Ideas for your 72 hour kit

Having a 72 hour kit packed and ready to use is a great idea! Suggestions for what to put in your 72 hour kit can be found here Another list is here Try not to get discouraged at the length of the list- pull together what you already have and make a plan to add to your kit as you can. There is no need to wait until you can afford the perfect backpack or fancy foods- just start with what you have on hand and build your kit from there!

Tip: One blog I read said that the pop top cans they had stored in their 72 hour kit popped open unexpectedly and they opened their backpacks to a sticky mess. You may want to store traditionally sealed cans and a can opener in your kit instead....

Make a Small Emergency/ First Aid Kit

In the provident living section of lds.org, under emergency preparedness it is recommended that you gather together and store some medical supplies- as well as any needed medications.

Here is a cute project for those of you who like to make things:

It is a homemade emergency kit made out of a potholder and ziplock bags. Very cute!The directions are here. Honestly, though, I'd never actually get it made. My first aid kit is more like a gallon sized zip lock bag, with stuff tossed in (don't knock it- it's quick and easy!).

If you'd like to do something a bit more permanent just buy a shoe box sized storage container with a snap on lid. If this is to be kept in your car you may want to place a few items (like ointments) that can melt- into individual ziplock bags to keep them from melting onto everything else.... shouldn't be a problem- but just in case....

Don't worry about making it fancy!! Just gather together some first aid items- make a few kits and store them in your home, car and 72 hour kits.

Need a few ideas of what to put into your kit?

The Red Cross has a list here
Another list is available at kaboose- scroll down a bit

Don't freak out if you don't have or can't afford everything on the list- just put together what you can- and add to it as you get the chance.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Need some tips for planting a successful garden in Texas? The Midland Master Gardeners are offering some classes and free workshops. Here is a summary of what is available:

Located at the Midland County library
March 21- mid April- get a free tomato plant if you check out a book on gardening April 12- Home Vegetable Gardening Workshop 6-7:30 p.m. Discussing soil prep, planting, fertilization and care

For information about free Master Gardener Classes Call 498-4071
Beginning April 9 from 9 am to 1 pm on the second Saturday of each month there will be an information table at the Midland Downtown Farmer's Market. Gardeners will be available to answer question and provide information.

Emergency Preparedness

The great tragedy in Japan has given us each extra incentive to take a personal & famiy inventory. How is your family doing with emergency preparation?

At lds.org it states:

Family Emergency Planning

Church members are encouraged to prepare a simple emergency plan. Items to consider may include:

Three-month supply of food that is part of your normal daily diet.
Drinking water.
Financial reserves.
Longer-term supply of basic food items.
Medication and first aid supplies.
Clothing and bedding.
Important documents.
Ways to communicate with family following a disaster.

Lds.org

You may want to check out the product recommendations on the new lds.org website. The link is here. You may notice that the first two long term storage items that they list are grains and legumes. Those are followed by this quote:

You may also want to add other items to your longer-term storage such as sugar, nonfat dry milk, salt, baking soda, and cooking oil. To meet nutritional needs, also store foods containing Vitamin C and other essential nutrients.



There are many websites and philosophies of "experts" giving you a large list of items that "you should store" --- but I feel that there is safety in following the modern day prophets and what they recommend. Prayerfully consider the many quotes found on lds.org about why the prophets recommend wheat and the importance of purchasing basics first- then when you have those basics feel free to add other items to your long term storage.

Wonderful Water Filter Bottles

After our stake women's conference many of you were interested in the water bottle that filters out impurities. You can find it here. Remember to store water with your water bottles so that you will have something to filter :0)

Some of you are STILL waiting for me to email out the handout- sorry I've been so slow- after spring break I hope to be able to catch up on a few things. Thanks for your patience!

Why Store Grains and Legumes?

Mormon Times has an article today about four reasons for storing grains and legumes in our long term food storage- she missed the main reason though- the main reason we should store grains (especially wheat) and legumes is because that is what our modern day prophets have asked us to do :0)