Again, we are working on storing grains for the long term. So we are looking for grains that have a shelf life of 30+ years. This shelf life is achieved both by the product itself and the packaging you use to keep out moisture, etc. I'd continue to encourage you to read the material on providentliving.org, if you have not already. It's good stuff.
Feel free to be using your food storage budget this week to stock up on more grain (any that fit the above criteria) or to save up for our trip the the HSC on May 22nd.
Sometimes it is nice to take each week and focus on one kind of grain. It you like that approach, this week, let's focus on our rolled oats. Again, this is a discussion, you may want to have with your family. If we need to be putting away 300 lbs of grain for each adult (and some percentage of that for each child), how much of that do you want to be in oats?
From last week, I'll repeat that on
Tuesday, May 22nd, I'll be leading groups over to the HSC for any of you
interested in doing some of your shopping there. We'll meet in the church
parking lot both at 2 p.m. and at 7 p.m. Please let me know if you are
interested in coming with us, so I know who to expect. If we have a large group
going, we may need to alert the HSC staff so they will have enough volunteers on
hand to help us.
Have a great grain filled week!
Monday, May 7, 2012
Week 19 - Provident Pantry
Morning,
This morning, as I ate my oatmeal for breakfast, I realized that we had worked on storing our cold cereal earlier, but had not yet addressed the hot cereal. So let's take that on for our goal this week.
It looks like most of you have some variation of oatmeal in your ingredient lists. Some of you like the individual packets. Others of you prefer the bulk. Some of you like regular rolled oats. Some of you like the "prepare in 1 minute variety". It is all good. Because there is so much variation in preferences, there is also a lot of variation in expenditure.
We will schedule "Hot Cereal" for 3 weeks. So if there are other hot cereals you want to put in your 3 month storage, feel free. Some of you will have (or be working on adding) rolled oats in your long term storage that can double here for your 3 month storage, so if you want to take these 3 weeks to work on adding items your family normally adds to their oatmeal, i.e. brown sugar and raisins, feel free.
Whatever your approach, let's use these 3 weeks to make sure we have enough hot cereal for our families in our 3 month supplies.
When I was a child, my mother used to assure me that eating my oatmeal in the morning would keep me warm and make me a better student. When I was an adult, my father used to assure me that eating my oatmeal would lower my cholesterol. Either way, it was good for me.
May you life be filled with good things today.
Love,
Marie
This morning, as I ate my oatmeal for breakfast, I realized that we had worked on storing our cold cereal earlier, but had not yet addressed the hot cereal. So let's take that on for our goal this week.
It looks like most of you have some variation of oatmeal in your ingredient lists. Some of you like the individual packets. Others of you prefer the bulk. Some of you like regular rolled oats. Some of you like the "prepare in 1 minute variety". It is all good. Because there is so much variation in preferences, there is also a lot of variation in expenditure.
We will schedule "Hot Cereal" for 3 weeks. So if there are other hot cereals you want to put in your 3 month storage, feel free. Some of you will have (or be working on adding) rolled oats in your long term storage that can double here for your 3 month storage, so if you want to take these 3 weeks to work on adding items your family normally adds to their oatmeal, i.e. brown sugar and raisins, feel free.
Whatever your approach, let's use these 3 weeks to make sure we have enough hot cereal for our families in our 3 month supplies.
When I was a child, my mother used to assure me that eating my oatmeal in the morning would keep me warm and make me a better student. When I was an adult, my father used to assure me that eating my oatmeal would lower my cholesterol. Either way, it was good for me.
May you life be filled with good things today.
Love,
Marie
Week 19 - 72 Crew
OK, now let's work on some of the other things that we may need in a 72 hour kit. So let's put in a pocket knife!!! I have seen usable pocket knives on sale from $4 to $140. I have seen pocket knives with simply one folding blade to 12-in-1 combinations. You may want to do some talking to the Scouts and/or campers in your family to get their recommendations. And you may want to do a little internet research.
I tend to favor a Swiss army knife configuration, but that may just be because our pocket knife (a Swiss army knife combination) was a gift from my dad. When you look at the configurations, think through how the various functions might help your family.
We'll calendar this item for 3 weeks, both because the more common prices are between $12 - $20 and because you may need a little research time. If you want to check out the $4 knife, feel free to send me an email, and I can direct you to it online, however I am not endorsing it or any particular pocket knife.
For those of you that already have your pocket knives, we would love to hear what you have and why you chose it. Please give us the benefit of your experience.
And optionally, if you already have a pocket knife in your 72 hour kit, put your $5 this week into an envelope to start saving for your radio.
I tend to favor a Swiss army knife configuration, but that may just be because our pocket knife (a Swiss army knife combination) was a gift from my dad. When you look at the configurations, think through how the various functions might help your family.
We'll calendar this item for 3 weeks, both because the more common prices are between $12 - $20 and because you may need a little research time. If you want to check out the $4 knife, feel free to send me an email, and I can direct you to it online, however I am not endorsing it or any particular pocket knife.
For those of you that already have your pocket knives, we would love to hear what you have and why you chose it. Please give us the benefit of your experience.
