It's That Time Of Year Again - And It's All About the F Word !

Yep, it is an 'F' word here in the high dessert and in the dry mountains.  It's FIRE season.  My little town of 5000 people grew last week with the first fire of the season.  The Circle K kept the hot dogs stocked past 9 pm and the donut delivery guy brought a double batch.  Even after midnight, the coffee pots were full.  That's what happens when the fire crews are brought in. 

I understand why the officials call it a forest fire when it is barely a flicker.  The only way to get the crews headed our way and to be aggressive enough to put a quick stop to a fire is to give it a name and call it a forest fire.  Lucky for all of us (because this was literally in the middle of town) this ended up being more of a house fire that spread to a few other homes and structures.  In deed, it did end up charring about 20 acres, earned it's name as the John Adams Fire, brought in an extra 80 fire fighters, 30 deputies, 13 agencies and a bunch of the local volunteers.  For a little community like ours, that isn't too shabby.  I'm pretty sure that without all the extra help, the situation would have become a whole lot worse.

From one interview by a near by news station, it is obvious that the home owners were not prepared for this situation.  It's an  instant reminder of why we have to be prepared for all types of events. 

Our fire department is great about reminding us to form a defensible space around our homes.  Clear 30 feet around all structures so that a fire will be more likely to lead around your home and follow a different path.  Avoid having fire wood close to buildings.  Leave a ladder against your home so there is easy access to your roof, if the fire department does get called out.  And if you can afford these darn high water bills, keep the vegetation around your home green.  Fire just doesn't like the green stuff.   Last but not least, keep a good amount of gas in your car.  The last thing you want to do is be all prepared and be sitting in a line at the gas pump, along with all those other unprepared people, hoping to get gas before all pumps are shut down.  There's lots of helpful info on the site called Ready, Set, Go.  Check it out.  And the basics are good for more than just forest fires. 

What about the "Go Bag"?  The homeowner interviewed, who lost everything, was not prepared. He said he grabbed on dog, and yelled at his wife to grab the other and they took off to safety. DUDE !  Where's the Go Bag?   I'll give him a little break since he has only lived here for about a year.  It took me a couple to get on board and ready. 

Every April first, I restock and refresh.  Sort of like an April Fools Day, I'm no fool sort of thing. New bottles of water.  Fresh snacks and pet food.  I wipe down the pet carriers so they are clean and ready.  Replace flash light and radio batteries, freshen up the first aid kit, and make sure that my computer back up is complete and on my external.  Double check that all my copies of bank info, pass port, insurance information and all other legal documents are intact.  All of this is in a canvas bag, along with a couple changes of clothes, a bed sheet and an emergency foil blanket, a net hammock with bug cover (that is so not necessary but in my mind, there could be a lot of uses for it) - this is then put into a giant zip loc bag to keep it dry.  That's how my "Go Bag" works for me. 

Mini Prepping # 7 - What About The Kids?

Short of having lived through a disaster of some sort, no adult can completely imagine what it will be like.  What about the kids?  Not only will it be a incomprehensible experience but terrifying too.  Who do kids look to for comfort and direction?  Adults.  What will kids do if the parents are panicked and unprepared?  Can you imagine this?  Take just a moment, right now, to think about how these little people will feel.  Just one more thing here - add into all of this the fact that children have very vivid imaginations.  You have now taken the fears of the average adult and multiplied it by 10.

Time to plan for the kids.

Children will look to the adults to guide and comfort them.  If the adults in the group are acting in a calm and calculated manor, the children will likely follow.

Children will need to feel a part in securing their surroundings.  The adults should plan, in advance, what type of jobs the children can do to help with the short and long term set up of their home situation.  A busy and working child will be less anxious and confuse.


You don't want your children to live in fear.  Nobody wants their children to be so afraid of what 'may' happen, that they can't enjoy their daily life.  But there are ways to explain and plan on the possibilities without filling them with fear.  Having a exit plan in case of a fire is always recommended.  Knowing how to use 911 is a must for all kids.  Helping to stock the shelves with emergency foods, just in case there is ever a problem with the store supplies, doesn't have to be scary.  And knowing that there may be times when you don't have daily luxuries such as electric, and need to rely on generators or candle light, again does not have to be a subject that will scare the children.  Especially if you practice this in non emergency times.

Keep the kids involved - doing inventory on the stock items is a great kid job.  You can make it a counting game for the wee ones and math problems for the older kids.  Camping in the living room, with candles power only, can be a party and a great way to practice the simpler life.

