Off-Grid Water + Food Security

Water Storage

Container Types:

• Food-grade 55-gallon drums (blue) - $30-50 each
• IBC totes (275-330 gal) - $100-150 used, food-grade only
• 5-gallon stackable containers - $15-20 each
• Water bricks (3.5 gal) - portable, stackable
• Gallon jugs - rotate every 6-12 months

Treatment for storage:

• Plain tap water: Add 1/8 tsp unscented bleach per gallon if no chlorine
• Seal tightly, store in cool dark place
• Rotate annually (taste test first)

NEVER store water in containers that held milk, juice, or chemicals. Bacteria and flavors persist.

Water Purification Methods

1. Boiling (Most Reliable)

• Rolling boil for 1 minute (3 minutes above 6500ft elevation)
• Kills bacteria, viruses, parasites
• Does NOT remove chemicals
• Let cool, aerate by pouring between containers to improve taste

2. Filtration

• Berkey / gravity filters - ceramic or carbon elements
• Sawyer squeeze - 0.1 micron, portable
• LifeStraw - personal, 1000+ gallons
• DIY: Sand/gravel/charcoal filter (removes sediment, some pathogens)

3. Chemical Treatment

• Bleach (unscented, 6% sodium hypochlorite): 8 drops per gallon, 30 min wait
• Iodine tablets: Follow package directions, not for long-term use
• Calcium hypochlorite (pool shock): Store dry, make solution as needed

4. UV/Sunlight

• SODIS method: Clear plastic bottle, 6 hours direct sunlight
• UV pens (SteriPEN) - battery dependent

DIY Triple Barrier: Filter (remove sediment) → Boil (kill pathogens) → Let settle (improve taste)

Water Sources (When Stored Runs Out)

• Rainwater: Clean catchment surface, first flush diverter, filter before drinking
• Surface water: Rivers, lakes, streams - ALWAYS purify before drinking
• Groundwater: Wells (manual pump ideal), springs
• Snow: Melt, then purify. Don't eat snow directly (lowers body temp)
• Hidden sources: Water heater tank (50-80 gal), toilet tank (not bowl), pipes

To access water heater: Turn off gas/electric, let cool, drain from bottom spigot. May have sediment - let settle.

Caloric Staples (Long-Term Storage)

Food Preservation Methods

Canning

• Water bath: High-acid foods (fruits, pickles, tomatoes with acid)
• Pressure canning: Low-acid foods (vegetables, meats, soups) - REQUIRED for safety
• Follow USDA guidelines exactly - botulism kills

Dehydration

• Electric dehydrator: $50-150, consistent results
• Sun drying: Free but weather dependent, best for fruits
• Oven: Possible but energy intensive
• Store dried foods in airtight containers with desiccant

Fermentation

• Sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles - salt + time
• Yogurt, kefir - beneficial bacteria
• Kombucha, kvass - probiotic drinks
• Preserves vegetables for months without refrigeration

Root Cellaring

• Potatoes, carrots, beets, onions, apples
• 32-40°F, 90-95% humidity, dark
• Can store 4-8 months

DIY Food Storage: Mylar bags + O2 absorbers + 5-gallon buckets = cheap long-term storage. 2000cc O2 absorber per 5-gal bucket.

Growing Calories

Highest Calorie Crops (per 100 sq ft):

• Potatoes: 200+ lbs, 150 cal/lb = 30,000 calories
• Sweet potatoes: 150+ lbs, 100 cal/lb = 15,000 calories
• Dry beans: 10-15 lbs dry, 1500 cal/lb = 20,000 calories
• Corn: 20-30 lbs dry, 1600 cal/lb = 40,000+ calories
• Squash (winter): 50+ lbs, 50 cal/lb = 2,500 calories

Easy Year 1 Crops:

• Potatoes - plant and forget, harvest when tops die back
• Zucchini - prolific, eat young, some varieties store well
• Beans - bush beans easy, pole beans save space
• Kale/collards - cold hardy, continuous harvest
• Radishes - 30 days to harvest, morale booster

Source: Seed packets $2-4 each. Potatoes from grocery store can be planted (organic/untreated better). Seed potatoes from feed stores in spring.

Protein Sources

• Eggs: 3-5 hens = ~12-15 eggs/week, need feed + shelter
• Rabbits: High reproduction, small space, 90 days to harvest
• Beans + rice: Complete protein when combined
• Fishing: Rod + basic tackle, know local regulations
• Hunting: Requires license, skill, season compliance
• Stored protein: Canned fish, canned meat, jerky, protein powder

Rabbits: 1 buck + 3 does can produce 200+ lbs meat/year in small space. Feed on garden scraps + hay.

2-Week Food Reserve (4 People)

Basic shelf-stable supply:

• Rice: 30 lbs
• Dry beans: 15 lbs
• Pasta: 10 lbs
• Canned vegetables: 28 cans
• Canned fruit: 14 cans
• Canned meat/fish: 14 cans
• Peanut butter: 2 jars
• Crackers: 4 boxes
• Oats: 5 lbs
• Honey/sugar: 3 lbs
• Salt: 1 lb
• Oil: 2 quarts
• Multivitamins: 1 bottle

Budget Build: $150-200 at discount grocery. Focus on calories and protein. Rotate by eating and replacing.

Daily Priorities

1. Water - secure source, purify as needed
2. Shelter - warmth and protection
3. Fire - warmth, cooking, water purification
4. Food - ration if needed, forage carefully
5. Security - maintain situational awareness