Me, Write a Book? From Becky's Farm Life

Tommy has asked me for many years to write a book about what we as a family have been through, the ways we live, the ways the Lord has worked in our lives, our up and downs, how I cook and canning , run a farm,etc. Something to leave the kids. And I have had a few comments asking me to write a book. I have been writing a daily paper journal about our family lives for years now, 12 + books are full.

Well I found a place that will turn your blog into a book for you at a reasonable price. So as a first step to please my husband, I am working so doing that. The only draw back is that the site only uses Blogger blogs. So I am transferring the post there and all the comments from here. It will take me a while to type in all my journals, to be able to get them in book form. And I will set up a different blog on blogger to do this. Am I trying to sell the books? I am not sure, this is new to me. So for now I’ll do them for the kids and see where the Lord leads. I would have never dreamed of writing a book. So I am not sure where this all will lead. Do any of you have any thoughts on this? I would really like to know your very honest answers. Would you want to buy a book about Jordan’s Farm and family life??
Becky

Comments:

I would buy one! I say go for it!!!!
Comment by Amanda February 13, 2009

When you set up the new blog would you please provide a link? I sure wouldn’t want to lose track of you, I SO look forward to your posts! Yes, I would buy one…I also say “Go for it!”
Linda Comment by Linda February 14, 2009


I am starting out with just the blog book for now. You can get an e-book style book for only $2.99. I don’t get any money for this, but I know this e-book will help and bless others. It will take me a while to get everything into a real book. Thank you both for your comments, as they really blessed my heart. Becky Comment by Becky February 15, 2009

Stocking Food

I got an e-mail from a friend. I didn’t know about the “loss leaders” , so I’m sharing it with you to. Thank you Carol.
I was reading on your blog page about tips on saving money. I don’t know of a lot of people know that the sale ads contain what are called “loss leaders”. They are on the front and back pages. They are the sale items that the store loses money on in order to bring you into the store. You’ll save the most by concentrating on those items.
A price notebook is also a good idea for items that you buy. Set it up with the name of the item. When you go to one store, check out the prices of the items on the list there. Do the same when you go to another store.It may take awhile to do this but it is a great way to keep price of which stores have the best prices especially if you record their sale prices. Sometimes I record prices into the notebook from the receipt. From Carol L.

Yes, we do have a milk cow, who gives 3 1/2 gallons of milk a day. And yes, I can and freeze the milk. But I also keep the dried milk on hand( 3-5gal. buckets, about the time I run out, it’s on sale again and well keep 6-8 months in a cool dark place.). If I can’t get feed for her due to no money and or no food to buy, and when she dries up- I’ll have milk. We use a lot of milk both to drink and cook with. What I do with the dried milk: make cheeses , hot cocoa mix, in baking. The many uses of powdered milk-great site for more ideas; http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/powderedmilk.htm

Expiration Dates on stored food
I use a big black pen to write the date in big letters on front of package, then as I buy new, I put it where the dates go from oldest to newest. I just look around my stores at the dates facing me. Then once a month, I go though and pull every thing that needs to be eaten that month, and bring in to the house. Most can goods are good for years, but as the years go by they loose some nutritional value with age. If you are buying for your stockpile, look at the expiration dates as you buy, I have moved cases of food to get food that has more than a year from exp. date( I do put the other cases back like I found them). The oldest food is always on top or in the front. No store people have said any thing to me as long as I put things back. It your money, and with money being tight, why not buy the freshest you can. It takes a little more time, but if your like me you have more time than money.


Bakery stores usually will give you empty buckets. I go to Ingles and get them. They are food grade, I wash them up, and they are ready to go. They come in different sizes. I got one that had garlic butter in it, I could not get the smell out. So I use it for a feed bucket for the chickens. If you live where power goes out a lot like here: you can all store water in them. Then stack two high and cover with a cloth and it looks like a small table.

When storing RICE, put a bay leaf in with rice to keep bugs out. An used 2 liter bottle works will, just run tape around lid. And you can stick the bottle just about any where.

When storing FLOUR, put in a bay leaf or a stick of spearmint gum, to keep bugs out.

When storing OIL ( veg., corn, etc) Put in a place that gets very little light and is cool.

15 Comments

Here’s another tip for storing dried goods such as rice, flour, beans, powdered milk, instant potatoes, and even marshmallows. I put things like this in my freezer. Just remember things in paper bags such as your flour you can put bag and all in a freezer bag don’t forget to take the air out then seal and freeze. That way your flour does not absorb the moisture. I do this allot as like most people I do not have the shelf storage. I only keep in the house what I need. Bay leaves work good too if you do not have allot of that kind of stuff to store. Comment by Becky October 6, 2008

I am fascinated by your website and lifestyle. I visit frequently. I am from suburban Baltimore and although I cannot do a lot of what you do I find it inspiring. Anyway, I was looking at your pantry and am wondering why you store your canned goods upside down. Is there a reason for that?Thanks and Good luck with everything. Comment by Felina November 4, 2008

I was wondering the same thing Felina. Comment by Jackie November 6, 2008

Felina and Jackie,I too was wondering how long it would take for someone to ask. lol I do this because we have a lot of dust living on a dirt road. This saves me from having to wipe the top of the can off before opening it. Just a time saver.Thanks you two for asking. Have a great day.Becky Comment by jordansfarm November 7, 2008

Becky, i had someone ask me if i had evercanned onions, an i have not have youif so how are they done?please let me knowthanks Grandma Comment by Grandma November 15, 2008

Grandma,No, I have never canned onions by themselves. I always can them in soups, stews and with meat. Onions usually store well for a long time in a cool, dark place. Hope this helps some. Have a great day.Becky Comment by jordansfarm November 16, 2008

HelloI have just started pressure canning>>I have canned ham and beans >> they are sealed >> but they appear to be more mush than bean >> what have I done wrong??>>I cooked every thing and then put them into jars and canned it at 15 lbs for 90 min.Hope I have given you enough info for you to be able to help me.I am so glad I found your websitethis is a gold mine!!THANK YOU Vera Comment by Vera November 19, 2008

Thanks for the infolove your site you have some good info on it Comment by grandma November 19, 2008

Vera,I have not canned(dried) beans before. But my close friends who do, do not precook the beans. They do soak them overnight, then can them. Hope this helps. They say it works great. Thank you for stopping in, have a great day. grandma,Your welcome. Have a great day.
Becky Comment by jordansfarm November 20, 2008

Hello again BeckyI was wondering about the room with the air conditioner for food storage.My hubby is going to make one so I can age cheese there and put canning.Do you find it kicks on often?I was just wondering about the power bill thats all.I guess in the basement untouched it should stay cool enough to kick on rarely.Just wondered. Comment by karen January 19, 2009

