Lessons in the Aftermath of a Disaster

Since the calendar flipped to a new millenium, we've seen more than enough devastation to last a lifetime. Major earthquakes, tsunamis, 9/11, wars... and no one would argue that Katrina and Sandy certainly left plenty of destruction and even death in their wake.  In fact it's almost inconceivable at times. So many people whose lives will never be the same...

Photo Credit: NASA Goddard Photo & Video

Is there a silver lining in all of this? 

Yes. It's painful to look at, but if we examine things closely, we'll see that there are lessons to be gleaned from trials and tribulations of such magnitude. For example, by reading news articles, you can gather ideas of things people didn't stock up on and are desperately searching for after an event. And there's other factors to consider as well. Here's what I found by just reading 3 on-line articles:

"I don't have any lights and need this gasoline for my generator."

"Rivaling the demand for gas was the scarcity of D batteries, the kind most flashlights use."

"Sarah has been without electricity, running water, heat, or much in the way of communication..."

"It's smelly, dirty, dull and dangerous, and the novelty of camping by candlelight in one's own apartment has long since worn off..."

"Isolated, eerie, and discombobulated silence..."

"... in the house under the curfew since Monday, and that nerves were raw." 

"... the floodwaters are a brew of rain and river water mixed with sewage..."

"I don't feel safe in my house and I don't know what to do... "

"... for those of us with comfort and resources at home, it's proving difficult to share..."

Photo Credit: Casual Capture

So... what can we learn? 

• Preparation does make a difference. I don't mean to make light of these experiences, but rather to analyze them historically. In doing so, it's amazing that a massive disaster can rip through a neighborhood and somehow leave a few houses untouched. And even if it does wipe out entire rows of houses, down the road some still stand. While some will lose everything, by far the majority will only be inconvenienced or suffer from a lack of preparation. If everyone prepped, the houses that DO remain would have supplies.

• Stock plenty of basics. Think light, heat, food, water, sanitation. Calculate what you need and double it. And that's just for your OWN family! Please don't do just the minimum, although that is good. By their very nature, most disasters are unpredictable. This is where those Hollywood scenarios can come in handy... they always make things out to be a "worst case scenario". If we all prepared that way, it might go better for us in such an event!  

• Prepare to share. Not everyone is wise. That's a fact. When a crisis occurs, if you've only saved enough for your immediate family, sharing will not come willingly. And maybe not at all. Think beyond your own and stash a few things for the neighbors. Yes, someone might take advantage of your goodness, and yes, it can make us angry that they aren't being prudent and you have to do it for them. But we never know how God will chose to use these acts of kindness to those made in His image. It may soften their heart and open the door for the gospel message, especially in a time of devastation, when people are searching for answers. Preparing to share can have eternal ramifications for others.

• Build Community. I'm not going to address this in detail here (because I plan to discuss it in full at a later date), but at least consider this for now... neighbors can be your worst nightmare or your greatest asset. But the later won't happen if you don't do some work ahead of time. You'll need each other if things really do get bad.

• Take safety precautions. Many will feel safest with appropriate weapons, but I certainly understand those who don't. Unless you're trained and proficient with a gun, your own weapon could be used against you! And let's talk reality... for the believer, it is very difficult to take another life, even when trying to protect your own family. Building community and making your home less of a target will go a long way toward avoiding trouble, although it won't guarantee your family's safety. Either way, you need to think about this and make a choice you can live with so that when the time comes you're not making this decision under the pressure of the moment. 

Being safe also means not taking ridiculous risks, such as traveling by car when flooding is going on or going through a building to find supplies when it's clear the structure has been compromised. And what about staying put when you really should evacuate? It's all just stuff... leave it behind and go! Most loss of life occurs because people take risks that aren't truly necessary. Makes me wonder if they're in shock over the event, partly because of the devastation, but partly because they realize they're unprepared and they can't handle it emotionally... they're not thinking like they normally would. Being prepared will to a long way to help you remain mentally sound and physically safe.

• Consider what you'll do while you wait. Granted, food preparation and sanitation will take more of your time if the grid is down, but you'll still have plenty of hours of silence, especially if you can't get outside. And with children and teens who have been raised in a technological world, nerves do get raw. This is where we'll see the repercussions of our lifestyle... I dare say, character qualities such as patience and contentment will be lacking! Be sure you have plenty of options for entertainment and other activities for the family that don't require electricity: Books, coloring or drawing supplies, toys, games, and even chores! Yes, this is an opportunity for little ones to feel important and that they can make a difference. Plus, it helps one's mental state to be productive and takes their mind off the devastation (in a small way). 