And optionally, if you already have a pocket knife in your 72 hour kit, put your $5 this week into an envelope to start saving for your radio.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Week 18 - The Long Haul
Hooray, I know you are all excited to be surrounded by something other than beans this week. Last night, in CELEBRATION, I froze all the leftover ham and beans in our refrigerator and put them in the freezer. It's a dish that both Mark and I love, that interestingly enough both our mothers used to make in a similar way with a touch of sweetness and a touch of mustard. And Mark usually makes it with a ham bone and it is delicious. But...he, bless his heart, tends to make it in batches that would feed not only us but all 6 kids and 17 grandkids. Needless to say, after a few meals it is time to put it away for awhile.
And thus it is with our beans.
So this week, we move on to GRAINS!!!
If you'll go to providentliving.org, you'll see that the Church recommends 25 lbs of a combination of wheat, white rice, corn, and other grains for each adult. That then, would be 300 lbs per adult per year. So again, do the math for your family, making adjustments for children, and come up with your goal for long term grain storage. Some of you are in that position, where you already have some grains, so now is a good time to do inventory and then continue the math by subtracting what you already have.
This is one of those areas where you may want to do some price shopping. And as always, if you find good deals, please let us know. If you choose to go out to the Home Storage Center in Round Rock, my price sheet currently says that 25 lbs of white rice is $13, 25 lbs of hard red wheat or white wheat is $11.45.
At $5 a week for every two people in your family, continue the math to determine how many weeks it will take you to get the amount you need.
The important thing here is to not get overwhelmed . 300 lbs per person may seem to be a lot, and in our budget, we may not get all of it stored this year. But that's not the point. The point is to KEEP ON, KEEPING ON. Put what you can away when you can.
On Tuesday, May 22nd, I'll be leading groups over to the HSC for any of you interested in doing some of your shopping there. We'll meet in the church parking lot both at 2 p.m. and at 7 p.m. Please let me know if you are interested in coming with us, so I know who to expect. If we have a large group going, we may need to alert the HSC staff so they will have enough volunteers on hand to help us.
Carry on, carry on, carry on (Hymnbook translation for keep on keeping on);-),
Marie
And thus it is with our beans.
So this week, we move on to GRAINS!!!
If you'll go to providentliving.org, you'll see that the Church recommends 25 lbs of a combination of wheat, white rice, corn, and other grains for each adult. That then, would be 300 lbs per adult per year. So again, do the math for your family, making adjustments for children, and come up with your goal for long term grain storage. Some of you are in that position, where you already have some grains, so now is a good time to do inventory and then continue the math by subtracting what you already have.
This is one of those areas where you may want to do some price shopping. And as always, if you find good deals, please let us know. If you choose to go out to the Home Storage Center in Round Rock, my price sheet currently says that 25 lbs of white rice is $13, 25 lbs of hard red wheat or white wheat is $11.45.
At $5 a week for every two people in your family, continue the math to determine how many weeks it will take you to get the amount you need.
The important thing here is to not get overwhelmed . 300 lbs per person may seem to be a lot, and in our budget, we may not get all of it stored this year. But that's not the point. The point is to KEEP ON, KEEPING ON. Put what you can away when you can.
On Tuesday, May 22nd, I'll be leading groups over to the HSC for any of you interested in doing some of your shopping there. We'll meet in the church parking lot both at 2 p.m. and at 7 p.m. Please let me know if you are interested in coming with us, so I know who to expect. If we have a large group going, we may need to alert the HSC staff so they will have enough volunteers on hand to help us.
Carry on, carry on, carry on (Hymnbook translation for keep on keeping on);-),
Marie
Week 18 - Provident Living
Once again, we are working on our pasta supplies. So check your ingredients lists and see what the next pasta is. For me it is lasagna. What is it for you?
(Hmmm...for some reason I have visions of Lake Cumo going through my head, bright blue sky with a few fluffy clouds, soft breeze blowing off the lake, table for two set up outside, cloth napkins and PASTA!!!) Who knew that pleasant day dreams were a by product of doing my food storage.
Week 18 - 72 Crew
This week is one of those weeks where we should have the royal buglers sounding a victory fanfare. This is the 6th week, the last week, that we will be working on getting the bedding tied down, literally, for your 72 hour kits. And with getting your bedding in place, that means you now have water, food, clothing and bedding in a ready-to-go container for each member of your family. You certainly are worthy of a royal shout out to be sure! There is still more to do, but give yourselves a pat on the back. You've accomplished the basics here.
The optional assignment this week for those of you who would like to add a bit more comfort to your lives in a crisis is to get those foam pads (that weigh little and can be rolled up and strapped to your pack easily) to put under your sleeping bag. With a little deal shopping, you can usually find ones that are pretty inexpensive. It's amazing the extra comfort you can get from even 1 inch of foam.
Best wishes,
Marie
The optional assignment this week for those of you who would like to add a bit more comfort to your lives in a crisis is to get those foam pads (that weigh little and can be rolled up and strapped to your pack easily) to put under your sleeping bag. With a little deal shopping, you can usually find ones that are pretty inexpensive. It's amazing the extra comfort you can get from even 1 inch of foam.
Best wishes,
Marie
Monday, April 23, 2012
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