This Prepared Life

What if the food you've carefully stored isn't lasting as long as you think it will?

We all have different challenges when it comes to where we store our food. Maybe your basement is humid, your pantry gets too warm, or you're dealing with light, insects, or even mice. You don't need a perfect food storage space, but understanding how your environment affects your food can help you protect what you've worked so hard to build.

In this episode, we're talking about five factors that can impact the quality, nutrition, and shelf life of your food storage: temperature, oxygen, moisture, light, and rodents and insects. I'll also share some of the mistakes I've made in my own food storage and practical things you can do to minimize these problems.

Your food storage is an investment of your time, energy, and money. Let's make sure we're doing what we can to protect it.

Resources:

Order My New Book Home Food Storage: A Preparedness Plan for Creating and Using an Emergency Food Supply
https://amzn.to/4wQ1FLD

Join the TPL Membership Community:
https://www.thispreparedlife.com/community

Website:
https://www.thispreparedlife.com/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thispreparedlife/

If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love for you to leave a review and share it with a friend.

What should you stock up on in August?

One of my favorite ways to build a home food supply is by paying attention to grocery store sales cycles. Every month, different foods and household items go on sale, making it the perfect time to stock your pantry while saving money.

In this episode, we're talking about what to watch for during the month of August, including food, household items, and seasonal produce that's perfect for preserving.

In this episode we discuss:
• Why grocery store sales cycles matter
• School lunch foods and pantry staples to watch for
• August produce that's great for canning, freezing, and freeze drying
• Household items that often go on sale this month
• The three items I'm personally stocking up on this August
• One simple preparedness challenge to complete this month

Building a home food supply doesn't happen overnight. Small, intentional purchases throughout the year can make a huge difference over time.

Resources:

Order My New Book Home Food Storage: A Preparedness Plan for Creating and Using an Emergency Food Supply
https://amzn.to/4hM7NQv

Join the TPL Membership Community:
https://www.thispreparedlife.com/community

Website:
https://www.thispreparedlife.com/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thispreparedlife/

If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love for you to leave a review and share it with a friend.

In this episode, I'm answering your preparedness questions! These are real questions submitted by women in our community about food storage, water storage, meal planning, limited space, staying consistent, and overcoming overwhelm.

We cover topics like:
• How much food and water you should store
• Commercially canned vs. home canned foods
• How I rotate my long-term food storage
• What foods are best for long-term storage
• What to do when you have very little storage space
• Staying consistent without feeling behind
• How to move past overwhelm and just get started

One thing I hope you'll take away from this episode is that preparedness isn't a race. You don't have to do everything at once. Do what you can with what you have, right where you're at.

Ask Your Questions Here:
https://www.thispreparedlife.com/questions

Home Food Storage Book:
https://amzn.to/4vE8G0H

Resources:

Website:
https://www.thispreparedlife.com/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thispreparedlife/

Join the TPL Membership Community:
https://www.thispreparedlife.com/community

If you have a question you'd like answered in a future episode, head to the homepage of my website and submit it. I'd love to hear from you!

Building a home food supply doesn't have to be complicated—but there are a few common mistakes that can make the process more expensive, frustrating, and overwhelming than it needs to be.

In this episode, I'm sharing the five biggest mistakes beginners make when starting their food storage journey and, more importantly, how to avoid them. These simple shifts can save you money, reduce waste, and help you build a food supply that actually works for your family.

If you're just getting started with preparedness, this episode will help you build a home food supply with confidence.

Resources:

Website:
https://www.thispreparedlife.com/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thispreparedlife/

Join the TPL Membership Community:
https://www.thispreparedlife.com/community

Home Food Storage Book:
https://amzn.to/3T22Fh2

If this episode was helpful, I'd love for you to leave a review and share it with a friend.

Do you ever feel like preparedness is something you'll get to someday... when you have more money?

You're not alone.

In this episode, I'm sharing 10 practical ways to become more prepared even when money is tight. From shopping store sales and learning new skills to building your food storage one step at a time, preparedness doesn't have to happen all at once—and it doesn't have to cost a fortune.

Whether you have $5 a month or $50 a month to spend, you can make meaningful progress. Preparedness isn't about having the biggest pantry or the newest gear—it's about taking intentional steps with the resources you have.

Resources:

Website:
https://www.thispreparedlife.com/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thispreparedlife/

Join the TPL Membership Community:
https://www.thispreparedlife.com/community

Home Food Storage Book:
https://amzn.to/4aMOZfH

If this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to leave a review and share it with a friend.

