Noah's Ark-- Setting Sail Again

Okay. Right. So I've missed a couple months in our Noah's Ark Program. Hopefully we've had a chance to stretch our legs, breathe some fresh air, because it's time to head back onto the Ark and away to work we go. Regardless of whether you are following the Noah's Ark Program for your food supply storage or you have your own plan in place for how to acquire your year supply, the other goals associated with this program are something that every sister can be working on. And as we work on them together, we will grow stronger together as well.

That being said, I'm not going to try and completely backtrack over the months that we missed (I will, however, add the food storage goals from July and August at the very end... for anyone who is using this program as their guide). Otherwise, we will just pick up where we are.

So, here is our September Noah's Ark.

NOAH'S ARK PROGRAM-- SEPTEMBER

“There is no person who knows the real purpose for which this welfare program is being instituted but hardly before sufficient preparation has been made the real purpose will be revealed and when that time comes it will challenge every resource of the church to meet it." -Harold B. Lee

(*Um, if you just skimmed over that quote like I did the first time, please go back and read it again. And then perhaps a third time and let that sink in for a minute.)

Spiritual Goal- Have family scripture study together every day.

Provident Living Goal- Review your will if you have one. Make any needed changes. If you do not have a will, make arrangements to get one. EVERY adult should have a will. Plan and carry out a FHE on the importance of preparedness.

Storage Goal-

Beginner Level (one month):

-2 lbs canned or dried potatoes per person

-4 quarts fruit or tomato juice per person

Old Pro Level (one year):

-25 lbs canned or dried potatoes per person

-50 quarts fruit or tomato juice per person

72 Hour Kit Goal:

-1 lb dried fruit or trail mix per person (can use fruit leather)

-1 pkg crackers per person (4 pkgs per box)

-1 pkg graham crackers per person (4 pkgs per box)

-2 liters tomato or orange juice per person

(NOTE: these items are to be rotated every 6 months-- that's in March)

Special Goal- Have an emergency evacuation plan together (choose a special out-of-state meeting place and a contact person, so even when parents are at work, you will all be able to meet together in a common place).

Okay, and now for the missing months...

NOAH'S ARK PROGRAM-- JULY

“Ye Latter-Day Saints, learn to sustain yourselves, produce everything you need to eat, drink or wear;..." -Pres. Brigham Young

Storage Goal-

Beginner Level (one month):

-4 lbs sugar or honey per person

-3 lbs powdered milk per person (apx 1 #10 can)

-1 toothbrush per person

-toothpaste

-mouth wash

-infant needs (formula, diapers, infant Tylenol, etc)

Old Pro Level (one year):

-50 lbs sugar or honey per person

-35 lbs powdered milk per person (apx 10 #10 cans)

-2 toothbrushes per person

-toothpaste

-mouth wash

-infant needs (formula, diapers, infant Tylenol, etc)

72 Hour Kit Goal:

-Prepare blankets or sleeping bags to be accessible at a moment's notice.

-Emergency blankets (the silver foil ones)

-Gather items to entertain your family and include in kit: UNO cards, coloring books and crayons, cross-stitch kit, etc. Be sure to include paper and pencils for journal keeping.

-Camp stove or portable BBQ and fuel

-Mosquito repellant

NOAH'S ARK PROGRAM-- AUGUST

“For the moment we live in a day of peace and prosperity, but it shall not ever be thus. Great trials lie ahead...and we must prepare ourselves temporally and spiritually..." -Bruce R. McConkie

Storage Goal-

Beginner Level (one month):

-8 quarts fruit and/or vegetables per person

-2 pints jam or jelly per person

-feminine needs

-school supplies

-pet supplies

Old Pro Level (one year):

-100 quarts fruit and/or vegetables per person

-24 pints jam or jelly per person

-feminine needs

-school supplies

-pet supplies

72 Hour Kit Goal:

-1 can tuna per person

-1 can pork & beans per person

-1/2 lb dried milk per person

-2 packets hot cocoa per person (or 1 lg can per family)

-2 instant soup packets per person

(NOTE: the above items should be rotated every year)

-disposable plates, cups, bowls, and silverware

OKAY! We're all caught up! Now, don't try and do this all at once. Break it down each week, or every other week, so that it's not so overwhelming. Unless, of course, you're on a kick, then GO FOR IT! :) Good luck, Sisters!

