Bio Lite Campstove can charge your phone

 I got one of these stoves, and it works great.  You just light the fuel (twigs, sticks, etc.) and as the stove heats up it creates electricity for the USB port.

Four Things You Need When Disaster Strikes

This is a great article by Creek Stewart, I really think the pictures are useful, so if it takes awhile to load, have patience.  I like the picture of the firestarters the best.

These four categories are what you need to include in your "bug-out bag", also known as a "B.O.B." or a 72-hour-kit.

http://www.wnd.com/2013/02/4-things-youll-need-when-disaster-strikes/

Great supplies to buy at the Dollar Store

Here is a great article written by Calamity Jane about emergency preparedness supplies you can buy for just a few dollars each.

http://www.calamityjanet.com/the-doomsday-five--dime.html

Non-food items to have in your storage

(I got this list from Wendy Dewitt and then added some stuff to it.)


All you have to do is think of the quote from Spencer W. Kimball:

"I remember when the sisters used to say, 'Well, but we could buy it at the store a lot cheaper than we can put it up.' But that isn't quite the answer, is it?....Because there will come a time when there isn't any store."  (April 1974 Welfare Session.)

Picture what you would need if there was no way you could buy anything.  What would you wish you would have bought now?

Non-food items that I have in my storage:

antibiotic creams

bandaids

can openers (non-electric), 5 (those food storage cans are really hard on can openers)

candles- LOTS (I get them at yard sales very cheap)

canning jars

canning lids (for bottling meats)

ColdEze to stop a cold

deodorant

dish soap

documents (copies of birth certificates, car/home ownership papers, etc)

duct tape, electrical tape, packing tape

excedrin

lotion

board games, card game, novels, children's books, for entertainment if there is no electricity

garbage bags LOTS

plastic bread bags

aluminum foil

gloves- (leather work type, warm winter type, knitted mittens, fleece mittens, children's sizes and adult sizes)

hats (broad band to protect from sun, fleece winter caps, knitted caps)

hydrogen peroxide

matches (waterproof, non-waterproof, strike anywhere, strike on the box,)

medications you may need

muscle rub

paper/pencils/pens

plastic utensils/paper or styrofoam cups/plates/bowls/

paper towels

portable toilet/garbage bags

razors

rubbing alcohol

scriptures

sewing needles/threads/ polar fleece/denim/sewing patterns for children's clothes

shampoo

shoes (sturdy walking/working shoes, boots, snow boots, all sizes)

soap (bar, dish and laundry)

sun screen

toilet paper (average of 1 roll per person for every 5 days)

tooth brush/toothpaste/floss

tylenol & tylenol pm

vaseline

vics vaporub (rub it on the bottom of your feet & cover with socks to stop a cough)

thick coats (down insulation, polyester fleece, water resistant exterior, puffy down vests) in every size

ski pants, insulated hunting pants, water resistant pants, camping pants

heavy blankets and quilts, sleeping bags

sleeping pads to go under sleeping bags, to insulate you from the cold ground

tents

extra jeans for every person

packages of new socks

buckets, dish pans, 

fuel:  kerosene, charcoal, lantern oil, propane

solar oven

Campstove, backpacking stoves

lanterns, flashlights, lightsticks, solar powered lighting.

solar showers, one for each person in the family.  (You can use the hot water for laundry and dishwashing too)

backpacks

solar/windup radio

inverter (allows you to plug electrical devices into car cigarette lighter)
clothespins, clothesline
cleaning supplies
gardening tools, seeds,
hand tools (screwdrivers, hammers, pliers, wrench, etc.)

Julie B. Beck recommends getting a tent

Here is a Relief Society training video where Sister Beck recommends that church members get a tent.

http://www.lds.org/service/serving-in-the-church/relief-society/leader-resources/welfare-duties?lang=eng

The title of the page is Welfare Duties. About half way down the page click on "Training Video: Self Reliance". The comments are about half way through the segment (on mine it was at the 3:39 min time mark). 

