Costco Will Sell You an Apocalyptic Year's Worth of Disgusting Food for $800

Gizmodo ^ | 10/7/2010

[bgill]

I’d rather have well cooked pinto beans, and they’re cheaper. Cooked well they behave themselves during their journey through the innards.

I've heard adding a bit of baking soda to the pot will make them behave.

I'm kinda like you in that I'd rather have real food. I used to have a decent garden and canned, dehydrated, or froze everything. Not so now days. I stock up on store bought canned goods that we normally eat. I was raised by a farm granny so can't sleep at night if the pantry isn't stocked. Hubby recently became one of the unemployed so first thing I did was go through every inch of the kitchen organizing, checking dates, and making sure I knew what we had and what we didn't. Not that I don't keep it organized, but there were still some surprises - mostly to the excess side and only a half dozen things went into the trash. Not long ago, I had done the same for the bathrooms. I'm now working on organizing all the emergency/files/how to info. Then it's on to the large outside stuff. I don't care if my family thinks I've lost my mind - I might have, but it makes me happy.

[little jeremiah]

I find soaking beans overnight and then good long cooking helps tremendously. Chewy beans are not good for innards! I use a pressure cooker for beans.

I am sure hard times are coming, much worse than many people imagine. And then due to lack of work, many individuals and families are having very hard times right now. If I didn’t know how to live cheap I’d be in great anxiety.

Fortunately I’ve always been poor and know how to deal with it! ;-)

[little jeremiah]

If we can get a decent garden together I’d really like to dehyrdate veggies. A lot easier than canning and I loathe canned veggies. Fruit’s okay though, if home canned.

[GOPJ]

Thanks for the information - this feels better now...

[bgill]

Fortunately I’ve always been poor and know how to deal with it! ;-)

Exactly! Frugality can be an art. Use it, re-use it, re-invent it, and use it up.

[kalee]

What do 2 people do with a #10 can of food? How long does it last after it’s opened?

[ChocChipCookie]

If you can keep humidity out of the can, it will usually last several months. If you wish, you can open the #10 can and portion out the food in jars or small mylar bags. Add an oxygen absorber and seal.

[SonsOfCollins_Wallace]

Excellent ideas. I've been advising folks with much the same info for at least 2 years along with much of the info on this thread.

Also read “Patriots:Surviving the coming collapse” for good extended tactical ideas. The idea of a neighborhood defense team is an absolute MUST if you are stuck in the city.

Defense of a neighborhood is doable rather than trying to do one house or one apartment complex. I would investigate a small water well drilling rig [3/4HD ton LB4x4 PU truck as base] and the pipes and a solar powered pump as something to have in a suburban/far suburban area.

[SonsOfCollins_Wallace]

You can take the boxes of cornbread/redbeans&rice/other types of similar mixes and seal them in a vacuum pouch to extend their shelf life. Some items are OK dehydrated and will do OK in a vacuum pouch but freeze drying at home is not doable, as I know of today, even though it is a better way to store.

[little jeremiah]

Here’s a link to a lot of preparedness info, it’s connected with pandemic preparedness but works for any situation.

http://homepage.mac.com/monotreme1/Prepare%20folder/Food_Individual.html

[SonsOfCollins_Wallace]

There is no way to get the power back inside of 2-3 years if the EMP event is large scale enough, coal or otherwise (if coastal ports/docks are out then its 3-5 years).
The distribution system [substations and overhead distribution lines] is what goes down first and then the transformers (all in a few microseconds)
The large transformers are NOT readily available even now as they take 6-12 months (and at $10+millions) to make and then you have to transport them from the docks (most are NOT manufactured in US anymore, so getting them here is a problem too) to the site via a LARGE tractor-trailer rig.

EMP takes out ALL electronic devices that are not in a Faraday cage structure.
Diodes and capacitors and transistors and ICchips are what control most equipment and are the most vulnerable.
Any car after 1972 will be toast and need a complete replacement of its electronic ignition system [if you just happen to have a replacement kit somewhere safe].

[ozarkgirl]

Hubby recently became one of the unemployed so first thing I did was go through every inch of the kitchen organizing, checking dates, and making sure I knew what we had and what we didn't

I don't care if my family thinks I've lost my mind - I might have, but it makes me happy.

I think your husband should be grateful to have a good wife. Haven't been reading my Bible lately but I do believe I recall reading about the good wife, it appears you are one of those.

And I always thought your name was male. :)

[eXe]

Yup, once tshtf, this food will be better than gold.

Now, that said, I have some of this stuff.. and it was pretty darn good the little we tested, the rest is stored in the store room here just in case :)

[sfimom]

If there is a prepper ping list please get me on it :)

[sfimom]

please add me to your ping list.....love your blog btw, ordered and read one second After on your advice yesterday....read it in a few hours. now I am unable to sleep lol

[ChocChipCookie]

Thanks! One Second After is a life-altering book. I don’t go anywhere anymore without thinking, “Could I get home...?”

[Smokin' Joe]

You must have fats and oils.

Bingo. A lot of the greasy foods people shun now will be at a premium. A few gallons of Olive oil and a couple buckets of lard...

Salt, too. Lots of it, especially if you are far from an ocean. Not just to put on your meal, but to preserve food.

[ASOC]

Sauerkraut..(mmmmmmmm)
Ya, gotta have pickling salt. Sauerkraut, SPAM! and German potato salad.... mmmmmmmmmmm. Gotta go - Dinnertime!

[sfimom]

I have to admit that i bawled on at least three parts. i am making my three oldest kids read it for school now (homeschool)

[ChocChipCookie]

Well, that book is what REALLY got my husband on board with prepping. He’s always been supportive but left it all up to me. Now he’s the one thinking of getting a pre-1972 vehicle.