Number 1 investment for 2009

Number 1 investment for 2009? Your answer should be…..”Food”. Hundreds of thousands of Americans and people around the world lost their jobs these past few years. Are you prepared if you suddenly lost your job?

Are you prepared for hard economical times? Are you prepared for a possible natural disaster? Are you prepared should you get sick or hurt and unable to work? Could you feed your family if any of these things were to happen to you? These are questions everyone should be asking themselves.

The majority of Americans are not prepared. They might be able to last a couple of weeks or maybe a month if some type of hardship were to strike them.

Unfortunately, many people feel caught up in a rat race that will not allow a garden or stocking up on food and necessary everyday living supplies. “I don’t have the time”, “I don’t have the room”, “I don’t know how”, I don’t have enough money to do this”, are common excuses for not digging in the dirt, and not planning for the future unknown.

Our grandparents, great-grandparents and those before them would fill their pantries and cellars from harvest to harvest only going to town or the city to purchase small amounts of supplies once a month, or even only a few times a year.

Our ancestors grew most of their own food. Cattle, hogs, chickens, rabbits were butchered. In the Fall brine cured and stored in the cellar. Garden vegetables were canned, root vegetables were buried in the root cellar and garlic, leeks and onions were hung in the cellar to dry. Fruits were preserved as well as berries preserved into jams, jellies and syrups. Our ancestors were prepared for the future unknown.

With all the modern day conveniences available to us today it is easy to get what we want, when we want it but at what cost? How old are the foods you are buying? Where does the food you buy come from? How was it grown, with pesticides? Is the food you buy safe for your family to eat? Will the local grocery store even have the shelves stocked tomorrow? Many studies have been done regarding the benefits of growing and preserving your own food. We would all do well to continue the preparedness practice just as our ancestors did before us.

There are 31 million Americans now on food stamps and probably standing in line at the local food banks so they can feed their families. Have that many people actually forgotten how to care for their families? What happens if the government stops giving out food stamps? What happens when there is no more food donations to your local food bank? It seems the answer for most of these people would be “they would starve.”

It really doesn’t matter whether you live in the city, the suburbs or the country. You can grow part or all of your own fresh nutritional food. It really doesn’t matter if you are a millionaire or a minimum wage worker, you can stock up on necessary food and supplies should you fall on hard times or a disaster hits your area.

Don’t you think it is about time you start gaining the knowledge and put in to practice what our ancestors knew and practiced every day before it is too late? Going back to basics and reclaim your freedom.

There are many resources available for each and every human being to be able to gain the knowledge of basic human survival: Water, Food and Shelter.

In researching several sources it was astounding to me the amount of food it would take for one person to survive for one year. How much does one person eat in a year? “Food for thought” so to speak.

Below is a basic preparedness list of what it would take to feed one person for one year. This list has been compiled from several different sources and can be varied. Just make sure if you substitute an item that you substitute it with comparable nutritional value.
AMOUNT OF FOOD TO STORE FOR ONE YEAR PER ADULT