• Know your areas weaknesses. If you live in a flood zone (easy to determine), then you need to have a reasonable plan to elevate items and get to higher ground. Earthquake country? Where should you store supplies in the event that the house is destroyed or unsafe to enter. You'll need a tent, too... think of all the people around the world that don't want to go back in their home due to aftershocks. Hurricanes, tornados, forest fires, tsunamis, even volcanoes (think Pacific Northwest)... every place on earth has a potential disaster in the horizon. Prepare accordingly. 

Because we never know that hour or day something can happen, prepping should take place regularly and as a lifestyle. This is why I host the monthly Preparedness Challenge. When God is gracious and spares us devastation year after year, we can grow complacent. It's just way too easy to think this kind of thing will never happen to us... and so we quit. The monthly challenge has helped me to stay the course and remain balanced in my preparations. 

Overwhelmed? Let me recommend a few simple steps...

1. Join the Preparedness Challenge every month.

2. Read through my posts listed under Prepping.

3. Read the new Preparedness Review - it's FREE!

4. Read at least 1 prepping blog a week - one that is coming from a Biblical worldview! 

5. Turn fear into action (see #1 above). That includes prayer!

6. Memorize the promises of God! Stay in His Word regularly!

7. Get the family on board! 

Historically, a huge part of homesteading has been preparing... for winter months, for lean times, for various trials. Has prepping become a part of your regular homesteading efforts? Don't let the lessons of Sandy and other disasters fade too quickly from your mind! 

Prepare!

What have you learned from this recent disaster that will help you in your preparations?

Inaugural Edition: The Preparedness Review

In the days leading up to Hurricane Sandy and a very crucial election (to say the least!), I've received several emails and FB messages with many readers concerned and ready to begin their preparedness journey.  So the timing of this announcement could not be any better...

 The Prepper Website has launched it's inaugural edition of The Preparedness Review, a bi-annual eJournal dedicated to helping you find excellent information in order to be prepared. And it's FREE!

I've had the privilege of being included in this eJournal (see article entitled "The Well Prepared Kitchen") and I encourage you to visit The Preparedness Review website and download the publication and get informed.

The official launch date is tomorrow, but you can get a jump on it today by visiting The Preparedness Review's website and clicking the link on the right sidebar just above the coffee ad on the right sidebar. Again, this is FREE, thanks to The Prepper Website, and with Hurricane Sandy fresh on our minds (and 4 million still without electricity), I hope you'll pass it along to all your friends and blog readers who might now be more open to hearing about how to prepare.

Emergency Meal Kit Challenge!

The first three days of any emergency crisis are always the most critical. It's not that problems can't or won't occur after the initial event, but psychologically, people are dealing with the trauma of the moment and it can be difficult to think about something as simple as preparing a meal. Especially if one has the added challenge of the grid being down... no electricity, no gas, no water.

Imagine for a minute... a hurricane, earthquake, flood, or tornado has hit your town (one of these scenarios should cover just about everyone). Most of the town's infrastructure has been destroyed and mass casualties have traumatized the citizens. Thankfully, your family is safe and your home intact, but the power is down and water isn't coming out of the faucets. The damage is so widespread that you quickly realize help is not coming anytime soon. (Think Katrina and you're on the right track). However, kids are still growing bodies and they're telling you that they're really hungry. You have a lot of food storage, but you mind is a blur right now. You just need time to process it all. If only the world would stop for a few hours...

Are you tracking with me? Three days. That's what the average person needs to process all this and start thinking beyond the immediate catastrophe. Therefore, you need to have an easy to follow protocol for the first 72 hours. A plan that will allow you to take care of basic needs without really thinking a lot. Food that your family finds nourishing, tasty, and is comforting. (And, of course it would be an extra bonus if it were healthy, too.)

Having three days worth of meals ready to prepare would be wise, would it not? I'm not talking about your regular food storage. I'm talking about everything you need for one meal... in a box. A meal that doesn't require anything but a manual can opener and perhaps a bowl and spoon to mix. Also, it would be ideal if the meal did not require cooking over a heat source (since you might not have one right away due to ongoing weather issues or some other reason) nor would it require a lot of water (pasta requires a lot of precious water that may be scarce). And it would be healthy in that it is as free from additives and sugars as possible, but still packaged for long term storage (say 6 months to a year).

