Start-Ups on a Shoestring
Still have some "Ball Blue Books" left! Everything you need to know about canning and freezing! 
Gentle ways to repel or get rid of bothersome insects.
Even though movie studios have tried make us fall in love with ants and other insects, most of us aren't thrilled to find ants and spiders crawling around in our cupboards -- no matter how cute they are. Unfortunately, canned, chemical sprays may be deadly in more ways than one (recent studies linked them to Parkinson's disease). Plus, the odor of traditional bug repellents is less than savory. Luckily, there are tried-and-true natural bug repellents and killers that will get the job done without harsh chemicals.
We got some tips for repelling bugs naturally from our favorite bug man, Richard Fagerlund, an entomologist and author of numerous books, including The Bugman on Bugs: Understanding Household Pests and the Environment and his latest on his website about the misuse of pesticides, Deliberate Acts of Madness. To find out about some of his best bug tips, read on:
Ants
Fagerlund says that most ants can be controlled with homemade bait made from peanut butter (two tablespoons), jelly (two tablespoons) and boric acid (one teaspoon). Put the bait in a small disposable container. To eliminate ant mounds outside, try this trick: Dampen the mounds with water, then pour on baking soda and a bit of white vinegar -- the mixture will bubble and kill off the ants.
Mosquitoes
Planting basil outside is known to repel flies and mosquitoes, but Fagerlund says that he is excited about a new natural repellent with the main ingredient of catnip from Preventive Pest Control, a bug control service with locations nationwide. "But, don't try to use catnip alone to repel mosquitoes," Fagerlund explains. The new recipe will be available for consumer purchase on Preventive Pest Control's website, says Greg Hunt, owner, who is feverishly working to have the product available this season.
Spiders
Spiders can easily be killed with a mixture of water (40 percent), alcohol (40 percent) and dish soap (20 percent). Put the mixture in an inexpensive sprayer and spray on the spider, advises Fagerlund.
Flies
To repel flies, fill a one gallon clear plastic zip top bag less than halfway with water, then hang it near the top of your door, on your railings or from your eaves (you can do this by using duct tape, or, by gathering together and tying the top of the bag with rope, rubber bands or tape and then hooking it gently onto a nail without making a hole in the bag). "Flies have compound vision so when they see the water, they will think there are hundreds of flies nearby and they won't be interested in coming around anymore," Fagerlund says of this proven method.
Cockroaches
To control cockroaches, Fagerlund recommends Niban Bait, made from boric acid (it is available only online at Professional Pest Control Products).
Want more natural bug repellent advice? For a list of other natural ways to knock off bugs, take a look at The Dollar Stretcher website, where readers wrote in with their best ideas. Fagerlund says he is also a fan of Green Advantage Organics, a new source of organic bug killers that he says work well. If you are an insect-lover, at least you know that you got rid of them the green way.
Even though movie studios have tried make us fall in love with ants and other insects, most of us aren't thrilled to find ants and spiders crawling around in our cupboards -- no matter how cute they are. Unfortunately, canned, chemical sprays may be deadly in more ways than one (recent studies linked them to Parkinson's disease). Plus, the odor of traditional bug repellents is less than savory. Luckily, there are tried-and-true natural bug repellents and killers that will get the job done without harsh chemicals.
We got some tips for repelling bugs naturally from our favorite bug man, Richard Fagerlund, an entomologist and author of numerous books, including The Bugman on Bugs: Understanding Household Pests and the Environment and his latest on his website about the misuse of pesticides, Deliberate Acts of Madness. To find out about some of his best bug tips, read on:
Ants
Fagerlund says that most ants can be controlled with homemade bait made from peanut butter (two tablespoons), jelly (two tablespoons) and boric acid (one teaspoon). Put the bait in a small disposable container. To eliminate ant mounds outside, try this trick: Dampen the mounds with water, then pour on baking soda and a bit of white vinegar -- the mixture will bubble and kill off the ants.
Mosquitoes
Planting basil outside is known to repel flies and mosquitoes, but Fagerlund says that he is excited about a new natural repellent with the main ingredient of catnip from Preventive Pest Control, a bug control service with locations nationwide. "But, don't try to use catnip alone to repel mosquitoes," Fagerlund explains. The new recipe will be available for consumer purchase on Preventive Pest Control's website, says Greg Hunt, owner, who is feverishly working to have the product available this season.
