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Small Cabin Forum / Off-Grid Living / Food Storage
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paulz
Member
# Posted: 4 Jun 2021 14:48
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Somehow we ended up with a lot of food at the cabin. So I am storing canned goods in a filing cabinet in the shipping container under the deck. Also have pasta, rice, beans in plastic bags. Will critters go after that stuff? If so, would plastic tupperware stuff work? What other emergency food items do you store?

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 4 Jun 2021 15:08
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Yes they will and no Tupperware will not keep them out if hungry enough. But shipping containers are prety rodent proof and file cabinets are also. Just make sure the bottom of the file cabinet isnt open to the floor.

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 4 Jun 2021 15:13
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I use to be a member at a hunting camp but we used it 1week in the spring and 1 week in the fall. People would leave mice poison on the window sill behind the counter, talk about stupid. One other time someone left a un cut onion out for a few days. The mice ate 1/4 of it. Every time we went there we spent at least 2hrs cleaning the place prior to unpacking

WILL1E
Moderator
# Posted: 4 Jun 2021 15:17
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Steel drums are cheap, that'll keep more than mice out. You could build a nice little shelf system in there!

Just
Member
# Posted: 4 Jun 2021 15:48
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I use clear plastic totes ,have lots visitors, never bother ed the food

DaveBell
Moderator
# Posted: 4 Jun 2021 20:07
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I have a years worth of #10 cans of Mountain House Freeze Dried. Last time they had 30% off, I got 36 more cans. Mostly proteins, beef stew, chicken, beef, peas, green beans. I have stuff they don't seem to make any more. Seafood Chowder and Raspberry Crumble are so good.

Still good after 40 Years: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnuqOmne210

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 4 Jun 2021 21:02
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What!
No Spam?

toyota_mdt_tech
Member
# Posted: 5 Jun 2021 14:06
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Metal trash cans, they come in smaller sizes, mice wont get into it. I do nt leave any food with moisture, only dried things like coffee, dried soups, oatmeal, cocoa mix, pancake mix and the typical spices stay also.

Steve_S
Member
# Posted: 5 Jun 2021 14:23
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I used 1kg capacity cans for my food storage for rice, beans, pasta's and similar dry goods but I was fortunate to have access to a Canning Machine so they really are "canned" and sealed. There are various groups out there that have them and let people use them... I also believe the Mormon Church folks use them for their Food Storage requirements IF that is an option.

You have TWO issues really.
Rodents:
Best kept out by using can's with Hard Tops, Glass Storage containers etc. They WILL chew through plastic if they are motivated.
ANTS & Similar crawlers:
Sealed plastic containers will keep them out so that is not a huge problem IF you are aware of the problem and do the usual precautions.

A Simple Solution, a metal cabinet that can close tight. No openings of any kind for at least 12" from the bottom, a mouse can squeeze into a hole smaller than a dime without issue, as can Rats. IF there are any holes a Metal Wire Screen is highly recomended. Then you can put stuff in there without worrying about rodents, just bugs.

TIP I was taught... WORKS WELL TOO !
I have a "Dry Pantry" for my goods and a local old timer made a suggestion that I'll be damned it was GENUIS because it was so obvious. The shelves are made from 1-1/4" Cedar ! Not only does it smell good, you NEVER see a BUG of any kind in the dry pantry, the blighters walk right on by paying no mind.

Believe me when I say I have bugs galore because I live in an Evergreen Forest with Sandy Loam soil that is the best place for the little buggers. It's a constant WAR ! Bad enough that I have to sprinkle Mule Team Borax Powder around the perimeter of the house. IT Works !

paulz
Member
# Posted: 5 Jun 2021 18:36
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Quoting: Brettny
But shipping containers are prety rodent proof and file cabinets are also. Just make sure the bottom of the file cabinet isnt open to the floor.


Good point, the filing cabinet should be pretty rodent proof, I will double check.

Quoting: Brettny
One other time someone left a un cut onion out for a few days. The mice ate 1/4 of it.


Uh oh..after a racoon went it the doggie door I left open and scarfed up the dog food, I read online that onions are a deterrent to racoons, so I put some under the cabin.. I stuck the Spypoint under there last night, we'll see what happens.

Steve_S
Member
# Posted: 5 Jun 2021 19:43
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Garlic is a rodent repellant, powder or fresh. Similar to how it keeps critters out of the garden. Peppermint too if memory serves.

silverwaterlady
Member
# Posted: 6 Jun 2021 07:58
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I bought a huge metal cabinet with shelves. The only things I leave at the cabin are dry items. Everything in mason jars. Anything that has food in it when I’m there and not in the cabinet is in mason jars or metal containers.
We do not eat anything outside of the kitchen. Keep crumbs off of all surfaces.
Most times we just eat outside.

silverwaterlady
Member
# Posted: 6 Jun 2021 08:03
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My sister in law forgot a jar of peanut butter on the counter at her cabin.
When she came back a few weeks later, somehow a squirrel had found a way in. All that was left was a small piece of plastic from the jar.

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