After solving your water problem, food is
a primary concern except for the very shortest event that cuts you off
from normal re-supply. Knowledge of food selection, nutrition,
storing, preserving and preparing foods is essential.
Your food plan must
include:
1. Selecting the right foods for
survival
2. Having an adequate
survival
food storage area
3. Understanding nutrition to avoid malnutrition
4. Having sanitary facilities for food preparation
5. Methods for growing, locating and collecting food for re-supply
What survival food to store
Your body needs to be supplied with fat, protein, carbohydrates,
vitamins and minerals. To prevent food fatigue you should also stock
spices and flavorings.
Store only
the
survival food you like, can prepare and
will eat.
If you quickly and drastically alter the type of food you eat,
expect your body to rebel. After all, it has become used to
your current food preferences. You can't become a vegetarian
overnight without physical side-effects.
How much to store
- Initially, your family should have a two to four
week supply of food at home. Then start working towards
a
one-year supply. Make some menus and then start multiplying amounts.
Food storage areas
- All non canned foods need to be kept in insect and rodent proof sealed
containers in cool dry places to extend their shelf life. Packages that
allow food exposure to light should be kept in containers that fully
block any light.
Preserving for storage
- Unless you are proficient and enjoy hard work, home canning should be
avoided when creating your initial food supply. It is generally not
as efficient or effective as buying commercially canned food at the
supermarket.
If you do plan to augment your food supply by growing your own,
survival
food preservation equipment and skills will be needed.
Cooking
In the event of a loss of electrical power how will you boil water
and cook food? Homes with natural gas stoves and ovens can be used
without electrical power, however, after an earthquake, the gas lines
may be shutoff.
Locating additional food
- Finding survival food is not difficult if you know where to look. Local
plants, fish and wild game can provide much if not all of your needs.
However, unless you are an experienced hunter and there is a large supply of game
near your retreat, you will expend more energy hunting than you can get
from eating the meager results.
Growing your own -
Creating a sustainable garden requires, good soil, adequate water,
non-hybrid seeds, pest control, protection from grazing animals and the
right amount and quality of light for each specific planting.
Foraging - Unless
you live along a bountiful shoreline, the least preferred method of
obtaining food is foraging. Like hunting, unless you are an
expert, you will probably expend more energy looking for food than you
get from eating what you find. And like hunting, foraging
requires you to go far and wide which may expose you to unsafe natural
or civil
conditions.
Next Survival
Shelter Plan
See the ADVANCED
Area for Specific Plans
