A Fish Farm On Your Porch

Yesterday I took two of the grandkids to the California State Fair here in Sacramento as I do most summers.  One of the favorite things Levi and Taryn like to do at the fish farm exhibit is reach their hands into the various fish tanks to feel the slimy creatures swim against their fingers.  One time Levi caught a catfish by the mouth, but got in trouble from an attendant when he triumphantly held it over his head and tried to walk away with it.

This year I was impressed with a new display in the fish area, and one that seems well suited to those of us looking for ways to be more self-suficient.  It was called Aquaponics, and it is the relatively new process of merging fish farming with hydroponic gardening.  While Aquaponics has been successfully implemented in large scale farms and greenhouses for the past few years, it’s now possible for regular folks to not only grow their own organic produce with almost no bother, they can also raise their own fish for eating.  And all in a space that takes up a footprint smaller than a bathtub.

The way it works is this: You have your fish in a 60 gallon tank, and resting a few inches above that is your vegetable garden in a bed about the same size.  If you’ve ever owned a fish aquarium,  you know you normally would have to be constantly filtering and changing the water because fish waste creates ammonia that has to be eliminated.  But in the aquaponic system, the fish water is pumped up to the plants which feed on that waste and also continually filter the water, keeping it fresh and clean for the fish to thrive in.  These plants are grown without soil; they rest in a bed of clay pebbles and water, getting all the nutrients they need from the daily little gifts the fishies send their way.

So you never have to feed these plants or change the water.  The fish pump fertilizer and Co2 to the plants, and the plants return oxygen to the fish. Everything is nicely self contained.  You don’t add pesticides or other harmful additives.  The fish feed the plants, and the plants in turn help the fish to grow and stay healthy.

Species that thrive well under this system are catfish, bluegill, perch, tilapia, and others that don’t require a lot of room to swim around in.  Believe it or not, some fish are happy enough just being in water, biding their time until you’re ready to come along and eat them.   Pretty much all you have to do is take a minute each day to feed your little fish friends, and when they’re big enough (about every nine months), you reach in, take one out of the tank, carry it to the kitchen, and filet it for dinner.

Along with that dinner you can enjoy some of the fruits and vegetables that fish helped to nurture, including tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, strawberries, and just about any herb you can think of.  Yes, even stalks of green beans. Some people have even used this system to grow small fruit trees.  Did I mention it’s all organic?  So whatever you decide to “plant” in this water is going to taste just great.

A big advantage of aquaponics over growing food in the soil is that you don’t have to space the plants far apart from each other as you do in the ground.  They can all be crowded together real friendly, which gives you up to six times more plants than you would have in a standard backyard garden. And with an aquaponic garden, plants grow much faster than they do in the ground, so you get your harvest sooner.

Also, you don’t have to do any weeding, tilling, or watering.  And if you want to place a small domed plastic greenhouse covering over the whole shebang,  you can have a back porch  garden all year round.  Or you can set your system indoors using artificial light, which would enable you to stack one bed above another, each with its own UV lamp.

Lettuce seems to be a very popular crop with many aquaponic amateur gardeners, as lettuce plants grow quickly, you can fit a lot of them in a small space, and they keep coming in all year round.

There are Aquaponics Associations cropping up all over the country, where you can find plans to build your own layout using hardware store supplies, or you purchase kits ready made.  At the fair I was shown a compact set-up like the one in the picture at the top of this article by a nice young woman named Rochelle who explained to me how aquaponics works. As you can see, it’s set on casters so that it can be easily moved around, or even brought indoors.

One of the systems they had at the fair that particularly impressed me was a vertical tower setup.  At the base was a large tank holding the fish.  Water was pumped from the tank to a collection of what looked like rain gutters standing on end, each with a slit running the length.  Protruding sideways from each of these slits were several lettuce plants, ready to be harvested for salads.  It seemed to me that a garden like that would take hardly any space at all; you could even set it against an outside wall if you wanted to.

Depending upon how much space you have to dedicate to growing food, you could create multiple garden beds all being fed from one or two tanks of fish.  Some people doing this raise enough food to sell their surplus at local farmer’s markets.

My father was one of those people who liked to work in the backyard garden; he said he liked to kneel down in the earth and get his fingernails dirty.

Not me.  The way I see it, the more time you spend getting your fingernails dirty, the more time you have to spend cleaning your fingernails.  Having a garden that you don’t even have to touch until you’re ready to eat the produce grown from it is the kind of garden that would suit me just fine.

Protecting your Preparations: Defense options – Secure your Home

We’ve looked at several ways that you can protect your preparations: you can hide them (or at least keep quiet about them), you can plan to share your preparations, or, you can defend them.  Last time we started talking about passive defense options (big dogs), and we’ll be discussing a couple more of those before we begin to look at active defense options.

You have to remember that anyone who feels like they need to come after your preparations is going to be feeling like their situation is pretty dire.  In order to steal—or worse, confront you for—your preparations, they are going to be pretty motivated.  Their life could be on the line, and they could feel like they have nothing to lose.  That doesn’t mean you need to lose your ability to take care of yourself…but it does mean that you need to be pretty serious about your defense.

So, let’s suppose the invader has somehow gotten past your big dog…what’s next?

One thing you could do is make your house less accessible to people that are not supposed to be there.

Whether you’re expecting an emergency or not, you should probably be in the habit of locking your doors and windows.  If your doors and windows are unlocked—especially if you’re away from home—you’re inviting the “bad guys” to steal your stuff.  You might as well leave some fresh cookies out on the table so they can make themselves at home, because your house is such an easy target that you may be robbed even if there isn’t an emergency and the situation isn’t dire.

If you keep a key outside, be sure that it is very well concealed.

Once your house is no longer wide open to anyone passing by, the next thing to do is to look for weak spots.  If you’ve ever accidentally locked yourself out of the house and tried to get back inside without a key, you may already know where the weak spots are.

Usually the weak spots will be doors and windows.  Some people may have other weak spots, like some sort of vent, or a skylight.

After you’ve identified your weak spots, reinforce them.

To reinforce your doors, if you’re really serious about defending your home, you’ll want a metal door.  Those are pricey.  A cheaper option is to buy a special plate that prevents doors from being kicked in.  (The plate is installed on the doorframe near where the locks are.)  You can get one at a home improvement store, and they’re very inexpensive, definitely under $20, maybe under $10.  You should also have a peephole with a wide range of view.

To reinforce your windows, bars are probably the most secure option, but they may not be suitable for all neighborhoods.  Instead, you may consider applying a security film, to make windows shatter-proof.  Depending on what kind of emergency you’re preparing for, you could also have wood panels cut to size so that in an emergency you can board up your windows quickly.  That would depend on what you’re preparing for, though, and may not apply to everyone.