When you hear the words "prepper pantry," what comes to mind?

For many people, it's buckets of rice and beans collecting dust in a basement. But long-term food storage doesn't have to look like that.

In this episode, we're talking about layer three of my three-layer food storage system: your long-term food storage. I'll walk you through what belongs in this layer, how I package and rotate my food, and why I believe your prepper pantry should be built around the foods your family actually eats.

We talk about:
• What layer three food storage really is
• How much long-term food storage you actually need
• The best foods for long-term storage
• Packaging with Mylar bags and oxygen absorbers
• Why I store recipes instead of random foods
• How all three layers of food storage work together
• Common mistakes to avoid when building a prepper pantry

If long-term food storage has ever felt overwhelming, I hope this episode helps you simplify the process and build a system that works for your family and your real life.

Resources:

My NEW book Home Food Storage: A Preparedness Plan for Creating and Using an Emergency Food Supply is available for pre order! It ships in September of 2026 just in time for National Preparedness Month.

My go to place for mylar and oxygen absorbers, use code TPL for a discount

I have been freeze drying for years now and it is a huge part of my layer three pantry. This is the freeze dryer I purchased many years ago.

Find me at:

Website:
https://www.thispreparedlife.com/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thispreparedlife/

Join the TPL Membership Community:
https://www.thispreparedlife.com/community

If this episode was helpful, I'd love for you to leave a review and share it with a friend.

After years of trying to get everything done, I realized something important: overwhelm is not a badge of honor.

In this episode, I'm sharing one simple mindset shift that has completely changed the way I plan my week. Instead of making a never-ending to-do list, I create what I call a wish list. It's a small change, but it's helped me feel less overwhelmed, more intentional, and a whole lot more at peace.

We talk about:

• Why busy doesn't always mean better
• The difference between a wish list and a to-do list
• Giving yourself grace in busy seasons of life
• Letting go of unrealistic expectations
• Focusing on your next best thing instead of trying to do it all

If you've been feeling overwhelmed by everything on your plate, I hope this episode encourages you to slow down, release some of the pressure, and remember that your to-do list doesn't define your worth.

Resources:

The planner I use: https://amzn.to/4eI4Ey5

Website: https://www.thispreparedlife.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thispreparedlife/

Join the TPL Membership Community:
https://www.thispreparedlife.com/community

If this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to leave a review and share it with a friend.

I appreciate your support! Some links and products contained in posts and pages here may contain affiliate links. Should you make a purchase through those links I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

Any products I mention here, on social media, or in the podcast are products that I would use myself, use for my family, or use on my homestead. I will never give reviews I do not fully believe in or accept products and give false reviews.

What if your food storage pantry functioned like a grocery store?

In this episode, we're talking about layer two of my three-layer food storage system: your home grocery store. This short-term storage layer is made up of the foods your family already eats and uses on a regular basis. The goal isn't to buy a year's worth of random food. It's to intentionally build a working pantry that saves money, reduces waste, and makes everyday life easier.

We talk about:
• What layer two food storage actually is
• Why I think of this layer as my home grocery store
• What foods belong in layer two
• How to determine how much food your family actually needs
• Simple packaging and storage ideas
• How to rotate food from your grocery store into your kitchen
• How this layer can save you money on groceries

If you've ever wondered how to build a food storage system that works for real life, this episode will help you take the next step.

Preparedness doesn't happen overnight. It is slow and steady work, and it adds up faster than you think.

If this episode was helpful, I'd love for you to leave a review and share it with a friend.

Resources:

Website: https://www.thispreparedlife.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thispreparedlife/

Join the TPL Membership Community:
https://www.thispreparedlife.com/community

When we think about food storage, our minds often jump straight to buckets of long-term food and catastrophic emergencies. But in reality, most of the situations we are likely to face will have us reaching for the food already in our kitchen.

In this episode, we're talking about layer one of my three-layer food storage system: your kitchen pantry. This often-overlooked layer is actually your first line of defense in everyday emergencies, from power outages to unexpected life disruptions.

We talk about:
• What layer one food storage actually is
• Why your kitchen pantry is more important than you think
• How much food to keep on hand
• Why your pantry should reflect the way your family really eats
• Simple ways to build a practical, functional kitchen pantry
• How to think about food storage in terms of recipes instead of random foods

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by food storage or wondered where to start, this episode will encourage you to look at your kitchen in a new way. You may already be more prepared than you think.

If this episode was helpful, I'd love for you to leave a review and share it with a friend.

