Saturday, October 29, 2011

Weekly Assignment and Food Storage Ideas (Week of October 30th)

Hi Carson Ward Family, Family and Friends,

WARNING! I was just reminded today by Brother Jensen to NOT STORE YOUR PROPANE TANKS INSIDE YOUR HOUSE OR GARAGE. They need to be stored outside in a place that gets the least amount of sun, keep cool and dry. They can explode if in the house/garage or exposed to the sun to much. Infact, it is a law in California. Thank Brother Jensen for the reminder.

Quote:

"Doing things the Lord's way will make us happier than doing them our way." (J. Devn Cornish, Of the Seventy, October 2011 General Conference)

How many of us try to do things our way, thinking we know best, and only end up hitting a brick wall, making things harder on ourselves and becoming unhappy? We all need to follow the Lord and his guidance. We will be much happier if we do and we will receive rich blessings. Now how can we apply this to Emergency Preparedness? If we are striving to set up and increase our Food Storage and Emergency Preparedness items, we will much happier in having peace of mind knowing that we have followed the counsel of our Church leaders (General, Stake and Ward), who follow the Lord, and we are striving to be prepared for whatever might come our way. The Church has provided us with wonderful information on setting up our Food Storage and Emergency Supplies, this blog will also help you. The Lord will help us in our endeavors. We will receive great blessings and provide for our families when the time comes that we need to use our Food Storage. We are becoming self-reliant, as we are counseled by our leaders.

This week a Ward member called me about their concerns about not being able to set up their Food Storage and Emergency Preparedness items fast enough. We are all on a budget and in these more difficult financial times it is not easy. As long as we are striving, trying our best, adding may be only an extra can or package, or two, of food each week, or even each month, we are striving to follow the Lord and our Church leaders, we are striving to be prepared. The Lord will bless us greatly for trying and we will feel peace of mind knowing we are trying!

Temporal Assignments (72 Hour Individual Emergency Preparedness Backpack):

1) 72 Hour Individual Personal Hygiene Kit (This week add the following items. One of each item for each family member's Personal Hygiene Kit. Put them in the large plastic zip lock bag with the other items we have added and put it in each family members 72 Hour Emergency Preparedness Backpack.)

I purchased both of these items at the 99 Cent Store.

1) Small bottle of hand sanitizer
2) Heavy work gloves

For all families to do this week:

1) Have a fire drill in your home. If you have not talk to the family about this then have a Family Home Evening on Emergency Preparedness and talk about fire safety in your home. Set up emergency escape routes, make sure they know where to meet at outside, put older ones n charge of younger ones (especially if they share a bedroom), and put the escape plan for each bedroom on the back of each child's bedroom door. Check the smoke detectors in your home to make sure they are working properly, if none, put them up. The Fire Department sometimes gives these out free. Purchase a fire latter if you have a second story house and teach your children how to use it. We had Fire Drills in our home every few months. We would call out "Fire, Fire, Fire in the living room", or where ever, (but we would also let them know it is a practice so they would not break any windows as we can taught them if they had to go out the window and could not get it open).

Note: For a spiritual side of FHE, talk about fire safety---Paying your Tithing.

2) Have an earthquake drill in your home. Talk about this in FHE too. Show the family what to do, the best and safest places to go in the house in the event of an earthquake. Have these often too, maybe 3-4 times a year.

Spiritual Assignment (continue to read the Book of Mormon as an individual or family, read the following scriptures this week):

Date------Page----Thru Chapter

Oct 31----186 ----Mosiah 20
Nov 1-----193----Mosiah 23
Nov 2-----199----Mosiah 26
Nov 3-----204----Mosiah 28
Nov 4-----210----Alma 1
Nov 5-----215----Alma 3
Nov 6-----223----Alma 5

Food Storage Ideas:

Where can I purchase food and non-food items for our Food Storage and Emergency Preparedness?

1) The best source is your local grocery store. Only purchase items when on sale and watch the expiration dates. Be very careful of discount stores like the 99 Cent Store, Dollar General, etc., their food items usually expire pretty quickly. You want them to last at least a year, some items are only good for 6-9 months. Do not purchase dented cans or opened packages.

