72 Hour Bucket Kits

These 72 hour kit lists were emailed to me by Mrs. Haws. Each of these bucket style kits uses the 5 gallon buckets from a hardware store. She uses a special tool called a Gamma Seal Lid to make her pails twist off and waterproof. – Jenny Mrs Haws says the following:

I have a list of items of a 72 hr. food kit that my husband liked alot better [than the beef jerky kits]. Maybe alot of husbands looked at those small kits in dismay! So we figured out items that we would be willing to eat cold. We used alot of granola bars as well as some chicken, etc. We also made up what I like to call an “L.D.S. Style” bucket, that should be available for all sisters to do. The granola style bucket is expensive and would last longer than 72 hrs. as you will see. The home bottled one is less, but doesn’t include much quick food. I’ve yet to fully combine the best of both styles of buckets, and will continue to change mine around I’m sure, and find a good mixture and get the best of both buckets. We also have one bucket filled with just bottled water. We also have a 2 gal. bucket that we have decided for now, to put in batteries, wash cloth, flashlight, radio, soap etc.

I include an itemized inventory of the bucket contents for each bucket. The list sits on top, because each bucket may vary just a bit. I also include a personal information sheet. It contains our family members names, ages, mail and physical address, and other extended family members names, addresses and phone numbers. Of course you would have to keep close tabs on this particular paper if you decide to put it in your bucket.

For those of us with any children or elderly who cannot identify themselves, I would suggest name tags and a pen or marker be included in the buckets or quickly at hand to write and identify them and who the parents or guardian or other family members are in case of separation.

72 hr. Kit in a Bucket w/ Screw Top Lid

Packed:

1-50 gal. Food grade trash bag, can be used for a variety of things

10 – blue utility paper towels

1-water purification tablet for 1 liter of water

3-quarts, 1 pint bottled water – total amount of individual bottles

3-6.75 oz. Capri Sun Sport drink pouches w/ electrolytes: Berry Ice, Orange, Lemon Lime

1-10 oz. Bottle Dayquil liquid – or medicine that works for you (liquid can be better adjusted/measured for younger children)

1-plastic knife, fork, spoon, salt, pepper napkin pak

4-plastic or metal spoons (I just bought each person a camping fold up knife style fork, knife, spoon combo about $9)

9-strike anywhere matches, or however many you like, in film cannister.

1-mini first aid kit in film cannister: 4 band aids, I Neosporin pkt., I alcohol swab, 2 quarters

1-tube sock w/ bar or liquid body soap, sock because easy to tie to outside of bucket, (unless you put it in with clothes) and you could use the sock as wash cloth.

1-roll toilet paper (use one with aloe in it, it won’t get as fuzzy and deteriorate in storage)

1- flashlight w/ batteries, or crank type

1-firestarter kit w/ waterproof matches (depending where you live or will go, etc.)

1-radio, crank or battery style w/ batteries, for news information

POP TOP VEGGIE & MEAT CANS (willing to eat cold)

2-8.75 oz. Whole corn

2-8.50 oz. Sweet peas

2-7 oz. Ranch style beans

1-7.75 oz. Beans & wieners

1-4.25 oz. Underwood chicken spread

1-8 oz. Jar chicken – home bottled

2-ramen noodles: Oriental & beef (can use just seasoning packets in water for broth if necessary)

1-16 oz. Jar kidney or navy beans – home bottled (with these and salsa and chicken would be like having taco salad)

1-8 oz. Jar red salsa – home made and bottled

1-3.75 oz. Jar wyler’s chicken bouillon, instant granules. Makes 30 cups of broth.

1-pkg. Of misc. seasonings for food: salt, pepper, chili, garlic, or onion powder, as you like.

POP TOP FRUIT CANS

1-8.25 mandarin oranges segments

1-8.50 oz. Sliced pears

2-8.25 oz. Pineapple wedges

2-4 oz. Applesauce cups

1-3.5 oz. Vanilla pudding cup

1-3.5 oz. Orange jello cup

FRUIT SNACKS

1-1.5 oz. Raisin box in zip loc bag to prolong moisture content

2-.9 oz. Welch’s fruit snacks: fruit punch, berries ‘n cherries

2-.5 oz. Florida’s natural fruit juice nuggets: blueberry

8- pieces hard candy

CRACKERS

1-cheese dip & sticks pak

2-.93 oz. Toasty (ritz) & peanut butter crackers

2-.93 oz. Cheese & peanut butter crackers

2-.77 oz. Ritz Snack Mix, pretzels, cheez its, ritz, triscuits combo.