STAPLES AMOUNT APPROX. SHELF LIFE
Wheat, winter 650 lbs Indefinitely
Unbleached White Flour 120 lbs 1-2 Years
Bulgur Wheat 110 lbs Indefinitely
Whole Kernel Corn or Corn Meal 75 lbs 5 Years
Baking Powder 2 Large Boxes 2 Years
Cornstarch 4 Large Boxes 5 Years
Baking Soda 12 lbs Indefinitely
Oatmeal 25 lbs 5 Years
Honey 2 Gallons Indefinitely
Molasses 1 Gallon Indefinitely
Karo Syrup 1 Gallon Indefinitely
Sugar (Keep Dry) 25 lbs Indefinitely
Brown Sugar (Keep Dry) 12 lbs Indefinitely
Salt 100 lbs Indefinitely
Shortening/Lard 60 lbs 3 Years
Soybean Oil 1 Gallon 3 Years
Peanut Oil 1 Gallon 3 Years
Olive Oil 1 Gallon 3 Years
Coffee 12 Large Cans 3-5 Years
Cocoa 4 Large Boxes 3-5 Years
Spaghetti 10 lbs 5 Years
Macaroni 12 lbs 5 Years
Misc. Noodles 15 lbs 5 Years
Rice, white 15 lbs 5 Years
Rice, brown 15 lbs 6-9 months
PROTEIN
Powdered Milk 100 lbs 2-15 Years
Mixed Nuts 20 lbs 1-2 Years
Peanuts 10 lbs 1-2 Years
Soybeans 20 lbs 5 Years
Pinto Beans 15 lbs 5 Years
Red Beans 10 lbs 5 Years
Navy Beans 10 lbs 5 Years
Large Lima Beans 15 lbs 5 Years
Baby Lima Beans 12 lbs 5 Years
Blackeyed Peas 10 lbs 5 Years
Dried Green Peas 15 lbs 5 Years
Millet Grain 10 lbs 5 Years
Split Peas 15 lbs 5 Years
Mung Beans 15 lbs 5 Years
Alfalfa Seeds - Lentils 15 lbs 5 Years
Garbanzo Beans 12 lbs 5 Years
TEXTURED VEGETABLE PROTEIN(Textured soy protein)
Chicken 12 lbs 5 Years
Hamburger 15 lbs 5 Years
Sausage 12 lbs 5 Years
Plain 15 lbs 5 Years
Ham 15 lbs 5 Years
Bacon 12 lbs 5 Years
CANNED FOOD
Peas 10 jars/cans 3-5 Years
Peas and Carrots 10 jars/cans 3-5 Years
Corn 12 jars/cans 3-5 Years
Green Beans 12 jars/cans 3-5 Years
Carrots 12 jars/cans 3-5 Years
Tomatoes 12 jars/cans 3-5 Years
Spinach 12 jars/cans 3-5 Years
Pumpkin 12 jars/cans 3-5 Years
Asparagus 12 jars/cans 3-5 Years
Turnip Greens 12 jars/cans 3-5 Years
Mustard Greens 12 jars/cans 3-5 Years
Collard Greens 12 jars/cans 3-5 Years
Sauerkraut 12 jars/cans 3-5 Years
Cabbage 12 jars/cans 3-5 Years
Cauliflower 12 jars/cans 3-5 Years
Onions 12 jars/cans 3-5 Years
Ketchup 12 jars/Bottles 3-5 Years
Relish 12 jars/cans 3-5 Years
Pickles 12 jars 3-5 Years
Zuccini Squash 12 jars/cans 3-5 Years
Potatoes 12 Jars/cans 3-5 Years
DRIED FOOD - 75% MOISTURE REMOVED
Prunes 12 lbs Indefinitely
Raisins 12 lbs Indefinitely
Apples 12 lbs Indefinitely
Pears 12 lbs Indefinitely
Peaches 12 lbs Indefinitely
Apricots 12 lbs Indefinitely
Blueberries 10 lbs Indefinitely
SPICES & CONDIMENTS
Soup base, beef 3 lbs 2-3 Years
Soup base, chicken 3 lbs 2-3 Years
Granulated garlic 2 lbs 2-3 Years
Granulated onion 1 lb 2-3 Years
Cayanne pepper 3 lbs 2-3 Years
Celery salt 8 oz 2-3 Years
Oregano 8 oz 2-3 Years
Chili powder 8 oz 2-3 Years
Dry mustard 8 oz 2-3 Years
Ginger, ground 8 oz 2-3 Years
Mace, ground 8 oz 2-3 Years
Allspice, ground 8 oz 2-3 Years
Marjoran, ground 8 oz 2-3 Years
Pickling spice 1 lb 2-3 Years
Pumpkin pie spice 8 oz 2-3 Years
Cinnamon sticks 8 oz 2-3 Years
Cinnamon, ground 8 oz 2-3 Years
Nutmeg 8 oz 2-3 Years
Sage, ground 8 oz 2-3 Years
Poultry seasoning 8 oz 2-3 Years
Black Pepper 8 oz 2-3 Years
Parsley Flakes 1 lb 2-3 Years
