As you can see, I have posted the entire month of December's assignments and comments. I hope you and your families have a wonderful Christmas and have come several steps closer this year to having your Emergency Preparedness Supplies and a Year Supply of Food. I have enjoyed being your guide and prompter and hope that this coming year will be a new beginning to getting even closer to our goals! Keep watching for our New Year format to come! Merry Christmas!

 

 

Week 52 (December 23, 2012)

O Come Let Us Adore Him!

At this special time of the year when we celebrate Jesus Christ and his all importance in our lives, let us keep him in our thoughts, prayers, and words, and look to Him to guide us in those things we are striving to do to become more like Him.

 

Assignment: Empty your water containers and refill with fresh water.

Assignment: Make a plan to purchase the remainder of any Long Term Food Storage items still needed

 

Week 52 again! (December 30, 2012)

While contemplating your goals for the New Year, create a list of goals you see as a need for the coming year regarding Food Storage and Emergency Preparedness.

 

Assignment: Happy New Year! Now, let’s begin again!

 

Week 51 (December 16, 2012)

The church has produced many helpful materials to assist with understanding and teaching important welfare principles. They include videos, pamphlets, books, and handbooks. A sample of available materials follows:

All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Finances (04007) pamphlet

All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage (04008) pamphlet

Basic Self-Reliance (32293) handbook

Essentials of Welfare (53045) video

One For The Money (33293) pamphlet

Providing in the Lord’s Way (32296) pamphlet

A complete list of available materials is posted on the Internet at www.providentliving.org.

Assignment: Re-evaluate your emergency Preparedness Plan and remind young children of the plan.

Assignment: Go through your Disaster Kit and swap out outgrown/ seasonal clothing.

 

 

Week 50 (December 9, 2012)

President Gordon B. Hinckley reminded us in October 2005 general conference of our need to be prepared: “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. …I have faith … that the Lord will bless us, and watch over us, and assist us if we walk in obedience to His light, His gospel, and His commandments.”

 

Purchase: 6 lbs. of fruit flavored drink mix or other drink to enhance living on your stored food.

Purchase:  12 lbs. of non-instant dry milk (double this amount if you can only find instant dry milk)

 

 

Week 49 (December 2, 2012) These will be our last assignments for the year! We are almost there.

͓͓͓Pres. Henry B. Eyring shared the following life experience in March, 2008:

“Once, I went with my missionary companion to visit a family we had taught and baptized just a few weeks previously. The parents took us down into their basement to show us a room. It had been the bedroom of one of their two daughters. But she had now moved in with her sister. The bedroom she vacated was filled with everything the family would need in an emergency. We had not taught them anything about emergency preparedness. When we asked why they had done something so difficult so quickly, the reply was that they had read in a Church magazine that the Lord would like families to be prepared to take care of themselves and others. They said, “Isn’t that what Latter-day Saints do?” That simple faith extended to everything they felt the Savior would have them do. And their desire to follow Him lasted. And it changed them.”

Purchase: Purchase something to replenish your 3 month Food Supply List. Hopefully by now it is a habit ingrained in all of us and we naturally do it in our normal grocery shopping.

Purchase: One spare of each of your favorite condiments. Wouldn’t you like to buy mustard on sale for $0.25, instead of full price when you are desperate and have none left? Also, in an emergency situation, condiments can add a lot of flavor and “comfort” to the food that you will be living off of. At least ketchup and mustard are a must!

 

Week 48 (November 25, 2012)

“Many more people could ride out the storm-tossed waves in their economic lives if they had their year’s supply of food… and were debt-free. Today we find that many have followed this counsel in the reverse: They have at least a year’s supply of debt and are food free.”  Thomas S. Monson, May 12, 2001

Purchase: Candles and matches for emergency lighting. Also, consider the 100 Hour Plus Liquid Candle. Great gifts for Christmas!

Week 47 (November 18, 2012)

How grateful we are for the gospel in our lives and for living prophets to guide us in these latter-days. “Individual and family preparedness rests on the foundation of faith in Jesus Christ, obedience to His commandments, and a provident lifestyle. Be prudent; you should not panic or go to extremes in your efforts to build a store of food and financial reserves, but you should begin. By doing so you will be blessed with greater wisdom, security, peace of mind, and personal well-being.” www.providentliving.org

Purchase: Purchase that wheat grinder you have been saving up for!

