Beef and peanut butter shortages

I have contemplated posts on these, but haven't had the time to compose the facts. I happened upon a blog today that did this better than I can.

http://preparednesspro.com/

Which gives me time to mention a few other factoids regarding Being smart when spending your money. We want to use our hard earned funds (after saving everything we can) to fill our homes with products that will benefit, not entertain or go out with the trash when it breaks or falls out of favor when the whim is over.

One: WATCH for better than average Prices and spend money! :) The beef at your grocery store might be having some really good prices (or already did) on at least some of the cuts at the time(s) that the markets are flooded with cattle downsizing. (get it?: drought kills grass = less grass on ranches = fewer cows they can feed = they are taken to market = you might be getting a higher percentage of grass fed before the cost of everything else pushes the lesser desirable feed lot cows are sent to market)
So, please keep your pocket book closed when in the superfluous fluff and fashion sections so that you can stock up on extra food when it is there looking at you in the case - flaunting it's ability to feed you and provide benefit when you no long want or can to choose between the two.

Which brings me to the second factoid. Beef and Peanut Butter aren't the only products that have been and will be increasing substantially in price. The price increase across the board has been as much added together as one of these on it's own in my neck of the woods. And that isn't been something that's been picked up by reporters and published with the grocery ads. (Must we always wait for someone else to look for us?)
I'm sure we are all more than aware of the shrinking ice cream (and now "frozen dessert" because it isn't even real food) cartons and ever higher prices. (the same is being done in other areas now that they have proven our ignorance and complacency - 3# bags instead of 5# bags, 10 count instead of 12...)
But there are other methods being used as well. Walmart brand has been adding corn syrup to the canned beans for years now. And you thought they were cheaper!? no, they are just padding it elsewhere and they are just selling you less bean in the same size/weight can.... and the filler isn't even neutral, it's an addictive poison.
This isn't "just business"; In my opinion, this is personal. Instead of honest upfront product sales, ...more than one someone is making immoral choices and deception that public has to wake up from and choose to see. We need to at least read labels before parting with or tossing our money at the products we bring home. We still have that as consumers, even if they don't expect the masses to read, we have the individual choice to break the trend and inform ourselves.

So, Ditch that pretty paper (responsibly - to a good purpose, not the bulk garbage bin) you bought last year and instead stock the shelf with edibles that are as good as gold.

How is this related?

Well, See, it seems to be that food is political. And I am ill equipped to express myself as well or as concisely as I would like. But what could be more important?
I realize that most of the people coming to this site are looking for frugal or simple ways to better provide food for your families.
My dilemma is that food (What is fed upon; that which goes to support life by being received within, and assimilated by, the organism of an animal or a plant; nutriment; aliment; especially, what is eaten by animals for nourishment.) should be nourishing.
And currently not all "food" is... nourishing or even food!
In fact it is a convoluted assortment including all categories of deception
How do we fix that? It's simple. We only feed our families nourishing foods. If everyone does that then there wouldn't be a market for the other "food".
You know I believe in growing our own food. But I'm still figuring that out and unlikely will ever be able to "do it all". So I rely on a farmer, rancher, dairyman, orchardist, etc to grow or 'produce' my food. Sometimes, when I'm thinking clearly, I rely solely on God, since it is He that is in charge of the seasons and the harvest. It is up to me to be righteous and thankful for what I have; to do the best with what I've been given and to share what I have with others just as I would hope they would do for me after all I can do.
What I do not do, is rely on the government to decide what I should or should not eat. Their role is defense, (which they are not fulfilling but sometimes pretend they are trying, I'm just saying their direction of improvement is the wrong direction for me!) and allowing me to make my own choices and successes in life. But they are subsidizing, (oh, the subsidizing!), and, and
..... I could continue, but I'd like to introduce someone to you in this post, and just in case you didn't know.... The media is a little incomplete sometimes leaving the individual to find out for themselves what would they should know.

I don't know of any American or Freedom-loving person in the World that could not or would not resonate with this man's beliefs and his consistent actions based on them. I believe that we as a Nation and in consequence, the whole world would be benefited by these beliefs being acted on. I encourage you to go to ANY of his writings or record and see what kind of Leader he is. Here are some of his own words:

In Congress, I never vote for any piece of legislation that violates the Constitution’s strict limits on government power. I also do not participate in the congressional pension system.

As President, I give you my word that I will only exercise my authority within the confines of the Constitution, and I will work every day to rein in a runaway federal government by binding it with the chains of that document.

For my stands and beliefs, I am told that my efforts are “hopeless.” Like those who were proud to stand up for what they knew was right to create our nation, however, I firmly believe that now is a better time than ever before to reclaim our liberties. No situation is hopeless for those who receive their strength from their faith, family, and freedom.

And like those Patriots, I have no doubt that liberty will prevail. .......

Look into it, You may be surprised by just how much you agree on.