To make your home less of a temptation at night, install security lighting, with motion sensors.  Test it.

If you really want to be fancy, you can also install security cameras, to monitor your property.

Your assignment this week is to assess your home and find the weak spots.  Then, decide what you’re going to do to make your home more secure.  Next time, we’ll look at one more passive way to defend your preparations.

In the meantime, if you can think of any other ways that people can secure their homes, please feel free to share them in the comments!

The Disaster in Your Own Backyard

Last year was one of the costliest on record for natural disasters. In fact, the first six months of 2011 alone accounted for over $265 billion in economic losses. From Japan’s earthquake and tsunami to Australia’s flooding to New Zealand’s earthquake, it seemed as if nowhere was immune. Add to that, the fact that the U.S. saw a record number of natural disasters of its own and things began to become a little too close for comfort.

Tornado outbreaks, droughts, river floods, blizzards, and hurricanes all have the potential to cripple entire communities in a matter of hours if not minutes. While watching the news reports of a families staring in disbelief at a pile of rubble that was once their neighborhood, many cannot help but wonder how they would handle it if something like that happened to them.

That fear leads the more proactive of us to do something. Building a store of survival supplies from generators to food and water is one of the most common and simplest ways to begin. By simply having these items on hand, one develops a sense that the days and weeks needed to recover from a natural disaster is doable and the individual feels he or she has “taken charge” and created a little peace of mind in the face of the future’s great unknown.

eFoods has always advocated this path and has adopted as its mission to help those serious about their well-being and safety with a cost-effective way to build a useful food storage plan. However, eFoods also understands there is much, much more to preparing for disaster than anticipating what Mother Nature has to dish out.

There are disasters that decimate a family just as quickly and painfully as an earthquake can and yet these disasters are never reported on the evening news.

For instance, a prolonged and costly illness can quickly drain a family’s financial resources. Medical expenses are the leading cause of bankruptcies in America. In fact, a study done at Harvard University indicated that medical expenses represent 62% of personal bankruptcies. Add to that the fact that of those bankruptcies, 78% had some form of health insurance; you can see that thinking all is well can be a little misleading.

A job loss can immediately turn a family’s world upside down.

A divorce or separation can also be just as damaging. It brings with it legal fees, the division of marital assets, decrees of child support and/or alimony, and then just to top it all off the cost of keeping up two separate households.

You see, it doesn’t take a natural disaster to destroy your world. There are a lot more common and highly probably scenarios out there.

Food storage has many more benefits than just for when the “bridge is washed out.” It can represent a form of insurance that protects you in so many different scenarios. Imagine an insurance policy that covers earthquakes, tornados, floods, medical, job loss, economic downturns, and so much more. Food storage is that policy.

So the next time you’re quick to dismiss storing food for a natural disaster that may never come, think for a minute about the other disasters lurking to strike right in your own backyard.

Emergency Car Kits: Comprehensive List

A few readers have asked if there was a post that listed all of the items we’ve discussed for car emergency kits. Whelp – here it is:

• Water - 3 day supply is ideal
• Food – 3 day supply is ideal.
• Blanket(s)
• Jumper Cables
• Spare Tire (if its not included with your car)
• Jack
• Wrench
• Road Flare
• Reflective Vest
• Flashlight/headlamp
• Insurance Card
• Auto Club Card/Roadside Assistance Card (ex. AAA)
• Disposable Camera
• First Aid Kit
• Cold Weather items/gear/clothing
• Items for Pets if they frequently travel with you
• Items for children/babies if they frequently travel with you
• Medications
• Review what to do if your car stops on the road, or you are in an accident.

Am I forgetting anything? Keep in mind all of the topics listed above have a whole post dedicated to that subject with details and answers to questions you may have. Just look over our links in the Disaster/Emergency Kit archives. Example: the “Cold Weather Items” Post has a list just for that category.

If there’s something you would add to the list above, I’d love to hear it! Happy kit building y’all!

How to Be Prepared When You Can’t Afford It: Living Frugally

Making your money stretch to accommodate all that you need to do, including preparing for a disaster, doesn’t make you a cheapskate. It makes you smart. It also doesn’t have to be about sacrifice, but about using your money wisely.

The principals of frugal living are similar to those of survivalists who wish to conserve resources:

1. Use it Up
2. Wear It Out
3. Make It Do or
4. Do Without

By applying these guidelines to your everyday life, you can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars each year, money that can be applied to emergency preparation.

There are so many little ways to save money that can add up. Here is just one example.  Line drying your laundry instead of using an electric dryer can save you a bit of money. First there is the cost of the dryer itself. Then there is the cost of running it: about $2.50 a week or $130 a year on average for five loads a week. If you have a larger family like mine, who does about twice the average number of loads, the savings you’ll get is even greater.

While that doesn’t seem like a lot, you can take that extra $10-$20 left over from the month and use it to buy some of your essentials. For just $20 and some smart shopping, you can buy four or five large jars of peanut butter, or a few bags of rice to add to your supplies. You can also combine all of your savings and use it toward a Image: morgueFile

Preparedness Questions and Answers #9

Gideon from Grand Forks, MI asked:  In the aftermath of TEOTWAWKI, how will we communicate with one another with the power grid down?

Another excellent question.  When all the modern technology in the communication world stops because of no electricity, only battery powered units like Ham Radios will be capable in talking to folks across the country.  I would strongly recommend having a good mobile unit and at least two trained operators in your survival group.  There are numerous friendly clubs across the U.S. to get more information about these types of radios and be willing to show you the ropes.

Suki from Milpitas, CA asked:  Yonis, what is your opinion about having gold and silver in with your survival supplies. 

If one can afford to invest in gold and/or silver, I do recommend investing in at least some gold and silver, or at least junk silver.  Gold coins come in 1 oz., ½ oz., ¼ oz. and 1/10 oz.  If you invest in gold, I would recommend only the smaller 1/10 oz. gold coins, they are about the size of a dime.

With silver coins, you have three choices:

Silver Eagles are 1 troy oz. of .999 fine silver from the U.S. Mint.  They are only minted in one standard design.  Even though they are both 1 troy oz., Silver Eagles cost more than Silver Rounds.  They can be purchased individually or in tubes of twenty.

 Silver Rounds on the other hand are also 1 troy oz. of .999% fine silver minted from private companies.  They come in a very wide variety of designs and the cost is cheaper than Silver Eagles!  They can be purchased individually or in tubes of twenty.

and/or

Junk Silver are pre 1964 dimes, quarters, half dollars and dollars and all contain 90% silver.  If nothing else, I would strongly recommend have at least some Junk Silver in with your barter supplies. 

