Fresh Fruit & Veggie Season Approaching – How to Make Them Last

There are some areas of the country where the weather is known for changing rapidly. You’ll hear people say, “If you don’t like the weather, wait a minute.”

Something similar can be said for fruit and vegetables. When fresh, they look, feel, smell, and taste great. But if you wait too long before eating them, it’s a different story.

Fresh fruit and vegetable season is rapidly approaching in many parts of the country. Folks are looking forward to enjoying them. Knowing how good they are for us adds another positive dimension to eating them.

But with the high prices for produce these days, it’s more important than ever not to waste it. It also helps to learn how to make them last as long as possible.

Today I want to provide you with tips on preserving your fruit and veggies. That way they’ll stay good until you’re ready to eat them.

Let lettuce leaves go AWOL

If you buy bagged salad at the grocery store, you know how great it looks when you place it in your refrigerator. But after it’s opened and you use some of it, watch out. The lettuce will start wilting quickly.

A good way to avoid this is by removing the lettuce leaves from the rest of the salad items. Wash them off and place them in an airtight, zippered bag.

If instead you purchase a head of lettuce, remove the individual leaves. Soak them in a bowl of cold water for a couple of hours.

Rinse them off and put them in an airtight, zippered bag. Then place the bag into the fridge. Your lettuce leaves will stay crisp and fresh much longer this way.

Onions, asparagus & herbs

Onions are another item that can go bad. Sometimes even before you use them. To avoid this, chop them up when you get home from the store. Put them in a resealable bag and place them in the freezer.

Remove the bag and grab what you need next time you’re preparing a salad. Then return the bag to the freezer.

One of the reasons other vegetables such as asparagus start wilting too soon is because they lack hydration. To offset this, store them upright in a glass with about an inch of water in it. Or, wrap a damp paper towel around the base of the asparagus.

You can do the same thing with herbs. Including parsley, basil, coriander, dill, mint, and others. If you want to be frugal, store leftover herbs in an ice tray in your freezer and pour water over them. Other herbs such as rosemary and thyme can go in an airtight bag in the fridge.

Fruitful strategies

You might want items such as tomatoes, apples, pears, melons, avocados, and mangoes to ripen. Mainly because you want to use them in the next day or so. Leave them in a bowl on a countertop where you’ll see them and not forget about them.

But items such as grapes, berries, and citrus should be refrigerated. That’s so they don’t deteriorate too quickly.

If you cut fruit and only use some of it for a meal, protect the remainder from softening too quickly with an airtight seal.

Then place that bag or container in the fridge. This will help your fruit last much longer.

Bacteria-fighting vinegar

Here’s one thing to keep in mind when ensuring that fruits and vegetables last longer. Don’t store them together in the same bag or container.

Some fruit produces ethylene gas. It can make vegetables (and other fruit, for that matter) ripen too quickly.

When you get berries and other fruits back to your home from the store – or from picking them outdoors – wash them in a 3-to-1 or 4-to-1 ratio of water to vinegar. The vinegar will help kill any bacteria found on fruits.

Let them dry on parchment paper, then store them in a container with the paper. But leave the lid slightly open to give moisture a chance to escape.

A few more tricks

For fruit that has not ripened yet – such as apples and peaches – put them in a paper bag and place it on a windowsill.

You don’t need to wait until you’re ready to eat your fruits and vegetables to wash them off. Do it as soon as you return from the store or your garden. That way they’ll be ready to eat as soon as you want them.

Most fruits and veggies will last longer in a fridge than in a bowl on a table or countertop. Including apples, berries, grapes and apricots. As well as pears, peaches, nectarines, and cherries. Plus celery, carrots, and avocados. Place them in a mason jar with water.

But some fruits will do better at room temperature. Such as bananas, oranges, and grapefruit. As well as cantaloupe, watermelon, lemons, and limes.

If you wait a little too long to eat fruit and you’re still not ready to eat it, chop it up, place it in airtight bags, and toss it in the freezer. You’ll want to use it later for smoothies.

Utilizing these tips and tricks to making fruits and vegetables last longer will reduce food waste and help you save money by preserving precious resources.

Could You Survive an EMP?

Electricity is one of the greatest inventions in mankind’s history.

It allowed humans, after countless centuries, to finally gain some control over their environment.

We could now see better in the dark. Heat and cool our homes. Establish infrastructure for power, water, and gas utilities.

But there’s a downside to this achievement. We’ve become dependent on electricity. If it’s eliminated for a long period of time, nature will once again control humans.

9 Out of 10 Won’t Make It

There are many events that could knock out the electrical grid. Including extreme weather and equipment malfunctions.

But none is more frightening than an electromagnetic pulse (EMP). An EMP has the potential to render us powerless for weeks, months, or years.

Whether caused by coronal mass ejections (solar flares) or a terrorist attack, experts say a vast majority of us would not survive if the resulting blackout lasted a year or more.

