Emergency Preparedness, Food Storage and Monthly Assignments (Week of September 5th)

Hi Torrance Stake Family, Carson Ward Family, Family and Friends,

How prepared are you?

A few days ago I was changing channels on the television and caught the tail end of a program about a major earthquake in California USA. The person talking, whose name I did not get, stated even though there will be deaths from a major earthquake it is the aftermath they are most concerned about. People do not understand the lack of resources they will have after a major earthquake. They think first responders will be there in a few minutes to help them. They think drinking water, food, medical help, shelter and other needs will be provided within hours. Unfortunately, this is not the case!

We have seen unfold before our eyes on news programs reporting various natural disasters throughout the country, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, etc. The Katrina and Sandy hurricane and water damage took days/weeks before help could arrive with clean drinking water, food, medical help and emergency shelter. First responders and volunteer organizations could not get into the areas to help.

What can we do to help a situation like this before it happens?

Be as best prepared ourselves as we possibly can. We will to be able to take care of ourselves, our family and help our neighbors the best we can. If we are prepared it will lessen the need for first responders and volunteer organizations and give them an opportunity to help those who have not prepared.

There probably will be no immediate first responders, volunteer organizations, running water, electricity, medical help, food available, access to ATM machines, roads and freeways will be blocked, stores, gas stations, banks will be shut down due to no electricity, etc.. The experts say it will take 6 months to 1+ years to repair our water aqueducts, electrical grid and infrastructure.

We will need to have extra food on hand (some canned and snack foods you can eat without cooking), bottled drinking water on hand, emergency medical supplies on hand, flash lights and lanterns on hand, shelter items on hand, emergency cooking and heating on hand, first-aid skills, we will need to help ourselves and our neighbors to survive.

Are you ready for such an event? What do you need to do to prepare or be better prepared? Have you evaluated your situation and what emergency supplies you have or need? Do you have a plan?

Now, not tomorrow or next week, is the time to get prepared! Do not procrastinate anymore!

New September Monthly Assignments

Food Storage . . . Fruits

Fruits are an important part of our food storage. Other foods do not give us the vitamins and nutrition we need in our diet.  Fruits can be stored in a variety of ways. 

How much should I store? Determine how much fruit you or your family eats in a month and multiply that by the number of months you have set your food storage goal. Store a variety of fruits.

Shelf life of fruits: Commercially canned 1-2 years, home canned 1-2 years, home dehydrated in mason jars 6 months-1year, commercially dehydrated 1-2 years, commercially freeze-dried long term storage 20-30 years. Watch the expiration dates, especially when you purchase items from discount store.

Of course these all depend on how you store them. All fruits should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place. The temperature should be below 70 degrees if possible. The higher the temperature the less time is will keep.  

What types of fruits should I store? Only store the fruits your family will eat. It is a studied and proven fact, that even in a disaster, especially children, your family will not eat what they do not like. Store a variety of fruits in a variety of different ways.  You can also store fruit juices. I usually work on these separate, but you can add them at this time too.

Different ways to store fruits:

 

Commercially canned: Store a variety, only the ones your family will eat.  Do not forget the apple sauce.Do not purchase or store dented or cans with the lids bubbled.

 

Home canned: To home can fruits use the water bath method. Click here to learn how to can fruits. Purchase fruits in season to save money.  Do not eat if the lid is springy.

  



 

 

Dehydrated:  Home  or commercially          packed. Storage life is different. Home dehydrated, 6 months-1 year. Commercially dehydrated, 1-2 years. Keep your home dehydrated fruits in mason jars in cool, dry, dark place.  Do not forget apple, banana chips, raisins and other dried fruits.                                               

Frozen: Another great way to preserve fruits is to freeze them. You can purchase them frozen, limited in variety, and you can purchase in season and freeze in plastic freezer zip log bags for future use. They will keep for 1 year. They are great to use in jello salads, smoothies, over oatmeal and cereals and may other ways. 

 

Freeze-dried: If in #10 cans they will keep for 20-30 years, depending on the temperature you keep them, remember, cool, dry and dark. To rehydrate just add water, let sit for about 15 minutes and enjoy by themselves or in recipes.





Fruit trees and berry bushes are another great way to produce your own fruit to can or freeze.

 
Fruit Trees: If you have the space plant a fruit tree or two. Checkout which types of fruits you can grow in your area. You cannot grow all fruits in all areas. If you do not have a large space try dwarf fruit trees or in large pots.






Berries: Also try to grow berries (blueberries, etc.) in your yard or large pots. I planted 2 blueberries bushes in large pots last year and they are doing great. I freeze the blueberries I cannot use at the time.





Emergency Preparedness . . .
                          First-aid and CPR 

Every family member should learn first-aid and CPR. Each household should have a good first-aid kit in their home and in each vehicle. Take the time to practice first-aid and CPR skills regularly as an individual and family. Family Home Evening is a great time to review them. Practice first-aid skills on each other or a friend. Review symptoms and treatments in a first-aid book. Try to become first-aid and CPR certified. It could save a life. 

