Here are just a few medicinal plants and their uses. Some of these plants can be found in your own garden, others may be growing in your own backyard.
Basil is good for intestinal parasites and infections. Stimulates the immune system and contains vitamins A and C. Use the leaves and flower tops, either fresh or dry. Make an infusion by steeping one or two leaves in a cup of boiling water.
Blackberry is good for treating diarrhea, wounds, bleeding and wounds (leaves); sore throat, mouth sores (berries). Make an infusion using the leaves, berries or bark. To apply topically soak a cloth in the cooled infusion and press to the wound or even hemorrhoid.
Cilantro is used as a digestive aid and an anti-inflammatory. Steep the seeds in 1 cup of boiling water and drink three times a day.
Dandelion roots and leaves have a number of uses. The leaves can be eaten in a salad while the roots can be roasted and used as a coffee substitute. An infusion can be made from the dried leaves and used to treat high blood pressure and heartburn, hepatitis and jaundice (most yellow “weeds” seem to have the ability to treat liver problems (which can cause one to turn yellow/jaundice).
In addition to these “domestic” plants there are a wide variety of plants that are found in the wilderness that can heal and cure.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Survival in the Wilderness
Watched Man vs. Wild today with Bear Grylls. It was pretty interesting this time as he was showing how to survive in the deep canyons (Copper Canyon) of Mexico, a land of desert, scorpions and heat.
He showed several ways to use the yucca plant. He used a yucca stalk to create a fire-starter saw. Earlier he used the fiber of the yucca leaves as sewing thread to fix a tear in his clothes. Later several leaves of the yucca plants were pulled apart to create narrow strips that were then tied together to make a 50 ft line. He then tied one end around a big rock that was ten dropped into a pool at the bottom of a waterfall to measure the depth before jumping into the pool.
Today I learned how to cut the tail off a scorpion and crunch down on it, to find a grub and eat it for protein and also how to kill a river trout by hitting it with a stick. Oh yeah! I now know I can survive in the wild!! (That’s sarcasm in case you couldn’t tell!)
He showed several ways to use the yucca plant. He used a yucca stalk to create a fire-starter saw. Earlier he used the fiber of the yucca leaves as sewing thread to fix a tear in his clothes. Later several leaves of the yucca plants were pulled apart to create narrow strips that were then tied together to make a 50 ft line. He then tied one end around a big rock that was ten dropped into a pool at the bottom of a waterfall to measure the depth before jumping into the pool.
Today I learned how to cut the tail off a scorpion and crunch down on it, to find a grub and eat it for protein and also how to kill a river trout by hitting it with a stick. Oh yeah! I now know I can survive in the wild!! (That’s sarcasm in case you couldn’t tell!)
Monday, April 28, 2008
Container Gardening
The last time I put in a garden was about 8 years ago. It was only about an 8’ x 8’ square enclosed by chicken wire that I planted with cherry tomatoes, broccoli, eggplant and potatoes. I was only able to harvest tomatoes (bunches of ‘em), a few eggplant and broccoli.
This year, knowing I was going to be moving to a real home instead of an apartment, yet acknowledging that there’s no way I can crawl around on the ground in a real garden, I decided to do container gardening. So last Saturday, I found a bunch of little buckets (a fast-food promotional kid’s meal) at the thrift store. I also purchased potting soil, seed starter soil and plant food.
In tiny seed-starters pots, (12 tiny pots per set) I planted broccoli, lettuce, summer squash, cucumbers, green beans, eggplant, bell peppers and spinach. One week later, I have scrawny little broccoli and lettuce reaching for the sky. Just yesterday two summer squash pushed their way out of the soil. Today a cucumber has appeared. So far no beans, spinach, eggplants or peppers have appeared, making me wonder if I did something wrong.
At the same time that I planted the other things I also planted tomato seeds in six of the kid’s meal buckets. Three days ago about four of the pots were showing signs of life.
If I can manage to keep these alive until I move in four weeks, I’ll have the start of a good garden. I know that I’ll have to probably repot many of them at least twice before I move. Once I get to my new home, I’ll repot them in large containers and have a container garden.
Hopefully by the end of the summer I’ll be harvesting a bunch of my homegrown produce. I’ll dehydrate what I can and possibly even freeze some. Hopefully I’ll grow enough that I can give away or trade. At least I’ll have grown foods that can help hunger survival.
This year, knowing I was going to be moving to a real home instead of an apartment, yet acknowledging that there’s no way I can crawl around on the ground in a real garden, I decided to do container gardening. So last Saturday, I found a bunch of little buckets (a fast-food promotional kid’s meal) at the thrift store. I also purchased potting soil, seed starter soil and plant food.
In tiny seed-starters pots, (12 tiny pots per set) I planted broccoli, lettuce, summer squash, cucumbers, green beans, eggplant, bell peppers and spinach. One week later, I have scrawny little broccoli and lettuce reaching for the sky. Just yesterday two summer squash pushed their way out of the soil. Today a cucumber has appeared. So far no beans, spinach, eggplants or peppers have appeared, making me wonder if I did something wrong.
