rice v wheat

RICE V WHEAT


First thing, I would like to thank Dave from Texas for his encouraging words and of course for the ounce of silver. When you tell me how wonderful I am, that strokes my ego and goes a long way in healing all the mean and hurtful things others are saying. Things like, no, you aren’t the messiah, or, you might be full of crap. It cuts deep, people. Silver, on the other hand, puts me back in my happy place, a place where shiny and glittering things captivate one for hours. Hours where the only worries were getting a warm nipple and getting rid of a warm load in your diaper. To me, silver ( 1 oz (.999) Fine Silver Bar - Eagle Design ) isn’t like getting $20. No, it is like getting a real security blanket. Real money, accepted through the ages, unaffected by government printing presses. Well, unless it was Roman silver which was diluted to the point of worthlessness. Which brings me to a few articles. I want to thank http://www.backwoodssurvivalblog.com/ for pointing out this article- http://www.kitco.com/ind/Wilson/jul222010.html . Also, this weeks Kunstler was top form. http://www.kunstler.com/blog/ . I don’t know if I agree with his deflation thoughts- the article above ties in derivatives with hyper inflation- but it was well written. All of his articles are, but this was on topic more than on rant. I used to be a lot more certain about economics before I learned that the energy equation was the ultimate spoiler or that derivatives could very well be another.

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I think the computer ate all comments posted on Monday’s article. There was a good one making a case for rice, but when I went back to reread it I couldn’t find it. It gave me the idea for today’s article, but I would have liked the original comment for a point by point argument. If recall correctly, it basically said that rice ( Seductions of Rice ) is a heck of a lot easier to prepare, especially in the field. While that is true, and a valid point to keep in mind when stocking for a BOB, it still falls short when talking about long term food storage. Rice has a lot of disadvantages. I highly recommend pre-cooked rice ( Minute Rice, which is “throw in boiling water and sit for five minutes” ) and cooked canned beans for disaster situations. They use almost no fuel and are filling and nutritious. But when you need more than just a few weeks of food rice is not the best answer. Rice, white, is not a complete grain. Whole, brown, rice does not store well due to its rancidity. Rice is twice the price of wheat. Rice can’t be grown in most of the country. To most of us, rice tastes like the white paste we used to eat in kindergarten. Rice does not have the diversity of wheat in menus. Rice only wins in its cooking simplicity and availability.

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There is nothing wrong with white rice, in a regular menu. If you are just using it as a calorie source it is great. It is very filling. But it is just like white flour. All calories and little nutrients. If you can’t get your needed nutrients from other foods then white rice can’t keep you alive. I stockpile about a hundred pounds of white flour, for variety. But it is to mix with freshly ground whole wheat flour. I wouldn’t want to rely just on the white flour. I also stock about a hundred pounds of white rice. But just for the variety. I won’t eat enough at one time to deprive myself of nutrients. Which would be pretty silly since we are going to be in a emergency ( Emergency: This Book Will Save Your Life ) situation and will really be stressed. Which is why I also stockpile roll-your-own tobacco and plenty of cans of coffee. Stress release, and in the case of coffee ( I Love Coffee!: Over 100 Easy and Delicious Coffee Drinks ) absolute necessity. Sure, sure, you are a super stub survivalist who has no vices to become a weakness. Good on you. I want my damn coffee and, yes, I would literally kill for it after a time. I don’t claim to be perfect. I don’t ask for perfection from others, only that they are intellectually honest about things. Although you would think I’m asking for their first born.

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You can stockpile brown rice, although I don’t know why you would. It still goes bad in a few months. I like to buy once and forget about it. Wheat fits that role. Beans do also, but the older ones can only be eaten by grinding and boiling into a refried type paste ( another reason to have a grain grinder [ Grizzly H7775 Cast Iron Corn / Grain Mill] ). White rice will pretty much last forever, too, but has too many other faults. Such as being twice the price as feed store whole wheat ( which is also better in protein ). Of course, you can also buy rice everywhere. Unlike wheat which can be hard to find. But then, you can solve any problem with lots of money. Here at the World Headquarters Of Bisonia we try to do things the inexpensive way since most of you sign over your testicles and paychecks to the wife ( even those natural boobs are pretty darn expensive, aren’t they? ). Even making fifty grand a year you have a prep budget less than mine based on a minimum wage paycheck. Well, enjoy looking at your boobs ( Boobs: An American Obsession ). Just don’t touch. Next up, we have the restocking issue. Not a concern now, but perhaps in the future when your local baron yokes you to a plow. Rice, without irrigation, does not grow in most parts of this country. Wheat does. And, short term, I expect all of our current rice to shortly be shipped over to Asia as they have more crop failures.

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I know some of you like rice. I think it tastes like crap. It is okay when I’m bored with other starches and has meat and sauce added to it. But that is the whole thing. You must add to it. At least with wheat you can eat it by itself if needed. And in many more dishes ( even turned into fake meat- look up in  [ Passport to Survival: Four Foods and More to Use and Store ]  ). Sure, you have to grind it first. But if you did grow rice you would need to crush the hull off it to make white rice anyway. A grinder is only $25. And you can cheaply buy beans too old to boil from others, plus make the usual corn and wheat flour. You COULD make a shotgun with plumbing pipe, but it is better to buy the factory gun. So too, it is better to buy a grinder for wheat than trying to make do with rice. Rice is supplemental, wheat is the mainstay.
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