Spiders
Spiders can easily be killed with a mixture of water (40 percent), alcohol (40 percent) and dish soap (20 percent). Put the mixture in an inexpensive sprayer and spray on the spider, advises Fagerlund.
Flies
To repel flies, fill a one gallon clear plastic zip top bag less than halfway with water, then hang it near the top of your door, on your railings or from your eaves (you can do this by using duct tape, or, by gathering together and tying the top of the bag with rope, rubber bands or tape and then hooking it gently onto a nail without making a hole in the bag). "Flies have compound vision so when they see the water, they will think there are hundreds of flies nearby and they won't be interested in coming around anymore," Fagerlund says of this proven method.
Cockroaches
To control cockroaches, Fagerlund recommends Niban Bait, made from boric acid (it is available only online at Professional Pest Control Products).
Want more natural bug repellent advice? For a list of other natural ways to knock off bugs, take a look at The Dollar Stretcher website, where readers wrote in with their best ideas. Fagerlund says he is also a fan of Green Advantage Organics, a new source of organic bug killers that he says work well. If you are an insect-lover, at least you know that you got rid of them the green way.
Grains: How much and how to cook!
Herb Lore: Natural Remedies
We all know that herbs make great companions in the garden and kitchen. Herbs also have a long history as a natural remedy—and many other more unusual uses, too! Read on. . .
Anise
Romans paid taxes with anise, and it was used in cough drops.
Romans paid taxes with anise, and it was used in cough drops.
Basil
Precious to lovers in Italy and considered sacred in India. Many years ago, Italian men wore a sprig of basil to indicate their intended marriage. A cup of basil tea after dinner helps digestion. Ease a headache by drinking tomato juice blended with fresh basil.
Precious to lovers in Italy and considered sacred in India. Many years ago, Italian men wore a sprig of basil to indicate their intended marriage. A cup of basil tea after dinner helps digestion. Ease a headache by drinking tomato juice blended with fresh basil.
Borage
The Romans believed the herb to be an antidepressant, and ancient Celtic warriors took it for courage.
The Romans believed the herb to be an antidepressant, and ancient Celtic warriors took it for courage.
Caraway
Caraway was used to scent perfumes and soaps. The Greeks used it for upset stomachs.
Caraway was used to scent perfumes and soaps. The Greeks used it for upset stomachs.
Chervil
Eating a whole plant would cure hiccups; chervil was said to warm old and cold stomachs.
Eating a whole plant would cure hiccups; chervil was said to warm old and cold stomachs.
Chives
Bunches of chives hung in your home were used to drive away diseases and evil.
Bunches of chives hung in your home were used to drive away diseases and evil.
Dill
Romans made wreaths and garlands out of dill. Dill keeps witches away.
Romans made wreaths and garlands out of dill. Dill keeps witches away.
Fennel
Bunches of fennel were used to drive off witches. It was used in love potions and as an appetite suppressant.
Bunches of fennel were used to drive off witches. It was used in love potions and as an appetite suppressant.
Garlic
It was thought to give strength and courage. Aristotle noted garlic's use as a guard against the fear of water. It's also been widely used against evil powers.
It was thought to give strength and courage. Aristotle noted garlic's use as a guard against the fear of water. It's also been widely used against evil powers.
Lovage
Chewing on a piece of the dried root will keep you awake. Lovage warms a cold stomach and help digestion. Added to bathwater, it was believed to relieve skin problems.
Chewing on a piece of the dried root will keep you awake. Lovage warms a cold stomach and help digestion. Added to bathwater, it was believed to relieve skin problems.
Marjoram
The Greeks believed it could revive the spirits of anyone who inhaled it. At weddings wreaths and garlands were made of marjoram.
The Greeks believed it could revive the spirits of anyone who inhaled it. At weddings wreaths and garlands were made of marjoram.
Mint
It was believed to cure hiccups and counteract sea-serpent stings. The Romans wore peppermint wreaths on their heads. It was added to bathwater for its fragrance.
