November 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter

 

Click here for a complete copy of the November 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter.

November is the “Thankful” month! Beautiful fall days still abound, with a few hints of winter dispersed throughout. Of course the annual Thanksgiving Dinner – complete with family and fun – is looked forward to. Many families will trek “over the river and through the woods” to grandmother’s house! As we gather, let us remember that we live in a world with so much to be thankful for! Even as the world around us seems to be disintegrating, there are many aspects of these “last days” to fill us with gratitude. One way we can show our gratitude is by keeping the commandments! At this “end of harvest” time of year – we can focus on keeping the commandment to Be Prepared. Hopefully your storage shelves are full of items to make a Thanksgiving dinner. If they are not, let that be a goal. Establish a preparedness life – a life of provident living – where you have prepared “Every Needful Thing.” Let us be thankful by being prepared - so we can all say, “All is safely gathered in!”

Included in this months newsletter: 

Rotation Rotation Rotation! - A list of tips to keep your food storage from spoiling by using a good rotation method.

I Can't Afford It - A testimonial by a sister who started over from nothing to get her food storage. It includes a wonderful Quote from Elder Featherstone.

Preparedness Prophecies - A quote from President Hinckley after the attack on the world trade centers reminding us of years of prophecies concerning our food storage.

In the Southern Utah Garden - Tips for the November yard and garden.

Unexpected Disaster Prep - Tips from regular "life living" that help you Be Prepared.

A Food Storage Thanksgiving - Recipes and tips for a dinner straight from your storage shelves.

Storing Expanded Item "Ingredients" - Items you need to add to your basic long term storage.

Click here for a complete copy of the November 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter.

October 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter

 Click here for a complete copy of the October 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter.

October is when we know fall has arrived! The weather changes, first frost arrives, the harvest is in, and a fire in the fireplace starts a cold morning. The weather may send flurries of leaves dancing down the street, or require an open window to cool off a surprise warm afternoon. It’s a favorite season for hunters, hikers, and sport enthusiasts alike. Its roundup and branding for the rancher, and harvest finishing for the farmer. It’s also the perfect season to be sure “all is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin” in our own homes.  Now is a great time to store a sack of potatoes and a box of apples for winter. You could finish up that applesauce, or bottle a few more pears. Perhaps it is one more trip to a case lot sale, or the church’s Home Storage Center. Whatever you do – use this time wisely! We have seen across the county how quickly a disaster creates a need that, if people are prepared can be easily addressed. But if they are not, it is frightening and difficult. Choose to Be Prepared TODAY!

Included in this newsletter:

Real Life Lessons from Hurricane Helene - a list of things a variety of people in the middle of the disaster said they needed to have.

Preparation Smorgasbord - a variety of thoughts and ideas to consider as you prepare.

In the Southern Utah Garden - tasks for October for your garden, trees, and yard.

Cooking with Food Storage and Provident Living - ideas to use your pumpkins at the end of the month including dinner in a pumpkin. Recipe for Homemade Halloween makeup.

Preparedness Warnings -  two quotes to give major incentive for getting ourselves prepared!

Don't Forget - reminder for fall rotations and activities.

The Doctor is In...Dr. Mom that is! -  home remedies to help avoid a visit to the doctor office.

Click here for a complete copy of the October 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter.

September 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter

 Click here for a complete copy of the September 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter.

September means kids are back to school, weather turns mild, days are shorter, and the apples and pears are ripe. It is one of the most pleasant months! We can still sit out and enjoy the evening stars, but might need a sweater to start the day. The harvest continues but slows a bit, and there is great reward as we enjoy the “fruits of our labors.” September is also the “National Preparedness Month.” This makes it a great month to focus on preparing your home and family for emergencies and disasters that might affect you. Store sales abound to accompany this focus. No one knows the needs of your family better than YOU do. So let us use our time wisely. Let us, “today while the sun shines, work with a will,” and “today - our duty fulfill.” Let us prepare for the sake of our families, and the peace preparedness will bring.

Included in this month's newsletter: 

Signs of the times - State of the World Incentives - the events we see happening around us can be addressed with preparedness. This list gives ideas.

Provident Living Tip: A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned - a list of tips to save money!

Spiritual Preparation - Quote from President Nelson with lessons from Moroni, and a scripture to go with it.

In the Southern Utah Garden - garden tips for September.

Grains - tips to store and use a variety of grains.

Using the Harvest - Apples and Pears - tips to harvest, how to use, and recipes.

Click here for a complete copy of the September 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter.

August 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter

 

Click here for a complete copy of the August 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter.

