Reuters poll says "End of cheap food"

Reading the world news each day convinces me more and more to get my food storage as soon as possible.  It is just the smart thing to do.

http://ca.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idCATRE70R3EY20110128

CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. grain prices should stay unrelentingly high this year, according to a Reuters poll, the latest sign that the era of cheap food has come to an end.

U.S. corn, soybeans and wheat prices -- which surged by as much has 50 percent last year and hit their highest levels since mid-2008 -- will dip by at most 5 percent by the end of 2011, according to the poll of 16 analysts.

The forecasts suggest no quick relief for nations bedeviled by record high food costs that have stoked civil unrest. It means any extreme weather event in a grains-producing part of the world could send prices soaring further.....

"Even if we have a good year, we are not going to have the inventories we've seen before. I really do think the time of cheap food prices is over, and that's just it," said analyst Chris Mann of Traders Group Inc in Chicago. 

Funny food storage video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=If7YJ-oeSy8&feature=related

There's just one thing I want to correct.  At the end it says have 3 months of food.  That is the regular food that you buy at the store.

That is true.  But we are also supposed to have 9 MORE months of food, which is more long term food storage, such as wheat, powdered milk, etc.

Sealing mylar food storage bags with an iron

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fk9b0dAtJ80&feature=related

This guy shows how to use a regular iron (that you iron clothes with) to seal mylar food storage bags.

Some quotes from prophets and apostles #3

"Acquire and store a reserve of food and supplies that will sustain life. ... As long as I can remember, we have been taught to prepare for the future and to obtain a year's supply of necessities.  I would guess that the years of plenty have almost universally caused us to set aside this counsel.  I believe the time to disregard this counsel is over.  With events in the world today, it must be considered with all seriousness."  L. Tom Perry, "If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear," Ensign, Nov. 1995.

"We hear, 'Many more people could ride out the storm-tossed waves in their economic lives if they had their year's supply of food ... and were debt-free. Today we find that many have followed this counsel in reverse: they have at least a year's supply of debt and are food-free'" Thomas S. Monson

"In words of revelation the Lord has said, "Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing" (D&C 109:8).  Our people for three-quarters of a century have been counseled and encouraged to make such preparations as will assure survival should a calamity come.  We can set aside some water, basic food, medicine, and clothing to keep us warm.  We ought to have a little money laid aside in case of a rainy day." Gordon B. Hinkley

"Brethren, I wish to urge again the importance of self-reliance on the part of every individual Church member and family. None of us knows when a catastrophe might strike. Sickness, injury, unemployment... I do not predict any impending disaster ... yet prudence should govern our lives ... We can begin with a one week food supply and gradually build it to a month, and then to three months. I am speaking now of food to cover basic needs. ... I fear that so many feel that a long-term supply is so far beyond their reach that they make no effort at all.  Begin in a small way... gradually build toward a reasonable objective." Gorden B. Hinkley, Priesthood Session, October 2002.

Rue the Day

“Too often we bask in our comfortable complacency and rationalize that the ravages of war, economic disaster, famine, and earthquake cannot happen here. Those who believe this are either not acquainted with the revelations of the Lord, or they do not believe them. Those who smugly think these calamities will not happen, that they somehow will be set aside because of the righteousness of the Saints, are deceived and will rue the day they harbored such a delusion.” 

(Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p.265) 

Popular Mechanics: "Rise of the Preppers"

Here is another article from Popular Mechanics about preparing for disasters.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/survival/stories/american-preppers-survival-natural-disasters

Rise of the Preppers: Survivalists Get a Makeover

January 12, 2011 11:30 AM

"As a truck driver hauling produce and food up and down the West Coast, Tom Martin knows first-hand how vulnerable the U.S. food supply is to disruption. "I know what our supply chains are like," he says. "I know grocery stores rely on just in time services; they only have three days worth of food in any grocery store." 

In a disaster, that food will be gone in less than a day, and if you don't have food stored up, you'll be stuck, says Martin, who is one of a growing number of "preppers," or people who are prepping for large-scale disaster. The American Preppers Network, an online forum Martin started in 2009 that quickly grew to 4000 members in nearly all 50 states. 

