I love my stockpile! I also like to reflect on it periodically. I value the time I spend seeking out new information on sites like the OP. It makes me a better prepper. For this reason, my stockpile has changed and evolved over time as my knowledge has improved.
This month, I decided to take a close look at my stockpile from the perspective of my top priorities. I thought I would give folks a “peek” into how I’m thinking about my preparations for SHTF at this time. I’m hoping that you will find some “food for thought” in terms of your own priorities and possible weaknesses. In this article, I share three of my top priorities for my stockpile. As my stockpile is large and mighty, look for future articles on other priorities.
Priority #1: Avoid Limited Shelf Life
How well do you know your preps and how long they will last? Yeah, I’m willing to admit that there was a time when I thought that stockpiling bleach was a great idea. Since then, I’ve streamlined my thinking and my preps: I have limited space, and it is a top priority to avoid all preps with a limited shelf life.
Doing the research for this article, I did still see websites recommending putting away bleach. Now, if you have soooo much space, perhaps you could store bleach….but it will not be worth much in a year. According to the Clorox website (and I’m imagining they might know a thing or two about bleach!): “After a year, the natural breakdown of the sodium hypochlorite bleach active into salt and water rapidly accelerates, and the active ingredient concentration becomes too low for EPA registered uses like sanitizing or disinfecting.
So, you might be saying to yourself, “Duh! Bleach is a no-brainer!” But how about povidone iodine? This product is likely to be good for a year or (perhaps) three unopened in a good brown bottle, but do you know what the “kryptonite” of povidone iodine is? Heat! Just three months of storage in a hot room of 104 will reduce the effectiveness of this crucial disinfectant by a whopping 37%. Even storing at less extreme temperatures of 90 degrees for a period of time can render it useless.
Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m not counting on having AC during SHTF. Have you considered how your local climate could affect the longevity of your preps in an all-out SHTF?
For a complete contrast, let’s compare vodka. This is basically shelf-stable, good forever. Even opened, it’s good for 10 to 20 years! The alcohol in this, well, “alcohol” is very good at preventing spoilage. The only exception to this is those flavored vodkas, which don’t fare so well. The added chemicals mean that they only last a year or two, even unopened.
Yes, it does pay to know your stockpile expiry dates and weaknesses…..How well do you know yours?
Priority #2: Small Items Mainly for Trade
What I stockpile for trade is not what I stockpile for myself. In my trade stockpile, I emphasize items that are small and don’t take up a lot of space. This is mainly because I don’t have a lot of storage in my small cabin. However, I also learned a great deal from reading Selco’s stories, where he emphasizes items for trade that can be easily stored in multiple locations on the body.
I want to have low profile items available in a high volume that will keep me being the grey gal. Here are the small items I stockpile for trade and why:
- Zip ties – So many uses (repairs, building), they are strong and mighty
- Batteries – I don’t personally rely on these, but recognize their potential value to others in SHTF. Be warned: buy cheap and lose! I only buy the top brands that advertise that they keep their charge for 12 years in storage! That’s a long SHTF! (If you don’t have a battery tester…why not? They’re very inexpensive at this link. I think it’s important to test at least a sample of stockpiled batteries each year to ensure what you’re storing has any value. Imagine showing up for a trade with a bunch of dead batteries…you could lose your credibility, and that could also be dangerous.)
- Buttons and sewing supplies – Yes, my secret stockpile weapon is my massive button collection. Something for everyone! Where else are you going to be able to get these?
- Large heavy-duty freezer bags – I dunno: This is just a hunch I have. You won’t be able to go to the Tupperware lady any longer. These bags can be washed and reused. They are waterproof. They can be cut up to make other things, like a fruit fly trap. I always keep a good amount of these on hand.
- Lighters – Small and useful. I do go the cheap route on these with the small Bics. I know I should invest in a better quality one or two for my BOB. Let me add that to my list of things to do!
Priority #3: Have for Health and Security, Possible Trade
I have items on hand for my own health. I don’t plan on trading these, but I might if it was an emergency. For this reason, I have some extras of these around at all times.