Emergency Preparedness Ideas

Food storage Tips . . .

If you are just starting out with your food storage only concentrate on the foods your family eats on a regular basis, not the long term (freeze-died and dehydrated #10 cans and super pails) food storage. Set a goal for 3-months. Keep track of what your family eats in a month, including all ingredients in recipes, snacks and eating out. Once you have this information you can figure out how much it will take to meet your 3-month goal. 

First start by getting 1-month supply of everything, then move on 2-months and then 3-months. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints advises us to work towards a 3-month of food and drinking water as needed. If 1-month seems overwhelming then do 2 weeks and keep increasing by 2 weeks as you go along until you have your 3-months supply of food. 

An easy way to keep track is to make out a 2 week menus for your family, including all ingredients in each recipe, snacks and eating out. Most families eat the same thing within a 2 week time period. Do not forget the treats too. 

After you have your 3-months food storage then you can start adding the long term freeze-dried and dehydrated #10 cans and super pails. 

Remember, to rotate your 3-month food storage. As you use a can or package replace it right away. I keep my caned foods in line by date. The oldest in the front and newest in the back. That way I use them first. Also remember, even if a can of food has expired, as long as it is not dented or the ends bubbled, it is still good for awhile. It will loose some of its nutritional value over time, but still good to eat. Also, only purchase food items you know your family will eat. Do not purchase some thing just because it is on sale. It is a waste of your hard earned money, your family will not eat it and it will just go to waste.

The success of food storage is "rotation, rotation, rotation" and keep all canned and packaged foods in a cool, dry, dark place with the temperature under 70 degrees or less if possible. The higher the temperature the less time it will last. 

Keep a record/chart of what you have. I keep a food storage notebook. I like to do inventory every 3 months just in case I do not see I am low on some items. 

Remember, the best advise on food storage is to just start now. A few cans and packages at a time and before you know it you will have your 3-months food storage. 

Note: Of course, the photo above is our ideal food storage space and shelving, but we can create areas in our home to store our food storage. Be creative. When you purchase end tables, coffee tables, or any type of table try to purchase ones with storage. Under beds, closets and cupboards are other great places. Go through them and throw out what you do not need, we all have to many things we do not use. Try to not store food in your garage, it can get too hot and dismiss the shelf life of your food. 

Comments and Questions: Please share your comments and questions below. Or you can email me at theark.carsonward@gmail.com. Remember, we all learn from each other. Thank you for your comments and questions.

Emergency Preparedness, Food Storage and Monthly Assignments (Week of August 21st)

Hi Torrance Stake Family, Carson Ward Family, Family and Friends,

"Not As Miserable!"

A few weeks ago I was talking with a member of our church in the hallway. He mentioned the blog and being prepared. I have been thinking a lot about his comment. "At least when we are some what prepared we will not be as miserable if we had nothing".  Thank you R. Ponsonby for your comment and giving me a topic for this week's blog posting.

How much are we willing to be miserable if a disaster strikes, or some other emergency situation, in our life? How much are we willing to let our family be miserable, especially our children?  What can we do to assure them they will not be miserable, or at least not to miserable?

Or, will you be the only one/family around you who is not miserable because you have prepared for what may be down the road at any given second? Will you be the one with some food storage, water storage, cooking, lighting, shelter and sanitation emergency supplies, medical supplies, physically and mentally healthy, spiritually healthy, with rainy-day money stored away?

This blog, other emergency preparedness websites and blogs and many other resources in your local community and federal government are there to help you and your family "not be as miserable" as many others who have not prepared. Why not take the time with your family to be better prepared? Why be miserable when you do not have to be? Why not have peace of mind because you know you are striving and are preparing and are prepared for what many come your way?

Emergency preparedness should be a daily part of our lives. Always thinking of and acting on our emergency plans so we and our loved ones are not as miserable as others after a disaster hits.

August Monthly Assignments

Food Storage . . . 
               Vegetables

What a great time of year to stock up on vegetables. If you have a vegetable garden you can freeze and/or can them and put them away to use throughout the year. Your local farmers market will also have seasonal vegetables you can freeze and/or can. If you do not have a vegetable garden then purchase commercially canned and frozen vegetables to store when on sale. You can also purchase freeze-dried or dehydrated vegetables in #10 cans or super pails for long term storage. Purchase only those vegetables your family will eat. Remember, the key to any food storage is rotation, rotation, rotation. When on sale purchase extra cans. First, I would work on storing commercially canned vegetables from your local grocery store or big box stores. Once you have at least a 3-months supply then work on getting some long term vegetables. emergencyessentials.com (or beprepared.com) and WalMart (online, Augason Farms products) is a good source for freeze-dried and dehydrated #10 and super pail long term storage vegetables. 

