Once you’ve secured enough food for one year, you are well on your way to becoming a master squirrel, he he. All jokes aside, if you’ve followed each of the previous steps you should now have 2-weeks worth of water, a three-month supply of food and other necessities that is continually rotated, and you should be working towards a years supply of long-term food items.

Ensure that you’re concentrating on food items as the priority before you focus on the non-food items Gradually build up a year’s supply of essential non-food items Purchase in bulk when items go on sale Store what your family uses on a regular basis Don’t be concerned about exact storage parameters. Use available space.

The next step — Step 4 — is really just an extension of Step 3. You can do this step in tandem with procuring your year’s supply of food or you can finish Step 3 first before moving on to this step. The only thing I’d recommend is that you focus on the food items first and foremost. Buy the non-food items when you see good sales, otherwise purchase your long-term food first. Remember, you can eat wheat not toilet paper.

It’s important that you build up a supply of items that are commonly used by your family. Here’s a recommended list that should get you started:

Paper Supplies

• Toilet Paper
• Paper Towels
• Diapers/Wipes
• Tissue Paper
• Feminine Products
• Cotton Balls

Personal Hygiene

• Soap
• Deodorant
• Shampoo
• Shaving Cream
• Diaper Rash Cream
• Toothpaste/Toothbrushes

Cleaning Supplies

• All-Purpose Cleaner
• Bleach
• Laundry/Dish Soap
• Trashbags

Miscellaneous

• Dog/Cat Food (Hey…Fido needs to live too, unless of course you’re planning on eating Fido as part of your food storage  )
• Batteries
• Candles
• Light Bulbs
• Fuel

By no means is this list exhaustive. On the other hand, don’t get so caught up that you feel you need everything right away either. Build up slowly and as you have the means and resources available stock up on these items. What’s great about most of the items on this list is that particular storage parameters (heat, light, etc) aren’t that big of an issue. Any free space will do: your barn, shed, attic, basement, under the bed and so on.

• Getting Started with Food Storage
• Food Storage Basics: Step 1 – Water
• Food Storage Basics: Step 2 – Building a Three-Month Supply
• Food Storage Basics: Step 3 – Long Term Storage
• Food Storage Basics: Step 4 – Non-Food Items
• Food Storage Basics: The Basics and Beyond

• Posted in Food Storage, The Basics