Do you camp?  This is a perfect time to practice survival tactics and have fun doing it.  If you are not the 'outdoors type' of family, a living room camp trip could be a great opportunity also.  Think you could spend a three day weekend, living at home, without the benefits of lights, microwaves and stoves?  Just try sometime.

 Educate your children on the types of disasters that may occur in your area.  i.e. - earthquakes, tornadoes,fire, floods, etc..  Also, always teach your kids which adults are OK to follow, if necessary.  And what to do if there are no adults in the house at the time disaster hits.   Nothing could be worse for a child then to be stranded, alone, and not know what to do or where to go. 

For all adults - read.  Even if you believe you have everything covered in your home, with your children, read what others have to offer.  You never know when some little tip may come up that you could benefit from.  A couple of good sources are the Red Cross and eHow.com  Check them out.

That said -

I have children of all ages in my family so kids being prepared is a super important subject to me.  Thus, there is a list of items for those who want to be kid ready.

colored pencils - this is better than crayons or felt markers that can
     melt or dry out.  Don't forget the sharpener.
color books and activity books - cover all ages

construction paper - this is great for kid projects and for making signs, if needed

 
playing cards -  perfect for kids and adults
books - short stories and joke books are great
compass - not only keeps kids busy but could prove to be useful
yarn and instructions on yarn projects
scissors

felt pieces
small games such as dominoes, dice, marbles, kid card games, etc..
     Items that you can use over and over.  You can also make up many
     games with just one item.
binoculars

glow sticks - you can not have too many glow sticks.  they are fun for the kids but essential for lighting in long term situations, where you batteries are going to run out.  I shop at Michaels Stores for a tube of 10 small glow sticks for one dollar.   Then I go to Dollar Tree, where I can get one to three larger sticks for one dollar.  The larger ones are the best when real lighting is needed.
glue sticks - keep in a well sealed plastic bag and check occasionally
     to make sure they are still good.  Rotate them like you do your
     food items.

paper plates, paper lunch bags and any items that your children will find entertaining

The above list may give you some ideas, tho most will have their own ideas.  No matter what your list may contain make sure that the items do not rely on batteries or sources of power. 

Make you list and start thinking about your pets.  That list will be coming soon.

Mini Prepping # 6 - Yet Another List

Did I ask before, in a past post, if you are bored of the list for Mini Preparedness?  I don’t remember for sure.  There you go - one of the reasons that I make lists.  I do forget at times.  There are times that I think that with age, I forget things and I use the list for security.  But, I have been making list since I was in my teens.  I do know that I feel a little pleasure in checking items off my lists.  I review them on a regular basis to see what I need and what coupons I have.  And I regularly come across new items that I want to have in storage, so it needs to go on a ‘list’.  With that said -  let’s look at some of the odds and ends that you would find in your kitchen that would be nice, if not essential to have in your emergency list. 

This list is not one with recommended amounts.  Depending on your personal situation, you will make that determination.   I will tell you that some are multi – purpose and will never go bad.  Some will last a very long time with proper storage, I use a Food Saver, so why not have plenty.  Most are not expensive items. 

Salt – this is a good thing to have, not just for seasoning but because if you get into a situation where people are becoming dehydrated because of a lack of water, it could be a life saver.  I have numerous containers of salt in my house because I use it to set color in many bright fabrics.  Another use, for when camping of just setting food up in an outdoor area, is to repel some of those pesky insect that are crawlers, such as ants, centipedes and scorpions.  It is not like they will not crawl across the salt but they usually will not.   If you save some cans the size of a small tuna can or a cat food can, you can place these under the legs of tables and even play pens or cribs.  Then add about a half inch of salt and know that your food is a little safer and maybe your babies tool   AND – salt never goes bad as long as it is kept dry.

Sugar – again this is one of those items that is more for pleasure than a need.  Think of the item you could make with a little extra of this item.  Also is a good bartering item if we are looking at a long term emergency.    This item – kept dry, will also last forever. 

Flour – no brainer here.  Make some camp fire biscuits or coffee cake, with any leftover fruit if you desire.  And item that if sealed well, can last a very long time.  I get 5 pound bags, leaving the flour in the sealed bag, and use the Food Saver to take most of the air out.   More than anything, I am keeping bugs and water out.  Always great for the barter power also.

Artificial sweetener - totally random item that is purely unnecessary but could be a nice treat for some and it takes up so little space.

Baking soda – the obvious exist here.  If you are lucky enough to be able to do a little stove top or over baking, this will be needed.  But look at the other possibilities.  If someone get a rash or a bite and the itch just won’t go away, this makes a perfect paste to relieve the irritation.  Minor burns that do not blister but hurt, or sunburn, will benefit for a little dusting of baking soda.  Because I use it in my refrigerator to help eliminate odors, I always have an extra few boxes around.  Come to think of it, order eliminating may be a nice think to have around if you are having to use a make shift bathroom in your back yard. 

