id at least save the skin if i got a possum or/and a racoon..and of course learn the best way(s) of killing the parasites n all thats be on them..
What are your thoughts about premade long term food kits?
- Thread starter Niick
- Start date
Help Support Homesteading & Country Living Forum:
I have bowfished with a compound and spinning reel atached rather than the big spools that are suposed to be for bow fishing . Lots of fun and productive once you get the hang of it . I bowfished from the bank on a creek that ran into the river . Prowl the bank in camo or dark clothes watching for big fish aim slightly low because of the bending effect the water has on vision . Fish have good eyesight and can feel movement if you step to hard . And bowfished from a boat on the river and lake . I am thinking about setting up a recurve with a actual bowfishing reel that will be another hobbie I don't have enough time for but just going a couple of time a year will keep up the practice as a prepper skill .
It was fun going bow fishing. Sort of makes it a bit different then the same old same old but when you want to fish you never know if a hook will be around. Lots of times I do hand fishing where you just have a small piece of wood with string attached and a hook. I try everything when possible. I tried as a kid to catch a fish with my bare hands still haven't caught one. However I am sure if I had the time I could figure it out. It was fun though trying as a kid. I think my cousin and I laughed more those days when we use to try doing that, then we ever have in our lifetimes.
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2013
- Messages
- 18,475
Yup, either the kinds of fish I was trying to catch were too fast (bream and bass) or I was too slow...or maybe a combination. I did manage to corner one in shallow water once though. But trying to snatch them out of deeper water was futile.
We were able to in Alaska, but if you were smart, you wore fishing gloves, as their fins could slice you up pretty good. I remember it being technically against the rules though....wasn't considered to be "sportsman like"...
As far as apple trees I had several most were killed by boring beattles one year when I didn't spray them but 1 was a late yellow apple that was resistant to them and it floweed so late that there was no chance of freeze . We had a very rainy spring one year and a storm with high winds came through and up rooted it . I still have 1 apple tree that has been hear for genarations that is a cooking type apple simalar to a Granny Smith but the apples are green and red and sweeter than Granny Smith . It seems resistant to most anything it is probly near 100 years old and has had a volanteer tree come up beside it . I think I mentioned the ancient Pear tree in another thread I started a young tree from it and transplanted it this fall it seems to be doing good .
Apples are tricky here in Central FL, but there are at least 3 varieties that can do it here, and they cross-pollinate, so putting in at least 3 of them (plus not only do we like apples, but so do the horses and the bunnies (just be sure they don't get the core)). Pear trees seem to do well here, so though none of us are big on them, we will still eat some, can extras, and give some away. We already give away excess tangerines, but I can see us doing that with oranges, limes, and lemons, and avocados eventually, after we get those in and going full bore.
In Maine we always had apple trees around, and many could be found in the woods where old farms use to be. My dad use to do his best hunting every fall at an old orchard that had been closed for 20+ years and everything was growing up around it. My dad would hunt and us kids would pick apples to take home for mom to make apple pies, and jelly with. Of course we normally didn't go back the following day with our dad because we had eaten so many apples the day before we had to stay close to the bathroom.
I agree with most of what was said here. Long term food storage such as freeze dried should be a part of your preps but not what you rely on totally.
I would not recommend purchasing ready made meals. When they put all that stuff together they add salt and preservative to sustain the meal. No thanks.
We purchase our freeze dried food products individually. This way there is no added anything.
We also can our own foods, grown garden fresh, and can hunt. Never rely on only one source.
We keep at least 3 yrs of freeze dried per person. Several years of canned foods, and are improving our gardening skills every year. This year we are adding another 1/4 acre to the existing garden.
We are constantly adding to the ability to water the gardens. Watering a garden in a dry spell takes a lot of water. I realized this when I used all the water from our rain catchment system in only three watering's. I blame part of this on the raised beds. They seem to use a lot more water than in-ground plants. I believe it is because the raised beds allow the water to drain away faster.
Anyway, back to the original subject. Freeze dried foods can be very good depending on the brands you purchase. Try out some of them and see which one you prefer. You can order small amounts in little mylar pouches to sample before you buy the larger #10 cans. Its not as bad as you might think.
I would not recommend purchasing ready made meals. When they put all that stuff together they add salt and preservative to sustain the meal. No thanks.
We purchase our freeze dried food products individually. This way there is no added anything.
We also can our own foods, grown garden fresh, and can hunt. Never rely on only one source.
We keep at least 3 yrs of freeze dried per person. Several years of canned foods, and are improving our gardening skills every year. This year we are adding another 1/4 acre to the existing garden.
We are constantly adding to the ability to water the gardens. Watering a garden in a dry spell takes a lot of water. I realized this when I used all the water from our rain catchment system in only three watering's. I blame part of this on the raised beds. They seem to use a lot more water than in-ground plants. I believe it is because the raised beds allow the water to drain away faster.
Anyway, back to the original subject. Freeze dried foods can be very good depending on the brands you purchase. Try out some of them and see which one you prefer. You can order small amounts in little mylar pouches to sample before you buy the larger #10 cans. Its not as bad as you might think.
