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
Week 17 - Provident Living
For the next couple of weeks, let's focus on pasta. Be it spaghetti, or ramen, or macaroni, or fetticini, let's go for it.
My 3 month plan calls for 3 16 ounce packages of rice spaghetti, so I think that is what I'll buy this week. What will you buy?
Hasta la pasta,
Marie
My 3 month plan calls for 3 16 ounce packages of rice spaghetti, so I think that is what I'll buy this week. What will you buy?
Hasta la pasta,
Marie
Week 17 - 72 Crew
So how is your bedding coming? Have you identified the sleeping bags you want and have you either purchased them or have you been putting away your $5/wk/every 2 people in your family so that you can purchase them next week? We will allot this week and next week to getting this very important part of your 72 hour kit in order.
The optional item this week is a whistle. I think the only two criteria is that it works and it is loud. It is one of those things you may never use, or it may become very important in locating yourself to others or to finding someone else in a crisis situation.
Or maybe you will just "whistle while you work" ;-) (It is possible that I am spending too much time on the internet watching old Once Upon a Time episodes.)
The optional item this week is a whistle. I think the only two criteria is that it works and it is loud. It is one of those things you may never use, or it may become very important in locating yourself to others or to finding someone else in a crisis situation.
Or maybe you will just "whistle while you work" ;-) (It is possible that I am spending too much time on the internet watching old Once Upon a Time episodes.)
Monday, April 16, 2012
Week 16 - The Long Haul
To quote one of my favorite poets and philosopher, Shel Silverstein:
So to all you wonderful magic-bean-buyers, hail to thee. And store away another 8+ pounds of beans for every two people in your family this week.
Have a happy week,
Marie
So to all you wonderful magic-bean-buyers, hail to thee. And store away another 8+ pounds of beans for every two people in your family this week.
Have a happy week,
Marie
Week 16 - Provident Pantry
Morning,
This week we are still making bread - or more accurately, we are storing the ingredients for the bread we will be needing/making in our 3 month supply.
I see on your ingredients' lists that some of you have tortillas or frozen roll dough. If these are ready made and you have freezer space, simply purchase, store, and you are done. For those of us who have limited freezer space and will need to make bread from scratch, let's make sure we have the ingredients to do so.
So this week let's focus on yeast and sugar and shortening and salt.
Yeast is probably just for your bread, but the other ingredients may be used in other of your menu items.
If you have or are also working on your long term storage with us, you already have your sugar and salt, so this week's task is even easier - it is just the yeast and shortening.
Of course, I have not seen your bread recipes, so if you have other items in those recipes, please include those as well this week.
The goal this week is: We now have our bread requirement for 3 months stored away.
This is big sisters. When you complete this, give yourselves a pat on the back. And you can even serve PB&Js to celebrate with the family:-)!
Blessings,
Marie
This week we are still making bread - or more accurately, we are storing the ingredients for the bread we will be needing/making in our 3 month supply.
I see on your ingredients' lists that some of you have tortillas or frozen roll dough. If these are ready made and you have freezer space, simply purchase, store, and you are done. For those of us who have limited freezer space and will need to make bread from scratch, let's make sure we have the ingredients to do so.
So this week let's focus on yeast and sugar and shortening and salt.
Yeast is probably just for your bread, but the other ingredients may be used in other of your menu items.
If you have or are also working on your long term storage with us, you already have your sugar and salt, so this week's task is even easier - it is just the yeast and shortening.
Of course, I have not seen your bread recipes, so if you have other items in those recipes, please include those as well this week.
The goal this week is: We now have our bread requirement for 3 months stored away.
This is big sisters. When you complete this, give yourselves a pat on the back. And you can even serve PB&Js to celebrate with the family:-)!
Blessings,
Marie
Week 16 - 72 Crew
OK...we are on the 4th (of 6) week of working on getting all those sleeping bags in place. So keep those bags a-comin'.
In addition this week, we are going to put into the 72 kits something you probably all have around the house: paper and a pencil. Any kind of blank paper will be fine. The pencil needs to be sharpened and probably a half size or stubbier pencil is best. If you have one of those little plastic cased sharpeners around you can throw that in for good measure. Put it all in a zip lock bag and tuck it in your kit.
Good work team. See you next week.
In addition this week, we are going to put into the 72 kits something you probably all have around the house: paper and a pencil. Any kind of blank paper will be fine. The pencil needs to be sharpened and probably a half size or stubbier pencil is best. If you have one of those little plastic cased sharpeners around you can throw that in for good measure. Put it all in a zip lock bag and tuck it in your kit.
Good work team. See you next week.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Week 15 - The Long Haul
Hi sisters,
Again, this week we are working on storing beans, the dry, long shelf life kind of beans, be they red, or white, or black, or pinto. Be sure to get another 8+ pounds into storage or tuck the $5/week/every 2 people into a savings envelope until you can go get it.
Beans are such great protein and are so very important in our long term, life sustaining kind of storage, but they also are full of interesting associations and memories. I am reminded of a funny birthday card I ran across a while back while looking for a card. On the front it said,
"Some nights I lie next to you and feel like the luckiest woman in the world."
Open it:
"Other nights I feel like a woman who should never serve chili for dinner ever again. Happy Birthday"
And Happy Bean Hunting.
Love,
Marie
Again, this week we are working on storing beans, the dry, long shelf life kind of beans, be they red, or white, or black, or pinto. Be sure to get another 8+ pounds into storage or tuck the $5/week/every 2 people into a savings envelope until you can go get it.
Beans are such great protein and are so very important in our long term, life sustaining kind of storage, but they also are full of interesting associations and memories. I am reminded of a funny birthday card I ran across a while back while looking for a card. On the front it said,
"Some nights I lie next to you and feel like the luckiest woman in the world."
Open it:
"Other nights I feel like a woman who should never serve chili for dinner ever again. Happy Birthday"
And Happy Bean Hunting.
Love,
Marie
Week 15 - Provident Pantry
Anyone hungry for a PBJ? Keep at it this week. Peanut butter, check, Jelly, check ?, bread???? Hit Reply All and let us know how you are tackling your bread needs. At our house, Mark needs gluten free, so we have to do things a little differently to accomodate that. Luckily, we have found some products that not only meet the need, but that we both like the taste, so life is good.
I need to say a word about flour storage. If you have not already read it, be sure to read the section on storage containers in providentliving.org. And basically, don't store your flour in a metal container. It picks up the taste. I love the #10 can storage. It works great for all the rice we have to have, but it is lousy for flour. The flour picks up a metallic taste, and I have had to throw out a bunch of flour. My daughter tells me she has found out a way to rehabilitate flour that has been in metal containers, but it sounds rather labor intensive. Better to pick a different storage method at the beginning, I'm thinking.
Also, remember, generally speaking, you are only looking at storing enough flour for 3 months, not long term storage. Flour does not have a long shelf life. (For long term storage you would have wheat and some kind of grinder - but that's a subject for another group and time.) With flour you do have to make sure that you can store it in a way that will keep it weevil free, and that may or may not be the original packaging it come in. Most of us don't want "protein" in our flour;-).
And, as always, as you get your flour, be sure to put stickers on the storage containers as to date of expiration, and be sure to rotate it properly.
Have fun with your storage! You are doing a great work!!
