How To Grow Potato Plants in a Flower Pot

As I was doing the research on growing your own food, I came across this article on ehow.com. It is an experiment I am willing to try sometime. Read on...

Being a potato lover all my life, I often wondered how a potato becomes a potato. I mean, where are the seeds? So as an experiment one spring day, I grabbed an old potato that had sprouted roots, cut it up and threw the pieces in a flower pot with some planting soil. In a few days, I had several little green leaves sprouting in the dirt!

Things You’ll Need:

* A sprouted potato (any kind will work)
* A Large flower pot
* Planting soil, enough to fill the flower pot.
* Water
* A knife

Step 1
Using the knife, cut the sprouted potato in chunks about the size of an ice cube. Make sure you cut the potato so the spouted roots are kind of in the center of the chunk.

Step 2
Fill your flower pot about 3/4 full of soil.

Step 3
Place about 5 chunks of potato in the flower pot. I usually place the potato chunks in a pattern similar to what a 5 on a dice looks like.

Step 4
Lightly cover the potato chunks with soil until the pot is almost full. Do not pack the soil down as potatoes like loose dirt.

Step 5
Slowly add water to the flower pot, making sure the soil does not float out of the pot. Add enough water so the soil is well moistened. (I add water until the water starts to come out of the bottom of the pot. That tells me the soil is wet all the way through the pot.)

Step 6
Water the plants every 2-3 days, keeping the soil moist but not soggy.


Tips & Warnings

* When I did this the first time, I used the largest flower pot I had - it was about 12 inches deep. The plants came up quickly and were a dark green leafy plant. I thought it was a very pretty plant. I left the plant in the pot until they were about 12 inches tall. When I pulled the plants out of the dirt, I had several small, egg size potatoes at the bottom of each plant, where the roots were. The next time I grew the potatoes, I planted them in the ground and I left them there until the end of the summer. The potatoes were bigger but not as sweet tasting.

* Potato plants like lots of water. Do not drown them but make sure you remember to water them regularly.

* Potato plants like loose soil. If your soil is too hard, add some sand or some other type of light weight planting material.

* Once you pull up the plants, do not wash the potatoes right away. Their skins are very soft and will easily rub off. Let them air dry, dirt and all, at least 24 hours. When they are dry. brush the dirt off but do not scrub the potatoes until you are ready to use them.
End of article

What about you? Are you willing to try this experiment. If you do let me know about it. Another step towards self-suffiency.

12 More Helpful Food Storage Tips

It is important to read and research as we build our food storage and prepare for emergencies.  There is so much helpful information that can be found.  The library and the internet are two excellent places to get free information.  One such helpful place is a site called Shelf Reliance.  Shelf Reliance not only offers products to help us build our food storage but they also have articles and advice on food storage.  This article is one of theirs and more can be found at their site www.shelfreliance.com.


Helpful Food Storage Tips

• Be Practical. Store the food you eat and eat the food you store. It doesn’t make sense to buy food storage that your family isn’t accustomed to eating. Although it is true that there are many items such as wheat, flour, oats, and dried milk that are needed to sustain life, these are already included in many of the foods that we enjoy each day. Become familiar with recipes that include ingredients contained within your food storage. This will not only enable you to become familiar with the preparation of foods within your food storage, it will also allow you to rotate your food in a timely manner.

• Store Foods Properly. Quality is best maintained by minimum exposure to light, heat, moisture, and air. Items stored in a basement will last much longer than in a pantry or garage. Store food on shelves or on a raised platform rather than directly in contact with concrete floors or walls. Avoid storing items next to certain products such as soaps or fuels; this will prevent the spread of odor and other possible contaminants.

• Temperature. Where possible, always store your food indoors. Temperature has the largest affect on food storage. Canned goods will store 2 to 3 times longer at 70°F than they will at 90°F. Most dry goods store indefinitely below 70°F. Temperature affects nutrition, texture, and taste.

• Moisture. Dry goods should contain less than 10% moisture. The more a container is opened, the more moisture is introduced. The humidity in the air the day food is dry packed or home canned can also affect storage life. Weevil cannot grow in grain with less than 10% moisture. For a maximum shelf life, non-fat dry milk should have no more than 2.8% moisture.