At the same time that I planted the other things I also planted tomato seeds in six of the kid’s meal buckets. Three days ago about four of the pots were showing signs of life.
If I can manage to keep these alive until I move in four weeks, I’ll have the start of a good garden. I know that I’ll have to probably repot many of them at least twice before I move. Once I get to my new home, I’ll repot them in large containers and have a container garden.
Hopefully by the end of the summer I’ll be harvesting a bunch of my homegrown produce. I’ll dehydrate what I can and possibly even freeze some. Hopefully I’ll grow enough that I can give away or trade. At least I’ll have grown foods that can help hunger survival.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Rice Shortage, Natural or Planned
By now you’ve all heard that there’s a rice shortage that in causing the prices of rice to sky-rocket. However, I’m really wondering if this shortage is natural or planned. Here’s my thinking: while more people are eating rice…one of the reasons being touted is that as more and more Chinese are able to afford better food…wait a minute! Even when they were poor, weren’t they eating rice?
Okay, the bad weather is another reason for the rice shortage.
However, if the news wasn’t suddenly reporting it, would there be a sudden run on rice in the stores? Are the news reports contributing to the shortages? I believe so.
After all, when people start hearing about a shortage in one particular product, suddenly they feel they’d better get their share while they can. So they rush out buy as much as they can afford, and when the neighbor goes to the store and can’t find that item, then suddenly there’s a world-wide shortage!
I’m not saying that there’s not a genuine rice shortage, however, I remember in the past when there was a toilet paper shortage rumor and suddenly the stores were stripped bare. There wasn’t really a shortage until the report created one.
By the same token, while there’s a rice shortage, there’s also a shortage of other grains. Personally, I believe that the shortage of corn for food is a purely manufactured shortage. If the farmers weren’t getting more money for planting corn for fuel, there would be plenty of corn for both man and animal. From what I understand, converting corn into fuel to burn in a car uses more fuel than it produces!
Okay, the bad weather is another reason for the rice shortage.
However, if the news wasn’t suddenly reporting it, would there be a sudden run on rice in the stores? Are the news reports contributing to the shortages? I believe so.
After all, when people start hearing about a shortage in one particular product, suddenly they feel they’d better get their share while they can. So they rush out buy as much as they can afford, and when the neighbor goes to the store and can’t find that item, then suddenly there’s a world-wide shortage!
I’m not saying that there’s not a genuine rice shortage, however, I remember in the past when there was a toilet paper shortage rumor and suddenly the stores were stripped bare. There wasn’t really a shortage until the report created one.
By the same token, while there’s a rice shortage, there’s also a shortage of other grains. Personally, I believe that the shortage of corn for food is a purely manufactured shortage. If the farmers weren’t getting more money for planting corn for fuel, there would be plenty of corn for both man and animal. From what I understand, converting corn into fuel to burn in a car uses more fuel than it produces!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
DIY Disaster Kit
To say you can’t afford to buy a emergency survival kit, is just an excuse. You can make a DIY disaster kit that is just as good, if not better than the others.
Check thrift stores and garage sales for one of those black diaper bags, courtesy of Enfamil, often given to new mothers by the hospital after giving birth. Some women don’t like to use those black bags so they soon end up in the discard pile. That’s all right. Those bags are perfect for a DIY disaster kit. I’ve never paid more than $2 for one at a thrift store or $1 at a garage sale.
Then head off to your nearest dollar store. There you can find: a folding, lock-back knife, matches, dust masks, a bandana, a first aid kit, moist wipes, hand sanitizer, flashlight, pocket-sized radio, bottled water, beef jerky, canned meat, hard candies, gloves, rain poncho, batteries and almost anything else you can think of.
For under $20 you can have a well-stocked emergency survival kit. If you want more information about what a DIY disaster kit should contain, click here.
Check thrift stores and garage sales for one of those black diaper bags, courtesy of Enfamil, often given to new mothers by the hospital after giving birth. Some women don’t like to use those black bags so they soon end up in the discard pile. That’s all right. Those bags are perfect for a DIY disaster kit. I’ve never paid more than $2 for one at a thrift store or $1 at a garage sale.
Then head off to your nearest dollar store. There you can find: a folding, lock-back knife, matches, dust masks, a bandana, a first aid kit, moist wipes, hand sanitizer, flashlight, pocket-sized radio, bottled water, beef jerky, canned meat, hard candies, gloves, rain poncho, batteries and almost anything else you can think of.
For under $20 you can have a well-stocked emergency survival kit. If you want more information about what a DIY disaster kit should contain, click here.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Bug Out Vehicle
When you mention “bug out vehicle” to anyone who practices survival preparedness you will hear about all types of customize motorized vehicles that people are planning on using in the event of a bug out. The one thing those folks are counting on is the continuance of gasoline or diesel to keep the vehicle running, or being able to survive an electromagnetic pulse (pulse).
