FOOD Food Shortages | What You Can Do Before It’s Too Late
- Thread starter Bps1691
- Start date
Loretta Van Riet
Trying to hang out with the cool kids.
TwoBarkingDogs...where did you purchase the rolling barrels?
WanderLore
Veteran Member
Hey I tried that thing of putting parmesan cheese lid on a canning jar, wow it worked! LOL
I was given a feed bag of Egyptian Walking onions, 2 years ago. I put them down in a little spot by the gardens. They grew ever since, even through the Michigan winter. When the seed heads come up I pop them off and put them back down in the soil. Its crazy. They are growing like mad. I can go out and get onions, or crop off some green shoots for meals.
I planted Kennebec red and Northland white potatoes this year. After chiropractor today, stopped by the nursery and got more bush bean seed and some celery and brussel flats. I have some growing but but I'm determined to get some good plants this year. I had some lovely rows last year and the horses got in there and ate them.
I got extra seeds so I can plant in late summer too. I'm going to be doing more seed saving this year for sure.
One thing i have done is put flat boxes of veggies in the old farm truck during the summer. It is a good dehydrator. You can do a lot at a time. Crack a window a little on each side.
I have so much I want to do but my back is slowing me down. Tonight I'm out in the cabin with 4 of the dogs. Very peaceful.
I was given a feed bag of Egyptian Walking onions, 2 years ago. I put them down in a little spot by the gardens. They grew ever since, even through the Michigan winter. When the seed heads come up I pop them off and put them back down in the soil. Its crazy. They are growing like mad. I can go out and get onions, or crop off some green shoots for meals.
I planted Kennebec red and Northland white potatoes this year. After chiropractor today, stopped by the nursery and got more bush bean seed and some celery and brussel flats. I have some growing but but I'm determined to get some good plants this year. I had some lovely rows last year and the horses got in there and ate them.
I got extra seeds so I can plant in late summer too. I'm going to be doing more seed saving this year for sure.
One thing i have done is put flat boxes of veggies in the old farm truck during the summer. It is a good dehydrator. You can do a lot at a time. Crack a window a little on each side.
I have so much I want to do but my back is slowing me down. Tonight I'm out in the cabin with 4 of the dogs. Very peaceful.
Bensam
Deceased
The problem that most sealers develop are loss of elasticity in the seals. The seals appear good but fail upon usage. Call the manufacturer and order new ones. They are cheap. Absolutely do not store the sealer with the lid locked.
twobarkingdogs
Veteran Member
They were not bought with the wheels attached. They are 22 inch resin barrels from homedepot with 5 inch wheels I bought off of ebay. I went with red wheels as the couple of barrels with black wheels the wheels left markings on the deck as they rolled. 5 inch wheels roll nicely on my deck. Original smaller wheels I had did not roll as well.
I wanted the barrels on wheels so that they don't drip their water in the same place on my deck and causing me deck issues. Every morning I go out and give them a push to somewhere else on the deck
Below are 2 new barrels I bought and built several weeks ago to give you an idea on what I did. I took 2 2ft 2x4's and notched them so when crossed they were flat. Glued and nailed them together. Drilled holes in the barrel bottom both for drainage and to mount the cross pieces to. Then attached the wheels. I then hit the top of the 2x4's with black spray paint to protect the wood and because it looks better.
I have a couple of barrels going on 4 years old now and I have had no issues either with the resin the barrels are made out of or the wood on the cross pieces rotting.
Hope this helps
tbd
AlaskaSue
North to the Future
I have the one I bought in the 70s close at hand! It's a real treasure trove of information for many aspects of self-reliant life.
Ah yes, your right...snails and slugs don't like 'em
jward
passin' thru
Those are awesome! Gardner supply company also sells lots of these specialty planters, the raised trough planters, and has a great plant info section and an interactive garden layout planner.
Garden Tools, Planters, Raised Garden Beds +More | Gardener's Supply
Gardener's Supply is America's number one resource for gardening. Raised Beds, Pots and Planters, Supports, Soils and More. Employee-Owned in Vermont.
pricey, but if they have stock still it may be worth it to some.
I'd add a couple of books to the usual recommendations: square foot gardening by mel barthalemew? And Crockets' Victory Garden.