2) LDS Dry Pack Cannery (2730 E. 12th St., Los Angeles, nex to the DI)--You can make an appointment and put together you own dry pack #10 cans of food (dehydrated). Let them know which food items you want to do, usually best not to do more than 2-3 different kinds of food. When there you can also purchase any food items canned by members on the shelf, these are extra they did and did not want. Their prices are very reasonable. Good family activity or get together with a friend or another couple. You must be 16 to run the machine. 14 years can go and can fill the cans but not use the machine. Check to see if you can bring younger than 14 years old to help out. Check out the church LDS Dry Pack Cannery website to see what food items you can can and the cost. I am hoping to set up a day on a Saturday at the Dry Pack Cannery for our Ward. There is a limit of how many can go due to space.

Great News! I just found out you can put your food in the Mylar Pounches too at the Dry Pack Cannery. Now you have a choice, the #10 cans or the pouches.

LDS Dry Pack Cannery website: Go to providentliving.org, click on Home Storage Center Order Form or put in search box. Choose the way you want to down the form to print it out, I used the PDF file.


You can also purchase cases (6 #10 cans) of pinto beans and rice for a reasonable price.




3) Freeze-dried or Dehydrated Foods are your next best choice, which come in the #10 cans or Mylar bags. There are some great companies out there you can order online from and one you can go to in Rancho Cucamonga, about an hour from us.

a) Online Companies--If you want to purchase from an online company I have found EmergencyEssentials.com have the lowest prices. Even with sale items from other online companies I have found they are the lowest. They also carry Mountain House products. And another great thing, the most you will ever pay for shipping is $12, even if it is a truck full. Their shipping prices are either $6, $9 or $12, depending on how much you order.

Great News! EmergencyEssestinals.com has new smaller freeze-dried and dehydrated cans--MyChoice--What a great idea! They have just started selling freeze-dried and dehydrated foods in smaller cans, #2.5 cans. They still offer the #10 cans. The new #2.5 cans are great for those who want the option of the smaller cans and not having to open the larger ones and worry about using it up fast enough. Check out their website for this new size can.

Other online companies are Shelf-Reliance and Food for Health International. There are many others online too.

Shelf-Reliance I find expensive.

Food for Heath International--I like their products, can be a little expensive, but I like the way they package their food, it is all natural, no preservatives, just add water and they taste good. They come in packages, each package usually make 5 servings, and then the packages are placed in a large plastic bucket. They keep for 20+ years. Why I like this way? When you open the #10 cans of freeze-dried or dehydrated food cans you have to use them within a few months, plus the cans can rust if not stored properly. Watch for sales. We have some of these ourself.

b) Honeyville Foods in Rancho Cucamonga (11600 Dayton Drive). The store is clean, organized and well stocked. Go with a friend or two to check it out.

Remember: This Sunday by 9:00am is the last time for this month to put in your name and comment on this blog posting for this Sunday's FREE Monthly Giveaway Drawing to be held Sunday, October 30th. Everyone will want this item for their 72 Hour Family Emergency Bag.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Weekly Assignment and Food Storage Ideas (Week of October 23rd)

Hi Carson Ward Family, Family and Friends,

Quote:

Paraphrased from a talk given by Carl B. Cook Of the Seventy, October 2011 General Conference---

" 'It is better to look up' )President Thomas S. Monson). Looking up leads us to God. Looking up can be a metaphor to remember Christ. We can be released of our burdens, stresses, sins, trials, hardships that are holding us down in life. Always remember him, always look up. We need to have a hearing ear, a seeing eye, look up, God wants us to be happy, he wants to heal our wounds, he leads us along, are burdens are lightened and our sins are forgiven. It is better to look up."

I would like to tie this to Spiritual and Temporal Emergency Preparedness, of course! I love the statement from President Monson, "It is better to look up". What great advise for when we are going through trails in our lives. What a great thing to remember when a disaster hits our lives, either personal or natural. This statement will give us hope and faith in a loving Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ who are always there for us. It reminds me of the talk given by the Temple President's wife at Stake Conference last Sunday when she asked a temple worker how she was doing and she said there was "only one set of footprints today". No matter how difficult things can be or get, our Savior is there holding us up through the most difficult trails. Keep looking up and you will receive his strength and feel his love and guidance.