Noah's Ark Program --June

Is it JUNE already?? Holy Cow. Well, this is a week late getting out, but there is still so much of June left to get these goals accomplished. And if your kids are now at home with you all day... have them help! It's always fun to get the whole family in on the action. :)

NOAH'S ARK PROGRAM -JUNE

"We will see the day when we live on what we produce." 

-Pres. Marion G. Romney

Spiritual Goal- Prepare at least one family name for temple work.

Provident Living Goal- Make a goal to have 6 months wages in savings for emergencies. Write out a realistic plan to make it happen.

Storage Goal- Put together a First Aid Kit (or if you already have one, go through it and update it). 

It should include: scissors, knife, thermometer, measuring cup, medicine dropper, hot water bottle, triangle bandages, soap, matches, razor blades, needles, safety pins, adhesive tape (also know as athletic tape), elastic bandage (also known as an ACE bandage), gauze bandages, paper bags, bicarbonate of soda, ipecac syrup (induces vomiting), ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, calamine lotion (for insect bites and sunburn), rubbing alcohol, diarrhea remedy, antibiotic ointment, first aid instruction book, prescription medication, waterproof matches.

Note: Your First Aid Kit should be stored with your 72-hour kit (in an easily accessible, ready to grab location).

P.S. It is also a good idea to know how to use all the things in your First Aid Kit. :) You can use this as a good Family Home Evening opportunity to educate your family on First Aid.

72 Hour Kit Goal- Find a container for holding your 72-hour kit. Large garbage cans with wheels OR a back pack for each family member is recommended. Find a place in your home that is easily accessible for storing the kit (i.e. front hall closet). You need to be able to grab it at a moment's notice to leave your home. 

Note: Your 72-hour kit can be counted as part of your general storage, but your general storage cannot be counted as your 72 hour kit. When you need it, there may not be time to gather it together for transport, so store them separately. 

Noah's Ark Program --May

It's a new month and that means it's time for some new preparedness goals! How are you doing on your goals so far? Feeling overwhelmed? Or perhaps you're thinking this is a cake walk! Either way, let us know if you ever feel like you're needing help. If this is the first you've heard of the Noah's Ark Program, click HERE to read about the program. And then click HERE if you want to catch up on what our goals were for April as well. And now, on to May!

NOAH'S ARK PROGRAM - MAY

"The revelation to produce and store food may be as essential to our temporal welfare today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah."   -President Ezra Taft Benson

Spiritual Goal- Share a Book of Mormon with a non-member.

Provident Living Goal- Make a goal and a plan to exercise regularly.

Storage Goal-

Beginner Level (one month): 

-9 pounds variety of cereal grains- rice, oatmeal, cornmeal, etc. per person

-2 rolls toilet paper per person

-2 packages flavored gelatin per person

-Garden seeds

-1 small bottle Olive Oil (for consecrating)

-One month prescription ahead for all doctor prescribed medication

Old Pro Level (one year):

-100 pounds variety of cereal grains- rice, oatmeal, cornmeal, etc. per person

-24 rolls toilet paper per person

-24 packages flavored gelatin per person

-Garden seeds

-1 small bottle Olive Oil (for consecrating)

-At least one month prescription ahead for all doctor prescribed medication

72 Hour  Kit Goal:

-Battery powered radio

-Battery powered light

-Batteries

-A map of the local area to help you with alternate escape routes

-A compass

Don't forget that hurricane season is quickly approaching (and we are all now well aware of what that can mean for us!), so now is a good time to be taking these goals to heart and really working on accomplishing what we can. Good luck this month!

More Gardening Inspirations...

Here is the Brown's Family Garden. It is coming along very nicely! I believe I was told that the marigold flowers bordering the garden are meant to help keep bugs away! What a great tip!!


Thanks for sharing your garden with us! How's everyone else doing? Keep up the good work!

Gardening Inspirations...

Here are some garden pictures from two families in the ward to help encourage you on your Provident Living Goal this month...

The Christensen Family Garden...

The Roberts Family Garden...

...this was the new method we tried this year...

(disregard the sad looking beans at the end... ugh!) 

Yes, I know... the Christensen's garden is better. I plan to steal some of their good ideas for next year! ...oh, and I can pick on this poor garden because it's mine. I promise not to pick on anyone else's! :)

If you want to send some pictures to help inspire others, give others some new gardening ideas, or to just show off all your hard work just email them to me! We'd love to share them!

