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Reviewing “Feed a family of 4 for 1 year, for less than $300”

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Reviewing “Feed a family of 4 for 1 year, for less than $300”

I found this great article on a simple method for long term food storage. It's simple to store a year’s supply of food for a family of 4 for less than $300.

The basic idea is to seal rice, dried kidney beans, barley, lentil, peas and garbanzo beans in mylar bags. Then set the bags in 5- gallon buckets. The mylar bags keep the air out and the bucket keeps critters out. Both together with some bay leaves and oxygen absorbers, the food will last for 25 years. Yes 25 years.

The Seasoned Citizen Prepper fills 8 buckets to feed his family of 4 for 1 year. I have copy and pasted parts of the article below. Also check out the original article here:

http://seasonedcitizenprepper.com/feed-a-family-of-4-for-1-year-for-less-than-300/

Original Article Excerpts:

What you need:

  • 8 Standard 5-gallon buckets (find these at any hardware store or online)
  • 8 large Mylar bags (great combo deal here)
  • 8 oxygen absorbers 2,000 cc (not sure what these are?)
  • 8 gamma lids (find them here)
  • A handful of bay leaves
  • 90 lbs. of white rice
  • 22 lbs. of kidney beans
  • 22 lbs. of barley
  • 22 lbs. of yellow lentils
  • 5.5 lbs. of split green peas
  • 5.5 lbs. of garbanzo beans
  • 1 lb. of salt
  • A big box of beef and chicken bouillon.
  • A measuring cup

Fill the Buckets

  • 3 buckets with rice (shake it down good. Get it all in there!)
  • 1 bucket each of kidney beans, barley, and yellow lentils
  • In 1 bucket store the split green peas, garbanzo beans, salt, measuring cup and bouillon. (I removed the bouillon from the box and vacuum sealed it as bouillon contains a small amount of oil.)
  • Yep, that’s a total of 7 buckets, so far.

The 8th Bucket

  • Dry onion. Let’s face it, what’s bean soup without onion! Sprinkle on the onions just before serving.
  • “Just add water” cornbread mix packets. I just can’t eat bean soup without cornbread.
  • Beef jerky and Vienna sausages. Add protein and zest to the bean soup
  • Instant oatmeal. Do you really want bean soup for breakfast?  Freeze the oatmeal for 3 days before packing to kill any bugs.
  • 10 lbs of jellybeans. Now, don’t laugh – it’s a bean.  Jellybeans don’t melt like chocolate might.  The high sugar content is quick energy, and a morale booster – with just enough of a high to help you over the really bad days. Easter is about here – stock up!

Making your bean soup

Measure out

  • 8 oz of rice (1 cup*)
  • 2 oz of red kidney beans (1/3 cup*)
  • 2 oz of pearl barley (1/3 cup*)
  • 2 oz of lentils (1/3 cup*)
  • 1 oz of split green peas (1/4 Cup*)
  • 1 oz of chick peas/garbanzo’s (1/4 Cup*)
  • 6-7 quarts of water

Add 6-7 quarts of water.  Add bouillon or salt to taste.  Then add any other meats, vegetables, potatoes or seasonings you have on hand. Bring to a boil and then let simmer for two hours.  You should have enough to feed 4 people for two days.  This is thick and hearty.  You will be warm on the inside and full with one large bowl.  Kids usually eat half a bowl.

* I (Lauren) added these for the American folks like me.

Back to my thoughts on this plan.

What I like about this idea:

Compact. I really like this idea, it doesn’t take up too much space and could work for an apartment dweller. It could be hard to find space for so many buckets, but the original author suggests using the buckets instead of a box spring or stacked between the couch and the wall. I think it would just take some creative thinking to find the space, but definitely doesn’t require a full basement.

Cheap. The Seasoned Citizen Prepper filled their long term food storage buckets for $300. I wrote an article on short-term food storage for one person for one month for $150. My article is a great first step for those thinking about food storage, and likely includes more foods you eat on a regular basis. However with this bean soup in a bucket method, you can store 12x the dinners for only 2x times the cost!