Emergency Preparedness . . .
              Physical and Mental Health 

Click here to learn about physical health and why it is important.

Click here to learn about mental health and why it is important.

Make physical and mental health a part of your self-reliance. My husband who is 71 years old walks and jogs 4 miles a day. does strengthening exercises and rides his bike, everyday but Sunday. Due to some back issues I am not able to walk so far. I try to do stretching and strengthening exercises to stay physically healthy. We both strive to eat healthy each day. To stay mentally healthy we read the scriptures and pray daily. We strive to keep our minds clear and active by not taking anything harmful into our bodies, minimizing the stresses in our lives the best we can, enjoying hobbies, taking time to mediate and staying close to the Holy Ghost.

"You have to prepare physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually to conquer any mountain."
                                          (Lailah Gifty Akita, Pearls of Wisdom, Great mind)

Emergency Preparedness Ideas 

Flooding in Louisiana and Texas 

    and Wildfires in Southern California (Cajon Pass) . . .

With all the natural disasters going on around us in the United States the last few days there are some things we can do to be prepared if we need to evacuate immediately.  

1) Keep a 72 Hour Individual Emergency Backpack (click for information) for each family member ready at all times in case you need to evacuate immediately. Keep them in your car or some place in your home and work place so you can grab them quickly. Keep extra water in your vehicles.

2) Keep a 72 Hour Family Emergency Bag (click for information) in your car at all times. Along with a good First-aid kit.

3) Always keep at least a half of tank of gas in all your vehicles at all times. There may be long lines at the gas station giving you no time to get gas and the pumps may not be working due to lost power.

4) Keep cash on hand at all times. Small bills and change. Keep the money in your 72 Hour Individual Emergency Backpacks or your 72 Hour Family Emergency Bag  You may not be able to access cash from the ATM machines, no power, not enough time. You may be only able to use cash to purchase items.

5) Keep all valuable papers and documents in a safe place together so you can grab them quickly and you do not have to think about where they all are. Keep valuable antiques and jewelry together too. Keep copies of all insurance policies together with other valuable papers and documents. Have a Family Emergency Preparedness Notebook.

6) If you have pets make sure you have pet cages for each of them so you can take them with you. If you have larger animals like horses, cows, etc., know where you can take them and have vehicles available to do so. Keep 72 Hour Emergency Kits for your household pets. 

7) When told to evacuate, do it immediately! 

8) If you live in a brush area, keep and clear all brush and trees several feet away from your property. Make sure your roof eves are enclosed.

9) Have an evacuation escape route, with an alternate one, if you need to leave. 

10) Keep a portable radio on hand with extra batteries. It may be your only way of knowing what is going on and what you need to do be protected.

11) Listen to the first responders, your local and federal government leaders. Follow their instructions, it may save you life. 

12) Be wise, be smart, stay calm, be informed, listen to the Spirit! 
 
How to safely store different types of fuel . . . 

  A great blog posting from emergency essentials Click here to read the article. 
                          

Keeping Kitchen Staples Fresher Longer . . .   

Note: You can cut and paste this to Microsoft Word or another type of word document to save. You might want to print this chart and post this on the inside of your cupboard or pantry where you keep your staples for future reference.

Keeping Kitchen Staples Fresher Longer

(from Cooks Illustrated and The Ark)

Note: Most food staples should be stored in a dark, dry, cool place in your pantry or cupboard. A few items last longer in the freezer.