It was believed to cure hiccups and counteract sea-serpent stings. The Romans wore peppermint wreaths on their heads. It was added to bathwater for its fragrance.
Oregano
Used for "sour humours" that plagued old farmers. Also used for scorpion and spider bites.
Used for "sour humours" that plagued old farmers. Also used for scorpion and spider bites.
Parsley
Used for wreaths and in funeral ceremonies. Believed to repel head lice and attract rabbits.
Used for wreaths and in funeral ceremonies. Believed to repel head lice and attract rabbits.
Rosemary
Rosemary in your hair will improve your memory. It will protect you from evil spirits if you put a sprig under your pillow.
Rosemary in your hair will improve your memory. It will protect you from evil spirits if you put a sprig under your pillow.
Sage
Thought to promote strength and longevity and believed to cure warts. American Indians used it as a toothbrush.
Thought to promote strength and longevity and believed to cure warts. American Indians used it as a toothbrush.
Summer Savory
It was believed to be an aphrodisiac. Some thought it was a cure for deafness.
It was believed to be an aphrodisiac. Some thought it was a cure for deafness.
Tarragon
Put in shoes before long walking trips to give strength. It has been used to relieve toothache and as an antifungal.
Put in shoes before long walking trips to give strength. It has been used to relieve toothache and as an antifungal.
Thyme
Burning thyme gets rid of insects in your house. A bed of thyme was thought to be a home for fairies.
Burning thyme gets rid of insects in your house. A bed of thyme was thought to be a home for fairies.
Found a great deal on Ball Canning Books. Was able to get 15 of them at $2.00 each. Anyone interested, let me know. It will be first come first serve.
Love Food Hate Waste
Many of you are probably aware that for the last 13 months we have been writing this column from London, England where we are serving a mission for the Church. This morning, being a P-day, we went off to do a little shopping of our own and ran into a grocery “roadshow.” It was titled “Love Food Hate Waste.” We spent a delightful, few minutes listening to the presentation and picking up the recipes and pamphlets provided by some very savvy home economists. We’d like to tell you more about what we learned.
In the United Kingdom 8.8 million tons or £ 12 billion of food and drink are wasted every year. In the United States that problem is even larger. The average American family of four tosses out 1.3 pounds of food every day or 474.5 pounds each year. Since 1974 the amount of food we waste has increased by 50% until it is now estimated that we throw out 1400 calories of food each and every day or 150 trillion calories per year. Internet author Jodie Humphries writes in an article entitled “The impact of domestic food on climate change” that food waste in the US and Europe alone could feed the world three times over. That’s a lot of food wasted!
Why do so many of us waste so much food? That is a good question. The reasons vary but principally we waste food because
In the United Kingdom 8.8 million tons or £ 12 billion of food and drink are wasted every year. In the United States that problem is even larger. The average American family of four tosses out 1.3 pounds of food every day or 474.5 pounds each year. Since 1974 the amount of food we waste has increased by 50% until it is now estimated that we throw out 1400 calories of food each and every day or 150 trillion calories per year. Internet author Jodie Humphries writes in an article entitled “The impact of domestic food on climate change” that food waste in the US and Europe alone could feed the world three times over. That’s a lot of food wasted!
Why do so many of us waste so much food? That is a good question. The reasons vary but principally we waste food because
• We’ve cooked or prepared too much for our family to eat (particularly pasta and rice)
• We haven’t used it in time and it has gone bad (especially fruits and vegetables)
• The food goes past its “use by” or “expiration” date
• We haven’t planned our meals properly or our plans changed
• We forgot about the food we stored in our cupboards or our refrigerator
• We didn’t know how to properly use our leftovers
• We haven’t used it in time and it has gone bad (especially fruits and vegetables)
• The food goes past its “use by” or “expiration” date
• We haven’t planned our meals properly or our plans changed
• We forgot about the food we stored in our cupboards or our refrigerator
• We didn’t know how to properly use our leftovers
How do we remedy the situation?
