Becoming Learners

"In addition to the spiritual self-reliance we have been discussing, there is temporal self-reliance, which includes getting a postsecondary education or vocational training, learning to work, and living within our means. By avoiding debt and saving money now, we are prepared for full-time Church service in the years to come. The purpose of both temporal and spiritual self-reliance is to get ourselves on higher ground so that we can lift others in need." - Elder Robert D. Hales -

This week I have been thinking a lot about education and the differences it can make in our lives long-term. Education is certainly a vital part of becoming self-reliant.

After I graduated from high school (barely), I married my first husband right away. I got several entry-level jobs during that time, while taking care of homemaking duties and doing the job of providing bodies for 2 little guys. I don't know that anyone ever gets married thinking about the marriage ending (through death or divorce or what-have-you), but these things happen sometimes - and sadly, more and more frequently. Due to my lack of education, once I was on my own with two little boys to support, I ended up relying heavily upon the goodness of others for the first while, then barely scraping by when I was finally able to get out on my own. I was generally making in the neighborhood of $5.50-$7.00 an hour trying to support us. Until I met and married Vance, I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't had great family support providing me with places to stay, loans, daycare help, and gifts.

Vance has an amazing job, which provides us with enough income that I am able to stay home with the kids, fantastic health benefits, wellness programs, etc. But what if something were to happen to him, rendering him unable to work? This was a question that was frequently on my mind.

Then, we read this edition of the New Era, published in April of 2009. I loved it! The articles in the publication, coupled with some intense prayer helped us to come to the conclusion that it would be in the best interest of our family's future and self-reliance for me to attend vocational school. It took nearly two years of very difficult sacrifices on the parts of every family member. But through those sacrifices I was able to obtain a skill that will not only help provide for the family in an emergency, it will help with incidental needs along the way, as well as hopefully helping us to assist our kids as they serve missions, attend college, and pay for weddings.

One of the reasons I loved the April '09 edition of the New Era was that it was so great in pointing out and stressing to youth the importance of receiving a good education, but also the fact that our education might not come in the form of a degree from a major college or university. A valuable education can be acquired from any number of places.

There are certainly many snags we might run into when seeking greater education. Time, finances, family constraints, and other issues might prohibit us from acquiring the degree or certificate we desire. There is good news, though. The fact is, we can educate ourselves in so many ways! I love this talk, "The Power of Diligent Learning," by Elder Jay E. Jensen. In it, he reminds us of a story told about a woman who felt she had never had an opportunity in life to do any learning. She was encouraged to learn more about simple things in her environment, beginning with the bricks her feet rested on, and through her efforts she was able to learn more than she had ever anticipated, thereby earning the financial means to follow many of her lifelong dreams.

We can also start in small ways. Maybe our goal is not a financial one, but a goal to gain knowledge that will benefit those we care about. Maybe you will choose to begin by learning more about the plants that grow in your surroundings: In an emergency, could they be consumed as food, or are they poisonous? Could they be used for medical purposes? Maybe you choose to learn about water purification techniques. Maybe basic, then intermediate first aid. Maybe better nutrition. Maybe child development, maybe money-saving skills like using coupons, or maybe sharpening your career skills.

The important thing is to start somewhere. Pray for guidance for a good place to start. Start setting goals towards your own increase in knowledge. Decide on something you're interested in and look for sources. Explore articles and books for free on the internet or at the library. Think outside the box. Look for sources and mentors that you may not have thought of before. Watch videos on the subject on YouTube. Just remember, it's never too late to start learning!

-Katie

Yard Sales

Matthew 14:17-21
"And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. He said, Bring them hither to me. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children."

I really believe that no matter what our financial circumstances, the Lord wants to bless us with the ability to meet our needs, even if this means we need to get a little creative. Sometimes, being self-reliant means finding ways to save some money, to make a little go a long way. Sometimes we are in dire financial circumstances, and other times, there might be things we need but don't want to spend a million bucks on it. And let's face it, it's much nicer to get more for your buck and either set aside the money you saved, or get two things you needed instead of just one.

For these reasons, we have always loved yard sales. Some simply don't like the idea of buying used items. Others may argue that the time and gas spent driving around to the sales would negate the money saved. But let me give you a few examples of our yard sale successes.