I need to say a word about flour storage. If you have not already read it, be sure to read the section on storage containers in providentliving.org. And basically, don't store your flour in a metal container. It picks up the taste. I love the #10 can storage. It works great for all the rice we have to have, but it is lousy for flour. The flour picks up a metallic taste, and I have had to throw out a bunch of flour. My daughter tells me she has found out a way to rehabilitate flour that has been in metal containers, but it sounds rather labor intensive. Better to pick a different storage method at the beginning, I'm thinking.
Also, remember, generally speaking, you are only looking at storing enough flour for 3 months, not long term storage. Flour does not have a long shelf life. (For long term storage you would have wheat and some kind of grinder - but that's a subject for another group and time.) With flour you do have to make sure that you can store it in a way that will keep it weevil free, and that may or may not be the original packaging it come in. Most of us don't want "protein" in our flour;-).
And, as always, as you get your flour, be sure to put stickers on the storage containers as to date of expiration, and be sure to rotate it properly.
Have fun with your storage! You are doing a great work!!
Week 15 - 72 Crew
Hi again,
As promised, this week we are still working on bedding. With our current budget plan, hopefully you are now at least half done storing the bedding needs of your 72 hour kits (or having the money squirreled away to purchase half the bedding needs now). If you have questions or concerns, be sure to ask or comment.
And, of course, if your bedding needs are now or already met, good on you - keep putting your $5/week/every 2 people into savings for the other needs. Or if your kit has room for it, you may want to tuck in a small travel pillow for every one.
Have a great week. Your kit is shaping up!!
As promised, this week we are still working on bedding. With our current budget plan, hopefully you are now at least half done storing the bedding needs of your 72 hour kits (or having the money squirreled away to purchase half the bedding needs now). If you have questions or concerns, be sure to ask or comment.
And, of course, if your bedding needs are now or already met, good on you - keep putting your $5/week/every 2 people into savings for the other needs. Or if your kit has room for it, you may want to tuck in a small travel pillow for every one.
Have a great week. Your kit is shaping up!!
Monday, April 2, 2012
Week 14 - The Long Haul
You guessed it. BEANS, again. A few more weeks and you may be coming close to getting in your year's supply of beans. Give me a quick "Done" reply when you have, so I know when to start either giving alternatives or moving on the the next section.
Blessings,
Marie
Blessings,
Marie
Week 14 - Provident Pantry
So...how is your fruit coming? My grandkids were delighted this weekend when they came over to find that I now have a supply of Tang. Aw, the simple joys of life.
So let's take a break from fruit (we can always come back) and go on down your ingredients lists.
This week and for the next 2 weeks, let's work on PB&Js, i.e. the ingredients for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. You may have put in peanut butter when we were working on nuts. You may have put in jelly/jam while we have been working on fruit. If not pick one, and put it in now. If so, work on the ingredients for bread.
Some of you may have the large freezers and can simply pop in loaves of bread. Others of us need to start down the list of our favorite bread recipe. How much have you indicated on your ingredients' list will you need of flour? of salt? of yeast? etc.
Even though all of you do not have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on your menus, it looks like most of you have the same ingredients although you may be using them for different things, and who knows, in a bind, a PB&J might just hit the spot.
Love,
Marie
PS My dogs think a little peanut butter is a magnificent treat, so you might stick a little extra in for the dogs in your family;-)
So let's take a break from fruit (we can always come back) and go on down your ingredients lists.
This week and for the next 2 weeks, let's work on PB&Js, i.e. the ingredients for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. You may have put in peanut butter when we were working on nuts. You may have put in jelly/jam while we have been working on fruit. If not pick one, and put it in now. If so, work on the ingredients for bread.
Some of you may have the large freezers and can simply pop in loaves of bread. Others of us need to start down the list of our favorite bread recipe. How much have you indicated on your ingredients' list will you need of flour? of salt? of yeast? etc.
Even though all of you do not have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on your menus, it looks like most of you have the same ingredients although you may be using them for different things, and who knows, in a bind, a PB&J might just hit the spot.
Love,
Marie
PS My dogs think a little peanut butter is a magnificent treat, so you might stick a little extra in for the dogs in your family;-)
Week 14 - 72 Crew
Here we are, the 14th week of our project and the 2nd week of working on bedding. At $5/week/every 2 people in your family, we going to be working on this a few weeks. So please drop me a quick "Done" email as soon as you have your bedding completed. Anyone find any good deals this week, or want to send along a quick photo of your nifty sleeping bag?
For those of you that have your sleeping bags in place, let's toss out another optional item you can purchase and add this week: a sewing kit. These are the little (about 1" x 2" x 3") kits you can often find in the same section as you find your travel size bottles of shampoo and the like. You never know when a needle and a little thread will come in handy.
For those of you that have your sleeping bags in place, let's toss out another optional item you can purchase and add this week: a sewing kit. These are the little (about 1" x 2" x 3") kits you can often find in the same section as you find your travel size bottles of shampoo and the like. You never know when a needle and a little thread will come in handy.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Week 13 - The Long Haul
Let's start a chant:
MORE BEANS, MORE BEANS, MORE BEANS.
Maybe we can get arms waving in the air.
We're off to buy beans (and sugar and other items) tomorrow at the Home Storage Center. Anyone else want to come?
See you soon,
Marie
MORE BEANS, MORE BEANS, MORE BEANS.
Maybe we can get arms waving in the air.
We're off to buy beans (and sugar and other items) tomorrow at the Home Storage Center. Anyone else want to come?
See you soon,
Marie
Week 13 - Provident Living
Hi sisters,
This is our third week to put away fruit - canned, dried, frozen. Feel free to branch out to juices.
I think this week I am going to put away our requirement for Tang. How about you?
If you are a canner and do your own canning more in the fall, feel free to look down your list of ingredients for another item. The important thing is to take the money you have allotted each week to build your 3 month supply and keep building until you have it complete.
Here's to the fruit of your labors!!
Marie
This is our third week to put away fruit - canned, dried, frozen. Feel free to branch out to juices.
I think this week I am going to put away our requirement for Tang. How about you?
If you are a canner and do your own canning more in the fall, feel free to look down your list of ingredients for another item. The important thing is to take the money you have allotted each week to build your 3 month supply and keep building until you have it complete.
Here's to the fruit of your labors!!
Marie
Week 13 - 72 Crew
Good morning,
OK, today we start on another item that may be a bigger cash item, so we will be doing it for a few weeks. I will need responses back from you to help determine how long we will work on it.
Today we add....a little drumroll please.......
OK, today we start on another item that may be a bigger cash item, so we will be doing it for a few weeks. I will need responses back from you to help determine how long we will work on it.
Today we add....a little drumroll please.......
SLEEPING BAGS
Each person in your family will need bedding. The bedding will hopefully be lightweight, but give you the warmth and protection you will need. If we are simply evacuating to a shelter here in TX we probably won't need a sleeping bag that is rated for -40 degrees, but again, it is worth a family discussion to decide on what kind of bedding you need/want. Be sure it is easily transportable, that it fits easily into the container you are using for your kit or straps (be sure you have the straps) easily onto your backpacks.
As you probably know, there is great variety in the cost of sleeping bags. As a benchmark, I see that one of the major discount stores has some workable bags for about $16 apiece.