Even if all those things happen, surviving an EMP and enough fuel to get going…but eventually that handy-dandy motorized bug out vehicle will become totally useless. What then? Are you going to leave behind all those necessary supplies and just take what you can carry on your back? Worse are you going to set up camp next to wherever your BOV came to a stop and hope that it’s in a good location?
Tell you what, long timer before there were motorized vehicles, there were muscle-powered wheeled vehicles. The muscle power was either supplied by animals or humans. The vehicles came in all shapes and sizes but the one thing they had in common were wheels.
Every motorized BOV should also contain a folding cart or other wheeled vehicle that can be used to haul supplies when your primary BOV comes to a stop. Some of the ideas I’ve heard lately are bowling bag carts, golf bag carts, shopping carts (the folding kind), luggage carts, etc. Of course, if you don’t have a motorized BOV, then a sturdy grocery shopping cart (ask a homeless person how handy a shopping cart is) will fill the bill.
For information on other bug out plans, click here.
Even if all those things happen, surviving an EMP and enough fuel to get going…but eventually that handy-dandy motorized bug out vehicle will become totally useless. What then? Are you going to leave behind all those necessary supplies and just take what you can carry on your back? Worse are you going to set up camp next to wherever your BOV came to a stop and hope that it’s in a good location?
Tell you what, long timer before there were motorized vehicles, there were muscle-powered wheeled vehicles. The muscle power was either supplied by animals or humans. The vehicles came in all shapes and sizes but the one thing they had in common were wheels.
Every motorized BOV should also contain a folding cart or other wheeled vehicle that can be used to haul supplies when your primary BOV comes to a stop. Some of the ideas I’ve heard lately are bowling bag carts, golf bag carts, shopping carts (the folding kind), luggage carts, etc. Of course, if you don’t have a motorized BOV, then a sturdy grocery shopping cart (ask a homeless person how handy a shopping cart is) will fill the bill.
For information on other bug out plans, click here.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Drought Monitor
I don’t need a drought monitor to know that in the very near future water is going to become a bigger problem than food. Just this morning there was a program about the Colorado River and how it is no longer providing enough water to keep the desert cities of Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Diego and Tucson green.
Put aside the fact that it was very short sighted to build huge cities in the middle of a desert wasteland, and look for a moment at the stupidity of trying to create a Seattle style green lawn in a land of cactus, scorpions and rattlesnakes. What does that mean for someone who lives in a part of the country where there are plenty of lakes?
What does that have to do with survival preparedness? Everything! If you are limiting your preparations to food and medical supplies, then you are overlooking one of the most important aspects of preparedness: water storage. Remember if the electricity goes out, there won’t be any water flowing out of the tap. So if you don’t have plans for water storage then you are running a real risk.
If you are not filling water storage containers because you have a stream, pond or well on your property then you are banking on the drought not reaching you. Unfortunately that puts you in the same class as those folks who don’t believe there’s a reason to set aside food and other supplies…foolish.
To learn more about water storage containers, click here.
Put aside the fact that it was very short sighted to build huge cities in the middle of a desert wasteland, and look for a moment at the stupidity of trying to create a Seattle style green lawn in a land of cactus, scorpions and rattlesnakes. What does that mean for someone who lives in a part of the country where there are plenty of lakes?
What does that have to do with survival preparedness? Everything! If you are limiting your preparations to food and medical supplies, then you are overlooking one of the most important aspects of preparedness: water storage. Remember if the electricity goes out, there won’t be any water flowing out of the tap. So if you don’t have plans for water storage then you are running a real risk.
If you are not filling water storage containers because you have a stream, pond or well on your property then you are banking on the drought not reaching you. Unfortunately that puts you in the same class as those folks who don’t believe there’s a reason to set aside food and other supplies…foolish.
To learn more about water storage containers, click here.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Survival Food
Survival food is that food that will provide the nutrients and calories to keep you alive. Then there’s the food that satisfies a physical need that you don’t even recognize that you have. Years ago, during a personal wilderness survival situation, I came to know the real famine for protein…not just protein, but meat! You can read the story here.
But one thing I learned was how to take fresh venison, elk meat, and use the power of the sun to turn that meat into delicious jerky. Now you can learn how to take that deer that you kill for survival food and preserve it to help it to last longer.
Not only do you get the directions how to create the drying racks out of sticks and string, but you get my favorite elk jerky marinade. You also get a free bonus gift.
If you think there is a possibility that you could find yourself trying to save the meat of a deer or elk during a survival situation then you need to know how to turn the venison into a survival food.
Get it now, only $9.95
But one thing I learned was how to take fresh venison, elk meat, and use the power of the sun to turn that meat into delicious jerky. Now you can learn how to take that deer that you kill for survival food and preserve it to help it to last longer.
Not only do you get the directions how to create the drying racks out of sticks and string, but you get my favorite elk jerky marinade. You also get a free bonus gift.
If you think there is a possibility that you could find yourself trying to save the meat of a deer or elk during a survival situation then you need to know how to turn the venison into a survival food.