Week  45 (November 4, 2012)

With last month’s push on grain, you should have a nice storage of this in your home. Remember, 300 lbs of grain (wheat, oats, rice, corn, barley, etc.) per person per year. (Adult) Wheat is not only used for baking bread! Hopefully by now you have found many uses for wheat flour in your everyday cooking. Remember to keep experimenting in your recipes. Most things are great with 1/2 whole wheat and 1/2 white flour and a lot of times they are just fine with 100% whole wheat. If you don't have a wheat grinder don't fret. Wheat kernels can be grown into wheat grass, wheat sprouts, cracked wheat, and you can even cook them into wheat berries for a yummy breakfast food.

For November, we will concentrate on a “little of this and a little of that” as we wind down our year. We are coming down the home stretch, so stay focused.

Purchase: Paper plates and cups to save on water consumption. Water will be a luxury… don’t waste it for washing dishes. Stock up!

Week  46  (November 11, 2012)

Update your 3 Month Supply (pantry foods) inventory sheet to keep track of what you have used/replenished. As the months get colder, it’s easier to think in terms of pantry foods to warm the tummy! Plan a meal this week using only pantry foods as a reminder of what you need for completeness.

Purchase: Canned fruits and vegetables. A case of each for you and extra cans for the homeless shelter for Thanksgiving!

Also, watch closely and learn from those trying to recover from Hurricane Sandy. As we keep them in our prayers, purchase for your own home those vital life-saving items.

Week 43 (October 21, 2012)

Several months ago we talked about purchasing wheat grinders. Have you saved enough to purchase one? Please contact me if you would like to get on a list to buy one. What a great Christmas gift idea! Remember, every household really needs to have either a hand grinder or electric grinder to make use of the grains and foods we are storing.

Cannery trip next week. Be sure and calendar it! Tuesday, October 30, 2012 @ 9:30 a.m.

Purchase: Grains (whatever you are able to do.)

Week 42 (October 14, 2012)

We will be going to the cannery this Tuesday, October 16, at 4:00 p.m. once again to can! Meet at the church to carpool!

Purchase: Grains (As much as your budget can handle.)

Week  41  (October 7, 2012)

Try out different grains during the month so that you can be sure your family enjoys the food you are storing.

We will be going to the Cannery again next week! (Tuesday, October 16... meet in the church parking lot at 4:00 p.m.) You may can whatever you like; and while helping others, they help you!

Purchase: Oatmeal or other grains

Well... where did September go? Where ever it went, it went without me and I apologize. But here we are with new goals and energy in October! Keep chugging!

Week  40 (September 30, 2012)

In reviewing the last months of assignments, your family should be well on its way to becoming self-reliant, if needed. You should have on hand a 3-months supply of pantry food, as well as a good quantity of longer term foods. Other items you should have on hand by now are a 6-month supply of non-food items and your emergency supplies such as a 72-hour kit, sanitation kit, and contact information in case of an emergency.

For October, we will concentrate on the grains once again. Remember, 300 lbs of grain (wheat, oats, rice, corn, barley, etc.) per person per year. (Adult) Please stay valiant in finishing up our year together!

There will be a Cannery Activity on Thursday, October 4^th. Meet at the church at 9:30 a.m. to carpool.

Purchase: 100 lbs grain

 So sorry for the late postings! I was in California for a last summer hurrah!

Week 34 (August 19, 2012) Moving on to sugar…

Since this is another more expensive food storage item, we will back off of the 3-month supply and other items so we can accomplish our sweet tooth! No actually, this may seem like a lot of sugar, but remember that in an emergency situation you will be making all of the your foods from scratch and will need a sweetener and flavoring so that your family will want to eat It. Don’t say, “Well if they are hungry enough, they will eat it!” Yes, you may be right, but that’s not how we want to survive.

Purchase: 40 lbs of sugar (Go to the cannery! Sugar has a shelf life of 20+ years!)

Week 35 (August 26, 2012)

Continue buying in the area of baking. Traditionally, food storage lists don’t ask us to purchase powdered eggs; however, there are a lot of great recipes we could make if we simply added eggs to our storage. So, we will substitute some milk this week with eggs! Please know that powdered eggs are not raw, so if you love to eat cookie dough, you will love using these! Powdered eggs can also be put into pre-made mixes instead of having to add them later.

Purchase: 2 lbs of whole powdered eggs

Purchase: 4 large packages of flavored gelatin

Week 33 (August 12, 2012)

Okay, we are concentrating on baking ingredients this month, so to give ourselves a break in cost, we will buy some seasonings and leavening this week.

Purchase: 3 lbs of baking soda

Purchase: A large container of your family’s favorite spice

Week 32 (August 5, 2012) Baking Ingredients

For August, we will start buying all the necessary fats, oils, sugars, milk and miscellaneous that you will need to put your food storage to use! It is recommended that one adult store about 30 lbs. of fats, 60 lbs. of sugars and 75 lbs. of milk per year to sustain life.