Temporal Assignments:

Since some of you already have your 72 Hour Individual Emergency Kits/Backpacks I thought I would give another Temporal Assignment for you, really for everyone.

1) 72 Hour Individual Personal Hygiene Kits (add the follow this week):

You can purchase all of these at the 99 Cent Store, the Dollar Tree or $1 bin at Target/Walgreens/CVS, etc.

1) Comb and/or brush (this should not be too big, need to save space)
2) small bar of soap or liquid soap (put the bar of soup in a small zip lock bag and include a small wash cloth)
3) small bottle or tube of hand lotion

2) Add some plastic sheets (or roll of plastic) and duck tape to your emergency supplies. You may need to seal your windows and doors to keep as much contamination/germs from coming in as possible. Figure out how much you will by the number of doors and windows you have in your home.

Spiritual Assignment (This week read the following in the Book of Mormon):

Date---Page---- Thru Chapter

24----- 143------ Omni
25----- 151------ Mosiah 2
26----- 157------ Mosiah 4
27 -----162------ Mosiah 7
28----- 167------ Mosiah 10
29----- 174------ Mosiah 13
30----- 180------ Mosiah 17

Food Storage Ideas---Warning!:

Potato Pearls Excel: I had a case of some Potato Pearls Excel (they come in bags) stored, you can purchase them from the LDS Dry Pack Cannery in Los Angeles, buried in the back of a closet. I did not write the expiration date on them and called the company that makes them to see when they will expire or expired. Turns out they expired in 2007, oh dear! I also learned from the company, they only store for 8 months. I was told by the LDS Dry Pack Cannery they store for 2 years, not the case. They said they are usually used by restaurants and not meant to be long term food storage. OK if you rotate them every 7-8 months. This product is not cheap. They are about $45-50 a case. A costly experience!

I am not saying to not store them as a part of your Food Storage. I love the Potato Pearls Excel, they are really good! You just need to remember to ROTATE them about every 6 months. I would start then since they expire in 8 months. One bag makes a really huge bowl of mashed potatoes and so easy to make. Just add water, or you can use milk, but water works great.

The best way to store instant potatoes for long food storage is dyhdrated or freeze dried, usually good for 20+ years depending the tempature stored.

If you go to the Basic American Foods website, "baf.com", who produces the Potato Pearls, there are some great recipes there and ways to use their, or other, instant dyhdrated and freeze dried potatoes (perals, slices, shredded).

I cannot say enough, I learned even I need to remember this rule of Food Storage--ROTATE, ROTATE, ROTATE WHAT YOU STORE AND CHECK THE ITEMS ABOUT EVERY 3-6 MONTHS!

Remember:
Post you name and comment at the end of this blog posting to have your name entered into next Sunday's, October 30th, FREE Monthly Giveaway Drawing, it is something for your 72 Hour Emergency Preparedness Family Bag, a must for all families.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Weekly Assignment and Food Storage Ideas (Week of October 16th)

Hi Carson Ward Family, Family and Friends,

Sooooooo Excited!!!

I get so excited when I hear from Ward members and others that they have put a 2nd story fire latter in their home, when they go onto the Carson Ward Emergency Preparedness Blog at work and their co-workers see it and ask what it is and you explain it to them, when they are telling their neighbors to be prepared by storing food and water and other emergency essentials, and when I hear about their food and water storage. It means you are reading the blog and preparing.

It was great to see so many of you order the Seychelle Water Filtration Pumps and extra filters. Our Ward will be one of the best prepared Wards in the Stake when it comes to being able to filter out contaminated water and have drinking water for our family and having extra food on hand. Congratulations to all of you who are striving be become more prepared each month!

I was watching a TV program last night where the President and CEO of Seychelle was a guest. They were talking about being prepared. One of the fellows made a statement I really liked.

"One day it will be to late to prepare!"

