Bishopric Challenge for August 2017: Watching The Solar Eclipse of August 21st. 2017 Safely.
How to View the 2017 Solar Eclipse Safely (From NASA)
This Event will not be available again to Oregon Residents for 327 Years.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon blocks any part of the sun. On Monday, August 21, 2017, a solar eclipse will be visible (weather permitting) across all of North America. The whole continent will experience a partial eclipse lasting 2 to 3 hours. Halfway through the event, anyone within a roughly 70-mile-wide path from Oregon to South Carolina will experience a brief total eclipse, when the moon completely blocks the sun’s bright face for up to 2 minutes 40 seconds, turning day into night and making visible the otherwise hidden solar corona — the sun’s outer atmosphere — one of nature’s most awesome sights. Bright stars and planets will become visible as well.
Looking directly at the sun is unsafe except during the brief total phase of a solar eclipse (“totality”), when the moon entirely blocks the sun’s bright face, which will happen only within the narrow path of totality.
https://go.nasa.gov/2pC0lhe
Eclipse glass
The only safe way to look directly at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses” or hand-held solar viewers. Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the sun. To date five manufacturers have certified that their eclipse glasses and handheld solar viewers meet the ISO 12312-2 international standard for such products: American Paper Optics, Baader Planetarium (AstroSolar Silver/Gold film only), Rainbow Symphony, Thousand Oaks Optical, and TSE 17.
•Always inspect your solar filter before use; if scratched or damaged, discard it. Read and follow any instructions printed on or packaged with the filter. Always supervise children using solar filters.
•Stand still and cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer before looking up at the bright sun. After glancing at the sun, turn away and remove your filter — do not remove it while looking at the sun.
•Do not look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical device. Similarly, do not look at the sun through a camera, a telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while using your eclipse glasses or hand-held solar viewer — the concentrated solar rays will damage the filter and enter your eye(s), causing serious injury. Seek expert advice from an astronomer before using a solar filter with a camera, a telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device.
•USA map with eclipse path: If you are within the path of totality, remove your solar filter only when the Moon completely covers the sun’s bright face and it suddenly gets quite dark. Experience totality, then, as soon as the bright sun begins to reappear, replace your solar viewer to glance at the remaining partial phases.
An alternative method for safe viewing of the partially eclipsed sun is pinhole projection. For example, cross the outstretched, slightly open fingers of one hand over the outstretched, slightly open fingers of the other. With your back to the sun, look at your hands’ shadow on the ground. The little spaces between your fingers will project a grid of small images on the ground, showing the sun as a crescent during the partial phases of the eclipse.
A solar eclipse is one of nature’s grandest spectacles. By following these simple rules, you can safely enjoy the view and be rewarded with memories to last a lifetime. More information:
eclipse.aas.org
eclipse2017.nasa.gov
This document does not constitute medical advice. Readers with questions should contact a qualified eye-care professional.
Additional Safety Information
An eclipse is a rare and striking phenomenon you won't want to miss, but you must carefully follow safety procedures. Don't let the requisite warnings scare you away from witnessing this singular spectacle! You can experience the eclipse safely, but it is vital that you protect your eyes at all times with the proper solar filters. No matter what recommended technique you use, do not stare continuously at the sun. Take breaks and give your eyes a rest! Do not use sunglasses: they don't offer your eyes sufficient protection. One excellent resource for safe solar eclipse viewing is here: http://www.nasa.gov/content/eye-safety-during-a-total-solar-eclipse
Viewing with Protection -- Experts suggests that one widely available filter for safe solar viewing is number 14 welder's glass. It is imperative that the welding hood houses a #14 or darker filter. Do not view through any welding glass if you do not know or cannot discern its shade number. Be advised that arc welders typically use glass with a shade much less than the necessary #14. A welding glass that permits you to see the landscape is not safe. Inexpensive eclipse glasses have special safety filters that appear similar to sunglasses, but these do permit safe viewing.
Telescopes with Solar Filters – Eclipses are best viewed directly when magnified, which means a telescope with a solar filter or solar telescopes. These will give you a magnified view that will clearly show the progress of an eclipse. Never look through a telescope without a solar filter on the large end of the scope. And never use small solar filters that attach to the eyepiece (as found in some older, cheaper telescopes.)
Pinhole projectors(link is external) -- Pinhole projectors and other projection techniques are a safe, indirect viewing technique for observing an image of the sun. These provide a popular way for viewing solar eclipses.
Related projection methods -- One viewing technique is to project an image of the sun onto a white surface with a projecting telescope. This is explained further here: http://www.astrosociety.org/education/publications/tnl/05/stars2.html.
The Exploratorium demonstrates how to view a planet in transit or an eclipse safely by projecting the image with binoculars: http://www.exploratorium.edu/transit/how.html. There are commercially available projection telescopes as well.
As of the date of this post Walmart sells Eclipse viewing Glasses for aproximately $1.00 pr. They are located in the garden center.
Besides eye protection during solar eclipse viewing, one needs to pay attention to their personal needs and surrounding. This Event will not be available again to Oregon Residents for 327 Years.
Bishopric Challenge for July 2017: 5 Steps to Evaluating Water Security during a Power Outage.**
Power outages can occur at any time. A truck could take out a telephone pole or a hurricanes could knock out a whole power transfer station. A power outage could last a few hours, a few days or a few weeks. Is your family ready with enough to survive a power outage? If a flood takes out the power, you may be faced with the irony of being surrounded by water and yet not a drop to drink.
Water Considerations during Power Outages
1. Is your water system robust to a power outage? If you are connected to city water, likely the pipes will maintain pressure for a few days. Especially if you live below the water tower to central water facilities. If you expect the pressure to hold for a short period, try to store as much water as you can before the pressure gives out. One option is to fill a WaterBOB, a liner for your bathtub to fill it was clean drinkable water. These water bladders can hold 100 gallons of water; enough drinking water for 25 days for a family of 4. They are inexpensive and can be found here: Water Bob.