Basically she was talking about preparedness to Relief Society Leaders in the Tabernacle and then said:

Self Reliance

Sister Julie B. Beck Relief Society Training March 2010.

"Now we’re living in some tough times. I’ll just walk you through a couple of scriptures.This is in Matthew 24 where Jesus was talking about our day. He said “Ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that ye not be troubled. For all these things must come to pass and the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. And there shall be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in diver’s places. And these are the beginning of sorrows.” We’re in this day. We have pestilences and troubles and trials all around us. But we cannot despair.  

It’s also this time when in verse 14 in that same chapter. The gospel of the kingdom is preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations. Isn’t it a marvelous thing to be here at this time when temples are being built? When a prophet of God stands up and says we’re going to be building more temples. The prophet is advancing the Lord’s work, not retreating. That’s the time we live in. When, as Sister Thompson explained, we have resources to help, and all you have to do is spend a half an hour at a Bishop’s storehouse watching the faces and thinking about where the products came from and orchards where the fruit was grown and the wheat fields where the wheat was harvested and the beehives that the honey came from and think of the planning and the preparation and the revelation and the tithes and the offerings of the people that make that possible. And you know you’re part of a marvelous work and a wonder and it’s not a time to be afraid. 

Now in section 84 of the Doctrine and Covenants it teaches this principle in verse 106, “And if any man among you be strong in the spirit let him take with him him that is weak that he may be edified in all meekness that he may become strong also. That sounds like relief to me. That’s a Relief Society. When you’re making up your visiting teaching lists make a list of the strong sisters in the ward and make a list of the weak sisters in the ward, maybe the ones that need to be strengthened. They’re not always weak, but they need some strengthening. And what you want is a longer list of the strong ones. So you look on your list of the strong ones and who can she go get and strengthen and bring her over until she is strong too. And one by one we’ll bring them over until we have strong, edified women who can handle this day and age and time. 

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 a 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 store house 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 an 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 kinds of 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. Then we don’t need to fear.  

Relief Society is an auxiliary to the family. We’re here to provide help to the family. Yes, we’re a help to the Bishop, but we’re here to provide help to the individuals. I bear you my testimony that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true and that these principles will strengthen us, individually and as families and as a people and as a church. As we listen to prophets of God we will be OK. We don’t need to worry about being alive in this scary time. The world has had scary times before and the Lord has always taken care of his people who have been faithful."

Still more gift ideas, part 3

Katadyn water filter- $80 (or sometimes on sale as low as $45).  Buy at REI or from Emergency Essentials.

Headlamp flashlight- You will look like a coal miner, but in a power outage, wearing your flashlight on your head enables you to see what you are doing with both hands free.  You can find these for $6-$30.  Get an LED one,  LED lights use less power to run, so the battery lasts longer.

Glowstick- safer than candles during a power outage, hang them from bathroom doorknobs for children to find their way in the dark.  $1-$4.

Bean recipes:  Who doesn't need more ways to cook beans?  I know that we don't use our food storage beans often enough.

Sprouting kit:  These are quite inexpensive, and make it so simple to grow alfalfa sprouts or other types of sprouts.  $10-$20.

Powdered Eggs-  I use these in ALL my baking.  Most people don't know how freeing it is to never worry if you have fresh eggs in the fridge.  Instead, you've always got the powdered variety in the pantry.  You can order these from food storage companies like THRIVE and Emergency Essentials.

Powdered Milk-  Ditto.  We use this anytime milk is required in any recipe.  (We don't like to drink it as milk, we'll have to learn to do that in times of trouble, but not now.) Again, you can order these from food storage companies like THRIVE and Emergency Essentials.

Herbs, Spices;  When the time comes that we are living off of food storage, herbs and spices will make all the difference whether we are bored out of our minds or making food taste good.  Just ponder eating plain beans and you will run right out and buy a bunch of chili powder and cumin. I think the big sized containers at Sam's Club are a good deal.

