Super cheap food from the Mormons

[xring]

I hope this isn't old news. It was new to me.

The Mormons (LDS) are big preppers. They have canneries in cities all across the US to include Denver and COS. I went to the COS facility today to check it out. They sell bulk food at stupidly low prices. At least, it seemed low to me from the little research I've done.

You can buy some items pre-packaged for 30 year shelf life, or they have a larger list of items you can can on the spot. By "can", I don't mean canning fresh veggies. I mean placing bulk food in a #10 can or a bag, adding and oxygen absorber, and sealing the can. They supply the food, the can, and the facility. No appointment is necessary, just walk in and buy. Or, walk in and they show you how to do it and you use their equipment.

The facility in COS was spotlessly clean and very modern. Really nice. The people were extremely kind and helpful. There was not the slightest hint of proselytization. Of interest to the COS guys, it's 500 yards from Specialty Sports.

I asked who could buy, and they said "anyone". I asked if they wanted more customers and they said they did. I asked if it was a revenue stream for them, and the answer was that they just broke even. Looking at the prices, I believe them. I finally asked why they did it, and the answer was "we're all Americans". I about cried.

Here are links to the price list and the physical addresses. Hours of operation are screwy, so you should call first.

http://providentliving.org/self-reli...tions?lang=eng

http://providentliving.org/bc/provid...f.pdf?lang=eng

I came home today with 31# of pinto beans, 26# of oats, 33# of hard red wheat, and 24# of white flour. Each of those came in cases of six #10 cans, sealed up with a 30 year shelf life. My total out the door was $80.

I'm not a Mormon, in fact I think they are dead wrong theologically. However, these people were gentle, kind, and sweet. If you go, consider treating them with respect. They are providing a valuable service for basically nothing, and doing it for what appears to be reasons we can all appreciate.

Great info. Good job I have some caveats
The wheats great. a bushel of HWW is about $14 and l two bushiels will fill three five gallon pails as i remember. use dry ice per you tube
pintos use a shit load of energy to cook, lentils much better.
oats are great, you can also buy these at the feed stores by the bushell again 5 gallon pail, dry ice.

If it was me

5 used 5 gallon food grade pails from resturants $5
2 bushels of hard winter wheat $28
3 20lb bags of basmati rice from sams $45
$ 2 of dry ice
This would fill the five fives.
THe LDS is not a bad deal forshake n bake tho.

[Wulf202]

Great info. Good job I have some caveats
The wheats great. a bushel of HWW is about $14 and l two bushiels will fill three five gallon pails as i remember. use dry ice per you tube
pintos use a shit load of energy to cook, lentils much better.
oats are great, you can also buy these at the feed stores by the bushell again 5 gallon pail, dry ice.

If it was me

5 used 5 gallon food grade pails from resturants $5
2 bushels of hard winter wheat $28
3 20lb bags of basmati rice from sams $45
$ 2 of dry ice
This would fill the five fives.
THe LDS is not a bad deal forshake n bake tho.

careful with dry ice. its really dirty and not exactly food grade

you might try nitrogen flooding.

[xring]

careful with dry ice. its really dirty and not exactly food grade

you might try nitrogen flooding.

A square inch is more than enough to do a 5 gallon bucket. I wrap it in a paper towel prior to putting it in the bottom of a bucket. Im eating wheat stored 15 years ago this way and Its real hard to tell the difference from last years crop. Could you please elaborate how dry ice that is sold to keep food cold will adversly affect food? Nitrogen purging would be ideal but would require some equipment. I would buy the absorbers before buying a tank and valves. frozen Co2 displaces the air as it turns to gas as it is heavier. Dry ice because it it is a solid requires no investment in tank and valves, shake and bake. Nitrogen would be better as it is more inert but dry ice has worked very well for me as mentioned. I have never opened a bucket to find it full of bugs. I had not considered contamination of the dry ice though and had I I probably would have sprung for absorbers.

[Wulf202]

Could you please elaborate how dry ice that is sold to keep food cold will adversly affect food?

Nitrogen purging would be ideal but would require some equipment.

I had not considered contamination of the dry ice though and had I I probably would have sprung for absorbers.

dry ice can often contain several percent water. the guys who over kill with extra dry ice have reported mold issues before. also the equipment used to make it may leak oil. ive cleaned tons of gunk out of co2 systems

nitrogen tanks are cheap on craigslist from hvac guys selling them off.

[Tim K]

Great info. Good job I have some caveats
The wheats great. a bushel of HWW is about $14 and l two bushiels will fill three five gallon pails as i remember. use dry ice per you tube
pintos use a shit load of energy to cook, lentils much better.
oats are great, you can also buy these at the feed stores by the bushell again 5 gallon pail, dry ice.

If it was me

5 used 5 gallon food grade pails from resturants $5
2 bushels of hard winter wheat $28
3 20lb bags of basmati rice from sams $45
$ 2 of dry ice
This would fill the five fives.
THe LDS is not a bad deal forshake n bake tho.

Pardon my ignorance, and I'm sure this has been addressed elsewhere, but where does a guy go to buy wheat by the bushel?

[xring]

Pardon my ignorance, and I'm sure this has been addressed elsewhere, but where does a guy go to buy wheat by the bushel?

There is a thread on this do a search.

[offgrid]

Hey Tim,

thanks for the link. Next time I'm in COS I'll check them out.

[schapman43]

Great info. Good job I have some caveats
The wheats great. a bushel of HWW is about $14 and l two bushiels will fill three five gallon pails as i remember. use dry ice per you tube
pintos use a shit load of energy to cook, lentils much better.
oats are great, you can also buy these at the feed stores by the bushell again 5 gallon pail, dry ice.

If it was me

5 used 5 gallon food grade pails from resturants $5
2 bushels of hard winter wheat $28
3 20lb bags of basmati rice from sams $45
$ 2 of dry ice
This would fill the five fives.
THe LDS is not a bad deal forshake n bake tho.

There are certainly cheaper ways to do it. However it's hard to beat the price when you consider the packaging the the time saved.