Long-Term. This long term food storage method is good for situations beyond the normal unexpected guests or blizzard. A simple, shelf-stable cheap source of calories could ease the burden of a prolonged income loss. This soup could easily be supplemented with vegetables or canned meats on hand when available. However in a pinch, a soup that warms the body and fills the stomach is what you need. The Mylar bags and bucket also make the ingredient shelf-stable for 25 years.

What I don’t like about this idea:

Risky. One would have to open every Mylar bag and every bucket in order to measure out a couple of ounces from each bag. Then one would have to reseal all the bags if they no longer needed the food. While it seems convenient to have a bucket of rice and buckets of beans, I think a pre-mixed bag might work better. You would only need to open one bucket at a time. This would reduce the risk of the food going bad or becoming contaminated.

Rationing. Doing the calorie math, this is meant to be eaten only for dinner. Four people could not eat 2-3 meals a day for 2 days from one batch of this soup. If we assume two of those people are children eating ½ bowl each, then we really have 3 people for 2 days. By my calculation there are 1,610 calories in one batch of soup (check my math below). Each person may be full eating +5 cups of soup a day, but they would only be eating about 270 calories a day, which is fine for one meal. Most people eat 1,500-2,000 calories a day depending on their body type and activity level. If you added extras from your last bucket like fatty sausages the calorie count would go up, but one could not live on this soup alone. However, the author does note this is a starting point and not a complete solution.

Note: I will consider moving forward that one batch of soup of 1,610 calories could feed 2 people sitting around for a day. This would give 800 calories per person. Or you only plan to eat the soup for dinner.

So how does this recipe translate to pre-mixed soup?

Original Quantities (7 buckets):

  • 90 lbs. of white rice (16 parts)
  • 22 lbs. of red kidney beans (4 parts)
  • 22 lbs. of barley (4 parts)
  • 22 lbs. of yellow lentils (4 parts)
  • 5.5 lbs. of split green peas (1 part)
  • 5.5 lbs. of garbanzo beans (1 part)

Say I wanted to fill one 5-gallon bucket with pre-mixed dry soup. I will still leave out the spices on a per batch basis.  Consider my 5-gallon bucket holds approximately 30lbs.

Scaled Quantities (1 bucket ~ 30lbs):

  • 16 lbs. of white rice
  • 4 lbs. of red kidney beans
  • 4 lbs. of barley
  • 4 lbs. of yellow lentils
  • 1 lbs. of split green peas
  • 1 lbs. of garbanzo beans

This one bucket would yield 30 batches of soup, with each batch of soup feeding two people dinner for 2 days. (This assumes no rationing of calories.) To make the soup you would mix 2.5 cups of the pre-mixed dry soup with 6-7 quarts of water and spices to taste. In total the 30lbs would result in 4 months of food for 1 person. If we planned to only eat this soup for dinner, every day of the year, my family of 2 would need 6-7 pre-mixed containers for soup and the 8th container for salt, spices, canned meat, and extras.

Colorful soup ingredients
Colorful soup ingredients
soup
"Gruel" looking soup

The Trial

We tried this soup and found it kinda bland, as expected really. Note: we used pinto beans because we like them better than kidney beans. Our thoughts:

  1. Don't add the rice or  lentils until 30 minutes before it finishes. The rice completely disintegrated because it was cooked way to0 long. This made the consistency something like gruel.
  2. It tastes better with pepper and Parmesan cheese. Tim actually discovered this, but his theory is everything tastes better with cheese!
  3. Watch out for burning the bottom. We actually burned the soup, as the rice and beans stuck to the bottom and burned on. Adding the rice late might help this. Also cooking slower over a lower heat and stirring more often would help.
  4. Seriously, add bacon. Bacon makes everything taste better, but not really a shelf-stable survival food though.

In Conclusion

This soup is a great starting point for a family's long-term food storage plans. It would supplement well other plans for vegetables and packaged goods. We will continue to play around with the types of beans in the recipe to find one we like best (probably no chickpeas or kidney beans). What do you think?

How would this work for your family? What would you keep in your last bucket (canned sausages, spices, jelly beans, oatmeal, jam, coffee?) Thanks for reading!