Well, those are all the things I could think of off the top of my head, you can come up with a lot more.  Have a very merry Preparedness-themed Christmas!

-- 

Still more gift ideas, part 2

More ideas to buy for your friends and family members.  These will definitely help out in a disaster, and they can also use some of this stuff for camping.

Inverter

Inverter-  $25-$100 or more-  This one cost around $20-$30, and has one electric plug.  (You can buy inverters with two or three plugs, but they cost more.)  You can plug it into the car's power port/cigarette lighter and then plug any electrical device into it.  This one will run a computer, or a TV, etc.  I doubt if it will run a microwave, but I know my friend's inverter was bigger and it would run their microwave.  They plugged a long cord into the inverter and then ran the cord into their house and powered their freezer for a few hours at a time.  Honestly, I don't know how long their car battery lasted but thats the story I heard.

Mr. Heater Portable Buddy Heater- $100. Portable propane-powered heatger, auto shut off safety switch, for indoors.

Sleeping bag rated for 0 degrees- Dick's sells them for $69.  Something to think about owning if the power goes off and your house is frigid inside.

Sleeping bag rated for 20 degrees- Dick's sells them for $49.

JetBoil Zip Cooking System $69 at Dick's, $119 at REI. - Wayne is a big time camper, and he has coveted one of these for a long time.  It is a personal cooking system (only cooks enough for one person) but the fuel can attaches directly to the stove which is directly attached to the pot.  Wayne said it cooks very efficiently, and boils water in 2.5 minutes.

Tent- $70 and up.

Bikes- When times get tough, this will be a good way to transport yourself if there is no gasoline.

Wagons, Bike trailers- transporting things if you have no gasoline.  (Buy these for the kids for Christmas, but plan on using them for yourself in an emergency situation.  Anything with wheels will come in handy.)

Still more gift ideas, part 1

Only 13 more shopping days left until Christmas!  If you didn't buy any of the gift ideas listed in the FoodStorageMadeEasy.net posts that I have linked to lately,  here are some more gift ideas.

You will bless your family members if you give them "preparedness type" gifts, you may even save their lives someday.

Here are some ideas:

Solar powered radio, hand cranked radio.  You'll be able to find out the news during a power outage.

Little TV with an antenna, can be plugged into the car power port/cigarette lighter, or runs on batteries, about $100.  The one we bought in late 2010 has a DVD player in it, so it is even fun for a non-emergency.  None of our old TVs will run on an antenna anymore, because they are all analog so we can only use them by plugging them into the satellite receiver, so we had to buy this little TV especially to receive antenna signals when the power is out.

Recipe book of your favorite recipes.  Many people just find recipes online, and don't use recipe books anymore.  If the power is out for very long, you won't have recipes if they are not printed out.

Bake one of your favorite food storage recipes and bring it to a friend. 

Offer to teach one of your friends to bake bread, also show her how to grind wheat.

Book "One Second After" by William Forstchen.  This is the best book I ever read about the loss of electricity to the whole nation because of an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) and the breakdown of society which followed.  A real page turner that truly makes you rethink your level of preparedness.

Some preparedness items on sale

Just in case you are in the market for some big ticket items, look at FoodStorageMadeEasy.net and see the items they have on sale this weekend:

http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/2011/11/22/black-friday-weekend-sales/

Preparedness Christmas gift ideas

When and if the turmoil of the world changes our lives (think of natural disasters, economic problems, unemployment, war, or disease), won't we be thankful to have food and supplies which can help us?

Giving these items for Christmas is a great idea, because if you are going to give them something anyway, why not make it something that might save their lives or enable them to live through a disaster?

Here are some great ideas to give for Christmas:

Food storage of any type.

Equipment to help them use food storage:  Wheat grinder, dehydrator, pressure canner, food processor.

