Last updated Sunday May 20, 2012
I set a goal to have 2 years worth of grains, beans and milk, and 1 year of sugar, flour and canned goods for my family of six.
I built a room in my basement with a sturdy shelving system to keep all the bulk foods off of the ground but still within reach. I wanted every bucket to be easily identifiable and accessible.
Each bucket has a label and a date system that allows for easy rotation, inventory and re-use.
Raw ingredients cost less than store bought meals. Plus, you are in control of what goes into your food.
Wheat stores for 30+ years. In 2011, we finished off two 5-gallon cans of wheat from 1970 that my mom gave us. Mmm Mmm! Taste that non-genetically altered whole wheat goodness.
Rice and beans store for 10-15 years
Sugar stores for 3-5 years
Morning Moos Milk stores for 1-3 years
Just because a grain or bean can be stored for decades doesn't mean you should store it for that long. The idea here is to eat what you store. Make it a part of your everyday diet.
About every 6 months to a year, I inventory our food storage and replenish what we have already eaten. On these occasions, I buy about 200-450 lbs of grain, sugar, milk and beans. It costs about $250 to replenish the supply.
In this way, we always have a 2-year supply of food that is still nutritious, healthy and tasty.