Giveaway!

Visit this site for a free poster!  Enter to win, or don't enter and let ME win ;)

http://recoveringcrafthoarder.blogspot.com/2010/11/craft-fair-and-my-first-giveaway.html

Hello again!

Hey there!

It's been a while since I posted something on my wall... not to fear I haven't fallen off of the face of the earth, nor have I caught a cold to die in my sleep.

But I have had some major back pain (from my car accident) and wrist pain (from working as a sign language interpreter).  Both have, at their peaks, limited me to being practically bedridden and wrist-tied ridden.  In other words, I haven't been able to do much of anything due to the pain.

My back is doing much better, and I was able to do a 7 mile hike up the tallest mountain in Minnesota (granted it's only a little over 2,000 feet in elevation which is puny in comparison to the great Rockies that I grew up around).  My wrists are still on the mend, but hurt tremendously after typing this tiny blog.  Hence, I will once again leave this blogging world, uploading pictures from my camera, googling crazy facts to share with you, and all the other awesome things on here.

But not to fear, I WILL RETURN!

p.s. prayers are welcome :)

Herb benefits, and making lip balms and ointments naturally

There are three blogs that I would like to recommend to you, my readers. 

The first is about herbs and their benefits.  There are tips on how to use each of the listed herbs (a pretty extensive list), and I think it would be beneficial for all of us to learn how to use these instead of relying on store-bought remedies. 

The second link includes two reply's and additional advice is on this page. 

The third link was inspired by the first link and gives tips and recipes for making balms and ointments.  I think this would be helpful to know how to make, but they would also make great gifts for family and friends :)

http://www.survivalblog.com/2010/08/medicinal_herb_gardening_by_mr.html

http://www.survivalblog.com/2010/08/two_letters_re_medicinal_herb.html

http://www.survivalblog.com/2010/08/tter_re_medicinal_herb_gardeni.html

Alternatives to Pectin

For those of you who buy pectin, you know just how expensive it is!  Well, I found this blog that my aunt Cheryl wrote with some good alternatives to using pectin.  Her two suggestions were Clear Jel from Barry Farm, or Pomona Pectin.  Look at her blog for links and her advice:

http://knowandgrowfood.blogspot.com/2010/08/alternatives-to-purchased-pectin.html

Another thing I've heard of is using the apple peels, core and seeds (which have natural pectin in them) instead of purchasing pectin from the store.  Here is a link to a recipe with great instructions on what to do with the apples and how to make Apple Rosemary Jelly.

Cement making

I was curious about the options of mixing and making cement, so I was doing some research on it.  In the process I came across these websites that I thought were interesting.  The first one is an article talking about the option to start your own business making concrete blocks with very little investment; He says that the business is very profitable.  If I had a good back and strong arms and wrists, I might consider it :)

http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/make-concrete-blocks-build-a-solid-business-360088.html


The other is an article that talks about all the different designs and options for stainging concrete.  I never thought about the possibilities, or even how it was done, before reading this site.  Maybe you'll find it interesting as well:

http://www.concretenetwork.com/staining-concrete/

Saving seeds from your garden

This is our first year growing a garden, and we were talking about the options of saving our seeds to plant next year (why buy them when you can get them from your own backyard?!). 

The other day I was looking at a website and wouldn't you know it but I stumbled across the below link.  It looks like a great resource for beginners to experts.  It's a must-read for those interested in saving seeds for future years!

http://www.seedsave.org/issi/issi_904.html

Homemade Deodorant

The woman of a blog I read is absolutely sure that her homemade deodorant is the best.  She even tried it on and didn't shower for three days just to see how well it worked!  Now that's what I call dedication!

Because of her enthusiasm and guarantee of such a great product, I will post her blog before I even try the deodorant.  If you try it first, let me know!  It is 100% natural without chemicals, aluminum, and propylene glycol (anti-freeze).  I'll be sure to try this soon and let you know what I think about it :)

Here's the recipe from her blog:

It's NO Secret:  Best Natural Deodorant Ever
1/4 cup Baking Soda
1/4 cup Arrowroot Powder
4 Tablespoons Beeswax
1/4 scant cup Shea Butter
1/4 heaping cup Coconut Oil
Favorite good smelling Essential Oils

I used Tee Tree, Lemon and/or Lemongrass, Grapefruit, Rosemary, Orange

5-20 drops of each according to "smell" I used more of the citrus ones and less of the others. You could use Lavender or other oils you like but I would for sure use some Tee Tree and a Citrus I think these are key to smelling good they not only have a good smell themselves they help fight potential bad smell from you.

Mix the Baking Soda and Arrowroot powder in a medium sized bowl. In a double boiler melt the Beeswax, Shea Butter and Coconut oil. When melted remove from heat and add the essential oils. Then pour onto soda mixture and mix. Quickly Pour (before it sets up) into empty roll on deodorant containers or other container of choice. Should make about 3 sticks. Enjoy being B.O. free!! Naturally!

Hutch transformed- Love it!

Looking for some great ideas using old furniture but still making your house look fantstic?  Check out this blog below!

http://theblueberrymonkey.blogspot.com/2010/07/drab-2-fab-great-grandmas-hutch-almost.html

Spice rack idea

I enjoy finding other peoples inventive ideas!  I found a great way to make spice racks in a way that saves and utilizes unused space.  This is going to be put on my to-do list!

http://www.diylife.com/2010/07/16/diy-warrior-back-of-door-spice-rack/

Homemade Dehumidifier

Do you have too much moisture in your home and want to get rid of it, but don't want to buy an expensive dehumidifier?  Try this instead:
(found here)

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Drill
Screwdriver
Buckets
Pen
Snips
Salt
Stand
Fan
Hygrometer (measures humidity level)

STEP 1

Drill a hole in the bottom of a medium sized plastic bucket with an electrical drill. The hole should be at least quarter inch in diameter. (Alternatively, you can bore the hole using a screwdriver or other sharp pointed object.) Be sure to wear safety goggles and loves when working with sharp tools.

STEP 2

Place a piece of chicken wire or mesh at the bottom of the bucket to cover the hole. Size to fit by placing the mesh underneath the base of the bucket and tracing the perimeter onto the mesh using a marker pen. Use tin snips or wire cutters to cut the mesh.

