Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Food Storage, Emergency Preparedness and Weekly/Monthly Assingments (Week of May 4th)

Hi Carson Ward Family, Family and Friends,

 

First, our hearts and prayers go out to the many Midwest, Southern and Southeast USA states that are experiencing tornadoes and flooding. Some have lost loved ones, many have lost property. Please pray for these people. 



Haste Makes Waste!

Several years ago our family knew an elderly couple by the name of Phillipe (Frenchie) and Nora Moran. As a family we loved visiting with him and his wife.  He had so many practical and wonderful sayings. One of them was, "Haste Makes Waste." Over the years through experiences we have come to realize how true this statement is.

When we rush or do not think things through we make mistakes, waste valuable time, energy and money. We need to take time to think things through before we purchase things and make important decisions. We need to make a plan first, research it out, pray about it and listen to the prompting of the Holy Ghost and then set a goal to accomplish our plan. We also need to decide if is it a want or a need. Needs are priority! This can also work with emergency preparedness, food and water storage. Food storage, water storage and emergency preparedness supplies are a need and a priority!

We often say we do not have enough money to purchase extra food and purchase emergency drinking water and emergency supplies. The other day while we were out to dinner almost everyone I saw being served were served beverages, mostly sodas and lemonade. This also happens at fast food places. These items are expensive, they add up. What if you replaced the beverages with water and took that money and put it aside for your emergency supplies and food and water storage. Same thing for appetizers. Before you know it you would have money to purchase extra food for your food storage, water storage and emergency supplies. To me purchasing
beverages while eating out is a waste, sodas and sugary drinks are not good for us and only adds empty calories to our diet.

There are so many ways we can save money so we can purchase extra food, water and emergency supplies...

1) First decide if it is a want or a need, if a want, do without
2) Do not make hasty decisions, think them through
3) Only purchase items when on sale
4) Do not go into debt for things (save until you have enough money to purchase them with cash)
5) Use cash instead of debt or credit cards (you will be less likely to purchase that item)
6) Save your money until you have enough, many times you will change your mind before purchasing it

It amazes me how many storage facilities there are now, they did not exist when we were married in 1972. Why, because people today have too many things, things they could do without. Today our children are spoiled with too many things and after awhile start to expect them. Our house was built in 1925, it has very small bedroom closets. Why? Because in the early 1900's people did not have a lot of things, they had what they needed. As the economy got better, we started purchasing more "things" and going into debt for them. President Gordon B. Hinckley has warned us about debt, to pay cash for things, the things we need. Click here to read a great article by President Gordon B. Hinckley, "Climbing Out of Debt". We can all afford food storage, water storage and emergency supplies if we would set our priority and save our money. Be practical, remember, "Haste Makes Waste"!

New Weekly Assignments

Weekly Assignment: Water Storage


One of the most important things we can have in our Food Storage is WATER! We can live without food for several days (30-40 days), but we can only live without water for about 2-3 days. We use water in many ways; drinking, cooking, bathing, laundry, cleaning, watering our vegetable garden and gardens, re-hydrating our dehydrated and freeze dried food storage, etc. The next few weeks we are going to work on Water Storage.

This week do the following...

The Water Challenge

 
First, I would like each of you to take "The Water Challenge". Try this on a Saturday or a day when the whole family is home. This test will show you how much water each family member needs per day (24 hours). Purchase a one gallon bottle of water for each family member, write their name on the bottle. That is all the water they will be able to use for 24 hours, including drinking, sanitation (washing hands, brushing teeth), cooking, bathing, laundry, etc.



Next, sit down as a family the night before, maybe at dinner time, and explain "The Water Challenge" and what it will mean to the family. Show them their one gallon bottle of water with their name on it. They cannot borrow water from another family member. Talk about ways to converse their water. They will have to converse and use their water wisely!  No cheating! This may be easier for the children. You will be surprised at how fast a gallon of water per person will go within 24 hours. See how creative you can be in your water usage. This is a test to see how much water each family member will need in an emergency situation. Keep notes of how quickly each family member uses up their water and how they used it. Note: If young children and they want more water after having used theirs before the 24 hour period is up let them have more water.

Third, if you are not already storing some drinking water, start now. Purchase bottles of water, either the individual bottles, gallon bottles, or 5 gallon bottles. 

