Tinned food made with love – our recipe for food preparedness

2026 is Norway's Total Defence Year

We who live and work here at Skåbu know something most people have forgotten: building up a store of emergency food rations does not happen by itself - it is built one tin at a time.

The year 2026 has been designated the Year of Total Defence in Norway. The authorities have reminded us that we live in uncertain times, and encouraged all households to think about what we depend on in everyday life, providing instructions on how we can manage even if something should fail. Although the advice may be simple, it is nevertheless crucial: Be prepared to fend for yourself for at least seven days. If you can do so, then those who truly need help can be prioritised first.

We have brought this philosophy into our own kitchen. For us, it is not about fear, but about consideration – for family, for guests, and for those we love.

Local food in a tin from Skåbu – moose soup, bolognese and mountain pig

That's why we've started storing our own food in tins. Not industrial food, but the same food we make for our guests every day: soup made from moose from Skåbu, bolognese cooked slowly and with love, and ham from mountain pigs that have roamed freely on our farm.

When you open one of our tins, you don't just get a meal. You get a taste of the mountains, a bit of our history, and security on the shelf – ready for the day you need it, whether it be a hectic Tuesday or something bigger.