Practical Food Storage - It's Not An Option, It's An Essential Part of Living

Nearby Forest Fires - 2011

When we decided to leave the city for country living, there was no doubt we were in for some big changes. Our home is located in a county with less than 30,000 people; it is possible to drive from our home into town, several miles, without seeing another car on the roadway. I often joke a traffic jam here is a couple pickup trucks stopped in the roadway while a cattle herd is being moved from a pasture on one side of the roadway to the other.

 

The county road to our home is unpaved and during periods of heavy rainfall and/or high winds, it is common place to find the road washed out to the point it is impassable or to find huge downed trees blocking the roadway. So, making a trip into town for supplies is not always an available option; even evacuation under extreme circumstances may be impossible. The electrical lines do not run alongside the public roadways; instead they run across private property and oftentimes through heavily forested areas. When storms come through,  especially those that cause ice to form and break tree limbs or storms with particularly high winds, it is not uncommon for the electricity to go out anywhere from a few hours to several days. A side effect of lost electricity is loss of easy access to fresh water since as with most rural properties’ our drinking water source is a water well powered by an electrical pump.

 

I grew up on the Texas Gulf Coast; I have lived through many storms, including Hurricane Carla, which wreaked more than $325 million in damages - 43 people died in that storm. Anyone living in or near southeast Texas on September 24, 2005, should remember Hurricane Rita; I know I won’t forget it.  My husband was stationed overseas at the time; I was on the ranch watching the chaos on TV of the mass exodus from Houston in anticipation of Rita’s landfall. Entire families were either ordered to evacuate from areas in and around Houston or they had panicked and decided to self-evacuate. People were stranded on roadways for days with no food, water, diapers or formula for their children; people died not from the storm but from the evacuation! Post-storm there were families in East Texas without electricity – and well water – for many weeks!

 

Natural disasters make themselves known regularly, both in our country and around the World – hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, fires, blizzards, epidemics, and droughts. Then there are the “man-made” disasters – domestic and foreign terrorism, civil unrest, failing infrastructure, and the ever present threat of war as more and more countries have acquired weapons of mass destruction.

 

They say history repeats itself - the influenza pandemic of 1918 infected more than 500 million people world-wide; it is estimated 675,000 people died in the U.S. alone before coming to an end in 1919. In more modern times, we have seen the rise of many infectious diseases, for example, H1N1 and SARS; scientists predict it is just a matter of time before another world-wide pandemic occurs.

 

Our country has a population now of over 356 million people. It has been estimated U. S. grocery store shelves hold about a 3-day supply of food and bottled water; the population far surpasses the supply. The U.S. has cities with

A City in Recovery

populations in the millions. Ever been through a grocery store – anywhere - after a hurricane has passed through the area, or the threat of a blizzard? I have and I can only compare the scene to what fields of crops must look like after a plague of locusts finish with it. I have listened to people  relating tales of trying to buy food immediately prior to a hurricane making landfall lamenting they were lucky to find a can of peanut butter and a box of crackers to sustain them for several days! Seriously??? This from someone who grew up in “hurricane alley”?!

 

People living on farms and ranches can, and are, as strongly affected by natural or man-made disaster-related events as people residing in the cities, maybe more so in some respects.



Power outages, communications disruptions, flooded roads and highways, fencing destroyed by falling trees and storm surges, burned by fires, or buried under snow drifts. Livestock scattered or injured by flying debris or stranded with limited or no access to food or safe drinking water for days to weeks. Crops failing and pastures made useless by 

The Face of Drought

drought. Folks, I have witnessed all these things happen  – these are not times to be worrying about whether or not you have enough food and water to sustain you and your family until things can return to some semblance of normality. Due to location and geography, it can be much more difficult and more protracted in terms of time to restore power, communications, and transportation pathways to and from rural areas.

 

The reality is all these things I have mentioned are part of life; I don’t dwell on them, I just recognize they exist and may influence the health and well-being of myself and my family at some point; common sense tells me to be prepared to “weather these storms”. There are many things in this World we cannot control, but we can prepare to mitigate the extent of personal damage many of these natural or man-made disasters can visit upon us, if we choose to do so.

