Looking to the new year.....

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I have really enjoyed our Christmas break thus far.  Having a little 'down time' (which, by the way is really unusual for me), I have been thinking about the what the New Year will bring. Unless you live under a rock, there is a looming financial challenge facing the United States and despite your political leanings, it will hurt.

This is not the only challenge facing us.  I wish to quote from the USDA:

Food Price Outlook, 2012-2013

Retail food prices, despite the severe drought in the Midwest, have been flat in 2012. The food-at-home Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased a total of 0.3 percent from January to November 2012. Prices rose for beef and veal, poultry, fruit, and other foods in 2012; however, prices fell for pork, eggs, vegetables, and nonalcoholic beverages. For the remaining food categories, prices remained unchanged for the most part. The drought has affected prices for corn and soybeans as well as other field crops which should, in turn, drive up retail food prices. However, the transmission of commodity price changes into retail prices typically takes several months to occur, and most of the impact of the drought is expected to be realized in 2013.

Based on these conditions, ERS's inflation forecast for both all food and food-at-home (grocery store) prices in 2012 remains unchanged at 2.5 to 3.5 percent. Looking ahead to 2013, inflation is expected to remain strong for most animal-based food products due to higher feed prices. Furthermore, inflation should be above the historical average for food categories such as cereals and bakery products as well as other foods.

I agree that it will take several months for us to feel the impact of the drought.  I see this as a level of good news.  Purchase your animal based food products now, right now.  Plan on stocking up on meats in particular.  However, you may be surprised to know that the following items will also be impacted:

So, what is the big deal for "Gelatine?"  Well, you know that Gummy Bears you like and all the Jello your kids like....guess what, they require Gelatin.  In particular, I use this product when I make my own Gummies or Fruit Snacks. 

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Do you like that flakey crust?  How about your French Fries at the local fast food restaurant?  What about those Refried Beans? These and many other products use Lard.

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Vitamin D-3 is often used for better heart-health and is often prescribed by your health care provider.

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Whey is also an animal based product.  You can find Whey used in foods like crackers, cookies, and bread products.  If you partake of candy bars, pastry mixes, non-fat ice cream, and fast food entrees with 'cheese', please know these contain Whey.  This product is also found in cereals, and some beverages, and in particular....if you are a fan of McDonald's thick shakes....you will pay more for your favorite.   

In regard to long-term storage, there are several brand-named milk substitutes that are made from Whey.  Some that you may be familiar with are brands like Morning Moo, Delight Milk Substitute,  and Instant Milk Alternative,   If you have been looking to stock up or if you use these products regularly, the good news is that you should stock up now.

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Stearic and Lactic acids are also animal based products.  Why should you be concerned?  Well, these items are used to condition dough. They help to bind oils to things that they normally do not bind to.  If one is a vegetarian, this is a product that is often avoided.  

Lactic acid is contained in carbonated drinks and dressings.  

So, take the opportunity and stock up now on the items that you store or wish to store.  Save the funds now...because we may need the additional funds to pay for the political financial folly that we all see playing out in Washington.

Real Food Shortages.....and how to "Weather the Storm"

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I hate sounding alarms.....but we all are about to feel a huge pinch at many of our retailers.  Remember that crazy storm during the Superbowl (I didn't watch....but certainly heard about it)?  Well, it was in Texas....which is located just north of Mexico.....where a lot of our winter produce is grown. Some sources say that 80% or more of those crops were destroyed. 

Remember the Floods in Australia?  There is a lot of meat and wheat that comes from that area.  We have this interdependence on this country and others.  Sketchy reports from China state that they have had crop failures as well and their well planned reserves are down.  They usually do not draw from the world market and haven't traditionally been a concern as they often provide for themselves. (What a radical idea....).  However, they reportedly may be purchasing to build up their reserves.

Here is a local story that should get your attention.

FOOD SHORTAGE: Produce prices are expected to rise dramatically in the next few days after a freeze destroyed a huge swath of Mexican food crops. - KSTU

Soooooo, what do you do?

There are 2 things to do....and you can do them!

The first is to get out your Sprouting seeds.

And your Sprouting Trays and begin sprouting to get fresh produce.  For more information about Sprouting, please go here.

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Use them in sandwiches, soups, breads, and a salad of your own making.  Be creative.  My sister and her husband made a choice to live strictly on their food storage for a time.  She said she would have killed for a salad or fresh produce.  This is fun for your children as well.  Show them what to do in situations like this.

Start your garden now....indoors. If you look at most of your packages, in 40+ days you will have something up and growing!  For more information on how to do this, please go here.

There are options available to you......don't feel victimized at the store.  There are things you can do immediately for fresh produce.  In addition, start stocking up on foods in season, and store your meats now.  We will most likely see meat prices rise dramatically because our Poultry, Beef, etc stocks are fed....grains.

Finally, cotton has risen tremendously.  This means clothing will also be impacted. 

Just be smart.....inventory, plan, and get going!

Lessons from Egypt....and from within our own borders

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It's hard to watch the events unfolding in Egypt. There is such unrest in that ancient country. I have a family member who lived in Egypt this past summer who has great love for the culture and the country.  She expresses, through social media, how much she is saddened by this and her concern for the friends she has in the area.  She states "The chaos has come to Maadi, to the (comparatively) quiet streets we walked down all summer. There are tanks and machine guns. I'm worried about our Egyptian friends and wonder what is going on with them right now."

I think that the people of Egypt are also wondering what is going on right now.  Communication systems are shut down.  People are using their land lines and old-style modems to attempt to communicate.  We have all learned that in a very short period of time, life as we know it can change. 

As the protests continue, commerce really is not.  What does that mean?  Access to food, water, and supplies is interrupted.  It is reported that many will run out of supplies soon. Many stores have been looted as well, and transportation routes have been interrupted.

Has any of this got you thinking?  It is hard to fathom anything happening like this anywhere.  However, how different would life be for many of our Egyptian brothers and sisters if they had they had prepared "every needful thing". 

Take a page out of the current events section of our newspaper.  Inventory your food and emergency supplies.  See what you are needing and what you have on hand.

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Now, take a page out of the U.S. newspaper. Huge winter storms raging through much of the United States. This picture comes from....Texas.  I have a family member who relocated to Texas over about 1.5 years ago.  She reported to me today that they have been experiencing rolling blackouts. They were intermittently without heat....and it was cold for Texas. She stated that they pulled out their Kerosene heater and proceeded to scan the Internet to determine where they could purchase Kerosene.  They previously lived in Tennessee where Kerosene was plentiful. However, they were quickly determining that Kerosene just wasn't prevalent in their area.  They finally, through a series of calls, were informed that a local Ace Hardware may have Kerosene and luckily it was located near their home.  So, off they went on the winter roads to purchase the needed fuel.  She said that as they entered the store, a helpful employee asked if they came looking for items to protect their exterior faucets, among other things on his long verbal list.  Thankfully they were not in need of any of those items. However, when they asked for Kerosene, the employee was unsure if they had any.  They looked and came back with 2 containers that were preciously priced. 

 

My family member purchased what they needed and headed home. 

 

What are the lessons we can learn from these 2 current events?  Plan, prepare, and know what is available in your area. So, please don't wait for the current event to hit your home.  Look, calculate, and devise a plan of action....today.  Have the peace of mind that the Lord promises by being prepared.