STEP 3

Fill the bucket with rock salt (the kind used to melt ice) and place on a stand. The stand should be resistant to drying or corrosion from the salt and be porous enough to allow moisture to drip through. The ideal stand would be similar to a stack of plastic milk crates. The height of the stand depends on the amount of space available.

STEP 4

Place a second bucket underneath the stand to catch moisture content. This bucket does not have a hole in it and is simply a net to prevent captured moisture from seeping onto the floor.

STEP 5

Give the homemade dehumidifier a few days to get working properly. The industrial strength salt should pull water into it and then release it, letting the water drip out of the bottom of the top bucket into the bottom bucket.
Direct moisture towards the bucket system using a box fan to increase effectiveness. This is not necessary in smaller areas, but will help collect moisture in larger rooms.

STEP 6

Check the effectiveness of the dehumidifier by testing the relative humidity inside the home using a hygrometer. Hygrometers are available at large home and garden stores. Increasing the size of the dehumidifier will increase its effectiveness.

The Dive: Dairy Free/Soy Free

I've been having some bloating issues and I haven't figured out what is causing the symptoms yet, but I have decided to take myself off of dairy for a month and see how my body reacts to my diet changes (I'm doing research and getting ready for the big leap).  If this doesn't work, I may try going off of grains (gluten free food) and see if that helps my body.  It's scary cutting out comfort foods and "going without" so many things that other people can eat.  But sometimes we have to make changes for our benefit.  I know that making this change isn't impossible, and I have several friends who have removed foods from their diets and have still made wonderful meals.  So here I dive into the world of possibilities... an adventure in learning about how other people eat, gaining new recipes, and having a hope for a better tomorrow. 

Below is a list of links for dairy free recipes and ideas, as well as dairy free + soy free (for those of us who don't like to consume GM foods due to the uncertainty of future health issues, and also due to some of the content combined in the DNA of the plant).  I hope you find these useful, and if you have any other sites/recipes/tips, please feel free to leave them here!

DAIRY FREE LINKS:

http://www.godairyfree.org/

I found a great page that shows different substitution options for those of us who are new at this game.
http://www.livingwithout.com/resources/substitutions.html

This is a great website FILLED with ideas, substitutions, brand names that are dairy-free, and has some great links and resources on the site.
http://www.beanmom.com/nomilk.html

Specialize your menu by using an etensive list of foods you can eliminate from your diet:
http://www.mealsforyou.com/cgi-bin/advancedSearch


DAIRY FREE + SOY FREE:

Soy Free substitues for dairy and cheese:
http://dairyfreecooking.about.com/od/techniquessubstitutions/tp/soysubstitutes.htm

Practical, everyday recipes that can be quick and easy:
http://www.fastq.com/~jbpratt/recipes/allergiesintol/maindishes.html

This lasagna looks delicious!
http://www.bookofyum.com/blog/soy-free-dairy-free-but-still-decadent-cheesy-spinach-lasagna-366.html

Allergy Free Recipes:
http://www.eatingwithfoodallergies.com/allergyfreerecipes.html

Agroforestry

I read an interesting article and I am intrigued by the ideas and possibilities discussed.

First of all, agroforestry is forest gardening, but this doesn't mean that you have to have a large plot of land to do it.  In fact, it can be brought down to a small scale (1/3 acre), or planted on any size lot.  Of course, having a smaller lot verses a larger one will determine what you can grow on that lot.

As an agricultural society, and even for home growers, we often rely on annual plants to sustain our food supply demands.  What we fail to do (often times) to include annual plants that sustain each other and also provide food each year without much maintanance.  Also, we don't always know the benefits of plants around us (i.e. cattails and bamboo for food, ginger for food and medicinal reasons, quince- a natural pectin, blackberries or rugosa rose to provide food and pollen for bees, etc.)  We don't think about all of the benefits of each plant, and if we are ignorant to these benefits, we cannot partake of them.

This article doesn't go into the details of WHAT to plant, or HOW to go about doing it,  but the author provides the pros and cons of planting this type of gardening.

If we ever buy a big plot of land, I think this idea would work well.  With our current plans to expand our garden and add fruit trees to our back yard,  we don't have much space for the forestry planting discussed in this article.  But, that doesn't mean that we can't incorporate a couple of these ideas into our yard.  In fact, I am planning to do more research and see if there's something we CAN add to our yard.

iPhone users- beware!

Talk about privacy invasion. 

Read this article! 

Beware, all of you iPhone users!

Tuna Cups for Kids

Looking for a creative food for the kiddos?  Look here for a fun way to keep kids intrigued with tuna sandwiches and it requires very little extra (cooking time) for what looks like a yummy treat.

.

Garden Update

The first picture is the garden in June, just budidng, and the second is a pic of the garden in mid July.  We've already harvested spinach, lettuce, and beans.

(This is our spinach and lettuce picked and in the sink ready to wash).  I didn't realize this before, but home grown spinach is quite a bit stronger in flavor and adds quite a bite to my spinach and fruit smoothies I make.

Our tomato plants were doing great up until about a week ago.  The leaves at the bottom of the plant started turning yellow, and I knew there was something wrong. 

After looking online and reading up on some materials, we concluded that it had to be one of three things:

1. They have been getting too much water

2.  They consumed all of the nutrients in their pots and needed more fertilizer (nitrates)

3.  They had grown out of their pots and the roots needed more space

We concluded that we needed to transplant our tomato plants into a larger pot.  We have 6 plants, so we put 3 in the ground, and 3 in 5 gallon pots (so we can bring them inside for the winter).  Did you know that tomato plants, if under the right conditions, will fruit for two years?

We also added some organic fertilizer to give them more nutrients.  We are hoping this helps the plants to recover from our neglect and ignorance :)  One thing we noticed this morning, is that our squirrels in the area are plucking our green tomatoes and taking them home with them.  Those sneaky creatures!  Now we're going to have to net them off or something.  Also, it RAINED and POURED so hard that our poor plants were all squished to the ground!!  We may have to put some kind of tarp over the garden in heavy rainfall.  We've seen other people with roofs over their garden and we were wondering why.  The question is now answered!

Our Bell Peppers!  Can't wait to start eating them!!

BLOG AWARD!

Thanks to those of you who nominated my blog!!

