This is a place to help you get informed…
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….about what is going on in your neighborhood, state, and country. We aim to get self-reliance resources right at your fingertips.
It is also a place to purchase the products we’ve read, reviewed and recommend. We won’t steer you wrong!
Government Websites to get information
It’s been proven time and time again – In the face of disaster, Americans come together with courage, compassion, and unity and ask, “How can I help?” Your taxpayer dollars support a wide variety of services. Use them to your advantage. These are the government websites you can go to for information and training.
Local Information
Find out what your city and county office of emergency management (OEM) has to offer, Probably a lot! These awesome servants are the ones responsible for the immediate safety of your town in an emergency.
Go find their website today and see what they have to say about the emergencies and natural disasters for your area. Just search for your county name and emergency management.
Unfortunately, some municipalities are better than others, but this is a great place to start as you are planning. Also, be prepared to wade through “government speak” to get to the heart of the matter!
Ready.gov
Plan and prepare for all types of emergencies by checking out the Ready .gov website. “Today is the day before – are you ready for tomorrow?” They have free publications to aid you in preparing your family emergency plan. You will find topics under several categories for businesses and individuals.
FEMA
FEMA has an independent study program called “Are You Ready? An In-Depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness” This guide has been designed to help the citizens of this nation learn how to protect themselves and their families against all types of hazards. It can be used as a reference source or as a step-by-step manual.
The focus of the content is on how to develop, practice, and maintain emergency plans that reflect what must be done before, during, and after a disaster to protect people and their property. It takes 10 hours to complete and even gains one Continuing Education Credit (CEU)
Get the FEMA app for your phone or tablet. It contains preparedness information for different types of disasters, an interactive emergency kit list, storable emergency meeting locations, and a map with open shelters and open FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in your area.
The app also has a Disaster Reporter feature, allowing you to take and submit GPS photo reports of disasters so they can be displayed on a public map for others to view.
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
Get involved in your community by joining the Community Emergency Response Team(CERT). This program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Their Training Manual is a great addition to your emergency preparedness library. Find a program in your area.
Red Cross
The American Red Cross has information to help you prepare your home, school and workplace for any disaster. If you haven’t already, you should download one (or all) of the free Red Cross Apps. I especially like the First Aid App!
Global Incident Map
The helpful site, Global Incident Map, has up to the minute data on disasters around the world. Find information about Earthquakes, Amber alerts, HAZMAT situations, border control issues, disease outbreaks and more.
US Drought Monitor
US Drought Monitor Map has new maps released each day at 8:30 am Eastern.
You might enjoy visiting some other bloggers that I like and trust; because of course, you can’t learn everything from me! After you’ve spent some time here, take a few minutes and review my post Preparedness Blogger Roundup: 38 Great Websites to get you prepared.
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Preparedness
There are many aspects of being prepared and it can seem overwhelming at times!
I know how you feel; 20 years ago I was just getting started and learning all about this stuff too. I’ve found that breaking it down into small chunks and being consistent is really the key. The aim of this website is to give you the knowledge that can help you along.
What do you need to do to make a plan? First, you just need to know the disasters that might affect you. Next, prioritize your preparedness efforts, and talk with your family. Get them involved. My preparedness efforts go in cycles. Sometimes I’m buying food, canning, and freezing. Other times I work on my 72-hour kit and camping supplies. It gets to be overwhelming if you try to do it all at once.
Ultimately having knowledge is what will allow you to be successful. These are some of my favorite preparedness and homesteading resources. These books, tools and 72-hour kit items that will help you put your plan in motion.
Is that enough to be prepared, and survive the next disaster? Knowing about water storage, first-aid and emergency cooking will also help keep you safe.
The Preparedness Planner – by Self-Reliant School
This is my favorite Preparedness Planner and the one that finally got me organized. Read my review here.
Find Legal Forms – Will Your Will Be Known?
Find Legal Forms is easy to use and economical. If you haven’t written a will, consider this as a DIY alternative. FindLegalForms.com for all kinds of legal forms, not just wills. You can also find Will Forms for all States and most forms start at $4.99.
Craftsy
Craftsy is the premier online video teacher for all your creative outlets. You might think it odd that someone into preparedness recommends Craftsy so highly – here’s why I do.
Their classes are affordable (at around $30) which is as much as you would pay for a class at the local community center. You can find classes on all kinds of cooking skills (I tried artisan breadmaking) and gardening. Always wanted to learn how to knit, crochet, spin, sew, or weave? They’ve got you covered. Who knew that learning to be prepared was so crafty!
Wondering about an off-grid lifestyle and if it’s for you?
Teri at Homestead-Honey lives in a tiny house, completely off-grid!
She is amazing, cooking in her outdoor kitchen and newly crafted oven. You’ll be inspired to take your own steps toward self-reliance.
This is how she does it…
Herbs, Seeds, and Gardening
What can a good gardening book do for you? Get you growing of course! It is so important to create a reference library of skills and I can’t tell you how often I refer back to my gardening books for bits of information.
So even though I know how to compost, start seeds, and plan a garden, I still re-read my favorite books each year or two to refresh my knowledge.
