Lifestyle Support for Healthier Living

Plant Based Food Storage

I'm starting this discussion in the hopes that I can get some good advice from some other plant based eaters. I've been transitioning over the last few months onto a plant based diet and I'm surely enjoying the increased energy and spiritual peace I feel since beginning to eat this way. It's taken a long time to feel better but I FINALLY can say that I feel the same way that many others have shared about the increases in energy and vitality. However, I've been pondering a lot on the current state of my food storage because it is really troubling me right now. I have hundreds (if not thousands) of pounds of wheat and other grains, sugars and powdered milk stored away. I'm finding that wheat and milk and I don't get along too well anymore-;). I want to follow the counsel of the prophets but how does one have a plant based "green" food storage? I don't want to go back to my old way of eating in a time of crisis because I like the way I feel now. PLEASE share some advice and suggestions of how you accomplish your food storage, store what you eat, eat what you store.

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Permalink Reply by James Simmons on March 22, 2011 at 12:36pm

A friend and I discussed this a few days ago. We spoke of "emergency preparedness" versus "provident living," or in other words, how to obtain your needs from providence as a way of life. "Emergency Preparedness" focuses upon a collection of "stuff" or "the squirreling away" of sufficient to outlast prophesied storms.

Provident living is a focus upon how to obtain all of ones temporal needs for food, shelter, and so forth from God through obedience to sacred covenants. For example, anciently God covenanted with Israel. First they endured the plagues of Egypt and then they escaped Egypt and God sent Manna to them daily for forty years; then he enabled them to cross the river Jordan and to enter into the "Promised Land." He promised them rain and sunshine in due season if they would but live according to the statutes and covenants that you can read about in Deuteronomy. While "emergency preparedness" can help us to endure initial storms, only true "Provident Living" or truly living by the covenants enables blessings such as Manna or the ability to grow one's own food under any circumstances we might find ourselves in.

The escape from Egypt is a shadow and type of what we will also face; the best way to prepare is not by squirreling away too much, but is to prepare spiritually by forsaking all sins and by becoming sufficiently pure to be able to obey all God's commandments and to be able to also hear and heed His voice always.

Today most temporal needs are met through Babylon's economy, which is in direct opposition to Zion's economy. Babylon teaches fear and what will become of us without money, without a stash of food, without power, without our homes. Zion teaches that all temporal needs flow from God to those who covenant with Him and consecrate their lives to Him rather than to Mammon (Hebrew word that denotes all financial transactions). I sat in company of one of the greatest men of God I have ever known when he said that all who were present in his company (including me) would see the day when insurances, IRAs, stocks and bonds, and all other financial instruments would utterly fail. He said that the only thing that would save us would be righteousness and the blessings of the covenant that flow from Providence.

There are few today who can even fathom or imagine receiving manna daily from Providence; or who can imagine entering into a special covenant when the storms arrive, which if followed will enable all temporal needs to flow to us from God, as needed, including the very foods you refer to. The best we can do today is to live by each and every holy covenant that we have made and to take them literally and seriously. Yes, we should store away some for emergency and you can grow just about any leafy green in just 21 days under the right conditions, so you can store adequate seeds and learn to create the conditions under which they will grow. These are fine and practical and needed solutions, just as Lehi's family carried seed to the new world.

However, remember also that consecration is in effect today; it is a real law that many have covenanted to but to which few understand and truly follow. The blessings of Zion flow today to anyone who lives by the laws that govern it. All blessings are predicated upon law; therefore, as you live certain laws you can know for a certainty that your temporal needs will always be met. Last summer when I did not have two cents to rub between my fingers, but was doing exactly what I was asked to do, I prayed and asked God for the food my family needed. In the very moment that I asked my telephone rang while I was still upon my knees and a lovely person invited my wife and I to come and partake of the produce from their garden from that day until the end of the summer. It was the loveliest garden I have ever seen. It was such a blessing to our family and we thrived from those foods for several months. To us it was as if manna fell from heaven.

As we make and keep sacred covenants we enter into the gateway of "Providential Living." Once in that gateway, we remain in that path so long as we remain pure, keep all of God's commandments, and heed and act according to His voice--always. By so doing the veil is rendered and his power, spirit, and influence enters directly into our physical world to help shape the outcome of events in our lives.

My friend and I want to learn how to produce "fresh" all that is needed to eat under myriad conditions. This is a good practical thing to do, but not nearly as powerful or as "safe" as making and keeping sacred covenants with God, from whom all blessings flow.

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Permalink Reply by Pamela Schneider on March 22, 2011 at 2:28pm

I want to know Any advice and suggestions of how to accomplish a green food storage also.Please share some advice.

I live on the west cost of the state of Washington right now i kinda wish i lived back in Utah.

