Self Reliance Tip of the Week - Fuel the Fire (Just Not in the Garage)! March 13

Now that's what I call a WOOD PILE!

In October 1980 President Benson addressed the Church regarding coming days of tribulation. 

He said, "For over forty years, in a spirit of love, members of the Church have been counseled to be thrifty and self-reliant; to avoid debt; pay tithes and a generous fast offering; be industrious; and have sufficient food, clothing, and fuel on hand to last at least one year."

He then went on to say, " Members of the Church are feeling the economic pinch of higher taxes and inflation coupled with conditions of continuing recession."

When I read that...I almost giggled...back in 1980 they were feeling the "pinch" of taxes? What would he say today? We are feeling the ANVIL of taxes? How about the "manic depressive" recession 30 years later? The "experts" tell us its up...when its really down and the continued yo-yo it has been. Today's inflation rate? CRAZEEEEE!

What excellent council to have had for these last decades....be thrifty, self-reliant, avoid debt, pay tithes and offerings, industrious, stored food, clothing and FUEL on hand for at least one year!

We've discussed just about everything but fuel. What is fuel? Is it gasoline? Is it wood? Is it propane/ butane? Or is it charcoal? Why would that be important? Isn't fuel expensive? How do I store it? 

Fuel is all of the above. Fuel is anything we can cook with, keep vehicles running, and keep warm with. Even if you have fuel, and you don't "experiemence" with it, how would you know how to use it in an emergency? If there is an extended emergency, (say one year), do you know how to use it like our kindred sisters in Tamale Ghana? They can conserve their fuel by using the New Cooking Bags (i.e. Wonder Oven).

Wood can be stored easily by keeping it in a dry place. Propane/ butane should be kept in a cool place. Charcoal should be kept in a dry place. Gasoline...well, this one can be a bit tricky. This one needs to be stored in approved containers, in a well vented place NOT attached to your home, away from heat or anything that could spark. If for some reason, the gasoline ignites, you only loose the gasoline. You will be able to keep the other things you have stored. If you store it in the garage connected to the house, you could loose everything, including your home. There are also gasoline tanks you can bury in the ground. If you have an electrical pump and a hand-crank pump you can get the gasoline out when you need it. Gas only lasts about a year, there are additives to extend the "life" of it. But it is really better to rotate it. Is gasoline worth storing? Well, if you want to "get outta dodge" - wood or charcoal won't cut it.

Fuel for cooking will be just as important as the food you want to cook. That is why solar ovens are so awesome because your fuel is...the sun! The only problem is that you can't stick the sun in a jar and vacuum seal it to use later. But you can "coax it" to help you whenever it is available...like a mother-in-law when you need a babysitter :).

Fuel CAN be expensive, but if you gather it a little bit at a time, your wallet will hardly even notice. Then you will be thrifty, industrious, self-reliant, stay out of debt AND have fuel on hand - now THAT is awesomeness personified!