Karen,The AC only kicks on if it gets really hot, as there is also three freezers in there too.(which put off heat, and this is great for winter months.)The power bill does go up some when it’s really hot, does not go up in the winter. In the summer, I keep the temp. at 70, and the winter: we use a small heater to keep it at 40. Neither or used unless it gets really hot/cold. Hope this helps. To us, the power bill going up some for a few months, is still cheaper than not stocking and knowing we have food. And the bill does not go up that much (maybe $20-$30 if it really hot/cold, and this usually only last a few days to just a few weeks)as the heater and AC are for small areas.Have a great Day.Becky Comment by Becky January 20, 2009

I read your recipie for canning milk. But it does not say how long it can be stored after, or how to store it. Can you just keep it on the shelf, or does it still need to be kept cold?
I recently moved to a small 10 acre tract, and we are trying to start a farm. I have a few goats and chickens so far. We have a long way to go. Money is tight and I need to make things last. Driving to town to get groceries when the price of gas was over $4 a gallon cost us over $20 in gas alone. So I try not to go to the store often. That means I have to freeze things to keep it longer. Gloria Comment by Gloria January 23, 2009

Gloria,Sorry it’s taken me so long to answer you.I store my canned milk in a cool, dark place(with my canned veggies). I have used canned milk that is over a year old, still good. Milk can be frozen too, for drinking. I have drunk some that’s been in the freezer over a year, and still good.Thank you for stopping in. Hope this helps. Have a great day.Becky Comment by Becky January 28, 2009

To store fresh eggs for up to 1 year. Rub warmed mineral oil on your hands and coat the entire surface of the fresh egg with the oil. Replace the egg in the egg carton with the point down. In cold climates they can be stored in a cool, dark place. You can place them in a refigerator and rotate once a year. Comment by Cathy Facer February 11, 2009

Cathy: Thank you for your comment as it will also help others who stop in here. Thank you again. Becky Comment by Becky February 15, 2009

Store bought goods: What I have and what else is needed for at least 1 year.

With the list below and our garden food, cow meat, our milk cow, chickens(meat and eggs) will give us over a years supply of food. I'll buy things here and there, but not much. I cook from scratch, so you may or may not use what's on my list. Over the years I have found lots of ways to make different things, with a little in store. Example: elbow noodles can be used in soups,mac and cheese, spag. I have other things stored, but this is our MUST HAVE list. And I have been stocking up now for over a year, so please don't let this overwhelm you and you feel it's to late, because it's never to late. Just start slow and easy, buy a few extra things here and there. Some stored food is better than none.

Yeast: 3 lbs. ( this should last us over a year, used to make bread)

Flour: 35- 5lbs. bags ( we don't have a grain grinder yet, but it's on my wish list, so for now I buy flour. And I will most likely need to buy more before years out, due to not lasting for more than a year.)

Sugar: 42-5lbs. bags ( yes, this is a lot of sugar, but not really when you start making jellies and will most likely need more before the year is out.)

Lard: 50 lbs.

Salt: a full 5 gallon bucket ( we try and keep extra, in case we need to salt down meat to keep it good. I would like one more bucket, well it's on list.)

dry powered milk: 10 big boxes= 50 made gallons (there is so much you can do with this, and we LOVE the hot cocoa mix.)

instant oatmeal packets: a full 5 gallon bucket (you say instant? Well they were on a great sale and well mine like a little flavor now and then)

rice: 60+ lbs.

elbow noodles: 30 lbs. ( use this for mac &cheese, soups, spag.)

fruit cocktail: 10- #10 cans ( these were a blessing from someone)

tomato sauce: 15 oz. cans- 30 ( used in homemade spag. sauce, chili, pizzas, soups)

lemon juice: 9- 1qt. bottles (use in making cheeses, putting fruit in, making jams)

mixed vegetable: 14 oz cans=30 and #10 cans=4 ( we love beef veg. soup, so in late fall I make big batches of soup and can it for the winter. I use our beef ribs as meat for soup, as we like the pork ribs better. And the beef ribs take up more room in the freezer. I use these veg's. to save a little time, and it still works out cheaper then buying soup in cans.)

tomato juice: 18= 46 oz cans ( for drinking and adding to soups)

pork and beans: 20 cans

kidney beans: 24 cans ( just for chili, hubby is only one who eats it.)

molasses: 6- 12 oz jars ( cooking)

cocoa: 8 lbs.( for homemade brownies, hot cocoa, cookies, cakes)

cans of fruit(peaches, pineapples, etc.): 29 cans

tomato paste: 2-#10 cans and 6 little cans ( used in soups, spag. and sauces)

bisquick: 16 lbs.( I know a boxed a mix, but hubby makes breakfast and he like using this for only pancakes and a chicken coating. And if I can come in from milking to hot cakes, it's ok.)

ketchup: 4 bottles

pancake syrup: 9 bottles

rolled oats: 25 lbs. ( used for baking, eating and cookies)

peanut butter: 17 jars ( life is good if you have enough PB&J)

spag. noodles: 20 lbs.

baking soda: 15 lbs.

corn starch: 12- #10 cans ( someone gave us, but stores just about forever, I will not use this much in a year, maybe not even 5 years.)

powder sugar: 8-#10 cans (someone gave us, and will not use this all in a year, but stores a long time.)

BBQ sauce: 15 bottles ( on sale at $ .50 each, this was all that was left. Used for BBQ - Ribs.)

honey: 3 qts.( cooking and eating)

can potato slices: 24 cans ( if you drain them, then fry in butter and onions, on very good. a good sale on them.)

pop corn: 10 lbs.

grits: 5 lbs.( should last a year, hubby is the only one to eat them.)

barley: 2- #10 cans ( used in soups, and side dish)

spag. sauce: 15- 26 oz cans ( this is the smaller can and we always doctor it up and add more, it's used a a base.)

pizza sauce: 9 jars ( time saver. I make the Mozz. and crusts for homemade pizzas. The jar is only a dollar and makes 3-4 pizzas)

hash browns: 4-#10 cans

instant potatoes: 2-#10 cans

chocolate pudding instant: 4- #10 cans ( someone gave us, and it's ok)

can peas: 10 ( the only way to get my family to eat peas is in soups and to make cheesy peas( using my canned cheese sauce).

mayonnaise: 5 jars

sweet relish: 3 jars

can mushrooms: 7

evaporated milk: 18 cans

both vinegar: 8 gallons

veg. oil: 10 bottles

shortening in cans: 6

vanilla: 6 bottles

baking powder: 6 cans

onion powder: 8 bottles ( we use powders instead of those mixed with salt, you get more for your money. And we use them daily. I might have to buy more. To spice up a grilled cheese add the onion and garlic powder, it's a great change.)

garlic powder: 8 bottles

cinnamon: 8 bottles

seasoned salt: 5 bottles

spray Pam bottles: 6 ( don't usually buy, but they were on a great sale)

Hershey's syrup: 5 bottles

dried potato slices, instant mashed potatoes: 14 boxes ( used on busy nights )

box cake mixes: 15 ( these were on sale too)

tubs of frosting: 6 ( I have not master this from scratch yet, and will need to buy more)

powdered Gatorade( big cans, makes 6 gallons each): 7 ( this is so great for everyone, for when their sick or out in the sun)

Between these two list, has help me to really see what we have and need. And it's been a while since I done it. For some reason if it's on paper it goes in brain better than just looking around. Please only stock what your family will eat, even if it's a great sale. And the more you can make from scratch the better and will save you more money. Try and learn to cook at least one new thing a week from scratch. Happy stocking.

