How much food is enough?

[dreamweaver]

I stash the odd extra couple of cans or bag of pasta or rice each time I go shopping, but I get the impression that other people are storing much more than I am.

I'm also very guilty of scoffing some of my "stored" food from time to time, which is a very bad habit - I need to store them away in sealed containers, I think.

But I think the bottom line for this is: how long do people think a food shortage is likely to go on? Weeks? Months? Years? Obviously this determines exactly how much food should be stored.

So I'm throwing this one open to the floor, as I've absolutely no idea how much I should be storing. What do you think?

[theuselesseater]

I think and have been telling people that they need to get between 2 & 3 weeks supply as a MINIMUM (14 to 21 days).

I did some work last year for a UK electricity distributor and they were developing contingencies of a "blackstart" scenario. That is a complete loss of power to their network area, the timescales they were talking for a complete restore of power was between 7 to 10 days.

People do tend to forget that no electricity means no petrol, no credit card payments, plus a host of other issues.

I certainly dont wanna be treking out while the masses trpple each other for the last tin of beans.

Obviously we all have different expectations on how it may play out and what will occur.

There is 6 of us in our house (4 children) and I have got about a months worth of stuff, water, tins, pasta, rice etc. I had been putting off getting stuff until the start of this year but I feel we are on the edge now.

I will continue to grab bits and pieces when I can.

One last thing, although I get strange looks from shoppers when I am on a trip, there is nothing more satisfying than preparing.

TUEater

[dreamweaver]

I think and have been telling people that they need to get between 2 & 3 weeks supply as a MINIMUM (14 to 21 days).

I did some work last year for a UK electricity distributor and they were developing contingencies of a "blackstart" scenario. That is a complete loss of power to their network area, the timescales they were talking for a complete restore of power was between 7 to 10 days.

People do tend to forget that no electricity means no petrol, no credit card payments, plus a host of other issues.

Ah, for that scenario I think I have enough. You're right, it's amazing how easily it all breaks down. I was living in London during the petrol strikes and it was amazing how rapidly the supermarket shelves cleared!

But some people predict a much more severe breakdown of society. I'm starting to plant my own veg, plus storing dried and tinned food. Was seeing if I'm on the right tracks.

[armoured_amazon]

I stash the odd extra couple of cans or bag of pasta or rice each time I go shopping, but I get the impression that other people are storing much more than I am.

I'm also very guilty of scoffing some of my "stored" food from time to time, which is a very bad habit - I need to store them away in sealed containers, I think.

But I think the bottom line for this is: how long do people think a food shortage is likely to go on? Weeks? Months? Years? Obviously this determines exactly how much food should be stored.

So I'm throwing this one open to the floor, as I've absolutely no idea how much I should be storing. What do you think?

Lmao, me too! :D

I have about a month's worth or thereabouts, but ideally I'd like a year's food stored away.

[theuselesseater]

Was seeing if I'm on the right tracks.

I know how that feels....

Storing food is a lonley business around my parts it seems. My wife mentioned to her family that I had stocked up somewhat and they basically said I was a nutcase.

I have known that I needed to store up for a while, however it was only this year that I felt I really need to get started, I wish I had started before TBH.

As I said I have about a months worth, however I do feel it will get quite bad so will continue to add while my cash is still worth something, I have also started a veggie garden, hopefully I will get to store about 6 months worth before things go out.

TUEater:)

[unusual_suspect]

I have been wondering the same thing dreamweaver. Unfortunately, having no crystal ball I have no idea how bad things are likely to get and that is if they even do get that bad.

I am moving to a forest near the Welsh border in 2 weeks, and I am starting to brush up on the wild food thing, this is going to be me and my partners new hobby. One thing's for sure, I want me, my son and my partner away from a major center of population this Summer just in case.

Maybe stocking up on food and re-gaining some of the lost knowledge of what folk in this country used to eat is a good idea, especially in the Summer months, there will be healthy, vitmain rich, fresh food available. In the Autumn there will be nuts, fruits and fungi :)

[nirvana]

Ive started to stock few tins now. Ive got half an allotment {sharing with a mate} but will allotments really work in a food shortage? I think they will just be raided.



Peace:)

[mv8800]

When society does goto crap you will still need good proteins. Tins of done is ok ant most tinned foods are carbs. Great for energy and hunger but no good for body repair. With out power you will not have frozen food like meats(unless you kill fresh). I've been buying powdered egg whites from holland and barret for about a tenner. This provides enough protein for a human and also amino acids for muscle repair and growth.

[hellosatellites]

This poll doesn't feature the option None :)

[unusual_suspect]

When society does goto crap you will still need good proteins. Tins of done is ok ant most tinned foods are carbs. Great for energy and hunger but no good for body repair. With out power you will not have frozen food like meats(unless you kill fresh). I've been buying powdered egg whites from holland and barret for about a tenner. This provides enough protein for a human and also amino acids for muscle repair and growth.

It is also a good idea to stock up on dried pulses for the same reasons, it is also a very inexpensive way of stocking up on protein foods.

[dreamweaver]

This poll doesn't feature the option None :)
There's always one. :p

OK, I appreciate there are some who take the view that food hoarding is fear-mongering. It's a valid point of view but this is in the survival forum after all, so I thought most people in here would think some level of food storage is essential.

Oh, and technically speaking, you could include zero in "up to a week's worth". ;)

[dlb2007]

I started storing food after the new year. I have approx on a rationed basis enough food to keep me going for about 3 months thus far. I feel more is needed would argue that more you have the better but if you have 50 years worth of food, hey u might as well stop buying an enjoy

You do get a few funny looks when your walking around with a shoppin trolly full of tins. it is suprising though how cheap a months worth of food costs when you skip all the unneccsary luxuries. 1 Weeks worth of food normal shoppin about £80... i spent about £25 on tinned goods enough for a month.

[scatlond]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlK62rjQWLk

[dreamweaver]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlK62rjQWLk

It's only a wafer-thin mint...

[tom bombadil]

I put one or more years, and here is the reasoning;

Have enough food to sustain you (and others) for as long as it takes you to start growing your own. Now I know we dont all live on farms or small-holdings or indeed anywhere near to 'wildlife', but an awfull lot of us do.

If you have space to grow (it dont take much, see square foot gardening on the www) then you do also have space for hens and geese.

