When I first started gathering food storage, I did it without a list, and I duplicated my efforts on more than one occasion (I bought more than I needed of a specific item) because I was held hostage by my memory only. A food storage list helps you to be not only more organized, but more prioritized. You can easily know what you need and in the order of importance it should be gathered. You can also check food storage items off your list as you acquire them. And, with the right food storage book, you can figure out from food storage charts and such how much of a particular food storage item or supply you will need for family or other household members of various ages and nutritional needs.

You know what your family will and won’t eat. You don’t have to follow the exact same food storage list within a food storage book, but definitely let it be your guide. You may find in some instances that you would rather substitute an item for the one listed. But recognize the nutrition element may not be equivalent for that which you switched for. In any case, you will at least have a model to form your own food storage list after, and things won’t be as helter-skelter. Besides, on your own, you are not likely to remember each key ingredient of a robust food storage.

There are many food storage and emergency preparedness book experts that have paved the way by doing the research to discover exactly what foods are most beneficial and efficient (and in what measured amounts) to keep a person or persons alive for extended periods of time. They know what they are talking about. Isn’t it intelligent (and reassuring) to be able to follow their lead by virtually “looking over their shoulder” at their food storage list and patterning yours after theirs? They have already done the necessary homework for you, all you need to do is make your food storage list (based on theirs) and get to shopping!

There is a wealth of knowledge about emergency preparedness in books, videos, classes, conferences, government sponsored organizations, private organizations, and other media outlets. The trick is to find the simplest, most straightforward basics of emergency preparedness in one place. What is needed is a family preparedness handbook that is extremely well organized, informative, and user-friendly. What is available is exactly that! James Talmage Stevens, author of Making the Best of Basics: Family Preparedness Handbook has recently revised his emergency preparedness book with 260 additional pages of new information, charts, tables, and recipes. James’s mantra is “keep it super simple”. So, although James’s wildly popular, best emergency preparedness book on the market is packed with so much information– everything from food storage to fuel storage to financial preparedness to the organization of critical documents to self reliant living to supplementation, and emergency action plans, James’s best emergency preparedness book (over 760,000 copies sold, and in its 11th addition!)– sticks to its title, mission, and purpose of Making the Best of Basics. Quite frankly, the best of anything is basic and easy to understand, especially in the case of emergency preparedness! If emergency preparedness is made to be too complicated an issue, it is abandoned by most people (and causes a whole lot more deaths!). Indeed, James understands this principle because his creation of the best emergency preparedness book available takes a reader from kindergarten to college in regards to family preparedness.

A quick glance through the Table of Contents of Making the Best of Basics should convince the reader that James really is serious about his “basic” premise– to keep things simple! Among his chapter headings you will find the likes of “Basics of Whole Wheat Cookery”, “Basics of Honey Use”, “Basics or In-Home Drying– Dehydrating Fruits and Vegetables”, “Basics of Dairy Products from Powdered Milk”, “Basics of Battling Stress”, “Basics of Supplementation”, and on and on– everything is basically basic! The recipes are even basic (I’m game for that!). That’s why I’m tooting James Talmage Steven’s horn for him, and calling it the best emergency preparedness book, because he lays it all out– all of the important emergency preparedness considerations and information is covered a baby step at a time. You have lists of the necessaries, and you can take on emergency preparedness with confidence by utilizing his charts, checklists, and tables. You can photocopy the checklists and use his emergency preparedness handbook as a workbook, becoming an active participant, much like you are taking a class, but at your own leisure (but don’t wait too long!). Not only that, but James is a storyteller. He illustrates practical application of what he teaches through his fun little parables and makes it easier and less laborious reading material. Just be careful that you not enjoy the best emergency preparedness book out there so much so that you don’t get around to doing anything but reading it! Prepare to flourish, not flounder!