- Iodized salt – It’s a simple thing, until you don’t have it. Getting decent nutrition is going to be hard enough in SHTF. Having some of this on hand will help.
- B12 supplement – I recently wrote about how serious a B12 deficiency can be. I found a high-quality supplement, where one bottle of the tincture lasts an entire year. It’s less than $30. What’s not to like?
- Alcohol – Seeing as I’m a non-drinker, I use my alcohol for making plant medicines in the form of tinctures. In a pinch, could it be an antiseptic, like in the old war movies? Heck, ya! Would I be willing to trade some in an emergency…maybe. Do I know someone in our rural area who makes his own. Yes!
- Povidone Iodine – I keep small bottles, where the price is right, on hand. I store in a cool dry place and I know it will only last a few years. However, when in short supply, this could become a valued trading item. Yes, I keep some extra on hand.
- Ammo – I would have to be in pretty desperate straits to be ready to trade some of my precious ammo. But, yeah, I do have a lot a lot a lot of this on hand. So…..maybe I’ll trade.
Taking Stock of Your Stockpile
The more thought you put into what you’re stockpiling, the more helpful it could be. Do you agree with the priorities offered here? Why or why not? Do you have one of your own stockpile priorities that you can share with us? Please tell us in the comments section.
About Rowan
Rowan O’Malley is a fourth-generation Irish American who loves all things green: plants (especially shamrocks), trees, herbs, and weeds! She challenges herself daily to live her best life and to be as fit, healthy, and prepared as possible.
25 Responses
I too have changed how I prepare over the years. I made some poor choices years ago. Good thing we have chickens who enjoy the food errors I’ve made as products expired. When I say expired I mean their dates are really old or the packaging has started to rust, etc. *Another thing I learned, after I first realized bleach expires quickly, is to live without it. I purchase bleach tablets and store the unopened plastic bottles it comes in, in canning jars. I seal the lids with my food saving pump. (Walmart often has these to buy as does the Dollar Tree.) For emergency water purification we store basic pool shock packets in air tight canning jars. Good article, I will be more proactive in looking for items we use but could also be easy to trade!
I think this is so important! And our needs change as we get older too!
Rowan and others considering trading ammo should remember that one must be careful to not trade ammo which could be used against themselves !
The only ammo which I will consider trading is 22 cal short rounds. These actually will be an excellent trade item since hunters of small game will prefer these rounds. They are cheap, useful in hunting squirrels and rabbits, and do not make a LOUD REPORT when fired (thus telling others that you are hunting nearby……and who might want to steal your newly shot dinner ! Or worse ! ! !)
Get your friends who travel to save those miniature hotel soaps/shampoos and coffees. These are paid for with the room charges, so you are not stealing when saving them for later use. These wil also be great trade items. You’d be surprised at how fast these can be collected from family or friends. Another use is for your church to collect them for donation to needy after natural disasters. That incentive will get many to drop them off in the church donation box.
Do not overlook salt and pepper packets that we receive with takeout boxes. Unlimited shelf life.
Buy toilet paper in bulk when on sale. Remove it from packaging and compress it flat, as possible. then fill one of those vacuum type sstore balnkets/bedding away bags. These are usually Four foot by thee foot in size, so load thebag on the floorlining up the squashed toilet paper rolls as closes as you can. Then seal the bag except for a small portion. Oay on top of th bag, or put heavy flat suitcase, etc. on the bag to force out most of the air. then seal the bag compoetely. When sealed and the weight is off he bag the contents want to expand but are restricted by the bag creating a partiaol vacuum inside. the contents become “stiff” and are flat so yu can store these 30 or more rools under your bed (which will upset the dust bunnies….). Many overlook under the bed storage which willhold quite a arge quantity of supplies!
Lastly, do not overlook those miniature bottles of alchol like the airlines use. Often you wil find liquor stores putting the less popular flavors on sale, someties for one Dollar a bottle, which is about 1/4 of usual price. These are excellent for trade and have unlimited storage time available.
Hardware as in screws, nails, washers, lock rings etc. all in various sizes. Even when I bought the wrong size for a project, I still kept them.
Pellets and slugs for the air guns. I must have several thousand of them.