Also, don't forget, assuming you have the room, to separate your different seed cultivars so they don't cross pollinate, and try to plant enough so you can let some go to seed for harvest. Given the run on all things seed, I certainly want to be sure to harvest my own seed this year, just in case...
cyberiot
Rimtas žmogus
I'm in Zone 9B--arid and hot, with lousy soil. Container gardening lets me plant in designer dirt, controls how much sun everything gets, and conserves a huge amount of water. Love the raised-container garden you're looking at; your back will thank you every single day!
I just found that my Foodsaver had the same problem. Turned out that the gaskets need replacing.
You can test to see if this is the problem by following this youtube vid:
Basically, you remove the gaskets, run them under water, shake off the excess, and put them back in the Foodsaver. If it works properly now, then you just need to get some new gaskets. These are the ones I ordered. Don't know the model of your Foodsaver, so don't know if they will fit yours, if indeed that turns out to be the problem.
Amazon.com: Upper and Lower Gasket Replacements for FoodSaver (2 Foam Gaskets) - Fits V2200, V2400, V2800, V3000, V3200 Series Vacuum Sealers (Replaces Food Saver T910-00075) by OutOfAir: Kitchen & Dining
Amazon.com: Upper and Lower Gasket Replacements for FoodSaver (2 Foam Gaskets) - Fits V2200, V2400, V2800, V3000, V3200 Series Vacuum Sealers (Replaces Food Saver T910-00075) by OutOfAir: Kitchen & Dining
www.amazon.com
You can use the vacuum sealer temporarily by re-wetting the gaskets each time before you use it.
Mary Contrary
Inactive
I do have a small freezer i keep forgetting i have cuz it's in a corner room. It has frozen olive leaf bottles. I may have room for some frozen meat, but i need the frozen olive leaf too. Will have to split it up i guess. I am going shopping wed and will ya let all know if i find enough meat.With all that is going on, this spring is a good time to review your planning for your food storage and replenishment. For most this is the time of year that you can start your gardens or make arrangements with farm to table folks in your area to secure sufficient food stocks to weather any worsening general food chain issues.
Basic article, but one to start you thinking:
Food Shortages | What You Can Do Before It's Too Late
Food Shortages | What You Can Do Before It’s Too Late
by Ken Jorgustin | Updated Apr 20, 2020 | PANDEMIC | 174 comments
We are fortunate that this Covid-19 virus and its associated repercussions is happening early in the year. Why? Because one increasingly dangerous side effect is the potential for shortages of food. And it’s not too late to plant a garden.
Okay before you smart readers start saying that an ordinary vegetable garden will not provide enough calories to live on… you’re basically right. However, a garden is a start. And there are some preferred items to grow that will yield more calories than others.
There are a LOT of newbies to the subject of preparedness due to the ongoing Covid-19. If I had to look for a bright side of this virus, one is definitely that of eye-opening realization. More (many) people are looking towards what they can do to be more self reliant. And that’s a good thing! That’s part of the heritage of this country (and human nature)!
Food Shortages Are Here | But Will It Get Worse?
I don’t have to convince most of you that food shortages are here. The severity of which depends upon your local grocery stores. There is food. It’s not like we’re literally running out. However there ARE shortages and empty shelves of some food products. And when they get restocked to any extent, it gets snatched up again (repeat).
The latest (and very serious) concern is shortage of meats. Meat processing plants have been closing left and right (Covid-19). The impact will be felt soon (if not already). Unless you’re a vegetarian variety, people are going to panic if and when the meat counters get sparse. Say hello to panic buying. Filling up freezers. And shortages.
A shrinking supply of meat products will quickly be bought up by consumers concerned that it may not be there tomorrow.
When processing plants are closed, farmers who raise the associated livestock have nowhere to sell into the mainstream supply chain. Some will be culled. There will be fewer starts due to lack of processing (closed due to Covid-19). It’s a chain reaction up and down the chain with some lag time built in. This will NOT be fixed in short order.
Normalcy bias. It’s a major hindrance to us humans when it comes to critical thinking.
We have lived our entire lives with a never ending supply of food at the grocery store. Choices galore. Therefore it is difficult while coming to grips with food shortages (any shortages for that matter).
