The Dangers of prepping! - Check your stash

[sok8888]

What happened to the food kept by preppers in the 50's or 60's?

[45120815142524]

Empty homes in a collapse scenario, or any other scenario for that matter, would be a breading ground for mosquitos and other bugs. Just wondering, do you have bug spray stocked? Is it a good idea to stock bugsprays?

[TheLordHumungus]

@45120815142524

Yeah, i do and I think that it's a good idea to have some.

[mpett2]

Are they food grade? Or do they have to be since you have mylar?

[TheLordHumungus]

@mpett2

They aren't food grade. Because the food is in the mylar I don't think they have to be. Some people disagree.

[AnnBearForFreedom]

Or 2 by 4 (or 1 by 4) runners, if you don't have the wood for an entire square, maybe?

[TheLordHumungus]

@AnnBearForFreedom

Yeah, that's what I was thinking

[Herbalpagan]

you could also slip a piece of plywood over the top of the buckets (like a shelf) and stack them...it would distribute the weight better.

[TheLordHumungus]

@Herbalpagan

yeah, that's what I meant when I was talking about using the wood. That's what I plan on doing if I have to stack them again.

[TacticalSoleSurvivor]

If you pack the continers to the very top then you will provide more support to the center of the lid. True, you will put a "load" on your food items, but it will reduce the stress on the lid and stop it from breaking. I went through several "totes" and containers before I got this figured out. A lid should only act as a "cover" and not a load-bearing structure.

[TheLordHumungus]

@TacticalSoleSurvivor

Yeah, that's a good point. I am switching to storing them under my bedframe instead, so stacking isn't even going to be an issue.

[ctoon6]

@chop98 you can also seal mason jars pretty good without them fancy machines. i dont know the exact process, but it goes something like this.

put food or stuff in jar, then you put that lid on(not the screw on part) and put the jar in some simmering water (do not fully submerge, i think). the heat will get the air out and the lid will not let it back in. id suggest you do a little research, but you don't need them fancy machines.

[chop98]

Another thought is wide mouth Mason jars. With the vacuum sealer that comes with attachments like Foodsaver, you can store smaller amounts so you don't have to worry about dipping and pouring so much when it does come time to open them up. Also, the weight is more evenly distributed with the metal and glass when you sit them back down in the original boxes. They'll last for years with all the air sucked out. Probably even without an oxygen absorber.

[TheLordHumungus]

@chop98

Yeah that could work. The problem I would have with the jars is:

1. If you had to buy them and the lids, it would be more expensive per pound of food stored than the buckets.

2. Glass jars could be fragile too

3. It is much more difficult to more 10-20 glass jars than it is to grab a bucket with a handle.

But other than those considerations, jars should work just as well. People have used jars for long term storage for at least a hundred years.

[chop98]

@TheLordHumungus For sure convenience and safety is a factor. For price wise, you can catch places like Lowe's and Home Depot putting their garden stuff and etc on sale. I picked up five boxes of 12 lids for 50 cents a box. Definitely for carrying purposes though, the buckets would beat 'em every time.

[BravingTheOutDoors]

US101 made some sense. If you're going to take the time, money, space and effort to create and store needed food and other stuff you might as well make it earthquake-safe as well. I suppose making steady shelves and possibly sitting them on tires of some sort should both hold it all together by tightness (if you make the shelves at the proper height) and the tires will probably hold the thing better in case of a shake. But I see the point of buying from companies who have good buckets.

[TheLordHumungus]

@BravingTheOutDoors

I moved the buckets from stacked in the closet to under the bed. They fit nicely thanks to the new frame I made after watching neverenuffammo's video on his. I have a video on my frame if you wanna check it out.

[urbansurvivor101]

I try to stay away from those kinda lids, for were i live earthquakes are known to happen so I try to store all my emergency items in somewhat sturdy containers so there is a chance of retrieving them with out being totally crushed after an earthquake. The reason i just went through all my food and TP preps was rats and mice! I killed 3 mice in my house this past week. They will make your life hell when you find them in things after something has happened and u need that item

[tinsnanna]

thanks for the heads up :)