September 2018

Click here for a complete copy of September's Back to Basic Newsletter.

“School days, school days, dear old golden rule days…” These lyrics to an old time school song turn our thoughts to learning as the new school year begins for most American schools. It is a time to learn! Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us “To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” This month as we take that time  to learn, let us add in learning more about preparedness and self-reliance. Pres. Thomas S Monson taught us “When the time for performance arrives, the time for preparation is past.” This time of year is a wonderful time to store away more of the harvest, purchase items at case lot sales, add to our emergency kit, and take one more step to making preparedness a way of life. Let us not waste a moment in time, but let us be prepared. Then when the storms of life arrive – and they will -  we can do as Elder Joseph B Wirthlin said – and “Come what may and love it.”

Included in this months newsletter:
What do I Really need? Ideas of how to custom fit your food storage to your family.
Power Outage Prep - Keeping Your Cool! Ideas to stay cool when it is hot outside and the power inside is off.
Provident Living - a few tips to help you save some pennies.
Spiritual Preparedness and Self-Reliance - great quotes by Bishop Gerald Causse and Pres Russell M Nelson
In the Southern Utah Garden - List of items to plant this month, tips for planting onions, leaving items in the garden, fertilizing, weed killer, and planting trees and bulbs.
Cooking with food storage - Back to School Treats for the kids: recipes for Easy for Kids Peanut Butter Cookies, Quickies (no bake drop or bar cookie) and Graham Cracker Sandwich Cookie.
A Place for Everything and Everything in its Place -Tips for finding a place to have your food storage.
Turn your car into a SURVIVAL KIT - We spend so much time in our cars - so here is a list of items and where to store them in our car to make your car a moving survival kit.


Click here for a complete copy of September's Back to Basic Newsletter.

August 2018 Back to Basics Newsletter

Click here for a complete copy of August 2018 Back to Basics Newsletter.

August is the month that summer is in full swing, and suddenly school starts - those wonderful summer activities are cut short, and summer begins to wind down. The heat is still here, the rivers are running low, and if we are lucky a few tropical thunderstorms are still in the forecast. The gardens have slowed and the weeds have flourished. But if we plug along there are still good things to harvest and warm nights to star gaze. So it is with our preparedness. There are times we are in full swing actively pursuing a better “preparedness status.” But the momentum may slow due to low funds or receding energy. The goal is to still keep moving. Being prepared is an ongoing endeavor. No one is ever finished. It becomes a way of life. However, the full storage shelves and barrels of water certainly give us a greater feeling of peace and satisfaction on those warm nights of star gazing. As August prepares us to bid another summer goodbye, let us be sure our prize is in sight, and our efforts are fruitful. Just like in Aesop’s Fable “The Rabbit and the Hare” - slow and steady truly will win the race.

Included in this months newsletter:
Back to School - ideas for things you can do as the kids head back to school that will help with being prepared for any emergency.
Spiritual Preparedness - start early and be steady. Quote from Henry B Eyring on spiritual preparedness.
In the Southern Utah Garden - tips for spraying, weeding, scarab beetles, and squash bugs, lawn grubs and fungus and things to plant.
Using the Harvest - recipes for Pickled Hot Peppers and Prickly Pear Jelly.
Cooking with Food Storage - in the good old summertime!  Recipes for apricot slush, fruit popsicles, frozen fruit and frozen grape salad.
Making Habits to Stay Prepared - a list of 25 things you can make a habit that will keep you prepared!

Click here for a complete copy of August 2018 Back to Basics Newsletter.

July 2018 Back to Basics Newsletter

Click here for a complete copy of the July 2018 Back to Basics Newsletter. 

This month we celebrate our freedom. Freedom is a gift from God. In 1776 when this new nation declared its independence – there were no other nations with true freedom! This “land of the free and home of the brave” is a nation truly established as God’s Promised Land. It is a land, “choice above all other lands” that we are blessed to call our home. This freedom is promised to be ours as we are righteous and serve God. This freedom that we cherish gives us many privileges. One of those is the freedom - and privilege - to Be Prepared! Some nations today do not allow this; they call storing food “hoarding” and it is against their law!  We have the freedom to show God the gratitude for our freedom by following his commandments as we cherish this free land. May we use this month to be grateful for the many freedoms we enjoy, and make sure we use our freedom wisely as we prepare “every needful thing.” Our freedom will allow us to keep home and family safe and sound – come what may!