I do believe that it’s going to get worse. Even if everything was fixed today, it will take some time to get the supply chains back to normal. Every day it seems like there are more closures. We haven’t reached any semblance of apex in this area yet.
Shortages of Meats | Stock Up Now
I advise to take into consideration that there may likely be shortages of meats in our future. Stock up before the masses take notice. Because when they do in your area, say bye-bye to the meat counter…
Listen, if I’m wrong about this, you will have lost nothing! Your freezer will be full of meat. You will consume it.
Mrs.J and I did a inventory of our two chest freezers not long ago. One has meat, the other veggies and other products. As a result, a few days ago I went to our local grocery store to get a few more meats. Fortunately our county has barely been affected by Covid-19. However we are nevertheless afflicted by the typical shortages and/or limits such as TP, paper towels, Flour, yeast, eggs, and other goods. But what about meat?
The meat counter space was definitely way lower than “normal”. There is a new normal. Chicken was lowest. Pork was next. Followed by Beef which had the most – though less than “normal”.
Will it get worse? It has to! When processing plants close, the supply chain IS affected. It WILL ripple down.
Plant Your Garden
There are shortages of seeds! Really! You can still find them or buy them, but it’s harder to find. Maybe your local nursery is open for business. Maybe not… I feel sorry for you if you live in Michigan where it’s outlawed by an out-of-control governor (utter power-mad insanity).
What To Grow?
I can tell you what I’m growing this year. Corn. Potatoes. Bell Peppers. Some beans. Just a few tomatoes.
Why those choices?
First, because corn and potatoes are among the highest calorie vegetables. I want some calorie producers. For me that will be corn and potatoes. Upon harvest we will eat some fresh and then process the rest for storage.
The Bell Peppers though comparatively low in calories, provide excellent nutrition. And home grown peppers TASTE GREAT! Upon harvest, we process them by removing the seeds (you might save some for next year), slice them lengthwise into thin strips, and freeze. I like them better that way than to dehydrate. We portion by using quart size Ziploc bags. We can have them all year round…
Tomatoes. The previous few years we had plenty to make LOTS of sauce (canned). So we’re good. This year just a few plants for fresh tomatoes. But if you don’t have any sauce, you might grow extra tomatoes so that you can make your own!
Beans. Our supply of home canned green beans have diminished. So time to make more.
The bottom line is that unless you have a huge garden and the ability to manage it and process the foods, it is difficult at best to acquire sufficient calories to survive! That said, it is a near mandatory supplement to whatever you’re eating! This year there’s no excuse NOT to start a garden, or increase production of what you’ve been doing in the past.
The Takeaway
Our lives have changed. For how long – I don’t know. I do believe that we are at high risk of entering a new, Greater Depression era. This, coupled with ongoing Covid-19, our lives are being changed.
So you better get a head start on survival under these “new normal” conditions. It would be a mistake in my view to count on this all going away soon.
Food. Continue to stock up. Purchase what you can. Be aware that meats may be in short supply soon. Get some. If it were me, I would get a chest freezer. Plant a garden. Though not especially high in calories, it WILL supplement your foods. Look into home canning. Dehydrating. Become more self reliant. ACT. Action. Changes. Things.
Look at it like this… Use all this bad news to motivate and strengthen your resolve to be more self sufficient. More self reliant. Get started now. Don’t wait.
Articles on Food Dehydrators
Articles on Canning
Mary Contrary
Inactive
I suppose you can add them fresh to rice and eat half cooked, but they are more nutritious if yu eat them raw like in a salad.
Mary Contrary
Inactive
Winters on the east coast are brutal. I always keep a red heat lamp for the duks in the pen.
Granny, what size bags are you planning to use to grow potatoes?
twobarkingdogs
Veteran Member
I have a friend who uses fabric grow bags like in the amazon listing I linked to below. He keeps his along the edge of his driveway up by his house and is on the 2'nd or 3'rd year of using the same bags. I do not know the exact size and its to early here to ask but guessing I'd say 45 to 60 gallons. I know you have to be careful when harvesting so as to not rip the bag. But he has stated that he wants to go to plastic half barrels similar to what I have or cut 55 gallon plastic drums as they will be easier to dump and refill the soil each year. Meaning he will continue to use the fabric bags until they fall apart since he owns them but he won't replace them in the future.