• Light. Store foods in opaque containers or dark cupboards. Light fades colors, destroys vitamins, and speeds the rancidity of fats.

• Air. Containers should have airtight seams and lids. If in doubt, use duct tape as an additional seal. Plastic buckets with rubber gaskets are airtight if the gasket has not been damaged.

• Use Variety. Use a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, meats, and dairy products to obtain variety and balanced nutrition. This will provide greater flexibility in cooking.

• Use Labels. Label your containers with the date of purchase.

• Rotate Your Storage. Rotate as many items as you can by using food storage at least twice a week. This will allow for a complete rotation of a year’s food supply every three years. It will also help your family become accustomed to the items you have stored.

• Store Water. Be sure to store a large amount of water (at least 14 gallons per person for a two week supply). Soda and juice bottles will work for water storage as will larger food-grade plastic containers. For larger quantities, 5, 15, 30, and 55 gallon storage drums can be used. Water will need to be treated before storage. FEMA recommends treatment with 4 drops of bleach per quart of water. Water supplies should be replenished yearly.

• Store Non-Food Items. Food storage is only part of emergency preparedness. Don’t forget to store non-food items such as medicines, toiletries, soap, cleaning supplies, paper products, laundry detergent, and clothing.

• Grow a Garden. For easy access to fresh produce, grow a garden. Also, store and rotate seeds. If you don’t have garden space, try using pots to grow vegetables.

Do you have any more tips that you use?  Share them in the comments.  I'm always looking for ways to help me in my journey towards an adequate food storage.

7 Helpful Food Storage Tips

Building our food storage helps us attain greater peace of mind when thinking of the future.  Here are some excellent tips to help along the way.

1. Another key element in being prepared is that of having less stuff to move around or look after. Here’s a tip from www.getorganizednow.com to help you feel freer and more prepared for any eventuality.  Get rid of 7 things each day. Get rid of paper you no longer need, email you're done reading, plastic containers that have been gathering dust, and basically anything else that isn't of any use to you. If you get rid of 7 things each day for the entire year, you will have lightened your load by 2,555 items by this time next year!




2. In storing your food items you would need to include the seasonings that you use as well. Many of us like spice(cinnamon sticks), bay leaf and the like. Remember to include these and other items like seasoning salt, curry, vanilla essence etc. Depending on your usage of these items you might only need to buy one extra of it but you definitely don’t want to forget those items that make the food taste good.

3. You can store foods that are naturally convenient like mixes that are just-add-water, or require little preparation time. If your extra cylinder of gas finishes or for those with electric stoves, there’s no electricity then you can still eat because in your food supply there are items that can be eaten without the need for cooking them. Items of that nature are things like sardines, tuna, crackers, boxed cereal etc. If you regularly use these items already then there’s nothing extra to do, you’ll have it on hand. But for those persons who don’t eat these items on a regular basis at least have a three day supply of these foods on hand and make sure you rotate them into your eating maybe every three months or so, so that you get used to it and it doesn’t go to waste.

4. For the bread makers among us, those aspiring to be or just beginning, here’s some info from  www.allaboutpreparedness.com about the durability of yeast as we build our storage:

How much dry yeast is in 1/4 ounce envelope?
About 2 1/4 teaspoons.

How should I store yeast?
Store unopened yeast in a cool, dry place, such as a pantry (or refrigerator). Exposure to oxygen, heat or humidity decreases the activity of the yeast. After opening, store in an airtight container in the back of the refrigerator, away from drafts. Use within 3 to 4 months; freezing not recommended.

Can I use expired yeast in my recipe?
For best results, buy and use yeast before the expiration date. Yeast loses its potency as it ages, resulting in longer rising times. Proof yeast to determine whether it is still active.

How do I proof yeast to test for activity?
To proof yeast, add 1 teaspoon sugar to 1/4 cup warm water (100° to 110°F). Stir in 1 envelope yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons); let stand 10 minutes. If the yeast foams to the 1/2 cup mark, it is active and you may use it in your recipe.

