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How to Start a Food Stockpile

So You Want to Start a Food Stockpile?

How to start a food stockpile has been a big question lately. With the weather doing crazy things it has people thinking about “doomsday” and how they can better prepare themselves. One of the best ways to prepare for a situation like that is to be ready to hunker down, this includes having a good stockpile of food. A good stockpile of food doesn’t just mean having a large quantity of food (even though that is part of it.) Having a good stockpile means having food that you eat on a normal basis, is delicious raising morale when it’s low, and foods that are easy to prepare.

Building a Stockpile

Where to start:

When starting a food stockpile it will take some time and preparation. The first place to look when you start a food stockpile is your very own pantry. Looking in your pantry can help you see what food is part of your diet in everyday life. This way of stocking up has three huge benefits:

  1. Having things you eat regularly helps you rotate through your stockpile so that nothing spoils. This prevents you from wasting food AND money!
  2. It is easy to prepare these items as you are familiar with them and use them on a semi-regular basis. For example, if you have rice kept on hand, chances are you have multiple recipes where rice is an ingredient. This saves time because you know how to prepare it and gives you a little variety as you are able to swap out recipes.
  3. It builds morale! Food often carries a sense of nostalgia and good memories for us. Having food that is associated with good times just gives an extra boost of positivity on days when it is really hard to think of going forward. Not to mention, that when you eat something that tastes SO good, you just feel good too!

 

How to Stockpile:

Now that you have a list of food that you keep on hand at all times, you can start shopping for these items. This can be very overwhelming and can be very expensive if you just jump in all at once, you can take the stress off of starting your food stockpile by breaking it down into sections – this helps allow you to shop for the best deal as well!

A basic breakdown of categories to help you build your food stockpile would be:

  • Canned veggies
  • Rice and Pasta
  • Canned fruit
  • Sauces
  • Canned meat

You can absolutely adjust this to whatever your preference or needs are. Once you have the categories you can shop the sales!

There are four ways to get the most for your dollar when starting your food stockpile and maintaining it from there:

  1. Shop sales! Seriously, get to know your local variety of grocery stores and their weekly ads! You can generally figure out the rotation of when they will have different categories on sale, it is usually a six-week rotation. The items that are advertised in the weekly ads are “loss leaders,” which are to get you in the store to buy other items while you are there. If you have a very strict budget STICK to your list and just pick up the items of the ad for your stockpile.
  2. Coupons! Coupons are so much more than just the clip from the newspaper kind these days. While those are great, most stores have their own apps these days loaded with virtual savings. You can stack these with paper coupons as well if you get the chance. Coupon apps are great to watch before and after holidays especially. A couple of days after Easter I was able to score hams for $1 per pound thanks to Target’s Cartwheel app, and now we have those saved in the freezer.
  3. Another great place to catch deals for your stockpile is the store’s grocery clearance and less than perfect product section. Many stores will mark down items for at least 30% when the packaging is damaged. This can add up to great savings for you. Just check over the product and make sure that you are comfortable with eating the food inside the packaging. An example of this is that not everyone is comfortable with dented cans, they don’t bother me so I ended up with a 6pack at .25 cents a can! You can also get steep discounts when a store is discontinuing a product so make sure to check for clearance!
  4. Last but not least is the good old dollar store! They are a great place to pick up canned food as well as pasta, rice, and other longterm storage foods!

 

Specialty Items

The last thing to touch on when talking about starting a food stockpile is specialty items. Specialty items are your Mountain House, Backpacker’s Pantry and other freeze-dried meals as well as options like MREs. These tend to be spendier options than your average food. I like to just keep a few of our favorite varieties on hand for every once in a while.  By making them a supplement to your food stockpile and not the bulk of it, it allows you to watch for sales and again clearance at sporting good stores and online retailers, making them much more affordable. For MREs I watch for deals on Amazon. I do this for freeze-dried meals as well, but I also look in brick and mortar stores for clearance when a new season is coming and the camping gear is resetting, making them much more budget friendly.

These are my tips to help you with starting a food stockpile, I hope they helped you out! Make sure you share any tips you have for starting and maintaining a food stockpile in the comment section below. I love to hear from you!

 

how to start a food stockpile
how to start a food stockpile

 

comfortable

How to be Comfortable While Camping as a Woman

comfortable

How to be Comfortable While Camping as a Woman

If you are looking for tips for women to be comfortable in the woods, whether you have yourself, your wife or girlfriend in mind you have come to the right spot. If it is your first time camping as a woman, it can be a little nerve-wracking and I am here to make sure you are at least comfortable. For the gentlemen who are here, I can help make sure your significant other’s time in the woods is enjoyable. Camping is a great experience to be alone or share as a couple so let’s jump in.

Sleeping Comforts

Sleep can be where so many lose out on comfort and there are two tips for this category

Sleeping Bag

You will need to make sure that you have the appropriate comfort rating for your sleeping bag.  Women tend to sleep colder, so if it will be down to 50 degrees, you may want to look at a 40-degree bag (I use a 20-degree bag). Make sure that you have a sleeping bag that has a good loft, is soft and not too loud so you can sleep quietly.

