Prepping for food shortages

[PaulSB]

I've read several reports suggesting the "super" El Nino that has formed could lead to poor crop harvests and shortages/price increases in one form or another.

Now I'm far from being a survivalist or even a prepper. I have started stockpiling items, that could be impacted and make up a significant proportion of my diet, namely:

• basmati rice
• arborio rice
• couscous
• pasta - various forms
• lentils
• porridge
• Weetabix
• sugar
• vegetable/olive oil
• white wine/cider vinegar

Initially I'm going for six months worth but might increase to a year when I see how much space is required. This isn't huge volumes. Rice for example I've based on three servings per week, 75g x 3 x 26 = 6kg, probably an overestimate.

I might extend this to add basic tinned stuffs that would help form the basis of a meal. I don't have a particular reason for this aspect:

• passata
• tinned tomatoes
• tinned beans
• tuna/anchovies/perhaps other fish
• salt
• basic herbs
• stock pots
• curry sauces

 

[wakemalcolm]

You've forgotten option 4: Mods, stop this panic baiting.

Like toilet paper, there should be enough to go round, as long as it's not all stuck in @PaulSB's loft.

Prepping like this is all fine and well until big John from down the street comes to your door with a knife because his family's hungry and he's read somewhere that you've prepped.

 

[Drago]

Foot, water, bog roll, blankets, means of heating food, EMP safe radios, batteries, blankets, weapons, NVGs. Id rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

I also keep the camper well fuelled. In the event the gas fails heat g and possibly electric may also go down, and the webasto equipped camper can keep us warm and cook food for a couple of weeks. It also has 60 litre on board water supply that I keep fresh.

 

[wakemalcolm]

It also has 60 litre on board water supply that I keep fresh.

You got an alarm that wakes you up when the temperature hits zero, or do you top it up with Austrian table wine in the winter?

 

[Drago]

An insulated tank on a van parked in a very sheltered spot? Its unlikely to freeze, and if things got that bad temperate wise id drain it and fill the many 10 litre flexible containers I keep in the garage.

 

[Oldhippy]

I've always had a months supply of food and living off grid it is common sense.

 

[Drago]

Prepping like this is all fine and well until big John from down the street comes to your door with a knife because his family's hungry and he's read somewhere that you've prepped.

Ill see big John's knife and raise him one Beretta Silver Pigeon Sporter.

I actually pay to keep it at the gun shop about a mile away as since I moved I haven't got round to sorting a gun safe, but if things started to look that smelly for society id go and get it.

Of course that wou,d only come out in extremis, proper breakdown of society type scenarios. Ive other ranged weapons at home, most notably a crossbow, to keep Big John amused in the meantime.

 

[PaulSB]

You've forgotten option 4: Mods, stop this panic baiting.

Like toilet paper, there should be enough to go round, as long as it's not all stuck in @PaulSB's loft.

Prepping like this is all fine and well until big John from down the street comes to your door with a knife because his family's hungry and he's read somewhere that you've prepped.

I'm far from panic baiting, simply interested in what, if any, action people are taking. I know a few ordinary people, like me, who just think it's a good idea to have a few kilos of rice in a cupboard in case there is a shortage. You seriously think that's a panic reaction?

 

[wakemalcolm]

Ill see big John's knife and raise him one Beretta Silver Pigeon Sporter.

I actually pay to keep it at the gun shop about a mile away as since I moved I haven't got round to sorting a gun safe, but if things started to look that smelly for society id go and get it.

Of course that wou,d only come out in extremis, proper breakdown of society type scenarios. Ive other ranged weapons at home, most notably a crossbow, to keep Big John amused in the meantime.

You are big John AICMFP

 

[Drago]

I'm far from panic baiting, simply interested in what, if any, action people are taking. I know a few ordinary people, like me, who just think it's a good idea to have a few kilos of rice in a cupboard in case there is a shortage. You seriously think that's a panic reaction?

My supplies get rotated. Every week or so new stuff goes in and a corresponding amount of the oldest stuff comes out and into the kitchen, so its not being wasted. Mrs D is used to it, asks every week what she should add tonthe shopping list for the "bunker".

 

[wakemalcolm]

You seriously think that's a panic reaction?

No, your individual reaction activity is your business.

Putting up a poll is what I'd describe as dog-whistle panic baiting. I did enough handstands in the shower during COVID to discourage this.

 

[fossyant]

No prepping here. Our freezers are always full. I am not joining the panic buying as it leads to shortages. Why people just can't buy what they need. This panic will cause unnecessary shortages in the supply chain as it's not manageable logistically for the supermarkets/shops. Worse comes to worse, I'll eat what is available. We are too used to eating food when we want, especially if it's out of season and has lots of air miles behind it. The only things I do bulk buy is cat food and litter as it's cheaper, way cheaper that way and we usually buy a month at a time.

If we have power issues, or gas supply problems, I've a tonne of camping stuff and a decent power station should we get a blackout, but that's not prepping, it's just camping.

What will happen is we will get the situation we saw in covid, for no reason.

 

[Punkawallah]

I've read several reports suggesting the "super" El Nino that has formed could lead to poor crop harvests and shortages/price increases in one form or another.

Now I'm far from being a survivalist or even a prepper. I have started stockpiling items, that could be impacted and make up a significant proportion of my diet, namely:

• basmati rice
• arborio rice
• couscous
• pasta - various forms
• lentils
• porridge
• Weetabix
• sugar
• vegetable/olive oil
• white wine/cider vinegar

Initially I'm going for six months worth but might increase to a year when I see how much space is required. This isn't huge volumes. Rice for example I've based on three servings per week, 75g x 3 x 26 = 6kg, probably an overestimate.

I might extend this to add basic tinned stuffs that would help form the basis of a meal. I don't have a particular reason for this aspect:

• passata
• tinned tomatoes
• tinned beans
• tuna/anchovies/perhaps other fish
• salt
• basic herbs
• stock pots
• curry sauces

Fish. Barrels.

 

[sevenfourate]

I started prepping a while ago…..

 

[SteveH80]

Living up in the hills, remembering the Beast from the East and being subject to the vagaries of Northern PowerGrid we are always prepped enough for a couple of weeks. It's mostly tins, dried stuff and the freezer.
We have a small camping generator that can keep the freezer cold, the lamps on, the gas central heating pump going and the WiFi/TV (the wife goes bonkers otherwise). Petrol can be siphoned from the vehicles if needs be so they are kept topped up.
Camping stove etc is there if we run out of gas.
A couple of hundred quid in cash because no electricity = card payments not working.
That won't see me through the collapse of western society but it will keeps things comfortable till the authorities can get their act together. Storm Arwen was 48 hours for the BBC to notice 250,000 Northern homes without power and 10 days for Northern PowerGrid to get the electrons moving again so that's the kind of risk I'm mitigating against.