Want more great content? Check out

  1. Water Storage for Today, This Month and This Year
  2. One-Month Food Stash for Less Than $150
  3. 8 Steps to Evaluating your Food Preparedness for Power Outages

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Feeding a family on rice and beans for one year.

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Why Am I so Passionate about Preparedness

By Lauren at Modern Self-Reliance

When I went away to college, six hours away, I learned a very important lesson. I learned that at the end of the day, you are all by yourself. Yes, I have an amazing family and I had a core group of great friends. I lived with mostly hassle-free roommates and attended a school where I exceled academically. I had great opportunities to work with professors and students. I had parents there were able to support my education and buy me a car so I could drive to my first internship. But at the end of the day, you sleep in your own mind alone.

lake Lauren

Its sounds silly to say you sleep in your own mind, but this is how I think about it. Each day I face social interactions, physical challenges, mental stimulations, and there is no one else sharing those experiences with me. I am all by myself.

I have come to realize that I enjoy living with others, I greatly enjoyed having roommates in college and I enjoy living with Tim now. If I was to need a new living situation I would most definitely seek out a roommates or housemate to share with. I feel this social interaction is necessary and I feel it adds a small bit of security. At least one person in the world will know if I don’t come home one night.

In my daily life, I spend my mornings with Tim then I drive to work alone (enjoyably listening to audiobooks). I often consult coworkers but my current 9-5 is largely self-driven. I drive home and meet Tim there. On most nights, Tim and I pursue our separate hobbies about half the time. I may be at the barn riding horses or at the food pantry volunteering. The other half of the time we spend together; making dinner together, eating, swing dancing, hiking, or cuddling. This means of the 4-5 hours after work, I spend 2-3 hours with Tim. In total, this means of the roughly 13 hours I am awake, I spend roughly 10 hours alone.

So what does this have to do with preparedness? Chances are, when an accident occurs or an emergency happens I will be alone. I want the tools, skills, and confidence to handle any incident. I don’t want to be the damsel in distress because I don’t know if or when my knight is coming. I don’t want to rely on the government or FEMA or the Red Cross to come save me. I want to be self-reliant. I want to be able to save myself because at the end of the day all I truly have is myself.

Why are you passionate about preparedness? Why do you want to be just a little more self-reliant? Thanks for reading.

Want more? ----- Why Am I So Passionate About Homesteading -----

TSA Approved Prepping: What’s in my Carry-on?

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TSA Approved Prepping: What’s in my Carry-on?

I love traveling, visiting friends, and exploring new places. But the world can be dangerous as well as fun. Are you prepared for an attack in the airport? Are you prepared for a car accident in the taxi in the new city? What would you have with you if the plane crashed and you survived?

These cases may seem extreme but little emergencies will happen more often. What if the person next to you is coughing? What if you get a cut and need a band aide just after you board? Every time I plan to fly, I pack this kit in my carry-on.

TSA approved prepping kit
My 1lb, 5 oz kit
TSA approved prepping kit
Nice see-through panels

This small kit was designed to be in a cosmetic bag and I like it for the clear plastic see through panels. I have never been stopped by TSA about it, but they could quickly see the contents without going through it. I also can see what I want and retrieve it quickly. When you finger is bleeding, you don’t want to be rummaging around getting blood over everything.

All packaged, it weighs 1 lb and 5 oz, and fits in the bottom of my carry-on backpack that I stuff under the seat in front of me. Don’t put it in the overhead bin, it’s too hard to access mid-flight.

TSA approved prepping kit

So what’s in my kit?