If one is willing to 'improve' their intake then one is directed to cooking from scratch. This would mean that, in the case of bread, that you might buy flour for the week, plus other bits, or flour for the month or year. Flour is cheap, but a the raw material of wheat ect and a hand mill is cheaper.

I wont go into an augument over those that also grow from this point, but as for me, I would intend to grow my own after TSHTfan. Find the land now, but grow stuff like wheat later.

This way, the raw materials are at hand. I would know how to use the equipment on a daily basis. I would know if I needed more for the year as I am also eating as I am storing. As time goes by, I can improve on my stores by including things like recipies for different breakfasts mornings that I have already tried.

It only works if you have the provisions for six months or more, but seeing as I am happy to store and use, I would buy for a year and collect and improve as time goes by. Also including new tools for the seeds that I would need for the seasons ahead.

The idea of living from tins and the like is not apealing to me but dont get me wrong, I am happy to have a tin of beans on toast with grated cheese on top at times, and indeed my cupboard is full of tins of fish, beans, toms corned beef ect. but this is not how I would carry on if I wanted to survive the S*** Hitting The fan.

The book on Square foot gardening is a must for all wishing to live for themselves rather than going to the shops for veg. For an example, for one man, you need a space that is the same as 4X12 ft. for a year. This will give you more than you need, and will enable you to freeze or dry or otherwise store your exses produce for the winter months.

Also (though not for this thread) the ability to fish or catch crabs and shrimps and lobsters and cuttlefish ect with a small boat or just with a wetsuit is something to do now, and not learn later. Being able to hunt or trap your own food is also not to be overlooked. Learn now how to prepare an animal after you have shot it. Dont trust in your mum showing you how :p.


One year........why not? :D


Tom.

[jonas parker]

I posted this back some time ago, but it will give folks a quick and inexpensive start on a food storage program:

http://www.davidicke.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46172

Now for all of you who are "prepping" for hard times remember two things:

1. Prepping is not hoarding. Hoarders are dirtbags who want to stockpile goods with a view to selling these same goods at obscene profits to people in great need when a major catastrophy occurs. Preppers are buying things to provide for their families in tough times (possibly merely a loss of employment of the major breadwinner in the family).

2. If you are prepping, DON'T TELL ANYONE! Caution your children not to say anything, even to classmates or best friends. If things go "to hell in a hand basket", you'll have every deadbeat relative and neighbor beating down your door to collect "their fair share" of what you bought and paid for out of your own pockets while they were loading up on video games and beer.

[rydeon]

Got about 6 months supply in the loft, water, rice, oats, canned spam and other supplies.
When I get back I'll be added a dozen kilos of honey!
I advise a lot of folks to keep honey handy.
You can live off it at a pinch and use it for wounds in lieu of antibiotics.

I know what you mean about funny looks from the 'normal' shoppers who only buy for a few days. But it works out cheaper too the way food prices keep jumping up!

[dreamweaver]

What about fuel for cooking? I know one survivalist guy who says he'll just build camp fires in the garden if he has to. Anyone got other ideas? Such as stocking up gas cylinders for camping stoves etc?

[hunter77]

What about fuel for cooking? I know one survivalist guy who says he'll just build camp fires in the garden if he has to. Anyone got other ideas? Such as stocking up gas cylinders for camping stoves etc?

http://www.velvitoil.com/Charmake.htm
GOOD POINT:) i have posted a link above about making your own charcoal:)

[hunter77]

i think the answer is as much as possile, you can never have enough. ive gone for a year or more, i havent quite got this much yet but iam building up to it slowly:):)

[tom bombadil]

I posted this back some time ago, but it will give folks a quick and inexpensive start on a food storage program:

http://www.davidicke.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46172

Now for all of you who are "prepping" for hard times remember two things:

1. Prepping is not hoarding. Hoarders are dirtbags who want to stockpile goods with a view to selling these same goods at obscene profits to people in great need when a major catastrophy occurs. Preppers are buying things to provide for their families in tough times (possibly merely a loss of employment of the major breadwinner in the family).

2. If you are prepping, DON'T TELL ANYONE! Caution your children not to say anything, even to classmates or best friends. If things go "to hell in a hand basket", you'll have every deadbeat relative and neighbor beating down your door to collect "their fair share" of what you bought and paid for out of your own pockets while they were loading up on video games and beer.

With you there. But I will want to use what I have to trade if I could for stuff I dont have. The need of some form of comunity is in order.

http://www.velvitoil.com/Charmake.htm
GOOD POINT:) i have posted a link above about making your own charcoal:)

Cool. Will look later.


I would grow wood. Burn it.

This is how;
First one needs to insulate there entire house. A days fuel goes twice as far if there are no cold patches in a home.

Second I would install two or three wood burning stoves. In an ideal scenario, I could spend a few grand and have a back boiler connected to the kitchen stove (wood burning) that would be the main source of hot water. But most of us can retro-fit an ideal set-up.

This would include a 3-450 quid 'living room' burner. This gives most heat in the house by leaving the doors open and alowing the air to curculate. It also heats the water for tea and distils the same water via an expensive (not got it yet) distiler pan setup. Also a second smaller burner for around 200 pounds is placed in the kitchen area for cold days. This can be used to 'oven cook' things in a duch oven (heavy pot with lid) set-up and boil things like in a pan, and cos it is away from the living room, it will not over-heat the room or fill it with steam. Also this could go in the upstairs bathroom or on the landing with a bathroom extractor fan fitted close-by for steam.

Next (and most expensive) is to have a solar heat colector installed on the roof (2 grand-ish). This will bring all of your water to a washing up or bathing temp for free. and will make your life a whole lot simpler. The idea with it as part of a set-up for today is that it brings up the colder tempretures of the water that is pumped to your house so that if you demand hot water or have a heater that goes on in the morning then it uses less gas or leccy to get to the hot mark.

That is how I would burn it....this is how I would grow it;
One needs only to rent land (not buy) to grow a crop of food or wood (yes a crop of wood). 3 or 4 acres is all you need. 1 - 11/2 acre for food like wheat and corn or also food for animals and the rest for the trees. I will not go into how to grow a tree cos it would take too much time. I will say that you need a good book or five and follow the instructions, but in a nutshell you could sustain your home with firewood with 1 acre (it has been said in some books) if you insulate your house and are good at looking after your crop.

If you choose a fast growing variety of wood, you would see how you could sustain yourself in about 5-8 years. That is to say that in any one cutting period (if done all at once) you would have enough timber for burning and still leaving enough for the next few years of growth. Like I said...get some books.