Important: If you have a medical condition that requires more than 1 gallon of water per day, please do not try this. Babies may only be on formula and may need more water too. Do not put any one's life in danger.  Just know that you will need to store more water. 

In normal conditions the chart below shows how much non-drinking water one person uses in 24 hours. This does not include drinking, cooking and sanitation. (emergencyessentials.com chart)


After completing this challenge sit down as a family and discuss how much water you will need to store in an emergency situation. Consider all the ways each person in your family uses water daily. Most recommendations are 2-5 gallons per person every 24 hours. If you can, I would say you should have enough water per person for 1-2 weeks, or more if possible.

Email me your experiences at theark.carsonward@gmail.com or put your comments below so everyone can learn from your experience.

The next few weeks I will post information on water storage (how and where), how to siphon water, water filtration, water containers and the best place to purchase 55 gallon water containers, sanitation regarding water usage, and how to conserve water. Also, we will start adding water to our emergency supplies.

New May Monthly Assignment

May Monthly Assignment: Fire Safety


This month we are going to work on fire safety.  

How many of you have a fire escape plan in your home? Are you aware of the fire escape plan at work and how to get out of your building? Do you know how to put out different types of fires out? Do you know how to put out a car fire? This month we will be discussing all of these questions and the things you need to have in your home to protect your family and home.

This coming Monday, or very soon, have a Family Home Evening on fire safety in your home...

1) Set up a family fire escape plan. Where each family member is to meet once out of the house. Example: A neighbors house/porch, by a tree on the curb, at the corner, but to never cross the street if they are young. .
2) Put a drawing of the two escape plans on the back of the bedroom door or closet door on how to get out of bedrooms if the fire is in the kitchen, living room or other rooms in your house. There should be at least two escape plans.
3) Practice the escape plans. Yell fire in the kitchen (or other room) and practice how to get out of the house using the escape plans.
4) Teach your family if they are trapped in their bedroom and they cannot get the window open it is alright to break the window, lay a blanket over the broken glass and crawl/jump out. If on a second story, teach them how to use the emergency fire escape ladder (not a toy!). There should be one in each bedroom on the second floor. 
5) Teach your children the rules of a fire and what to do, example drop down and crawl on the floor, check the door nob or door to see if it is hot (hot means a fire on the other side. We will discuss this in more detail later.
6) Teach your family what to do if they catch on fire, "Stop, Drop and Roll".
7) Teach your family to never, never, never go back into the house once they are out to rescue someone else.
8) Teach each family member how to use a fire extinguisher and that it is only used in fire emergencies. Show them were they are kept. Your local fire department will show you this.
9) Teach your children how to call 911 and what to say. 
10) Teach your family about different types of fires and how to extinguish them, example, wood, grease, etc.
11) Teach your children about fire safety and to never, never, never place with matches.  The stove is not a toy.
12) Teach your children not to hide under a bed or in a closet. The fireman may not be able to find them.
13) Check all fire detectors and make sure they are working. Replace non-working batteries immediately! Every General Conference (April and October) is a great time/reminder to check the smoke detectors and batteries. Batteries should be replaced every year and the smoke detector about every 10 years or as needed. Do not go without these in your home. There should be one in every bedroom, at the top of stairs, 1-2 down stairs and one in the basement.
14) Practice fire drills monthly. Watch the video below monthly too.  We had fire drills at all time during the day and night. If you decide to yell fire in the middle of the night try this on the weekend. Practice will protect you family!

The video below is an excellent videos on home fire safety each family member should watch month. Watch it on the first Monday of each month in Family Home Evening as a reminder of fire safety. 


 

Please take the time to review this vedio with your family each month. It could save lives!

Fire equipment that should be in each home...

 
1) Fire extinguishers. There should be one downstairs, upstairs and in the garage. Know which types to have and how to use them. Important: Each car in your household should have one too. The fire department will be happy to show you.





 
2) An emergency escape ladder--If you have a two story home, each bedroom should have. Make sure the person in that room knows where it is and how to use. Explain to them it is not a toy and is for fire emergencies only. Keep in a safe reachable place. Practice using it. Emergencyessentials.com has them for about $40 (Fire Alert Life Ladder). Other websites and some department stores may carries them.

