72 hour kits 6 month rotation

General conference is this weekend and that is my reminder to look at my 72 hour kit.

 Food- Here is all the food that needed to be rotated in my kit. I also needed to add baby food back into my kit and change the type of food I had for my toddler.

 Here is the food that is in my kit now. I divided the food up by days in plastic zip top bags.
For the adults- Day 1  Breakfast- Oatmeal
                                   Lunch - Bumble Bee chicken salad with crackers
                                   Dinner- Mountain House Chicken and rice
                                   Snack-  Clif bar, 2 werthers original, jerky
                        Day 2  Breakfast- Oatmeal
                                   Lunch- Bumble Bee tuna salad with crackers
                                   Dinner- Mountain House Beef Stroganoff with noodles
                                   Snack-  Nature Valley Protein Bar, 2 werthers original, jerky
                       Day 3  Breakfast- Oatmeal
                                   Lunch- Bumble Bee tuna salad with crackers
                                   Dinner- Mountain House Chicken with noodles
                                   Snack- Mojo bar, 2 werthers, jerky

The Mountain House are just add water meals and the pouches I bought are a 4 person serving.

For the kids- Toddler- Day 1 Breakfast- Oatmeal
                                               Lunch- Chicken salad with crackers
                                               Dinner- Sharing the adults Chicken and rice
                                               Snacks- Zbar by clif bar, 2 fruit snack pouches
                                     Day 2 Breakfast- Oatmeal
                                               Lunch- Tuna salad with crackers
                                               Dinner- Sharing the adults Beef Stroganoff with noodles
                                               Snack- Austin peanut butter crackers, 2 fruit snack pouches
                                    Day 3 Breakfast- Oatmeal
                                               Lunch- Chicken salad with crackers
                                               Dinner- Sharing the adults Chicken and noodles
                                               Snacks- Zbar, 2 fruit snack pouches
 For the infant I have a variety of jars and pouches of baby food. I am going to replace the jars with all pouches though since they are lighter. I will have a total of 9 pouches of food. He is still nursing also.

Water- I dumped out the "old" water and refilled my bottles with fresh water.
Clothing- I replaced winter clothes with summer clothes and I vacuum sealed them to create more space in my kit. I vacuum sealed the diapers as well.

Medicine- I rotated any OTC medicines that were near expiration. I added infant gas-x, and rotated children pain medicine. I rotated our vitamins as well. Take a look at your first aid kit and ensure that those items are still fresh and sterile.

Entertainment- I rotated the toys that I had for the kids to age appropriate items.

                                I replaced the pocket rocket stove, fuel, and pots and pans for a Jetboil

             The Jet boil is lighter, takes up less room and can boil water faster than the pocket rocket.

As always my diaper bag is stocked with toys, diapers, some food, blankets, and a change of clothes.

Homemade baby food

Homemade baby food is a great way to save a ton of money and ensure that your little one is eating healthy foods. During my most recent visit to the grocery store I stopped to looked at baby food, and was shocked at not only the price, but all the extra ingredients. I made baby food for my first child and am certainly continuing that with my second.  I reference THIS website for recipes and ideas on new foods to introduce.


 I most recently made sweet potatoes, squash, peas, and carrots.

 Sweet Potato from a local farm poke a few holes in it and pop it in the microwave for 10 mins

                                             
                                   Once it is cooked, scoop out the middle

                                          Add that to the blender or food processor

    Add a little water and blend until smooth. I add as little water as possible. Most things will thin out once frozen and then thawed.

                                          Place in an ice cube tray and freeze

                            Once frozen in the tray, place in a freezer safe bag for storage

 Each cube is about 2 Tablespoons. Thaw a few in the fridge as you need them.  Upon thawing you can thin the potato for younger children with breast milk or formula.


                                         Butternut Squash

                                           

                    Remove seeds, cover with plastic wrap and microwave for 8-10 mins or until soft.

              Scoop out and place in blender. Then ice cube trays, then freezer storage bag.

Making baby food is really easy, your child is getting fresh ingredients, and you are saving money.
Also the fruit that I have canned in previous years is excellent as well. For the pears I just add one or two to the blender as needed.




                                            

                                           

The Lord's Storehouse

Words of our Prophets: Be Prepared

Zaycon Foods- Chicken, Sausage, and Ham Event

Zaycon Foods is a privately owned company based in the state of Washington. The company was founded in 2009 to bring fresh meats and other products direct to consumers at wholesale prices.
Currently available to order in Oregon and Washington is: 
 » Carve Master Boneless Smoked Ham $3.29/lb Each unit contains 22lbs

• Made from fresh outside muscle only

• Precooked and slow smoked with real apple wood

• Approved as LEAN by the USDA

• Completely boneless for easier carving

          • Freshness guaranteed for up to 100 day

 » Frozen Pork Sausage Links $2.69/lb Each unit contains 20lbs

• Rated #1 by Cooks Illustrated January 2012

• The best trim (loin, ham, belly)

• Fresh - "Today's trim is today's sausage."

• 100% natural spice blend

 » Chicken Breasts (Fresh Boneless Skinless) $1.79/lb Each unit contains 40lbs. 

