June Emergency Preparedness Goals - Grains, Vitamins and Bread Making

School will be out for many families this month, and though vacations and good times begin, it's important to keep striving to prepare our families for emergencies. June is the month I like to focus on gathering wheat, rice, yeast and vitamins for my family into our food storage. Even though it is hot, I'll have more time to practice bread making skills and teach my youngest. This is also a good time to gather paper supplies like paper towels or napkins, foil, plastic wrap, storage bags and trash bags. Check out my list below to see if it has something that will help you.

Many grains can be stored long-term (20 - 30 years), but some cannot (check link) because of the natural oils. For example, it's fine to put brown rice in your 3-month food storage supply of everyday foods, but brown rice does not store well long-term because of its natural oils. White rice is better for long-term storage.

Grains are inexpensive, which is wonderful. Even though long-term food storage is the fourth step in the LDS Four-Step Approach to Home Storage, I like to gather them year-round because you can store a little at a time and build up your supply. On my monthly list for June, I suggest amounts to gather for each adult.

A great show which teaches you how to use grains, is Fusion Grain Cooking on BYUtv. You will want to check out Chef Brad and watch some of his shows online if you don't have BYUtv.

Oh! And here is a food storage video I made for my Relief Society a few years ago that may help you understand the four-step approach to home storage I always talk about.

Food Storage Video About the Four-Step Approach

A few years ago, I had a dream that was a wake up call for me regarding emergency preparedness. Suffice it to say that it involved an earthquake and many people not heeding the counsel to become better prepared. I remember being concerned for their safety and trying to get their attention. When I woke, I immediately wrote the details of the dream. I've never done that with any dream before.

Most dreams are inspiration for the person who dreams them, and this one was for me. I'm not a disaster forecaster and I'm not predicting "the Big One," but in this dream, I remember warning people, and being ignored. They were distracted with the internet, computer games, thrills, and things that matter least.

We can either choose to be like the Children of Israel in the days of Moses and wait for a sign, or we can be guided by the Spirit and the counsel of living prophets today to become better prepared now. The choice is ours.

I hope we will each work harder to gather some supplies to help our loved ones and our neighbors. I hope we will take the time to make sure we have stored an adequate supply of water and other necessary supplies. I feel peace knowing my family is storing a little bit at a time and not panicking and going into debt to do it.

If you think you can, you will! Just move up that hill an inch at a time.

Best wishes,
Valerie

BE HEALTHY

"All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine;

that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground."

Doctrine and Covenants 89:16

Go here to print my June Emergency Preparedness List.pdf

Go here for my 12 Emergency Preparedness Lists

Helpful Posts:

My 2-Loaf Wheat Bread Recipe

Red or White Hard Wheat? Which should I put in my food storage?
Wheat Storage: How Long Can I Store Wheat Flour?
Long-Term Food Storage Must Be Stored Under Proper Conditions

By Leslie Probert for Deseret News
Food Storage Essentials: Why store wheat? What about a grain mill? (+ video)
Food Storage Essentials: Storing grains: What about carbs and gluten intolerance?