Choices: Stock Up

For many years I’ve been practising how to Stock Up. So hopefully I can share some tips with you? With all the difficulties, calamities and destruction that we are about to experience, this will obviously cause great shortages of food and supplies! Stocking up now may be essential for surviving this period! And we need to learn now, how to be frugal and wise.

I know it is difficult to store enough food, especially for an extended period, but at least a little is better than nothing. Having said that, it is not impossible, some will have the ability to do this (like churches, charities and organisations)! Look at what Joseph accomplished, he not only saved his family, extended family and all their servants, but also the whole nation of Egypt, and neighbouring countries, for a seven-year period of severe drought (Gen. 41:48-49; 54-57)! Jesus gives an amazing promise to those He finds doing this (what Joseph did), that they will be put in charge over all His possessions (Matt. 24:45-47). Noah is another example, he had to store enough food, not only for his family, but all the animals too, for a period of a year (Gen. 6:21).

There will also be miracles of multiplication. If you look at the story of the five loaves and two fish (Matt. 14:14-21; and the two widows I Kings 17:14 and II Kings 4:1-7), it was only what they already had in their hands that multiplied, and only when they broke off a piece and shared it. If we greedily and selfishly keep it to ourselves it will not multiply and will very quickly diminish (Prov. 11:24-26).

Firstly, there are problems to storing food, you will face two types of thieves! One of the animal and insect world, and the other from the human world! And especially in this type of scenario, it may even be dangerous to have extra supplies, which would most certainly be stollen! So ideally a hidden room, or hidden lock-up facility would be suitable. Much wisdom and thought, and prayer needs to be given to this, even before stocking up!

Ok, the first thieves are much easier to handle, and that’s what we will discuss now! Insects, especially weevils and small moths are the worst, also mice and rats need consideration. And mould can cause a problem if there is moisture! Virtually all dry foods can be stored, if a little extra time is taken to prepare. Rice stores for many years, and dried beans and lentils are excellent too. Dried beans and lentils, especially the smaller ones can also be used as bean sprouts, and seeds such as fenugreek, broccoli, sunflower, chia, mustard, radish, pea, wheat grass etc. can be grown as microgreens, and are both an excellent source of fresh greens and vitamins. Pasta, oats, flour and even maize (corn) meal as well. I have just opened a packet of maize meal (we call mealie meal or sudza) that is almost a year old and it is fine. Ideally air-tight containers or cool boxes are the best for storing, but some things are too bulky and big to store in those. And even if you cannot get a good air-tight container, even the loose lids containers can be used with a method I will show you.

I have used a new dustbin here, which I will store cases of ten packets of sugar beans in. The outside packet has been wiped down, and allowed to dry, then place inside. I should fit about 5-6 cases in there?

So the first thing to do on purchasing anything is to date it with a marker. This ensures that you will always use the older one first. I then also date it when I open it, just to see how long it lasts (you need to do this in the beginning so you can calculate how much is needed). I then usually use another thick plastic packet over it for added protection. Then I will take a small wet sponge dipped with an antiseptic fluid (like Dettol, all insects absolutely hate this – but it needs to be repeated every few months or so) and then wipe the packet with it. Also wipe around the lids of the containers you use. This will repel any insect. If the bigger items are stored within a thick plastic then simply wipe the plastic with the sponge. Even a box of spaghetti can be stored as it is, by sealing all corners with a brown tape, and then wiping all corners with your sponge. I have recently had a failure with a box of spaghetti which I didn’t seal properly. The weevils got in and demolished three to four packets, within ten days. I couldn’t believe how quick they were! It then took me a lot more extra time to try and clean them out of the other packets. So believe me, it is worth taking this time to seal the boxes before you store them.

Another thing I use is a grain powder, which is used for storing grains and kills insects. I then sprinkle that on the bottom of a container, or on the floor where you are storing. Something else can also be used to repel insects, and that is a green bar of laundry soap.

Of course tinned foods and pickles are easily stored, just make sure to date them. Other things to think about are dried milk powder, coffee, tea, sugar, salt, oils, peanut butter, nuts, seeds, popcorn, and vinegars for making your pickles. Also curry, spices, herbs, soups and other flavourings can make any simple meal tasty.

Also don’t forget about your cleaning items and laundry soaps, toilet paper, toiletries etc. and pet foods.

One more thing to mention is eggs can also be stored! Some years ago an elderly lady, in her nineties, told me an incredible story! She said, as a young girl she can remember that her mother stored eggs in a liquid mixture (during the war and great depression), which she did not know what it was, but the eggs came out as fresh as the day they were laid! So I later looked it up on the internet and to my utter surprise found it. It is even used today by farmers, to store eggs in the winter. It is called water glassing method, with a mixture of food-grade hydrated lime and water (see link below for method). They can be preserved for 12-18 months! I am yet to try this but had a first-hand testimony that it does work!

So you see it is not that difficult to do this, and I hope I can encourage you to make a start. There are also some great YouTube videos out there with some excellent tips (see below for a few).

Another important thing to consider is water, which is even more important than food! In an emergency situation such as tsunamis, this will pollute water supplies. So bottled water will be needed. An excellent way of storing large quantities of water is through harvesting rainwater. We are already used to doing this as we experience water shortages here, and we use large tanks to store water. But for drinking, some form of purification is needed, the simplest way is to boil water for at least ten minutes, then allow to cool. In case of power outages, other alternatives to electricity will be needed, such as solar, generators and gas equipment too.

Oh, I have not covered a question that you might have, and that is, “For what period of time do we have to store food for?” In the Beginning of Sorrows chart, I estimate a period of eighteen months. But it would be wiser to calculate on a two-year period, as we are already seeing early signs of this! You may say, “But I don’t have the financial means to do that!” Yes, neither do I, but we can still make a start NOW, and do the little that we can. Each month I put aside something extra, especially dried beans, seeds, tins etc that don’t expire. As Brandon Biggs always says, “Just obey what the Holy Spirit tells you to do!” I have tried very hard to warn people about this, but none will listen. My prayer is that you will not listen to me, but listen to the Holy Spirit. PLEASE don’t delay and put this off until the last minute, by then it could be too late, as we have no clue as to what could happen next. The prudent and wise person will be prepared, and like Joseph, may even be able to help save many other lives too! S.J.

See S.J. Face Book Page:

Are you safe see YouTube video The Ark of Salvation

See Ark of Salvation

See Salvation Prayer

And Greatest Hindrance to Salvation

See: Sutton Daze and Leisa Sutton’s book Pantry Preparedness