• 100 % natural chicken with no added hormones, additives or artificial ingredients

          • Comes directly from the processor and has never been frozen
            [NOTE:  Our chicken is delivered in its original wholesale packaging, a water resistant cardboard case containing three or four plastic bags of fresh chicken breasts. The smaller bags are typically sealed in a larger plastic bag. The smaller bags are not uniform in weight. There will be small amounts of naturally occuring liquids (i.e.,"chicken juice") in each bag and case. Chicken breasts typically come in double-lobed pairs ("butterfly") and will have small attached amounts of fat.]


Check their website to find the nearest "pick up" location.  

If you access the website through the link HERE I will receive a referral credit.
  

 

Food Storage on a Budget

 

FOOD STORAGE on a Budget

Church Leaders have asked us to have our Food Storage at the ready! 

Now you ask, “Where do I get the money for these things? I agree we need them, but I’m having a hard time making ends meet.”

Here is how you do it. Use any one or all of these suggestions:

1. Follow the prophet. He has counseled us to plant a garden and fruit trees. This year, don’t just think about it—do it. Grow all the food you possibly can. 

2. Buy in bulk. If you cannot afford to buy in bulk alone, get together with other families in the Ward and buy in bulk together. You can buy in bulk from Winco, Cash-N-Carry, and Costco, as well as from many other online stores for a decent price.

3. Save during the Holidays. Decide as a family this year that 25 or 50 percent of your Christmas will be spent on a year’s supply. Many families spend considerable sums of money for Christmas. Half or part of these Christmas monies will go a long way toward purchasing the basics.

4. When you desire new clothes, don’t buy them. Repair and mend and make your present wardrobe last a few months longer. Use that money for the food basics. Make all of your nonfood necessities that you feasibly can, such as furniture and clothing. 

5. Cut the amount of money you spend on recreation by 50 percent. Do fun things that do not require money outlay but make more lasting impressions on your children. There are many free entertainment opportunities in our community. Free summer concerts by the city of Kent can be found HERE, Free events at the Kent library can be found HERE,  Home Depot activities for the Kids found HERE.

6. Decide as a family that there will be no vacation next year unless you have your year’s supply. Many Church members could buy a full year’s supply of the basics from what they would save by not taking a vacation. Take the vacation time and work on a family garden. Be together, and it can be just as much fun. 

7. Sell something. If you haven’t a year’s supply yet and you do have boats, snowmobiles, campers, or other luxury possessions, sell or trade one or two or more of them and get your year’s supply. 

8. Shop smart at the Grocery store. The grocery bill is one bill that can be cut. Every time you enter the store and feel tempted by effective merchandising to buy cookies, candy, ice cream, non-food items, or magazines—don’t! Think carefully; buy only the essentials. Then figure what you have saved and spend it on powdered milk, sugar, honey, salt, or grain. Plan your meals for the week. This way you only have to shop once a week and you only buy the things that you need. Also use coupons, price match & shop sales. With the money you save use towards food storage. When something goes on sale for a huge savings, stock up on that one item. You will be able to accumulate your 3 months supply by doing this.

9. Have a Garage Sale. Sell all the clothes that your children no longer fit and the toys they no longer play with at garage sales, on craigslist, or child clothing resale store.  If your family is still growing, save all these things to use for your next child. Also shop garage sales to buy the things you need at a great price.

10. Take a lunch. Make your lunch every day to take it to work. Homemade lunches will save BIG time compared to eating out.

11. Shop Around - When you are purchasing large items, always research the item to find which one (style/model/brand) will be right for your family. Take your time. Do not make frivolous or quick purchases. Pray about it. Contact manufacturers and ask if they have a damaged version of the item you are looking for. Often times they are willing to sell scratched or slightly dented items at half price.

Bugging In

"Bugging out" is the when you must evacuate your home and search for a safer area in the event of a large disaster. Sometimes, bugging out is not necessary or the best decision. The alternative is called “Bugging In.” Bugging In or hunkering down during a large-scale disaster can present many challenges. Most often the utilities we depend on are shut down – known as “Grid-Down.” Disasters can devastate our most critical services including water supply, hospitals, waste and trash removal, transportation options, fuel and grocery supplies, natural gas lines, electricity, phone service, and even public safety. A Grid-Down scenario can last for several days or even weeks. During this time, you must be able to provide basic survival needs for you and your family.

We are counseled by church leaders to obtain our year supply of food. We should be prepared to spend a minimum of 2 weeks during a Bug In. Start with just 3 days and work your way up from there.
Our basic human survival needs remain the exact same no matter where we are in the world or what circumstances we face. They will always be: shelter, water, fire, food, first aid, and self-defense. The order of priority may change, but the basic categories will not. Here is a brief breakdown of each category including several solutions to consider for a short-term Bug In scenario.

Shelter

During a Bug In scenario, shelter may seem fairly obvious. It is your primary place of residence. However, there is more to shelter than just a roof over your head. Shelter must protect us from the elements – even if access to modern utilities is limited or nonexistent. Shelter becomes your #1 priority in cold conditions. You must have alternative heating solutions in place just in case a disaster strikes during cold weather. Some excellent and affordable options are wood burning fireplaces, kerosene heaters, and portable propane heaters.