I have received the "Top 40 DIY Home Blog Award"...


MBA Online

(http://www.onlinemba.com/top_diy_home/#Back_to_the_Basics)

I am surprised that I won this because my blog is so new, but I will gladly accept it!  I hope to continue to post blogs of interest and gain more readers as time progresses.

A BIG THANKS to all!

Natural Food coloring

HOW TO MAKE FOOD COLORING:

Cooking delicious food is not enough. It is much more important to make the dishes look appetizing as well. In fact, it is the appearance as well as the aroma of food that attracts people, especially kids to it, in the very first instance. It is only later that they get to explore its taste. Coloring plays a great role in making a food item look tempting. Just a pinch of edible food color added to your recipe can do wonders in making it look very enticing. For the purpose, synthetic food coloring of innumerable brands are available in the market. However, such food colors have chances of containing toxic ingredients, so it is better to avoid them altogether. Rather, you should make use of natural food coloring, made at home. In order to help you out, we have listed ideas on how to make food coloring, in the lines below.

NATURAL FOOD COLORING IDEAS:

If you want to give yellow color to any food item, make use of 1 tsp, or more, of stale turmeric powder. It is fairly flavor neutral and is often used to give an "eggy" shade to vegan puddings and tofu scrambles.

For adding a blush or pale pink color to any food, make use of the juice of fresh, thawed or frozen raspberries.

Pastel shades can be acquired by mixing in avocado to a dish. Take a small avocado and mash half of it, until creamy, before mixing it with your recipe.

In case raspberry purple is the color you desire, make use of blueberries or blackberries. Using a sieve, mash the juice from fresh or thawed frozen blueberries and use it for coloring. You can also use fresh or thawed frozen blackberries for the purpose.

Pomegranate juice or dried, powdered, boiled and unsalted red beets are perfect for adding red color to any food item.

In order to get a brown color, instant coffee granules or cocoa powder is what you need to add.

If green color is what you desire, go for thawed or frozen spinach that has been blanched and pureed.

Kashmiri chili powder (red chili powder that contains more redness than normal) is the perfect fit for giving a firing red color to your recipes.

Making use of the puree of bright red tomatoes can give a reddish tinge to your food.

Saffron is a great herb that gives a crimson touch to the food and gives a nice flavor too. You may make use of saffron in two ways - either mix it with half a teaspoon of milk (for crimson color) or combine it with water (for blood red color).

For a light green color in your food, soak pistachios in water and then grind them to make a paste. This would be the best bet for puddings and desserts.

Sugar, when caramelized, gives a brownish tinge and rich flavor to puddings. Use caramelized sugar in moderation, to enhance the color of your hot puddings.
 
(Found here)

I've always wondered what would happen if I left items for a long period of time- how long does it take to make things spoil, go bad, rot, fall apart, or disinegrate. 

This blog talks about the effects that time, humidity, and temperature had on a storage unit that was left alone for 11 years.  When they came back to the unit they were able to see the condition of their belongings.  Read the blog to find out more about it.  Very interesting and good to know what will last and what won't last.

Improving your garden soil

I came across this great article which talks about the different options out there to boost your soil and fill it with more nutrients for your fruits and vegetables you are growing. 

The more research I do and the more experience I have, the more I learn about what is most beneficial for our garden.  Next year my husband and I will incorporate more of these tips to help our garden grow better.

Alternatives to Gasoline/Diesel

How many times do you fill your gas tank each week?  How much money do you spend filling up your tank? 

I've often thought about my dependency on the oil companies to provide me my gasoline to commmute to and from work, to buy groceries, run errands, go on trips, and to visit family and friends.  As much as I love my Prius, which gets about 45 mpg, I am still heavily dependent on others to supply my fuel.

I ran across this blog and found this man's reasearch very intriguing.  I love it when other people do the research and tell us what works best!  This saves me the time, effort, work, and know-how ;)  I suggest that you read this blog if you are interested in alternative fuel for your vehicle.

FREE MUG

Check out this blog for a free mug!  Unless, of course, you want me to win it! ;)

http://tinyurl.com/MugGiveaway

Garden Markers

I saw this blog and fell in love with the idea.  I think if I ever do it I would try it on a knife instead of a spoon, but other than that, I think these would make cute little gifts with a pot full of herbs or something.

Let me know if you have any other ideas like this!

http://thepleasuresofhomemaking.blogspot.com/2009/07/thrifty-treasures-how-to-make-cute.html

Bungee Cord Memo Board

I thought this was a neat idea, using different tools and adding a "manly" flare.

Here's the link:
http://www.diylife.com/2010/07/14/handmade-bungee-cord-memo-board/

How to make condiments

MAYONAISE:

- This recipe says to heat mayo to prevent food poisoning and the video also gives you tips on how to add variety to your mayo:
  http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Mayonnaise

- Allrecipes.com
  http://allrecipes.com//HowTo/making-mayonnaise/Detail.aspx

- Old Time Recipes:
   http://oldrecipebook.com/mayonaise.shtml


MIRACLE WHIP:

-  Food.com:
   http://www.food.com/recipe/Homemade-Miracle-Whip-41781

- Make It From Scratch Blog:
   http://makeitfromscratch.blogspot.com/2009/05/homemade-miracle-whip.html


KETCHUP:

- Howtodothings.com:
   http://www.howtodothings.com/food-drink/how-to-make-ketchup

- How to make and bottle/can ketchup:
  http://www.pickyourown.org/ketchup.htm


MUSTARD:

- Dijon Mustard:
   http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Dijon-Mustard

- Recipe using cranberries (interesting!)
   http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/How-to-Make-Mustard.aspx?page=3

- This recipe gives you alternative liquid options:
   http://www.gone-ta-pott.com/how-to-make-mustard-from-scratch.html


RELISH:

- Make and can/bottle your own relish:
   http://www.pickyourown.org/pickle_relish.htm


TARTAR SAUCE:

- eHow Tartar Sauce:
   http://www.ehow.com/how_5331280_make-quick-tartar-sauce-scratch.html

- Home Joys Blog:
   http://homejoys.blogspot.com/2009/02/make-it-yourself-tartar-sauce.html

- Make it from Scratch Blog:
   http://makeitfromscratch.blogspot.com/2010/04/made-almost-from-scratch-tartar-sauce.html

Another way to mince garlic

When you don't like to use the garlic press because it is a pain to clean, or you just don't have one, here's an alternative:

use a lemon zester!

