Food & Medical storage information
bulk foods, food storage, vegetable garden, organic growing, chickens, medical supplies, vegetable seeds

By Ken, Pindari Herb Farm, Tasmania
Email: ken@pindariherbfarm.com

Introduction

There is a growing awareness amongst the people of the world of an undercurrent of change that is sweeping the planet. We all are experiencing increasing mental and emotional trauma resulting in rising levels of confrontation and violence. How and why this is happening and where it is coming from, is not generally known nor understood.

Many of us are finding our lives increasingly difficult and challenging. Around us, our family and friends are experiencing similar increasingly difficult times. Communities are undergoing a shift in emphasis with more attention being given to law and order, and security of person and property.

There is an increasing negative, destructive influence at work. This insidious dark power will continue to intensify to such an extent that world society will collapse. The understanding of what is occurring is explained in the document "The Testament of Truth" available at the web site: www.the-testament-of-truth.com or www.the-testament-of-truth.co.uk

We ask that you pass this information on to all. This will help those experiencing physical, mental and emotional trauma, to understand what is taking place. They will then be able to obtain further information and guidance as to what can be done to help themselves and others, to remain sane, loving and caring in what they do.

With the rapid breakdown in social order and the physical and ecological disasters occurring on earth, more people will become aware of the need for the putting away of provision such as food, medicine and other essentials to assist us through the transition stage of becoming self sufficient.

The importance of the preparation of the mind through the given meditational prayer can not be over emphasised for those who wish to prepare for the times near at hand. Having put provisions away for the comfort of the physical side of us is useless unless we are mentally preparing. It is the destiny of our soul that is of paramount importance.

The information in this document is written for those people living in urban areas in more developed countries. Those people living in rural areas may glean what they wish from the information below.

Why storage is necessary.

There will be little or no transport, thus people in cities will be forced into the countryside in order to try and find food.
With no transport there will be little if any fuel and thus high yield agriculture as we know it will no longer exist.
Food will become the most important of commodities. Thus while food is still available it should be purchased now and stored for the times ahead when there will be many mouths to feed.
It will be a time of great need to share all with the needy.
The availability of reticulated water, electricity and medical supplies and services may be very limited or non-existent.
Thus it is important that the "welcome farms" as described in "The Testament of Truth"
( www.the-testament-of-truth.com) be prepared now while services and provisions are still available.

For alternative power options go to “Environment & Industry” at the same web address.

Containers

Containers for food need to be water proof and vermin proof (preferably metal):

1. 200 litre (44 gallon) clean open mouth drums may be obtained from food manufacturing factories etc.
   Plastic bag liners may be available and care must be taken once the food has been placed in the drum that the drum is not subject to extremes of temperature allowing condensation to form on the inside of the drum, thus potentially spoiling the food
2. 20 litre square sided honey tins. These may be acquired from bee keeping suppliers and are excellent for storing food where the food may need to be moved.
3. There are many other storage containers that may be used eg. galvanised water tanks, 20 litre round food pails, large glass bottles, large concrete water pipes, heavy plastic bags.

Which Foods are best for storage.

Seven factors may be considered in deciding which foods to store.

1. Calories. This is the energy carried within the food and provides the body with energy to function.
2. Nutrition. This is the vitamins, minerals, essential oils, fibre etc that are essential for health.
3. Life force. This is the vitality of the food that can add to the vitality of the individual.
4. Storage life. This is the time in which the food can be stored without losing it vitality, nutritional qualities and edibility.
5. Bulk. Storing foods efficiently requires choosing compact foods that hold a high calorie and nutritional value in a small volume.
6. Cost per calorie.
7. Preserving or protecting the food once stored from weevils, vermin and oxidation.

