October 2023 - Final Prepper

12 Long Shelf Life Foods You Should Know About

One of the best ways to ensure your family is prepared for no matter what is to have a useful, and plentiful supply of stored food. I love MREs and freeze-dried meals, specifically, because they are so easy to prepare and work so great if we have to bug out. However, to supplement your supply, there is nothing like storing some basic food staples to make sure your family never goes hungry.

Most of these items, perfect for long-term storage are extremely basic and generally cheap to obtain, but they pack a major nutritional punch and can be cooked and baked into hundreds of different meals to keep your family, fed and satisfied. In addition, most of these items will have excellent barter potential too.

1. Rice

All kinds of white rice are acceptable for long-term storage. When stored properly, rice can stay good for 30 years or more making it a perfect long-term storage food item. To Properly Store Rice: Pack it in an airtight container, or food-grade bucket, to keep oxygen and pests out. Keep it in a cool, dry area.

2. Flour

Flour, wheat, or white, can stay good on the shelf for 5 to 10 years. If you have space; freezing your flour can extend its life exponentially. To Properly Store Flour: You can store it in the traditional paper sack they come in if you can keep it refrigerated, but it is better to pack your flour in an airtight bag or storage bucket and keep it in a dry, cold place – the colder the better.

3. Honey

Honey is a great item to have on hand, not only is it a great sweetener, but it has medicinal properties and is enjoyed by kids and adults alike. The best part is, that it will not go bad. Honey may change its color or even crystallize a bit, but none of that changes the fact that it is still good to it. You can actually buy granulated honey, which is all ready for long-term storage and can be used like sugar or reconstituted the gooey stuff itself. To Properly Store Honey: keep it in an airtight jar and keep it in a cool dry place away from sunlight if possible. If the honey crystallizes, you can run warm water over the jar, or add small amounts of water and stir, to reconstitute it.

4. Salt

Salt may be one of the most important items you can stockpile. Not only is it important in everyday cooking, but its ability to preserve food will make it a popular item to not only have, but to barter with as well. To Properly Store Salt: Salt is easy to store, just keep it in a cool, dry area away from sunlight.

5. Sugar

Sugar, much like salt, will likely be a popular bartering item and it makes sense why. Having sugar on hand will go a long way to provide our family with some home comforts when times are uncertain and hard. Like honey, sugar can crystallize, but it simply does not support any sort of bacterial growth, so no matter what it will be good. To Properly Store Sugar: To prevent crystallization, store in an airtight container, but no matter what store it in a cool dry place.

6. Popcorn

Popcorn or dried corn can stay safe indefinitely, which is why it is such an important resource to the indigenous people of this country… it could be used fresh, and then dried to be used throughout the winter. Dried corn can be ground and used as cornmeal or in any recipe that calls for fresh corn too. To Properly Store Popcorn: Once dried, keep it in a cool, dry place. Store in an airtight container or bag to keep out pests and keep away from light and heat.

7. Cornstarch

Cornstarch is a great tool in cooking, especially if you are trying to stretch your food supply with gravies and sauces. You don’t need much, and it doesn’t take much to store either, so it’s really no wonder so many preppers keep this on hand. To Properly Store Cornstarch: Keep it in a dark, cool, and dry place. Pack tightly to minimize air and contaminants getting in.

8. Vinegar

White vinegar lasts indefinitely on the shelf, and having it on hand is a must for the smart prepper. It is good for cooking and canning, but it is also a powerful natural cleaning agent and will be no doubt a popular barter item as well. To Properly Store Vinegar: Keep in a bottle with a tight lid or cap, and store in a dark, dry place.

9. Pasta

Even packaged the way it comes from the store, the pasta will keep for a few years. It is a great item to store, and a crowd pleaser and comfort food especially in survival situations. To Properly Store Pasta: You can buy pasta that is packaged for the long term, or you can store it in mylar bags with oxygen absorbers. Store in a bucket, or in another cool, dry place.

10. Pinto Beans

Beans are so cheap, easy to store, and pack serious nutritional value that they are a no-brainer for any prepper to consider in their stockpile. Dried pinto beans can last for many years. To Properly Store Pinto Beans: For the longest shelf life store them in mylar bags with oxygen absorbers. While they won’t go bad, they may get drier and harder over time. Even if they do get dry you can still grind them up and use them in most of your cooking, they will still be edible and nutritious.

11. Dried Peas

Dried split peas have an indefinite shelf life and can be used in soups, stews, or just as good ole peas themselves. To Properly Store Dried Peas: Much like beans and other legumes, the best method is to pack them in a mylar bag with oxygen absorbers, once packed they will last for many years. You can also stock up and buy a bucket, which is already packaged to last up to 30 years.

