Storing Seeds for Long Term Food Storage

This is an article written by Anne Vincent in Utah for her ward - it's good information and her timing is great.

“We encourage you to grow all the food that you feasibly can on your own property... Grow vegetables and eatthem from your own yard, Even those residing in apartments or condominiums can generally grow a littlefood in pots or planters. Study the best methods of producing your own foods.”
— President Spencer W. Kimball

“We will see the day when we will live on what we produce.”
—President Marion G. Romney

How do I store seeds***?
Like all food storage products, the enemies to long term storage are heat, light,air, and humidity. Store your seeds in an envelope and then in a zip-lock bag in which the air has been removedto keep out moisture. Then, close the whole bag of seed packets in a #10 can, or in a bottle with a firm lid. Placethe closed can or bottle in a cool, dark place like your cold storage. If you don’t have a cool, dry basement,consider making room in your fridge. But remember that fridges tend to be humid, so you will want to takeextra precautions there. Some experts suggest packing your seed envelops in a closed bottle of uncooked rice, whichacts as a mild desiccant to keep out moisture, but a zip-lock bag or double bag also works. If you do not use anentire packet of seeds and want to save the rest for another year, simply fold the envelop down tightly severaltimes and tape or clip shut and then return it to your storage place. It is generally not advisable to freeze seeds for long term storage.

How long will my stored seeds last?
Most experts agree that if stored properly, you should still haveclose to 100% performance of seeds if planted after 5 years, and fairly good success of many seeds even up to 10years. Be sure to label your can or bottle with the year, so that you can easily rotate your seed supply. Store whatyou will use, and then use what you have stored!

*** It is suggested that when storing seeds, you store “heirloom” seeds. Most of the seeds we buy at thesupermarket are hybrids, which means the seeds will often produce a crop only once, or will do poorly after thefirst propagation. Our vegetables that we buy at the supermarket are usually the same: producing seeds that aresterile or will not perform well if planted. “Heirloom” seeds have not been genetically altered, and the seeds fromthese vegetables can be harvested generation after generation. Look for these “heirloom” seeds at nurseries or at the numerous on-line seed companies.***

72 Hour Kits - How do I customize my own pack?

Asking yourself questions may help you prepare.

What would I have needed if I was near 9/11 (dust masks, family pictures to help locate lost ones)? Hurricane Katrina (backpack with wheels so you could walk outside of the affected area, small bills to pay for gas or water bottles)? Does my family have any special needs (often items such as medicine can’t be purchased and placed in your kit ahead of time, so tape a note to the outside—saying “Grab medicine, or Grab baby formula.”)? What weather may I be in (mittens for winter, sunscreen or bandana to shield from the sun, or garbage sacks to line the inside of your pack with in case it’s rainy weather)? What if my loved ones were not with me (Separate kit for the workplace, pop top lids for young children’s backpacks so they can get in cans independent of you, paper and pencil to leave notes on message boards)? Will I remember important phone numbers (In emergency situations it’s hard to remember even the simplest facts such as out-of-state relatives phone numbers or work numbers of family members—put them in writing in your pack)? Will my kids need comfort/distractions (think of sitting in the Superdome for 3 days– maybe stickers or glow sticks)? Will there be those who need priesthood blessings (consecrated oil)? Will I need a pack horse to carry all of this? Just Kidding!

It’s also helpful in rotating packs when two lists are kept in the front pocket—one of perishable items that need to be rotated yearly, and one of non-perishable items. This also helps me remember what’s in there so I don’t have to empty it and check if I already have something when I hear of an item I want to add.

What's in a 72 Hour Kit? Part 1 - Adult Male

Everyone's kit needs to be personalized to meet individual needs. Here is just one example of a kit:

Food & water (*See food list below)
Garbage bags (lines the inside of pack to keep rain out & can be used for other things)
Socks/hat/gloves
Consecrated oil for giving priesthood blessing
Handwarming packs
tarp/emergency blanket combo
candy assortment
First Aid Kit: plastic gloves, acetaminophen, antiseptic, tape, safety pins, bug spray, chapstick w/ sunscreen, antihistamines, decongestants, sunscreen, burn spray
Flashlight & batteries
Cigarette lighters for lighting fires
Pocketknife (12 in 1 tool)
Handcranked radio/flashlight/cell phone charger combo
Soap
Plastic spoons
Rain poncho
Can opener
Baby wipes
Ziplock bags
Cash in small bills
Water purifying kit
Paper and pencil
3 lightsticks
Whistle
Rope of med. weight
String or wire
2 sterno cans
Family photo
Hand sanitizer
Candle
Dusk mask
Toilet paper
Toothbrush w/ built in toothpaste
Emergency Contact List including: Male’s name, if applicable – spouse’s name, home phone number, cell phone, work or loved one’s cell phone numbers, home address, in-state and out-of-state contacts, family’s meeting place (1st choice and 2nd), any health concerns.
Folding saw strapped to outside of pack for cutting firewood

Food menu:
1 tube Ritz crackers in hard cracker Tupperware container
1 can stew
1 can chicken pieces
1 can tuna
1 bottle Gatorade
2 water bottles
(2 other larger water bottles are outside of the backpack by a cord and can be thrown around your neck)
1 Pre-made rice pack
Individual bag of nuts
Can of deluxe nut mix
Indiv. size of goldfish crackers
3 energy bars
2 packets of hot chocolate in plastic baggies to keep from absorbing other flavors
Candy bar
Gum
1 Nutritional drink
Indiv. sized instant oatmeal packet
1 can clam chowder
Dried prunes (or other fruit)
1 can pineapple

Keeping a list of all items in a backpack in the front pocket makes it easier to know what’s inside as you may forget. It’s also advisable to keep a list of perishables that need to be rotated yearly in the front pocket. This becomes your grocery list so you can purchase fresh supplies and trade food out each year. Doing so before food expires means you can still eat that food and not waste food or money.

What's in a 72 Hour Kit? Part 2 - Adult Female

Remember, everyone's kit must be cutomized to meet individual needs and tastes. Here is one example of what may be in an adult female’s pack:

Food & Water (*See adult male’s)
Tampons & Sanitary pads
Plastic spoons
Sterno cans for heating food
12 in 1 pocketknife
Can opener
Baby wipes
Candle
Hand sanitizer
Whistle
Toilet paper
Cigarette lighters for lighting a fire
First Aid Kit: 2” bandage, 2” gauze, tape, bandaids, antibiotic ointment,
Thread and needle, safety pins
Plastic tablecloth/tarp
Old glasses
Rain poncho
Socks, hat, gloves
3 garbage sacks (lines the inside of pack to keep rain out & can be used for other things)
Water purifier
Hand cranked flashlight/radio/cell phone charger
3 dust masks
Paper & pencil
3 hand warming packs
Family photo
Toothbrush w/ built in toothpaste
Cash in small bills
Emergency Contact List including: Female’s name, if applicable – spouse’s name, home phone number, cell phone, work or loved one’s cell phone numbers, home address, in-state and out-of-state contacts, family’s meeting place (1st choice and 2nd), any health concerns.

(2 other larger water bottles are outside of the backpack by a cord and can be thrown around your neck)

Keeping a list of all items in a backpack in the front pocket makes it easier to know what’s inside as you may forget. It’s also advisable to keep a list of perishables that need to be rotated yearly in the front pocket. This becomes your grocery list so you can purchase fresh supplies and trade food out each year. Doing so before food expires means you can still eat that food and not waste food or money.

*Please comment on what you put in your 72 hour kit!

What's in a 72 Hour Kit? Part 3 - Elementary Age Child

Example of a 7-12 year old child’s back pack:
Food & water (*See food menu)
Plastic spoons
Rain poncho
Hand sanitizer
Mylar blanket
Bandaids
3 glow sticks
(Crayons, small rubber toy or paper doll, stickers, paper, 3 songs photocopied –shrink down to a smaller size. All of these are comfort items. Think of sitting in the Superdome in New Orleans for 3 days!)
12 in 1 pocket knife
Family photo
Cash in small bills
Hand Warmers
3 dust masks
Cigarette lighter for making fires
Socks, gloves, hat
Whistle
Emergency Contact List including: Child’s name, parent’s name, home phone number, cell phone, work or loved one’s cell phone numbers, home address, in-state and out-of-state contacts, family’s meeting place (1st choice and 2nd), any health concerns.