Food types

1. Grains. Unground cereal grains such as wheat, rye, barley, oats, maize, rice, sorghum and millet are ideal for storing. Wheat keeps the best of these and rice the least. Wheat has been stored in underground plastic lined pits for many years without going rancid. Rice apparently does not keep for more than one or two years.
   Grains need to be protected from weevil infestation and moisture.
2. Legumes. These are foods such as beans, lentils, peas, chickpeas and soy beans. They store well although some may dry out and become very hard. They compliment cereals by balancing the protein content.
3. Edible Seeds. There are many varieties of seeds that can be stored such as sesame, sunflower, alfalfa, pumpkin, poppy and linseed. These need similar storage conditions to cereals.
4. Nuts. Nuts such as almonds, walnuts peanuts
5. Spices. Examples of spices are cardamom, caraway, cinnamon, cloves, dill, peppers, mustard, and celery. There are many spices not mentioned, all can be stored so that they can be used to enhance the flavour.
6. Salt. This should be included in the storage list, needing only to be kept dry. Use "iodised" if possible.
7. Sweeteners. Honey, sugar and malt etc are high calorie foods providing a quick energy source. Honey and malt also contain a modest nutritional value.
8. Oils. Olive oil and Ghee (tinned).
9. Proteins. Tinned meat, fish and other sources of protein.
10. Water. While not normally considered a food, water is an essential nutrient. People who live in towns and cities have become used to turning a tap and getting water. Ahead this may not be the case. Obtaining adequate drinkable water should be a priority in preparing for the times ahead. Rain water can be collected from roofs and stored in tanks. Some provision should be made for sterilising water by boiling. River water quality and quantity should not be assumed. Those people living in towns and cities should consider a stock of water sterilising tablets.
11. Vegetable seeds. The growing of food will be a major need ahead and thus the seeds necessary should be stored along with the other foods. Seeds such as pumpkin, turnip, parsnip, carrot, corn and the cereals can be grown for calories. The leafy vegetables such as silver beet, celery, cabbages, lettuces, parsley etc for the greenery of the meal. Whatever your local climate and food produce is, choose the seeds accordingly and store in a similar way as to cereals. These are best kept in brown paper bags, do not use plastic air tight bags.
12. Basic Provisions Click hyperlink to view a basic provisions list 

How to store and preserve grains and seeds.

Grains and seeds can be protected from weevil infestation in two ways.

1. Commercially, carbon dioxide (CO2) is used to displace the oxygen in the container. This is reported to kill all weevils and their eggs. For those who have the availability in their area of hiring gas bottles of carbon dioxide, a hose can be placed into the bottom of the container, the container filled with grain and then the gas trickled through the hose into the bottom of the vessel. The carbon dioxide gas being heavier and cooler, slowly fills the container. When a flaring match goes instantly out at the top of the container it is full of the gas and the container can then be sealed. If the reduction of the level of oxygen through displacement with carbon dioxide if sufficiently high, it will kill the weevils and eggs.
   It is very important if using large containers that no one enters the container after the carbon dioxide is used as loss of consciousness followed by death may occur due to the lack of oxygen.
   
2. Diatomaceous earth. This is obtained from fossilised sedimentary layers of tiny phytoplankton called diatoms. It can kill insect by desiccation absorbing the oils of the insect allowing dehydration and death. It can also kill the insect through its abrasive action. It is non-toxic but care should be taken to avoid inhaling the dust. Use at a ratio of approx 1 part to 250 parts of grain and mixed into the grain as the container is filled. Diatomaceous earth is non-toxic.
   If the grain is being milled, monitor the process to ensure that the mill surfaces are not worn by the dust. The powder may be washed off before using the grain. Diatomaceous earth does not work as well for maize and is more successful when the moisture content of the grain is low.

Legumes. These may be stored in air-tight containers and appear to keep reasonably well for several years. Some legumes dry out and become very hard over a period of time. These may be ground for use as a "flour."

Nuts. Nuts removed from their shell oxidise quickly and need to be eaten before a year has passed. Unshelled nuts may last longer.

Spices. These will lose some of their flavour over time due to the loss of volatile oils and to oxidation. Many spices keep in air tight containers for several years.

Sweeteners. Raw honey keeps quite well for several years in a sealed container. Sugar keeps indefinitely. Molasses etc can go "off" and should be stored in a sealed container away from light to give it an extended life.
These foods are favourites of ants and care must be taken to use sealed containers

Oils. These need to be stored in airtight tin or dark glass to slow oxidation. They may last one or two years if stored well.

Using the stored foods.

1. Cereals mills. With cereals and seeds, some of them such as rice and oats can be cooked in water and eaten, others can be ground to make a flour and thus bread etc. Thus a means of grinding the grain or seed needs to be acquired.

There are several types of grinders from metal through to stone. It is suggested that the grinder you decide upon should first be trialed to note how efficiently it grinds the grain and how long it takes for the quantity required.

2. Sprouting. Sprouting of seeds, legumes and grains substantially increases the nutritional value and volume of the food. To sprout these foods, a rough guide is as follows:

1. Select, wash and place in a 1 or 2 litre wide mouthed well-washed jar.
2. Allow for a six fold increase in volume. Cover with 4 times the volume of luke warm water and allow to stand overnight or until they have swollen.
3. Pour off water and wash thoroughly and drain well.
4. Cover the jar top with cheesecloth or other mesh screening and tie on securely.
5. Invert jar and place in a cupboard or dark place allowing excess water to drain away.
6. At least once, preferably 3 - 4 times daily, wash thoroughly with plenty of cool water and drain well. This washes away moulds and bacteria that may have developed whilst moistening the seeds.
7. In 3 - 4 days at room temperature the sprouts will be from 1 to 5 cm (0.5 - 2 inches) long. Eat at a time that is found most suitable for each food. They may be lightly cooked if necessary.
8. The food chosen will require its own sprouting time and preparation for eating that can be easily learnt as you go.