5. You need to note the expiration dates of the items you are taking inventory of so that you can make sure you are using up your food in a timely manner. Rotating your stock should take care of that but this is like having back up.

6. When you get home after you've done your shopping compare the expiration dates of what you've just purchased with what you have in your cupboards. Put the ones you've just purchased towards the back of your cupboard if the expiration date is further away than the ones in your cupboard and move the items with the closer expiration date to the front for you to use.  Do this every time you shop and you won't have items expiring on you and money going to waste. This is one of the reasons we are to store what we eat instead of a bunch of stuff we don't eat.


7. When items go on sale stock up as much as your budget can afford towards your goal. You save money in the process.

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Storage on a Shoestring

With the daily cost of living tugging at your pocketbook, you may wonder how in the world you can afford to add one more item to your budget. You may want to store food, but don’t see how your income can be stretched any further.

Picture from www.yourmarketingcorner.com

The following tips may help you see how a food storage program can be put together without sacrificing money earmarked for existing bills:

• Set aside a plot of land to grow specific "food storage" plants. Consider growing tomatoes, peppers, and parsley. Or grow other fruits or vegetables that your family enjoys.
• When the next urge to splurge on fast food or a pizza hits you, resist it! Take the $10 or $15 you would have spent and invest it in your food storage.
• How many times do you buy food at the store, and put it in the refrigerator--only to throw it out a week or two later because you forgot to use it? Plan a menu and stick to it. Cut the waste, and every time you go to the grocery store for your major shopping, set aside an extra $5 that you normally would have spent on perishable vegetables you usually end up discarding. Within a month, you will have enough savings to purchase a "favorite something" on your food storage list.
• Come up with your own creative ways to save or make money, then use it to add to your food storage. Involve the whole family if possible. Here's one - Can you see yourself saving 25 cents, 50 cents or even $1 a day? If the answer is yes then you can build up a good supply in your cupboard.  Get yourself a cash tin or piggy bank of some sort and whenever you or your husband(if he is game) gets change put it in this cash tin.  At the end of one, two or three months, you choose, count the coins and take it to the bank to get it changed and use that to get some of the items you need for your storage plan.
• Store what you and your family will eat. Don't just arbitrarily put together a food storage list. Purchase the basics (honey, rice, salt, powdered milk, evaporated milk, grains, legumes) and build upon that (don’t forget the non-food items as well). Sit down with family members and organize a personalized plan. Systematically develop your storage according to you and your family's food preferences.
• Remember that a short-term, as well as a long-term food storage program is the most sensible. If you cannot afford a year supply, work on a 72 hour supply, then a week supply, and so on.

Remember that storing extra food and other necessities is just as important as having money saved in the bank.  When a crisis arrives, good people work together--so do your part to prepare and share.  It is amazing how we can help each other.

Adapted from www.beprepared.com

If you have any suggestions, comments, or articles you would like to share, please share them in the comments. Your experiences can help teach me and others.

Everyday Food Storage!

Today's featured blog is Everyday Food Storage. Crystal has some great stuff on her site. On Everyday Food Storage you will find recipes using your food storage items, handouts, videos and more.

Click HERE to learn more about her and watch her video where she tells the story of her journey into the area of food storage and shows you how to navigate her site.

Happy Learning!

Sleep When the Wind Blows

An interesting story I came across while reading an article on www.beprepared.com. I think it illustrates perfectly the peace of mind that we can have when we have done what is necessary to prepare for unfortunate circumstances. Read on and be inspired to do the work before the need arises.

Sleep When the Wind Blows

A farmer needed an extra hand to help on his farm. One young man came to interview for the job. "What are your qualifications?" the farmer asked. "I can sleep when the wind blows," the young man said. This simple reply confused the farmer, but he was desperate for help and the young man was hired.

The young man was a diligent worker through the harvest season, but the farmer still questioned his answer.