We have a baby on the way. It's been years since we were in the realm of infants, and had given away all of our clothing and equipment. The idea of spending jillions of dollars to start over is a little more than I can bear. We have been watching the yard sales. Recently Vance was able to find one with lots of little clothes and was able to get probably a week's worth of clothing for less than $12. We will continue to look for furniture and other needs. (Please note that it is NEVER safe to buy a car seat from a yard sale, because you never know what kind of abuse it has been through, which could render it unsafe in an accident.)

For a while our microwave has been possessed. The door will be closed, and suddenly out of nowhere it will start cooking. (Please imagine some creepy "Twilight Zone" music here.) And then the other day, it started shooting blue lightning. Time for a new microwave, but to find one with our size and wattage requirements would cost over $200. Yikes. Today Vance found just the microwave we needed and paid... $11 for it! It works great!

Every few years we take a family camping trip out of state. With our increasing family size and luggage demands, we are rapidly running out of room in our vehicle. We need one of those hard-side rooftop cargo deals. Again, these are pretty darn expensive, and we have a limited vacation budget. But Vance had his eagle eye open and found one, brand new, for $45.

We have been able to acquire a very large portion of our emergency supplies, household equipment, and even canning equipment in our yard sale escapades. I think some keys for successful yard saling are to make sure that you keep your budget in mind and make sure that you are only purchasing items that you really need. Just like any enjoyable shopping excursion, it can be easy to find a lot of stuff that would be fun but just not needed. If you have the budget for that kind of spending that's fine, but what if you have a limited budget for these purchases and you already spent your $5 on an inflatable canoe with a hole in it (just saying), when what you really needed were dishes?

Just remember, if your freaky about germs and such, most items are easy to sanitize and disinfect, and you can usually tell if they come from a home with pets or cigarette smoke (which may or may not be a turn-off for you).

I really can attest to the Lord's ability to help us stretch our dollars! He wants to bless our means and make them greater than we had thought possible. It's easy to get caught up worrying about what we can't afford, but sometimes if we re-evaluate our budget and think outside the box, He is more than willing to provide a way for us to have the thins we need, and even some of the things we want! We just need to have a little faith and imagination.

-Katie

Earthquake Shake Out: Lessons Learned

Doctrine and Covenants 38:30
"I tell you these things because of your prayers; wherefore, treasure up wisdom in your bosoms, lest the wickedness of men reveal these things unto you by their wickedness, in a manner which shall speak in your ears with a voice louder than that which shall shake the earth; but if ye are prepared ye shall not fear."

This "Shake Up" was an excellent, though ridiculous experience for me today. Here are the lessons I learned, just for starters:

1.) We have really tried to prepare for emergencies where we might lose electricity, but the preparations we have made would be pretty useless in an earthquake scenario. This is bad news considering this is the most likely catastrophic event in our area.

2.) We have several kerosene lamps and lanterns throughout the house. These are great in case of a loss of electricity, but would be pretty useless in the case of an emergency due to their very breakable/flammable nature.

3.) We have lots of food storage (though not as much as we'd like). The problem is location. We live in a pretty small home, so really the only space we have for storing these items is below decks in "the dungeon." If our old, rickety home came crashing down, it would take at least several days to dig them out.

4.) We have some excellent equipment for food preparation, but this equipment is also located in places which would be inaccessible or could potentially be damaged beyond repair.

5.) We have a latrine setup... which is located in the same lame place.

6.) Our 72 hour kits are well equipped with non-perishable items, but the food is out of date and needs to be replaced. This is bad because if our food supplies got buried in rubble, we wouldn't have a backup food supply until we could dig them out.

7.) If we had to make a quick exit from the house, we don't really have supplies (like long, protective clothing, boots, work gloves, etc.) in a good place to use to dig out important items.

8.) Our water barrels are located near an exterior brick wall and could easily be damaged, resulting in the loss of all our emergency water.

9.) We have never gotten around to taking inventory and pictures of our valuable items to submit to the insurance company should a disaster arise.

10.) Most of us run around the house barefoot all day. Shoes belong in a certain place, but rarely find their way there. This could be a huge problem when trying to exit a crumbling building, or even just getting through a room with broken glass.

11.) We have not secured any heavy furniture to the walls, and our water heater is not anchored or fitted with flexible piping.