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If you have come this far in your emergency preparedness efforts in regards to your food storage, you are ready to move on to what James and others call “creature comforts.” After all, when we have fulfilled the bottom level of Maslow’s Pyramid (being able to survive with adequate amounts of food, water, and shelter), it’s human nature to want to move up his Pyramid, eventually leading to more fulfillment and self-actualization. The reason we speak of the “creature comforts” in a discussion related to food storage is because quite often those things that will offer you comfort in lean times are also stored in the same place or near to your food storage room. The best reason food storage and other creature comforts are stored together or in close proximity is because you will want to have these items together for easy access should you have to “bug out”, or even just for convenience sake. Of course, some people hesitate to “put all their eggs in one basket,” so it is fine to disburse you food storage about the house, but don’t be so scattered that you forget where the 72 hour kit is vs. the dehydrated food vs. the canned food, wheat, rice, etc., etc.

The creature comforts that go beyond food storage are first and foremost what you would use in a prolonged state of disarray or chaotic conditions following the original emergency state of conditions. Think hygiene. Things like shampoo, soap, toothpaste, and toothbrushes should all be added to your food storage supply after you have the basics needed to live on for one year food wise. Other things like diapers and feminine napkins should not be overlooked. Deodorants and combs/brushes would also be useful. The types of things that you use every day and rarely need to think much about, but that you would really miss being a part of everyday life, are the things you need to make a list of and put in your food storage room. Warehouse membership clubs are perfect for buying in bulk like this to save money. Both men and women will probably want some disposable razors and shaving cream.

Some people even put games in with their food storage. Books could work, too. Got a Rubik’s Cube? People need an escape, especially during times of duress. So, add some cards or simple toys that don’t need batteries for the children. Hard candies that store well are an excellent addition to food storage.

It really boils down to what you use, both for food storage and for the “beyond” part (creature comforts). Of course, it would be nice for everybody to have some items used only in emergencies, much as rescue workers have on hand the “Jaws of Life.” But beyond those few things that are only for emergencies, have those things on hand that can as much as possible make it seem as though it is “life as usual.” Put them beside your food storage, and go to your food storage convenience store often to rotate the stock.

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Our civilization is quite advanced, making it even that much more important to prepare for any number of things that could go awry, and calling upon the use of something as simple as food storage. See, when any system gets so far advanced and inclined towards such high levels of technological specialization in so many varied facets, it becomes increasingly more susceptible to a breakdown or interruption, because when just one part of the whole becomes dysfunctional it creates a domino effect throughout. Just as happened with the housing market. And to make an analogy most can appreciate, how helpless do you feel when your car gadgetry malfunctions? When you car windows won’t roll up nor down with just the click of a button, do you sometimes long for the manual window-roller-uppers?

Although not caused by a defect in the normal “man”-aged workings of society, we can see how a “change” in the status quo will cause mass chaos, as witnessed by a series of big hurricanes a few years back. What happens? Many basic essentials are the first to fly off the store shelves, and this surely includes food. Food storage, water storage, 72 hour kits, and other emergency supplies collected far in advance could prevent this mad rush to a grocery store—only to find that crowds of people made it there before you did, leaving very little left of the significant items for you to purchase. Remember, this is not an apocalyptic event, just nature taking its course. Recall also the pictures on television those people who waited until the last minute before evacuating and being stranded on freeways for hours at a time because of overtaxed capacity. If you are going to get out of Dodge, do it before everyone else decides to!

In his book, “Making the Best of Basics,” author James Talmage Stevens speaks of an in-home food storage convenience store. Aside from disastrous situations, how nice would it be to never “run out” of an ingredient needed for a recipe, not having to run to the neighbors for an item to complete the mix? What if you should forget that you have no more diapers in the home and your baby has a bout of diarrhea? Even if the store is close, it’s nice to have a backup supply.

We have learned in recent years that the unexpected can and does happen. “Nobody saw it coming!” was the common refrain in response to the economic crisis. In times of volatility and uncertainty, could there be a trucker’s strike, or exceedingly high gas prices that cause a disruption in the supply chain delivering food to the marketplace? This and many other unforeseen scenarios could happen, thus bringing to the forefront the need for food storage and emergency supplies. With the advanced JIT (Just-In-Time) concept of inventories, it is said that grocery store shelves could be emptied in 3 days or less. But, if you have an in-home food storage convenience store as part of your wise and prudent emergency preparedness efforts, you’re not among those who panic. We’re not talking about Armageddon or the Apocalypse here. We’re just talking about good, old-fashioned common sense.

Food really can go missing from grocery storage shelves as attested to by even recent articles found here and here. Got food storage?

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