General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI've laid out my plans for preparing for a possible (probable) Covid-19 resurgence, this Autumn
This past 6 weeks have given me a good idea of what I need and the vast majority of that is canned, frozen and dry goods.
So I'll slowly stock up on cans of veg that I don't grow in the garden and buy more processing and storage supplies for those I do. The same for dry goods (pulses, rice, flour, spices, sugar, etc), and a limited amount of meat that I'll divide into smaller portions and freeze. I don't need much meat because, as long as I have eggs and dairy, I can be pretty creative with my cooking. And, of course, make sure I'm good for tissue, paper towels and toilet paper. This collection process will start now and process slowly. I'm clearing a space in the basement for all but the dry goods, and will start running the dehumidifier, again. As a precaution, I'm also going to replace my old freezer.
Honestly, if people just plan with responsible foresight, we won't have to see a return of that horrific hording behavior. And, if the Autumn doesn't 'live up to expectations', I'll keep some of the collection, and donate the rest.
shockey80
(4,379 posts)What you are doing is very smart. Not only do we not know what the virus will do next, we don't know what is going to happen to the economy. It could get worse.
Ferrets are Cool
(21,063 posts)I am not sure we will be in that position by Autumn.
Siwsan
(26,177 posts)Wounded Bear
(58,440 posts)things are coming around.
Siwsan
(26,177 posts)Not a whole lot, but it was there.
Wounded Bear
(58,440 posts)or maybe it was 2. IAE, there was a limit. No more hoarding.
What you're proposing isn't hoarding. You're just trying to stock up over time.
Siwsan
(26,177 posts)I normally stock up on non-perishables, anyway. I'll just stock up a little more.
WheelWalker
(8,943 posts)Bucky
(53,795 posts)But I do at least have access to my next door neighbor's Wi-Fi so I can access Snopes and Fact Check-dot-com while the zombies swarm through my windows gurgling "FREEDUMB!"
Siwsan
(26,177 posts)Fortunately, my best friend is a published author of zombie related novels. Perhaps she can help me out with that part of the plan.
JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,283 posts)... there seems to be a shortage of brains in these times.
Or maybe I've just been watching too many White House briefings.
Bon apetit.
SWBTATTReg
(21,859 posts)You got a terrific start, perhaps stocking up on more cleaners etc. such as dish washer cleaning powder (I use the one that is similar looking to a Tide pod for my dishes).
My SO had said that these dishwashing machine cleaning pods are hard to find too. Other cleaners and/or disinfectants too, would be a good thing too.
Siwsan
(26,177 posts)I can make some tasty dishes with beans and rice.
SWBTATTReg
(21,859 posts)meant something that I haven't heard yet, and it fact, it did mean something. I originally though that perhaps a typo. Thank you for expanding my knowledge. I didn't know this before but now I do. Thank you.
I do have tons (not really, probably 15-20 bags of various types of dried goods as well as rice too. Thank goodness for planning (like you) that takes literally years and years to do. You must have a farmer's ethos, or a survivalists' desire to survive, or just plain smart, like a lot of us. Be well and take care!
In_The_Wind
(72,300 posts)Cleaning products, paper goods and dry goods - beans and such will be added all summer.
I don't even remember what I read at the time, but I decided in early February to stock up on dry beans, rice, canned veggies, pasta, flour, sugar, TP, paper towel, peroxide, rubbing alcohol. My husband laughed at my "doomsday pantry" as he called it. Three weeks later, when there was zero rice or TP to be found, he wasn't laughing anymore.
Things have settled down around here. Some things are still in short supply, like disinfectant wipes and Clorox. Other things, like facial tissue and TP, are hit & missyou'll get them one week, but not the next. But in the thirty plus years I've been a vegetarian, I've never seen ALL THE TOFU SOLD OUT for weeks on end! ~gasp!
I find I miss picking my own produce more than anything.
Autumn
(44,756 posts)I haven't canned in year but will be doing some canning this year. I also planted a 6 more black berries and raspberry plants.
Mariana
(14,849 posts)to clear out the freezer and to have stuff that's easy to fix if we get sick. Soups and stews and meat pie fillings. Good stuff.
I'm also expanding the garden this year, once the weather improves. I have lots of seedlings going.
Wounded Bear
(58,440 posts)Seriously, though, that sounds like a pretty good plan. We all should have some supplies stored, in case of general emergencies. COVID just kind of emphasizes the need. I live in a small apartment, but to be honest I don't really utilize the space that I have very intelligently.
Oh, not sure where you live, but perhaps some water might be a thing to stock, too.
Siwsan
(26,177 posts)I have a 3 gallon jug that sits on a dispenser but nobody is filling those, right now. Instead I'm buying gallon jugs of purified water, when ever I go out. Most places are limiting them to 2, but that's not a problem.
MissB
(15,800 posts)I am careful about what I store in my basement pantry room. When we moved in here years ago, there was a food storage room built into a corner of the basement. Two of the walls are concrete (basement is mostly below grade). Shelving already existed although Ive replaced that. Its a sizable room.
We occasionally get mice in the basement so I wont store bags or boxes of food down there. Everything down there is either canned goods, home canned food, or dry goods stored in jars. I have a food saver with a jar attachment that I use to seal up the food (sucks out most of the air). So if I buy a 25 lb bag of rice, I repack it into jars and seal them up. Since I can during the summer, I have a lot of canning jars plus Ive bought a bunch on sale over the years. Until recently, Ive picked up a box or two of canning lids each shopping trip (prices have skyrocketed recently).
So I have pasta in my basement room from 2017, perfectly good to pull out, open up and cook for dinner. Mouse proof, water proof. Beans, lentils, peas, couscous, quinoa etc all stored and rotated out to the upstairs pantry as needed.
Just sharing how I store food longer term.
Siwsan
(26,177 posts)I store a lot of stuff in glass jars. I also have a food saver AND I buy rice in 20 lb bags.
I haven't tried canning the garden stuff - so far I've done a LOT of freezing. I do want to try canning, though.
ananda
(28,783 posts)I've been stocking up on alternate protein sources.
I figure eggs and meat are going to virtually disappear
for awhile.
RobinA
(9,878 posts)as well. Unfortunately, the only thing I have in my bunker so far is some toilet paper and a few paper towels, because I have yet to see anything return to the shelves. I also have some more meat than usual in the freezer, because I usually bought meat as I went along. I haven't really decided whether to stock a shit ton of stuff or enough to weather this Corona-type interruption.
defacto7
(13,485 posts)Siwsan
(26,177 posts)I hope for the best, plan for the worst, and expect something in the middle.