Resources:

Website: https://www.thispreparedlife.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thispreparedlife/

Join the TPL Membership Community:
https://www.thispreparedlife.com/community

After a long pause from the podcast, I'm sharing some of the lessons I've learned through one of the hardest seasons of my life.

Life can change in ways we never expected. Sometimes the season we are in requires us to let go of the pressure to do it all and focus on what matters most.

In this episode, I share a simple analogy that has helped me think differently about capacity, expectations, and grace. We talk about why it is okay to say no to good things, how our ability to carry responsibilities changes from season to season, and why focusing on the next best thing can bring more peace than striving to do everything.

I also share a little about the life changes that led to the pause in this podcast and some of the lessons I learned during that time.

If you have been feeling overwhelmed, stretched too thin, or discouraged by everything on your plate, I hope this conversation encourages you to give yourself grace and take one intentional step forward.

Remember, you do not have to do everything. You only need to focus on the next best thing.

If this episode encouraged you, please leave a review and share it with a friend. Your support helps more women discover This Prepared Life.

Find me at:

www.thispreparedlife.com
https://www.instagram.com/thispreparedlife/
https://www.youtube.com/@thispreparedlife

Preparedness doesn't have to be complicated, expensive, or take hours of your time.

In this episode, I'm sharing five simple preparedness tasks you can do this week to help your family become more prepared for everyday emergencies and unexpected disruptions. These are practical, affordable steps that can make a big difference over time.

We talk about:
• Water storage and simple ways to get started
• Keeping ready-to-eat meals in your freezer
• Buying one extra item each grocery trip
• Creating a power outage kit
• Developing an emergency evacuation plan

If you've been wanting to get more prepared but aren't sure where to begin, this episode will give you a handful of easy action steps you can implement right away.

Remember, preparedness doesn't happen all at once. Small steps add up over time, and every step forward counts.

If this episode was helpful, I'd love for you to leave a review and share it with a friend.

Find me at:

www.thispreparedlife.com
https://www.instagram.com/thispreparedlife/
https://www.youtube.com/@thispreparedlife

My kids ate my food storage.

Well, not all of it, but after several of my adult children moved back home, our household went from three people to seven almost overnight. What happened next gave me a real-life test of my food storage system that I never planned for.

In this episode, I'm sharing what foods disappeared first, what I had too much of, what surprised me, and what changes I'm making as a result. This unexpected pantry experiment taught me a lot about what our family actually uses.

We talk about:
• What ran out first in my layer two pantry
• The foods I had stocked well
• Where my food storage system needs improvement
• Common mistakes that happen when multiple people access food storage
• How food storage needs change during different seasons of life

If you've ever wondered whether your food storage would actually work for your family, this episode offers a practical look at what happened when mine was put to the test.

Sometimes the best way to learn about your food storage is to use it.

If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love for you to leave a review and share it with a friend.

Find me at:

www.thispreparedlife.com
https://www.instagram.com/thispreparedlife/
https://www.youtube.com/@thispreparedlife

I talk a lot about food storage, but nonfood preps are just as important. Here are over 150 nonfood prep items from a recent post on my Instagram titled If You Use It, Prep It. So get a pen and paper and get ready to take some notes.

Preparedness is nothing more than planning for the things to come, and we each get to decide what that looks like for our families. Maybe that's one extra of the items you use regularly, or maybe that's several months or years worth. The only wrong answer is not to prep at all.

What would you add to the list? Share your responses in the comments! I welcome newcomers to homesteading and preparedness here at TPL. We all started somewhere and had help getting where we are now.

Subscribe for Food Storage, Everyday Preparedness, and Homesteading.

Feel free to reach out with questions. I love chatting with you.

View the post If You Use It, Prep It here

I get my buckets here

Luci Solar Lanterns

First Aid Kits use code TPL for 10% off from Refuge Medical

My book list is here Non-Fiction & Fiction

Jump in with my free Preparedness Planner. This 25-page PDF will guide you in core areas of preparedness and how to get started. https://www.thispreparedlife.com/prep-planner-pdf

Find me at:

Website www.thispreparedlife.com
Membership Community https://www.thispreparedlife.com/community
Courses and Digital Products https://www.thispreparedlife.com/store
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thispreparedlife/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@thispreparedlife
Products I Use https://www.thispreparedlife.com/links
Freeze Dryers https://affiliates.harvestright.com/1335.html

Thank you for your support! I receive a commission when you use my links.

Contact me via my website or via mail at:
Allison TPL
P.O. Box 195
Ponderay, ID 83852

Today, we are having a conversation with Patrice Lewis of Rural Revolution. Join us as we discuss the importance of community in preparedness and the process of moving a homestead. We covered so many topics in episode 27.