Having some of these gold and/or silver coins can come in a very handy in a post SHTF or TEOTWAWKI scenario.  They would be used when bartering for larger or bulk items in a post disaster situation, especially after an economic collapse when the dollar looses all its value.  And remember, Gold and Silver had always held its value throughout history and been used for currency for centuries.

WARNING:  When buying silver, buy only from a reputable dealer face to face, never through mail order.  There are a lot of FAKE silver coins coming onto the U.S. market from overseas, especially Communist China.  See what you’re buying in person face to face.  Get certification that the dealer gets their Silver Eagles only from the U.S. Mint and the Silver Rounds only come from reputable U.S. manufactured companies.

Phoebe from Bowling Green, KY asked:  Greetings Yonis, I really enjoy your articles.  My question is what medical books should I have in my disaster medical chest?  I’m looking forward to your answer.

Another great question…  This is another item that is commonly over looked when folks are gathering their survival supplies, and that is a good selection of medical books for their survival library.  In a TEOTWAWKI scenario, there will be no 911 or emergency clinic or hospital to call or go to in the event of a medical emergency.  So having the training and a good medical library might be the only thing standing between life and death in your survival group.  While there are numerous books on the market that cover this subject, I recommend the following first aid / medical books for your library for starters:

American Red Cross First Aid – Responding to Emergencies

American Red Cross Wilderness and Remote First Aid

Where There Is No Doctor – a village health care handbook / by David Werner

Where There Is No Dentist / by Murray Dickson

Emergency War Surgery / by Borden Institute Walter Reed Army Medical Center

Emergency War Surgery: The Survivalist’s Medical Desk Reference / by the Department of Defense

Special Operations Forces Medical Handbook / by the Department of Defense

Ditch Medicine: Advanced Field Procedures For Emergencies / by Hugh Coffee

Like I said, these are just a few of the numerous books on the market.  However, after retiring from the U.S. Medical Corps, I know the books from Walter Reed and the DoD I would strongly recommend.

And along with these books in your library, you and everyone in your family and/or group needs the following medical training at a minimum:  Wilderness and Remote First Aid (a 2 day course) or Disaster First Aid (a 3 day course).  Because if you faint at the site of blood, you’re in trouble.

Keep those questions coming…

The Fake Silver Epidemic

Last year on this site I posted a series on buying survival silver for beginners. In part three of that series I warned about the onslaught of counterfeit silver dollars flooding America from China.  That flood is now reaching near epidemic proportions. Even seasoned professional coin dealers and collectors have reported being fooled by some of the coins they’ve come across.

As recently as a year ago, the most ubiquitous fake coins were Morgan silver dollars, the U.S. dollars that were in circulation in your great grandparent’s day.  But now unscrupulous Chinese counterfeiters are flooding us with a larger assortment, including Walking Liberty 50 cent pieces and the popular American Silver Eagle.  Most of these coins are created to look well worn, complete with dings, scratches, and grime because often the older and more beat up a coin looks, the harder it is to detect as a fake.

Since the Chinese government has no problem with Chinese factories churning out phony American coins, there has been no limit to the number of these things currently being sold to unwary American investors.  Fake American coins are coming over here by the hundreds of thousands, and they are getting ever more difficult to detect.  Most people aren’t aware there’s a problem, so they aren’t even on the lookout when they make their purchases.

Since a great majority of Americans now investing in silver are new to the game, many of them are unwittingly buying coins made of lead, copper, or steel, with only a thin veneer of silver coating.  Many of these counterfeits are even fooling the experts; coin dealers are reporting actually purchasing some of these coins without realizing they are fakes.  Numismatists claim this is the number one threat to their industry right now.

If even coin dealers are having trouble telling the real from the fake, it is more important than ever for you to be careful who you buy from.  In part four of my series I warned of the dangers of buying silver on Ebay.  I think the time has come to seriously emphasize that danger.  Don’t get me wrong; I love Ebay.  I’ve found lots of bargains there on lots of items.  But I have never, ever seen a good bargain in the hard money category.

Let me make this very clear: If you’re shopping for gold or silver, Ebay is a very, very risky place to be -especially if you’re considering buying Morgan silver dollars.

Why?  Because right now there are people selling fake Morgan dollars on ebay who don’t even know that the products they’re selling aren’t genuine.  Why would they? A lot of these sellers are no different than you or I.  They bought something a while back they thought was a good investment, and now they’re just trying to turn it for a profit.  No one ever told them they were holding a fake.

Things can only get worse.  Sometime in the future the U.S. paper dollar will surely fail.  At that time, those who had the wisdom to tuck away some silver coins will likely begin to use those coins again as money, since they are legal U.S. tender.  What happens when those hundreds of thousands of Morgan silver dollars suddenly come into circulation and no one can easily tell the real ones from the fakes?

That’s why my advice is to see that your silver savings is made up mostly of U.S. dimes and quarters, with a smattering of Franklin half dollars and one ounce silver rounds.  There is no telling how unpopular a Morgan silver dollar will be when no one is sure whether they should take one or not.  Many people aren’t sure about Morgans already.

When you buy a one ounce silver round, be sure it has the words “One Troy Ounce Silver .999″ stamped on it.  That doesn’t guarantee it’s genuine, of course, but that should be the first thing you look for on a round before you buy it.  It used to be that a coin or a bar from a reputable mint was a pretty good guarantee of authenticity, but now the counterfeiters are even faking perfect replicas of prestigious Johnson Mathey bars.  So far, those fakes seem to be mostly in the 100 ounce bars, but when the price of silver takes off again, I wouldn’t be surprised to start seeing perfect replicas of one ounce Johnson Matheys.

China has no laws preventing the counterfeiting of all types of collectibles, as their government officially considers them “replicas.”  But those near perfect replicas are showing up in Europe and America by the boatload, and mixing with the supply of real silver coins.

Our own United States government does not seem very concerned about all this.  But then, the US government isn’t keen on people preparing themselves against the collapse of the dollar, so I guess government apathy in this regard can be expected.  Those who would be our overlords would welcome panic and uncertainty in silver.

As the US economy weakens, growing numbers of Americans who don’t know the first thing about purchasing gold and silver are entering the market every day.  Those who are engaged in counterfeiting silver coins are counting on the ignorance of these newcomers.  They know there is a lot of money to be made by taking advantage of this growing trend toward gold and silver.

If you are new to buying survival silver, get educated as to what to look for and what to buy -and what not to buy. (My own series on this website is a good place to start.) If you must buy your silver sight unseen, buy it from a reputable online dealer.  But remember, even the major investment houses have been burned.  So be careful.

I’ve said this before, but it bears saying again: You shouldn’t be spending money on investment silver if you haven’t first put aside a sufficient store of food.  If your objective is to survive the coming hard times, remember to put first things first. Then when you do set out to start buying silver, make darn sure the stuff is real.

