The Doomsday Queen of Salt Lake City: A Year’s Pantry for Five, 360 Kilograms of Fresh Harvest, and 25-Year Dried Staples
Crystal Frugal, 37, calls herself the “queen of Doomsday.” Each year she grows about 360 kilograms of fresh vegetables and fruits for her five-member family—her husband, 41, and their three children, ages 13, 12, and 8. She keeps a stock of freeze-dried meals that can last up to 25 years, including ribeye steaks, macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets, and pumpkin pie. Her goal is a pantry that could sustain five years and be ready for wars, inflation, and any other crisis.
In This Article:
A Lifelong Habit: Crystal’s Start in Gardening and Canning
Crystal began this lifestyle at four years old. Her late grandparents Ada and Clyde taught her to grow fruits and vegetables. She has been canning for more than 30 years, and she says her family has always been prepared for emergencies. “We must be ready for uncertainty. Four years ago supply chains were disrupted, and inflation rose quickly. We did not fear empty shelves or high prices. We had everything we needed.”
A Living Farm at Home: What They Grow and How They Live
Each year Crystal harvests around 360 kilograms of produce, including potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, peaches, apples, and pumpkins. The family—husband (41) and children aged 13, 12, and 8—relies on a mix of homegrown food and local sourcing. They also keep a cow and a pig, and she buys meat from a local farmer. “I grow everything—from tomatoes, carrots, greens, and peas to artichokes, pumpkins, and grapes. We also have a cow and a pig.” When I see a discount on pasta, I buy one box now and two for the future. It’s how the stockpile grows.
The Five-Year Horizon: Freeze-Dried Staples and the Shopping Habit
Crystal keeps an impressive array of freeze-dried foods—ribeye steaks, macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets, and pumpkin pie—that can be stored for up to 25 years. She is actively working toward a five-year pantry for her family. To support what they cannot grow, she buys meat from a local farmer and spends about $600 a month on groceries.
Insurance and Everyday Readiness: Solar Generators, First Aid and Survive- gear
The family’s safety net goes beyond food. They have solar generators, first-aid kits, warm clothing, and a fire-start kit. Crystal calls this preparation “insurance” against the unknown and says, “We hope for the best, but we are ready for anything.”
