STOCK UP & STORE BULK GRAINS & OTHER DRIED FOODS
One of the smartest things you can do with food storage during this depression is buying and storing different types of grains. Storing bulk grain is an excellent way to be prepared in an emergency - natural disasters, war & sky rocketing prices - as well as saving money.
You can even make your own flour by grinding the grain. And some grains you can even sprout them to have fresh greens loaded with vitamin A & C. But probably the coolest thing is that if you store grain properly, it will last years and probably longer than any other food. I recently read that archaeologists have discovered still edible grains in the pyramids! WOW! I'm not promoting putting grain in your time capsule for future generations but rather your pantry or cellar to have in an emergency and/or to save money.
There are 5 things you need to consider when storing grains & dried foods in bulk. The simple tip to store grains is to keep out the air and moisture, away from high temperatures, consider the type of container and also protection from insects, rodents & chemicals.
CONTAINER:
You'll want to keep bulk grain in containers that will keep out the moisture and that the containers are crush proof. ALWAYS store your grains in new containers. The best containers are round mainly because it allows air to circulate around the container and it won't get too hot like stacking square shaped containers can do. If the container gets hot, the grain will sweat. Buy 5 gallon polyethylene buckets at paint supply or hardware stores. Buy Gamma Lids at
http://www.thereadystore.com/emergency-preparedness-basics/gamma-lid?clickid=0004ad16d5ab401a0a8afd05282c2228 They're cheap and fit almost any 3.5 - 7 gallon bucket. Their also easy, air tight and spill proof.
WHERE TO STORE CONTAINERS:
The storage room should be cool, low humidity and dark or at least away from bright light.
The ideal temp should range between 45 to 65 degrees. Some of you may not have a room suitable so remember to rotate your grain and other foods. Eat up the older grain first and then replace it at harvest time when prices should be lower.
The room should be low humidity. If you plan on storing your grains in the garage or shed, set your containers on boards or shelves so they won't be in direct contact with the concrete or ground.
The best place would be in a non damp cellar, but if you don't have one, it's best to be away from as much light as possible like in a dark garage or windowless pantry or under the cabinet.
When I have freezer space, I keep my flour, rice another other grains in the freezer in an air tight container to keep out the bugs, which leads us to the next subject.
KEEPING BUGS OUT:
Oh no! How many of you have ever found those tiny bugs in your flour, rice or other? I have a couple of times in my married life, unfortunately.
This is gross but all wheat and rice have tiny insect eggs that if left untreated will eventually hatch into insects that will eat you out of your food supply. When storing bulk grain and other dried foods, you will need to keep the oxygen out to keep the insects from growing. Again, store grain in buckets with new air tight lids and seals. You might also need to take further steps to kill all insect life in your grain. Here are three different ways:
Dry Ice
Before storing grain, first fill most of your 5 gallon container and place a section of a brown paper bag on the grain. On top of that, set 1/4 lb dry ice - cheap at your local grocery store. Press the lid gently down on the container so that some of the air can escape. When the dry ice has completely evaporated, remove the brown paper and seal the container. The carbon dioxide released from the dry ice should kill all insect life in the container. Always remember to handle dry ice with thick gloves or pads because it will burn your skin.
Freezing
This only works if you have the freezer space. When storing bulk grain, keep it in your freezer and it will kill all live insects. Unfortunately, it won't kill the eggs but keep them from hatching. Freeze your wheat and then leave it out at room temperature for 30 days. Then refreeze your wheat again. This should kill any insects that have hatched since the last freeze. The problem with this method is that it only lasts for 30 days outside of the freezer.
Diatomaceous Earth
This won't hurt people or animals who ingest it, but for bugs it's like eating a steady diet of razor blades. After eating this, they'll die. This is a safe, simple and organic way to get rid of bugs when storing bulk grain. It's also a good way to clear your internal system of parasites, so eating a little of it not only won't hurt you, it might also be good for you!
For every 5 gallon container, put 1 1/4 C of diatomaceous earth. Then seal the container and roll it around until the dust is evenly distributed. Buy it at some horticulture stores as well as on Amazon. Do a google shopping search for it.
EXAMPLES OF BULK GRAINS & OTHER FOODS TO STORE:
wheat
quinoa
corn kernels
beans
spelt
barley
kamut
rye
triticale
oats
flax
lentils
rice
millet
amaranth
buckwheat
chia
pasta & couscous
farina
wheat germ
wheat bran