Emergency Car Kit: Tools and Tool Kits

I’d recommend having a small utility tool or tool kit as part of your Emergency Car Kit. I did a previous post about including one in your Home Emergency Kit. If you can afford it, get a second one for your car. These are handy, because they are small and all inclusive. You won’t be scampering around looking for separate tools.

Another option available is a small tool kit. These are beneficial because they provide tools that might not be available in a multipurpose tool – such as a study hammer.  These kits are generally available preassembled at home improvement stores, super stores, or online. If you have the items at home, you can just assemble a small kit yourself. Be sure whatever kit you buy or assemble includes socket wrenches and screwdrivers….always handy when doing basic car repairs.

A small collapsible (0r foldable) shovel would also be beneficial. I mentioned a shovel in the “Cold Weather Items” post – which I feel is essential when driving in snowy conditions. But a shovel can be useful in numerous situations besides cold weather. Collapsible ones are lightweight and small – ideal for storing in your car.

I have also come across collapsible shovels that include other tools….think of them as ”multi purpose” shovels or a “Swiss Army” shovel. They come with a wide range of attachable tools – so you should be able to find one that’s agreeable with your budget. Many of them claim to be an excellent weapon during a Zombie Apocalypse, so…that’s a bonus too, right?

My husband recently purchased a multi purpose shovel that we love. It was a little pricey, but worth it, in my opinion.  If anyone has a particular utility tool they are attached too – please share, we’d love to hear it…..

One is None: Don’t Ignore the Importance of Redundancy

Isn’t it funny how we will sometimes stock dozens of cans of beans but only one can opener, or dozens of bandages but only a single scissors to cut them with? Don’t make this common mistake. Have a lot of redundancy built into your emergency preparedness. It is important, and it is necessary.

Three is two…

Have you heard of this expression: “Three is two, two is one, and one is none”? Most survivalists will know this saying. Basically is means that if you have three of a certain item, one could break, get lost or be consumed, leaving you with just two of that item. If you have two, then you really only have one, and if you have one, well, then you really have none. The thought is that if you are only prepared with a single thing, you really aren’t prepared at all. If that can opener breaks and can’t be used, opening a can of beans will be pretty much impossible.

Start building in redundancy with any items that are essential to your survival. This includes tools, food or supplies. You’ll know where to start building redundancy when you imagine living without that thing. Would you simply inconvenienced or in crisis if the item were not available?

When my daughter was a little younger, she went everywhere with a certain doll, including the bathtub or out in the mud. My husband and I named this toy “moldy baby,” because no matter how much time it spent in the washing machine and dryer or soaking in bleach, it’s little cloth body tended to get musty and unusable. Being without that doll would have been a real crisis for her, and probably the neighbors. The solution was for us to stock two extra copies of the exact same doll, which got us through my daughter’s need for her constant companion, while keeping her healthy.

Emergency supplies, tangible items that you stock, should not be the only area of redundancy in your emergency planning. You will also benefit from applying the philosophy of “one is none” by building redundancy into your emergency escape plans. You should map out at least three evacuation routes out of town, for example, in case your first route choice is blocked.

Being prepared means thinking ahead, and building redundancy into your emergency planning will put you in the best position to survive and thrive in an emergency situation.

Some more reading you might like:

What to Grab in Ten Minutes

Ignoring Reality

The grocery store closest to where I live is called Raley’s. It’s part of a very big chain of supermarkets that extends from Northern California clear to Reno, Nevada.  Raley’s Supermarkets are known for being clean, upscale, and well-stocked. If you’re looking for an item you can’t find in most other grocery stores, you’ll likely find it at Raley’s. The produce section is second to none; at any one time you can find close to a half dozen varieties of apples alone.  All of the employees at Raley’s are cheerful, friendly, and helpful -definitely more personable than I’ve met elsewhere.  I like these people a lot, and the friendliness of the staff is one of the reasons I like Raley’s so much.

Yes sir, Raley’s is definitely my favorite supermarket. Yet I very rarely shop there anymore.

I just can’t afford to.

Oh, I stop in at Raley’s once or twice a month just to pick up a few quick things, but I do all my major grocery shopping at either Winco or Walmart, even though I have to travel up to six miles from home to get to one of those stores.  The reason is simple: grocery prices overall are much cheaper at those two stores, even though my favorite store is within walking distance of my home.

I wish it wasn’t like this, because I really like the people who work at Raley’s and I would love to support them.  For the people who live in and around Sacramento, Raley’s is more than a chain of supermarkets, it is an institution in the community, a company known for sponsoring many worthy causes and public events. Raley Field is home to our local baseball team, the Sacramento Rivercats, and a location for a variety of concerts.

By all accounts, Raley’s Supermarkets are a great place to work.  For the past several decades a person who chose a career at Raley’s could make a pretty decent middle-class living. Long-time cashiers have been able to buy their own homes, send their kids to college, and retire with a pension.

But that was then.  You know, before the Great Recession.

Traditionally Raley’s located most of their stores in affluent neighborhoods where people cared more for convenience and atmosphere than whether prices were the lowest in town. About the time we moved to the area, Raley’s purchased Bel Air, another chain of upscale supermarkets, and then acquired the hoity-toity Nob Hill Foods chain in the San Francisco area. That solidified their position in the market that catered to higher end shoppers.

But it was precisely these shoppers who were hit hardest back in 2008 when many of them saw their stocks and mutual funds lose half their value.  Suddenly a lot of folks who favored convenience over price were now finding it prudent to start looking around for better deals.

I recall being in my local Raley’s market about the time all this was going down.  It was just after 5:o’clock, a usually busy time of day for a grocery store, and the place was very quiet, with only a handful of shoppers in the store.  Contrast that with any of the other supermarkets in the area at that time of day and and I could tell Raley’s was in trouble.

Since then, whenever I have been in the store I have noticed that many other shoppers at Raley’s are like me; their shopping carts only contain a handful of items, as if they just stopped in for a few quick necessities.  I look around and simply don’t see anyone with a shopping cart filled to the brim as they always are at Winco.  I wonder: are these other Raley’s shoppers also doing their major shopping somewhere else where groceries are cheaper?

To be sure, in the past four years Raley’s has had some incredible sales on certain items, but these seem to me loss leaders.  I don’t see their prices overall as competitive.

Here in Sacramento where Raley’s has its headquarters, Raley’s economic difficulties are big news, as the time has come to renew contracts with Raley’s unionized employees.  The company is clearly going to have to increase efficiency in order to compete with the non-union stores in the area that more and more shoppers are flocking to.  Anyone with a degree of perception realizes that a big reason Raley’s prices are higher than everyone else’s on average is because they are paying their employees higher wages than anyone else.

Management insists that the Raley’s chain is fighting for its very survival, and is asking it’s employees for concessions, the biggest of which is that employees contribute $15.00 a month toward their health insurance.