Autumn ended and the first cold storm of winter came late one night. The farmer panicked as the winds began to blow. Calling the young man for help, the farmer grabbed his coat and pulled heavy boots on his feet. He was disappointed to find the young man asleep in bed at a time like this. Grudgingly he ventured out alone planning to shuffle all of the animals in the barn and then fix that last hole in the roof. He mumbled about the young man sleeping and was sure all the farm equipment was left standing in the field, collecting rust from the snow.

However, when the farmer reached the barn all the animals were tucked safely inside. In fact, clean hay had already been set out for the new day. Not a single hole could be found in the roof, and the tractor was parked perfectly in the shed.

"Who could have done it?" the farmer wondered. And then, he realized what the young man's answer meant, "I can sleep when the wind blows."

Making Food Storage Not So Scary

I found this article while reading one of my favorite preparedness sites. I've only quoted some of it and my response to it is below. Read on...

When I was first introduced to the idea of storing food, I heard a lot mentioned about the benefits of storing a one year supply of food for difficult times. It was explained that one year food supplies are meant to help families get through personal emergencies such as unemployment, layoff, or a death in the family. I was also told that stored food supplies are especially helpful during national or local crises such as hurricanes, flooding, droughts, war, etc.

Although the one year food supply idea seemed both sensible and wise, I struggled with the "big purchase." I started feeling guilty every time I would turn on the television and watch the news in the evenings. Even at the movies, it seemed like every movie that came out had something to do with a volcano, tornado, or some other kind of natural disaster. It wasn't that people were trying to instill fear, as much as it was my own mind knowing that emergencies both large and small happen every day--and I started to wonder could my family be next? So why did I continue to put off something I felt was so important?

As I reflected upon the reasons for my deliberate procrastination, I found 5 reasons why purchasing a year supply seemed so scary to me. See if you've struggled with any of these fears:

1. I didn't want to store a bunch of food in my basement and end up throwing it all away in 10 years like my neighbor did down the street. That seemed like such a waste of money.

2. I wasn't sure how to make stuff out of wheat. I realized that certain year supplies were designed to be easier to use than others, but I just wasn't big on preparing foods from scratch.

3. I had no idea how to plan out what I want to eat for a year--Golly, I couldn't even do that for a week--let alone a whole year!

4. I didn't know whether my family would like everything offered in a year supply--especially my picky youngest daughter.

5. When I did have the money to invest in a year supply, something always came up. The car would break down, I would have to pay for my son's tuition, or I would receive an unexpected medical bill. I knew it was a big gamble not to have food stored, but I guess I still wasn't convinced that I needed a year's supply of food?

Taken from an article on www.beprepared.com.


Jennifer's response:

Many people have these same reasons above for procrastinating when it comes to building up a supply of food. Maybe you aren’t convinced that you need to have a whole year’s supply of food on hand and that’s okay. How about 6 months or 3 months? How about 1 month. Whatever it is the answer should never be doing nothing. Building a supply of food is easy once you start doing it. You have the option of buying a few food items per pay check and slowly building up a good-sized supply of food storage.

I started out with simple foods; ones my family already ate on a regular basis such as rice, sugar, cornmeal, oats so I've not wasted any money. And, I can eat my food storage normally and not feel like I have to save it for some huge crisis. I believe that's why certain people allow their supplies to go to waste.

As I think about the five things mentioned above that scare people about storing food, I realize that an everyday type of food storage makes more sense, in my case, than buying a huge year supply of food all at once. And, it doesn't put a financial strain on my pocket book.

Best of all, I feel good knowing that I'm preparing my family and I don't experience episodes of guilt for not following the Lord’s leading and advice to prepare for difficult times. From January this year our finances had gone down and because of my food storage we had food for 6 months. I found a way to do it an I've begun to build again even with the lower finances and it feels good.

Praise God for peace of mind!

Emergency Preparedness - Do 1 Thing

In my quest for information on being better prepared for any time of emergency I discovered this awesome resource that emails you one item to work on every month to help you be prepared withing 1 year for emergencies. It's called Do 1 Thing.

According to their site the mission of do1thing is to move individuals, families, organizations, businesses, and communities to prepare for all hazards and become disaster resilient. I signed up immediately and was sent the link to the current month's assignment.