Frank J. Gaffney Jr. is a former deputy assistant to the U.S. secretary of defense. He said, “Nine out of 10 of us wouldn’t make it if an attack on the grid resulted in the power going out and staying out for a year.”

Is Another Carrington Event Coming?

Former CIA Director R. James Woolsey Jr. agrees. He said, “A very low yield nuclear detonation from a very simple small missile… launched up 20 miles above the earth can be absolutely devastating to transformers and the rest of the electrical infrastructure.”

The most well-known “sun storm” in North American history occurred in 1859, becoming known as the Carrington Event.

A super solar flare shot directly toward the Earth. It resulted in a mammoth cloud of charged particles and detached magnetic loops. They crashed into Earth’s magnetic field. And caused skies to turn red, green, and purple.

The solar storm disrupted communications and shocked technicians. And it could happen again. As it nearly did in 2012. Space weather analyst John Kappenman says, we’re “playing a game of Russian roulette with the sun.”

Enemies Know Where to Strike First

Another very real scenario involves a deliberate EMP attack by one of America’s enemies.

The bad guys are not interested in turning off our lights for a few hours. They want to plunge us back into Little House on the Prairie days.

Do they have the know-how and resources to pull off such a horrific assault? Yes. A bomb capable of producing a powerful EMP could be developed using inexpensive supplies and basic engineering knowledge.

Former Texas state senator Bob Hall said this. “We actually know that the Russians, the Chinese, the Iranians have in their war plans the first strike plan to take out our electrical power system with an EMP attack.”

The Consequences Are Devastating

An EMP’s damage would be catastrophic. Life as we know it would be over. Immediate failures would be evident everywhere.

From essential infrastructure such as power, water, and gas utilities. Plus banking systems and ATMs. And transportation of food, water, and other goods.

Military defenses would also be affected. It would take years to repair the damage. The Department of Homeland Security admits it’s not prepared to deal with such an attack.

None of us is capable of stopping solar flares or terrorist attacks. But we could focus on what to do before, during, and after a blackout caused by an EMP.

What to Do Before an EMP Strike

Assemble a supply of emergency food and water for your family. And secure a solar-powered generator.

Build an emergency kit or bug-out bag. Consider having an additional emergency kit at your place of business.
Make a family communications plan. Conduct a dry run every few months.
Fill plastic containers with water and place them in the refrigerator and freezer. Leave an inch of space because water expands while freezing.

Keep your vehicle’s gas tank full. Gas stations rely on electricity to power their pumps. And your car could be the only heating or air conditioning you’ll have for a while.

Get a supply of cash. Some stores may not be able to process credit and debit card purchases. Cash machines may not work.

What to Do During a Blackout Caused by an EMP

Use flashlights for emergency lighting. Using candles during a power outage is a fire risk.

If you use a generator, keep lights on sparingly. You could become a target if your home is lighted at night.

Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed so food stays as cold as possible.

Turn off or disconnect appliances and electronics when power goes out. They could be damaged if power returns with a surge.

If it’s hot outside, go to your home’s lowest level. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Drink plenty of water. Keep curtains closed.

If it’s cold outside, wear clothing layers. Open curtains during the day.

What to Do After a Blackout From an EMP

Any food exposed to temperatures of 40 degrees Fahrenheit for two-plus hours should be discarded. Same for food with an unusual odor, color, or texture.
Even food that looks and smells OK may contain bacteria that causes food-borne illnesses. When in doubt, toss it out.
Don’t turn all appliances on at once. Get heat or air conditioning on first. Wait 10-15 minutes before turning on other appliances.
If water from faucets has not been running but now is working again, don’t drink it right away. Let it run. Learn if nearby water sources have been compromised.

The only way to protect yourself from a long-term blackout caused by an EMP is preparation. The time to do that is now.

Will Mosquitos Cause the Next Pandemic?

Have you ever wondered if or when the next pandemic might come along? And what will launch it?

Some scientists believe that mosquitos will cause the next pandemic. And that the time is ripe for it. Due to the warmer and wetter weather pattern known as El Niño, mosquito activity is expected to be higher than normal in North America this year.

And that means a rise in mosquito-borne illnesses. Some of which can be very dangerous to our health.

The CDC predicts that serious illnesses will become more widespread in a number of areas in North America. Due to the rising number of mosquitos and a warmer climate.

‘Damage from inaction is enormous’

Mosquito-borne illnesses can cause fever and rash. As well as headaches, body aches, and muscle and joint pain.

How do these mosquitos get here? Well, some have already been here for a long time. But some migrate north from South and Central America.

One batch of particularly dangerous mosquitos entered the U.S. several decades ago through – of all things – the used tire industry.

Is the U.S. doing enough to prevent these infestations? A medical entomologist and professor at the University of California-Davis doesn’t think so.

