An interesting blog about canning with a sugar substitute.

This article from the Deseret News might be of value. I removed the picture because of formatting issues.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765614803/Staying-prepared-How-to-be-ready-for-a-disaster-even-after-the-disaster.html?pg=1

Staying prepared: How to be ready for a disaster even after the disaster

Preparation comes before catastrophes strike, not after

By Joey Ferguson, Deseret News

Published: Monday, Nov. 5 2012 10:22 p.m. MST

Doug Ellis stands in his food storage pantry, which contains about $5,000 in food, 300 gallons of water, all to keep his family safe in a disaster.It wasn't fear of a major disaster that motivated Doug Ellis to stock up on $5,000 worth of food, 300 gallons of water and a generator that could power his house for a week.

"My motivation is my family, but my fear is economic downturn and, here in Utah, an earthquake," said Ellis, who is raising four kids with his wife, Robyn.
Most people aren't like Ellis and his family, who are prepared for any possible disaster. A majority of Americans at least somewhat agree that they are not prepared for a major catastrophe, according to a January 2012 National Geographic study.
At least half of respondents to the study believe there will be a significant earthquake, hurricane, terrorist attack or financial collapse in the next 25 years.
Experts say the problem is that, unlike with Ellis, motivation for emergency preparedness is often the product of fear after a natural disaster, not before.
A smoking gun
"We always see a peak in disaster preparedness when there is a disaster," said Ryan Longman, manager of the state emergency preparedness organization Be Ready Utah. "Then a couple of months later, it drops off again."
Traffic to the site BeReadyUtah.gov rose by 64 percent after Sandy made landfall compared to the week prior, and grew by 230 percent the day after.
When word of a possible meltdown at a nuclear plant in Japan following the tsunami in March reached Utah, traffic increased by 412 percent.
The spike in traffic shows that people tend to care more about preparedness after a disaster strikes elsewhere, Longman said.
"We see a lot of people who are into the idea, but it's about actually taking those steps to get physically prepared," Longman said.
Tomorrow's Harvest, a food storage company based in Kaysville, Utah, has seen its sales dramatically increase since 2008, Mike Porenta, the company's co-owner and chief operations officer, said in an interview for a recent Deseret News article.
Revenue at Tomorrow's Harvest has jumped by 900 percent since 2009, Porenta said, while declining to give specific figures.
Porenta is also the chief operations manager for the American Preppers Network, one of the biggest online forums and resources for people stocking up on food storage.
The group had its biggest sales year ever in 2011, and Porenta expects 2012 to be even larger.

The company sells freeze-dried food and other items for emergencies. It did 50 percent of its business east of the Mississippi in 2011 and just 5 percent in the first quarter of 2012 was in Utah.
"That is new for our industry. We've always just dealt with the West," Porenta said. "I think the financial crisis of 2008 really started pushing people, and the movement swept."
Jason Hall, manager of the website UtahPreppers.com, has also seen this trend of fear-based preparation at the time of disaster.
"It's just like any other difficulty in life; you don't want to deal with it until you have to," said Hall, who uses the skills he learned from his parents with his three children and wife, Kelly. "Obviously something like a storm brings reality into people's faces."
Hall says emergency preparedness is a lifestyle rather than a one-time purchase of food and water.
"Don't be reactionary but be proactive and thoughtful about what you're doing," Hall said. "That's really the art of preparedness. Making those decisions yourself and not being motivated by some outside influence."
A real danger
Using FEMA's earthquake modeling software, called HAZUS, the state of Utah was able to estimate the damage if a 7.0 earthquake were to hit the Wasatch fault line. The numbers are only estimates and not predictions.
The state estimates more than 10,000 buildings would collapse and 285,000 would be damaged, according to BeReadyUtah.
There would be an estimated 2,300 people killed and 30,000 more injured if an earthquake were to hit. Another estimated 350,000 people would be displaced due to damages to property.
The quake would cause $35 billion in damages and 160 fires, according to the study. Water could be cut off for months.
FEMA considers an earthquake the biggest threat to Utah mainly because the state hasn't experienced a major one before, Longman said.
Not just hurricanes, earthquakes
Hall says that preparing for earthquakes and hurricanes is important, but that's not as common as other problems that could beset a family.
"Most people don't like to think about it, but the more common cases to prepare for are job loss or reduction," Hall, a 36-year-old software engineer, said. "The same skills that go into getting ready for a disaster, like a Hurricane Sandy, are the same things that will help you if you lose your job for a couple of months."
Being prepared
Ellis says he has lived most of his life feeling that he and his family are safe.
He and his wife have been setting aside food, water and other preparedness items since they were married in 1992.
"It's a gradual progression," Ellis said. "It's not something you can wake up and one day say, 'Hey, I'm going to do food storage.' This is something that is a constant rotation. You have to eat what you store and store what you eat."
Ellis is now the emergency preparedness specialist for a group of congregations in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He helps members of the LDS Church in his community develop emergency plans.
"I don't think people really know how to attack it," Ellis said. "It's not something you just do tomorrow and you're done."
What to get
The Utah Preppers blog has many posts on how to get started on emergency preparedness.
In a phone interview, Hall gave a list of the most important things to focus on when bracing for an emergency.

