I've known for quite a while that the proper way in which to run a food storage program is to have a pantry in which food gets stored and dinner most nights is created using the old items in the pantry. DW and myself are simply not going to live that way. Dinner tonight was purchased less then 1 and 1/2 hours before being consumed, last night about two hours before, and we ate out the night before, and it's pretty much a similar story all the time. Occasionally, I do manage to cook from stored food. I have a garden and some edible landscaping, seems I can grow berries and legumes. I've got some prepared foods stored. So all is not hopeless or depending on grains in buckets. However, there is simply no way for me to store enough food so that it would last us a matter of months. I'd like to get enough stored for a year, but right now we are at about 7-8 months.

Anyone have any advice or suggestions on storing buckets of grains and beans.

How long can/should they be kept?

What's the maximum portion of ones stores one should have in this form?

Any recommendations for things to be stored in buckets?