Good Insurance

Well, I had a dear friend give me a call this morning and due to her call, I decided to write this short note.

If you haven't heard about our own disaster, close to home, here is the article Slave Lake

Well my friend called her insurance company, to see what she needed to do to make sure she was covered if something like this were to happen to her. The advice she was given was to take a digital copy of everything, and I mean "everything" in her home. Details, because in an emergency situation, you will not remember all of the things you have. You will not remember most of the things you lost!

So in detail go through your home and make a digital copy with your camera or video camera, and then make several copies of it and keep them in various separate out of town locations, perhaps one in your vehicle too. While going through your home, actually lay out your clothing on your bed and itemize each one, how many shirts you own, how many socks, and so on. Go through each cupboard, closet, bathroom, and so on. And for those of us who have a rather large storage, well if we would want it replaced, then we must detail it all! And I would also suggest that after we have digitized it all, we also have it listed out in detail on paper. If you want to go even another step further, then write down the replacement value of each item. I know it sounds kind of like a daunting task, but well worth the time if it happens to be us in the crisis. I had another friend who had a small house fire in the past and if she would have done this, it would have saved her a ton of time after the fact. The insurance company will not make these lists for you, and they will not find the replacement costs for you, it is all up to you to do these things. So why not do them ahead of time, so that if the disaster happens to your home, and your family is dealing with shock and loss, you will not have the extra added stress of figuring out details of stuff!!

Just some food for thought here, but well worth the time to do it now.

52 Weeks

Sorry for those who have requested that I send them the 52 weeks zipped, and you have not received it yet. My laptop has crashed, and I thought that I managed to save the information first, however, it isn't looking so good.

Please feel free to use whatever you find on this site, and hopefully I will be able to save my files and still send them onto you.

Thanks

Prepare Every Needful Thing

I just attended a class this past week at Women's Conference in Provo and it was titled "Prepare Every Needful Thing".  One of the speakers talked about some things to do to help motivate us or others to be preparing.  I thought I would share a few of these with you.  Also remembering that reading these things and learning about them, means nothing unless you apply the action to doing them.

 

1. Set realistic goals.  Successful people are successful because they know where they are going / where they want to go.  Set your goals for your 72 hour kits, 3 month supply and longer term supply.  Set three realistic goals in each area and post them on your fridge where they are in your face all the time.  Review them regularly and revise them as needed.

2. Create a team of like minded people.  Teamwork will help us reach our goals sooner rather than later.  Meet together regularly, buy things in bulk, build on each others strengths; teamwork can take us far.

3. Plan carefully.  Lack of planning can usually be our worst disaster.  Plan, plan, and plan, then go and prepare.  Research and know what you want, and how much.  Planning will promote focus and will also reveal possible roadblocks that might lie ahead.

4. Get enthused.  Without enthusiasm, we will do nothing.  Enthusiasm will bring success.  Teamwork will help keep us enthused.

5. Stay focused.  Keep your goals in sight.  Change the way you think.  Start thinking in everything and every place...........what would happen if.........?

6. Create your habit.  A habit will change your perspective and drive you to action.  Create the habit of preparedness...........again, change the way you think.

7. Do more than is expected.  Know your city's emergency plan, share online your knowledge with others, use www.providentliving.org for help, keep small cash on hand (at least $1000 in small bills), learn to date every food item that comes into your house, keep your preparedness organized...........well you get the idea, do more than just what you HAVE to do.

8. Discipline yourself.  Change your habits, your buying habits, your thinking.  In an emergency there are no second chances.  We get one shot to get it right, so discipline yourself right now so that when the time comes for us to use what we know, we will be prepared.

9. Family communication.  Set a good example for your family and communicate to them the importance of preparedness.  Do you have a family emergency calling tree, a family budget, a family utilities shut off plan?  Do you have all of your vital family information in one book?  Do you have pictures of your home, and serial numbers of big items?  Think of things like this and make a family plan so they all know.

10. Faith!  Strengthen your faith through prayer and preparedness.  Faith combats fear.  The truth is the truth whether or not you believe it, so prepare and then have faith that you will e okay.  Don't be scared, just be prepared.

 

Great site to check out

Just thought I would share with you guys a great site. I know lots of you already follow this site, but for those of you who haven't checked it out yet..........

http://blog.totallyready.com

Great info on preparedness and also she keeps up so much with the happenings in the world. Check it out.

Some of My Favorite Food Storage Mixes

Waffle / Pancake Mix

1 ½ cups white sugar

1 ½ cups ground white beans

1 cup powdered eggs

1 tbsp salt

1 tbsp baking soda

3 tbsp baking powder

1 2/3 cups non instant powder milk

10 cups freshly ground whole wheat flour or mix part white flour

All you need to do to this mix is add water until it is the consistency of pancakes, or whatever you want to make! It will make waffles, pancakes, crepes, fritters, and more.