As August rolls around, it brings the lazy dog days of summer, with hot days and some humidity if the monsoons are here. It brings “back to school” shopping, and kids heading back for another year of learning. Harvests in the garden are in full swing, and orchards continue to produce juicy fruits. It is the perfect month to add to our preparedness! We can take advantage of the bounteous harvests, either from our own gardens, or local farmers. Home canning has made a comeback as more and more people recognize the benefits of bottling your own. You know what went in the jar and how it was prepared and taken care of. If you follow safety guidelines of canning, your family will eat very safe and healthy food. This has also been a summer of disasters across the country. Wild fires, earthquakes, and tornadoes have reminded us we live in the last days. Let those disasters propel you to greater preparations for the unexpected! This last month of summer offers numerous opportunities to add to our preparedness! Let us take advantage of the time we have to prepare!

Included in this month's newsletter:

Disaster Prep - Earthquake! A list of things to do BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER an earthquake.

In the Southern Utah Garden - a list of what to plant, and chores in the garden and orchard this month.

Using the Harvest: Tomatoes - ideas of ways to bottle, dry and freeze tomatoes.

Basic Storage: Slick Facts about Fats and Oils -  info to help you store fats and oils including amounts and tips to keep long term.

Food for Thought - Preparedness Matters -  four quotes to encourage you in your preparedness endeavors.

Click here for a complete copy of the August 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter.

July 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter

 Click here for a complete copy of the July 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter.

July is our month to celebrate freedoms! We are blessed to live in God’s “Promised Land!” Even amidst political and economic strife, or the wars at home and abroad – we are STILL blessed with amazing freedoms - bought and paid for by “those who came before us.” This month we celebrate both America’s freedom, and the coming of the “blessed, honored pioneers” - who settled this harsh land seeking religious freedom. Part of celebrating freedoms is using our agency wisely. Not every country allows families to store food and supplies (they call it hoarding,) and religious freedoms are threatened worldwide. Let us take advantage of the privileges we have as we worship God with all our might, and store supplies to care for our loved ones when those inevitable storms arrive! This month as we set off fireworks, join in the races, or march in parades - we can remember the freedom we all have to “Be Prepared!” When we pray, read the scriptures, bottle some peaches, or fill buckets of wheat – we truly join in letting Freedom Ring! May it ring and echo in each of your homes!

Included in this months newsletter:

Disaster Prep - EMP's - a list of what to do in ANY disaster - including an EMP!

A Basic Reminder: One year Basic Food Storage - the list of amounts per person for one year of basic storage items.

Spiritual Preparedness - A quote from President Russell M Nelson on preparedness and lessons from Captain Moroni.

In the Southern Utah Garden - tasks for your July garden.

Using Food Storage - in the Good Ol' Summertime - ways to use bottled or frozen fruits for summer treats.

Honoring Pioneers - Preparedness Style - A list of things we can do to be prepared that our forefathers did.

Fun in the Sun - Outdoor Cooking - Ideas to try and basic instruction for a simple solar cooker.

 Click here for a complete copy of the July 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter.

June 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter

Click here for a complete copy of the June 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter.

June is a wonderful month with temperatures usually on a milder side – before the heat of summer settles in. It is perfect for finishing the garden, outdoor activities on a warm evening, or trips to the mountain to cool off and maybe catch a fish! June brings first harvests of berries, cherries and apricots. It is the perfect month to take a dip in a pool or wade in the river. So many family activities are perfect in the month of June! With all the fun to fill our time, let us look towards including preparedness in the activities we pursue. Try out the ideas in this newsletter to make summertime livin’ easy! Stock up on more of the basic storage items, and fill some water jugs. Find a way as a family to improve your preparedness, make it a “way of life,” AND enjoy the “Good Ol’ Summertime!”

Included in this months newsletter: 

Sweets for the sweet - tips for storing sugar- a basic storage item!

Disaster Prep - A Power-Up Bag- ideas for items to put in one bag ready for any power outage or evacuation.

A Ball Book tip.

Spiritual Preparedness - Quote from Bishop W Christopher Waddell on preparing for challenging times.

In the Southern Utah Garden - tips for your June garden and yard.

Summertime and the Preparedness Livin' is easy - ideas for summer activities that help you in your preparedness.

Cooking with Food Storage - Everlasting Yeast, Sour Dough Starter, and Dads Sour Dough Biscuits recipes.

Provident Living Hints - ideas to save some money as you take care of June fruits.

Click here for a complete copy of the June 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter.

May 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter

 Click here for a complete copy of the May 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter.