For those of you who already have sleeping bags, the optional item this week is an emergency blanket. If you are not familiar with what these are, simply type in "emergency blanket" in a large store's search engine and you will see a selection. They are usually made of something like an aluminized polyester and will reflect body heat back to you. They can be folded up to the size of a deck of cards. You can usually get them for under $5 apiece.
Sweet dreams,
Marie
Monday, March 19, 2012
Week 12 - Provident Pantry
Good morning,
Ahhh...the joys of fruit!!! This week we will continue on putting away the fruit we need for our 3 month plan. Again, consult your ingredients lists. As much as we would like fresh fruit, most of us don't have the cold cellars some of our ancestors had, that could keep the apples good for a number of months. So make any adjustments you need in your plan to get the 3 months supply of fruit, be it canned, or dried (or if you have a large freezer - frozen).
I'm putting in canned peaches this week. What is your choice?
Keep remembering to put your stickers with expiration dates on them on your products when you get them home from the grocers, and when you are organizing them in your storage spot be sure to put the ones that need to used first up front.
And I imagine you are all in the rotating business now for the items we have added earlier. Keep training your family to help you with this. I only have one to train, so I realize my task may be a little easier, but here is an example from our family.
When Mark takes a box of cold cereal out of the storage place under the bed, he goes and writes on the grocery list they we need cold cereal with and "S" behind it, to remind us both that this goes into storage. Then when we get back from the grocery store, he is really good about getting our stickers out, putting it on the top of the cereal box right by the expiration date and circling the expiration date, and then taking it into the bedroom, pulling out the box we keep the cereal in, checking the expiration date with the others, and putting it in the order it belongs.
Remember to keep it fun. Families like fun!
May your efforts bring forth delicious fruit this week!
Marie
Ahhh...the joys of fruit!!! This week we will continue on putting away the fruit we need for our 3 month plan. Again, consult your ingredients lists. As much as we would like fresh fruit, most of us don't have the cold cellars some of our ancestors had, that could keep the apples good for a number of months. So make any adjustments you need in your plan to get the 3 months supply of fruit, be it canned, or dried (or if you have a large freezer - frozen).
I'm putting in canned peaches this week. What is your choice?
Keep remembering to put your stickers with expiration dates on them on your products when you get them home from the grocers, and when you are organizing them in your storage spot be sure to put the ones that need to used first up front.
And I imagine you are all in the rotating business now for the items we have added earlier. Keep training your family to help you with this. I only have one to train, so I realize my task may be a little easier, but here is an example from our family.
When Mark takes a box of cold cereal out of the storage place under the bed, he goes and writes on the grocery list they we need cold cereal with and "S" behind it, to remind us both that this goes into storage. Then when we get back from the grocery store, he is really good about getting our stickers out, putting it on the top of the cereal box right by the expiration date and circling the expiration date, and then taking it into the bedroom, pulling out the box we keep the cereal in, checking the expiration date with the others, and putting it in the order it belongs.
Remember to keep it fun. Families like fun!
May your efforts bring forth delicious fruit this week!
Marie
Week 12 - 72 Crew
Hi,
How's it going? This week we are going to finish putting toiletries in our 72 hour kits.
The first thing is to make sure each person in your family has a wash cloth and a towel. I am not recommending the big fluffy kind, because of space, nor anything new, necessarily, but simply something that does the job. If we had to evacuate to a shelter of some kind in an emergency, we probably would not get the luxury of a shower/bath for a few days, but we certainly could clean up much like they did in the days where there were no indoors bathrooms.
Hopefully, you can simply take an older wash cloth and towel for each person from your existing supply. For some of you, putting a towel into your 72 hour kit for each person may rather exhaust your regular supply of towels. I would encourage you to check out discount places and dollar store types of places. Again, hopefully you can get your cloths and towels into your kits for under $5 this week. Anyone that finds a good deal, please alert the rest of us.
Of course, if you do not need to spend money on these items, tuck the $5 away in your savings envelope for other items you will be needing.
In finishing up the toiletries, the other items I will list here, are optional, or not, depending on your family's needs/outlook. Please feel free to add them now, or to add them during another week when perhaps you already have the item of the week.
1. Dental floss
2. Travel container of mouthwash
3. Razor
4. Shaving cream
5. Deodorant
6. Lotion
7. Cotton swabs
And, of course, if you have a baby, diapers and wipes are important.
Anyone think of anything else that falls under the general heading of hygiene/toiletries that we might need in our 72 hour kits?
Hygenically yours,
Marie
How's it going? This week we are going to finish putting toiletries in our 72 hour kits.
The first thing is to make sure each person in your family has a wash cloth and a towel. I am not recommending the big fluffy kind, because of space, nor anything new, necessarily, but simply something that does the job. If we had to evacuate to a shelter of some kind in an emergency, we probably would not get the luxury of a shower/bath for a few days, but we certainly could clean up much like they did in the days where there were no indoors bathrooms.
Hopefully, you can simply take an older wash cloth and towel for each person from your existing supply. For some of you, putting a towel into your 72 hour kit for each person may rather exhaust your regular supply of towels. I would encourage you to check out discount places and dollar store types of places. Again, hopefully you can get your cloths and towels into your kits for under $5 this week. Anyone that finds a good deal, please alert the rest of us.
Of course, if you do not need to spend money on these items, tuck the $5 away in your savings envelope for other items you will be needing.
In finishing up the toiletries, the other items I will list here, are optional, or not, depending on your family's needs/outlook. Please feel free to add them now, or to add them during another week when perhaps you already have the item of the week.
1. Dental floss
2. Travel container of mouthwash
3. Razor
4. Shaving cream
5. Deodorant
6. Lotion
7. Cotton swabs
And, of course, if you have a baby, diapers and wipes are important.
Anyone think of anything else that falls under the general heading of hygiene/toiletries that we might need in our 72 hour kits?
Hygenically yours,
Marie
Monday, March 12, 2012
Week 11 - The Long Haul
Sisters,
This morning I have two words for you:
(as in the kind that have a shelf live of 30+ years).
Using the current price figures for beans out at the Home Storage Center, I am estimating that $5 will probably get us a little over 8 lbs this week. So purchase, or save to purchase. We'll keep plugging away on our bean supply.
Anyone else want to go with us out to the HSC on March 27?
Beanfully yours,
Marie
This morning I have two words for you:
MORE BEANS!!!
(as in the kind that have a shelf live of 30+ years).
Using the current price figures for beans out at the Home Storage Center, I am estimating that $5 will probably get us a little over 8 lbs this week. So purchase, or save to purchase. We'll keep plugging away on our bean supply.
Anyone else want to go with us out to the HSC on March 27?
Beanfully yours,
Marie
Week 11 - Provident Pantry
A is for apple!
Morning Sisters,
This week, let's focus on our fruit, whether it is canned, or frozen, or dried. In fact, let's take 3 weeks and see how far we get, in storing away our 3 months supply of fruit.
I think I'll work on applesauce this week. What about you?
Fruitfully yours,
Marie
Morning Sisters,
This week, let's focus on our fruit, whether it is canned, or frozen, or dried. In fact, let's take 3 weeks and see how far we get, in storing away our 3 months supply of fruit.
I think I'll work on applesauce this week. What about you?
Fruitfully yours,
Marie
Week 11 - 72 Crew
Morning Sisters,
This week we are still working on the toiletries.