Get it now, only $9.95
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Create Your Own Survival Meals
Whether you are a backpacker looking for lightweight nutritious meals to carry along on your next adventure, or a concern parent wanting to know that in the event of an emergency evacuation (bug out) that your family will have something to eat, then you need "How to Create Your Own Survival Meals - Food Dehydrating for Bug Out".
These are nutritious, easy-to-prepare meals that you dehydrate yourself and then vacuum seal so that they will retain their goodness far into the future. If you've been wanting to buy those commercially-prepared survival meals but just can't afford to lay out that kind of money, then this e-book will show you how to create your own meals for a fraction of the cost!
$19.95! Get it now!
These are nutritious, easy-to-prepare meals that you dehydrate yourself and then vacuum seal so that they will retain their goodness far into the future. If you've been wanting to buy those commercially-prepared survival meals but just can't afford to lay out that kind of money, then this e-book will show you how to create your own meals for a fraction of the cost!
For those who purchase from this site, you will receive a 20% discount off the regular price of $24.95 to just $19.95! Plus you will receive the free e-guide "How to Jerk Elk Naturally" and a Bonus Gift. That's a value over $50 for only $19.95. Don't pass up this opportunity to add "How to Create Your Own Survival Meals" to your own preparedness library.
$19.95! Get it now!
Friday, April 18, 2008
Ragnar Benson
Who or what is Ragnar Benson. Well, he’s the author of several survival and preparedness books, including, but by no means limited to: “Urban Survival: A Hard-Times Guide to Staying Alive in the City”.
When I first began learning about survival preparedness all I heard about was either running away to live in the woods, or better yet having a survival retreat all prepared where you could hermit away while the rest of the world fell into rack and ruin. I’d done my bit in the woods and am fairly certain I can do what it takes to survive. However, when I moved to the city I began to wonder how I could possibly survive in an urban setting in the event of a large-scale TEOTWAWKI event.
So when I found Ragnar Benson’s book on urban survival, I was thrilled. Finally, a book that addressed my concerns about trying to survive in a large metropolitan area. This book gives the city survivor instructions on how to get water, find food, including wild game, and how to prepare and store that food.
The book also addresses concerns about how to set up and secure an urban retreat as well as how to approach bartering with fellow survivors. Then based on the experience of others who’ve lived in foreign-troop occupied cities, he describes how to avoid the military.
If you live in the city and are concerned about survival and preparedness, this book is an absolute necessity. For a link to order the book, click here.
When I first began learning about survival preparedness all I heard about was either running away to live in the woods, or better yet having a survival retreat all prepared where you could hermit away while the rest of the world fell into rack and ruin. I’d done my bit in the woods and am fairly certain I can do what it takes to survive. However, when I moved to the city I began to wonder how I could possibly survive in an urban setting in the event of a large-scale TEOTWAWKI event.
So when I found Ragnar Benson’s book on urban survival, I was thrilled. Finally, a book that addressed my concerns about trying to survive in a large metropolitan area. This book gives the city survivor instructions on how to get water, find food, including wild game, and how to prepare and store that food.
The book also addresses concerns about how to set up and secure an urban retreat as well as how to approach bartering with fellow survivors. Then based on the experience of others who’ve lived in foreign-troop occupied cities, he describes how to avoid the military.
If you live in the city and are concerned about survival and preparedness, this book is an absolute necessity. For a link to order the book, click here.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Survival Gear
Survival gear comes in all shapes and sizes, and in all price ranges, and varies according to the individual. For instance, while you might need a large backpack, hiking boots, handy-dandy survival knife and your locked and loaded survival rifle, my needs might be totally different.
While I might have the backpack and hiking boots, I’m also wise enough to know that in the event of a walking bug out, I’m not going to go too far very fast carrying a 50 pound pack. I know there are those folks out there who can easily throw on a backpack loaded with a hundred pounds of survival gear and hike 20 miles without breaking a sweat!
Unfortunately there are many people who can’t do that. For those folks, let me tell there is a way…or two. I keep a folding two-wheeled luggage cart with me. By using bungee cords I can attach a plastic milk crate to the cart, and then slip a collapsible net laundry basket/bag inside the crate.
I’ve found that I can place four (4) gallon water bottles or milk bottles in the crate, and then rest the bag on top. I can then place a bunch of smaller items in the laundry bag. Currently I use this arrangement to bring in the groceries when I get home from shopping. However, in a walking bug out, this arrangement could prove to be a life-saver.
I could easily carry a couple of gallons of water and some other items in the crate. In the bag I can place the 2-man tent, the complete first aid bag, and even a bag containing about a month’s worth of dehydrated meals. In the backpack would be those items for absolute survival and navigation: compass, survival blanket, fire-building equipment, poncho, knife, flashlight and other survival gear.
While I might have the backpack and hiking boots, I’m also wise enough to know that in the event of a walking bug out, I’m not going to go too far very fast carrying a 50 pound pack. I know there are those folks out there who can easily throw on a backpack loaded with a hundred pounds of survival gear and hike 20 miles without breaking a sweat!
