We now have a new menu item on the main menu bar HOW TO.  This section is full of links to YouTube channels, playlists and specific videos about Cooking with Basics, Gardening, Fermenting, Bread Making , and Canning.  Be sure to check it out.  

This month we will be working on storing wheat and/or wheat products like flour, pancake mix or other flour based mixes and pasta (which is a wheat based product).  This is an expansion of the wheat storage recommendation for basic storage.  We have learned a few things about what we may need during this pandemic so a variety of wheat products that are easily usable are a good storage idea but do not store for as long as regular wheat grain.  You will have to decide what you and your family should put in your basic storage.  The original 3 month plan called for 6 # 10 cans of wheat per person in the family for a 3 month supply.  In addition 2 # 10 cans of pasta, macaroni and/or spaghetti per family member was also recommended for a 3 month supply.    

• Link Here to the online store for food storage.  The prices online a little more expensive than at the Home Storage Center 

Click the link below this picture to go to the “Growing in the Garden” blog for what to plant this month in Arizona.

At the beginning of the year the Relief Society decided to introduce a program designed to help us get a 3 month supply of basic foods on hand  over a 1 year period of time by concentrating on a specific item  or two each month and beginning to use it as part of our meals if we were not doing so.   These are items that  can be obtained at the Home Storage Center in the New Deseret Industries complex on Williams Field.

We have now been doing that for 5 month and you can read more information and suggestions under the various month tabs  in this location as well as the “recipes and ideas” tab.  As a review, In Jan-Feb we concentrated on adding rice to our family long term storage. In Feb-Mar we concentrated on adding powdered Milk.  In March we concentrated on updating our water supply.  In April we concentrated on Beans, and in May we concentrated on wheat and wheat products, (whole wheat, flour, pancake mix etc or wheat substitutes where that would better meet the needs of your family).

This month we will be concentrating on adding some variety to this basic supply.   The original plan called for 1 # 10 can of carrots and 1# 10 can of onions per person in your family for your 3 month supply.   For one person that would be about a $16.00 outlay for a 3 month supply.  Multiply that by the number of people in your family and that will tell you how many cans of each item you will need and what your approximate cost will be.

Remember these items are packed for long term use but can also be used day to day to help your family get used to eating items that you will be storing.  In addition, now would be a good time to look at other fruits and or vegetables that can be added to you basic storage.  Remember, slowly and steadily increasing what you have available is better than trying to cram in all into a one or two month buying spree.  Especially now when money may be tight and when you may in fact be needing to use your food storage items in order to conserve financial resources.  

This is just one way to work on building a long term supply.  If this doesn’t work for you, council with the Lord as a family and decide what you can do.

Click the link below this picture to go to the “Growing in the Garden” blog for what to plant this month in Arizona. 

We have moved some items around on our monthly suggested buy list for home storage items do to COVID, so for July we are recommending Apple Slices.    For a 3 month supply, 2 # 10 cans are recommended for each person in the family.  The currently listed cost is $11.25 per can  or $22.50 for a 3 month supply for 1 person.   You can also look at other fruit, dried or canned that you can add to your storage.  WINCO has their bulk section back open and there are lots of choices for dried fruit.   Since we are in fruit season you may also want to look at the HOW TO section for information about canning fruit if you have never done it before.  

Please review the other tabs across the top of this box for more information about this Relief Society/Ward initiative.  Also please check out the new “HOW TO”  on the right side of the main top menu.  There is lots of good information about a variety of  topics including:  Canning, Bread Making, Gardening, Fermentation, Using Basic Foods and more.  If you have any favorite “How To” videos that you think others would enjoy, let me know (Vicki Stull) and I will try to include them.  You can also leave me a message via a comment on this page or on the HOW TO page.

Click the link below this picture to go to the “Growing in the Garden” blog for what to plant this month in Arizona.

https://youtu.be/n2Vw9-UMOfM

Because of combining some things do to lack of access to the Home Storage Center in Gilbert in 2020, we are a little out of sync from our original plan.   The Home Storage Center is now open and well stocked.  I was there on Wednesday Aug  4.    In 2020 we took a break because the Family Storage center was not open but we need to get back on track.  Pasta was our item for Aug and is available at the Family Storage center in the form of  Macaroni and Spaghetti Bites .  Both of these items are packed in #10 cans and last for 30 years if unopened.   The spaghetti  bites are regular spaghetti that has been cut or broken into about 3 inch pieces and fits in the can better.   Both cost $5.00 per number 10 can.   It is easy to use and cooks up like spaghetti but with bite size pieces.      

Let’s  look over all we have done so far and see if there is anything that you need more of.   We still have Sept (Oats), Oct (Sugar), Nov (Potatoes), and Dec (Honey) to go.   