 

Even websites for government agencies involved in emergency management encourage Americans to assess their personal risk during various types of emergencies and take responsibility for having a plan in place to deal with these emergencies. I recall during the Cold War’s Cuban Crisis our government was urging people to be prepared for a nuclear disaster by stockpiling food, water, medicine and constructing fall-out shelters. The message is loud and clear, be prepared to care for yourself and your family!!!

 

For centuries people in every country raised and/or grew their own food; they stored part of this food in preparation for hard times, whether it was to prepare for the long, cold months of winter or as a buffer against loss of income due to failing crops and famine in years to come. They recognized the value of “food storage” and practiced it as an essential part of life.

 

Modern society sometimes labels people who think like this as – Preppers, Survivalists, Alarmists, nut jobs, whatever, because the idea of doing things that our ancestors considered part and parcel of everyday life is foreign to many in our country today, especially those living in the big cities.   After all they don’t need to learn to hunt or fish - to grow, can or dry food - to store water - everything they need is available via the nearest Walmart or a twist of a faucet handle. And in a pinch, the government will save them! Right?!

 

Webster’s Dictionary defines a “disaster” as:

1)  A sudden calamitous event bringing great damage, loss, or destruction; or,

2)  A sudden or great misfortune or failure.

 

It is does not take a hurricane, a blizzard, or a foreign country detonating an electromagnetic weapon in the atmosphere over the United States to create a disaster. The word “disaster” can have different meanings to different people at different times in their lives – a disaster might be a single Mother with a couple of children who was just informed her car’s transmission needs replacement and it will cost a significant portion of her paycheck for the next month to repair it. A disaster might be someone who becomes house-bound for several weeks due to illness. Or how about going to the ATM for some cash and discovering some identify thief drained your bank account?

 

In my mind, personal disaster planning and preparation is not an option, it is not a joke - it is a requirement to ensure the safety and well-being of you, your family – and your animals - in an ever changing and unpredictable World.

 

Having a well thought out disaster plan, which includes water and food storage, can be empowering; it can reduce both emotional and financial stress when practiced regularly. It can act as a buffer in times of emergencies or disasters, of all shapes and sizes, allowing you to focus on those anomalies for which you cannot prepare!

 

Practicing food storage is not rocket science, it just takes some thought, organization – most of all commitment to do it! With any new process or skill, mistakes can be made; mistakes that slow or hinder reaching your goals and/or waste funds. In my next article, “Practical Food Storage, Part 2 – Common Mistakes”, I will review common errors to assist in reducing your learning curve with respect to food storage.

 

If you have been considering food storage, folks, it is past time to get busy!

Superfoods - the Ultimate List

Hippocrates, an ancient Greek physician, often called the “father of medicine” stated “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”  This has become one of my favorite quotes; as Hippocrates believed, so do I; diet is the foundation of good health and therefore, I cannot delegate to others the duties required to identify beneficial aspects of my diet and that of my family, nor depend totally on others to provide access to quality foods in support of good health.

Recent studies have brought certain dietary guidelines recommended by the federal government into question. A prime example, Americans were told for decades to pursue a “low fat diet” combined with a diet high in whole grains to promote good health. As a result, many Americans avoided eating meat, dairy, and natural oils that contained fat, such as coconut oil, etc. Now, studies are being published arguing the opposite - the human body requires a certain level of “good” fats in order to stay healthy, so the pursuit of a “low fat” diet in combination with a diet high in grains, according to these studies, has not benefited our health.

Combine this with new diet plans from private industry – seems like a new one pops up regularly to add to the confusion - the Mediterranean Diet, the Paleo Diet, and the Adkins Diet, just to name a few. And let’s not forget Veganism – the avoidance of eating any animal products.

Additionally, how can one give serious thought to diet without considering the politics surrounding our food system? From the foreign trade deals that have resulted in massive amounts of foods from other countries being imported into the U.S., often from countries that have questionable agricultural and processing practices, to our own agricultural, medical and pharmaceutical industries and their drive for monetary gain, the best interests of the American consumer, in my opinion, often gets thrown under the bus.