Food Item

Shelf Life

How and Where to Store

Spices and Dried Herbs	Whole spices: 2 years Ground spices & Herbs: 1 year	Do not store on the counter near the stove. Better to store whole spices and grind as you need them. Last longer and releases the volatile compounds. Keep in dark, dry, cool place in the cupboard.
Olive Oil	Unopened: 1 year Opened: 3 months	Do not place on counter top or windowsill. Keep in a dark, dry, cool place in the pantry or cupboard. Check for freshness: boil a little in a skillet, if smells rancid, throw out. Good test for all oils.
Other Oils and Shortening	Unopened: 1 year Opened: 6 months Shortening: 3 years	Store in pantry: Canola, Corn, Peanut, Vegetable. Store in fridge: Sesame, Walnut Shortening: Store in dark, dry, cool place in the pantry or cupboard.
Vinegar Vinegar (con.)	Indefinitely Indefinitely	Don't throw away old vinegar. Most contain about 5% acetic acid, which prevents harmful bacteria growth. Ignore any sediment in your vinegar. Harmless. Can easily strain out. Apple Cider Vinegar: Once opened keep in fridge. Sediments are alright, just shake before using.
Soy Sauce	1 year	If pasteurized store in dark, dry, cool cupboard. If unpasteurized store in fridge.
Sweeteners (Sugar, brown sugar, honey, pure maple syrup, molasses)	Sugar: Indefinitely Brown Sugar: Indefinitely Honey: Indefinitely Pure Maple Syrup: Long lasting Molasses: Long lasting	Keep in a dark, dry, cool place in your pantry or cupboard. Sugar will get hard but can break up. Keep the original bags in a large plastic zip lock bag or air tight container. Brown sugar: Store in air tight containers. I use Mason jars. If becomes hard and soften by placing the brown sugar in a bowl with a slice of sandwich bread, cover, microwave 10-20 seconds. Or store with a terra cotta Brown Sugar Bear. Honey: Do not store in metal cans. Only store in glass or plastic bottles. Invert the honey every 6 months. If crystallizes, put the glass jar in a sauce pan with about 1 inch of water. Heat until 160 degrees. Store in a dark, dry, cool pantry or cupboard. Molasses: Store in pantry. Do not store molasses or honey in the fridge. Pure maple syrup: Store in the pantry if not opened. Once opened store in the fridge to avoid growth of yeast, mold and bacteria.
Leaveners	Baking Powder and Baking Soda: 6 months. Instant or Active Dry Yeast: 4 months in freezer. If dehydrated, vacuum packed: 2-5 years in the freezer	Baking Powder and Soda: Store in a dark, dry, cool place in the pantry or cupboard. Replace regularly. Yeast: Do not keep in the pantry because it is a living organism. Observe the expiration date on the package. Freezer is the best place to store yeast.
Flour	All-purpose flour: 1 year Whole Wheat flour and Cornmeal: 1 year (in freezer)	All-purpose flour: Remove from package, store in an air tight container to protect from moisture. Whole Wheat flour and Cornmeal: Do not store in pantry or cupboard, they contain natural oils that will go rancid within 3 moths. Store them in the freezer in their original packing in plastic zip lock bags.
Chocolate	Unsweetened and Dark Chocolate: 2 years Milk and White Chocolate: 6 months	Store opened bars of chocolate tightly in plastic and store in a dark, dry, cool pantry or cupboard. Do not store chocolate in the fridge or freezer, as cocoa butter easily absorbs off-flavors from other foods, and changes its crystal structure. Milk solids in milk and white chocolate give them a shorter shelf life. To extend the shelf life of chocolate use the Mason jar FoodSaver method (on YouTube) to extend to 3 years.
Vanilla Extract	Long-lasting	Keep vanilla in a tightly sealed container away from light and heat. Don't get rid of old vanilla. It's high alcohol content makes it's shelf life long lasting, 10+ years.
Bay Leafs, Nuts and Seeds	1-2 years	If kept in freezer
Butter	1 year in freezer 1 month in fridge	It is best to keep butter in the freezer until needed. In the fridge it can pick up off-flavors and only good for about a month.
Eggs	3-5 weeks in the fridge	Store in their original containers in the fridge, not in the fridge door egg holder, to warm. Water freshness test: If the egg stays on the bottom of the bowl filled with water, still alright to eat, even if stands up on end. If floats to the top, do not eat.

Comments and Questions: Please share your comments and questions below or email to me at theark.carsonward@gmail.com. Remember, we all learn from each others experiences and knowledge. Thank you for sharing.

Emergency Preparedness, Food Storage and Monthly Assignments (Week of July 31st)

Hi Torrance Stake Family, Carson Ward Family, Family and Friends,

Self-reliance, an important part of my life!

As a child and teenager growing up in my family, self-reliance was a way of life. My grandparents, parents and aunts and uncles taught me from a young age to be self-reliant. I am grateful for this teaching and example in my life. My grandparents and parents experienced the Great Depression and World War II. They learned to become self-reliant. I learned from them to not waste anything. To use it up, fix it if you can (learn how), wear it out or do without (the difference from needs and wants). We all can learn much from the "greatest generation". Many of them are slipping away and I am afraid their ways, knowledge and experiences are going with them.

I do not want to rely on others for things that I strongly feel is my responsibility and not my government, church or others. I know there are sometimes we need help but I am trying my best to be as self-reliant as possible by working towards food and water storage, emergency supplies, having a vegetable garden and canning and freezing what I produce, not going into debt and living within our means, striving for good spiritual, physical and mental health,  learning talents and developing them so I can provide for my family if the time comes, having a good education and having money put aside for emergencies. Self-reliance also involves working hard, working smart and making wise choices.We have tried to teach these values to our children and grandchildren.

As I opened our new August 2016 Ensign issue that arrived in the mail this week and perused the pages I noticed a section on self-reliance. What a wonderful surprise and addition to my message this week. If you received yours in the mail open it and read these articles. If you do not get the magazine in the mail, you can go to lds.org, click here and then click on current issues, August 2016, once it appears. It can take a week or so for it to show.

"Self-reliance takes many forms." (August 2016 Ensign, page 74). There are articles for each section of self-reliance. Review the articles and stories of personal experiences once they appear on the lds.org website.

