Where to buy a 3-6 month supply of food for a family of 4?

[Chris17404]

Hi guys,

I need to purchase a 3-6 month supply of freeze dried food for my family of 4. There are so many online stores and options to choose from. What do you recommend I purchase and from where? I'm looking for entree's, drinks, and fruit/veges. Thanks a lot.

Chris

[BBossman]

I went with this...

http://augasonfarms.com/Kits/Deluxe-4-Person-One-Year-Kit

They have various packages, purchased with monthly payments and shipping.

[Lost River]

Rather than buying a kit, we just buy stuff that we will use normally.

For example, when peanut butter goes on sale, we buy 10 or 20 jars of the stuff, then rotate it, so we are always eating the oldest. We use a magic marker and put the month and year of purchase on it.

If you stock up on items when it goes on sale, it saves $$ on your monthly food bill as well.

A few items like sugar, flour, rolled oats, etc, we purchase large amounts of (such as 50#s of sugar).

That is what has worked for me, your situation may be different.

[zacbol]

Personally, I like the kits sold by usaemergencysupply.com. I've bought water containers, mylar bags, and oxygen absorbers from the previously and been happy with their service. Recently I ordered this (which is one year for one person)
https://www.usaemergencysupply.com/food_storage/year_supply_of_food_deluxe.htm

They also have a more economical basic kit:
https://www.usaemergencysupply.com/food_storage/year_supply_of_food_basic.htm

You'll also need to order a grain mill of course (WhisperMill, Nutrimill, and the Fidibus 21 are all decent options). It's a different approach than many year kits as it's mostly unmilled grain, etc rather than prepared freeze dried stuff (Basically along the lines of LDS recommendations). Of course, you can save a bit of money by buying grains and packaging them yourself, using something like this (which I also own):
http://www.sorbentsystems.com/sinbosealer.html

If, however, you want something already packaged, I think this one of the better options you'll find. The only real downside is shipping costs, but you get that with any prepacked deal over the Internet. To me, it's still worth it as I've packaged some stuff already and I find it to be a bit of a pain in the ass.

[zacbol]

This is also useful to know how much/what you need, if you're not already aware of it:
http://lds.about.com/library/bl/faq/blcalculator.htm

Also, I think the advice of just buying more of the normal stuff you would and rotating it is great (and it's more likely you'll actually use the stuff). In most cases, however, I think you'll be unlikely to end up with a year's worth of food doing that though, but I'm sure it'll be likely to get you through typical emergency situations and is a great start. It's all about cost/benefit analysis of the many options available. Most people probably don't need a year's worth of food. I think of it as relatively cheap insurance, though.

[Paraclete comes]

we go the costco and buy the big bags of sugar, salt, rice, etc and take them to the local emergency supply store(mormons LDS). They can can it up for us in smaller quantities in number 10 can, so its usable. Then we buy normal things like chunky soup when its on sale for .99 and progresso and stuff like that. also invested in a nice grain mill, all metal gears is the way to go. that way we can utilize grain and what not, lasts a long time if you store it right. the wife cans us fruits, jams and veg in when stuffs in season. we also keep seeds and stuff on hands just incase.

[Paraclete comes]

everyday or so I read a blog also that has alot of good advice on it. some of you may already read it, but lots of good info. take what you like leave what you dont. its survivalblog.com

[6933]

http://beprepared.com/default.asp

[Lawmaker]

http://www.mountainhouse.com/