Month 5: Storage Part 2

Since my wheat comes in 25 lb bags and I put them in large buckets, you're stuck with a measuring cup full :)

Shopping List:
LDS Cannery OR Home Storage Center/Honeyville/Augason Farms/Thrive
     *4 28oz or 1.8bl bag Powder Milk.  $25  OR  116 (3 Tablespoon) servings if buying #10 can
     *5 #10 can Sugar.  $21.25  OR 19 cups if buying in a different container
     *2 #10 can Potato Flakes.  $9   OR 78 (1/3 cup) servings if buying it elsewhere
     *4 #10 can Noodles. $17   OR 312 (1/2 cup) servings if buying boxed
     *8 #10 can Quick Oats. $26  OR 216 (1/2 cup) servings of buying it elsewhere or different container
     *1 25lb bag Wheat.  Red, White, Hard, Soft, doesn't matter.  $6  OR 2 #10 cans  OR 39 cups.

Total: $104.25

***Here is a quick link to Prepared Housewives blog giving you tips about the LDS Cannery, AKA Home Storage Center***

Here is the promised list of various blogs that have different Food Storage Rotation DIY plans. I saw many that used cardboard... but opted agasint posting those because I perfer not to use them. You can certaninly look up those and choose what works best for YOUR family, YOUR space, YOUR time, and YOUR budget.

Food Storage Moms

Instructables

Do It Yourself RV

Shanty 2 Chic

Wikihow

Amy Toby

Here are two blogs that have posted creative ideas and tips storing food storage around the house. 
Prepared Housewives 
One Good Thing by Jillee

Other Related Posts:
Food Storage Part 1

PREVIOUS POSTS IN THIS CHALLENGE:
Food Storage Challenge Introduction
Month #1:  What are #10 cans?
Month #1.5: Storing Bulk Items
Month #2:  Breakfast Recipes
Month #3:  Money Saving Tips
Month #4:  Storage Part 1
Month #4.5:  How to Rotate Food you Don't Like

We love to share our personal projects and what "works for us", however, we cannot guarantee that those same projects will also work for you. No two homes or two spaces are considered the same. As the reader, you assume any risks involved when completing projects seen on this site. We are not personally liable for any projects that are completed based on the ideas and inspiration shared here.This post may contain affiliate links. In the event that an affiliate link is used, I receive commission on the sale of the products. The affiliate link does not INCREASE your cost in any way.  The affiliate program does not sway my decision of what products to use and share as I only feature items I would link to with or without an affiliate link.  All reviews and opinions on this site are mine and mine alone.

Credit to: IHeartOganizing.com

Month 4: Storage Part 1

Shopping List:

Honeyville/Augason Farms/ Thrive

     *2 Freeze Dried Chicken. $84.18
                OR 52 servings if buying canned
     *2 Re-fried Bean Flakes.  $22.38
               OR 36 ½ c servings... if buying 16 oz can, that is 10 cans

Total:  $106.56

Storage

There are many different ways to store your food items. My personal favorite is this food rotation system from Shelf Reliance (when bought from Costco it was cheaper).  You can click Here to check it out.  You can also get it from Thrive by clicking  Here

Regular can sizes (each column holds 15-17 cans), and #10 can on bottom (holds 7).  

#10 size only.  Holds 7 cans each.

I have both of these.   I am able to re size the width of the rows to fit various sizes.   I am able to hold ALL of my canned food items, and MOST of my #10 food items in these two shelves for a year supply of food for a family of 4.  I chose these two, even though they are quite expensive, because they hold 7 (#10 cans) and 15-17 regular food canned items per shelf, and rotate it in the exact order I put them in. I also like how they can be taken apart, and moved (like cross country).

 I also have a set of wire shelves to hold the other items such as below.  Between these three shelves, I hold ALL my year supply of food storage, MINUS my wheat and flour.

I have researched on Pinterest some of the shelves made ones with wood, that are a lot cheaper and can be hung up various places, but when I was originally looking for what I wanted, we didn't have the time or build them, or desire. I absolutely LOVE the ones I have. I've had them for 4 years, and not ONCE have I regretted making the purchase.  You can see my Storage Post 2 coming January 6, 2016 on some links of various blogs designs for rotation systems.  


There are SO SO SO many different options out there, that I KNOW you can find one that fits your family perfectly! 