So...get out another of those gallon size ziploc style baggies. Today, or tonight for FHE, put in it the following:
That's it!! Easy, eh?
Again, some of these things you may have around already. In that case, put the $5 this week in your 72 hour savings envelope. If you have to buy all this, it may take more than the $5. Again, just let me know, and we can extend it a week or so.
Preparedly yours,
Marie
This week we are still working on the toiletries.
So...get out another of those gallon size ziploc style baggies. Today, or tonight for FHE, put in it the following:
- a small hairbrush
- a travel size container of shampoo
- a small bar of soap (the size you get at hotels works great)
- a soap dish (this is optional - you might just want a small baggie, but a small soap dish usually lets the soap air out better)
- a travel size container of hand sanitizer
That's it!! Easy, eh?
Again, some of these things you may have around already. In that case, put the $5 this week in your 72 hour savings envelope. If you have to buy all this, it may take more than the $5. Again, just let me know, and we can extend it a week or so.
Preparedly yours,
Marie
Week 10 - The Long Haul
| Haloooooo, oh ye sisters of the long haul, It's time to switch gears. I know, you were about sugared out. So here we go. Shift to: BEANS! We will be working on beans for the next 8 weeks, not that we all will probably have all the beans in that we need by then, but we can always come back to it. And for point of clarification, these are not canned beans. These are your dry beans that have a shelf live of 30+ years. If you go to (and I really encourage you all to do so) the Church's website at providentliving.org, you will see that the Church recommends 5 lbs. of beans/person/month. So your first task (or tell your kid's that it is their first task) is to do the math. 5 (pounds) x (# of people in your family) x 12 (months in a year). So what did you get? That is your goal!!!! The following is optional: The next math problem is to figure out how much that is going to cost you (the average price per 25 pounds of beans out at the Home Storage Center is about $17.25), and the 3rd problem is to figure out how many weeks (at $5/week/every 2 people in the family) you are going to need to hit your goal. Of course, for those of you that have partial supplies of beans, you'll have to factor that in as well. I noticed my 3rd grade grandson is working on just these kind of 3/4 step math problems, so maybe I'll go get him to help me.  If anyone needs a loaner grandson calculator, let me know - he might hire out.So this week either spend your $5/every 2 people in your family on beans or tuck away that $5 in an envelope marked "Beans" and keep it in a safe place until you are ready to buy beans. I will be going to the HSC on Tuesday March 27 to purchase some beans for Mark and me, You are invited to come along. It's always a fun trip. Just let me know who is interested and we can car pool! (We could even stop at Sonic for a treat afterwards. Maybe I'll take my grandson. He likes the mini banana splits, if they still have them.) It's "bean" real, Marie |
Week 10 - Provident Pantry
Hi sisters,
To complete the song from last week:
....the more you toot, the better you feel, so let's have beans for every meal
. What can I say, it was one of my kids' favorite tunes.
. What can I say, it was one of my kids' favorite tunes.So I am seeing still more beans on the ingredients lists that have been sent in, so let's keep adding to the beans, whether it is black beans, pinto beans, refried beans, garbonzo beans, etc., spend the money you have allotted for building up your 3 month storage on beans, either canned or dry (whatever your ingredient list calls for) this week. If you have all your beans of this kind, the optional choice this week could be green beans (which we will visit again as a choice when we add canned vegetables).
And as always, if you run across a good deal on beans, please let us know.
And, if your beans are doubling as part of your year's supply, remember the Home Storage Center in Round Rock sells black, pinto, refried, and white beans in bulk and they have a 5.2 lbs prepackaged pinto beans.
Take care...toot, toot,
Marie
Week 10 - 72 Crew
Morning Sisters,
Ah...this week you may find kind of fun, as the items may simply be already in your house, and it may simply be a matter of taking FHE tonight have your family help you go around and gather them up.
If this assignment does not need spending from you, remember to put that $5/week/every 2 people in your family into the savings envelope for either your carrier for your 72 hr kit or for upcoming sleeping bags.
So here goes. First, you will need a gallon zip lock bag/every two people. In it, place a roll of toilet paper. If you need to conserve space, you can take the cardboard out of the middle and flatten it. Then place two toothbrushes and a travel size tube of your favorite toothpaste. If there are girls/women in your household who are having periods, put a 3 day supply of tampons/sanitary napkins (whatever they prefer to use) in their zip lock bag as well.
Then put the baggie in your 72 hour kit or box. Tada!!
Ah...the joys of feeling that much more prepared.
Take care,
Marie
P.S. I am obviously making an assumption that you will already have some if not all of these things already in your household and they just need to be transferred. However, I realize if you have to buy toothbrushes or baggies or an extra tube of toothpaste, this could easily go over the $5/week/every 2 people limit. So just let me know if we need to give this assignment another week to complete.
Week 9 - The Long Haul
Morning Sisters,
I did not hear from many of you, but the ones I did hear from seemed to indicate they had either finished gathering in their 1 year supply of sugar/honey or had gathered about all they were going to gather at this time. So this will be the last week, for now at least, that we will work on sugar/honey. (If I hear that any of you still want to work on it, we will come back to it in December.)
So, gather in that last 8+ pounds of honey or sugar this week. And next week we will move on to another item.
Have a good day, sweet sisters,
Marie
Week 9 - 72 Crew
Hi sisters,
Well, last week you got those flashlights and added them to you 72 hour kits. They probably had batteries in them. If the $5/person/week budget didn't allow the batteries, this is the week to get the batteries. If they had batteries, this is the week to get back up batteries. If these batteries could be your only source of light for 3 days to a week, it will be good to have back up batteries.
You light up my life,
Marie
Week 8 - Long Haul
How sweet it is!
Keeping adding that sugar. How close are you to your goal? Please drop me a quick response to this email this week and let me know. Also, this Saturday I will be reserving the canner. So far only 3 of us seem to need the canner right now, so I will probably set it up to use in one of our homes on a Tuesday evening or Saturday afternoon. So in the email, also include if you want to be part of this canning party and your availibility.
So, if I were you responding to this email, it would probably look like this:
Hi Marie,
I am not going to be completing the total year's compliment of sugar this year as my storage is limited, but in a couple of weeks I will have purchased all I feel I will have room for right now, so whenever you are ready to move on to the next phase of this is good for me. I will have 50 lbs of sugar that I need to get into #10 sealed cans, so please count me in on the canning party. And I can do this either on a Tuesday night or a Saturday afternoon after 3 p.m.
Thanks,
Marie
I am looking forward to your email responses, and to the canning party (details to follow).
Sweetly yours,
Marie
Week 8 - Provident Pantry
Hi,
As promised, this week we are still working at getting our 3 months of meat/fish in place. How are you doing? Please drop me a note to let me know what you purchased this past week, what you are planning on purchasing this week, and how many more weeks you think we need to focus on meat acquisition.
Here is the response I would probably send to me if I were you: This past week, I chose to work on getting my tuna fish in place. This week I plan on getting my canned chicken in place. I am still working through how to address the beef/hamburger needs and how I want to set that up, so let's do meat at least another week.
And again, if you are finding "deals" out there, let the rest of us know.
And again, be sure to use your stickers and keep track of expiration dates. I will be forwarding a great email I received from Jill this week about organization. Please contact her for details.