(Idea found here: http://www.tightwadblog.com/)

Corrosion Prevention of Canned Goods

Corrosion Prevention of Canned Goods:

Some areas have difficulty storing metal canned goods for long periods of time. This is usually caused by very high humidity or exposure to salt in a marine environment. If this is a problem, it is possible to extend the life of metal cans by coating their outsides. I've seen this used on boats here in Florida, especially when loading for a long trip. There are at least four methods that can be used to do this:

- Paraffin Method

PARAFFIN METHOD: Using a double boiler, paraffin is melted and brushed on the clean, unrusted cans. Be certain to get a good coat on all seams, particularly the joints. If the can is small enough, it can be dipped directly into the wax. Care must be taken to not cause the labels to separate from the cans. Do not leave in long enough for the can to get warm.

- Paste Wax Method

Combine 2-3 ozs of paste or jelly wax with a quart of mineral spirits. Warm the mixture CAREFULLY in its container by immersing it in a larger container of hot water. DO NOT HEAT OVER AN OPEN FLAME! Stir the wax/spirits thoroughly until it is well mixed and dissolved. Paint the cans with a brush in the same manner as above. Place the cans on a wire rack until dry.

- Spray Silicone

A light coating of ordinary spray silicone may be used to deter rust. Spray lightly, allow to dry, wipe gently with a clean cloth to remove excess silicone.

- Clear Coating

A clear type of spray or brush on coating such as Rustoleum (tm) may be applied. This is best suited for larger reseable cans, but will keep them protected from corrosion for years.

(all information found here)

Homemade Vegetable Broth Powder

I saw a blog post about how to make vegetable broth powder and I got excited!  We have been looking for good vegetable broth powder, and I didn't even THINK to make my own.  See how I take for granted that we can BUY everything instead of MAKE it ourselves?  Hence the reason I set up this blog and started doing all of this research in the first place.  I am excited to make this in the next few days!!!

Recipe (found on this blog, from this book):


VEGETABLE BROTH POWDER

2 cups Nutritional Yeast (NOT bread yeast.  Buy at health food store)
1/2 cup sea salt
2 Tablespoons onion powder
1 Tablespoon turmeric
2 teaspoons dried dill weed
2 teaspoons marjoram (optional)
2 teaspoons dried powdered lemon peel (optional)
1 teaspoon celery seed
1 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon powdered thyme
1 Tablespoon dried parsley
Place all, except parsley, in a blender in the listed order. Blend until powered together. Add parsley and pulse to chop. Store in an airtight container indefinitely in the cupboard. To make veggie broth, add 1 tbsp of powder to every quart of water.

Refinishing Old Books

Here is a cool, cheap way to redecorate old books and add them as part of your decorating theme.  Look at this website for her ideas.

Homemade Pest Remedies

I've grown up with fruit trees but we never used natural pesticide spray.  I've been curious how to get rid of pests organically.  I ran across this website and they seem to have some really helpful tips. 

If there's anyone else out there who grew up using natural pesticides, or if you have any tips, let me know about them!!  We plan to plant fruit trees in our yard and would like to keep everything natural!

Thanks for your ideas!

Picking Blueberries

It is almost time to pick blueberries.  I am excited because this will be my first year harvesting them.  My husband grew up picking wild blueberries up north, so we are going to continue the tradition.  I am excited because first of all, I didn't have to plant or water them, and second, because we are going to have FRESH blueberries to eat!

I learned from Diane, my mother-in-law, that you can freeze the blueberries on a pan one layer deep.  After they are frozen, pull them out and put them in ziplock bags for fresh berries for the next several months!

Depending on how many we get, we can make blueberry pie, jelly, jam, syrup, pie filling (for later use), blueberry butter, or I can bottle them and put them on the shelf.  I didn't grow up on a blueberry harvest, so I've never tasted any of the following.  I'll let you know how it goes, what we make, and what I like :)

Here is a website that has great information about blueberries, if anyone is interested.

Why you should NEVER talk to a cop

Here is a great video describing some GREAT reasons why you never talk to cops- whether you're innocent or not!!  Seriously, if you have the time to watch these two clips, it is well worth your time.

One clip is a lawyer explaining why NOT to talk to cops.

The second clip is a cop supporting the lawyer's comments and adding his own.

Free Giveaway!

Check out this blog for a free giveaway.  The book is titled: "Family Preparedness Handbook", and it sounds like a good book to read to prep you for any emergencies that may lie ahead.

GO HERE for the giveaway!! 

(Contest ends July 11)

Home Invasion

When I read this terrifying story, it really jerked me into reality.  I have NO idea what I would do if someone broke into my house.  I have no thought out plans, nor have we talked about this topic at all. 

Anyone is in danger of a break-in, no matter how invincible you may think you are.  Dee and I are going to have to sit down and discuss the best options to fit our house, family, and needs.

This story raises questions:
1. How are you going to protect yourself in the event of a break-in?
2. Do you have a weapon you can use?
3. Are you strong enough to fight someone off?
4. Do you have skills for hand combat, firing arms, or anything else that would aid in your survival?
5. Are you in shape to either fight your opponent or run?
6. Do you have a good hiding place?
7. Do you have your phone near you at all times in order to call 911?

It's good to think about these things and at least have some sort of plan in mind (whether you end up using it or not).  Being over prepared is better than not being prepared at all.

How to make Yeast

I was talking about yeast recently and a question popped in my head:  Where does yeast come from and can I make it?

So I did some research and found out that yes, I can make it with very little effort on my part.  The process is very simple and requires very little ingredients.  Here are some sites that I found (the processes are different for each so look at all of the links):

Natural yeast using raisins, water, and a glass jar.  Or here's one using strawberries (and I assume just water).

Airborne yeast using flour, sugar, warm water, bowl and cheesecloth.

Yeast substitute using baking soda and lemon juice.  Good to know but it looks like it's definately not first choice.

Raising Chickens (tips)

My husband and I would love to raise chickens and have fresh eggs every week.  While we didn't have the time to do it this year, we hope to do it in the future.  We will first need to build a chicken coop, and start the chicks indoors until they get big enough to stay outside.  Also, because we live in a cold climate, we will have to figure out how to keep our chickens warm during our bitter cold winters.  There's lots of research for us to do still.

