EMERGENCY FOOD CACHES

PVC pipes, plastic totes, or a 5-gallon pail

When Trump threatened Canada, the implied threat was of invasion and military rule, but the explicit danger was one of economic warfare and economic coercion. What happens when the tariffs go from 25% to 250% or more? How quickly can our economy adapt? How soon can we change our import & export partners? If nothing can be shipped from the USA, can our seaports handle the increased maritime shipping? What happens if a naval blockade is imposed and our grocery store shelves start looking like the COVID-shortage era?

Being alone and fighting for survival seems heroic, but the truth is that there is strength in numbers. A community of friends and family can provide more resources, more skills, and more experience to draw from, thus increasing the chances of survival. Think of it this way, if you slip and trip and twist your ankle badly, a friend might be the difference between getting to a safe place or being stuck on the middle of the road as the enemy advances. And yet, while I support the idea of community and sharing, there is a time when you might need to keep some secrets.

For instance, when the food supplies dry up at the grocery store, your food supplies at home may become a tempting target for hungry people who are not part of your caring and sharing community. Yes, I know you want to help the people around you, but you also need to make sure you don't starve yourself or your family at the expense of others.

Play it smart. Have some but not all of your supplies in the normal storage locations, such as the kitchen cupboard, but have at least a stash somewhere else, just in case.

Survival food caches can be as simple as a 5-pound bag of rice, 2 pounds of black beans, and some seasonings, all stored inside a length of PVC pipe and buried somewhere on your property. Plastic totes or a simple 5 gallon pail from your local hardware store will work well too!

In an urban environment, simply placing your filled PVC pipe in the garage rafters, along with all the other junk that you store up there, will probably be safe enough. No need to dig up the front garden to bury your food, just saying. Drop some canned goods into the A/C ductwork or bury a plastic-wrapped bag of pasta into the bottom of the kitty litter bag.

The point is not to keep all of your food in one place and to keep it hidden so you don't become a target - James Walton

Uncooked pastas and grains, jerky, fruit leathers, and canned produce are some of the best items to include in your cache, as are dehydrated soup packets, powdered milk, unopened oil bottles, and commercially prepared dehydrated foods. Pickled items may work as well, and they often serve as a good source of salt, too. Add an unopened glass bottle of liquor to the cache. After all, a great sipping whiskey can be a great end to a stressful day, week, or month!