Ensuring that your family has plenty of water is top priority.

Establish or purchase a 72-hour kit, which will provide basic needs for you and your family.

Make sure that you and your family have sufficient medications on hand if anyone needs them. For example, if someone needs insulin, make sure there will be enough.

First aid training and materials are important in case of injuries.

Keeping your family safe from the elements if you lose your home is crucial. Make sure you have a place to stay safe from the elements.

A store of food is important, but relatively low on the priorities because of the human body's ability to go without food for long periods of time.

Financial preparation is a matter of using it wisely and saving properly, Hall said. You and your family should be able to afford a hotel if you need one.

"The essence of preparedness is trying to mitigate a disaster down to something you can get through," Hall said.

EMAIL: jferguson@desnews.com TWITTER: joeyferguson

I found this food storage video on you-tube. I have not seen it all but I think it may be of benefit.

The video is almost an hour and a half. I was unable to add it to the post in the usual way, so here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOLuIApyNPc&feature=share

Hope it works.

Purposes of Church Welfare

The purposes of Church welfare are to help members become self-reliant, to care for the poor and needy, and to give service.

In 1936 the First Presidency outlined a welfare plan for the Church. They said: “Our primary purpose was to set up . . . a system under which the curse of idleness would be done away with, the evils of a dole abolished, and independence, industry, thrift and self respect be once more established amongst our people. The aim of the Church is to help the people to help them- selves. Work is to be re-enthroned as the ruling principle of the lives of our Church membership” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1936, 3).

Self-Reliance

Self-reliance is the ability, commitment, and effort to provide the spiritual and temporal necessities of life for self and family. As members become self-reliant, they are also better able to serve and care for others.

Church members are responsible for their own spiritual and temporal well-being. Blessed with the gift of agency, they have the privilege and duty to set their own course, solve their own problems, and strive to become self-reliant. Members do this under the inspiration of the Lord and with the labor of their own hands.

When Church members are doing all they can to provide for themselves but cannot meet their basic needs, generally they should first turn to their families for help. When this is not sufficient or feasible, the Church stands ready to help.

Some of the areas in which members should become self-reliant are outlined in the following paragraphs.

Health

The Lord has commanded members to take care of their minds and bodies. They should obey the Word of Wisdom, eat nutritious food, exercise regularly, control their weight, and get adequate sleep. They should shun substances or practices that abuse their bodies or minds and that could lead to addiction. They should practice good sanitation and hygiene and obtain adequate medical and dental care. They should also strive to cultivate good relationships with family members and others.

Education

Education provides understanding and skills that can help people develop self-reliance. Church members should study the scriptures and other good books. They should improve in their ability to read, write, and do basic mathematics. They should obtain as much education as they can, including formal or technical schooling where possible. This will help them develop their talents, find suitable employment, and make a valuable contribution to their families, the Church, and the community.

Employment

Work is the foundation upon which self- reliance and temporal well-being rest. Members should prepare for and carefully select a suitable occupation or self-employment that will provide for their own and their families’ needs. They should become skilled at their work, be diligent and trustworthy, and give honest work for the pay and benefits they receive.

Home Storage

To help care for themselves and their families, members should build a three-month supply of food that is part of their normal diet. Where local laws and circumstances permit, they should gradually build a longer-term supply of basic foods that will sustain life. They should also store drinking water in case the water supply becomes polluted or disrupted. (See All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage, 3.)

Finances

To become financially self-reliant, members should pay tithes and offerings, avoid unnecessary debt, use a budget, and live within a plan. They should gradually build a financial reserve by regularly saving a portion of their income. (See All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Finances, 3.)

Spiritual Strength

Spiritual strength is essential to a person’s temporal and eternal well-being. Church members grow in spiritual strength as they develop their testimonies, exercise faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, obey God’s commandments, pray daily, study the scriptures and the teachings of latter-day prophets, attend Church meetings, and serve in Church callings and assignments.

Members’ Efforts to Care for the Poor and Needy and Give Service

Through His Church, the Lord has provided a way to care for the poor and needy. He has asked Church members to give generously according to what they have received from Him. He has also asked His people to “visit the poor and the needy and administer to their relief” (D&C 44:6). Church members are encouraged to give personal compassionate service to those in need. They should be “anxiously engaged in a good cause,” serving without being asked or assigned (see D&C 58:26–27).

The Lord has established the law of the fast and fast offerings to bless His people and to provide a way for them to serve those in need (see Isaiah 58:6–12; Malachi 3:8–12). When members fast, they are asked to give to the Church a fast offering at least equal to the value of the food they would have eaten. If possible, they should be generous and give more. Blessings associated with the law of the fast include closeness to the Lord, increased spiritual strength, temporal well- being, greater compassion, and a stronger desire to serve.