Here's an example for a lunch or dinner idea based around tuna:

• canned tuna
• small jar of mayo
• small jar of pickle relish
• jar or bag of spices for tuna
• canned fruit
• a box of crackers
• cans of V-8 or similar vegetable drink
• trail mix packets

Everything would be placed in a box and labeled "Tuna Meal". Once every 6 months to a year, you would actually eat this meal and replace it's ingredients immediately in order to keep it fresh. (Be sure to label it with a "consume by..." date.) Store it in a cool place in your pantry up off the floor for maximum freshness.

Now imagine that you had 3 days worth of these meals, each in their own box, ready to go! Three breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners. It would give you time to get back on your feet. And the preparation would be simple. Just add one meal to each shopping trip over the next few months until you have what you need.

Meet the Challenge!

For the remainder of the month of October, I am leaving a linky open on this post for you to create one Emergency Meal Kit to share with others; and you can gather ideas for your own meal kits as well. You do not have to have photos, just write up what you would put in the box, add a link to this post, and then come back here and link up. Remember, this is an entire meal not just an entree!

Here's some tips to help you:

• include all ingredients needed to make the meal
• recipes for anything that needs additional preparation
• try to include protein of some kind
• be sure to add a fruit or vegetable of some kind
• note if the meal is gluten free, nut free, dairy free, etc.
• if the meal requires water to prepare, be sure to included it the box
• if it requires a heat source to prepare, please note any alternatives that might work, such as a solar oven, wood stove, dutch oven on a campfire, etc. (and stick some matches inside!)

You might want to purchase a second can opener that is stored in the first box at all times!! That way, you don't have to hunt it down during your hour of greatest need.

I can't wait to see all the creative ideas each of you comes up with!

Cutting the Grid Apron Strings, One Appliance at a Time...

I've been thinking a lot about reducing our electric and natural gas bills as of late. Who hasn't? It's a crazy world out there and prices keep rising, not to mention the fact that as a culture in general, we're very vulnerable in the area of electricity and fossil fuel dependency.

Photo Credit

Our goal or focus as a family has been to 1) reduce our utility bills and 2) to become less dependent on utility companies in general. Living "off grid" meant either going with solar or wind power and producing our own energy. There really wasn't any other alternative in our minds.

But after reading a few blogs, conversing with Brenda of Freedom Acres Farm, and then reading Michael Bunker's book, Surviving Off Off-Grid, I've learned a lot over the last month and it's changed my mind a bit about our choices.

Going on solar power or wind power should only be seen as an intermediate step because you're only trading one dependency for another. This isn't to say you shouldn't use solar power, wind power, or some other alternative power source, but it isn't the grand solution to end all issues. Seeing solar as a way to ease into a life of less dependency is a more realistic option. And before one can even consider an alternative power source, you've got to cut back on your current dependency. Brenda really helped me see the need for this (thanks, Brenda!).

Now if I were to suddenly go through my house and trash every electrical appliance or gadget, I'd certainly have a mutiny on my hands, quick as a wink! And I won't attempt to list all our energy dependent appliances, but what I'm trying to do is cut the apron strings to the grid one appliance at a time. Let me give you an example...

This has been our coffee pot for the last several years. It's usually used on a daily basis, heating the coffee for about 2 hours before the hot plate shuts off unless we think about it and turn it off manually (not often). We like it a lot except that it stopped working the other day despite my regular cleanings and maintenance. Normally, we would have immediately gone out and purchased something similar, but this time, I talked with my husband about considering alternatives.

One option that we already had in the back of a cabinet is a French Press. I purchased this a couple of years ago when we were traveling, attending a retreat, and I needed my own low-acid coffee. It's a straightforward alternative in which you place the grounds inside the bottom, pour boiling water over them, stir, let steep for a minute, and then gently press the plunger down over the grounds. You can then pour your coffee. The French Press is easy to clean and simple to operate.

The drawback to the French Press is that it can't go directly onto a heat source (at least mine can't), the glass could easily break, and it doesn't keep the coffee hot. Think of this as an immediate coffee maker in which the coffee should be consumed as soon as it's brewed. Mine will make about 3-4 regular cups, so it's fine if you have a small group. However, if you want another cup, you'd need to start over.

A second alternative was an old fashion percolator; my husband's preference. We purchased this stainless steel model at an army surplus store before our camping trip to the coast. Another uncomplicated device, which holds coffee grounds in a basket containing small holes, while pumping heated water up a tube into the basket, allowing the water to wash over the grounds and then drain through the holes back into the pot. The cycle repeats itself until it's brewed to your preference. Since the holes in the basket are small, large grounds don't come through, but smaller grounds do. Some opt to use a paper filter inside the basket to prevent this.

The percolator can go directly on the heat source, keeps the coffee hotter, and can serve more people. Plus, you don't need to start over for that second cup.

