Week Eleven Preparedness Assignment: (March 11, 2012)

With our 72-Hour Emergency  Kits prepared and ready, we are moving on to our 3-month supply of food. This is in addition to our longer-term food storage. Our 3-month food plan will mostly be from our “pantry foods” and once completed, will rotate into our everyday groceries. To begin:

1. Organize an area to store your 3-month food supply. (Basement, garage, pantry, office, under the stairs, etc. Be creative if necessary.)

2. Make out a 3-month menu and create your grocery list. (There are a couple approaches we can do. One is to make a 1-week menu plan and multiply those supplies by 12. (3 months) The other idea is to make a 1-month menu and multiply it by 3. Do whichever you prefer.)  You may want to stay clear of depending on your freezer for food storage. If we have to go to our 3-month food storage because of a disaster, chances are you may not have power and that food will be lost. Do not be overwhelmed by the amount of food supplies you will need. Remember, we will do what we can in this area and move on. Make a copy of your menu plan and shopping list, and keep it in your storage area. Mark off this shopping list as you add the food to your shelves. Watch it grow and get excited!

3. Begin buying from your list each time you go to the store. Separate your “extra” food in your storage area decided upon in step 1 when putting your groceries away. Our goal is to have a one-month supply purchased by the end of March. You may already have extra canned goods on hand that will go into your 3-month supply. Just do what you can. Don’t forget to incorporate the cannery foods if applicable. (Potato Pearls! Yummy!)