March 2012 Newsletter

Spring is here - things are greening up and blossoms are beginning to pop!  The time for preparation for harvest is now! There will be no peas, carrots, green beans, tomatoes or any other vegetable in the summer and fall if we do not prepare and plant today. There will be no fruit, or a poor harvest, if fruit trees aren’t cared for. Just like our fall harvest depends on spring preparation, so does long term “harvest” of a home storage begin with the preparation we do today. As we add to our family’s preparedness, remember the “Six P’s”: “Proper Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance”.  Let us all plant those “P’s”!!

Included in this month's newsletter:

     Fuel Storage: How will I keep warm and cook?

     Disaster Prep: Earthquake and the bedroom

     Spiritual Preparedness: a preparation that cannot be bought, borrowed or stored well.

     In the Southern Utah Garden: March planting, and tips for the month.

     March Challenge: Avoiding appetite fatigue.

     Basic one year food storage: a list to remind us of amounts to store.

     Hot Tip: Utilizing the Home Storage Center and a list of what is available.

     Cooking with Food Storage: Using wheat in many dishes.

     Provident Living: Croutons!

     A Voice from the Past: Bruce R McKonkie.

Click here to download a complete March 2012 Back To Basics Newsletter.

February 2012 Newsletter

We may not know exactly why or when we will need a food storage or emergency supplies, but we should remember that “when the time for performance arrives, the time for preparation is past!”  Some may think being prepared is for a big disaster or the “end of the world”.  But “Being Prepared” should just be a way of life. People seem to go in spurts of “preparedness”. The Y2K scare spurred many into action - but that was 12 years ago!  The fall of the twin towers gave another boost to preparedness. When a war begins, new interest surges.  And always when news of a hurricane is spread, stores in those areas empty their shelves. Hopefully we will “Be Prepared” with our food storage and a 72 hour kit not because of a pending disaster, but because a prophet of God has told us to do so.  And because it just makes good sense!  Hopefully you have a good start on your storage – now keep in mind that it is easier to keep up, than to catch up! Let’s not wait for a surprise disaster to make us wish we were ready to care for ourselves and our families.

   Included in this month's newsletter:

      Inventory: part of a good home storage is your inventory system

      Provident Living: Five Principles of Economic Constancy

      Hot Tip:  buying trees and shrubs in bulk from seed catalogs and online

      In the Southern Utah Garden: prep and planting tips; pruning hints

      Cooking with food storage: old beans, burritos, Easy Cheesecake, Danish Dessert

     Spiritual Preparedness: Commitment to Christ

 Click here to download a complete February 2012 Back to Basics Newsletter

January 2012 Newsletter

               Welcome to 2012! With this new year comes a myriad of 2012 doomsday predictions which have ignited songs with lyrics such as: “we’re gonna party like its 2012…like it’s the end of the world”, or plain old fear inducing theories that abound on the media, and references to the Mayan Calendar ending. However, we know that life goes on and we can only do our best, which should include following the counsel to “Be Prepared”. We are so blessed to have a living prophet to “guide us in these Latter Days.” We have been given the tools we need to be happy and to not fear.  “The Lord has told us to prepare ourselves individually in our homes; to see to it that we have reserves of food and clothing; and it wouldn’t hurt to have some reserves of cash on hand. One has said: ‘Where preparations are being made there will be little difficulty, but where no preparation has been made, suffering and difficulties will come.’ ” (Welfare Conf. April 1970) We have seen the different consequences splashed across the evening news from all over the world as disasters have been met with varying degrees of preparedness. Whatever the 2012 year holds in store for us, if we follow the admonition “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear”, we will be okay! We can do as Elder Joseph B. Worthlin advises us: “Come what may, and love it.” So bring on the new 2012 year, and let’s use the time wisely as we practice provident living and “Be Prepared”.

Included in this month's newsletter:

     A Place For Everything and Everything in its place: storage "how and where" guidelines and creative ideas.

     Disaster Prep: fire extinguishers.

     Hot Tip: Farmers Almanac.

     In the Garden: January "to do list".

     Spiritual Preparedness: monthly thought or quote.

     Provident Living: uses for old pantyhose.

     Food Storage recipes: Easy Kid Peanut Butter Cookies; Parched Wheat.

     Basic Food Storage: a list of amounts for different ages and gender.