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Permalink Reply by Pamela Schneider on March 22, 2011 at 2:40pm

Thankyou once agin for sharing this blessing that is ours for the asking. i need not fear for myself but i do for my love ones. We live so close to the shores of the west cost i pray my soil won't be touch by the fall out!

It's that time for gardening i guess i could grow sprouts indoors if i can't grow a garden outside for this season..... any ideas on that?

Pam

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Permalink Reply by James Simmons on March 22, 2011 at 3:08pm

The book of Isaiah teaches that the King of Assyria will spoil Egypt and all nations. Isaiah scholars believe the Egypt spoken of by Isaiah refers to both ancient Egypt that was a nation that had been lifted up by God to enjoy great industry, agriculture, religion, politics, and military might, and also refers to a modern Egypt (not the one we know today by name), which today is a nation who is lifted above all other nations in military might, religion, industry, politics, and so forth--or in other words, America. When the King of Assyria (also a type) is lifted up by God it will be to destroy our nation and all other nations. He will destroy the feet, the legs, the body, the arms, the chest, and only the head will be spared--which scholars declare are those living according to covenant.

Truly, the only safety will be to be among those of the covenant whom God will gather, protect, lead, and guide.

For the practical question of how to produce our own food, that is an incredibly important question and I do not want to minimize it or seem to suggest that it is not. However, it is best to consider these issues within the right framework--today while the sunshines and the King of Assyria has not launched his full assault on America, and tomorrow when He most certainly will.

Our soils will be touched, and life as we know it will cease. All the earth will fear this new and powerful ruler, except for those who escape his wrath and are led by a righteous ruler. Through this wicked leader the wicked will be destroyed and through a righteous leader God will gather and lead the righteous similar to how the children of Israel who were led by Moses out of Egypt. Through the keeping of covenants they will enjoy great outpourings and blessings from heaven to aid and assist them--just as occurred to ancient Israel.

Colleen and I grew all our own food for about eight years. Even with all that experience, I am in awe of the many amazing ways that people have found to grow food better than we ever did it. Today people produce more in less space. I've invited a few experts to come on and to begin writing in this blog and to help us learn what you are asking.

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Permalink Reply by James Simmons on March 22, 2011 at 4:27pm

Enjoy the following article to help you get started.

Growing Leafy Greens Indoors

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Permalink Reply by Emily Crofts on March 23, 2011 at 11:42am

You've just shared exactly what has been on my mind these last few days. I've made the same transition about the same time you have. My family is coming along slowly, but it's been a challenge to try to eat the way I'd like, yet still make and feed my family (5 kids-4 of them teenagers) happy and satisfied. I think they appreciate my example. I'm not shoving it down their throats, but I think they think I'm weird!vThey are getting used to more and more meatless meals, though. (That's taken years.) They've also enjoyed the "healthy" treats I provide. That's been a good way to hook them in.

That's another question or topic I'd like to find some support on.

I'm with you. I really don't know how to continue to rotate all that powdered milk, especially. Or feel the need to buy more. Should I build up my "milk" supply by buying cartons of coconut, rice, or almond milks? I hate all that investment going to waste. I need practical ideas as to what I can do.

And, I've been recently assigned to be our church emergency preparedness specialist. I had taught classes at our local grocery store for years on "cooking with food storage". I feel the pressure and guilt when people want me to share recipes and promote powdered milk and eggs. I guess I'll keep building and buying all the good good stuff I know we'll eat and keep on going with my huge garden. I'll do the best I can. Maybe if the time comes, I'll be able to share with others, if they need and use these types of products.

I'd sure appreciate anyone's thoughts on my dilema, as well as implementing a vegan food storage.

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Permalink Reply by James Simmons on March 23, 2011 at 12:42pm

No need to throw away powdered milk and eggs. Emergency preparedness is about survival under extreme conditions. These are real food sources that can be used in myriad ways. We are not opposed to dairy or eggs; we simply recognize the research that demonstrates that their overuse is extremely problematic. Used sparingly, the body can metabolize them without causing undue harm.

Regarding alternative milks; all nuts can be converted to nut milks very easily. For example, just blend cashews in water and drink. Blend soaked almonds in water and strain through an appropriate mesh. Watch the almond milk videos in video section. Soy can be heated in water until it is cooked well, then it can be blended thoroughly and strained to create soymilk (add a little maple syrup if you like it sweet). One cup of cooked rice can be blended with 4 cups of water and a tsp of vanilla to create rice milk.

When seeking to enjoy a predominantly plant-based diet, it is not required that we leave off including animal-based foods to enjoy the benefits of such a diet. However, a vegan approach is a highly desirable approach. In storage you need a variety of grains, beans, nuts, edible seeds, dried fruit, and seeds that can be planted to grow food. I just posted an article about growing leafy greens indoors. Take a look at that article below; anyone can do this and it is easy to do.

Click Here to See Grow Leafy Greens Indoors