Hi Everyone,
NOTES:
*** Make sure you have protein stored. Here are some ways to do that:
Dried beans such as navy, pinto, black, or kidney
- Canned beans
- Bean soup mixes
- Dried black-eyed peas, split peas, and lentils
- Chia Seeds
- Texturized Vegetable Protein
- Jerky
- Freeze-dried meat such as chicken breast, turkey breast, ham, ground beef, beef strips, and sausage crumbles
- Sunflower seeds
- Pumpkin seeds
- Squash seeds
- Hemp seeds
- Sesame seeds
- Peanuts
- Walnuts
- Pecans
- Hazelnuts
- Almonds
- Cashews
- Pistachios
- Peanut butter
** I saw two good videos: The first one is a DIY 5 gallon gravity fed water filter. DIY Berkey Water Filter System CHEAP! – YouTube He uses Berkey filters, but they are $349. Somehow, that doesn’t seem to save you much money. He suggests alternate filters that are only $38. In addition to that you’ll need 2 food grade buckets ($10). All the buckets from Home Depot, Lowes, or Harbor Freight are all food grade. 2 lids ($8), and a spigot ($8 unless you buy the Berkey spigot and maintenance kit for $25)
It looks like the minimum would be $62. Compared to $408 for the deluxe Burkey system, it IS quite a savings.
** The second video explains the different types of filters. Compare Different Types of Ceramic Filters
You can go to their website, and they have a water filter system for $165. IF you want to add a UV light to kill the viruses, it’s an additional $60. Still, $225 is a little more than half of the $408 Berkey system. Gravity Well Ultra Emergency Water Filter System
It doesn’t matter if you have your water in 55 gallon barrels, or in stacks of individual water bottles, having a water filtration system is really a good idea.
** All of our 72 hour kits have filter straws, which are small and portable, BUT you can’t carry water. Even a pitcher with a filter, or a water bottle with a filter would be better than nothing.
28oz STANDARD Flip Top Bottle – Seychelle This is what we have in our kits. Just get one every few weeks, when paychecks roll around.
** I read this article about what kitchen gadgets you might want that don’t use power. I liked this one. I have a huge monstrosity of a thing called a food processor. I also have a small Ninja-type thing. But I liked this because it was manual. AND, only $12. Ourokhome Manual Food Processor Vegetable Chopper, Portable Hand Pull String Garlic Mincer Onion Cutter for Veggies, Ginger, Fruits, Nuts, Herbs, etc., 500ml, Blue: Home & Kitchen
I also really want an egg beater. Remember those? Well, the cheapest one I could find was $30! Not sure I’m ready to buy that yet. They also suggested a mandoline. Gramercy Adjustable Mandoline Food Slicer, Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Mandolin, Potato Slicer, Tomato Slicer, Carrot Slicer, Onion Slicer – Stainless Steel – INCLUDING One Pair Cut-Resistant Gloves : Home & Kitchen
I already have a mandoline slicer, but it’s a cheap plastic thing, and I don’t like it. This one, however, is $50, also not cheap. I guess you get what you pay for.
GARDEN HAPPENINGS:
There are only a few things still growing: carrots, beets, lettuce, potatoes, bell peppers, and a few herbs. I’m ALMOST done cleaning up and pruning the blackberries. This is the first time I’ve planted winter garlic, and I’m still waiting for it to sprout.
My tomato seeds for this spring are here! You should plant indoors 4-6 weeks before your last frost. For us, here in Zone 9B, that’s about the middle of March. That means I’ll be planting my tomatoes the first of February. I’ll probably plant celery about the same time. Other veggies like cucumbers and squash can wait. They like warmer weather, and even if you transplant them outside early, they will just kind of stagnate until it warms up anyway. So, that’s my plan. I’ve attached a great pdf. It’s called monthly-organic gardening. Each section is a different month. Under that month, it tells you what to do in your zone, what you can plant outdoors and what you should plant indoors.
