Preparing College Students

For those of you who are college students or if you have loved ones away at college, you may be interested in checking out these sites:

The Pantry Panel has a blog post entitled "Food Storage for College Students" at:
http://mormonfoodstorage.blogspot.com/2008/10/food-storage-for-college-students.html

Prepared LDS Family has a post entitled "College Food Storage" at:
http://preparedldsfamily.blogspot.com/2008/10/college-food-storage.html
where she has prepared a "College Food Storage" spreadsheet at:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=po2cukCUXR8pCt8hpUclUTQ

The Idea Door has a "College Student Emergency Kit" list at:
http://www.theideadoor.com/Preparedness/COLLEGE%20STUDENT%20EMERGENCY%20KIT.pdf

Meridian Magazine has an article "Keeping Our Kids Safe While Away at College," written by Carolyn Nicolaysen:
http://www.meridianmagazine.com/emergency/080806college.html

Six Reasons to Keep Food Storage

If you needed another reason to store food, there's an article entitled "Six Reasons to Keep Food Storage" by Afton Nelson that you may enjoy reading. She gives the following reasons and goes into greater detail about each one:

1. A Well-Stocked Pantry
2. Take Advantage of Sales
3. Take Advantage of Short-Term Supplies
4. Prepare for Financial Hardship
5. Prepare for Natural Disaster
6. Alleviate Fear and Concern

(Source: "Six Reasons to Keep Food Storage," by Afton Nelson, Associated Content)

Personal and Family Preparedness

There is a booklet entitled "Essentials of Home Production & Storage," that has some very helpful information on Personal and Family Preparedness, Home Production, Home Storage, Recipes, Publications, and Inventory Methods. It's been something that I have referred to many times through the years. (It's very affordable -- only $1.20.)

I was looking through it this morning and found part of the following quote from a talk given in 1977. I decided to look up and read the complete talk and have included a few more paragraphs that are good counsel. If you would like to read the talk in it's entirety, click here.

"...As you know, in the recent past we have placed considerable emphasis on personal and family preparedness. I hope that each member of the Church is responding appropriately to this direction. I also hope that we are understanding and accentuating the positive and not the negative.

I like the way the Relief Society teaches personal and family preparedness as “provident living.” This implies the husbanding of our resources, the wise planning of financial matters, full provision for personal health, and adequate preparation for education and career development, giving appropriate attention to home production and storage as well as the development of emotional resiliency.

I hope that we understand that, while having a garden, for instance, is often useful in reducing food costs and making available delicious fresh fruits and vegetables, it does much more than this. Who can gauge the value of that special chat between daughter and Dad as they weed or water the garden? How do we evaluate the good that comes from the obvious lessons of planting, cultivating, and the eternal law of the harvest? And how do we measure the family togetherness and cooperating that must accompany successful canning? Yes, we are laying up resources in store, but perhaps the greater good is contained in the lessons of life we learn as we live providently and extend to our children their pioneer heritage.

Think of the learning that accompanies a family council on the family budget. How do Mom and Dad feel when a teenage son who, because he is included and understands the budgeting process, volunteers part of his summer’s income to help replace that tired refrigerator?

We speak of literacy and education in terms of being prepared for a better occupation, but we cannot underestimate the present pleasure of our reading in the scriptures, Church magazines, and good books of every kind. We teach of emotional strength in terms of family prayer, kind words, and full communication, but we quickly learn how pleasant life can be when it is lived in a courteous and reinforcing atmosphere.

In like manner we could refer to all the components of personal and family preparedness, not in relation to holocaust or disaster, but in cultivating a life-style that is on a day-to-day basis its own reward.

Let’s do these things because they are right, because they are satisfying, and because we are obedient to the counsels of the Lord. In this spirit we will be prepared for most eventualities, and the Lord will prosper and comfort us. It is true that difficult times will come—for the Lord has foretold them—and, yes, stakes of Zion are “for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm.” (D&C 115:6.) But if we live wisely and providently, we will be as safe as in the palm of His hand."...

(Source: Spencer W. Kimball, "Welfare Services: The Gospel in Action," Nov. 1977)

It's Valentine's Day!