Hope this helps.

Becky

Technorati Tags: food storage,self sufficiency,stocking up. stockpiling food

Comments:

1. Well, I’m truly in awe of you, Becky Thank you for a very comprehensive list. I must admit, it makes me feel rather inadequate. At this point, I’m still working on a three month supply of what we eat on a regular basis. Your list gives me a lot of inspiration and renewed motivation to achieve my own goals. Thank you! Joyce Comment by Joyce July 23, 2008

2. I keep a similar list of my home canned goods and store bought goods. It really helps out when you are stockpiling to know how much you have on hand and what your goal amount is. I also date each item so it makes for a good revolver system. Comment by Caroline July 23, 2008

What's Stored, What's else is needed for at least 1 year?

Ok, I have check on what and how much I have stored this far. So I will know just what else I really need to store to go at least a year. This is only for canned foods I've canned, not store brought goods.  This list and how many jars needed for a year is for 3 people and I figure for not being able to go to store at all , so my numbers are really a little high( so it might last more than a year).  Some of this is from last year. But due to time and strength, I did not want to can more than we really used from the garden.

GREEN BEANS:(use 3 qts. a week)  have 159 qts. ( might can more)

SWEET POTATOES: (only 1 person eats) have 25 pts.

POTATOES: ( use about 2 qts. a week)  have 13 qts. ( need about 91 more qts.)

SHARP CHEEDAR CHEESE:  have 6 pts. and 5 jelly jars ( want to can more, if they go on sale again)

CHEESE SAUCE: have 42 jelly jars ( want to can more, if they go on sale again) ( one jar makes mac and cheese for 4 people.)

MILK: ( use about 3 qts. a week) have 56 qts ( need about 100 qts. more)

CARROTS: have 30 qts. (only used it stew and soup, have enough)

TOMATOES: ( use about 1-2 qts. week) have 44 qts. ( will can more if tomatoes do good this year)

FRUITS(use about 2 qts. a week)

APPLE SAUCE:  have 48 qts.

APPLE SLICES: have 27 qts.

PEAR CHUCKS: have 45 qts.

JELLIES AND BUTTERS: ( use about one pint a week)

APPLE BUTTER :  have  9 pts.

APPLE JELLY: have 17 jelly jars

PEAR JAM:  have 40 jelly jars

MIXED JELLIES:  have 5 jelly jars

STRAWBERRY SYRUP: have 3 jelly jars

STRAWBERRY JAM: have 6 jelly jars and 2 pts. ( 7 gallon freezer bags in freezer to make more jam) 

I am so thankful for all my stores. I know I have stated before that I was going to can every thing I could get my hands on, but well this was really stressing me out. I know how to garden and have seed for next year already, so why stress myself out? And all this will last us more than a year.  And I'm slowly running out of shelf space in the food barn.  I do not want  3 years of apples and no potatoes or green beans, ect.

Our beefalo (bull cow) is going in the freezer within the next 2-3 weeks.  And 1 cow would last us a year with 5 people (2 adults, 2 teenagers, 1 child)eating. Now only 2 adults and one child, should last us much longer. We have about 26 young chicks that should be ready for the freezer by winter. If we need more, we'll kill as needed. I can get 2-3 meals out of one chicken for us. We still have about 1 pig in freezer from last year, so we are good on meat.

My next post I'll do store bought goods and how much I have and need for a year for 3 people. Hope this helps someone. If you need any help or have any questions, just let me know.  If you can figure out about how much your family eats a month, that's the place to start, even a week is a good start.

Hope you all have a great day.

Becky

Technorati Tags: canning,food storage,garden,self sufficiency,stocking up,stockpiling food

Comments:

Wow! Becky, you are so well prepared!I didn’t know you could can potatoes. Do you use a pressure canner? Is there a varieties that are better to use than others?I’m looking forward to your store bought list, since this is mostly what we have stored right now.Thanks for sharing
Joyce Comment by Joyce | July 20, 2008 |

That’s awesome! Where do you keep it all? How many freezers do you have? Do you have grains (wheat, oats, flour, sugar, etc.) too? And, the fact that you do it all mostly by yourself is amazing to me! You are quite the woman! Comment by Darce | July 20, 2008 |

Great list Becky, I think most people have no idea how much they need for an entire year. You putting all this down will help people just starting to stock their own food supplies.
It takes a huge effort, don’t work too hard and take care. Comment by matronofhusbandry | July 21, 2008 |

Joyce: yes I pressure can the potatoes. I am not sure about varieties, I just can what comes out of the garden.
Darce: I have three freezers in the food barn, I have photos here:
http://jordansfarm.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/why-what-how-i-am-storing-and-stocking-up-food/I do have grains, but they are store bought, and will be listed in next post, ok. Comment by jordansfarm | July 21, 2008 |

Thanks, Becky! Hope you’re not working too hard today. I’m making a birthday dinner for our daughter today. She would want fried chicken on such a hot day. Off to finish the potato salad and carrot cake. Joyce Comment by Joyce | July 21, 2008 |

Joyce,
We do fried chicken for birthdays too, but I’m lucky because it’s in Jan. when it’s not hot.
And for some reason when I make potato salad, the potatoes are to soft or to hard. But I found a way to make perfect potato salad every time. I use my canned potatoes, it’s great. I make carrot cake too, but just for birthdays. Hope you all had a great day.
Becky Comment by jordansfarm | July 22, 2008 |

Thank, Becky Everything went wonderfully! I nearly melted into the kitchen floor…but other than that…Joyce Comment by Joyce | July 22, 2008 |

Might want to run a thin strip of wood along the outside of your shelves if you are in an earthquake prone area - don’t want all of that work to fall off and break ! Comment by Debra | July 22, 2008 |

You are amazing! Comment by Jodi | July 26, 2008 |

Could you tell me how you can your carrots? I bought some baby carrots on sale and am thinking about canning them. I’d appreciate your thoughts! I consider you to be my canning guru!  D

Thanks so much!
Stacie  Comment by arksoaper | September 16, 2008 |

Stacie,just wash, can cut in half of leave whole,
cook: at 10 lbs pressure, pints 25 mins and qts. 30 min. Good luck
Becky  Comment by jordansfarm | September 17, 2008 |

Thank you so much, Becky! Have a wonderfully blessed day!
Stacie Comment by arksoaper | September 17, 2008 |

Why are you not canning your beefalo and chickens? I have done it and it is so easy! Comment by other canning mom | October 3, 2008 |

Other canning mom,
I do can some meat, but not a lot. I seem to only have enough canning jars for vegs, fruit, jellys, etc. Have a great day. And thank you for stopping in.
Becky   Comment by jordansfarm | October 3, 2008 |

Cooking with Home Storage--Homemade Cheese recipes using Powdered milk

These recipes are from the "Cooking with Home Storage" by Vicki Tate , used with permission of author. (see end of this post to order this wonderful book) A most have book. This book has pioneer recipes, dried foods recipes, and more.