“If we don’t do anything, which is basically what we’re doing right now, it’s going to get worse,” said Tom Scott. “The damage from inaction is enormous. It’s unacceptable. It’s unethical.”

Mosquitos gearing up for battle

Mosquitos that will buzz around our backyards this spring, summer, and fall don’t carry warning signs regarding the diseases they carry.

It’s safer to assume that a mosquito is carrying a disease and wants to transmit it to you while “borrowing” some of your blood.

They want to feast on you, your pets, and your garden. Right now, many of them are emerging from hibernation. Others are heading north toward us as our weather warms. And billions of them are just a twinkle in their parents’ eyes right now.

To us, they are a pain somewhere south of our eyes. Their goal is to gain nutrition from our blood, the blood of our pets, and the plants in our garden.

Don’t provide a home where bugs can roam

There are many ways to try to keep mosquitos and other illness-borne bugs such as ticks out of your yard. For one, take away their habitats.

Ticks love leaf litter, tall grass, and brush. So, rake, mow, and clear. Divide your lawn from any wooded area with a three-foot wide barrier of wood chips.

Mosquitos love standing water, where they can hang out and breed. So, drain those areas regularly. Including kids’ pools, flowerpots, buckets, wheelbarrows, and bird baths.

There’s nothing like a nice, shady area on your lawn where you can sit and relax. The problem is, mosquitos love shade too. Limit shady areas by cutting back trees and pruning hedges.

Avoid mosquito bites

Let me provide you with some effective ways to avoid mosquito bites. As well as some good ways to treat them when they happen.

Use a mosquito repellent. There are over-the-counter sprays and rub-ons containing DEET. If you want to avoid that chemical, make your own concoction.

Mosquitos aim for thin-skinned areas because they can get to your blood easier. Apply the repellent to exposed areas of skin. Focus on your feet, ankles, lower legs, and wrists.

Bugs are also attracted to dark colors. Wear light-colored clothing when you’re outdoors. Long sleeves and pants can be helpful for avoiding bites. A thicker fabric with a looser fit is preferable to tight-fitting, thin fabrics.

Avoid the outdoors around dawn and dusk. That way your blood won’t be available to them during their favorite parts of the day. When indoors, keep windows closed unless you’re sure there are no holes in your screens.

Use an odor-free, lightweight, portable bug-zapper in your backyard that attracts and kills bugs without pesticides or chemicals. Look for one that’s water-resistant and cleans itself.

Treat mosquito bites

Scratching mosquito bites usually makes them itch more and longer. That’s not a good “treatment.”

If you break the skin while scratching, you can expose yourself to an additional infection. Wash the area with soap and water, then cover it with a bandage.

Ice will slow blood flow to the area, thereby reducing inflammation and swelling. Apply aloe vera directly to the bite to relieve itching and discomfort. Or press a steeped chamomile tea bag to your bite.

Some folks apply other items to their bites. Including honey, vinegar, and even an oatmeal paste. Others like to use hydrocortisone cream or take an antihistamine.

Mosquitos could be plentiful this year. And some will carry diseases. By taking precautions, we can defeat them. And possibly avoid another pandemic.

The Cactus Police, by Hubbyberry

We just got back from the grocery store where my wife bought a cactus. I’m not a “plant person” generally, but if it makes her happy, well, then I’m happy. Removing the new plant from it’s bag revealed it to be a dragon fruit cactus. FOOD!!! I am always up for food. A closer look […]

5 Common Mistakes People Make When Trying to Keep Food Cold

With the recent arctic blast of cold air still fresh in our minds, keeping something cold doesn’t feel like much of a challenge. That unwelcome polar vortex covered nearly the entire country and resulted in ridiculously low temperatures for over a week.

But now that America has thawed and we can move our fingers and toes again, we’re reminded of something. Keeping food cold when the power is out is not so simple. No matter how cold it is outside.

During a power outage, food can spoil quickly. As a general rule, food in a refrigerator should be good for four hours after the power goes out. In a freezer, it should stay safe for 24 to 48 hours.

Obviously when an outage lasts longer than that, you’re in danger of losing the food you worked hard to buy. And what you need to feed yourself and your family.

These errors could cost you

Unfortunately, too many people have wrong ideas about how to protect their food. And then they pay a price for their errors.

Best case scenario, they have to throw out food they thought they were protecting. Worst case scenario, they get sick from eating it.

Today I want to share with you what I consider the 5 most common mistakes folks make while trying to keep their food from spoiling during a blackout.

So, let’s get started.

Please… DON’T store your food in the snow

Sometimes what seems to be perfectly logical is not necessarily a good idea. Taking food that’s starting to get warm and putting it in something cold would seem like the right thing to do.

Alas, that’s not the case with placing food in snow. The U.S. Department of Agriculture warns against this practice.

One reason is that the sun’s rays (even through clouds) could warm your food more effectively than snow will keep it cold.

