
Me too!
I have a young relative who, with a husband and two small children, does not know how to cook much and gets DoorDash for almost every dinner. Oh, and they have some financial problems. My husband and I were not prosperous when our kids were little, but I wasn't going to spend my money on something I could do myself!!
What about canned tuna, dare I say, sardines or other canned or potted meat? I know sardines are great but I can feel the back of my mouth already just typing it.
i am big on canned pink salmon 5.99 for one pound can for my cat, half and half from dry drech food. I like it too. Fifty cans a year. I am up to a dozen.
Fish is actually not that great for cats even tho' they all seem to love it.
Disagree. Fish is good for cats, obligate meat eaters, just don’t make it a large part of their diet. Also, the recommendation is canned fish in water (think sardines, mackerel) vs oil but this should be talked with a grain of salt - partly because too many tinned fish in oil has added stuff (salt, other seasonings, tomatoes, mustard) which shouldn’t be fed to your feline favorites.
When I’m in a tinned fish cycle, I’ll share a plain drained sardine with the clowder every once in a while with their evening meal. Why evening meal?, probably ‘cause I some how don’t thing of sardines as a breakfast food — may have to rethink that 😉.
Yes, on the obligate carnivore. They also are historically desert animals. How many wild cats play or hunt or just are ever in the water? Tigers and...? Domestic cats like moving water because they are wired to test for living/fresh water vs stagnant water that would be often found in arid places. Cats get most of their "water" from their food. Dogs can drink "like a camel," but I have never known a cat to. There again, you may have more experience on this. Most of my knowledge comes from researching species appropriate diets for dogs (opportunistic carnivores) which were most often accompanied by the species appropriate diet information on cats. Perhaps we DO agree; they can eat it and they love it because it smells so strong, but should eat it more as a treat.
Food for thought for sure. Do have an egg a day (from the store - no chickens). My MD has said no milk (severely limit calcium). My most promising encounter with beans - boston baked beans.
It's clear, I would need a cook book tailored to these staples. Then to adapt to my glass dish and mw.
That noted, with the insane taxes, fees, energy and maintenence costs, prepping needs serious consideration.
Love your book cover! Have your book ordered
OFF TOPIC:
Your cows look magnificent. They've filled out over the winter and look very well satisfied
i see the IMA has written in to Thune requesting Cassidy be replaced. As of this am, he's already spitefully changing a critical vote to oppose Trump. Hope there will be additional support to get him off the medical committee. Between now and January he could reek havoc.
Have a pleasant day.
wreak
. I would add one critical thing to make sure every single one of those items is organic. Glyphosate is sprayed on most grains and legumes to bring them to harvest more quickly. What that does is rob them of nutrients, as well as interfering with all sorts of metabolic functions And other harms Too numerous to lift list Too numerous to lift list here. There are places that you can get organic in large quantities, such as as azurestandard.com or myunfi.com. There are usually local groups where you have a drop point to pick up from once a month
That point is in the article - it is just a single sentence.
Great tip on where to get bulk organic!
I'd also like to point out that there are many organic farms worth checking out as suppliers that are not certified. The only reason they are not certified is bc of the onerous government regulations and related expense. Simply converting soil takes about 3 years and many farmers can't afford to fallow land that long. If they make it that far, then comes an even bigger drain on any crop profits. Those that have sacrificed income to convert, deserve consideration even when they are not "officially certified."
Good point, my brother has a 14 acre "organic" farm and is not certified for the reasons you cite. The problem with an organic farm is you have no control over what your neighbors are doing or are doing when the wind blows. Last time I visited, boy howdy, did I get a couple earfuls.
Diligently read reviews on Azure products - there have been a few instances when a substandard product has slipped through. Caveat: Azure "substandard" review may be a comparable issue. Not Azure, I’ve had an instance or two buying local grain/berries (Montanan) where I’ve had to do a final cleaning of grain that arrived with too much chaff for my preference - which was a new issue. 🤔 come to think of it, forgot to cry or leave a bad review. Dang
the first link fails. . . azy. . .
Corrected and the other link updated as well.
During the 'pandemic' it was funny to go into a grocery store and see the shelves empty, yet produce was abundant!
One of my fav complaints, even post "pandemic." All of the generic grocery stores ‘round here have probably doubled the number of aisles with refrigerators and freezers - and it ain’t all bagged veggies. While at the same time shelf space for rice/beans/pulses etc seems to decrease every year.
250 pages! (not 400) Thank you!
Thanks also for saying nice nice to my oatmeal habit :).
Reading this post and all the comments made me realize how I am such a product of my city upbringing! I know nothing truly about surviving on my own. Your new book, Drs Malone, will perhaps start me off in the right direction. At my advanced age, it will be educational to learn new skills that will sustain me if the Sh&t hits the fan while I am still walking on our beautiful earth!
Adding to the food is also a well stocked safe of various ammo. You can also hunt for the meat proteins that you may not have raised yourself as venison has tremendous value in the protein dept. Depending on where you live you could have wild turkey plus ducks (I’m a lover of ducks though and couldn’t kill them unless it was a serious survival situation). Living off the land can sustain you more than anyone realizes.
In an extreme emergency, soy is a complete protein. That is why it is included in the list.
People worry about estrogens in soy - but... it contains p"hytoestrogens, specifically a class of compounds called isoflavones (primarily genistein and daidzein). While these plant compounds share a structural similarity with human estrogen and can bind to estrogen receptors, they are chemically distinct and do not convert into the estrogen produced by the human body."
I believe that brown rice and beans make a complete protein too.
I have relied on unsweetened soy milk for a long time because dairy causes itchy eyes, runny nose, and sneezing if I have it more than once or twice a week (especially during spring and fall). Most of the soy milk is used to make yogurt, and fermented soy foods are especially valuable. Soy has gotten an unjustified bad rap concerning phytoestrogens, but most soy is GMO and sprayed with glyphosate, so it’s especially important to buy organic soy foods.
Try goat milk, if it's available where you are.
Goat’s milk and sheep’s milk cheeses or yogurt are available, which I have sometimes, but I don’t seem to be able to eat them every day either.
Gotcha.
I’m allergic to soy — ingesting any form sends me to the hospital for steroid and Benadryl shots. What would you recommend as the best substitute?
If you also can’t eat dairy, coconut milk has benefits and it’s delicious, but has no protein. A lot of nut milks are watered down. Making your own in a blender by soaking them first is not difficult, and you can make it richer and more nutritious.
As a critters person I don't champion it, but there are also rabbits, squirrels and fish.
Don't forget a pond if you have the room. Our bluegill breed faster than we can eat them!
Have you ever tried "black" fermented garlic, last forever, it is what I call vegan candy. You can buy a cooker from amazon, cook up about 10 pounds, and leave it in your pantry, no refrigeration necessary. It will complement stir fries, great in salads, and you never know the fantastic nutritional value this garlic contains.