A hunting we will go,
Marie
Week 8 - 72 Crew
Morning, team,
Let there be light.
So now you have your food all in place either in your boxes that are serving as your temporary 72 hour kit carriers or in your 72 hour kit itself.
This week, use your $5 per every two people to get a good flashlight (equipped with working batteries) for your kit. Obviously, you may have an extra flashlight you can use or extra batteries in storage that you can pull out.
If you already have a working flashlight that you are putting or already keeping in your 72 hour kit and haven't purchased the carrier yet, put the money with the other that you are saving for this purchase.
You may have to have a family discussion as to if you want every individual to have a flashlight, every two people to have a flashlight, or simply that the family's kit have the one flashlight.
When we had kids at home with backpacks as part of our plan, the goal we aimed for was that every one would have a smaller flashlight for their backpack, and we would have a larger one for our family kit. We were never in a situation to put it to the test, so that might have been overkill. Those of you that are campers may be able to let the rest of us know what is reasonable for light needs.
De"light"edly,
Marie
Monday, February 13, 2012
Week 7 - The Long Haul
"Sweet is the Work..." I was trying to think of hymns or songs that had the words sugar, honey, or sweet in them this morning. Do any of you have any suggestions?
Well, we should be at least halfway there toward our goal of getting 100 pounds of sugar/honey per person into our long term storage. As I have not heard that anyone has made their goal (it may have been adjusted for your particular family usuage), we will continue on.
I have had one request for the canner. Anyone else? I will be looking at checking it out from the Home Storage Center later this month.
To recap, the task again for this week:
Well, we should be at least halfway there toward our goal of getting 100 pounds of sugar/honey per person into our long term storage. As I have not heard that anyone has made their goal (it may have been adjusted for your particular family usuage), we will continue on.
I have had one request for the canner. Anyone else? I will be looking at checking it out from the Home Storage Center later this month.
To recap, the task again for this week:
1. to either purchase at least 8.3 pounds of sugar/honey for every two people in your family
OR
to take an envelope, and put in $5 for every 2 people in your family so you can save up to buy it in greater bulk.
2. If you purchase this week, be sure to label it with the date of purchase. (Properly canned sugar and honey last for many years, but you will still want to be rotating it after you get your full amount in storage, and you will want first in/first out.) Then put the sugar in the place you have designated for your year's supply.
For those of you that would like to save up for a few weeks and then go out to the Home Storage Center in a few weeks to purchase, I would be glad to set up a time when we could go together. Just let me know if you are interested.
Sweetly,
Marie
Week 7 - Provident Pantry
I am munching on some jerky as I am writing this. Curious, since for the next 4 weeks we are going to focus on adding meat/fish to our 3 month food storage. I had to smile this morning. I felt we had gone back to hunter/gatherer designations. The last two weeks we were gathering in cereal (grain) and now we will be hunting meat.
On the plans you have sent me, I see listings for lunch meat, tuna, bacon, hamburger, hot dogs, canned chicken, canned beef, etc. And at $5 per week per every two people in your family, it may take you more than 4 weeks to get your meat all "salted" away. Not to worry. There will be other weeks where you already have the assigned item and meat will be your alternative choice. I do notice that the amount of meat per family is quite variable, so after this week, I will include alternate assignments for those of you that very quickly put away for your meat/fish needs.
So up to now, you have probably easily been incorporating the things you are buying into your pantries or under your beds. Now will start the storage challenge. If you have large freezers, hallelujah, you may have the space you need. If you are like me, you may have realized that 3 months of meat is NOT going to fit in your small above-the-frig freezer. I have had to go back and make some adjustments to my menus and rely more on canned meats. I have also located a new source for a canned hamburger that I am willing to try to see if it might be an option. Please share with us your own challenges in regard to meat/fish. Other sisters may have suggestions. Also, as you go out to purchase, if you find some good deals, please let us know. There may be others that would like to take advantage of the bargain.
Jill Waggoner and Linda Hancock have found a source for meat that seems to be more affordable than the local grocery stores and of good quality. It is a company that is looking to come into the Austin area. If you would like more information on their source, please contact them directly.
My daughter-in-law cans her own meat for her storage. She saves money that way, and it is REALLY good tasting. Please let me know if there are any of you who would like to have a RS class on meat canning. We would be glad to set that up this year if you would like.
Remember to put your stickers (where you have written the expiration dates) on each meat item before you store it away.
Happy hunting and fishing,
Marie
Week 7 - 72 Crew
Good morning, oh ye sisters who are diligently preparing.
We are still continuing to make sure we have the needed food items in our 72 hour kits. This is the last of the 3 weeks we had set for this endeavor, so be sure you have the food items you will need in your kits.
In brief, the assignment for all of you this week, whether you are refreshing or buying for your kits for the first time, is to spend your $5 (per every two people in your family) on getting food items for the 3 days of food for your family members.
If you already have 3 days of food in your kits for each member of your family, please put that $5 per every 2 people in your family in an envelope to spend on other things you will need as we go along.
In brief, the assignment for all of you this week, whether you are refreshing or buying for your kits for the first time, is to spend your $5 (per every two people in your family) on getting food items for the 3 days of food for your family members.
If you already have 3 days of food in your kits for each member of your family, please put that $5 per every 2 people in your family in an envelope to spend on other things you will need as we go along.
Additionally this week, add vitamins. Check the expiration dates and make sure that they do not expire in the next 6 months before you include them. Ideally, you will just be including the regular multi-vitamins that your family usually takes so that it will just be a part of their regular routine to take them. There has been research that indicates that B vitamins are especially helpful in dealing with stress. You may want to check to see if your normal vitamins have a goodly amount of the B complex in them or you may want to add them. If you do not regularly take vitamins, you may want to decide whether this is something you want to include or not. Remember that some vitamins do better in a dark container. As you are going to need just 3 multivitamins per person, you may just need a very small container. I do not recommend putting vitamins in a baggie - too easy to get squashed, etc., but look around your house for a small little container that will do the trick.
Also this week you need to go to your calendar, and in the middle of August someplace, write "Change out food in 72 hour kits." This is a process that needs to be done every 6 months, so use whatever tickler methods work for you. Some families choose to use General Conferences as their "refresh the 72 hour kit" days. If you prefer to do it then, today write on your calendars on those first weekends in April and October that you are going to "refresh the 72 hour kits."
Have fun. I am looking forward to seeing the wide variety of 72 hour kits you are creating. Maybe we can celebrate with a special dinner and display when we get them all put together.
Love,
Monday, February 6, 2012
Week 6 - The Long Haul
How sweet it is!
Once again, we continue to get that sugar and or honey into our long term storage. I haven't heard from any of you yet, so I am making the assumption that we are all still plugging away, either by purchasing sugar/honey this week or by putting the $5 per every 2 people in your family into an envelope for when you purchase it in bulk.
Please start letting me know now if you are going to be wanting to package your sugar in #10 cans. The canning equipment from the home storage center is pretty popular and I will want to be securing a date for us to check out the equipment fairly soon. I am thinking of doing the canning on a Tuesday evening or a Saturday late afternoon at the church. If you have a preference, also please let me know, as I need to be scheduling use of the meetinghouse fairly soon as well.
