Taught second "Painless Preparation" R.S. Enrichment class tonight

[phylm]

Had a great group in the June class, and actually inspired a few to get going on prep. Very enthusiastic group tonight. We actually have some of them planning to go on the cannery trip on next Wednesday morning.

They were shocked to learn that I will no longer be in this ward after Saturday night. We plan to be all moved to our 11 acre "farm" by then. I said that I would be glad to come down once a month to teach practical prep skills if they wanted.

[Noahs ARK]

With the way the economy is going, I can't imagine ANYONE not wanting to get going on their prepping. I wish I could attend your classes.

My 37 year old nephew, who has been inactive for years & years, called me the other day and said he'd started on his prepping about 6 months ago. I was thrilled. I promised to e-mail him a list of my on-line catalogs. Hope he'll eventually get back to church.

Wow - is it time to move out to the "farm" already? You and your hubby sure don't waste time, do you?

[Babbi-Dan]

What topics did you cover? I'd be interested in hearing more about what you taught and how you approached the subjects.

[phylm]

What topics did you cover? I'd be interested in hearing more about what you taught and how you approached the subjects.

Sure! Started with a question: what is the reason most people don't have their emergency preparation done? Was surprised to hear "No room" first...that's usually the second answer after "It takes all the money we have just to get by."

I asked my visiting teacher if she'd like to tell them about my bed. She happily hopped up and described the 3-sided plywood frame, just high enough to clear 5-gallon pails, with a queen-size innerspring mattress on top. I told them that we put up shelves in one walk-in closet as well as a wall of shelves deep enough for three #10 cans in the guest bedroom. May not be fit for House Beautiful, but it looks great to me. Also, nobody absolutely has to have a coat closet at the front door. Use it for storage! As Pres. David O. McKay said: ""If you knew what I know, you'd put your [storage] in the middle of the living room floor, through a sheet over it, and walk around it."

As for the "no money" answer, I ask them how many cans of tuna or boxes of salt they could buy for the soda they grab when they stop at a quick stop for gas...or how much flour, sugar, cornmeal or oatmeal could they buy for that McDonald's Extra Value meal at the drive-thru? I then explain that painless preparation is a new mindset, a setting of priorities, that preparation, both temporal and spiritual, is a commandment, not just a suggestion, and it is one of the most satisfying things you can do.

It came as a shock to most of them when I told them that, if electric power were to be off indefinitely, due to a terrorist attack on the nation's grid system or a EMP, that people in cities, or even people with deep wells, if they hadn't devised a method of drawing water from them, would die of thirst before they died of starvation. I urged them to start storing water in any clean containers they could get hold of...juice bottles, soda bottles, anything that had held drinkable liquid. And, I always say that they will be told NOT to store water in milk jugs. I say store it in milk jugs, just don't store it where a leaking jug would do any harm. Put down some boards, cardboard, or plywood in the garage, and store them there. I have even stored them outside beside a shed. That water will clean babies' bodies--or yours, wash dishes, rinse out garments or diapers, or, if necessary, can be boiled and used for cooking or drinking.

I also described how one quarter teaspoon of swimming pool shock treatment powder will purify a 55 gallon drum of water.

I told them not to think of preparing as a matter of buying double what they usually spend for food for a year, but to start with the basics. I stressed "THINK SURVIVAL!"

I took a church cannery price list, and asked them to figure up what it would cost for a breakfast of oatmeal ($2.10 for a # 10 can) with a bit of sugar, jam, honey or dried fruit on it, dry milk, a glass of fruit drink from mix, and whole wheat toast. Then figure up what it would cost for a year's supply. That would give them one nutricious meal a day for their family. Survival. (I let them know that 20 fifteen pound bags of charcoal would also furnish one hot meal a day for their families for a year.)

Of course I got a "My kids wouldn't eat that!" and I just replied that they'd be happy to eat it if they were hungry enough. And when one sister said that she had just discarded 1500 pounds of storage that her mother had had, because it was "out of date," I nearly blew my cork. I said that I am still using some 30 year old vegetables that a friend gave me years ago, and that they are still bright-colored and good. That led to a discussion of shelf life, and I told them that if it doesn't have weevils in it, use it! In fact, if times are desperate enough, that they might find themselves covering weeviled rice in water so they could skim the weevils off when they came to the top, or they might just cook it weevils and all, and thank Heavenly Father for the extra protein!