What if there was a disaster, would you have food to cook, safe water to drink and cook with, shelter, a way to cook, heat, light, sanitation, first-aid supplies, etc.? Each time you go grocery shopping add a couple of extra cans or packages of something, especially when they are on sale. Each month add an emergency supply your family will need, like a sleeping bag, some type of cooking stove, etc. Before you know it, you will have a 3 months supply of food and a month supply of water and emergency supplies you will need. You just need to start now! No more procrastation!

Christmas is coming soon! Why not buy emergency preparedness gifts this year. I know of families that have done this and how great they felt about being more prepared. Involve the whole family. Children love to feel a part of things, get them involved too.

"One day it will be to late to prepare!"

Temporal Assignment:

Now that we have completed our 72 Hour Individual Food Kits we are going to start on our 72 Hour Personal Hygiene Kits. Please add the following this week and put the items in a large plastic zip lock bag, one for each family member with their name on it. The best place to buy these items is the 99 Cent Store, Dollar Tree, the $1 bin at Target, or Emergency Essentials as indicated.

You will only need one of each item for this kit per family member:

1) tooth brush
2) tooth paste (do not buy at the 99 Cent Store or Dollar Tree, they usually come from South America were they do not have the fluoride restriction laws we have, too much fluoride)
3) deodorant (of course, not for the children)

*****New Seychelle Water Filter---Radiological Water Filter*****

On the program I was listening to with Mr. Carl Palmer from Seycehlle I learned about a new water filter that filters out 100% of radiation contamination. Wow! 100% He created the filter mainly for the people in Japan and had it tested at 4 large testing companies. It still has the regular 99.9999% filtering of contaminates and bacteria along with this new 100% filtering of radiaton. Two weeks ago he took them to the people in Japan, they are so happy to have them. This filter fits the Water Filtration Pumps and the water bottle you can get from the store.lds. org (cheaper than on the Sychelle website, about $16). He suggests that each family have at least 1-2 of these filters in their home, so if there is radiation contamination of our water, you can filter out the radiation, one filter filters 100 gallons. I will be contacting him this week to see I can get a special price like on the other filers.

Spiritual Assignment--Continue to read the Book of Mormon. It will help you and your family be spiritual prepared. This week read the following:

Date Page Thru Chapter

17th 104 2 Nephi 26
18th 109 2 Nephi 28
19th 115 2 Nephi 31
20th 119 Jacob 1
21st 125 Jacob 4
22nd 132 Jacob 5
23rd 138 Enos

Food Storage Ideas:

Keep track for a month of everything your family eats (breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks), including all ingredients in the receipe, multiply by 3 and you will have what you need to store for 3 months. This includes all food from eating out as a family, at work, at school, etc.. You need to keep this in mind because if there was a disaster your family will be home for possible weeks/months.

Then set a goal to purchase extra of these items until you have your 3 months food supply. Then set a goal for 6 months food supply. Rotate what you store. When you buy a new item replace it with a new one.

Remember: Post your name and comment at the end of this blog posting to have your name entered into our FREE Monthly Giveway Drawing to be held Sunday, October 30th.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Weekly Assignment and Food Storage Ideas (Week of October 9th)

Hi Carson Ward Family, Family and Friends,

Quote:

Paraphrased: " The solutions to life's most perplexing problems can be found in the scriptures. They open channels of communication to God. Within the scriptures are stalwart friends, always available when needed. It is like filling our filing cabinets with truth by learning, pondering, studying, memorizing the scriptures, which we can call upon at any time to bring comfort, strength, understanding, inspiration, calm an agitated sole, take on new meaning when we face a new challenge in life, a source of testimony and blessings. " Elder Richard G. Scott, Quorum of the Twelve

All the talks at General Conference can help us with our own personal and family challenges and even our emergency preparedness by being spiritual prepared.