2. Is your hot water system electric? The power outage may not affect your water supply however it may effect your ability to heat the water. Perhaps it is tied into the heating system of the house. Either way, hot water might be a luxury.
3. Do you have a manual way to pump the water? If you rely on a well, a power outage means the pump is no longer operational. A back-up generator could provide the power to pump water for a short period of time. Try to pump as much water as you can hold then turn the generator off. The WaterBob mentioned above could hold 100 gallons in your bathtub. You never know how long the power outage will last, and will need to ration the generator's fuel.
4. If you water becomes contaminated, do you have a power-free way to purify it? Boiling all your drinking water sounds like a good idea, but in a power outage you will need to conserve fuel as well. A water filter like the family LifeStraw or community LifeStraw could provide clean drinking and cooking water during power outages. These filters are expensive, but the small Sawyer filter can provide drinking water for your family at a much lower cost.
5. Do you have enough water stored to last a few days? To prepare for a water crisis, try to store at least 3 days worth of water for your family. Water can be stored in recycled juice or soda bottles or in specially designed containers for small apartments: water bricks. Aim for 1 gallon a day per person for drinking and cooking.
Actions this week
1.Evaluate your water situation if the power goes out.
2.Store 3 days worth of water. (1 gallon per person per day)
3.Invest in a water filter even just the small Sawyer filter.
In Conclusion
Water is a valuable resource and abundant most of the time. We may think nothing of going to the sink and getting clean fresh drinking water. During a power outage, that ability may be hindered. Having a plan to provide clean drinking water for your family will give you insurance again the next local power outage. Create a plan today and sleep better tonight, knowing your family is protected.
Are you prepared with enough water to weather a local power outage? How about a long term power outage.
**The website where I got this information may earn a small commission from any link to any products or services from http://modernself-reliance.com/water-power-outages/. Your purchase helps support their work in bringing you real information about homesteading skills and preparedness.
Bishopric Challenge for June 2017: The Prepper Family’s Summer Bucket List
Credit to Sarah Ann Carter
Summer is upon us, and that usually means more time spent together as a family as kids are out of school. Even homeschool moms take a few breaks in the summer. This time of year is a great time to hone your family’s survival skills. Here is a a summer bucket list put together by Sarah Ann Carter for the prepper family. See how many things your family can check off this summer. Have fun with it and get your family involved! Check out Sarah's post by clicking the link above. If ou like it give her a thumbs up.
FOOD
•Identify and forage for wild edibles in your yard. (Have any dandelions?) Dandelion Recipes click here
•Garden but be sure to grow at least one new-to-your-family plant.
•Cook a meal over a fire.
•Give your food storage a once over for expiration dates and damage. Restock to desired supply levels.
•Have children cook a meal by themselves in the house, with supervision.
•Have children cook a meal by themselves on the grill. Supervise!
•Have children cook a meal by themselves over the fire with plenty of adult supervision.
•Make and eat your own MREs (Meals-Ready-to-Eat) from food storage (Freeze-dried food is great for this.)
•Use your personal water filters at a local park.
•Visit several local farmer’s markets to find local food sources.
•When you start to get low on groceries, wait an extra day before shopping and eat from what is on hand.
•Start a compost bin.
•Put in a rain barrel.
Dehydrate a fruit, a vegetable, an herb, and some meat.
•Can a fruit, vegetable, herb and some meat. Zaycon Foods delivers fresh chicken and other products around the country, making it easy to buy in bulk for a major day of canning.
•Visit a local u-pick farm. Grandpas Fresh Fruit/Vegetables
•Have a day with zero food waste.
•Grind wheat and make your own bread from it. (Extra points if you cook it over a fire.)
•Rotate your water storage. (Review Bishopric Challenge March 2016 below for Water storage)
•Only cook with cast iron for a week.
•Sprout seeds (Review growing Micro-greens from last month's Bishopric challenge for May below)
Emergency Drills
•Tornado drill (Check your FEMA Handbook)
•Fire drill (Check the batteries in smoke and CO detectors.) Review Bishopric Challenge for July 2016 Maintaining Smoke Alarms below)
•Evacuation drill (Do 1-hour, 30-minute and 15-minute notice evacuation drills.) Your FEMA handbook provides all you need to know about getting ready for evacuations. More ideas here: http://thesurvivalmom.com/try-it-today-preparedness-drills-kids/
•No power for a full day and night.
•Only use generator power for 6 hours.
•No running water for a full day and night. (Do not skip bathing or washing dishes!)
•Minimize water down the drain for a day – reuse dish/bath/pool water in garden or for plants.
•Robbery/home invasion drill (Do several with the intruder coming in different doors/windows.)
•Spend a day unplugged from electronic devices (no internet connection).
Put Your Supplies To Work
•Update your emergency binder. (Ask kids what important papers or pictures they might want to put in the binder.)
•Check clothing and shoe sizes in vehicles, bug-out-bags and tornado/storm shelter.
•Review your home library.
•Add money to your cash stash by holding a yard sale.
•Buy a tarp if you don’t have one, and then brainstorm all they ways they could be useful.
•Rotate any gas/diesel you have stored and refill right away.
•Check expiration dates on any bleach/sanitation supplies and restock.
•Reorganize garden tools.
Learn or Improve on Skills
•Go camping. (Can your family live together for long in one tent? Reorganize the gear when you get home.)
•Go hiking. (Figure out what weight each family member can comfortably carry in a backpack.)
•Go fishing. (Try finding your own bait rather than buying any.)
