Made a run today to our nearest Amish country Bulk Food Store...(Actually run by Mennonites)
If you don’t think that people starting to prepare, better guess again.
Their parking lot was full - had to wait for someone to leave so we could park. Inside the store people were buying larger quantities of staples to where many of the larger packaged items were out of stock. They had more employees stocking the shelves than they usually had running the whole store. This store usually only has 1 or at most 2 cashiers- today they were using all 6 of their registers running full tilt and they had added baggers to each line to keep them moving faster. Even with that, the lines were 5 to 6 deep waiting to check out.
Fortunately, I was able to get everything I needed - 2# yeast, 2 large butter tub size packages of Bay Leaves, Sesame seeds for bread topping, large bag of shelled pecans. Just under $20. It sure is nice to have preparations far enough along to only need a few basic items from time to time to replenish stock.
The success of a preparedness stockpile is to be using it regularly and managing it. As an example, I still have 2 half pint jars of yeast, but I try to keep a supply for a minimum of 6 months (only because I know I can culture more yeast if needed for a longer need).
Bay Leaves are an absolute necessity for long term grain/flour/rice/pasta storage to control insects. See Granny’s info earlier.
Anyway, just wanted to remind people that others are seriously preparing and to remind you that MRE’s are nice for short term - high energy food, but a steady diet of MRE’s while possible, is not conducive to the feeling of well-being that you have when you are able to vary your diet, including the comfort foods, high nutrition foods, and treats that add the normalcy to your everyday life. Daily eating from your stockpile and replenishing routinely can provide the security you need with the normality you want.
The porkulus bill passed the Senate just now. Get your supplies in order now!!
If you will keep the yeast in your freezer, it lasts long past the expiration date, I have used it that said expired 12 years ago and for the bread machine, added a little more of it.
Might not have been perfect, but it worked and it was all I had.
I like the SAF brand yeast, it is cheap and in one pound packages, I get it at WaltonFeed.com
SAF is the same as the fancy bottles you buy for the bread machines and a pound costs less than half what a 4 oz bottle costs.
Yes, I think there are a lot of folks looking to stock up, more than we would think.
We need every home to be stocked.....now that is a wild fantasy.