GRANOLA BARS

1-1.3 oz. Quaker breakfast bar, Very Berry Muffin (soft)

1-1.3 oz. Quaker breakfast bar, Apple Crisp (soft)

2-2 oz. Fig Newtons, 2 bars in each pack (soft)

1-1 oz. Great Value Chewy Fruit & Nut Trail granola bar (sticky)

1-1 oz. Great Value Chewy Apple Berry granola bar (sticky)

2-1.2 oz. Nature Valley Sweet & Salty Nut – 1 Peanut, 1 Almond (sticky)

2-1.5 oz. Nature Valley Crunchy – 1 Roasted Almond, 1 Pecan (crunchy)

*ONE SEPARATE BUCKET OF CLOTHING & PERSONAL CARE NEEDS

* ONE SEPARATE BUCKET OF BOTTLED WATER

*ONE SMALL POCKET GAME LIKE DOMINOES, ETC.

**NO ENDORSEMENT OF ANY KIND IS INTENDED, FIND YOUR OWN ITEMS OF PREFERENCE.

**THESE ARE ONLY SUGGESTIONS OF WHAT I HAVE USED. I ITEMIZED IT LIKE I DID SO THAT I WOULD KNOW WHAT I HAD WHEN IT IS TIME TO REPLACE THOSE ITEMS AS WELL AS TO KNOW AT A GLANCE WHAT IS IN THE BUCKET SO I CAN PLAN ACCORDINGLY WHAT TO EAT TO BALANCE OUT FOR A MEAL, AND SO FORTH. THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, SO ASSESS AND AND RE-WORK THIS PLAN UNTIL IT WORKS BEST FOR YOU. I HAVE CHANGED MINE MANY TIMES. JUST DO SOMETHING!

Mrs. Haws’ Comments
The approximate grand total on this bucket Granola Style bucket, including cost of bucket, screw lid, batteries and about $3 pocket game etc., is in the neighborhood of $68. I was surprised to see how high it was after all was said and done, but the screw lid was $7 more than the standard one, plus cost of bucket, game optional, but it is still high. Really unaffordable for large families, even though very convenient.

So then I started to think of how to knock down cost, and then I thought of the home bottled foods bucket. To get the best of both worlds I would suggest combining the two different styles of bucket plans. Again assess and re-assess to make it work for you. You could always test it too, how happy would your family be if they had to eat out of it for 3 days or so? Test it and then adjust it!

I use an adapter to make the bucket have a screw top lid for ease, no opening tool needed and it is water proof, this adapter costs about $10. It is optional and adds to the overall cost, but convenient for all family members to operate. Weight isn’t too bad, and of course with this much food, it should last you awhile.

The screw top lids are made by The Gamma Seal Lid, using a rubber mallet, you unscrew the top from the bottom ring and hammer on the ring and it’s ready to go. They do come in colors too. Here is the website for them, although I ordered thru a local person here that sells other food items, kind of like Model Team Express if you have ever heard of that before, same price as on the internet, but you don’t have to pay for shipping. You can get them online at Gamma Seal Lids or by calling 1-800-842-6543, I have kept the sticker that comes on the lid in place so I could easily get my hands on the info. Says it fits 3.5 – 7 gal. buckets.