12.) We have no real plan for communicating when individual members of the family might be separated during a disaster.

13.) A lot of the "safest" places in the house are actually occupied by furniture and would be hard to get to for a person in a panic.

14.) The pre-emergency communication in our neighborhood is lacking in planning and leaves some to be desired.

15.) Our gas tanks in our vehicles are generally filled to less than half full - a problem if a need arises to "bug out."

Basically, we have a lot of work to do to be more prepared, and it made me a little fearful, due to our lack of preparation. But we will pick and work on one thing at a time, as time and finances allow. For example, we can update (and upgrade) our 72 hour kits and make sure they are in areas that are not as likely to be buried so that we have a few days' food supply while trying to dig out the rest of the food. We hope to adjust our budget to accommodate better preparation. Our list is a little overwhelming, but again, if we eat the elephant one bite at a time, it is progress.

I also learned and experienced a lot of positives.

1.) I have amazing kids who watch out for each other! During one of our drills, my 13-year-old was really angry with his 4-year-old brother and was attempting to escort him to his room. But although he was so angry, when the "earthquake" hit, his first response was to drag him to a safe place and shield him with his own body! No way!

2.) Most of the kids were quick to remember the plan and drop what they were doing and go directly to the closest, safest spot. (Not the 4-year-old. We decided that in this drill, he would not be killed, but definitely seriously maimed. I guess that's an improvement?)

3.) Many of the things that we need to do to be more prepared will be super easy to do, free, and great Family Home Evening activities.

4.) I want to be more involved in our home preparations, as well as our neighborhood planning for emergencies, which will take effort but will be well worth the rewards of seeing my loved ones and friends as safe as possible.

6.) Preparation goes beyond having "stuff" and includes attitudes, skills, and work.

5.) My "stuff" is nowhere near as important as my people.

6.) I'm grateful for my 4-wheel-drive vehicles in case there are problems with the roads.

7.) We do have quite a bit of equipment (including emergency shelter, cooking equipment, etc.) stored in more accessible places, which will be a huge benefit if a disaster arises.

8.) We have amazing friends and neighbors who will band together to help each other in emergencies.

Hopefully this has been an opportunity for all of us to take stock of our preparations and decide to do a little more - whatever we have the capacity to do. Although I feel a little overwhelmed by what has yet to be done around here, I can remember to do my best to prepare (whatever my best may be), and take comfort in my efforts and have faith that the Lord will magnify my efforts. I am still a beginner, but all that the Lord expects of me is my best.

- Katie

Earthquake: Shake Out

Tomorrow morning, April 17th, at 10:15 AM, the state of Utah will be conducting the largest earthquake drill in state history. This drill will test our communications and preparedness structures. Due to the geographical nature of the LDS church setup, the State frequently uses church leadership and members to assist with coordinating efforts and communication. Each city should have a plan of action and communication. If you are unfamiliar with your area's plan, check with your local Bishop, or check your city's website. Our neighborhood plan consists of block captains and lieutenants who report to a coordinator. This coordinator reports to the bishop, who reports to the stake president, who reports to the city representative. It's important to know who your block captain is and get to know them. If you don't know who your block captain is, check with your bishop.

Our city's communication plan includes a laminated signal that residents are advised to place in their front window after the emergency passes. It is the basic size of a file folder, which can fold closed or opened. One side is green and says, "All Okay!" This side is displayed when all members of the household are fine and do not need medical attention or outside help. The second side is yellow and says, "Help Soon!" This side is displayed when there is a non life-threatening injury or a problem that requires outside help, but not immediately. The third side is red and says, "Help Now!!" This side is displayed when there is a life threatening injury or a problem which requires immediate help. Our city is asking us to display these signs in our windows tomorrow morning after we hold our earthquake drills in order to practice our communication chain. If you have not yet received your signal, ask your local bishop or block captain how to get yours TODAY so that you'll have it in time for the drill.

Utah Shake Out is the perfect time to get some planning done for yourself and your family. At our house, we realized that although the danger of an earthquake is really quite high in our state, our family has really never had any discussions or drills to prepare for such an event. So this morning we took the opportunity to have a real talk and a few drills and some fun. We live in a 70-year-old house, built before construction was done with seismic activity in mind. We had to make a few adjustments to the usual wisdom because of this. We also needed to make it clear to the kids that the plan for an earthquake is different from the plan for a fire.