There are several categories of gardening books that you should think about purchasing for your library.
- Compost and soil building
- Herb growing and using
- Vegetable gardening
- Specialty books based on your climate. Maybe you need help with extending your season to year round gardening and utilizing greenhouses. Perhaps you live in the extreme heat of the south or in drought challenged areas.
- And of course, general gardening knowledge books like The Western Garden Book or Gardening All-in-One For Dummies are good for all around knowledge
The Garden Planner from SchneiderPeeps
My favorite garden planner is reasonably priced at $9.95 – read my review
Seeds for Generations –
Seeds for Generation is a family-run company that is teaching their children to be avid gardeners and entrepreneurs. They sell heirloom seeds at reasonable prices.
Come on over and support their efforts to teach self-reliance.
The Art of Gardening- Building Your Soil
This book is beautiful and practical. If you need to improve your soil, this is the answer.
These are my favorite bulk herb providers
Bulk Herb Store – Botanical Interests – Starwest Botanicals
Learn to use herbs and make Simple Remedies for Cold and Flu Season from SchneiderPeeps
Food Storage
Food storage is a basic preparedness concept. You need it not only in times of emergencies but to stave off economic hardship.
There are many times in the past 20 years that I have relied on my food storage to save money and for survival. The first time I really needed to use it was when my husband was finishing school and was serving his internship. We had 3 months of no income and 6 months of “not enough”. After that, I knew that I could rely on my food storage for a bet against disaster.
These books and products will help you learn why you need food storage, what to store, and how to use it to benefit your family.
Thank you for supporting PreparednessMama through my Food Storage Canning Depot. Your purchases through this Amazon store helps to support my site. The best news of all…It doesn’t cost you any extra!
The 10 Laws of Food Storage are important but pretty simple.
- Store what you eat
- Use it or lose it
- Store it properly
- Think outside the pantry
- Budget for food storage
- Sauce & spice it up
- Vary the kinds of food you store
- Match your water storage to your food
- Do it on a dime (or at least a dollar)
- Store it different ways
At Home Canning DVD –
From Kendra at New Life on a Homestead – If you are afraid to pressure can on your own, this video is for you. Kendra takes you through every aspect of waterbath and pressure canning. By the time you’re done you’ll be a pro!
Click here to learn more about At Home Canning for Beginners and Beyond
The Ready Store –
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket, right? The Ready Store offer quality dehydrated and freeze dried foods, plus preparedness products.
Valley Food Storage – Considerations:
- These are prepackaged, ready to go meals. If you like to create your own custom meals, this is not your plan.
- Is your family used to eating freeze dried food?
- How will you incorporate and rotate this food into your weekly meal planning?
The benefits of Valley Food Storage Meals
- No MSG
- No trans fats
- Made with sea salt
- No cholesterol
- Just add water
- No preservatives
- Gluten free and dairy free available
Discount Mylar Bags –
I use Discount Mylar Bags as part of my food storage plan. The best part? You can purchase 1-gallon bags for about .27 cents each. Read my review and how I use mylar bags in my food storage plan
Kitchen Stewardship –
Katie Kimball at Kitchen Stewardship has a collection of e-books just perfect for your family. I love the way Katie writes and so will you. Here are my favorite titles.
The Everything Beans Book: 30 Frugal, Nutrient-Packed Recipes for Every Eater is the first one I tried. The recipes are easy to follow and have enough variety to please even picky eaters. Here’s my review. If you are looking for healthy ways to feed your family, these books are well worth a look.
Oh! Lardy
Guide to Fermenting Fruits & Vegetables – You have probably heard about the benefits of eating fermented foods but have been nervous to try it yourself. This book is the perfect guide to get more probiotics in your family’s diet. If you are interested in learning how to ferment fruits and vegetables at home?, this book is for you.
Click here to view more details about the Fermenting Fruits & Vegetables E-Book
Pinch of Yum
The Creamy Cauliflower Sauce Cookbook – The eCookbook has 30 recipes that use a creamy cauliflower sauce in place of ingredients like Alfredo sauce, canned condensed soup, or heavy cream.
Each recipe also has the nutrition information for calories, fat, protein, fiber, and carbs listed right on the page. Let me tell you, these are fantastic and the only way you family will know its cauliflower is if they see you make it!
Click here to view more details about the Creamy Cauliflower Sauce eBook
Frugal Living
Homemade Beauty Essentials
If you are crazy about making your own lotion bars and soap and are looking for terrific recipes to add to your knowledge, then this e-book from 104 Homestead is for you. The best part? The number of recipes and information you get for one low price of $5.95
Chelsea Green Publishing – the leading publisher of sustainable living books since 1985.
100+ DIY Projects Made with Food Scraps
If you love turning trash into treasure, especially when it involves filling the pantry, broadening the food menu, home decorating, natural cleaning ideas, nourishing bath and body care recipes, home remedies and so forth– then this book is for you. All the do-it-yourself projects revolve frugally around the foundation of fruit scraps that you would generally throw away!
Click here to see 100+DIY Food Scrap Projects
