The

Newsletter Date November 2012 Volume 1 Issue 2

Strength through Self-Reliance and Service

Doinrsquo dutch

oven

The origin of the name

Dutch Oven is uncertain

never the less it could have

been called he most

important necessary

essential apparatus if

you do not want your

children to starve oven

Very hard to find in this

area Amazon has very the

best price with free ship-

ping For your first dutch

oven T his is the one to

buy Your assignment for

November is to buy it now

Lodge is by far the best

Made in USA Lodge Logic 8

-Quart Pre-Seasoned Cast-

Iron Camp Dutch Oven

$6236 should order a

handle too This is the

classic size Dutch Oven

that is used by boy scouts

girl scouts chuck wagon

cooks and outdoor enthu-

siasts of all kinds This

model is a 12 dutch oven

which is the standard

size most commonly used

Continued on page 5

Sterling Park Harvest

Any questions suggestion or wants

thesterlingharvestgmailcom

Be Wise and Prudent

ldquoO

ur

Heavenly

Fath

er

cre

ate

d t

his

beauti

ful

eart

h

wit

h a

ll i

ts a

bundance

for

our

benefi

t ldquo

W hen a family member comes down with a

cold or the flu it can leave you feeling

helpless Time and a little TLC is the only sure-fire

methods for coping with viruses

Eat Healthymdash

Whether you are coming down with a cold

already have one or are getting over it eating

right is one of the easiest (and best) things you

can do for your health Certain foods namely

those loaded with vitamins and minerals can

help boost your immune system and provide

your body with the fuel it needs to fight off

infections and get better

If youre one of those people who brag come flu

season that you never ever get sick be aware

The odds may catch up to you Just in case your

number is up this year consider assembling a

simple home care kit for help in surviving the flu

Over-the-counter flu kit necessities

Fever and pain relievers

Cough syrups and drops

Nasal spray amp Decongestant

Thermometer

Tissues

Be sure to check with your doctor before adding

any vitamin supplement or any over-the-counter

medicine Avoid complications from mixing cold

relief medicines -

REMEMBER-Always read the label

I s there any way to speed

up curing a cold once

you feel one coming on

It has been said that a cold

lasts a week if you treat

them and only seven days if

you leave them alone Most

healthy immune systems

will cure a cold in about 4

days but may take longer if

you have not encountered

that particular virus before

Herbal remedies chicken

soup and other home

treatments have not been

scientifically proven to be

effective for everyone but

there is nothing wrong with

trying them

Get plenty of rest

(This answer should not be

considered medical advice

and should not take the

place of a doctorrsquos visit)

Putting the garden to bed for the winter is mostly a matter of cleaning up and covering up As fall progresses and temperatures drop those plants that arent killed outright by frost prepare for dormancy Clear out the blackened stems and foliage of annual flowers and vegetables to prevent the possibility of their harboring disease pathogens and insect eggs over the winter The cool weather is a good time to make a cold frame dig and box in raised beds

and make general repairs

While it appears as if all activity in the garden has stopped theres a lot go-ing on under the soil until it freezes Newly transplanted trees and shrubs divisions of perennials and hardy bulbs are all growing roots drawing on soil nutrients and moisture around them Earthworms and various microbes in the

soil are still processing the organic material theyre finding Most likely the organic mulch you spread to protect the soil during the summer months has substantially decomposed Its important to spread new mulch now -- a thicker winter layer -- to protect plants and soil over the winter months The idea is not so much to keep the soil warm as it is to keep the temperature even Once the soil is frozen mulch keeps it

frozen So if you have shade trees convert the fallen leaves to mulch and use it throughout your property

Cut back dry stems of perennials to soil level after frost to neaten the garden and remove pest eggs and disease spores that may linger Leave stems with attractive seed heads for winter interest

Compost dead plant debris to create an organic soil conditioner Hot active piles kill weed seeds and disease pathogens passive inactive piles do not Throw questionable plant material in the trash

Cut off diseased foliage from evergreen plants and shrubs and discard it in the trash Rake up and dis-card the old disease-bearing mulch too

To prevent rodents from nesting in the soil wait until the ground freezes before adding a 6-inch layer of organic material as winter mulch

Mulch perennial and shrub beds with pine needles or chopped leaves This protects both plant roots and the soil and moderates the effects of extreme temperature changes during winter freezes and thaws

Mulch bulb beds with evergreen boughs to protect the soil from shifting and cracking during the winter Otherwise plants especially small shallowly planted bulbs can be heaved to the surface