Parmesan Cheese

1 cup boiling water , 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 cup powdered milk

blend all ingredients and cook over medium-high heat until milk boils. the curds will be very small and milk will be frothy. pour into a cloth lined strainer, rinse and press out excess water. put curds into a bowl and stir with a fork to break up. spread on a cookie sheet and dry for about 10 minutes in a 150 degree oven. this cheese can be salted and used in place of parmesan, or mixed with 1/4 to 1/3 commercially dried parmesan cheese. refrigerate or freeze. makes about 1 cup of curds. a pleasant flavor change takes place after about 3 months of aging under refrigeration.

Mock Mozzarella

4 cups warm water, 1 3/4 cup white vinegar, 2/3 cup vegetable oil, 3 cups powdered milk

blend all ingredients, pour into hot, oil-coated saucepan and heat to 115 degrees to form curds. rinse in warm water, drain and salt to taste. place in cheesecloth bag and hang to drain or squeeze out excess liquid. cool and grate or crumble. use as you would commercial mozzarella. for a firmer texture, use only 1/4- 1/3 cup of oil. *note: this has the texture and melt ability of comm. cheese, but not the flavor. you could mix 1/2 grated mock mozz. with 1/2 cup comm. mozz. for an authentic flavor.

I will post a few more later. This is a great book. I use the recipes weekly and they help save money.

The New Cookin' with Home Storage- New and Expanded version with Index

By: Vicki Tate (435)835-8283 in Utah, USA

Vicki has said if you call in to order the book price is $14.95 + S&H, and can order a CD of her lecture for $4.00, too.

Table of Contents

1. Pioneer breads
2. Breads
3. cornmeal
4. toppings
5. quick mixes
6. muffins
7. quick breads
8. hot cakes
9. syrups
10. tortillas
11. specialty breads
12. crackers and chips
13. breakfast cereals
14. sourdough
15. soups
16. beans and pea soup
17. chowders
18. stews
19. chili
20. sauces
21. pioneer dinners
22. dried beans
23. one-pot-meals
24. pizza
25. mexican
26. rice
27. meat substitutes
28. meat dishes and fish
29. pasta
30. dutch oven
31. manti pageage bar-b-q turkey
32. milk products
33. cheese
34. eggs
35. fruit
36. vegetables
37. salads
38. sprouts
39. puddings
40. pies
41. cakes
42. cookies
43. confections
44. remedies
45. natural beauty and personal care
46. emergency baby care
47. household cleaners
48. survival
49. reconstituting dried foods
50. substitutions
51. preparedness tips
52. what to store
53. where to go for preparedness products

The book has 302+ pages.

Technorati Tags: food storage,homemade cheese,powdered milk,saving money,self sufficiency

Comments:

Becky, you are giving good advice telling people to only stock up on what they will eat. It’s a waste of money to have things the family will turn their noses up at. Be Well.
Comment by Nita July 7, 2008

I just discovered your blog. I am really enjoying reading your posts. We too live on a farm and do food storage and preservation.
Comment by Caroline July 7, 2008

Your blog makes me so excited! I love your ideas, and they seem doable! Thanx for sharing, and please don’t stop!
Comment by Darce July 7, 2008

Here's more in home, recipes, and stocking food

Around the farm: It's been over cast most of day, praying for rain. I have cut the runners from my strawberries, suckered my tomatoes yet again, washed clothes and hung out side, weeded some, and now taking a break.

Home Tips ( http://jordansfarm.wordpress.com/home-tips/ )

I found this recipe and like it the best for a few reasons: I can get Ivory soap bars for 3 for a dollar and baking soda is cheap, both Ivory and baking soda store just about forever, not a lot of work to make, can be used to clean other things. We use ERA detergent the most as it works best on the farm, and being able to make something's is better than nothing . And I have not learned yet to make soap. But I'm am preparing for hard times to come,( power outages, no money, nothing in stores to buy, etc.). I have bought Ivory and as have baking soda, for when it's need. There are some many things happening all around us. This recipe is the cheapest I can find and the easiest to make( which is what I look for in all recipes).

Homemade Laundry Soap Detergent Recipe

2 gallons Water (hot)
1 bar Soap (grated)
2 cups Baking soda (yes baking soda this time–not washing soda)

• Melt grated soap in a saucepan with enough hot water to cover. Cook on medium-low heat, stirring frequently until soap is melted.
• In a large pail, pour 2 gallons hot water. Add melted soap, stir well.
• Then add the baking soda, stir well again.
• Use 1/2 cup per full load, 1 cup per very soiled load

I got this at: http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-soap-detergent-recipes/ ( Recipe #8) There are other recipes here, too.

Homemade Sanitary Pads

Ok, ladies what happens when and if you can't buy sanitary pads. This is a must, to use all the time not really. But if you made a few to just have in case, this is something that we need, monthly. Yes, you could stock up on store bought ones, this is just a money saving tip. These could also be used in a first aid kit, if needed. When I find something like these, I think of other ways it can be used. The site I found to make them is: http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/sanitarypads.htm

Recipes ( http://jordansfarm.wordpress.com/recipes/ )

I know this is a winter time recipe but if you had it now, you might be able to stock up for it.( the price of powdered milk keeps going up, but this drink can also replace a glass of milk too, which is a treat for kids, and us older people.) And here they will not drink the powered milk any other way. And in hard times, this is a great boost.

Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

Makes 14 cups (this makes a 28 cup batch)

2 cups instant non fat milk (4 cups)

1/2 cup cocoa (1 cup)

1 1/2 cup sugar (3 cups)

1/4 teaspoon salt (1/2 teaspoon)

Mix all together well, store in an air tight bowl. To use add 3 heaping tablespoons to a cup of hot water, not boiling. If you have a coffee maker- run water with no coffee, this is just the right temp. ( after making it with the hot water and stirred good , it can be put in the ice box and becomes choc. milk, this is good too.)

Stocking Food ( http://jordansfarm.wordpress.com/stocking-food/ )

Yes, we do have a milk cow, who gives 3 1/2 gallons of milk a day. And yes, I can and freeze the milk. But I also keep the dried milk on hand( 3-5gal. buckets, about the time I run out, it's on sale again and well keep 6-8 months in a cool dark place.). If I can't get feed for her due to no money and or no food to buy, and when she dries up- I'll have milk. We use a lot of milk both to drink and cook with. What I do with the dried milk: make cheeses , hot cocoa mix, in baking.