A second reason is that critters could access your food. Or at the very least, contaminate it with their very natural but unsanitary habits.

Stop checking on it

During a power outage, there is a natural tendency to want to make sure refrigerated and frozen foods are still good.

But unless you have a little man inside your fridge calling you to communicate that information, opening those doors is a mistake. Each time you do it, warm air gets in, which shortens the lifespan of your food.

So, unless you need to remove an item from your refrigerator or freezer in order to eat it or cook it, keep those doors closed.

In order to keep your refrigerated food at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, keeping the door closed should give you those four hours you need to avoid spoilage.

There IS a right way to load up your fridge & freezer

A second common mistake when it comes to trying to keep food cold during an outage is randomly placing food in your fridge.

First of all, try to keep your fridge and freezer as full as possible. Food stays safer in fuller compartments than in half-full ones. If that is impossible, at least group your foods together rather than having them spread out.

Also – and this is equally important – strategically place your food in the fridge depending on what it is. Keep fruits and vegetables on higher level shelves, with meat, poultry, and fish on lower level shelves.

Why? Because heat rises, even inside a refrigerator. The bottom section of your refrigerator is colder than the top, so that’s where you want to place foods that benefit from colder temps. Such as meat, poultry, and fish.

Ice is your friend in an outage

If a blackout lasts long enough, you’re going to need to transfer food from your fridge and freezer to a cooler. If you have ice you can place in that cooler, it will significantly lengthen the life of your food.

So, keep a bag of ice in your kitchen freezer, as well as in your basement or garage freezer, for this situation. And, of course, make sure your kitchen freezer ice trays stay full. You can also use frozen gel packs.

Freezing water in Tupperware containers is another way to have ice available. Be careful not to fill those containers, however. They could break because water expands when it freezes.

What if you have food in a cooler with ice but the outage continues? Eventually you’ll want to put that cooler outside. Just make sure no critter can get inside it.

When in doubt, throw it out

Some people make a decision as to whether to eat something by the way it smells. Or by taking a small taste of it. That’s like determining whether or not a gun is loaded by pulling the trigger.

Some foods can start to spoil without any telltale signs. It may smell fine or may even taste OK. But if it’s starting to spoil, you could get sick from it.

The best way to ensure if a food item has spoiled in a fridge or freezer that has lost power is with a thermometer inside it. They’re affordable and very useful. If you have a newer fridge, it will display temperatures on the outside of the door.

If you don’t have a thermometer or a newer fridge, err on the side of caution. And remember this phrase: when in doubt, throw it out.

A lifesaving 25-cent hack

Before I let you go, let me share a hack you may not be familiar with. Let’s say you’ve been outside your home for a while. When you come home, you realize the power is out. But you don’t know how long it’s been out.

The solution to this dilemma is to have a cup of frozen water in your freezer with a quarter placed on top of the ice.

When you return home, if you see that the coin sank into the ice, that means the power has been out for a while. If it’s still on top of the ice, then the power must have gone out very recently.

The key is to use wise methods to keep your food cold in an outage, and avoid the 5 common mistakes above. If you have any other tried and true methods to accomplish this goal, please share them in the comments section.

Wilderness Water? It May Be Growing Rather Than Flowing

We’ve all heard plenty of stories about people who survived when lost in the wild. Some of them did it by using their wits. Some by eating berries. And others by hunting or fishing.

But very few survived for long without finding a drinkable water source. Often that source is a river, stream, lake, or creek. And ideally the survivor is carrying some sort of water purifier.

If you’re lost in the wilderness, you might not be able to find an obvious water source. But you may be able to get enough water to survive until you’re rescued from an unlikely source. I’m talking about plants.

Today I want to share some ways to access water from what you see growing around you.

Can plants quench your thirst?

Why can plants supply water to a thirsty wilderness wanderer? Because they are constantly absorbing water from the ground.

And as an added benefit, plants frequently filter out a variety of impurities during this natural process.

When they transpire water – in other words, when water vapor evaporates from the plant’s leaves – that water can be collected.

And the plant is none the worse for wear when this occurs. You can collect water from its various branches and leaves over and over again. Without harming the plant.

What’s the old bag & string trick?

OK, so what’s the best way to collect this precious water during a survival situation? You don’t need much in the way of supplies. Just a clear plastic bag (with no holes in it) and a piece of string. And, of course, a plant.

If you have a choice of plants, select one with the largest green leaves. And one that gets plenty of sunlight. The transpiration process is accelerated by the sun’s heat.

After shaking the branch to get rid of insects and debris, cover as many leaves as possible with your plastic bag. Then tie the string around it tightly.

The tie should be at a higher level than the bottom of the bag so that gravity can do its job. Water will find its lowest level.

You’re going to need a t-shirt…

Now, I’m not going to tell you this is a speedy process. It’s not. You may need four hours just to get one-third of a cup of water.