Camping equipment:  Tent, sleeping bag, hammock tent, flashlight, lantern, water filter, Noah's Tarp for shelter,

72 hour kit:  back pack, mess kit, cookstove, fuel for cookstove, emergency blanket, compass, flashlight, glowstick, water filter, individual packs of food such as MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat), ramen, spaghettios, instand oatmeal, poptarts, etc (they need to rotate those after 6 months).

For heat:  an indoor propane heater (like a Big Buddy)

Items to help them start a garden:  "The New Square Foot Gardening" book, shovel, hoe, kneeling pad, order seeds from a seed supplier, coupons for helping them in the garden in the spring,

Car emergency kit:  warm blanket or sleeping bag, flashlight, glowsticks, bottles of water, phone recharger,

Communication:  wind-up or solar radio, solar cell phone charger,

A recipe book of the food storage recipes you love.

These were just things I thought of off the top of my head, I'm sure you can think of a lot more very useful gifts which can help your loved ones be more prepared.

November Ward Provident Living Challenge

November 2011 Provident Living Challenges

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

Challenge one: Buy three months' worth of dishwashing liquid, bars of soap, laundry detergent, toothpaste and shampoo.

In July I challenged you to mark your dishwashing liquid, shampoo, toothpaste, laundry detergent, etc. with a line across the bottle, and to write the date on it, so you could see how fast you used it. Now, it has been 4 months, and you ought to be able to look at those containers and get an idea of how much you need to buy to get a three months supply. Imagine if there was a natural disaster or economic disaster which closed all the stores. How much of those items do you want to have stored in your house? We have been taught to get a three months supply FIRST, and then get longer term storage.

Challenge two. Use wheat without a wheat grinder, and learn to make Whole Wheat Blender Pancakes

. Here is a delicious recipe for Blender Pancakes. You put regular wheat kernels (not ground up) in the blender with the other ingredients, and blend it on high for 4 minutes, and the wheat gets pulverized into wheat flour in the batter while it is blending. To qualify for the prize, make Blender Pancakes at least once, and buy three month's supply of all the ingredients to make this for your family for breakfast once a week for 13 weeks (this equals 3 months.)

Recipe:

Whole Wheat Blender Pancakes

makes 4 servings.

1 cup milk (or 1 cup water and 3 Tablespoons powdered milk)

¾ cup wheat kernels

2 whole eggs (or 2 Tablespoons powdered eggs and 4 Tablespoons water)

2 Tablespoons sugar

½ teaspoon salt

4 Tablespoons oil

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

Blend the milk and wheat kernels on high speed of blender for 4 minutes. (Wheat should not be ground ahead of time!) Turn to a lower speed and add the remaining ingredients.

Make small pancakes on a hot griddle.

This is a great way to use wheat if you do not own a wheat grinder.

Tips from survivor of Bosnian war

http://everydayfoodstorage.net/2011/10/22/saturday-show-offs-bosnian-wheat-dessert/food-storage-recipes

On EveryDayfoodstorage.net, Stasha tells how her family survived the war in Bosnia.  Here are some of the main things she said:

The first thing that lost value overnight was money.  Stores were emptied overnight too.

Things that gained value:  Tools, gardening tools, gardening seeds.

Oil or any type of cooking fat was priceless.

Have a water container that can close.  She said she had to carry water, and when grenades started falling, she had to run, and she would spill all the water if it was just in a bucket.

The medicines that were in demand were pain killers, fever reducers, and antibiotics.


These are great things to think about!  Crystal will be posting more from Stasha, and I can't wait to read it.

Think of the worst case scenario

Okay, lets really think of what would happen if everything went to heck all at once.  There are lots of websites that think that way.  Here is a list I got from one of those types of websites.  I am just passing it along.