Are preppers just another group of paranoid doomsdayers? Not at all. Many of the scenarios they prepare for, like hurricanes, are quite real, unlike some of the outlandish scenarios (like a United Nations takeover, religious cleansing or government despotism) that drive more extreme members of the fringe. Jerry Young, a longtime prepper in Reno, Nevada, says he has list of 137 scenarios he's preparing for, though "only a handful of those" are things he's seriously worried about. "Mostly of my preparations are for natural disasters," he says. "But the basic preparations apply to all of them." 

Preppers call themselves Preppers, in part, to distinguish themselves from survivalists, a term that conjures up images of a paranoid loner hiding out in a cabin. .... The Preppers focus on reaching out to other people, and they are avid social networkers. They share tips on things like canning, Port-a-Potties, andother useful skills to have for natural disasters. And they say the effort does not stem from fear. "It's encouraging, uplifting," insists Janet Liebsch, a dedicated prepper, who, along with her husband, publishes guides like It's a Disaster. "Once you start learning, you get addicted." 

Preppers draw on the growing concerns about manmade and natural disasters, but also channel a mix of traditional American views of self-reliance and individuality. ....

It's not that Preppers are necessarily expecting the apocalypse, Liebsch says, but they want to make sure that when trouble comes, they will not have to turn anywhere else for help. Given recent events, including disasters as ferocious as Hurricane Katrina and as humdrum as New York City's 2010 snowstorm, this attitude makes sense. And being ready may not mean building a fallout shelter, but can which may involve something as simple as buying extra groceries or water. "It's a lifestyle," Liebsch says. "

Doesn't this article just make you want to sing that old Dr. Pepper commercial, changed a little bit?  "I'M A PREPPER, HE'S A PREPPER, WOULDN'T YOU LIKE TO BE A PREPPER TOO?"

Preparing for Emergencies- Ensign 1990 December

Ensign » 1990 » December

Preparing for Emergencies
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=0c9d66ce3a47b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

Things to Know

Useful exercises conducted at home evening or at an appointed time can prepare family members to know—

• The location of first-aid equipment in the home. (See your pediatrician or family doctor for a complete list of standard medications to have on hand.)

• The location of fire extinguishers (near doors).

• The location of shut-off valves for electricity, gas, and water.

• The location of emergency water supplies (storage tanks, water heater, waterbed mattresses).

• Where important documents and valuables are stored, both inside and outside the home.

• Where to meet if the home is so damaged or dangerous that family members must leave or cannot enter the home.

• The best method of escaping the home in case of fire (practiced at intervals).

• Who is responsible for which younger members of the family.

• How to perform basic first aid.

In addition, most families keep near their telephones the numbers of the doctor, hospital, paramedics, fire department, police, civil defense authority, ward/branch leaders, and neighbors.

This article also covers the topics of a Year's Supply, Financial Management, Estate Planning, a Safety Survey, and more.

Some quotes from prophets and apostles #2

"We feel led to caution the Latter-day Saints against forming the bad habit of incurring debt and taking upon themselves obligations which frequently burden them heaver than they can bear, and lead to the loss of their homes and other possessions. ... Our business should be done, as much as possible, on the principal of paying for that which we purchase, and our needs should be brought within the limit of our resources." "Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruf (2004) 232-33.

"How on the face of the earth could a man enjoy his religion when he had been told by the Lord how to prepare for a day of famine, when instead of doing so he had fooled away that which would have sustained him and his family." George Albert Smith, Deseret News, Mar. 4, 1868, 26

"If you are without bread, how much wisdom can you boast and of what real utility are your talents, if you cannot procure for yourselves and save against a day of scarcity those substances designed to sustain your natural lives?" Brigham Young Deseret News, July 18, 1860, 153.

"A cardinal principal of the gospel is to prepare for the day of scarcity. ... And, brethren, we lay up in store! Then, "through [the Lord's] providence, notwithstanding the tribulation ... the church [and its people will] stand independent." .. and ... we lay up in store! By doing these things, "the Lord shall have power of his saints, and shall reign in [our] midst." Keith B. McMullin, "Lay Up in Store," Ensign May 2007.  (Sorry, not an apostle but still a good quote)

Some quotes from prophets and apostles #1

"The best place to have some food set aside is within our homes, together with a little money in savings.  The best welfare program is our own welfare program. Five or six cans of wheat in the home are better than a bushel in the welfare granary. ... We can begin with a one week's food supply and gradually build it to a month, and then to three months.  I am speaking now of food to cover basic needs." Gordon B. Hinkley, "To Men of the Priesthood," Ensign, Nov. 2002, 5.