Some employees, doubtless remembering the days when the company was flush with cash, feel Raley’s is bluffing, and have voted to strike.  They insist that if they give in on this health insurance issue, that will be just the beginning of more concessions the company will ask from them.

One thing everyone agrees on: a strike will be a disaster for both sides, as during a strike the employees will be paid nothing, and Raley’s will lose a lot of customers permanently as formerly loyal shoppers develop the habit of shopping elsewhere.   One cashier who voted to strike was quoted in the paper lamenting, “why can’t they just keep things the same as they always were?”

I feel for this cashier.  I wish things could go back to the way they were for me, too.  But times have changed for all of us.  You can’t blame this one on your employer.  Raley’s was at one time a very prosperous company, so prosperous, in fact, that they had money to give away.  To wish things could just be as they were before is to ignore economic reality.

One author of a letter to the editor said, “Raley’s should just suck it up and pay.” But that writer doesn’t seem to realize that the people who pay the salaries of those cashiers, stockers, and baggers, are not the owners of Raley’s.  The people who pay the salaries and provide the benefits to the people who work at Raleys are the people who shop at Raley’s.  And a lot of those shoppers -a very large number of them, in fact- have already concluded they can no longer afford to keep paying such wages to strangers, many of whom are even now earning more per hour than they are themselves.

Raley’s has already been forced to close four stores in Sacramento, and they say that if there is a strike, they will be forced to close several more.  I believe them.

Last minute discussions are still ongoing between the company and the union, but I think one thing is certain.  If the strike goes forward, after the dust clears there will be fewer Raley’s stores operating, and that means quite a few of those strikers will have no jobs to come back to.

As a cashier at Walmart stated recently, “I wish I made $21.00 an hour with benefits too, but right now I’d rather have a job with lower pay than have no job at all.”

Protecting Your Preparations – Keep Quiet, part 2

[This article is part of a series.  Did you complete the eFoods Direct 1 Year Stowaway Program.  I have not participated in the program but, by all means, especially if you don’t have much space and you are not concerned about an immediate threat, this program may be for you.  The advantages are that it helps you build up preparations without requiring you to have all the space you need right when you order.  As I have mentioned, it is very important to keep your food storage in a temperature-controlled location, and of course eFoods Direct takes care of that for you.  There is also no extra charge for storage, so compared to the cost of a climate-controlled storage unit, this could save you a lot of money if it is what you need.

Hiding Stuff By Keeping Quiet

I know that there are some programs on TV about people who prepare.  Don’t be like them.  If people know that you have preparations, they may be more likely to come for your things when times are tough.  When people are hungry, they do things that they wouldn’t normally do.  The opposite of this is also true: if people don’t know that you are prepared, they will be less likely to come for your stuff.  Blend in!  Of course there is a careful line between encouraging others to prepare (which is a good thing) and not letting them know what you’re doing to prepare.  Even if you only tell people that you trust, anyone you tell could tell someone else.  Be very careful about this.  It is hard to un-tell people.

Now, review your list from last time.  What can you hide, and where can you hide it?  How can you encourage your friends, families, neighbors, and others to prepare without accidentally inviting them to depend on you in an emergency?

If you have any other ideas or suggestions for hiding preparations, feel free to share them in the comments below.

Next time, we will discuss the second major strategy for protecting your preparations: sharing them, or reducing risk.

On Your Mark, Get Set…Fall

On Your Mark, Get Set…Fall

Emergency Car Kits: What to do if You’re in a Car Accident

Some of you are fortunate enough to have never been in a car accident. If that’s the case – do you know what to do in case of an accident? Or maybe you have been, and there are things you wished you had done better. Here’s a list of general post accident protocol. And……This is where many of your emergency kit items will come in handy.

Call Appropriate Authorities: First and foremost, you’ll want to call the police. If there are injuries, call 911. This is when you’re glad you have a cell phone.  Keep in mind serious injuries may not be that apparent. Someone could have a serious medical condition that needs attention, or may even be in shock.

Get Out of the Way: As discussed in my previous post, I mentioned moving your car off the road. In an accident, provided there are no serious injuries, you need to get your car out of the road, and everyone involved away from moving traffic.

Make Other’s Aware of Your Vehicle: Again, as mentioned in my previous post, you’ll want to use those cones, flares, reflective vests, white flag etc. to mark off your car so other’s know to watch out for it, and authorities will be able to find you faster.

Exchange Information: It is important, even in minor accidents, to get the other driver’s information in case something more serious (either vehicle damage, or medical complications) arise.  Do not discuss details of the accident with anyone other than the police. This could lead to disagreements before the authorities get there, or could make you upset and not able to recall the details you need to when the time comes.

Document the Accident: Take pictures using your cell phone/disposable camera of both vehicles and any injuries. Also, write down any information you have off the top of your head about what happened, damage you see to your vehicle, the other vehicle(s) etc. It may be hard to recall this information later. You never know what others will/will not report and what their insurance will/will not cover.

Example: When I was in an accident I had multiple insurance/authorities call to get my details of the accident. (Don’t worry, I was not at fault). The issue wasn’t resolved for a few months, and I noticed that over time I would start to forget specifics. Written and visual documentation will always serve you well.

File a Report: Generally you can do this at your local law enforcement office or the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Know Your Insurance:  It always helps to know what your insurance will or will not cover. This will not only help you speed up the insurance process, but there may be perks you’re now aware of such as covered towing or rental car costs.

Now you know how to put those Emergency Kit items into action. Hopefully having this checklist will keep you calm and focused after an accident.

Emergency Car Kits: What to do if You’re in a Car Accident

Some of you are fortunate enough to have never been in a car accident. If that’s the case – do you know what to do in case of an accident? Or maybe you have been, and there are things you wished you had done better. Here’s a list of general post accident protocol. And……This is where many of your emergency kit items will come in handy.

Call Appropriate Authorities: First and foremost, you’ll want to call the police. If there are injuries, call 911. This is when you’re glad you have a cell phone.  Keep in mind serious injuries may not be that apparent. Someone could have a serious medical condition that needs attention, or may even be in shock.

Get Out of the Way: As discussed in my previous post, I mentioned moving your car off the road. In an accident, provided there are no serious injuries, you need to get your car out of the road, and everyone involved away from moving traffic.

Make Other’s Aware of Your Vehicle: Again, as mentioned in my previous post, you’ll want to use those cones, flares, reflective vests, white flag etc. to mark off your car so other’s know to watch out for it, and authorities will be able to find you faster.

Exchange Information: It is important, even in minor accidents, to get the other driver’s information in case something more serious (either vehicle damage, or medical complications) arise.  Do not discuss details of the accident with anyone other than the police. This could lead to disagreements before the authorities get there, or could make you upset and not able to recall the details you need to when the time comes.