"Control oil and you control nations; control food and you control the people."
attributed to Kissinger

"If people let the government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as the souls who live under tyranny."
Thomas Jefferson

Is it your right to choose what you eat?

Yes, God gave it to you. It is involved in Live, Liberty, and Property. Any human who believes that they can take away those rights from anyone is fooling themselves to think that they have more power than their Creator (regardless as to what they believe since truth is still and always will be truth). I pray that all will find the freedom that they can in whatever their situation and feel the love of God always.
A little seed with a little water doesn't hear any voice but it's Master's.

Where did you say I could find that?

Healthy food does not have to be expensive. Any food bought in a special little package marketed toward a spontaneous purchase or specialty shopper is bound to be expensive. Just as the mainstream foods bought in bulk are cheaper if planned for, then so are traditional foods.

I have been building a price sheet comparing my most common stores. It is not necessarily accurate or updated since my last need to compare an item.
If you know the responsible farmer of a product then likely that would be the top source.

But where did I find ____..... and at a price that was actually affordable?

Generally, Azure Standard is where I end up making my planned bulk purchases. Essentially they are an internet based grocery store with every department including fresh and frozen produce. They have a wide range of foods that satisfy nearly every category of food enthusiast: whole foodie, special diet needs or allergy free foods, organic, fad, and even just plain and simple traditional foods. The registration of a username to see prices/place an order has no lingering effects or even a single email with advertisement.

Azure Standard does not charge shipping and delivers to neighborhoods if you meet a minimum order amount. Contact them for up to date details. If you are local to me, in San Tan Ranch, then I have a drop site (unlisted) that you are welcome to use; just contact me via the email in the side bar and we can arrange an order/drop. - Be advised: They are still improving their logistical and inventory systems AND they work on a Geographically based delivery schedule that is on a one month cycle (they only deliver to you once a month)

allergykids.com

I was just pointed toward this video and her accompaning website and book
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rixyrCNVVGA

(I haven't looked at the entire website, but I did go through the blue column on the left of this page - I gotta say that I agree with almost everything it said! Great site!)
http://www.allergykids.com/what-you-can-do/learn-the-abcs-about-gmos/
http://www.amazon.com/Unhealthy-Truth-Food-Making-About/dp/0767930711

Because in the words of Charles R. Swindoll, “We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.”
Knowledge does not have to infuse you with fear, but rather knowledge can inspire and empower you, so that the love that you have for your children can serve as a rocketfuel to create the change we want to see in the health of our families.
http://www.allergykids.com/blog/from-bad-to-better-how-knowledge-can-inspire-you/

(their blog http://www.allergykids.com/about-us/blog/)

Which future are you feeding your family?
How much of what you have stored or use to eat on a regular basis would fit into this list?"

There are currently six major foods sold ihttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifn the U.S. that are typically genetically engineered. These are listed below with the percent that are GE:

Sugar beets 95%

Soybeans 93%

Cotton (Cottonseed oil) 78%

Canola 75%

Corn 70%

Papaya 50%

Because most of these are used widely, about two-thirds of processed food contains a GE ingredient. Conversely, the vast majority of raw fruits and vegetables are not GE. Organic foods, by definition, can’t be GE.

http://www.allergykids.com/defining-food-allergies/so-what-has-changed/

Basic Principles

Just a post to remind as to a few core beliefs:
The Celestial Nature of Self-Reliance
small excerpts:

“It is something to supply clothing to the [poorly] clad, to furnish ample food to those whose table is thinly spread, to give activity to those who are fighting desperately the despair that comes from enforced idleness, but after all is said and done, the greatest blessings that will accrue from the Church [welfare program] are spiritual. Outwardly, every act seems to be directed toward the physical: remaking of dresses and suits of clothes, canning fruits and vegetables, storing foodstuffs, choosing fertile fields for settlement—all seem strictly temporal, but permeating all these acts, inspiring and sanctifying them, is the element of spirituality.” (In Conference Report, Oct. 1936, p. 103.)

"....One of the three areas emphasized in the mission of the Church is to perfect the Saints, and this is the purpose of the welfare program. This is not a doomsday program, but a program for our lives here and now, because now is the time for us to perfect our lives. May we continue to hold fast to these truths."

Principles for Perfecting Our Lives Through Self-Reliance and Service to Others
After reading President Romney’s article, families may wish to discuss the following principles in an upcoming family council.