Also, now, right in the middle of summer, is a good time to check your water storage.   Here is a good  short article from the church about water storage.  How to store and how to treat and when to check and change.   Remember that the recommendation in this article is for 1 gal per person per day for 2 weeks.  However, in our climate double that is recommended ( 2 gal a day per person for at least 14 days and more if possible – that is 28 gals per person at a minimum).   Here is an even shorter video from the church with the basics.    Here is a longer video from an urban prepper about water storage.

You may also want to look at some of the “comfort foods” that your family may really like to have on hand, like Peanut Butter and Jelly, or Mac and Cheese or Raman Noodles.   These could be added to a basic supply just to have them as a quick pick me up in an emergency or if you can’t get out to go to the store.

What to plant and what to do in the Garden in August

This month we are working on Oats.  Any kind of Oat cereal would be helpful.  1 number 10 can per person per month or 3 number 10 cans per person for a 3 month supply.  (We are not talking Cheerios’s here.  You would need a lot more of those)  Rolled oats either regular or quick are good for use in making cookies or meat loaf or just plain as cereal in the morning with spices and/or dried fruit.  We keep some of ours made into granola with different kinds of seeds and raisins or craysons (dried cranberries).   Remember to check the How To section for ideas about canning, gardening etc.

The Home Storage Center behind DI next to the Bishop’s Storehouse is now open.  Our food item for this month is sugar but can come in many forms.  A 3 month supply for 1 person calls for 3 #10 cans.  The last cost sheet I have from the canning center said $5.75 per can.   However, you might also want to look at different forms of sugar.    Honey will be coming up in Dec. and calls for 3 bottles of honey at $4.00 per bottle or $12.00 per person for a 3 month supply.  In addition, Jam/Jelly, Maple Syrup, Brown Sugar, or Powdered Sugar could make up some of that supply.  Be sure to check out the other months for the recommendations for each month and or check out the 3 month recommendations below.  Also review the How-To Section.

The Home Storage Center behind DI next to the Bishop’s Storehouse is open again as per the schedule below.  However,  some of the food items are not always available.  What is available and what is not available changes day to day depending on what has shipped in and what has been sold out.  Our food item for this month is Potato Flakes.  (In stock the last time I checked)   A 3 month supply for 1 person calls for 3 #10 cans.  The last cost sheet I have from the canning center said $6.50 per can.   These cans if unopened last for 30 years.   The storage center now also has complete instant potatoes in pouches.   The pouches only store for 1.5 years but are $4.25 for 28 oz.   You might also want to look at different forms of dried potatoes.  The Idahoan instant mashed potatoes in 4 oz packets for $.98 per packet at WinCo have become new favorites for the two of us.  They come in about 10 different flavor combinations, are quick and wonderfully tasty.  We use a half a packet for  the 2 of us and it makes a nice serving of Mashed Potatoes (I like the “Sour Cream and Chives”  and I think Darwin’s favorite is “Applewood/Bacon”.    We also keep some dehydrated or freeze dried shredded,  diced or sliced potatoes on hand since we don’t have enough growing space to grow potatoes.

Learn about Ferments – November Sauerkraut

November in the Garden 

Canning Tips

This month our item is supposed to be honey.  Unfortunately, the last time I checked with the Home Storage Center they were discontinuing Honey.  That was at the first of part of Nov.  They had about 6 bottles and they were not going to get any more in.  Consequently, we will no longer be able to get Honey from the Home Storage Center.  You can get honey at any grocery store right now and it would be a good item to have in storage.    Starting this month and going back one month to Nov and then from now on,  I am going to add a link to some specific skills.   The first one will be about Ferments (How to make your own vinegar, pickles, sauerkraut, etc).  The second one will link to  an Arizona garden blog about what to plant, harvest or prepare for each specific month in Arizona.   The 3rd Link will be to some tips about canning (both water bath and pressure).   Each month the videos will be different in each section.  Be sure to check them out.

Learn about Ferments – Vinegar

December in the Garden 

Canning Tips

1. Food Items of the Month –  Rice – 3  #10 cans for one adult for 3 months cost = $5.25/can at Home Storage Center that  would be $15.75 per person for a 3 month supply of rice or a 1 month supply for 3 people.   If the Home Storage Center is out of rice (and it has been, at times) you can buy bulk rice in several places.  WINCO has a great bulk department, but rice is a commodity that is available in almost all grocery stores and even at the dollar store.
2.  Always remember water!!  We always need to be aware of our water supply.  If you have a basic supply of water you may want to look at a water filter.