Now both of these alternatives require an initial purchase, both of which probably required some kind of fossil fuels to fabricate and deliver. But neither require an on going fuel source other than the simple heating of water, either in the pot itself or another receptacle. An open flame from a campfire would do the job.  Neither of these options would I leave on for 2 HOURS to brew. I'm actually hoping to try the percolator on my wood stove this winter to see if it will get hot enough to actually work. If so, that's a heat source I'm already using, but I would be using it for more than one purpose.

Both options brew coffee differently than a drip coffee maker and thus both cause the coffee to taste a bit different. I don't know how to suggest testing this to see which is to your liking other than asking around to see if a friend has one of these to borrow. There will always be those who insist one is preferable over another. Let me just say, we're foodies to a certain degree, and a good cup of coffee is to be relished, but the truth be told, in time, you'll adjust to whatever you have - a probably like it.

One thing to consider if you are opting for the French Press... get a thermos. The kind that they use in coffee shops. Fortunately, I already had one and this did not require a new purchase (see mine in the photo). I can't tell you the number of times I've used this thing! Well worth the purchase price, I can assure you! In the winter, I use it for my hot beverage bar if I'm not using my electric tea kettle (which I'm reconsidering now!). Just heat one large batch of water each morning, pour it in the thermos, and you have hot water all day long. Instead of using electricity several times a day, you're only using it once a day, unless of course, you decide to heat your water on the wood stove!

Now you might be thinking that this little change isn't much and so why bother? What's the difference in a little ol' coffee pot? It's a small change indeed. But little things add up over time. Imagine changing 12 of your appliances over the course of a year? One per month? That would start to make an impact, now wouldn't it. Maybe not in terms of the world, but in your own immediate world, it certainly would! And if you're considering solar power, you're more than likely going to need to reduce your electrical usage if you want to go off grid anyway.

If we were to install solar realistically (and believe me, we've looked into it with 3 different companies), we could only generate 60% of what we are currently using. We'd still need to purchase the additional 40% of electricity - ON A GOOD DAY! That means, to be totally off-grid, we'd need to reduce our energy consumption by 40-50% before the solar was ever installed. Puts things into perspective a bit more, doesn't it?

Ryobi Power Usage Meter

A power meter will help give you an idea of how much each appliance is using in terms of kilowatt hours and how much that's costing you as well. We purchased ours, but I understand some local libraries will allow you to check these out if they have them. A quick google search showed me several right off the top. Once again, you may feel that your appliance isn't using that much electricity, so why bother. But a drop on the bucket adds up!

Obviously, each person will have that one appliance they just don't want to give up and they'd rather pay to use it. This is exactly why we should be allowed to govern our own lives and not have the government tell us what we can and cannot use. What's important to me, may not be important to you and visa versa.  But it's good to know there are alternatives, what they are, how to use them, and if possible, obtain them as a back up. Just in case.

What appliances have you cut off from the grid and what did you replace it with? Sharing ideas is what helps each of us think outside the box!

Simple Lives Thursday @ GNOWFGLINS

A Call To Be Prepared

Well, I've held my peace for about as long as I can stand it. Watching the devastation of the earthquake in Japan, followed by a horrific tsunami, and now a nuclear disaster, it's pretty much a no brainer that it would be wise to be prepared.


Those that were closest to the epicenter, tsunami, and reactors have suffered greatly and now the possibility of hypothermia, dehydration, and starvation are very real perils looming in the horizon. My heartfelt prayers goes out to them and I hope that a hand of mercy reaches them in time! 


Preparedness, Definition: refers to the state of being prepared for specific or unpredictable events or situations. Preparedness is an important quality in achieving goals and in avoiding and mitigating negative outcomes. (wikipedia)


Grant it, you can prepare all you want, but sometimes you can still loose lose all that you've stored. But imagine with me for a minute... what if everyone in Japan had been prepared ahead of time with food and water? How would this scenario been different? Would it have been?


Is it possible that those who did loose everything could be helped by those somewhat locally that still had what they put aside. Yes, the calvary cavalry would still need to come in and lend a hand, but would they have enough to keep them alive until that time if most had some kind of food and water stored? Let's just say that the odds would certainly have been better!

Photo: USA Emergency Supply

The reality is... in our modern, disposable, consumer minded, global society, storing food and supplies is not the norm. Yes, a few cultures may still do this, but I can't think of any off hand (please let me know if you can think of some!). 