We began by discussing a few facts:
*In our home, the doorways are not load-bearing, so we should NOT crouch in a doorway.
*Our home is made of un-reinforced masonry, so it is very important to take cover near an interior wall, away from crumbling brick and breaking windows.
*When taking cover, it is important NOT to run out of the house, because a large proportion of injuries happen when people are struck by falling debris while trying to get outside. It is therefore safer to stay where you are and not try to leave the house until the shaking stops.
*It can be very dangerous to wander from room to room looking for a safe place to take cover, so it's important to know the places in each room that are the "safe" places, and only move a few steps away from your original location.
*If you are in bed when an earthquake hits, it is best to stay put in the bed and cover your head with your pillows, instead of trying to move to a safer spot.

Then we went through the house, looking in each room for hazards and for the safest places to take cover.
*We looked for interior walls, especially corners.
*We checked for sturdy furniture to crouch under.
*We looked for hazards like falling items, glass, windows, etc. to stay away from.
*We looked for cupboards that could fly open and empty their contents, or large furniture such as book shelves that could come away from the wall and cause injuries.
*We looked up to see if there were any light fixtures that could potentially come down.

Finally, we had several practices in each room. I would yell, "Earthquake!" and the kids would move as quickly as they could to the closest safe place, duck down, cover their heads, and grab onto something sturdy close by (like the legs of a table if hiding under it).

We made a few discoveries and adjustments. For example, our poor 4-year-old would be a dead baby if left to his own devices. The poor kid just ran in circles from room to room screaming, "That's it! I'm dead! I'm dying!" He then made a "dead face" and fell to the floor. Nice. We adjusted by making sure the older kids knew to grab him if they are close by and take him with them to their safety spot. We also clearly need more practice. Some of the kids treated it like a game, while others took it very seriously. We saw that some of the kids didn't really have a clear understanding of what an earthquake is and what it looks like so we watched a few videos of earthquake footage. We discussed what people did right and what they did wrong in the videos, like taking cover vs running through the house, or staying put vs trying to run outside and getting crushed by falling debris.

Unfortunately, we have a lot of work to do to prepare for an earthquake, like securing furniture and water heaters, etc. But we are sure grateful for this drill and the attention it is helping us to focus on getting prepared. Here is a list of fantastic websites that can help you get prepared. Even one thing at a time (like holding your first earthquake drill) is a step in the right direction. We all have to start somewhere!

-Katie

Utah Shake Out
Ready.Gov Earthquake Info.
USGS Earthquake Info. Page

Wheat Keeping, or, Adventures in Sublimation

D&C 89:14 All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth.

When it comes to long-term food storage, an excellent place to start is with a growing supply of grains, especially wheat. Wheat is relatively inexpensive, versatile, filling... it's the staff of life!

I like thinking about Joseph of Egypt and his responsibility to store up grains in the 7 years of plenty, so that when the 7 years of famine came, the country had enough food, and to spare. Some of us might not currently be in a "time of plenty." Some of us may be experiencing our "years of famine," and are now consuming what may have been stored up for this very time.

Vance and I went through one of these times early in our marriage. Our ward had the opportunity to have a turn with an electric can sealer for #10 cans in the bishop's garage for a little while. We had just received a nice bonus and had decided to use it for taking advantage of this opportunity. Using oxygen absorbing packets and #10 cans, we dry canned flour, sugar, pasta, brown sugar (a HUGE no-no, but we didn't know!), and other staples. Later on, things got lean in the pocket book, and it was a huge blessing to have those basic ingredients stored away.

Although this method is a fantastic one for long-term storage, I did notice that when we used the flour that had been in the cans for a few years, the oxygen absorbers had left the food with a funny flavor. Their effectiveness comes from iron inside the packets which react with moisture and air in the food to create rust and neutralize the oxygen in the container. Although the rust and iron do not come into contact with your food, I could still taste the rust in the flour. Also, the oxygen packets are not a reliable and safe method to use if you're storing your food in plastic buckets.