Here are some tips I found from someone who has been raising chickens for several years.  If you have other advice for raising chickens, please let us know! 

Backing up your important documents

In an emergency, it is important to have all of your personal documents with you, safe and sound.  This would include your copies of your birth certificates, passports, driver's licenses, identificaiton cards, medical records, medicinal needs, car titles, house title and deed, computer files, e-books, proof of insurances (health, house, car),  family pictures, social security card, and any other documents you find valuable and important.

I read an article stating that it would be best to have a flash drive that is water-proof, bomb-proof, and kid-proof.  This may seem a little extreme, but in the event of another "hurricane katrina" or other natural disaster, you would be guaranteed to have your important documents and files safe and accessible.  The flash drive that the author suggested is found here.

Homemade Compost Bin (recycled materials too!)

I feel very accomplished.  We had a huge to-do list that we wanted to finish by the end of this past weekend.  "Dee" and I buckled down and did all but three things.  I say we did a really good job!

One of our to-do projects was to build a compost bin.  We completed one side of it (pics below).  We will add another bin in a week or two so that we have one bin for new green compost, and one for the compost that's been rotting away and turning into soil.  The green pile we are piling up now (with weeds, kitchen scraps, leaves, etc), we will end up using in summer 2012.  That way we always have compost.

Here's the progress we made.  Granted, these pictures don't really show all the hard work involved.  We reused pallets, pulled them apart, and re-built them to have planks close together.  That way when we turn our compost, it won't be falling through the cracks and getting lost behind the bin.

Us in progress putting together the planks.  We're working on the ones on the ground.

The one propped up against the tree is what we started with (some were spaced farther apart that that one).  The one laying on the ground is our finished product, after taking off planks and putting them back on.  Then, of course, we had to saw off the tops because the planks were too long.

This is the space we cleared for our compost bin.

Here are our two compost piles- one is "green" from this year, and one is "brown" and already well on it's way to being composted for the garden next year.

I'm guessing these are bean sprouts from some beans that got  moldy before we consumed them all.  I think that's pretty cool!

Our grand finale masterpiece!!  It doesn't seem like much work but it really was!  We will add another bin to the side of this one, and I'll post a pic of the adjoining bins later.

Bowfishing

I just learned that my younger brother is into bowfishing.  I've never done it or seen anyone do it, so I decided to do some research on the sport.

Here's a great website that describes the basics about bowfishing.  It seems like a neat sport, and seems more involved (and intriguing) than fishing with a rod.  I may have to try it some time!

Dandelions- stuff you probably didn't know

How many times do we look out our windows in disgust, thinking about all the weeding that needs to be done. 

Not to fret!  (although I still do since we have so many).  Those dandelions can be put to good use... you can eat them!  According to the website, dandelions are one of the top 6 herbs in the chinese medicine chest, they rank in the top 4 green vegetables in overall nutritional value, and the third richest source of Vitamin A of all foods, after cod-liver oil and beef liver.

Somehow I get the feeling that these "weeds" are good for us.

My husband and I have talked about incorporating dandelions into our diet since we moved into our new house.  We have yet to do it, but after reading the article above, I am more inclinded to do so!

UPDATE NOTE:  I washed the dandelion leaves (June), eager to make a yummy salad, only to find the greens very bitter.  I did some more research and appearantly you need to pick the leaves BEFORE THE PLANT FLOWERS.  So this means harvest time for leaves is early spring.  Harvesting the leaf and freezing it like spinach is a great option to use the plant later.  Use in lasagna, pasta, or any other recipe that calls for spinach.  Of course, the yellow flowers are good for recipes too, so any time you find enough for a recipe, eat up (recipes below).
Here are a few recipes:

- http://oldfashionedliving.com/dandelion.html

- http://www.mountain-breeze.com/kitchen/dandelions/

- http://www.learningherbs.com/dandelion_recipes.html

Let me know if you try these recipes or others, and what your thoughts are!

Basha/ Shelter

Watch this video for some cool knot tips to build a temporary "tent" out of a tarp.  A tarp and long rope would be good to have in your supplies. 

- Basha (poncho)

Warts- Home remedies

If you have warts like I have and would like to try some natural ways to get rid of them, here are some suggestions (I am going to try these since I have two warts and let you know how it goes):

- dandelion milk (milk secreted from the end of the herb can be directly applied to wart)
- rub vitamin E on wart 2-3 times daily
- soak in vinegar
- aloe vera juice
- soak in baking soda
- rub crushed garlic on the wart (be careful not to let it blister)
- soak in hot water to soften and kill virus
- use duct tape to cover wart
- apply castor oil
- soak in pineapple juice

Eventually your body recognizes the wart as a virus and kills them naturally.  However, this can take years before your body attacks them (I know from my childhood).

Solar Ovens

Here are some cool ideas for making ovens and using the sun to cook your food:

Using a tire and glass:
http://solarcooking.org/images/tirecooker.jpg

The collapsable box:
http://solarcooking.org/plans/collapsible-box.htm

To pasteurize water or milk:
http://solarcooking.org/plans/spasteur.htm

Using a shoe box:
http://www.uberpest.com/cooker.html

Antiseptics

Watch this video about antiseptics.

Say WHAT?!

Here are some inventive things you can do with tampons and condoms (other than their original purposes).  Seriously, check it out.  You never know when this information could come in handy.  The last item is for the ladies... never tried it but it sounds like a good tool to have around.

Tampons

Condoms

Wiz ("she-wee")


Need I emphasize the fact that all three of these would be handy to have in times of emergency???

How to navigate without a compass

- How to know when the sun will set (nice to know for daily living)

- How to find North and South with a wrist watch

- How to find North and South with a stick

- How to find North and South using the stars

Crawdad/ minnow catcher

Here is the most simplistic form of a crawdad/minnow catcher if you're in need of food.