I will share with you the assignment as it comes each month but I think the best thing to do is to sign up for yourself because their are downloads from time to time. The website is www.do1thing.us.

This month they are dealing with power. There is a link to the power fact sheet on the page for the month's assignment. Here is the challenge for the month:

THE GOAL: Electricity is something that we take for granted every day. How long could you stay in your home without electricity? Would you have heat, and a way to prepare food? By planning now you can be ready when the lights go out.

Do One Thing (choose one thing to do this month)

• Have flashlights ready in an easily accessible place.
• Check batteries in flashlights and radios.
• Create a power outage checklist and review it with your family.
• Learn how to safely use portable generators.

According to their suggestions we should choose to do one thing this month but looking at the list we should be able to do more than one this week as the month comes to a close.  The more prepared we are, the better off we will be.

Emergency Preparedness - A Challenge

Coming up later today on Fruitful Vine is a fantastic resource I've discovered to help with preparing for emergencies.  Come back later or subscribe to Fruitful Vine so you don't miss a thing.  Now onto today's challenge.

Emergency Preparedness is a vast subject that covers simple emergencies all the way to catastrophic world events like hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis etc. One thing is for sure, the better prepared we are to handle these situations the more at peace we will be. God has given many things to us to help us prepare ourselves while He takes care of what we cannot do for ourselves.

For example, the general rule is that we should cut the trees that are overhanging our homes so that hurricane force winds will not be able to blow them down on our homes. However we neglect that advice and the tree does fall on our home costing us thousands of dollars in damage then we can’t blame God for not protecting us. We ought to heed the advice given to us and prepare for any emergency.

Today I want to challenge you to look through the checklists in Emergency Preparedness - 10 Questions Part 1 and Emergency Preparedness - 10 Questions Part 2. Put time aside over the next 30 days to make the necessary adjustments to prepare yourself for greater peace of mind.

Food Storage - Storing Non-Food Items

Food storage is very important, but there are items to put in your storage you may not think of when planning. While you are planning the amount of cooking essentials you need for your food storage, you may want to think about non-food items that your family uses. During an emergency, items such as toilet paper may seem nearly as important to your family as food. The following is a list of items to consider:

Kitchen Accessories

• Towels/rags (paper and cloth)
• Plastic wrap/aluminum foil
• Recloseable baggies
• Dish soap, laundry detergent
• Favorite spices (rotate annually)
• Condiments such as ketchup, syrup, jelly, etc. (rotate annually)
• Garbage bags

Bathroom and Hygiene

• Toilet paper, tissue
• Shampoo and lotions
• Soap (soap bars last the longest)
• Toothpaste, extra toothbrushes, dental floss
• Feminine hygiene products
• Razors, shaving cream, extra blades
• Medicines
• First aid kit and individual first aid items

Other

• Water barrels, siphon pump, portable water containers
• Activity games, cards, paperback books
• Old clothes for outside labor
• Water filter for replenishing your water supply
• Candles, lantern, or other light source

There are also special considerations that members of your family may have. Don’t forget to plan for those needs as well. For example, if you have a baby, you may have already thought of extra formula in your food storage, but what about having diapers or diaper wipes and other miscellaneous items on hand. The best way to keep a sufficient supply of your baby needs is to always be ahead of your diaper, formula, and other baby needs purchasing. This process needs to account for size or other changes that may occur. Buy a few packages of diapers when they are on sale, or buy a case of formula and baby food instead of just a can at a time. You may also want to include crackers or other finger foods.

Consider special dietary needs that your family may have. Maybe you have a diabetic or a lactose intolerant member of your family. Store foods they can eat and will enjoy eating as well. Also, keep enough insulin and other medications on hand if needed.

Storage of just food can be very beneficial for you in a time of need, but there are little things to remember that may make life a little more convenient, especially in an emergency situation. Plus, items such as paper towels and garbage bags are easy to store because they don’t spoil and can be set aside and forgotten. There are many more things to consider than what is on this list. Take into consideration your area, climate, and who you are preparing for. Spend time now to plan wisely and to decide what items you will need to take care of your family.