Purchasing.

This will depend on which country you live in but listed below are some general guidelines that may help.
Cereals, seeds and legumes can be purchased in bulk directly from farmers, grain merchants and bulk health food wholesalers and retailers. Be sure to state your usage to ensure that the food purchased has not been treated with chemicals making it unsuitable for human consumption.
Other food such as honey may be purchased directly from the producer and tinned meat and fish from supermarkets or wholesalers.

Vegetable Seed List

Below is a list of seeds that can provide basic foods for people who have been placed on a self sufficiency footing. These seeds should be "self-replicating" (nonhybrid) and maintain life for 2 - 3 years. Seed collection would need to be used for long term conditions. Seeds should be selected that are suitable to your climatic conditions, soil type and preferably ones that you are familiar with.

Beans, Beetroot, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Cereal seeds such as Oats, maize, wheat and rye, Leek, Lettuce, Onion, Parsnip(parsnip seeds keep for one year only), Pumpkin, Radish, Silver Beet, Turnip, Water Melon, Winter Squash, Zucchini

Other Storage Items

Below is a check list to help you select other items you may wish to store.

Garden Tools
Axe, bucket,, bush saw, fork, hand trowel, hoe, mattock, spade, wheel barrow, wire netting.

Maintenance Tools
Hammer, hacksaw plus blades, string or twine, measuring tape, hand files, pliers, multigrips, sand paper, plastic sheeting, pen and paper, small level or string level, wood saw, screw drivers, shifting spanners, tomahawk, lubricating oil, sharpening stone, tent repair kit, plastic tubing, nails, screws, plastic tape, thread tape, eye glasses.

These should store in a 20 litres paint tin.

Household Items
general
Candles, matches, newspaper. broom and shovel, clothes pegs and line, bucket, assorted plastic bags, plastic ground sheet, marking pen, water containers, meat safe(hessian bag), compass.
kitchen
hand basin and bowls, tea towels, sponges, dish brush and scourers, washing detergent, cutting board, vegetable peeler, vegetable knife, tea infuser, carrying tray, plates, bowls, mugs, knives, forks, spoons, saucepans, frypan(cast iron etc.), baking dish, water billy or equiv., potato masher, can opener, wooden spoon, ladle, splades, bread knife, scissors
personal
toothbrushes, comb, hair brush, mirror, soap, toilet paper, menstrual pads, flannel, towels, dental floss, writing paper, needle and cotton, nail brush, nail file, scissors, splinter forceps, disposable razors, clothes and footwear including water proofs, hats and sunglasses, carrying bags(knapsacks/backpacks),
sleeping
sleeping mats, woollen blankets, sleeping bags and inserts, large rubbish bin bags, plastic sheeting, light rope, tent, ground sheets, insect netting, canvas awning and poles.

Fishing Gear
nylon line, hooks, assorted sinkers, heavy twine, rod, reel and line, wobblers.

MEDICAL SUPPLIES

You can use this list as a guide to your expected requirements depending on circumstances, location & time. For a community of more than 30 people use a multiplier factor. If conditions are expected to be severe and prolonged, more attention should be given to quantities especially to products marked *.

Much benefit may be gained from obtaining and illustrated book on medicinal herbs and then learning to accurately identify these herbs using the book as a guide to their potential medicinal properties. Similarly, many plants that are regarded as weeds in gardens may be eaten and can be used as a survival food source in troubled times.

The importance of learning to accurately identify both the medicinal and food herbs is stressed.

Two useful references for temperate "western" cultures are:
"Complete Illustrated Guide to THE HOLISTIC HERBAL" by David Hoffmann, Elemental press,
ISBN 0-00-713301-4 paperback.
"EDIBLE PLANTS" by Pamela Forey & Cecilia Fitzsimons, Brockhampton Press,
ISBN 1 86019 776 0

For those living outside of the coverage of these two books, seek local expertise and references.

 

Final inspired recommendation

Dear Friends, I pass to you

what I am also inspired to

which is also what I do say

as "others" come my way

 

there are three things that we MUST do

If to prepare for the "ahead" we are to be "true"

the first is to prepare the MIND

second also is to prepare the MIND

 

third is also to prepare the MIND

and after that if we are to be kind

then put some food away

and provisions for that rainy day

 

so that we can with others share

provisions and food with a our care
but first is the need to prepare the mind
so that to those others you can be kind

otherwise ALL may be lost
as in anger you accost
those needing your help and food
as in the darkness your thoughts brood.

so for that soon coming rainy day
FIRST to God's Star, DO PRAY.

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