But if you have plenty of plastic bags and string, and there are lots of plants around with green leaves, you can significantly increase your water collection.

When you’re ready to extract water from the bag, cut a small hole in the bag at its lowest point while holding a cup or other container under it.

If you’re parched, you’ll probably pour this water down your throat as quickly as possible. But to be on the safe side, filter it through a fabric such as a t-shirt.

Or a cup and a drill…

Now, what if there are no plants with green leaves in your vicinity? And the leaves growing on trees are too high to reach?

Well, you can still extract water from those trees. Here’s how. Cut a small piece of a branch roughly the width of your arm at a 90-degree angle.

Tie that piece of wood to a tree so that the flat end is facing up. Place your cup or other small receptacle on top of the flat surface.

About six inches above the cup, drill a hole in the tree that’s roughly the thickness of your index finger. Place a small tube or grooved stick into the hole and water will seep out and land in the cup.

But DON’T drink from this

OK, Frank, but what if I’m in the desert and the only things growing around me are cacti? Can I get enough water out of them to survive?

Honestly, probably not. And even if you are able to extract water from our prickly desert friends, it’s very likely toxic.

The liquid produced by a cactus is extremely acidic. This can cause serious side effects like vomiting, which will only dehydrate you more. That’s the last thing you need when you’re trying to survive. The lesson here is to stay out of the desert without a good supply of clean water.

But when you’re in the woods or the wilderness, plants and trees can provide enough water to keep you going until you’re rescued.

[VIDEO] 4Patriots Survival Minutes | 5-Step Home Survival Guide

Join former Navy SEAL Cade Courtley in this 4Patriots Survival Minute, as he breaks down the must-haves for a 72-hour home survival kit. From water rationing to the importance of non-lethal self-defense, Cade shares practical tips and tools to help you become a survivor, not a statistic.

The Inside Scoop 🎬:

Learn the five essential elements for addressing survival situations at home: water, food, medical supplies, shelter, and security.
The recommended water supply is one gallon per person per day, with half for drinking and half for cooking or sanitation, totaling three gallons for 72 hours.
A 72-hour food kit is pre portioned for you as a crucial component of the survival kit.
The inclusion of a sleeping bag is recommended by Cade to address potential temperature drops in case of power outages, even if indoors.
First aid supplies, including a three-day stock of prescription medication, are also essentials for self-sufficiency and safety in emergencies.

Featured Products 🔦:

72-Hour Survival Food Kit

HaloXT Tactical Flashlight

Patriot Power Cell

Deluxe First Aid Kit

Transcript 🎞️:

“Hey folks, former Navy SEAL Cade Courtly with your 4Patriots “Survival Minute.”

Okay, so let’s discuss the five things that you basically need to address for dealing with a survival situation at home: water, food, medical. You need to deal with shelter, and then you need to deal with security. So we’re going to address all five of those things, and they’re all contained within this container for your at-home kit.

I start with a big old tote bin; these things are great because they’re varmint proof, they’re waterproof. When you fill it up, you can stick it in a closet, put it in the basement, and just leave it alone; it’s ready to roll.

All right, first things first, water. In this kind of scenario, I recommend one gallon per person per day, half of which is for drinking; the other half is for cooking and cleaning or sanitation. You need three of these for 72 hours.

Next, the aptly named 72-hour food kit. These are great, they’re ready to roll for you; you’re going to want to average about 2,000 calories a day, and this is a perfect kit for 3 days or 72 hours.

Next, I have a great little sleeping bag I like keeping in here. Yes, you’re indoors, which is great; you’re going to have shelter from rain, snow, wind. But if the power is out and the temperature outside is cold, the temperature inside is going to drop rapidly. This is just a really nice-to-have thing; you know, obviously, you have blankets and things like that, but I like having this in my kit so you can just grab it.

All right, first aid. If something goes wrong, you’re not going to be able to call 911 because nobody’s going to show up. So you want to be able to take care of things within your own home on your own. Also, I highly recommend having 3 days of prescription medication in this if that’s something that you require on a daily basis.

Okay, we can’t forget lights. HaloXT, the thing is amazing; you guys all have seen it, you know all about it. Lights are going to be out, and you’re going to need to find your way around. And then, Patriot Power Cell, must-haves. These are great, put them in your bin.

Final thing I want to discuss is security. When things get nasty outside, you’re going to see the worst in people. All right, you might have firearms in the house, but if you’re somebody that is uneasy or uncomfortable with that kind of situation, I highly recommend bear spray. It’s a non-lethal form of self-defense.

All right, folks, so that is your very basic 72-hour, 3-day home survival kit. Strong recommendations for additions to it: Patriot power generator is incredible, I love those things. The emergency radio so you can know what’s going on, what the status is of the power, the situation outside. I mean, you could fill eight of these up, and I think starting with this one is a great start, and then you can just keep adding to it and adding to it so you will be a survivor, not a statistic. This is Cade Courtley with your 4Patriots survival minute.”