Basic spices – totally for personal enjoyment and to help you not feel like you are being totally deprived.  Taste is such a satisfying sense.  If you are having a really lousy day, a bowl of soup with some good spices may relax you a bit more that beans that are lonely fulfilling nutritional needs.   I went through my cabinet and checked for my most often used spices and came up with pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, season salt, Italian seasoning, bay leaves and vanilla.  I pick these up at a dollar store so it is not a big cost and takes up little room.

Baking powder – just if you think that you may be doing that baking on the stove top again, it is helpful.

Dehydrated shitake mushrooms – Costco carries a large container of these for a reasonable price that I am not sure of at this time. These are amazing for the flavor and the nutritional content. It only takes a short time of soaking in water and you have fresh mushrooms, right about the time you think that there is nothing fresh to be had.  When stored in a Food Savor bag, these will last for years.  I know this for a fact since that is the way I store them.  

Small packets of assorted sauce and mixes – I have salad dressings, sloppy joe, chili, teriyaki, taco, bbq, guacamole, herb, enchilada, Asia pork stew, gravies, Cajun, fish, sweet and sour, and a few more.  I don’t have a lot of these, but they take up so little space, why not indulge if you can. All of these only need water or oils are needed to reconstitute. 

If I am in a tight situation and life is more stressful than I could ever imagine (and people around me are feeling the same), I’ll be damned if I am going to deprive myself of some flavor, if I can help it. 

Seeds – and I am not talking the kind to grow in the garden.  I am talking the kind that will give you fresh greens, quickly and easily.  This subject deserved its own post a few days ago.  Link here.  

Olive oil – like most items that do not have a huge shelf life and you cannot extend it by sealing, I just keep an extra bottle in the back of the cabinet and rotate.  

Coconut oil – as mentioned in an earlier post, this is an amazing item.  Fantastic for your health, to cook with (at low temps) and if you have a skin condition (or just want to stay moist) this will do the trick.  Like all oils, it is on the shelf with one extra. 

HONEY – this is so important.  I know that many people use this to add a little sweet to their oatmeal, tea or coffee, but it is so good for you.  We will all need to concentrate on consumption of antioxidants when times are tough.  Best of all, it will NEVER go bad.  So have plenty.  

Peanut butter – it’s energizing, and can be easily eaten straight or with that honey.  It has a good shelf life but I still keep it on the shelf with a couple extras for back up.

Popping corn – not that fancy microwave stuff but a bag or two of good ole’ popping corn.  You can pop it in a fry pan in just a matter of minutes.  Stir it around in a bowl with a little peanut butter and honey and you pretty much have a meal.  Popping corn is easiest sealed if you leave it in the original bag.

Vinegar – other than Easter eggs dye, there are so many uses for vinegar.  You can sooth the sting of a sunburn, cut and scrape.  You can also use for disinfecting items like toothbrushes and table tops.  There are many more and you can find some of them by clicking here. 

There you go with yet another list.  I know that there are items that I have missed and items on this list that are completely unnecessary.  But, these are only suggestions and items that I have decided to have in my personal stash.  

Good luck with your gathering and please don't put off starting and building your secure future.   

Mini Prepping # 5 - Comfort A Must For Good Health

I was sharing my list with a friend last month and they asked - "What are you trying to do here? Have a resort during a disaster?  When we are suppose to fighting to survive?"  And I wonder if any of my readers believe the same.  Let me explain why I do the 'over kill' on what I stock.

It seems, when I look at the people that I am surrounded by and people on television, that they tend to have two situations that control them.  I should say that there are two major issues that seem to be the largest problems.  Hunger and illness.  I consider the lack of sleep to be an illness when someone can not sleep even when there is an opportunity to do so.  So, in my mind, why not avoid all of these situations?

Another thing that I consider when I am building my 'survivalist resort' is that most of the food items that I gather are foods that I buy on a regular basis.  It is not wasted items.  It is just 'extra' of what I stock.  The extra cost is only a temporary one.  If I were to be without income, I would be utilizing my stock and restock when the income returned.  So, 'Resort' - No.  'Comfortable' - Yes!

I also consider that there are children involved when it comes to my case.  The trauma that a child will suffer through some of the possible situations, could effect them for a life time.  I have always said that if you practice some of these survival techniques when camping or picnicking, a child will accept them with ease.  But we know that kids will pick up on the adult stress no matter how hard you attempt to hide it.  So, we are back to making a huge attempt to keep adults and children alike, comfortable.  A hungry human is not a happy human.

