Farmington West Provident Living

 Whether you have already started, just beginning or on your way to Pro, there are always things to change-up, improve, re-new or rotate.   We all have something, even if only a wish and an idea.  This month we want to focus on the beginning.  BEGINNING to collect food storage items, BEGINNING to gather emergency supplies, BEGINNING to rotate and replace items previously stored. BEGIN to set goals toward living providently.  HERE  is some helpful information to help you understand more of what living providently means. On this Stake Provident Living Blog there is a "shopping list" over there on the right side... see it?  Each month we will update the suggestions there in an effort to help you build your supplies a little bit at a time. Each week, try and add the suggested item to your shopping list.  If you already have that item in your storage, check the expiration date and rotate the newer one in, moving the older to your regular pantry fo...

The temperatures are dropping as fast as the leaves, it's time to take an inventory, rotate a little, update a few... get prepared for the cold months!  And, there is always the WIND in our area.  Check your supplies that you may need to be prepared for any damaging winds that come our way this season. This blog has a LOT of great information for what you might need in different scenarios.  It is up to you to adapt to our area and your own family needs.  Just do as much as you are able to do.  We are counseled to "not incure debt" in order to be prepared.  So, add an item or two to your weekly shopping and as you are able, add an "emergency preparedness item" such as a stove, tent, potty, updated food items or clothing (reasonable sizes for growing children, and/or adults😉) in your "grab and go" bags. Have a wonderful season of giving Thanks... we are all SO blessed, look for the blessings, even with the hardships we all have as well... there are alwa...

 

It's time... in fact, we are in full swing over here!  How did your garden do for you this year?  Those of you without a garden space, did you try some herbs in a flower pot?  Maybe a sole tomato plant on the terrace?    See the BLOG for many tips and tricks for preserving your harvest.  Also, I found this article from Intermountain Farmers Association (IFA) that has some GREAT information on preserving foods.  Happy Fall & Happy Harvest!

  This month, we're suggesting a review of your existing KITS, and if you don't have any - it's a great time to start putting some together! Here is a link to the KITS page on this blog.  Happy KIT building/updating!

 Our Prophets have told us that if we are prepared we need not fear.  How do we do that exactly?  Well, every family and situation is unique unto itself, so you will need to decide what and how to prepare for your family and individual needs. Whether you are single, married, have children at home or seniors livin’ the empty nest life, you will still need to be prepared and well practiced for the future.  It is not just about keeping a few cans of food in your pantry. It is about knowing what to do with your stored items, food AND gear.  Gather your family members and have a preparation party!  If you live alone, share your plans with a friend or neighbor. We plan ahead for vacations, business meetings, reunions, church activities and lessons, etc.  We should also plan ahead for the untimely upset that may surprise us at any time.  Could be a natural disaster, a loss of employment or an extended illness. “We are responsible for our own lives. The d...

 Well, as promised, we tested our original wheat grinder.  This thing had no instruction manual and is so old that finding a manual on-line was fruitless.  We did our best and the first batch of flour had a very interesting color and flakes of brown in it.  Since we had learned from the first wheat grinder (more modern), one should throw away the first batch of ground wheat as it is used to "clean out" the grinding mechanism parts of any unwanted machining debris. We threw it out, but still had no idea why it was flaky with chunks of wheat berries mixed in... Turns out there was a piece of cushioning cardboard between the grinding stones from shipping. (face palm,  I told you it was un-used, un-opened even!) After a thorough going through, we re-assembled the unit and proceeded to grind a real throw-away batch. It was smaller, so we could get right on the real deal.   Who knew that the Bosch that made a gazillion batches of cookie dough for me in my ea...

 Although the "suggested focus" each month is a way to guide us through creating, adding to, rotating our food storage, kits and emergency supplies, it is only a suggestion.  Sometimes, we just need to work in a little here and there, the point is to DO SOMETHING each month to be prepared for future needs. Our household has owned a wheat grinder/flour mill for more than 40 years.  Never been used.  A few years ago, we purchased a "hand crank" mill for our preparedness supplies.  I grew up watching my mother grind wheat and bake bread each week.  Mostly as a way to rotate our HUGE store of wheat.  I came from a large family and my folks believed in food storage!  Many a FHE was spent price comparing between grocery stores and then calculating a plan of action.  We each had our assignment and pad of paper to "research" our products and write down the prices.  It was a blast at the time, as an adult, now, it is a chore.  Thank goodness...