BARRIERS to Self-Reliance Are—	GATEWAYS to Self-Reliance Are—
• Idleness	• Industry and work
• Spending freely	• Thrift, saving, budgeting
• Breaking the commandments	• Obeying the Word of Wisdom, keeping the commandments, paying an honest tithe
• Indifference to home storage	• One year’s supply of food, clothing, and (where possible) fuel
• No home food production	• Producing food at home
• Debt and interest payments	• Avoiding debt (when possible) and developing financial stability
• Apathy about job skills	• Improving job skills
• Negative attitudes	• Attaining physical, emotional, and social health

BARRIERS to Service to Others Are—	GATEWAYS to Service to Others Are—
• Thinking only of self and your immediate family	• Thinking of others
• Being afraid to share	• Sharing what you have as you can
• Keeping possessions to yourself	• Giving a generous fast offering
• “Over-helping” people who could help themselves, causing dependence	• Helping people to help themselves (building self-reliance in others)
• Keeping to yourself and your own family	• Giving of your time, talents, and means to family, church, community
• Feeling you have no time to serve, no talents to share	• Participation in individual and group service projects

Simple Rocket Stove How-To

Here is a video showing how to Quickly Assemble a Rocket Stove out of 21 bricks. I imagine now the the straightforward concepts have been presented, any size or location can be tried out. (I'd like to test it out on a larger scale for large pots.) This is so quick it could be put together for a sudden need or just to use as a contained firepit.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=16+brick+rocket+stove&aq=f

Remember, the type of brick is somewhat important, most obviously = it needs to be able to 1) handle high heat and flame and 2) be able to insulate to some level.
I found these at Home Depot that I am going to try out! They are called Fire Bricks. The employee said this is what customers use when they are building a fire pit type application....
I'm hoping that this also would imply that heating them won't smoke anything too toxic into my food and airways.

However, perhaps someone has some experience with a different brick and could suggest a different one? yes?

The Group Buy for Fertilizer is happening

The company Sweet Corn Organics has fantastic fertilizers that they are now offering at a discounted rate if bought in bulk (= cheaper). See previous post here. - new update coming soon, I had a 40 minute conversation with the creator and have been doing more research.
I have done the research (planning to do a little more) to list theirs along with comparable products from my other bulk source.
It looks like we will focus the list down to (for this year) The Veggie, Mator and Berry, (and maybe the Lawn). Based on our results and experiences with them I would like to follow that with another order to either replenish or broaden to an additional product(s) for more specific needs.

Critical information:

• All of these fertilizers are 80% more efficiently used by the plant if dissolved in water and sprayed on the leaves/plant - preferrably on the underside of the leaves. (also, if needed at the same time, they can all be mixed together to be sprayed on)
  
• Organic gardening, when done "right", is much more nutritious and stronger against pest/disease/rot/ailments than any food the typical American has bought in the last few decades. See High Brix posts for more information and this site. The taste can tell you it's better!
• Please follow links to the products you are considering to read the description. For most of them, I only included tiny excerpts out of the paragraph descriptions. Each product name is a link.

ALSO- We are ordering the Seaweed Kelp ASCO from Azure Standard. It may not be the same, but will do the same job and is cheaper.

Lawn Fertilizer & Care (see description for accurate 'name')

MegaLawn - estimated prices: 2 lb. Price: $16.98 -- 10 lb Price: $54.98 -- 15 lb Price: $74.98

"MegaLawn is an organic soil amendment that will restore soil that has been wiped out by chemical use. Only two applications are required, provided chemicals are not used again. MegaLawn will restore the soil so that the plant has the ability to take in nutrients again. Then we recommend using MegaFish and MegaSea as a long-term lawn care alternative to chemical fertilizing.

This organic program focuses on the health of the soil, and it will pay for itself in reduced water consumption and maintenance costs. Lawns will be greener than ever, require less water to survive and thrive, and because this organic solution promotes slow, healthy growth, your lawn will require less mowing as well.

Instructions: Two applications are required to restore existing soil — one in the spring and one in the fall. Apply 1 pound per 100 square feet of soil and water in. Two weeks after first application, and thereafter, apply MegaFish and MegaSea every 3-4 weeks.

2 lb. Will amend 200 square feet. (using the less efficient dry method)"

Follow with fertilizers such as Seaweed, Fish Emulsion (in these orders) to provide maintenance nitrogen feedings via liquid foliar spraying or dry spread.

The Lawns are one of our countries biggest "vacuums" for water, fertilizer, and overall abuse. If all lawns switched to organic, they would require less care, be healthier (prettier, softer, stronger, use less product)
Of our nation's residential water usage, landscape use is estimated to be 50-70% most of which is used on lawns.
And in our nation, up to 60% of the total (toxic) synthetic fertilizers used is on Lawns. (of which 35%+ runs away to water sources)

Great site for more reading on lawn care:
http://www.envirofriendlylawncare.com/Information.html

specific Plant Focus Fertilizer

MegaVeggie - for Vegetable Plants - 15 lbs. Price: $79.98
"MegaVeggie is a great amendment for your entire vegetable garden soil, and is the perfect ongoing amendment for vegetable plants, as it provides the soil surrounding your plants with 24 different organic elements necessary for overall plant health. (For tomatoes, amend soil with MegaVeggie and then use MegaMator as the side dressing. For peppers, use MegePepe). This organic soil amendment will make up for a lot of deficiencies in your soil that lead to poor production, regardless of your pH. It is designed to bring your pH to neutral, which is the ideal environment for vegetable gardening, and it will pay for itself by producing a more flavorful and more abundant crop. You will experience more veggies per plant and superior flavor."