You can find Patrice on her blog http://www.rural-revolution.com/

Subscribe for Food Storage, Everyday Preparedness, and Homesteading.

Jump in with my free Preparedness Planner. This 25-page PDF will guide you in core areas of preparedness and how to get started. https://www.thispreparedlife.com/prep-planner-pdf

Feel free to reach out with questions. I love chatting with you.

Find me at:

Website www.thispreparedlife.com
Membership Community https://www.thispreparedlife.com/community
Courses and Digital Products https://www.thispreparedlife.com/store
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thispreparedlife/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@thispreparedlife
Products I Use https://www.thispreparedlife.com/links
Freeze Dryers https://affiliates.harvestright.com/1335.html

Thank you for your support! I receive a commission when you use my links.

Contact me via my website or via mail at:
Allison TPL
P.O. Box 195
Ponderay, ID 83852

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/justin-lee/high-hopes

License code: DAARCXIEKOU7IZTO

Today's episode is a conversation with Crystal from Whole Fed Homestead. Join us as we talk about food preservation, long-term power outages, using a car as a solar dehydrator, her new book Freeze Fresh, and so much more.

You can find Crystal:
https://wholefedhomestead.com/https://www.youtube.com/@wholefedhomesteadhttps://www.instagram.com/wholefedhomestead/

Her book Freeze Fresh can be found in bookstores and online wherever books are sold.

Subscribe for Food Storage, Everyday Preparedness, and Homesteading.

Jump in with my free Preparedness Planner. This 25-page PDF will guide you in core areas of preparedness and how to get started. https://www.thispreparedlife.com/prep-planner-pdf

Feel free to reach out with questions. I love chatting with you.

Find me at:

Website www.thispreparedlife.com
Membership Community https://www.thispreparedlife.com/community
Courses and Digital Products https://www.thispreparedlife.com/store
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thispreparedlife/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@thispreparedlife
Products I Use https://www.thispreparedlife.com/links
Freeze Dryers https://affiliates.harvestright.com/1335.html

Thank you for your support! I receive a commission when you use my links.

Contact me via my website or via mail at:
Allison TPL
P.O. Box 195
Ponderay, ID 83852

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/justin-lee/high-hopes

License code: DAARCXIEKOU7IZTO

Today's guest is an episode not to miss. I talked with author, mother, and prepper for over fifteen years, Millie Copper. Millie Copper writes fiction and non-fiction and is the author of the series Havoc in Wyoming. We talked about creative storage in small spaces, being off-grid, budget prepping, finding community as a prepper, her books, and so much more!

You can find more about Millie's books at https://milliecopper.com/You can connect on her blog which is full of preparedness and real food cooking information at https://homespunoasis.com/Follow her on Facebook at MillieCopperAuthor

Subscribe for Food Storage, Everyday Preparedness, and Homesteading.

Jump in with my free Preparedness Planner. This 25-page PDF will guide you in core areas of preparedness and how to get started. https://www.thispreparedlife.com/prep-planner-pdf

Feel free to reach out with questions. I love chatting with you.

Find me at:

Website www.thispreparedlife.com
Membership Community https://www.thispreparedlife.com/community
Courses and Digital Products https://www.thispreparedlife.com/store
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thispreparedlife/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@thispreparedlife
Products I Use https://www.thispreparedlife.com/links
Freeze Dryers https://affiliates.harvestright.com/1335.html

Thank you for your support! I receive a commission when you use my links.

Contact me via my website or via mail at:
Allison TPL
P.O. Box 195
Ponderay, ID 83852

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/justin-lee/high-hopes

License code: DAARCXIEKOU7IZTO

Not my typical content; skip it if this isn't for you. Today, we are talking all about being Prepared, not scared, and how it relates to the Proverbs 31 Woman. Join the discussion on what fear is, how to move from a place of fear to a place of focus, and what it might look like in our preparedness journey.

Episode 2 is mentioned https://www.thispreparedlife.com/podcasts/this-prepared-life

Proverbs 31 is mentioned https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2031&version=NIV

Subscribe for Food Storage, Everyday Preparedness, and Homesteading.

Jump in with my free Preparedness Planner. This 25-page PDF will guide you in core areas of preparedness and how to get started. https://www.thispreparedlife.com/prep-planner-pdf

Feel free to reach out with questions. I love chatting with you.