 



3) Good working outside water hose.

 
 
4) An and crowbar





5) Keep a flashlight with good batteries and whistle in each room. The flashlight will help you find your way out and the whistle you can blow when you are trapped in a room. It can be heard over your voice.
Keep these two items together in a safe place in each room. Explain to the children these are only used in case of an emergency, like a fire.

 


5) An emergency burn kit. Available on line, in some department/drug stores and on emergencyessentials.com for $13 (Burnfree Personal Kit). This is good to have in your 72 Hour Emergency Family Bag too.





Emergency Preparedness Ideas


10 Natural Remedies That Work (from emergencyessentials.com) 

1)  Rice Water
2) Pumpkin
3) Honey and Cinnamon
4) Pineapples/Pineapple Juice
6) Vinegar Vapor
7) Baking Soda Rinse
8) Mud
9) Strawberries and Honey
10) Lavender Foot Bath

There are a lot more. Do some research to see others you can find. Click here to read about how each ones works. Keep a list of these in your first-aid kits and your Family Emergency Medical Kit/Box.

Comments: Please post a comment.  All your comments, ideas, suggestions and experiences are welcome! We all learn from each other. Thank you for your comments.

Friday, April 25, 2014

Food Storage, Emergency Preparedness and Weekly/Monthly Assignments (Week of April 27th)

Hi Carson Ward Family, Family and Friends,

Being self-reliant and industrious is an important part of temporal and spiritual preparedness!


I am grateful I grew up in a home were my parents and grandparents were self-reliant and industrious in every way. They never wasted anything and when things broke they fixed them themselves. If they did not know how they learned how. They worked hard to provide for our family. Mom sold her home made bread, sewed for others, watched other children and did so many other things to help supplement my father's income. She made home made jam, everything from scratch (no processed foods), had a vegetable garden, only purchased things when on sale, made our clothes, had a savings account for raining days,and never used credit except for extreme emergencies. Dad repaired the car and took care of its maintenance, fixed things that broke, or we broke, and helped Mom around the house. They taught us the value of honest hard work and to not be idle. In turn we have strived to teach our own children the value of honest hard work and not to be idle with their time. "The Lord . . . expects us to have knowledge of temporal things so we can care for ourselves temporally; . . . ." (Joseph Fielding Smith, 10th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1970-1972)

"And again, verily I say unto you, that every man who is obliged to provide for his own family, let him provide, and he shall in nowise lose his crown; and let him labor in the Church. Let every man be diligent in all things. . . . " (Doctrine and Covenants 75-28-29) It is our responsibility and our responsibility alone to provide for and protect our family! We should never rely on our local and federal government, church or other family members or neighbors to provide for our immediate family's needs. "Let us shoulder our own responsibilities, and not endeavor to place them somewhere else." (Joseph Fielding Smith)


There may come a time when our temporal talents, skills, knowledge and abilities will help us work or barter for food, clothing, and other items we might need for ourselves and our family. They may provide us a way to make money to support our family and their needs. It is our responsibility to teach our children and grandchildren to be industrious. We have forgotten to teach our children how to work hard, how to repair things, how to cook, how to plant and grow a vegetable garden and fruit trees, how to save money and how to be self-reliant. In our home I taught our daughters, and our sons, how to cook, sew, clean, basic first-aid and how to take care of children. My husband taught the boys, and even the girls, how to change the car oil, a tire, repair the car as needed and repair things around the house by them working along side him. Being temporally prepared is a very important part of emergency preparedness!

  
 ". . . likewise that a man should be industrious in spiritual things as well as in the immoralities by which he makes a living." (Joseph Fielding Smith)

We need to build our own strong testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ and not rely on others. Others spiritual strength will not get us through the rough spots in life, ours will. "Your personal security and happiness depend upon the strength of your testimony, for it will guide your actions in times of trail or uncertainty." (Richard G. Scott, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
 
Note: Joseph Fielding Smith quotes come from "Teachings of the Presidents of the Church, Joseph Fielding Smith", Chapter 23, pages 286-296, "Individual Responsibility". To read the entire chapter click here.