100 Things That Will Disappear First

1. Generators: Solar are best. Gas ones need fuel & maintenance, are noisy, a target of thieves, etc.


2. Water Filters /Purifiers 


3. Portable Toilets /showers 


4. Seasoned Firewood. Wood takes about 6 -12 months to become dried, ready for home use. 


5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps (First Choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!) 


6. Coleman Fuel. It is impossible to stockpile too much. 


7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots. 


8. Hand operated can openers, & hand egg beaters, whisks. 


9. Honey /Syrups and white or brown sugar 


10. Rice - Beans - Wheat 


11. Vegetable Oil (for cooking) Without it food burns and must be boiled etc.) 


12. Charcoal, Lighter Fluid (Will become scarce suddenly) 


13. Water Containers (Urgent Item to obtain.) Any size. Smaller HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY  Food grade required if for drinking. BLUE is good for long term storage since it prevents algae.


14. Mini heater head (Propane) Catalytic heater (Without this item, propane won't heat a room.) 


15. Grain Grinder (Non-electric) 


16. Propane Cylinders (Urgent: Definite shortages will occur.) Get various hoses and adapters!


17. Survival Guide Book. 


18. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc. (Without this item, longer-term lighting is difficult.) 


19. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula, ointments/aspirin, etc. 


20. Washboards, janitor's Mop Bucket w/wringer (to wring out Laundry) 

21. Cook stoves (Propane, Coleman, Kerosene) 


22. Vitamins 


23. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder (Urgent: Small canister use is dangerous without this item) 


24. Feminine Hygiene/Hair care/Skin products. 


25. Thermal underwear (Tops & Bottoms) 


26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets, Wedges (also, honing oil) 


27. Aluminum Foil Reg. & Heavy Duty (Great Cooking and Barter Item)

28. Gasoline Containers (Plastic & Metal) 


29. Garbage Bags (Impossible To Have Too Many). 


30. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels 


31. Milk - Powdered & Condensed (Shake Liquid every 3 to 4 months) 


32. Garden Seeds (non-hybrid) (A MUST) 


33. Clothes pins /line hangers (A MUST) 


34. Coleman's Pump Repair Kit 


35. Tuna Fish (in oil) 


36. Fire Extinguishers (or large box of Baking Soda in every room) 


37. First aid kits 


38. Batteries (all sizes...buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates) RECHARGABLES & solar rechargers


39. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies 


40. Big Dogs (and plenty of dog food) 


41. Flour, yeast & salt 


42. Matches. {"Strike Anywhere" preferred.) Boxed, wooden matches will go first 


43. Writing paper/pads/pencils, solar calculators 


44. Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing in Wintertime.) 


45. Work boots, belts, Levis & durable shirts, ANY durable clothing 


46. Flashlights/LIGHTSTICKS & torches, "No. 76 Dietz" Lanterns 


47. Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks (jot down ideas, feelings, experience; Historic Times) 


48. Garbage cans - Plastic (great for storage, water, transporting -if with wheels) 


49. Personal Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush /paste, Mouthwash /floss, nail clippers, etc 


50. Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient) 


51. Fishing supplies / tools (hooks & lines) 


52. Mosquito coils/repellent, sprays/creams

53. Duct Tape 


54. Tarps /stakes /twine /nails /spikes 


55. Candles 


56. Laundry Detergent (liquid) 


57. Backpacks, Duffel Bags 


58. Garden tools & supplies 


59. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies 


60. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc. 


61. Bleach (plain. NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite) 


62. Canning supplies, (Jars/lids/wax) 


63. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel 


64. Bicycles and spare parts: Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc

65. Sleeping Bags & blankets/pillows/mats 


66. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered) 


67. Board Games, Cards, Dice 


68. d-con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer 


69. Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets 


70. Paper plates/cups/utensils (stock up, folks) 


7l. Baby wipes, oils, waterless & Antibacterial soap (saves a lot of water) 


72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc. 


