April 2014

Children have always chanted that “April Showers bring May Flowers”. This year we surely hope so! Many parts of the western United States are in a severe drought and stand in great need of rain. So often we become accustomed to “good weather” we forget the necessity of rain clouds showering down and snow packed mountains giving us spring run-off to resupply our aquifers and springs as well as rivers and streams. (In the desert “good weather” is also rainy weather!) Truly these are the life blood of the desert. The lack of moisture in the west can ultimately affect the produce availability in our grocery stores. This springtime offers a great opportunity to become a little more self-sufficient – especially in the event food availability does become limited! Plant a garden, be vigilant in your personal family preparation, make a plan and involve the entire family as you implement it. Marion G Romney once said “We will see the day when we will live on what we produce.” (April 1975) Let us be certain that our April showers – and work - bring forth May flowers - and peas – and other summer fruits and veggies! No one knows when they will need to be more self-sufficient, but as an old saying tells us “There’s no time like the present”.

                  Included in this month's newsletter:

Spring into action: April is time to rotate 72 hour kits and water storage, and test smoke and Carbon Dioxide Alarms.

72 Hour Kits: If you do not have one - NOW is the time to get one. A list of items to include.

In the Southern Utah Garden: items to plant, lawn treatment, Malathion and Borer spray, fertilizing, weed killer.

Cooking with Food Storage: recipes for Graham Crackers and Wheat Thins.

Provident Living: Double Duty. Items to store that have multiple uses: from cooking and cleaning to medicinal and yard.

Spiritual Preparedness: quote by Marvin J Ashton - "We are living in a time of urgency...."

Click here for a complete copy of the April 2014 Back to Basics Newsletter.

March 2014

Spring is “Marching” right in! Whether it is a lamb or a lion sometimes seems to depend on whether it is the morning or afternoon.  You just have to be prepared for whatever kind of a day Mother Nature throws at you. This sounds a lot like our family and personal preparedness. We really do not know how or when our “preparedness” will be used – we just need to be prepared for anything!!  You may use your food storage in an economic slump, a power outage, a truckers strike or even a drought that affects food supplies. It may be something you use for a day, or a week or longer. Really, being prepared should just be a “way of life” so that whatever comes your way is only a bump in the road and not a major crash. Let’s use this month to “march” our way into a greater level of preparedness.

Included in this month's newsletter:

Just in Case - tips for purchasing case lot sales this spring

Disaster Prep: Matchless! storing matches in our food and 72 hour kit storage.

In the Southern Utah Garden: seeds to plant this month, transplanting tips, time for bare roots, new seeds and plants moist, dividing flowers, clean up, pruning shrubs.

Cooking with Food Storage: grain to grain ratios for cooking a variety of grains.

Provident Living for Spring!  Storing gas, homemade ice packs, organic pest control from egg shells and Poor Mans Tupperware!

Spiritual Preparedness: Oil in your lamps - spiritual preparedness cannot be shared.

Click here for a complete copy of March 2014 Back to Basics Newsletter.