This is my number one item that I bring to make sure I have maximum comfort. Camping pillows are loud, uncomfortable and your head normally slides off of them(if you have the blown up camping ones). I use a My Pillow travel size, you could also use a toddler sized pillow. This is great because it feels like the pillow you have at home, is not noisy and will cradle your head so it does not slide off.

Footwear

Footwear is about a lot more than shoes, check out my top picks

Water Shoes

Tired of having to lace up shoes or boots everytime you go in and out of your tent? Tired of your bulky footwear weighing down your feet? I’ve got a solution for you: water shoes. These are great, they are breathable, lightweight and have a hard sole so you don’t hurt your feet on rocks and sticks. They also dry extremely fast, if you do choose to use them in the water. You can also slip them on and off, saving you time and helping keep your tent clean.

Merino Wool Socks

Merino wool socks are the only socks that will do when you are out in the woods, don’t even bother with cotton or nylon. Wool is anti-microbial which is great for when you’re in the woods because your feet will be safe from bacteria and won’t get stinky. Wool also does a great job regulating temperature and moisture wicking, keeping your feet cool in the summer and warm in winter. Merino wool is also very soft, I recommend Darn Tough.

Slipper Socks

Slipper socks are just nice to have for around bedtime when you are in the tent winding down. Being able to take your regular socks off for the night gives them a chance to breathe and air out, yet you still get to keep your feet nice and warm. Slipper socks also help to keep the inside of your tent clean. On the off chance, you get dirt or anything on the bottom of your feet, putting slipper socks on makes sure to keep the mess contained and from getting all over your tent.

Entertainment

You will have downtime while out camping and it will be nice to entertain yourself a bit instead of staring into space. Making sure you are entertained and not bored is a great way to help make sure you are comfortable

Books

Books are great entertainment and there are so many to choose from. Whatever genre you might be into horror, mystery, comedy, or something inspirational there is a book for you.

Games

Games are truly the most fun way to entertain yourself while out camping, especially if you are camping with others. You cannot beat the interaction of a game – it will get you talking and laughing with your camping partner(s). There are many cards and dice games to choose from, even for two players, some of our favorites to bring are Monopoly Deal, Catan the Dice Game and Hero Realms.

Bug Protection

Bug protection is super important, because honestly without it you will be miserable and itchy, you would not enjoy your time in the woods

Sprays

The most common form of bug protection that we use in the woods are sprays. We use one on ourselves, Sawyer Maxi Deet is our number one option for this. Permethrin is the second, and for this, we spray it on our clothes and tent before we go. It instantly kills bugs on contact and it is great for being out in tick country.

Beauty/Hygiene

Beauty and hygiene are often two things women need in there life to just feel good. The notion is often that it cannot be achieved while out camping, but I assure you it can and will make sure you are comfortable

Hair Ties

These are yet another simple product that can make the trip a completely different experience. I recommend you always bring extra as they break so easily. Hair ties get your hair out of the way so you can perform tasks that take more exertion, they also help get it off the back of your neck when you are hot and need to cool down. When you put your hair up and it can also keep you from feeling grungy and unkempt, giving you an overall boost of morale.

Baby Wipes

Baby wipes help you clean up, especially if you do not have an access to water source. Not to mention they come in handy for just wiping off your hands before dinner and at the end of a long day where you put in the work and got a little dirty. Honestly, everyone enjoys having baby wipes on a trip. Don’t forget to pack your used ones out!

Face Lotions

While I don’t recommend makeup in the woods, face lotion can help to make you feel like you are clean and presentable. There are so many options, but I have two main favorites that I think you will enjoy in the woods. The first option is aqua balms, they are very moisturizing and help you to feel like you did something with yourself. The downside to using an aqua balm while camping is that there is no SPF so you should still utilize a sunscreen. My second pick for you to wear while camping is tinted face cream. These face creams generally have an SPF, the one I use by Marcelle has an SPF of 25.

Nail Clipper

If you are a woman who will be camping or taking a woman you know camping you absolutely should bring a nail clipper. This is a very small item and often overlooked but can greatly improve your trip. It is nice to be able to take care of a broken nail or a hangnail right away. If you don’t take care of it right away you can snag it on your gear (possibly causing a run) or even injure yourself further.

If you are a woman or taking a woman such as your wife or girlfriend camping it is important to make sure you/they are comfortable. Especially if it is your/their first time adventuring out into the woods. Camping can be a wonderful way to spend time by yourself or with your significant other bonding and getting in touch with nature. However, it is easily ruined with just one bad experience. I hope you try out these small comforts and they make your trip the best and most comfortable it can be! Make sure to comment below what your must-have comfort is!