So here I have my next lists.  The first one is a totally optional type list.  Again, I find it necessary because of the children that could be involved with me.  It's all about the snacks when it comes to the kids.
And some who are just big size kids. And I am not sticking to the healthy plan here.  Chocolate is a must for some when it comes to relaxation. 

Again - planning for 10 people for 30 days.

100 granola bars - make it a combination of crunchy type and the soft, fruit type. The crunchy kind can be removed from the box and preserved in a Food Saver bag; they will last for years. The fruit kind are different. I find that if you open the boxes and fill them til they are full, you can reduce the space taken. Then you can seal them up to prolong the life by quite a bit. Leave them in the box and stop the air removal just before it starts to squish the box. Other wise you will have crumbs instead of bars.
Right here, you may be thinking - 100 bars! That sounds like a lot. It is only 10 boxes. I not only have my stock, but I also have a few boxes on my shelf (that is another 30 bars) for the visiting kids.

40 small applesauce cups

40 small fruit cups

40 small jello cups

40 small pudding cups

40 small veggie cups - green beans are the best

40 small boxes of raisins and craisins

4 canned cheese. I think this stuff is totally gross but it could be nice to have at these times. It is an item that I take on vacation with my grand daughters (we do that often) and they find it entertaining and good. They spend time making faces on Ritz Crackers before eating them. They also use it with thin sliced ham, and not too bad on tortilla chips. They have a pretty good shelf life. Check cans before purchasing.

2 tubes or cans of frosting - this is one of the items that could be put on an 'entertainment' list. Kids will enjoy making their own fun art on small pancakes, graham crackers, etc. So, this is an optional item and geared toward the family with children.

2 packages of graham crackers - to go with the frosting above and again geared towards the kids. You can save these in a Food Saver bag by sucking the air out but stopping before they crumble assortment of dry fruit - I make separate, small portions, and use the good ole' Food Saver to preserve them. 40 portions would be nice.

hard candy - this can satisfy the hunger and even be soothing at times. This is especially important if you have anyone who is diabetic or has hypoglycemia. A tip - you will want to suck them into bags but don't put peppermint in with the fruit flavors. If you do, everything will taste like mint. Peppermint can sooth an upset stomach so do not shy away from that. I have about 300 assorted flavors and it takes up no space at all.

3 boxes of granola - this is an amazing item for many uses; not just a snack but to add to yogurt or cereal. Wonderful just as a snack all by itself. I remove the granola from the box and suck it into bags; this will last for years, but I will rotate it before that long. I cut the bags a little large so that I can refill them and reuse for the next bag of granola.

2 boxes of cereal - yeah - this is great with milk for breakfast but if you get some Cheerios's, Fruit Loops, Captain Crunch or Honey Smacks, you will be able to use the Food Saver to preserve. I take the bag of cereal out of the box, put a small slit in the inner bag and remove the air; stop the air removal just before the cereal crunches to crumbs. A hand full of cereal will go a long ways when trying to hold a kid or adult off till dinner is ready.

Nuts - these can go bad pretty fast if you don't preserve them. I get the individual bags when I see them on sale and stick them away. I also have a few jars of different kinds of nuts. It is not the easiest thing to do but I do have the entire jar in preserving bags. I think that will expand the shelf life to twice the original.

60 little bags of gummy candy or fruit snacks - again, this is not as much as it sounds. There are usually 12 packs to a box. If you find them around a holiday, you may find a bag of 50 - 100 tiny bags in one big bag. Bargain deal there. Again - you need to use your Food Saver to keep these fresh. They will last for years if stored in a cool, dry location.

Chocolate - and a good assortment of it. I have the Hershey Mini assortment, small bags of M&Ms (like you get at Halloween), Tootsie Rolls and a package of the assorted tiny candy bars. All of these are sorted out into Food Saver bags and should be good for years, as long as they are in a cool, dry area. I especially like the M&Ms; they are great as a reward for the kids who have completed chores or had a good behavior day.

Please be aware of anyone who may be around and allergic to nuts. If there is any possibility of having that person in your group, do not open the nut items. The last thing you want is a person having a bad reaction at a time like this.

Drinks are going to be so very important. Everyone will need to be well hydrated.