Until we meet again,
Marie
Once again, we continue to get that sugar and or honey into our long term storage. I haven't heard from any of you yet, so I am making the assumption that we are all still plugging away, either by purchasing sugar/honey this week or by putting the $5 per every 2 people in your family into an envelope for when you purchase it in bulk.
Please start letting me know now if you are going to be wanting to package your sugar in #10 cans. The canning equipment from the home storage center is pretty popular and I will want to be securing a date for us to check out the equipment fairly soon. I am thinking of doing the canning on a Tuesday evening or a Saturday late afternoon at the church. If you have a preference, also please let me know, as I need to be scheduling use of the meetinghouse fairly soon as well.
Until we meet again,
Marie
Week 6 - Provident Pantry
As promised, this is the second week of getting 3 months worth of our cold cereal into our storage. I don't know about you, but I am having a fun time getting each of these things tucked away. Tonight when we got back from the grocery store, Mark even got out our green labels we are using and helped me get the cereal boxes stickered and stored. Hope it is catching on in your families as well.
One thing I realize I didn't address on your spreadsheets is that you probably need a column where you can check off items as you complete your 3 month supply of each item. I'm noticing a sense of accomplishment as that column is starting to fill in. We will get there sisters. We will get there.
Remember once you get the full 3 month supply of any item into storage you start rotating it into your regular food, using the oldest item first and immediately replacing it in the 3 month storage.
Cereally yours,
Marie
Week 6 - 72 Crew
Play it again, Sam. As mentioned last week, we are still continuing to make sure we have the needed food items in our 72 hour kits.
In brief, the assignment for all of you this week, whether you are refreshing or buying for your kits for the first time, is to spend your $5 (per every two people in your family) on getting food items for the 3 days of food for your family members.
If you already have 3 days of food in your kits for each member of your family, please put that $5 per every 2 people in your family in an envelope to spend on other things you will need as we go along OR use it to come up with an entertainment type item for each person. For example, in our kit, we carry a set of UNO cards.
Carry on!!
In brief, the assignment for all of you this week, whether you are refreshing or buying for your kits for the first time, is to spend your $5 (per every two people in your family) on getting food items for the 3 days of food for your family members.
If you already have 3 days of food in your kits for each member of your family, please put that $5 per every 2 people in your family in an envelope to spend on other things you will need as we go along OR use it to come up with an entertainment type item for each person. For example, in our kit, we carry a set of UNO cards.
Carry on!!
Monday, January 30, 2012
Week 5 - Long Haul
You guessed it.
This week we are still working on getting the sugar/honey into our long term storage.
So, once again, the task is:
1. to either purchase at least 8.3 pounds of sugar/honey for every two people in your family
OR
to take an envelope, and put in $5 for every 2 people in your family so you can save up to buy it in greater bulk.
2. If you purchase this week, be sure to label it with the date of purchase. (Properly canned sugar and honey last for many years, but you will still want to be rotating it after you get your full amount in storage, and you will want first in/first out.) Then put the sugar in the place you have designated for your year's supply.
So far I have not heard from any of you that you have completed your sugar storage. Please let me know when you do. I have this scheduled for a number of weeks, but if we are all done, I'd be glad to move on sooner to other things.
Have a sweet week,
Marie
Week 5 - Provident Pantry
Morning sisters,
It must be time for breakfast.
This week we are going to focus on cold cereal. From the menu/ingredients lists that you have sent to me, it looks like we all have some amount of cold cereal in our plans. Please spend your $5 per every two people in your family this week on the cold cereal boxes of your choice.
Be sure to put your stickers (with the expiration dates) on the boxes and store them in your identified place. Remember, each time you start using a stickered item, that you write it immediately on your grocery list, so that it is quickly replaced in your 3 month storage.
Judging by the number of boxes I see in your calculations, it looks like we will need a minimum of two weeks to get this goal accomplished. For those of you with higher needs, remember there will be weeks ahead where you will already have what you need of other items, and you can come back and fill in your cereal needs.
Also, cold cereal companies are generous with coupons, as are grocery stores. So if you are a couponer, this is a great place to use your skills in stretching your budget. As always, if you know of good deals going on at local stores, or if you have good websites you use to get cold cereal coupons or if you have a bunch of coupons sitting there that you won't use and would like to share with the sisters, please let us know.
The alternate assignment for those of you that already have your 3 month storage of cold cereal is to look down your ingredient list for spices you will need and spend your alloted money on them instead.
Here's to fine breakfasting
,
Marie
It must be time for breakfast.
This week we are going to focus on cold cereal. From the menu/ingredients lists that you have sent to me, it looks like we all have some amount of cold cereal in our plans. Please spend your $5 per every two people in your family this week on the cold cereal boxes of your choice.
Be sure to put your stickers (with the expiration dates) on the boxes and store them in your identified place. Remember, each time you start using a stickered item, that you write it immediately on your grocery list, so that it is quickly replaced in your 3 month storage.
Judging by the number of boxes I see in your calculations, it looks like we will need a minimum of two weeks to get this goal accomplished. For those of you with higher needs, remember there will be weeks ahead where you will already have what you need of other items, and you can come back and fill in your cereal needs.
Also, cold cereal companies are generous with coupons, as are grocery stores. So if you are a couponer, this is a great place to use your skills in stretching your budget. As always, if you know of good deals going on at local stores, or if you have good websites you use to get cold cereal coupons or if you have a bunch of coupons sitting there that you won't use and would like to share with the sisters, please let us know.
The alternate assignment for those of you that already have your 3 month storage of cold cereal is to look down your ingredient list for spices you will need and spend your alloted money on them instead.
Here's to fine breakfasting
,Marie
Week 5 - 72 Crew
Dear 72 Crew,
Sometimes life comes with soundtracks. Today as I started this email, there is was: Food, Glorious Food. I LOVE that song from the musical "Oliver". So, here 'tis - a youtube link for one company's production of it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5DvrSP0Nd0&feature=related
And with that for the opening song, we get to this week's focus: A 3 day supply of food per person and pet in your family. On your checklists, you will see a number of suggestions from Protein Bars to Jolly Ranchers. Don't feel that you have to have all of these. Do focus on protein and energy. You are also going to want things that take little preparation. You may be able to mix with water. You may be able to warm things, but maybe not.
Some families use MREs. These have been used by the military for years and are easily transportable and compact, however, there are many brands out there and the "eatability" quotient of these is variable. So if you choose these, be sure you have an evening when you have these for dinner and make sure your family will really eat these before packing them in your 72 hour kits.
Take the same consideration and trial for protein bars. There are some wonderfully nutritious bars out there. But passing the gag test on some of them may be a family challenge. It could make for a fun FHE, though. One of my son's family regularly has taste test challenges on a variety of things for their FHEs.
If you choose to have canned items, remember that this will increase the weight of what is transported. Make sure you can accomodate that. And unless you choose the pop top variety, be sure to pack a can opener this week also.
Another FHE idea to accomplish this is to take your family to the grocery store and tell them the task is for them to find things that are individually packaged that they would eat for 3 days of meals. You'll have to have a talk before you turn them loose regarding "packability" and nutrition.
Over the years, Mark and I and the kids have put in various things. Right now, we have granola bars for breakfasts, tuna lunch kits for lunches, and pop top soups for dinners. We'd love to hear what each of your have/are deciding to put in your 72 hour kits.