  1. ICE: Basic information, important telephone numbers in case my phone dies. Insurance information, passport numbers, etc.
  2. Earplugs: For annoying passengers and attempting sleep on the plane.
  3. Small First Aid Kit: Band aides, Antibacterial ointment, wet wipes, etc
  4. Mouthwash: This alcohol based liquid can be used in a pinch to clean out wound or for fresh breath.
  5. Alcoholic hand cleaner: Could for cleaning hands and surfaces when water is scare. Also for removing germs from plane armrests.
  6. Lighter: TSA allows the cheap BIC lighters, so pack one. If you need fire for any reason, a lighter is always the easiest method.
  7. Scissors: You cannot carry knives and you can’t carry serrated blades but TSA approves small scissors with a blade less than 4” long. Of course, each TSA agent has the right to refuse anything, but I have flown many times with these scissors.
  8. Dust mask: Dust can be dangerous if you breathe it in from airport construction or an attack. A dust mask such as a N95 mask will also protect from airborne illness. (Example N95 mask) Not a bad thing to have packed if the passenger next you is coughing too much!
  9. Water bottle: I carry a this fold-up water bottle that fits nicely in this pack. It can be used to carry water. Of course it must be empty to go through security but you could fill it with tap water on the other side. I generally also have my big Nalgene bottle too as it's easier to drink from mid-flight.
  10. Whistle: If you are lost or injured, it takes much less energy to blow a whistle than it does to scream. This could mean faster help. It also can alert security faster if you see an incident occurring.
  11. Plastic trash bag: Always handy to contain spills, waterproof, or collect items.
  12. Flashlight: I like the J5 Tactical V1-Pro 300 Lumen Ultra Bright Flashlight, seen Flashlight (small). It is a compact and powerful light.
  13. Cash: It is always good to have cash on hand while traveling.
  14. Rain poncho: Poncho are great for many purposes not just keeping dry. They can be used for a makeshift tent or collecting water. As they don’t take up too much room, I find them handy to pack.
  15. Sun screen: This is more so I never forget to pack it. Winter ski trip and the sun is shining bright. Sunscreen may be handy in this case, and you may have forgotten to pack it with your snow gear.
  16. Chapstick: The air in planes can get very dry, as they filter and recycle the cabin air. The dry air also prevents the spread of disease, but chapstick helps to re-hydrate and protect your lips.
  17. Safety pins: You never know if you need to hold something together, an arm sling, a broken strap or a diaper.

Other Carry-On Items

There are a few things that one could pack that would be handy but take up more space in your carry-on.

  1. Paracord: Rope for making shelters, carrying things, makeshift backpack strap, etc. (paracord.)
  2. Water purification tablets / Water filter: Clean water in an emergency is essential, and having a water bottle may not be enough if you don’t have clean water to put in it. For example there is the small Sawyer filter that you can squeeze filter water into a bottle and take with you.
  3. Ferro rod: Another way to light a fire that can’t fail like a Bic lighter could. I can one similar to Ferro Rod in my purse everyday, so it's already with me when I travel.
  4. Mylar blanket: This reflective blanket is good for keeping warm but also can be made into a shelter or tent. It is very reflective and will also signal your location if you are lost. Seen(Mylar Blanket), they are less than a dollar a piece.

In Conclusion: General tips

  1. Assume your checked bag will be late! What do you need for the next day? Medication, spare clothes, tooth brush, extra socks should all be in your carry-on bag. These ideas can go in the overhead bin, as you likely won’t need them mid-flight.
  2. Wear sensible footwear! I hate to see people wearing high heels or flip flops in the airport. If you need to evacuate quickly through a blast or construction zone you want protective footwear. If you gate changes last minute and you must run across the terminals, you need shoes you can comfortably hustle in. I wear hiking boots, yes they are a pain to take off and re-lace while going through security but for a few minutes extra effort I get to wear comfortable shoes I enjoy and could wear for days straight without a problem.
  3. Pack snacks. Pack a few Cliff bars (my favorite bars) or granola bars for the trip so you don’t have to buy overpriced terminal food if you get stuck because of a delay.
  4. Bring an empty water bottle through security and fill on the inside. This is more of a cost saving tip than preparedness tip. Drinking water prevent dehydration and prevents plane sickness. Filling up a bottle at a water fountain can save you from buying an overpriced plastic water bottle. (Good for the environment, good for your wallet.)

What do you bring along with you while traveling? What items are a must-have on the plane? We would love to hear from you.

Looking for more ideas?

  1. 4 Steps to Building a 72hr Bag
  2. 8 Tips When Taking a Loved One to the ER
  3. 9 Steps to Planning Your Every Day Carry Items

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What to pack in your carry-on that is TSA-approved prepping?
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