Understand that I am not writing this to be judgmental of the Japanese people! I have been duly impressed with how they've conducted themselves in their hour of trial. (Even more impressive when you know that about only one percent are Christian believers!) Sadly, I'm not sure Americans would have been as self controlled if we had been in their shoes. No looting or rioting; no pushing or shoving in lines... 
Update: I've had a reader inquire as to my statement that non-Christians should act so self controlled. Let me clarify... It is certainly possible for non-believers to act in a self-controlled manner. You're seeing proof of it when you watch the Japanese people. Without the Holy Spirit, this is very impressive, because the flesh is powerful indeed. It is to the shame of many Christians that we often do not act in a self controlled manner; but then again, one can be Christian in name only.


Let me get to my point here. I need to be more prepared than I am. There is more I could and should do. How about you? Anyone need a little push to get prepared? Maybe you've talked about it but have done very little? Perhaps you're well on your way and could encourage others to do some prepping?


I'm going to offer a simple call to do one thing each week to get prepared. Every Saturday, I'm going to put up a post to remind everyone of the challenge, but YOU get to pick what you do. To help hold us accountable, you can leave a comment telling what you've done that week or you can write a post and link up. 

Photo: Big Berkey 

Do not feel like you must do something major each week. Even something small, such as buying a first aid kit, adding some water bottles to the pantry, or buying and planting an extra packet of seeds to grow extra food - it all counts and adds up over time! All I ask is that you clearly state what you did that week. For example, "This week, for the Preparedness Challenge, I bought an extra bag of rice from the co-op and stored it in mylar bags in a bucket". Then you can expound on it more if you'd like. 


Simple enough? I'm already shaking in my boots because I know this is really going to push me to be on the ball! I don't go to town but once or twice a week, and often I'm rushed to get things done, but I need this as much as anybody. Good thoughts of storing food doesn't make it happen. Action does. 


So, are you in? We start tomorrow!

Frugal Fire Starters

We'll be running our wood stove into late April and having enough fire startes is important. Having a sustainable and frugal source is even more appealing. And with all the items needed on hand, I decided to give it a try.

Frugal Fire Starter Tutorial


Items needed include:


dryer lint (from natural fibers only, like cotton)
a cardboard egg carton
left over wax from a candle (preferably a soy candle!)


Directions:


I started saving dryer lint in a plastic container in my laundry room drawer. Since it's right next to the dryer, it was easy to just drop it in there every time I clean the lint screen. If you line dry, I'm sure a neighbor would be willing to contribute their lint in trade for some starters. But be warned. This is a bit like "belly button lint". It's a bit personal and a bit... well, gross. I'm telling you now, before you view any further pictures, that with three girls with long hair, quite a bit ends up in the dryer lint.

Pack each cell of the egg carton with dryer lint. I stuffed as much as I could into each one.

Melt the candle wax in hot water in a pot. Keep in mind that many candles have a piece of metal at the bottom of the wick, so don't stick it in the microwave.

Pour the wax over the lint filled cells. Some people like to really soak their lint in wax, but because I have a wood stove, I don't really want to use any more than necessary (more on this at the end of the post). 

I used two different candles that were at the end of their life, so the red is from the second candle. Just get enough to coat the top a bit. Pop it in the freezer to harden the wax quickly. 

Finally, cut apart the cells, leaving the "wings" on for lighting.  To use, just light the edge and place it in the fireplace or wood stove. Store extras in a safe location because wax is flammable. 

Now, back to that comment about using these in a wood stove or a fireplace insert. Many recommend that you not use these in wood stoves because of the off gases they will produce if the wax is a petroleum product  (if you use a non-soy candle), or because they will leave a oily coating in your stove, or because it doesn't burn clean. I tried one in my stove and it seemed to do fine, but mine was mostly soy wax. If I notice a problem after using these for a while, I'll certainly update this post. But I used so little wax, I can't imagine that it would be that big of an issue. (If you have a catalytic type stove DO NOT burn any petroleum products in it.)


So, did I mention that these burn great? I thought it would be engulfed in flames and gone in a minute or two. I should have timed it, but it seemed to burn plenty long and it worked great for me! If anyone else has used them, be sure to leave a comment with your thoughts!

Food Storage On TV

I debated with myself over posting this information, but I am moving forward and will let you make your own decision... Glenn Beck is having some food storage "experts" (people who have been doing this a long time) on his FOX news program tonight at 5:00 p.m EST. It would be a great opportunity to hear some tips from those who have some experience with this kind of thing. 

