"According to Agriculture Science Experts at Penn State University the (seed) shelf life of some popular vegetables are as follows:

Five Years: Cucumber, endive and muskmelon.
Four Years: Cabbage, cauliflower, eggplant, pumpkin, radish and squash.
Three Years: Beans, celery, carrot, lettuce, pea, spinach and tomato
Two Years: Beets, and pepper seeds.
One Year: Sweet corn, onion, parsley and parsnips."

These times are based on optimal storage conditions which include keeping seeds cool and dry."

Home Treatments

SicknessIt is in the nature of all influenza pandemics to cause widespread illness and death. As during seasonal flu, the vast majority of those sick with pandemic flu will be treated at Home by their family members and friends.

Ask the question In an Emergency! Do you know where your children are?

Do your kids know what to do in an emergency if it happened during the school day?

Do you know your schools emergency plans? Each school has a plan and you should know what it is.

What happens in the event of an emergency, at what point will your kids be released to you?

Do you have a plan for picking up your children, what will you do with your little ones in the chaos of a mass pick-up. You might want to make plans with a friend or neighbor to watch your little ones while you pick up your and your friends children. In this case, make sure that the school knows ahead of time that you are authorized to pick them up.

Do your children know where to meet you when they are released?

Do they have an emergency kit in their desk, backpack or locker?
A kit would contain things like: 

Compact emergency blanket
Small Flashlight
Food/Water
small first-aid kit/essential medication
Identification card
Contact information, emergency plan/ Family photo
A small game or book
A note of encouragement, to them from you, would be nice for some reassurance that you’ll reunite with them as soon as possible.

Talk to your children about this situation before it happens so they have input about what items they'd like in their kit. If they are prepared for disasters, wherever they are, they'll be much better able to cope with whatever comes their way, and also, they'll be able to help others who aren't so ready

Remember you are not alone

God's Answer to Life's Frustrations. For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has a positive answer for it.
You say, "It's impossible."
God says: "All things are possible." (Luke 18:27)

You say, "I'm too tired."
God says: "I will give you rest." (Matt 11:28-20) 

You say, "Nobody really loves me."
God says: "I love you". (John 3:16 - John 13:34) 

You say, "I can't go on." 
God says: "My grace is sufficient." (II Cor. 12:9 - Psalm 91:15) 

You say, "I can't figure things out." 
God says: "I will direct your steps." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say, "I can't do it." 
God says: "You can do all things in Me." (Phil 4:13) 

You say, "It's not worth it." 
God says: "It will be worth it." (Romans 8:2)

You say, "I can't forgive myself." 
God says: "I forgive you." (I John 1:9 - Romans 8:1) 

You say, "I can't manage."
God says: "I will supply all your needs." (Phil 4:19)

You say, "I'm afraid." 
God says: "I have not given you a spirit of fear." (II Tim. 1:7) 

You say, "I'm always worried and frustrated."
God says: "Cast all your cares on ME." (I Peter 5:7) 

You say, "I don't have enough faith." 
God says: "I've given everyone a measure of faith." (Romans 12:3) 

You say, "I'm not smart enough." 
God says: "I give you wisdom." (I Cor. 1:30) 

You say, "I feel all alone." 
God says: "I will never leave you or forsake you." (Heb. 13:5)

Card Board Box Oven

Did you know that you can make a cardboard box into an oven that works just as well as your oven at home? You can! And with this type of oven, you never have to worry about what to eat when the electricity goes out.Cardboard box oven

Week 8

Week 8

Did you know that grocery stores commonly store only enough food to cover 2-3 days of customer needs? What that alarming fact means to us is that in the case of a truckers strike, natural or man-made disaster which closes roads, or a pandemic, we are in real trouble if we don’t have our own food supply in our homes. Anyone who has lived through a disaster knows store shelves empty very fast and of everything! A disaster in a port town or in areas that house the large food distribution centers will affect everyone they supply for hundreds of miles.

Check savings for the month March of your grocery store ads and also the coupon inserts that come in your local Sunday paper for additional savings. If you have a stash of coupons check for any that are frozen foods and watch for those to go on sale this month. This week is also the time to stock up on corned beef as St. Patrick’s Day is the best time of the year for that.