MegaBerry - (acid-loving plants) 10 lb. Price: $54.98
berries - blueberry, raspberry, blackberry and strawberry plants --(grapes)

MegaMator 15 lbs. Price: $79.98
tomato plants -- It will pay for itself by producing bigger, juicier, and absolutely incredible-tasting tomatoes -- and many more of them!

Seaweed Fertilizer

There are some extrememly fast growing seaweeds (some types of seaweed growing up to 1 foot per day) And of course this in our garden would supply some serious fuel to our growing plants. I do not know which seaweeds are which. (I hope to still research this!)
But: The sweet corn organics uses the 'fastest in the world'. (see tomato fertilizer description- It is possible that it may also contain some of this as one of its ingredients)

MegaSea - Seaweed Powder
10.7 oz.
Price: $19.98
MegaSea seaweed powder contains all the beneficial trace elements necessary for overall plant health. This product is the perfect soil amendment for addressing soil deficiencies. It will also help create an environment in the soil that will help plants survive frost and drought conditions, as well as prevent insect and disease problems. It is also a must for fruit tree production in frost-proned areas. By amending the soil, it actually helps raise sugar levels in the buds that will help the tree essentially produce its own antifreeze and allow for fruit even in late-frost situations. Combined with MegaFish liquid fish and either MegaMator/MegaPepe/MegaVeggie, it makes a great 100% organic program for amending soil for a more bountiful harvest. 10.7 oz. Makes 70 gallons of liquid product.

This is sourced from the part of the world where the fastest is grown - I do not know if it is the same or how it compares. however the rest of the benefits are present.
Kelp Gran ASCO Ani/Fert (Blue Label)
from Thorvin
Price: $56.05
Size: 50 lbs.
INGREDIENTS: Certified Organic Dried Marine Algae Sea Vegetation, Species Ascophylum Nodosum, a product if Iceland.

Great Fish Fertilizer Options

These are N-P-K nutrient-rich fertilizers that are sprayed on - can be used on any plant including as nitrogen for lawn and lawn soil feedings.

MegaFish - Hydrolyzed Liquid Fish
- 32 oz. - 1 Quart
Price: $19.98 (price estimated - to be determined by bulk amount)
100% whole fish,
by cold processed

Fish Liquid Fertilizer 2-4-0.2
from Eco-Nutrients
Price: $10.90
Size: 1 gallon
20% are whole fish 80% partial from seafood industry,
by enzymatic, low heat process

Mineral supplements -type fertilizer --

This is not a high priority category, but Learn about High Brix and 'Nutrient Dense' to see why it is something you should plan on doing at least sooner than later.

MegaBone 2 lbs. Price: $16.98
MegaBone is a special organic mix of bone meal, trace minerals and iron that supplies long-acting phosphorus and other nutrients when transplanting to stimulate sturdy root systems and promote healthy growth. It can be used when transplanting most everything, from vegetables, flowers and more, but because it is slow-acting it is especially ideal for transplanting trees, roses and other plants that have a longer life span.
For transplanting vegetable starts, we prefer MegaStart instead.

Mineral Conditioner --from Redmond's -- Price: $10.95 Size: 50 lbs.

Sea Minerals -- Sea-90
I have a bag if you want me to measure out a small portion.
see previous posts....

Wendy DeWitt

Provident living Seminar featuring "Nationally Acclaimed" Food Storage Specialist, Wendy DeWitt.

It will be held Thursday April 14, 2011 from 7-9 pm at the Queen Creek North Stake Center. Address is 22035 East Ocotillo Road, Queen Creek Arizona.

All are welcome!

Great Bread Making Tips

I found another good site for browsing through
-- here is their bread making page healthbanquet.com/homemade-bread.html

get your food storage - rising prices

There are so many reasons to make the right choices, but do we have to be compelled? No, we DO need to make the choice NOW to go and do.

http://money.cnn.com/2011/03/18/news/economy/rising_prices/index.htm?source=yahoo_quote

If you want to look into cloth diapers, I can give some recommendations for the ones that I love and the little things that make it all so easy. (I'll never go back to disposables! even though I do keep a few on hand for the 'just in case' day)

Order Closed/Complete

The varieties of apple trees to choose from this year are: No longer available for this year.

See chart for characteristics and criteria.
Note: Pale Yellow showing bloom and harvest times
The purple rows showing pollination needs.
page 1 has the same information as page 2, but also has the blue row with description of characteristics.
For additional pollination compatibility see these chart, for your apples of interest.