Wild Zora: Hiking Food

I am always trying out new, freeze-dried meals for the trail, hoping to find something great to share with you. Lately, a lot of people have been telling me they want healthier options than the standard Mountain House so I went on a mission. My search led me to Wild Zora and their Paleo Meals to Go line. I reached out and they were kind enough to send me a few to try out and share my thoughts with you. I have tried out two meals so far: Caldera Chicken Curry and Summit Savory Chicken, here are my thoughts:

Caldera Chicken Curry

This flavor features free-range chicken, spinach and pineapple in a coconut curry. The best part of this meal is honestly the simple ingredients: Chicken, Spinach, Pineapple, Coconut, Red Bell Pepper, Sweet Potato, Onion, Green Onion, Turmeric, Cayenne, Spices, Sea Salt and Garlic. Wow, the flavor of this one is unique, delicate and tasty. Furthermore, this meal re-hydrates very well, the meat is juicy and plentiful. The spinach, sweet potato, onion, and garlic blend together very well and are mild; where the sweetness from the pineapple lingers and the cayenne spice balances out the flavors. Meanwhile, I do not taste much of the coconut, I feel the pineapple is definitely the stronger flavor. This one is my favorite between the two and features 35 grams of protein.

  

Summit Savory Chicken

The Summit Savory Chicken meal is created with Chicken, Spinach, Carrots, Broccoli, Sweet Potato, Onion, Mushrooms, Lemon, Green Onion, Parsley, Cilantro, Turmeric, Garlic and Sea Salt. Again, this meal is super meaty and that meat re-hydrates well and is juicy. Spinach, carrots, broccoli, and onion meld together in the background. Suddenly, a distinct lemon flavor sneaks through and takes over, although it is not overpowering and offers a nice transition to the lasting garlic flavor. This meal has a good, subtle flavor to go with 41 grams of protein.

  

Wild Zora Final Thoughts

My final thoughts on these two meals are that they are unique and healthy options for on the go; these flavors are unlike those I have seen in similar meals. However, these both re-hydrate similarly: you boil 12oz of water and add to the bag, let sit for roughly ten minutes. Although these may be more expensive than other options on the market there are a few more things to consider. The first being that they are allergy sensitive meals, meaning they are gluten, milk, nut and soy free. Secondly, this is a small company run by a mother and her son, that are putting the best ingredients they can find into these products, and that includes not using chemicals to preserve the meals. I really enjoyed both of these and hope you give Wild Zora Paleo Meals to Go a try!

 

This post does contain affiliate links, on which Wolf Pack Woodcraft receives a commision, thank you for your support.

 

Itasca: The Original State Park

This month’s adventure took us to the Mississippi Headwaters, Itasca State Park! Itasca is known as the “Original State Park” and was founded in 1891.

Starting out in Itasca

Itasca State Park is actually not too far from our home, about two hours. We missed the first entrance, but caught the second one and made our way to the Jacob V. Brower visitor center. Everyone who stays in one of the 45 overnight sites will check in here. Plan to stay and enjoy this visitor center that is packed with historical information, exhibits, pamphlets of the area, as well as a cute little gift shop. Once we checked in, we made our way down by Douglas Lodge, which is a full-service restaurant (this park has everything!) and parked in the lot off to the side. From there we made our trek which was between 3.5 to 4 miles down the Deer Park Trail, our destination was Back Pack Site 5 on McKay Lake.

 

 

 

The Campsite

The hike to the site is moderate, you do go up and down a lot of hills. There are two shelters along the way and you also will pass the trail that will bring you to the fire tower, which is an attraction that draws a lot of people in (we had the pup so we did not break off course to see this). Once you get to site number five, you go into the woods a bit and there it is, your secluded oasis for your trip. I do mean secluded, it is the only campsite on all of McKay Lake, you will, however, have the company of loons, trumpeter swans, and some pelicans.

 Itasca

We stayed for one night and enjoyed really being alone with nature. There is a tiny “beach” on the campsite that the dog loved diving into, however, there were leeches so you have to be very careful and make sure to check between their toes. We called it a night decently early, and the loons could be heard calling all night.

 

 

In the morning, we took a short hike around past McKay lake, made it back to camp and cooked up a quick breakfast. Then we were on our way to the other side of the sprawling, 32,000 acres park to the Mississippi Headwaters. We hiked back to the jeep and drove about 8 minutes to the Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center. On the way, we did pass the Itasca Lake boat access which offers Kayak, paddle board, bike, canoe and other rentals.

The Headwaters

After passing a few historical sites in the park such as the Pioneer Cemetery and Preacher’s Grove, we came to a parking lot in front of a massive building, which is the Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center. This visitor center has educational stops outside, a large gift shop with fresh fudge, as well as a cafeteria-style restaurant with hand scooped Blue Bunny ice cream. Once we made our way past all of these eye-catching things, you cross over a bridge and come to the Headwaters of the great Mississippi River.

 

Itasca State Park is truly a wonder of Minnesota, and you can tell why it is one of the most popular! We were there for one day, and while I feel we did so much, there is still so much more to do there! Two more interpretive exhibits: Forest Inn and the Picnic Area Museum, I definitely need to climb the fire tower, I love to Kayak and of course, there is about 35 miles more of trails I haven’t seen (Dr.Roberts Interactive Trail is a must). We will definitely be making a few more trips back to this park, and hope you make it part of your #ExploreMinnesota adventure!