"The revelation to store food may be as essential to our temporal salvation today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah." Ezra Taft Benson, "Prepare Ye," Ensign, Jan 1974, 69.

"We expect the individual to do all he can to help himself, whether it be an emergency for a single family or for a whole community, that the relatives will do all they can to help, then the Church steps in with commodities from the storehouse, with fast offerings to meet their needs that commodities from the storehouse will not supply, and finally the Relief Society and the priesthood quorums will assist with rehabilitation."  "Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee", 2000, 171.

"[The pioneers] were taught by their leaders to produce, as far as possible, all that they consumed, and to be frugal and not wasteful of their substance. This is still excellent counsel. Joseph Fielding Smith, "The Pioneer Spirit," Improvement Era, July 1970, 3.

How to have commodities shipped from the church to your home.

A message from Brother Midkiff of the Greensboro Cannery:

We sometimes have folks ask how to order the prepacked wheat, oats, flour, pinto beans or starter kits and have them shipped to their home. It's true that there's no shipping charge, but the cost is somewhat higher than if they came to the cannery and bought them. If you're driving a long distance to get one or 2 cases of food it would be less expensive to have it shipped to your home than to come to the cannery to get it. To order and have it shipped to your home go to "store.lds.org", and when the screen opens, near the top in the middle you'll see "home and family", then under home and family click on "self reliance" and it'll open the page with all the commodities and if you click on a commodity it gives you the price. 

If we have another ice storm someday

I read this on another blog, the man was from South Carolina, and has just been through 10 days of being snowed and iced in.  Here are his comments:

"Our first mistake - not shoveling right away while the snow was fresh and newly fallen, or even while it was falling. This was a mistake because the very first day, the snow was very light, almost pellet-like, and easily brushed away with a broom or any form of shovel, no machinery needed. However, we let it sit a day, in which it partially thawed, and then froze overnight in subfreezing temperatures into a solid mass that did not thaw for ten days. Had we shoveled, swept, and dug out the very first day, we would have had clean walkways, accessible vehicles, a clear driveway and sidewalk. Instead, we experienced the inaccessibility of two of our vehicles, and treacherous injury-inviting conditions everywhere we walked. "

He also talked about his second mistake:  not positioning his vehicles pre-storm.  He said the battery in one of his vehicles was dead after two days of being iced in, and because he hadn't faced it toward another vehicle, he couldn't reach it to jumpstart the battery.  He also wished he had parked some of his cars at the end of his driveway close to the street.  He had a long driveway and they were all near the house.  


When we first moved to this area (Cary, NC)  in 1988, during the first ice storm we were here, I thought it was interesting that everyone moved their cars to the end of their driveways facing the street, or if they had a steep driveway, parked them ON the street, before the snow came.  It is a good idea to do that.  


There probably won't be any snowplows coming down your neighborhood street (not enough snowplows) so your car will be more easily accessible when the snow and ice start thawing.

Gold mine of information on a website

I just found probably the best source I've ever seen, for food storage, disaster preparedness, etc.

It is Debbie Kent's website,
http://www.PeaceOfPreparedness.com:/Library.html

I have directed you to the library page, it is a list of approximately 150 documents and power point presentations which you can download onto your own computer.

 I am personally printing off a lot of these for my future reference, I suggest you print off some of them also (in case someday you don't have electricity or the use of your computer.)

Five ways to survive any disaster

Five Ways to Survive Any Disaster 

http://www.motherjones.com/interview...-disaster.html 

Interview: Survival researcher Amanda Ripley explains how to get through the next 

earthquake/hurricane/plane crash/terrorist attack. 

By Jen Phillips 

June 9, 2008 

Disaster survival tips: 

1. Learn how to text message. Oftentimes, as in Katrina, text messages will go through 

when cell phone calls won't. 

2. Expect smoke. If you're in an airplane, know how many rows are between you and the 

exits. If you're at home, know your way to the door without the lights on. Most fire deaths 

are due to smoke. 

3. Get to know your neighbors. They may be your key to survival. The stronger your 

community is, the better equipped you will be to survive a disaster. 

4. Practice. Many people who survived the WTC attacks knew where the staircases were 

because they did lots of fire drills. Children especially should know where to go in case of 

emergency, and walk that route until they are familiar with it. 

5. Lose weight. Overweight people often are less able to move quickly in escape situations 

that call for speed. 