Unfortunately there are many people who can’t do that. For those folks, let me tell there is a way…or two. I keep a folding two-wheeled luggage cart with me. By using bungee cords I can attach a plastic milk crate to the cart, and then slip a collapsible net laundry basket/bag inside the crate.
I’ve found that I can place four (4) gallon water bottles or milk bottles in the crate, and then rest the bag on top. I can then place a bunch of smaller items in the laundry bag. Currently I use this arrangement to bring in the groceries when I get home from shopping. However, in a walking bug out, this arrangement could prove to be a life-saver.
I could easily carry a couple of gallons of water and some other items in the crate. In the bag I can place the 2-man tent, the complete first aid bag, and even a bag containing about a month’s worth of dehydrated meals. In the backpack would be those items for absolute survival and navigation: compass, survival blanket, fire-building equipment, poncho, knife, flashlight and other survival gear.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Edible Plants
Edible plants are the only type of plants I’m really interested in gardening. And, in fact, with growing water shortages, I would imagine that many home gardeners who have grown both flowers and vegetables, will eventually leave the flowers behind and focus solely on vegetables.
I’ve been reading this week about container gardening and self-watering containers. For me these show a lot of potential, as I don’t have the equipment necessary to till the ground. Also weeding containers gardens is practically, if not totally, non-existent. In addition, there’s the added advantage of not having to crawl around on the ground.
With the economy like it is, every person with a bit of a yard, a porch or patio can grow a few fruits and vegetables to put on their table. For those who insist on growing a few flowers, then you can do a bit of camouflage gardening, by growing vegetables in between your flowers. If you plant the right combinations, your neighbors only notice the lovely flowers, unaware that you are actually producing food right in front of them.
If you really want to hide your food production efforts, plant your yard with wild edibles like dandelions. While they see you outside muttering about getting rid of the dandelions, they don’t have to know that you’re actually harvesting a nice bit of salad greens and buds to cook in that evening’s stew!
I’ve been reading this week about container gardening and self-watering containers. For me these show a lot of potential, as I don’t have the equipment necessary to till the ground. Also weeding containers gardens is practically, if not totally, non-existent. In addition, there’s the added advantage of not having to crawl around on the ground.
With the economy like it is, every person with a bit of a yard, a porch or patio can grow a few fruits and vegetables to put on their table. For those who insist on growing a few flowers, then you can do a bit of camouflage gardening, by growing vegetables in between your flowers. If you plant the right combinations, your neighbors only notice the lovely flowers, unaware that you are actually producing food right in front of them.
If you really want to hide your food production efforts, plant your yard with wild edibles like dandelions. While they see you outside muttering about getting rid of the dandelions, they don’t have to know that you’re actually harvesting a nice bit of salad greens and buds to cook in that evening’s stew!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Storm Shelters
If you’ve ever lived in northern Texas when a tornado was bearing down on your home, you’ve found yourself wishing that storm shelters were a little more common. I like Texas, but for a state with so many violent storms and tornados, you’d think God would have made sure the soil would be such that basements would be easily built.
I don’t have a home (yet, still living in an apartment), but from what I understand a few feet below the surface of the ground is a layer of hardened clay that is like concrete. I guess this stuff is so nasty, that the average homebuilder cannot afford to put a basement under his home.
Now I grew up in Michigan, and every house we lived in had a basement. Some were really more storm shelter or fruit cellar, while others were finished and provided extra living space.
If you have a home with a basement you can turn that into a handy shelter against coming hard times. That basement will also prove to be the ideal place to store your long-term storage foods, as the average temperature in a basement is usually 75° or below.
Storm shelters, tornado shelters or any underground shelter will be valuable when the SHTF. With a little ingenuity and MacGyvering one can turn an underused basement into a nice hidey-hole.
I don’t have a home (yet, still living in an apartment), but from what I understand a few feet below the surface of the ground is a layer of hardened clay that is like concrete. I guess this stuff is so nasty, that the average homebuilder cannot afford to put a basement under his home.
Now I grew up in Michigan, and every house we lived in had a basement. Some were really more storm shelter or fruit cellar, while others were finished and provided extra living space.
If you have a home with a basement you can turn that into a handy shelter against coming hard times. That basement will also prove to be the ideal place to store your long-term storage foods, as the average temperature in a basement is usually 75° or below.
Storm shelters, tornado shelters or any underground shelter will be valuable when the SHTF. With a little ingenuity and MacGyvering one can turn an underused basement into a nice hidey-hole.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Canned Food
Canned food items are just one of the types of long-term storage foods that you can put by against times of need. However, you can’t just go down to the nearest Piggly Wiggly and toss a bunch of canned chili, canned soups and canned fruit in your basket.
There’s something called an expiration date, although on canned goods it’s really a date which indicates the product inside will still be at its best. For most of us, in our day-to-day use, we simply ignore the use-by date, believing that if it’s on the shelves it’s gotta be good. Wrong! There’ve been many times that I’ve gone to purchase a can of something, or a box of biscuit mix only to see that it was getting close to expiring, or….had already expired!
