Stock up for the winter!

We really don't think about doing this much in America - you just go to the store, grab and go. However, studhusband and I have been keenly aware of global issues for awhile and have been stockpiling some food since about March. It's simply wise to have some extra food around in case, A. panic causes a run on the stores, emptying shelves of food, B. economic issues cause prices to go too high for awhile, C. Food shortages, D. natural disasters....

It was done in the Bible - wise men stocked up for dry times. It's not done out of panic, as we know our God is in control - it's done out of a spirit of being prepared.

As well, the way to eat as local as we can, reducing oil use to get food from far away to our plates, is to think about stocking up when that particular food is abundant. (Peaches in August, Apples in October, Corn in July, Pesto in August, etc.)...

A great way to eat fresh, organic greens that are rich in LIVE enzymes is to sprout seeds. It takes 3 to 4 days to get a crop. I will be posting about how to do this and why live sprouts are so great for you next week. I have about 3 pounds of various seeds (broccoli and alfalfa) on hand to sprout and ordered 1 pound of Chia seeds, 5 pounds of flax seeds, 5 pounds of lentils, and 1 pound of radish seeds today.

Here's a shopping list from the Rawkin Family in Ashland as they stock up for the winter:

Last week my family created a list of groceries for this winter, considering possible economic challenges. I intend to continue to buy fresh produce. Our main criterion was, on as little money as possible, to make sure that during the next several months we would have plenty of greens on hand at any time, as well as nutrient-dense, protein- and essential fatty acid- rich seeds, along with mineral-rich seaweed. If prices happen to go up, our full pantry will enable us to purchase less during the winter.

Here is our list:
Chia Seeds – 3 lbs
Broccoli Sprouting Seeds – 1 lb
Radish Sprouting Seeds – 2 lbs
Alfalfa Sprouting Seeds – 2 lbs
Fenugreek Sprouting Seeds – 2 lbs
Lentils – 5 lbs (although not labeled for sprouting, we sprout them)
Unhulled Sesame Seeds – 3 lbs
Hemp Seed – 3 lbs
Sunflower Seeds – 10 lbs
Flax Seed – 10 lbs
Almonds – raw, directly from the farmers – 10 lbs
Dulse (Seaweed Flakes) – 5 lbs (I shared this order with another family, as it comes in 10 lb bags.)
Dates – 3 cases. My friend, a Tibetan Monk, told me that monks can live for many days on six dates per person per day when they meditate all day long. When they hike all day, then they live on 5 dates per day! You figure out on your own how many dates your family needs. I brought my list to my Co-op and asked for their top wholesale distributors. The food buyers at the Co-op graciously shared their wholesale distributors’ contact information with me. Here they are:

Frontier Natural Foods. 1-800-669-3275. They have just about everything available and are located in the Midwest.

Star West. 1-800-800-4372.

UNFI – United Natural Foods, Inc. 1-800-679-6733. Their outlets are located all across the continental U.S. and Hawaii.

Maine Sea Coast. 1-207-565-2907. You may order any variety of seaweed from them. They are located on the East Coast.

Azure standard - Anything you could want to eat, they have...and it's all from the Mt Hood area.

I always buy dates from the Date People, who live in California. You may contact them at 760-359-3211. You may call any of these distributors to order the best quality foods at wholesale prices. Based on our hiking experience, I calculated that my family of four could live on this food alone for several months, and have plenty of greens due to daily sprouting. I invite you to use my grocery list as an idea for your family. Keep in mind that if you combine your order with other families, it will bring the cost down even further.