Muffin Mix

8 cups flour

3 cups sugar

3 tbsp baking powder

2 tsp salt

2 tsp ground cinnamon

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Mix well, put into a large airtight container. Label with date and contents. Store in a cool, dry place. Use within 6 - 8 months. Makes about 11 cups.

Muffins

This is so quick and easy, I use it for breakfast alot.

2 ¾ cup muffin mix (above)

1 egg beaten

1 cup milk

½ c butter melted or ½ c veg oil

Preheat oven to 400. Spray muffin pans with cooking spray, or line with muffin cups. Put muffin mix in bowl and combine egg, milk, and butter in small bowl. Add all at once to muffin mix. Stir until mix is just moistened. Batter should be lumpy. Fill muffin pans ¾ full. Bake 18 - 20 min. Add fruit, nuts, choc chips, for a variety of flavors.

Chili Dry Mix

Use to season chili, refried beans, taco meat, or spanish rice. Multiply by 4 and store in gallon container. I love this recipe and use it for so many things. It really is good. For the tomato powder, I made my own simply by using my dehydrated tomato chunks and chopping them up in my blender.

1 cup tomato powder

1 ½ c dried veggies (dehydrated onion, celery, and peppers, in equal portions, mixed and chopped in the blender and then add some garlic powder or dried garlic, yummy)

½ cup chili powder

3 tbsp cumin

1 tbsp salt

Chili Beans: Add ½ c mix to a quart jar of cooked beans topped up with water and ¼ cup beef tvp or taco tvp or hamburger

Taco Meat: Add ¼ c mix to burger or veggie meat and saute loosely in oil until brown.

Rice: Add ¼ c mix to cooked rice with ½ c water

Refried Beans: add ¼ c mix to 3 cups mashed beans

Salsa: Add ¼ c mix to 2 c homemade salsa

Cornmeal Mix Recipe

5 cups whole wheat flour

5 cups corn meal

1 1/3 c powdered margarine - or you can leave this out and add oil with your wet ingredients

¼ c powdered milk non instant

2 ½ tsp salt

½ c dehydrate egg whites

3 1/3 c white sugar

2 ½ tsp soda

1 ½ tsp baking powder

If you grind your own cornmeal (by grinding popcorn), grind a small bit of wheat after to clean your stones. This recipe will make about 15 cups. To use: 3 cups mix to 1 cup water and if you have to add oil, then add about 1/3 cup. Bake an 8 inch square greased, for 40 minutes or 10 muffins for 20 minutes at 350.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Master Mix (enough for eight batches) I totally love this one and use it all the time!!!

18 Cups flour - mix part whole wheat and part white

8 tsp. baking powder

4 tsp baking soda

8 tsp. salt

6 Cups granulated sugar

6 Cups packed brown sugar

14 Cups chocolate chips

8 Cups nuts - optional

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar and mix well. Stir in brown sugar until evenly combined. Add chocolate chips and nuts and toss until uniformly combined. Place in airtight container and store in cool, dark location. There is no need to refrigerate.

To prepare cookies:

Beat 1 cup butter with 2 large eggs and 1 tsp. vanilla. Add butter and egg mixture to 6 cups of dry mix with and beat until well blended. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto ungreased baking sheets.

Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Awesome!!

At the Cannery

Well, with price increases and food shortages being shouted throughout the world right now, we decided that we would head to the LDS Cannery in Lethbridge, and add to our already growing food storage. We specifically wanted to add lots more beans to our supply. They only carry three types of beans there: black, white, and pinto. They were completely out of black beans, only had 7 bags of white beans left, and not very many pinto left also. Now a few months ago, when I was in this same building, they had palates full of them stacked high on their shelves. For them to be out, was kind of scary to me, so needless to say, I bought every bean they would sell me. My favorite beans are the black beans, and I didn't get any of them.............but I will when they get some more in. They said they were expecting a couple of truck loads in soon, but there has been such a huge demand of certain items, that they are having a tough time keeping up with it. Apparently it is a common theme throughout most of the LDS storehouses that they can't keep up with the demand. So perhaps people are starting to wake up to the importance of what is going on out there in this rough old world.

Another thought, I have had many people tell me that they aren't noticing the prices going up at the stores, so here is what I want to tell you, don't check the prices, but check the size of the box or package, because the prices are staying about the same, but the quantity is definitely not. I compared a box of cereal today, with one that was bought about six months ago. The price was the same for sure, but the size of the box today said 595 g of cereal, and the older one was 950 g. The exact same packaging, with the label "Family Size" and everything, but almost half of the amount in the box. They are pretty tricky! So watch what you are buying.......they are attempting to deceive us!

