So what did you put away this week?

I just converted an unfinished 4'x 8'6" junk closet in the basement to a pantry to better organize our everyday use and long term storage food supply. Paint is drying now. I'll post pics of it finished. Here's the before

 

Just picked up an Eddie Bauer arctic down parka with removable hood and removable fur at their 90th anniversary sale. Between being on clearance, another 30% off and a coupon I had, it cost me $70.00!

Adding this to the Wiggy's Ultima Thule sleeping bag I found on Craigslist recently, I'm finally pretty well set for cold weather, which I don't handle well.

Brought 60 gallons of diesel back to refill the bulk tank, stabilized with Pri-D of course.

 

Saw an article on this - I think on alpha-rubicon. Guy compared it to the Berkey filters. Ultimately he said that he thought it works, but could'nt guarantee that it wasn't leaking around the seals.

In thinking about that comment, I thought a good test would be to try to filter some water with food dye. If the water coming out has any color, you're leaking.
Of course, this would only work with carbon impregnated filters. Not sure if that relates to your setup.

 

N95 respirators.
Doubled up on all canned purchases.

 

Since I am pretty well stocked on basics, and spices, I made some bulk purchases of dehydrated fruit, vegetable, dairy products, juices etc. to realy spice things up and make long term food storage items more pleasing to the palette. 55lbs total, in 1lb bags. Since bags even if air and water tight are poor protection from insects and mice or rats I repacked all into wide mouth glass quart jars. Ended up with 96 quarts all told. Bought; red bell peppers, green bell peppers, onions, leeks, spinach, vegetable broth powder, cheddar cheese powder, buttermilk powder, genuine lemon, and lime powder, coconut milk powder, banana chips, and spearmint tea bags. The storage shelves are filling up nicely and never fail to make me smile.

 

$250 of canned and dry food from the big box wholesale store.
20 gal. gasoline.
Grain mill.

Did some calculations and found out that we will need THREE MILLION CALORIES to sustain us for a year. Even with a full pantry, we're not close!
shucks!

 

Family of four, 2000 calories per day per person, yup, pretty darn close to 3,000,000 calories. Just another reason I have snares, and nets, 3 pressure canners, and about 3 pallets of canning supplies.

 

This week:

12 ears of corn blanched, vacuum packed and frozen
12 crookneck summer squash blanched, vacuum packed, frozen
1 homemade salsa - canned for long term storage
13 homemade pickles, canned for long term storage
6 small propane cannisters
1 box of alkaline AA batteries - 16 qty

Now if I can just organize the stuff!!!

Take care all - Rourke

 

lol

 

This week so far -

Couple small propane tanks for my 2 camp stoves
Lightsticks -5

That's it - more later.......

Rourke

 

Last week....let's see,

Wal-Mart was out of .22 bulk so, I bought a box of 12 ga shells (100 bird shot) and a box of CCI Mini-Mags (my go to .22 hunting ammo).

Also put away about $50 extra in canned goods, beans, spaghetti, and other foods. Put about 10 or so gallons of drinking water (not much, but it provides a nice source you don't have to filter before you resort to the bathtub).

A grain mill is next on my list. I've been reading on using Mesquite pods as flour and I think it's a great idea to store without much cost. Just need buckets and a grain mill. Now is the time of year to start collecting pods.

This week....
I acquired another reloading set (3rd single stage press) and a bunch of components. I only paid $135 for the whole deal. I will probably trade off the powders (not my type) and some of the dies (PM me if you need some 22-250 dies). I am reading about making or buying a table top press holder. I think one of those and a nice homemade wooden crate to store a portable kit would be nice for my two extra single stage presses. It would be like everything you need to reload my calibers at a kitchen table, cabin, campsite, or bugout site.
I have a bit of old yardsale money for canned goods this week. I think our focus this week will be on oils, dried milk, and some of those other things needed to cook with.
Food grade buckets will be a focus this weekend into next week.

 

Well I picked up two cases of MRE's with heaters, and I'm going to a gun show this weekend to stock up on a few other nessesites.

 

Grundig G6 Aviator short wave radio (just need to figure out how to use it) and a Galxy 979 CB radio. Next on the list will be a hand held trunking scanner or a Hamm radio.

 

Local Rite-Aid store had Beef Stew (24 oz.) for $1.99 a can.

Put in another 500 rds of 7.62 X 39, just in case

 

Dollar tree has Sardines, Chili, Beef stew Each for ... you guessed it! $1

Not famous brands, but I just have a feeling that when the stores are empty, I won't give much of a cotton bedsheet.