Are You Spending Too Much on Groceries?

Sticker shock is usually associated with big-ticket items. Such as cars, boats, and home renovations.

But the truth is, Americans experience sticker shock every time we go to the grocery store these days. Inflation, supply chain problems, and shortages of some items are responsible.

Some of us probably throw up our hands and say, “What can I do? That’s just the way it is.” But in reality, there are things we can do to lower our grocery bills.

And that’s what I want to talk about today. Proper budgeting plus a few tricks can result in less of a sticker shock when we reach the checkout lane.

Get into budget mode

The first thing you need to do to start saving money at the grocery store is to get into budget mode. That means always thinking about how you can spend less and save more. Here are some things to consider while shopping:

Never pay full price for anything. Always look for bargains. You’re better off spending time than money.

Buy items in bulk at places such as Sam’s Club or Costco. Or when they’re on sale in regular stores.

Cut and use coupons.

Find and use in-store-only offers.

Grow your own food and preserve it. There is tremendous savings in growing fruits and vegetables. And storing some of them for the colder months of the year.

Watch for the best deals on websites such as Amazon. They could have exactly what you’re looking for, at a price much less than what you’d spend at a local store.

Tips and tricks

If you’re not paying attention, the cost of groceries can go up quickly. The average couple spends about $655 a month on groceries. Let’s look at a few simple ways to save.

Make a list. Grocers know how to position products so shoppers will purchase them. If you have a list, you know just what you need (and what you don’t). And of course, if you avoid shopping when you’re hungry, it’s that much easier to resist tempting displays.

Also, choose foods that your family will eat. Variety is important, both physically and psychologically. But you could buy some of the healthiest food in the store, and if your family won’t eat it, you’ve thrown your money away.

Buy store brands. Buying store brands alone can take a huge chunk out of your grocery costs. Sometimes there will be a brand name item or two that you can’t do without. But more often than not, you won’t notice the difference. Except when it’s time to check out.

Use digital coupons. Many stores offer digital coupons not available in the weekly newspaper. To acquire these savings, you’ll likely need to set up an account and check off the coupons you wish to use each time you shop.

Doing this ahead of time as you scan the weekly circular can help you write your shopping list around items with the biggest savings.

Stick to the store perimeter. Center aisles have many expensive, processed foods full of salt, sugar, and other additives. The outside ring of the store is where you’ll find more foods such as produce, meat and dairy.

You’ll still need to visit the center aisles for a few things. But focusing on the perimeter will give you more bang for your buck. Try leaving your cart at the end of the aisle, and just grab the items you need.

Freeze meals. If you’re buying in bulk, you’ll want to make sure things don’t go to waste. You can freeze many items including bread, milk, and chopped vegetables, as well as whole meals. Just remember your power could go out in a crisis.

Use fewer ingredients. Sometimes the simplest food tastes best. But you wouldn’t always know it looking at some of the complicated recipes out there.

Sites such as Allrecipes (AllRecipes.com) are great for finding different options for your favorite recipes. And usually the top reviews will include tips on how to make them even easier.

Buy in bulk. I saved one of the best ones for last. We’re not talking here about warehouse stores, which have membership fees. And usually a minimum price tag of $10 per item. Even in a regular grocery store, you don’t want to buy large amounts of just anything on sale.

It’s about buying more of things you already use often when there’s a significant sale. If it means you shop less often, this can add up to even more savings. Another item to purchase in bulk is produce.

Onions, potatoes, apples and lemons are almost always cheaper when you buy the bag. Just make sure you actually use them so they don’t go to waste. Buying beans and grains in bulk can also stretch your dollars while providing hearty, healthy meals.

Despite inflation, supply chain problems, and food shortages, we don’t have to be victims of sticker shock at the grocery store.

If we take matters into our own hands, we can cut down on the amount of money we spend on groceries.

How to Survive a Power Outage

There are currently more than 3,500 power outages in America every year. That’s according to a recent report from the American Society of Engineers. And our annual average of power outages doubles every five years.

If you’re a typical American, you’ve probably experienced more than one outage over the past 12 months. The average outage lasts four hours. That’s long enough to spoil food in a fridge. And inconvenience people trying to see, read, work, and conduct other normal activities.

And sometimes – especially when the cause is extreme weather or equipment failures – you could be without electrical power for days or even weeks.

Why? Because our electrical grids are old. They’re vulnerable to natural disasters, physical assaults, and cyberattacks. That means you and your family are vulnerable as well.

So, the question is, are you ready if a power outage occurs in your area tomorrow? That’s what I want to help you answer today.

Blackouts can be dangerous

Severe weather not only happens more frequently than ever before. It’s becoming more extreme. The intensity of storms is growing. That’s a double whammy if I’ve ever seen one.