Prices go up at the Cannery

 I did some figuring tonight on some of the price increases that I have seen at the LDS Church Cannery here in Lethbridge, Alberta.  I took the price list from six months ago, and then again in January, and the one that was updated as of Friday April 1st.  I then figured out the percentage of each increase per item.  It is quite scary to think that prices would increase this much over a six to nine month period of time. 

 

I would strongly encourage you if you think you are in need of any of these things, perhaps now would be a good time to get them.  If you continue to wait, you will find either more increases, or perhaps no products at all.  This is something to put some serious thought into.  The Cannery doesn't sell us these things to make money off of us.  They are providing a service for us to get our food storage at the cheapest possible prices.  Consider how much the increases must be at places that do want to make a profit off of us, and we happily and deliriously go about our daily lives not even realizing how drastically prices have gone up.  Perhaps it is time to wake up!!!

 

Products	6 months	3 months	Now	Increase	Percent
Black Beans	$15.35	$13.50	$17.15	$3.65	23.00%
Pinto Beans	17.25	17.8	18.95	1.7	10.00%
White Beans	14.95	12.8	16.35	3.55	24.00%
Rice	8.95	10.2	14.15	5.2	58.00%
Wheat	5.6	7.15	7.15	1.55	28.00%
Apple Slices	58.05	61.7	74.05	16	28.00%
Carrots	55.35	58.8	67.75	12.4	22.00%
Macaroni	12.85	16.85	20.7	7.85	61.00%
Quick Oats	8.6	10.05	16.3	7.7	89.00%
Regular Oats	8.05	10.05	15.7	7.65	95.00%
Dry Onions	73.3	77.85	90	16.7	23.00%
Potato flakes	23.5	31.5	34	10.5	45.00%
Spaghetti	15.4	20.35	24.35	8.95	58.00%
Refried Beans	27.5	29.15	36.65	9.15	33.00%
Hot Chocolate	24.5	34.15	39.75	15.25	62.00%
Flour	9.9	10.05	13.6	3.7	37.00%
Fruit Juice	24.45	28.3	31.95	7.5	31.00%

Excellant Video

A very thought provoking video. The thought is, which person are we? Are we one preparing and watching, or are we one that is too busy and ignoring? Hmmmmm........

Who, What, When, Where, and Why of Food Storage

I have been planning my class for this week,  "Love Your Food Storage."  Been doing alot of thinking about it lately, and wondering how does one really learn to love their food storage and it all comes down to "Use It!"  If you use it on a regular basis, you will learn to love it.  I have really learned to love food storage.  It is kind of like any other principle of the Gospel or of the Lord, if you put it into practise, you will gain a testimony of it and learn to love it.

 

I want to talk today about the 5 W's of food storage......who, what, when, where, and why!

 

WHO should store food?  Absolutely all of us!  If there is any doubt in your mind, just take a look around in the world today and the calamities, wars, and commotion that is going on is absolutely every place that you look.  I think that the WHO of food storage, is each of us, and we have that responsibility to take care of ourselves and our families.  Your neighbor down the street does not need to store food for you.  Your government officials do not need to store food for you.  Your church does not need to store food for you.  YOU NEED TO STORE FOOD FOR YOU!!!

 

WHAT should we store?  http://providentliving.org/channel/0,11677,1706-1,00.html  This link will take you to our church site of provident living.  If you follow the links it will give you alot of information on the W's of food storage.  Here it talks about water storage, 3 month supply, long term storage, and links to other things like financial reserves and things like that.  For our three month supply, it should be foods that we are familiar with and that are easy to prepare.  Foods that will keep our normal diet as close to the same as possible.  If we have a disaster of some sort, it is important to keep our routine as close to normal as possible.  If in case of food shortages, pandemics, or other crisis situations, we will have the assurance that our families will have a normal diet of food in our homes, for at least three months.  For longer term storage items, we should store at least a one year supply of foods that will sustain life.  This will include things like wheat, beans, grains, other legumes, sugars, salt, powdered milk, and oil.  These are the basics, and anything else added to it is bonus, and will only make the experience more pleasant.  Again, go to the site to find out more details, or do a search on the blog here.

 

WHEN should we store it........well the prophets have been telling us to store food for longer term use, for over 100 years now.  I think that it is about time that we start right NOW.  I have a personal feeling that we have a short window of opportunity left to get our homes in order, including food storage, and that window is fast closing.  With the natural disasters, famines, crop failures, economic uncertainties, and so on, I feel that we do not have a large window of opportunity to take our leisure time to do this.  It is just my opinion and feelings, but I feel it keenly.  Do it now and do it quick. 

