Ultra Simple Food Storage: Introduction to “The Vital Four”

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If you could only store four foods for you and your family, what would they be? Come on, take your best guess. The good news is you could indeed survive with some knowledge and creativity on just four foods for you and your family for an entire year, and you wouldn’t necessarily get bored either. The reason I share these four foods with you is in response to so many pleas to simplify food storage. Although I feel more strongly about storing what you eat and eating what you store using the “meal method”, some folks just simply won’t tackle their food storage needs unless it’s broken down to ultra simple. Well, here’s ultra simple, broken down to just four foods.

Milking It

(Please note: This article is not for those who are repulsed by the use of puns. :-)

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When it comes to long-term food storage, many feel that getting enough dairy is a significant challenge. Well today, I’m going to show you how you can milk the most from your powdered milk to provide your family with the dairy products you love.

It's a Great Week for Couponers

Check your local Smith's Food & Drug. It looks like they are doubling ALL coupons up to $1.00 (for a max of $2.00 for each coupon). Also, remember that Smith's will "stack" your printed coupons with your electronic ones.

Breaking News: Milk, Cheese, and Butter

The Agriculture Department is raising prices on your dairy products. (How they have the authority to do this is beyond me, but for now, it is what it is.)

Farmers claim that it costs more to make milk than they get to sell it. Guess what that means? Can you say milk shortage?? In June of this year, The National Milk Producers Federation said they would PAY farmers to slaughter diary cows in order to manipulate the prices higher based on “supply and demand.” (Despicable, I know.)

Preparedness Pro Food Challenge

Update - September 1, 2009. CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Ok, here it goes. I’m going to challenge you…nah—perhaps the better word is “DARE” you. In fact, I’m going to DOUBLE DOG DARE YA to take this Preparedness Pro Food Challenge.

Want to find out if you are really ready for an emergency? Here’s a genuine challenge for you. Your ability to implement it will say a LOT about your ability to truly survive a real emergency. The Preparedness Pro Food Challenge officially begins August 1st and goes throughout the month of August. During the month I challenge you to go an entire two weeks without

The Looming Financial Crisis

Paying attention can get you some great laughs, memorable moments, or vital warnings. Yesterday I was driving behind a police car and noticed that he had a license plate border that said, “Actually, I prefer bagels.” I got a much needed laugh off of that one. Glad I was paying attention.

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Most Americans are unaware at just how tenable the financial culture is in our nation right now. But seriously, to not know it is simply a matter of not paying attention.

Food Shortage Update

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As of May, the U.S. just sold the very last of their wheat reserves. As of now the U.S. government wheat reserves are totally empty. The U.S. has no intention of replenishing these supplies until the prices have stabilized.

As a comparison, during the 80’s the U.S. had on hand about 358 million bushels of wheat. During the 90’s they decreased that to 133 million bushels. Now they are at zero.

Why Spiritual Preparedness for an Emergency?

I’ve often had the question asked of me, “Why do we need spiritual preparedness for an emergency?” I also frequently hear requests for a clarification of what I mean by “spiritual preparedness.” Fortunately spiritual preparedness does not mean you need to have the Bible memorized, nor do you necessarily need to be able to interpret the Book of Revelations. When I list the ten components of emergency preparedness, I assure you there is a deliberate reason why it’s at the very top of the list. Bottom line, after all you can do, it may be your only source for survival. Allow me to explain what I mean by that.

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I anticipate that in virtually any emergency,

Emergency Sanitation

Sanitation is one of the ten critical components of emergency preparedness. In my book, it is usually one of the top two that are most overlooked. A lot of us take emergency sanitation for granted until our toilet breaks down or the sewer backs up. Keep in mind, if there is a quarantine, who’s going to maintain the proper working order of the sewage services? If there’s a financial collapse, how will we even have the wherewithal to send our waste somewhere else? If you don’t take emergency sanitation seriously

The Solar Oven Challenge

Today I happened upon an individual who, as of July 1, has commited to cook with her solar oven each sunny day for an entire year. The Solar Oven Chef, as she calls herself, posts images of meals she's prepared each day in her solar oven. She has prepared everything from ribs to bread to pizza and meatloaf -- excellent variety! By the end of the Solar Oven Chef's one year experiment, preparing meals in her solar oven will be second nature.

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