150 gallons of water - and that would be drinking water. This not only sounds like a lot, it is. I have a 30 gallon water heater and that is one of my major supplies of water. As soon as I know there is going to be a water shortage, I will have the burners turned off on my water heater to avoid evaporation. I have 60 gallons of water that is stored in 2 liter soda bottles. These bottles last longer than any other that is available at not cost. And they are sturdier than the gallon bottle that water comes in. I have these bottles lined up along the wall in my garage and are not in the way at all. Every Spring, I use these bottles to water my plants and then I refill them. No waste and fresh enough to use in an emergency. I drink distilled water so I keep about 20 gallons in stock daily. If you add it up, you will see that I am still short water. But, this is what I can easily store. I may add another 10 gallons in the 2 liter bottles, but after that I am not sure. I do have several gallons of other drinks in my daily stock.

I will have my bath tub filled for cleaning purposes. I do have a few small containers that catch rain water. I may have melting snow to help. This is an area that I have to work on. I believe I will do this with collected water outside. If I can keep it sealed, it will be fine for drinking.

Tang - I mentioned this in an earlier post. Tang is great for adding a bit of vitamins to your daily intake.

Gatorade - I have the packets of powdered. These will be a great additive. Also consider other powdered drink additives.

10 One liter bottles of Smart Water. This I use often and keep rotated. There are electrolytes so if you have someone not feeling well, this is a great water to have.

1 bottle of Pedialyte. Rotate this item. No better drink to get a person rehydrated.

20 bottles of flavored carbonated water. This is purely optional but I enjoy this drink and use it to mix with juices so I always have this in my rotating stock.

50 or more, small boxes or cans of juice. Again, this is optional but does contain some of the vitamins that you want on a daily basis. I have a combination of V-8 Juice, fruit juices and V8 Fusion. These are on my pantry shelf and used and rotated on a regular basis.

Coffee, tea, hot chocolate packets and that kind of drink I have already put on the breakfast list. 

That is pretty much what I have stored, in these category.  Your list will depend on your family and personal needs.

One big tip here -
I shop the discount stores for all my items.  They seem to have the freshest of items.  I also dig to the back of the shelf to get the items with the best expiration dates.  Beware of paying too much when  building your stock.  A good example is applesauce.  I love those cute little tubes of fruit for the little kids.  When you are traveling they are great since they can handle them all by them selves if needed.  But, there is a great cost difference.  I compared them and found this - The four pack of applesauce has a total of 16 ounces, for $1.00 at the Dollar General store.  The squeeze pouch of apple fruit was $1.25 for two tubes, with a total of 7 ounces, at the same store.  So, tubes are cute but small cups are priced right.

Mini Prepping # 4 - The Side Dishes For Comfort

Is having a plan for side dishes like planning for comfort food?  Not really.  In Mini Preparedness #3, I made a list of the main meal type items that I keep in stock for my plan;  that would be  10 people for 30 days.  As mentioned in the past, that is all I can handle planning for at this time.  Tho it may not be perfect, it is better than doing nothing because I can't afford to stock up, or because I just can't fathom a larger degree of preparation.

I only made a list of main proteins, and now it is time to add in all the sides that will keep us fed, content and easy to save and store.  One of the most important things to remember when you are stocking up on these items is expiration dates.  Items that have moisture in them will be the first to go bad.  Think about that when making your own list.  Also, dried items are easily sucked into a plastic bag, with a Food Saver, that will help and greatly expand they longevity.  More about the Food Saver later.

Here's a bit of the list that I have for my 'side dishes', for 10 people x 30 days.

4 pounds of instant mashed potatoes - this makes about 35 cups of
     potatoes.  This is one of those items that take very little cook
     time, saving fuel.  I may consider obtaining another 4 pounds.
     You can make potato pancakes from these for a nice change.
     In their dry form, you can  preserve them with you Food Saver
     and they will last for years and take up very little space.
4 pounds of minute (or quick) rice.  I have this in a variety of white,
     brown and speciality rices.  Quick cooking makes it easy and
     saves your fuel supply.  Rice will  be great alone and with many
     additives.  I will, eventually, add some great recipes that you can
     make from the items on my list.  Once again, perfect for the
     Food Saver and will last for years.
40 packages of ramen noodles.  If it didn't take up so much space, I
     would have 4 times this amount.  Great in so many ways and can be
     saved for years.
10 boxes of stove top type stuffing mix.  This takes up a lot of space
     if left in the box.  I remove the contents, cut the instructions off
     the boxes, and put the contents of many boxes in a bag for saving.
     What a great and filling little side dish.
6 pounds of pasta.  I buy the smaller sizes of noodles since they are
     the quickest to cook.  Suck these into the bags for preservation
     that will last years.
8 cans or jars of pasta sauce.  For obvious uses.
50 cans or jars of vegetables.  I get a variety to satisfy everyone.
     these are on my shelves and use and replenished on a regular
     basis.
50 cans or jars of fruit.  The lack of fresh fruits will be pretty
     depressing so this is really important.  The kids will especially
     appreciate these items.