•Go biking. (Do your children know how to patch a bike tire?)
•Have children start a fire from scratch. (Supervision)
•Wash clothes by hand.
•Go geocaching.
•Have the kids use a paper map to get from point A to point B. (If you’re ambitious, create your own family Amazing Race.)
•Build something functional from scratch with wood, a handsaw, nails and a hammer.
•Make your own bug spray.
•Make your own sunscreen.
•Make homemade laundry soap.
•Hone shooting skills at the range (Make sure to keep ammo stocked up.)
•Sew something simple without using a sewing machine. (Learn a new stitch if you already know how to sew.)
•Buy a new piece of cast iron and learn how to season it.
•Identify 10 local birds.
•Identify 10 local insects or small animals.
•Identify at least 10 different trees that grow in your area.
•Sharpen tools and knives.
•Earn certifications in first aid and CPR. (Discuss defibrillators and epi pens, too.)
•Have everyone try out a fire extinguisher.
•Try starting a fire without a lighter or match.
•Learn to tie 5 different knots.
•Plan evacuation routes on a map and then actually drive those routes to become familiar with them.
Practice Skills in Different Scenarios
•Spend a day living out of your car. (Take notes on what you wish you had.)
•Walk home from work. Bonus points if you can ably carry your emergency kit/bug out bag.
•Show the kids how to walk home from school safely.
•Do some summer school. (If you don’t homeschool, consider it a practice run if you should ever need to.)
•Play the “What If …” game.
•Discuss social media safety rules.
Fun and Educational Activities for the Family Summer Bucket List
Go scavenging for supplies at garage sales (Among other things, look for reference books, camping gear, cast iron.)
•Play board games, so you know the rules before you lose power and those games become a major form of entertainment.
•Learn new card games. (Is there a deck of cards in your vehicle or bug-out-bag?)
•Work on a family history tree and talk about family medical history.
•Learn to play chess, checkers or other board games.
•Do craft time using supplies from the recycle bin.
•Read classic literature.
•Make paracord bracelets.
•See how many ways you can use a kiddie pool.
•Find a local history or reenactment group and attend one of their events. (Get tips from the actors on how life was lived before electricity.)
•Visit a local history museum or county historical society to see how people grew food by hand in your area.
•Practice memorization with children — stories, emergency addresses and numbers, directions, songs.
•Relax and go on a day trip or vacation. Discuss how you would handle some emergency situations en route and at your destination.
•Write letters. Can your children read and write in cursive? Can they address an envelope and put a stamp in the correct corner?
•Start learning a foreign language as a family. DuoLingo and Mango Languages are 2 free websites that teach foreign languages. Get their apps on your phones, too!
•Get to know your neighbors. Take them cookies or host a neighborhood cookout.
•Perform random acts of kindness.
After you check each item off your list, make sure to talk about what you learned as a family. Take notes on what worked, lessons learned, things to do better next time, and if there is anything to add to your survival supplies. Take pictures and create a photo book of the summer adventures as something you can look back on as a family. Creating a summer bucket list could be the start of a new family tradition. Don’t forget to add your own items to the list. Print the list here:http://thesurvivalmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Prepper_Family_Bucket_List.pdf
Bishopric Challenge for May 2017: Bug Out Bags for Kids and Teaching Kids Self-Awareness
Credit Kids Bug-out bags: Robert Richardson Bug Out, Preparedness 71
Do you have a Separate Bug Out Bag for your kids? During a crisis or disaster situation, one of your most important jobs will be to help your child feel as safe and secure as possible. Something that helps give children a sense of security, is involving them in your preparedness planning as much as possible. One great way to make them feel like they have a voice, and a sense of power, is to give them their own dedicated bug out bag.
Having their own child-sized Bug Out Bag, filled with familiar items and comfort foods, can be a real life saver during an emergency. With children, comfort items often become a top priority; having a bag filled with comforting and familiar things can help ensure their overall mental health during a crisis or disaster.
What Items should go into a kids bug out bag really depends on your child’s age and their maturity. While the needs of each child are going to be different, there are some things you should consider when building an emergency bag for your child.
Basic Survival Items should be lightweight, age-appropriate items. Heavier items and gear should always be in the adult’s bags.
•Flashlight
•Emergency whistle (clipped to the outside of pack so they can easily find it if they become separated from you)
•Laminated emergency contact list with name, home address, and telephone numbers.
•Pre-paid cell phone
•Poncho
•Extra socks, pair of gloves and knit hat or bandana (depending on your climate)
•Dust mask
•Goggles
•Small pocket knife for the older kids
•Band aids & wipes
•Small bottle of hand sanitizer
Comfort Items When building a bag for a child, comfort and mental stability are the primary purposes of the bag. Don’t overlook the importance of entertainment and comfort; during a disaster, the last thing you need is a kid who is overly stressed out and anxious.
•Stuffed animals
•A couple small light-weight toys
•Pack of playing cards, or travel size games
•Baseball or small Nerf football
•Harmonica
•An IPad, tablet, or small device to play games on
•Hard candy
•Bubblegum
•Sugar packets
•Trail mix
•Drink mix packets
Remember, a kid’s bug out bag is not meant to be an adult BOB. Its primary purpose is to provide comfort during a stressful situation and give your child a sense of control. With younger children, comfort items are a top priority and will help ensure their overall mental health. Make sure you customize the bag for your child’s age, personality, and overall fitness level.
After The Kids BOB Is Built, Discussed And Placed In A Handy Location It's Time To Teach Them SELF-AWARENESS
Situational awareness is being aware of your surroundings, the place you’re at, the actions of others, especially furtive actions. In a world of increasing violence and crime being aware serves many purposes:
•Protection- the oblivious are a favorite victim of criminals.