Emergency Preparedness: Earthquakes and Demijohns (page 74)
Physical Health: Weight Loss and The Word of Wisdom (page 75)
Employment: A Lot of Faith, A Little Furniture (page 76)
Finances: Oatmeal, Bread and Rice and Beans (page 77)
Food Storage: Canned Cheese and Mortgage Rates (page 78)
On the Path to Great Self= -Reliance (page 79) (Great evaluation of where you are)

We are so blessed to live in a country where we can store extra food, water and emergencies supplies.

New August Monthly Assignments

Food Storage . . . 
               Vegetables

What a great time of year to stock up on vegetables. If you have a vegetable garden you can freeze and/or can them and put them away to use throughout the year. Your local farmers market will also have seasonal vegetables you can freeze and/or can. If you do not have a vegetable garden then purchase commercially canned and frozen vegetables to store when on sale. You can also purchase freeze-dried or dehydrated vegetables in #10 cans or super pails for long term storage. Purchase only those vegetables your family will eat. Remember, the key to any food storage is rotation, rotation, rotation. When on sale purchase extra cans. First, I would work on storing commercially canned vegetables from your local grocery store or big box stores. Once you have at least a 3-months supply then work on getting some long term vegetables. emergencyessentials.com (or beprepared.com) and WalMart (online, Augason Farms products) is a good source for freeze-dried and dehydrated #10 and super pail long term storage vegetables.

Emergency Preparedness . . .
              Physical and Mental Health 

Click here to learn about physical health and why it is important.

Click here to learn about mental health and why it is important.

Make physical and mental health a part of your self-reliance. My husband who is 71 years old walks and jogs 4 miles a day. does strengthening exercises and rides his bike, everyday but Sunday. Due to some back issues I am not able to walk so far. I try to do stretching and strengthening exercises to stay physically healthy. We both strive to eat healthy each day. To stay mentally healthy we read the scriptures and pray daily. We strive to keep our minds clear and active by not taking anything harmful into our bodies, minimizing the stresses in our lives the best we can, enjoying hobbies, taking time to mediate and staying close to the Holy Ghost.

"You have to prepare physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually to conquer any mountain."
                                          (Lailah Gifty Akita, Pearls of Wisdom, Great mind)

Summer Vegetable Garden . . . 

                                                       Reap what you sow!

In April I planted tomatoes, carrots, zucchini, yellow squash, cucumbers, bell peppers and green onions. Now I am harvesting what I planted. So far I have canned 9 pints of tomatoes and froze about 10 cups, 6 pints of carrots and froze about 15 cups,  froze about 24 cups of zucchini and 8 cups of bell peppers, cooked with some of them, shared them with family, friends and neighbors, and I still have more coming throughout the summer. The canned and frozen vegetables will last for about a year and save us lots of money. This is a great inexpensive way to add to your rotating food storage supply.

Click here to see how to can carrots and here how to water bath can tomatoes, done differently. I purchased a Power Pressure Cooker XL from Bed, Bath and Beyond using my 20% discount coupon for about $80. I love it and it makes pressure cooking so easy and stress free. You
can can 4 pint jars at once. The water bath canner, I use a large tamale steamer cooker, you can can about 8-9 pint jars at a time. You can purchase them for about $20-$30.

Note: If you do not have a vegetable garden, because Summer vegetables are less expensive now due to farmers harvesting their crops you can purchase them and freeze and can them yourself.  Check out your local farmers markets too for great prices. Only purchase vegetables in season to save money and freeze or can.

Fall Vegetable Garden . . .

Now is the time to start preparing for your Fall vegetable garden. Living in California gives us a longer growing season. Check with you area to see when you can last plant for your Fall vegetable garden. Fall vegetables include your cool vegetables: artichoke, beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collards, dill, endive, fava beans, garlic, kale, lettuce, onion, parsley, parsnip, peas, radish, spinach, swiss chard. Click here to find out what vegetables to grow in Southern California. Google what to grow in your area.  

You can start your own seedlings by watching and following this video:

Emergency Preparedness Ideas 

Get together with your neighbor to discuss emergency preparedness. Encourage them all to have extra food and water stored, emergency and medical supplies, 72 Hour Emergency Backpacks and learn about each others occupations, skills, talents and hobbies that could help if a disaster or emergency situation strikes. If they are prepared they will not come to you for help and be able to take care of their own families. Set up a neighborhood emergency preparedness committee. Do not share how much you have just that it is good idea for everyone to be prepared. Our local leaders have been admonishing us for years to be prepared. Share this blog with them and local government websites that could help them.

Comments and Questions: Please share your comments and questions below. Or, you can email me at theark.carsonward@gmail.com. We all learn from each others experiences and knowledge. Thank you for sharing.

Emergency Preparedness, Food Storage and Monthly Assignments (Week of July 17th)

Hi Torrance Stake Family, Carson Ward Family, Family and Friends,

Spiritual Preparedness and Thought . . .

"Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen."    (Book of Mormon, Alma 26:37)

Isn't it amazing how Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ can be mindful of us all in no matter what our circumstances.  It brings me great comfort in knowing this, especially when times are tough and we might be in disaster situation (natural or man made). When we are in this type of situation it is our faith and hope in Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ that will get us through these tough times. Keeping close to the Spirit, reading our scriptures daily and praying often will help receive the inspiration we will need to protect ourselves and our loved one. We can be mindful of Heavenly Father and our Savior when we are close to the Spirit.

Being close to the Spirit will also help us in our temporal emergency preparedness. I have felt the promptings of the Spirit many times in what I personal need to do for our family.

Spiritual preparedness is staying close to the Spirit so we can be guided. Each person needs to be spiritually prepared. You cannot rely on others spiritual preparedness.

July Monthly Assignments

 
Summer time is a great time to work on condiments and paper products since they are usually on sale.

Food Storage . . . Condiments

This month we are adding condiments to our food storage, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, pickle relish, BBQ sauces, etc. Watch for sales in your local grocery stores and big box stores and stock up. If you purchase them at discount stores watch the expiration dates. Only store what your family uses. Remember to rotate them as needed and store in a cool, dry, dark place. Continually add them throughout the Summer while on sale. Before you know if you will have meet your goal.

Emergency Preparedness . . . 
                                 Paper supplies

Another great thing to add this time of year is our emergency paper supplies. If there is a disaster or emergency situation you do not want to use your valuable precious water to do the dishes. Store those paper items your family will use, large plates, small plates, bowls, cups, napkins or paper towels and plastic silverware. You can keep these in your garage, attic, or back yard storage shed. Keep them in a large plastic container so they do not get wet or rodents chew on them. Watch for sales throughout the Summer at your local grocery store, discount stores and big box stores. Store what you family will need for the number of months you have set your goal, 1-month, 3-months, 6-months, a year.

Note: When ever we order take out food and take it home, I save the plastic silverware and use our home silverware. It is amazing how fast it builds up. I then put them in large plastic zip lock bags and store them with the other emergency paper supplies in large plastic containers. 

Emergency Preparedness Ideas

How is your vegetable garden doing? 

I love being able to go out to my back yard and pick fresh vegetables that have no pesticides on them. We are just about ready for canning and freezing. In fact, I just prepared our first zucchinis and bell peppers for freezing. The tomatoes are starting to ripen and the carrots are almost ready to harvest for canning.

 

The zucchini can be frozen or canned. I prefer to freeze mine. You can either freezer without being blanched first or blanched. I do both. The non-blanched ones will last about a year in your freezer. The blanched ones will last over a year, possible 2 years. I cut the zucchini length wise into 4 strips. Then I slice them about 1/4 inch thick. I place 2-3 cups in a quart size plastic freezer zip lock bag. Write on the date and if blanched or non-blanched. Then I place 4 of these size baggies into a gallon size plastic freezer zip lock bag and freeze them. It gives them extra protection from freezer burn.

Note: To blanch vegetables clean them first, cut them up, then place them into boiling water. Boil for about 1-2 minutes according to the type of vegetable. Remove immediately and place in ice cold water. Once cool, drain and let them dry. Then place in your plastic freezer zip lock bags.

Bell peppers: You do not need to blanch bell peppers before freezing. I clean them, take out the seeds and membrane, then slice them, let them dry and then place them in a quart plastic freezer zip lock bag. They will keep for a year. I take out as much as I need for a recipe. Make sure to mark them with the date and the contents.


What a great way to add to your food storage and save money! We all need to be more self-reliant and one way is to have a vegetable garden and a fruit tree or more. Even if you live in an apartment or have a small yard, everyone can grow some type of vegetables or fruit.  If you do not have a vegetable garden then purchase vegetables when they are in season and on sale to save money and process as above.

For more information on vegetable gardens and canning and freezing fruits and vegetables go to the right of this blog under "Postings" and click on the links.   

Threats of today . . .

Not only do we have natural and man made disasters, civil unrest, chemical spills and rioting, but there are concern in the world today of an EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) attack being exploded over our county.  It may never happen in your area, but like anything else, we need to be prepared ahead of time to protect ourselves and our families. You need to have a plan in place now, when it happens it is to late!

Click here to learn about "7 Actions to Take Immediately Following an EMP Attack" and read other articles on how to prepare.

Comments and Questions: Please share your comments and questions below. We all learn from each others experiences and knowledge. If you have a question and do not want to leave it below please email me at theark.carsonward@gmail.com. Thank you for sharing. Your comments and questions are most appreciated!
                

Emergency Preparedness, Food Storage and Monthly Assignments (Week of July 3rd)

Hi Torrance Stake Family, Carson Ward Family, Family and Friends,

"No one can do everything,
         but everyone can do something."
                                                                                   Max Lucado

I love this statement above. It is impossible for each of us to do everything at once, but each of us can do something each day. I hear many people say I wish I had food storage, water storage and emergency supplies. Wishing does not make it happen. It takes setting goals and dividing the large goal into small goals to make it happen. If you want to have food storage then break it down into the different areas, vegetables, fruits, meats, soups, beans, wheat, grains, drinks (milk and juices), etc. and set goals to accomplish them.