The matter of diet in pursuit of good health can be confusing and in some instances just down right daunting. While wading through the miasma between truth and marketing hype to identify foods capable of contributing to good health, I began noticing the term “superfoods” splashed across the Internet and in books. Article after article stated we need to be eating “superfoods” to support good health.

I was curious - what are “superfoods”? As I read the articles, I realized not everyone is on the same page about what is and is not a “superfood”, in fact, some people believe “superfoods” are nothing but a made-up name for a new marketing scheme; while others believe they represent certain nutrient-packed foods very beneficial to human health.

Okay, on a personal level, I can agree nutrient-dense foods could be considered “superfoods” – now, which foods are “superfoods”?

Trying to get an answer to that question is when it became obvious to me there is no definitive “superfoods” list. After searching through 20 different sources (Internet and books) ranging from those provided by doctors, health and exercise gurus, well-known chefs, etc., I realized in many cases it appeared each list was more or less the individual author’s opinion as to which foods fell into the “superfoods” category.

Among the sources there were some commonalities as to which individual foods could be considered “superfoods”, many commonalities among food categories, and then there were some – hmmm, what is this stuff?

At this point, I am asking myself how I can apply this information to get the most return for my time. Ultimately, I decided I wanted the information to become a tool to, 1) help identify a broad list of “superfoods”, 2) to aid in focusing on the most nutrient-dense foods, 3) to identify which “superfoods” could be raised on the ranch, and 4) to help in future planning.

I needed to organize the 20 different lists to allow for analysis, so I created a spreadsheet to input each food designated as a “superfood” from each source and then separated the foods into categories.

Once this was done, I assigned a number (a point) to each individual food; every time a particular food was mentioned from one of the sources, it received 1 point. For example, in the “berries” category, 8 different types of berries were mentioned with blueberries being mentioned a total of six times in the sources polled. Blueberries received 6 points, this was the most points received by any one berry. So, blueberries became the “superfood” within the “berries” category. I followed this same plan with each of the foods listed in each category. This took some time to work through; but, when finished this is how the foods ranked:

Category	Foods Listed	Ultimate Superfood
Berries	Acai, Blackberries, Blueberries, Cranberries, Goji Berries, Lingonberries, Raspberries, Strawberries	Blueberries
Seafood	Mackerel, Oysters, Wild Salmon, Sardines, Scallops	Salmon
Grains	Barley, Bran Flakes, Brown rice, Buckwheat, Oats. Wheat germ	Oats
Legumes	Alfalfa Sprouts, Beans, Lentils, Red Beans, Sprouts	Beans
Fruit	Apples, Apricots, Avocado, Bananas, Cherries, Dried Plums (Prunes), Dried tart cherries, Grapes, Kiwifruit, Noni, Papayas, Pears	Apples, Avocadoes
Citrus Fruit	Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, Oranges	Oranges
Vegetables	Alliums, Asparagus, Potatoes, Beets, Cantaloupe, Carrots, Endive, Kelp, Leek, Olives, Pumpkin, Red Bell Peppers, Hot Peppers, Scallion, Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Tomato	Sweet Potatoes
Cruciferous Vegetables	Arugula, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cauliflower, Horseradish, Kohlrabi, Maca, Radish, Rutabaga, Turnip	Broccoli
Dark, Leafy Greens	Bok Choy, Cabbage, Collard Greens, Dandelion greens, Iceberg Lettuce, Kale, Mustard Greens, Romaine lettuce, Sauerkraut, Spinach, Swiss chard, Turnip Greens, Watercress, Chinese Cabbage	Spinach
Seeds & Nuts	Almonds, Chia seeds, Flaxseed, Pistachio Nuts, Sunflower Seeds, Walnuts, Quinoa	Walnuts
Dairy	Eggs, Fat-free milk and yogurt, Ghee, Grass-fed organic yogurt & kefir, Greek Yogurt, Raw, organic, grass-fed butter, Whey Protein Concentrate, Yogurt Spinach	Eggs
Misc.	Chicken Bones (Broth), Chicory, Coconuts & Coconut Oil, Dark Chocolate & Cocoa, Oregano, Parsley, Peanut Butter, Popcorn, Red Wine, Sugar (blackstrap molasses), Tea (green or black), Turkey, Turmeric, Watermelon	Dark Chocolate
Soy	Bean sprouts (soy), Black Soybean, Edamame, Natto, Soy milk, Soy nuts, Tofu	Soy Milk, Edamame

