Preparedness started slowly with me. Actually, it more or less crept up on me. Here is my story.
I used to be one of those individuals that only bought what they needed for the next week or so from the store. (gasp!) Perhaps an extra box or two of cereal or tuna if it was on sale, that was the extent of it. So I ended up buying most of my supplies and groceries at full price. I shudder now when I think of it!
About 8 years ago I started "getting serious" about gardening. To me that meant growing some plants from seeds and bragging how I had 30 tomato plants and also cucumbers and peppers. I was really on a roll! I was also begging neighbors and friends to take some of those tomatoes in August. Somehow canning all that fresh goodness never entered my mind.
When we built our house on a small 3/4 acre lot 10 years ago, my husband and I decided to add some much needed landscape. Dwarf fruit trees sounded fun and the idea of fresh apples, plums, pears and cherries really appealed to me. We planted many varieties over the years. We never seem to get any cherries before the birds have their fill, and the apples never do well, but 4 years ago we started getting a bumper crop of plums. Again we invited all the neighbors to pick as many as they wanted.
That winter a light bulb went off in my head and the term "canning" entered my vocabulary. When I decide to do something, I go all out. I bought books, researched the web, and ordered mason jars of all sizes. I had visions of salsas, jams, pickled beets and chow chow lining my shelves. I bought more canning supplies. And watched the calendar.
That spring 3 lovely Sister Missionaries came knocking on my door and I was introduced to the LDS church. When they talked about being provident living, self reliant, a chord was struck in me.
A few months later my husband lost his job of 18 years. Panic and fear set in. While we had always been financially secure and responsible, would we be able to get through this? And what we be like on the other side? My husband has always been blessed with a strong work ethic and good business sense and we did make it through. But it was a real eye opener!
I started couponing a little more seriously to stretch our dollars more. Soon I was the crazy lady with the coupon binder. But, I was also getting food we ate regularly at 50% of full cost and personal care items for pennies or even free. So the stockpile began.
A friend of mine had a home party of freeze-dried foods, and while I was unable to attend, I was introduced to the wonderful world of freeze-dried #10 cans. I started ordering, "just to have some extra on hand". I started cooking with some of the products as well and ordered as I could.
I soon realized that couponing and being prepared went hand in hand. I could build up a nice supply of items we used and needed by using my couponing with sales strategies without breaking our bank. But, what if we had no income for 4 weeks? 4 months? In this economy I realized it was more than possible. While we had enough toothpaste and deodorant to get us through, would I be able to give my family nutritious meals? Would those 20 boxes of pasta and 30 boxes of cereal be enough?
Of course that answer was a big fat no. So I started researching what else I could do. Then I began to think about the crazy ice storm we had last year. We were very lucky, we didn't lose power like so many did. But what if we had? The entire world of possibilities flooded in and I realized I had to do much more.
Have you ever been in the middle of making a recipe and realized you were out of something vital, like eggs? Or how about being told you are out of milk, or worse yet, toilet paper at 11 o'clock at night? Now imagine those scenarios with 6 inches of ice on the roads or so much snow you can't get out of your driveway. What would you do? Now picture that the store is out of those items, and batteries and medical supplies, because no deliveries have been made in weeks due to a natural disaster, strike, or gas shortage. Now what would you do? How would you take care of your family?
Preparedness is not about hunkering down for the Zombie Apocalypse, which by the way I think my son is almost hoping for. But unemployment, natural disasters, unexpected medical expenses, water contamination, and power outages are all very real possibilities. As a parent, it is my responsibility to take care of my family to the best of my ability. And making sure they have food, shelter, clean water, medical care and warmth is part of that.
How do I do that? A little at a time. It would do no good to put ourselves in financial ruin now to try to save ourselves at a future date. So I order a little long-term storage foods each month. I pick up extra matches, first aid items and odds and ends as I see a great price. I read books and blogs and listen to what others have to say. I ask for a solar oven for my upcoming Birthday. And I teach my children and get the entire family involved.
Being prepared, being self-reliant, being a "prepper", it's all the same thing. And it's not crazy or a waste of time and money. It is taking care of yourself and your family, just as we are meant to do.
