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I would love info on herbs and how they can be used, gardening, and whole grain recipes (milling at home).

JeffS said… "Would like to see an in-depth discussion on food canning including equipment (and care of) and techniques and precautions. Also a general discussion of how to begin to be prepared for the novice."

I consider myself to be a novice to JeffS. I have been preparing for tough times for over a year now by collecting food and such and I have learned a few things that I am glad to share with others.

I have found a good booklet from “Ball” the makers of the jars called- “Blue Book of Preserving” it was about $7.50 and it was right next to the jars in my Wal-Mart. It has everything you need in it for recipes and how to.

Where I live- I have asked lots of people I know “for their advice on canning” and it seems “IT IS A LOST ART FORM”. My first attempt at canning was wild blackberries a few years back- “for Christmas gifts” and it turned out great. So I figure it can’t be that difficult or our grandparents would not have done it. Right?

I have cooked homemade chicken soup and had leftovers- so I canned what was left (before it cooled down) and that did great too. The biggest information I can pass on is “You have to eat what you CAN” or it’s worthless to do it.

Once you start- It is VERY time consuming. But if you have the countertop space and all the stuff you need, right at your fingertips- it’s NOT so bad. And your older kids can help too- to pass on your new found knowledge. So it doesn’t get lost again. With the difficult times coming ahead- “With this crashed economy”- We are going to need people that know how to do this. And to pass the knowledge along. Good Luck,

Chewbacca

Renee said… “I would like to learn more about recipes and uses for the "Year Supply of Grains".

I have found a good web site for a small pamphlet of (basic grain recipes) at the Provident Living http://www.providentliving.org/location/display/1,12568,2026-1-4-39315,00.html

I came to it thru this web site “Emergency Essentials” and it has been very helpful to me. It is listed as an easily downloadable so you can print it via the welfare button at the bottom. Or you can have them send you the pamphlet via snail mail.

Plus they have VERY AFFORDABLE wheat grain, white rice, pinto beans, and quick oats for sale there. I haven't found it any cheaper anywhere. Not even here unfortunately. And I love it here. Good Luck,

Chewbacca

You have to be prepared. We wouldnt have survived him being layed off this long with out it.

Debra said-"one topic of immediate interest (is how long food items will store) once a large container has been opened – say a 10 lb can or a 25 lb bag of powdered milk. if only 1 or 2 people are using the food item it may take awhile to consume the entire quantity so what is the best way to store."

Between two people- You can make only one kind of meal from one opened can- (three times a day) and it will go quickly (if it's on the shelf inside your home). If you want a (bigger variety- for meals) that takes more opened cans of food. Sorry.

The shelf life of a open #10 can- ((They recommend ONE week only)). But you can maybe extend that- if you throw in an oxygen absorber (each time you open it up) & put the lid back on- that’s if you keep it in the house. If you were in a tent in the forest- the life of the opened can of food (would be shortened considerably more- because of the humidity/heat index) and with the wild animals you would need to keep it in a bag hanging high up in a tree.

If you open a big bag of something (you can reseal it up) in the Mylar type of bags with the oxygen absorbers-and that will keep a very long time. If properly done.

All this depends on the high humidity content in your home. Here in Texas we have a very high humid & heat index which shortens the life expectancy of ALL FOODS. Here is a great link to read on the (shelf life) by the manufactures. http://www.mountainhouse.com/shelf_lif.cfm
Good Luck,

Chewbacca

Preparedness with young children.

"What preparedness topic or question would you like discussed on our blog in the coming months?"

-We would love to see discussions on cooking your stored food to recipes other bloggers or your store can offer.

Having a "child" away in college, I would like a discussion on what they can do for preparedness w/o having to lug containers around back and forth between semesters. Should they just have a 72 hr. kit?
I would also like to learn more dehydrated food/menus and water storage.