Hope that helps
tbd
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07454QJX...jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
Hope that helps
tbd
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07454QJX...jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
I bought extra packages of canning lids last shopping trip at Walmart. I have a pressure canner and cases of jars put away. I don't like to can food, not one step of it but I know how. My garage freezer is full of venison, catfish, bass, trout, and crappie. What I call free food. My family loves hunting and fishing and the kids freezers are as full as mine.
Freeholder
This too shall pass.
I don’t know where you are, but heat lamps are probably not necessary for your ducks. They can handle a LOT of cold. When I had poultry in the Interior of Alaska, with winters lasting seven months and lows down to minus seventy degrees, I talked to the extension agent in Fairbanks. He said geese can handle -100 F, and ducks can handle -75 F. Chickens aren’t quite as cold-hardy as waterfowl, but ours still survived seventy below in my little shed barn. They need good ventilation but shelter from drafts, and plenty of food and water. Deep bedding is helpful.
On chicken tractors, I’ve tried a lot of different designs over the years. Some were too heavy for me to move by myself (though I might have been able to make them work if I’d added wheels). Some caught the wind and blew over easily. What I’ve come down to, is walls made of rabbit wire (the stiff mesh used for rabbit cages) with a roof of plywood. I make the tractors fairly small so they cam be kept in the garden and moved around to any open spot, or run down the paths as a mower. The door is in the roof. And I’m using a bucket attached to one end for a nest box, because if they just lay on the ground, they walk all over the eggs and get them dirty or break them (and then start eating eggs). I need to build some new tractors; if it stays nice the rest of today, I’ll work on that and take pictures to post here.
Kathleen
mudlogger
Veteran Member
I skin our pigs. Get one of those cut-proof gloves, and don't butcher in August
. Ok, it was extenuating circumstances, but that pig fat liquefies and is a messssss.Microgreens. I just want to make sure we have some fresh "produce." I bought a ton of seeds, including microgreen seed mixtures to plant inside during the colder season, near the end of March when seeds were still rather plentiful. Nutritious and you can grow inside. Protein and stables, we are good. (For now).
Jackpine Savage
Veteran Member
I have a shooting buddy that is what you call a character, in a good way. Last December, he bought a pig on the hoof from a farmer, shot it in the lot, loaded it in his minivan, and hauled it to a friend's house that had a skid loader to hang it. Then he put his smoker to work. He was so happy with the results he got another pig, except this time he borrowed a trailer 
www.fox9.com
Minnesota hog farmer turns to selling on social media after plants close
Hog farmers in Minnesota are running out of places to send their livestock, and some will be forced to euthanize them. But in Northfield, one farmer is taking a different approach.
I have a shooting buddy that is what you call a character, in a good way. Last December, he bought a pig on the hoof from a farmer, shot it in the lot, loaded it in his minivan, and hauled it to a friend's house that had a skid loader to hang it. Then he put his smoker to work. He was so happy with the results he got another pig, except this time he borrowed a trailer
Minnesota hog farmer turns to selling on social media after plants close
Hog farmers in Minnesota are running out of places to send their livestock, and some will be forced to euthanize them. But in Northfield, one farmer is taking a different approach.
If this guy was local to me I would grab a couple in a heartbeat. We don't have any guys like that around here.
DragonBurrow
Contributing Member
These are great foe a season or two. We have several. The liners are a bit pricy and won’t last more than 2 rounds. Weed cloth is a good substitute and can be used to patch the wear spots. We love ours for the physically challenged in our group to participate the height is great. Just wanted to make sure you get ahead on thinking of the long term parts :-)
Food Shortages | What You Can Do Before It’s Too Late
One thing is certain: no one will be buying a freezer. Oh, there are some available on a sporadic basis, as well as a decent supply at a $2000+ price point, but overall this is true. So unless one is going to jerk 100# or more of meat, forget it.
One thing is certain: no one will be buying a freezer. Oh, there are some available on a sporadic basis, as well as a decent supply at a $2000+ price point, but overall this is true. So unless one is going to jerk 100# or more of meat, forget it.