Weekly Assignment: Emergency Cleaning Bucket

Have you ever thought about needing emergency cleaning supplies? For the next few weeks we are going to work on setting up an Emergency Cleaning Bucket. Each week we will add 1-3 items. Most of these items can be found for a dollar each at a discount store (99 Cent Store, Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Family Dollar, etc.). You want to purchase small-medium bottles so all of it will fit in one bucket. Watch the video on the March 16th posting on how to fit everything into the bucket. As we add each item place it into the bucket. Mark the bucket with a permanent marker--Emergency Cleaning Bucket. You can keep this in your garage or home storage shed.

This week add the following items: Last two items

1) 2 pair of latex rubber gloves
2) 5 dust masks 

Optional items for doing the laundry: See March 16th posting for more details regarding below...

1) Old fashioned clothes wash board
2) Old fashioned metal round tub or heavy plastic bin or tub
3) Mobile washer 

Note: If you missed any of the items to add to the Emergency Cleaning Bucket go back to March 16th for the entire list.

 Last Week

April Monthly Assignment: Shelter

Each family will need some type of shelter in case you cannot stay in your home after a disaster and/or damage to your home. We also keep a small tent (3 person), and a large tarp with # 3-5 below, in our truck in case we might need shelter if a disaster strikes while away from home. 
 
This month add the following to your Emergency Supplies:
 
1) Tent to accommodate the size of your family (or several small to medium size ones)
2) Large tarps (2-4)
3) 100 feet of rope 
4) Duct tape
5) Clothes pens or heave clips 
6) Hammer with nails
Numbers 2-6 will help you to construct a shelter. Keep all these items together in your garage or home storage shed. 
 
Click here to read more information about shelter or go to the right of this blog under "Postings". The Boy Scout Handbook and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Young Woman Camp Manual also has some treat tips on constructing different types of shelters. 

I find Big 5 in Southern California USA have great sales prices on tents this time of year and after the summer. Other sporting goods stores and department stores with a sporting goods department will too. There are also great companies and Amazon.com on the Internet. 

Important: If you have never put a tent together and purchase one put it together before you need it to make sure you know how and all the pieces are there and working properly. 
 
Note: New Monthly Assignment starting next week. 
  
Emergency Preparedness Ideas


Are you ready for a big natural disaster or emergency situation?

What about extra food stored?
What about drinking water stored?
What about emergency medical supplies?
What about 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpacks for each family member?
What about one at work?
What about a 72 Hour Emergency Family Bag?
What about emergency cooking equipment?
What about emergency shelter?
What about emergency lighting?
What about emergency sanitation?
What about emergency heating (for winter)?
What about an emergency cleaning bucket?
What about emergency supplies for those of you who live in hurricane, tornado, typhoon, flooding and tsunami areas?
What about civil unrest or Martial Law?
What about basic first-aid skills?
What about protecting you and your family? 

Note: This emergency preparedness blog is here to help you accomplish all these questions. See the postings on the right under "Postings" for information on each of these questions. Being prepared brings peace of mind! 

Comments: Please post a comment.  All your comments, ideas, suggestions and experiences are welcome! We all learn from each other. Thank you for your comments.

Friday, April 18, 2014

Food Storage, Emergency Preparedness and Weekly/Monthly Assignments (Week of April 20th)

Hi Carson Ward Family, Family and Friends,


This Sunday we celebrate Easter, the Resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. This past weekend we were able to attend the Mesa AZ USA Temple Easter Pageant. What a marvelous spiritual experience it was; to witness the birth, life, teachings, Crucifixion and Resurrections of Jesus Christ. I testify to all of you that He lives, He really does live! The Resurrection and the Atonement gives us hope. It gives us an opportunity to repent and strive to keep the commandments of God. It gives us the wonderful blessing of being with our Savior Jesus Christ, our Heavenly Father and our family for eternity. May each of us take the time this week to reflect upon His life, His teachings and what the Resurrection and the Atonement means to us personally. May each of us teach our children and grandchildren that Easter is not about Easter Bunnies, Easter candy and the Easter Egg Hunt, it is about the Resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. Click here to learn more on Mormon.org about His birth, His life, His death and His Resurrection.


Winging it is not a plan!

