Do you have a plan?  If you don’t, you need to write one and now is a great time.  I’ve often thought it over in my head, playing out several possible scenarios.  I’ve committed this week to writing these thoughts down and reviewing the plan with all involved parties - even the kids. 

I’m lucky because I have wonderful in-laws that care for my kids, either all day or after school.  Unfortunately their home is about 12 miles from my home and workplace.  So, considering that something BIG happens like a major earthquake, I’ve let my in-laws know to stay put and we’ll come to them.  What if there’s a major evacuation though?  I’ve selected two meet-up points one a few miles away and the other out of state.  I’ve also considered that staying put may be the safest alternative to evacuating.  I need to work out the communication details though.  It’s often said that text messaging should work even if cell service is out, but really I need to consider all possibilities ahead of time.  It may be that we cannot reach each other for a number of days and I want to be sure my family knows what to do.

Another problem that I face is the fact I live in a highly populated area with large mountain ranges bordering one side and the Pacific Ocean the other.  There are only so many choices.  If there’s a major earthquake here, freeways may be closed.  It’s always good to have two different routes, and even a third option mapped out ahead of time.  You can keep your written plan, along with detailed maps in a ziploc bag in the front pocket of your survival bags.  It’s good to review this plan twice a year to make sure your routes haven’t closed and that everyone knows what the plan is.

It would also be good while developing this plan to familiarize yourself with your children’s school’s policies.  Some schools go immediately into lock-down and your kids won’t be released, others will expect you to pick them up as soon as possible.  Check this out and if you don’t agree with their policy, plan how you may work around it.  Maybe if you sign a waiver they will agree to an open door policy - and there may be other options.

Keep in mind that if you’re prepared you can act quickly and be one of the first on the road out of danger.  Second guessing and waiting for instructions will ensure you’re in a very long line headed out of the danger area.  Keep your car gas tank full - this is something I constantly remind myself of - I don’t want to be stuck in a long line for gas when everyone else is getting on the road ahead of me.

Be prepared, develop a family plan this week and have some peace of mind that in an emergency you’ll know what to do and reach safety as soon as possible.

Do you ever wonder what kind of food to keep in your emergency or bug out bags?  There’s a lot to choose from, but it may not be food you normally eat all the time.  Really think about this now because you want to be able to grab these bags in a hurry without stopping to think if they’re properly stocked. 

Some good items are:

• Water - this is your MUST have
• Trail mix
• Peanut butter crackers
• Nuts - they sell great individual bags at Trader Joe’s
• Dried fruit
• Small packs of tuna - they sell an individually wrapped can with crackers, mayo and pickles
• Spam - there are individual packages of this too now!  It’s like they’re reading our minds!
• Fruit roll-ups
• Noodle in a cup - the just add hot water kind

There are some other items I’ve put in our bags because I know my kids will eat it, and it doesn’t require cooking:

• Ravioli in a can
• Vienna sausages
• Pop tarts
• Dried seaweed (called nouri, it provides lots of vitamins and iodine)

Don’t give me the bad mom award yet - these foods are not very nutritious, and they’re not things they get regularly now.  But, in a true emergency they’ll be some familiar treats that will help the deal with what’s going on - we can think about proper nutrition after the crisis.

Check your bags and stock up on plenty of food for a couple days at least.  Keep them in an easy to reach area where they won’t be crushed if there’s an earthquake.  I keep a calendar with a reminder once a month to check expiration dates and rotate my food and water as needed.  Hopefully I’ll never need to use these bags, but they’re ready just in case.

I used to be so embarrassed when my Mom rinsed out her ziploc bags to reuse.  “Why not just get a new one?” I’d ask her and she’s say something like it’s perfectly good, and they’re expensive.  Who knew I’d grow up to be a ziploc bag re-user too?  If it didn’t have meat or something messy in it, it gets rinsed out to be used again. 

If you Goggle “thrifty” you will see just how popular it’s become.  Being called thrifty is not always meant to be a compliment, but that’s changing as we enter an economic downturn and realize just how much waste and excess we produce.  Reduce, reuse, recycle has become the mantra of the green movement, and it should be a call to service for preppers too.  We should be extra diligent to make good selections of items that we’ll use and recycle items we don’t need anymore.  Being thrifty isn’t always about buying the cheapest items.  Cheap doesn’t make it a good value.  Rather than think cheap, think lasting quality. 

Some additional ways to be thrifty:

• Take your lunch to work in a recycled bag
• Reuse your grocery bags, plastic, paper or cloth
• Eat more leftovers - I need to work on this one!
• Shop once a week to save time, money and gas
• Buy only things you use a lot of in bulk
• Stop buying paper plates!
• If someone offers hand-me-down clothes for your kids, take them!  Even if they wear it only at home, it’s helps save our natural resources

I admit, I’m not one to start buying generic cereal and shop at the thrift store, but there’s nothing wrong with doing so and I need to concentrate more on the spirit of getting a good deal.  Using my money wisely and giving to the needy when I have excess.  Our grandparents were experts at thriftiness.  Waste not, want not.  It’s a skill we’ve almost lost, but hopefully now that it’s cool, everyone will try it!