If you have babies, don't forget their needs as to formula or strained foods.
Remember your pets. Measure out what they would need to eat for 3 days and put it in strong freezer type ziplock type baggies. If one of your bags is "communal", keep it in that bag. If not, store it in the 72 hour bag of the person in your family most likely to have charge of the pets during an emergency. To provide them a "feeding station" you may be able to make due with the containers from things you are eating. However, you can often find a cheap pet feeder at a "dollar" type store, and you may appreciate its convenience later on. So that may be a good thing to add to your kit.
In brief, the assignment for all of you this week, whether you are refreshing or buying for your kits for the first time, is to spend your $5 (per every two people in your family) on getting food items for the 3 days of food for your family members.
We will have this assignment for the next 5 weeks as well. (I've budgeted $5 per person per day. Your budget may be a little higher or lower based on your family's likes and needs.) Remember that some things you may find you can take right out of your pantry.
For those of you who are still putting things in cardboard boxes while you save for carrying bags, put any leftover money you have during this 6 week period in your savings envelope. Please let me know as you get your bags purchased.
Food, glorious food. In an emergency, we may be able to get by on gruel, but your family will be comforted if they know they have food they like in their kits to tide them over for 3 days.
Happy shopping,
Marie
Sometimes life comes with soundtracks. Today as I started this email, there is was: Food, Glorious Food. I LOVE that song from the musical "Oliver". So, here 'tis - a youtube link for one company's production of it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5DvrSP0Nd0&feature=related
And with that for the opening song, we get to this week's focus: A 3 day supply of food per person and pet in your family. On your checklists, you will see a number of suggestions from Protein Bars to Jolly Ranchers. Don't feel that you have to have all of these. Do focus on protein and energy. You are also going to want things that take little preparation. You may be able to mix with water. You may be able to warm things, but maybe not.
Some families use MREs. These have been used by the military for years and are easily transportable and compact, however, there are many brands out there and the "eatability" quotient of these is variable. So if you choose these, be sure you have an evening when you have these for dinner and make sure your family will really eat these before packing them in your 72 hour kits.
Take the same consideration and trial for protein bars. There are some wonderfully nutritious bars out there. But passing the gag test on some of them may be a family challenge. It could make for a fun FHE, though. One of my son's family regularly has taste test challenges on a variety of things for their FHEs.
If you choose to have canned items, remember that this will increase the weight of what is transported. Make sure you can accomodate that. And unless you choose the pop top variety, be sure to pack a can opener this week also.
Another FHE idea to accomplish this is to take your family to the grocery store and tell them the task is for them to find things that are individually packaged that they would eat for 3 days of meals. You'll have to have a talk before you turn them loose regarding "packability" and nutrition.
Over the years, Mark and I and the kids have put in various things. Right now, we have granola bars for breakfasts, tuna lunch kits for lunches, and pop top soups for dinners. We'd love to hear what each of your have/are deciding to put in your 72 hour kits.
If you have babies, don't forget their needs as to formula or strained foods.
Remember your pets. Measure out what they would need to eat for 3 days and put it in strong freezer type ziplock type baggies. If one of your bags is "communal", keep it in that bag. If not, store it in the 72 hour bag of the person in your family most likely to have charge of the pets during an emergency. To provide them a "feeding station" you may be able to make due with the containers from things you are eating. However, you can often find a cheap pet feeder at a "dollar" type store, and you may appreciate its convenience later on. So that may be a good thing to add to your kit.
In brief, the assignment for all of you this week, whether you are refreshing or buying for your kits for the first time, is to spend your $5 (per every two people in your family) on getting food items for the 3 days of food for your family members.
We will have this assignment for the next 5 weeks as well. (I've budgeted $5 per person per day. Your budget may be a little higher or lower based on your family's likes and needs.) Remember that some things you may find you can take right out of your pantry.
For those of you who are still putting things in cardboard boxes while you save for carrying bags, put any leftover money you have during this 6 week period in your savings envelope. Please let me know as you get your bags purchased.
Food, glorious food. In an emergency, we may be able to get by on gruel, but your family will be comforted if they know they have food they like in their kits to tide them over for 3 days.
Happy shopping,
Marie
Monday, January 23, 2012
Week 4 - Long Haul
Sweet Sisters,
This week, it is same song, 2nd verse.
,This week, it is same song, 2nd verse.
So again the task is:
1. to either purchase at least 8.3 pounds of sugar/honey for every two people in your family
OR
to take an envelope, and put in $5 for every 2 people in your family so you can save up to buy it in greater bulk.
2. If you purchase this week, be sure to label it with the date of purchase. (Properly canned sugar and honey last for many years, but you will still want to be rotating it after you get your full amount in storage, and you will want first in/first out.) Then put the sugar in the place you have designated for your year's supply.
While I have sugar/honey scheduled for a number of weeks, please email me when you have your sugar in place. If you all finish early, we will move on to other things.
Happy storing. You are doing great.
Week 4 - Provident Pantry
YOU SISTERS ROCK,
You have done the hardest part. You have completed your menus. You have completed the ingredients list. You have completed the calculations. Yahoo!!! Give yourselves pats on the back.
Today we start stocking. The first thing you will need is stickers. Rule of thumb is keep them colorful and make sure you can write on them. A rectangular file label sticker works fine as do the round ones. EVERY food item in your home that is part of your 3 month food supply needs to have a sticker on it.
So: The first task this week is to go around your kitchen/pantry/storage and put a sticker on everything that is already part of your 3 month food supply. Be sure you check the expiration date and write it on each label. You may realize that you need to do a little organization as you complete this task, because you will need to be using up the food that has the earliest expiration date first. Those of you who have served in the Bishops' Storehouse or worked in a grocery store have seen this organization on a much larger basis.
Alternate sticker assignment: You can also just put the stickers on the individual items as we address them each week.
As I have looked at the menus you have sent me, it looks like something most of us need is a 3 month supply of milk for our family. However, I also see that some of you already have your milk supply, so if you do, the alternate focus this month is nuts. (And if you already have milk and nuts, pick something you think is a little more unique to your family and work on getting it.)
Milk: Using myself as an example, my first preference is "straight from the grocery store" 2% milk. However, as you saw on my example, I need 15 gallons and there is no way I have room for that in my refrigerator. So the first task for me has been to find an alternative.
The Home Storage Center offers a high quality nonfat dry milk. I believe a 25 lb bag costs about $47.20 and if you can it in the #10 cans with the oxygen absorbers or seal it in the pouches it will store up to 20 years. (I do not know how many servings are in 25 lbs.) So, it is one of those things you could purchase, put your sticker on it with the expiration date, and not worry about rotating it into your daily eating as you will be most of what we have in our 3 month supply. Indeed, many of you already have it in your long term storage.
What I have found with Mark and I, though, is that we generally gag on nonfat dry milk for drinking, although we can easily use it for baking. So I have found an alternative that mixes very well for drinking although it needs to be cold and have a little vanilla in it. If you are interested in the specific product I use, I would be glad to share that with you on an individual basis, but I am not going to be trying to "sell" certain items, brands or food storage companies to you, so I will not include it here in the general group email or in the blog.
Again, we do welcome price shopping hints from any of you. As you go out to buy your milk and you find a good deal, please let the rest of us know.