 

WHERE should we store it...........well, I think that we should store it in every available nook and cranny in our homes that is available.  Buckets and boxes can fit nicely under beds, and in many cases can even replace a bed frame.  There is alot of wasted space in closets that could be used for storing things.  I think the reality of it is, if we have the desire to follow the prophets and store food, we will find places to put it.  I read a quote once and unfortunately I cannot find it again, but it was by Wilford Woodruff who said that if we could see what he sees, we would pile our food storage in the middle of the room and walk around it.  He was saying this in reference to those who say that they have no storage space available.  I think it is rather important, and not having space to store it, will not be an excuse that will cut it in the end. 

 

WHY do we need to store food.........well I think that should be fairly obvious.  Really in our world today, how can one say that there is no need for food storage, and how can one think that our government or our church or family or friends will take care of us in any disaster situation.  Because really our own salvation comes down to you and me, and we can rely on nobody but ourselves.  Personally I never want to be in the situation that I have to tell one of my grandchildren, that Grandma has no food in the house, sorry.  I never want to see the look in their eyes of hunger.  If I can control that one thing, then I can feel like I can rely on the Lord to fill in the other gaps that I cannot fill in.  We have been commanded to store it, we have been warned time and time again of the things that we will face, and we need to have faith that if we keep this commandment, we will be blessed because of it.  FAITH!

 

I will post more about my class at the end of the week, and hopefully it will help you to learn to love your food storage too!  We know all about it, so now we just need to learn to love everything about it.

 

 

 

52 weeks to preparedness

I have had many requests for my 52 Weeks to Preparedness all in a zip file. I do have this available if anyone wants it. I must admit that I was passed these from someone else a few years ago, and changed and adapted them for my own ward use. I am willing to share. Email me if you would like me to send them to you.

djatwood@shaw.ca

What Can I Do?

My heart has been going out to those who have been affected by the devastation in Japan.  And I keep wondering what can be done?  All I can think is that we learn from this.  But then I have to say what can we learn?  What is it that the Lord wants us to learn?  And what should we do for ourselves?

 

Could we have disasters like this where we live?  I believe we could!  I have had people asking me what I think about where we live, and I have to say that perhaps the problems we might see here (locally - being Southern Alberta), are the ripple effects of these kinds of disasters. The shortages of certain kinds of foods, or the crazy high prices of certain kinds of food.  We will definitely see the high prices of gasoline!  The ripple effects will affect our standard of living and our economy, no doubt about it.  Are we ready for that?   Of course we could also have earthquakes here, we do have a few fault lines not too far from here, and we could see some flooding, but nothing like a tsunami, (we don't have water!).  We have tornadoes, we have extreme weather, we could see pandemics, we could see biological warfare problems (due to the army base close by), we have a couple of big plants here that produce toxic goods so we could see possible problems there, and the list can go on.  So could we have disasters where we live?  You bet!  Don't think we are exempt from these things!

 

So then what is our responsibility?  Well, my favorite subject to talk about is food storage, water storage, and just basic preparedness and self reliance in our homes.  In any disaster situation the immediate needs are usually shelter, water, food, and warmth, along with hygiene and medical supplies.   As we see from some of the most recent disasters, and what is going on right now in Japan, those who have survived and are living in shelters, they need medical supplies, they need water, heat, and food.  Those a little further out from the disaster areas are finding power shortages (due to controlled blackouts), they are finding empty shelves at the stores due to lack of available food, lack of transportation, due to shut down in dairies, loss of farms, factories that are not operating, and the list goes on.  There is a lack of fuel, many cannot get gas at the pumps because it just is not there.

 

We have been warned, we have been prodded, we have been pleaded with, for many years now within our church, and even through the governments, to be prepared.  Our church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), has asked us for well over 100 years now to prepare for any disaster by storing food, clothing and fuel where possible.  Many government websites have disaster plans, and tell people to have at least a 72 hour emergency kit, and up to a 3 month supply of food in your homes.  Our church asks us to have a one year supply of food and supplies in our homes. 

 

So what can we do?  Get prepared in our own homes, for whatever may come our way.  Whether it is just high prices, or shortages, or disasters, or gas shortages, or whatever it might be................get prepared!!!  Don't think for even one minute that we are safe and won't be affected by what is going on out there in the world.  We will, we can, and we will!!! 

 

Our church has Bishop Storehouses that sell basic food supplies in bulk, cheaper than anywhere else, because they want us to get prepared.  Take advantage of these.  From what I hear in many places that people who are not members of our church take advantage of these more than the members - who have been warned.  So find out where the closest one is and head there.  We are doing a ward dry pack canning day on April 9th and I am looking forward to that.  It is always a great time to get together a group of people who want to get prepared and have a work day.