Document the Accident: Take pictures using your cell phone/disposable camera of both vehicles and any injuries. Also, write down any information you have off the top of your head about what happened, damage you see to your vehicle, the other vehicle(s) etc. It may be hard to recall this information later. You never know what others will/will not report and what their insurance will/will not cover.

Example: When I was in an accident I had multiple insurance/authorities call to get my details of the accident. (Don’t worry, I was not at fault). The issue wasn’t resolved for a few months, and I noticed that over time I would start to forget specifics. Written and visual documentation will always serve you well.

File a Report: Generally you can do this at your local law enforcement office or the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Know Your Insurance:  It always helps to know what your insurance will or will not cover. This will not only help you speed up the insurance process, but there may be perks you’re now aware of such as covered towing or rental car costs.

Now you know how to put those Emergency Kit items into action. Hopefully having this checklist will keep you calm and focused after an accident.

The Importance of Having a To Buy List

As a mom, I learned a long time ago that having a shopping list really comes in handy, whether I am buying groceries or clothes for the kids. Having a To Buy List for emergency supplies and stockpile items is just as important. Otherwise, I might find myself having the wrong things in my home and being unprepared for a disaster.

Without a list, I have to try and figure out what we need and remember what we already have. So, I might wind up with too much toilet paper and not enough bleach, for example. When we are left to our own means without a list, we all tend to gravitate toward buying our favorite emergency items, it seems.

Making a To Buy List also serves two other purposes: it allows me to constantly check if we are prepared with everything that we need, and it allows me to save money and spread the cost of my emergency supplies out over time. Obviously, the sooner we are fully prepared the better, but there is no point in stressing our finances here and now.

With a list, I can allocate a certain dollar amount to use each week or month on emergency preparation. I can also take advantage of sales and coupons, using them to purchase items for less than the normal retail cost. With food and household expenses growing day by day, being able to pay less to have more of what you need is important.

Your To Buy List can also translate nicely into an inventory list. Each time you purchase something on the list, you can note the purchase date and the date when it needs to be replaced. When emergency supply items are nearing there replacement dates (if they have them), you can make sure to use those items in your normal household operations and replace the items with fresh ones.

Preparedness Q and A #6

Maria from Miami asked:  How bad will it be for people who do not prepare?

Excellent question Maria…  These non-preppers are the folks who are the “Complacent Ones”, the ones that are in “Denial” of what is actually going on around them, and that are just down right “Gullible”.  When the SHTF, these people will procrastinate and go through unimaginable hardships, pain, suffering and even death, especially single women who do not have man, family or group to protect them.

During TEOTWAWKI, these people will experience some, if not all of the following of this great article I ran across a few days ago:

http://www.shtfplan.com/emergency-preparedness/how-horrific-will-it-be-for-the-non-prepper_05122012

The bottom line here is that people who do not prepare will go through multiple types of extreme hardships and suffering depending on their geographic location, their personal knowledge and beliefs and their spirit to live.  To give you a good idea what a typical American family will go through who is not prepared, watch “After Armageddon” on YouTube.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrdfdMCPsWE

Roger from Little Rock asked:  Yonis, this might seem like a dumb question but what does TEOTWAWKI mean?

Roger, the only dumb question is the question not asked.  TEOTWAWKI is an acronym that stands for “The End Of The World As We Know It”.

Lance and Bonnie from Portland asked:  My husband and I have really enjoyed reading your blogs over the last year.  We have learned a lot and greatly appreciate you sharing your knowledge with everyone.  Our question is: In your opinion, how much time do we have until the SHTF and we will be living in survival mode.

From my day to day research over the last fifteen plus years, I do ask that folks do their own research to come up with their own conclusions and don’t believe a work I say.

I see us going through a combination of both man-made and natural disaster that is starting to climax through the end of this year.  With man-made disasters, the top three would be our economy collapsing resulting in hyper-inflation resulting mass riots and civil unrest.  All of this will lead to marshal law with the DHS moving captured citizens into FEMA camps and foreign troops coming in to help our own government to enslave the people.  While all of this is going on, there will be major race wars between whites and African Americans, whites and Hispanics and whites and Muslims.  This does not count all the gang wars and killings that will be going on all across North America.

With natural disasters increasing both in frequency and intensity, the top three would be increased massive solar flares hitting the earth greatly weakening, if not taking down the earth’s magnetosphere causing extreme radiation burns of any people out in the open.  With the earth’s magnetic field so unstable, this can cause both a magnetic and physical pole shift with winds in excess 300mph across the surface lasting days, weeks or even months.  There will also be a major increase of unprecedented, extremely violent and destructive earthquakes (>8.0, 9.0 and even 10.0) and volcanic eruptions worldwide.

And last, Gigi from Lexington, KY asked:  I’m a college student, single, no boy friend and live with two other female roommates.  We were wondering how bad could it get when the economy collapses?

Ms Gigi, things will get very bad, and very ugly, very fast.  Out of all the disasters I’ve worked around the world, there is one common thing I’ve noticed.  Single women, especially young women always have the most difficult time surviving a post disaster situation.  Some will get so desperate to survive that they sell themselves for food and a safe place to sleep, eventually contracting multiple STD’s.  Others are caught by roving gangs and are turned into sex slaves, beaten, tortured, past around from guy to guy and treated like trash.  There are some extremely demented, perverted sex offenders out there that will have free rain with their victims and no law to stop them.  They will do and performs unspeakable acts to horrible to mention.  The worse is slow sexual torture till death.

My advice would be read some of my past articles I wrote on safe areas, survival groups, etc.

http://www.efoodsdirect.com/Blog/author/yrutledge/

Next, learn how to use a gun safely and get a good pistol and shotgun to protect yourselves.

Next, find a group to survive with.  There is always safety and strength in numbers.  Check out this prepper web site for groups, there should be one in your area.

http://www.preppergroups.com/

Next, start stocking up on food, first aid supplies, water and ammo (hollow point) for your guns.

And last, get the training Disaster First Aid and other survival skill that will save your life one day.  See:   http://www.efoodsdirect.com/Blog/author/yrutledge/page/4/

I hope this answers your question and the information will help yall.

 

Preparedness Q and A #6

Maria from Miami asked:  How bad will it be for people who do not prepare?

Excellent question Maria…  These non-preppers are the folks who are the “Complacent Ones”, the ones that are in “Denial” of what is actually going on around them, and that are just down right “Gullible”.  When the SHTF, these people will procrastinate and go through unimaginable hardships, pain, suffering and even death, especially single women who do not have man, family or group to protect them.

