Foodkeeping and bugs(in Florida and maybe other places too)

Hi :),

The only foolproof way I have found to keep any food item very long in Florida is to put it into Mason or other gasketed glass jars, sealed cans, or those wonderful Latched-lid-and gasket-type jars which you can find at the local Walmart, Old Time Pottery, or Garden Ridge stores. If you can/will do that, you'll be OK.

Most kitchen-equipment stores have these jars. There are clear plastic versions of them too, if you don't feel comfortable with glass (e.g., have small kids, live in an earthquake zone somewhere else, etc.). You can also collect them one-by-one from thrift stores.

Particularly in Florida (Where I've lived most of my life), all bugs seem to be issued hacksaws at birth, and they can and eventually will get into any box, bag, or pouch-type container you try to use. Between bugs and the moisture, you must have a barrier that neither can sneak through (Or chew through) in order to have it remain usable.

IMO, anyone with eyes in their head and any common sense should be storing food in today's world, and I personally do not care who does or doesn't like it. I've heard the hoarding hype and it's hogwash to me. If you don't put anything by, you can't help anybody else. You become part of the problem instead of part of the solution.

If you steadily and systematically reinforce your pantry as a habit, there's no need to clean out the store shelves and cause others to go lacking.

I hope I'm coming across as gently as I meant to- I do feel that this (Ensuring the continued availability of food) is an important issue.

Love and Peace to All,

Ladylove :)

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