Quote:
"We encourage you to follow this counsel with the assurance that a people prepared through obedience to the commandments of God need not fear." (First Presidency letter, June 24, 1988)
There may come a time in the future when food prices will be so high, you will not be able to purchase food for your family. Why not store some food for those hard times? Food continually rises and will continue to rise due to extreme weather conditions over the past year or so. Some items may become unavailable. Frank Davis, owner of Food for Health International in Utah, said he cannot get potatoes right now, there are none available for the dehydrated foods he makes, and prices have increase significantly over the past year and continue to rise. We need to be prepared for whatever might come our way!
Follow ups:
1) Water Filtration Pumps and Filters--I am doing one more order this Sunday, last day to order. The Water Pumps are $18.40 with tax and shipping. The Filters are $8.00 with tax and shipping. The water pump comes with one filter. The filters filter out 99.9999% of bacteria, viruses and contamination. Each filter filters 100 gallons of water. Please see the sign-up sheet this Sunday or email me by Sunday night how many water pumps and filters you want. Or you can call me at 310-835-0902. If all goes well, I should have them by next Sunday.
Note: If you use muddy or dirty water, it is best to pour the water through a t-shirt first to filter out as much mud or debris you can, that way the filter will last longer.
2) Water Barrels--When was the last time you replaced the water in your barrels or rotated any stored water. If you have bleach (1/4 cup per 55 gallons) in the water, you need to replace the water every year, if the water barrel is sitting in the sun, probably more often. If you do not have bleach in the water, then you need to replace the water every 6 months, more often if in the sun. If you have the Activated Stabilized Oxygen, 10% Strength in the water, it will last for 5 years, less if the barrels are in the sun a lot, maybe 3-4 years. I purchased it from Majors Survival Warehouse Store in Garden for $12.95. One small bottle will take care of 2 55 gallon barrels, half (1/8 cup) in each barrel. Never store your water in the garage, much to hot. Best place is where the barrel gets the least amount of sun during the day. If you want to purchase the barrels, see the Water Storage posting on the right side of the blog under Postings where you can buy them. 55 gallon barrel--$20-$25 each. Tell him Miss Nancy from the church in Carson on 228th and Main referred you, he may give them to you for $20 if you ask him. One will fit in the back seat of a Honda Civic.
Note: Electric Water Pump--we just purchased a 12 volt electric water pump at Harbor Freight for about $30-$40. First we purchased a more expensive one, $80, thinking it would work better, it did not pump out the water, must have been a bad design, we tried 2 of them. Then we purchased the 12 volt one and it worked great! Pumps out the 55 gallon water barrel in about 15-20 minutes. Requires a battery charger to hook it up to. The regular syphon worked as good, but we had to put the water a bucket and carry the water to another place and dump it out, to much work for me. The pump allows you to hook up the hose and direct the water to your lawn or flower beds. Great if you have several water barrels to empty.
3) Vegetable garden--For those who planted a vegetable garden or in containers, how is it doing? So far we have harvested lots of zucchini, yellow squash, lettuce, carrots, green onions, brown onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, green beans, beans, and cucumbers. We are excited to see pumpkins growing this year. It is not a huge garden, 6 feet by 10 feet. In September we will plant the cool vegetables, broccoli, celery, lettuce and peas. A great thing about living in California is that you can plant and grow vegetables almost all year long. It is such a great feeling to be able to go out to our garden and get fresh vegetables as we need them. I have made green salads and vegetable soup entirely from our garden. Our freezer is getting full from all the vegetables I have blanched and frozen, they will keep for a year. I am just about done using up the vegetables I froze last year. I will also can some this year.
4) 72 Hour Emergency Food Kits--If you completed your 72 hour food kits last August when we did them, please check them and replace any items that are about ready to expire and replace the water too. You can put the almost expired items in your children's school lunches.
Temporal Assignment--Family Emergency Medical Supplies:
This week we are finishing up the supplies. If you have not started or completed these supplies go back to the blog posting starting May 29th until you get to this posting August 27th, it took us 3 months to complete the list by adding a few items each week. Please add the following this week:
1) sunscreen
2) Potassium Iodine Tablets--only take if instructed to due to radiation fallout, do not take unless advised. I found them on EmergencyEssentials.com, 14 tables for $9.99. You may also be able to find them a Majors Survival Warehouse Store in garden or other survival stores or on line.
3) Burn Kit--I found this at EmergencyEssentials.com for about $15, or you may be able to purchase it at Walgreen, CVS, WalMart, or Target.
Optional: You may want to add the following if you wear contact lens--Extra pair of lens and solution.
Important: Once a year check expiration dates. Rotate all medications, prescriptions, ointments, liquids, pain relievers, solutions, etc.
Spiritual Assignment:
Read the article "Valiant in the Testimony of Jesus Christ" in this month's Ensign, September 2011, page 35, and share the importance of being prepared with a friend, a neighbor, and/or a co-worker. Discuss this article as a family or with a friend.
Food Storage Ideas:
Canned Foods: Due to various temperatures where canned food may be stored, it is difficult to determine the definite period of time at which all canned foods will hold. The short shelf life products are highly acid and pigmented foods such as grapefruit and orange juice, black and red cherries, all colored berries, prunes, and plums usually have an average shelf life of 1-2 years. Other fruits such as peaches, pears, apricots and applesauce average from 2-3 years. Vegetables such as beets, carrots, green beans, spinach, greens, tomatoes and tomato juice average 3-4 years. Vegetables and meats such as peas, corn, Lima beans and roast beef should average 4-5 years. Canned milk should be agitated every 30 days. This prevents the fats from separating, and should be used within one year. Most canned foods now have expiration dates. Keep track of them by setting up a chart and check if often to avoid having to through away expired food.
Canned foods should be stored in a cool, dry place, the cooler and dryer the longer they will last. Place the oldest canned foods on the shelves in the front so they will be used first. Rotation is the key to good food storage. Fruits, vegetables and meats properly processed in glass jars and stored in the home will keep in a cool, dry, dark place should last as long as those in cans.
Do not use canned foods when the can is bulged or leaking, bacteria has sat in. Same thing goes for bulged lids on glass jars. DO NOT USE THEM!
This information was issued by The General Church Welfare Committee.
Remember: Post your name and comment by this Sunday, August 27th, by 10am for the Monthly FREE Giveaway Drawing to be help this Sunday, August 27th.
Threesa Cummings
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