Learn about Cream Soup Base – Modify this with your own spices.  The basic recipe that I use is 4 cups of powdered milk, 2 cups of corn starch, 1/2 cup ranch dressing mix and spices to taste.  My mix has 2 T Onion flakes, 1 T granulated garlic powder and then some basil, parsley, thyme that I have dehydrated from my garden.  At the time I cook it I add whatever flavoring I want.  Chicken, Mushroom,  etc.  Use 1/3 cup of mix to 1 and 1/4 cup of water for a nice creamy soup.

Jan in the Garden  – This is a the new Jan Blog.  Watch for what to do and plant in Jan.  You can plant a lot more than just herbs.  The picture below is minus the vegetables. We have planted = sugar snap peas, lettuce of various kinds, bok choy, brussels sprouts,  swiss chard all from transplants that I started inside.  They are doing fine.  Growing slowly but growing.  I have some hold over snap peas that are blooming and setting pods.  In addition, it is time for the brassicas – broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, as well as those listed above.   Best if you use transplants.  I am just getting my transplanted from sprouts so they will be planted out closer to mid to late January.  I already some hold overs from the fall garden that are just coming on.  It is important to protect the young ones from the frost.  The older ones can take some small amount of frost but it would be best to go check out her link to how to protect your garden during Jan.

Canning Tips – Basic Books for Water Bath Canning

Continue Your Preparation

1.  It is time to have a family meeting and make a plan with your family with regards to what to do in an emergency.  See below on this home page to view and review plan ideas from Maracopa County, Ready.gov and the Red Cross.  
2.  February food item is POWDERED MILK.  You can get it from the Home Storage Center located next to the Bishop’s Storehouse at the DI on the corner of Williams Field and Val Vista.  Cost is $5.50 per pouch.  You need 7 pouches per person for a 3 month supply.

Feb in the Garden  – This is a the new Feb Blog.  February is a BIG month in the Garden.  In Arizona this is the month for planting and getting things going.  Please watch the video it is great.

How To  Check out the whole “How To Section”.  Not only will you find good information on Gardening and Canning but you will also find information on Fermentation, Bread Making and How to Use Basic Foods.

Come Follow Me Resource Links

1.   The Home Storage Center is still open on Wed and Sat but may not have all items.   At the Home Storage Center they are having you fill out an order at a table outside and then wait in your car until they have it ready for you.  They will bring it out to your car but you have to go in to pay.   
2. Continue to fill your binder with the important papers that you will need to have in an emergency.  If you need to review how to set it up.  Link Here to the Binder Page.  If you have not made a plan with your family, look at last months notes and take time to make a PLAN.
3. Water is the storage item for this month.   You should  have 2 gallons per person per day for a minimum of two weeks on hand in case of sheltering place  without access to water.   That is 28 gals per person in your family.  This water is for drinking and cleaning.  You can  store water out of your tap if you put it in your own containers.  Since it is good now it will stay good if the containers are clean and food grade.  Old two liter bottles from soda (coke etc) are usable, as are your currently empty canning jars.  If you have them  and they are sitting waiting for the next use, you can fill them with water and put a lid on them.   You can also buy water by the gallon at Costco.  And you can by various water containment systems.  The cheapest ones I have found are 5 gallon containers at Winco.  Be sure to get at least one spigot to be rotated as you use another bottle.   Your water storage should be checked for leaks periodically, especially if you are storing it outside in the heat or in a hot garage.   It is less likely to develop leaks if it is stored inside.  

1. There is currently one cookbook.  Click Here to see a PDF copy.  It was done by the Mesa Home Storage Center in about 2001.  Many of the ideas, substitutions, and recipes are very good, and give you a good idea of how to use basic foods.      

Tips:  How to incorporate basic foods into your current eating habits.   Many of these ideas and more are included in the cookbook.

1. Rice –  Cook up a pot of rice and keep it in the refrigerator to add to other foods.  We add it to a granola cereal  base, vegetable soups and other dishes.   See the cook book for how to cook rice if you don’t know.  Or check out the new HOW TO section under Using Basic Foods.
2.  Oatmeal or rolled 5 or 7 grain cereal-  We make granola out of this or add it to a commercial granola cereal like the rice.  We also add this to meat loaf in small amounts and of course in cookies.
3.  Dry beans –  These need special care.  They need to be soaked (the longer the better -like over night) and the water drained and new water added before they are cooked or they can be cooked under pressure in your Instant Pot.     Here is a basic bean video that I like.  This is from my favorite basic homesteading youtube channel.  There are 2 recipes in this video.  Remember you can speed up the video if you want to.   Additional videos:  From  Beth Wamsley:  Amazing flour-less brownies.
4. Wheat can be ground or sprouted.   Here is a video about sprouting –  If you want to make your own sprouting lids look here.   How to make the sprouting lids.