To those (most of 'em) who don't own a wheat grinder, I said "Store white flour from the cannery." and store wheat and beans, and get a grinder as soon as you can. I gave them a source for a cast iron grinder for $50. And I stressed, as usual, that a grain and a legume is a complete protein...that you can stay healthy and get by without meat, if necessary. Mentioned bean flour and how to incorporate it into the wheat flour recipes to creat the complete food. Also covered bumming free food buckets and covers from delis and bakeries, and how to store bulk foods from the cannery with either the oxygen packets or dry ice.

I had just one hour, but covered canning of vegetables and meat, which my visiting teacher offered to teach them, since I had taught her how, and she is a canning whiz now! I managed a lot of questions and discussion, while encouraging them to just get started and describing some of the meals, foods, and homemade mixes that can be easily made from storage.

There seemed to be a lot of enthusiasm, and it took awhile to get out of there. Several asked about the ward cannery trip the next week.

Afterthought: I had discussed the previous month's prep session I had taught in June with our visiting teacher couple, and he had asked if he could attend the July R. S. meeting. I said "sure," and sure enough, he came, and took notes thoughout the class!

[signseeker]

Wow, phylm, I would've loved to go to your class! Sounds like a great time!

I wanna' hear more about the 'farm.' :)

[Noahs ARK]

Whoops - double post.

[Noahs ARK]

As Pres. David O. McKay said: ""If you knew what I know, you'd put your [storage] in the middle of the living room floor, through a sheet over it, and walk around it."

And when one sister said that she had just discarded 1500 pounds of storage that her mother had had, because it was "out of date," I nearly blew my cork. I said that I am still using some 30 year old vegetables that a friend gave me years ago, and that they are still bright-colored and good. That led to a discussion of shelf life, and I told them that if it doesn't have weevils in it, use it! In fact, if times are desperate enough, that they might find themselves covering weeviled rice in water so they could skim the weevils off when they came to the top, or they might just cook it weevils and all, and thank Heavenly Father for the extra protein!


That quote is why I now have 10 cases of canned goods sitting in front of my fireplace. I have no idea where to put it right now, but until I do find a place it can sit right where it is.

I just about hyperventilated when I read about the food being discarded because it was "out of date". My mom still has & uses #10 cans that I know are at least 30+ years old. Oh My Gosh - what a waste!

Weevils? Pfffft - I've had weevils in cake & muffin mixes that were barely off the grocery shelf. Sift 'em out. Or skim them off (like you said) when they come to the top. Or grind 'em up and eat 'em.

[faif2d]

I am interested in your source for the cast iron grinder for $50. Would they ship to Texas? Is it strong enough for grinding pop corn?

[4evermama]

Phylm- Sounds like a great presentation, wish I could have been there.
It's a comfort to know that others are out there with similar mind sets.

Store it anywhere you can, up the water storage, eat the weevils... my kind of women.

As far as the sister dumping the food-
Proverbs 21:20
There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

(Ditto to Sign's farm inquiry...what's going on?)

Noah- Sounds like you are burning at both ends. Working on preps and taking care of DH...the Lord must certainly be with you sweetie. And hey, I'd bet with a couple of cushions and a nice throw, you could have yourself a brand spanking new sofa! :hurray: Edible, even.

[Noahs ARK]

And hey, I'd bet with a couple of cushions and a nice throw, you could have yourself a brand spanking new sofa! :hurray: Edible, even.

Funny you should mention this -- I just found a place for 5 of those cases. I had a corner in the bedroom. Stacked 5 cases, put one of those round table tops on it, covered it with a table cloth and put a plant on top.

I love my new "table".

[4evermama]

Funny you should mention this -- Stacked 5 cases, put one of those round table tops on it, covered it with a table cloth and put a plant on top.

I love my new "table".


Love it!:thumbsup:

[arbilad]

Wow, Phylm, good class! It sounds like you did everything very well. Not to mention that you helped them see how cheap storage can be, instead of following the false mantra of "store what you eat, eat what you store". That has kept so many people from getting a year's supply because they are afraid that their food budget will explode. I applaud you.

[Dolcezza]

I'm the preparedness coordinator and I am used to hear all the excuses they are throwing at you, LOL.