During TEOTWAWKI, these people will experience some, if not all of the following of this great article I ran across a few days ago:

http://www.shtfplan.com/emergency-preparedness/how-horrific-will-it-be-for-the-non-prepper_05122012

The bottom line here is that people who do not prepare will go through multiple types of extreme hardships and suffering depending on their geographic location, their personal knowledge and beliefs and their spirit to live.  To give you a good idea what a typical American family will go through who is not prepared, watch “After Armageddon” on YouTube.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrdfdMCPsWE

Roger from Little Rock asked:  Yonis, this might seem like a dumb question but what does TEOTWAWKI mean?

Roger, the only dumb question is the question not asked.  TEOTWAWKI is an acronym that stands for “The End Of The World As We Know It”.

Lance and Bonnie from Portland asked:  My husband and I have really enjoyed reading your blogs over the last year.  We have learned a lot and greatly appreciate you sharing your knowledge with everyone.  Our question is: In your opinion, how much time do we have until the SHTF and we will be living in survival mode.

From my day to day research over the last fifteen plus years, I do ask that folks do their own research to come up with their own conclusions and don’t believe a work I say.

I see us going through a combination of both man-made and natural disaster that is starting to climax through the end of this year.  With man-made disasters, the top three would be our economy collapsing resulting in hyper-inflation resulting mass riots and civil unrest.  All of this will lead to marshal law with the DHS moving captured citizens into FEMA camps and foreign troops coming in to help our own government to enslave the people.  While all of this is going on, there will be major race wars between whites and African Americans, whites and Hispanics and whites and Muslims.  This does not count all the gang wars and killings that will be going on all across North America.

With natural disasters increasing both in frequency and intensity, the top three would be increased massive solar flares hitting the earth greatly weakening, if not taking down the earth’s magnetosphere causing extreme radiation burns of any people out in the open.  With the earth’s magnetic field so unstable, this can cause both a magnetic and physical pole shift with winds in excess 300mph across the surface lasting days, weeks or even months.  There will also be a major increase of unprecedented, extremely violent and destructive earthquakes (>8.0, 9.0 and even 10.0) and volcanic eruptions worldwide.

And last, Gigi from Lexington, KY asked:  I’m a college student, single, no boy friend and live with two other female roommates.  We were wondering how bad could it get when the economy collapses?

Ms Gigi, things will get very bad, and very ugly, very fast.  Out of all the disasters I’ve worked around the world, there is one common thing I’ve noticed.  Single women, especially young women always have the most difficult time surviving a post disaster situation.  Some will get so desperate to survive that they sell themselves for food and a safe place to sleep, eventually contracting multiple STD’s.  Others are caught by roving gangs and are turned into sex slaves, beaten, tortured, past around from guy to guy and treated like trash.  There are some extremely demented, perverted sex offenders out there that will have free rain with their victims and no law to stop them.  They will do and performs unspeakable acts to horrible to mention.  The worse is slow sexual torture till death.

My advice would be read some of my past articles I wrote on safe areas, survival groups, etc.

http://www.efoodsdirect.com/Blog/author/yrutledge/

Next, learn how to use a gun safely and get a good pistol and shotgun to protect yourselves.

Next, find a group to survive with.  There is always safety and strength in numbers.  Check out this prepper web site for groups, there should be one in your area.

http://www.preppergroups.com/

Next, start stocking up on food, first aid supplies, water and ammo (hollow point) for your guns.

And last, get the training Disaster First Aid and other survival skill that will save your life one day.  See:   http://www.efoodsdirect.com/Blog/author/yrutledge/page/4/

I hope this answers your question and the information will help yall.

When You Just Can’t Afford Food Storage

Today I want to talk to those of you who have been wanting to start a food storage program but just don’t have the money.   You really want that year’s supply, but perhaps you just can’t figure out how you’re going to be able to afford it on your meager salary.

Believe me, I was in your shoes just two short years ago, looking wistfully at that Freedom Unit Year’s Supply, and thinking, “some day…”

But month after month went by, and somehow the extra seventeen hundred dollars I needed for that unit never did magically fall into my lap. So with each passing month my wife and I remained as unprepared for disaster as we had been the month before.  It looked like we were destined to be a few short weeks away from starvation if calamity ever hit.

Then one day, I decided to do things the easy way.

So, for those of you who just can’t find the money to get started, I’m going to suggest you start out by doing what I did.  Here’s the plan: If you’re like most people, you’ll be getting your first paycheck of the new month within the next few days.  A big chunk of that paycheck is going to go for groceries, right?

Why don’t you do this: set aside a hundred and fifty bucks of your food budget and purchase a 1 month supply of food.  Now don’t jump ahead of me here; that $150.00 is not going to go toward your food storage.  Bear with me and I’ll tell you what it’s for.  But first, here’s the link to the one month unit: take a look at all you’ll get.

Now, in case you don’t keep track of how much you actually spend on groceries each month, believe me, you’ve been spending a lot more than $149.95 per person in your family.  A hundred and fifty bucks is only a small part of your total grocery budget for a month, even if you live alone.

Now, when that heavy tote full of food arrives on your doorstep, here’s what I want you to do: start eating it.

That’s right.  Don’t worry about putting it away for later.  This food is not for storing.  I don’t want you worrying that you’ll run out of grocery money for the month because you spent a chunk of your food budget on something you can’t use right away.  You were going to spend at least that much on food for the month of June anyway, so go ahead and start eating it now.

I’m not proposing you eat only what arrived in that month’s supply, although you certainly could get by on it.  Go ahead and spend the rest of your grocery money at the supermarket on some of the stuff you normally would, but in the morning for breakfast have some of your new Granola or Oatmeal.  Maybe the next day for lunch enjoy one of the gourmet Soups, and at dinner have some Stew and Mashed Potatoes, or maybe Beef Stroganoff.

There are 25 different meals, drinks, and desserts in that unit, totaling 92 individual servings, so go to town.  You’ll find plenty of things you’ll like. This is not your father’s food storage; this is all delicious, gourmet quality stuff.  You are going to be amazed at how good it tastes.

No, back up. I’m going to improve on that adjective.  You are going to be amazed at how astounding it tastes.

(Now, an aside: This may sound like a blatant commercial for EfoodsDirect.com, and in a way it is. But you deserve to know that I don’t work at the company.  In  fact, I’ve never even met anyone who works there.  I’m writing this because I was asked if I wanted to contribute to this blog after I wrote a piece on my personal website where I happened to rave about the food and told pretty much the story I’m telling you here: how I finally got around to building my personal food storage a little at a time. I’m writing this because I believe in the importance of food storage, and I believe EfoodsDirect.com provides the best storable food at the best prices anywhere, hands down.)

Your Next Move

Now, at the end of June you’ll discover that not only had you enjoyed all that great new food, but you actually saved a lot of money on your overall grocery bill by including that one month supply of food from EfoodsDirect.com in your budget. That savings is going to assist you in being able to buy enough extra food to put aside for storage.