•Warning- you’ll see danger before it starts so you can react accordingly to save your own life and/or others.
•Information- you’ll able to accurately recall vital information in the case of a crime or threat to give police.
The Unaware (and The "Teaching"Situational Awareness Game)
Children, to the exasperation of most parents, are especially unaware, often risking their lives because of it. We teach them to be aware of vehicles before crossing the road and stranger danger, but in today’s world, we need to teach them more. This can be tricky without making them afraid of the entire world.
Begin by asking your kids questions after leaving a store. Ask about people, the location of exits, displays, and what was going on in the store while you were there.
It’s important to vary the questions so they don’t know exactly what you’ll ask. You want them to become aware and not how to focus on what they think we want to hear. These are just general guidelines to give you an idea. You’ll find this activity is just as challenging for adults as for children. We are blissfully unaware of our surroundings or simply distracted much more than we realize.
These are just general guidelines to give you an idea. You’ll find this activity is just as challenging for adults as for children. We are blissfully unaware of our surroundings or simply distracted much more than we realize.
Level 1: Place Awareness
•Where were the bathrooms?
•Where were the exits?
•Was there an entrance and an exit?
•Where is __ aisle? (Choose something besides toys, they always know where that is)
•Where was the kitchen? Waiters prep area?
•Where did we park?
•Which entrance did we come in at? Left through?
•here would you seek safety if there was an earthquake?
Once they can answer these questions with ease and accuracy with each store, restaurant, or building you’ll know they’ve been trained to look for at their surroundings. At this point, it’s becoming natural and you can challenge them to see more than just the place. Be sure to continue with some of the Level 1 questions.
Level 2: People Awareness
•What was the cashier wearing?
•Do the employees have a uniform? If so what is it?
•What color hair did the waitress have?
•Was the cashier wearing glasses?
•Was the person on the bench outside the bathrooms a boy or girl?
•What did the look like?
•What were they wearing?
•What was the greeter’s name?
Requirements for Level 3 are the same as Level 2, and now you’ll ask questions from both level 1 and 2, you just won’t have to ask as many of them. You just need to make sure their awareness is expanded not just shifting.
Level 3: Thing Awareness
•We can be blissfully unaware of our surroundings and distracted much more than we realize. Teaching situational awareness to kids can be lifesaving. What stickers were on the cashier’s name tag?
•What was displayed by the entrance?
•Describe the wallpaper in the bathroom.
•What food was on the aisle we walked down to get to the milk?
•What color and type of car did we park next to when we got here?
•Describe your favorite picture displayed in the restaurant.
•What food did I have trouble deciding to purchase?
Eventually, you’ll be able to start really stretching your abilities and theirs. They will begin to notice the unusual and mundane around them. The ultimate goal is to become aware of where we are, where we are going, and who and what is around us.
Teaching situational awareness can be lifesaving for your children. What are the first questions will you ask your kids about their surroundings?
Bishopric Challenge for the Month of April 2017: Growing Your Own Food This Year: Micro-greens Year Round Inside or Out: (What are Micro-greens)?
Micro-greens are tiny, edible greens grown from the seeds of vegetables and herbs. They’re smaller than baby greens and bigger than sprouts. Microgreens germinate in soil or soil substitute, require sunlight for growth and are harvested when they’re seven to 14 days old and one to three inches tall. Their flavor is much more intense than that of mature greens. You can add them to salads or use them to garnish soups and sandwiches. Micro-greens Have Up to 40 Times more vital nutrients than mature plants.
Microgreen Growing Supplies:
•A shallow tray of some sort
•Organic soil to fill the tray
•Optional: A warming mat to speed germination
•Optional: A grow light or a sunny spot in a south-facing window
•Microgreen Seeds (You can buy seeds at your local garden center)
How are Micro-greens grown?
1. Find a window with plenty of sunlight or install an inexpensive growlight. A growlight mounted under kitchen cabinets works perfectly for growing greens on the counter if you have the space to do it.
2. Place an inch of organic potting soil in the bottom of a round foil pie pan, smooth out to be as even as possible. Randomly scatter seeds on top of the soil.
3. Scatter seeds over the surface of the soil evenly. You will spread more seeds than you would if just planting the seeds to grow to full size, since they will only get 1-2 inches tall and you want to harvest as many as possible from each tray.
4. Cover the seeds with a think layer of soil and spray the surface with clean, filtered water. You can use a plastic spray bottle.
5. Spray soil and seeds down with a spray bottle of water, place a napkin over the surface of the soil, spray the napkins down thoroughly with water and place the plastic lid for the foil pie pan over your pie pan and place in a place where they can get sun.
6. Mist the seeds a couple of times a day to keep the soil evenly moist while waiting for the seeds to germinate.
7. Micro-greens are usually ready to harvest in about seven to ten days. TIP: If you use a heating pad and a grow light in cold season germination and growth is quicker.
8. To grow another crop, repeat the process.
The Most Common Micro-greens to grow:
•Lettuce
•Kale
•Spinach
•Radish
•Beet
•Watercress
•Herbs
•Greens
•Cabbage
•Mustard
•Chia
•Sunflower
•Buckwheat
Bishopric Challenge for the Month of March 2017: Five easy ways to get started on emergency preparedness. Information for this challenge courtesy of: https://yourownhomestore.com/get-started-on-emergency-preparedness/ Please visit this website and consider signing up for their newsletter.
Getting started on emergency preparedness can sometimes feel HUGE! So much so, that many people want to get started, but don’t. And that ultimately, is the purpose of my website – to help those people get started on emergency preparedness. It doesn’t have to be hard and overwhelming. In fact, I actually personally believe that you will be more successful in the long run by consistently doing small things than you will be making some crazy huge effort. The basic idea is that true success doesn’t come from BIG acts or changes. Instead success actually comes from small acts / changes performed consistently over time. Because they are small and simple, these acts / changes are things that are easy to do – or easy not do. Success comes (over time) when you commit to doing them consistently. Here are 5 ways to easily get started on emergency preparedness.