 

So again?  Could it happen here?  Definitely something could, and will at some time.  What can we do?  Get prepared for whatever may come.  We don't know what it will be, but it will come, no doubt.

 

D&C 88: 88-91. "And after your testimony cometh wrath and indignation upon the people.  For after your testimony cometh the testimony of earthquakes, that shall cause groanings in the midst of her, and men shall fall upon the ground and shall not be able to stand.  And also cometh the testimony of the voice of thunderings, and the voice of lightnings, and the voice of tempests, and the voice of the waves of the sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds.  And all things shall be in commotion; and surely, men's hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon all people." 

 

In fact it wouldn't hurt to study out the whole section 88.  Study, ponder and pray about it. 

 

We have been warned!  What are you going to do about it?

 

 

 

Three Classes

I have three classes that I now have to teach within the next month. I will have help with the gardening class, so I am not too worried about that one. However, the other two have me thinking.

One is called "Frugal is Fun" and one is called "Using your food storage and loving it".

I have so many different ideas rolling around in my head, but the one that I am struggling with is, the FUN in Frugal. I know what Frugal is, and I live it.....most of the time. But I don't know how to really find the FUN in it. So if you have any ideas or suggestions, please feel free to share them. You can comment, or email me djatwood@shaw.ca that would be awesome.

I will most certainly be posting about both of these classes, as well as the garden class, as the planning goes forward! I always love to teach classes, because it makes me study and learn as well.
Looking forward to it!

Farmer's Almanac and Gardening

I have been hearing mixed reports about the weather for the next couple of months.  So I decided to look up the Farmer's Almanac for our region.  You can find it below at this link.  And if you are not in my region, then scroll up or down for your own region.  http://www.almanac.com/weather/longrange/region/ca/4  Here is what it said for Southern and Central Alberta, Saskatchewan, and parts of Manitoba.

MARCH 2011: temperature 0 °C (2 °C above avg.); precipitation 5mm (15mm below avg.); Mar 1-7: Sunny, turning mild (yay!!!); Mar 8-14: Rain and snow showers, mild; Mar 15-19: Flurries, cold; Mar 20-23: Sunny, turning warm; Mar 24-27: Sprinkles, mild; Mar 28-31: Sunny, seasonable.

APRIL 2011: temperature 2 °C (4 °C below avg.); precipitation 30mm (avg.); Apr 1-6: Snow, then sunny east; snowy periods west; cold; Apr 7-10: Rainy periods east; sunny, cold west; Apr 11-13: Sunny, cold; Apr 14-18: Rain and snow showers, cool; Apr 19-26: Snowstorm, then sunny, cool; Apr 27-30: Sunny, warm.

So all in all it isn't looking to be wonderfully warm, but perhaps not quite so cold either!  So now you may ask, why do we really care about all of this?  Well, it is kind of important to farmers, thus Farmer's Almanac, because it will help them do some planning on when to plant and what kind of weather they can look forward to.  And for us, well we should also be thinking the same kinds of things.  We should have most of our seeds ordered if we are going to order from catalogues.  If not, do it soon.  And we should be planning what kinds of things we want to have in our gardens to have as fresh food for the table, and food to put away for the winter months.  Really, because of all of the scares of increasing prices on these fresh items, IF we can get them at all, I think it should be at the top of most of our lists to be planning our gardens and what we want. 

What if you don't have garden space?  Did you know that you can do wonders growing vegetables in containers?  If you have never done it, well just do a google search on container gardening, or small space gardening and the resources out there are limitless.  You can also check out your local library on these subjects and I am positive that you will find a ton of books with lots of ideas.  You may also want to check out square foot gardening  http://www.squarefootgardening.com/  I know his books are at our local library.  Amazing information for getting the most produce out of small spaces.  This is one of my goals this year is to turn half of my back yard into a bunch of square foot gardens.  More produce per square foot, less water usage, less weeds, and less bending.  It is a win, win situation.

 I do alot of container gardening.  I plant all of my hot peppers (and that is usually alot) into gallon size pots and they grow awesome.  The only thing with planting in pots is that if it gets really hot you have to water at least once a day, sometimes twice.  The nice thing is if there is too much rain, well it will either drain out the bottom, or you can easily move the pots to a dryer location.  When I go away camping or something, I just set up a sprinkler drip system and they seem to survive pretty well.  If the weather turns too cold, I move my pots inside over night and out again in the morning.  There is also alot less weeds this way.   You can quite often find used pots, just ask around at greenhouses, farmers, or on freecycle, people are usually quite willing to give away their pots, but not me!  :)

So your goals should be right now to be planning on what you want to have growing for fresh and for storage.  Figure out the layout of your current garden space, or figure out which chunk of your lawn you are going to turn into garden.  (Remember you can't eat grass, well you can but Yuck!!)  Get your seeds soon so you can be starting the ones that need to be started indoors.  My kitchen over the next week will turn into a partial greenhouse for about the next two months.  I love it!  Don't wait, just be proactive and have faith that if you get creative in your planting, you can only be blessed with a bountiful harvest. 