May is here at last! A wonderful month filled with flowers (from those April showers), longer days, and growing lawns and gardens. “May-Day” celebrations, which originated in the USA, are today held all over the world, as communities welcome spring, Weaving the May Pole and local festivities are not as prevalent as they used to be. But we are still happy to see May arrive.  In May our yards burst with color, we start to harvest a few garden veggies, and we prepare for the bounty soon to come in summer! This month is a great time to make plans to use the harvest and store your garden and fruit tree produce. Do you have a canner? Ae you ready to try using that pressure cooker? Do you have new canning lids on the shelf? Is your canning jar supply sufficient? Have you stocked up on sugar, canning salt, and vinegar? Now is the time to take inventory and re-supply so you are ready when canning season is here.  As May blooms all around us, let us add to our preparedness efforts as well. We can let our preparedness blossom!

Included in this month's newsletter:

The Right Tools for the Job - Canning Equipment - get ready for canning season with the "tools of the trade." This list can get you started.

Provident Living - Frugal Living Ideas - a list of things to do to help save your hard earned cash!

Disaster Prep - Cool Clear Water - a list of things to remember as you store water for your family.

Spiritual and Temporal Preparedness - a timely quote from Robert D Hales.

In the Southern Utah Garden - plant almost everything if you missed getting your garden going. A few tips are included to help your May gardening tasks.

72-Hour Kit Recipes - Recipes for Emergency Bars (for your kit) candles, and wicks.

Disaster Prep: The 72 Hour (or more) kit - a list of specific supplies to help you build a kit for each member of your family.

Click here for a complete copy of the May 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter.

April 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter

 Click here for a complete copy of the April 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter.

Spring has sprung – and we hope for April showers to bring May flowers! Spring is a time for renewal. We see the world green up, gardens get planted and seeds sprout, and the world feels refreshed as winter fades into the past. April is also a busy month with so many ways to spread our time. The longer days seem to demand a longer list of “to-dos.”  In the midst of the renewal of the world and the box checking of our lists- let us remember to include preparedness. If we make preparedness a way of life- it is a part of our daily planner. The garden produces what we eat. The stocked shelves supply a quick meal on the way to the game. With a bit of deliberate intention, we can “work in” a little more preparedness living!

Included in this month's newsletter:

Myth Busters - Preparedness Style -  a list of "myths" about food storage that offer a better view to help you get your family prepared!

Disaster Prep - Tips to help you be ready -  ideas to add to your preparedness.

Making Preparedness a Way of Life -  basic way to get started and a list of where to start.

In the Southern Utah Garden -  a list of things to plant and chores to do for April.

Family Preparedness Assessment -  a list of questions from the Temporal Preparedness Guide to help us give ourselves a self check.

Using the harvest - "Egg-stra Eggs" - recipe and ideas to use and store your farm fresh eggs!

Spiritual Preparedness - quote from President Thomas S Monson on the importance of our faith and testimony.

Click here for a complete copy of the April 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter.

March 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter

Click here for a complete copy of the March 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter.

This month is all about time! It is time to “march” right into spring! It brings about the semi-annual “time” change. This is the time when, if the month comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb (or vice-versa), and either way we will know, spring has sprung! This is the time of year we will celebrate St Patrick’s Day half way through the month, and at the end - it’s time for Easter. And, it is also a GREAT TIME – for preparedness! This is often the month of case lot sales – so take some time to stock up on supplies. This is the time to get much of your garden planted – so take advantage of a wonderful growing season to save money and provide healthy meals for your family.  A little time invested in planting will reap a great harvest through the summer and into fall, and even into winter with things you freeze or can. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it.” Let us use this months’ TIME – wisely!

Included in this month's newsletter:

Making Preparedness a Way of Life - tips to help you have a "way of life" mindset as you build a supply, include emergency prep, and save money!

Be Prepared...Advice From a Prophet - quotes from Presidents Gordon B Hinckley and Spencer W Kimball to inspire us to be prepared.

Disaster Prep - small tasks you can do today to keep tomorrow safe in case of a disaster.

Spiritual Preparedness -  a thought from LDS Self Reliance Services

In the Southern Utah Garden -  March tasks to get your garden and yard going.

Cooking with Food Storage - A basic bread recipe - and a list of quick dishes that work best/only with homemade bread! Also a flour tortilla recipe for a "different" bread!

A Year of Planting - A chart that divides planting into groups according to weather and soil.  This applies to all planting zones, but included approximate dates for Southern Utah.

Provident Living - Money Saving Challenges -  a list of four things you can do to save some money!

Click here for a complete copy of the March 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter.

February 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter

 Click here for a complete copy of February 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter.