Most canned goods will last a maximum of two years from the date of purchase…but as I’ve just told you, you cannot count on that. The optimal time to use is also affected by the storage temperature; the ideal temperature being 75° or below. In fact, if kept at temperatures well below 75°, but above freezing, canned food will stay perfectly edible for decades.
The next time you’re in the store stocking up on canned goods, be sure to check the “best by” date. Then when you get the canned food home, make sure you store them in a cool place.
There’s something called an expiration date, although on canned goods it’s really a date which indicates the product inside will still be at its best. For most of us, in our day-to-day use, we simply ignore the use-by date, believing that if it’s on the shelves it’s gotta be good. Wrong! There’ve been many times that I’ve gone to purchase a can of something, or a box of biscuit mix only to see that it was getting close to expiring, or….had already expired!
Most canned goods will last a maximum of two years from the date of purchase…but as I’ve just told you, you cannot count on that. The optimal time to use is also affected by the storage temperature; the ideal temperature being 75° or below. In fact, if kept at temperatures well below 75°, but above freezing, canned food will stay perfectly edible for decades.
The next time you’re in the store stocking up on canned goods, be sure to check the “best by” date. Then when you get the canned food home, make sure you store them in a cool place.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Survival Chat
At the suggestion of the folks on the survival homestead group we at Survival Homestead have created a chat room focused on survival. In Survival Chat anyone who is interested in survival preparedness.
The idea is to have times when people can get together and discuss ideas for disaster preparations. If you are interested in survival preparedness (you must be or you wouldn’t be reading this) the you are invited to join us in the chat room.
Do be aware that there will be no discussion of politics, religion or other controversial subjects. This is strictly a place to help each other prepare to survive.
The idea is to have times when people can get together and discuss ideas for disaster preparations. If you are interested in survival preparedness (you must be or you wouldn’t be reading this) the you are invited to join us in the chat room.
Do be aware that there will be no discussion of politics, religion or other controversial subjects. This is strictly a place to help each other prepare to survive.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Emergency Preparedness Checklist
Do you have your emergency preparedness checklist done? Do you know what you need to do to prepare you and your family to survive in an emergency situation? What if the river a mile down the road flooded and you had to suddenly evacuate you home, are you ready? If you live in a flood-prone area, probably…hopefully.
I would like to say that most people who live in areas likely to be hit by a hurricane or earthquake have their emergency preparedness checklist and most of the items on the list are marked off. I would like to say that. Unfortunately, history and recent events have shown us that most people live in a world in their head where disasters like that only happen to “other people”. Too late they wake up to realize that they are the “other people”.
Here are just a few items that should be on every emergency preparedness checklist: food for a minimum of three days, three days worth of water, shelter (tent, tarp, survival blanket, etc), light, heat, first aid, sanitary products (tp).
For a full list of what you should have in your survival pack (aka “bug out bag”) as part of your emergency preparedness checklist, click here.
I would like to say that most people who live in areas likely to be hit by a hurricane or earthquake have their emergency preparedness checklist and most of the items on the list are marked off. I would like to say that. Unfortunately, history and recent events have shown us that most people live in a world in their head where disasters like that only happen to “other people”. Too late they wake up to realize that they are the “other people”.
Here are just a few items that should be on every emergency preparedness checklist: food for a minimum of three days, three days worth of water, shelter (tent, tarp, survival blanket, etc), light, heat, first aid, sanitary products (tp).
For a full list of what you should have in your survival pack (aka “bug out bag”) as part of your emergency preparedness checklist, click here.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Old Fashioned Skills
What exactly is meant by ‘old fashioned skills’? I’m talking about those skills that our ancestors had that have been replaced by modern conveniences and electricity. For instance, when was the last time you had to pluck the feathers from a chicken before you could cook it and eat it? Better yet, when was the last time you cooked chicken? For me? Don’t ask! I have a personal relationship with the fried chicken place just down the street.
What other skills? What would you do if you needed a container to haul something but didn’t have a plastic tub around? Could you take plant material and weave a basket? A few winters back, I rented a book from the library and taught myself basket weaving. Never know if I’ll need that skill, but it could come in handy.
How about an old fashioned skill that could save your life? Can you build a fire using only what you find in the woods, no flint, lighter fluid or matches? That might be a fairly handy skill to develop.
Here’s just a brief list of old fashioned skills that might be helpful to learn: fire building, butchering, building a shelter from material available in the outdoors, setting snares or traps. Those are just the basic old fashioned skills that could save your life in an emergency situation.
What other skills? What would you do if you needed a container to haul something but didn’t have a plastic tub around? Could you take plant material and weave a basket? A few winters back, I rented a book from the library and taught myself basket weaving. Never know if I’ll need that skill, but it could come in handy.
How about an old fashioned skill that could save your life? Can you build a fire using only what you find in the woods, no flint, lighter fluid or matches? That might be a fairly handy skill to develop.