K. A. IN
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Comments
Thanks for the insight, Kim!
This one has my vote.
Terrific reasons to be a prepper .
Good reasons to be prepared.
This story makes me want to be prepared!
Lets all get prepared!!
Really explains why one should be prepared
As a mom of many this article gets my vote!
Love your story! You get my vote!
Being prepared is a mom's best friend!
Love how you wrote your story . . . the title really explains . . . a little at a time!
An ounce of preparation makes all the difference in the world during the work week!
Awesome Article!
thank you for sharing your story
wow . . . a little at a time can really add up!
Great essay!
You do a lot . . . I see how it pays off.
Great story of her path to prepping.
Great story, Kim.
Well written. Prepping does no good to a family if it puts their finances at risk in the short term.
Thanks for the great info Kim!
For a person just being introduced to prepping, there are some excellent tips here on how to get started without being overwhelmed.
You make it sound so easy this way!
I enjoyed reading your essay! Great advice!
Very inspirational!
Vote for preparedness!
Good reasons to be prepared and how to accomplish it.
Great tips on getting prepared even though on a fixed income.
Now is the time to start .. a little at a time. Thanks, Kim.
Be prpared!
There's a lot of good info in your article, KIm!
I'm glad that you wrote this article.
This article should be published in a magazine. Many people would be encouraged to follow your lead.
A little at a time is right. I think most people are slowly opening their eyes. Great article!
Thank you to everyone who has voted so far!!!
I hope everyone is learning how to take care of their families :o)
I can even vote for myself!
This has been a great journey.
While I still have a lot to do, we are well on our way :)
Great ideas!
So did you ever can those plums?
Crazy coupon lady -- lol!
So are you eating chipped beef on toast?
Hope you win!
Terrific article !!
So interesting, thanks for writing!
So informative!
Great job!
A little at a time keeps the family secure and not out of cash for everyday living.
Shelving in the basement is slowly going up to hold the emergency food.
Kim's son says he's been practicing to defend her food supply in case of a Zombie Apocalypse.
With the Noreaster coming in last night and all the reports to have several days of food and water ... felt good to know we were getting our house ready for such events.
Great Job Kim, Hope you win....
Sounds like a great plan to me! A little at a time. I hope you win!
A little at a time, I'm also thinking a person would need to have thier medications. I'm glad I get mine mail order with a 3 month supply. I would think bread would be difficult...so maybe whole wheat crackers would have to do. Spam, canned chicken, and tuna would be a big hit if a person got tired of peanut butter!
If there is no running water, we usually have bottled water but not enough for more than a week on hand. I'm going to have to do a better job of stocking up.
Sounds like Kim is working to have her home in order. I hope she has enough for all the critters too! Hope you win Kim!
Thank you for a sensible article on being prepared!
Scarlet tells me to have some high quality canned cat food on hand just in case...lol
Let's get the whole group to vote!
Hope you get your solar oven!
Don't forget the Solumel either - cleaner, solvent, stain remover, bug and spider repellant and it's concentrated.
Good job Kim!
I'd better investigate this solar oven thing
best of luck Kim
Hope you win a great prize!
Good Luck!
Completely agree, K! And thanks for the timely reminder!
Way to go Kim!
Good luck!
Great job on the essay!
I know where I'm going in an emergency. :-)
*cringe*
Maybe over the summer I'll start a plan. :-)
Hope you win Kim...
You got my vote.
Hope you win.....
Good Luck...
Good jOB kIM
Kim Your making couponing sound like fun
Kim Its always good to be prepaired for what ever happens
How inspiring Kim.... I think you motivated me to build a better pantry and coupon a bit more too!
I really have to do some more research on the garden and canning aspect as well - the thought getting into hormone free and grain fed antibiotic free meat is appealing to me as well.
Good luck! It's something to aspire to be - self-reliant and PREPARED!
We just planted some dwarf fruit trees as well - I'm looking forward to our bumper crop!
Sometime, I'd like to hear more about the solar oven - I hope you get it!