A Fresh Appreciation

http://www.ldslivingmagazine.com/articles/show/890
"...the times just ahead will bring mankind to a fresh appreciation of such basics as food, clothing, transportation, and shelter."

===
From:
Neal A. Maxwell
All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience
Chapter 4
Service and the Second Great Commandment
(first printing, 1979, Page 57, second paragraph)

Own a tent, says Julie Beck

You can watch Sister Julie Beck some training videos for stake Relief Society presidencies.
http://lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,8731-1,00.html then click on the "Self Reliance" video near the bottom 


"I have a sense and a feeling as we have watched some of these disasters in the world, that this is a time for us to learn and prepare from these experiences. Sister Thompson gave an testimony of that, and the preparation happens in our own homes. There are not enough tents in the world to furnish every person with a tent unless the members of the church have a tent in their own homes...a simple thing like that. And then the storehouse is pressed down, heaped over and running over in our own homes. 


Some of you have student apartments, how prepared are you? If an earthquake or economic disaster happened, would you have enough water to drink for 24 hours? would you be able to get by until help could come to you? 


Those are the kind of the things we need to be thinking about in our day and time, the Lord expects us to do our little part and then He can bring on the miracles and then we don't need to fear."

Popular Mechanics: "Self Reliance"

How Self Reliance Can Get You Through Any Disaster

http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/survival/tips/4330416

This article was in "Popular Mechanics", Sept. 11, 2009.  I liked these paragraphs, near the end of the article: 

"When it comes to large-scale emergencies, the country has a hidden weapon--and we can do more with this resource. I'm talking about a populace filled with self-reliant, community-minded individuals. During a major crisis, on the order of Katrina or a serious California earthquake, relief services can be overwhelmed. When individuals are prepared to look after themselves for a while, with food, water and medicine on hand, and alternative sources of heat or power, it makes a big difference. The government can't take care of everybody at once. If disaster-relief staffs don't have to worry about you, they can take care of others--which means that being self-reliant can actually help your community. 

Often, government officials worry about the public panicking in a widespread disaster. But they have that backwards. In studies of more than 500 emergencies, the University of Delaware's Disaster Research Center found that panic rarely occurred. In fact, people consistently jump in to help themselves and their neighbors. Research by scholars like Kathleen Tierney, who directs the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado at Boulder, shows that the true first responders are often the people on the scene when a disaster strikes. They save lives by administering first aid, getting people out of hazardous areas and spreading warnings. Volunteers improvised the water-based evacuation of lower Manhattan on Sept. 11, called an American Dunkirk by some, that moved masses of people out of the danger zone. 

A self-reliant attitude is good, but skills help mightily, too. Citizen training is available through the Red Cross, Community Emergency Response Teams and Neighborhood Emergency Response Teams. One underappreciated resource is the amateur radio community. Acquire a ham radio license (American Radio Relay League) and you can become a major resource if a disaster strikes. It's fun, too." 

.....and higher

http://www.cnbc.com/id/41055028

From CNBC:

Jobless Claims Jump, Wholesale Food Costs Surge

Published: Thursday, 13 Jan 2011 | 9:31 AM ET

"Among the biggest gainers were home heating oil, which jumped 12.3 percent, and fresh and dry vegetables, which surged 22.8 percent. Fresh fruits and melons rose sharply for a second straight month, posting a 15.4 percent gain."

And from Wallet Pop:
 http://www.walletpop.com/2011/01/07/seven-things-that-will-cost-more-in-2011-and-what-you-can-do-abo/

Seven Things That Will Cost More in 2011 and What You Can Do About Them

Ann Brenoff
Jan 7th 2011 at 6:00PM

Text SizeAAA

Print this page|EmailShare on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on DiggShare on Lifestream

 Get ready to stretch your wallet. We're already seeing the signs of prices creeping up in just the infancy days of 2011. So be prepared to open wide for:

1. A Trip to the Grocery Store 
The USDA forecasts a 2% to 3% hike in the cost of all foods in 2011. Higher corn and soybean prices are the main force behind the increase. Remember, farm animals have to be fed and when those costs go up, so does what you pay. Expect a big spike in the dairy case and meat counter, where pork alone is forecast to rise between 3% and 4%.....

Solution: Sign up for sites that offer grocery coupons. Shop the weekly sales and the manager's specials. Plan your meals for the week and make a list of what you needbefore you go to the market. Don't buy impulse items, even if they're on sale. Consider a grocery co-op if your neighborhood has one. Don't be afraid to try planting a vegetable garden, at least for your fresh herbs.

