Another Food Storage Question

TonyD

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I've decided to get moe serious about food storage - going from a couple weeks to several months worth of dry and canned goods. I don't necessarily want to hoard food for ten years but have enough to sustain my pod for 6 months to a year. My plan would be to rotate the stock on a yearly basis. Dry goods such as beans, rice, pasta, etc. I planned to store in 5 gal. buckets.

My question is in the best way to store them. The most common way seems to be the 6 gal. mylar bags. This doesn't seem too feasible to me. I don't plan to unseal and use an entire bucket full of beans at one time. Anyone storing large amounts in smaller, user friendly, packages?

How important is the seal on the bucket when using mylar bags?
 
The mylar bags are good if you aren't 100% certain on the origin of the buckets or how food safe they really are, also, you can vacuum seal them if you aren't going to use them right away.

You probably will open the bucket about once a month or so. Have oxy/moisture absorbers and you should be all set to go through the bucket for a year.
 
I agree with Doobie. In running tests on my own, rice and beans will stay fresh and good for easily more than a year once opened if kept dry. If it gets to the point of having to break into your LTS (long term storage) food, you will use up a 5 gallon bucket way faster than it will go bad.

I store my LTS food in mylar bags, with O2 absorbers heat sealed inside 5 gallon buckets that have a rubber seal on the lid. Vacuum sealing the bags is a bit superfluous as the O2 absorbers do their thing. I just use my regular iron on the highest setting to seal the bags. As extra added insurance, I put my 50lb bags of rice and such into the deep freeze for 3 weeks to kill any bugs and eggs before I pack it away.

With details and precautions taken in the beginning, rice and beans will store easily for 10+ years. That makes rotation an easy task.
 
I store my LTS food in mylar bags, with O2 absorbers

Do you have a preferred vendor for the bags and absorbers?

What are folks doing for bulk grains/wheat and beans? The rice in 50# bags from Costco/BJs is easy enough, but I'm uncertain where to get other such items in bulk and loath to pay the mail order price.

Also, does anyone have thoughts/comments on storing Agway feed grain? Is it the same grade as human consumption, just not as clean? (A little bug protein, provided it stays dormant, beats going hungry...)

Sorbent Systems has a clam shell sealer available for purchase, in lieu of an iron, but after two separate emails, they still won't answer what the max thickness mylar bag it will seal. What thickness bag is your iron sealing?

Sorry 'bout all the questions but I'm close to being ready to start down the LTS path...

-ed
 
NOrthhampton Co-op does a yearly or semi-yearly bulk order of whole grain wheat, etc..

I'll see if I can find the info....they should be starting the order list now for the Spring order
 
OK, I dug up the email from a year ago 1/18: I just sent an email asking if they are collecting order s now for this year

We would like to start collecting orders for an early March delivery. I'm sorry to say that prices have again increases substantially, per attached notice from WM. We will begin searching for a local grower of quality grains in hopes of at least shaving off the shipping cost. Or maybe we will just buy a farm and start growing grain for everyone!

Following is the wholesale price list from WM. They have informed us that the current shipping cost for full pallets is as follows:

$9 per 50# bag
$12 per 45# pail

Pails are not economical, as you can see. Consider buying products in bags and ordering empty pails if needed. WM says they can just pack the empties on top since they weigh very little.

As shipping costs vary from week to week, we cannot quote you a price at the item level. We will try to order efficiently in full pallets to minimize your cost. if we are successful, you will likely not find WM products at cheaper prices anywhere else, unless you find a wholesale coop ordering at least 10 tons at a time. We'd love to get to that point, so send more customers!

You are welcome to call Mary at (413) 323-4338 to submit your order. Or send your order to [email protected]




