Saturday, September 12, 2015

Vinegar, The Magic Food, Medicine and Cleanser for Survival

Vinegar, the magical food item. That's what I call it. It's something you should have on hand for long-term food storage.
What can you do with vinegar? Vinegar can be used as a disinfectant. Put it on wounds, or with your laundry, or dilute it and wash floors and bedding with it.

Vinegar has medicinal properties and is useful for treating bedding in a sick room. In the 19th century vinegar was an important item for ships' surgeons to have on board. Entire ships were disinfected using vinegar and water to wash floors and bedding and clothing.

Vinegar was in use as a healing medicine and antibiotic in ancient Greece and during the Civil War.

You can also make a salad dressing with vinegar, oil and sugar.

Indigestion can be treated with a dink of vinegar and baking soda.& Yes the old "Make a volcano for science fair" trick. But if you drink a bit, it helps a burp and thus relieves the indigestion. It works better if you use apple cider vinegar.

My father used to drink a small glass of vinegar after every meal. He claimed it helped him digest his food! And my grandmother swore that a tiny glass of vinegar daily helped thin the blood. Who knows, maybe there's some truth in these old home remedies!

Friday, September 11, 2015

More Floods In Japan Show Us We Must Be Ready

Disaster Plans: Prep For Floods
Are You Ready For A Flood?
In yet the latest disaster to hit Japan rescue teams in Osaki City are struggling to help residents after a section of a levee on the Shibui River broke early Friday morning. Approximately 100 buildings in the city have been flooded, prompting calls from residents to the city government and emergency services for aid. This is just the the latest area to suffer from extreme flooding caused by a longer than usual rainy season and made worse by a tropical storm. 
Several experts and environmental groups have called this yet another example of the effects of Global Warming. Whatever the reason for this latest round of flooding its a reminder to all of us that we need to be ready for such disasters. If you live in an area that is near water (rivers, lakes, ocean) you must have a flood survival and evacuation plan. 
A Flood Survival Plan can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it but at a minimum you must have at least two parts. A shelter in place plan and an evacuation plan. Floods can happen without warning so your shelter in place plan involves getting to the highest point in or on top of the building you live in. You may only have seconds to react so you must have every thing you need set aside and ready to go. 
Your evacuation plan involves getting yourself away from the flood waters and to high ground or a high structure. Again you may only have seconds to react so you must have your plan and everything you need ready to go before the flood hits. It will be too late if you wait until the water is at your door.
Stay tuned for more on how to prepare your flood plans in another post.


Image courtesy of khunaspix at Free Digital Photos.net 

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Emergency Food Supplies for a Family of Four


Emergency Food Supplies for a Family of Four
We have a lot of food stored for an emergency. We watch the grocery store flyers carefully so that we can stock up on needed food items when they are on sale. Every family should have at least 3 months of food on hand in case of a disaster or emergency situation.

Sometimes families want to start stockpiling food but they are overwhelmed by the challenge and don't know what to get and how to store it. We aren't experts but we've done a lot of research and a lot of trial and error so we have a pretty good idea of what nutritional value is in certain foods, which foods have the longest shelf life and which are best value for the money (in terms of shelf life, ability to extend the ration, variety of meals possible, and cost)

I've already given you the list of 7 basic essential foods which will keep you alive. I explained how much of each you need for one adult for one week. I know you can do the math but let's look at how much of these basic essential foods an average family of 4 needs for 3 months.

It is going to shock you. But it's doable! An important fact to remember is that any child over the age of 7 is considered a adult in terms of food storage.

I am using mostly metric measurements but you can convert for a fairly accurate measurement by using the following:

1 liter = 0.26 US gallons

1 kg = 2.2 pounds

1 US cup = 236.6 ml but you can convert using 250ml=1cup and remember that 1,000 ml or 4 cups is pretty close to 1 L





ITEM




1 ADULT 1 WEEK




4 ADULTS 3 MOS


SHELF LIFE


Grains


3.5kg


168kg


20-30yrs


Legumes


1/2kg


24kg


20-30yrs


Oils


3/4 cup


36c (9L)


5 years if vegetable oil


Salt


2/3 c


32 c (8 L)


forever


Water


7-21L


336-1008L


forever


Sugar


1/2kg


24kg


forever


Milk


1c


48c


20yrs if powder

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Prepping on a budget.


Prepping on a budget
Over the years I have had many people say to me how much they would like to Prep but they just don't have the money, the space or the time. So here is the first of several Periscope videos on how to Prep without breaking the bank or having to fill your house with supplies.

So take a look at my video
Prepping on a budget

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Answer to Zombie Apocalypse Survival Quiz No. 1

Answer to  Zombie Apocalypse Survival Quiz No. 1:

Reload and wait. Because ducks pair bond for life  duck # 2 will do a circle as he/she flies off and will immediately return to his/her mate. 

If you take the dead duck away, the second duck won't come back because she will see you. Yes there is a slight danger that someone or something else will grab the carcass before duck #2 gets back but it should only take him/her about 2 minutes to return.

Monday, September 7, 2015

Zombie Apocalypse Survival Quiz No. 1


It's the zombie apocalypse. We're low on food. I have a single shot shotgun with me. I see 2 ducks so I aim and shoot one. Duck #2 flies off. 

Question - do I reload then wait to see if duck #2 comes back? Or do I reload then walk over and get the duck I shot and then wait to see if # 2 comes back?

Stay tuned for the answer later today or early tomorrow morning

Sunday, September 6, 2015

Live on Periscope. Found a giant puffball.


@IndianaMagnum: LIVE on #Periscope: Found a  Giant Puffball. Good eating.  Available for the next 24 hours then it's gone https://t.co/RGeVd0gKFj