Survival Stockpile Advice "Thanks for the grub." It isn't fancy but my husband and I share this humble prayer before each meal. Not only are we grateful in a reverent sense but also for reasons of practicality. We know where our food comes from these days, an intricate production web from farm to table. From the satellites that direct the farmer's tractors to the computer chips that run the transport trucks that deliver the crops to market to the electric power that provides a quick, easy and efficient means to cook the food. Thus, this simple daily prayer also includes a thank you for a system that is almost entirely dependent on computer technology. We are grateful for the food we eat and, as we weigh the possibility that the Y2K "millennium bug" could severely effect the food chain, entering into this age of "uncertainty" each meal is considered a bonus. Though food is the last in the "sacred" order of survival priorities, it is really the linchpin in an urban emergency situation (natural, man-made disaster). Anyone can make shelter. With a Bic lighter, anyone can have fire. With a filter or chemicals, water can be purified. But, without food an emergency situation quickly becomes a bleak and debilitating experience. A New York City resident sarcastically asked if I am suggesting that 30 million people hunt and capture rabbits in Central Park. I am not. Though hunting and trapping animals is part of the training in our Wilderness Challenge courses, these techniques would hardly suffice in an urban environment. The best choice for city dwellers (and everyone else) is stored long-term food. What kinds of food and how much food you store will depend on your needs and those of your family. Some of you will order from a "pre-packaged food" supplier. One advantage to purchasing survival food this way is that it requires little energy and effort on your part. You place your order and await delivery. There are two disadvantages. For some, the question of cost will be relevant; of more importance is the question of the actual delivery date. Many of these companies are months behind and some cannot fill the orders until June 1999. If there are computer glitches in January 1999, which some predict, you run a risk of your order not being delivered. "Doing it yourself" is the "preferred" way because it gets you into the habit of learning how you will survive a disaster situation - "by exerting your own energy and effort" - and it gives you an immediate reward. You have your food now. The following is a preliminary guideline to your survival food needs. The list is not all-inclusive, as many of you may want to include your own personal items. Beans (pintos, lentils, legumes) White rice (brown rice goes rancid) Whole corn Hard red winter wheat (Beans, rice and corn eaten together make a complete protein) Non-fat instant dry milk powder Soup base -(chicken, beef, tomato) Salt Sugar Honey Peanut butter Lard (beef) Soy sauce Spices (garlic, onion, pepper, vinegar) Popcorn Cocoa, tea, coffee Powered juice - orange, lemonade Hard candy Be sure to note the storage life of all the items you store. Don't forget your pets - they need to eat too. You will have noticed that lard is included in the list of food supplies. It is high in caloric energy and energy from fat is what your body runs on. In a survival situation, you will be expending an enormous amount of energy that will need to be replaced. Lard is the base of pemmican (a mixture of dried meat and lard used by Native Americans). Lard needs no refrigeration and has no expiration date. A very efficient, excellent container for storage is a wide-mouthed plastic juice bottle. Using a bottle brush and anti-microbial soap, clean the container and the lid, then air dry. Containers can be filled with all of your stored foods. You can melt lard and pour it into these containers. When storing grains in these containers, pour a handful of salt inside before you screw the cap on. (Salt will kill any insects present in the grain.) Seal the cap with wet/dry roof cement. The container is now waterproof and can even be buried underground. Containers should be stored out of direct sunlight in a safe, temperature-controlled environment or under the ground. (If your residence is demolished by the elements i.e. fire, flood, storm, earthquake, or civil unrest you will still be able to access your emergency food supply) Canned foods are ideal. Remember to date the cans and use them in sequence (new ones are rotated in as you use the "oldest" cans first.) You may also want to purchase a dehydrator and dry your own fruits and vegetables. You will also need cooking utensils, cups, plates, bowls, cutlery, hand operated can opener, pot holders, towels, trash bags, cutting boards, dish soap and a tub to wash your dishes in. A hand grinder to mill the grain is vital if you store whole grains. (You can also sprout your whole grains)Purchase some non-hybrid seeds and plant your own garden. If you are in an apartment, consider a planter box on the windowsill. Native Seed Search in Tucson Arizona has an excellent supply of seeds that can reproduce themselves from one crop to the next. A camp stove will come in handy for cooking when the power is out. If you cook on an open fire, one of the best cooking vessels is a wok. Its bowl shaped design concentrates the heat and allows it to be used with a minimum amount of fuel and the shape enables it to sit at any angle in an open fire. (Keep all open fires outside, please) It is prudent to be prepared in case of a natural or man-made disaster. If we sail through the next millennium with scarcely a scratch then we can consider that the food we have stored will be available for our retirement. As you eat your next meal, please remember to be grateful and say "thanks for the grub." Shelter, Water, Fire and Food are your needs. All the rest are wants. "A true survivalist is a Caretaker of the Earth." (The information in these articles is not an exhaustive study of the categories. They are meant as overviews and suggestions and I will, from time to time, expand on them with additional ideas. I also hope to answer many of your individual questions regarding "survival." in upcoming articles.) For additional information read: The Field Guide to City and Suburban Survival by Tom Brown, Jr.