Notes From Gordon 250104: Stocking Up For Food Inflation & Shortages

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs starts with food, water and warmth. Based on my latest experience with pneumonia and breathing, I would say that oxygen is at the top of that list!

But let’s go with food…

On 12/17/2024 Martin Armstrong posted: “Our models do not indicate that food inflation will ease in 2025… people may want to stockpile food for the next two years as there will be weather events and supply chain shortages… another severe drought, probably between 2025 to 2027…”

Google tells us, “… the average family in the United States has less than a week's worth of food readily available… at any given time.”

Meanwhile, according to Business Insider the average 401(k) balance is $134,128. Sadly, I would imagine that there must be millions of families across America, perhaps including your loved ones, who have over $100K in investment savings and no more than a week’s worth of food on hand.

This type of thinking is the epitome of what I call Passively Existing Taxpayer Syndrome (PETS) where the individual has bonded with the system, lost all perspective on self-reliance, and fully expects to be taken care of in an emergency.

My children and I have been prepping for the past several years and feel we’ve struck a balance between food storage types, quantity, ease in preparation, etc.

The key starting metric, however, is always calories. With insufficient caloric intake, you will gradually waste away.

The quality and nutritional value of what you consume aside, and I am not discounting these factors in the least, if you consume 2,000 calories per day you will need 1,460,000 calories to sustain you over a 2-year period.

Multiply that by a family of four and you’re looking at over 5 million calories. That’s a lot of prepping. How does your family plan to make this happen? Emergency freeze-dried food kits? Dry goods? A secret hydroponic growing unit in the basement?

Why secret? Because you must never discuss the true extent of your preparations with your PETS-afflicted neighbors, not even with other stalwart preppers like yourself.

For the day may come when the trucks stop running and the grocery shelves are empty. Children everywhere may be crying for another meal.

And your neighbors will remember you.

Gordon
Sum, Ergo Reluctor