Wasn't General Conference great! This Conference focused on the scriptures, revelation, service, our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ, helping our youth stay on the right path back to Heavenly Father, families and children, our testimony, genealogy, exercising our faith, redemption, repentance, being an example to the world, the Book of Mormon, the atonement, prayer, encouragement, the blessings of a living prophet, covenants, morality and keeping the commandments, the spirit of missionary work, agency, blessings from Heavenly Father, inspiration through the Holy Ghost and so much more. It was full of ideas and ways we can become closer to our Heavenly Father and Savior and how to build and keep our faith and testimonies strong. How richly blessed we were to hear the words of our prophet, apostles and other church leaders. If you did not hear all of conference, I encourage you to get a copy of the November Ensign and read every talk given. Your life will be richly blessed in doing so.

Temporal Assignment-- 72 Hour Individual Emergency Food Kits:

This week we will finish up the 72 Hour Individual Emergency Food Kits. If you missed any of it, go back to the "Week of September 4th". Please add the following items this week, remember, 3 of each items for each family member's food kit.

1) Trail Mix (You can either buy one large bag and put in two small plastic zip lock bags so once you open it for day 1 you can divide the rest into day 2 and 3, or, you can purchase 3 small packs--I found these at Target for about $1.50 each.)

Snacks (Put the snack items in a different large plastic zip lock bag marked "Snacks", separate from the other food items) :

1) Hard candy---10-20 pieces (remember, if you buy mint flavored to put into a small plastic zip lock bag before putting it in with the other snack food to avoid everything tasting like mint)

2) Large pack of gum (same as for hardy candy above if minty/strong flavor)

Important: You will also need to include 3 Styrofoam cups and 3 spoons, or 1 metal cup and 1 metal spoon.

You should have the following meal and snack items, 3 of each item for each family food kit:

Meal items:

1) hot chocolate
2) small box of raisins
3) instant oatmeal
4) fruit cups and/or apple sauce
5) pack of 6 peanut butter or cheese crackers
6) trial mix
7) granola bars
8) dry soup mix--package
9) juice boxes or juice mix (will require more water)
10) water--2 liter or more

Put all the food items above in a large plastic zip lock bag, I doubled mine and sealed both. Put a copy of the 3 menu inside each kit to follow. See the 3 day Menu plan under the 72 Hour Emergency Kit posting on the right under "Postings". Keep the water separate from the food.

Snacks:

1) beef jerky
2) fruit snacks and/or fruit roll ups
3) hard candy
4) gum

Congratualtions! You have just finished the 72 Hour Individual Emergency Food Kit.

Next week we will start on the 72 Hour Individual Emergnecy Hygiene kit.

Spiritual Assignment (we are continuing our reading of the Book of Mormon:

This week read the following:

Day Date Page number Through to

9 Oct 9 53 1 Nephi 22
10 Oct 10 60 2 Nephi 2
11 Oct 11 67 2 Nephi 5
12 Oct 12 72 2 Nehpi 8
13 Oct 13 77 2 Nephi 9
14 Oct 14 84 2 Nephi 14
15 Oct 15 90 2 Nephi 19
16 Oct 16 96 2 Nephi 24

Food Storage Ideas:

Dried Beans and Legumes

Beans, peas, lentils, etc. provide an economical substitute for meat or other animal protein. The packaged beans, which are on the grocery shelf, are normally the highest grades. Dry beans are an easily stored food. They should be kept in a tightly covered, metal, glass, or plastic container in a dark, dry and cool location. The qaulity should be good for many years when stored under these conditions. Older beans will require longer soaking and cooking periods than freshly harvested beans.

Varieties of beans that may be stores are navy, pinto, kidney, black, lima, garbanzo, black-eyed peas, split peas, lentils and soybeans.

(Above information comes from the Magna Utah Central Eremgency Preparedness Plan, 1997)

Tip: When you bring your packaged beans home from the store, put them in the freezer for 24 hours to kill any moths, eggs or lava. Let cool, then store as recommended above. You could purchase larger bags from Sams Club or Costco and put them in the Mylar bags with the Oxygen Absorbers inside a 5 gallon food grade bucket tightly sealed with the lid, these will keep 20 years if stored properly.

Remember: Post your name and commnet at the end to have your name put in the FREE Monthly Giveaway Drawing to be held Sunday, October 30th.