Some opportunities to care for those in need come through Church callings. Other opportunities are present in members’ homes, neighbor- hoods, and communities. Members can also help the poor and needy of all faiths throughout the world by contributing to the Church’s humanitarian efforts.

Providing in the Lord’s way humbles the rich, exalts the poor, and sanctifies both (see D&C 104:15–18). President J. Reuben Clark Jr. taught: “The real long term objective of the Welfare Plan is the building of character in the members of the Church, givers and receivers, rescuing all that is finest down deep inside of them, and bringing to flower and fruit age the latent richness of the spirit, which after all is the mission and purpose and reason for being of this Church” (in special meeting of stake presidents, Oct. 2, 1936).

The Lord’s Storehouse

In some locations the Church has established buildings called bishops’ storehouses. When members receive permission from their bishop, they may go to the bishops’ storehouse to obtain food and clothing. But the Lord’s storehouse is not limited to a building used to distribute food and clothing to the poor. It also includes Church members’ offerings of time, talents, compassion, materials, and financial means that are made available to the bishop to help care for the poor and needy. The Lord’s storehouse, then, exists in each ward. These offerings are “to be cast into the Lord’s storehouse, . . . every man seeking the interest of his neighbor, and doing all things with an eye single to the glory of God” (D&C 82:18–19). The bishop is the agent of the Lord’s storehouse.

A friend put me on to this website today. The site offers several recipes that are designed for food storage. Rather clever concept. So if you want to add a little variety to your food storage, I recommend you check out the site. I am told the shelf life is 5-7 years but I do not recommend that. Rotation, folks, rotation.

“Every father and mother are the family’s storekeepers. They should store whatever their own family would like to have in the case of an emergency ... [and] God will sustain us through our tri- als.”
President James E. Faust




Making a plan to expand your food storage
1. List the recipes your family likes.
2. Decide how often you would serve that meal each month and record
it on your calendar.
3. Figure out the food items required for each meal and multiply that by the number of times you’ll serve it each month and then times by 12. Now you know how much of each item you need to store for a one year supply. Example: You serve spaghetti twice a month to your family of four. You’ll need to store 24 bottles of spaghetti sauce, 24 (12 oz.) packages of pasta and 2 #10 cans of freeze dried hamburger (48 servings per can) for one year for your family of four.
4. Make a list of what you need, what you have and what you still need to purchase. Work on the basics first and then slowly expand that list to include more variety. Gradually begin purchasing those items you need as your finances allow. Rotating and using your food storage can free up funds you may need to purchase other items. Also, fixing food storage meals two days a week allows you to rotate an entire years supply of food within the shelf life of most foods (31⁄2 years).

  
“Many more people could ride out the storm-tossed waves in their economic lives if they had their year’s supply of food ... and were debt-free. Today we find that many have followed this counsel in reverse: they have at least a year’s supply of debt and are food-free.”
President Thomas S. Monson



Remember that even if it takes several months or several years, you will be able to acquire every item on your plan if you consist- ently and persistently work at it.

Sources for more information or products-
http://www.providentliving.org


Articles:
1.Gordon B. Hinckley, “To Men of the Priesthood,” Liahona and En- sign, Nov. 2002, 58. 2. All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage (2007), 1 3. All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Finances (2007), 1.
4. Keith B. McMullin, “Lay Up in Store,” Liahona and Ensign, May 2007, 53. 5. All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage, 2. 6.Family Home Storage: A New Message,” Ensign, Mar 2009, 56–60


Websites:

http://pgward.org/ep/- Pleasant Grove Stake preparedness site– Information on almost every aspect of emergency preparedness

http://emergencyfoodinanutshell.blogspot.com– great resource
http://preparedldsfamily.blogspot.com– lots of good ideas and resources
http://www.rockycliffs.com/FoodStorage.htm– links and articles on food storage

http://www.shelfreliance.com- food items, food calculator, recipes.
Costco carries their freeze-dried hamburger and chicken
http://www.augasonfarms.com/- and http://shop.bluechipgroup.net/ located in Salt Lake City-432 West 3440 South. They carry morning moo, gluten free storage items, presently they have some great deals since labels are being changed. Some items are available at local grocery stores
http://honeyvillefarms.net Located in Salt Lake City. They offer classes and a large variety of products- freeze dried, grains, gluten free and storage buckets.
http://www.dailybread.com/- freeze dried items, complete meals, free samples

http://alpinefoodstorage.com/- located in Highland Utah– they carry gluten free, freeze dried items, grains, seeds, dairy probucts. Seasonal produce.

Emergency essentials-

http://beprepared.com– freeze-dried items, water storage and purifiers, MRE’s,

http://www.yourfoodstorage.com/- freeze dried and dehydrated foods, water, sun oven. Prepackaged meals, wheat grinders, spices

Obviously there are so many more great sites. Search under food storage, emergency preparedness, etc. for a multitude of great sites with ideas, products and practical application of the principles of prov- ident living.

Home Storage counsel on the Church website.