And intentional attacks against the grid are occurring more often. They’re also becoming more sophisticated. Either way, the end result is power outages.

These blackouts endanger lives. They spoil food. They disrupt the food supply chain. They cut communication lines. They contaminate water.

Below I’ve provided a checklist of things you can do to survive a blackout. Before, during, and after. Following this advice will put you in a position to handle power outages without a hitch.

What to do before a blackout

As with all survival situations, the better prepared you are for a blackout, the greater the chance you and your family will survive it. Experts recommend the following:

Put together a supply of emergency food and water for your family. Start with 72 hours’ worth. Then build it up to a week, a month, a year, and longer.

Build an emergency kit or bug-out bag. Store your kit in an easily accessible place. Let everyone in the home know where it is and what it contains. Consider having an additional emergency kit at your place of business. In case a blackout occurs while you’re at work.

Make a family communication plan. Discuss all aspects of it with household members. Conduct a dry run every few months to make sure everyone is ready to carry out the plan.

Follow energy conservation measures to keep electricity use as low as possible. This can help power companies avoid imposing rolling blackouts.

Fill plastic containers with water and place them in the refrigerator and freezer. Leave about an inch of space inside each one. Water expands as it freezes. This chilled or frozen water will help keep food cold during a temporary outage.

Be aware that most medication requiring refrigeration can be kept in a closed fridge for several hours without a problem. If unsure, check with your physician or pharmacist.

Keep your car tank full. Gas stations rely on electricity to power pumps. In addition to being your emergency transportation, your car could also be your charging system for your cell phone. And possibly the only heating or air conditioning you’ll have for a while.

Know where the manual release lever of your electric garage door opener is located. And how to operate it. Garage doors can be heavy. Remember you may need help to lift it.

Keep a key to your house with you if you regularly use the garage as the primary means of entering your home. Just in case the garage door will not open.

Get a good supply of cash. Some stores may not be able to process credit card and debit card purchases in an outage. Cash machines may not be working.

Other items you should have ready to go on short notice are:

NOAA emergency weather radio

First-aid kit

Sleeping bag for each family member

Several pairs of wool socks and thermal underwear for each family member

Battery-powered lamps or lanterns

Non-electric can opener

Prescription drugs and other needed medicine

Rock salt to melt ice on walkways

Chemical fire extinguisher

Battery-powered smoke alarm

Battery-powered carbon monoxide detector

Disposable plates, bowls, and utensils

Deck of cards, jigsaw puzzles, and board games

What to do during a blackout

If you’ve prepared for a blackout, you’ll be ready to deal with it. Following are recommendations from a variety of sources:

Use only flashlights for emergency lighting. Never use candles during a blackout or power outage due to fire risk.

Check in with neighbors. If they have power, the problem is inside your home. Check your fuses and circuit breakers.

If you’re using a generator to power lights, be careful how long you keep them on. If your home is the only one lit up at night, you could become a target. Heavy window coverings would help.

Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to make sure your food stays as cold and fresh as possible. Check food carefully for spoilage.

Turn off or disconnect appliances, equipment, and electronics in use when the power went out. They could be damaged if power returns with a momentary surge or spike.

Don’t run a gas-powered generator inside your home or garage.

Don’t connect a generator to your home’s electrical system. Connect the equipment you want to run directly to the generator outlets.

Listen to local radio and to a battery- or generator-powered television for news updates.

Leave one electrical item on – such as a light – so that you’ll know when your power returns.

Use your phones for emergencies only.

Don’t call 9-1-1 to gain information about the power situation. Use it only to report life-threatening emergencies.

Drink only bottled or previously filtered water until you determine whether a boil alert has been issued in your community.

If it’s cold outside when the power goes out, wear layers of clothing. Don’t use your oven as a source of heat. Find a place to go where the heat is working. Open window blinds and curtains during the day. Keep a small drip coming from each faucet, which will keep pipes from freezing.

If it’s hot outside when the power goes off, go to the lowest level of your home. Or to a movie theater or shopping mall if their air conditioning is working. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing and drink plenty of water. Even if you’re not thirsty. Keep window blinds and curtains closed.

Try to make sure your pets have plenty of fresh, cool water, and anything else they need for their survival and comfort.

Eliminate unnecessary travel, especially by car. There may be a considerable amount of traffic congestion with people trying to get out of town and traffic lights not working. If you have to drive, treat every intersection as if it were a four-way stop.

Fill the bathtub with water, as your faucet water flow may decrease or stop entirely over time. Duct tape the drain so that water does not leak out. Fill other containers with water as well, such as buckets.

Save the risk-taking for later. Power outages mean crowded emergency rooms and delayed ambulance service. So play it safe for a while.

What to do after a blackout

At some point, regardless of the length of the blackout, it will end. Power will be restored. Once you and your family finish celebrating, it’s time to check a few things.