If you did buy your own land then you could also fence it off (you could still fence it anyway for the owner but is it worth it?) and breed pigs ect.



That will soon be me!


Tom.

[rydeon]

What about fuel for cooking? I know one survivalist guy who says he'll just build camp fires in the garden if he has to. Anyone got other ideas? Such as stocking up gas cylinders for camping stoves etc?

Sorry, forgot to add I've got a small catche of camping gas canisters (ten or twelve) up there as well.

It's pretty cheap with oil prices being what they are so nows the time to start stockpiling!

[unusual_suspect]

I'm going for a year, not there yet, if in 2 or 3 years time things are fine I'll feel like a bit of a tit, but nevermind.

I've been stocking up on dried beans, lentils, rice etc, these can also be sprouted for extra nutritional value, canned beans, fish, peanut butter, dried fruits, nuts, seeds, honey, confectionary and luxury items for bartering, that sort of thing. I have also been busy educating myself about wild food and have started my first experimental cuisine in this area. It is amazing just how many common plants are edible, and it's great as it saves me money not buying salad stuff and veg at supermarkets and shops :)

[cafetimes1991]

I've wondered about how much is the minimum needed each day. One such theory: http://www.davidicke.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40928

[unusual_suspect]

I've wondered about how much is the minimum needed each day. One such theory: http://www.davidicke.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40928

That's so strange as I was actually just thinking that! What if you had teenage boys to feed :eek:

I have been thinking that along with highly nutritious food it would be a really good idea to stock up on very calorie/energy dense food. If tshtf people will certainly not be watching their weight, calories will be extremely valuable.

[hunter77]

That's so strange as I was actually just thinking that! What if you had teenage boys to feed :eek:

I have been thinking that along with highly nutritious food it would be a really good idea to stock up on very calorie/energy dense food. If tshtf people will certainly not be watching their weight, calories will be extremely valuable.

it depends on what you do each day, if your working a manual job youll need more calories than if you sit in an office.
it also depends on what you eat and what enviroment your in.
when i go out shooting or fishing it prefer not to eat at all as i find it hightens my state of awareness and purpouse and makes me more efficient to the task in hand.Although some times after 6 hours with fuck all i question my reasoning:o the human body can survive along time with very little food but this is not healthy, the best thing you can do is listen to your body and try and feed it the things it needs when it needs them.:)

[oiram]

Just go fishing.
Or steal food from the super rich once you & you're family is on death road.

If there is any food shortage it's by design so it's better to not stock up because it's better to fight the once creating all this shit.

Stocking up on food is just one more way to get the big boys richer & to force the price up so the once with less can not afford it.
You see you are not helping you are egoistic & you play into there hands. "NO?"

If they like to kill you they will do it in no time. If not today they do it next month or next year.

Who produces the food is it not the people so why would they stop working because of no demand or because your boss is manipulating the situation. Or because of the bullshit Global Warming Propaganda!

Think about it! Stocking up on food is egoistic because the problem is not food it's the controllers.

Also to give you the reality if you have food & others don't you may end up dead.
Because the once which have nothing more to lose then there life's will not give a shit about you! "Trust me"

But it's good if you have more food then others; because I know on which doors I have to knock to get it.

NO?

If the situation will get this far in the Western world you will have much bigger problems then food!
You will see.
"Trust me & Mark my words"


This is the exact part I don't like on Alex Jones show because in reality he is working into the hands of the cooperations & into his own pocket ignoring the real problem on hand. I am sure he gets a good commission on all the things he sells because of his promotions.

Think about it logically long and hard & try to run all scenarios in you're mind.

Straight to the point ...... the once which stocking up on food are part of the problem not the solution!

[unusual_suspect]

it depends on what you do each day, if your working a manual job youll need more calories than if you sit in an office.
it also depends on what you eat and what enviroment your in.
when i go out shooting or fishing it prefer not to eat at all as i find it hightens my state of awareness and purpouse and makes me more efficient to the task in hand.Although some times after 6 hours with fuck all i question my reasoning:o the human body can survive along time with very little food but this is not healthy, the best thing you can do is listen to your body and try and feed it the things it needs when it needs them.:)

I know what you mean, what I'm saying is that if the worst happens, it would be a good idea to have the energy dense food as well as other food, that's why I've been stocking up on nuts, seeds, dates, figs etc. It is also easy to carry it around with you, a few nuts and some dried fruit takes up alot less room than a packed lunch.

[hunter77]

I know what you mean, what I'm saying is that if the worst happens, it would be a good idea to have the energy dense food as well as other food, that's why I've been stocking up on nuts, seeds, dates, figs etc. It is also easy to carry it around with you, a few nuts and some dried fruit takes up alot less room than a packed lunch.

agreed, i also stock in the same sort of things, i also have started saving water as is our most precious life source.:)

[unusual_suspect]

Just go fishing.
Or steal food from the super rich once you & you're family is on death road.

If there is any food shortage it's by design so it's better to not stock up because it's better to fight the once creating all this shit.

Stocking up on food is just one more way to get the big boys richer & to force the price up so the once with less can not afford it.
You see you are not helping you are egoistic & you play into there hands. "NO?"

If they like to kill you they will do it in no time. If not today they do it next month or next year.

Who produces the food is it not the people so why would they stop working because of no demand or because your boss is manipulating the situation. Or because of the bullshit Global Warming Propaganda!

Think about it! Stocking up on food is egoistic because the problem is not food it's the controllers.

Also to give you the reality if you have food & others don't you may end up dead.
Because the once which have nothing more to lose then there life's will not give a shit about you! "Trust me"

But it's good if you have more food then others; because I know on which doors I have to knock to get it.

NO?

If the situation will get this far in the Western world you will have much bigger problems then food!
You will see.
"Trust me & Mark my words"


This is the exact part I don't like on Alex Jones show because in reality he is working into the hands of the cooperations & into his own pocked ignoring the real problem on hand.



Well if anyone tries taking my food, I don't care how they go about it cause I'll be getting medieval on their ass and I'll go proper psyco :cool:

You have some interesting opinions. I don't see much wrong with stocking up on food though. Sustainable food sources are going to be better.

agreed, i also stock in the same sort of things, i also have started saving water as is our most precious life source.:)

Been thinking about that too, I'm not sure of the best way to save water, how are you doing this if you don't mind me asking?