Some of my Favorite Things

It has been some time since I have posted here, but I feel like I need to get back into it. I thought I might share with you some of my favorite things that I have or have learned that have to do with preparedness.

My favorite books: Well there are quite a few, but I have recently aquired a couple of new ones that I am really enjoying.

One is called Marlene's Magic with Food Storage. It is not a newly released book or anything, but she has some great ideas and recipes in this book. I ordered it from www.marlenesmagic.com which is her website, so check it out. It really is worth having if you really want to know what to use your longer term food storage for. It contains things like cheese making from powdered milk, making tofu from soy milk which you make yourself, alot about sprouting, cooking with all the basic food storage items, and even making food for babies from food storage. Well worth the money.

Another one is called My Whole Foods Kitchen by Tere Foster. It can be found at www.3Dhealth.net It is also well worth the price that I paid for it, right around $25. She goes through a whole system of setting up your kitchen to be food storage friendly, using all of your longer term foods, and her whole point of the book is to be healthier because of it. She shares a system of rotating by following menus, and planning ahead, and I really love the way she does stuff. She has a channel on YouTube as well if you just do a search for 3Dhealth, she has quite a few great videos not only on food storage but on survival in the Latter Days, and quite a bit of her stuff is LDS related. I have made use of many of her videos to help me organize and set up my rotation system. They are great so check them out!

Some random things:

I love my soy milk maker that I purchased not long ago. You don't have to purchase the most expensive ones, but they are a little bit pricy. Try checking out ebay if you are interested, you might find them cheaper. Shop aroung. Anyways, I have been experimenting with making soy milk, which is surprisingly not too bad. There are a few of us in the house that have lactose problems, and it actually works for us. Of course I have also made it with my milk maker, but it takes way longer and is much more work. So if you have lactose problems, or just want to get your family healthier, I would suggest getting one. I just searched google and found one that I liked. I also am experimenting with making tofu from my fresh made milk. I love tofu, and eat alot of it, because I don't care for meat, and haven't eaten it for about 20 years. So tofu and beans are great. I am still trying to find the desirable tofu, but will keep at it until I find it.

I don't love my hand wheat grinder. I mean it works great for what it is, but if I want to get enough flour for a batch of bread, then I have to grind for about an hour or more, and that is just not fun! So on the top of my wish list of favorite things to get will be an electric mill. I am grateful I have my hand one and someday, I will really appreciate it, however, for now, I really want an electric one.

I love my Cabella's commercial dehydrator that I purchased. I have used it to dry pretty much every thing that can be dehydrated. I am learning to cook with these dehydrated foods and they are wonderful. When they are reconstituted, they are almost like fresh. What a blessing a dehydrator can be. It is worth getting a good quality one, or you will not love it.

I also love my food saver. I have made many of my own meals, "just add water" meals, and then seal them up with my food saver, and voila.........light weight nutritious easy to make meals that taste soooooooo much better than some of the store boughten ones I have tasted. A friend of mine had me try some her meals similar to this that she bought in a 5 gallon bucket, because she said they were just horrible and she needed some help to figure out how to make them more palatable. Well I tried them, and............they are pretty much horrible. Sorry for any of you who have purchased these buckets of survival food. My suggestion to you, try them out and figure out what you need to do ahead of time to make them taste better! In my case, I am so glad that I have the dehydrated foods, TVP, other food storage, and spices in my store room, with the food saver, and I make my own meals.

Well, enough random things for now. I will come back soon because I have so many thoughts on my mind. Things like Gardening - since we are facing such grave food shortages - I think we can and should still be creative in our gardening ways, so that we can still provide and put away garden produce for our families. I will get back to you more on this one soon. I have to teach a class about it, so you will be hearing from me. I am also prepping a class called "Using your long term storage and loving it" So you will hear from me on that one too.

Organizing and Doing Inventory

One of our tasks for our stake preparedness week was to take inventory of our food storage and preparedness items. If you did it great!!! If you didn't then perhaps take some time over the next few days to consider some of the following and then put it to action.

Gather a small binder or notebook. You can either categorize it alphabetically or according to categories, which ever you feel will work best for you. The categories you will put into it will be the items you already have and then those that you need to have and those that you want to have. If you are unsure of these, then you should make a list before hand so that you have an idea of all of your categories.

Under each heading also make a small note about how to properly store this item, it's shelf life, and any other particulars that go with it.