Photo Credit: maureen_sill

But please, let me encourage those of you who are new to Homestead Revival™ and my thoughts on preparedness and food storage... do not let fear take over wisdom and trust in God. While there is some common sense to storing a certain amount of food (like having a savings account), you will NEVER be able to store enough to become entirely independent or self-sufficient. God has designed it so we must live in community. To miss this point, is to fail at being prepared (among other things). And the best way to prepare is to learn skills and have an active homestead with a garden and tools as well as some fruit trees, product producing animals with someplace to free range, and hunting and fishing gear. Not everyone can do all of this, but even if you have some of it in place, you will be miles ahead of many and will have something to barter with should the need arise. You can access my Preparedness Index which lists all my posts on the topic by clicking here.


Viewing a show like this on Glenn Beck might generate some good ideas, but you will need to pick and choose as well as consider what is being said in light of the entire Scriptures. (If you miss the broadcast, I believe you can view it after today by clicking here.) And perhaps the episode will generate some good discussions as well. For our generation, being prepared begins with being open to learning new ways of doing things. 


Don't forget to send in your chicken coop pictures - the deadline is Sunday!

Prepping and the Proverbs 31 Woman

It recently occurred to me that Proverbs has a lot to say about being prepared; especially Proverbs 31. I came to this realization while conversing with Andrea and friends over at Chicky-Bit Run and by daily reading a chapter in Proverbs for each corresponding day of the month. For example on June 3rd, I read Proverbs 3. On June 29th, I read Proverbs 29. (I plan to continue this at least for the remainder of the year, perhaps indefinitely as Proverbs has so much wisdom packed into it!) Instead of a lot of commentary today, I'm just listing some of the scriptures that have come to my attention related to the topic of prepping. I will let the Word and the Holy Spirit speak... 

"She is not afraid of the snow for her household, For all her household are clothed with scarlet." Proverbs 31:21 


"Strength and dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future." 
Proverbs 31:25


"She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness." 
Proverbs 31:27 


"There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man swallows it up."
Proverbs 21:20 


"The ants are not a strong people, But they prepare their food in the summer;"
Proverbs 30:25 


"Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise, Which, having no chief, Officer or ruler, Prepares her food in the summer And gathers her provision in the harvest.
Proverbs 6:6-8


"Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth." 
Proverbs 27:1


"Know well the condition of your flocks, And pay attention to your herds; For riches are not forever, Nor does a crown endure to all generations. When the grass disappears, the new growth is seen, And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in, The lambs will be for your clothing, And the goats will bring the price of a field, And there will be goats' milk enough for your food, For the food of your household, And sustenance for your maidens." 
Proverbs 27:23-27


"He who tills his land will have plenty of food, But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty."
Proverbs 28:19 


^"He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, But he who pursues worthless things lacks sense." 
Proverbs 12:11

                                                                                       Photo Credit: alessandrini

How To Use Mylar Bags and Oxygen Absorbers

In our Prepping Basics series, I've talked about storing grains in buckets using mylar bags along with oxygen absorbers to keep out the bugs, humidity, and air. All three of these things will shorten the life of your food or make it unfit to eat. USA Emergency Supply has all the items needed for long term storage, but I thought a visual on exactly how to store the food might be helpful.


Bison Risk Management Associates is a group that teaches emergency preparedness as well as personal safety for both businesses and individuals in Northern California. Their You Tube video, although a bit long, is the best tutorial I've found on using the mylar bags and oxygen absorbers. 

In the video, a round stick is used, but a flat piece of wood would be a bit easier since it wouldn't roll away from you. Another video showed someone using a left over piece of Corian countertop, while a third video used a piece of metal (actually a construction level). So use what you have around the house. 


Additional thoughts: 


• You can stick cooking instructions inside the bag before you seal it if you think you might need it later.


• Label the outside of the bag and the bucket with a sharpie. Be sure to date when it was sealed.


• Be sure to check that the seal was successful sometime the next day.


• Buckets should be stored in a cool location, out of direct sunlight.


• This method is best for long term storage. Use your gamma seals on buckets without sealed bags for food that you will be getting into more often. 


• Don't forget to rotate your food, even grains stored long term! Make them a part of your lifestyle.


Hope this is helpful and it encourages you that it isn't all that difficult to store food long term. 

Prepping Basics: What To Store (Part 1: Food Items)

In step 3 of the Prepping Basics series, I want to talk about what families should actually store in order to be prepared. This, too, will vary from household to household, but once again, we will look at some guidelines that will help you to think through what you may need. 


I realize that there is a place and need for things like a three-day emergency kit, first aid items, or other scenarios one should consider, but the goal of this post is to concentrate on basic food supplies in the event that you are at home and need to make meals during a crisis.


