How to attach a GammaSeal lid

 I keep the food storage that I am currently using in buckets with GammaSeal lids.  These are the deluxe lids (about $7.50 apiece) that easily screw on and off.  No prying them off with a tool.

To attach a GammaSeal lid, take the center out.  Place the ring on your bucket, and whack very hard all the way around with your rubber mallet until the ring clicks down.  I don't think you can ever remove it.

I have never had one of my buckets break or crack after I've attached a GammaSeal to it, but when that ever happens, I expect I'll have to throw the whole thing away.  I think it is pretty permanent.

After you have attached the ring, then you can screw on the center.

How to seal a gasket lid onto a bucket

Here I am with my trusty rubber mallet, pounding the heck out of the edges of this gasket lid.  (These are the cheap lids, around $1.75 each.  Most food storage has these lids.)

We tried to push the lids down with our hands, but that was worthless.  Go buy a rubber mallet, it is so much easier.

You really have to wale on it, and hit it quite violently to get the edges to pop down.

Note:  Only hit the edges, don't hit it in the middle or it will crack.

How to open a bucket

Here is the best way to open a regular gasket lid.  Buy one of these tools from Emergency Essentials or a similar store.  http://beprepared.com/product.asp?pn=MS%20L200  It is called a Champion Lid Lifter and it costs $14.95.  I used to have a red plastic one, it was cheaper, but I lost it.

Pry up all around the lid, and lift it up.  You can usually reuse the lid, I haven't ruined any this way.

If you don't have a tool like this, you basically have to cut all the little notches with a knife, and break all your fingernails.  I would rather use the tool.

Testimony of Japanese woman sharing food storage after quake

(Note from Amy:  It is an inspiration to me that this woman still had the means and the desire to help others.  What a blessing that she had food storage!)

Intro from Hiroko Bunderson:

Here are the testimonies. My friend in Sendai had already received permissions from both sisters to share their testimonies with us and others. I would love to share their testimonies with everybody so we can be strengthened also.

When we translate their testimonies, we tried to explain a little bit so other people who are not familiar with Japanese custom can understand but we didn't add too much either.

Thanks,

Hiroko

Here is a testimony of a sister in Nagamachi Ward who walked from Tagajo to Natori, Sendai which is about 12 miles distance. 

"I was washed away while I was still in my car when the Tsunami hit after the great earthquake. The water depth was about 10 feet at that time. I was finally able to escape from the car window when my car came to a place where I was able to stand. (With the help of firefighters) I stayed at somebody’s house that night and I started walking to my house the next morning. I received much help from kind people and finally was able to get home. There were many things on the ground in my house when I get home, but I somehow managed to clean up all the mess.

When I was walking to my house, there were many places that were full of water where I couldn’t walk and I just walked along the railroad. When I was walking to my house, I was reminded of stories of pioneers who were on the way to Utah. Especially, I have been studying about Marry Fielding Smith and I knew her faith and strength. Her story encouraged me while I was walking home and I was able to persevere. Although the times are different, I think I was able to reach my home just like she walked her trail of faith. 

When I got home, many people were struggling with the lack of food. Especially, the elderly people at the nursing homes were having a hard time finding their food and I was able to donate from my one-year’s food supply to them. It was a pleasure for me to do so. Last November, our Bishop in Nagamachi Ward was inspired to study about disaster prevention and food storage so we were studying about these things. I am really grateful for his inspiration. 

Through my experiences this time, I learned how important it is to be obedient to the Lord’s commandments. I am grateful that I was able to receive strength through studying the history of these sisters. 

There are many people who died in this disaster, however I am still here because of the Lord’s will. I think I still have a mission to do. I plan to tell my experiences to children and continue to pray so we will be able to hold on to the iron rod. 

I am grateful for the atonement of Jesus Christ. 

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Hideko Uchiyama"

CNBC looking at food storage and survivalist gear

(oops, the first one I put on here didn't link to the correct CNBC video.)

http://www.cnbc.com/id/42457481
And here is another short segment CNBC did, looks like they might have covered this same subject on a couple of days.

April Provident Living Challenge

Congratulations to the women who each won some cookies last night!  

These women met the goals for February: Karen G, Mary Ann P, Nicki H, Amber T., Latacha D, Kayte D., and Laura H.

This woman met the challenge for March:  Amelia B.