My granddaughter is a vegan and I'm very interested in recipes using your imitation beef flavored vegetable product. It works very well, and we like the taste ourselves! Thanks for this new blog and your website to help form a community of preparedness!

Our family is just getting started with food storage so there are so many topics I would love to see discussed. However, I think that a discussion on canning, whether it is canning wheat in #10 cans, or canning tomato sauce you've made with tomatoes from your garden would be so beneficial. I would much rather grow and can my own food than buy the mush that comes in cans at the grocery store.

I'm thrilled to see recipes and would like to see more. And also how to get started topics, breaking it down into baby-steps to get prepared on a budget, and creative ways to store/organize in tiny spaces.

Please discuss less expensive sytems or units to rotate our cans, etc. Most people cannot afford the expensive rotation shelving. Thanks!

I would love to hear more about canning…baby steps!

I am interested in new ways to successfully make bread from your products. I've experimented with several of your products and would like to share my successes. As a base for bread making I've used buttermilk pancake mix since it possesses excellent rising qualities. First, I have used the mix with a two to one ratio with white flour. Second, I have used the mix with a two part pancake mix with one part whole wheat. Also, I've used two parts mix with one part honey white bread and roll mixture with some postive results. All of these recipes may be cooked as pancakes or baked bread. with some of them cooked as biscuits. They only need to be stirred well with cold water and placed in an appropriate pan coated lightly with oil. I know they're other prepared people out there with other helpful ideas for tasty bread. Charles

I love your page, and will be visiting often, I would like to see some recipes for using food storage items, such as rice, beans, etc.

Eek, forgot to include my answer, I was so excited. I would love to learn more about how to incorporate grains in meals and every-day cooking. I've heard of making salads with sprouted and cracked grains, I think?

Thanks again!

Love the blog – would always like to see interesting recipes for using some of the freeze-dried or dehydrated food.

I am excited to be better prepared and would love to learn how to utilize my garden produce so it will last throughout the year ie. how do I can it or freeze it so it doesn't get freezer burn?

There are more grains available to us besides wheat and rice. It seems that America limits itself to these 2 grains, along with the starchy vegetables corn and potatoes. I am very much interested in alternative grains which are more easily digested and have more nutritional value. My 8-year old son has Celiac Disease. Celiac Disease is defined as an allergic reaction in the small intestines when the protein gluten is ingested. The classic presentation of Celiac Disease is chronic diarrhea, with abdominal bloating, sometimes pain, weight loss, iron deficiency and other evidence of nutrient malabsorption. This is because when gluten is ingested, all nutrients are flushed from the system. The cause is unknown, except that it is hereditary.
The prevalence of celiac disease in the general population was once believed to be 1 in 300, but recent evidence suggests that there are more undiagnosed than diagnosed cases.
The bishop's storehouse in Germany offers alternative grains such as buckwheat, quinoa and millet. However in America, these gluten-free grains are difficult to find. I have to purchase them at Health Food Stores, and they are very expensive. But these grains are much more nutrient dense and gluten-free for those afflicted with Celiac Disease. Let's go back to the old school grains! For example, Quinoa is a grain that is over 600 years old. It grows in the Andes Mountains.
I need to be prepared to feed my child in an emergency situation and on an everyday basis these nutrient-dense, gluten free grains at a more affordable price. I would also love to be able to access the list of ingredients of the different mixes available by EE on the website, so that I can know if my son can eat them. Since these grains are uncommon in America, I suggest that recipe ideas get posted to the website.

I would like to know where to begin it all. It seems like there is so much to do, with increasingly little to do it with. I'd like to see some lists of priorities and how to best tackle them. Thanks!

WHICH ARE THE MOST NUTRITIOUS FOODS TO PUT AWAY FOR AN EMERGENCY? AND WHAT QUANTITIES WOULD BE ADVISABLE FOR STARTING?

I love the site, lots of information. I would like to see more information on being prepared on a small budget (for those who have low or limited income).