So the assignment this week is to either spend $5 per every two people in your family on a fresh milk substitute or put that $5 per every two people in an envelope and put the envelope in a safe spot where we can collect money that we will be spending on milk a little later in the year. On the envelope write that the money is designated for milk storage. If you purchase this week, be sure you label it and put it in the area you have designated for your 3 month supply.
If you have your milk, spend or save your $5 per every 2 people this week on nuts. For example, in my plan, I need 5 Cups of almonds. I purchase mine at a local store where I measure it and put it in a bag at the store and then transfer it to a heavy duty zip bag where I label it and put in the box under my bed. Then when I am done with the partial bag that is in my cupboard, I get the bag from under my bed and start using it, and immediately buy another 5 C bag of almonds to label and put under my bed. This is also a good example of the kind of rotating you will be doing with most of the items in your 3 month storage. As soon as you have the complete amount of an item you need for 3 months, you rotate it into your daily eating, immediately replacing the amount you take out of the 3 month storage.
Have fun this week, stocking or saving for your milk and nuts!!!
You have done the hardest part. You have completed your menus. You have completed the ingredients list. You have completed the calculations. Yahoo!!! Give yourselves pats on the back.
Today we start stocking. The first thing you will need is stickers. Rule of thumb is keep them colorful and make sure you can write on them. A rectangular file label sticker works fine as do the round ones. EVERY food item in your home that is part of your 3 month food supply needs to have a sticker on it.
So: The first task this week is to go around your kitchen/pantry/storage and put a sticker on everything that is already part of your 3 month food supply. Be sure you check the expiration date and write it on each label. You may realize that you need to do a little organization as you complete this task, because you will need to be using up the food that has the earliest expiration date first. Those of you who have served in the Bishops' Storehouse or worked in a grocery store have seen this organization on a much larger basis.
Alternate sticker assignment: You can also just put the stickers on the individual items as we address them each week.
As I have looked at the menus you have sent me, it looks like something most of us need is a 3 month supply of milk for our family. However, I also see that some of you already have your milk supply, so if you do, the alternate focus this month is nuts. (And if you already have milk and nuts, pick something you think is a little more unique to your family and work on getting it.)
Milk: Using myself as an example, my first preference is "straight from the grocery store" 2% milk. However, as you saw on my example, I need 15 gallons and there is no way I have room for that in my refrigerator. So the first task for me has been to find an alternative.
The Home Storage Center offers a high quality nonfat dry milk. I believe a 25 lb bag costs about $47.20 and if you can it in the #10 cans with the oxygen absorbers or seal it in the pouches it will store up to 20 years. (I do not know how many servings are in 25 lbs.) So, it is one of those things you could purchase, put your sticker on it with the expiration date, and not worry about rotating it into your daily eating as you will be most of what we have in our 3 month supply. Indeed, many of you already have it in your long term storage.
What I have found with Mark and I, though, is that we generally gag on nonfat dry milk for drinking, although we can easily use it for baking. So I have found an alternative that mixes very well for drinking although it needs to be cold and have a little vanilla in it. If you are interested in the specific product I use, I would be glad to share that with you on an individual basis, but I am not going to be trying to "sell" certain items, brands or food storage companies to you, so I will not include it here in the general group email or in the blog.
Again, we do welcome price shopping hints from any of you. As you go out to buy your milk and you find a good deal, please let the rest of us know.
So the assignment this week is to either spend $5 per every two people in your family on a fresh milk substitute or put that $5 per every two people in an envelope and put the envelope in a safe spot where we can collect money that we will be spending on milk a little later in the year. On the envelope write that the money is designated for milk storage. If you purchase this week, be sure you label it and put it in the area you have designated for your 3 month supply.
If you have your milk, spend or save your $5 per every 2 people this week on nuts. For example, in my plan, I need 5 Cups of almonds. I purchase mine at a local store where I measure it and put it in a bag at the store and then transfer it to a heavy duty zip bag where I label it and put in the box under my bed. Then when I am done with the partial bag that is in my cupboard, I get the bag from under my bed and start using it, and immediately buy another 5 C bag of almonds to label and put under my bed. This is also a good example of the kind of rotating you will be doing with most of the items in your 3 month storage. As soon as you have the complete amount of an item you need for 3 months, you rotate it into your daily eating, immediately replacing the amount you take out of the 3 month storage.
Have fun this week, stocking or saving for your milk and nuts!!!
Week 4 - 72 Crew
Good morning sisters,
Mark had such a good time with you all at the special RS meeting on Saturday. It sounds like LOTS was accomplished!!!
OK, so you have or are working on getting your bags/containers, you have underwear and a change of clothes for everyone in your family. Now we are going to work on WATER.
The rule of thumb for water is: 1 gallon per person per day. In Mark and my situation, therefore, we figure 2 people times 3 days and add some for dogs...so we came up with needing 7 gallons (we have little dogs). So do the math for your family and see what you come up with.
Living where we do, the water you can usually take right out of the tap. So coming up with water is not the challenge. However, what to put the water in can be a challenge. The containers can also be a $ item.
The other rule of thumb is that it needs to be quickly transportable. Those of you at the Saturday activity heard that the Bastrop people were given 1 minute to get out of their homes. Remember a 72 hour kit is pretty much a "grab and go" arrangement.
And water is heavy, so you have to solve the transportability issue. So this week you will need to study water containers and decide what you want.
The other challenge can be the purification issue. I have taken the following quote from the Josephine County Oregon Emergency Preparedness Handbook. "Purify water by boiling it for 5 to 10 minutes or by adding drops of household bleach containing 5.25% hypochlorite. FEMA recommends 16 drops of bleach per gallon of water. Water purification tablets or a filter system such as those designed for campers and backpackers also work." My understanding is that if you are using distilled or nursery water, that this process has already been done. I have also seen much smaller amounts of bleach recommended in other sites. I am no water expert. So I again will leave this to your own research, judgement and prayer as to how to prepare your water.
Here is the link to the handbook I just referenced. We have found it to be a very good guide to preparedness.
For those of you who were at the Saturday activity, you saw the water containers Mark and I are currently using. The last revision we made to our 72 hour kits, we had decided to simply pack gallon containers of distilled water into our rolling duffel bags. Bad idea. Only 1 out of the 7 made it through the 6 months. So we have invested in two more durable stackable containers. Our plan is that they stack on top of each other and are strapped to our dolly, so that we can either heft them into the back of our jeep or can pull them behind us.
As, I am sure you are realizing, 72 hour kits are all individually designed to meet the needs of your particular family. So please share with us how you address getting the water needs met for your family in your 72 hour kit.
Assignments:
RED Team: Again put $5/every 2 people in your family into your envelope in your cardboard box for your 72 kit containers. Determine how much water you will need and how you are going to store and transport it. Look around your home for storage containers you can repurpose for water. Until you get/can afford what you want, start cleaning out those containers that your milk, soda, etc. comes in and fill them with water and put them in another cardboard box with handles in the sides, so you can pick them up and go if you need to.
YELLOW and BLUE Team: Review your water needs and transportation needs. Do you have enough water? Has it been changed out in the last 6 months? Is it in containers that are transportable. If you have suggestions of things that have worked for you in regards to water storage, remember we have sisters here who are just beginning the water storage journey and would love to have the benefit of your experience, so please feel free to share your stories with us.
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