Farmington West Provident Living

Each Ward/Neighborhood has been counseled to have an Emergency Plan in place.  In our area, we have unique threats of disaster as well as some similar to other areas of the world.  We are not likely to experience a hurricane or a tsunami, however most of you are aware of the possibility and likelihood of earthquakes, strong downslope winds, tornado, flooding, drought, fire, and events that may require evacuation from our homes.   With a neighborhood awareness and action plan in place, along with our own household preparedness plan, we will all be better able to assist and give aid to our neighbors in the event of a major event.  Stake councils, ward councils, and presidencies assist units in working together to become more temporally prepared. Members have been counseled to work together to help one another build their temporal preparedness. As members do so, their hearts can be “knit together in unity and in love one towards another” (Mosiah 18:21). More inform...

Great additions to Emergency Preparedness and Camping/Survival Supplies include communication devices.  Walkie Talkies (handheld radios) for grown-ups are awesome!  We use them when camping to touch base with each other when going different directions while hiking or when separating our group for one reason or another (some go fishing without the others...)  Each Ward in our Stake has an emergency communications plan set up.  Many radios are used to practice communicating in the event of an emergency and thus when an emergency occurs, coordinating needs of the neighborhood can be assessed & help can be arranged.   Consider having a set of hand radios and a supply of batteries on hand with your supplies.  Don't forget to rotate the batteries as needed so you always have some fresh on hand.  Another great idea is to have an emergency radio to keep you informed about weather or other natural disaster updates.  For some options of emergency r...

 A most sincere way to show our love is to serve.  We show our love daily in service to our family members, neighbors, community etc.  Our family members are served most often because we generally see them daily, same household if you will.  Cooking, cleaning, teaching, spending time with, ALL great ways of showing love through service.  Since this blog is to encourage focus on Provident Living, let's consider one way we can show love to our family members, providing for FUTURE needs as well as everyday.  Putting away a little money for the future is always a good idea, college, mission, marriage funds... all great.  What about your food storage and emergency supplies?  Do you have sufficient supply for your entire family?   This next couple of weeks, we encourage you to look at your supply and determine where you are in terms of readiness.  Focus especially on supplies you may need for infants, small children and elderly parents....

Much of being prepared is planning ahead. Preparing for minor incidences as well as a major disaster will help you and your family to 'have no fear' as you will know just what to do and have on hand the basic necessities to survive and endure.   Creating and/or practicing a Family Emergency Plan can be a fun Family Home Evening activity.   Think about the past year... Pandemic, earthquake, wind, personal or financial crisis related to any of these things or something different.  How could you have been better prepared? What would you like to do to prepare for the future? Each Ward in our Stake should have an Emergency Coordinator and an Emergency Response Specialist,   a neighborhood emergency plan and participate in the Stake Emergency Plan (Contact list is outdated due to Stake division, however the emergency plan is valid). It is recommended that each family have a personalized plan in place and participate with any ward emergency plans where app...

It is still Winter, January... Cold, windy and frozen... who is thinking about a GARDEN??? Yes, seriously, believe it or not, it is a great time to BEGIN your garden.  Remember, a garden can be a plot of land or a few pots on the patio.  One year, for me, it was ONE small pot of Basil in my kitchen window.   Now is a great time to do some research and planning.  If you are a yearly gardener, plan this years layout and prepare to plant starts indoors.  If you want to start your first garden adventure, plan, research and start gathering supplies now!  Spring will be here before we know it! Here  are some links to great gardening tips. Check out the GARDENING 101 and   Month by Month  link from USU to learn what you could be doing to prepare for your garden now.

 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 for soo...

 From simple to extreme, the gift of preparedness is multi-fold.  Giving physical items to family members and/or friends not only helps them on their journey to provident living, but also gives them the feeling of being loved and cared about.   Grown children come to realize the importance of being prepared as they move out and start their own households.  Young children always love a flashlight or a small battery powered lantern.  Having the knowledge you have even a small collection of preparedness items tucked away can bring great peace to ones self being.   Consider giving such items to those you love (including YOURSELF!)  Have a great Christmas week and a Joyous new year!   We are excited for renewed goals and plans to help you in your endeavors of living providently.  Watch for your monthly newsletters and let's make 2021 a fabulously PROVIDENT year!

 Cold weather is well upon us.  We know from history that the snow is coming and also the inevitable East canyon winds that find us several times a year.  Hopefully we have all prepared for the upcoming elements and have learned from past experience.  However if not, or you are new to the area, there are a few things to keep in mind. Check your windows and door seals for a tight fit to avoid drafts and whistles, especially during strong winds. Secure outdoor items that could become airborne in strong winds.  If you have pipes that run through outdoor walls, consider leaving taps on a slow drip overnight when temperatures drop well below freezing. Make sure you have heat sources in your emergency preparedness supplies.  Heaters (electric and/or alternate fuel), Hand warmers, blankets etc.  Further information on Heat Sources can be found HERE . If you do not already have a generator , consider purchasing one for your essential emergency supplies, you m...