You need two things:
- a 2 liter bottle
- a knife

Watch this kid demonstrate what to do.  You may never need it, but if you watch this you'll always remember.  You can even use it while camping :)

Homemade Water Purifier

There may come a time when you have to purify your own water, but you don't have the fancy equipment to do it.  Here are some practical ways to do this.  I found a youtube collection of short 1-2 minute clips of how to make your own purifier.  I'm not sure why they are broken up like this, but I put them in sequence.  Click on the links below:

- Introduction (and how to make charcoal)
- How to make the purifier
- Purifying process

- Water tablets

Buy furniture plans, and make it yourself-- for cheap!

I just read an article that I think is really innovative and awesome for those of us who want to make our own stuff, but don't quite have the ingenious or experience (or time) to actually design something that will look decent.

Christian Schoeneman creates plans for different furniture, sells the plans to you, the buyer, for $5-$10, and you get to be the one who assembles the masterpiece!  All this for super cheap!  I think it's awesome.

Actually, my husband "Dee" and I were planning on buying bunk bed plans (from another site) and make the bed ourselves.  Christian is another person who markets this same idea.  How creative!  If you are interested, go to Christian's website on etsy and look at what he has to offer.

You never know... maybe you'll find something of interest for your next project!

Unusual uses for Asprin

A couple of aspirin can do more than alleviate your headache -- they also help cut flowers last longer, remove laundry stains, and even ease the sting of mosquito bites.
(Safety tip: If you have aspirin allergies do not use these methods.)

Flower Power

Freshly cut flowers are lovely; if only they'd stay fresh a little longer. Well, they can with a little help from the contents of your own medicine cabinet (we're talking real aspirin, like Bayer -- not ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or other common pain relievers). The next time you get a fresh bouquet, crush a few aspirin tablets using the back of a spoon and add the powder to a vase filled with water. The salicylic acid in the aspirin will help keep the water clean and free of flower-damaging bacteria.

Stain Removal

Aspirin can also take the headache out of doing the laundry -- especially when dealing with stubborn protein stains like sweat, egg, and antiperspirants can be removed with an aspirin solution.
- For sweat and antiperspirant stains: Crush a couple of aspirin and mix them into a half a cup of warm water. Use the mixture to saturate the stain and then let it sit a couple of hours. Launder as usual and the stains will be gone! (For really tough stains you may have to either soak longer or re-treat the area).
- For an egg stains: Scrape off as much of the stain as you can and make a paste of crushed aspirin and water. Working from the back side of the fabric, spread the paste over the stained area and work it in with a soft toothbrush. Then rinse it with some warm water.

Pest Control

Warm summer months bring sun and fun -- but also insects who want to bite and sting. But the itch of mosquito bites and bee stings can be soothed with -- you guessed it -- aspirin. Wet the pill and set it on the bite for instant relief.

(All information found here).

Fixing a Toilet

Our toilet was leaking, so we looked into what it would take to fix it. 

At first we thought that we would have to replace the entire toilet, but after some researching we realized that we could try to replace the parts first, and if that didn't work, then we'd have to replace the entire toilet.

My husband "D" and I were both a little bit daunted by the idea of taking on this project (don't ask me why, it wasn't that tough).  Maybe it was because we have a to-do list that's a mile long. 

Anyways, I replaced the nuts and washers and tightened them.  That didn't work.  Then we bought a new wax ring.  We sponged out the water from the toilet, unscrewed the nuts, and pulled the toilet up.  It was super heavy (and is super old).  I was glad to have my hubby to do the lifting.

We then removed the old wax ring with an old putty knife, cleaned the floor and toilet surfaces that touched the floor, and then proceeded to put the new wax ring on.  We tried squishing the wax to the toilet like the picture showed, but it kept falling off.  We opted to put the wax ring on the floor (where the drain pipe is) and place the toilet on top of it.

Placing the toilet on the floor and lining up the bolts was not as easy as it should have been.  Our bolts were crooked, and the toilet was so heavy (I think they make the newer ones a little lighter, but I'm not sure), that it took several tries before everything was aligned.  After that, we applied pressure (entire body weight) to ensure a good, tight seal.  The next step is to screw on the washer and nuts tight (but not so tight that it breaks the porcelain.  The last step is to check the nuts periodically for the next couple of days and make sure that they are snug.  Sometimes the wax settles in and requires a little more tightening.

There you have it!  If you have to replace the entire toilet, then the proceedure is the same except for you'll have a clean, new toilet to work with.  :)

Top Ten Natural Pain Killers

Fish oil

Fish oil contains two essential omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These fatty acids are known to block the production of inflammatory chemicals called cytokines and leukotrienes in the body, which are responsible for a range of painful conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, gout and sinusitis. Researchers found that eating 3 g of fish fats a day relieved the joint pain, inflammation, and morning stiffness associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and reduced the drug requirement. In another study of rheumatoid arthritis patients, daily supplementation with 2.7 grams of EPA and 1.8 grams of DHA resulted in striking reduction in the number of tender joints and increase in the time span before fatigue appeared. Various other studies have put forth that the same dosage of fish oil can reduce the severity of Crohn’s disease by more than 50 per cent and make it possible for many patients to stop anti-inflammatory medication and steroids.

Olive oil

Olive oil has been found to contain a natural chemical which acts like the anti-inflammatory pain killer ibuprofen. The active ingredient in olive oil is oleocanthal, which influences the same biochemical pathway as ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The researchers concluded that 50 gram of extra-virgin olive oil was comparable to about 10 per cent of the ibuprofen dose recommended for adult pain relief. Although headache will not be cured with this, yet regular olive oil consumption is expected to provide some of the long-lasting benefits of ibuprofen.

Tart cherries

According to researchers at Michigan State University, the eating about 20 tart cherries may relieve pain better than aspirin and may also exhibit antioxidant properties comparable to supplements like vitamin E. That number of cherries are said to contain 12-25 milligrams of the active ingredients, called anthocyanins. Anthocyanins inhibited cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 enzymes, which were the targets of anti-inflammatory drugs at doses more than ten times lower than aspirin. Thus daily consumption of cherries has shown the potential to reduce pain related to inflammation, arthritis and gout.

Saliva

Saliva has been found to generate a natural painkiller of up to six times more strength than morphine. The substance produced by human saliva is similar to opiorphin and has been said to generate a new class of natural painkillers that are far better than the traditional drug morphine, which has many addictive and psychosomatic side effects. The researchers demonstrated that the opiorphin acts in nerve cells of the spine and stops the usual destruction of the natural pain-killing opiates, known as the enkephalins.