Look through your cupboards and your refrigerator before heading to the supermarket. A young mother of four took advantage of a recent holiday weekend to sort through the contents of her cupboards looking for packages and cans which might be ready to expire. She found: four packets of rice, two half-consumed packages of spaghetti, a few garlic cloves, a half empty bottle of soy sauce, a half-eaten box of cornflakes, a partial package of crackers, 1 can of vegetable soup, 2 cans of kidney beans, and 4 cans of chopped tomatoes.
Then she went to her refrigerator. There, lurking behind the contents in the forefront of her shelves, she discovered some dabs of vegetables--onions, green peppers, and mushrooms. In her freezer was a packet of shredded chicken she had leftover from Sunday dinner the month previous, and three pounds of hamburger.
She tasted the crackers and discovered them too stale to use. Even though she was forced to throw those away, she put the rest of these items to immediate use. She made stir-fry the first day out of the shredded chicken, the dabs of fresh vegetables, the soy sauce, and some of the packets of rice. The second day she made spaghetti from scratch and used up 2 of her cans of chopped tomatoes and the 2 half-empty packages of spaghetti noodles. The third day she added the kidney beans to hamburger and poured over them 2 additional cans of tomatoes and a few spices and she had chili. The fourth day she used all that was left of her hamburger, another packet of rice, the vegetable soup, and turned it into meatloaf. The half eaten box of corn flakes was growing stale. She popped them onto a cookie sheet, placed them in a 350-degree oven for 3-5 minutes and placed them into an airtight container and her children ate them for the rest of the week. She still needed to go to the store to buy a few more groceries, but she had the basic ingredients for four meals and 5 breakfasts and she figured she shaved at least $50 off her typical grocery bill just because of better planning—not bad.
Use your freezer. Keep your freezer temperature at -18 C. or 0 F. for optimum usage. Fresh food can be used anytime up to the expiration date or it can be placed in the freezer where it will stay fresh nearly indefinitely if it is properly frozen.
Look through your cupboards and your refrigerator before heading to the supermarket. A young mother of four took advantage of a recent holiday weekend to sort through the contents of her cupboards looking for packages and cans which might be ready to expire. She found: four packets of rice, two half-consumed packages of spaghetti, a few garlic cloves, a half empty bottle of soy sauce, a half-eaten box of cornflakes, a partial package of crackers, 1 can of vegetable soup, 2 cans of kidney beans, and 4 cans of chopped tomatoes.
Then she went to her refrigerator. There, lurking behind the contents in the forefront of her shelves, she discovered some dabs of vegetables--onions, green peppers, and mushrooms. In her freezer was a packet of shredded chicken she had leftover from Sunday dinner the month previous, and three pounds of hamburger.
She tasted the crackers and discovered them too stale to use. Even though she was forced to throw those away, she put the rest of these items to immediate use. She made stir-fry the first day out of the shredded chicken, the dabs of fresh vegetables, the soy sauce, and some of the packets of rice. The second day she made spaghetti from scratch and used up 2 of her cans of chopped tomatoes and the 2 half-empty packages of spaghetti noodles. The third day she added the kidney beans to hamburger and poured over them 2 additional cans of tomatoes and a few spices and she had chili. The fourth day she used all that was left of her hamburger, another packet of rice, the vegetable soup, and turned it into meatloaf. The half eaten box of corn flakes was growing stale. She popped them onto a cookie sheet, placed them in a 350-degree oven for 3-5 minutes and placed them into an airtight container and her children ate them for the rest of the week. She still needed to go to the store to buy a few more groceries, but she had the basic ingredients for four meals and 5 breakfasts and she figured she shaved at least $50 off her typical grocery bill just because of better planning—not bad.
Use your freezer. Keep your freezer temperature at -18 C. or 0 F. for optimum usage. Fresh food can be used anytime up to the expiration date or it can be placed in the freezer where it will stay fresh nearly indefinitely if it is properly frozen.
Turn small portions of leftovers into frozen dinners like the ones you often buy in the store.
It won’t matter if your family eats the same menu. Those one-portion only dinners can be popped into the oven or microwave and re-heated just like the professionally frozen varieties. In a pinch, you can serve yourself and your kids macaroni and cheese, chicken and mashed potatoes, and roast beef with gravy in just minutes with almost no fuss and only a tiny bit of clean up. Your leftovers can be just as good and nutritious as the commercial brands. Or after your next trip to the fast-food joint, take the children’s leftover chicken nuggets and French fries and make your own fast-food, frozen meal.