So for July, go ahead and do the same thing again, only this time purchase two of those 1 month supplies of food.  You’ll eat from one again throughout the month, and set the other aside for the future.  Now you have your first month’s supply of emergency food safely put away, and you’ll find it was no effort at all to do so.  You may find it was virtually painless.

Do the same again the next month, then the next.  Make this your Summer Of Storage. By the time you have three month’s worth of food set aside, you’ll be amazed at how secure you’ll begin to feel.  That awful fear that was gnawing at you for not being prepared will begin to dissipate.

This is the way my wife and I got started.  In time we couldn’t get enough of certain foods, so one month I bought just a case of Tortilla Soup, another month all granola, and another month we bought a full case of that incredibly addictive Tropical Fruit Medley.  Depending on the product, sometimes we only had to spend a bit over a hundred dollars a month for the food we were storing, or that amount for the food we were eating.  Eventually we were able to purchase the Freedom Unit on the Stowaway plan, by making monthly payments.

When we felt we could afford more, we bought more, secure in the knowledge that if we ran out of money before the end of the month, we could always eat our storable groceries. Since my wife just loves the White Cheddar Sauce Pasta, we now have three cases on hand of just that, so Connie never goes wanting for her favorite comfort food.

It would be lovely if everyone could afford to buy a family size year’s supply of food, put it in their basement, and be done all at once, but for many of us that is not a possibility.  But just about everyone can afford to grow their emergency supply a little at a time.  Just be consistent and resolve to add something every month.

Have you been putting this off, hoping for the right time?  Well, it’s a new month, and a brand new summer. If not now, when?

Besides, aren’t you dying to find out how this stuff tastes?  So do it, already.

 

 

When You Just Can’t Afford Food Storage

Today I want to talk to those of you who have been wanting to start a food storage program but just don’t have the money.   You really want that year’s supply, but perhaps you just can’t figure out how you’re going to be able to afford it on your meager salary.

Believe me, I was in your shoes just two short years ago, looking wistfully at that Freedom Unit Year’s Supply, and thinking, “some day…”

But month after month went by, and somehow the extra seventeen hundred dollars I needed for that unit never did magically fall into my lap. So with each passing month my wife and I remained as unprepared for disaster as we had been the month before.  It looked like we were destined to be a few short weeks away from starvation if calamity ever hit.

Then one day, I decided to do things the easy way.

So, for those of you who just can’t find the money to get started, I’m going to suggest you start out by doing what I did.  Here’s the plan: If you’re like most people, you’ll be getting your first paycheck of the new month within the next few days.  A big chunk of that paycheck is going to go for groceries, right?

Why don’t you do this: set aside a hundred and fifty bucks of your food budget and purchase a 1 month supply of food.  Now don’t jump ahead of me here; that $150.00 is not going to go toward your food storage.  Bear with me and I’ll tell you what it’s for.  But first, here’s the link to the one month unit: take a look at all you’ll get.

Now, in case you don’t keep track of how much you actually spend on groceries each month, believe me, you’ve been spending a lot more than $149.95 per person in your family.  A hundred and fifty bucks is only a small part of your total grocery budget for a month, even if you live alone.

Now, when that heavy tote full of food arrives on your doorstep, here’s what I want you to do: start eating it.

That’s right.  Don’t worry about putting it away for later.  This food is not for storing.  I don’t want you worrying that you’ll run out of grocery money for the month because you spent a chunk of your food budget on something you can’t use right away.  You were going to spend at least that much on food for the month of June anyway, so go ahead and start eating it now.

I’m not proposing you eat only what arrived in that month’s supply, although you certainly could get by on it.  Go ahead and spend the rest of your grocery money at the supermarket on some of the stuff you normally would, but in the morning for breakfast have some of your new Granola or Oatmeal.  Maybe the next day for lunch enjoy one of the gourmet Soups, and at dinner have some Stew and Mashed Potatoes, or maybe Beef Stroganoff.

There are 25 different meals, drinks, and desserts in that unit, totaling 92 individual servings, so go to town.  You’ll find plenty of things you’ll like. This is not your father’s food storage; this is all delicious, gourmet quality stuff.  You are going to be amazed at how good it tastes.

No, back up. I’m going to improve on that adjective.  You are going to be amazed at how astounding it tastes.

(Now, an aside: This may sound like a blatant commercial for EfoodsDirect.com, and in a way it is. But you deserve to know that I don’t work at the company.  In  fact, I’ve never even met anyone who works there.  I’m writing this because I was asked if I wanted to contribute to this blog after I wrote a piece on my personal website where I happened to rave about the food and told pretty much the story I’m telling you here: how I finally got around to building my personal food storage a little at a time. I’m writing this because I believe in the importance of food storage, and I believe EfoodsDirect.com provides the best storable food at the best prices anywhere, hands down.)

Your Next Move

Now, at the end of June you’ll discover that not only had you enjoyed all that great new food, but you actually saved a lot of money on your overall grocery bill by including that one month supply of food from EfoodsDirect.com in your budget. That savings is going to assist you in being able to buy enough extra food to put aside for storage.

So for July, go ahead and do the same thing again, only this time purchase two of those 1 month supplies of food.  You’ll eat from one again throughout the month, and set the other aside for the future.  Now you have your first month’s supply of emergency food safely put away, and you’ll find it was no effort at all to do so.  You may find it was virtually painless.

Do the same again the next month, then the next.  Make this your Summer Of Storage. By the time you have three month’s worth of food set aside, you’ll be amazed at how secure you’ll begin to feel.  That awful fear that was gnawing at you for not being prepared will begin to dissipate.

This is the way my wife and I got started.  In time we couldn’t get enough of certain foods, so one month I bought just a case of Tortilla Soup, another month all granola, and another month we bought a full case of that incredibly addictive Tropical Fruit Medley.  Depending on the product, sometimes we only had to spend a bit over a hundred dollars a month for the food we were storing, or that amount for the food we were eating.  Eventually we were able to purchase the Freedom Unit on the Stowaway plan, by making monthly payments.

When we felt we could afford more, we bought more, secure in the knowledge that if we ran out of money before the end of the month, we could always eat our storable groceries. Since my wife just loves the White Cheddar Sauce Pasta, we now have three cases on hand of just that, so Connie never goes wanting for her favorite comfort food.

It would be lovely if everyone could afford to buy a family size year’s supply of food, put it in their basement, and be done all at once, but for many of us that is not a possibility.  But just about everyone can afford to grow their emergency supply a little at a time.  Just be consistent and resolve to add something every month.

Have you been putting this off, hoping for the right time?  Well, it’s a new month, and a brand new summer. If not now, when?

Besides, aren’t you dying to find out how this stuff tastes?  So do it, already.