Kerosene heaters retail for just over $100. They don’t require electricity and are very easy and safe to operate. The fuel (kerosene) also has an extremely long shelf life – I’ve heard of 20-year-old fuel burning just fine.

A small propane heater can last 4-6 hours on one tank. The portable Buddy Propane heater is safe for indoor use. Retail price around $90. For smaller spaces, portable emergency propane heaters are excellent solutions.  Extra propane canisters are easy to store as well.

Wood burning fireplace/stove/insert.Retail $1500+, but can save you money on your electric or gas bill every winter. If you choose to install a stove make sure to get one like mine (pictured) that you can cook/boil water on.

1. Other home (and car) heating tips: Close off certain rooms of your house and ‘move in’ to the room with the heat source. Close doors or hang blankets to zone out other areas.
2. Hang blankets in front of large windows to reduce heat loss.
3. Have good blankets and sleeping bags on hand to help keep you and your family warm.
4. Just one candle can warm the inside of a freezing car as much as 8 degrees.

 

Water

Whether you use a well or depend on municipal water service, a disaster can put a stop to your flow of fresh drinking water. Without water you can die in as little as 3 days. The best short-term Bug In water solution is to simply store extra water in your place of residence. You can buy commercially bottled water by the case/gallon or you can bottle and store your own water in food-grade containers.
A very popular do-it-yourself water storage solution is re-purposed 2-liter pop bottles.There are countless water storage solutions available ranging from fancy interlocking containers to 55-gallon drums. You’ll have to choose a solution that is right for your environment, budget, and consumption needs. Always store your water in a cool place away from full sun exposure.

Fire

During a Bug In scenario, fire represents two categories: warmth (which we’ve covered) and cooking. I recommend your emergency meals be very simple to prepare, requiring no cooking at all, if possible. However, it’s important that you have an alternative cooking solution in place to cook meals and boil water if necessary.  A few options are:

1. Fireplace or Wood Burning Stove
2. BBQ grill
3. Natural Fuel Rocket Stoves
4. Camp stove

Stove Tech 2 door stove with Metal liner

Food 

 Think “open and eat meals.” Ideally, your emergency food rations will consist of meals that require 
 little to no preparation. Boiling water for reconstitution should be the most complicated step of any 
 emergency food ration. Your food preps should also have a long shelf life and not require 
 refrigeration. There’s no sense in stocking your shelves with fresh vegetables that are going to rot in a few days or with frozen dinners that will go bad without electricity. It’s very easy to over complicate food storage. Keep it simple!

Freeze dried food- just add hot water

1. Military Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) 
2. Freeze Dried/Dehydrated Meals  
3. Store-Bought Canned Goods/Packaged Foods
4. Can Your Own Food
5. Hunting, Farming, Gardening, and Gathering

First Aid

You may not be able to leave your house. Hospitals and pharmacies may not be open. The most important thing in this category is prescription medicines. If you or a loved one is dependent on some kind of medicine then you need to have enough on hand to get you through a short-term Bug In disaster. Explain to your doctor that you are preparing an emergency kit and you would like to have an extra refill for that kit. These medicines need to be monitored and rotated just like food. Ensure that your first aid kit is fully stocked.

Self-Defense

Disasters create abnormal circumstances. First responders (and public safety) are always overwhelmed. Response times are always delayed. 911 is always inundated with calls. Phone and internet services (land and cell) are often interrupted. Disasters can drive good people to do things they would not normally do. 

 Home Security
Simple and inexpensive upgrades to your home’s security can be very effective in preventing successful break-ins during disaster scenarios. A few basic upgrades can include:

1. Solid metal or wood doors – no decorative glass.
2. Dead-bolt on every outside door.
3. Consider an inside mounted door bar for added security.
4. “Beware of Dog” sign even if you just have a cat or goldfish. Criminals are looking for easy targets.
5. Upgraded door hardware with deep-set 3” screws.
6. Exterior motion lights (solar-powered) – front and back.
7. ‘Defensive’ rose bushes below each ground-level window.
8. Upgraded window locks / cut wood-block stoppers for inside.
9. Well-advertised video alarm system – whether you have one or not.

 Self-Defense Tools & Training
Guns are the obvious home defense weapon.This is a personal choice. If you choose to own a weapon ensure that you and your family know how to use it. Firearms training and practice are crucial elements to gun ownership and effective self-defense. Other self-defense tools include pepper spray and stun guns.

Two things many people forget:
1. Know how to turn off your utilities. Disasters have a way of damaging electrical lines/circuits, gas lines, and water lines. If yours are affected you may need to turn them off. Make sure you have the proper tools (and knowledge) to quickly and safely disconnect all of your utilities.
2. Disasters can also affect sewage systems and trash removal. Store extra heavy-duty trash bags to contain human waste and trash just in case. It’s important to maintain a very sanitary bug-in environment. A 5-gallon bucket lined with a trash bag makes a suitable makeshift toilet.