1. Anna
2. Arkansas black
3. Bramley
4. Dorsett Golden
5. Enterprise
6. Fuji
7. Gala
8. Pink Lady (Cripp's Pink)
9. Red Boskoop
10. Sierra Beauty
11. William's pride
12. Some people are also trying Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp
    

orders in by the end of the week.

Apple trees in your yard

We are doing an apple tree group order. (For more information than here, see earlier post)

• They are 10$ plus 1$ for shipping = $11 each.
  
• They are varieties that are great for our Hot climate and heavy soils.
• They are young and have all of their original roots so they will acclimate and grow very quickly, soon bear fruit, .... (superior to the method used in those sold in local sources)
• Space is not a problem since keeping an apple tree small is actually easier than maintaining a large tree - as well as the benefits to the apple crop. Many, many options including IN A VERY SMALL SPACE ... see here and 'google' the word "espalier" on images, youtube, etc..
• The Majority of apple tree varieties will produce apples all on their own (one tree), but the majority of those will produce up to 80% more apples of higher quality if they are planted in the vicinity of another apple tree that has 'compatible' pollen (which would also benefit from the sharing as well as your neighbor's trees.)

and this video at 5:50 shows just how easy it is to train a tree branch to the shape and direction you want.

Apple Trees in Your Yard

I've been hearing rumors of successful apple 'testing' somewhere in Hot Southern Calif. And it looks like I found (one of?) the nursery(s). And they are pretty neat!
I'm assembling an order, http://www.kuffelcreek.com/appleorder.htm
This month is the only month of the year for orders - which is great since now is perfect for here! -- so get it now while the gettin's good.
They have a minimum order of 10 trees (which we have almost reached already), and a flat shipping fee, so ordering as a group is beneficial.

For those just looking to see which ones are recommended here's a list (not necessarily all, I'm just quoting from the kuffel creek):
Anna, Arkansas Black, Cripp's Pink/ Pink Lady, Fuji, Gala, William's pride,
Bramley, Dorsett Golden, Red Boskoop, and Sierra Beauty
(references also here, here, here, ...coming soon, Australian sites are great info sources, but remember winter=summer and summer=winter because of the southern hemisphere)

Reasons why these trees are desirable (and more desirable than the local stores)

• varieties specifically tested for our hot desert climate
  
• great price $10 + $1 shipping = $11
  
• correct time of year (unlike most nursery suppliers - which leads to ....'other' problems)
• form the tree comes in: bench graft (again, unlike any big nursery I've seen, but is something that is great)
  
• the rootstock (the portion of the tree/ the variety selected for the ground) is good for our climate and soils
  

Reasons why I am partial and think this particular company is "cool"

• They share their knowledge freely
  
• and keeps giving it
• and has more if so desired.
  
• upstanding efforts/motives
• small family owned,.... and all that goes with that....
• plants that have roots rock ;)
• They are testing 100s apples in the heat (and very mild winters) so we don't "have too": Part one of two videos of Dave Wilson Nursery interviewing KuffelCreek at their nursery in Riverside Calif - note also, the wide range of ripening seasons: Part 2 starts with honeycrisp.
  

Reasons to talk to your neighbors

• Because just like people, apple trees need friends too. Many apple trees will bear fruit without another apple tree, but
• most apple trees will bear much more and better/bigger fruit if there is another tree they can cross pollinate with (share pollen via the bees, etc)
• so, If you only want one tree, but your neighbor also only wants one tree, then now there are two
• however, if you get the same variety/type or (too) close relative of apple, cross pollination doesn't happen. So have a peak at the charts 1 and 2 and talk to your neighbor or just get two+ compatible trees.
  

Where to plant

• In a place that allows it to be flood watered or deeply watered, (don't want just surface roots, although most feeder roots are near the top, but going far out from the trunk)
• In a place that allows it the room to grow, possibly to full potential size without damaging houses, etc..., but certainly accessible so that a manageable size is easy to maintain. Some people refer to this method, but I'm not interested in this method, a forum may be a place to search for success of this method (or not successful results) OR
• In a place that doesn't have the room and is pruned in an obvious, simple way, such as cut to be espalier. Which is what I am excited about trying. link, link, link, link, link, link, link, link,... so many beautiful pictures for inspiration and directions.
  

How to Plant: It is simple and I'll help however I can, however this about covers it :

• As soon as it comes! Have the hole already dug with the dirt pre-watered and soft, but not still muddy. (roots need oxygen to breath in the ground too!)
  
• (Assuming you don't have some seriously large equipment and plan on doing a gargantuan hole and tilling in organic (dead) matter,) then just....
• keep it simple, don't add any 'extra' dirt, potting soil or anything. - our dirt is surprisingly suitable for growing - and the extra stuff in the whole may coddle the roots into staying and not reaching out for strength. (although unlikely with this particular type of rootstock and deep/wide watering)
  
• However, spreading that stuff out on top of the soil everywhere around it (think those mulch circles you've seen in 'wet' parts of the country) even if it is then covered in rocks, then water and worms will take it down with time to where it will help.

related:

• Keep generally moist, using a probe (metal rod that goes as deep down as the roots (2 ft+) make sure that you deep soak the tree, but not so wet that the roots are starved of air and rot.
  