April 2011 Provident Living Challenges:

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

1. Print out at least one of the food storage booklets from the CD “Over 1000 Pages of Food Storage Information” which Amy gave out at her Apex stake women’s day presentation on March 12, or at the Morrisville Relief Society evening meeting April 7.  (If you didn’t get a CD, ask Amy for one.)  

2.Learn a gardening skill or work in your garden.

If you have never had a garden, here is the minimum assignment.  Go to Lowe’s or Home Depot or a garden center and buy at least one tomato plant.  

(Make sure you look to see if it is "Indeterminate", which means it grows as a vine and needs a trellis to hold it up, or if it is "Determinate", which means it grows as a bush.)

Keep the plant indoors, and keep it watered, until April 15.  Then you can plant the tomato outside in a pot with potting soil, or prepare the ground with potting soil and plant it in the ground. Talk to Amy if you want more instructions.

If you have had gardening experience before, your assignment is to get your garden ready and start planting things.  Anything you do to prepare or plant your garden will qualify you for the prize.

Nitro-Pak explains why many food storage items are back-ordered

This is from  http://www.nitro-pak.com/ (Click on the link near the top of the home page "Click-Why the Long Processing Time?")








Dear Friend and Valued Customer,
Thank you for your order. We very much appreciate your business!
I wanted to give you an IMPORTANT UPDATE. The current demand for preparedness foods is at an all-time high since the days of Y2K (1999). This has affected EVERY preparedness company in America. It has been growing and growing over the past several months (since the November elections) and remainsEXTREMELY HIGH due to America's and the world's current political & economic uncertainty as well as HIGH INFLATION FEARS. Because of this demand, our order processing time has increased.
We appreciate your patience. Just like Disneyland, the lines are long, but they are still moving although very slow! This is one line you do not want to get out of!
The nation's emergency food manufacturers have all been overwhelmed with orders, so much so that Mountain House has stopped selling to 99% of their dealers except NITRO-PAK and a few of others. We are receiving shipments each week, but demand still exceeds supply.
PLEASE NOTE:We currently are NOT TAKING ANY MOUNTAIN HOUSE CAN FOOD ORDERS per their request. Their backordered list is too long. Please understand with over 34 Mountain House canned food items and with their ability to make 3-5 items per week, out-of-stock holes WILL occur. We will be sending out unit orders with the Nitro-Pak foods first and Mountain House foods as they become available. You will receive several different shipments over the next few months as we receive products. This is the best way to ensure you get your order asap.
To expedite orders with pre-packaged food units, some substitutions WILL become necessary. Any such substitution will be of equal or greater value. Backorders in units may be required when substitutions are unavailable and will be done at no extra cost to you. WE WILL PAY FOR ANY BACKORDER SHIPPING COSTS. I think that is only fair.
Most non-food orders are being processed in about 2-5 business days. Orders with MOUNTAIN HOUSE #10 canned foods, food reserve units or modules MAY TAKE up to 160 DAYS TO SHIP due to EXTREMELY HIGH DEMAND(some backores may still occur.)
Please understand, this is no self-serving hype here just raw, unfiltered facts from one who has been in this business for over 25 years. I predicted that this would happen over 12 months ago, and so it now has.
We are fulfilling in the order we receive them. Rest assured, we will NOT process your credit card until we are ready to ship your order, unlike you might find elsewhere. Thank you, in advance for your understanding and patience!
On behalf of the entire Nitro-Pak Team, THANK YOU AGAIN for your order!
Harry R. Weyandt
President, Nitro-Pak Preparedness Center, Inc.

Even Walmart is announcing price increases

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2011-03-30-wal-mart-ceo-expects-inflation_N.htm

I keep seeing articles that say food prices are going UP UP UP.

"....inflation is "going to be serious," Wal-Mart U.S. CEO Bill Simon said during a meeting with USA TODAY's editorial board. "We're seeing cost increases starting to come through at a pretty rapid rate."

• 
  "...Along with steep increases in raw material costs, John Long, a retail strategist at Kurt Salmon, says labor costs in China and fuel costs for transportation are weighing heavily on retailers. He predicts prices will start increasing at all retailers in June."

  
  
  My advice:  Use whatever discretionary money you have right now to buy the food before it gets too expensive.