This past weekend my husband and I took a road trip to Arizona to visit with our son's family. On the way there I noticed a billboard that said, "Winging it is not a plan". As I thought about that, of course, I likened it to Emergency Preparedness.

Many people have the idea that if a disaster hits, or another type of emergency situation, there will be others to help them, the local and federal government (like FEMA), their church, their neighbors, their family and friends. They will worry about it when it hits. As many of us have witnessed as the disasters of the last few years have happened and we have witness on television news channels, on the radio and in the newspapers, it takes days, weeks, months before help arrives. We need to be able to take care of our own family with drinking water, food, shelter, emergency cooking equipment, sanitation, medical needs, etc.We all need to set emergency preparation goals and work towards them daily. It takes planning, not winging it!

I also noticed on EmergencyEssentials.com they have a great article posted on their blog on the same subject, "Setting Preparedness Goals".

Personal Experience...

What do you get when you take the 10 freeway in Indio, California USA, the Coachella Music Festival (the biggest one in the world), 250,000 people all leaving at the same time getting onto the 10 freeway (most of them headed towards the Los Angeles, California USA area) and you find yourself in the middle of it just as you approached the area? A major traffic jam!!! It took us 3 hours to go about 30-50 miles at 15-20 miles an hour with no way to get off the 10 freeway until after Moreno Valley, California USA when we finally hit the 215/60 freeway interchange. As we were driving home from Arizona my husband said, "Imagine if there was a disaster and all these people were trying to get to a safer place. What a nightmare it would be!"

Have we ever thought what it would be like, or experienced this type of
traffic, maybe you have, if there was a disaster and we had to evacuate all at the same time? Would you be prepared with your 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpacks (or Bug Out Bags) and Family Emergency Bag? Would you have enough gas in your car(s)? Do you have an evacuation plan? Some things to think about! Check out the postings on the right side of this posting under "Postings" for information regarding these matters.
 
Weekly Assignment: Emergency Cleaning Bucket

Have you ever thought about needing emergency cleaning supplies? For the next few weeks we are going to work on setting up an Emergency Cleaning Bucket. Each week we will add 1-3 items. Most of these items can be found for a dollar each at a discount store (99 Cent Store, Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Family Dollar, etc.). You want to purchase small-medium bottles so all of it will fit in one bucket. Watch the video on the March 16th posting on how to fit everything into the bucket. As we add each item place it into the bucket. Mark the bucket with a permanent marker--Emergency Cleaning Bucket. You can keep this in your garage or home storage shed.

This week add the following items: (All this items can be found at discount stores like the 99 Cent Store, the Dollar Tree, etc.)

 
 
 
1) Can of spray air freshener
 
 
 
 
 
 
2) Insect repellent spray
 
 
 
 
 
 
3) 5 scrubber pads
 
 
 
 
 
4) Cleaning brush 


 
 
 
Note: Next week we will finish up the Emergency Cleaning Bucket. Remember: If you missed any of the items we have added you can go back to the March 16th posting for the entire list and video and follow through until now.

April Monthly Assignment: Shelter

Each family will need some type of shelter in case you cannot stay in your home after a disaster and/or damage to your home. We also keep a small tent (3 person), and a large tarp with # 3-5 below, in our truck in case we might need shelter if a disaster strikes while away from home. 
 

This month add the following to your Emergency Supplies:
 
1) Tent to accommodate the size of your family (or several small to medium size ones)
2) Large tarps (2-4)
3) 100 feet of rope 
4) Duct tape
5) Clothes pens or heave clips 
6) Hammer with nails
 
Numbers 2-6 will help you to construct a shelter. Keep all these items together in your garage or home storage shed. 
 
Click here to read more information about shelter or go to the right of this blog under "Postings". The Boy Scout Handbook and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Young Woman Camp Manual also has some treat tips on constructing different types of shelters. 

I find Big 5 in Southern California USA have great sales prices on tents this time of year and after the summer. Other sporting goods stores and department stores with a sporting goods department will too. There are also great companies and Amazon.com on the Internet. 

Important: If you have never put a tent together and purchase one put it together before you need it to make sure you know how and all the pieces are there and working properly.
 