• Don't fertilize a baby tree at all - they don't want to be thinking about bursts of green growth until their roots are re-established. (see below), However; a truly wonderful and appropriate fertilizer, folar-fed, would be good as a well balanced support. Putting the fertilizer in water and spraying it on (the underside of) the leaves increases absorption by ~80%. (more bang for your buck)
• Don't use synthetic fertilizers such as Miracle Grow -They have that quick burst of results, but (especially when overdosed) will be shortening the life of your soil/life of your plants. And without a "whole food" concept in both the soil and plant, it is actually weakening them, leaving them susceptible to the Planet's cleaners (like predators that take out the weak = the bugs/diseases search out, eat the weak plants).
  
• We're doing a bulk buy of fertilizer (hopefully) this month ....Its- like- totally- the- coolest- and like- way- awesomest- fertilizer- ever (really!)
  
• But I'll give info regarding plant nutrition and frugal, effective ....and ... stuff ... in that email/post.
  

Frozen produce?.... Grow/Buy Local !

Copied and pasted from Sprouts Newsletter:

Just how much damage did the freezing temperatures in early February cause? Well, a report from the growers we use at this time of year was pretty, um, chilling:

Tomatoes: The open-field beefsteaks, vine-ripes and romas were a complete loss. (About 60% of the beefsteaks and vine-ripes are grown in open fields, and about 85% of the romas.) Grape tomatoes and cherry tomatoes were also a total loss. Only vine-on tomatoes seem to have fared well and remain in strong supply.

Beans: Nearly 95% of the crops were lost.

Vegetables: Among the hardest-hit were green bell peppers (70-80% lost), cucumbers (80-90% lost in shade houses, 100% in open fields), eggplant (a major loss, and it is too late to replant for this season) and squash (85-90% lost). Alone among the vegetables, colored bell peppers seem to have done pretty well, although there will still probably be a little spottiness in their availability.

That's some serious losses! Especially at a time when prices were already climbing. I talked to a neighbor whose occupation is in grocery/produce and he expressed that produce is at the highest prices he's ever seen with demand far surpassing supply.

Depending on the availability from their contracted suppliers will determine what that store's/chain's offers and at what price (except for what they swallow to buffer). Sometimes there are other buffers - such as those rooms or crates of chilled gassed fruit that stores for months since they were harvested.

So what's a person to do? Well survival instinct says stick with the most nutrient dense, but I mean besides that :)
Buy local. This will also have the least amount of petroleum/gas prices worked in. Lucky/Blessed for us, we live in a great climate for food production. Besides having four growing seasons (all year!) it is dry enough to prevent a great many of the problems that other climates have to spray chemicals for (which doesn't always save the crop anyway).
and of course.... Grow your own! Again our climate blessed us with so many options. And generations of people before us have succeeded in producing here. As well as that, but the recent revival of interest in self sufficiency and locally & home grown foods and nutrition has made for an increase in Farmer's markets, and just plain shareable knowledge gained from experience.
How many of us have been 'meaning to get to that', but haven't worked out the kinks yet. I really hope that the year I finally try growing our favorite foods isn't the year that the learning curve makes my tummy growl. The price of seeds is low, but the law of the harvest demands effort to turn that tiny pack of seeds into a satisfying amount of food.

Here's a new link to the Low Desert Gardening Calendar, it is the same as previously referred to.

Since listing EVERYTHING that grows here would be silly and would take ALL night, I'll limit myself to notes regarding the Frozen vegetables:
Tomatoes can be grown here with ease up until the peak of summer, if you shade them, they will survive and continue for another year or more. (obviously they freeze, so protect from frost and freezing.) I learned a great tip recently: Tomatoes stop producing when summer go above 90ish degrees because the pollen dries out before it can set fruit. If you get out in the morning and spray a mixture of 1 tsp baking soda and 1 Quart of water (and some organic fertilizer) into the blossoms, then they will all set fruit.
Count your "days until harvest" accurately : Tomatoes take from 50 days - 80 days from the plant's first blossoms to begin producing with Beefsteak tomatoes typically being over 70 days (the larger they are then the longer they typically take).
Tomato plants take ~10-12 weeks from germination to reach that first blossoming which is about the size and age of the 6 pack to single pack size that is sold in nurseries. Cherry tomatoes These have been easier to grow in my experience because of their more wild nature - they seem more resilient to abuse, obviously however, they still freeze. Only vine-on tomatoes seem to have fared well and remain in strong supply.- These fared different because they are likely referring to greenhouse grown, which are climate controlled.

