I have seen some discussion about burying food, which I think is a great idea, but I would like to put some moisture absorbant material in with the food so it won't mold. Where can I get some of those pellets that come in vitamins and things like that? I remember the movie "The Secret of Santa Victoria" from when I was a kid. I have never been able to find it on video. It was about an Italian village that hid 1 million bottles of wine from the German army during WW II. I agree with those that fear hungry people will loot for food.

-- monique (me@home.here), January 28, 1999

Answers

Monique,

try Desiccare at

www.desiccare.com/homeprod.htm

FYI -

5 gal buckets use their "medium sized absorbent unit packs"= 33grams ea. (clay)

for smaller buckets (1,2 gal) use their "small sized absorbent pillow packs"= 5 grams ea. (silica gel)

They also sell O2 absorbers and humidity indicators. Look under "new products"

Before anyone asks, I am only a client, not a salesperson or owner.

-- Sue (conibear@gateway.net), January 28, 1999.

If your storing food in plastic buckets watch out for rats i have heard horror stories about them chewing holes in the buckets and ruining the food.

-- moose (tkh@earthlink.net), January 28, 1999.

Probably the easiest approach is to buy silica gel at your local Wal-mart, in the hobbies and dried flowers section. Big container for under $10.

The stuff absorbs moisture, gradually turning from strong blue flecks to colorless to slightly pink as it does so. Bake the pink stuff at 375 degrees for an hour or two to drive out the moisture. Put the gel into an envelope, drop the envelope into whatever you want to dry. [Example: I dried non-hybrid seeds for a week before freezing.]

You'll only need a little if the food is dry when you bury it. A small packet per 5 gallon bucket should do. Seal the gel in the envelope so that it stays seperate from the food and you're good.

-- De (dealton@concentric.net), January 29, 1999.

Thanks for the information. If I bury gallon containers could rats, mice or other animals get into them if they are under the ground? I live in a rural area. I don't have any experience with rats.

-- monique (me@home.here), January 29, 1999.

2 sources of dessicant: Gunshows generally have military-surplus dessicant packs on sale. 2) get to know your local pharmcist, and have them save the dessicant packs that come in the pill bottles. Only use the ones that have silica in them, and throw out the ones that are dark, or look like medium size seeds.

Take the dessicant and put it in the oven for awhile. Or, if you are careful to WATCH the microwave, you can heat them in the microwave for 10-15 minutes. Stop the oven once you start to see a color change. Be careful that you don't overheat the oven, as it will do, if you leave it unattended.

-- Bill (billclo@hotmail.com), February 03, 1999.