June 2014

Summer is here and with it come the many activities we love as well as a great time for adding to our preparedness. We can freeze or bottle the produce from our gardens and orchards, take advantage of some camping to check our emergency supplies, (see Disaster Prep), or use the lazy days of summer to learn something new (see “Preparedness – Education Style”). June is a great month to put the long daylight hours to good use and extend the preparedness we have already established. Every month we need to do an assessment of what we have and need and where we are going with our preparedness plans. Brushing up on plans, adding monthly to the storage shelves, and being aware of our family needs help us make preparedness a way of life. If preparedness is a way of life, it will not be difficult to respond to whatever life will throw at us. ”Where preparations are being made there will be little difficulty, but where no preparation has been made, suffering and difficulties will come.” (Welfare Ag. Conference 1970). May we all be blessed with little difficulty. Remember the 6 P’s: ”Proper Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance.”

In this Issue:

Food Storage: A Budget Tool. Are you losing money with your food storage?

Disaster Prep: Evacuation Preparation: Camping supplies to use in a disaster, trying some outdoor cooking, and info for solar cooking.

In the Southern Utah Garden: Planting corn, pole beans and pumpkins for a fall harvest, weeds, newspaper mulch, thinning and spraying fruit, picking your garden and pruning.

Preparedness - Education Style: Ideas to continue learning this summer: garden, animals, baking, journal, reading, chores and more.

Spiritual Preparedness: Henry B. Eyring quote on strengthening and refreshing our faith: four ways to strengthen your capacity to know and obey the Lord's commands.

Click here to view a complete copy of June 2014 Back to Basics Newsletter.

May 2014

May is such a busy time of year for many people. School is winding down, baseball is in full swing, gardens need to be planted, lawns fertilized, and weeds eradicated while young. In all the “hustle and bustle” of spring, let us include in our goings and comings our continued effort to be prepared. When you empty the gas can into the lawn mower, be sure to refill it that day - so you are ready with extra gas for an emergency. While you are at the gas station, keep the family car’s gas tank above a half tank. As you plant the garden, be sure you put in enough to put some up in canning jars or freezer bags. (And some to share!) When you grocery shop, buy an extra of a few items on the list for the storage room.  As we go throughout our regular day to day lives, we can make preparedness a part of each day. Preparedness is truly a way of life. It is a mindset. It is not something we work on once a month, or quarter, or year! Once we begin to incorporate “preparedness” into each day, it will become a part of the tapestry of your normal family living. “May” you add to your preparedness status as you enjoy “May” and live life!

Included in this month's newsletter:

Sanitation Preparation: In emergencies "being prepared" includes the ability to keep things sanitary. Here are some tips to keep things clean! (Water, disposing of human wast, garbage, things to store.)

In the Southern Utah Garden: planting, weeds, water, fertilizer and poison application tips.

Provident Living: Five Cost cutters for your everyday life.

Drying Food Storage: vegetables and fruits to dry this summer.

Spiritual Preparedness: Quotes by Neil L. Andersen (Whirlwinds are the temptations of the adversary) and Robert D Hales (Be careful who you follow).

Five Principles of Economic Constancy - how to make it in a fragile economy.

Click here to download a complete copy of the May 2014 Back to Basics Newsletter.