My Preparedness Challenge Progress

How I Met The Challenge!

Here's what I did this month in each category Food Storage: 

Like Amy, I added bulk staples like oats, wheat, pinto beans, and brown rice to my pantry this month. My husband has been reading survival literature that espouses the long term potency and efficacy of freeze dried foods, so we ordered a few samples. I am not sold on this idea yet. I stocked up on a few specialty items like coconut oil, wheat bran and germ (which I add to many things). I dehydrated some favorite organic fruits that were on a BOGO sale.

 Emergency Preparedness: I made two more batches of Amy's homemade firestarters this month.  I love them.  They work better than the store bought ones, in my humble opinion.   (Amy's fire starter recipe)  I dip them after they dry from pouring the wax into them so mine are completely covered in wax.  

They sure start wood quickly.  We got a good snow this week, and temperatures have dropped.  This prompted us to buy an extra cord of firewood, just in case...  It will be delivered Sunday.

I re-organized my garage/sewing room and de-cluttered it.  My husband built me a wall full of new storage shelves and made doors to make the existing shelves tidy.  I believe that organization and cleanliness are an important part of being prepared.  Now, I know exactly what I have, what I do not have, and how much space I have available for more storage.
 
Sustainable Living: I spent most of my time this last month working on this area.  The weather was mild and cooperative.  I rejuvenated my raised garden beds.  I added a berry garden that includes two rows of berry fences and canes, and two new blueberry bushes.  I planted raspberry, blackberry, and boysenberry in the beds.  


I completed an updated garden plan.  I have determined to grow only the things Jerry and I love to eat and accompanying herbs.  I used to grow lots of things recommended by others that we didn't really use.  That's a waste of resources, time, and energy.  I am determined not to do that again.  


I started heirloom tomatoes and indoors.  I planted strawberries into new strawberry pots and 10 small clay pots.  I started red, yukon gold, and white potatoes indoors for transplant outdoors into bamboo and wire cages.  I plan to grow them upward in 18" diameter wire circles.  I am hopeful that this will work and save lots of space.  

I also planted 300 onions, three varieties in starter mix.  They will be transplanted within a few weeks outside.  I added new organic compost to my fruit orchard and started a new seedless table grape fenceline 25' long, with 5 varieties.  I am getting tired writing this.  I am so grateful for the hubby.  His help  gets everything done.  Thank you Jerry...


The last thing I have completed lately is something I have been anxious to do for months.  

I made my first 3 batches of homemade laundry detergent.  I used Amy's Zote recipe and a few others. I plan to compare them this month.  I have an HE front loading washer, and a water softener so I am curious how well these detergents will perform.


That's what I have been up to in my quest to try to become more prepared.  Have a great month ahead everyone.  

This post is being linked up to the Preparedness Challenge on Homestead Revival.