73. Shaving supplies (razors & creams, talc, after shave) 


74. Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels) 


75. Soy sauce, vinegar, bullions/gravy /soup base

76. Reading glasses 


77. Chocolate /Cocoa /Tang /Punch (water enhancers) 


78. " Survival-in-a-Can" 


79. Woolen clothing, scarves /ear-muffs /mittens 


80. Boy Scout Handbook & also Leaders Catalog 


81. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit (MANCO) 


82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, trail mix /jerky 


83. Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts 


84. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras) 


85. Lumber (all types) 


86. Wagons &  carts (for transport to and from) 


87. Cots & Inflatable mattresses 


88. Gloves: Work /warming /gardening, etc. 


89. Lantern Hangers 


90. Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws,, nuts & bolts 


91. (Obviously, from a non-LDS website)  Teas 


92. Coffee 


93. Cigarettes 


94. Wine/Liquors (for bribes, medicinal, etc,) 


95. Paraffin wax 


96. Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc. 


97. Chewing gum/candies 


98. Atomizers (for cooling/bathing) 


99. Hats & cotton neckerchiefs 


100. Goats /chickens 

Tender Mercies

I go to yard sales and Goodwill every week.  I pray every day to be led to those items that we need for preparedness.  Sometimes when I am out doing errands I drive past Goodwill without stopping, and other times when I am near it I feel like I need to go inside.  On Saturday mornings I pray with great faith that I will go to the right yard sales.

I try to follow the Spirit as I drive around, and when I have a choice between turning one way or the other, I try to listen.

I have a testimony that the Lord has guided me many times.  Invariably, I find something that will help my family with food storage, shelter, camping, fuel, or light.

In the past two months, I have purchased a brand new zero degree sleeping bag for $15.  A brand new in the box "Big Buddy Tough Buddy" propane indoor heater for $15.  A like-new Coleman propane grill for $5.  A Coleman oven that goes on top of a propane grill for $4.  A double bed foam pad for $4.

 Two down comforters for $5 each.  Three empty 6-gallon buckets with Gamma seal lids for $2 each.  About a hundred pillar candles, I get them for about 25 cents each at almost every yard sale.  Three cans of sterno for 25 cents.

Gardening clay pots, gasoline cans, propane tanks, an ice chest, and foam pads to put under sleeping bags.

Not to mention all the cold-weather gear I have purchased for every member of my family:  Down coats, hats, mittens, snow boots, and ski pants.

I have been very blessed.  I have a testimony that the Lord will help us as we try to accumulate the food storage and preparedness items that will help us and our families in times of trouble.

How Long Did the Toothpaste Tube Last?

Wayne and I each like a different brand of toothpaste, so this is my tube.  I wrote "March 1" on it because I wanted to see how long it took to use it.  It was empty around the first week of June.

Therefore, now I know that it takes me about 3 months to use a tube of toothpaste.  So for me, just me, I need 4 tubes for a one year supply of toothpaste.  I assume I need that much for each of the other people in my family, as well.

My challenge for you:  The next time you open any new bottle of shampoo, tube of toothpaste, bottle of Tylenol, bottle of liquid dish soap, etc, WRITE THE DATE ON IT.  That way, you will be able to figure out how many you need to store for a year's worth.

(Thanks for the math correction, Janette!)

A Year's Supply of Clothing

The following was taken directly from the Provident Living website in 2004:

"For many people, storing a year's supply of clothing is simply a matter of making the items now being worn last for a year.  However, growing children may need clothing, shoes, underwear, and coats in larger sizes than what they are currently wearing.  The clothing of older brothers and sisters can be considered as storage for younger children.

You may also want to store items that would be needed if family members had to do more hard physical labor in producing necessities or had to spend more time outdoors in harsh weather.  Such items could include gloves, overshoes, coats, and hats.

In addition, it is wise to learn the sewing skills necessary to repair existing clothing or to produce new clothing.  When possible, store extra fabric, sewing needles, thread, zippers, patching materials, and patterns."