Cut up fresh vegetables and freeze them. I often freeze packages of onions, green peppers, mushrooms, and even garlic. Mash overripe bananas to be used later for banana bread or banana cake.
Grate a brick of cheese and freeze it. I have even done this after it has shown the first signs of mold. Many cheese’s are aged and mold cut away before they are packaged and placed in the store. Many people don’t even know this. Simply cut the mold away and grate what is left. Those frozen dabs of cheese make great casserole toppings or can be popped into a pasta sauce.
Chop up or mash small portions of fresh fruit. Add it to yogurt for a breakfast smoothie.
Cut up fresh vegetables and freeze them. I often freeze packages of onions, green peppers, mushrooms, and even garlic. Mash overripe bananas to be used later for banana bread or banana cake.
Grate a brick of cheese and freeze it. I have even done this after it has shown the first signs of mold. Many cheese’s are aged and mold cut away before they are packaged and placed in the store. Many people don’t even know this. Simply cut the mold away and grate what is left. Those frozen dabs of cheese make great casserole toppings or can be popped into a pasta sauce.
Chop up or mash small portions of fresh fruit. Add it to yogurt for a breakfast smoothie.
Freeze those last bits of sauce or dressing in a jar in ice cube trays. Pop them into some future recipe.
Squeeze citrus before it goes bad and freeze it also in ice cube trays. Pop them out when frozen and place the frozen citrus juice cubes into a big freezer bag. It is already measured and ready for any recipe.
Squeeze citrus before it goes bad and freeze it also in ice cube trays. Pop them out when frozen and place the frozen citrus juice cubes into a big freezer bag. It is already measured and ready for any recipe.
Revive it. Soak wilted greens in cold water for 30 minutes to shock and revive them for a green salad or sandwich.
Pour boiling water over rock hard dried fruit and soak it a bit before using it.
Pour boiling water over rock hard dried fruit and soak it a bit before using it.
Wash your other produce in a bowl of water with a bit of vinegar and a dash of salt. This not only cleans them but extends their life.
Take stale boxes of cereal, chips, or nuts and give them a second life by placing them onto a cookie sheet and baking them for 3 to 5 minutes at 350 degrees before storing them in an airtight container. This will give you an extra 3-5 days of usage.
Take stale boxes of cereal, chips, or nuts and give them a second life by placing them onto a cookie sheet and baking them for 3 to 5 minutes at 350 degrees before storing them in an airtight container. This will give you an extra 3-5 days of usage.
Place a piece of bread into an airtight container with cookies or into a container with brown sugar to extend their life.
Chill leftover rice in cold, running water and then place it in your frig or in your freezer. You can reheat it once. Don’t keep chilled rice for over a day or frozen rice for over a month. It will go bad.
Use these simple tips to love your food and hate the waste
Use these simple tips to love your food and hate the waste
• Buy a refrigerator thermometer and place it in the coldest part of your fridge. Keep the temperature at 1-5 degrees C. or 33-41 degrees F.
• Keep an eye on the “best buy” or “use by” dates. The “best buy” dates are more about quality than safety, but keep in mind it will lose flavor and texture. You can still use out-dated perishables that have not spoiled in cooked dishes without losing much quality or flavor.
• Check your fridge and cupboards regularly. Consult your freezer as well before you go shopping. Consume all you can before you buy more and figure out uses for anything which remains on hand.
• Make menus, construct a shopping list, and portion your food for maximum usage and less waste.
• Set a budget $10 to $20 less per week than you normally spend. You will save $40 to $80 a month.
• Avoid buying more than you need. Buy vegetables and fruits loose, don’t use buy one get one free offers unless you can reasonably use it or shop with a buddy so you can split your “good buys.”
• Keep an eye on the “best buy” or “use by” dates. The “best buy” dates are more about quality than safety, but keep in mind it will lose flavor and texture. You can still use out-dated perishables that have not spoiled in cooked dishes without losing much quality or flavor.