15 packets of powdered sauces.  With just a little water and heat,
     you can have sauces to add to your pasta for a more complete
     meal.
15 packets of powdered gravys.  Again, just a little water and heat
     and you can transform something boring to something delicious.
15 packets of powdered cheese sauce.  You can imagine how many
     uses you have for this.  Pasta to eggs to meats - and more.

Well, there you have it.  That is just the basics.  I have a number of other items that are tucked away just for the variety. When I find bargains on other side items, I pick them up, so long as the expiration is reasonable*.  Another important fact to remember here is to only get items that you can use within the expiration time, even if there is not an emergency reason to use them.  I share my items with my kids and rotate items out every summer to keep things fresh.

I feel a bit over whelmed with the lists that I share.  And there are many more to do.  I have drinks, snacks, spices, tools, medications - you know what I mean.  But, these are all items that will never be a waste if you rotate them in your daily supply properly.  Check back soon for more info.

* I can not stress enough how important it is to be totally aware of expiration dates.  Many dates are pretty bogus but some really mean what they say.  No one wants to waste their money on items that will end up in the garbage.  Spend the time, while in the store, to read the dates.  Reach to the back of the shelves to find the freshest items.  Check a variety of brands; some have a longer shelf life than others.  Also, consider ordering on line for larger packages that are reasonably priced and, since they are sold nation wide, they may be fresher from the start.

Prepping Mini Style Part 3

Can you tell that this is a series that could go on and on?  No matter how prepared I attempt to be, I think I will always find more items that I want/need to feel comfortable.  I guess I should be considering who should come in and retrieve the stash if I suffer some sort of untimely death.  I sure would not want this all to go to waste.  For now I will not think about that and just keep making my list, sharing my list and stock pile as much as I can towards my goal. 

As I have posted before, I am only planning on a basis of 30 days for 10 people and a few dogs.  There's not 10 people living at my home but I have a daughter who lives fairly close by, with a house full of kids and a few dogs.  I am planning, loosely, for *10.

I covered breakfast type foods in my last post, so I thought I would go to other meals.  I really want to call it lunch, just to keep my mind organized, but I realize that it would be just a joke to attempt to separate what people eat during a lunch or dinner type time.  So, this is going to be a some what longer list, that would cover both of these type meal situations.  I guess the list isn't going to be a lot longer, just more items required.  And in this post, I am only going to cover
protein. 

When watching shows like The Colony, which I found entertaining, interesting, and somewhat educational, it seemed that the groups were always in search of protein.  You will find a variety of proteins on my list that I would never eat on a daily basis.  I rarely eat meat and when I do, it will be fish or occasionally chicken.  We will all have a huge diet change when things get desperate.  Believe me, I will go as long as possible maintaining my regular diet.  A huge change would only case a person's health to be compromised.  Keep that in mind when you are making your own list.

Meats -

30 cans of tuna - since I eat a lot of tuna, I just
     keep this on my shelf and rotate with use.
 30 cans of chicken or turkey - again, I keep this
     on my shelf so that it is rotated and does not
     expire.  costco has a great deal on canned
     meats.  If you get close to your expiration
     date, you can always use these to make tacos
     or exchiladas.   
10 cans of sardines - assorted flavors. 
20 cans of beef - I also keep this on the shelf
     tho I only use it when I have company over.
     With the veggies I have in the freezer, I can
     always throw together a little beef stew in
     just minutes.  

10 jars of dried meat - I have very little use for this but I know that
     when push comes to shove, this will be nice for those who are in
     need of a protein kick.  I would go with jerky but the shelf life is
     longer.
10 packages of jerky - I know I just said that I use dried meat in
     place of the jerky but I have one grandson who loves jerky and
     keeps this rotating for me.  10 packages is safe for me.
10 packages of shelf bacon - this is not an inexpensive item. The only
     time I ever use this is when I vacation with my grand daughters
     (I do a lot of this and on a budget too!).  A couple of them love
     the bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches and  this travels well.
     Again, it is useful if you have people drop by unexpectedly. If you
     are a lover of bacon, you may check you local stores for canned
     bacon.  I believe it can be found and the drippings will be nice for
     a pot of beans.
5  packages of real bacon bits - Again, Costco has a great deal on
     these.  It is real bacon and you uses are endless; beans, salads,
     sandwiches, in eggs, etc.