2. The Cost of Gas and Heating Fuel
If you are hanging on to that Hummer, now might be the time to unload it. Some fast-and-loose talk by former Shell Oil President John Hofmeister says gas will be back to $5 a gallon this year. ....

Food prices getting higher

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a2aa510a-1e89-11e0-87d2-00144feab49a.html#ixzz1AsizP6TT

World moves closer to food price shock

By Gregory Meyer in New York and Javier Blas and Jack Farchy in London

Published: January 12 2011 20:26 | Last updated: January 12 2011 20:26

The world has moved a step closer to a food price shock ......, sending corn and soyabean prices to their highest level in 30 months.

This article wouldn't allow me to easily post excerpts, so go to the link and read for yourself.

Official list- How much to store for one year

http://lds.org/ensign/2006/03/random-sampler?lang=eng

"Random Sampler", Ensign, Mar. 2006, 70–71

Food Storage for One Year

The First Presidency recommends that Church members “begin their home storage by storing the basic foods that would be required to keep them alive if they did not have anything else to eat.” After they have a year’s supply of the basics, they may then add other foods they are accustomed to eating regularly. (See First Presidency letter, Jan. 20, 2002.)

Above are suggested portion guidelines for adults and children for one year, unless otherwise indicated.

Because children are still growing, it is helpful to add one year to a child’s current age when calculating adequate food-storage amounts. Assess your family’s food-storage needs yearly, keeping in mind that nursing infants share in their mother’s portion. Also, young children, as well as pregnant and nursing mothers, need more milk than other family members.

Additional information, including a food calculation plan, is available at www.providentliving.org.

One Adult Portion

Grains—400 pounds (181 kg); includes wheat, flour, rice, corn, oatmeal, and pasta

Legumes—60 pounds (27 kg); includes dry beans, split peas, lentils, etc.

Powdered Milk—16 pounds (7 kg)

Cooking Oil—10 quarts (9 l)

Sugar or Honey—60 pounds (27 kg)

Salt—8 pounds (3.6 kg)

Water (2 weeks*)—14 gallons (53 l)

* Suggested for a two-week emergency reserve.

How many cans fit under a bed?

My mom went to the cannery in the state where she lives, and with a few helpers, canned 192  #10 cans.  (#10 are the big size, like a shortening can or coffee can.)  They were packed six to a box, so she had 32 boxes like this one.

She came home, pulled her mattresses and box springs off, and took apart the metal rails that held up the box springs.  She arranged 16 boxes in a single layer under a double bed, then added the box springs, the bed skirt,  and the mattress.

She did the same with her queen size bed, and got another 16 boxes under that one.

She got rid of the metal rails, because she didn't need them anymore.  All the weight of the beds was resting on the boxes/cans.

So the answer is:  You can fit 96  #10 cans under a double or queen-size bed.

I testify to you, that where there is a will, there is a way.  If you want food storage, you will find a way to make it fit in your house.

P.S.  I realize that her cans of food will be difficult to get out.  But thats another story.  Personally, I keep the metal rails and just put individual cans under the bed, not in boxes.  That way it is easier for me to  reach under there and pull cans out.  Or, more commonly, I ask one of my children to climb under there and pull one out.

Breadmaking: Dry ingredients pre-bagged

Our son is not happy with me, because I told him I'm not buying bread anymore.  I figure that I will never become a good breadmaker if I don't do it consistently, and the only way I bake bread is when we are out of it.  Therefore, no more running to the store when we run out of a loaf.

I learned to make Heidi C.'s whole wheat bread recipe (see post of Nov. 9, 2010) in November, and really like it.  There are a lot of ingredients, so to make it easy, I pre-made some baggies containing all the dry ingredients.

Now when I want to make this recipe, I just have to add the water, yeast, honey, oil, and the freshly ground whole wheat flour.

Now that I am making bread on a more regular basis, I realize that I use these things a lot:

Plastic bags (gallon-size) with twist ties from Walmart, 100 for about $2.50
honey
wheat
wheat grinder
my Bosch mixer
bread pans
yeast (keep it in the fridge or freezer)

You may need to add those to the items you want in your food storage.

Did you ever think of storing these things?

We are quite fixated on storing food, but did you ever think about all the other supplies you might need if we end up in the worst-case scenario?

