How to Build a DIY Emergency Food Supply Without Spending Extra Money

The past year has shown many of us how quickly the grocery store shelves can empty and how important it is to have an emergency food supply. Buying a fancy emergency food stash can be extremely expensive. But did you know that you can easily build a DIY emergency food supply without spending extra money?

This is how we built our emergency food supply using our normal grocery budget!

 

Building a DIY Emergency Food Supply

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The simplest way to maintain a DIY emergency food supply is just to keep a deep pantry like grandma did. In our modern world, we are so used to having everything at our fingertips. We count on being able to run to the store round the clock for anything we might need, taking for granted that it will always be there when we need it.

The pandemic has shown us that that isn’t always the case. Our just-in-time delivery system is fantastic for getting the freshest foods to our local grocery store shelves each day. But it is not dependable in an emergency. 

It is so important to treat the luxury of 24/7 grocery stores as just that, a luxury. It is great to enjoy the freshest groceries when we can. But it is vital to not depend on those luxuries always being there.

Keeping a deep pantry like grandma means that you will always have something on your shelves to eat, even if you can’t get to the grocery store. It can add so much to your food security, giving you the peace of mind to sleep better at night, regardless of what is going on around the world. It’s the old-fashioned version of a DIY emergency food supply!

 

Saving Money by Buying in Bulk

Keeping a deep pantry doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. In fact, buying more of things you already use allows you to buy groceries in bulk and save money in the long run!

Stocking up on foods you already eat also means that you will rotate through your DIY emergency supply, using things up before they go bad. It is a “no waste” approach, unlike those fancy emergency food kits that will get thrown out eventually if you don’t end up needing them.

 

Where to find bulk foods

If your local store doesn’t offer many bulk options, you can find bulk foods at Costco, or look for a local restaurant supply store. Our closest restaurant supply has better prices than Costco and does not require a membership, making it a great place to stock up. 

Personally, my favorite place to stock up is Azure Standard. Azure is a natural foods co-op that delivers to most of the United States. They offer a large selection of conventional and organic foods at competitive prices. 

Find these items here: Beans, Flour, Olive Oil

With Azure, there are no membership fees or shipping charges, you just have to be available to meet their truck when it makes its stop in your area (usually once a month).

 

Some of the things Azure offers include: 

• Non-GMO and organic groceries in bulk
• Regular and gluten-free flours
• Fresh, organic produce
• High quality meat and dairy from small farms
• Natural cosmetics, cleaning and baby products
• Herbal products, dried herbs and essential oils
• A wide variety of nutritional supplements
• Non-GMO and organic animal feed, supplements and supplies
• Organic garden supplies, heirloom seeds and vegetable starts

Having food allergies, we’ve found Azure to be a valuable source of more affordable gluten-free flours, sugar alternatives, and dairy-free options. We’ve been happy customers for many years and couldn’t recommend a company more highly! This is a really helpful resource for building a DIY emergency food supply that fits into your regular diet.

You can check out Azure Standard right here! 

One more option for buying in bulk is to get in touch with smaller local farms. Often, a farmer will gladly give you a discount for buying their meat or produce in bulk. Skipping the middle man can give the farmer a better price for their product. And you a better price than buying in the store. 

Sometimes farms will advertise bulk deals, but more often you will just have to ask. We grow a lot of our own food, but still buy things we don’t produce ourselves directly from local farmers we have gotten to know.

 

What Kind of Foods to Stock Up On

• Foods you like to eat
• Shelf Stable Foods
• Foods you will have a method to cook in an emergency
• A Variety of Food Groups

When it comes to stocking up on a DIY emergency food supply, the most important thing to keep in mind is that you should only stock up on foods you will actually eat.

I buy lots of dry beans but also cook with them regularly. I frequently cook them on my wood heating stove, so I know I will still be able to cook them in an emergency. If you don’t eat dried beans, there is no point in buying a lot of them. They’ll most likely just end up sitting in your pantry. And in a true emergency, most of us will want to eat comfort foods, not something we don’t even like!

 

So when it comes to your DIY emergency food supply, stock up on things you like and eat regularly!

