Food storage shopping

A friend of mine told me she's been shopping a lot for food storage in the past 6 months and she send me some info about where she found good deals on different items. I thought you might find it useful, so I'm passing it along.

Happy shopping!

"I ordered butter, ghee and bacon from:  http://www.pleasanthillgrain.com/  Ghee is clarified butter.

     I ordered meat from Costco.  Check out: http://www.costco.com/CatalogSearch?storeId=10301&catalogId=10701&langId=-1&keyword=emergency  (for all Costco emergency items)

and Shelf Reliance http://www.costco.com/280-Total-Servings-Of-Premium-Freeze-Dried-Variety-Meat-Pack-By-Shelf-Reliance%c2%ae-THRIVE%e2%84%a2.product.11497782.html  The price at Costco is considerably less than that at the Shelf Reliance web site. 

I also ordered the 6 pack of eggs (now $70 off) which I have not tried: http://www.costco.com/576-Total-Servings-of-Gourmet-Egg-Crystals-Emergency-Food-Kit-by-Chef's-Banquet%c2%ae-.product.100021397.html

and the sprouting kit: http://www.costco.com/Food-For-Health%e2%84%a2-USDA-Certified-Organic-Food-Storage-Sprouting-Kit.product.11599950.html

     I believe the food storage from Lindon Farms that you will find on other web sites is the same as the Chef's Banquet items on the Costco site at considerably lower prices.

     As you know, water is the most important preparation since humans cannot live without it very long. I ordered a Water Bob from Hurricane Prepper:  http://www.hurricaneprepper.com/waterbob.html which is now on sale.  It is just a "bladder" you put in your bathtub to fill before your water source is contaminated. We purchased our large storage tanks from: http://www.surewatertanks.com/  See more information on water at: http://www.grandpappy.info/wwater.htm

     I have also used the following web sites for various items and sign up for the email alerts for sale items.

http://grandmascountryfoods.com/

http://beprepared.com/food-storage.html

http://www.disasterstuff.com/

http://www.shelfreliance.com/

http://store.honeyvillegrain.com/

     For baking items you can check out:

http://www.hodgsonmillstore.com/

http://www.pleasanthillgrain.com/

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/

     Prices are not the best, but for tips and plans you might want to look at this site:

http://store.foodstoragemadeeasy.net/default.asp

I ordered the food mill:
http://store.foodstoragemadeeasy.net/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=WONDER-JUNIOR-DELUXE

from Amazon.  I'm using Trader Joe's whole wheat flour instead of grinding my own as I learn to make bread.

     By the way, at the Costco store cans of roast beef and chick can be purchased for shorter term storage.  Trader Joe's is also a good source for canned chicken at a reasonable price. "

Grandma also wants to see the baby

Birthday Boy -- this post is for Grandma

Projects

I thought because I was pregnant and had a baby that I wouldn't get any projects done in the past while. But I surprised myself. I wanted to share so that your heart can be warmed like mine at the thought of actually accomplishing something.

I refinished this headboard for sister.

Made stockings for the girls. I made up my own pattern, and they turned out OK. I wish I had left some seam allowance on the top stripe so it would be the same size as its friends, but maybe I'll put something fleecy up there to hide it.

Smocked the front of baby's blessing gown. It took 20 or so hours which took up any project time I had thought I might have during December and January. Note to self: I don't have time for this complex of a sewing project when I have a newborn.

This was not my project, but I got to eat it. DH took two 1 pound chocolate bars from trader Joe's and melted them, using my heart shaped cake pan to make me a huge valentine heart. (Yes I shared.)

 

 I went to a friends house for a get together and she had organized an apron sewing activity. So I started an apron even though it wasn't one of the projects I planned to do next. Then I spent 8 or so more hours finishing it because it bugged me to not have it done. Then I was so sick of it I sold it to a friend....  but I came to my senses and told her she couldn't have it. (This headache was worth more than $25)

 

I bought cloth diapers from here (no I did not sew them, see previous sewing posts about things taking too long.) They are so cute I started using them. I like saving money too. Baby doesn't seem to mind. I still put a disposable diaper on her at night.

 And... for a finale... I've been working on the garden. With help. I don't have photos of me doing it because my DH did the first backbreaking part of hauling mulch, tilling, and forming rows. He also started tomatoes indoors from seed, which I always thought was too much work and effort (maybe I still do). Today I planted cilantro, green onion, yellow onion, collards, and radishes. I have carrots, lettuce, and spinach sprouting. The tomatoes survived being transplanted in the ground. Now let's see if they survive the bugs trying to devour them before their second set of leaves sprouts.