The many uses of powdered milk-great site for more ideas; http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/powderedmilk.htm

Technorati Tags: food storage,ideas,making do,recipes,saving money,stocking up,stockpiling food

Comments from Becky's Farm Life:

You sound like my kind of person.Heres a hint you may want to try. Air and moisture is your enemy for long term storage of almost any item.Grit your teeth and get a vacuum sealing machine. They remove most of the air and moisture and make an air tight sealed container. Without air, bugs, mold and ohert pest can not survive. Vacuum sealed soap, powered milk, beans etc will last for years if stored in a cool dry place.
Try placing a few tampons in you first aid kit, out soldiers in Iraq say they are real life savers when used in large wounds to stop bleeding until medical help can be had.
Comment by pobept July 6, 2008

very interesting
Comment by JoAnn July 27, 2008

[...] Becky’s Farm Life [...]
Pingback by Tipnut’s Hit List - July 2008 - Popular Tips » TipNut.com August 9, 2008

Have you tried this particular recipe for laundry soap? I made the traditional one with washing soda,etc. I have a huge bag of baking soda from Costco that I’d love to use it. How do your clothes turn out?
Comment by Georgene September 16, 2008

Georgene,Thank you for stopping in. This soap not yet. A friend did and says it’s great. I am making my first batch this week as we are about out of the store brought. I have been saving the empty bottles to fill up with the homemade soap.Becky
Comment by jordansfarm September 17, 2008

What kind of bottles are you putting the laundry soap in? I have an old detergent bottle with a lid that I use. I sit it on top of my dryer, next to the washer, and leave the 1/2 cp. measurer next to it. I’ve been making my own soap for a few years and love it. I used to not be able to wash my towels in the soap because our well water had a high lead content but now that we’ve moved back to the city I think it might be better.
I loved your clothes line ideas and went to purchase some chain today. Great idea!
Comment by Georgene September 17, 2008

Stocking food, brownies recipe,

Expiration Dates on stored food ( put in stocking food tab)http://jordansfarm.wordpress.com/stocking-food/

I use a big black pen to write the date in big letters on front of package, then as I buy new, I put it where the dates go from oldest to newest. I just look around my stores at the dates facing me. Then once a month, I go though and pull every thing that needs to be eaten that month, and bring in to the house. Most can goods are good for years, but as the years go by they loose some nutritional value with age. If you are buying for your stockpile, look at the expiration dates as you buy, I have moved cases of food to get food that has more than a year from exp. date( I do put the other cases back like I found them). The oldest food is always on top or in the front. No store people have said any thing to me as long as I put things back. It your money, and with money being tight, why not buy the freshest you can. It takes a little more time, but if your like me you have more time than money.

Recipes (is in tab too)http://jordansfarm.wordpress.com/recipes/

More Brownies Please

1 cup butter(2 sticks)

2 cups sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

4 eggs

3/4 cup cocoa

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup nuts optional ( but are great with walnuts)

Preheat oven to 350, grease 13 X 9 X 2 pan, melt butter in a pan then turn heat off and stir in sugar and vanilla, add eggs one at a time beating well with wooden spoon after each egg, add cocoa, beat until blended, add flour, baking powder, salt, beat well. stir in nuts. Bake at 350 for 30 - 35 min. or until brownies pull away from the sides of pan. Enjoy!

Home Tips (is in tab too)http://jordansfarm.wordpress.com/home-tips/

I found flannel sheets at thrift store, full sets, king size set $2.00 and queen size set $2.00. I will cut these up to make: washable paper towels, washable tissues, washable napkins, and to make pads. That's a lot of material for $4.00.

I am buying less cleaners and making my own cleaners. I will list some in a few days.

Hope everyone has a happy 4th. Becky

Technorati Tags: food prices,food storage,ideas,making do,saving money,stocking up

Comments from Becky's Farm Life:

With the current uncertainties with food prices there is a greater need for us to conserve and be increasingly economical about food consumption at home. We have become wasteful as consumers of food and have never really had a need to feel otherwise before this crisis started. Blaming the rampant consumerism of the supermarkets has now irrelevant in this discussion. The situation now is that if we don’t change our food habits this situation could easily escalate completely out of control. The responsibility is now on us all to change our food buying and food consuming habits.Simple food saving tips are things we need to get used to and practice more regularly. Most of these are common sense and can be quite creative. You can find a list of free food saving tips at sites such as http://www.foodcrisis.co.uk amongst other similar sites as well.We all need to contribute to a fairer and more food wise program for ourselves.
Comment by hungrybritain August 7, 2008

Garden and Farm and Home

I have been going full speed last few days. Right now it's over 90, so I am taking a break in front of a fan. I am mulching everything I can, this so helps with less weeding, and holds water in longer. I canned more quarts of milk and quarts of green beans. Froze milk and eggs, and some cream(the only things you can not do with cream that has been frozen, is whip it. I make butter, ice cream and cheese with it as time allows). Thank you Lord, for a great garden and a milk cow who is giving more milk ( over 3 1/2 gallons a day, now)than I can keep what with, and 80+eggs to eat and eggs to put under hens( meat this winter). I hoed up another row of potatoes. One of our hens hatched 3 more chicks ( total so far this spring 11 chicks). I have got to find time (somewhere) to make strawberry jam, and I'm almost out of butter. The Lord has really blessed our farm and garden again. I am putting up everything I can get my hands on. Our daughter is bring in more blackberries than I can keep up with and finding them in places they were not in before. I know it's going to be a very long, hard winter. And the Lord is providing food now to put up. Usually, when our garden and farm do above average, the winter coming has been hard and long. It has happened three different years, here. So that is why I am preparing more than I normally do, not just because of our economy and our income dropping to a third. This blog, Becky's Farm Life , has gotten some many hits, from people looking to stock up on food and stretch their money, I know the Lord is trying to prepare them too. I am just trying to help all I can. It's becoming my mission for the Lord. People, I talk to face to face think I'm crazy for telling them to stock up and get ready. So the Lord showed me to start this blog, and they will come, and they have. Please if any of you have ideas to add, please do so. As we are to help one another. And again, I don't have all the answers, just telling what I know and what has worked here on our farm for years.

Tommy still has not gotten the gas line fixed under the house. So I am glad I have a gas stove top outside( this is where I can in the summer). In a way it's a blessing, I can cook simpler meals,and the kitchen does not get so hot. Last night, we had eggs and bacon and toast and milk. I just have to keep an eye out for the cats, they think it's their dinner. I am checking all my stored things as I go to the store next week. I have cut going to town to every two weeks, it would be once a month but I don't have room to store that much animal feed. As it is I get 700 lbs, every two weeks, this feeds 3- cows, 30 chicken, 4- dogs, 4- cats, 6- kittens. Do you need a kitten? And many food we need for the next 2 weeks, I am so blessed to have a truck big enough to carry it all. When I come home from a day in town, the truck is packed tight. And usually takes us about 3 hrs. to get everything put up.

The milk cow has been giving me a hard time. She was in her worse heat the other night. She want to play with the bull more than she wanted to eat and get milked. It took me 3 1/2 hours to milk her out, usually 20 min's. She a great milk cow for it being her first year milking. Tommy says, It's a female thing, men think they know it all. I have another chicken wanting to sit on eggs, I will let her in a few days. I have strawberry runners to cut off, and sucker the tomatoes, clothes to wash and hang out side. Hope every one has a blessed day. So I better get up from in front of this fan and get more things done today.