Emergency Preparedness Ideas:
 
How is your vegetable gardening doing? In most areas of the United States there is still time to plant your Summer vegetable garden. Do you remember a few weeks ago when I posted about how to plant some vegetables in Miracle Grow Potting Soil? We have green onions in one and Romaine lettuce in the other one. Here is a picture of how ours is doing...
 
 
Note: To see how to plant vegetables in Miracle Grow Potting Soil click here and scroll down to the information. 
 
Why Won't My Vegetable Garden Grow?
 
Here is a great blog posting from EmergencyEssentials.com on "Why Won't My Garden Grow? 5 Mistakes You May Be Making"
 
 
Spring Cleaning your Emergency Preparedness Supplies
 
This is a great time of year to get out and go through all your emergency preparedness supplies...
 
1) Check your 72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpacks to make sure everything is alright, replace any expired or almost expired food items and medications, and check the clothing to make sure they still fits.
2) Organize all your emergency supplies in like groups, shelter, cooking equipment, sanitation, lighting, etc. Check or any items that need replace, replenished or repaired. Keep them in your garage or home storage shed together.
3) Inventory your food storage. Rotate any items that need used, replace any food items that need replaced. 
4) Inventory and replace or add any medical emergency supplies you need to your Family Emergency Medical Kit and First-aid kit(s). 
5) Make an emergency preparedness notebook of where everything is and when you last inventoried those items. Example: Shelter, in the garage on the right side. Food storage, in the hall closest, under the bed (what is stored there). Etc.
6) Go over your Family Emergency Preparedness Plan and make goals to acquire items you still need and a date to accomplish it by. 

Being prepared will bring peace of mind!
 
Comments: Please post a comment.  All your comments, ideas, suggestions and experiences are welcome! We all learn from each other. Thank you for your comments.  

Friday, April 11, 2014

Food Storage, Emergency Preparedness and Weekly/Monthly Assignments (Week of April 13th)

Hi Carson Ward Family, Family and Friends,

184th Annual General Conference--The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints


For those of you who watched or listened to General Conference this past weekend, wasn't if fabulous, so uplifting and spiritual. Every talk was filled with so much to help us prepare both spiritually and temporally lds.org and read or listen to the talks. All the talks will come out in the May Ensign issue next month. If you would like to order the May Ensign issue go to store.lds.org.  Click on "current issue" and order. It will not be available until sometime in May. You can order as many as you would like to share with friends.
and stand strong with courage and faith. If you did not get a chance to watch it, click here on

Emergency Preparedness is about being wise and setting priorities...


In the Sunday morning of the 184th General Conference Gary E. Stevensen stated, "Run the race that you may obtain the prize." I love this quote! Emergency preparedness is running a race of preparedness to obtain the prize of peace of mind knowing you and your family will be alright when a disaster or emergency situation hit you because you strove to be prepared.



Emergency preparedness is about taking little steps, baby steps to get where you are going.




I also enjoyed Michael John U. Teh (Of the Seventy) General Conference talk given Sunday afternoon. He shared a story about a woman who was in the typhoon in the Philippines and how she over came her loss, everything was sweep away and she had lost family members. She was living in temporary housing, grateful for what she had and had received. She was in good spirits besides her great loss. She had faith in Jesus Christ and knew everything would work out for good. She learned that material things to do not matter, all that matters in family and family relationships.

Elder Teh goes on to say we need to recognize what is necessary and what we can do without. It is good to recognize when we have enough. We should not spend money on that which is of no worth. He referenced Matthew 6:19-21. We read, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where month and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal; For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."


So many of us today have a lot of things. We all need to be wise and set priorities in what is most important to us. We waste a lot of money on things and eating out a lot. There are so many things we could do without so we have money to purchased the things we will need in a disaster or emergency situation. Think about it, discuss it with your family, make a plan. What could you do without and take that money and save it until you can purchase food storage and emergency preparedness supplies. As you go to the grocery store each time purchase some extra cans or packages of food.

There is a Latter-day Saint hymn I have always enjoyed...

Put your Shoulder to the Wheel (LDS Hymn Book, #252, v. 1 & 3)

The world has need of willing men Who wear the workers seal.
Come, help the good work move along; Put your shoulder to the wheel.

Then work and watch and fight and pray With all your might and zeal.
Push every worthy work a long; Put your shoulder to the wheel.