Included in this month's newsletter:
Waste Not Want Not - Provident Living:  Cutting waste is a way we can be prepared! America wastes 40% or 133 billion pounds of food produced in the USA every year. Tips follow to avoid wasting food!
Disaster Prep - Be Ready for the Big One!  Ideas of ways you can help your family be ready for an earthquake.
Quotes from Bishop Keith McMullin and Elder Vaughn J Featherstone.
In the Southern Utah Garden:  tips for your July garden - planting, weeding, watering and spraying for insects.
To can or not to can - that is the question!  Eight reasons that canning your own produce is a good ideas!
If you are ever in a jam.... Summertime Canning! Recipes for 5 kinds of jam: Prickly Pear, Mock Raspberry, Green tomato or zuchinni, Peach Pit Jelly,  and Peach Jam.



Click here for a complete copy of the July 2018 Back to Basics Newsletter. 

June 2018 Back to Basics Newsletter

Click here for a complete copy of the June 2018 Back to Basics Newsletter.

June has arrived and with it all the things we love about summer! There is lush green grass to lie on and watch the clouds go by, or to sleep on under a bright starry night. There are trips to the pool or lake, cookouts, and cool evenings. There are fresh tomatoes, summer jobs, and summer vacations. School is out, and a different kind of learning takes place. Why not make this summer a summer of learning for all of the family? Learn more about preparedness, skills to help you be more prepared, and have fun in the process! “Summertime and the livin’ is easy” (below) gives ideas to add to your preparedness and have fun while you are at it. Preparedness is truly a way of life, not a destination we arrive at. Preparedness is provident living. We take care of our families and are as self-sufficient as we can be. And then, in turn, we are more prepared to serve others, and make their “summertime livin’” easy too!

Included in this months issue:
Summertime and the (Preparedness) Livin' is Easy!  Ideas for fun summertime activities to involve the family in adding to your preparedness and to strengthen families.
The Three Month Supply - Where to Begin:  A list of items to include as you follow the admonition of the prophet to start with a three month supply for your storage program.
In the Southern Utah Garden:  tasks for June - weeds, picking produce, items to plant, thinning fruit and pruning shrubs, spraying fruit trees, stake tomatoes, and controlling squash bugs and grape insects.
Hot Tips and June Challenges: sales on sugar, using clear jel, canners on sale, things to do with apricots, and taking inventory.
Food Storage from the garden: Using Zucchini  recipes to dry or freeze Zucchini, and canning Pineapple Zucchini or Zucchini Pickle Relish, and making fried, baked or Italian Zucchini.
Thoughts on Preparedness:  quotes from Ezra Taft Benson and George Q Cannon on the importance of being prepared.

Click here for a complete copy of the June 2018 Back to Basics Newsletter.

May 2018 Back to Basics Newsletter

Click here for a complete copy of the May 2018 back to Basics Newsletter.

The “Merry Month of May” has been referred to in songs, poetry, and movies as a time to celebrate. May Day was once a holiday celebrating the coming of spring and included singing, dancing and braiding the May Pole! (Lots of fun! So sad we do not do this anymore.) It implies a happy and care-free time. This “merry” month of May is also a great time to be happy and at peace in our homes as a result of our preparedness. As the world grows more topsy-turvy, having a stable home storage and preparedness plan can give us the same “merry” feelings as portrayed in the poems and songs. However, the feeling of satisfaction that comes with being prepared is one that brings a peace and staying power that a fun filled song and dance cannot. Let us make this May as merry as we can – let us Be Prepared.