Wheat Montana Farms

10778 Hwy 287, Three Forks, MT 59752
800-535-2798 Fax 406-285-3749
Pricing may change at any time, please call for update
FOB Three Forks, MT Minimum 5,000 lbs
5% discount applies at 22,500 lbs and 10% discount applies at 43,500 lbs
Freight based on current fuel rates, residential delivery $60 12/19/2007
Item Code Pack/ Wheat Montana Price Quantity Extended
W.M.F. Size Product Description Price
0001 50# Bag Bronze Chief® Wheat Berries $15.83
0002 45# Pail Bronze Chief® Wheat Berries $28.56
0003 50# Bag Prairie Gold® Wheat Berries $16.28
0004 45# Pail Prairie Gold® Wheat Berries $29.37
0006 25# Bag Bronze Chief® Wheat Berries $9.09
0007 25# Bag Prairie Gold® Wheat Berries $9.35
0008 50# Bag Hard Red Winter Wheat $15.60
0009 45# Pail Hard Red Winter Wheat $28.56
0010 50# Bag Bronze Chief® Premium Flour $17.22
0011 50# Bag Prairie Gold® Premium Flour $17.78
0014 50# Bag Natural White™ Premium Flour $18.54
0016 50# Bag Regular Rolled Oats $38.72
0019 50# Bag Oat Groats $41.28
0019P 45# Pail Oat Groats $51.56
0020 50# Bag Wheat Bran $19.10
0032 25# Bag Whole 7-Grain Mix $19.11
0033 45# Pail Whole 7-Grain Mix $47.12
0040 50# Bag Cracked 7-Grain Mix $42.93
0050 50# Bag 7-Grain Rolled / Flaked $34.76
0055 50# Bag Cracked 9-Grain Mix $44.58
0070 25# Bag Pearled Barley $26.76
0071 45# Pail Pearled Barley $59.96
0090 25# Bag Pinto Beans $33.57
0091 45# Pail Pinto Beans $71.25
0100 25# Bag Small White Navy Beans $35.84
0101 45# Pail Small White Navy Beans $75.32
0105 25# Bag 11-Bean/Pea Mix $47.91
0106 45# Pail 11-Bean/Pea Mix $97.05
0113 25# Bag Brown Flax Seed $41.84
0117 25# Bag Golden Flax Seed $42.45
0129 12/2# Case Pure Montana Honey $108.68
0130 12# Pail Pure Montana Honey $50.72
0140 50# Bag Whole Rye Berries $28.94
0140P 45# Pail Whole Rye Berries $40.70
0145CS 4/10# Case Natural White Flour 40# Case $23.70
0146CS 4/10# Case Prairie Gold Flour 40# Case $23.69
0147CS 4/10# Case Bronze Chief Flour 40# Case $23.69
0150 25# Bag Cracked HRS Wheat $17.63
0152CS 8/5# Case Natural White Flour 40# Case $27.53
0153CS 8/5# Case Prairie Gold Flour 40# Case $27.50
0154CS 8/5# Case Bronze Chief Flour 40# Case $27.50
0155CS 8/3# Case 7-Grain Cereal 24# Case $35.49
0156CS 8/3# Case Rolled Oat Cereal 24# Case $36.68
0165 50# Bag Kamut® Grain $63.38
0170 50# Bag Hulled Millet $61.77
0171 50# Bag Soft White Wheat $21.15
0172 45# Pail Soft White Wheat $35.72
0173 50# Bag Whole Wheat Pastry Flour $24.54
0179 50# Bag Spelt Flour $65.09
0180 50# Bag Spelt Berries $60.45
0181 45# Pail Spelt Berries $84.44
0190 1 unit Metal Pail Opener $10.75
0191 25# Bag Long Grain White Rice $31.31
0195 25# Bag Long Grain Brown Rice $35.09
0196 45# Pail Long Grain Brown Rice $73.97
0213 1 unit Empty Pail w/ Lid $7.50
0221 100 pack Oxygen Absorbers $27.60
0550CS 8/5# Case Bronze Chief Berries 40# Case $27.18
0551CS 8/5# Case Prairie Gold Berries 40# Case $27.18






---------------------------------------------------------
 
I've ordered from Wheat montana in the past and their product is outstanding. Best bet is to order more than 200lbs (when I ordered) and you get discounted pricing on all the product. That pricing however is not represented on their website. (www.wheatmontana.com) You'd need to call to get the spreadsheet. I'd be interested in a bulk buy if someone is organizing
 
re-reading the above post that pricing is for volume. However, they used to discount for smaller volumes to take advantage of UPS discounted pricing
 
I heard back from Mary Salva at the NorthHampton Co-Op.
It appears their order was already submitted and may have shipped to them already.

I asked if there are plans for generating another new order shipment later this year....

She mentioned she has a "few" extra bags of Prarie Gold...and to get back to her asap.

her email:

[email protected]

*****************

For other bulk purchases youi may want to check Walton Food, and AAoob Food..

**************

My favorite is the Ezekial Bread Grain Mix......
 
If enough people put in an order immediately with Mary she can get another shipped pretty quickly I think. It's just that she has a minimum amount to get the truck to come all the way to us.

I will probably order some more on her next shipment.
 
ere is the email reply I received today:

Hi LT,
The bags of prairie gold (hard white) are $18.33/50#bag the shipping is $9.50/50#.That's mostly what we order hard red is a couple bucks less, spelt is approx.$25.00. Let me know what the NoHo Co-op is charging I'm always on the look out for ways to save people money. I have access to a lot of storable items and you are welcome to share my info. Their are alot of people stocking up now. Hope this helps.
Mary

*****************

the wording of her email makes me think she is NOT associated with the Co-op...so I replied and asked her exactloy where she is located, and if she is assoctaed with the Montana Wheat Company...

??????

*******************

update : email from today:

We are in Belchertown, Ma. We run a co-op. We order directly from Wheat Montana to get a better price on wheat. There is power in numbers so we like new people(friends we haven't met yet) to join us. We share as much information as we can so people can feed their families healthy for as little as possible. I hope we can help you. There are no fees and we sell at cost. We are trying to turn it into a non-profit. We have been setting aside donations we have received. We get herbs, medicinals, cheese, grain grinders, kitchen machines, health foods, bulk foods, etc. If we don't order something we can try to point you in the right direction. Some times we need help and we accept it gratefully. It is a family mission. Hope this info helps you. I really don't know anything about the Northampton co-op I am sorry. I saw lots of signs around when they were trying to get it off the ground but not much since.
Mary
 
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Do they come in small packages so that you can open a small number at a time and not ruin/waste the rest?

No the O2 absorbers all came in one sealed bag. What I did though, was simply took out what I was going to need, put them into a canning jar with a lid, and resealed the plastic bag with my iron. Then I just took them out of the canning jar, replacing the lid between each bucket.

Inside the plastic bag, there is this little clear packet with a pink pill. If the pill changes from pink to blue, there is O2 present. So, when I opened the bag, the pill turned blue, and when I resealed the bag, it turned back to pink so I knew I had a good seal.
 
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