March - National Frozen Food Month,              
Grocery Sales: Frozen vegetables, meats, breakfast items, and TV dinners. Case lot sales - canned soups, fruit, vegetables, beans, meats, stew, honey, jelly, Mac & cheese, Spam, hand grain mill     Seasonal Sales: Jackets and raincoats, luggage, gardening tools, seeds, toy clearance air beds.
 

1)    Purchase two frozen items for your food storage.

2)   Make three copies of the following important papers. As you have done in the past, place one copy in adult 72 hour kits and place another copy in the manila envelope to be mailed to your contact. The items for this week: Social Security cards, title slips for all cars and trucks, and passports.

3)    Add to your food storage: 2 pounds rice, 2 pounds flour, and 3 pounds of pasta.

(Make sure you never store spices or anything mint with other foods as your rice will soon taste like mint or chili powder).

Food Storage Item:

Amount

Shelf Life

Storage

Grains

300 lbs plus

30 years +

Dry & weevil proof

Cereal

5 lbs./5 boxes cereal

2-3 years

Dry & weevil proof

Cornmeal

10 lbs.

30 years+*

*See below

Flour

75 lbs./ 3 bags(25lb.)

8-10 years

Dry & weevil proof

Mixes (pancake, muffin, etc.)

10 lbs.

2 years

Dry & weevil proof

Oats

20 lbs./ 7 (48oz.)bag

30 years+*

*See below

Pasta

40 lbs./40 bags(1lb.)

30 years+*

*See below

Rice

40 lbs./ 2 bags(20lb.)

30 years+*

*See below

Wheat

100 lbs./4 bags(25lb)

30 years+*

*See below

*According to the LDS church website, www.providentliving.com it states:

"Properly packaged, low moisture foods stored at room temperature or cooler (75 F or lower) remain nutritious and

Edible MUCH longer than previously thought according to findings of recent scientific studies. Estimated shelf life

For many products has increased to 30 years or more." See website for more detailed information.

LEGUMES/BEANS:

60 lbs.

*If beans are DRIED, they will last over 30 years!

Black Beans

10 lbs./10 cans

Canned/ 2 years

Cool, dry place

Chili

5 lbs./5 cans

Canned/ 2 years

Cool, dry place

Kidney Beans

10 lbs./10 cans

Canned/ 2 years

Cool, dry place

Lentils

5 lb. bag

30 years+

Cool, dry place

Pinto Beans

15 lb. bag/15 cans

Canned/ 2 years

Cool, dry place

Pork n' Beans

5 lbs./5 cans

Canned/ 2 years

Cool, dry place

Refried Beans

10 lbs./10 cans

Canned/ 2 years

Cool, dry place

MILK/DAIRY:

16 lbs.

Evaporated Milk

2 lbs./ 3 (12oz.) cans

2 years

Cool, dry place

Other

1 lb.

Expirations

Cool, dry place

Powdered Milk

12 lbs.

20 years+

*See Above Statement

Sweetened Condensed

1lb./2 cans

2 years

Cool, dry place

SUGAR:

60 lbs.

6 lbs./ 3 (32oz.)bags

2 years+

Tightly sealed & dry

Corn Syrup

1 lb.

2 years+

Sealed

1)    Begin a household inventory. Friends recently lost their home to a fire. They were unable to receive any money from their insurance company until they submitted a complete list of everything they lost. They had one shot, no do overs, which  means if they forgot to list something, tough luck. It took them months to try to recreate from memory what was in every cupboard, closet and drawer in the house. Inventories are soooo important. This week take your digital or video cameras and go through the kitchen and master bedroom. A video is great because you can document the importance of an items as you film it. For photos you can go back later and make notes about any family heirlooms or other valuable items. If you use a digital camera, download the pictures and email them to yourself just in case. When we have finished our inventory we will put it all on a 2 separate discs for our 72 hour kits and in the manila envelope to mail a copy to our cont acts.