White willow bark

White willow bark decreases pain by blocking the production of inflammatory prostaglandins. White willow bark is also a very effective fever reducer. It is said to contain a compound called salicylic acid and aspirin (acetyl salicylic acid) is a synthetic form of this compound. White willow bark provides all pain-relieving benefits of aspirin. Conventionally is safer then aspirin and other synthetically derived salicylate based anti-inflammatory drugs. No contra-indications and serious side effects have ever been reported by medical science. It is said to provide relief to headache, toothache, backache or even arthritis.

It is important to keep in mind that white willow bark should not be taken with aspirin, or by people who sensitive to salicylates. Though it is far less irritating to the stomach, yet it should be avoided by people with gastritis or ulcers, or could be used in suppository form only. It should not be used by children under 16, because of the associated possibility of developing Reye's syndrome in children during a viral infection.

MSM

MSM (methyl-sulphonyl-methane) is a naturally-occurring sulphur compound. It is a powerful painkiller with anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic and analgesic properties, and it inhibits the transmission of pain impulses. In a double-blind study conducted at the UCLA School of Medicine in America, researchers showed that 80 per cent pain control was achieved within six weeks in degenerative arthritis patients receiving MSM, but only a negligible improvement was observed in the control group. It is available both as a dietary supplement and as a cream for topical application.

Glucosamine and chondroitin

Glucosamine and chondroitin are nutritional supplements that significantly reduce the pain of arthritic joints. In Europe oral glucosamine is a commonly used pain killer and is even approved as a prescription drug. They may also be effective in topical use. The results of a study put forth that a cream containing glucosamine, chondroitin and camphor decreased arthritic knee pain more than a placebo cream.

Boswellia

Clinical trials have proved that the Indian herb boswellia is as effective as conventional drugs for both chronic and minor pains. Boswellic acids, the active ingredients in boswellia, are more potent and less toxic than standard NSAIDs. Boswellic acids decrease the production of inflammatory compounds, the leukotrienes that are implicated in many chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Boswellia is available both as a supplement and as a topical cream. A comparative study conducted on 175 rheumatoid arthritis patients demonstrated that 97 per cent of these patients had moderate to excellent recovery from pain, swelling and morning stiffness after consuming 450 to 750 mg of boswellic acids daily for three to four weeks. These results were comparable to those for patients taking ketoprofen and phenylbutazone, but unlike the drug treatments boswellic acids produced no adverse effects.

Devil’s claw

Devil’s claw, native to South Africa is another herb that is best known for alleviating back pain and arthritis. The active ingredients in this herb are called iridoid glycosides that are responsible for producing its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. A French trial found it as effective as, and safer than, the anti-arthritis drug diacerhein. One four-month study included around 120 people with knee and hip osteoarthritis and put forth that devil’s claw decreased pain and increased function as good as a regular osteoarthritis medicine, but with a lot fewer side effects. People with gastric ulcers should consume devil’s claw with caution since it increases the gastric acid production.

Curcumin

Turmeric contains the compound curcumin, which is a powerful painkiller known to block inflammatory proteins and enhance the body’s ability to suppress inflammation. Turmeric is used in place of NSAIDs without any side effects to the organs including stomach, heart, liver and kidneys. Various studies put forth that curcumin eases the chronic pain of rheumatoid arthritis. The pain relievers found in curcumin stop the neurotransmitter substance P from sending its pain signals to the brain. Curcumin also decreases inflammation by reducing prostaglandin activity. 400 to 600 mg of curcumin should be consumed three times daily. In order to improve absorption, it can be consumed with equal amounts of bromelain, an anti-inflammatory enzyme found in pineapples–20 minutes before meals.

(All of this information is from this site)

How to make your own vinegar

A couple of days ago I mentioned some of the ways you can use vinegar (see this blog).  Then he asked an interesting question, "Can we make our own vinegar?"

That question lead me to research, and I came across this website.  This describes the entire process clearly, and gives options to make several different kinds of vinegar (apple cider, white wine, honey, clover, dandelion, and gourmet).

When I showed Dean that we could make dandelion vinegar, his eyes lit up and he said, "We should make that one!"  So, we have one more kitchen project to try this year.

If you try this (or have done it before), let me know how it goes and add any suggestions you have!

Feeding your infant in an emergency

How are you going to feed your baby in the event of a crisis?  What if you can't get to a store that has formula?  What if you can't breastfeed, you if the breastfeeding mother died?  How will your child survive?

I was reading an article about a mother who was breastfeeding her 8 week old baby.  In her article she mentioned the catastrophe of the Chinese earthquake in 2008 (watch this video).  During that time, thousands of babies needed to be fed.  Fortunately, there was a wet nurse who went around and fed as many babies as she could.

The author then began to wonder what she or her husband would do in the event that breastfeeding and formula was not an option.  She researched and found this recipe below.  She seriously cautions NOT to use it for an extended time, and only in emergency situations, but that it will sustain your baby for a limited time. 

(Another important thing to consider is that most women can lactate, especially if they have given birth or breastfed before. Adoptive mothers lactate all the time. Use that as an option before this recipe).

Mix:


2 - 12 oz. cans of evaporated milk
32 oz. water
2 Tbsp. Karo syrup
3 ml. Poly-Vi-Sol vitamins

As a precautionary step, it would be wise to have these ingredients on your storage shelf.  The author also suggested having a battery operated breast pump (with spare batteries) on hand.  It is better to be prepared than to not have the necessary ingredients later.

Making peanut butter

I was applying peanut butter to a slice of bread when a questions popped in my head: can I make my own peanut butter?  I found this recipe below, and as soon as we run out of the pb that's open, I'm giong to try this.  Here's how to make your own peanut butter (found here).


(another person said that you can skip the salt, sweets, and oil if you like.  Just blend the peanuts together and walla!).

What you need:

15 ounces of shelled and skinned roasted peanuts
1 teaspoon of sea salt
1 1/2 teaspoons of honey
1 1/2 tablespoons of peanut oil
What you do:

- Put the peanuts, salt, and honey into the bowl of a food processor.
- Process for a minute or until the mixture begins to smoothen.
- Drizzle the oil in while it continues to process.
- Process this mixture until creamy (2-3 minutes) or whatever texture you like.
- Store in an airtight container; it'll be good for up to two months!