I really like he part you stated, "never rely on only one source". That's kind of any prepping goal. I think being able to replenish your supplies is the number on goal for me. Anyone can, and should, have a food and water supply built up for an emergency, but what do you do if it's destroyed or looted? Having a way, and the knowledge, to sustain yourself long term is my primary goal. I didn't know squat about gardening five years ago, but through trial and error get better each year. I always thought I could just read about something and go do it. I've learned thought, actually practicing it in the real world usually shows you a lot that wasn't explained. There's a lot more to eating fresh veggies than just putting a seed in the ground and keeping it watered.
Freeze dried/MREs should be the fallback to the fallback or short notice evac but not the primary source of food and nutrition , get a year worth of shelf stable can goods before investing in big buckets of freeze dried goods, also prefer bulk flour, cornmeal, salt, sugar, honey, oats etc... I ate campbell's bean and bacon condensed dated NOV 25 2006 yesterday, no color change and tasted the same as the one dated 2014, I ate canned corn and peas 10yrs past the date and it was fine. Lot cheaper investing in canned goods.
Last edited:
10 yrs is pretty brave! No doubt you can go a lot further than what's on the label. I had some beans just a little out of date that were safe to eat, but we're kind of mushy, so I guess just make sure you look, smell and taste before digging in.
there was a report a couple of years ago that 25yr old can of corn was tested and eatin it was found to be safe and still had over 70% nutritional value, the university stated 30yrs wouldn't be out of the question as being editable of course can condition and storage temp plays 100% role in longevity
I have read that the conditions it is stored in makes a huge difference. Hence why I dug a 1000 dollar hole in the ground!
That's a hell of a stockpile! Must have cost a small fortune! Good job!
So far, I've only been able to focus mainly on freeze dried dairy and meats, as well as other stuff that would be hard to come by if the SHTF. Though we may add goats to solve the dairy issue. Still....
Canned foods are still a good buy, especially if you buy things you'll eat, and rotate them through. Most will keep well for up to 3 years, even if saying only 1 year on the can. After 3 though, will still be edible, just will taste off. More or less depending on the food.
The way I look at it is if your buying what you can and learning to sustain every chance you can, you are miles ahead of everyone else.
Here is a can of peaches 'best by' date of Aug-2-2010 I open the can up and the peaches look good and are still very tasty, no difference in taste of the syrup, I can easily go another two to three years with this. If the cans are in good condition Don't Waste the Food! The reason I pulled this, this can was setting on the floor under the racks (must have fallen) it had a little rust fixin to start, you can see on the left edge of the first picture (didn't affect the can yet), so decided to hurry and eat it up, any kind of rust is a major no no on the cans.
How are you storing your cans? I'm sure as with most things that temperature has a major impact. I worry about my cans because they're basically just in a closet; in my part of Texas the bedrock makes it so practically no one has cellars or basements so that "cool, dry place" that they always recommend for food storage doesn't exist for me. I'm not sure about your part of Florida but it's a pretty temperate state, no? Generally warm and humid?
I guess that all depends on how hungry you are, especially post shtf. I rotate pretty well, but am not too worried about the date anyways. If it tastes off, chunk it, if not, enjoy. I'm more concerned with my own canning at home. I don't think I would keep anything over three years. I have several jars of apples that are two yrs old now. They are kind of mushy to eat straight, but still make great pies. When this years apples come ripe I'll switch them out though. Most things I've read say only one year on home canned goods.
I'm amazed nobody mentioned the fact you need clean potable water to rehydrate your dried food supplies. Without rehydration, you risk serious dehydration.
When SHTF, one of the first utilities to go will be electricity which is used to pump municipal /well water. Most open source water is contaminated by wildlife and/or pollution. Everyone must secure ample fresh water supplies and have the equipment to filter alternate sources. You may have 20 years worth of freeze-dried food but you will surely die of dehydration without fresh water within days.
When SHTF, one of the first utilities to go will be electricity which is used to pump municipal /well water. Most open source water is contaminated by wildlife and/or pollution. Everyone must secure ample fresh water supplies and have the equipment to filter alternate sources. You may have 20 years worth of freeze-dried food but you will surely die of dehydration without fresh water within days.
thats why some if not most here,go with diff sources for water.some are stocked up on water.some have rain catchment systems.then there's life straws and some other sort of filtration system.and i think a few has a still for purifying water..
Water for dehydrated food has been mention in several threads across this forum but good point
water should be first and foremost the number one priority.thats why i have a sawyer mini in my bug out kit. on top of additional multi purpose items like socks, cotton balls to use with discarded pet bottles to use as adhoc water filters.
The ability to boil water also helps to kill the bacteria before using it to hydrate the food
The ability to boil water also helps to kill the bacteria before using it to hydrate the food
im gonna have to look into the backpacking site when i get back home
Latest posts
-
-
Main Dishes Japanese-Style Curry to Die For...- Latest: Weedygarden
-
-
-
-
-
-
-