What if we are in a huge widespread disaster, where there are no stores open and no power for an extended period of time?  Do you have enough of these in your storage?

• Batteries

Tools

• Hand saw
• Bow saw
• Hand Drill
• Basic portable Tool Box
• Glue and tape

Miscellaneous

• Black trash bags (all sizes) 101 uses.
• Work gloves
• Roll of window screen (101 uses).
• Thermometers
• Cleaning products, disinfectants,
• Aluminum foil. (all sizes).
• Ziploc bags (all sizes).
• Safety Pins
• W/D 40.
• Small cash of "junk" silver coins and some cash.

Vehicle

• Case of oil
• Vehicle Emergency kit
• Gasoline
• Filters
• Anti-freeze
• Transmission fluid
• Brake fluid

Survival Books/ Instruction Manuals

• Recipes printed out, not online
• BSA Fieldbook
• Dutch Oven Cooking
• many more

For Barter

• Salt
• 2,000 paper matches, (50 booklets per box) for trade.
• Extra quart-bottles of Clorox (for water purification).
• Several boxes (2,000 each) of those sugar packets for trade.
• Extra Duct-tape for trade.
• Needles and tread
• Finger-nail clipper
• Tweezers
• More work gloves
• Fly/Bug killer
• Cloth diapers, plastic pants
• feminine hygiene supplies

Ice Storm Predicted

There is an ice storm predicted in our area, but we don’t know how bad it will be.

Here is a picture I took in 2002, the last time we had a really bad ice storm.  As you can see, the ice coated the trees and made them bend over or break, and the falling branches and trees broke the power lines so the power went out.  It was strange that the streets weren't slick during that storm, so we could drive all over, even though there was no power.  Our phone was out too, even though it was a landline with a cord.  

That was a huge ice storm, so the power was out for millions of people from Tennessee and North Carolina, so the power companies had a very bad time getting all the lines fixed.  

Another ice storm here (sometime in the early 1990‘s) coated everything with a thick layer of ice, you couldn't even go out your front door without falling down.

I am hoping this one will be minor compared to those.

Charge your cell phones, cameras, laptops, and ipods.  Put gas in your cars, in case the gas stations are without power.  Get out your flashlights and lanterns and heavy sleeping bags or blankets.

Practice lighting your gas log or fireplace.

Home visits to my ward members?

I was wondering how I could better magnify my calling of Relief Society emergency preparedness rep.

 Our ward family history representative offers to visit people in their homes to teach them to use New Family Search, so I thought I could also offer to do home visits to teach ward members about food storage.

I know there are people with questions:  How much food storage do I need?  Where can I store it?  Is my food storage too old?  How can I store water safely?  Maybe you would get your questions answered better if you had an hour to ask me,  during a time when it is convenient for you.

If you are in my ward, and want me to come over and help you to organize or plan your food storage, or help you find places to store it, I would be happy to be a resource for you.  Look up my name and number in our ward directory and give me a call or email me for an appointment.

January ward Provident Living challenge

January 2011 Provident Living Challenges:

Do one of these by the February evening Relief Society meeting and get a prize!

1. Count up your shelf-stable “sugar/honey/sweets” foods.  Determine whether you have a three-months supply, which equals 25 pounds per person.  Counting it all qualifies you to get the prize.

This food group includes white sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, honey, pancake syrup, corn syrup, jelly, jam, Koolaid or lemonade powder, Jello, soda pop, chocolate drink mix, hot cocoa mix, frosting, chocolate chips, etc.  Anything that is mostly made of sugar/honey, and will keep on the shelf without refrigeration.

I expect every family would love to have their 3-month supply of this food group.  Remember, if you have only wheat, beans and rice in your food storage, you may not starve to death, but you might wish you were dead.  These sweets will make your food storage easier to eat.

2) Write down how many diapers, feminine hygiene products, paper towels, and rolls of toilet paper your family uses in a month.  Then determine if you have a three-month supply.   Keeping an accurate record qualifies you for the prize.

Artisan Bread- video

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/taste/12149761.html

Heidi C. taught us to make artisan bread a couple of months ago in our ward.

In case you have forgotten how, here is a video from two chefs giving a demonstration of how to make it.

Old Can of Wheat

Some people who were moving away in 1982 gave us this wheat. It was already old then.

I have just opened it (it needed a crowbar to open it, the lid was like a paint can, very annoying) and have started using it. It is still good.