Long Term Food Storage in Beaukiss

For most homes, storage seems to be a huge hurdle.   As more and more Americans are preparing for the worst, which isn't a bad thing to do.   Now with modern technology, we have food items that can be preserved and stored for up to 25 and 30 years if stored correctly.  Living in the Beaukiss community, I find we live in a very hot and humid area, and storage of these food items will cost money for air conditioners and energy, but what if the power goes out... all your food storage is a loss. 

After thinking this problem through for several years,  I found that subterranean structures would be the way to go.  Our sandy loam soil is great for digging, and if you could create a large enough hole for a storage container, you could back container in, and finish the walls around it with cinder blocks or shotcrete.  Building a "cellar" as our grandparents would have called it, isn't such a big deal if we put the time and thought into the issues.   This cellar would be a consistent temperature, and the deeper you go, let's say 15 - 20 feet, that would also allow you to build concrete roof structure above your storage container.  Remember storage containers are very stable on the four corners, but not on the walls,  direct contact with dirt can cause damage from pressure and from rust on the container causing it to collapse.   The roof can be built using I-beams above your  walls, and covered with steel, then covered with 4" - 6" of concrete, then dirt.

 This is a future project for me, but here is my shopping list of items I would like to buy:

1. Steel Container Supplier - a local source of steel containers for this project.
2. Emergency Survival Food - Survival food is freeze dried and packaged to last for up to 25 years in optimal storage environment
3.  Supply Room Shelving - This shelving is designed to take up the least amount of space possible to reduce waste.  With shelving that moves back and forth, all items on the shelving are accessible.
4. Dehumidifier - Remove the moisture from inside the container.   This will prevent mold from growing in this perfect environment.
5. Lighting - Solar lighting is essential if there is no power you will need something to see down there in the dark hole.   Solar lighting systems that run off 5V are perfect for this issue.
6. Sump pump - Don't forget those Texas gully washers, we get a lot of rain, and some it will get into your hole.  If you have electricity a normal sump pump will work otherwise this hand pump is a good item to have on hand for those times. 

I'm sure there are a lot of other things I can put into this hole in the ground.   If you've got some ideas, please leave a comment below.