// April 7th, 2011 // No Comments » // Blog
I have been busy over the last few months starting up a new business venture. I have always been someone who believes in being prepared. It’s the Eagle Scout in me and has been reinforced by my military experiences. Our new venture is called Toledo Tactical. It’s a company formed to reduce risk and hazards for individuals and businesses. We will offer consulting services, disaster preparation supplies, firearms, tactical firearm training and other services along that theme. FEMA recommends that everyone have at least a 3 day food supply on hand in case of an emergency. I am pretty sure the folks in New Orleans would argue that 3 days is not enough, but that’s what Toledo Tactical is about.
With my research, I have come to the conclusion that the best investments are beans (food), guns, ammunition, and gold. If you look into these things, they all have consistently gone up in value. The guns, bullets and gold are or will be addressed by Toledo Tactical, but I am going to share some of my food thoughts here. There is no doubt in my mind that food prices are going to continue to climb. Since last year, gas prices have almost doubled. They will likely continue to climb, unless the demand drops from the high prices, then they will likely stabilize a little. The bottom line is that oil is a cornerstone of our food supply; it’s involved in every aspect of the supply chain, from fertilizers to fuel for tractors and delivery trucks, to the stores refrigeration. So if fuel goes up, so will the cost of food.
Stay with me, I am going somewhere with all of this. First, now is a great time to think about a garden. Whether you live in an apartment or out in the country, a garden can offer great tasting, fresh fruits and vegetables and save you some money. There is a lot of hype about heirloom varieties. The hard core survivalists are stockpiling these seeds. Their rational, which is true, is that if the world as we know it (TEOTWAWKI) came to an end, you would have to grow your own food. If this happens you will need a supply of seeds. Most of the seeds that you buy in a store are hybrids that have either been specially bred or genetically altered for various reasons. I don’t buy all of the conspiracy theories about why they do this, I think the seed producers are trying to develop plants which will survive and produce in abundance in your area. I have nothing wrong with these seeds, but the problem is that you can’t usually use the seeds from these plants to continue growing stuff year after year. So for the preppers and survivalist out there, go for the heirloom stuff. But for you foodies, I am sure that you notice high end grocery stores carry heirloom varieties and that they are more expensive. This shouldn’t be a surprise, they are harder to grow and the yield is going to be lower. But they do have some unique flavors and textures. I especially love the various heirloom tomatoes that are available. So when you plan your garden, pick up an heirloom tomato plant or two. They are awesome. If you think the world is ending soon, then buy a bunch.
Another way to save some money is your local farmers market. Remember to buy in season. It’s the law of supply and demand. When strawberries are in season, the taste better, there are a lot of them, and hence the price is lower. Learn to plan your menu around what is in season, fresh, available, and less expensive. Great flavors and you save money!
Finally, I am going to throw in my two cents about emergency preparedness. I do think you should have a little food cache at home. I think 3 days worth is a little naive. How much after that depends on your political views and your beliefs about the potential for a disaster. But realistically, we are not immune to disasters in Northwest Ohio. Last summer we had tornadoes, last winter we had ice storms, and who knows what lies ahead this spring. So when you are stocking your pantry, put in a little extra just in case. I know you may be thinking that your freezer is full, but what happens when the power is out for 3 or 4 days or longer. Unless you have a backup generator, things are going to get stinky pretty fast. By the way, if you need one, take a look at my other site, and we can hook you up.
Think about what you put away too. Eating tuna fish for a week straight gets pretty old. Just because you’re in “disaster” mode doesn’t mean you can’t eat well. One of my favorite stories goes back to when I was a Battalion Surgeon with the Marines. We were in the field and the Battalion CO stopped by my Battalion Aid Station for a visit. I offered him a cup of espresso. He was a big coffee drinker and wondered how the hell I had espresso in the middle of the desert. I always carried a tiny little espresso maker used for camping that I had found with me. The Marines always were giving the Navy guys that served with them crap about not being tough enough or too soft, typical Navy-Marine stuff. First, I did everything they did, and second, it was a blast to eat my MRE and sip espresso- made them nuts!
Tin Chef Chuck
