Are You Stockpiling This Essential Mineral?

Most of us are so used to being able to go to the grocery store whenever we need to that we don’t give most of our household kitchen commodities a second thought until we run out of them. Even then, our only thought is that we need to stop by the grocery store and pick up some more and, this is certainly the case with such a common commodity as salt! However, salt is an absolutely essential mineral and the Human body absolutely must have a sufficient intake of this mineral if it is to continue functioning properly.

But, salt is not a commodity that most foragers can find in their locales since, salt is commonly mined from the Earth and salt mines are few and far between. In fact, in ancient times, salt was so valuable that only nobles and rich merchants could afford it and, at one point in history, Roman Legionnaires were actually paid in salt and thus, the modern expression “worth his salt”. However, in the event of a national emergency, the flow of goods to our grocery stores would soon cease and thus, stockpiling a quantity of this essential mineral is a wise idea.

Therefore, it should be noted that salt is available in bulk from both your local grocery store and your local livestock feed store. Also, if you choose to purchase it from your local grocery store, then it is usually available in 25 lb. bags. However, I suspect that 50 lb. bags are also available upon request. In addition, when ordering large quantities of salt from a grocery store, then I would suggest that you deal with a local, family owned, store rather than a large chain because small stores have a much more flexible supply chain and thus, they can far more easily accommodate your request. However, it should be noted that pre-ground salt is very prone to draw moisture and thus, for long term storage, it must be placed in an airtight glass or plastic container (metal will corrode) and then stored in a cool, dry, place.

Also, in addition to the common pre-ground salt we are all used to, salt is also available in crystalline from and is commonly called “rock salt” due to its similar appearance to quartz crystals. However, crystalline salt is far less prone to absorbing moisture than ground salt is and thus, it is easier to store for long periods without it drawing moisture but, even so, it should still be stored in airtight containers. Furthermore, although it is an animal grade product, livestock feed stores sell large blocks of both plain salt and salt with other essential minerals added and, because these blocks are meant to be left out in the field and exposed to the elements, they are very hard and thus, they are very easy to store for long periods of time.

Then, in order to make use of either the rock salt or the salt blocks, you simply add either the crystals or chips from a block (which can be placed in a washrag and crushed with a hammer to further reduce their size), into a “salt mill” which is a handheld device that is specifically designed to grind salt while also dispensing it onto your food.

Therefore, if you have not already done so, stockpiling a quantity of salt is a wise idea since your body absolutely requires this mineral in order to continue functioning properly and yet, it is not a commodity that would be easily obtainable in the event of a national emergency. Consequently, it would also make an excellent barter item to trade for other commodities that you need but do not have in the event that such an emergency does occur.

 

Written by,

Bill Bernhardt

Outdoor Professional

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