Then figure out how much you will need for your family for the amount of months your goal is, 2-weeks, 1-month, 3-months, 6-months, a year. Remember, only store what your family already eats! Watch for sales at grocery stores, discount stores (watch the expiration dates), big box stores and long term food storage companies. I only buy when things are on sale. You can also follow the food storage monthly goals on this blog.

Albert Einstein said, "If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got." If you do not work towards for food storage goals you will never have any food storage or emergency supplies. Start now!

What are you doing to make it happen? Are you setting goals as a family or individual? Are you working towards them and checking them off the list. Are you adding to your food storage each week with canned and packaged foods? Are you adding to your emergency supplies monthly? What are you doing? Food storage is a life time process because you are always rotating what you store, especially commercially canned and packaged foods. Long term food storage will last for 15-30 years depending on what you are storing and how you are storing it. Be smart, be wise, and start doing!

New July Monthly Assignments

Summer time is a great time to work on condiments and paper products since they are usually on sale.

Food Storage . . . Condiments

This month we are adding condiments to our food storage, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, pickle relish, BBQ sauces, etc. Watch for sales in your local grocery stores and big box stores and stock up. If you purchase them at discount stores watch the expiration dates. Only store what your family uses. Remember to rotate them as needed and store in a cool, dry, dark place. Continually add them throughout the Summer while on sale. Before you know if you will have meet your goal.

Emergency Preparedness . . . 
                                 Paper supplies

Another great thing to add this time of year is our emergency paper supplies. If there is a disaster or emergency situation you do not want to use your valuable precious water to do the dishes. Store those paper items your family will use, large plates, small plates, bowls, cups, napkins or paper towels and plastic silverware. You can keep these in your garage, attic, or back yard storage shed. Keep them in a large plastic container so they do not get wet or rodents chew on them. Watch for sales throughout the Summer at your local grocery store, discount stores and big box stores. Store what you family will need for the number of months you have set your goal, 1-month, 3-months, 6-months, a year.

Note: When ever we order take out food and take it home, I save the plastic silverware and use our home silverware. It is amazing how fast it builds up. I then put them in large plastic zip lock bags and store them with the other emergency paper supplies in large plastic containers. 

Emergency Preparedness Ideas

Freeze-Dried verses Dehydrated . . . 

When it comes to long term food storage many think freeze-dried and dehydrated are the same thing, can be stored as long and reconstituted the same way. There is a difference!

Go to emergencyessentials.com by clicking here and learning more about the differences between freeze-dried and dehydrated. You will probably store both types but it is good to know how to store them, how long they will store and how to use them. 

Comments and Questions: Please share your comment and questions below. Remember, we all learn from each others experiences and knowledge. You can also email me at theark.carsonward@gmail.com. Thank your sharing.

Emergency Preparedness, Food Storage and Monthly Assignments (Week of June 5th)

Hi Carson Ward Family, Torrance Stake Family, Family and Friends,

Three thoughts this month . . .

Be Aware!

Each of us needs to always be aware of our surroundings and what is going on around us. 

We need to stop, look around us, think what we can do to stay safe!

 
When you go into a store know the exit doors and places you can take cover if needed, especially big box stores where things can fall
from above. 
 

When in a crowd of people look around and know places you can exit and take cover to be safe. Be aware of the people around you.





Know different routes to take when a familiar route becomes inaccessible.  Be aware of all those and the drivers around you. Know ahead of time what you would do in different situations. Keep your car in good running order and keep at least a half tank of gas in your car at all times. 




Know what is going on in your neighborhood, community, state, local and federal governments and around the world.

 

This is the time of year when many of us will be going on vacations, road trips, by airplane, train, bus, etc. Know the areas you will going to and what type of natural disasters they have during the summer season, like flash flooding. Know what to do and not do. Know these for what ever season you might be traveling in. Click here to learn about different types of natural disasters that could effect you. Have a Family Home Evening on it before leaving on your trip so all family members know what to do. If on a road trip check the local news often for any warnings of possible weather related danger while traveling. Keep family emergency names and and phone numbers with you and all family members.

Do not live in fear but, 

Be Aware! Be Prepared!

 
Obedience . . .

The first principle of the gospel is obedience. The Bible and Book of Mormon tell us of many times when the people of that time listened to the warnings and prepared, many times not knowing why, but were faithful and followed the promptings.

"We are blessed as we show our faith in God by being obedient to His will." (President Spencer W. Kimball)

"By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house." (Hebrew 11:7)

We to need to move with fear and faith in preparing our house spiritually and temporally!

 
What is food storage and emergency preparedness all about?

 

Patience, persistence and consistency! 

And of course, being prepared!