Other proteins for meals -

30 pounds of beans - think I am crazy?  A pound a day is not too
     much for 10 people.  And - if things got too desperate, I would
     feed beans, with some rice, to any of the dogs.  Yeah - it may
     be a good idea to have the dogs sleeping outside, but it will fill
     their bellies.
     There are so many ways to fix your beans that you will feel like it
     is a different meal each day.  You can add in salsa, veggies, rice,
     potatoes, and the list goes on and on.  And, there are ways to fix
     your beans to make them a bit less 'gassy' for those who worry
     about that situation.   Click here to check out that little tip.
     Back to the beans - I have 20 pounds of pinto. They are available
     in bulk in many 'healthy eating' type stores and discount stores.
     Costco has large bags that will keep you at just pennies a pot.
     I also have a variety of other beans.  Great White Northerns are
     nice and also the packages of 'mixed beans' will make a well
     rounded assortment.
10 packages of instant beans - now you are thinking that this is 'bean
     over kill'.  Possibly so.  I have to take into account that  I may not
     have additional people show up.  If that were to happen, then
     having these small packages will be perfect.  I also use these when
     I go camping.  No refrigeration needed and simple and quick.
1  package of powdered soy milk - this is not the easiest thing to find
     but well worth the search.
5 cans of soy beans (edamame beans). This is not an item you will
    always find in you local grocery store.  But, it can be found in
    stores such as Sprouts and Trader Joe's.
1 pound of powdered yogurt - this is a great item for protein but
     the main reason I have this is for health reasons.  If, which is
     bound to happen, someone gets sick and just can't get their
     stomach back in shape, it could be that a little yogurt is going
     to be perfect to aid in that.  When finances allows, I may invest
     in a couple more packages of this.  It is always good to use when
     making  salad dressings and puddings.

I had already mentioned, in the earlier post called Mini Preparedness #2, that we should have a stock of powdered milk, powdered eggs and pancake mix.  All of these are also great for protein.

At this point, that kind of covers the proteins.  I will be back to fill in the gaps next week, if not sooner.  Even if you are a person who avoids carbs in your diet, you may need some of these if in an emergency situation.

* In the beginning of this post, I mentioned that I am planning for 10.  I feel I need to mention this one thing here.   Most serious preppers say that when an emergency hits, you should stay where you are, with the exception of an act of Mother Nature heading in your direction, that you could avoid by moving.  But, if there is ever another 911 or other such event, peoples reactions will be very unpredictable.  Many may panic and act irrationally.  The roads may not be a safe place to be.

Then there are people, like one of my daughters, who believes that there is safety in numbers.  She said she can be out of her house in less than 10 minutes and to my home in less than 30.  As long as she acts quick, she should be safe.  And I do live in a fairly safe area when it comes to almost every situation.

The moving thing is not what I would recommend for everyone.  Every situation will be different.  You, as a family, need to make a plan on what you would do for every possible situation.  That way, if something happens, you are not attempting to make these important decisions in a panic.

Make a plan - share with your family - write it down if it helps.

Honey Beekeeper - Part 2

The Petticoat Prepper does a great job of educating us about raising Honey Bees. Thanks to her, we have part two of Honey Beekeeper.  Enjoy

The big day has arrived; your bees are ready for pickup! I was both nervous and excited when mine came. Something I wish I’d had and will for this next group of bees is a sprayer bottle of water. You know those plastic plant misters? It was hot the day mine came and I picked up in my car. The girls rode in the trunk. I was worried about them over heating and stopped often to cool them down. I was afraid some police officer would see me on the side of the freeway fanning my open trunk frantically and think something was amiss…. I think lightly spraying them may have helped. They use their wings as fans and boy were they trying to cool down.

When you pick up your bees be sure to get a container of Terramycin. American and/or European Foulbrood isn’t something you want. Make sure you’re getting bees from a seller with a good reputation. If they get American Foulbrood your bees and hives will most likely need to be destroyed. I gave the girls two tablespoons shaken over them when I first hived them. After that you treat spring and fall, follow the package directions. Also pick up some pollen patties to feed them as this will give them a good start.

Your hive should be set up already. You’ll only need one deep super for now. The bees will build up and you want to make them almost fill each super before adding another. Store your second deep and the honey supers until later in the season.

When you arrive home with them place the box near the hive unless it’s raining then put them out of the wind and rain. Give them a spray of water and let them sit. They can stay in the box for a day or two just be sure to spray with water off and on. The can hanging inside is their food. This day or two of rest will give them time to become acquainted with their queen. Each queen has her own pheromone scent and there maybe some confusion during shipping as many boxes of bees will have been shipped together thus mixing the pheromone scents.