The First Way to Easily Get Started On Emergency Preparedness:
Read one article about emergency preparedness every week. Think about it! One article won’t take you more than 5-15 minutes to read. Anyone can find that much time! It is easy to do! And if you do it, you will have read 52 articles by this time next year and you will have a significant amount of increased knowledge about emergency preparedness. So . . . what are you waiting for? Decide right now when you will read your article each week. Schedule it in your calendar. To help you get started perhaps you could search through articles on this link: https://yourownhomestore.com/get-started-on-emergency-preparedness/
The Second Way to Easily Get Started On Emergency Preparedness:
Use coupons at the grocery store and put the money you save into an emergency fund. Print out just a few (3-5) coupons HERE each week before you go grocery shopping. Keep track of how much you save and then put that much cash into an “emergency fund” envelope that you can use in case of a power outage when credit card machines aren’t working. Finding and printing the coupons won’t take you more than 5 minutes each week. It is easy to do!
The Third Way to Easily Get Started On Emergency Preparedness:
Buy one extra item each time you go grocery shopping. If you consistently add just one extra bottle of spaghetti sauce or one extra package of pasta etc. when you go grocery shopping each week, your budget will hardly notice. But your pantry will slowly but surely get a bit fuller, and you will know that you can feed your family for a time even if you can’t get to the grocery store or the shelves are bare.
The Fourth Way to Easily Get Started On Emergency Preparedness:
Fill juice and soda bottles with water each week. If you buy juice (like apple juice or grape juice etc …those types of bottles) or 2 liter soda, you can store water in those containers and build an emergency water supply for FREE!
Simply drink your juice/soda. Put a few drops of bleach in the container and fill it halfway with water. Shake it up for a minute or so. Dump the water. Refill halfway with JUST water and shake it up again. Dump the water. Refill it to the top with water, put the lid on and store it in a cool, dark place. Two minutes total and you’ve started an emergency water supply! Do this every week and you’d have 25+ gallons of water stored for your family after one year! (The recommended minimum is 3 gallons per person which would be 18 gallons for a family of six)
*Important Note – if you are storing water in these containers, it is recommend you rotate it every 6 (if stored in a warm-ish place like a garage) to 12 (if stored in a cool, dark place) months. To rotate, just dump the water and repeat the process with the bleach, then re-fill it. I wouldn’t refill them more than once or maybe twice for a solid juice bottle.
The Fifth Way to Easily Get Started On Emergency Preparedness:
Complete one quick emergency preparedness project each week. Commit to spending 10-15 minutes on an emergency preparedness project each week. 10-15 minutes isn’t much and most everyone can find that time. You can find a list of 10 min (ish) project on a website HERE. None of these will take you very long and all of them are easily do-able! Do one a week and you will have completed 11+ hours worth of emergency preparedness projects by this time next year! Here is a handy chart to help you record your progress.
Please remember to visit https://yourownhomestore.com/get-started-on-emergency-preparedness/ It is worth the time and effort and contains a lot of great information.
Snow Peak Ward Bishopric Disaster Preparedness Challenge for February 2017: Just click on the Links below for valuable information.
Bishopric Challenge for September 2017: Safety tips to teach your family:http://preparednessmama.com/personal-safety-for-kids/
Unfortunately, in today's world, we need to teach personal safety for kids. Get resources for teaching young kids about strangers and potentially dangerous people and situations How ever you choose to address this topic in your back to school preparations be sure to include these vital safety tips in your family discussion.
•Teach your children who “trusted adults” are: Fireman, police, and those your family has deemed trusted emergency contacts.
•Know your child’s route to and from school and designate “safe” houses in your neighborhood in case they are in danger.
•Know your child’s after school activities and who they are with.
•Know your child’s friends and their parents and have a list of their phone numbers and addresses, have a family rule that if you don’t know them or their name isn’t on the list, they don’t go with them.
•Know what your child is wearing each day and never put your child’s name on the outside of their clothing or backpack.
•Keep a current photo and video of your child handy, along with a copy of your child’s fingerprints. You can print a free Child ID kit or request free ID kits here (shipping and a representative are involved)
•Trust their instincts as well as your own. If your child doesn’t want to be with someone, find out why, and respect it. If you have a bad feeling about a person or situation, share and explain it to your child. Model using and following your instincts even if the “avoided danger” is never revealed.
•Make sure your child knows that adults shouldn’t ask children for help and that people shouldn’t ask children to keep secrets. Unfortunately, it’s not just adults that harm or threaten kids.
•Make sure your children know important contact information (full name, parent’s full name, address, and phone number). Be sure they are old enough to know who and when to share that information with a trusted adult. Some innocent and trusting children will tell perfect strangers their name, number, address, and even accept a ride home from a total stranger. Certainly a little scary to think about who they could be sharing information or trusting to get them to their home safely.
•Have a family rule that children are never to go anywhere with someone without their parents knowing where and with whom they are going. Even if you know these people very well, or if they are with a stranger, even if they offer candy, claim they have their friend or sibling in the car, or ask for help. Have a written list of who they have the approval to get a ride home from. Exceptions should be specific to person, date, and time.
•Have a secret code word, that you may want to update every 1-6 months (like a computer password). If someone doesn’t know the secret code word, don’t go with them. Let your children know that your trusted emergency contacts will only ever use that password and who those likely people would be.
•Teach your children that even trusted people aren’t allowed to do things that make them feel uncomfortable or are inappropriate and that it’s okay to say “No” to adults.