Vegetables: green and colored bell peppers, Pepper plants can grow year round here (protect from the extremes) and produce nearly the whole year.
cucumbers (80-90% lost in shade houses, 100% in open fields), Cucumbers are a spring crop, with armenian cucumbers working as a summer crop
eggplant (a major loss, and it is too late to replant for this season) this is a summer crop and you can still plant it here. (with some crops this is because we don't freeze in the fall - super long growing season if they don't mind the sun.)
and squash (85-90% lost). all squashes are great here and even though they probably also mean zucchini and summer squash, I suppose this also means a shortage in canned pumpkin again this fall.

SweetCornOrganics

I bought a handful of tomato plants Saturday (braved a sandstorm, I did - bad timing, it was) and then found out that the grower would be there today, so I went down to ask the grower all my stored-up questions. Wow, am I glad - I feel as though I found a walking gold mine. He not only had knowledgeable, satisfying type, experience-driven answers to my "but why" questions, but lots more. I didn't impulse buy the fertilizer/supplements he had, but now I'm kind of wishing I had!! They are the types I've been looking for and more.
Hopefully to keep it short, but to still give you something to chew on... Background: I want to not only have a plant survive long enough to get it's money's worth of produce, I want it to be a healthy plant with beneficial existence and benefits. That would be high brix. I just deleted a paragraph of rambling and explaining... If I learned anything in my college years, it is that I can make things harder than is needed... and if blogging has taught me anything, is that I can type more than I can talk....
But in this case the hunt for a successful garden just got easier. I can stop trying to look for all the separate ingredients of the ideal plant fertilizer. The man I met on Monday has already done it for me. In his own search for what truly works (and keeps working, working, working,...) in what was already his successful organic commercial tomato production, he searched out and tested out the ideal nutrients. And after years of creating and testing and then using his results... I found the video online that tells how he met someone with a marketing background.... now he sells it... they have an online website and now go out (with dirt under his nails!) telling other people what he has found and selling face to face. And what did he sell me on? oh, only really awesome stuff!! :)

• The fastest growing seaweed harvested (in the world!?) from the mineral rich waters Norway
• Fish emulsion made from the beginning for the specific purpose (from the whole fish (not byproduct leftovers) processed gently (not cooking the death out of it and bottled as needed to create a finished "whole" product)
• and a rich organic (meaning: used to be alive!) mixture that includes humic (sp?) mined out of Mexico measured out in amounts so that it gives the needed and proper benefit, not simply to be able to throw words on the label.

I restrained from any impulse buys in order to save some moula by setting up to do a bulk buy. http://sweetcornorganicnursery.com/store/categories/Soil-Amendments-%26-Fertilizers/

best price?

"Work in Progress" Check back later http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.giffor more categories.

CLICK HERE ................................TO SEE CHART! (items based off of my perpetual inventory list of long term items)

Sources:

1. LDS Dry Pack online sheet is always up to date (Provident Living on LDS.org Site) and is the lowest prices I have seen ANYWHERE for the items they carry. (Pros: Great turnover, clean food, Lowest prices possible, In town, no minimum amount needed. Cons: Not necessarily best quality (but still good!), Must remember check and has a maximum amount per month (for good reason))
   
2. Azure Standard Online website, create a username to see prices and place order. I am a drop point, but please tell me if you are placing an order to it. Talk to me for more info. (Pros: Online ordering, Wide Selection, Delivered to house. Cons: Same as the pros!, minimum purchase required (or combine orders with a friend), must place order by same deadline each month)
   
3. Honeyville In store prices - as of January Flier. Company locations in California and Utah (and online). Chandler store opened more recently. Kyrene/202 behind Harley Davidson. The company recently branched out into more variety of grains - also large selection of storage containers, freeze dried produce and other emergency preparedness categories. (Pros: In Town, Wide Selection, informative Cons: not necessarily best price)
   
4. Sprouts: Call and ask for Bulk Department for large orders. (Pros: In town, Can order practically anything, Cons: Even on Sale it seemed that the items I checked were not cheaper... although they have some items that are hard to find and you can get a small quantity to 'sample' and test what you like or prefer.)
   
5. FoodWise: Great source for information and great quality but price is higher. In many cases, it is you get what you pay for... The dry dairy is superior (cells are not oxidized) and for those with sensitivities,..., it is a great source (Freeze dried fruits/veggies are organic-- I believe the dairy is as well) .
   

Having Technical difficulties??
To Make changes/additions to the document:

• print and carry in purse with a pen/pencil
  

or

• Make alter it into your own document

To Copy and paste into excel: (including adjust to make it pretty again):

• right click chart, "Select All", "Copy", Open Excel, "Paste" (html),
  
• click top, far left Corner which will highlight entire excel sheet
• Right click, "Format Cells", unCheck "wrap text" (double click...),
  
• Adjust column width as desired.
• Highlight header row 3 and Check "wrap text"
• adjust remaining columns or rows as desired.
  