You will need to feed them at first until they have their house set up. 2 parts sugar to 1 part water. Bring your water to a boil turn off heat and add sugar, stir until dissolved, cool completely. This will be the food for them. Pour into canning jars or old mayo jars and screw into the plastic feeder.

Now let’s get ready to hive your bees hopefully on a sunny day with no wind. First, take a shower. Don’t use scented soaps, perfume, cologne or deodorants. Take off any rings just in case you get stung, don’t want to have your favorite ring cut off a swollen finger. If you do get stung, scrape off the stinger never pull it out as there are venom sacks and you’ll only add to the amount in the bite. Stay calm and smoke around yourself quickly. There is a pheromone released by the bee when it stings that signals others to follow and defend the hive; smoke and step away for a minute.

Ok, the smoker is working nicely with cool puffs of smoke and you’re showered and ready to don your official outfit. Sprinkle some baby powder on your hands, according to the dummies book the bees like it. I figure it helps for sweaty palms. Dress in your beekeeper suit making sure to close any openings at ankles, neck and wrists. Take your hive tool, sugar water sprayer and smoker with you; spray the girls with the sugar/water mix. Don’t saturate them but give them enough to get them busy cleaning each other. Pick up the box and give it a sharp rap or two on the ground to force the bees to drop to the bottom. See the little wooden cage inside the box of bees? This is your queen bee and her attendants. You want to remove this box first. Locate the metal tab that hold this cage in place next to the can.

Carefully pry the can of food up while holding onto the metal tab

keeping the queen cage in place. Do Not Drop The Queen! Once the can is out, quickly remove the queen cage and replace the can in the box, don’t worry about the bees that escape they’ll stay near the queen. Remove one frame from your deep super and store until next week. Hopefully, the place you got your bees from gave you some mini marshmallows to plug the queen cage with. If not, I guess you’d better have bought some. The queen cage will have a candy plug in the end. You want to remove this plug, use a screw to get a hold on and then gently pull out and replace with 2 mini marshmallows. Don’t let the queen or her attendants escape.

Take a really good look at your queen; you’ll need to be able to locate her next week. If you managed to buy one that’s marked it’s a lot easier to find her. .Once you replace the candy plug fit the queen cage between the two middle frames. There is generally a metal tab on her cage that you can bend over the top of one frame to help secure it in place; if not then wedge between the two frames in the middle. Make sure to angle the plug end up in case one of the attendants dies so its body doesn’t block the queen’s escape route. Also, be sure the screened side is facing down so the bees can bring her food. The bees will eat through the marshmallows to free the queen. Once you’re sure you’ve got the queen secured, it’s time to let the bees out and into their new home.

If they are very active inside the box, spray them again and rap box to drop them to the bottom. Pry out the feed can and set aside. Then shake and pour the bees over the queen’s cage. Some will stay in the hive around the queen and others will fly around. Stay calm and work slowly; it’s scary to be surrounded by this many bees but remember, they are looking for the queen right now and have no honey to defend. You can give puffs of smoke around to help calm them if needed. Once you have most of the bees out of the box sit it at the entrance to the hive, opening facing up. The remaining bees will smell the queen and move into the hive.

If they are very active you can smoke them to calm them down just don’t over kill with the smoke. Shake two tablespoons of the Terramycin over the bees and frame tops in the hive. Place half a pollen patty on top of the frames; you don’t need to remove the paper. Take the inner cover and starting at the back of the hive, slide it carefully into place. This will allow the bees to move out of the way and you won’t squish any. Place the telescoping cover on top of that.

Insert the plastic feeder with filled food jar into the front of the hive at the entrance. I find with the slope of my hive I have to shim the feeder to make it more level. If I don’t then the food seems to flood out instead of dripping out slowly. The entrance reducer will most likely not fit with the feeder in place. Stuff the entry with grass or leaves to reduce the area leaving only about 2 inches of opening. This will give the girls a smaller spot to defend from invaders. They will remove this on their own as they feel more confident in their ability to defend their new home. Once you see they’ve done this you can clean the remaining grass and leaves out with your hive tool. You’ll use the entrance reducer later to help combat stealing. In the morning you’ll be able to remove the box and return it for the deposit.

Congratulation! You’ve hived your first bees. Now leave them alone for the next week, no peeking. Just be sure to keep the food jar filled and enjoy their gentle hum. Part three will go over the types of bees in a hive, their jobs and your first inspection.

If you missed Part One - Go there Now! and catch up.