HELPFUL TIPS

QUESTIONS?

Do you have a lot of questions like:

* Where do I start to better prepare my family?
* What do I store?
* How do I track what I have in storage?
* What else do I need besides food?
* Where do I store everything?
* Etc...

Then this is the page for you!

I hope to answer questions that come through e-mail, or questions that are asked when we meet, and post answers on this page. I will also provide you with helpful tips along the way! Being prepared doesn't "have" to be a burden and can actually be very comforting! ☺

ARE IDEAS HOLDING YOU BACK FROM STARTING?

Are there things you have heard or do you have ideas about food storage that are preventing you from starting your preparedness plan with your family? This is a "Food Storage Lies- Debunked" document created by foodstoragemadeeasy.net to help answer some of those questions in your mind. For instance, Food Storage is for people with large homes or storage areas. NOT SO! Go here to read the 7 food storage lies that may be preventing you from starting.

START YOUR FOOD STORAGE FOR $10 PER WEEK?!

This is a great article written by Alan T. Hagan! He gives some great ideas on how do I begin my food storage program for my family. You can start by asking:

* Preparing for what? He says, "Before buying anything you should sit down at the kitchen table with paper and pencil because you have some decision making to do. Ideally, everyone who’ll be depending on the food storage should be at the table as well, but the person who will be responsible for the program can do it alone, if necessary. Your first decision to make is 'what are you storing for?' What situations and circumstance do you think might occur which would cause you to need your food stores and prevent you from easily being able to get more? Make a list of everything that occurs to you which you think has some significant probability of happening."

* How do I pay for it? He says, "Right off the bat, I want to say where you should not get the money to pay for your food storage and that is by running up debt. This means that you should not put your food purchases on credit cards. The money lost to credit card interest rates is self-defeating in the long run and will just get you further into a problem rather than getting you out of it. If you are the type who can and does pay off their credit card purchases every month when the bill comes due, then using one might be a real convenience; otherwise it’s a temptation to be avoided. If you can afford to spare as little as ten dollars a week then you can make a solid beginning in putting food away for the time of need."

* What can I buy each week for $10? Then Alan goes into examples of what you can purchase each week with a $10 budget.

Go here for the complete article from Alan T. Hagan.

NEW TO PREPAREDNESS?

For those who are new to preparedness the following articles provide some additional food for thought on how to get started as well as what areas your family might need to improve upon (being prepared isn't just about food storage!).

FOOD STORAGE AMOUNTS- 1 PERSON FOR A YEAR

* These are the amounts of food and water our prophets have counseled us to store: go here.

WHAT ELSE DO I NEED?

As you expand your preparedness plan, you will no doubt determine that there are things that maybe you'll need in addition to food (should there be shortages or other circumstances that prevent you from purchasing them). The first article mentioned above by Chris Martenson gives some great ideas. Here are a few more to use as food for thought as you continue to formulate your plan:

  • Toiletries - Toilet paper (need adequate space for storage), soaps, personal hygiene supplies
  • First Aid supplies - band-aids, medicines (including anti-diarrhea), burn cream, splints, bandages, gauze, etc.
  • Cooking Supplies - Items to help cook your food storage or augment for taste. Spices, corn starch, oils, yeast, etc.
  • Kitchen Supplies - Plastic wrap, Aluminum foil, zip top bags, plastic trash bags (LOTS of these), etc.
  • Clothing - Socks, underwear, jeans, shirts, coats, etc. Plan ahead if you have growing kids! This, of course, must be "rotated" as kids grow (or as you grow :).
  • Fuel - Where feasible store a supply of propane for emergency cooking. Gasoline can be stored for a year (using Sta-bil fuel stabilizer). Other options are a supply of wood or charcoal and supplies to utilize it.
  • 72-Hour Kit (aka "Grab 'n' Go Pack," "Bug out bag," etc.). Each person in the house should have a "kit" (back pack, large tupperware, etc.) which has equipment and food necessary to sustain life for 72 hours in an emergency.

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-SAINTS (LDS) PROVIDENT LIVING AND DISTRIBUTION SERVICES WEBSITES

* Get an order form for the "basic foods" the Canneries provide on-line here.

* You can order "Starter Kits" from the LDS Distribution Center here. These starter kits include 6, #10 cans of: 2- Hard Red Wheat, 2- Long Grain Rice, 1- Quick Oats and 1- Pinto Beans. (If you are a member of the church only! Otherwise contact a member of the church and they can assist).

* You can order "Home Storage Items" from the LDS Distribution Center here. These items include: education pamphlets, pinto beans, quick oats, wheat, white rice, pouch sealers, foil pouches, oxygen absorbers, water filtration bottles, and water filters.

* Go here for "Frequently Asked Questions."

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

These are books that I have read about being "self-reliant" and cookbooks that I use to "utilize my food storage"- go here.

 

LOCAL PREPAREDNESS STORE!

Honeyville is our favorite local, preparedness store. They are located at 7360 South Kyrene Road Ste. 108, Tempe, AZ 85283 (NW corner of Elliot Rd. and Kyrene Rd). Go here to visit their on-line website. You can contact Honeyville by phone at (480) 785-5210. There hours of operation are: Monday thru Friday: 10AM - 6PM and Saturday: 10AM - 5PM

EMERGENCY ESSENTIALS WEBSITE:

This website is my favorite on-line preparedness website for purchasing food storage and emergency preparedness items. They often have group specials and monthly preparedness tips to help with your family preparedness plans. Visit BePrepared.com today!

FOOD STORAGE MADE EASY WEBSITE:

This website has many forms for organizing your food storage, on-line menu planning, food storage classes, gardening tips, a question and answer blog, etc. to help you get started with your food storage plan! ☺


Food Storage Made Easy!

QUICK CONTACT

Email: johnjen at reynoldsnet.org