Last night I had the honor, once again, to be interviewed on The Doctor Prepper Radio Show. Feel free to go take a listen at the following link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper/2010/06/24/doctor-prepper-talk-show
I've had this honor before and hope to have it again soon since the subject of self-sufficiency, back-to-basics and preparing for the future are very passionate topics and a way of life for myself and our family. But for now, I want to share a topic that kind of brewed in my mind over night.
Every day, I have more and more people call my business line who are looking for products to make their lives more self-reliant and healthy. (http://www.millersgrainhouse.com/store in case you want to call too! Just go to the 'contact us link') Inevitably, the topic is nervously brought up about preparation. The callers often feel like they are completely alone in thinking there is a need to prepare and are trying to find a means to do so on a budget. Often I'm asked if it is wise....
Let me emphatically say - YES it is!
Let's say you invest in a grain mill and grain to store. Grain stores longer than flour, the freshly milled flour is WAY more nutritious than dead-processed-bagged flour, so it is an investment in your current and future health. Tell me what stock market will give you that kind of return? Present and future good health. None. In fact, you KNOW you can eat the food you bought.... you don't know if you'll make any money in the stock market. Seems to me a more frugal investment to build your long-term workable pantry and be prepared with food and skills than invest elsewhere.
Let's say you invest time and supplies into growing a garden. In tending and harvesting that garden you have gained skills that not only are becoming more rare in our disposable society, but you have exercised (as humans were created to, not in a gym but by good and productive work). Again two instant benefits of investing time and money (which is less than the items in the grocery store).
Let's say that you in supplies to 'put up' (or store) your garden harvest. Again, whether you are canning, preserving, freezing, pickling or dehydrating, you have learned skills (and better yet if you can pass those skills to your kids or grandkids) that NO ONE can take from you. You won't loose them in a lay-off or company downsizing. You may be surprised that those skills may completely SAVE your budget in the event of a company downsizing or job loss. I know our family has seen that exact reality play out.
Does it cost money to switch from a twenty-first century lifestyle of convenience foods and to-go boxes? Does it cost time to invest in making sure your purchases are USED and in using them you gain intangible skill that will serve you and other generations to come?
It may cost a little up front, but the investment in being prepared pays off FAR more than the little green pieces of paper. It pays off in a feeling of assurance, caring for your family, confidence, health, and skills. These are things that the money can't buy anyway. That is the greater pay-off in this frugal investment of being prepared.
Until next time....
Best Blessings!
Donna Miller
The Millers own and operate Millers Grain House which offers Chemical Free and Organic Grains, Grain Mills, Bread Machines,Grain buckets, Bosch Mixers, the NutriMill, instructional tutorials, recipes and more.