I like to keep frozen foods to a minimum. In case of a power outage, I will be scrambling to use up, can, or dehydrate what’s in my freezer before it goes bad. So I try not to keep more in there than I will be able to deal with in an emergency.

 

When it comes to stocking up, focus on shelf-stable foods

..such as canned goods (and a manual can opener), grains and flour, oil, and dehydrated foods. Don’t forget about naturally shelf-stable foods, such as potatoes, winter squash, pumpkins, onions, and garlic. These will last months stored at room temperature.

If you grow a garden, you can dehydrate or can your homegrown produce to add to your pantry “stash”. If you are a gardener, make sure you have extra seeds on hand so you can continue to grow your own fresh food to supplement what is on your shelf!

 

Stock foods that you will still be able to cook in an emergency.

If the power is out, do you have an alternative cooking method? If not, then your DIY emergency food  should primarily be foods that don’t have to be cooked.

Some ideas for foods that don’t have to be cooked include canned foods (although they might not be as good cold, they are still precooked and fine to eat straight out of the can), crackers and chips, cereal with shelf-stable milk, peanut butter, dried fruit, nuts and jerky, granola bars and other snack foods. Some breads are shelf-stable, but this is more common with gluten-free bread.

 

Finally, be sure to stock a variety from different food groups

For example, proteins, vegetables, fruits, and grain or potatoes. A balanced diet will help to keep you healthy in an emergency when you might not have access to a doctor!

 

Look at these four criteria: foods you like, foods that are shelf-stable, foods you can still cook in an emergency, and variety, and make a list of the best foods to stock up on for your situation!

 

Shopping Less Often

Something I have found helpful when it comes to emergency preparedness is to shop less often. I make a monthly Azure order and go to the grocery store once or twice a month. This saves on time and has gotten me into the habit of planning ahead, knowing I probably won’t be at the store again for a while. It is a natural way to get better at stocking up!

 

Two Ways to Get Started with Your DIY Emergency Food Supply

 

If you are living paycheck to paycheck, you can still gradually increase your DIY emergency food supply by buying one item in bulk per week or per month, depending on your budget.

This might be a 25lb bag of flour, or a gallon of oil, or a case of your favorite soup. The next time you go shopping, stock up on another bulk item. If this is a stretch, consider giving up something not as important on your shopping list (do you really NEED that candy?), or skip a luxury such as eating out or getting coffee so you can squeeze in some emergency foods.

While this method takes time, over months and years you will gradually increase your food supply. After each shopping trip, you will be a little more prepared for emergencies. And in the long run, you will be saving money by buying in larger quantities.

 

The second way to get started is to do it all at once. If you are able to, you can be more prepared for an emergency today by stocking up on all the shelf-stable foods you normally eat. 

 

This is a great way to use your tax return, or you might be able to sell something you have laying around your house to raise some money and get started on your DIY emergency food storage!

If you choose to go this route, you’ll immediately be more prepared for emergencies. You can then maintain your stockpile by replacing the bulk foods you use up with your regular grocery budget. Just like the first method, you’ll be saving money in the long run by buying in larger quantities.

Personally, I have been shopping this way for years. I replenish a few of my bulk food items each month to keep up my DIY emergency food stash. Having a wood stove gives me a wide range of options since I can still cook when the power goes out. (This is just a regular wood stove, not a fancy cookstove or anything)

 

I also grow a garden and keep a grow light set up inside so I have access to some fresh veggies year-round. I can testify as to how much peace of mind it gave me when the pandemic first hit our area. We were able to stay home for six weeks and avoid the crazy grocery store panic buying, leaving the food in the store for those who weren’t able to prepare ahead.

Growing your own is one of the best ways to have a DIY emergency food supply, because it can be replenished!

Stocking up BEFORE an emergency means you don’t have to be part of the mad rush and panic buying. You can stock up when there is still plenty to be had, rather than being tempted to take more than your fair share during an emergency situation. It’s really a win-win!

For more tips on setting up your own DIY emergency food supply, be sure to check out our article, 11 Tips to Becoming Less Dependent on the Grocery Store.