Chorus:

Put your shoulder to the wheel; push along,
Do your duty with a heart full of song,
We all have work; let no one shirk.
Put your shoulder to the wheel.

Lets put our shoulders to the wheel and be better prepared both temporally and spiritually for what may come our way. Does it take hard work and planning? You bet it does! Can you do it? You bet you can! Is it worth it? You bet it is! Will you have peace of mind and safety? You bet you will!

Weekly Assignment: Emergency Cleaning Bucket


Have you ever thought about needing emergency cleaning supplies? For the next few weeks we are going to work on setting up an Emergency Cleaning Bucket. Each week we will add 1-3 items. Most of these items can be found for a dollar each at a discount store (99 Cent Store, Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Family Dollar, etc.). You want to purchase small-medium bottles so all of it will fit in one bucket. Watch the video on the March 16th posting on how to fit everything into the bucket. As we add each item place it into the bucket. Mark the bucket with a permanent marker--Emergency Cleaning Bucket. You can keep this in your garage or home storage shed.

This week add the following item: 

1) 18-20 clean reusable towels/wipes (blue ones). You can purchase these at auto parts stores and in auto and cleaning department sections of WalMart and other stores. The "Handy Wipe" as pictured come in a count of 20. Sometimes they tend to come in large quantities and are not cheap. This may be one items you want to go in with another family or friend.




New New New

April Monthly Assignment: Shelter

Each family will need some type of shelter in case you cannot stay in your home after a disaster and/or damage to your home. We also keep a small tent (3 person), and a large tarp with # 3-5 below, in our truck in case we might need shelter if a disaster strikes while away from home. 
 

This month add the following to your Emergency Supplies:
 
1) Tent to accommodate the size of your family (or several small to medium size ones)
2) Large tarps (2-4)
3) 100 feet of rope 
4) Duct tape
5) Clothes pens or heave clips 
6) Hammer with nails

Numbers 2-6 will help you to construct a shelter. Keep all these items together in your garage or home storage shed. 
Click here to read more information about shelter or go to the right of this blog under "Postings". The Boy Scout Handbook and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Young Woman Camp Manual also has some treat tips on constructing different types of shelters. 

I find Big 5 in Southern California USA have great sales prices on tents this time of year and after the summer. Other sporting goods stores and department stores with a sporting goods department will too. There are also great companies and Amazon.com on the Internet. 

Important: If you have never put a tent together and purchase one put it together before you need it to make sure you know how and all the pieces are there and working properly.

Emergency Preparedness Ideas

 
Cool idea...

If you want to learn how to make this emergency improvised tent lamp click here.



 
Things You Should Know...

1) What would you do if there was an attack on our power grid? What does it mean to us? How would it effect you? You you be able to survive?
 

Almost everything we do in the world today relies on electricity!  Click here to ready a great article on what to be aware of and how to prepare.


 

2) What if there was an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) weapon as they keep talking about?  What does it mean to us? How would it effect you? You you be able to survive? 

We hear so much in the news about EMP weapons and how they could effect us. Do we really understand it? Are we prepared to go back hundreds of years? Will you be able to survive?  

These are the things we would be without...
No electricity
No phone (landlines or cell phones or texting)
No running water (takes pumps and electricity)
No heating (takes the gas and electric company electricity to run the plant)
No hot water
No televisions or radios to listen to for emergency instructions (stations take electricity)
No emergency response teams (the fire station and truck use computers/electricity to work)
No medicines (those with medical conditions that require prescription medications will probably die) 
No running cars (cars after the 1980 use electrical and computers to run them. Cars before that will run until you run out of gas, no gas stations to get gas)
No way to use your debit or credit cards (no electricity at banks or stores) 
No food or drinking water (stores will run out immediately, no delivery trucks running)
No sanitation (cannot flush your toilets)
No city trash pickup (trucks do not run)
Hospitals and nursing homes will not be able to function (no electricity)
Air planes will fall from the sky
Thousands will die (creating mass burials)
There will be civil unrest, Martial Law will be called (do you know what that means?)
And so much more! 
Everything we know of as today will cease to exist, we will go back 300-400 years!

Will you have the skills and ability to survive? 

Listen for the things you will need to survive...




