MOM'S PANTRY 001: Adapt and Thrive

Adapt & Thrive

Thirty years ago, I believed the world as we know it, fragile and unsustainable, was about to collapse.  So I underwent a substantial self-education process and spent over $1000 on rice, beans, and assorted supplies.  Most of the rice has been converted over time into dog food and much of the rest has been disbursed in one way or another.  But I learned a lot and would like to share some of what I know that might be relevant in the time of COVID-19.

First we have to order our priorities and assess our risks.  The first priority is always safety, and with COVID-19, places with high risk of virus are unsafe.  Do not rationalize staying in an unsafe place (recognizing that it is often impossible to know what is safe and what is not).  Avoid large gatherings, stay aware of your surroundings and protect yourself and your loved ones by staying home as recommended.

As we practice social distancing and hunker down in our homes, financial issues will be high on the list of concerns for everyone:  Loss of jobs, loss of homes, etc. Unfortunately, we cannot deal with that here.  

So, practically speaking, how might we respond and prepare? We cannot know how long we need to prepare for, how deep the collapse will be, etc. So we just start somewhere….

Loss of water and energy (electricity, natural gas, and gasoline) do not appear to be likely, at least in the short term.  That puts one concern on the back burner.

Most people know to have food on hand for at least two weeks.  I would advise food for a minimum of two months. After the first month or so, the food supplies may consist of just rice and dried beans (I know it is unappealing to us, but Nicaraguans eat rice and beans three times a day).  The rule of thumb is one pound of dry food per person per day, but some of us smaller women and children can probably get by on a half pound per day. So for a 4-person household, that would mean about 120 pounds of rice and beans for just one month.  I do not advise large quantities of canned vegetables and soups, which do not provide very many calories considering the cost and storage space they require, unless you plan to eat them anyway.  

Here are some of the food supplies that I recommend storing, to augment the rice and beans:

     Salt (essential), chili powder, dried onions and bouillon cubes to flavor the basics.

     Oatmeal, powdered milk, sugar.

     Flour, baking soda and baking powder, lard (think “biscuits and refried beans”) and oils

     Canned tuna, pasta, some tomatoes.

     Wine and coffee (gotta have some indulgences!)

Next lets consider cleaning supplies.  Here also I suggest basics, including:

Bar soap, shampoo, powdered laundry detergent (you get many more loads from one tub), and concentrated liquid dish detergent such as Dawn.  You can make your own laundry detergent, which I do, from bar soap, borax and washing soda. But you cannot make your own soap unless you have special ingredients such as lye and animal fat (lard or tallow).  If you run out of toothpaste, use a mixture of baking soda and salt. The brushing action is more important than the toothpaste anyway.

The only paper product that is nearly indispensable is toilet paper, which may be why there has been a run on it, requiring rationing in some stores.  (Americans seem more concerned with running out of toilet paper than running out of food, if grocery cart contents are any indication!) For the rest, use rags, handkerchiefs (so who owns a handkerchief these days?  try a bandana) if supplies run out.

For sanitizing, soap and water is more effective than hand sanitizer, per a Stanford medical professor.  For surfaces, a dilute solution of bleach (1/3 c per gallon or 4 t per quart) is an option recommended by the CDC.  You can either spray or dip a rag and wipe. Be careful as bleach spots can ruin your clothes.  

Anyone with an interest or knack for gardening has a leg up.  If you can, start now to figure out ways to supplement your food stores with fresh stuff you grow yourself, even just sprouts.  It may also help you to stay sane in these drastically-changing times. And it will provide you with some valuable practice if it turns out we need to help feed ourselves over the long haul.  Hopefully this will not be the case, but it is good to consider all possibilities and doesn’t hurt to learn so basic essentials of survival.

So there you go.  A reasonable start.  Blessings and good luck.  

MOM of Mom’s Pantry