Determining What To Store


1. In order to start making a list, you'll need to ask yourself some questions:

• What does my family like to eat on a regular basis?
• What do they consider "comfort food"?
• What health needs does my family have in terms of food? Any allergies? Diabetics? Baby formula? Gluten free items?
• What can I cook easily and quickly when under pressure or pressed for time?
• What can I cook that doesn't require a lot of ingredients or too many steps?
• What can be made strictly from pantry items, not fresh ingredients? (If there is an electric outage, you may wish to make your fresh items first, but at some point, you may need a meal of non-perishables).
• What methods of food preparation would be available to me if the electricity were out? The gas off? The propane tank empty or damaged?
• What other non-electric appliances would I need for preparing an item?
• What can I cook with a limited water supply?
• What do I regularly grow in my garden that can be used for meals?
• What other homestead resources might I have available to me? Eggs? Milk? Meat? Herbs?


2. By answering these questions, start to form a list of meals that would meet your family's requirements. Plan a variety and include comfort foods that will give your family a sense of well being and security. When the world seems out of control, a familiar meal can be very comforting. At the very minimum, have 10-12 recipes you can use.

Photo Credit: Muffet

3. Go through each recipe and make a list of ingredients that you will need in order to prepare each one. Be sure to include amounts for one meal each.


4. Calculate how much to purchase of each item for a three month period (or longer if you are going to be stocking for a 6 or 12 month period and buying in bulk).


5. Start purchasing needed items. However, do not make the mistake of buying only wheat for a year and wait six months to buy baking soda, baking powder, or even yeast.  Purchase everything you need for a two to four week period. Then repeat the process. This way you are quickly prepared to ride out the more common 1-3 day outages or other smaller events. Your immediate needs will be covered for a few days. However, if you try to purchase a large quantity of one item and it uses up all your cash so that you can't buy the other ingredients for several weeks, you may find yourself unprepared.


Food Storage Calculators


Another way that you can calculate food needs, is to use a free food storage calculator. You can google one or click here. These calculators use your basic information about the number of people you plan to feed and the number of months worth of food you wish to store in order to project the basic sundry items you'll need.


Additional Items Needed For Food Storage


Don't forget that you will need certain items such as:


• matches
• non-electric can openers
• non-electric mills if you have grain stored
• an alternative cooking method with necessary supplies (such as a grill); solar oven
• cookware that can be used over an open flame (if necessary)
• a couple of dishpans for washing up and conserving water
• dish soap
• bleach for sanitizing (if necessary)
• cases or jugs of water if you don't have a water storage system
• condiments or items to make them from scratch: apple cider vinegar, oils (watch expiration dates)
• paper plates (in the event that the water is shut off or very scarce - like out west!)
• extra salt, vinegar, and baking soda for various uses
• extra cooking oil of your preference (watch expiration dates as some oils can go rancid)
• Items and ingredients for making bread if you usually purchase it (and a very basic recipe that you've practiced baking in a dutch oven, solar oven, or other means)

Photo Credit: davidsilver

Inventory Management


Living several miles from town, I am not able to run to the store if I run out of an item. This has led me to keep stock on various items so that I don't run out. Whenever I reach for the last or second to last item, I add it to the grocery list so that I can purchase more. By doing this, we almost never run out of an item. 


To take this a step further, I'm hoping to develop Inventory Tags this summer. What's that you ask? Well, I'm envisioning small laminated tags for each item that I regularly stock in my pantry (kind of like the re-ordering memo that reminds you to buy more checks). I'm going to just stick it on to the appropriate item as a reminder that when I reach that particular can, jar, or bag, it's time to buy more. This will keep us eating from our food storage without letting it get too low at any one time.


MRE's 


Just a word about MRE's. While these serve a purpose (existing during a crisis), they are not really designed for living prepared as a way of life, which in my mind is a different matter. I hope you will consider living in such a way that storing a bit of food is a stewardship issue, not a fear issue. 


If you have a family of boys who think it's cool to play army and eat rations, then by all means, buy MRE's and have fun while dining. But if you are thinking of the homestead as a haven of rest and refreshment, a place to practice hospitality while meeting the basic needs of life, then think beyond the MRE. It may be a benefit to have both, but each family should decide that issue.


Hope this post has you thinking and ready to organize the pantry with supplies!

Prepping Basics: Storing Bulk Food Supplies PART 3

The last in our 3 day series on Storing Bulk Food Supplies, we're covering the best options for actually containing your dry food stores. If you're going to order bulk grain, what are you going to do with it? You can't just stack the bags in your garage and expect them to be good to go a year from now. And what about all those pounds of sweetener, canned items, and dehydrated food?