Bay leaves 8 oz 2-3 Years
Curry Powder 8 oz 2-3 Years
Cloves, Ground 8 oz 2-3 Years
Horseradish 8 oz 2-3 Years
Cream of Tarter 4 oz 2-3 Years
Old Hickory smoked salt 8 oz 2-3 Years
Cumin seed, ground 4 oz 2-3 Years
Tarragon leaves 8 oz 2-3 Years
Vanilla beans 8 oz 2-3 Years
Tumeric, ground 8 oz 2-3 Years
Paprika 1 lb 2-3 Years
Thyme, ground 8 oz 2-3 Years
Rosemary 8 oz 2-3 Years
Maple flavoring 1 pint 2-3 Years
Vanilla flavoring/Extract 1 pint 2-3 Years
Lemon extract 3 oz 2-3 Years
Peppermint flavoring 4 oz 2-3 Years
Almond extract 4 oz 2-3 Years
CANNED JUICE
Tomato 12 Large Cans 3-5 Years
Pineapple 12 Large Cans 3-5 Years
Apple 12 Large Cans 3-5 Years
Grapefruit 12 Large Cans 3-5 Years
CANNED FRUIT
Apples 15 jars/cans 3-5 Years
Applesauce 15 jars/cans 3-5 Years
Apricots 15 jars/cans 3-5 Years
Peaches 15 jars/cans 3-5 Years
Pears 15 jars/cans 3-5 Years
Cherries 15 jars/cans 3-5 Years
Blackberries 15 jars/cans 3-5 Years
Blueberries 15 jars/cans 3-5 Years
Strawberries 15 jars/cans 3-5 Years
Mixed Fruit 15 jars/cans 3-5 Years
DEHYDRATED FOOD
Cheddar cheese powder 2-#10 Can Indefinitely
Swiss cheese powder 2-#10 Can Indefinitely
Butter powder 2-#10 Can Indefinitely
Peanut butter powder 2-#10 Can Indefinitely
Multi purpose food 2-#10 Can Indefinitely
Egg powder 2-#10 Can Indefinitely
VEGETABLES (dehydrated)
Cut Green Beans 1-#10 Can Indefinitely
Diced Beets 1-#10 Can Indefinitely
Diced Cabbage 1-#10 Can Indefinitely
Diced Celery 1-#10 Can Indefinitely
Corn 1-#10 Can Indefinitely
Chopped Onions 1-#10 Can Indefinitely
Diced Potatoes 1-#10 Can Indefinitely
Sliced Potatoes 1-#10 Can Indefinitely
Potato Granules(for mashed) 1-#10 Can Indefinitely
Soup blend 1-#10 Can Indefinitely
Spinach flakes 1-#10 Can Indefinitely
Stew blend 1-#10 Can Indefinitely
Tomato crystals/flakes 1-#10 Can Indefinitely
Peas - green garden 1-#10 Can Indefinitely
FRUIT (dehydrated)
Applesauce (plain) 1-#10 Can Indefinitely
Apple slices 1-#10 Can Indefinitely
Apricot slices 1-#10 Can Indefinitely
Banana flakes 1-#10 Can Indefinitely
Banana slices 1-#10 Can Indefinitely
Date slices 1-#10 Can Indefinitely
Fruit cocktail 1-#10 Can Indefinitely
Fruit mix 1-#10 Can Indefinitely
Peach slices 1-#10 Can Indefinitely
Prunes, pitted 1-#10 Can Indefinitely
Raisins, seedless 1-#10 Can Indefinitely
Tomato flakes 1-#10 Can Indefinitely



Please Note: The above chart is only a recommendation. Again it can vary depending on your families likes and dislikes. We realize the amount of food listed above would cost thousands of dollars, and is a little overwhelming on what it takes to be prepared. You don’t have to purchase your year’s supply all at once, start out by just purchasing a few extra items a week and you will be surprised how fast your emergency food supply will grow. This chart does not include toilet paper, toothpaste, personal care items, water storage or other miscellaneous supplies you would need for basic everyday living. We will discuss these items in detail in our upcoming online magazine issues. Best time to start preparing for the future unknown? “NOW”