REMEMBER!  Check back January 6th for a list of blogs that have posted various plans. (You can also search Pinterest for Food Rotation System DIY for more ideas)

PREVIOUS POSTS IN THIS CHALLENGE:
Food Storage Challenge Introduction
Month #1:  What are #10 cans?
Month #1.5: Storing Bulk Items
Month #2:  Breakfast Recipes
Month #3:  Money Saving Tips

Click here to buy on Amazon now

This post may contain affiliate links. In the event that an affiliate link is used, I receive commission on the sale of the products. The affiliate link does not INCREASE your cost in any way.  The affiliate program does not sway my decision of what products to use and share as I only feature items I would link to with or without an affiliate link.  All reviews and opinions on this site are mine and mine alone.

We love to share our personal projects and what "works for us", however, we cannot guarantee that those same projects will also work for you. No two homes or two spaces are considered the same. As the reader, you assume any risks involved when completing projects seen on this site. We are not personally liable for any projects that are completed based on the ideas and inspiration shared here.

Credit to: IHeartOganizing.com

Month 1.5: Storing Bulk Items

Shopping List:
Aldis or Walmart:
     *16 bags of 5lb white flour.  $22
     *3 cans baking powder (8.1oz).   $3
     *1 box baking soda. 50 cents
   
Total: $25.50

Storing Bulk Items
I chose to buy 25lb bags of wheat for my year supply, and the bags of 5lb flour INSTEAD of the #10 cans. They are cheaper this way... I just had to figure out how to store them. At first I started looking up 5 gallon food grade buckets and quickly realized how expensive they were! That was NOT going to be an option. But I didn't want to buy #10 cans of these items for my year supply and not rotate them secondary to them being more expensive buying as a #10; also, I wouldn't use it in my every day cooking.  It's easier for me to buy the #5 flour and always have enough and easy to replace with a trip to the grocery store; and the #25 of wheat every 6 months when I need it.  So... back to, how do I store these without spending an arm and a leg?


GOOD NEWS!

YOU CAN GET 3-5 GALLON BUCKETS FOR FREE!!!!

Really you can.


It just takes a friendly conversation....


and some snooping around.


Find a local grocery store near you that has a bakery. One that has a bakery on the larger side... Like a Super Walmart compared to a small neighborhood one. Bakers and HyVees are also good. You go up to the bakery counter and ask “Do you have any big extra empty frosting buckets?” And sometimes they do! MOST of the time they do!  (Unless they say, "Someone just took our last ones!  Come back next week.") TIP:  They usually have MORE in the winter months!   Sometimes the managers are party poppers an say they throw them in the dumpster... but MOST of the time, if you can find a good store, they DO! The frosting buckets are mostly cleaned out, but occasionally they are caked in butter cream frosting which takes some extra time to scrub out. Nevertheless... they are FREE!

After trying 3-4 different stores, and locations, I finally found one that ALWAYS has extra buckets whenever I ask. They even try to make me take MORE then I want! You just can't be picky... some times they are circles, and some times they are rectangles.   These buckets are usually between 2-3 gallons so you'll need more than 5 gallon buckets but A LOT cheaper!  I like them because they are so much lighter when I fill them up.  

I pour my 25lb bag of flour into these buckets with a couple of oxygen absorbers and I'm good!

DISCLAIMER:  I have not tested this theory on wheat that has been stored for over 3 years though.   I do make bread quite often and try to use wheat to keep it rotated. 

With my 5lb bag of white flour, I can fit between 4-5 bags in a bucket (depending on the shape). I keep the flour in the bag for an extra layer of protection. Since I go through flour A LOT faster then wheat, I'm not too worried about putting oxygen absorbers in.

DISCLAIMER:  Again, I have not tested this theory out on flour stored for over 3 years.

I have read of people buying large Mylar food storage bags, put those in buckets then fill up to keep things fresh for longer.

P.S.  Those buckets... they make GREAT garbage cans, junk buckets, planting pots, and I'm sure a million and two other things we haven't thought of yet!  

PREVIOUS POSTS IN THIS CHALLENGE:
Food Storage Challenge Introduction
Month #1:  What are #10 cans?

Click here to buy the book on Amazon now

This post may contain affiliate links. In the event that an affiliate link is used, I receive commission on the sale of the products. The affiliate link does not INCREASE your cost in any way.  The affiliate program does not sway my decision of what products to use and share as I only feature items I would link to with or without an affiliate link.  All reviews and opinions on this site are mine and mine alone.

We love to share our personal projects and what "works for us", however, we cannot guarantee that those same projects will also work for you. No two homes or two spaces are considered the same. As the reader, you assume any risks involved when completing projects seen on this site. We are not personally liable for any projects that are completed based on the ideas and inspiration shared here.

Credit to: IHeartOganizing.com