Food Storage Tips

THRIVE conversion charts
 
Freeze dried fruit tips

Freeze dried Vegetable tips

Grain Tips (coming soon)

Powdered and freeze dried dairy tips

Freeze dried meat, tvp, or bean tips
 
Other Powder Tips (coming soon)
Powdered, eggs, shortening, butter, tomato etc

Give More...

Those who are self reliant or even prosperous are in a better position to be charitable.   As such, an important piece of this blog focuses on the need for and opportunity to share our abundance.  I post about what various charities are doing around the world and how you can help.    If you'd like, you can read all my posts about charitable contributions.   In addition, both Shelf Reliance and myself are committed to helping local and / or world communities: 
Shelf Reliance
Shelf Reliance donates 5% of all their THRIVE profits to their own charity: Thriving Nations

Through this charity, Shelf Reliance helps families and communities around the world by teaching them essential agricultural techniques and economic principles which improve individuals' lives and expand their opportunities. These communities become more self-reliant and increase their joy and prosperity. The lessons they learn with Thriving Nations will empower them to create better lives for themselves and generations to come. 

Myself
I've wanted to find a way to follow Shelf Reliance's example for some time now.  I finally found the perfect way when I read what my Shelf Reliance trainer, Rachel Mano is doing in her community.  I've decided to do something very similar.  In Aug 2011, I committed to my local food bank that I will donate 50% of all the free product I earn each month.



I am an independent consultant for Shelf Reliance; a company with a mission to empower others to become self reliant, prosperous and charitable.  You can learn more about Shelf Reliance, buying their products, earning free products, or selling their products on my Shelf Reliance website.

Self Reliance

To be self reliant is a wise goal.  To be able to provide for yourself and your family in any situation without having to rely on others is ideal.  The majority of the information on this site will focus on this principle in the following ways:

Through Education:

Understanding the Who, What, When, Where and most importantly Why of self reliance are your  foundation for success.  You will find many educational posts at Your Own Home Store on a variety of topics:

• The need for and benefits of having your "own home grocery store" (aka food storage)and other quality emergency supplies in your home.
• Tips on storing your food storage
• 72 hour kit building, organization and tips
• Water storage education, ideas and tips
• Preparedness Plans
• World news on topics that relate to preparedness needs
• The types of products sold by Shelf Reliance that you can include in your own home store.
• Items not sold by Shelf Reliance that you can / should include in your "own home store."

Recipes 
It is important to build a "home store" of foods you will use.  Otherwise, your investment may just go to waste.  As such, I regularly use shelf stable products from my "own home store" in my cooking.  I post:

• Recipes that I create.
• Recipes others have created that I convert to work with items in my home store (like powdered butter or eggs).
• Tips that I learn about using shelf stable products through trial and error.
• A regular highlight of the best recipes found on the internet that use items from "your home store."

Specials and Discounts

It is tough to build a home store of food storage if you can' afford to do so.  As an authorized Shelf Reliance independent consultant, I can offer substantial discounts on their products.  I also strive to find the best prices on other "home store" products.

Shelf Reliance Discounts:

• As an independent consultant, I am authorized to offer the lowest available price on Shelf Reliance products.  You will not find a lower price at shelfreliance.com (even with a coupon code) or through any other retailer. 
• I also offer regular monthly specials that are unique to my blog and available at my expense to just my readers and customers.
• In addition, as a couponer, I watch price trends and will let you know when Shelf Reliance products are on sale for a great price and when the prices will be increasing so you can purchase them before they do. 

Other Food Storage Sources:
Not everything in my "home store" is from Shelf Reliance.  I do purchase from other sources when I find a great deal / opportunity.  I will share those with you here.

Shelf Stable, but non "food storage" items:
Your Own Home Store should include many items not available through Shelf Reliance or other "food storage" sources.  Consider this quick (not comprehensive) list: toilet paper, shampoo, cereal, ketchup, crackers, spices / herbs, pasta etc.
I offer occasional couponing tips and links to great couponing sources to help you build a home store of these types of items.

Goals for the Future:
It is my goal to start including posts about the following topics in the future:

• Budgeting
• Debt reduction / payoff 
• Canning
• Gardening
• Food Storage Checklists and Step by Step Guides
• An emergency (powerless) cooking course
• Food storage book reviews
• Tools (spreadsheets, printables, calculators etc) to help you build Your Own Home Store wisely.