A 42-year-old mother from South Wales has stockpiled nearly three months of supplies “in case of an emergency,” citing global food insecurity and fears of a new world war. Ana, a mum of one, keeps a pantry full of preserved food and a rotating supply of vegetables and fruit from her garden, all ready for a supermarket emergency.
She does not want to settle for dull food in any situation, saying: “Who wants to be eating Spam in an emergency?” Three years ago, she set up an online “prepper” community for members to share advice, joining a growing number of women stockpiling their own food reserves.
Community growth and message
The community, Uk Preppers Club, now has more than 15,000 members. Ana says it represents families who want to be a little less vulnerable in the face of war and climate change. However, she resists being seen as a forecaster of armageddon.
In an interview with the Daily Star, she said: “The term prepper has been tainted by the American doomsday preppers. The only bag I have stashed under the bed has snacks, water and a phone charger in case we get stuck in A&E for a couple of hours.”
A study from the ATM network Link showed nearly half of people surveyed had a stockpile of tinned goods. Ana believes the message is getting across, as her community has seen a 50% increase in members since March.
Practical approach and advice
Ana, who claims she was previously stonewalled from a male-oriented group, said: “It’s a platform for everyone, women and men.” She does not want to diminish the efforts of people who are just starting out.
Inspired by her parents preserving food for cold winters, Ana took it a step further by building a 300 sq foot area in her garden for fruit and veg, plus a chicken coop and a water well. She said: “I see the videos where people are buying tins and tins of random food with no thought about what they will make or taste like. People need to think through what they need, how to provide nutritious food for the family, and it can take time – Rome is not built in a day.”
She has a list on her YouTube channel, Ana’s Food and Lifestyle, of 20 key items people should stockpile, having only dipped into her own once during the Covid pandemic. She said: “I don’t want people to be frightened, but families can really support themselves for at least a few days in case of an emergency.”
Book and similar efforts
Ana also has a book out called How To Stock Up for an Emergency, offering her best tips and tricks for anyone getting into prepping. Global wars have led to similar stockpiling efforts, with American stockpiler Rowan MacKenzie issuing three warnings: “Protect your money, have hard copies of your important documents, and stay alert.”
Ana’s full list of items you need to have includes cleaning supplies (specifically bleach), vinegar, baking soda, bread flour or any flour, yeast, peanut butter or powdered peanut butter, rice, pasta, beans or lentils, salt and sugars, medical supplies (plasters, medication) and personal hygiene supplies, stock cubes, tinned meats or protein, dried fruits or vegetables, sweet treats, cough sweets, fresh vegetables like garlic, onions and potatoes, soap, pet food, and a bonus of spices and herbs.
