Canning up the Honeyville bulk food (pics)

[Cokebottle]

True enough. Do you have a genny or even a little inverter like a Honda? The 2000 will power a few small "high current" things like a small AC and your refrigerator and burn drops of gas.

I've got access to a couple of Honda 2000s if I can get to them. Need to get one of my own.
Small AC would be a problem, though the central AC is pretty efficient and the 2000 MIGHT be able to run it (if everything else were off) if I remember my current draw correctly from when I checked it with the clamp-on.
The compressor was replaced in 2001, and we replaced the furnace and evaporator 2 years ago. Fairly small unit (1000 sq/ft condo)

[9-12]

I live in a little town up by Pismo Beach and every time there's even a hint of a storm we lose power. I'm always running my generator. They're definitely handy.
Hopefully none of this will ever come to fruition...my biggest concern these days is we haven't had a big earthquake for some years now. I can't see civil unrest or any other natural disasters driving me out of my home. Chances of survival are highest with the fewest unknowns.

I've got access to a couple of Honda 2000s if I can get to them. Need to get one of my own.
Small AC would be a problem, though the central AC is pretty efficient and the 2000 MIGHT be able to run it (if everything else were off) if I remember my current draw correctly from when I checked it with the clamp-on.
The compressor was replaced in 2001, and we replaced the furnace and evaporator 2 years ago. Fairly small unit (1000 sq/ft condo)

[EmptySkuLL]

[Cokebottle]

I live in a little town up by Pismo Beach and every time there's even a hint of a storm we lose power. I'm always running my generator. They're definitely handy.
Hopefully none of this will ever come to fruition...my biggest concern these days is we haven't had a big earthquake for some years now. I can't see civil unrest or any other natural disasters driving me out of my home. Chances of survival are highest with the fewest unknowns.

The quake is my concern as well.
As I mentioned, the entire LA area will be cut off by all access except air. We MIGHT be able to get to/from San Diego, but other than the coastal routes we'd be cut off, and no telling how far north we'd have to go to find a passable route across the San Andreas, given that it would likely sever the 78 and 8 as well.

Additionally, shakeout scenarios put some of the most intense shaking directly under San Bernardino, then west along the foothills.
It'll shake the hell out of us and I home the structure stands, but they aren't forecasting the extremely damaging shaking for my immediate area.
Not so good for those around Chino though.

[9-12]

I think Seal A Meal would be your best friend. I break all my meat down that way and seal it in one and two pound packages and I'm going to start doing some dry goods that way, same reason as you. You can seal-a-meal just about anything from clothes to ammo.

[dustoff31]

Any suggestions on how to break down and store the bulk foods into smaller packets (stored in 5 gal buckets, with Gamma Seal lids) for shorter term use?

This would work.

Or you could skip the vacuum bags and just use smaller mylar bags with O2 absorbers. You can cut one large mylar bag into 2 or 3, maybe even 4 sections for the smaller portions. Store the smaller bags in a bucket.

[DannyInSoCal]

A years worth of food requiring a constant source of fresh clean water - I'll pass.

If we find ourselves in a situation where we will die if we don't have food stashed away - I'll just take what we need from an unarmed liberal.

That leaves us with 80% of the population to take from.

For the record - We are set for about six weeks if SHTF - After that it's run & gun time...

[GrizzlyGuy]

My plan is to use the FoodSaver post-SHTF to put the bulk stuff in smaller sealed bags, then put them back in my buckets with Gamma Seal lids. I measured the power consumption of the FoodSaver with a KillAWatt meter and it isn't as bad as one might expect. My 12V inverter can handle it and I have enough room in my solar charging power budget (plus some large 12V batteries I keep trickle charged).

If you are only shooting for 6 months after opening, most foods will store at least that long. I have this book: I Can't Believe It's Food Storage and she discusses that. It's a decent book to have as she explains how to put together your food storage and how to gradually work food storage items into your daily meals so that you will be used to using them. She includes many recipes as well.

[EmptySkuLL]

GG,

I was contemplating using the foodsaver after opening the mylar, but was being lazy and was trying to keep from doing that just incase of worst case scenario with no juice of any sort to power the foodsaver.

6 months was a general timeframe. Like I said, I'd like to rotate stock out but its only me, so I'd be hard pressed to finish an entire large bucket of whatever I opened (or I'd probably be tired of eating it).

I think I'm leaning towards smaller Mylar bags inside the big bucket liner bag, unless somebody has a better suggestion. I prefer to do it that way just to be absolutely sure that I have a good oxygen seal, instead of just doing all small bags and throwing them in the bucket directly.

A side question, will those mylar bags "vacuum seal" (both vacuum and seal) in a food saver machine? Does it vacuum well? Is the heat sealer bar enough to seal the Mylar bag types? I have a foodsaver, but have not invested in the small mylar bags yet so I'd like to hear how well they seal or vacuum seal before I go that route...

[Cokebottle]

If we find ourselves in a situation where we will die if we don't have food stashed away - I'll just take what we need from an unarmed liberal.

That leaves us with 80% of the population to take from.

What makes you think they'll have more than 48 hours worth of food and water?

They'll be expecting FEMA to come and help them.
They'll be the first camping out an Dodger Stadium.

[Jerkdog]

You can seal-a-meal just about anything from clothes to ammo.

Yep. Individual rolls of toilet paper reduce down nice and it's water proof.

[9-12]

Yep. Individual rolls of toilet paper reduce down nice and it's water proof.

Oh man, that's good one for cmping/packing...never even thought of it. Thx!

[9-12]

What makes you think they'll have more than 48 hours worth of food and water?

They'll be expecting FEMA to come and help them.
They'll be the first camping out an Dodger Stadium.

LOL...too true.

[Cokebottle]

Oh man, that's good one for cmping/packing...never even thought of it. Thx!

I keep a few of the WalMart camping rolls in the saddlebags on my bike.
They come with a plastic dispenser... just pull it out and tear it off. The rolls are just a bit bigger than one of those "hotdog" paint rollers, and the plastic housing keeps them from getting soiled.
The housing is reusable... snap it open and replace with a fresh roll from a 3-pack.


Certainly not good for SiP long term, but perfect for the bug out bag.

[EmptySkuLL]

+1 on the vacuum sealing of arsewipe... Have rolls sucked down for my BOB's, works great, you get them down flat to about the height of 2 decks of cards...