• Check your fridge and cupboards regularly. Consult your freezer as well before you go shopping. Consume all you can before you buy more and figure out uses for anything which remains on hand.
• Make menus, construct a shopping list, and portion your food for maximum usage and less waste.
• Set a budget $10 to $20 less per week than you normally spend. You will save $40 to $80 a month.
• Avoid buying more than you need. Buy vegetables and fruits loose, don’t use buy one get one free offers unless you can reasonably use it or shop with a buddy so you can split your “good buys.”
SAVE $$$ Here are some more ways to manage it well so it goes further. Three month supply ideas anyone? We all need convenience food occasionally and they are good for our 3 month supply. The Stouffers Easy Express Skillet meals are BOGO this week, but there is also a link for a coupon for $1 off and you can print it TWICE since you have to buy two for the deal. The number 1 couponing mistake is not to use 2 coupons on BOGO products. Don't make that mistake, especially for printables like this one. Most all printables will let you print two, maybe more. This means EACH frozen family sized meal is $1.49. With prices like those, I will buy convenience occasionally. Here is the link for the coupons. Scroll down to Stouffers and then click on printable. It says you can get it for 49 cents, because everywhere but Florida lets you buy one and get it half price, not so for us. They also have Barber chicken breasts and REMEMBER TO PRINT 2 COUPONS! I print one, then turn my paper around and print the other so I don't waste paper. Sometimes they want you to print their advertisements WITH the coupons...HOW RUDE...SO I simply watch for the coupon to finish, then I cancel the print job and it saves me ink. You can also set up your printer to only print in black and white if your color ink is cheaper. GATORADE is also bogo and there is a coupon buzzing around for that too. Gatorade is great stuff for short term storage (no more than a year or so) and Kraft Mac and Cheese is 56 cents now and is good storage for young people, use a coupon if you can find one and then it will be a good deal. ALSO, Visine and Advil are still on advantage buy and there are LOTS of coupons out there too. Advil is important for food storage. If you wait to buy it when you're out, you'll pay full price...it is really easy to get cheap these days. Also fruit cups and fruit snacks are great for 72 hour kits. BTW, these coupon deals begin tomorrow...
HERE is a great idea for those nights you have nothing planned. I always have the staples for this because you can choose your ingredients.
FRITTATA Supreme...
SPRAY a lasagna pan with PAM.
MIX 8 eggs, a cup of milk, salt and pepper, a couple tablespoons of melted butter *(or not if you're conserving fat)
sauté anything you might like in an omelet...like sausage with onions and peppers and garlic (oh my) throw in fresh spinach to wilt, mushrooms OR anything you like on a pizza would be good too...cool your delicious concoction, add to the egg mixture along with a cup of cheddar cheese, Cook at 350 for 20 minutes and VIOLA..you have a really delicious frittata dinner. Inexpensive, easy and quick!
Wheat prices soar: How will that affect the grocery bill?
A heat wave in Russia is behind wildfires and the worst drought in 130 years. In Moscow, people – and animals – are seeking ways to stay cool. Crops are withering. Temperatures this weekend could break a 30-year record.
A loaf of bread could soon cost more money out of your pocket if the price of wheat continues its recent spike upward.
Since early July, the price of wheat, used to make flour, has jumped about 75 percent. On Thursday, the price on the Chicago Board of Trade, a futures market, rose more than 12 percent from Wednesday, closing at $8.15 per bushel, the highest level in two years.
Behind the rise on Thursday was Russia's announcement that it was temporarily banning wheat exports because of a drought. Russia is the world’s largest exporter of the grain.
If the price hike holds, the consequences could potentially be felt worldwide. Poor people around the globe – and the organizations that help them – will have a more difficult time affording basic food such as bread. Eventually, the price of food made from wheat in the US could start to rise, although the wheat in a loaf of bread is less than one-quarter of that loaf's cost. It might also mean that US farmers, with the likelihood of a good harvest this year, could take advantage of the high prices to pay off debt and make money.