•Teach your children to shout “No” or “Stop” if someone touches them inappropriately, then to tell their mom or dad, a teacher or other leader. Tell them that it’s okay to be as loud as possible if you are in danger.
•Teach your children what to do if they are lost or in danger. Show them how to locate a pay phone or a public phone and dial 9-1-1 for free. Show them who are trusted adults: firemen, policemen, a store clerk, teacher, etc. and safe public places to find help.
•Teach your children situational awareness in regards to whether they would be alone, unseen, unheard, or difficult to see or hear and to avoid those types of situations.
I hope you have an uplifting conversation with your kiddos that will positively impact them for life. These principles are the key to saving minds, hearts, and lives. Happy back to school days folks, stay safe out there!
What Would Your Child Do?
Snow Peak Ward Bishopric Disaster Preparedness Challenge for January 2017: Making New Years Resolutions You Can Keep.
According to the author Patriot Tom........... this is not a list of resolutions and how to stick to them. It's something much more powerful - and practical - that will boost everyone's level of self-reliance and preparedness. He says whether you've made New Year's Resolutions or not yet, this may be the most important thing you read to start your year off right. The unfortunate thing about resolutions is that they're perceived as hard to stick to. There's a lot of reasons for that. First, many people make resolutions that are impossible to achieve. Or they make too many. In this case, folks get overwhelmed. It's hard to make major changes when you feel that way. Second, people don't make a plan. Anyone even remotely familiar with the preparedness lifestyle knows that this is a bad way to go. Without a plan, resolutions are just wishes. Finally, most folks don't put the two lessons learned above together. To make a resolution work, you have to break down a big goal into smaller ones that get achieved according to a larger plan. It has to become something that's part of your lifestyle, so you don't get overwhelmed.
With all this in mind, we thought we'd help by doing some of the work for you. Just like the Farmer's Almanacs first written under Benjamin Franklin's pen name Poor Richard, we hope you find this updated concept helpful in planning your year for self-reliance.
So, if you're looking to become more prepared this year and lead a more self-reliant lifestyle, check out the ideas below to build your own plan. Keep in mind, these are rough guidelines, and each household should make their own plans according to their own needs and goals.
Winter - No Time to Hibernate
During the first few months, you should lay the groundwork for the rest of the year. It's a time for planning, which is what we're doing right now. This also is a good time to plan your budget, get your taxes in order, pay off any looming debts and so on. Laying a financial foundation to your year is essential to self-reliance.
In many parts of the country, it's too early to plant anything in a self-reliant garden. But it's never too early to start stocking seeds, or germinating indoors. Winter is also a great time to plan a greenhouse or indoor garden for next year, so you can produce year-round.
Survey Your Food Supply. Winter is a perfect time to take a full inventory of what you have in food storage. Make note of the food you have, its expiration, how long it will sustain you and more. Check for damage or critters, discard and replace.
When it comes to food storage, ask yourself: if a crisis happened right now, what would I wish I had? Some things to consider, is there Some delicious comfort food you're missing? Need more protein? Want more items for barter? Then, supplement your food supply accordingly.
Spring into Action
As winter fades, the world once again comes to life. It's a critical time for anyone living the self-reliant lifestyle - especially if you grow your own food. Many folks are pretty diligent about winterizing their homes, but it's also a good idea to "de-winterize" any place you might shelter in an emergency. Check your home for any damage caused by the winter season. This includes checking in on any "bug out" locations you may have as well. The sooner you find any problems, the better you'll be able to fix them while it's warm in spring and summer.
Ready the Earth
If you're planning to grow your own food, you should be getting seed starts on everything you plan to plant early season. Then, you want to prepare the soil for your seeds. Add compost, aerate, whatever your crops need to grow optimally.
Bulk Up Your Food Supply
One of the best times to add significantly to your food storage plan is during spring (and summer). Warmer weather allows you to find the best (cool, dry) places to store your food, and do so comfortably. It's easy to forget about stocking up on food if you're also worried about growing it. But remember, we're trying to build a comprehensive plan in small steps here. Don't worry about tackling everything at once.
Optimize Your Summer Self-Reliance
Summer - how I wish it were here already. Enjoy 4th of July, trips to the beach, cookouts - remember it's important to take a breather and just enjoy life. It makes you appreciate how hard you've worked toward self-reliance and preparedness. It also reminds you why you do it. Summer is filled with these opportunities, so seize them. Oh the pleasures of gardening. Make the Most of Your Garden While It's Hot . There's nothing like fresh-picked produce from the garden. Early crops will mature even before summer, so be diligent in your picking. Most fruits and vegetables will continue to produce if picked regularly. You'll also want to prune some plants for new growth and take care of any crops that are struggling.
Start Preparing for Harsher Months Ahead while you have the advantage of the warmer weather to ensure you're prepared for fall and winter. Begin to winterize your home and emergency shelters. Take inventory of your food storage - rotate, inspect, discard and replace.
Don't Fall Back - The Year of Self-Reliance is Almost Complete
Fall is a wonderful time, especially if you have a patriot garden. You get to enjoy the bounty of harvest and all its blessings. But fall is also a time when crises tend to strike. We must be prepared for what might happen if civilization were to take a literal fall - at any time of year, but especially in fall. Pick, Preserve, Store and Save. To ensure the most bountiful harvest, you have to put in a lot of work. It's worth it, especially if it helps sustain you through the seasons ahead. Pick your fruits, vegetables and herbs. Make a plan for everything you pick. Eat them fresh. Preserve them by pickling, canning or drying. Then find a good cool, dark and dry place to store your preserved foods. Finally, make sure to save some seeds if you grew heirlooms (you should). Dry and store your saved seeds and you won't have to buy new ones next season. Clean the gutters, fix any leaks or drafts, have your roof inspected. Just a couple ideas to help prepare your home for winter. Remember, there's no such thing as being over-prepared.