It takes time and patience to build up our food storage and emergency supplies. It does not happen over night. We should never go into debt to purchase these items. 

If we are persistent in setting goals and working towards them we will accomplish them. Before we know it we will have 3-Months of food storage, and may be even a year's supply of food. Same thing goes for our emergency supplies. 

If we are consistent we will accomplish our goals and be better prepared for what may come our way. 

Patience, persistence and consistency will bring us peace in knowing we are prepared!  

New June Monthly Assignments

 

Food Storage . . . 

                     Grains

Grains are one of the basics of food storage. They consist of wheat (hard red and hard white), white and wheat flour, barley, oats, corn (maize), sorghum, millet, spelt, quinoa, buckwheat, rye, brown rice, wild rice, couscous, amaranth, chia, farro, teff and others. Most of us do not cook with most of these.  It is a good idea to become familiar with others we do not use. Get a good cook book on Cooking with Grains and try new recipes. 

There is a program on the BYU channel I enjoy,  "Fusion Grain Cooking" with Chef Brad. He shows

how to use all types of grains in many interesting ways, making breads, in salads, in casseroles and deserts.  You can also find him on YouTube doing demonstrations. I love his show, very informative!

 

How much to store per person: Yous should store a variety of grains, not just all wheat. Only store the types of grains your family will eat. Experiment with new ones and add them to your list if you family likes them. The best way is to hide them in recipes like Chef Brad does. Learn how to cook with wheat and use often. If you spring wheat on your family, and they are not used to it, in an emergency they will have really bad stomach issues. 

Per person per month

1 month--25 pounds

3 months--75 pounds

6 months--150 pounds

1 year--300 pounds

Where to store grains: As always, in a cool, dry, dark place. 

How to store: If you are purchasing packages or boxes from the regular grocery store or big box store they should store for a least 1 year in their original packing. Since grains do attract insects I like to put mine in the large Mason jars. Write on the jar what it is and the date so you can rotate as needed. You can seal them in the Mason jar for possibly 3 years (brown rice only keeps for a year) by using a FoodSaver to extract the air or an oxygen absorber to draw out the air. You can also seal them by using the oven method. Check on YouTube how to do these this methods. Remember, the key to good food storage is rotation, rotation, rotation and replace them as soon as you use them.

How to purchase, short term or long term?  If you are just starting out on your food storage first only purchase your grains in their original packing (short term) until you have reached your months goal. After you have at least a 3 months supply then you can think about purchasing them in the #10 dehydrated/freeze dried cans or super pails (long term), which can be expensive and requires extra water storage to rehydrate. Wheat is best stored this way. The best place to purchase your wheat (hard red and hard white) is through store.lds.org, great prices. Click  here to view their website. You do not have to be a member of our church to purchase from there, just set up an account.

 

Emergency Preparedness . . .

                                        Sanitation 

Emergency sanitation is a very important 

part of emergency preparedness. 

Each family needs to plan for this, you may not be able to use your conventional toilet or have running water. Human waste needs to be handled correctly. Click here to learn more about

emergency sanitation. 

I ran across this picture and like how they have an emergency toilet for "poo" and "pee" separately. Good idea since they are handled differently.

 

Clean hands are another important part of sanitation. It cuts down on infections and serious illnesses.  Have a way to wash you hands on a regular bases. Keep a basin of water and hand soap near by. If there is no running water available do not dump out the basin until needed. 

 

If you cannot use your conventional toilet due to no running water and you do not have an emergency portable toilet here is a good example of how to use your conventional toilet in an emergency situation.Use it the same way you would use your emergency portable toilet and dispose of the waste the same way.

One of our blog followers asked how much of the enzymes should you use with the portable toilet. Sprinkle on enough to lightly cover the waste.  It will break it down so you can bury it.

Emergency Preparedness Ideas 

How prepared is your home for when a natural disaster hits?

I find most people are not prepared.  Each time hurricane season or tornado season it upon us or we live in earthquake country, our homes are not ready. We can minimize the damages by being prepared. 

If you know you have hurricanes or tornadoes in your area, then always have the supplies on hand to deal with them instead of each year running off the to local hardware or home improvement center to purchase the needed supplies only to find out they have run out. Keep them in your garage or backyard storage shed. If you live in earthquake areas then prepare your home the best you can. Anchor down items that could fly off the walls/shelves or fall over and hurt you; If your home is not retrofitted (the house is secured to the foundation) then look into having it done, which can be expensive. 

I just learned of a program in California were they are issuing grants (up to $3,000) to homeowners with older homes to help retrofit them. Click here to learn more. A strong earthquake can knock your home off its foundation.

Always keep flashlights with extra batteries on hand, a weather emergency radio on hand if you live in areas were they send out warnings, and extra canned foods and water. 

Be prepared, be safe!

Comments and Questions: Please share your comments and questions below. We all learn from each others knowledge and experiences. Or you can email me at theark.carsonward@gmail.com. Thank you for sharing.