So let’s start with milk! (Not only is it the most expensive, but you also need the most of it.) Because of the high nutrient levels in powdered milk, if you were unable to find ways to cook your food, you can actually sustain life by ONLY drinking powdered milk for quite some time. Wow!

What is the difference between instant and non-instant powdered milk you may ask? It’s similar to comparing rice with instant rice in that it is faster and easier to reconstitute than non-instant formulas. Usually, you will need to buy twice as much instant as non-instant, so keep that in mind. Be sure and watch for those brands who add ingredients to make it taste better however, such as whey, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, and high fructose corn syrup. It may taste yummier, but has far less protein and has ingredients that aren’t all that good for you.

Replace the milk in at least one recipe this week with dry milk!

Purchase: 12 lbs of dry milk

Week 31 (July 29, 2012)

Just a few words about Emergency Sanitation. A few years ago we had an evening when we all put together toilets for our emergency supplies. If you didn’t get one or you weren’t here, I am going to post here the suggested contents that you will need to purchase and put together yourself. It’s easy and runs about $35.00 per toilet. It is suggested that you have two: one for solid waste and one for liquid waste.

Purchase: Water storage that you can take and run with if necessary. Even if you store water in ice chests that you could easily pick up, great! Large containers aren’t a possibility for obvious reasons. Think smaller quantities for this purpose. Hopefully you will have completed your 3-month water supply by Tuesday. Good job!

Supplies for Sanitation Kit: (recommendations)

• Two 5 or 6-gallon plastic buckets with tight-fitting lids
• Two toilet seats that attach to the buckets
• Toilet paper
• Pre-washed and dried flannel, cut into squares, to use if toilet paper is not available (wash in hot water, bleach and re-use.)
• Paper towels
• Hand wipes, hand sanitizer and hand soap
• 13-Gallon trash bags (to line toilets)
• 33-gallon trash bags (to dispose of small, used bags and other trash)
• Two (or three) spray bottles (for hydrogen peroxide & white vinegar, with the third for bleach)
• Hydrogen peroxide
• White vinegar (in a plastic bottle, if possible, to avoid broken glass)
• Borax and/or Bleach
• Essential oils and/or sprays for odor control
• Small funnel to fill bottles
• Super Sorb (found at Amazon.com)
• Shovel
• Heavy gloves (for cleaning)
• Disposable gloves (for cleaning)
• Face masks
• Copy of the instruction sheet, stored in a plastic sheet protector in your emergency binder
• Empty plastic jug (the kind you keep in the fridge) to hold water for hand washing

EMERGENCY TOILETS: (IN CASE THE PLUMBING IS NOT WORKING)

1. Have 2 toilets--one for liquid waste and one for solid waste.
2. Place plastic liners in each toilet. You should double-line the toilet for solid waste.
3. When the toilet is not in use, be sure to place a tight lid on top of the toilet to control odor and disease.
4. In the toilet for urine, sprinkle one tablespoon of Super Sorb. It will decrease odors and absorb two gallons of fluid, turning it into a gel for easy clean-up and disposal. Also use Super Sorb for blood or vomit clean-up.
5. In the toilet for solid waste, sprinkle Borax, or use one part bleach to four parts water. These solutions will decrease odors, disinfect, and stop the spread of disease.
6. Wash your hands after each use by using soap and water. Use disinfectant wipes or hand sanitizer in a pinch.
7. Use 1/4 cup of bleach in a quart of water to disinfect surfaces; or for less toxic chemicals, use undiluted hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and undiluted white vinegar in a separate spray bottle. Spray one after the other on surfaces that need to be disinfected, then wipe off with a paper towel. Make sure you do not mix bleach and vinegar (only use them separately).

Disposal:

Check with your local health department for their plans regarding waste disposal BEFORE a disaster. The following instructions are given by the Southwest Utah Public Health Department but your area may require something different:

Bury garbage and human waste to avoid the spread of disease by rats and insects. Dig a pit two to three feet deep and at least fifty feet downhill or away from any well, spring, or water supply. After dumping waste in the hole, sprinkle lime and then soil over the top to protect from animals, hasten decomposition, and decrease odors. It is recommended that you use biodegradable waste bags to reduce the amount of garbage you are burying. Protect yourself by wearing gloves and a face mask.

There now... you are ready in case of an emergency!

