The rough rule of thumb on food storage for those serious about such things was 1 years worth. I always had about that much on hand. For as long as I can remember I had lots on hand, back in about the 2018/2019 period I decided that really was not enough all things considered, 3 years was what I thought should be a minimum to have  in storage. My idea of enough daily is 3000 calories  .
I started building up my storage in 2020 right when covid hit. By mid 2021 I had hit the 3 year mark, but with all that has happened since then I don't even think 3 years is enough, 5 would be best (for me). So I am building up to that amount slowly.
 I bitch and complain about the price but really it is cheap, and the best insurance one can have.
If you came into my house you would have no clue that I have years worth of food on hand. 90% of it is in places you would never find unless you were doing renovations to the house. I now am at the point where I am storing things out side the house. Freezers, even non working ones make good storage containers for those large bulky items like flour, rice, dehydrated potatoes and cooking oil.
 It is my first year storing outside this way so I will keep my eye on how things keep through the seasons but I expect it to be fine.

In my Peak Prepping days, I had about 2 years worth of long lasting foods.  I think there are plenty of serious preppers with 10 years worth.  I'd bet some Billionaires have bunkers with 50 years supply.

No matter how well hidden it is, people around you will notice after a few months you're not as skinny as they are and will become suspicious.  Either you choose to start sharing it willingly, or eventually they'll come and take it all from you, and they won't be nice about getting you to tell them where you have it hidden.  So you can't really say you have 2 years supply, unless that means 2 years supply sharing it with a dozen others who will help you protect it.

My philosophy was I would keep my supply secret for about a month, but if Da Goobermint didn't come through with food aid, I'd share what I had with my neighbors.  Figuring it that way with rationing, it might have lasted 3-4 months.

I wouldn't want to be the only person left alive munching on my food for 2 years anyhow.  All you are doing is delaying the inevitable at that point.

RE

QuoteNo matter how well hidden it is, people around you will notice after a few months you're not as skinny as they are and will become suspicious.

After a few month circumstances will not be the same as week 1.

Nine in ten people are dead.  What will be the psychology of those left. Do we know?

Goats were introduced to the Galapagos islands so shipwrecked sailors would have meat to hunt long ago.  The goats had no natural predators and they devastated the ecology.  It was decided they should die.

After years of planning the hunt was started.



90 percent of the islands' goats were killed within the first year of aerial hunting. But that still left thousands of goats on the islands – and goats can't keep their hooves off each other. The scattered remainder, now clued into the lethal significance of a helicopter's appearance, began to breed and repopulate in hidden enclaves. To find these final, wily packs, the Project Isabela team turned to "Judas goats."

A Judas goat was a female who would be captured from the wild, sterilized, tagged with a GPS tracking device, and then released to find other goats, especially lovelorn males.

My point is that circumstances on the ground changed and the ten percent of goats still alive were the smarter goats on average.  The smartest had been killed from the air at the start of hunting.  But in terms of goat intelligence those remaining were on the high side of the goat bell curve.  Smart enough to hide from helicopters.

So months after a true SHTF moment were millions have died.  What will be the character of those remaining?

I think all we can say is one size won't fit all.  We don't know who remains, but we can safely say they won't be playing video games.

Likely you would be adopted into a group if you have any useful skills as your food is being confiscated.  You bought your way in, now keep up or die. 

Or you are seen for what you are.  A useless eater who hid under the rug.  You are vermin to the survivors who have already paid serious survival dues the hard way.

Time to die.

I still subscribe to the idea of a deep pantry and storing some basics that I use in bulk. I don't food prep much anymore just a large supply of what I actually use. I am surrounded by food though in a highly unpopulated area. Feed corn is in full silos, in season it is in fields growing, we are outnumbered at least 2 to one in cows, most people have chickens, many goats most have gardens. I have a history of paying for food in cash or in trade with a select group of close by people. I think when it comes down to it it's about community. If you have a relationship of trade you have more chance of someone trading with you in times of intense stress. I stockpile equipment and skills these days. As to the starving zombies I don't know if they would even show up here. I could totally see people without food showing up at government feeding stations and abandoning the land if they were promised food. Sort of a withdrawal to where services are still available as the circle contracts. What kinds of scenarios do you see on our horizon that see such a lightning fast degradation?
Cheers, NF

Quote from: Nearings Fault on Jan 26, 2024, 11:33 AMI still subscribe to the idea of a deep pantry and storing some basics that I use in bulk. I don't food prep much anymore just a large supply of what I actually use. I am surrounded by food though in a highly unpopulated area. Feed corn is in full silos, in season it is in fields growing, we are outnumbered at least 2 to one in cows, most people have chickens, many goats most have gardens. I have a history of paying for food in cash or in trade with a select group of close by people. I think when it comes down to it it's about community. If you have a relationship of trade you have more chance of someone trading with you in times of intense stress. I stockpile equipment and skills these days. As to the starving zombies I don't know if they would even show up here. I could totally see people without food showing up at government feeding stations and abandoning the land if they were promised food. Sort of a withdrawal to where services are still available as the circle contracts. What kinds of scenarios do you see on our horizon that see such a lightning fast degradation?
Cheers, NF

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I see no lightning fast degradation, I just like the security, the just in case, that is all. You could say the oscillating, irregular weather and how it effects our food supply is my prime concern.

This is appropriate here as our food chain is and has been so climate  dependent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S9sDyooxf4