Questioning the Survivalist Narrative: Is Food Storage Overrated?

By Cade Shadowlight

"Stack it to the rafters!” That’s the battle cry of survivalist gurus everywhere, urging you to build a fortress of canned goods to outlast any crisis. But is a massive food stockpile really the key to survival? Let’s ditch the hype and question this narrative, as I always urge my Shadow Tribe to do (see my take on questioning narratives here).

The "Stack It To The Rafters" Narrative

Preppers insist you need a mountain of canned goods, dried beans, rice, MREs, and powdered everything to survive storms, pandemics, or societal collapse. Some even push the old LDS standard of a five-year supply. But is bigger always better? Let’s weigh the pros and cons. 

Why Stockpiling Makes Sense

A food stockpile can be a lifeline in a crisis. Here’s why:

• Disrupted Supply Chains: Empty shelves during COVID proved how fast stores can run dry.
• Government Overreach: Since 2020, over 168 million chickens and turkeys were culled over bird flu fears, spiking prices and shrinking supplies.
• Climate Policies: Some push to limit farming in the name of “saving the planet,” threatening food availability.
• Inflation’s Bite: With prices soaring over the past five years, a stockpile hedges against rising costs.
• Job Loss Buffer: A pantry can tide you over during unexpected unemployment.
• Helping Others: Extra food lets you support family or neighbors in a pinch.

Even a modest stockpile can address most of these risks, so why go overboard? 

The Dark Side of “Stack it to the Rafters”

Massive stockpiles sound great until you face reality:

• Costly Trade-offs: A year’s food for a thrifty family of four costs $11,000+ (per USDA data). Two years? That’s $22,000 you could’ve spent paying off debt, building savings, buying needed gear or training, or moving somewhere safer.
• Bug-Out Trap: Bulky food ties you down. You won't be able to take it all with you, but hesitate too long to bug out, and you’re toast.
• Loss Risks: Fire, flood, tornado, or theft can wipe out your stash in a day.
• Finite Supplies: No matter how much you store, it will run out. A lifetime supply? Impossible unless you’re planning a very short life.
• Big Brother’s Eyes: Hoarding tons of food might raise red flags with authorities, especially as government surveillance and overreach grow (read more here).
• Spoilage: All food goes bad eventually, no matter how well you store it.
• Rotation Headaches: Keeping stock fresh requires constant vigilance.
• Space Hog: Stockpiles clutter your house, turning your home into a warehouse.

Why I'm Ditching the Mega-Pantry

I used to preach the “stack it high” gospel, aiming for a two-year food supply. I was close to that goal when I realized it was more burden than benefit. Now, I’m paring down to a lean two-month stockpile. I calculate this is enough to ride out most disruptions, like winter storms or supply chain hiccups. I'm sticking to store-bought canned and boxed foods, along with powdered perishables (butter, milk, eggs, cheese) from Augason Farms (Amazon link). This keeps things manageable and affordable while I focus on long-term food security.

Smarter Ways to Stay Fed

A survival pantry should be a bridge, not a fortress. Here’s how to build long-term food security:

• Financial Resilience:
  • Secure your job and increase your income to afford food inflation.
  • Pay off debt and build cash savings.
  • Stock junk silver for bartering if the dollar tanks.
  • More on financial matters on Tim Gamble's Wealth From Chaos (website link).
• Local Networks:
  • Hit farmers’ markets to buy and to build relationships.
  • Find and build ties with local farmers, ranchers, egg producers, and beekeepers.
  • Learn bartering skills.
• Self-Reliance:
  • Plant a garden (Vegetable Gardener's Handbook on Amazon).
  • Raise chickens or plant fruit and nut trees, berry bushes.
  • Learn to hunt, fish, trap, or forage wild edibles (practice now!).

I’ll dive deeper into these strategies in future articles. Want to stay in the loop? Join the Shadow Tribe’s free email list by clicking here.

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Survivalist Family, by Joe Fox (Viking Preparedness) is currently available at Refuge Medical for only $20. Great guide to beginner and intermediate preparedness and survival. Highly recommended!