[oiram]

Well if anyone tries taking my food, I don't care how they go about it cause I'll be getting medieval on their ass and I'll go proper psyco :cool:

You have some interesting opinions. I don't see much wrong with stocking up on food though. Sustainable food sources are going to be better.

Been thinking about that too, I'm not sure of the best way to save water, how are you doing this if you don't mind me asking?

Look it's nothing wrong if anyone has a month of food items but if people stock up for a year or more the result is clear.

The demand will be bigger then the supply & others will end up with nothing or dead.

Did we not all have enough food for everyone for the last 70 years so what would change in reality if there is not a panic over demand.
That's right all will just continue normal.

Water the western world has so much rain how could you run out of water?????

Place a bucket under you're rain down pipe & you have enough for a month.
Boil the water and it's good for drinking. Make sure you don't collect the first 5 min of the rain to not collect all the Chemtrail.

One plastic place it over a Busch in the early morning & you will see how much water you end up running of the edges of the plastic.

Open your fridge a bit and let it run for one day then pull the plug out & you will see how much water you got.

Filter the water through sand or some charcoal perfect or boil it.


EMERGENCY DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES
EMERGENCY DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES
Prepared by:

Dorothy L. Miner
Extension Water Quality Associate Specialist

Why have an emergency water supply?

We often take our household water supply for granted. However, when safe drinking water is unavailable, it is more than just an inconvenience - it can become a health emergency. Hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and winter storms are examples of natural disasters that can interrupt the supply of safe drinking water. Interruptions may be for only a short period of time, or for days. Every household should have an emergency water supply to meet its members' needs during these situations. You may be able to purchase bottled drinking or distilled water at the time of need, but stores may quickly sell out.


How much water should I store?

Having an ample supply of water is a top priority in an emergency. Everyone's needs will differ, depending upon age, physical condition, activity, diet and climate. Most people need to drink at least two quarts (64 ounces), which is equal to eight cups, of water each day. Hot environments can double the amount needed as the body uses water for cooling. The amount of water you need will also depend on the total amount of juices, soups, other drinks, and high moisture foods that are available. Children, nursing women, and ill people will need more. You can minimize the amount of water your body needs by reducing your activity level. Additional water will be needed for food preparation and hygiene. In general, store at least one gallon of water per person, per day of expected need. If you have pets, allow 1 quart per day for each dog or cat.

Storing at least a three-day supply is recommended, but consider storing a two-week supply if your home has enough space for it.


What containers should I use?

You can store water in food grade plastic or glass containers with tight fitting screw-on caps. Food-grade containers include those that previously held beverages, such as 2-liter soda bottles and other water, juice, or punch containers. Plastic milk bottles should be avoided, because it is difficult to remove protein and fat residues, which may allow bacteria to grow during storage.

You can buy new plastic containers for water storage in most housewares and sporting goods departments, and clean food-grade containers may be available for purchase at water vending machines. Only purchase containers labeled for storage of food or beverages.

Containers not labeled for food or beverage storage could release harmful chemicals into the water. Never use a container that has held toxic substances, because tiny amounts may remain in the container's pores. Some plastic containers may affect the taste of stored water. Chlorine bleach bottles may be a food approved plastic, but contain an anti-static agent which prevents accumulation of dust during storage and are thus not recommended. Most plastics used in waterbeds are not approved food storage plastics. Avoid using containers that will decompose or break, such as milk cartons or glass bottles. Also, some old glass jars were made with glass that contains lead, and unacceptable amounts of lead can leach into water stored in them even for short periods.


How should I prepare the containers?


http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/programs/extension/publicat/wqwm/emergwatersuppl.html

[oiram]

If you are heading outdoors, you know how important having a source of clean water is. A person cannot survival without water for more than a few days.

In this article, we will illustrate a method of collecting clean and drinkable water. This is a method that is often used by infantrymen as part of jungle survival.

For this method you will need the following things:

1. Ground Sheet.
This can be bought in military and hiking equipment stores.

2. Four tent building sticks.
This can be bought in military and hiking equipment stores.

3. A clean rock
Preferable granite or marble.

4. Nylon string or comscord.
This is used for securing ground sheet corners to the ground.

4. A water bottle.
This is used to store the clean water.

Setting up the water collection device

To set up the water collection device, first we need to find a relatively flat ground. After that is being done, follow the instructions below:

1. Open up the ground sheet and spread it over the flat ground.

2. Next, position the 4 tent-building sticks, one at each corner of the ground sheet. Plunge the sticks into the ground.

3. Ground sheets come with a hole in each corner. Secure each corner of the ground sheet to the sticks. Make sure that the corners of the ground sheet are raised above the ground.

4. Place the stone in the middle of the ground sheet.

The illustration below shows how the water collection device is to be set up:
http://www.ideacosmo.com/collectwater1.jpg
http://www.ideacosmo.com/collectwater1.jpg

Due to condensation and rain, water will be concentrated at the center of the ground sheet. This water can then be scooped or dripped into a water container for storage. It is alway advisable to filter and boil the water soon after. Filtering and purification of water is important before consumption.

Do not drink water that has stagnated for several days on the ground sheet.

If you are heading outdoors, you know how important having a source of clean water is. A person cannot survival without water for more than a few days.

In this article, we will illustrate a method of collecting clean and drinkable water.

For this method you will need the following things:

1. Clear plastic bag.
This can be bought in grocery stores and hiking equipment stores.

4. A rubber band
This is used to secure the plastic bag.

Setting up the water collection device

To set up the water collection device, first we need to find a shrub or tree with leaves.

http://www.ideacosmo.com/water-leave.jpg
http://www.ideacosmo.com/water-leave.jpg
Due to condensation , water will be concentrated at the bottom of the plastic bag. This water can then be scooped or dripped into a water container for storage. It is alway advisable to filter and boil the water soon after. Filtering and purification of water is important before consumption.

Do not drink water that has stagnated for several days.

http://www.ideacosmo.com/collectwater-2.html
http://www.ideacosmo.com/wilderness-list.html

[unusual_suspect]

I can see what you are saying about stocking up oiram and that is why I am getting in to the wild food thing. As I live in a forest anyway there is an abundance of fresh food, and I'm not talking about my local Morrissons. Since learning more about it I am amazed at how many common plants have been used for food in the past, and many people are largely ignorant of what UK native plants are edible.

Tins and packets of food run out, but these wild foods do not, provided that you gather them sensibly.

Thanks for the advice about water btw.