Comfirmation of double-digit food price inflation in 2011 begins.

excerpt from this article:

On November 12th, NIA's President Gerard Adams warned Americans on FOX Business to beware of massive food inflation in early 2011. We are less than three weeks into the new year and massive food inflation is already here. SuperValu, the third-largest U.S. food retailer with 2,349 stores that operate under such names as Acme, Albertsons, and Save-A-Lot, just reported that all of their major vendors have announced their intentions to pass along rising costs throughout the calendar year and the company will be raising prices on all food items by 3% to 14%. NIA's experience tells us that SuperValu is planning to increase prices on most goods by approximately 14%. Trust us, if SuperValu was expecting to increase prices by an average of only around 5%, they would have given an average instead of such a wide range. (By the way, SuperValu's stock crashed 16% on the news and one of NIA's top 10 predictions for 2011 was that U.S. retail stocks will decline after reporting lower profit margins.)

The SuperValu situation confirms that double-digit U.S. food price inflation is just about guaranteed to occur in 2011. We also expect to see double-digit price inflation this year in clothing, oil, gasoline, natural gas, and all of the most important things Americans need to live and survive. If the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) somehow manages to report a CPI increase in 2011 of anything less than 5%, and the mainstream media continues to report the BLS's CPI numbers as the truth, any Americans who continue to listen to the mainstream media deserve to lose all of their purchasing power during hyperinflation.

See previous articles on the website and please prioritize your efforts; buy food storage and household staples. Be frugal-smart, but not so stingy as to not be filling all the needs as well. (I wish I'd bought canned butter just two years ago when it was half the price as it is now. And my kids can get by with basic wardrobe basics if need be, but they need to be big enough.)
Don't wait for the sales that MAY NOT COME AGAIN. Buy the foods you desire at acceptable prices. If there is a sale/decrease, jump on it as your bonus-buys of extra and count yourself doubly blessed.

What are you eating today? What are you storing?

Are you sure you are abiding by the word of wisdom? Are you sure you just put "food" in your kids' mouth, or are you just perpetuating your own addictions? What do you plan on nourishing your family with in your storage? Quality is the easiest way once realized.
We have to take the bull by it's horns and take charge of the changes that are needed!

neat post which included a quote from a book:

In a way, it’s unfair to categorize sweets and white flour products as foods. They’re really more like drugs. That’s why they have such mood-altering power. The corn, sugarcane, and sugar beets that sugar is extracted from, and the grains that flour is extracted from, contain fiber, vitamins and minerals,. But after the extraction process, most of those beneficial nutrients are gone. What’s left is a potent crystallized concentrate, not unlike other plant concentrates we’re familiar with, like cocaine or opium, also extracted from lovely plants full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber.. These two refined white crabs can force a release of your brain’s natural feel good neurotransmitters, serotonin and endorphins. This brain chemistry disruption and depletion leads to the need for another cookie for another brief mood boost….and then another….and another.

CERT Emergency Preparedness Training

During a wide-spread disaster, the first 72-96 hours will be faced without the help of emergency professionals. The best way for you to prepare to effectively help your family and neighbors is through . . .

Emergency Preparedness Training

We have the privilege of having Kenneth Moravec come back to the Phoenix area. Normally this course takes 7-14 weeks, depending on what level you want to obtain and who teaches it. Kenneth is the only one that can do it in 1 ½ days. It is an exceptional program and well worth your time and effort.

March 18, 2011 7:45 am - 9 pm

March 19, 2011 7:45 am - 12 pm

Cost: $60.00*

LDS Church at

2520 N. Hartford Street, Chandler

Why come to CERT training?

Because CERT training will help you and your family be better prepared for disasters and other emergencies. You will also learn how to best help others. After a disaster, the professionals will be so overwhelmed that they may not be available for 72-96 hours or more. The rescue efforts will be up to us. You and others will want to help. CERT training teaches neighbors how to work together more effectively to save more lives and ease the hardship people go through until the professionals are able to get there.

What is CERT training?

CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) was created in California to help people better get through a wide spread earthquake disaster. The program is so effective that it is now taught throughout the country to help people with any type of disaster.

CERT is a seven session course focusing on the following concepts:

· General Emergency Preparedness

· Fire Suppression

· First Aid and Disaster Medical Operations

· Light Search and Rescue

· Disaster Psychology

· Organization

· Terrorism Instruction

· Simulated Disaster Exercise

Everyone 12 and older is encouraged to attend.

Limited space is available.

*Cost is $45.00 for personal safety gear, $15 towards travel expenses of instructor, instruction is free.

All those already CERT trained can come review for free.

Advanced registration required and fees paid by Sunday, March 6, 2011.

Sign-up by emailing Wendy Killinger 

If you don’t prepare, who will?

Attached are inserts for weekly church programs and flyers for bulletin boards. Please distribute and post as much as you can. You are also welcome to forward this email. The more people we can help prepares, the more lives we can save.