Joann

I'm excited that you now have a BlogSpot. I'm sure there will be lots of good things that will help us to be better prepared for things when the time comes.
I'd really like to have some input from those that have used the egg products you provide. I'm fairly new at this so need all the help and recipes that you can give me.

I'd love to hear about water purification and storage, just like everyone else! And organization ideas. And maybe you could give us a weekly/monthly challenge.

I would love to learn more about foam clothing.

-Heather

I would be interested in seeing more recipes using Emergency Essentials food storage items that are inviting for children.

How about information on "sheltering-in"…it seems to be the newest way to go. Thanks for the new website…exciting and I'm grateful for the help!

I would also like to learn more about water purification and how and where to store water barrels.

I love the freeze dried strawberries! mmm

I would like to have a discussion on Hurricane Preparedness.

Enter me!! I have been struggling to put some preparedness stuff together and this would be awesome first step! Thanks for the great blog!

Thanks for the site. Now how can I get friends and family from thinking I am a nut because I want to be ready? They are lucky to have a three days supply in all of their home.

I am someone who needs step by step instructions (pictures are great too). Home canning and food storage recipes are some of what I need.

The new blog looks great! I would love to hear more about sprouting and gardening. So much of emergency preparedness seems to hinge on skills and resources you use everyday, and growing food is one I would like to put into more regular practice. Thanks for all the great products and info!

I would like to read a discussion on solar power and equipment by those that are using it.

Tks,

TMillerS

I think this site is great because I am still learning on how to get all my food storage. I want to and I think this site will really help me.
Carolyn A.
Las Vegas, NV

It's great to have the new site for new ideas and info. Look forward to getting better prepared.

I would like to know how to better ROTATE my year's supply of basic food storage items. Too often, they expire before I get to them.

Would like to see an indepth discussion on food canning including equipment(and care of) and techniques and precautions.
Also a general discussion of how to begin to be prepared for the novice.

Hi,
I would like to learn more about recipes and uses for the "Year Supply of Grains".
Thank you,
Renee'

I would like to learn more about what to use grains for besides bread. I think I have the bread down, but what else?

Thank you for the new site. I love to get as much info on preparedness as I can. I would like more recipes to use the ingredients we are storing in good, quick, and easy meals for the family.

I would like more information on how to use my food storage daily in order to keep it rotating.

Thanks!!

I'm just starting to work on a home emergency kit and would love to read more about home and personal prepardness kits.

Brian – TN
[email protected]

I would like to see information on how to use my food storage daily in order to keep it rotating.

Thanks!!

I would like to learn more about water storage. How long can we keep water that we have in 30 gallon water barrels for instance. Where to store them, treat them with something? How long will they still be drinkable?

Also, as someone else mentioned, more information on how to use the stored foods as we go along and not have them go to waste. Can the dehydrated cans of food be used a little at a time? If I open a #10 can of dried onions, how long will the rest of the can last, if I just use the plastic lid to seal it up again? I just need some practical guidelines since there are only two of us here.

And the wheat. What do we do with that? If I do buy a grain mill, make some flour, is it really practical to think we can make bread or something from scratch in a situation where we may not have running water or electricity? I can't say I would ever use much flour on a daily basis as life is now, so I am wanting some input here.

My house is looking pretty cluttered, so practical ideas on string all these things would be good. Build a storage cabinet(s)? How to hide water barrels in a small house? Blue barrels don't go with many living room decors. :-)

Excellent blog. I enjoy your website.

Thanks.

MJ said:
I live in tornado alley.. no basement use have a closet or bathroom only for shelter. What else besides a 72 hour kit would be advantageous to have in this situation?

I will use this site a lot as we share ideas with the sisters in our ward. We're stressing preparedness and I'm finding this a "one stop shopping" place. Thanks.

Alternatives to hard white wheat

Wow, so many other people had already oommented. But yea, I like the new blog so far.
But I could really use this as a college student, just in case.