With only about three days of food in the average American city today and a plethora of grocery and super markets to choose from, long term food storage has become a lost art. However, disasters remind us of the fragile nature of our food supply system as shelves are often swept clean within hours.
It’s ironic that in this technological age we could find ourselves so vulnerable in the most basic needs of life. One hundred years ago interruptions in the grocery business would have been of much less consequence than now. Food storage was normal practice, and a year’s supply was common.
An increase in disasters in recent times – both man made and natural, seems to be causing a simultaneous increasing interest in long term food storage. Also, more and more people are interested in returning to a simpler, self sufficient lifestyle. This means more people are growing their own food, as well. Effective food storage makes it possible to continue to eat what you grow beyond your growing season.
There are numerous methods for storing food, depending on just what kind of food it is we’re talking about. Foods with a short shelf, such as fruit, can be preserved by dehydration or canning. Both of these methods also work for Vegetables. Grains, on the other hand, store better when kept cool and dry. Air tight containers are the best approach in that case. Even though freezing is also an effective method of food storage, it’s not optimal because it depends on outside energy such as electricity to work. It’s much more advisable to utilize methods of preservation and storage which do not depend on modern technology.
Root cellaring is also a method which should not be overlooked. Even if you don’t have a traditional root cellar (which most people don’t), you can still apply the principles in cooler places like crawl spaces, basements, and under stairwells.
In future articles, we’ll look at various methods of long term food storage and more of the reasons to perfect this valuable skill.
Learn more about Long Term Food Storage by visiting http://www.longtermfoodstorage.org, where you’ll find many helpful resources on preserving food. Check here for free reprint licence: Long Term Food Storage – Is Your Pantry Stocked?.