Included in this month's newsletter:
First Aid Preparedness: Beef up the 1st aid kit:  First aid preparedness is more than having a first aid kit. This included ideas to help feed up a basic kid. It includes info on vaccinations, splints (moldable, and traction) fracture fork, knowledge, scissors, cold pack, compression sleeve/brace, wound seal.
Spiritual Preparedness: A quote from President Russell M Nelson on what we need to help us survive the last days!
Preparedness: A Family Affair! To have a successful preparedness or provident living plan - involve the family!
In the Southern Utah Garden:  Tips for May - things to plant, weeds, mulch and spraying trees.
Disaster! Where has all the Power Gone?  If the electricity were to go out long term, what are your plans? It would only take a few days to fall into a 3rd world status! This includes a list of things to consider to be prepared for long term power outage.
Food Storage - fresh this month! Ideas to use this month for food storage: strawberries, new potatoes and peas, asparagus, beets, lettuce, radishes and spinach, and dandelions!

Click here for a complete copy of the May 2018 Back to Basics Newsletter.

April 2018 Back to Basics Newsletter

Click here for a complete copy of April 2018 Back to Basics Newsletter.

April is the month we know that spring has arrived! The world turns green, trees blossom, and tulips brighten up the flower beds. April brings the hope of a harvest yet to come as seeds are planted and young plants grow. We look for the flowers that the April showers will bring! So it is with our preparedness. As we add another level of preparedness, or maintain the things we have done – hope grows with it. There is hope that we have done things necessary to take care of our families in times of trials or disasters. We make that hope sure by being prepared for WHEN (not IF) we find ourselves in need of extra food, water or emergency supplies. Remember, it was not raining when Noah built the ark either! Let us “Be Prepared” for whatever storm may come our way.

Included in this month's newsletter:
Quenching Thirst in a Disaster: Life Sustaining Water!  a list of things to do to ensure safe drinking water. Includes two ways to purify water that are used in 3rd world countries.
Cooking with Food Storage: Making Casseroles. a list of items to choose from to build your own casseroles using ingredients from the storage shelves, and freezer.
In the Southern Utah Garden a list of things to do for April.
An Encouraging Word...to Be Prepared! Quotes from different people stressing the need to be prepared!

Click here for a complete copy of April 2018 Back to Basics Newsletter.

March 2018 Back to Basics Newsletter

Click here for a complete copy of the March 2018 Back to Basics Newsletter.

March is that month we are never really quite sure what season it is! It may come in like a lion and out like a lamb – or vica-versa - but the month is filled with all kinds of weather. We just have to be prepared for whatever we wake up to! So it is with our temporal and spiritual preparedness. We just never know when we will need to draw upon our reserves, but we need to be ready for whatever, whenever.  May we all use this month to “March” our preparedness right along, and be ready for the lions and the lambs of life!

Included in this month's newsletter:

Spring Cleaning - Preparedness Style!  A list of things to check or clean up that will aid us in our emergency preparedness.
Using Plants Around Us: A list of plants that can be used for health remedies in case times arrive that medical care is not readily available.
In the Southern Utah Garden: Yard spring cleaning, seeds to plant, and tips for yard and garden tasks for the month of March.
Cooking with Food Storage - What's for Breakfast?  Recipes for Breakfast Peach Crisp, Breakfast Cake, and Basic Pancakes with optional ingredients to add.
Spring Cleaning Recipes A list and recipes of homemade cleaners and tips.
Spiritual Preparedness: A quote by Bishop W Christopher Waddell reminding us of preparedness we can learn from Moroni.

Click here for a complete copy of the March 2018 Back to Basics Newsletter.

February 2018 Back to Basics Newsletter

Click here for a complete copy of February 2018 Back to Basics Newsletter.

February is known as the “month of love.” It is a time to make a valentine, give a flower or some chocolates, or have a special dinner. This month of love is also a wonderful time to show love to our family by making sure we are prepared for whatever storms may lie ahead! That expression of love will give us the peace that self-reliance and provident living bring. No matter what storms may blow, be they literal or figurative, knowing we have food and emergency supplies, extra water, and a plan for such events, will give us a great sense of satisfaction. We will find a feeling of strength, happiness, unity, and courage. And in the end, isn’t’ that just what love is?