Becky

Technorati Tags: canning,eggs,farming,food storage,freezing,garden,stocking up

Freezing eggs,milk and canning cheese and milk :answers(hopefulheart)

hopefulheart wrote a comment: Your blog is fascinating. Could you please tell me how to freeze eggs? I am buying fresh eggs from my friends now but as you now the chickens can be fickle And how long do they last in the freezer? What is the best way to freeze milk? How do you can cheese and milk? Do you use a water bath or pressure canner? Thanks for the help.

Freezing eggs: You crack say 2- 3 eggs into a bowl, 1/4 tsp of sugar or salt(use sugar or salt-depending on what the eggs will be used for), just pop the yoke , and pour into a freezer bag. Label your bag sugar or salt. Check your most used recipes to find the number of eggs you use most. I use 6 eggs in ice cream- 6 eggs with 1/2 tsp sugar. Eggs to eat, I pack in 3 eggs with 1/4 tsp. salt. Eggs for cake mixes, add sugar to eggs. We have eaten the eggs I froze with sugar in them and they were good. The only thing you can’t do with these eggs, is have them fried. I have found they last 6-12 months. The older they get, its best to use them in recipes than to eat plain. A lot of people don’t know you can freeze eggs. After the first year here of home grown eggs, store bought didn’t look so good any more. So I found a way to keep us in eggs when the hens slowed down. This does work with store eggs ,too. Date your bags and use oldest first.

Freezing Milk: I have found that best way to freeze milk is to use juice bottles or 2 liter bottles, WHY? the jugs that milk comes in is very thin and weak. And more times than not, when the milk thaws the jug leaks. In a 2 liter bottle put a 1/2 gallon of milk, this will leave room for it to freeze. Always date your bottles. And it will thaw over night in ice box. I have found it will last 6- 12 months in freezer, I know that is not what is said, but that’s what works here. Just always use the oldest first. We have done this for over 6 years now, and same with eggs.

Canning Cheese sauce and Milk and Butter: These are listed in the recipes tab at the top. http://jordansfarm.wordpress.com/recipes/

Canning hard cheeses: We love sharp cheddar cheese but don’t like it frozen. You can, can any hard cheese this way. So I found a way to can it. In jelly/ or pint jars, in a pan of water (put jars in water), put cheese in jars(slice into small pieces) , allow to melt down to 1 in. from top, then put lids on and hot water bath 40 min. for both pints and jelly jars.The longer it sit on shelf the sharp it gets. We just got plans to build a cheese press, so as I can make my own cheddar cheese. We have had to wait to make it because I had no way or place to allow cheese to ripen. So now I’ll make it and can it. The can cheese will last 2 plus years in a cool dark place.

I will also copy this post into the recipes tab, so as it will be easier to find. Hope you all have a great day. My other blog has the recipes tab at:

http://jordansfarm.wordpress.com/ : main blog

http://jordansfarm.wordpress.com/recipes/ : recipes page

Technorati Tags: canning,freezing,milk,cheese,eggs,stocking up,storing food

Comments:

1. My husband grew up on a ranch with laying hens. I freeze eggs by cracking them out of the shell and poking the yolk, beating a few times and freezing in an ice cube tray. When frozen pop them out and place in freezer bags. Take out what you need and defrost in the fridge over night. Comment by CJ July 1, 2008

2. I have been trying to can my excess goat milk. One site said 10#’s for 25 minutes and the other said 15# ’s for 10 minutes. Both of these times curdled my milk in the jar. I have previously canned milk in the 80’s without a problem, but I do not remember the directions I used then. Can you help me? Comment by Hope Gaines July 11, 2008

3. Hope,
   I’m not really sure about goats milk. Does goat’s milk have cream like cow’s milk? If it does, I think the “curdled part “is the cream turning into like a butter. This happens on cow’s milk, and is fine to cook with. One of my books says you can water bath for 60 minutes. It’s in with the cow and goat part, extra milk. But does not say, goat milk. Have you tried cooking with the milk you have canned? My canned cows milk is not really drinkable due to taste, but is great to cook with. I know you can freeze the extra goats milk, but again I’m not sure about canning it. I’m sorry I could not help you. Have a great day. Becky Comment by jordansfarm July 12, 2008

4. 
   I have a homemade pizza sauce that I make, and when I make it I have alot so I have had to put it in the freezer and take up alot of freezer space,the pizza sause has parmasian cheese in it. I am wanting to can the sauce but I cant find any information on how to can a pizza sauce the has cheese in it. Do you know what the time and presser on that would be? Comment by Robin Lee February 10, 2009

5. Robin,The best I can tell is what I’d do: make a big batch of your sauce without the cheese, and add the cheese when you use the sauce, this would be the safest way. The cheese usually has a long shelf life. Hope this helps. Becky Comment by Becky February 15, 2009

Updates: Home, Garden, canning, Tommy's health

Good morning,

We have had 2 days of blessed rain. Thank you Lord. The gardens and well really needed it. And it helped to cools us off. It's been up above 90's, no AC in house, only AC in food barn ( some days I wish I was a jar of green beans and get to stay where it's cool).

The farm is doing great too. I am getting 21 + gallons of milk a week( I'm making cheese, ice cream, butter, canning, freezing, it all as Fast as I can), 80+ eggs a week ( I'm freezing eggs too, this works great when they slow down, you can freeze store bought eggs too), 2 chickens sitting( meat for this winter and replacing hens), 7 young chicks so far, the beefalo bull will being leaving us soon( I need steaks and I do not want to feed him this coming winter), 7 kittens( any one need one). I hope to dig up some new potatoes this week as I really do not want to buy any more store (yuck) potatoes, we ran out of our stored potatoes from last year two months ago. And tomatoes are almost ready to enter our bellies.

The garden is doing great, the Lord has blessed it yet again. We got a load (big) of mulch, to put in walk ways of the upper garden. Which will save me a lot of time, in not having to weed so much. I have canned 22 jelly jars of cheese sauce, 7 qt's. of milk, 4 qt's. of green beans, froze 6- 2liter bottles of milk. I'll have to pick green beans again Monday. This coming week I have to make strawberry jam, I had to freeze the strawberries because at the time they came in I was to busy to make jam. I have 8- gallon freezer bags of strawberries calling my name. I dried 3 batches of herbs.

Tommy is doing a little better. He still is tired all time and at times has a hard time breathing, but thank the Lord the pain is not as bad as before. We still have not as of today found a way to pay for his med's or doctor visits. So please keep praying.

We are so blessed, we may have no money, but we have what money can't buy. Thank you Lord, for your blessings on us. Lord, help me to always count my blessing and not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow is in YOUR hands. Thank you for always supplying all our needs.