Article courtesy of www.beprepared.com

Emergency Preparedness - 13 Smart Tips for After Disaster

1. Venture outdoors with extreme care. If power lines are down do not go near them or touch them.
2. Keep your kids and pets inside as much as possible.
3. Keep all calls to a minimum to allow emergency calls to get through.
4. Do not wade through flooded areas with bare feet. Floodwater may be contaminated by sewage and other contaminants. Construction debris such as nails, wooden splinters, shards of glass and chunks of concrete are likely to be in the water. These can puncture or cut your feet resulting in a bad infection and a wait in the emergency room.
5. Continue to monitor local media.
6. Disinfect water to kill disease carrying microorganisms.
7. Don't turn on your main breaker until you ensure that the secondary (individual) breakers are off. Once you switch on the main breaker, turn on the secondary breakers one at a time to check for electrical faults. If a fault is detected, turn off the main breaker immediately and contact an electrician.
8. Never use generators indoors. The carbon monoxide fumes from the exhaust could cause poisoning and death.
9. Never refuel a generator while it is running or hot.
10. Never taste food to determine its safety. Discard any perishable food (such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs and leftovers) that have been above 40 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 hours or more.
11. Keep yourself hydrated with plenty of drinking water and fluids.
12. Don't let your animals roam loose. Familiar landmarks and smells may have disappeared causing them to be disoriented.
13. If your vehicle gets inundated with water, don't attempt to start it. Have it checked out by a mechanic with the proper diagnostic equipment.

Survive Hurricane Handbook

Related posts:

• 12 Smart Tips for During Disaster
• 16 Smart Tips for Before Disaster

Food Storage - Five Overlooked Items to Include

How is your food storage coming? Have you sat down and made a list of items that you want to store? Have you started storing the items that you need? Here is a list of five overlooked items to include in your food storage.

1) Salt is on most lists that have been recommended, but many lists neglect the need to store pepper and other spices. You may want to include cinnamon, nutmeg powder, and other common spices that you use in your everyday cooking.

2) If you are planning on baking a lot of your meals at home you will want to include leavening agents. This includes yeast, baking powder and baking soda. You may want to store slightly more than you would normally use because if you are relying heavily on food storage you will likely be baking a lot more.

3) Other items, which may be considered luxury items, include nuts, and chocolate chips. You may also want to include coconut on this list. These items are often used to dress up baked goods. I also use nuts in salads and other recipes to add protein, and as a fairly healthy snack.

4) If you have pets you will want to consider storing a good supply of food and water for them as well. It would be awful to watch your pets suffer or to give them away because you couldn't afford to continue to feed them.

5) You may want to save enough money and set it aside for the sole purpose of eating out once a month. This can help to reduce the stress during a time when you are relying on your food storage. It may also help your family if they are adjusting to eating all of their meals at home.

Excerpt taken from www.preparedness.families.com.

Emergency Preparedness - 12 Smart Tips for During Disaster

1. Lift your possessions off the floor in case of flooding.
2. Drape a wet towel over your cooler chests to keep contents chilled for longer periods.
3. Ways to pass the time - a)get comfy, b)read a book, c)play some dominoes or board games, d)listen to music.
4. The refrigerator will safely keep food cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it's half full) if you keep the door closed.
5. Turn off propane tanks.
6. Keep tuned to the radio or television.
7. If power goes out - use your flashlights instead of candles or open flames as a light source.
8. If power goes out - turn off all appliances and your main breaker. This will prevent power surges from damaging them when the power is restored.
9. If power goes out - drape a blanket or comforter over your fridge to help it stay cooler - open it as little as possible.
10. Never leave a leashed pet unattended - this is a cruel death trap. Rising waters and projectiles from fierce winds can kill them.
11. Keep pets in their carriers.
12. Animals do feel safer on higher ground - put their carrier up on a counter or in a cabinet but keep checking on them.