Find me at:

Website www.thispreparedlife.com
Membership Community https://www.thispreparedlife.com/community
Courses and Digital Products https://www.thispreparedlife.com/store
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thispreparedlife/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@thispreparedlife
Products I Use https://www.thispreparedlife.com/links
Freeze Dryers https://affiliates.harvestright.com/1335.html

Thank you for your support! I receive a commission when you use my links.

Contact me via my website or via mail at:
Allison TPL
P.O. Box 195
Ponderay, ID 83852

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/justin-lee/high-hopes

License code: DAARCXIEKOU7IZTO

Homesteading and preparedness when you don't live on your farm. Today's guest is Jen from Serenity Hill Farmstead. Jen is a mom to four living in Illinois. Join us today as we talk about her life homeschooling four children, homesteading when you don't live at your homestead, their shed-to-house conversion, living with an autoimmune disease, and so much more. This episode is packed full and not one to miss.

You can find Jen at
https://serenityhillfarmstead.com/https://www.instagram.com/serenity_hill_farmstead_/
https://www.youtube.com/@SerenityHillFarmstead

Subscribe for Food Storage, Everyday Preparedness, and Homesteading.

Jump in with my free Preparedness Planner. This 25-page PDF will guide you in core areas of preparedness and how to get started. https://www.thispreparedlife.com/prep-planner-pdf

Feel free to reach out with questions. I love chatting with you.

Find me at:

Website www.thispreparedlife.com
Membership Community https://www.thispreparedlife.com/community
Courses and Digital Products https://www.thispreparedlife.com/store
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thispreparedlife/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@thispreparedlife
Products I Use https://www.thispreparedlife.com/links
Freeze Dryers https://affiliates.harvestright.com/1335.html

Thank you for your support! I receive a commission when you use my links.

Contact me via my website or via mail at:
Allison TPL
P.O. Box 195
Ponderay, ID 83852

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/justin-lee/high-hopes

License code: DAARCXIEKOU7IZTO

Carving a farm out of the woods with passion and energy. Join this discussion with guest Rylee Faust. She is a 20-something homesteader, wife, & mom living in Northern MN. Today as we talk homesteading, prepping, making it work on one income, tips for new homesteaders, living this life with small children, and so much more!

Rylee can be found here: https://www.instagram.com/rylee_faust/

Find episode 1 and 4 mentioned in the show here: https://www.thispreparedlife.com/podcasts/this-prepared-life

Subscribe for Food Storage, Everyday Preparedness, and Homesteading.

Jump in with my free Preparedness Planner. This 25-page PDF will guide you in core areas of preparedness and how to get started. https://www.thispreparedlife.com/prep-planner-pdf

Feel free to reach out with questions. I love chatting with you.

Find me at:

Website www.thispreparedlife.com
Membership Community https://www.thispreparedlife.com/community
Courses and Digital Products https://www.thispreparedlife.com/store
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thispreparedlife/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@thispreparedlife
Products I Use https://www.thispreparedlife.com/links
Freeze Dryers https://affiliates.harvestright.com/1335.html

Thank you for your support! I receive a commission when you use my links.

Contact me via my website or via mail at:
Allison TPL
P.O. Box 195
Ponderay, ID 83852

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/justin-lee/high-hopes

License code: DAARCXIEKOU7IZTO

Azure Standard is my go-to resource for bulk buying and stocking my food storage and prepper pantry. In this episode, I walk you through everything from placing an order to picking it up at a drop site. I also share some of the items I buy and what I like about Azure.

I wanted to clarify something regarding the shipping fees that were discussed in the episode. Please note that while using drops, there are no shipping charges. Some drops in certain areas do have a transportation fee.

You can find out more about Azure Standard here
https://www.azurestandard.com/?a_aid=bd9dcfe6a3

Subscribe for Food Storage, Everyday Preparedness, and Homesteading.

Jump in with my free Preparedness Planner. This 25-page PDF will guide you in core areas of preparedness and how to get started. https://www.thispreparedlife.com/prep-planner-pdf

Feel free to reach out with questions. I love chatting with you.

Find me at:

Website www.thispreparedlife.com
Membership Community https://www.thispreparedlife.com/community
Courses and Digital Products https://www.thispreparedlife.com/store
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thispreparedlife/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@thispreparedlife
Products I Use https://www.thispreparedlife.com/links
Freeze Dryers https://affiliates.harvestright.com/1335.html

Thank you for your support! I receive a commission when you use my links.

Contact me via my website or via mail at:
Allison TPL
P.O. Box 195
Ponderay, ID 83852

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/justin-lee/high-hopes

License code: DAARCXIEKOU7IZTO