Faraday Cage...To see how to make with a garbage can click on the link at the beginning of the video...This protects your electronic and other electrical devices from the EMP.




3) First-aid...Difference Between a Burn and a Scald
 
Many of us are not aware of the difference and importance of a 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree burn. Click here to learn how to recognize the difference and treat the different degrees of burns. Click on the links within the article to learn more about how to treat burns.




These are things we need to think about and strive to prepare for the best we can. 

Comments: Please post a comment.  All your comments, ideas, suggestions and experiences are welcome! We all learn from each other. Thank you for your comments.  

Friday, April 4, 2014

Canning Your Fruits and Tomatoes/Vegetables

Canning Your Fruits and Tomatoes/Vegetables:

The preparation for canning your fruits and tomatoes is much like the preparation for freezing them. Canning other types of vegetables have to be canned in a Canning Pressure Cooker. Follow the instructions in how to prepare your tomatoes is last week's blog posting on Freezing. Once you have selected good ripe (not to soft) tomatoes, washed them thoroughly, blanched them to remove the peeling, and peeled and diced them, follow the instructions below for canning tomatoes. Warning: You cannot can other types of vegetables by the Water-Bath process, they are not acidic enough

1. Place your diced (or whole, halved or quartered) tomatoes in a large pot. Boil them for five minutes, be careful to not burn the bottom of the pot or the tomatoes. If you use whole tomatoes you will need to add water to cover them and place the water in the canning jars since they will not produce their own liquid.



2. While the tomatoes are boiling, place your canning jars in hot boiling water. Place the caps in hot, but not boiling water (this will damage the seal) and let them sit in the hot water until you are ready for them. Do not use used caps, they may to hold the seal.



3. Removed the canning jars from the boiling water with the jar lifter and set them on a towel out of a draft.
4. If using pint jars place 1 tablespoon of lemon juice in the bottom of the jar. If using quart jars, place 2-3 tablespoons of lemon juice in the bottom of the jars. If you are concerned about the bitter taste of the lemon juice, you can add a little sugar to the tomatoes to sweeten them.
5. With the funnel on the jar, pour enough hot tomatoes into the jars just below the bottom of rim.



6. Run a plastic spatula around the inside of the jars to release any air bubbles. Add more tomatoes if needed.



7. Wipe off the edge of the jars with a clean soft towel before sealing them.



8. Seal the jars with the hot caps and lids. Never use used caps and or bent lids. Buy new ones each time you can. Screw them on tight, put not too tight.



9. Have the water in your Water-Bath Canning pot already hot. Place the canning rack in the bottom of the Water-Bath Canning pot, using the canning jar lifter, place the canning jars of tomatoes on the rack so they do not touch each other. Do not stack on top of each other.
10. Cover the jars with more hot water, from another pot of boiling water, until they are covered about 3-4 inches above the top of the canning jars.
11. Cover the pot with the lid, bring to a hard boil and boil for 45 minutes, making sure the water stays above the lids.
12. Remove the canning jars from the pot with your jar lifter and place on a towel out of a draft. This prevents the jars from cracking if put on a cold surface.



13. After awhile you will start to hear the lids "ping". This means your jars are sealed. Leave the jars there until they have completely cooled.
14. Once they are cooled check the lids to make sure they are not springy by pushing in the middle of the caps. If they are, you can do the process again, or put them in the refrigerator and use them within a week.
15. Place labels on the jars with the name of the item inside and the date. Place in a cool, dry dark place. They should keep for 1-3 years.



16. When you open the jars make sure you smell the fruit and tomatoes to make sure they do not smell spoiled. If they do, throw them away immediately.
Note: This same process works for fruits. Check online, or in a canning cookbook, how long to boil them for the type of fruit you are using. This is also a great way to can fruit jams and jellies. Check online for great fruit jams and jellies recipes.

I did not find Water-Bath Canning difficult, just time consuming! But what a great reward you receive once you are done canning. This is just another way to preserve food for your Food Storage. Remember, when canning fruits and tomatoes/vegetables, purchase them when in season to save money. If you have a vegetable garden or fruit trees, this is a great way to preserve them for future use. Citric fruit like lemons, limes, oranges, tangerines, I squeeze out the juice and freeze the juice in freezer double zip lock bags.

07/2015