August Food Storage Tip

My tip this month is to focus on what you can do, and not what you can't.

**If you are feeling stressed out about not having enough money for food storage, try setting aside a small amount each week you go grocery shopping. $5 out of $40, is just a small amount, but $5 spent on sale items, or foods like saltines or noodles, can purchase quite a bit over time.

**Watch the stores for different sales on foods that your family likes: macaroni and cheese, favorite cereals, canned fruits & veggies, etc... Plan on storing some cookies, candy or special treats. If your family is going through a natural or economic disaster, having familiar items will make it that much easier.

**Be sure to check the expiration dates and try to get the farthest date from that time.

**Store spices and herbs that your family likes!! This alone can make a food storage meal go from "glum" to "yum"!! Bouillon is also easy to store, and is a great add-in for flavor.

**When talking about food storage, we concentrate on the food, or course. Don't forget to store the other necessities of life like toilet paper, tooth paste, deodorant, shampoo, etc...

Upcoming Cannery Information

Hey ladies, our next canning date is coming up quickly. I wanted to give you a heads up about what we will be canning in September, and also let you know that our cannery is no longer offering pouches. You can schedule a time to borrow the pouch sealer, and buy the pouches that you need from the cannery and do it yourself.

Also, the Home Storage Center has prepackaged items that you can buy at anytime.

They come in 6 no. 10 cans per case.
Pinto beans ($29.30 per case)
Quick Oats ($13.25 per case)
White Rice ($20.20 per case)
Hard White Wheat ($17.05 per case)
Starter kit ($20.25 per case)
(prices are effective as of January 16, 2010, and are subject to change without notice)

They have Pancake mix and Potato Pearls that are only offered in bulk.
Pancake mix 4, 4-lb. bags for $11.15
Potato Pearls 12, 28 oz. bags for $43.10.
I am happy to pick these items up for you. Look for the order forms in the RS binder.

In September we will be canning Milk, Apple Slices, Refried Beans, Spaghetti, and Flour. Check your shelves, and see what you need!

Powdered Laundry Detergent

Here is a different recipe that I found for in-expensive laundry detergent. The only difference is this is dry and not a liquid.

2 cups Fels naptha soap (finely grated)
1 cup Washing Soda
1 cup Borax

Mix well and store in an airtight plastic container.
Use 2 tablespoons per full load.

ADMONITION

I wasn't prepared cried careless Kitty,

when the earthquake rumbled through our city.

I didn't believe it would come so soon.

All I could grab was a tablespoon.

Nothing to put in it, no soup, no spam,

no pork and beans, not even dried ham.

For 72 hours I've had nothing to eat,

nothing to drink, no clothes, no heat.

72 hours, you must agree,

is much too long with no T P !!

no knife, no flashlight, no bar of soap,

no matches, no blankets, alas no hope.

There are so many things I yearn for and miss.

I don't even know where my husband is.

I'm hungry, I'm dirty, my morale is low.

Sure hope my children knew where to go.

I resolve, if I get a 2nd chance;

I'll pay the piper, before I dance.

So when disaster plays it's woeful tune,

I'll have something to eat with my tablespoon.

Author Unknown

Let's not be like careless Kitty. Make sure your 72 hour kits are packed and ready to go in an emergency. Don't wait until it's too late.

Homemade Laundry Soap

I found this recipe for laundry soap, so I decided to give it a try. I made this about a month ago, and so far I have really loved it! Plus it was sooooo cheap to make. I also love the way that it smells.

This is what you need!

4 cups HOT tap water

1 bar Fels-Naptha soap

1 cup washing soda

1/2 cup Borax

***You can find all of the ingredients at any grocery store!

Here's what you do:
Grate the bar of soap and put it into a large pan with the water. Heat and stir until it is melted. Pour it into your 5 gallon bucket and fill half full of hot tap water.

This is what it will look like after you melt the soap

Add the soda and borax, stir until dissolved. Finish filling the bucket up with hot water, stir, then put your lid on and let it sit overnight. The next day stir it again and use it.

Use 1/4 cup per load

Note: This is a no suds detergent. But, look at what little space it would take to store the ingredients for a year supply. Also, it might separate, so just stir it before you use it.