Thank you all for your friendship. May God bless you all. Becky

Technorati Tags: blessings,food storage,garden,prayer,stocking up,Tommy

Comments from Becky's Farm Life:

Your blog is fasinating. Could you please tell me how to freeze eggs? I am buying fresh eggs from my friends now but as you now the chickens can be fickle And how long do they last in the freezer? What is the best way to freeze milk? How do you can cheese and milk? Do you use a water bath or pressure canner? Thanks for the help.
Comment by hopefulheart June 29, 2008

Becky, I consider myself a religious person and know our Heavenly Father will look after our needs if we do our best to do what he asks of us. I love your blogs. My husband had emergency surgery two years ago (had over 18-inches of his bowel removed and was in the hospital two months). I am his caretaker now and am so glad to have our food supply to tide us over. I work at rotating and adding to all the time. It is so satifying to look at the stash and know that our tummies will be full. I don’t have a cow, chickens, etc., but I do watch for sales on everything I do buy. We, too, have been so blessed. I feel a kinship with what you are doing. Our prayers are with you and your family.
Comment by Bev. June 30, 2008

Food stock good but soaps, PT, etc. not.

Is any one else a little overwhelmed with our economy??? I know no one knows what doing to happen tomorrow. And try as I might, there is always something I'm forgetting.

I was looking around my home and food store this morning, and I am lacking in an area. My soaps, PT, tooth paste, etc. are not in good shape. I have been forcing on food. But there is more to life than food, it's a big part but not the only. So now I'm setting the food aside for a bit, unless a great sale comes.

Here is what I need to stock:

Dawn-dishes

Dove-bath soap

V05  shampoos and conditioners-hair

toothpaste-Crest

bleach

bath paper

paper towels

Q-tips

wax paper

freezer bags- qt and gal

trash bags

light bulbs

lamp oil

bandages

his and her deod.

clothes soap

and a few other thing.

Then next is stocking up cow and chicken food, maybe if I can hay.

I really hope I'm not to late. Sometimes this whole economy thing is so overwhelming. I know the Lord is in control. But I know ,I'm to do my part too, like the ants in the Bible. God has always supplied our needs.

Thanks for listening.  Becky

Technorati Tags: food prices,stocking up,economy

Home canning Cheese sauce and buttter and fresh cows milk

Home canning Cheese sauce
6 lbs of Velveeta cheese ( I used a off brand, which was half in price)
3 1/2 cups of heavy cream
1/4 lb butter
1 quart milk
( I used our fresh cows milk, our butter and cream. This cut the price of my sauce way down. I just had to buy the cheese. In case any of you have your own cows, I'm not sure if goats milk will work.)
*melt butter in a big sauce pot
*add milk and cream
*slice cheese into above mixture
*melt cheese slowly, if melted too fast it will burn on the bottom.
*put into hot jars
*seal and hot bath for 20 minutes.
Makes 20 jelly jars. ( mine made 22 jelly jars)
The cheese sauce is great. I found that a jelly jar is enough cheese for a batch of mac & cheese for 4 people. And here, they like to spread the cheese on crackers too ( it's like a cheese whiz). The best part for me is that it stores on the shelf. If keep in a cool dry place, it should last at least 2 years. ( I got it at http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/getrecipe.zsp?id=82726 It's called "home canned nacho cheese sauce", But I just wanted the cheese sauce above.)

Home canned butter
I also found out you can, home can butter see here: http://frugalabundance.com/homecannedbutter.htm I have not tried this one yet as for time and it's been to hot to make big batches of butter. I only make what we need, and all the extra cream I freeze for now. Then when it cools off, I'll thaw the cream and make butter, then can it.

Canning raw cow's milk
With our milk cow giving us 3 plus gallons a day ( it's only her first calf). I have extra milk. So I freeze some (for when she is dry) and I can some( this canned milk makes the best white gravy you ever had. I use the canned milk for cooking only.We have been doing this for years. Can be used any where you would use milk or store can milk.)

Fill quarts and/ or pints with milk to with in 1/4 in. from rim. Then pressure can (cook) 10 minutes at 15 lbs pressure for both qts. and pts.

The milk will be a light tan color. I have canned the milk whole (without decreaming it, which will give you a thick cream like butter on top of the milk, which is good in cooking) and I have canned decreamed milk ( I take just the heavy cream off first, which gives you a little of the cream like butter on top). Both ways are good. And I have not used goats milk, but I think it would be the same but I'm not sure. If any one knows please let me know, Ok.

I would also like to thank you all for your tips on everything here. This site has been such a blessing to me. You see where I live, there are only 2-3 families in the area that live this way. Do other people think you are strange too, for the way you live?
Thanks again, Becky

Why, What, How : I am storing and stocking up: Food

Why? Well , my hubby told me a year ago, to start stocking up. He knew all this was coming, higher food and gas prices and job cuts. So when you see what I have, remember that I have been at it for over a year.
When I go to the store, I only buy food if it's on sale. Then I buy all I can, but I check the exp. date on everything I buy. When I'm stocking up I think to myself: how many things can I make with this, what do I really need as far as staples(how much do I use every month), will my family eat this,etc. Your ?'s to your self might be different. I am just showing you our way, but you might not eat what I do or cook the way I do.

We have what I call a food barn( kids call it the grocery store). We rent, so we could not dig a cellar. So hubby made a food barn for me. It has AC in summer when it's hot and a small heater in winter. As you can see it's not very big, about 7ft wide by about 16ft long. My 3 freezers are in here too, they help keep in warm in the winter. This is were I store 80% of our food. Here are some more photos of inside the food barn.

The above is canned milk from our cow, eggs from the chickens, canned potatoes,green beans,carrots.

These are green beans, apple sauce(we pick up apples and pears off the ground at a friends house and cut out bad spots the size of dimes, no one else wants to pick them up and we rent so we can't plant fruit trees, so God provides fruit this way. We usually get enough to last us until next year.), pears.

Coffee and tea are bought on sale at less than half price or a little more. I stock up and by the time they run low or out the sales back.

Someone gave us their Y2K #10 cans of flour, sugar, powdered sugar, ect. The flour will not work in breads, but will do for a coating on fried foods, gravies, and noodles.

Sharp cheddar cheese canned (just learned you could can hard cheeses, we don't like it in the freezer, so watch out sales), rice in a 2 liter bottle with a few bay leaves inside to keep bugs out and top taped on, bottle of elbow noodles, canned cheese sauce( just learned to can this too), ice cream bucket with baking soda and tape closed.

The next are places I store in the house:

Rice with bay leaves inside.

Noodles are left in there packages and sugar.( 5 gal. bucket holds 7 -5lbs. bags)

I have 4 buckets of sugar, 2 of dry milk, 2 of lard, 25 bags of flour, and more. The buckets are stored in one of our bedrooms, other things are stored under beds, in closets: anywhere I can stick things.

Hope this helps someone. Start off with buying a little extra each week, or just one or two things. Nothing is going to be dropping in price any time soon. Can or put every thing you can put your hands on. But only put up what you will eat! And don't forget to put up a few sweets up, in hard times they'll give you a little boost, a feel good food. Cheese is our boost.