Sometimes I think that spoiled adults and kids who only eat particular types of food will have to be desperate to eat something they don't like - there was some research done about donations of wheat and rice to starving populations for whom wheat and rice were not staples, and they did not touch them.

It would also be nice to teach people what to eat from a park/forest, which weeds are good etc because your lovely pile of food storage CAN disappear in 1 minute during a flood (think Pakistan), in a fire, or due to theft when you are not at home.

Another valuable skill is how to purify water using fabric to filter it, using the sun, etc and how to start a fire - all basic survival skills.

It's no good having 1000.00.000. cans if your can opener breaks...no good having 300 kg of wheat if you don't know how to sprout it in case there is no grinder.

Skill is as important as possessions. Isn't it?:001_rolleyes:

[4evermama]

Skill is as important as possessions. Isn't it?:001_rolleyes:

At the last preparedness firedside that I taught, this idea was my primary focus. No money? Learn a skill. No room? Learn a skill. Don't like to eat wheat? Learn a skill. Whenever someone tries to stalemate, I just explain that we can find a million excuses not to do something. But we only have to find ONE to put ourselves into action. Education is preparedness as much as anything else...if it's not THE most important aspect.

We all have something to contribute and one person cannot carry the load. That burden can bring a lot of anxiety if you live in an area that is vastly underprepared or unconvinced that there is a need to be so. Think of how much easier a crisis would be if we all knew how to work together BEFORE it hit.

The other thing that I hear a lot is "well, how do YOU know?" My answer to that is ususally, "Fine, assume that I don't. When you get the information that proves my advice obsolete, give me a call and I'll change the hand-outs.":wink (4):

[Noahs ARK]

Love it!:thumbsup:


Ha Ha Ha - hubby asked me this morning "when did you get that new table?"

I proudly whipped up the tablecloth and VOILA - cases of fruit & veggies! :cool (2):

[Dolcezza]

LOL survivalist style furniture!

[phylm]

LOL survivalist style furniture!

Yep! My "new" twin bed is cannery boxes of #10 cans holding up a good spring mattress.

[phylm]

I am interested in your source for the cast iron grinder for $50. Would they ship to Texas? Is it strong enough for grinding pop corn?

Sorry to be so tardy to answer your request. Since my 7-22 post, we have moved, done a 3 week trip to Vermont (family reunion, and our 60th wedding anniversary celebration,) my husband's knee surgery and recovery, plus getting shelves built and attempts at getting stored and organized in our new place. Also have set out some fruit trees, cut brush and mowed the "hayfields" all over the acreage.

So-o...you can get the grinder at R. H. Shumway Seed Company. You should be able to find it online. They also have a lot of heritage seeds.

A bit on our new digs:

We bought 11 acres with a serviceable two bedroom mobile home and a good pole barn on it. The land is mostly open, fenced and cross-fenced, with varied hardwoods and pine woods on three sides. Have a drilled well, and I have Lehman's "deep well bucket" that will bring up a couple of gallons at a time, but we're also across the road from the edge of the Waccasassa Flats, a large expanse of wetlands, and I can see cypress trees from our front steps. Needless to say, the water table is fairly near the surface, so it wouldn't be too much trouble to hand dig water for the neighbors if the Schumer hits. We're on a knoll, so aren't in danger of flooding. We also are only a mile from the dairy farm where we've been getting our free cow manure, which pleases my husband greatly. He has already gotten one load.

We will probably have some livestock sooner or later, but want to get a pick-your-own thornless blackberry and raspberry business going first. I'm pleased to be fairly near swamp, because swamps are nature's wildfood supermarket.

[Noahs ARK]

Phylm ~ I consider myself a highly active woman, but after reading your posts I always feel like a total slug.

Can I be your daughter? :l0 (14):

[phylm]

Sure, but maybe you should consult with my other four daughters first. They have always considered me the cross they have to bear. and one of them has never given up on the idea of bringing me up right! I told my youngest daughter to never let her older sister get her hands on me when I'm old and helpless! They all like to reminisce on the occasions when I embarrassed them while they were growing up. I just figure poor folks gotta have fun somehow!

[faif2d]

Phylm,Since I just moved about 2 years ago and then retired I can sympathise with the journey that you have just completed. I thank you for the site and not only for the grinder. I am interested in trying to grow sweet potatoes and they have a fine selection and a sampler pack! So thanks for the site and good luck with your berry patch.