Week 2 - The Long Haul

Hey, hey, hey sisters,

 

So did you get your salt all salted away?

OK...so now we are going to work on sugar/honey/alternatives for actually a few weeks. The church no longer gives recommendations as to how much per person to store for a year. Sugar and honey have very long shelf lives. I have no idea as to the shelf live of stevia (we keep a certain amount of stevia in our storage because I have a son who has diabetes, and I like it in my herbal teas) and other alternatives. Having gone to a number of other websites, it looks like a common goal is 100 pounds per person per year. So that will be our goal. However, you know your families best (perhaps you are very frugal with sugar, perhaps you have a sweet tooth), so feel free to make adjustments to that.

 

We are going to spend the next 12 weeks on sugar/honey/alternatives. Right now, if you buy sugar at the Home Storage Center, it is $15 for a 25 lb sack. If you find a better deal, let us know by replying to all.

 

So the task this week 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.

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.

 

In six weeks I am also going to check out the canner to be able to put the sugar in #10 cans. We can do that at the church. We also will be trying to get the canner to the church for the January 21st activity, although that has not been confirmed yet. If you have canned before and want to bring some of your product to can that day, that is also a possibility. Remember you will have had to purchase your cans, lids, and oxygen absorbers before then and bring them with you to the church that day.

 

Take care...and have a "sweet" week,

Marie

Week 2 - Provident Pantry

Good morning sisters,

 

I am getting some of your menus back. Good for you!!! I know some of you are still working on this aspect. Good for you!!!

This week is a little more time consuming. Whereas last week's task probably took you an hour. This week it will probably take you 3 hours. So budget your time. This week you will also be identifying things in your menus that may need to be re-thought. For example, we eat fresh carrots/veggies with a lot of our meals. Fresh won't keep for 3 months, sooooo, what can I replace that with. Mark doesn't like frozen or canned carrots, so we are in discussions as I speak .

 

The other thing Mark and I quickly noted is we have a very limited freezer. And while a number of things will keep in the freezer, we are going to have to change some things to canned rather than frozen.

 

A head's up for next week: Next week we will be calculating how much of every ingredient you will need for the 3 month's supply.

If you do and like spreadsheets, you can use that format. You can just write it all out on paper if you prefer.

One of the things that will help our group's vitality and help us help each other is if we do some talking to one another about our challenges.  I know some of us have to keep vegan, diabetic, celiac, etc., needs in mind. So if you would like some input, please ask us all.

So, in quick summary, the tasks for this week are:

1. Make your ingredient list for all your menus from last week. Remember, you don't need to do your calculations until NEXT week.

2. Identify any areas of your menus that need to be changed and change them.

Can't wait to hear how it is coming,

Marie

Week 2 - 72 Crew

Morning Sisters,

OK, we've had some more wonderful sisters join us, so for review, consider yourself in the RED subgroup if you are beginning to to put together your 72 hour kit

YELLOW subgroup it you are in the middle

BLUE if you have a kit but it needs refreshing.

This week is UNDERWEAR week.

RED TEAM

1. Put another $5 per every two people into your envelope that is going to purchase you carrying bags.

2. Pick out two changes of undergarments for every person in your family and put them in your cardboard box. (1 change will do if that is all you can spare right now.)

YELLOW TEAM

Assuming you have the carriers you intend to use:

Either:

Pick out two changes of undergarments for every person in your family and put them in your cardboard box. (1 change will do if that is all you can spare right now.)

OR

If that is something you have in the kits already, check the sizing on each garment and make sure it still fits. It not, take it our and replace with current underwear. Have the kids and husband help.

BLUE TEAM

Yea, you know where this is going. Get the husband and kids to help you check the kits. It their underwear no longer fits, have them change it out for underwear that fits and hopefully will fit for 6 months.

Note to all: 72 hour kits need to be reviewed every 6 months to do just the kind of things we are talking about, making sure clothing fits and that food hasn't passed their use by dates.

Next week will be Outer clothing, so if you want to do it all at the same time, feel free. It will just be more time consuming to do it all at once.

You guys are great. Talk with you next week.

Marie