Food Menu (I make a menu so that kids could pace themselves if we were separated):
Day 1:
B: Instant Oatmeal packet & Nutritional drink
L: Tuna & Crackers, Sports drink
D: Package of ready-made rice, water, canned green beans
Day 2:
B: Instant Oatmeal packet, Nutritional drink
L: Power bar & Canned pineapple (all cans have pop–tops and don’t need can opener)
D: Rice (left over from lunch), crackers, and nuts
Day 3:
B: Nutritional drink & energy bar
L: Granola bar & Peanutbutter (I throw in a small jar)
D: Mashed instant potatoe’s

Extra’s:
Candy, indiv. pack of goldfish crackers, 2 Hot cocoa’s, 2 Fruit snacks, energy bar, and Vienna sausage

(2 other larger water bottles are outside of the backpack by a cord and can be thrown around your neck)

Keeping a list of all items in a backpack in the front pocket makes it easier to know what’s inside as you may forget. It’s also advisable to keep a list of perishables that need to be rotated yearly in the front pocket. This becomes your grocery list so you can purchase fresh supplies and trade food out each year. Doing so before food expires means you can still eat that food and not waste food or money.

What's in a 72 hour kit? Part 4 - Young Child

Example of a young child’s backpack (ages 2-6):

Food & water (*See menu below)
Family photo
Whistle
3 Light Sticks
Bandaids
Doll,toy, or comfort item
Crayons, paper, stickers, beads, etc.
Rain poncho
Mylar blanket
Warm pj’s, socks, hat
Emergency Contact List including: Child’s name, parent’s name, home phone number, cell phone, work or loved one’s cell phone numbers, home address, in-state and out-of-state contacts, family’s meeting place (1st choice and 2nd), any health concerns.

(Other items may be carried in their parents kits. Depending on the child’s age, they cannot carry it all themselves. Be warned, they will want their own pack if everyone else has one!)


Food Menu:
Day 1:
B: Nutritional drink & instant oatmeal packet
L: Tuna & pineapple (cans all have flip-top lids so they don’t need a can opener)
D: Ready made rice packet, water
Day 2:
B: Nutritional drink & granola bar
L: Tuna, nuts, hot cocoa
D: Energy bar & canned green beans
Day 3:
B: Nutritional drink & instant oatmeal packet
L: Granola bar & sports drink
D: Instant mashed potatoes, hot cocoa
Extra’s: 2 Fruit Snacks, individual sized goldfish crackers, candy, gum, energy bar, freeze dried strawberries & bananas, vienna sausages.

How do I prepare food storage for an infant?

I always begin by asking myself “What would I not want to do without?” Items quickly come to mind – diapers, food, and acetaminophen. When it comes to food storage I always think in layers, i.e. long term and short term. If you use disposable diapers, storing a month ahead makes sense, but infants change sizes quickly, so don’t buy too far ahead. Instead, purchase some cloth diapers, plastic covers, and pins. That’s your long term plans (it would be better than using fabric or washcloths!).

Next, think food. If you’re breastfeeding that’s great, but what if you and the baby get separated for some reason? What if you get injured or the stress of an emergency reduces your milk supply? Being the frugal mom I am, I saved any and all free formula samples I got – from companies or friends. I didn’t store a year’s worth, but enough to get the baby through until another source of milk could be found. Don’t forget some bottled water in case the water supply is questionable – adults can handle bad water much better than an infant could.

Your baby’s food needs will change quickly the first year. I’ve never regretted buying jars of prepared baby food ahead of time. Even if my infant decided they hated the peas I bought, I can always find another baby who would eat it. There is a period of time where your infant is not ready for traditional food storage foods and baby food is nice and digestible. If you want to make your own baby food, then just think of 30 days worth of store bought baby food as insurance against a time where you may not be able to make your own. If you’re baby never uses it, sell it to another mom who’s child will. A few boxes of rice cereal will be nice as well. I also include a few infant finger foods just for fun – like infant crackers or freeze dried fruit.

Now, can you imagine your infant getting a fever of 103 or more and not having access to something as simple as Tylenol? After 4 kids and always storing a few extra bottles of Tylenol and Ibuprofen, I have never had to throw one out because it was expired and we hadn’t used it. They often last 2 years before expiring and for some reason you always need it in the middle of the night. So save yourself (or your spouse) from a late night run to a pharmacy and have some on hand. The peace of mind is well worth it.