I found mine at Tractor Supply Co. If they don't have enough in stock, you can order and have them shipped to the store for free. They are offering curbside pickup.
Pectin is increasingly difficult to find. Walmart usually has it and so does Target. Lately they have been out.
Border Collie Dad
Flat Earther
I skin our pigs. Get one of those cut-proof gloves, and don't butcher in August
Every pig my dad ever butchered except for the last one he scalded and scraped.
The very last one we did, there was no water.
I asked dad about it and he told me we were going to skin this one.
In a few minutes it was done and I asked him why we never did it this wat before.
His answer: you can't smoke the hams if you skin them.
Border Collie Dad
Flat Earther
Just two days ago, I called about a new freezer to replace our 15 year old one.
I was told they wouldn't have any until mid summer and they would take my name and call
Then can it. I am still seeing freezers on CL and FB Marketplace around here.
Canning supplies are either drying up or becoming prohibitively expensive. And yes, there are freezers in CL. They’ve uniformly been double-priced junk.
Perhaps you’ve never lived in a higher-population area?
Bps1691
Veteran Member
Yep they are few and far between as new ones. There are still a few "used" ones in the Craiglist in the two larger towns on the edges of my AO, but I would hate to trust an unknown with $500 worth of meat.
Of course a person can always can meat in ball jars, dehydrate it, salt it or smoke it - like we would have to in a true crisis like the grid down due to an EMP/CME.
This created crisis is a good test of our planned processes and procedures for the real crusher when it comes.
9 Ways to Store Meat Without Refrigeration
How To Store Meat Without A Refrigerator
There are many ways to store meat without a refrigerator. Smoking, curing, brining, canning, dehydrating, freeze-drying, and more.
homesteadsurvivalsite.com
THis is why we prep. If you wait until you need it you are out of luck. $500 will still buy you a fair amount of canning supplies even at higher prices.
rafter
Since 1999
For people really wanting a freezer, you may want to check on Craigslist. I don't need one, but I just checked for them in Missouri. In KC someone has a new one still in the box 7 cu' for $500...which is way more than they cost.
Another in Springfield...a used appliance store had a huge one for $750.
So there are a few out there... just none at the stores. Considering that they are made in China...probably won't be seeing any for a while.
Another in Springfield...a used appliance store had a huge one for $750.
So there are a few out there... just none at the stores. Considering that they are made in China...probably won't be seeing any for a while.
20Gauge
TB Fanatic
The wife upset? LOL or was it the kids going wow about sitting in pig blood..... lolI have a shooting buddy that is what you call a character, in a good way. Last December, he bought a pig on the hoof from a farmer, shot it in the lot, loaded it in his minivan, and hauled it to a friend's house that had a skid loader to hang it. Then he put his smoker to work. He was so happy with the results he got another pig, except this time he borrowed a trailer
Minnesota hog farmer turns to selling on social media after plants close
Hog farmers in Minnesota are running out of places to send their livestock, and some will be forced to euthanize them. But in Northfield, one farmer is taking a different approach.
Jackpine Savage
Veteran Member
Fleet Farm had a sale on canning lids a month ago. Of course they were sold out. But we got a rain check for 30 boxes of regular and 20 boxes of wide mouth. Last week they called and said they were in. They actually reserve the rain check items and hold them for a couple weeks. I've done this for dog food too.
Bps1691
Veteran Member
Dennis, the canning supplies in my AO were real tight way earlier than normal (jars/lids), but they have slowly come back into the "farmer" type stores. Prices a little bit higher and they might not be Ball brand, but they are now available.
There are even canners available at an almost reasonable prices
Don't know what you have in Texas, but it might be worth a look see at some smaller outlying towns in farming country outside of the bigger cities.
You can also order them online, but the freight on the jars is a killer.
rafter
Since 1999
I'm canning turkey and turkey bone broth today. Pulled out a 20 pound turkey out of the freezer to make room for other meat. I've been making the bone broth in 2 big crock pots in batches for the last few days. I have about 3 gallons of broth and all the turkey breast. So I should get quite a few quarts.
20Gauge
TB Fanatic
Just get a new freezer.... wait ..... can't do that anymore..... how things have changed.