Make One Final Food Storage Inventory
Noticed we mentioned this tip in almost every season? Well, it's important to do, at least four times a year. Check on your food, inspect for damage, discard anything that's spoiled, expired or damaged, and re-stock. Fall is the perfect time to come back to the list you made in winter time and make sure you've acquired everything you need. Whoo. Going through an entire year of planning in one sitting can be exhausting. But, we're all better off when we properly plan.
I hope you've found this 2017 Self-Reliant Planner helpful. Feel free to return to it any time throughout the year.
Have a great day and a productive year, friends!
In Liberty,
Patriot Tom
Bishopric Challenge for October 2017: Being Ourselves Prepared So We Can Help Others in Times of Need.
One of the greatest reasons to prepare is ultimately to help others.... to help those in need during difficult times. President Eyring said, “The Lord’s way to help those in temporal need requires people who out of love have consecrated themselves and what they have to God and to His work".
In fact, the scriptures are very clear in their command that it is the duty of those who have to give to those in need. "I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants". (Mosiah 4:26)
Unfortunately, food for the hungry cannot come from empty shelves, money to assist the needy cannot come from an empty purse, and support and understanding cannot come from the emotionally starved. Can’t you see why it is really important to be prepared? It’s to be a helper! In deed, we can endow ourselves with a higher power as we prepare to be a helper.
Think of it as being what is called a first responder. In most communities the first responders to a tragedy, disaster, or calamity are firefighters, police officers, paramedics. They arrive with lights flashing…The Lord’s way is less obvious but requires just as immediate a response. The Lord knows the needs of all His children—and He knows who is prepared to help. If we let the Lord know… we are ready, He will call on us to respond. If we respond, He will call on us time and time again and we will find ourselves on what President Monson calls “the Lord’s errand.” We will become spiritual first responders bringing help from on high.
If we pay attention to the promptings that come to us, we will grow in the spirit of revelation and receive more and more Spirit-driven insight and direction. The Lord has said, “Put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good.”
Storing food and other items and being prepared isn’t about hoarding or only saving our families, nor is food storage and preparedness just something to be endured on this earth (you know, that “insurance policy” people hope they never have to use). Instead, being prepared to share in both small and large ways is the very fiber of which life and heaven are made.
Elder Holland said, “But when we speak of those who are instruments in the hands of God, we are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with—here, now, every day. Some of them reside in our own neighborhoods….Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind.”
Our call and our purpose, the real reason for preparing, to work is for the relief of the ills and the sufferings of humanity just as Christ spent his life walking the dusty roads of Palestine doing. This is why we prepare–we want to be a helper, we want our children to know they can be the helpers, and most importantly we want God to know we are prepared to be a helper. So remember, when life gets dreary, when the storm clouds, literally and figuratively, cloud our view of the world, remember to watch for and be prepared to be the helpers.
“In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25:40)
Bishopric Challenge for November 2017: November To-Do List
• Buy 5 lbs. of iodized salt.
• Research ways to protect and defend yourself and home. Gun, stun gun, pepper spray…
• Make or update your car kit.
• Check and rotate food in cupboards.
• Buy 400 tablets “one a day” multivitamin and mineral supplements.
• Add ramen style noodles and pasta to your food storage.
•Learn how to winterize your car for cold weather. Keep any needed liquid in the truck.
• Have in all your preparedness kits and cars, notepads, pencils, pens, coloring books and crayons for kids
• Learn what to do if you are stranded in your car in cold weather.
• Check all holiday lights and extension cords for wear. Check plug in sockets. Replace if
needed.
• Do a trial run with your bug out bag. Add what you are missing.
• Add two boxes of wooden matches to your supply.
• Cuddle up this winter and read library books about preparedness.
• Learn about the different generators. Save/buy one that works for your situation.
•Make a commitment to read the Scriptures at every Family Home Evening.
•Practice using your two-way radios.
•Take a free FEMA class.
• Visit your city or county website to find out if they provide email and text-message alerts/warnings.
• Add to vehicles, and all emergency kits a rain poncho and light sticks.
• Go through your emergency binder. Update family health records or add to it.
• Contact any close friends or neighbors have a power generator, chain saw or other equipment. Offer to share equipment or help in an emergency.
• Learn about how to shelter in place and sealing a room.
• Buy bouillon and instant soup.
•Develop a lifestyle of frugality. There is a lot of information online.
•Learn how to make broth from the leftover turkey bones from Thanksgiving. Freeze it for later.
•Check your sleeping bags, blankets and pillows. Do you have enough?
•Stock up on Chap Stick, petroleum jelly, lotions, mineral oil.
• Check your emergency supply of batteries, candles and heating source in case of power outage.
• Be sure to review this entire website for valuable information. Click the button to review last years Bishopric Challenges.
Bishopric Challenge for December 2017: Keeping Christ in Christmas: From an address given by President Benson at the First Presidency Christmas devotional, Salt Lake City, 1 December 1985.
Without Christ there would be no Christmas, and without Christ there can be no fulness of joy.
In our premortal state we shouted for joy as the plan of salvation was unfolded to our view. (See Job 38:7.)
It was there our elder brother Jesus, the firstborn of our Father’s children in the spirit, volunteered to redeem us from our sins. He became our foreordained Savior, the Lamb “slain from the foundation of the world.” (Moses 7:47.)
Thanks be to God the Son for the offering of Himself. And thanks be to God the Father that He sent Him. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son.” (John 3:16.)
Jesus was a God in the preexistence. Our Father in Heaven gave Him a name above all others—the Christ. We have a volume of scripture whose major mission is to convince the world that Jesus is the Christ. It is the Book of Mormon. It is another testament of Jesus Christ and “the most correct of any book on earth.” (Book of Mormon Introduction.)