The foods listed as “ultimate superfoods” were the ones most identified in the sources as “superfoods” – but, and there is always a “but” – as I noted earlier some of this appears to be the opinion of the individual authors. Example: from previous research, I consider blackberries more nutrient-dense than blueberries; blackberries are higher in fat, higher in vitamins and minerals, etc. The one thing blueberries have going for them that blackberries do not – no seeds! In reviewing the “Berries” category as a whole, I identified several berries the authors considered “superfoods” that can be grown on the ranch. So, I will include them in future gardening plans for variety and to extend the growing season, especially blueberries.

With the exception of soy, which I avoid whenever possible, I enjoy all the foods identified as “ultimate superfoods” along with many of the other foods in their respective categories.   I feel very comfortable with the results as a whole. Being a “chocoholic”, the dark chocolate was definitely a winner! J

While there are things I cannot produce on the ranch, there are many that can be done so easily. It presents a challenge to try and incorporate as many as possible of the different foods in my future plans, particularly those that have value as herbal remedies, such as horseradish and oregano. For example, oregano is a great companion plant in the garden as it deters many garden pests.

The foods listed as “ultimate superfoods” are definitely something to consider including in one’s diet; however, I encourage readers to remember - moderation in all things – too much of a good thing, may not, in the end, be a good thing; include these foods as part of a varied diet for the best results.

Another of my favorite quotes –

“If one oversteps the bonds of moderation, the greatest pleasures cease to please.”

Epictetus (AD 55 – 135)

Many of the foods identified lend themselves to being grown in containers, so even those with limited space can take more control over their diet by growing “superfoods” organically!

I hope others gain value from this information and use it as a tool to improve their own diet and that of their families. May we all be blessed with good health!

5 Reasons to Grow Blackberries

Blackberries in the Spring

In addition to working with the livestock on the ranch, I enjoy gardening – with a caveat - when the Texas heat index is hitting 100 plus degrees, I don’t enjoy it very much. When choosing plants for my garden, I select  plants capable of providing multiple benefits – 1) a food source for pollinators, wildlife, and/or the livestock, 2) a food source for the family, 3) must be relatively easy to care for, so perennials are always high on my list, 4) it should be high in nutritional benefits and last but not least, 5) I consider plants with medicinal value a real plus.

One plant that fit all those requirements is blackberries. We have blackberries growing wild on the ranch and as long as they are not trying to take over the pastures or the canes are not so thick they are pulling the fences down, we leave them for the wildlife, especially the birds and the pollinators. I have harvested berries from these plants, but in addition to the thorns, the brambles created habitat for creepy crawly things, like snakes, and then there is the chiggers! If you have ever suffered from chigger bites you know where I am coming from when I choose to leave the wild blackberries for the wildlife!

All things considered I decided on two varieties of thornless blackberry bushes – Ouachita and Arapaho; I placed the two bushes in large containers in my garden. The containers were to keep the bushes under control and hopefully deter infestation by the creepy crawly things since the canes would not be in contact with the ground. Additionally, the containers prevent gophers from accessing the roots. So far the containers have worked wonderfully – the bushes are not trying to take over the garden and no creepy crawlies, no chiggers, no gophers! Of course, the thornless blackberries will do well planted directly into the ground as well; however, the containers work best in my particular situation.

In the spring, the blackberries will be one of the first plants to bloom; they produce pretty pink and white tinted blooms. Your garden will be buzzing with pollinators which is certainly a plus if you have other plants blooming at that time that require pollination.