Click Here to download a complete January 2012 Back to Basics Newsletter.

December 2011 Newsletter

 It has been one year since the “Back to Basics” newsletters began. We have had one year of ideas and suggestions to hopefully help us all become more prepared. How is your family’s personal preparedness status coming along? Have you found any ideas you meant to try, or items you planned to purchase that you just never did. Maybe at this Christmas time a gift we can give to ourselves (and to the lord as we “Follow the Prophet”) is to really get ourselves prepared! Use food storage as a gift to others also! May we have a peaceful holiday season this Christmas time as we celebrate the birth of Christ. And may some of the peace come from knowing each of us is a little more prepared.

Included in this month's newsletter:
       Containers: buckets, cans, mylar bags, other
       Disaster Prep: bedding for cold weather
       In The Garden: take a break, garden books, seed catalogs
       Christmas Gifts: a Preparedness Christmas
       Hot Tip: hot cocoa
       Cooking With Food Storage: Ground Beef Jerky, Grandma's Molasses Candy
       Provident Living: seasonal cost cutters




Click here to download a complete December 2011 Back To Basics Newsletter.

November 2011 Newsletter

 November brings with it the Thanksgiving season.  What a wonderful time to reflect on the many things we have to be thankful for. Remember to also be thankful for your preparedness!  Being able to stock our shelves and prepare for the coming year gives us much to be grateful for.  What a feeling of peace to know you have followed the prophet to “Be Prepared”, but also to know that your family will be taken care of in times of trouble.  If you are not as prepared as you want to be, do not give up.  Keep adding a little here and there. Remember, “Rome wasn’t built in a day” either.  Just like the gospel, our preparedness is established “line upon line, precept on precept.” Be thankful for what we do have!  As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “This time, like all times, is a very good one if we but know what to do with it.”

Included in this month's newsletter:

     Rotation Rotation Rotation

     Disaster Prep: gas tanks, propane, money, baby diapers

     Hot tip: Spiff-e-whip

     In the Garden: clean garden, leaves, winter water, seed catalogs

     Cooking with food storage: flour tortillas, fruit cake

     November Challenge: Thanksgiving storage

     Thoughts on Being Prepared: four incentive quotes

Click here to download a complete November 2011 Back to Basics Newsletter.
(Note: After the google docs comes up you can download an original by clicking on a "download original" box in the top right of the screen. This may help when printing a copy to share with your ward.) 

How to Download

For those who are downloading this to print for use in their wards, this will hopefully help.  There has been some question as to the process to get the same document I use to print for my own ward.  Here is how: if you click on the link (click where it says "click here") it will take you to google docs.  To get the original document you must then click on the download link.  This should be on the top right hand side of your screen. When you click "download" it will download to your computer the same document I have on my computer. (Sometimes when you click the download link, you may still have to tell your computer to download it.  A message in the lower left of the screen will appear and you can click it to open.) When the document is downloaded and pulled up you can print it.  If you have trouble printing, you may need to click "enable editing" at the top of the page. (But you should be able to just print)  SO basically - in order to get the printable document I have on my computer, you have to go one more step after getting the google docs.  Good luck.  I hope this is not as "clear as mud".  But if it is and you have any trouble, PLEASE ask questions and I'll try to help!
Happy Downloading!

October 2011 Newsletter

The fall is here!  What a wonderful time of year. The cooler nights and mild days slow the garden and yard work, and a change of pace comes with the changing of the leaves. The holidays are just around the corner and plans are in the making for family celebrations.  It is also a good time to take stock of where you are with your personal and family preparedness.  Have you “harvested” a good amount of storage?  Are things taking shape with your basic and emergency plans?  Is the Lord pleased with our efforts to follow the prophet and “Be Prepared?”

                 Included in this month’s newsletter:

Expanded Storage: adding to nutritional needs and variety.

H2O: storing water - amounts, container, tips

In The Garden: fall garden, harvesting green tomatoes

Disaster Prep: Inventory sheet for family resources.

Quotable Quote: L. Tom Perry on preparing for the future.

Provident Living: mismatched socks and casseroles.

Don't forget... rotating 72 hour kits, check smoke detectors.