Indoor Herb Growing Tips and Tricks

To get your herb garden started without any major problems make sure to choose healthy plants or grow your own from seed This means that you should inspect plants before you bring them home and discard

any that show signs of insect activity If a plant looks suspicious pass Other things to keep in mind are

Give plants plenty of room Plant descriptions and seed packets will offer spacing recommendations and even though potted plants dont typically grow to full size give them generous accommodations

Water plants regularly and make sure the pots drain thoroughly after watering One of the biggest plant killers is stagnant water hanging around long enough to rot plant roots

Turn plant pots frequently to keep plants growing evenly on all sides

Go light on the fertilizer Most herbs like moderate to poor soil Remember more houseplants are killed with kindness than through neglect

Wait for plants to reach 6 to 8 inches (1524 to 2032 centimeters) in height before harvesting any leaves and only take about a quarter of the plant or less at any one time After youve snipped an herbs leaves wait for that much or more to grow back before harvesting again If youre a parsley or oregano fanatic it might be a good idea to keep more than one plant going at a time

Indoor herb gardens The perfect accessory for winter meals

OLD MAN WINTER IS COMING

Although winter comes as no surprise many of us in the ward are not ready for its arrival If you are prepared for the hazards of winter you will be more likely to stay safe and healthy when temperatures start to fall Many people prefer to remain indoors in the winter but staying inside is no guarantee of safety Take these steps to keep your home safe and warm during the winter months

Clean out gutters and repair roof leaks

Change your furnace filters and replace them if necessary Look at your heating system and see if it needs to be serviced by a professional to make sure that it is clean working properly and ventilated to the outside

Inspect and clean fireplaces Kerosene space heaters and chimneys If you use an electric space heater make sure the cord is not broken or frayed

Install a smoke detector and a CO detector ampTest batteries at General Conference times each year

Have a safe alternate heating source and alternate fuels in case of power outages Insulate water lines that run along exterior walls amp Install weather stripping insulation and storm windows

Always remember to

Keep grills and generators out of the house and garage

Stock food that needs no cooking or refrigeration and water stored in clean containers and ready for power outages

Be sure to have flashlights amp extra batteries (be sure you have the proper batteries that fit your flashlight)

Have a backup plan in case of extended power outages Make and practice an escape route in case there is a hose fire Set a meeting place that all family members are

familiar with and practice practice It can make the difference between life and death

Phone numbers and websites for emergencies

Loudoun County School inclement weather closing Information webpage

httpwwwloudounk12vauspage14

Virginia Power

1-866-DOM-HELP number (1-866-366-4357)

Keep up to date with local conditions by following media reports and monitoring the National Weather Service at wwwweathergov (httpmobileweathergov on your phone) for the latest forecast If you have not already done so sign up for alerts from the county including emergency information news releases traffic information and more through Alert Loudoun at wwwloudoungovalert follow Loudoun County on Twitter at wwwloudoungovtwitter and on Facebook at wwwloudoungovfacebook Important information from the Lou-doun County government will also be posted on wwwloudoungov

Home Teachers ______________________________

______________________________

OLD MAN WINTER IS COMING

Although winter comes as no surprise many of us in the ward are not ready for its arrival If you are prepared for the hazards of winter you will be more likely to stay safe and healthy when temperatures start to fall Many people prefer to remain indoors in the winter but staying inside is no guarantee of safety Take these steps to keep your home safe and warm during the winter months

Clean out gutters and repair roof leaks

Change your furnace filters and replace them if necessary Look at your heating system and see if it needs to be serviced by a professional to make sure that it is clean working properly and ventilated to the outside

Inspect and clean fireplaces Kerosene space heaters and chimneys If you use an electric space heater make sure the cord is not broken or frayed

Install a smoke detector and a CO detector ampTest batteries at General Conference times each year

Have a safe alternate heating source and alternate fuels in case of power outages Insulate water lines that run along exterior walls amp Install weather stripping insulation and storm windows

Always remember to

Keep grills and generators out of the house and garage

Stock food that needs no cooking or refrigeration and water stored in clean containers and ready for power outages

Be sure to have flashlights amp extra batteries (be sure you have the proper batteries that fit your flashlight)

Have a backup plan in case of extended power outages Make and practice an escape route in case there is a hose fire Set a meeting place that all family members are

familiar with and practice practice It can make the difference between life and death