Why do we need to worry about oxygen in the food, anyway? No matter how hard industries try to keep the creepy crawlies out of our food, and no matter how hard we try ourselves for that matter, some insects will find a way. Whether there are full-grown insects or simply eggs, something needs to be done to safely eliminate them and prevent them from infesting our food, without posing a threat to those actually eating the food. And since living things can't survive without oxygen, we remove it. We don't want to treat our foods with chemicals, either. It will compromise the longevity of the product, and when push comes to shove, we may want to sprout our grains to gain added nutrients and this can be a problem with chemically treated grains.

Oxygen packets are the perfect solution for dry goods which are being stored in cans, but what about dry goods that are packed into plastic buckets? These are not good candidates for the oxygen packet. This is where we learn a magic word. Sublimation. Kinda rolls off the tongue, huh? "Yes, I store my grains with the use of sublimation." We're fancy here. Sublimation is the process in which a solid turns into a gas without first becoming a liquid. (There's your science lesson for the day, cool experiment to follow.)

This is where our good friend, dry ice, comes into play. Sorry men, we are not going to be making dry ice bombs, root beer, or witch's brew. *Sigh* But, that same goodness that gives your homemade root beer its bubbles is going to keep your family alive 30 years from now. Is that not awesome?! Dry ice is simply frozen carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is heavier than oxygen (and un-sustaining of animal life), and that's what makes this trick work.

Instructions:

When storing dry goods in plastic buckets, place 1 ounce of dry ice per gallon of container size in the bottom of the bucket or other plastic container. (Be sure to first wipe off any ice crystals to prevent the introduction of moisture.) Pour your dry item over the dry ice to fill the bucket almost to the top. Place the lid onto the container, but don't seal it all the way (or you WILL have a dry ice bomb). This allows the oxygen to escape, without allowing a transfer of new oxygen back into your container. Wait for all of the dry ice to sublimate. You'll know it's done when the bottom of the bucket is no longer cold to the touch. At this point, you can finish sealing your container, and you're good to go for the next jillion years... Or 30.

This works because as the dry ice sublimates, the carbon dioxide begins to fill the bucket from the bottom up, pushing the oxygen right out the top, leaving nothing left for your little enemies of wheat to breathe. Dastardly.

-Katie-

For more information on long-term storage methods, visit the LDS church website, here. There you'll find information on this dry ice method, oxygen absorbers, vacuum sealers, and examples of which kinds of food are acceptable and unacceptable for long-term storage.

Water Storage 101

" Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."


Just as we need spiritual water we also need physical to survive. Can you think of a time you really needed water? Maybe a hiking trip or long drive between stops? You were thirsty but the most any of has gone without water is maybe a day.

I remember I was on a 50 mile backpacking trip through the mountains of Nevada as a teenager, and we relied on streams along the way for our water. One evening we had been hiking all day, and we were out of water. On the map it showed a stream bed at the bottom of the hill we were on. We hiked down only to find out the stream was dry. We kept hiking down the stream bed hoping and praying that maybe a spring of some sort would appear. After another hour of hiking we finally found some water. I was very relieved.

I remember how thirsty I was then , and cannot imagine going days without water. Even more now I would not be able to handle seeing my wife and kids thirsty if something happened, and I did nothing to prepare.

If the water supply is tainted or if there is an earthquake it can take several days to weeks to get water. We need to have some on hand to survive if something like that happens.

I urge you to start now with a water supply, however big or small.

Vance

How Much Water do I Need?

You should have at least a three-day supply of water and you should store at least one gallon of water per person per day. A normally active person needs at least one-half gallon of water daily just for drinking.

If you can get more than three days you should. We have four 55 gallon containers right now with plans to get more. Right now Macey's grocery store has an excellent deal on these @ $29.00.

If you cannot get those, or have room for them, start small with pop bottles in the closet or under the bed (see containers below). Every little bit helps, and may be life giving to your family if something happens.


Containers

Use only food-grade containers. Smaller containers made of PETE plastic(PET plastics are coded with the resin identification code number "1" inside the universal recycling symbol- most pop bottles.), usually located on the bottom of the container. or heavier plastic buckets or drums work well.
Clean, sanitize, and thoroughly rinse all containers prior to use. A sanitizing solution can be prepared by adding 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of liquid household chlorine bleach (5 to 6% sodium hypochlorite) to one quart (1 liter) of water. Only household bleach without thickeners, scents, or additives should be used.
Do not use plastic milk jugs, because they do not seal well and tend to become brittle over time.
Do not use containers previously used to store non-food products.