12. Baking Soda

Baking soda has a variety of uses, for cleaning, baking, and medicinal purposes. If stored properly, it will last for years; though it can lose potency over time. To Properly Store Baking Soda: Keep in an airtight container and store in a cool dry place. Remember that baking soda absorbs odors, so you will want to keep it airtight and away from any of your other storage items. To test if your baking soda has lost its potency, add a little vinegar to a small amount of the baking soda… if it bubbles, it’s still good.

Food-grade buckets and mylar bags should be used whenever possible, and if oxygen is an enemy, oxygen absorbers. I also like to upgrade my buckets with gamma lids, that allow you to screw the lids on and off easily so you can access foods in your stockpile without fumbling around with difficult bucket lids. They stack nicely too. Food Bricks are also great for stacking and accessing your foods so you might consider them too.

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One of the best ways to ensure your family is prepared for no matter what is to have a useful, and plentiful supply of stored food. I love MREs and

PVC DIY Projects for Your Homestead

There are so many projects that you can do on your homestead. Have you considered DIY projects with PVC pipes? There are a number of things that you can do from animal care to garden hacks. The projects can be very simple to more complicated depending on what you are going for. You can be very colorful or plain when you are building your projects.

PVC pipes are lightweight and easy to use. They are bendable and easy to use. Working with PVC can be done on your own or very easily a team project. The pipes are durable enough to withstand the wind. The pipes won’t change shape or expand with contact from water. PVC pipes are also non-toxic so they are safe for use for animals and human contact.

Let’s look at some fun and creative ideas to make out of PVC pipes. I will list them in part of how you would use the project on your homestead. Garden jobs and hacks, animal care, and even clothing help for chores. There are so many other projects that can be done by using PVC pipes but these are aimed more at homesteading.

Garden Uses

Being that the PVC pipes do not react to chemicals they are perfectly safe to start seeds in. They are also safe for your food and soil to be in contact with the pipes.

Tomato Cages

These are a handy and reusable cages for holding up your tomatoes. You can make the cages according to the type of tomatoes that you grow.

Also, the cages can be made small for individual plants or for several plants such as in a row.

Cucumber Trellis

Cucumbers can be grown on the ground but they do better growing up a trellis.

The trellis can be shaped however you desire.

The PVC pipes will keep the trellis sturdy and give you space to run lines for the cucumbers to climb.

Cold Frames

When you work with PVC it can be shaped how you like.

A cold frame is a small tunnel-shaped ground cover.

These PVC frames are great for fall and winter gardening.

Deep Irrigation

This is a great way to really water the roots of some of your plants.

With this irrigation system, you simply take a pipe and drill a few holes and then insert it into the ground next to the plants and dump water down the pipe for a good deep watering.

Handheld Seeders

This handmade contraption is a back saver when it comes to planting your seeds.

The seeds can also be made to your height for added ease and comfort.

Take the seed and drop it through the pipe at the bottom is making a hole in the ground for the seed.

Ground Irrigation

This form of irrigation can be more complex. You can make as many lines and cover as much of your area as needed. This requires more work to build but saves a lot of work and watering once it is finished.

Garden Tool Holders

This PVC holder is very handy for organizing your tool shed.

Be sure to always put your shovels, rakes, and hoes away when you are finished and you will always know where they are and this helps to keep the tools out of the weather.

Garden Hose Holder

When making this hose holder you can add wheels for toting it around with you.

This can hold your hose wrapped up on it and allow a place to hang your spray nozzle also.

Aquaponics Growing

A PVC pipe is great for holding water so it makes a great aquaponic garden.

Cap the ends and drill holes to the desired size for the plants.

Window Gardens

The PVC can be cut to heights and lengths needed for either horizontal or vertical growing in your window sills.

In the PVC window gardens, you can grow whatever you want inside.

Container Gardens

With the various sizes of PVC pipes, the options are endless for making containers for a container garden.

The containers will do great in the garden, on the patio, or raised beds.

Small Greenhouse Frames

There are many types of greenhouses that can be made out of PVC pipes.

The pipes can frame a hoop greenhouse, a small square one, or even one that is built onto a wall for half a greenhouse.

Tomato Stakes and Waterer

This is an awesome idea for helping grow your tomatoes.

We all know how crazy the tomato patch can get.

With this, you can tie your plants up the height of the pipe and also our water down the pipe for good root watering.

PVC Berry and Fruit Picker

This is a great way to reach the fruit in those tall trees.

A little tweaking on the tip and a piece of pipe round enough so that the fruit can be picked and travel down the pipe to your basket.

Easy Peasy fruit collection.

Animal Care

The safety of PVC makes them great for use in animal care. There are so many options for animal care from feeding to comfort.

Chicken Feeders

My chickens eat a lot of feed and like to get in my way when I am trying to feed as they are ready.

Making a PVC chicken feeder is genius as it holds lots of feed, eliminates waste, and keeps them from flocking around your feet.