Medical supplies like medical tape, gauze, bandages, band aids, etc.
Cast iron pots and pans. Stove top, oven, broiler, outdoor grill, open camp fire, and in a pinch, use it as a hammer.
Something I like to do is read fiction and non fiction about when things go downhill not only because I enjoy them but because I get ideas as to things I may need to get. An example is I sat one day and thought what I use and if I couldn’t use it what would I use instead. I vacuum every day, what if I can’t, so I bought a carpet sweeper. I was so glad I did, after Hurricane Helene we were without power for four days and boy that sweeper came in handy. It isn’t quite as good as a vacuum but pretty close especially when there’s nothing else!
Thanks Rowan for sharing your list. I am one of the dodo birds that bought gallons upon gallons of bleach during the plandemic, to store. LOL yeah finding out about that doesn’t store tool well for years. LOL
I am definitely gonna get more plastic storage bags, the good ones. Which ones do you suggest ? I been getting the HEB store brand here in Texas because they are actually pretty durable. Just curious which ones you use.
I also found out the hard way that the flavored liquor you was talking about, especially the ones with the corkscrew thingy, are not good for long term storage, so I gave some to my son, just a bottle or 2 at a time , for him to test out. LOL I’m sticking with airplane bottles of non flavored whiskey and vodka as well as gallons of vodka. I wonder if fireball liquor will keep? Any ideas on this, anyone? I have 2 big totes full of airplane bottles of fireball that I got on sale a few years ago.
I also got some old broken gold chains for trading also. Thanks again for this great list.
Hi TexasAntigone,
Hey! Thanks so much! I’m glad I’m not the only one regarding the bleach. I have to admit, I was a bit scared to admit it, but I thought I would help folks.
Regarding the bags, I am not loyal to one single brand. Yes, I would say that the high end national brand ones are the most reliable, but I have been pleasantly surprised by some of the no-name ones. If you’re finding the HEB store brand ones good, I would stick with them. I think the most important thing is to buy a box to try and put them to use. Learn what they can and CAN”T do. Then, you will truly be prepared.
I keep calcium hyperchloride in crystallized form. This specific product lasts indefinitely, I have three 1 lb bottles. It’s not cheap but again indefinite is a good time frame in this situation.
I don’t remember the amounts right now but a one pound bottle is enough to treat something like 10,000 gallons of drinking water or make a whole lot of cleaning solution.
My last thing was calcium hypochlorite, it was autocorrected 🙂 Bic lighters, I keep mine stored upside down to keep the seals wet, some of them have been in storage 8 years and they’re still fine.
I do have a collection of screws between one and a half and 4 inch going that could be very necessary for keeping things together.
Along with some epoxy that will last a while in storage, lots of little containers of super duty, and I individually vacuum sealed multiple bottles of wood glue to preserve them long-term.
I just add to my collection of over 30 pounds of candles as an ultimate lighting backup.
I have made lots of poor choices I learned from most of them.
Hi Horse,
Am going to look into this powder stuff. Anything that lasts indefinitely is DEFINITELY of interest to me!! Thanks very much.
The area pictured in the header is probably much larger than Rowan’s cabin.
I know I wish I had that much ‘spare’ room to store things.
Trading ammo seems like a bad idea, as you could very well be ended with your own ammo in order to steal your preps. Seems that like-minded people will have stored enough for their own use. Non-like-minded people, if they did not store enough ammo, probably didn’t store enough of anything and will want yours. Just a thought…
Now that is a sharp observation…..how to pick out the “bad’ weeds….
It is definitly a true thing, those who understand will have prepared, those with a different mindset……
This will be one of my new sorting out thoughts…..like minded people will not need to trade those little things….and friends are known…..
Much of my stockpile is edible or medical. However, the lesser noticeable stockpile here is still edible and medicinal, but it’s growing sporadically across the scattered acres. I do have the means to make and repair lots of clothing beyond simple seams and buttons, but those are abundant. So is the rainbow of zippers and thread. I even have thick soft soles for simple sandals or to reinforce moccasins. I can and dehydrate food and seasonings. This week it’s the abundant bell peppers others have been giving away. Canned with ground beef and onions, it is the base for easy, fast meals, diced and dried it is ready to add to soups in a colorful array. Dry then powdered, it is a seasoning for meat, broths, or a color and flavor boost for rice. Onions are dried in dices and powdered. The late harvest of green herbs are hung in bunches to dry, leaves nearly whole, in jars or powdered for seasoning blends I’ll work on this winter. I’ve dried fruits and even citrus peels each in different jars and powdered some for baking and to make infusions and extracts this winter.