Here’s just a brief list of old fashioned skills that might be helpful to learn: fire building, butchering, building a shelter from material available in the outdoors, setting snares or traps. Those are just the basic old fashioned skills that could save your life in an emergency situation.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Water Purification
The importance of clean drinking water cannot be emphasized enough. There are several methods of water purification that one can use to ensure that the water you are drinking is pure.
There are the little water purification tablets that you purchase in the camping section of WallyWorld or other camping supply outlets. One little tablet will purify one liter of water and make it drinkable. Unfortunately after about 50 days (the quantity of tablets available in one packet) you will run out of tablets and be face with how to purify your drinking water.
How about those handy little filter straws? After a little research I found one called LifeStraw that is being touted as the best thing for allowing a person to sip nasty water and actually ingest clean water. However, they are not for sale to the public (although you can donate to a third-world country) and they DO NOT remove parasites such as cryptosporidium and giaridia. Don’t despair there are survival straws that will purify the water.
What happens when you run out of little water purification tablets and you’ve used your last filter (whether in a straw or a Big Burkey)? You can do what we did in the mountains. We poured that water from the river into another bucket, filtering it by pouring it through a white man’s t-shirt. The t-shirt caught all the little bits and pieces of debris floating in the water, including sand and dirt.
We repeated the process a couple of times, using a clean t-shirt for each pour. We then boiled the water over the fire. We never had a problem with illness from drinking the water. So in a pinch, filter and boil.
If nothing else you can learn to distill water over the fire.
There are the little water purification tablets that you purchase in the camping section of WallyWorld or other camping supply outlets. One little tablet will purify one liter of water and make it drinkable. Unfortunately after about 50 days (the quantity of tablets available in one packet) you will run out of tablets and be face with how to purify your drinking water.
How about those handy little filter straws? After a little research I found one called LifeStraw that is being touted as the best thing for allowing a person to sip nasty water and actually ingest clean water. However, they are not for sale to the public (although you can donate to a third-world country) and they DO NOT remove parasites such as cryptosporidium and giaridia. Don’t despair there are survival straws that will purify the water.
What happens when you run out of little water purification tablets and you’ve used your last filter (whether in a straw or a Big Burkey)? You can do what we did in the mountains. We poured that water from the river into another bucket, filtering it by pouring it through a white man’s t-shirt. The t-shirt caught all the little bits and pieces of debris floating in the water, including sand and dirt.
We repeated the process a couple of times, using a clean t-shirt for each pour. We then boiled the water over the fire. We never had a problem with illness from drinking the water. So in a pinch, filter and boil.
If nothing else you can learn to distill water over the fire.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Home Food Storage
For you that have been purchasing commercially prepared long-term storage food for your home food storage you need to be aware that the government has become one of the largest purchasers of these items. This means that ship time for long-term food storage orders could be greatly delayed.
If you are feeling an urgency to prepare, then don’t limit your home food storage to the items you order from retailers of long-term storage foods. Watch for the sales at your local stores and begin stocking up there.
Here’s a recommendation, if you are concerned about your food purchases being tracked. Don’t suddenly begin buying an enormous quantify of canned and boxed foods, and if you do, pay cash. Unfortunately, paying cash also means that you can’t use those handy little membership cards to get the “sale” price. Because those memberships also track your spending habits.
Home food storage can be accomplished one step at a time, and by using a little common sense. Using coupons, shopping sales, checking expiration dates and buying a little extra each week, is an easy way to increase your chances of survival in a food shortage situation.
For some ideas on how much food to store, click here
If you are feeling an urgency to prepare, then don’t limit your home food storage to the items you order from retailers of long-term storage foods. Watch for the sales at your local stores and begin stocking up there.
Here’s a recommendation, if you are concerned about your food purchases being tracked. Don’t suddenly begin buying an enormous quantify of canned and boxed foods, and if you do, pay cash. Unfortunately, paying cash also means that you can’t use those handy little membership cards to get the “sale” price. Because those memberships also track your spending habits.
Home food storage can be accomplished one step at a time, and by using a little common sense. Using coupons, shopping sales, checking expiration dates and buying a little extra each week, is an easy way to increase your chances of survival in a food shortage situation.
For some ideas on how much food to store, click here
Friday, April 4, 2008
Food Preparations
I’ve often heard people say “don’t stock food that you don’t normally eat.” I must say that I tend to disagree with them. I’ve been in a place where food variety was somewhat limited, living off beans, squirrel and dandelions. I can tell you that as supplies were dwindling, SPAM became a delicacy and I would have cherished the taste of canned spaghetti.
History has shown when people get hungry they will eat just about anything; including bugs, grass, tree bark, shoe leather and paper. I know in a survival situation where starvation was imminent, I would even eat pecans…which I won’t touch with a stick!
It is for that reason that when I see Vienna sausages, spam or spaghetti-O’s on sale that I’ll stock up. I know that when a person is hungry that food they wouldn’t normally touch will get them through another day.