Week 30 (July 22, 2012) Sorry I missed posting this last week

Continue to think “WATER” as we get closer to the end of the month. The blue plastic 55-gallon water drums can be purchased at a great price at most emergency supply departments and emergency supply stores. Be sure and make those purchases this month and get those containers filled. That is the key word here: “fill” them! I am amazed at how many people I have spoken to telling me they have the barrels, they just aren’t filled yet. Hmmm…

Week 29 (July 15, 2012)

Assignment: With the emergency drill we had just two weeks ago, many have said what a blessing it was to have all their documents in one place. This lesson was given a couple years ago, and many in our ward heeded the instruction. Take time this week if you haven’t already, to collect all your important documents and place them in a notebook or file that you can quickly grab and take with you in an emergency, as so many of us had to do earlier this month.

Purchase: Also, did you notice the first thing that had to be rationed and cut back? Our water supply! If you don’t have at least a month’s worth of water on hand for your household, I will be taking orders for water barrels and other containers this week. Please act now and get your water storage. In using the last evacuation as an example, be sure and have water that you can also grab and carry with you if necessary. If the evacuation would have been city wide, the stores would have run out of water quickly.

Week 27 (July 1, 2012)

Happy 4^th of July Weekend! Be sure and take advantage of the weather and cook outdoors! This month we are going to concentrate a lot on water once again. With the hot weather, you will be more inclined to agree that water storage is the most important item in survival.

Purchase: Water storage containers or stock up on bottled water. Buy a one months’ supply.  Remember, 1 gallon per person per day. This will cover drinking and hygiene.

Week 28 (July 8, 2012)

While traveling, be sure and prepare an emergency 72-hour kit for your cars. Go on line and find one that best suits your needs. We are still working on getting a months’ supply of water… same assignment as last week.

Purchase: Water storage containers or stock up on bottled water. Buy a one months’ supply.  Remember, 1 gallon per person per day. This will cover drinking and hygiene.

Week 26 (June 24, 2012)

Returning to legumes… Having plenty of beans in your storage will guarantee protein, vitamins, nutrients and all around healthy families.

Purchase: 5 lbs. of lentils. If this isn’t your bean of choice, choose another. Again, the cannery is a great source. Just try it and I promise you will like it!

Purchase: 5 lbs. of dry soup mix. Try out several before purchasing a large quantity. Any flavor you can add to make your beans turn into a delicious soup or stew.

Purchase: Pantry items for your 3-month storage.

Week 25 (June 17, 2012)

Back to grains… here is one that is easy to prepare and very versatile. PASTA!! (Elbow, egg noodles, spaghetti, etc.) Remember, pasta does require water to prepare. How is your water supply? We will talk about that next month again.

Purchase: 25 lbs. of pasta. Use the cannery for elbow macaroni. They are so helpful and get you in and out quickly.

Purchase: 1 extra shampoo and

Week 24 (June 10, 2012)

How is everyone doing with food storage? Emergency Preparedness? Please email me and let me hear about your progress or where you are at. I would love to know.

Purchase: 40 lbs. of sugar (Remember, if you can’t afford it all, buy what you can and keep progressing.)

Purchase: One extra bottle of cleaner (Windex, 409, etc.)

Purchase: Continue to add to your 3-month supply of pantry foods. This is an on-going task it seems.

Week 23 (June 3, 2012)

The summer months are starting! Take the opportunity to prepare your meals outdoors using your powerless cooking supplies! Challenge yourself and share your successes with your neighbors!

Purchase: 100 pounds of whole grain. This could be 100 more pounds of wheat, (remember you will need 300 lbs. of grain per person per year), or oats, rice, or another grain your family enjoys.

Purchase: Continue to add to your 3-month supply is you are still working on that. Pick up something every time you grocery shop.

Week 22 (May 27, 2012)

Research which wheat grinder you want and buy it or start saving for it. Whenever possible, grind your wheat as you use it. It loses nutritional value after it is ground and sits in the pantry. 

Purchase: 1 gallon of cooking oil. (Olive oil does not have a long shelf life and is not the oil of choice for long term. Check the expiration date before you buy your oil of choice.)

Purchase: 1 1-lb box of salt

Continue to add to your 3-month supply of non-food items.

Week 21 (May 20, 2012)

Legumes are a fancy name for beans. They are very high in protein and give important nutrients to your diet. Remember, we are striving to store a one-year food supply to sustain life, not life style. Once we are successful with that, you can fill in with the extras!

Purchase: 30 lbs. of dried beans (Black, pinto, white, navy, kidney, lentils, etc.)

Purchase: A couple extra boxes of laundry detergent.

Purchase: Something from your 3-month supply list