Noah's Ark Program --April

Here is our Noah's Ark Program for April. If you are not familiar with what the Noah's Ark Program is, please click HERE to read the blog entry with all the information.

NOAH'S ARK PROGRAM -APRIL

"If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear." D&C 38:30

Spiritual Goal - Attend the temple one more session than you normally do this month. 

Provident Living Goal - If you normally do not grow a garden plan to grow at least one vegetable this year. If you already have a garden, either 1) grow a vegetable you haven't tried before OR 2) try a new method or technique this year.

Storage Goal-

Beginner Level (one month):

-3 ounces yeast per person

-3 ounces baking powder per person

-1.5 ounces pound soda per person

-1 gallon vinegar per family

-1 can evaporated milk per person

-spices, condiments and vanilla

Old Pro Level (one year):
-2 pounds yeast per person
-2 pounds baking powder per person
-1 pound soda per person
-1 gallon vinegar per person
-10 cans evaporated milk per person
-spices, condiments and vanilla

72 Hour Kit Goal:
-4 granola bars per person*
-2 sticks beef jerky per person*
-1 package chewing gum per person*
-Hard candies or lollipops - at least 12 per person*
 (*Note: these items will be rotated every 6 months - check again in Oct)
-$25 cash

Good luck! We know you can do it! If you are growing a garden and want to help inspire others, feel free to email us a picture and we'll post it on the blog! 

Spiritual/Physical Food Storage- Upping The Ante

Hi Sisters! Our wonderful Provident Living Committee has really been working hard to find a good way to aid us in getting prepared for the difficult times in life that may lay ahead. They've been doing some research and studying and now we all get to benefit from their labors. (THANKS COMMITTEE!) So we are now going to be launching a program they found called the "Noah's Ark Program". Each month we will get some inspired counsel from General Authorities or the scriptures, along with four goals to reach that month: a Spiritual Goal; Provident Living Goal; Food Storage Goal; and a 72-hour Kit Goal. A note on the Food Storage Goals... we know that not everyone is at the same place in life, nor their food storage preparations. Therefore, we are going to try and break the Food Storage Goal down into a "Beginner" Level and an "Old Pro" Level. The Beginner Level will focus more on what it will take to get your one month supply. The Old Pro Level will be for a one year's supply. And if you find yourself somewhere in the middle, please adjust accordingly. The idea is that if we will keep up with these goals each month, in no time we will have a full supply of everything we need to 'weather the storms'. What we DON'T want to have happen is for people to feel overwhelmed and just give up. So PLEASE, if you feel the need, just make adjustments where needed and do what you can. And as always, we are all here to help each other... so please don't hesitate to ask for assistance if/when needed!

So without further adieu, here is our NOAH'S ARK PROGRAM for March (And yes, I'm aware there is only one day left in March!) :)

NOAH'S ARK PROGRAM- March

“The Lord has warned us of famines, but the righteous will have listened to the prophet and stored at least a year's supply of survival food." -Ezra Taft Benson

Spiritual Goal - Have family prayer at least once a day. Twice is better.

Provident Living Goal - Learn a new skill or read a book pertaining to your career.

Storage Goal-

Beginner Level (one month):

-5 cans soup, stew or chili per person

-1/2 a pound of salt per person

-1.5 pounds of fat oil, or shortening per person

-Aluminum foil, plastic wrap, storage bags, etc

-At least 5 gallons water per person-recommended is 14 gallons/person for 2 weeks 

Old Pro Level (one year):
-50 cans soup, stew or chili per person
-5 pounds salt per person
-20 pounds fat oil, or shortening per person
-Aluminum foil, plastic wrap, storage bags, etc
-At least 5 gallons water per person -recommended is 14 gallons/person for 2 weeks 

72 Hour Kit Goal:
-1 pound dried fruit or trail mix per person (can use fruit leather)*
-1 pkg soda crackers per person (4 pkg. per box)*
-1 pkg graham crackers per person (4 pkg. per box)*
-2 liters tomato or orange juice per person*
(*Note: these items will be rotated every 6 months - check again in Sept.)
-ALSO make a goal to always have the fuel tanks on ALL vehicles at least half full.
-$25 cash