To fit all the items from one list, the major Granola Bar style bucket or Home Bottled bucket, I used standard 5 gal. buckets from the hardware store. For extra accessories like the soap and batteries and such, we decided to use the 2 gal. bucket, again from hardware store. Of course the list I have on the home bottled bucket is what I can get in there as far as jars are concerned, however you could fill in with granola bars, etc,

72 Hour Food Kit Bucket w/ Screw Top Lid – Using Home Bottled Items

Packed:

1-enamel ware cup, 32 oz. w/metal spoon

2-quart jars saltine crackers

1-quart homemade granola

1-8 oz. Peanut butter

3-8 oz. chicken

2-8 oz. white beans

1-8 oz. pinto beans

1-8 oz. kidney beans

1-8 oz. anasazi beans

1-8 oz. tomatoes w/ salt, halved

1-8 oz. red salsa

1-8 oz. sweet potates (potassium, an electrolyte)

1-4 oz. green chile, roasted – Big Jim style or the like

2-8 oz. apple juice

3-8 oz. milk

Misc. spices for flavor – salt, pepper, chili, garlic, or onion powder, etc.

*ONE SEPARATE BUCKET FOR CLOTHING AND PERSONAL NEEDS

*ONE SEPARATE BUCKET FOR BOTTLED WATER

To Bottle Dry Beans

Use dry beans of any size, rinse well and add dry beans to jars, filling the rest of the way up to 1″ from the top of the jar with water. Add salt if you like, not necessary though. Pint and half pint jars can easily be pressured in your small 4 quart pressure cooker, so you can easily bottle the different types of beans. For our altitude, about 7,000 ft., dry beans need to be pressured for about 1 hour to 1 hour 10 min., so if you want to combine pressuring the chicken jars and the beans at the same time, the chicken needs to process for 1 ½ hrs., raw pack, so the beans can go over time and still be fine. The following is a guide to help you figure the measurements of dry beans for the different sizes of jars. Or if you prefer more liquid, reduce the bean measurement by about half, or as you like.

8 oz. jar – 1/3 c. dry beans, any size

16 oz. jar – 2/3 c. dry beans

32 oz. jar – 1 1/3 c. dry beans

All of this can be eaten cold. The beans, crackers, green chile, chicken, salsa and or tomatoes can be combined to make a Mexican style bean salad, (like the frito taco salad). Home bottled corn would be a nice addition.

You can also bottle your favorite quick bread like, banana, zucchini, etc. to put in. Anything from your garden, mix and match to your likings.

Approximate cost:
$20 food
$10 screw on lid
$6 bucket
Total $36

*cost of jars not included

Mrs. Haws’ comments
This is a very basic food bucket. Not included were the paper towels, radio, soap, etc., that can be in another bucket or in with clothing. For your water use a separate bucket so you will have plenty, water can make the difference in how well you do. This is just an idea starter, bottle what your family would use, try it out and make adjustments. Assess and re-assess and make it work for you. DO SOMETHING!

I use an adapter to make the bucket have a screw top lid for ease, no opening tool needed and it is water proof, this adapter costs about $10. It is optional and adds to the overall cost, but convenient for all family members to operate. Weight isn’t too bad, and of course with this much food, it should last you awhile. Chicken is in small bottle so it can be eaten quickly when opened, and the broth from it drank also. How soothing would chicken broth, or any broth be for children and elderly alike?

I knew I had to include some sort of broth style item, even if the water is cold instead of warm, the salt in the broth can help many people with stress, shock, etc. The sweet potatoes are as pure as baby food and very gentle, so can be eaten by babies and elderly, I catch them on sale in the fall for about 25-33 cents a pound and just peel and cube them up and add water and process for the time stated in canning book.

The screw top lids are made by The Gamma Seal Lid, using a rubber mallet, you unscrew the top from the bottom ring and hammer on the ring and it’s ready to go. They do come in colors too. Here is the website for them, although I ordered thru a local person here that sells other food items, kind of like Model Team Express if you have ever heard of that before, same price as on the internet, but you don’t have to pay for shipping. You can get them online at Gamma Seal Lids or by calling 1-800-842-6543, I have kept the sticker that comes on the lid in place so I could easily get my hands on the info. Says it fits 3.5 – 7 gal. buckets.

To fit all the items from one list, the major Granola Bar style bucket or Home Bottled bucket, I used standard 5 gal. buckets from the hardware store. For extra accessories like the soap and batteries and such, we decided to use the 2 gal. bucket, again from hardware store. Of course the list I have on the home bottled bucket is what I can get in there as far as jars are concerned, however you could fill in with granola bars, etc,