What about when it comes time to rotate out that food? Easy: eat it or give it away. You can always donate unwanted canned and boxed goods, as long as they haven’t expired, to local women’s shelters or food banks. Often the donation will also be a tax deduction.
Do stock up on anything you can afford when it comes to food preparations.
For more information about long-term food storage, click here
History has shown when people get hungry they will eat just about anything; including bugs, grass, tree bark, shoe leather and paper. I know in a survival situation where starvation was imminent, I would even eat pecans…which I won’t touch with a stick!
It is for that reason that when I see Vienna sausages, spam or spaghetti-O’s on sale that I’ll stock up. I know that when a person is hungry that food they wouldn’t normally touch will get them through another day.
What about when it comes time to rotate out that food? Easy: eat it or give it away. You can always donate unwanted canned and boxed goods, as long as they haven’t expired, to local women’s shelters or food banks. Often the donation will also be a tax deduction.
Do stock up on anything you can afford when it comes to food preparations.
For more information about long-term food storage, click here
Thursday, April 3, 2008
The Rules of Survival
One of the rules of survival is to keep quiet. Don’t be telling people what you have stored. Even if you think you can trust the person you’re talking to, you never know who that person’s going to tell.
In the event of a disaster your own security could be greatly threatened by a horde of desperate folks showing up on your doorstep. Without some means of protecting yourself, you could easily see your carefully collected items walk out your door.
So learn to play your cards close to your chest and don’t let everyone know what you are doing. This is especially important in an urban situation where you probably have neighbors who are enjoying their boats and vacations, while you spend every extra penny of preparedness.
For more information about urban survival, click here.
In the event of a disaster your own security could be greatly threatened by a horde of desperate folks showing up on your doorstep. Without some means of protecting yourself, you could easily see your carefully collected items walk out your door.
So learn to play your cards close to your chest and don’t let everyone know what you are doing. This is especially important in an urban situation where you probably have neighbors who are enjoying their boats and vacations, while you spend every extra penny of preparedness.
For more information about urban survival, click here.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Survival gardens
It’s the end of March and in some areas of the country people are already putting in their survival gardens. If you live in the southern part of the US you’ve probably already got at least a few items in the ground. If you’re up north you may be waiting to see if the snow and freezing weather is finished for the year (you hope).
Even if you live in an apartment, you can create a garden. Container gardening is one of the ways that many people are able to grow tomatoes, peppers and even cucumbers while living in an apartment. A few containers on the balcony or patio can grow enough produce to supplement your grocery bill. In these times of financial insecurity, every one could benefit by growing some edibles.
Click here for more information. http://www.survival-homestead.com/hunger-survival.html
Even if you live in an apartment, you can create a garden. Container gardening is one of the ways that many people are able to grow tomatoes, peppers and even cucumbers while living in an apartment. A few containers on the balcony or patio can grow enough produce to supplement your grocery bill. In these times of financial insecurity, every one could benefit by growing some edibles.
Click here for more information. http://www.survival-homestead.com/hunger-survival.html
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Survival Gifts
If your friends and family think you’ve gone off the deep end with your survival preparations and don’t make any effort to prepare, then you can get them started by survival gifts. Even if they don’t use the survival gift as an incentive to start their own preparations, you will have the peace of mind knowing that they have something that may help them in an emergency.
A 72-hour emergency bag is one of the best survival gifts you can give. They usually come with enough food and water for one person to last for three days. They also include an emergency blanket, a first aid kit, a flashlight, a radio and dust mask.
You can also create your own homemade emergency go bag or bug out bag by purchasing a small backpack and filling it with items you pick up from the dollar store. In fact for less than you would spend on a commercially prepared 72-hour kit, you can completely stock your own bag.
The average 72-hour kit runs between $25 to $35 dollars. You can pick up a used backpack for a less than $5 at a thrift store. Then stock it with the following items: Flashlight, lighters, water, sandwich crackers, granola bars, Vienna sausage, dust masks, first aid kit, sanitizer, tissues, radio, batteries and knife for $13. For under $20 you have a stocked kit for less money that a commercially created 72-hour kit.
http://www.survival-homestead.com/create-a-survival-fanny-pack.html
A 72-hour emergency bag is one of the best survival gifts you can give. They usually come with enough food and water for one person to last for three days. They also include an emergency blanket, a first aid kit, a flashlight, a radio and dust mask.
You can also create your own homemade emergency go bag or bug out bag by purchasing a small backpack and filling it with items you pick up from the dollar store. In fact for less than you would spend on a commercially prepared 72-hour kit, you can completely stock your own bag.
The average 72-hour kit runs between $25 to $35 dollars. You can pick up a used backpack for a less than $5 at a thrift store. Then stock it with the following items: Flashlight, lighters, water, sandwich crackers, granola bars, Vienna sausage, dust masks, first aid kit, sanitizer, tissues, radio, batteries and knife for $13. For under $20 you have a stocked kit for less money that a commercially created 72-hour kit.
http://www.survival-homestead.com/create-a-survival-fanny-pack.html
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