chitchat

Rameumptom, since you've purchased from both companies - does it seem to you that the contents of some of Honeyville's #10 cans don't go as far? Like you, I really like the prices at Honeyville. You're right that EE has a greater selection, but I do see alternative grains at Honeyville. This is so tedious! (Forgive me. A temporary moment of insanity in the middle of a long day.)

Rameumptom, that's great! Oh, and your kid - what a cutie pie! What cc of oxygen absorbers do you put in your #10 cans at the cannery?

Ben, that's a HOOT! This would be fun to talk about with neighbors who might notice.... upside down tomato plant

Thanks Hankpac. Good suggestions for sure. I'll check out Oregon Freeze-dried per your suggestion. Appreciate the feedback.

Nicole, does she have concern for her grandchildren?

Nicole, you might consider showing her this: Ready.gov - Prepare. Plan. Stay Informed.

Yukon, thanks for that tip. I assume you put a 150 cc oxy absorber in each jar, right? (I'm not sure how low the cc's can go.) And Rameumpton, I am so relieved to hear that you're not Tammy herself! I thought sure she'd gotten into the preparedness business. There are few things worse than opening a #10 can only to find fake eyelashes on top of the butter powder. (Now that I've made everyone sick....) LOL

Here's a puzzle I hope someone can help me figure out: Honeyvillegrains.com sells #10 diced freeze-dried apples for $17.49. The cans weigh a half pound and the ad says the can gives 32 - 1/4 cup servings. Emergency Essentials sells #10 diced freeze-dried apples for $27.95. Their cans weighs a little over a half pound and the ad says the can gives 24 - 1/2 cup servings. This makes no sense. Has anyone here purchased #10 cans from both companies before? Does Emergency Essentials dice their food more finely than Honeyville so that more fits into a cup? The prices are overall better at Honeyville and I'm told they use a 300 cc oxygen absorber in each can as opposed to the 150 oxygen absorber Emergency Essentials uses in their cans. Can anyone figure out why there is such a discrepancy in the serving sizes of the same product in identical sized cans? This is confusing. The #10 cans do measure 7" tall and 6" in diameter, right?

You're giving me encouragement which I appreciate. I put 2-3 clear mylar bags in a bucket. The mylar bags contain grains and beans. I put an oxygen absorber in each bag and sealed with an iron. I'll check further before throwing anything out then. Thanks. :)

Blake (or anyone else who knows): I haven't opened any #10 cans yet. Are you saying that once items like butter and eggs are opened, they must be refrigerated? If that is true, then what other products need refrigeration after being opened?

Thanks for the good replies. I'm thinking that since there is no way to test the food to make sure it's okay, that I'm just going to have to throw it out. I am heartsick. If the bags had been foil lined I would feel more at ease, but they are just regular clear mylar. What a total waste. We rinsed the buckets out even though we saw on trace of road salt in them. But I've heard that some chemical in the plastic of buckets that are not food-grade can leach through the mylar bag into the food. Maybe this thread will help someone else I hope. I feel sad.

Okay, I'm a true novice when it comes to this stuff, so don't laugh. What is a seed potato? Why do I have to buy it in order to grow potatoes? (No question is funny, especially if it's mine.)

This is such a good thread. I'm bumping it to the top.

I've heard very good things about the Country Living grinder. Those photos of the Kitchenaid Mixer attachment are interesting. I didn't know I could get one with that. That's really kewl. I got a grinder to attach to my Champion juicer, but I haven't had a chance to use it yet. I'll try to let you know if it works well.

Thank you! :)

I just realized I put some mylar packed foods in some buckets that were once used as containers for road salt (calcium chloride). Obviously, the buckets are not food-grade. If the food has been tainted, then we've lost some work and money. Is there a way to tell if the food has been ill-affected or not? (Other than by tasting it and possibly getting sick?) I used just regular mylar bags - not the foil type.

Oh rats. But thank you for letting me know. I just found the link where I saw the guy using the clip to seal the mylar bags. Is this the gadget that costs $5?

Hannah, thank you for sharing your blog! It is just what I've been looking for. :) Kyra, my heart goes out to you. I am discouraged too! With the economy faltering it is wise to be concerned, but I think one key is to just do something every day that will make you feel better prepared. It gives some sense of control whenever we take some positive action that moves us forward. If you can afford $2000 for a year's supply, you are very blessed! :) I get frustrated because there is just so much to think about. Just thinking about doing a little something every day helps me, but my tendency is to jump in all the way. That's when I get overwhelmed (which is where I'm at right now!) Seriously. That's how I found this board. It's for the overwhelmers, isn't it? Or is that the overcomers? Oh well, humor can help too. :)

These gadgets look very interesting. But I've seen one that is like a clip you hold in one hand. You can reach down into the bucket and then squeeze the handles of the clip over the edge of the bag. I'm thinking that if I put two bags of grain in one 5-gallon bucket I could do it this way: Put the first bag in and push it down so it fills the space out pretty well. Take the sealer in my hand and reach down into the bucket to seal the outside edges of the bag. Then I'd squeeze the remaining air out of the mylar bag and seal the middle edge. Then I could do the second bag the same way. My hope is that this would help me better fill the space inside the bucket, while still using two different bags. The only problem is that I don't know what this gadget is called or where to get it.

There is some gadget I've heard about, but I don't know what it is called or where to get one. You grab the bag and press on one end and then on the other. Then you push the air out of the bag and do one last press in the center. Does anyone know what this gadget is called and where to get one? Or is there an easier way to do this? Thanks.

I'm interested in preparing for future hard times. I found this site while googling with a question about food storage. I hope there are many here who are knowledgeable in this area who can provide good information. Thanks.

I've heard of these, but I am not sure what they are. Do you buy food at the cannery and then can it yourself in #10 cans that you pay for? Can I buy oxygen absorbers there? Or mylar bags? How do I find a cannery? Thanks! :)