[Uncle Ike]

” Have you ever checked out mylar bags for long term storage? “

I have — and, for better or worse, I made my choice as a compromise between cost and convenience...

And, parenthetically, I can afford a few bucks a week adding a few items to my shopping list, better than a large cash outlay all at once for a bulk-pack, even though I know that in the long run, bulk is a better bargain....

(Besides, I’m naturally lazy, and I’d much rather spend my off-work times here on FR than repackaging bulk goods... ;~))

[djf]

That’s the way to do it. Just but say five dollars more each week and store the extra. I have a bunch of those 18 gallon plastic storage thingies full of you name it, Top Ramens, Knorrs soups, Oatmeal, crackers, whatever.

As far as gardens grow, I seriously doubt most folks could grow enough to live on (and I include myself in that), but there are a few things I would recommend:

Lettuce (it’s a freakin weed. a 3 foot by 3 foot piece of ground will grow enough to choke a goat)
Cabbage a very prolific plant. Quite hardy and very, very nutritious
Potatoes anybody can grow them. and they are the highest yielding crop there is, weight wise.
Tomatos another easy to grow item. Also high yielding

[djf]

BTW, another good one to add to the list, if you get the seeds in the ground NOW is spinach.

I know my list favors cool weather crops but hey I’m near Seattle..

[processing please hold]

(Besides, I’m naturally lazy, and I’d much rather spend my off-work times here on FR than repackaging bulk goods... ;~))

ROTFL.

Have you stored many spices? You'd be surprised how much spices would make a difference in hum-drum taste of food.