Because my family does not eat boxed meals and I do not encourage others to do so, you won't find instructions here on storing those long term. Some people like to keep these on hand just for emergencies, but I don't want to sacrifice health when my family may need it the most! I will address commercially canned items because some of this is okay to eat, especially in a pinch. 


Long Term Food Containers and Organizers

• Grains, flour, dried beans, nuts. These items are fodder for bugs and mice, requiring special handling all their own. I have found that food grade buckets are an excellent solution as well, but you need a lot of these (more on this below). Some co-ops sell grain already in the bucket or you can buy them separately and add your own grain. However, if you are going to buy bulk grain in bags, you need to do a couple of additional steps for long term preservation:

1) Put the bags in the freezer for 3-4 days prior to pouring them in the buckets. This will kill off any small insects. Then you can move the grain to food grade buckets. I usually do this if I plan to use the grain within the next couple of months. When I do this, I usually use a gamma seal on the bucket instead of the standard lid that comes with it. The gamma seal is a ring with a screw top lid which makes it easy to get in the bucket often. You do not need this on all your buckets; just those that you get into regularly. As you use up the grain, you can open another bucket and pour grain into the bucket with the gamma seal.

2) Line the buckets with mylar bags and add oxygen absorbers before sealing the bags OR you can use the oxygen absorbers without the mylar bags and just seal up the bucket with a standard lid. As the packets absorb the oxygen, the lid will create a seal (like when canning) and you should see it sink in a bit on top. (I've tried to research the safety of mylar bags and could not find any negatives despite the fact that they are made of layers of mylar, aluminum, and plastic).

oxygen absorbers

How many buckets do you need? USA Emergency supply has a handy little chart that will help you to determine the number of buckets you might need depending on the food.


• Commercially canned goods. You can always just stack these on the self. It's free and easy to do - until you need to start rotating the food. Since we're talking about a way of life here, you'll want to eventually go to the next step. Can trackers or rotating racks can be purchased, made from wood, or even made from cardboard. Some are standing units all by themselves that hold hundreds of cans, while others are shelf size racks that hold a couple of cases. Obviously you're going to pay more for racks that you purchase, and you're going to need a few. Ideally, you want to be able to load the cans from the front as well as retrieve them from the front, so look for a tracking system that works along this principle. It will save you time, energy, and space.


CanOrganizer.com sells a pre-cut cardboard organizer at a reasonable price. It comes in two lengths - cupboard size for $11.96 a four pack and a pantry size that is longer for $15.96. Want to build your own? CanRacks.com has plans which make this much more economical - only $14.95 a set with several to choose from.


Another option... construct a unit with the shelves slanted to one end (picture yourself facing the shelves - the right end of each shelf would be slightly lower than the left end). Be sure to add a small strip of wood across the lower end so that they don't roll out on the floor! Place your unit so that you can access either side of it - the left side is to put the cans in on their side and roll them down to the right side where you will retrieve them when you're ready. Space each slanted shelf close enough to the one above in order to make the most of your space while keeping in mind the various sizes of canned goods. Strips of wood or metal can be nailed on each shelf to make "tracks" so that the cans stay in a lane - you could get several lanes on each shelf depending on how wide you make them. (Sorry I do not have a photo to demonstrate this concept.)


• Home canned goods. If you're already canning a lot, you've probably already devised a solution for your home. But assuming you're starting out on this venture, you'll want to consider how to organize these on the shelf. Do not lay them on their sides! Because of BPA on canning lids, you do not want the food to touch the lids any more than necessary. Be sure these are dated so that you are consuming the oldest items first. If you keep these on any kind of metal shelving you can use some type of bungee cords across the front in the event of an earthquake. On wood shelves, just add a narrow piece of wood or attach a dowel rod across the front. 

• Dehydrated foods. I use canning jars for these items as well, but mylar bags come in many sizes and are a good option for long term needs. With the canning jar, I use my jar attachment on my Food Saver to remove as much oxygen from the jar as possible. Doing this really extends the life of the dehydrated foods.


• Small bags and packets. If you have any small food items  such as bags of bulk spices or herbs in bags, you can put them in canning jars and remove the air (like I mentioned above) or do like several readers have suggested, use a cooler. You can organize the cooler by using little plastic baskets or cardboard boxes that are easy to lift out. I tend to store a lot of this kind of thing in my deep freezer, but if the electricity goes out, well... I need to change this!


For additional information on how long you can store certain foods, read HERE.


Chime in and let me know what you use for long term containers and how you organize them. I know you're a creative group!