Kitchen Home Inventory Form

Item	Purchase date	Manufacturer Model/serial #	Cost at purchase	Value/ replacement	Notes/ description
Refrigerator
Freezer
Dishwasher
Oven/range
Vent hood
Dinette set
Bar stools
Microwave
Toaster oven
Toaster
Blender
Mixer
Food processor
cabinets
Bakers rack
Crock pot
Tableware
Décor/knick-knacks
candles
Pots & pans
Bowls/Serving Pieces
Bake ware
Plastic ware/storage containers
Utensils
clocks
Step Stool
Window Treatment
Light Fixtures
Food Supplies
Cleaning Supplies
Other
Other
other

Master Bedroom Inventory

Bed
Headboard
Bedding
Mattress
Box spring
Dressers
Chests
Vanity Chairs Nightstands
Bookcases
Books
Lamps
Clocks
TV
Blankets
Carpet area rug
Mirrors
Rocking chair
CD /DVD
Fireplace equipment
Décor items
Clothing shoes
Jewelry accessories
Coats/outerwear
Photo albums
Ceiling fan/light fixtures
Telephone
Curtain drapes
Other
Other

5). Purchase Mylar blankets. You will need one for every 72 hour kit, at least one for every car and a few to be used during power outages. These blankets are designed to provide maximum warmth during cold weather, retaining 90% of body heat. They are also excellent to create a lean-to if you are in an area with no shade. The blanket will reflect the sun and provide relief from the heat. Hang in a sunny window during a summer power outage

6). Add hats, safety pins, and sun glasses to your 72 hour kits.

7). Hold a family fire drill. Discuss stop, drop and crawl. Remind family members to feel a door before opening it and if it is hot do not open the door. Find another way out of the room. Determine a meeting place outside of your home and then hold a surprise drill.

.1.  Draw up an escape plan, if you don't already have one in place. Involve everyone in the family while making the escape plan. Simply draw a diagram of each room in the house and clearly mark all windows, doors and stairs, which are possible escape routes. Then, physically go through each room with the diagram in hand and with all family members present.

2. Mark the primary and secondary routes of escape from each individual room clearly on the diagram and physically point them out. Each room should have 2 escape routes in case the primarily route is blocked by smoke or fire. The primary route should be a door and the second can either be another door or a window. If the room is on the second floor, then any windows marked as secondary escape routes should be equipped with an escape ladder. These ladders should be tested and children should practice setting them up and safely climbing down them.

3. Install smoke detectors, if you have not already done so. Install 1 on each floor and outside each of the bedrooms. Test them on a regular basis to ensure the batteries have not gone dead and the detector is working properly.

4. Start your home fire escape drill with each family member tucked into bed in their individual bedrooms. Since many fires start in the middle of the night when everyone is sleeping, this is the obvious choice to begin practicing your escape plan. You should sleep with your bedroom door closed to slow the spread of smoke and flames, so each door should be closed during practice runs.

5. Press the "test" button on the smoke detector to indicate there is a fire in the house. Once the alarm sounds, everyone should immediately drop to the floor where the air will be fresher during an actual fire. Teach young children to crawl along the floor to avoid the toxic air that rises towards the ceiling and make their way to their primary route of escape.

6. Teach all family members how to test a door for heat by placing the back of the hand on it to feel if it's hot. Emphasize that if the door is hot to not open the door. A hot door is a good indication that the fire is right outside the door and could engulf the room in flames if it's opened. Explain to them that if the door is hot to move on to the second escape route as outlined on the escape plan.

7. Practice escaping through the window indicated on the escape plan. Make sure everyone in the family can easily open the windows that should be used and that they can go through the opening quickly and safely. You will want to help children practice using the window as an escape option, especially if it involves using a ladder, to ensure they can do it under normal circumstances.

8. Meet in the family safe spot that should have been previously discussed when making your escape plan. Each person should go to this place and wait for everyone else to arrive. If you have a cell phone with you, then call the fire department from this phone. Otherwise, wait for 2 family members to arrive and have 1 family member go to a neighbor's house to call and leave the second family member at the safe spot to let the others know where the missing person has gone and that the fire department is on their way.

9. Practice your home fire escape plan several times using different scenarios to ensure everyone knows both escape routes from every room. It's also not a bad idea to practice at night, so you are used to escaping in the dark. Once everyone knows all the routes, then practice them at least twice each year.