“This run-up has caught everyone in the marketplace by surprise,” says Bill Lapp, an economist and founder of Advanced Economic Solutions in Omaha, Neb. “We don’t know how large the crop will be in Russia, the Ukraine, or Kazakhstan, and until we have an idea, we will have extreme volatility and the potential for higher prices.”
In some ways, the price run-up is reminiscent of February 2008, when the price of some grades of wheat shot up 90 percent, peaking at $24 a bushel. Back then, the price rose partly because of drought conditions in Kansas and Oklahoma and partly because of a poor harvest in other parts of the world. It did not help that the US dollar was weak, making US grains relatively cheap on the world market.
This time, however, some wheat users see another reason for the rise: speculators in the commodity markets. According to Robb MacKie, president and CEO of the American Bakers Association, commodity index funds have entered the futures markets, buying up 400 percent of the available supplies of wheat. Commodity index funds purchase a large basket of commodities, perhaps to hedge against inflation or for other reasons.
“We have been rapidly trying to get the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to put some limits on these index funds,” says Mr. MacKie. “All we have gotten is a few slices of the loaf, in that now they have to be more transparent.”
Until early July, MacKie was expecting wheat prices to behave, perhaps even to fall. Inventories of wheat are at a 23-year high. US farmers have been increasing their acreage devoted to wheat. But now, he says, the tide has turned. “The agricultural economists we rely on so our members know when to buy are all saying this is 2008 all over again.”
When commodity futures rise, consumers usually don't see an increase in prices on the shelves right away. But MacKie says the surprise price jump for wheat may mean the impact is felt sooner rather than later.
So far, some bakers say they haven’t noticed a difference. Abe Faber of Clear Flour Bakery in Brookline, Mass., says he is paying the same price for a 50-pound bag of high-quality flour that he has been all year. Moreover, he notes, flour represents only about 12 to 14 percent of the cost of a loaf of his bread.
“If it doubles, that could add to the cost,” he says, “Now, we’ll keep an eye on this.”
The grocery chain Wegman’s is not making any “hasty decisions” to raise prices but is keeping an eye on the grain markets, says Jo Natale, a spokeswoman for the Rochester, N.Y.-based chain.
In poorer parts of the world, however, the rising price of the grain could affect a large number of people, says Thom Leonard, a milling and baking consultant in Lawrence, Kan. “For people whose staple is flour, grain, or simple breads, their food budget may be already 80 percent of their income,” he says. “For poor people around the world, this rise in the price of wheat is a real issue.”
Some farmers in the US and Canada will likely benefit from the higher prices if they have not already sold their wheat, says Mr. Lapp, the economist. If the price stays high, he says, “I would expect some supply response in the next 6 to 12 months.”
Grasshopper invasion: just what Western states don't want
The grasshopper is expected to swarm Western states this summer in record numbers, gobbling up grasslands and costing ranchers millions of dollars.
Also,
Get Organized!
by Jill Cooper
(Get those dirty dishes out of the sink!! We go out to eat because we can’t face a dirty kitchen. Keeping your kitchen empty of dirty dishes is the key to saving money. This is probably the #1 way to start getting out of debt. Most people are so overwhelmed with piled counter tops and dirty dishes that they would rather go out to eat than face a dirty kitchen.
Do the dishes after every meal and keep hot soapy water in the sink while you are baking or cooking. Clean as you go. If your sink is empty and the dishes are washed, your kitchen always looks good. This helps you save money because you have the time and space to cook.)
We get overly involved in church, community and things outside of our homes because they provide great excuses for not taking care of our main responsibility -- the care of our families and homes. Have you ever noticed how, if you ask your child to do something, he moans and groans and makes all kinds of excuses, but if a neighbor or a friend asks him to do the same job he willingly does it? Adults are guilty of this, too. It is so much easier to do things for "others" and for what the world considers a "noble" cause than it is to do things for our own families. We need to get serious about making our family's well being at home our top priority.
Often, we hear how our children are under so much more stress than earlier generations. I don't totally agree with that but I do know that every generation of children has its own different kinds of stress. Ask yourself this: Is your home adding to or taking away from that stress? Is your home one of order and peace? Are you keeping it as orderly and clean as the environment outside? People get angry at the president because there isn't world peace, but how can you expect there to be peace in the world if your own family is living in conflict and chaos all the time.