Its February – the month that brings Valentines Day - so love is in the air! A lot of songs have hit the charts encouraging a “little love in your heart.” What a great month to show a little love to the ones who matter most in our lives – our families! A wonderful way to share the love – is to be prepared! As we take some extra time to plan and prepare for our loved ones, we ensure their safety and well-being both now and in a future day. Just like “love” takes time to “bloom” – so it is with our preparedness. Truly, love is spelled T-I-M-E! This is a great month to show your love, and take the time to continue (or begin) on your preparedness journey. No one knows how to meet your family’s needs better than you do. Do not rely on the good graces of your neighbor, church, or government. The physical care of the saints is an impossible task for the church should a large-scale calamity strike. The responsibility to care for your own is yours. So “step up to the plate” – and show the love!

Included in this month's newsletter:

Food and Disaster Preparedness Planning - a list of things to plan for both food and disaster.

Incentive - Why Should I Be Prepared? quotes to inspire and give you incentive to prepare.

In the Southern Utah Garden - tips for the February garden.

Cooling with Food Storage - recipes for homemade noodles and 3 kinds of pudding using ingredients you store on the shelf.

Making Preparedness a Way of Life - the steps to make to never run out of anything!

Provident Living - 2024 Challenges - challenges to take on this year to help you save some money and be more self-sufficient.

Spiritual Preparedness -  a quote from President Henry  Eyring on the importance of Spiritual Prep.

Click here for a complete copy of February 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter.

January 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter

 

Click here for a complete copy of the January 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter.

“Out with the old, and in with the new!” It is surprising how one day can usher in such big changes and goals for an entire upcoming year. It presents a wonderful opportunity to jump on the bandwagon as we say goodbye to “Old Man Time” and hello to “Baby New Year.” The cold days and long nights of winter, provide just the right setting for retrospection and planning! It is the perfect time to take inventory and make plans for our preparedness! How will you improve your food storage to keep your family healthy and happy? What can you add to emergency supplies to make your family more comfortable in hard times? What have you been meaning to get around to, but the time slips away? This is YOUR time. January is a gift of time to make the changes necessary to bring ourselves and families “Back to the Basics” of Provident Living and responsibility with the resources we are blessed with. “This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it” (Ralph Waldo Emerson.) Let’s use our time to Be Prepared! Truly, if we are prepared, there will be no need to fear!

Included in this month's newsletter:

New Year - Old Lists! A list of amounts needed per person for a one year supply and ideas to include for your three month supply.

Wintering Chickens - Live Storage - Ideas for keeping your flock healthy and laying this winter.

Spiritual Preparedness - Two quotes on the oil of spiritual preparedness, and on being ready for the Lords protection in the last days.

In the Southern Utah Garden - Winter chores as you Prune, Prevent, Plan, Plant and Prepare.

Cooking with Food Storage - Recipes for five different winter soups using items from a food storage.

Disaster Prep - Ideas to add a tub of camping items to your 72 hour kit - to be ready to grab in a disaster, or take camping.

Provident Living - Money Saving Tips - Make your own cleaners and save money with these recipes.

Click here for a complete copy of the January 2024 Back to Basics Newsletter.

December 2023 Back to Basics Newsletter

 

Click here for a complete copy of the December 2023 Back to Basics Newsletter.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! It truly is “The most wonderful time of year!” There’s always a greater spirit of kindness and giving in December, that we all wish would carry on throughout the upcoming year. We have been asked to share the Light of Christ at this special time of year. What a wonderful opportunity this gives to us to bless our fellowmen. A part of that service opportunity and sharing the light is also needful among our own family members. We can help our immediate and extended families in their preparedness efforts. The Christmas season is also a wonderful time to strengthen our spiritual preparedness. Jesus Christ is the “reason for the season”, and all temporal and spiritual preparedness are ultimately acquired so we will be ready to welcome Him in a coming day, when He Comes Again! Let us use our Christmas celebrations as a time to be prepared for such a day! If we are prepared we shall not fear! Let this year’s best “presents,” be our seeking to be in His “presence!”

Included in this month's newsletter: 

A Preparedness Christmas - a list of preparedness gift ideas for your family and friends.

Disaster Prep - Where were you when the lights went out? - ideas for short and long term preparedness for power outages.

Disaster Prep - Solar Cooking - an inexpensive way to have a solar cooker.

In the Southern Utah Garden - garden tips for December.

Cooking With Food Storage - Christmas Goodies - recipes for Pecan Brittle, Easy Caramel Corn, and Rolled Sugar Cookies (all with ingredients you can store) and a link to other Christmas goodies from a past newsletter.

Spiritual Preparedness - two quotes on our spiritual preparedness needs.

Emergency Prep - Heat in a Can - "how to" instructions to make a can for a small amount of heat and to cook on in emergencies.

Home Storage Order Form - a list of items from Home Storage Centers with prices for 2023, and a link to find a center across the United States and Canada.

 Click here for a complete copy of the December 2023 Back to Basics Newsletter.