Throw out any food that has been exposed to temperatures of 40 degrees Fahrenheit for two or more hours. Same for any food that has an unusual odor, color, or texture. When in doubt, toss it out.

Don’t use taste – or even odor or appearance – to determine if your food is still good. Food can look and smell OK, but may contain bacteria that causes food-borne illnesses. Some bacteria produces toxins. Not all of them can be destroyed by boiling or cooking.

Don’t turn all your appliances back on at once. If everyone does that, it could overtax the grid and result in another regional blackout. Get your heat or air conditioning back on first. Then wait 10 or 15 minutes before starting up other items or appliances.

If the water from your faucet did not run during the blackout but now is running, don’t drink from it right away. Let it run for a while and listen to local broadcasts or contact your local health department to find out if a nearby water source has been compromised during the blackout.

Outages are an equal opportunity offender

The most dangerous thing you can do when it comes to power outages is assume they will never happen to you. The fact is, they can happen anytime and anywhere to anyone.

Even in unexpected places. Nobody in Texas and other Southern states foresaw Winter Storm Uri in 2021. But that extreme weather event shut off power to millions for several days and longer.

It caused hundreds of deaths and countless injuries. There’s no way to measure the emotional toll it took on millions of people.

And it could have been even worse The Texas electrical grid was within 4 minutes and 37 seconds of a total collapse.

Don’t delay your preparations

Here’s the reality, folks. People who have not prepared for an emergency will struggle with a temporary blackout. They’ll fall apart in a medium-length blackout. And they’ll probably die in a lengthy blackout.

But if you have fully prepared, a temporary blackout will be nothing more than a minor inconvenience. A medium-length blackout will be one you can handle with some determination. A lengthy blackout will test the resolve of even the most prepared person.

But if you’ve done everything you can in advance and use common sense during the blackout, you will have a much better chance of surviving an event that will cause panic and wreak havoc everywhere the problem exists.

Now is the time to get prepared. Don’t wait another minute!

A Garden In The Winter? Yes!

Spring may seem a long way off. After all, it’s not even officially winter yet. Although in some areas of the country it sure feels that way.

But spring will be here in a little over three months. And a few steps you take now could go a long way to making your spring garden flourish.

On the other hand, if you wait until spring to take those steps? You could end up missing out on weeks’ worth of harvest.

You may be thinking, “OK, Frank. I understand the logic of planting some crops indoors in February and then replanting them outside after the last frost. But what could I do in December to benefit my spring garden? Especially if I live in a cold climate? Glad you asked.

Put on your thinking cap

There may not be a whole lot of gardening you can do this late in the year. Unless you’re keeping an eye on crops you planted earlier in the fall.

But there are a number of things you can do indoors over the next couple of months to enhance what will be your spring garden.

Among them are thinking about what has worked well and what hasn’t in the past. Including the methods you’ve tried. And the particular plants you’ve seeded, nurtured, harvested, and eaten.

Two other activities you can engage in now that will benefit you later are planning and buying. Decide what you want to plant – as well as when and how – and purchase items you’ll need for that. Many of those items will be less expensive now than next spring.

Learn from the past

Try to recall which varieties of plants you placed in your garden in the spring. As well as which ones did well and which didn’t.

Learn from mistakes. Such as transplanting too soon or too late. Or planting seeds too deeply or not deeply enough.

Or planting the seeds of different plants too close together. Or not properly utilizing the garden space you have. Or watering too often or not often enough.

Depending on how long you’ve been gardening, you may not have achieved the perfect garden yet. Few of us do. The key is learning along the way. And recording successes and failures helps your recall the next time around.

Read, write, & wait

Even if you were 100% satisfied with your garden, there is always something that can be improved. And if you weren’t fully satisfied, there are definitely things to learn.

What better time than the coldest months of the year than to curl up with some great gardening books and magazines? Plus seed catalogs. You can also watch gardening videos.

Jot down notes while you’re reading and viewing. I’m willing to bet you’ll learn some things you’ll be able to incorporate into your garden come spring.

Make a list of the plants you want to grow in your garden. Maybe you’ll decide to choose one or two you’ve never tried before.

Make a map of your proposed garden layout. Including which plants will go in which rows. Create a planting schedule for indoors and out so you won’t miss a crucial date.

Buy now; thank yourself later

Now it’s time to take your debit card out of your wallet. This is a great time to purchase the seeds you’ll want to use in your spring garden.

It’s also a good time to step into your garage and take inventory of your gardening tools and accessories.

Maybe it’s time to replace a shovel, hoe, or rake. Or a spade, cutter, trowel, or pruning shears. Not to mention a Ph soil tester, watering can, tote bag, gloves, and knee pads.

You can also stock up on potting soil and seed trays. Plus small planting pots, peat pots, and tubes for irrigation.

Planning in advance for your spring gardening fits in well with your overall preparedness strategy. And it will put you one step ahead of those who don’t prepare.

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