Ive ordered fresh blood stop to refresh my vehicle first aid kits and the shelf in the master bathroom. I checked on the touriquets, still fine, and so are most other things. I’ll be ordering fresh iodine soon but the ones on hand are in a cool place and only months old so the new ones will go in the vehicle kits that will be cold most of the coming winter. I just added more alcohal and peroxide last week. I may buy more vodka as I’m able this winter. The new fruit trees all bloomed a bit last spring but will improve each year here after. I have added new seeds and I’ve saved many varieties from the garden for next years planting. I’ll be experimenting with sweet things to crush for making natural syrups. There are seeds for plots I grow for the chickens. I have 5 water bath canners that also can cook up large amounts of food. That is handy when I’m canning soups or bone broth. I have 3 pressure canners also. I’ve rebuilt a treadle sewing maching that is working great and I have several electric machines including one for sewing leather from clothing weights to western boot tops. I have rolls of vynals and many bolts of cloth from closed businesses. I brought home a full pickup bed of premade drawers, 100 sets of drawer glides, and two big boxes of hardware from a closed cabinet shop. I have 12v pumps, lights, etc. Wire enough to use them all and extra. A large stack of solar panels and charge controllers and inverters. I have a few 12v 100 ah batteries and plan to buy some more. There are also solar lights with their own panels and small water pumps with their panels for setting up timed drip systems for most of the garden. I have 35 and 55 gallon drums for water in the garden and 330 gallon totes for catchments with new gutters on the main buildings. There are 4, 250-gallon horse troughs that I’ve covered for compost containers, and one is for compost tea. and much, much more. I add something every week. Sometimes a big thing and sometimes small items. So far this week in addition to the new medical supplies, I added several pounds of iodized salt. Later this week, I have to go to the city and I’ll pick up 100 lb of sugar and 100 lbs of flour. I’ve also ordered 35 lbs of freeze-dried diced potatoes. The freezer is full of half a beef. I’ll be making cooked and canned meals and dehydrated jerky from some of it this week and next. A mountain of tiny tomatoes sits on the kitchen cabinet, ready to be pureed, dehydrated, and then powdered. It is convenient to have the powder instead of so much tomato sauce. A large bowl of dehydrated orange bell peppers is sitting there to be powdered in the morning. I have 5 coffee grinders for powdering different things as I can get them dried. In a while, the grinders and canners will join the steam juicer, apple press and fruit grinder on the pantry shelves. We’ve collected used canning jars and new ones as we found them. They sit washed and dry in boxes next to the canning lids.
I splurged for my enjoyment this fall, and I’ve planted 100s of new flowers. I have 9 peonies to plant in the morning. I love color and decided I will enjoy them while I can. It made me feel a bit better about the cost that many, in addition to being beautiful, are either medicinal or edible. But some really are just for my enjoyment. I have decided to start a new strawberry bed. The new bed is almost ready. I’ll start the seedlings indoors in the new year.
My fiancé has been going over each vehicle so they are in great shape. He has his backhoe and three cars for sale. The tractor we use and its accessories are put away for the winter. The heater pilot is lit but we won’t start the boiler just yet. He has about 2 years of propane on hand. The generators are ready if needed and I brought my homemade solar generator over as a backup. I have solar lights in the yard but we could go dark in minutes.
Next week I’ll see how the potatoes and sweet potatoes did this year. I didn’t try to grow a lot just because I was preparing an all-new raised bed garden. It is ready to plant next year. I planted them in tall laundry baskets. In spring, when the asparagus comes up, I’ll harvest some, then move part of them up closer to the house.
It is time to look for the one patch of mushrooms I discovered last year. I was given a dwarf mulberry to plant this week. It is going in the middle of the front yard, which is now my new garden.