Hog Waterers

Now this hog waterer can be huge or small depending on the pen size and the number of hogs you are watering.

For fair, we made small round but tall pipes.

Purchase a nipple and thread into the pipe, cap, and waterproof then you have a waterer.

Milking Stand

A milking stand can even be used as a shearing stand.

This project will be a lot more difficult to complete but if you have milk goats or sheep then your back will appreciate the extra effort.

You will need to make sure that the stand is sturdy for being able to hold the weight of your livestock.

Chicken Tractor

A mobile chicken coop is nice.

A lightweight mobile coop is even better.

The Chicken tractor can be made to fit the size needed for your flock.

Chicken Waterer

A PVC waterer takes some work to not leak.

This waterer is somewhat of an automatic waterer as it can hold several gallons.

Bird Feeder

Hanging bird feeders are appreciated by the wild birds, especially in the winter months.

The bird feeder can be made very simple or even can be built to deter squirrels from getting into it.

Birdhouses

The wild birds will also appreciate a birdhouse.

The PVC birdhouses can be decorated in very nice colors and can be spacious enough to be able to comfortably make a home for a bird or even a nest of them.

Dog Cot

Not all of our pets are allowed on our furniture. Some may not even like a big fluffy bed or pillow to sleep on so make them a cot.

For the smaller dog, you can build the cot low to the ground or vice versa. You can also use some really cute materials to make the cot with.

Frozen Tubes for Keeping Cool

This project is nice to have around. It serves the same purpose as a frozen two-liter bottle but will hold ice longer.

The frozen pipes can be put in pens to keep animals cool by laying against or they can be put into water bowls to help keep the water cool.

Dog Food and Water Stand

This PVC pipe project is very appreciated by your taller dogs.

My mastiff is very tall and it is a stretch to eat from a bowl on the floor, he usually just lays down to eat.

The legs of the stand can be made to height and adjust them to the size of your food and water bowls.

Small Animal Pen

With some PVC pipes and elbows, you can build a nice little pen for your pet to play outside in.

I used to have guinea pigs and they liked to be outside but couldn’t be loose or tied up so a small pen was perfect.

This pen can even be taken apart for easy storage.

Homesteading Chores

When working around your homestead it is always helpful to have a “life hack” to make your chores easier or more fun. These projects can be very helpful to be able to finish your chores,

Gutter Cleaners

The PVC gutter cleaner is a whole lot safer than climbing a ladder.

The pipe hooks to a hose and then reaches up to the gutters for spraying and cleaning out.

Camp Chairs

You can never go wrong with chairs.

These PVC chairs are lightweight and easy to move around.

Build your chair and then take it around with you for when you need a break from your chores.

Tapestry Loom

Not every homesteader needs a tapestry loom but if you do or would like to give it a try this is a cheap way of making a loom.

Wagon

Every homestead needs a wagon. This PVC wagon is lightweight and mobile.

Frame the walls of the wagon and place it on some wheels and you have the means to move around a lot of items on your homestead. You can also pull the kiddos around on it for fun.

Clothes Rack

This clothes rack is meant to be smaller than a regular clothesline.

You also have a mobile drying rack to take with you on trips or camping or when swimming to dry your wet towels.

Target Stands

On my homestead, we like to shoot.

A PVC target stand makes for different levels and paces for shooting. The stand can be made to hold different items for target practice.

Trash Bag Dispenser

This is a very simple project. Make a wide cut into the side of the pipe and you can even mount it onto the wall or cabinet.

Slide the roll of trash bags through an end and pull them individually out the slit in the side.

Outside Shower

An outside shower is not a requirement but it sure is nice to have.

Having an outside shower will make it easier to rinse off from the real hot sweaty days from the hayfield.

Or when you have been out cleaning the hog barn and stink from high heaven and don’t want that trailed into your house.

Pipe Spool Holders

This project is more for organizing.

The pipes make nice organizers for hanging things such as ribbon, tape, and even wire from.

Recycling Bag Holders

This holder is an easy project to accomplish.

Build a frame that will stand and put a large trash bag in it.

Now for parties or yard work you have a light open container to discard trash or recycle items into.

Waterproof Cache

Make a waterproof cache out of PVC. You can store anything of importance to you in this cache. You can make the cache as long or as big around as you like with the pipe of your choosing. Cap and waterproof the ends to be sure that your stuff is protected. Food, money, or even medicine are great items to put into your cache and store.

Take your packed belongings and then you can dig a hole in a secret location for security and not have to worry about it until it is needed.

Working with PVC doesn’t require many tools. Most of the needed tools are simple hand tools that can be used by a single person making these projects very doable. The projects can be cut, shaped, and fitted together easily for fun and handy projects. Paint even sticks well to the plastic to make for the projects to be decorative along with useful. With some measuring and a little work, you will have homesteading projects to make your life easier.