[hunter77]

Look it's nothing wrong if anyone has a month of food items but if people stock up for a year or more the result is clear.

The demand will be bigger then the supply & others will end up with nothing or dead.

Did we not all have enough food for everyone for the last 70 years so what would change in reality if there is not a panic over demand.
That's right all will just continue normal.

Water the western world has so much rain how could you run out of water?????

Place a bucket under you're rain down pipe & you have enough for a month.
Boil the water and it's good for drinking. Make sure you don't collect the first 5 min of the rain to not collect all the Chemtrail.

One plastic place it over a Busch in the early morning & you will see how much water you end up running of the edges of the plastic.

Open your fridge a bit and let it run for one day then pull the plug out & you will see how much water you got.

Filter the water through sand or some charcoal perfect or boil it.


EMERGENCY DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES




how good a quality is the water though, i have seen streches of big rivers in the uk wiped out in a couple of days wiped out by man made pollution, 100"s of thousands of fish killed, so clean water is paramount. everthing else you can find if you know where to look , clean water is life itself.:)

[oiram]

how good a quality is the water though, i have seen streches of big rivers in the uk wiped out in a couple of days wiped out by man made pollution, 100"s of thousands of fish killed, so clean water is paramount. everthing else you can find if you know where to look , clean water is life itself.:)

There are hundreds of ways depends on where you live!

Just google for it "tricks to collect water" & "how can I filter water"
Example: http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&safe=off&um=1&newwindow=1&ei=0rXfSfuUK6X06gPW-f3RCw&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=1&ct=result&cd=1&q=homemade+water+filter&spell=1

Print out the ideas you like.

You can create real simple filter systems to get drinking water even from a dirty river-water.

Dirty water is no problem chemicals are.

Try take a bucket with dirty water and sprinkle a small amount of SALT on top of the water & you will see how quick the dirt will settle on the bottom & you end up with clean water.

http://chestofbooks.com/food/beverages/A-Treatise-On-Beverages/images/Fig-39-Clapp-s-Home-Made-Filter.png



Solar Distillation

A small, inexpensive solar still kit that could produce between 1-5 gallons of fresh water per day is kind of the "holy grail" of water projects. The idea is not to use solar panels, since people in a third world setting could not afford them or be able to replace them when they break. Most efforts have concentrated on community-sized projects without much success. We want to concentrate on families and individuals - just to supply enough drinking water for the day. The standard approach is to spread the water over a large surface area in the sun so it will evaporate, then fall into a collection trough when it condenses. That is good, but it takes up a lot of space. It is also expensive and awkward if using glass. We were thinking of the possibility of using a standard lens for eyeglasses (a lens blank costs about 40 cents). The lens would concentrate a focused beam onto a small amount of water, as in a narrow diameter copper tube or something. The trick is to limit the fire hazard and also to accommodate for the movement of the sun. Another possibility is to do the large surface area thing, but with heavy duty plastic that can be rolled up or folded to transport. The benefit to this project is that through distillation, any water source (ocean, brackish, muddy, contaminated) can be used to make fresh drinking water. (top)



Arsenic Removal
http://www.hydromissions.com/images/biosand%20filter(small).jpg

Certain places, like areas of Bangladesh, have problems with arsenic in the ground water. We want to develop an inexpensive cartridge to remove arsenic that will attach to the outflow of our bio-sand filters. We are not chemists here, so we are not even sure how to evaluate results. Having talked with some water treatment companies, we have heard at least 2 possible methods that would meet our criteria for appropriate technology. One is to use a media that contains mixed shavings of zinc and copper (ground up pennies anyone?). Apparently, the dissimilar metals act as some sort of battery, and the metals attract and bind with the arsenic. The other idea is using rust (ferrous oxide) particles. We have read an article whereby people added rust to arsenic-laden water. They concluded that the ferrous oxide in the rust absorbed the arsenic. They then passed the water over a magnet which removed the rust particles from the water. Again, our idea is to put this into a form of a cartridge that can screw onto a small pvc pipe to help remove arsenic as water passes through on the way out of a biosand filter. (top)

http://www.hydromissions.com/think_tank.htm

http://www.changemakers.net/files/16.jpg

Choose a moist area that gets sunlight for most of the day.
Dig a bowl-shaped hole about three feet across and two feet deep, with an additional sump dug in the center.
The sump should be flat and big enough to hold your container.
Place the container into the sump.
Put the drinking tube in the container and run it up and out of the main hole.
Place the plastic over the hole and cover the sides with rock and soil to keep it there.
Put your rock in the center of the sheet and let it hang down about 18 inches, directly over the container to form an inverted cone.
Add more soil on the edges for stability.
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/get-water-4.gifhttp://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/get-water-5.gif
http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/how-to-find-water2.htm

[banphrionsalola]

what about purchasing one of those LifeSaver bottles that can apparantely filter out all impurities including chemicals and faecel matter and has a shelf life of 3-5 years. i don't know how much one costs though. best to check out alternative methods just in case. are people seriously stocking up?

[oiram]

what about purchasing one of those LifeSaver bottles that can apparantely filter out all impurities including chemicals and faecel matter and has a shelf life of 3-5 years. i don't know how much one costs though. best to check out alternative methods just in case. are people seriously stocking up?
No they just scared to confront the corrupt Government! :D

[hunter77]

There are hundreds of ways depends on where you live!

Just google for it "tricks to collect water" & "how can I filter water"
Example: http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&safe=off&um=1&newwindow=1&ei=0rXfSfuUK6X06gPW-f3RCw&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=1&ct=result&cd=1&q=homemade+water+filter&spell=1

Print out the ideas you like.

You can create real simple filter systems to get drinking water even from a dirty river-water.

Dirty water is no problem chemicals are.