I work a bit. Then sit with the oxygen till I feel rested. Then work a bit more. I’ve been drinking mullen tea to help fight the lung failure, as my doctor calls it. But in spite of his negativity, I’m getting better slowly. But it is a noticeable improvement. I helped guide my fiancé while he parked a car in a connex down the hill from the house. I walked back up the hill without feeling like I was about to pass out. That is a huge improvement from a month ago.
Hi clergylady,
I’m glad that your health is improving.
I was wondering to what extent your stored food has been incorporated into your regular diet and whether you’ve tried living on it exclusively.
An aside: I like Rowan’s writing style as much as the content. One line that made me chuckle was, “According to the Clorox website (and I’m imagining they might know a thing or two about bleach!)”.
Thanks for your comment, David! I like to have fun with my writing and I’m glad that you enjoy it.
Rowan
this got my attention…..https://unbekoming.substack.com/p/energy-how-it-affects-your-emotions
Hi Duchesne,
Thank you for the link. I was familiar with some of Paul Eck’s findings and appreciate the additional information.
You are a inspirational amazing lady to share all you do thank you
Hi clergylady,
So glad to hear your lungs are improving. I have friends who like to burn the mullein in a bundle, much like a smudge. She says it really helps her lungs. I have my own lung issues and have been finding that the plant Evening Primrose (Oenothera spp.) in a tea has been helping. I’ve been chewing one leaf a day and taking one leaf and a flower in a tea daily.
I first learned of mullein when my husband had pneumonia from Covid. That stuff is a life saver and we will never go without it.
Good grief you exhaust me reading all that you do & remind me that I have no reason to complain! You should write books!
Right now I’m focusing on building a bulk pantry and making everything from scratch. I’m mostly doing this to be healthier but in turn will save money and build up our prep food supply. I do a monthly order with Azure Standard and order at least one bulk dry item and one bulk produce to use in canning recipes. Since we’ve moved and I now have a bigger kitchen I’ve really went crazy with baking and canning which my family is loving! Previously I had asked on here about a water bath canner. I ended up buying the Ball Easy Canner and let me just say I’m obsessed. By far one of the best purchases I’ve ever made! Considering buying a freeze dryer in the near future. I have purchased a lot of freeze dried foods over the years and it seems like it would be worth doing it myself in the long run.
Povidon-iodine has a wonderful feature: it can be poured onto mucous membrane. Alcohol, too, (the noted vodka, but I prefer 60% or higher pharmacy quality household non-denaturalized ethanol), it will sterilize a mucous membrane, in specific cases, but with considerable pain, plus, more importantly, the healing process will be much longer. I use and store both currently. For cleaning wounds, alcohol is an effective backup. In the past, we had potassium permanganate, it was really good for desinfection of wound, but now it cannot be procured as can be used as an explosive.
My thoughts on this have changed over the years. I used to believe that having a stockpile of many items was the way to go; batteries, bandaids, matches etc. And yeah, bleach too once upon a time. I’ve rethought the whole premise of a stockpile or “trade goods “ and now I’m no longer doing that.
I started to realize that the whole premise of a stockpile or trade goods was that when TSHTF, in whatever form, that you’d be safely able to remain in your home and your home would be in good enough condition that the stockpile was intact. I no longer believe that this is worth counting on.
Many SHTF events can destroy your home and possessions; floods, fires, earthquakes, tornadoes, etc. If things get bad, it’s highly likely that armed gangs will eventually find your home and acquire your goods; yes you’re armed etc but honestly, most of us aren’t equipped to fend off determined armed looters. Trying to do so would most likely be a death sentence for us.
There’s a fair chance that even if your home survives you might have to leave it as the area has become unsafe.
Where I live now we are subjected to missile attacks; a stockpile of goods is worthless when your home has been destroyed.
I think my focus has shifted more to the importance of knowledge and skills; neither flood nor fire nor looters can take this away from you provided you survive. As well, forming community connections, alliances with those who live elsewhere and strong family ties are important resources if at all possible. Not all of us have family that will have our backs but if you do, that’s worth far more than a stockpile of goods imo.