Scriptural basis for preparedness

Scripture of the Day Doctrine & Covenants 78:13-14 "Behold, this is the preparation wherewith I prepare you, and the foundation, and the ensample which I give unto you, whereby you may accomplish the commandments which are given you; that through my providence, notwithstanding the tribulation which shall descend upon you, that the church may stand independent above all other creatures beneath the celestial world." Quote of the Day: Ezra Taft Benson "The strength of the Church welfare program lies in every family following the inspired direction of the Church leaders to be self-sustaining through adequate preparation. God intends for His Saints to so prepare themselves 'that the church may stand independent above all other creatures beneath the celestial world" (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 268).

"32 Seconds in Coalinga"- New Era Nov. 1983

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=254c39e7e7a9b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=024644f8f206c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

I appreciated this article about the Coalinga earthquake in California, because of the description of the way the church members worked together afterward. This is a great example of what our stake could do after a disaster here.

Shari Vanlandingham, 14, and a convert of eight months, said she feels that being a member of the Church makes a big difference during a time of calamity. “I don’t know what we would do if we didn’t have all this help. After the quake they had a meeting at the Church and asked what everybody needed. Whatever you needed, they would help you get. Everybody was helping everybody.”

Janel Woolsey, 14, agreed. “The Church made a lot of difference. The evening of the quake the church was opened for anybody who needed food or a place to sleep. People just came by to see if they could help.”

The meetinghouse quickly became a center for coordinating relief efforts. Several families whose homes were unsafe to live in set up tents and trailers in the parking lot. The bulletin board in the foyer was divided into headings—Carpentry, Plumbing, Brickwork, etc.—with listings of those who needed help in each area. Local radio stations announced that anyone who needed help cleaning up could contact the LDS church.

The Church organization was able to respond quickly to individual needs largely because of preparations that had been made before the earthquake. Even before the Tuesday planning meeting in Hanford, ward leaders had compiled a list of supplies that ward members could provide in the event of a disaster. They knew who had campers, tents, cooking equipment, and first-aid supplies. They knew what members were trained in medical, plumbing, and construction skills. And members of the ward welfare committee had been assigned specific responsibilities in the event of a disaster—communications, child care, food preparation, sanitation, emotional problems, etc.

While most members had plenty of food, cooking it with the power off was a problem. And since everyone was so busy trying to clean up their homes, the evening meals provided by different wards in the stake were extremely welcome. For two weeks after the quake, meals were prepared by the Relief Society sisters in the stake and transported over long distances to Coalinga.

Cannery prices increased, some up to 38%

Someone compared the BULK FOOD Prices at the LDS cannery on the price list from January 7, 2011 and the new price list effective April 4, 2011.  (This is the Home Storage Price List from the website www.providentliving.org)

 Here are the differences: 

Old Price New Price Percent Change

Black Beans $13.20 $16.80 +11%

Pinto Beans $17.45 $18.55 +6%

White Beans $12.55 $16.00 +21%

Dry Milk, Nonfat $41.65 $47.20 +12%

White Rice $10.00 $13.85 +27%

Sugar $17.35 $21.15 +33%

White Wheat $7.65 $11.45 +33%

Apple Slices $60.45 $72.55 +17%

Carrots $57.65 $66.40 +13%

Macaroni $16.50 $20.25 +18%

Quick Oats $9.85 $15.95 +38%

Regular Oats $9.85 $15.35 +36%

Dry Onions $76.30 $88.20 +13%

Potato Flakes $30.90 $33.30 +7%

Spaghetti $19.95 $23.85 +16%

Refried Beans $28.60 $35.90 +20%

Hot Cocoa Mix $33.50 $38.95 +14%

White Flour $10.30 $13.30 +22%

Fruit Drink Mix $27.75 $31.30 +11%

Huge price increases at Greensboro cannery effective Monday Apr. 4

(I wish this was an April Fool's joke but its not.)

Email I just got from the Greensboro Cannery from Brother Midkiff:

"I received an email this morning advising that price changes will be effective at the canneries all over the U.S. this coming Monday and the price list will be updated online today. I don't have a current price list here at home with me, but the new price list, if memory serves correctly, milk is going up $5 per bag, sugar up $4 per bag, apples up $11 pre box, carrots and onions up but I dont remember the current price, oats up about $7 per bag and wheat up about $4 per bag. If any of you are wanting to come to the cannery today before the price change, I can meet you there. call me on my cell phone at 336-287-1767"
-Brother Midkiff