Try take a bucket with dirty water and sprinkle a small amount of SALT on top of the water & you will see how quick the dirt will settle on the bottom & you end up with clean water.

http://chestofbooks.com/food/beverages/A-Treatise-On-Beverages/images/Fig-39-Clapp-s-Home-Made-Filter.png



Solar Distillation



http://www.changemakers.net/files/16.jpg

Choose a moist area that gets sunlight for most of the day.
Dig a bowl-shaped hole about three feet across and two feet deep, with an additional sump dug in the center.
The sump should be flat and big enough to hold your container.
Place the container into the sump.
Put the drinking tube in the container and run it up and out of the main hole.
Place the plastic over the hole and cover the sides with rock and soil to keep it there.
Put your rock in the center of the sheet and let it hang down about 18 inches, directly over the container to form an inverted cone.
Add more soil on the edges for stability.
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/get-water-4.gifhttp://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/get-water-5.gif
http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/how-to-find-water2.htm

look to be honest mate i agree with most of what you say .:) i own or have owned many types of filter:) i know where to find water , Thats not my point, i livE in mother england 44,000,000 people smaller than texas (with alot more people), water levels are low ,i know i fish reserviors lakes and rivers, and i can see with me own eyes. so all iam doing is looking after me and telling the truth other people Your theories are very good but they are just that theories based on what the net says mine are observations:)

[rydeon]

Just go fishing.
Or steal food from the super rich once you & you're family is on death road.

If there is any food shortage it's by design so it's better to not stock up because it's better to fight the once creating all this shit.

Stocking up on food is just one more way to get the big boys richer & to force the price up so the once with less can not afford it.
You see you are not helping you are egoistic & you play into there hands. "NO?"

If they like to kill you they will do it in no time. If not today they do it next month or next year.

Who produces the food is it not the people so why would they stop working because of no demand or because your boss is manipulating the situation. Or because of the bullshit Global Warming Propaganda!

Think about it! Stocking up on food is egoistic because the problem is not food it's the controllers.

Also to give you the reality if you have food & others don't you may end up dead.
Because the once which have nothing more to lose then there life's will not give a shit about you! "Trust me"

But it's good if you have more food then others; because I know on which doors I have to knock to get it.

NO?

If the situation will get this far in the Western world you will have much bigger problems then food!
You will see.
"Trust me & Mark my words"


This is the exact part I don't like on Alex Jones show because in reality he is working into the hands of the cooperations & into his own pocket ignoring the real problem on hand. I am sure he gets a good commission on all the things he sells because of his promotions.

Think about it logically long and hard & try to run all scenarios in you're mind.

Straight to the point ...... the once which stocking up on food are part of the problem not the solution!



Sounds like we've a pinko socialist in our midst.
You're confusing prepping with hoarding, that's two different things.

[father ted]

Unlimied amout of feed is possible.

[breezinreezin]

It is also a good idea to stock up on dried pulses for the same reasons, it is also a very inexpensive way of stocking up on protein foods.

true, but chose your pulses carefully. Some of them don't have much of a shelf life, as I've recently found out:(

[unusual_suspect]

true, but chose your pulses carefully. Some of them don't have much of a shelf life, as I've recently found out:(

Shit man :(

Even if you keep them sealed? How long do they last for?

[breezinreezin]

Shit man :(

Even if you keep them sealed? How long do they last for?

Some last longer than others. Just check the expirery date, but some still seem alright past that. It's trial and error, when they're off they just don't seem to soften. Nothing worse than crucnhy beans. Flagolet beans didn't last long at all. I think the thing is to use them and rotate the stock.

[ambersky]

I have found that organic brown rice and beans, peas & lentils have a much shorter storage life than non organic.

I found a pack of black eye beans which will expire soon, so I soaked then cooked them, packed them and put them in the freezer.

[d3v_]

I have found that organic brown rice and beans, peas & lentils have a much shorter storage life than non organic.

I found a pack of black eye beans which will expire soon, so I soaked then cooked them, packed them and put them in the freezer.

how do you know these foods are going rancid?
Your not reading off the dates on the packs are you?:rolleyes:

[storm knight]

You going need alot if you not going to form any natural source, Your better off becoming a yeti then being a human, plenty more chance of survival in 2012.

[breezinreezin]

how do you know these foods are going rancid?
Your not reading off the dates on the packs are you?:rolleyes:

Try cooking and eating beans that are past it!

[ambersky]

Try cooking and eating beans that are past it!

Exactly. Experience has taught me that beans and lentils that are past it just will not go soft no matter how long you cook them they stay crunchy.

[unusual_suspect]

Try cooking and eating beans that are past it!

Exactly. Experience has taught me that beans and lentils that are past it just will not go soft no matter how long you cook them they stay crunchy.

I never knew they stayed hard, I'm going to have to look at the expity dates and re-think my strategy!

[rydeon]

I never knew they stayed hard, I'm going to have to look at the expity dates and re-think my strategy!

If they're edible don't worry yourself too much on the niceties.

Remember dry foods last for eons.
wheat and grain was found in the pyramids to be thousands of years old. Yet was as fresh as the day it was harvested. :)

[boots]

I'll be preparing some Pemmican ;)

Thanks to jonas parker's thread.

http://www.davidicke.com/forum/showthread.php?t=54003


Will store for 8 month's or kept at the right temperature. 3 years.:cool:


You can live on this stuff:D

.

[gripit]

Buy a good quality diesel generator. Any diesel engine can run off Veggie oil perfectly fine. You can covert your gas (http://running_on_alcohol.tripod.com/id26.html) vehicle to run on alcohol as well. You should also consider getting an ethanol generator as a back up. You can make your own ethanol (http://running_on_alcohol.tripod.com/).

Good food storage and any other info site. (http://www.captaindaves.com/foodfaq/index.htm)

I plan on storing two years worth...eventually!

[adimon]

If the shit really hits the fan mobility will be the greatest value. A week's food will see you through the worst.

[grannymoose]

What about fuel for cooking? I know one survivalist guy who says he'll just build camp fires in the garden if he has to. Anyone got other ideas? Such as stocking up gas cylinders for camping stoves etc?

thats no good dude, 1000 hungrey peeps sniffing the cooking grub will bring um running hehehe

[noir]

How to store food if you move a lot like me? :( I move cities (soon to be countries) often. I guess I could buy those non hybrid seeds and carry them with me.

[noir]

thats no good dude, 1000 hungrey peeps sniffing the cooking grub will bring um running hehehe

This reminds me of a zombie flick.

[elixirsoo]

I have had a store cupboard system for years, it was the way I was brought up and I have just increased the capacity over the past four years. Just buying food and not actually using it in a rotation system can lead to waste. Buy food that you like to eat and introduce new stuff as you go along.

If you have children it is important to introduce different foods into their current diet whenever you can. During the last world war it was not unusual for people to just stop eating due to boring, blandness of everything. I forget the exact term used for the condition.