In its pages we read “that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.” (Mosiah 3:17.)
As far as man is concerned, we must build “upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ.” (Hel. 5:12.)
The first and great commandment is to love Him and His Father.
Jesus Christ is “the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning.” (Mosiah 3:8.)
“Wherefore,” declared Jacob in the Book of Mormon, “if God being able to speak and the world was, and to speak and man was created, O then, why not able to command the earth, or the workmanship of his hands upon the face of it, according to his will and pleasure?” (Jacob 4:9.) God, the Creator, commands His creations even at this very moment.
Every prophet from the days of Adam knew of that first Christmas and testified of the divine ministry of the mortal Messiah. Moses prophesied concerning the coming of the Messiah. (See Mosiah 13:33.)
“We knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming,” reported Jacob in the Book of Mormon. (Jacob 4:4.)
In that same volume of scripture is recorded the manifestation of the Christ in His spirit body to the brother of Jared. “This body, which ye now behold,” said the Lord, “is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh.” (Ether 3:16.) And so He did.
He was the Only Begotten Son of our Heavenly Father in the flesh—the only child whose mortal body was begotten by our Heavenly Father. His mortal mother, Mary, was called a virgin, both before and after she gave birth. (See 1 Ne. 11:20.)
And so the premortal God, the God of the whole earth, the Jehovah of the Old Testament, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Lawgiver, the God of Israel, the promised Messiah was born a babe in Bethlehem.
King Benjamin prophesied of Christ’s advent and ministry in this manner:
“For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay,
and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases.
“And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children of men.
“And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.
“And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.”
(Mosiah 3:5–8.)
The Lord testified, “I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.
“And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross.” (3 Ne. 27:13–14.) And so He was.
In Gethsemane and on Calvary, He worked out the infinite and eternal atonement. It was the greatest single act of love in recorded history. Then followed His death and resurrection.
Thus He became our Redeemer—redeeming all of us from physical death, and redeeming those of us from spiritual death who will obey the laws and ordinances of the gospel.
His resurrection is well attested in the Bible. The Book of Mormon records the resurrected Lord’s appearance on the American continent. To those people He said, “Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world. …
“Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.” One by one, about 2,500 people “thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet.”
And they did “cry out with one accord, saying: Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God! And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus, and did worship him.” (3 Ne. 11:10–17.)
Today in Christ’s restored church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, He is revealing Himself and His will—from the first prophet of the Restoration, even Joseph Smith, to the present.
“And now,” said the Prophet Joseph, “after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
“For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father.” (D&C 76:22–23.)
And now, my beloved brothers and sisters, what must we do this Christmas season—and always? Why, we must do the same as the Wise Men of old. They sought out the Christ and found Him. And so must we. Those who are wise still seek Him today.
“I would commend you,” urged Moroni, “to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written.” (Ether 12:41.) And God has provided the means—the holy scriptures, particularly the Book of Mormon—that all who seek may know that Jesus is the Christ.
In his lectures on faith, the Prophet Joseph Smith listed six divine attributes of God that men must understand in order to have faith in Him. (See Lectures on Faith, p. 35.) The Book of Mormon bears constant witness that Christ possesses all these attributes.
First, God is the Creator and upholder of all things. King Benjamin said, “He created all things”; “He has all wisdom, and all power.” (Mosiah 4:9.)
Second, the excellency of the character of God, His mercy, long-suffering, and goodness. Alma testified that Christ is “full of grace, equity, and truth, full of patience, mercy, and long-suffering.” (Alma 9:26.)
Third, God changes not. Moroni revealed that God is not “a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity.” (Moro. 8:18.)
Fourth, God cannot lie. The brother of Jared declared, “Thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie.” (Ether 3:12.)
Fifth, God is no respecter of persons. Moroni testified that “God is not a partial God.” (Moro. 8:18.)
Sixth, God is a God of love. Of this divine attribute Nephi wrote that the Lord “doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life.” (2 Ne. 26:24.)
The Book of Mormon was designed by Deity to bring men to Christ and to His church. Both we and our nonmember friends may know that the Book of Mormon is true by putting it to the divine test which Moroni proposed. (See Moro. 10:3–4.)
What a gift it would be to receive at Christmastime a greater knowledge of the Lord. What a gift it would be to share that knowledge with others.
To that end may I encourage you not only to read the biblical account of Christ’s birth, but to read and share with a nonmember acquaintance the Book of Mormon account of Christmas Eve in America and Christ’s personal manifestation following His resurrection.
Give them or lend them a copy of the Book of Mormon, even your own copy if necessary. It could bless them eternally.
In conclusion, in Book of Mormon language, we need “to believe in Christ and deny him not.” (2 Ne. 25:28.) We need to trust in Christ and not in the arm of flesh. (See 2 Ne. 4:34.) We need to “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him.” (Moro. 10:32.) We need to come “with a broken heart and a contrite spirit” (3 Ne. 12:19), hungering and thirsting after righteousness (see 3 Ne. 12:6). We need to come “feasting upon the word of Christ” (2 Ne. 31:20), as we receive it through His scriptures, His anointed, and His Holy Spirit.
In short, we need to follow “the example of the Son of the living God” (2 Ne. 31:16) and be the “manner of men” He is (see 3 Ne. 27:27).
With Moroni, I testify that “the eternal purposes of the Lord shall roll on, until all his promises shall be fulfilled.” (Morm. 8:22.)
Not many years hence, Christ will come again. He will come in power and might as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And ultimately every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ.
"But I testify now that Jesus is the Christ, that Joseph Smith is His prophet, that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and that His church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is true, and that Christ is at its helm".