Click here to download a complete October 2011 Back To Basics Newsletter

September 2011 Newsletter

September is here!  Time for back to school, apples, the last days of garden harvest, and many opportunities to add to your food storage!  The summer has provided us with a bounty of produce from our gardens and orchards.  Hopefully we have all found something to do to help us be more prepared.  September is a great month to finish up some bottling: apples, corn, tomatoes, beans, etc.  
Don’t miss the last of the harvest time!

Included in this month's newsletter:

     Legumes: beans, nuts, peanut butter

     Hot Tips: purchasing chili powder, beans and dried onions

     Provident Living: making your own baby wipes

     September Challenge: Taking inventory

     Disaster Prep: "What If" night

     Modern Root Cellar: window wells

     In The Garden

     Home Canning: Corn, Swiss Chard, Prickly Pears, Canner Tips       

Click here to download a complete September 2011 Back To Basics Newsletter

Click here to download an "Emergency Response to Disasters" booklet.

August 2011 Newsletter

The refreshing rains and warm sunny days of summer have prodded the plants in the garden to bloom and grow.  Let’s be sure to put up some of that produce for a winter day.  The best way to taste summer in the cold of winter is to open a bottle of home grown and canned produce!  We show gratitude to the Lord when we make the best possible use of what He gives to us, and that includes our gardens. If you have extra, you can always share with a neighbor or someone who did not get a garden in.  President Brigham Young suggested we should be grateful for wheat, corn, and vegetables rather than gold and silver. Summer canning and freezing is a great way to further our preparedness.

Included in this month's newsletter:

     Slick Facts about Fats and Oil

     Provident Living (brown sugar and cheese)

     Hot Tip: Everlasting Yeast

     Quotable Quote: James E Faust

     In the Garden: fall planting, misc garden care, storing seeds

     Home Canning: Tomato Soup, Easy Spaghetti Sauce

     Disaster Prep:winter heat

     Challenge: taking inventory

Click Here to download a complete August 2011 Back to Basics Newsletter


**NOTE: for a first hand experience and advice on using the Everlasting Yeast check out foodforahungrysoul.blogspot.com . Katy used it and made some great bread!

Laundry Soap

Someone was looking for the laundry soap recipe in the past newsletters....but it is not there yet!  So until I include it in a monthly newsletter - here is the recipe:

Homemade Laundry Detergent

1/3 bar Fels Naptha soap, grated

1/2 c. Washing Soda (NOT baking soda)

1/2 c. Borax

3 pints water

1 small bottle favorite liquid laundry detergent (optional)

Combine all of the above ingredients in a pan and heat until Fels Naptha is dissolved, or consistency is like melted honey.  In a 5 gallon bucket add a quart of hot water and then pour in the soap mixture.  Add 5 quarts and 1 pint of hot water.  This is where you can add your favorite liquid laundry detergent for a good smelling laundry detergent.  Mix and let sit for 24 hours.  Use 1/2 c per wash load. Yields 64 washer loads or more at a little over 1 cent a load for the recipe without the optional addition.  Note: This will boil over easily so keep heat low and stir often. You can also use a little less water for a stronger detergent. Store in an old laundry soap container, or purchase a container with an easy pour top.

Making Copies

I have had people inquire if they can make copies for their wards or group.  The answer is yes - for non-profit only. (It is Copyrighted.)  This way those who have been passing it out in their wards can continue.  If there are problems downloading and printing let me know.  Since this is new (or more likely since I am new at this) there may be things I have to work on.  Good luck to all of you as we help each other "Be Prepared".

July 2011 Newsletter

The summer “heat” it on! Is your preparedness also “on” schedule?  This month we celebrate our freedom, and one of the freedoms we have is the freedom to be prepared!  In some countries it is illegal to store food – it is called “hoarding”.  Part of our responsibility to our fellow members of the church is to “Be Prepared” so that we can care for ourselves, allowing church resources to go to those who are unable to do so. This IS a choice land, and we ARE a blessed people.  May we show the Lord our appreciation by doing as he has told us through his living prophets. Let us renew our efforts to “Be Prepared.” As we are obedient to the counsel given us, we will be blessed in numerous ways.

Included in this month's newsletter:

     Salt of the Earth

     In The Garden

     Quotable Quote

     July Challenge

     Provident Living Hints

     Disaster Prep: Outdoor Cooking

     Recipes to bottle: Pickled Beets, Zucchini Relish and Zucchini Bread and Butter Pickles

Click Here to download a complete July 2011 Back to Basics Newsletter