I went a little light this week for the challenge.  I know a lot of you may be facing some difficult times this year, and I want to show that even small additions to your food pantry can make a big difference in the long run. 

This is what I bought this week:

1 Bag Flour

1 Bag Rice

1 Pound Great Northern Beans

2 Cans Vegetarian Chili

1 Box Baking Powder

Total spent for week #12:  $12.85

Stock Up Challenge Week #13:

1 Box Cornmeal

2 Cans Pears

2 Cans Ready To Eat Pasta

Happy Shopping!

Times have changed.  There was a time, not too long ago when most women sewed their own clothing, or at the minimum repaired tears and holes.  I remember my Mother sewed a lot of her dresses, and even some for us girls.  My Mother-in-law did the same.  Today though it’s really more cost effective to buy clothing, and often it’s so inexpensive that if it tears or wears out, we replace it with a new item.  Think though, what you would do in a long-term emergency.  I have little boys, and I know that even if they were confined to the house, their clothing would still become worn and torn.  You want to consider having a good, stocked sewing kit and may some fabric stored away.  Not only will this allow you to keep your clothing in good repair, but will keep you occupied with projects.  I’ve also considered storing away wool, cotton and acrylic yarns for various uses.

There’s no reason to become a master seamstress to be able to repair your own clothing.  I’ve always sewn, growing up with a Mother that taught me the basics, but unless you have or can acquire a treadle machine, you’ll have to sew by hand if the electric grid is down.  This is not hard, and you could probably make do with the most rudimentary of stitches in a pinch - but if you don’t have a good supply of needles and thread you won’t be able to try. 

Items you might consider for a sewing kit:

• Needles - different sizes for different materials
• Thread - cotton is good, but nylon and synthetic materials are stronger
• Measuring Tape
• Pins - for holding materials together while you sew
• Small scissors

You might also consider:

• Knitting and crocheting needles
• Yarn - cotton, wool and acrylic
• Fabric - cotton is best, fleece is always good to have too

You could keep all your sewing items in a small tin, and even make smaller kits for your survival bags - this is another great use for used mint tins.

Don’t forget clothing repair and maintenance as an important aspect of your preparedness.  Food, shelter and clothing are the three most important aspects of keeping yourself and your family healthy and safe through any emergency.

We don’t need to talk about why sustainable living has become so popular over the last few years - regardless of how it got here, it’s becoming more mainstream as we speak.  Some people tend to believe those who are promoting a sustainable life are somewhat eccentric.  But really it’s the acceptance of the fact that we as humans have a huge impact on the earth and it’s our job to be good stewards.  This can mean anything from picking up litter in your neighborhood to growing all your own vegetables.  It’s an awareness of how our lives and the choices we make impact the environment.

You don’t have to accept all the evidence of global warming to know you should be a good caretaker of the earth.  Just as we maintain our houses, keep them repaired and clean, we should do the same for the planet we live on.  This is the only home we have, and if we can survive all that mankind and mother nature can throw at us by being prepared - we need to keep the earth healthy and able to sustain life.

I’ve often wondered what happens to all the meat and fish at the grocery store that no one buys.  It’s stamped with a “sell by” date, so we know it’s not there for more than a few days.  It’s not used to feed the hungry, or given to the disadvantaged.  It’s simply thrown away.  Bad goods that no one wanted.  Disregarding the fact that the animal was cared for and raised to give humans nutrition, which is certainly a worthy cause.  If no one buys it, it’s all for nothing.  Doesn’t it make more sense to not have so much meat available at one time?  Wouldn’t it be more sustainable if local farmers provided just enough as we needed it? 

Think about the piles and piles of apples at the store.  I shop at a market that buys only from local producers when possible, but there are still gigantic piles of apples every day - whenever I want them.  So, what happens to the apples that aren’t bought?  I remember my Mom making apple pies and apple jam every fall when she received a bushel of apples from a friend.  Leftover, old apples don’t even make it to the pie anymore.

I’m just beginning my sustainable lifestyle, so I still shop for produce every week.  I’ve found myself becoming more in tune with what is in season and buying accordingly.  Right now apricots are sweet, but I don’t buy them in April when they’re not.  Tomatoes are never better than in the summer, so enjoy them when they’re ripe and can them to savor the rest of the year. 

I have a big family, so I have a big, gas-guzzling car.  I can’t give it up at this time, so I find other ways of contributing, like not driving all around at lunch time, or taking the shortest route possible to where I’m going.  There are things in your life you won’t want to give up entirely, and really that’s not what it’s about.  It’s about thinking about your impact and making the changes you can that will benefit everyone. 