Phone numbers and websites for emergencies

Loudoun County School inclement weather closing Information webpage

httpwwwloudounk12vauspage14

Virginia Power

1-866-DOM-HELP number (1-866-366-4357)

Keep up to date with local conditions by following media reports and monitoring the National Weather Service at wwwweathergov (httpmobileweathergov on your phone) for the latest forecast If you have not already done so sign up for alerts from the county including emergency information news releases traffic information and more through Alert Loudoun at wwwloudoungovalert follow Loudoun County on Twitter at wwwloudoungovtwitter and on Facebook at wwwloudoungovfacebook Important information from the Lou-doun County government will also be posted on wwwloudoungov

Home Teachers ______________________________

______________________________

Reflections on preparedness or lack of -

Most people are simply not prepared and therefore they worsen any crisis

The average American citizen practices zero preparedness They are 100 dependent on the power grid the city water supply 911 services for protection and long-distance food deliveries to their grocery store They have no backup plans no stored food no emergency mindset and no practical skills for surviving a real crisis As a result their lack of preparedness worsens any crisis Instead of being part of the solution they be-come a burden on all the emergency services and supplies available in the area

Doinrsquo dutch oven (continued from page 1)

This one holds 8 quarts measuring 12 in diameter by 5 tall It has the tripod legs and a recessed lid best

suited for cooking in coals On this model you can even flip this lid over and use it as a skillet You can do it

all with this Dutch Oven - cobblers stews beans roasts dumplings you name it It is the ultimate one pot

pan

Did you have more than birthday candles

Hurricane Sandy left many homes in our area without power This was the perfect opportunity to practice

the ldquoartrdquo of home and family preparedness If the power went out and all you had were birthday candles

you could make a wish and hope for the best But ask yourself ldquocould a birthday candle provide enough

light to move about safelyrdquo Birthday candles make parties bright and fun but are useless in an emergency

if the power goes out

So how prepared were you

Rate yourself Did you play ldquoblind manrsquos bluffrdquo trying to move

about because the birthday candle wasnrsquot bright enough to see

Or were you ldquosnug as a bug in a rugrdquo munching on a snack and

reading a book If the power went out and all you had were

birthday candles you could make a wish and hope for the best

but could they illuminate the house

Suggestion for a family home evening activity -

Make a 100 hour candle httpsaltnpreppercomdiy-100-hour-candles

The benefits of making your own DIY emergency candles are substantial First they are cheaper Second

they put out more light Third they are refillable The store bought versions are made for a one-time use

only Fourth they are made out of glass Once again this is more of a personal preference but my

experience with the plastic store bought versions is that they very easily squirt lantern oil from the top if

you hold them too tight The light plastic also makes me nervous that they will tip over The durable and

heavy glass of the mason jars eliminates the possibility of squirting flammable material all over your house

and it is definitely more stable to prevent tipping

Ingredients

3 pounds (about 6 medium sized) red-skinned sweet potatoes (yams)

12 cup (packed) golden brown sugar

14 cup (12 stick) butter room temperature

1 Tbsp lemon juice

2 teaspoons grated orange peel

34 teaspoon ground cinnamon

34 teaspoon ground allspice

34 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Method

1 Position rack in center of oven preheat to 400degF Pierce sweet potatoes in several places with fork

place on rimmed baking sheet Bake until tender when pierced with fork about 55 minutes Cool slightly

2 Cut the sweet potatoes in half Scoop out pulp into large bowl discard peel Add brown sugar butter lemon juice grated orange peel ground cinnamon allspice and nutmeg to sweet potato pulp

Using an electric mixer beat until mixture is smooth season with salt and pepper

Can be made a day ahead Yield Makes 6 to 8 servings

Holiday Spiced Sweet Potatoes (Yams)

I

Dutch ovenmdashMonkey Bread Recipe

Ingredients

2 rolls of Pillsbury biscuits 12 cup sugar 12 cup brown sugar 3 Tbsp cinnamon

1 stick butter

Instructions

Tear biscuits into quarters Mix sugar and cinnamon in plastic bag Drop each quarter into bag and shake to coat well Place in dutch oven Melt butter and pour over biscuits Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes Serves 6 to 8

May want to line oven with foil to catch melted sugar

Ingredients

3 pounds (about 6 medium sized) red-skinned sweet potatoes (yams)