My favourite store cupboard items are the big bottles of sweet chilli sauce! A good splash of that makes even the plainest meal taste great and it's cheap. :)

[snakesnladders]

yeah, i reckon have a couple of years worth. 2-5 years, or 2-3 if thats impossible.

i wud say focus on vegie foods as meat too difficult.
i wud store dry beans, pulses, lentils, chickpeas, etc. and brown rice, corn, grains.
and then grow vegie garden, have chickens (for eggs) and a dam w fish/yabbies.
also yeah; dried fruit and vegies; and tinned fruit/vegies.

stuff like lentils/chickpeas are very filling. also nuts and seeds.

[snakesnladders]

double post.

[daisy100]

I'm not sure if this has been said before, sorry if it has.
Many stores sell dented and bashed tins at a reduced price, which may look like a bargain, but don't buy them! If a can has a dent in it then after a little while a small hairline crack can appear (usually under the lable) this may not be enough for the contents to spill out, but it is enough for bacteria to get in. You do not want food poisioning...

[suicidal_martyr]

Although probably not all that great health wise but will keep you alive for some time, MRE's (meal ready to eat, those little packets of food you see in the army) Can buy what is called A packs at Wal-Mart, if you have a Wal-Mart where you live. If not I bet there is some place that sells things like this, MRE and rations and what not. As for water, you can buy these tablets that are suppose to clean water but I doubt it's all as great as they, I think they are iodine. I think too much of that is bad for you, though, not too sure.

[breezinreezin]

I thought I'd post a heads up while it's on my mind. In view of the probability that many here will go down with one of these nasty flu variants, it's a good idea when stockpiling to have a stash of easy-cook items. Right now Asda are selling boil or microwave in-the-bag Shana Dal Makhani for 75p each and Tilda boil-the-bag rice for £1 each. If you can stumble out of bed to your microwave, it'll only take a few minutes to knock up a very tasty and nutritious meal, for less than £2. I've bought loads of these as a precaution. With a few big bags of oats and powdered milk I reckon I've got enough to keep me alive for a few weeks. It won't hurt to have a jar of Manuka honey, some lemons and star anise as to ward off infection when your immune system is in a spin.

[suicidal_martyr]

I thought I'd post a heads up while it's on my mind. In view of the probability that many here will go down with one of these nasty flu variants, it's a good idea when stockpiling to have a stash of easy-cook items. Right now Asda are selling boil or microwave in-the-bag Shana Dal Makhani for 75p each and Tilda boil-the-bag rice for £1 each. If you can stumble out of bed to your microwave, it'll only take a few minutes to knock up a very tasty and nutritious meal, for less than £2. I've bought loads of these as a precaution. With a few big bags of oats and powdered milk I reckon I've got enough to keep me alive for a few weeks. It won't hurt to have a jar of Manuka honey, some lemons and star anise as to ward off infection when your immune system is in a spin.
Should get one of those coleman cooking stoves too. They are fairly small and cheap. Would have to stock up on fuel to run it, though. That is if power gets shut down in any other case lol.

[breezinreezin]

Should get one of those coleman cooking stoves too. They are fairly small and cheap. Would have to stock up on fuel to run it, though. That is if power gets shut down in any other case lol.

I live next to a wood and have one of these:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdwoYrRkf0k&feature=player_embedded


They burn woodgas and work very, very well. Very clean burn. I'll be able to cook no problem for as long as I need. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdwoYrRkf0k&feature=player_embedded

[suicidal_martyr]

I live next to a wood and have one of these:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdwoYrRkf0k&feature=player_embedded


They burn woodgas and work very, very well. Very clean burn. I'll be able to cook no problem for as long as I need. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdwoYrRkf0k&feature=player_embedded
Hells yeah, even better. I live in a City :mad: lol Thought about moving south where it's warm year round and just becoming like George of the jungle, instead it will be Keith of the forest! Become part of the wild :eek:

[ekim]

Although probably not all that great health wise but will keep you alive for some time, MRE's (meal ready to eat, those little packets of food you see in the army) Can buy what is called A packs at Wal-Mart, if you have a Wal-Mart where you live. If not I bet there is some place that sells things like this, MRE and rations and what not. As for water, you can buy these tablets that are suppose to clean water but I doubt it's all as great as they, I think they are iodine. I think too much of that is bad for you, though, not too sure.

http://www.rk19-bielefeld-mitte.de/survival/FM/inhalt.htm

You willfind how to prepare water in this field guide.

[azureangel]

It seems to me that you can't have too much food stored. Enough for the family, then others and to barter with. It's hard to imagine what will truly happen. Just want to say, who cares what kind of looks we get while shopping? Or other's opinions, at this point? Love, angel

[tom bombadil]

From what I have read up on, having 'spare' rice helps. When times are hard, folk will want to barter with you. If you have things or skills that they want and they have things or skills that you have, then it is better that way.

Rice is good as it stores well and can be divided up into managable 1kilo bags and exchanged for other things. But you cant in most cases grow your own of course, so it is a ballancing game that you play at the start of the SHTF scenario and then work out how much to hold back when you are set-up. When you are growing your own foods then it might be the last rice you ever eat!!!

At the moment, 40 kg bags are £35 at costco.

You do the maths today to find out how many kgs you need in any one week. If you are to live off of this stuff then you need to get it right. Dont forget to store it in air-tight bags with an oxigon absorber in each.

Pre-bagged rice with pulses are better for barter as you have a meal in a bag for a family.***see below.

Buy a cat for mice. I got a kitten latley and all the mickeys have scarpered or been eaten within the first two weeks. Buy the dried food type for the cat at the start and you look after that too!

Smokes, or better is tobacco, is a good thing to stock-up on, even if like me you dont use the stuff yourself.

Booze too. Make a still at home. What do you mean its illegal? Who will know? Wine is easy with the right tools and will sell like hot cakes.

Water. Barter your skills to make clean drinking water.

If you can kill more than you need then barter the rest away.



Nelly :)


***To cook rice you can double its 'filling you up capacity' by soaking it for twenty mins in warm water before you cook it. As an example, one plastic cup (like at a drinks machine) full can fill you up. You need to test this for yourself to find out how much suits you.

.

[christ4life]

There is never enough food you will always be eating.:D

[tom bombadil]

Burp!! What ya try'in to say?


Nelly :)

[erthiz]

Hey guys

Just read through this thread, good information.

I know im a bit behind but ive just started storing supplies! But atleast i know exactly what to get now reading through this.

Im 20 and live with the rents so its a bit tricky, but ive got 3 quite large, metal storage boxes in my room to keep the supplies in.