If you want to survive, make sure we keep the earth a beautiful, healthy place to live.

How did your shopping go this week?  I managed to get everything on the list for a decent price so saved some money.  Here’s what I bought:

2 Cans Spaghetti Sauce

2 Packages Spaghetti

4 Cans Stewed Tomatoes

2 Cans Tuna

1 Bottle Mustard

Total spent for week #11:  $15.98

Here’s the list for the Stock Up Challenge Week #12:

1 Bag White Rice

1 Bag Flour

2 Cans Chili

1 Box Baking Soda

1 Bag Dried Beans - any kind you like

Happy shopping!

I remember when I was little my Mom went through a period where she sprouted bean sprouts all the time.  I still remember the paper towel in the jar sitting by the kitchen sink, but I don’t really remember eating them.  Maybe she never gave it to us kids because of the risk of bacteria.  I never really thought about sprouting seeds until I became interested in survival preparedness.  Now I know that knowing how to sprout seeds, and having seeds to sprout on hand could be a lifesaver. 

I’ve thought of a few scenerios where it might be necessary for my family and I to remain in our house, closed up for a few months, or even longer.  While I have plenty of canned vegetables available, eating some fresh greens will keep us healthier and give more variety than eating only canned produce will.  There’s a very easy solution to this, especially if you have seeds stored away. 

Sprouting is a relatively easy concept, and can be done several ways.  One way is to plant the seeds directly in a small container of soil.  Keep them warm and moist and in a few weeks sprouts will appear.  All you need to do is trim them off, clean and enjoy.  But, who knows if you’ll have access to soil, or if it could be contaminated.

Another way to sprout is with a regular jar, with a cheesecloth or screen cover.  Place the seeds in the jar - start with a few seeds and increase the amount as you become more experienced.  Cover with water, and let soak for 12 - 24 hours.  Pour off the water thorough the screen and rinse the seeds twice with cool water.  Tilt the jar in a bowl so that the excess drains out completely.  Continue to rinse and drain 2 - 3 times per day.  Allow the sprouts to grow as large as you like them, but they will probably taste better the younger they are.  It should take 3 - 6 days for your sprouts to be ready for eating.  Make sure you refrigerate them adequately, or consume immediately if refrigeration isn’t available.  They should keep for up to a week in the fridge.

Sprouts may be grown with sunlight or without.  Those grown in sunlight will be slightly more green and nutritious, but in an emergency situation, either will work. 

Successful sprouting depends mostly on the quality of your seeds.  Make sure you purchase edible, food grade organic seeds from a reliable source.  Keep your seeds healthy in a dry, cool place until used.  Refrigerate sprouts and use the utmost care to keep all items that come in contact with your sprouts clean and bacteria free.

Most common sprouting seeds:

Alfalfa

Broccoli

Cabbage

Clover

Garbanzo Beans

Lentils

Mung Beans

Peas

Quinoa

Radish

Try sprouting with your kids - it’s a fun, fast project for them and will produce tasty results!  For more info and an organic seed source, check out this site:  www.sproutpeople.com

I don’t have even one pair of goggles in my house or car.  That will change after today.  Eye protection is one aspect of preparedness that I haven’t thought too much about.  I’ve considered particle respirators, rubber gloves and disposable gowns for emergencies such as pandemic flu, but until now I haven’t given much thought to goggles. 

Safety goggles can protect your eyes, not only from the flu virus, but from chemical contaminants in the air.  The are a crucial item to have available for all members of your family.  Even swim goggles or masks are functional in a pinch, but for a small price you can have some of these for everyone in your family;

There are several discount sellers of OSHA approved safety goggles on the internet.  Make sure you get the type that protect against chemical splashes.  I plan on having a pair in each survival bag and one in my desk at work.  Don’t forget goggles in your survival preparations.  Your eyes will thank you!

Are you ready to get back into stocking up mode?  I’ve noticed that EVERYTHING has gone up in price.  So, in addition to survival insurance, stocking up will be inflation insurance too!

Why is it I’m always replacing my pasta and sauce?  My kids love it and sometimes we have it twice a week.  So, I’m always replacing stores.  Buy what you like and will use and you won’t have to think too much about rotation - it’ll take care of itself.

2 Jars Spaghetti Sauce

2 Packages Spaghetti

2 Cans Tuna

4 Cans Stewed Tomatoes

1 Bottle Mustard

Something interesting.  I noticed at Costco they have a new plastic organizer for all your canned goods.  It fits in a cabinet or closet shelf and I think holds up to 20 cans.  You don’t need anything fancy though, and certainly don’t need to buy anything.  Keep your cans right on the shelf and first in is first out, so add new stuff to the back.  If you don’t have room in a cabinet, put your stores in inexpensive plastic boxes and stick just about anywhere, except the garage.  Moderate temperatures are a must when storing food items. 

Happy shopping!  Check back on Friday to see what I bought.