Let us love our family – and Be Prepared.

Included in this newsletter:

A Matter of Life and Death: The 72 hour+ kit. Tips and a list to include in your kit.

Provident Living:  Ideas to be frugal - using container, old nylons, baking soda and vinegar, egg cartons and wood ashes.

In the Southern Utah Garden: Fertilize, Prune, Spray, Plant, and Planting Pointers.

Cooking with food storage - Using Powdered Milk - basic recipes for your powdered milk.

Self Reliance - Council from our Prophets - Quotes from a talk by L Tom Perry.

Extra Gardening - a Year Round harvest. Cute thoughts of "veggies" to plant.

Click here for a complete copy of February 2018 Back to Basics Newsletter.

January 2018 Back to Basics Newsletter

Click here for a complete copy of the January 2018 Back to Basics Newsletter.

“Happy New Year” greetings ring out as another change in years begins.  It is a time full of starting over with many “new” things: a new calendar, a new semester at school, or new bulbs peeking through the garden soil. Even the starkness of the winter landscape seems to be a palate ready for new color and new growth. This winter month is a clean slate from nature ready for the renewal of spring. This New Year, a new beginning in so many ways, also offers a clean slate for preparedness.  As you make those “new year resolutions” for the upcoming year, make new your resolve to polish up the level of preparedness you achieve for your family.  Only you can provide for your family “every needful thing”.  The best way to weather hard times, a disaster, an economy slump, or whatever life sends our way, is to Be Prepared. The color we add to that preparedness palette is entirely up to us! What will you do with the clean slate that has been given to you? Let’s use this new beginning of the year to make a new beginning for our family’s preparedness.  “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.”

Included in this month's newsletter:
Let's start at the very beginning - The Basics: a list of the basic storage items to include in your food storage. Begin with a 3 month supply and then add long term storage items.
Food Storage Fluff: The Expanded Storage - Expanded storage adds variety, flavor and nutrition to a basic storage. This list gives ideas of what you can store.
Tips to Build a year supply - Ideas to help you build your storage.
In the Southern Utah Garden - winter chores: Prune, Prevent, Plant, and Prepare!
Pruning tips - helpful hints to help you prune your trees while they are dormant. Includes a sketch to help decipher what to cut!
Cooking with Food storage - Basic Wheat Recipes - Wheat Thins, Wheat Cereal, Wheat Treats, and Honey Wheat.

Click here for a complete copy of the January 2018 Back to Basics Newsletter.

December 2017 Back to Basics Newsletter

Click here for a complete copy of Dec 2017 Back to Basics Newsletter.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! It is a time of gift giving, service rendering, Santa secrets and more. The hustle and bustle of the season is contagious and wonderful. But it can become less than what we hoped for. “Who among us has not felt concern over the commercialization and even greed of the Christmas season? Who hasn’t felt overwhelmed by the packed calendars, the stress of finding gifts, the pressure of planning meals and events?” (Dieter F Uchtdorf) If we will  focus on the Savior – and follow the prophet with Provident Living – we will minimize stress, “see the purity of the story of the Saviors birth and feel sincere gratitude for His life, teachings, and saving sacrifice for us” (Uchtdorf). As we focus on being prepared, we focus on Christ-like living and keeping Christmas in the best way possible. Merry Christmas!

Included in this month's newsletter:

A Preparedness Christmas - a list of categories and items under them to give as Christmas Gifts - and help someone be more prepared.

Disaster Prep - Make a Plan - a list of things to help your family make a plan for any disaster.

In the Southern Utah Garden - not a lot of gardening going on this month, but there are still things to do!

Christmas Cooking with Food Storage - recipes for Christmas goodies from items stored in your food storage! Easy Caramel Corn, Hot Cocoa Mix, Russian Wassail, Pecan Brittle, Christmas Bran Muffins, Tootsie Rolls, Grandma's Molasses Candy.

Christmas Provident Living - things you can include in your Christmas celebration to help save money.