Once again, we have the cart before the horse. Instead of concentrating on teaching our children so much about the environment and world peace, we should work harder at giving them a loving, orderly and peaceful home to grow up in. Home is still a child's main world. If a child is raised in this type of atmosphere, he will have a better chance of growing up to be an unselfish, loving and responsible adult who will naturally be concerned for the world outside of his home, too. Children can much more easily deal with what happens in their outside world if they have comfort and peace at home.
Don't get extreme and think that if your house is not spotlessly clean 24/7 that your children will grow up to be total failures as adults. I'm just saying be careful not to make your home and the care of your family a low priority on your list. Plus don't be too hard on yourself. There is a season to everything. If you are ill, if you have a new baby or 4 children under the age of 5, if you have a child or spouse that is ill or if you are in the middle of moving, your housekeeping standards cannot be as high as say a woman who lives alone with no children. Be kind to yourself and set up reasonable standards.
One of the main excuses we use for not getting organized is we don't know where to start. We can become so overwhelmed that it can actually paralyze us mentally so that we can't figure out what to do. I was at that point myself the day after Christmas this year. Boy did I have a mess, plus my CFS was really bad. I was caught in a vicious cycle. I was too sick to clean, but sitting in a mess was making me worse.
Finally, I decided I needed to practice what I preached and, using sheer grit, I made up my mind to clean off just my fireplace mantle. While I was doing that, I noticed some other things in other areas that I didn't want to forget to box up, so I started gathering those things together. Then I figured I might as well bring in the boxes for the things I had just gathered. One thing led to another and before I knew it I had cleared most of my living room.
Hopefully this has given you the motivation to get cleaned and organized.
Good site to check out:
Keep small containers of your grains and legumes in your kitchen pantry. You will be much more likely to use them if they are there instead of hidden in a bucket in the basement. It will help even more if you leave your wheat grinder on your counter or in a kitchen cupboard too! 
FOOD DEALS for storage-Publix has the whole wheat Ronzoni pasta BOGO this week. There is also a printable coupon for $1 off 2, this makes them 39₵ per box! Did you know you can borrow the portable canner to can your own favorite foods? Email me for more info. Also Ragu, Progresso soup, Crystal Light, Blue Diamond Almonds(they end up being 59₵ if you use the printable coupon on Southern savers) Nuts are GREAT for food storage and/or 72 hour kits. They squash hunger and are protein that needs no refrigeration and have a good shelf life, toast for a few mins and they are as good as new. Campbell soups, Gatoraide, even Spam-you can get glad wrap for a quarter the past 2 weeks! Remember to grab up all the booklets that publix keeps publishing with LOTS of coupons in them. Also advil and visine have been really cheap for two weeks because of the advantage buy (green flyers) that are next to the weekly flyers. Stack manufacturers coupons with the publix (advantage buy flyers) and get really good deals this week. Winn Dixie has some pretty good deals this week too; http://www.southernsavers.com/2010/08/winn-dixie-weekly-ad-804-810/
SCHOOL DEALS-Office Max has 100 sheet filler paper for 20₵-limit 6/poly 1" binders for 30₵ a box of 10 pencils or 10 papermate pens for 10₵-I buy more every time I'm in the area...really good deals. Connor is collecting school supplies for his eagle project for Kids in Distress...in case anyone wants to help...STAPLES has hard 1" binders for 30₵ and dividers for 5₵ REMEMBER that the tax free school shopping days are Aug 13-15...
Food Saver: Good way to put up food. And a good Banana Bread recipe.
Plastic (PETE) Bottles
PETE is the same plastic in foil pouches molded to form rigid bottles. The bottles are identified on the bottom, next to the recycle emblem, with the letters PET or PETE. This type of container has good oxygen barrier qualities and can be used with oxygen absorbers to store bulk dry foods. The low oxygen content of the sealed containers protects the stored food from insect infestation and helps preserve product quality. These containers are well suited for products that are rotated on a regular basis, while still providing many years of storage capability. Use only PETE bottles that have been previously commercially packaged with food. Bottles need to have screw-on lids with plastic, not paper or foam, lid seals.
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