Survive Hurricane Handbook


Related posts:

• 16 Smart Tips for Before Disaster
• 13 Smart Tips for After Disaster

Food Storage - Eat What You Store, Store What You Eat

"Eat what you store, store what you eat"--it seems like such a simple concept, but when planning your food storage, it’s difficult to remember this, and even more difficult to apply it on a day-to-day basis.

Eat What You Store

Rotation is the key to a successful food storage program. There are several reasons you want to rotate your food storage:

1. To prevent food spoiling.
2. To minimize the deterioration of nutritive value and quality.
3. To make the most of your money.

If you buy food storage and do not intend to use it except during an emergency, you may not be using your money wisely. When you use your food storage it becomes an economical and practical way to grocery shop. Buying in bulk is less expensive than buying smaller quantities. For example, buying a 25 pound bag of sugar versus a 5 pound bag is cheaper per pound.

Store What You Eat

It is important to store the types of foods your family eats on a regular basis and the types of foods they enjoy.

If your family likes to eat treats regularly you will want to be sure to store things such as baking chocolate, pudding, cake or brownie mixes, jello, cookies etc.

On the other hand, if your family does not eat a lot of treats, you do not have to worry about storing as many of these things.

Article courtesy of www.beprepared.com

Emergency Preparedness - 16 Smart Tips for Before Disaster

1. Avoid buying salty foods, these will make you thirsty.
2. Buy a few bags of ice and leave in your freezer. When a warning is issued, ice may be in high demand and may be difficult to buy.
3. Avoid contamination by buying food in single serving containers that can be finished in one sitting.
4. If you're taking any medications or prescription drugs, be sure to always have at least four to six week supply on hand during the season. Remember your pet's medication too.
5. Invest in a good first-aid handbook - you may be on your own for some time without professional medical help.
6. Learn CPR.
7. Avoid using empty milk jugs and plastic containers to store drinking water; it's difficult to get all the milk or food residue out of the pores in the plastic making it easy for bacteria to grow.
8. Keep a spare set of house and car keys in your Survival Kit.
9. Avoid boredom...throw some entertainment in your Survival Kit: books, Ipod or MP3 or CD player, magazines, playing cards. dominoes, etc.
10. Personal cleanliness is critical - avoid infections and the spread of sickness/disease by preparing a personal hygiene bag for you and each member of your family.
11. Backup your computer. Save all electronic files on CDs or DVDs or flash drives and seal them in plastic bags.
12. Store cubes or small blocks of ice in sealed bags or containers so you can drink the water after the ice melts.
13. Make a list and take photos or video of your belongings as documentation in case you need to make an insurance claim.
14. Make sure your fire extinguisher works.
15. Identify emergency contacts and provide each family member with their names and numbers; store in your mobile phone and place a copy with your important documents in your Survival Kit.
16. Always keep meat, poultry, fish, and eggs refrigerated at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit and frozen food at or below 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

Related posts:

• 12 Smart Tips for During Disaster
• 13 Smart Tips for After Disaster

Food Storage - Why Store Food?

Many people may wonder why anyone would want to store a year's supply of food. It might seem a little extreme or odd to people. But the reasons for having food storage on hand are numerous and most are not extreme. I have known several families who have lost their jobs and have turned to their food storage as a way to continue to care for their families.

Food storage is just another form of security. Many people have several months of income set aside for a rainy day. Having food storage is just another way to stretch the money that you have saved. You can store basics for emergencies or you can set aside several months of food for your family.

In times of bad weather everyone runs to the store to pick up bread, milk and eggs. In a hurricane area they often pick up water as well. Grocery stores run their stocking system on a as needed basis. Almost everything they have is already out on the shelves. If you are a little late getting to the store then you may be out of luck. I have seen it happen with both possible hurricanes and ice storms. It is a comforting feeling to know that I don't have to go out in the rush. Even when it is my usual grocery day, I know that I can last another week if I need to, and my family will be okay.

It is also reassuring to know that you have the staples on hand in case the grocery stores are unable to restock the stores after a disaster. Roads may be impassable. Other circumstances may slow down the trucks that bring the food in to the stores. If you have a few weeks of food on hand, you will not have to worry at this stressful time.