Make sure to keep it all in pencil because this notebook / binder will change many times as you gather more information and your storage changes.

Under each category make a note for each one as to what your goals are. Write down the dates of the inventories you are taking and perhaps a date for the goals you have.

As you purchase items, update your notebook regularly.

Take a formal inventory every three months to keep on top of it so it doesn't become such a large task. Also this way you will always have in the back of your mind the things that you are needing and your goals.

Well that should keep you busy thinking this week. Have fun with it!!!

Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Discourses 18:111

There never was a generation of the inhabitants of the earth in any age of the world who had greater events awaiting them than the present. And an age fraught with greater interest to the children of men than the one in which we live never dawned since the creation of the world.

Ezra Taft Benson, The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 106-107. There is a real sifting going on in the Church, and it is going to become more pronounced with the passing of time. It will sift the wheat from the tares, because we face some difficult days, the like of which we have never experienced in our lives. And those days are going to require faith and testimony and family unity, the like of which we have never had. We must prepare for the great day of the Lord. This preparation must consist of more than just casual membership in the Church. We must be guided by personal revelation and the counsel of the living prophet so that we will not be deceived.

Gordon B. Hinckley, Gen conf, April 1995. This is a time to be strong. It is a time to move forward without hesitation, knowing well the meaning, the breadth and the importance of our mission. It is a time to do what is right regardless of the consequences that might follow. It is a time to be found keeping the commandments.

"Being a little bit prepared is a whole lot better than not being prepared at all. Being well prepared is better then being a little bit prepared." Barbara Salsbury author of Preparedness Principles

“In mercy the Lord warns and forewarns. He sees the coming storm, knows the forces operating to produce it, and calls aloud through His prophets, advises, counsels, exhorts, even commands – that we prepare for what is about to befall and take shelter while yet there is time. But we go our several ways, feasting and making merry, consoling conscience with the easy fancy of “time enough” and in idle hope that the tempest will pass us by, or that, when it begins to gather thick and black about us we can turn back and find shelter.” James E Talmage, The Parables of James E. Talmage, p. 50

A Soup Project – An Idea to think about
I came across an awesome idea to think about and perhaps incorporate into your family's preparedness plan in whatever way it suits you. For Christmas, or another family gathering, prepare and vaccum seal enough soups for one hearty meal a day for one year for each family. Use 6 of your favorite soup recipes, x 60 for 360 meals. Make the dry meals, and seal them with the instructions either on the front of the bag or on a recipe card tucked inside the bag. Then you know you and your families will have at least one healthy hearty meal a day set aside for one year.
Soup ideas could include:
minestrone soup, bean soup, lentil soup, vegetable soup, taco soup, potato / corn chowder, split pea soup, beef barley, etc. Be creative!

September 26

Basic Long Term Storage
Per adult for one year

Grains: 400 lbs.
Legumes*: 60 lbs.
Powdered Milk: 16 lbs.
Cooking oil: 10 qts.
Sugar or honey: 60 lbs.
Salt: 8 lbs.
Water (2 wks) 15 gal.

*Legumes include dry beans, split peas, lentils, etc.
Source: First Presidency Letter, 2002

March 2009 Ensign:

1. Gradually build a small supply of food that is part of your normal daily diet until it is sufficient for three months

2. Store drinking water

3. Establish a financial reserve by setting aside a little money each week, and gradually increase it to a reasonable amount.

4. Once families have achieved the first three objectives, they are counseled to expand their efforts, as circumstances allow, into a supply of long-term basic foods such as grains, legumes, and other staples.

"This new program is within everyone's grasp," explains Bishop Burton. "The first step is to begin. The second is to continue. It doesn't matter how fast we get there so much as that we begin and continue according to our abilities."

Self Reliance Tips

#1. Find an out of area contact. If there is a local emergency, your family should have a contact that each person knows the number to. This way no matter where you are, everyone knows that this is the person to contact to let them know how and where you are and to also find out about the others in your family.

#2. Gather maps for your area, and any other areas you may go in an emergency or on a daily basis. This way you will be able to review any alternate routes should you have to evacuate the city, or skirt around a disaster that might have happened. Highlight the routes you may take, and share these routes with your family.

#3. Gather all of your flashlights and check the batteries. Make sure they are fresh, and instead of keeping them in the flashlight, maybe keep them in a ziploc in the same location as the flashlight. Make sure the flashlights are easily accessible and in places where you might need them if the power is out.

#4. General Conference time of the year is a great time to check the batteries in your fire alarms, and recycle your water storage. Use up your water that has been sitting. Water your plants, inside and out, and fill up the jugs with frresh clean water.