Spiritual Preparedness - #LightTheWorld. Info to join in the 25 days, 25 ways to light the world.

The Grinch - a thought to keep us on track!

Click here for a complete copy of Dec 2017 Back to Basics Newsletter.

November 2017 Back to Basics Newsletter

Click here for a complete copy of the November 2017 Back to Basics Newsletter.

November is the month of gratitude – a time we focus on all we have to be grateful for. It is also a time to note how well we are showing the Lord our gratitude.  The way we keep our stewardship and use what we are given shows the Lord our gratitude. We have been blessed with an abundance of food available to us.  Do we follow the prophet and store some up for the storms that lie ahead?  President Spencer W. Kimball said :“We encourage families to have on hand this year’s supply; and we say it over and over and over and repeat over and over the scripture of the Lord where He says, ’Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?’  How empty it is as they put their spirituality, so called, into action and call him by his important names, but fail to do the things which he says”. The old adage “Waste Not Want Not” holds true today.  In April 1942 the first presidency counseled: “The utmost care should be taken to see that foodstuffs so produced and preserved by the householder, do not spoil, for that would be waste, and the Lord looks with disfavor upon waste.  He has blessed His people with abundant crops...The Lord is doing His part; He expects us to do ours.”  Let us be sure to get a year’s supply, rotate our food storage, and follow the saying  “Store what you eat, and eat what you store”. At this Thanksgiving time of year let us live with an attitude of gratitude in all we say and do!

Included in this month's newsletter:

A Preparedness Thanksgiving - items from your shelves for the big turkey day!

Spiritual Preparedness - Follow the Prophet: a quote from Pres Hinckley.

Earthquake! Little tips for Big Prep - tips for before the "big one" hits!

In the Southern Utah Garden - tips for how to feed your soil in the fall.

Cooking with Food Storage - Thanksgiving Recipes from your storage shelves - recipes for No Fail Pie Crust, Mom's Cheese Cake, Graham Cracker Pie Crust, Pie Strudel Topping, Dixie Salad, Waldorf Salad, Grandma Ballard's Thanksgiving Relish.

Cold Hard Cash - How to Get and Keep it! Ideas to help you manage your money.

Custom Fit your Food Storage - a tip on planning for foods YOUR family will eat!

Click here for a complete copy of the November 2017 Back to Basics Newsletter.

October 2017 Back to Basics Newsletter

Click here for a complete copy of the October 2017 Back to Basics newsletter.

We have long been counseled to “Be Prepared”, and given lists for 72 hour kits, food storage items, and emergency preparedness events. Many have gone forth with faith and obedience to strive to be ready for whatever may come. But now – more than ever, as Mother Nature has shown forth her fury, and disasters have rolled out across the entire world, the great need for all of the preparedness we can muster has been seen first-hand! If someone did not see the importance of preparedness before, hopefully they will now! These disasters have sent many to re-assess the state of their family’s preparedness. As we each take stock of where we stand, remember that it is better to have something rather than nothing, and that preparedness is always ongoing, not a one-time event. With the recent disasters of the world in mind, may we consider what we have to aid our family at home, and what we can learn from the experience of others. This is a harvest season – so let us be sure the fruits of our labors in being prepared will keep our family safe and sound – come what may! As this season comes – may we each say “all is safely gathered in!”

Included in this month's newsletter:

Real Life Disaster Learning: Read comments and lists of things people made that recently experienced a disaster. Learn from their experience!

Spiritual Preparedness: Henry B Eyring tells us the most important thing to do to prepare.

In the Southern Utah Garden: tips for the month of October from killing the weeds to storing green tomatoes.

Cooking with Food Storage and Provident Living: What to do with the pumpkins when Halloween is over, and recipes for Halloween Makeup.

Prepared for Life: Things we do to teach our families to live life - will help us also Be Prepared for whatever comes our way!

Home Remedies: some tried and true home remedies to help avoid a trip to the doctor, or be more comfortable until you can get to one.

Click here for a complete copy of the October 2017 Back to Basics newsletter.