Another reason to have food storage is that it can save you money. You can purchase items when they are on sale. As you stockpile the items that are on sale, you will save money over time. This can be difficult to do if you are living paycheck to paycheck, but if you can manage you will begin to spend less money and eat better. What are some of the reasons that you store food?


Excerpt taken from www.preparedness.families.com.

Food Storage - Videos and a Quote

"Knowledge and preparation" are the keys to survival in the event of a catastrophe, from an annoying power outage to TEOTWAWKI (The End Of The World As We Know It).

Do you want to be prepared? Or do you want to be surprised? Make disaster preparations at home. Survivalism is a state of mind.

This quote was taken from www.earthchangesmedia.com.

Here are a couple of videos I think would help trigger some ideas about storing your food. One has quite a large space in which to organize her storage and the other has a much smaller space. The key is to use whatever space you have. Food storage is achievable.

This first video goes into detail outlining steps to building a 3 month food storage supply. She touches on items like spices, water, getting started, how much to store, how to store long term food items etc.

The second video is much shorter and is an example of how to make a smaller space work when it comes to storing food.

There is nothing which persevering effort and unceasing and diligent care can not accomplish." - Seneca (4 BC - 65 AD) - www.survivalblog.com

Disaster Preparedness - Are You Ready?

In event of a catastrophic impact, we should be able to meet the basic needs of shelter and food for ourselves and families until relief assistance is available. This is very important and needs to be reemphasized as the demands on government and response agencies can affect their ability to provide us with adequate relief and recovery services in the aftermath of a hurricane.

Personal readiness is being prepared. Being prepared is knowing what is required and taking the necessary steps to ensure the safety and survival of our family and protection of our property. It is proper planning well in advance of disaster. Preparing a family plan and ensuring that our property is safe are two key aspects of preparedness planning.

Prepare to Survive

Being prepared is the most important thing you can do before and during a disaster. If disaster strikes, proper planning and preparation will get you through the disaster and its aftermath.

Don’t wait until the government issues a warning to shop for supplies, check your insurance policies or talk to your family about your disaster plans. Schedule a trip to the hardware store, supermarket and drugstore. Do this well in advance of a disaster; avoid competing with the frenzied masses during a disaster alert.

Invest in your protection and safety

Some of the most important things to have before a disaster may be the most expensive. You may need to save some money first, but think of these as investments and include them in your budget before disaster strikes.

My hubby brought me a Hurricane Handbook called "SURVIVE" published by Island Heritage and Scotiabank. This handbook is filled with lots of information to assist in emergency preparedness. The more I read, the more I felt compelled to share with you my friends what I was learning and being reminded of. I kept circling paragraph after paragraph, phrase after phrase to share with you. It is so important to be prepared. Disaster strikes at any time and sometimes when we least expect it. I pray that sharing these tips in the upcoming posts with you will move you to action. Preparedness yields peace of mind.

Food Storage - Storing Your Food

Storing your food properly and under the best condition possible will extend its life to its maximum potential. Some foods can be stored at room temperature and some must be refrigerated. Freezing can be used to extend the life of many products. To get the most out of the storage areas, certain conditions must be maintained.

Shelf Storage - Shelf storage should be in a cool, dry area. Many food items should also be kept out of direct light. The temperature should be keep at 70° F or below.

Refrigerator Storage - The refrigerator should be kept at a temperature between 33° F to 40° F. Check the temperature frequently with a refrigerator/freezer thermometer.

Freezer Storage - The freezer should be kept at a temperature of 0° F or below. Check the temperature frequently with a refrigerator/freezer thermometer.

Related Articles -
Organize Your Storage! Part 1 - Shelf Storage
Organize Your Storage! Part 2 - Freezer and Refrigerator Storage

Food Storage Made Easy!

Today's feature blog is FOOD STORAGE MADE EASY! These awesome ladies Jodi and Julie are passionate about helping others build their food storage. Their site contains baby steps, checklists, recipes and more. I learned alot from them and am so happy to share them with you. They can be found at http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/ .

Enjoy and learn from them!