12 cup (packed) golden brown sugar

14 cup (12 stick) butter room temperature

1 Tbsp lemon juice

2 teaspoons grated orange peel

34 teaspoon ground cinnamon

34 teaspoon ground allspice

34 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Method

1 Position rack in center of oven preheat to 400degF Pierce sweet potatoes in several places with fork

place on rimmed baking sheet Bake until tender when pierced with fork about 55 minutes Cool slightly

2 Cut the sweet potatoes in half Scoop out pulp into large bowl discard peel Add brown sugar butter lemon juice grated orange peel ground cinnamon allspice and nutmeg to sweet potato pulp

Using an electric mixer beat until mixture is smooth season with salt and pepper

Can be made a day ahead Yield Makes 6 to 8 servings

Holiday Spiced Sweet Potatoes (Yams)

I

Dutch ovenmdashMonkey Bread Recipe

Ingredients

2 rolls of Pillsbury biscuits 12 cup sugar 12 cup brown sugar 3 Tbsp cinnamon

1 stick butter

Instructions

Tear biscuits into quarters Mix sugar and cinnamon in plastic bag Drop each quarter into bag and shake to coat well Place in dutch oven Melt butter and pour over biscuits Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes Serves 6 to 8

May want to line oven with foil to catch melted sugar

Holiday Spiced Sweet Potatoes (Yams)

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

1 cup chicken broth

12 cup chopped celery

13 cup chopped onion

4 tablespoons butter

12 teaspoon salt

4 cups dry bread cubes about 8 slices

2 medium apples peeled cored and finely chopped about 1 to 1 12 cups

12 cup chopped pecans optional

1 teaspoon ground sage

14 teaspoon ground cinnamon

18 teaspoon pepper

Preparation

In a small sauteacute pan over medium-low heat melt the butter Add celery and onion and sauteacute stirring until vegetables are tender about 5 minutes Add the chicken broth and salt cover and bring to a simmer In a large bowl combine the bread cubes chopped apples chopped pecans if using sage cin-namon and pepper Add the broth and vegetable mixture and stir until well moistened Turn into a 1 12-quart shallow casserole Cover tightly with foil and bake at 350deg for 25 to 30 minutes Or stuff the

cavity of an 8- to 10-pound turkey j just before roasting

This is a basic turkey stuffing recipe with the addition of chopped apples and optional pecans

for extra flavor and texture Its a delicious turkey stuffing recipe for your holiday dinner table

Use this as a turkey stuffing or bake the dressing in the oven

Basic turkey stuffing recipe

Preparing for life-changing experiences

It would be nice if we could anticipate all the changes that would occur in a lifetime Some changes we see

coming Certainly all Latter-day Saint young men are taught to prepare for a full-time mission a life-

changing experience Every worthy young single adult understands the importance of choosing a spouse and

being sealed in the holy temple We know these changes are coming and we can plan for them But what

about the changes which are thrust upon us rather unexpectedly These are changes over which we seem-

ingly have no control Economic downturn unemployment debilitating sickness or injury divorce and

death are examples of change we do not expect anticipate or welcome How do we deal with such unex-

pected setbacks in lifersquos journey

The answer is the same By listening to the prophets keeping an eternal perspective having faith and be-

ing of good cheer we can face lifersquos unexpected challenges and ldquoget on with our livesrdquoIt would be nice if

we could anticipate all the changes that would occur in a lifetime Some changes we see coming Certainly

all Latter-day Saint young men are taught to prepare for a full-time mission a life-changing experience

Every worthy young single adult understands the importance of choosing a spouse and being sealed in the

holy temple We know these changes are coming and we can plan for them But what about the changes

which are thrust upon us rather unexpectedly These are changes over which we seemingly have no con-

trol Economic downturn unemployment debilitating sickness or injury divorce and death are examples

of change we do not expect anticipate or welcome How do we deal with such unexpected setbacks in

lifersquos journey

The answer - By listening to the prophets keeping an eternal perspective having faith and being of good

cheer

Final Thought

Three simple words help to overcome and survive a natural disaster -

Plan Prepare amp Mitigate

There are actions that should be taken before during and after an event that are unique to each

hazard Identify the hazards that have happened or could happen in your home or community and

plan for the unique action for each Local Emergency management offices Ward and Stake

Emergency plans can help identify the hazards and outline recommendations for each Share these

hazard-specific information with family members and include pertinent materials in your family

disaster plan

The Sterling Harvest will provide specific information each month to assist you in preparing for

emergencies and steps for becoming more self-reliant