The blackberries are very easy to care for – I filled the containers with compost when I planted the bushes and set the container in a sunny area of the garden. Each spring right before bud break, I add about 1 inch of compost with a small amount of fertilizer to each container. As the old canes die out after fruiting, I remove them from the plant and dispose of the canes. I monitor the soil moisture as I do with my raised garden beds and water as necessary; when the bush is putting on fruit maintaining moisture is very important. Since the canes are erect, they do not require trellising. The plants have proved to be very healthy with little to no pest or disease issues. That is all the care I give the blackberries and they produce well each year. If you have never grown blackberries, this article by Texas A&M University contains some good information to help you get started, if interested. 

Blackberries provide many health benefits – in fact many health food gurus place blackberries high on their “superfood” list. Why? Because those little black jewels are not just juicy and tasty, they are highly nutritious, containing many vitamins, minerals and flavonoids that promote good health. Blackberries contain impressive levels of phytochemicals known to protect against aging, inflammation, cancer and some neurological diseases.

So, it is easy to see why it is considered a “superfood”. In fact in a comparison between blueberries and blackberries, blackberries are superior in health benefits. Additionally, blackberries - roots, leaves, and fruit, have been used by herbalists for centuries, including modern time, for treating ailments such as diarrhea, dysentery, tonsillitis, angina, and hemorrhoids. In Biblical times, blackberry leaves were chewed for relief from bleeding gums.

Blackberry Syrup

 

Blackberries are also very versatile in the kitchen; they are used in cordials and other drinks, as syrups for pancakes, pastries, and over dairy products such as ice cream, cooked into cobblers, jams, jellies; they can be used as a replacement in any recipe that calls for raspberries.

 

Blackberries are a great addition to anyone’s garden and are often used in permaculture projects serving as a fruitful understory for trees.

 

These are the many reasons why I recommend blackberries – they are just “superplants”!

Fresh Fig Chutney

A few weeks ago our fig tree was in overdrive producing more than 2 lbs. of figs per day. I was drying figs, freezing figs, eating figs straight from the tree – finally I decided it was time to try something new – a fresh fig chutney. This was my first chutney and I was very pleased with the results. You will notice there are five 12-ounce jars; originally there were 6 but that one never made it past our dinner table. The first night we tried it with beef which was good, but it was absolutely wonderful the second night with pork. So, if you like pork and like figs, you might consider giving this recipe a try!

Ingredients:

2 lbs. fresh figs – rinsed and chopped into small cubes

4 apples – cored, peeled and chopped into small cubes

2 medium onions, finely chopped

8 oz. raisins

5 oz. ginger – peeled and grated

4 cloves of garlic – peeled and finely chopped

2 lbs. dark brown sugar

2 TBS salt

½ tsp. cinnamon

2 TBS yellow mustard seeds.

4 cups cider vinegar with the Mother

Instructions:

Place all the ingredients in a large pan and bring to a boil. Continuing cooking on low heat until the

liquid has reduced and the mixture has thickened to a consistency similar to jam. Stirring occasionally to ensure no sticking to the pan.

Place the mixture into hot sterilized glass mason canning jars with sterilized lids and bands. I used six 12-ounce quilted jar just because that was what I had on hand at the time.The cooking time to reduce the mixture to a jam-like consistency will depend on the size of the pan you use – it may be from 2 – 4 hours. Since I have a gas stove-top and there is no such thing as “low heat” on the thing (it is either off or boiling temperature), so I used an old, deep electric skillet. Now, I know why I kept insisting on keeping that skillet when my husband was urging me to get rid of it to save space! 

Be prepared for a very pungent smell in the house when this is cooking; but not to worry, the smell will dissipate as the mixture thickens. If you have a fan vent over your stove turn it on or if the weather is good open the kitchen window.

Once the mixture has been placed in the canning jars leaving ½ inch headspace in each jar. Remove the air bubbles and adjust headspace if needed. Wipe the rims of the jars with a dampened, clean paper towel; adjust the two-piece metal canning lids (lid and band). The lid and band should be “finger-tip tight”, to me this means tighten the band until you feel good resistance – do not crank down on the lid like Tarzan! You want the lid tight but it must be able to expel air during processing.

Once filled, place the jars in a boiling water-bath canner – process the jars at a rolling boil for 10 minutes.If this is your first time canning, I recommend you read Principles of Home Canning.