I’ve also attached a gardening guide with suggestions for a more healthy garden.
Remember: Gardening is a learning experience EVERY YEAR!!!! Some years you’re fighting insects, the next year you’re dealing with extreme weather. It’s always something! So just keep trying and moving forward. Practice, practice, practice.
With the start of the New Year, I’m going to switch to a new format. Each newsletter will include 1-4 categories: Long Term, Short Term, 72 Hour Kit, Misc. Here we go:
LONG TERM STORAGE: Oats
Part of the “whole grain” area of storage. Try to have 1/2 (48oz. cylinder per month, or 1 container of oatmeal for 2 people). You can get oatmeal at the Home Storage Center. Oats have a 30-year shelf life and cost about $7.50 a can. That’s not my first choice, because I think there is a “smell” from the cans and I can’t get past it. I prefer to just date and store oatmeal from the store. Storing directly from the store only works if you don’t have mice or other critters who can easily get into the cardboard containers.
SHORT TERM STORAGE: Pancake Mix
I really like the Krusteaz mix. You only need water. From scratch you need eggs, milk, melted butter or oil. Eggs might be in short supply – JUST like they are now!! Having a mix that is all inclusive is great!
Remember, you HAVE TO rotate! The baking powder and soda that is in the mix will lose its leavening ability. The pancakes end up looking like sawdust (and I’m speaking from experience here).
72 HOUR KIT: Water Filter
Simple filter straws are pretty cheap. This one claims to be able to filter over 600 gallons. It filters E. coli, legionella, and salmonella. It reduces chlorine and other harmful particles. AND you get an eight-pack for only $37. Less than $5 each. Put one in every 72-hour kit. Don’t have kits? Put two or three in each car. 
Get them here: 8 Pack Water Filter Straw – Water Purifying Device – Portable Personal Water Filtration Survival – for Emergency Kits Outdoor Activities and Hiking
FOOD STORAGE RECIPES:
I’ve been doing this for so long, that I’ve exhausted my recipe supply! I’ll be repeating a lot of them this year – especially my favorites.
Here is one of my favorite “oatmeal” recipes.
Apple Crisp
10 c. peeled, sliced apples
1/2 c. sugar
Mix together and place in a 13X9 pan
Topping: 1 c. flour
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. oatmeal
1/2 c. butter
Cut in the butter and sprinkle over the apples. Bake 350˚ for 45-50 minutes.
No Bake Cookies
1 c. milk
4 c. sugar
2 cubes butter
1/2 c. cocoa
Boil for 1 minute.
1 1/2 c. peanut butter (I like the crunchy kind)
2 tsp vanilla
Add into the chocolate. Pour mix over
6 c. oats
Stir, stir, stir. Drop by teaspoons onto foil or parchment and let cool. I like this one because you don’t heat up the kitchen in the summer – AND it makes a lot in a short period of time.
Berry Oatmeal Bake from Food Network Kitchen
Preheat oven to 350˚. Grease a 8X8 baking dish.
1 1/4 c. oats
1 TB light brown sugar
1/8 tsp salt
Stir together
In a separate bowl, whisk together
1 2/3 c. plain unsweetened almond milk (i’ll probably use regular milk)
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp almond extract
Mix and pour into the oats to combine
Topping:
1/3 c. sliced almonds
1/3 c. oats
2 TB light brown sugar
1 TB butter melted
2 TB flour
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp cinnamon
12 oz. frozen mixed berries, thawed (about 2 1/2 c. frozen OR 1 1/2 c. thawed
Mix to combine
Pour the oatmeal mix into the baking dish.
Arrange the berries (including all the juice) over the oatmeal. Sprinkle with the topping. Bake about 50 min, until top is lightly browned and just set. Let cool on a rack for 10-15 minutes. Serve warm with a dollop of 2-percent plain Greek yogurt. Yeah, I’ll be using ice cream all the same.
I’m always looking for a good dessert to use my fresh garden blackberries. I’ll try this for sure.
Marti Shelley