You know what that means...time to give away $20 cash!

First of all -- THANK YOU to each of you who commented and shared your goals! You inspire and motivate me -- really!!! (Check out their comments and get inspired here.)

Alright, here's how the drawing went this morning...

after printing out all 16 comments, cutting them into strips, folding them twice, putting them in a large bowl, and mixing them up...

with my handy dandy assistant drawing a comment from the bowl...

and the winner is...

*JOYCE*
CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Please email me at:
preparednessnibblesandbits@gmail.com
and we'll work out the details.

Good luck to each of you as you work towards your goals and enjoy the rewards of your efforts!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Fun GIVEAWAYS!

There's a GIVEAWAY going on at Safely Gathered In for a Shelf-Reliance "Cansolidator Pantry". Hannah and Abs not only motivate me with their Food Storage and Emergency Preparedness blog -- they also inspired me to try a GIVEAWAY of my own. Both giveaways end tonight at midnight. (their's EST and mine MST.) Check 'em out. :)

Food Storage and/or Emergency Preparedness Stimulus GIVEAWAY!

There's always gotta be a first for everything -- right?! So here is my first giveaway (but hopefully not my last.)

Who couldn't use some extra cash to boost their Food Storage and/or Emergency Preparedness? Here's all you gotta do for your chance to win $20 in cash:

1. Share with a family member or friend something you've learned about Food Storage and/or Emergency Preparedness. (So many options: call them on the phone, text them, email them, write a post on your blog, or even talk to them face-to-face. It might spark their interest and help them do something to prepare.)

2. Leave a comment on this post sharing one of your goals for Food Storage and/or Emergency Preparedness. (Ideas: We're working on water storage, or our goal is to get our 3-month supply by ____________, etc. -- There's something about hearing what others are working on that inspires and motivates us to action!)

Easy peasy!

Please post your comment before midnight (MST) Friday, February 13, 2009. On Saturday morning, I'll print the comments received, put them in a bowl, and draw the lucky one out. The winner will be announced on Valentine's Day (Sat., Feb. 14).

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NOTE: I will post the winning comment on Valentine's Day, then that person can email me at:
preparednessnibblesandbits@gmail.com and we'll work out the details. (I respect your privacy and will not share your personal information with anyone.)

GOOD LUCK! :)

Tin Can Stoves

I remember making and using one of these for a Girls' Camp many years ago. :) They really work!

"Cut out one end of a #10 gallon can. Cut a door about 3" high and 4" wide on the side of the can at the open end, leaving the top of the door attached. Bend door upward and outward. Then slide the cut-out lid into the closed end of the can, settling it firmly there. Punch 4-5 smoke holes with can opener into the sides from this closed-top end. The double thickness of metal will conduct heat more efficiently.

The source of heat is a "buddy burner" which is made by inserting a coil of tightly folded newspaper, rolled strips of corrugated cardboard, or sawdust -- in a tuna can and soaking with melted paraffin. Each one will burn 1.5 hours. To control or put out the flame, use foil or a wire attached to the tuna-can lid."

(Source: Handout on Emergency Cooking)

Bounce Back From Anything

This morning, while waiting for a doctor's appointment, I picked up a "Woman's Day" magazine, (February 1, 2009 issue.) I read an article in the "Live Well" section entitled "Bounce Back From Anything" that had this to say:

"REGAIN CONTROL
'Anxiety is what we feel when we believe two things: that something bad is about to happen and that we don't have the ability to cope with it,' says Dr. Reivich. To calm those pit-of-the-stomach feelings, focus on the things within your control. 'When you take purposeful action (even if it's cleaning out your closet!), it lowers your anxiety level and puts you in a place mentally where you can take on bigger hurdles,' she says." (Woman's Day Magazine, February 1, 2009, "Bounce Back From Anything", pg. 22.)

I thought how this applies to preparedness. Preparedness brings peace. When we FOCUS on building our food storage and managing our finances (purposeful action), it does help lower our anxiety levels and "puts you in a place mentally where you can take on bigger hurdles." THINK about it -- then DO something -- TODAY. :)