#5. Post important phone numbers close to your phone. Also put your own phone number and address close for a quick reference for your children, babysitter, or visitors if they need to know it in case of an emergency.

September 19

Okay, I have had lots of people ask me how I get by on such a small food budget in a month. I will share some thoughts. First off you need to learn to buy things in bulk. For example: if you like pasta, and it goes on a great sale, and you would normally buy 2 packages, instead buy 20 packages or 40. Whatever your budget will allow you to buy, do it. For example, this week
I just purchased 100 lbs of brown sugar, and 75 lbs of pasta. Now I don't have to buy pasta again until it comes on sale the next time, or my store starts running low. If you get into the habit of doing this, pretty soon you will have yourself a grocery store in your storage room and you will never have to purchase things (except fresh stuff), unless it goes on sale. And if it doesn't go on sale, then only purchase it in bulk, like a 50 lb bag instead of a 1 kg bag. When I first started on this way of purchasing we ate alot of pasta and rice in the beginning until we built up a supply of other things, but now we do not HAVE TO buy anything unless it is on sale or in bulk.

Sometimes we still impulse buy, and that is soooooo not good, but we are getting better! So start changing your mind set on how to smart shop, you will be amazed at how fast it can build up. And if you have any questions, please call me because I would love to tell you more about it, and how to store it, and all that jazz!

Challenge for you this week:
Whatever is at the top of your priority list for your storage, locate the best place to purchase it, figure out how much you need, and go for it. Start shopping smart! Start your own store. No more excuses!


Following is a brief outline of what the prophets through the years have couselled us concerning food storage. It is in no way a complete list, as much has been said, lots more recently that I have not included. Search the past few years of Ensigns and church articles on the lds.org website and you will find many more that are recent.

1856 – Brigham Young – store 3 to 5 years of wheat
1857 – Brigham Young and Heber kimball – store 7 years of wheat, pumpkin, squash, currents, apples, peaches, beans, peas and others
1864 – President Young – store 7 years of wheat
1867 – George Albert Smith – store 7 years of wheat
1868 – President Young – still 7 years of wheat, oats, barley, corn, vegetables, and fruit
1891 - George Q. Cannon – still 7 years of grains and fruits
1893 – George Q. Cannon – 1 to 2 years of grains and fruits
1916 – Charles Nibley – 1 year supply of food
1936 – President McKay – 1 year supply
1942 – First Presidency – 1 year supply
1954 – Bishop Buehner – 1 year supply
1958 – July Improvement Era – Counsel Regarding Food Storage - long term & short term storage – parable of the 10 virgins
1959 – September Improvement Era – Wheat 300 lbs, pwd milk 100 lbs, sugar 100 lbs, salt 5 lbs, vitamins 365, water – per adult
1966 – President Lee – 1 year – think what it would take to survive
1973 – President Benson – 1 year of leather and bolts of cloth
1973 – First Presidency – 300 lbs grains, 100 lbs sugar/honey, salt 5 lbs, first aid items, fuel, sewing stuffs
1973 – President Benson – clothes, and sewing stuff
1976 – President Kimball – 1 year supply
1978 – President Packer – 1 year
1980 – President Benson – 1 year supply and grow stuff and be self sufficient with fuels and sewing
1982 – Elder Busche – oils, honey, and pwd milk – 1 year
1988 – First Presidency – 1 year – clothing, fuel, grains, etc, etc,
1995 – Elder Perry – Life sustaining foods
1995 – Elder Perry – If ye are Prepared ye shall Not Fear
2007 – Bishop Keith B. McMullin – Lay up In Store
2007 – August Ensign – Are You Prepared?

President Hinckley November 2005 Ensign
If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear
“If anyone has any doubt concering the terrible things that can and will afflict mankind, let him read the 24th chapter of Matthew. Among other things the Lord says: “Ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars..... “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. “All these are the beginning of sorrows.....
“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
We can so live that we can call upon the Lord for His protection and guidance. This is a first priority. We cannot expect His help if we are unwilling to keep His commandments. We in this Church have evidence enough of the penalties of disobedience in the examples of both the Jaredite and the Nephite nations. Each went from glory to utter destruction because of wickedness.
......the best storehouse is the family storeroom.....”organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing. (D&C 109:8)
Now what I have said should not occasion a run on the grocery store or anything of that kind. I am saying nothing that has not been said for a very long time.
Let us never lose sight of the dream of Pharaoh concerning the fat cattle and the lean, the full ears of corn, and the blasted ears; the meaning of which was interpreted by Joseph to indicate years of plenty and years of scarcity.

Taking the Month of August Off!

Sorry, but due to my holidays and the craziness of the next month..........I am taking the month of August off. I will however be back in September, because I have some great ideas, and will keep updated on the world happenings. See you all then!