Water Pretreatment

Water from a chlorinated municipal water supply does not need further treatment when stored in clean, food-grade containers.
Non-chlorinated water(water from a well etc) should be treated with bleach. Add 1/8 of a teaspoon (8 drops) of liquid household chlorine bleach (5 to 6% sodium hypochlorite) for every gallon (4 liters) of water. Only household bleach without thickeners, scents, or additives should be used.

Storage

Containers should be emptied and refilled regularly.
Store water only where potential leakage would not damage your home or apartment.
Protect stored water from light and heat. Some containers may also require protection from freezing.
The taste of stored water can be improved by pouring it back and forth between two containers before use.

Gathering Seed

1 Nephi 8:1 And it came to pass that we had gathered together all manner of seeds of every kind, both of grain of every kind, and also of the seeds of fruit of every kind.

I love this verse for so many reasons! Whenever I think of what to do next in my preparations, or if I don't have much money and want to do something, or if it's mid-winter and I'm having a bit of seasonal blues, this scripture always comes to mind.

It is very significant to me because it clearly states some of the preparations Lehi and his family have taken to prepare for their futures. It's interesting to note that they were in the wilderness for 8 years before they reached the seashore. There they spent time resting up and building a ship. After that, they traveled over the ocean to the promised land and upon the death of Lehi, the Nephites and Lamanites separated themselves. The Nephites built cities and planted those seeds and grew food for their families. This was thirty years after Lehi and his family left Jerusalem.

To me, this little part of the story tells the importance of storing seeds to grow in the future. Carrying seeds for 30 years ensured that Nephi and his descendants would have familiar foods to eat when they arrived in a new home. This would give them nourishment and comfort when they would need to begin again.

When Vance and I were first married, we lived with the two oldest boys (and later #3) in a small, downstairs apartment. We really wanted to follow the counsel of the prophets and become more self reliant, but our housing situation presented challenges. In this case, the challenge was not having a place to grow a garden. I had read that Pres. Kimball encouraged members of the church to grow food in containers in windows if that was all that was available. So we tried. We got a few outdoor pots, filled them with soil, planted some tomatoes, and placed them outside our front window. They were pathetic. They didn't get enough sunlight, and the few tiny tomatoes that actually began to grow were soon picked and smashed by the neighbor children. It was very discouraging.

Eventually, we moved through the parking lot into a bigger apartment, where we got permission to use a strip of dirt in the back for a garden. We spent a long Saturday digging and weeding. We didn't get things planted in this little area very quickly, but... let's say the neighbors plants sure appreciated our efforts. :) After this, I became pregnant with #4 and gardening stopped. I was discouraged because I had grown up with a gardening guru dad, and all my efforts were seemingly failures.

During the apartment years, we put lots of effort into other preparations, and the gardening waited until we had our own house, where after a few years of more failures, I can now feel good about my gardening skills.

I wish that during those times I had been familiar with this verse of scripture. What it tells me now is that it doesn't matter if you can keep a garden right now! Nephi had to wait 30 years to plant his seeds! What matters is that you try and that you begin somewhere. Gathering seeds is a perfect place to start. It's springtime, and seeds are on sale everywhere. They range from a few cents to a few dollars a packet. For about $50, you can also purchase canned seeds, which have multiple varieties of seeds in hermetically sealed envelopes, which are then sealed in a #10 can. These last indefinitely. You can find all kinds of varieties, like vegetables, culinary herbs, medicinal herbs, salsa mixes, fruits, etc. You can find these online HERE and HERE (or with a google search). Both of these companies are fairly local and are a short drive away if you'd rather pick them up instead of paying shipping. You can even purchase the canned seeds at health food and preparedness stores.

If you want to prepare for the future, but only have a dollar or two, you can buy a packet of seeds that will feed your family in the future. Seeds actually stay good and will sprout for years after purchase. The cooler the temperature they are kept in, the longer they will last. They need to be kept away from moisture, warmth, and light (to prevent germination and spoilage). You can keep your seed packets in closed mason jars or zip-top bags in the fridge or freezer to keep them dry and cold. And then, one day when you're ready, you'll be that much closer to a garden and the ability to grow food for your family.