Happy shopping. Becky

Flickr Tags: food storage,stockpiling food

Comments from Becky's Farm Life

wow, this is amazing. I’m really wanting to start stocking up for our family, and we are renting too….but have a full basement to put shelves and our freezer. You have give me some great ideas! Blessings!
Comment by 2-Sweet Boutique June 27, 2008

I love it! You have done a wonderful job preparing. My husband has not been too gung-ho over the years about my efforts with food storage, but with all that is going on in the world at present, he is coming around. Keep up the good work. Thanks for your example.
Comment by Bev. June 27, 2008

Great Job! I have stocking for over a Year now. and in the fall going to plant fruit trees ..What State do you live in? I am in AR just bought this place just to have land for garden and raise ChickensGood Luck!Jeannie
Comment by Jeannie July 22, 2008

Jeannie,We rent our place, so we can’t plant fruit tree. You are blessed to be able too. We live in GA. May God bless you and your farm. Thanks for stopping by.Have a great day.Becky
Comment by jordansfarm July 23, 2008

HiDo you have the recipes for canning cheese and butter? I like to can dried beans…..no need to soak. Just wash and put 1 cup into quart jar fill with water 1teas. salt and cook at 10# for 75 min. If you are doing meat and have space for a jar you can do them for 90 min and it will not hurt.Enjoy!Cheese is on sale now so I would like to try this,ThanksJackie
Comment by Jackie August 13, 2008

Becky,I just found your site and I love it. Thank you for sharing. I too would like to know how to can cheese. Can you share?blessings,debbieo
Comment by Debbieo February 2, 2009

Debbieo,Canning cheese in under the recipe tab at the top of the pages. Canning cheese is near the end on that page.Thank you for stopping in.Becky
Comment by Becky February 2, 2009

Becky,You are an amazing woman! I am praying for Tommy and your family. Thank you for sharing all of your advice. I am far from a farm girl, but my husband has a new job with half of the paycheck and we need to find ways to cut back. I have such a problem with meal worms or paper moths in the summer. I never thought of putting a bay leaf in with my rice. I don’t know where those nasty little worms come from, but they love biscuit mix, pancake mix, noodles and rice. They even chewed through the plastic lid on my oatmeal container. I may just wallpaper my shelves with bay leaves!Lin
Comment by Lin February 5, 2009

As an old Army vet of 31 years service, I remember the old C-rations. These were foods in cans - like spaghetti and meatballs (made by the Chef Boyardee company), pound cake (it was awesome), canned cookies, chicken and noodles etc. The box of C-rations camw with matches, cigarettes (4 in a pack), toilet paper (hmmm) and Chicklets. The can foods needed a can opener however and not every box had one (to save money I guess). It was called a P-38 and some old timers may still have one on their key chain.
Now the Army uses MRE’s which is fine too. But the old ways worked so I stock up on canned foods and ones that have tabs for self-opening - no ‘P-38′ needed. I concentrate on the chunky soups that can be eaten as a meal. They are thick and have great taste. Sirloin Burger, Veggies and Chicken etc. There’s a wide variety of these. Also tuna in water, chili, Dinty Moore Beef Stew and a host of rices and other meals are available. I buy what I normally would consume - something I learned from the old Y2K preparations. Expiration dates are important so I take an indelible marker and write the expiration dates so I can easily see them. I rotate the stocks with the older things in the front and newer in the back.
Water is absolutely critical no matter what else we do. We can live without food for some 50 days if necessary as I understand it (although I wouldn’t like it) but without water, we dehydrate in about 72 hours. Bottle your own, get it from the store or do both. There’s no such thing as enough water.
The non-food items are things like paper towels, large green plastic bags with ties, smaller ones too, batteries in every size (every size), and sterno heaters since electric could be shut off. Get one of those little car-starters like Jump-It too. Besides starting your car it has an accessory with house current outlets on it so you can make coffee (my big priority first thing in the morning).
Get medications filled as soon as you can and keep ahead of them. Ask your Doctor to increase the quantity he orders so you can ’stock up.’ He’ll do it; if not, find one who will. Mine is great about it. Over the counter things are also important, things like a good first aid kit, peroxide, paper masks etc.
There’s more to my preparations which have been ongoing for years but this will hopefully help someone.
By the way, I am Catholic and have asked Our Lord if this is okay or does it offend Him since He provides for us. He always does. The answer I keep getting in my head (no voices thanks) is do your part and I will do mine. He expects us to take preparations like those in the Bible did. Noah had to stock the ark and Joseph told the Pharoah that Egypt needed to stock for 7 years of famine.
I have around the house a lot of holy pictures and statues of favorite Saints. Also I keep a large supply of Rosaries, brown scapulars, blessed salt and holy water and other Sacramentals for my family and friends. Be generous with them. Have them all blessed by a Priest or Deacon. Blessed candles are a must have too. Remember, these things are not ‘lucky charms’ and have no power of their own. The power they have to protect us comes from our faith in God alone.
I have Protestant friends who literally go into their closet to pray daily. That is a good thing. I am blessed to have an extra bedroom, small for guests, which I converted into a home chapel. It is awesome.
Anyway, blessings to all my brothers and sisters as you prepare for whatever may be coming down the road. I think signs of a serious depression are all around us and it could get very tense in the future. I have a friend from the Army who makes fun of me for all the preparations (his wife wants to prepare and he doesn’t). I told him its like an insurance policy - you hope you never have to use it but if something happens and you have it, your going to be okay. I don’t want to find myself wishing I had done something like preparations with food and water when it is too late and there is none or I cannot get to where it is.
Spiritual preparations are number one with me - getting and staying right with God through Jesus - confession, Communion and Rosaries and so on. Then comes the material preparations. Also, if you are able, don’t forget the less fortunate and share once in a while with them a few bucks, a warm pair of gloves and hat, or a bag of food from Mc Donalds. There are angels we are told in disguises right among us and that man or woman you pass by on the street - the person who you know is in bad shape - might just be one of those angels. Regardless, he or she is your brother or sister and Christ is in that person too. Don’t worry that the money you may hand them might by wine or booze or something worse….let God decided for that is who you are really giving it to anyway. At least your heart and intentions are in the right place.
Peace and blessings, Doc Comment by Doc February 20, 2009

I forgot to mention one other thing that I think is important. I had to retire from teaching psychology due to spinal stenosis. It is difficult for me to carry heavy items and climb the stairs to the apartment too sometimes. I bring home little items at a time, mostly the perishibles like orange juice, cheese, bread, bananas and tomatoes. But I discovered that many of the local supermarkets deliver and use their services for the bulk of my grocery order. While this service is available, who knows about the future, I take advantage of it. They allow you to tell them when you want the delivery and the driver carries everything into your house for you. I put it all away when he leaves. I also tip him too - nicely - since there are many trips up and down the stairs with many heavy items like cans, bottles of water and soda etc.
Just an added thought for those who are in my situation or simply cannot get out. You order right over the computer using their shopping lists and you get to see what you are ordering by picture too as well as cost. Doc Comment by Doc February 20, 2009