Let's chat: Preparation

Photo by Artem Beliaikin

Hello! 

     The past 6 months have been a learning curve. As news of Covid 19 and the general social unrest spread, I'm sure alot of us didn't think too much about how we would be affected. I mean those things were happening to those people, not us, right? It's amazing how we all can take for granted the day to day norms and believe that it will go on like this forever.

When you run out of groceries,  a quick trip to Walmart was all it took to replenish your stock. Picnicking peacefully with your family and friends in your citiy's park devouring tuna sandwiches used to be fun, but now if social distancing hasn't canceled the event, the violence and vandalism going on will. Election years are always crazy with the big reveal at the end of who will be President, but this year it seems to be 10 times worse. And no matter who gets elected the chaos will continue.

If you watch the news, the state of the world we live in doesn't look good.  We would like to encourage and inspire you all to look ahead at what may come down the line and create an "arsenal" of skills to have under your belt. For example, if groceries once again become scarce, do you have an alternative food stream?  In case of crisis ,do you have any neighbors or friends with whom you can collaborate or count on to help you out?  Do you have a way to protect yourself against something or someone dangerous? Here are 5 ways you can be more prepared than you were yesterday!

#1. Learning how to grow your own food and storing up that food for later

Learning how to grow your own food can be as simple as watching a few videos and getting your hands dirty. If you have a backyard plant it! Do you have adorable window boxes? Plant herbs. A patio and pots? Plant tomatoes. Buy a bunch of seeds and go to town. Even if things don't get worse, it is a good skill to know and a great money saver. One packet of seeds can produce enough tomatoes or lettuce or cucumbers for your entire summer! And don't forget the economical wonders of seed saving and propagation! 

Once your plants start producing, your next step is learning how to store the fruit of your labors. We can a lot of produce from our garden, mainly tomatoes, and if Mom sees a good deal on a box of peaches or squash or anything else, she snatches it up, brings it home and we'll can, freeze or dehydrate it for later. Using a Pressure or Steam Canner is very easy, though a bit scary the first time around. I made pickles for the first time 2 years ago and canned them by myself and having heard my Mother's "First Pressure Canning Experience" story, I kept thinking I was going to blow up the kitchen! (Correction: she blew up a Pressure Cooker not a canner and had dents in the ceiling from the beans shooting out because she cooked the beans loose, which is a "no no" and they clogged the airway). 

As we have learned from the whole Corona thing -  when people get scared, they rush to the store and buy all they can. If you are dependent on stores for most of your food or other necessities of life, you could be in deep trouble, so stocking up on things you use often is just being smart. 

If you are not a cook or baker, that is another skill to hone. Everyone's gotta eat and cooking for others is a great ministry. This lady is a great resource for anyone starting out in gardening, canning and preparedness and her articles are alot of fun to read.

https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/. 

#2. Learn to make your own clothes and re-use your old ones

When the stores are closed and money is tight, you still have to clothe yourself! Personally I love to sew, but I have never completed a sewing project from a pattern. I'm pretty good at patching holes, rips and tears, sewing on buttons, making simple skirts and patchwork quilts, but I have a lot to learn and little patience for it!  Sewing is an amazing skill to know, not only to save money, but to carry on a century's old tradition. My mother has sewn countless dresses and nightgowns for Katherine and I, my Great-Grandmother sewed all my Grandmother's clothes and my Great-Grandfather (on the other side) was a tailor by trade and made his girls clothes as well. Knitting and Crocheting will go a long way to keeping warm in the winter and there is something so waiting-for-your-soldier-to-come-back-from-the-war about knitting!

Another facet of sewing is re-purposing clothing which can be so much fun! My older sister has really gone to town re-purposing old shirts and skirts into dresses and tunics. As my beloved mother says whenever she goes to a thrift store she looks at every piece of clothing as fabric that can be used for something else. See a skirt that's too big, but you love the print? Re-purpose it!  This gal is a fun resource for re-fashioning clothing https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ59owAiWL2IgaANbG-jm0Q

#3. Hone Your Survival Skills 

Whether you are camping, out walking alone after dark or preparing for more dooms-dayish stuff, self-defense, identifying poisoneous snakes, knowing which plants and berries are safe to eat, fishing and hunting is extremely advantageous knowledge. We've done a few simple classes in the past through friends and such and I'm planning on reading over our old First Aid science books just so I have some medical knowledge in case of emergency. There will never be a time when you look back and say it was a waste of time learning this informtion.

#4. Re-set Your Mindset

When you are trying to meet a goal, you re-set your mindset and lifestyle to better help you complete your goal. You make a plan to meet that goal, always keeping it in your mind and living and seeing your life through a Finish-the-goal-lens. If your goal is to be better prepared in case of emergency, be watching for opportunities to build up your knowledge and your supplies. When you go shopping, as your budget allows, get two of something when you would normally only get one and save the extra for a rainy day. If you see a sale, take advantage of it! Your friend is cleaning out her fabric collection, grab it! Think ahead; indulging in the "What If's", not getting carried away, but giving it some thought space. Instead of wasting time mindlessly surfing the web or binge-watching shows, use your time to learn something important. That last one is me preaching to myself! I'm working on it though and while I won't change overnight, as the saying goes "everyday and in every way, I'm getting better and better!"

#5 Network

Your family and friends are your best allies. If you can gather together a group of like-minded people there is no end to what you can learn and accomplish together. You can set up a bartering system, share knowledge on anything, pray together, alert each other to sales or resources that are helpful. We have been blessed with so many good friends and have learned so much from them. Everything from getting together for our annual Chicken Butchering Day to sausage/soap making days to shopping at food co-ops. Everyone has knowledge they can share and that includes you! Who knows what you have to give that someone else needs right now, even if it is simply a word of encouragement.

#6

And last but not least the most important skill we all need to learn is to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6  No matter how much knowledge you cram into your head or the amount of food you stockpile, without trusting in the Lord God our Savior, all is in vain. 

If you have any questions about other things we do to be Prepared or just want to talk over ideas or anything, drop us a line or two or twelve in the comments and I'll answer to the best of my ability! We'd also love to hear the skills you think are important to know or the things you are doing to be prepared!

Till next time,

Grace and Katherine Avender