Food Storage: Week 2

This week we are going to discuss where to store your food. I do this now because it is so much easier to create a plan now then to wait until you have cases of food and are wondering what to do with it all. A few things to remember:

1. Food should not be stored in garages or out buildings unless they are heated in winter and cooled in summer.  As we store non-food items you will need to create space in the garage but for food, think indoors.

2. There is no law that says a linen closet must house linens. You need to rethink the uses for all the storage areas in your home. Linens are the perfect items to store under beds in plastic containers or bags. We often have extra linens and blankets that are used only when guests come to town. Why have blankets taking up space in a cupboard? Bathroom cupboards are the perfect place to store hygiene supplies like deodorant, medications and toothpaste. Re-think all the closets and cupboards in your home and determine which can be converted to a section of your General Store.

3. Move little used items to the garage or attic. Now I know this is not an option for apartment dwellers but if you have family close by ask to “borrow” part of their garage or attic. Move old files, Christmas decorations, the roasting pan that gets used once or twice a year, the humidifier, the second and third crock pot (better yet sell those and use the money for food storage), baskets, you get the idea. Too often we are storing items which are rarely used in the most valuable space in our homes.

4. Many people advise you to store food under beds. I do not like this idea. The foods are forgotten and not rotated on a consistent basis. I do understand storing five gallon buckets under the bed when they are filled with long term storage items such as wheat and rice. These can be placed side by side and used in place of a foundation. If you do this be sure that you write the contents and date of purchase of each bucket on the lid where it can easily be seen when the mattress is removed. When you remove a bucket you will need to replace it so the mattress continues to be properly supported. If you are storing blankets, winter clothing, Christmas ornaments or other non foods items under a bed you should consider purchasing risers for the bed frame. These can add another 3-5 inches of space to work with.

5. Build up. If you are in need of a chest of drawers consider purchasing an armoire. It will take up the same amount of floor space but provides much more storage room. Shelves can be added and clothing kept folded on shelves or in baskets. You may also want to use this for hanging clothes and convert the closet, by adding shelves, for clothing and food storage. If you are building or purchasing book shelves get the tallest ones possible for the height of your ceilings.

Baskets can be used on shelves or on the top of the bookcase or armoire to store food. No one will ever know you have green beans in those cute baskets. This is also a great tip for plant shelves. Why decorate plant shelves with knick knacks when they can be used for your General Store.

For those already stocking shelves or for those who believe they are ready to begin add 4 cans of soup per family member this week. These can be soups ready to eat or soups you use as an ingredient. For those who have their food section complete or who can afford to do more, add hand soap to your store. You should know how much you need to store for a three month supply if you dated this item and determined how much you had used in one month. If you did not do this, now is the time. For now, store a minimum of one bar per shower, one bar per sink and one bar per family member. When you evaluate how much you really need you can make up the difference. You probably use more than you think you do. Remember when I said not to guess or let anyone tell you how much to store? You can do this. You can determine your family’s needs, it just take a little effort.

I know many of you have your own creative approaches to housing your General Store and I hope you will share with those just beginning.