Ive also been collecting silver for about a year and i have a decent amount of it, imo, i think its a good idea to stock up on some metals.

Peace.

[tom bombadil]

I did too at first. Having expensive metals to trade with or set ones self up with again sounded the way to go.

Then I thought of what would folk most likely want or what would I most likely want to trade with for my gold and silver? Answer is food of course.

I have decides therefore to trade in medicines (Back yard remidies, colloidial silver inhailer etc) and herbs and spices, and foods. Rice at first, with beans and other pulses, followed by grains.

It is cheaper.



Nelly.

[erthiz]

Yeah i see what you mean, it is cheaper.

I wanna get a good amount of food, metals, tobacco, etc. This way i will have various things to trade with.

[tracker]

Yeah i see what you mean, it is cheaper.

I wanna get a good amount of food, metals, tobacco, etc. This way i will have various things to trade with.

good thinking .

:cool:

learning to make home made beer is another , ya know what the masses are like .

trading that ? hhm beer ? people love beer / wine etc .

:cool:

[erthiz]

good thinking .

:cool:

learning to make home made beer is another , ya know what the masses are like .

trading that ? hhm beer ? people love beer / wine etc .

:cool:


Haha funnily enough my brother does just this :)

[elixirsoo]

I did too at first. Having expensive metals to trade with or set ones self up with again sounded the way to go.

Then I thought of what would folk most likely want or what would I most likely want to trade with for my gold and silver? Answer is food of course.

I have decides therefore to trade in medicines (Back yard remidies, colloidial silver inhailer etc) and herbs and spices, and foods. Rice at first, with beans and other pulses, followed by grains.

It is cheaper.



Nelly.

With you on this Nelly, having goods that can be traded is better than metal. One cannot eat metal and staying alive is the main object of the game. I remember reading ferfal's original blog during the Argentine financial collapse. The main theme was you can never have too much food.

Having things you like is equally important. When I began preparing several years ago I included a few items that I consider to be important to me. Tobacco, papers & tips, because I'm a smoker, good coffee, decent bog roll and coffee whitener. These things may not be for everyone but they make my life complete. :p

I often wonder if I'm the sole reason for Sainsburys still producing it's own brand coffee whitener! :D

[elixirsoo]

good thinking .

:cool:

learning to make home made beer is another , ya know what the masses are like .

trading that ? hhm beer ? people love beer / wine etc .

:cool:

You can make wine out of all kinds of stuff and it is potent stuff! My mates pear wine was the only stuff to lay my the boyfriend out on the fireside rug! I'd never seen him drunk before, no matter what he'd drank. She's been giving me lessons too. :D

[erthiz]

Haha uch wine

Im stocking up on metal to trade with other people. I mean, i intend on storing a lot of food in the coming months, but if i ever did run out and i needed to get some more, i can see a lot of people taking some metal off my hands, if they have enough food to trade with me :)

Or anything for that matter :)

And i believe the true value of silver has been seriously kept quiet from the masses. When the dollar crashes and other currencies, silver will be there :)

[seercirra]

at the end of the day, if shit happens and the world changes significantly, i think it will be messed up for such a long time that stocks and supplies of food wont mean anything.

IMO is a much better plan to learn how to hunt, farm and forage.

also, if shit hits the fan, theres no chance your going to be able to continue to live in your home. you will be accosted from all angles. either for food and safety from other people, or from governments who want to put you in a camp.

so how much food are you gonna be able to carry with you?
a few days, perhaps a couple of weeks? what if a new virus hits, and everyone must be immunised. if you arent, you arent welcome in society. infact you are a danger to society and will be hunted down. this situation could take years to play out. survival skills and fitness are key. not gold, food, or anything else you cant carry an infinate amount of.

[tracker]

at the end of the day, if shit happens and the world changes significantly, i think it will be messed up for such a long time that stocks and supplies of food wont mean anything.

IMO is a much better plan to learn how to hunt, farm and forage.

also, if shit hits the fan, theres no chance your going to be able to continue to live in your home. you will be accosted from all angles. either for food and safety from other people, or from governments who want to put you in a camp.

so how much food are you gonna be able to carry with you?
a few days, perhaps a couple of weeks? what if a new virus hits, and everyone must be immunised. if you arent, you arent welcome in society. infact you are a danger to society and will be hunted down. this situation could take years to play out. survival skills and fitness are key. not gold, food, or anything else you cant carry an infinate amount of.

I agree that if the SHTF eventually yep , food willrun out and while it pays to learn to hunt , your chances are better learning about wild plant foods because there is actually a lot of it out there .

:cool:

[chokurei]

Some ideas/pointers in bullet form below. Been looking at this for a few years now, and some ideas worth following have come from a variety of sources.

* Water sterilising tabs - save fuel and money. An adult needs about 2l water a day. More for cooking. Bottled water just isn't a viable option.

* Salt - some water softener salt is food grade. 25k for about £6. Thats an awful lot of salt for preserving food.

* Storage containers - you can never have enough

*If the sh1t hits the fan, get the hell down to the builders yard. Get sheet metal for groundfloor windows and doors, keep out the looters! Also tarpaulin and timber for making large rain trap - if we are having a dry spell, when it does rain you'll want as much as possible!!

* Airgun (manual not gas), a sight and about 20+ tins of pellets. Thats a lot of woodpigeon!!

* If you have a garden out the back, an underground cache made from a large moisture proof plastic crate will be invaluable - store some emergency cash, food and stuff away from thieves.

* Some bodybuilders protein based meal replacement powder, get to the shops the minute you suspect a crisis and buy as much asyou can afford, not many people will think of that!

* STock up on vitamins, you won't want to get sick!

* Tinned meat and fish and lots of it, long chain fatty acids essential for health.

If we had total social meltdown, the first wave of looters would come for the TV etc. Let em have it. There would be an internet blackout probably and no electricity.

The second wave of looters would come for food.

After about 3 weeks, if the water supply/sewage stopped cholera would start taking a hold, vast majority of people would be wiped out in towns.

Also think about footwear (tough and warm, you might be doing a lot of walking), warm clothing, blankets etc. You would want to be as fuel efficient as possible.

Wind up torches, candles, matches....the list goes on!! Thats just a tiny amount of things, but think sustainability.

Say there was a war broke out, you'd have a couple of days to free up as much cash as possible and mobilise plans, after that prices would rocket and it would be pretty darn tough to get anything sensible.