Gardening with newspaper

My mother-in-law told me that you can use newspaper in your gardens as a weed-block.  I thought this was interesting so I researched it online to learn more about it.

Indeed, newspaper is a great natural source (and a great way to recycle) to prevent weeds from growing in your garden.  In fact, people say that the newspaper will work for several years if undisturbed.

This is what you do:

- soak several pieces of newspaper in water, wring out, and unfold.  Lay flat on ground.
- cut hole big enough for your potted flowers/trees/plants to fit in the hole.
- plant your flowers/trees
- lay mulch or dirt on the top of the newspaper

This type of weed barrier is much better for your plants than plastic, and will work better than anything you can buy at the store.

I am going to use this idea this year when planting :)

Uses for Vinegar

I recently became aware of how versatile vinegar is for daily use.  I think vinegar will become my new best friend! 

The list I found is a mile long, and has some excellent ideas for using vinegar!  It can be used on floors, in your yard, for cleaning, laundry, dishes, sunburns, pets, etc! 

Check out the list, and even print it for your convenience!

Cleaning recipes using essential oils

Here are some recipes for making cleaners and soaps using essential oils.  Here is the website I got these recipes from.  I have not made these yet but plan to try them in the future.

BATHROOM CLEANER
What do you want out of a bathroom cleaner? I know I want to disinfect and deodorize, above all. Getting the hard water stains off the toilet bowl would be an excellent bonus, and soap scum removal off the tub wouldn't hurt either. This recipe will do all these and more. It is the only cleaner you will need for your bathroom -- although I guess you wouldn't want to use this one on your mirror!

1/3 c. baking soda
1/4 c. borax
2 TB to 1/4 c. grated soap (or soap powder)
10 drops pine essential oil
20 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops tea tree essential oil

Mix all ingredients and use this as you would a Comet-type cleanser. Simply sprinkle and scrub! Store in an airtight container.

KITCHEN CLEANER

Disinfecting countertops is numero uno in my kitchen. Since we are crazy -- and messy -- cooks, I also need something to degrease the counters and stovetop.

1 TB baking soda
2 tsp. castille soap (such as Dr. Bronner's)
1 c. water or oregano hydrosol
3 drops oregano essential oil (only add this if you are using water, not hydrosol)
8 drops orange essential oil
8 drops lemon essential oil

Heat the water and baking soda until the soda dissolves. Remove from heat and gently add the castille and essential oils and pour into a spray bottle. Spray surfaces and wipe with a clean cloth or damp sponge.

GLASS CLEANER
I would bet that you want what I want -- streak-free cleaning for sparkling mirrors and clear-view windows. Your backyard -- and your reflection -- will never look so good!
1 c. water
1 TB vinegar
1 TB rubbing alcohol, or if you want to be super non-toxic, ethanol (grain alcohol)
3 drops lemon essential oil

Mix ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake well before using. Have you ever tried washing glass surfaces with old newspapers? I don't know why it works, but it helps with the streak-free.

DISH SOAP

If you make cold-process soap, you can easily make a dish soap from coconut oil with a titch of castor oil for smaller, foamier bubbles. Use the lowest superfat you feel comfortable with, and for ease of use, mold soap into ceramic mini-loaf pans or flower pots and put one by your sink. Oh, scent with lavender and tea tree essential oils or citrus and herb essential oils. Decorative and functional, and a wonderful hostess gift, too.

Composting and Mulch

Here is a website that is full of great information regarding compost and mulch. 

It is a comprehensive article, and will answer many questions you may have about preparing your garden. 

Homemade cheese, yogurt, and butter

Since I've been thinking about going back to the basics, I was intrigued to find out if it was possible to make my own yogurt.  In my search I found this awesome website that not only explains yogurt, but also gives step by step instructions on making various cheeses and butter.

At some point this summer, I am going to try some of the recipes, and I'll give my personal feedback.  If you have your own feedback and experience, please share it with me and my readers!  We would appreciate it!

Here is the main website.  Here is a page from that website for beginners.  They have helpful tips on what to start with, how to proceed, and what to expect as a new cheese-maker.  What's also neat is they have a page outlining how to make your own cheese press from materials laying around the house (otherwise they cost anywhere from $60-$250)!  I will aslo try making this sometime this summer.

Another website, here, has a slew of options as far as purchasing ingredients for cheesemaking.  Again, I haven't done this yet, but it looks like this website has a lot of options.

Let me know if you have any experience or advice for me as I reach out into the unknown of cheese and yogurt making :)

Homemade dryer sheets

Have you ever thought about alternatives to using dryer sheets?  Here are a couple of ideas on how to make your own and save money, resources, and stay "green".

Spider and insect bites

I appearantly got bitten by a spider or insect yesterday, so I researched bug bites and I found this website with some helpful information and pictures. 

Now I know the differences between bites- I think this is the first time (that I recall) being bit by an insect.

Utility shut-off

In case of an emergency, it is important to know how to shut off your gas, electricity, and water.  Learn where your shut-off valves are, and know how to disconnect them.  This knowledge could come in handy in the event of a natural disaster situation where your gas pipe is leaking, the water lines burst, or there were problems with the electrical outlets.

Keep prepared!

Insulin substitute for Diabetics

If you are diabetic, this information may be helpful.  According to this blog, Jerusalem Artichokes are a good source of inulin (not insulin), which helps to stabilize blood sugar levels.  This is important information to know in case there was an emergency.

Starting our garden

I have grown up gardening, but this will be the first year that my husband and I grow a garden together.  We have a late start on it this year (due to buying a new home and remodeling), but we are hoping to get at least something planted this year, even if it is smaller than we would like.

This will be the year to test the soil and climate (I gardened in another state, and the growing seasons are slightly different).  Hopefully experimenting this year will give us challenges and lessons learned so that next year's garden will be even better :)

I have currently dug up the grass and weeds, and am awaiting the next step.  We have rabbit issues, so we are going to experiment on how to keep them out of the garden.  I think we've decided to use chicken wire and posts.  I'll keep you updated on our efforts.

Food Storage Tips

Food storage is an important part of preparation in case of an emergency.  It is important that you and your family set up a system that works well with your family size and needs.  Here are some tips for food storage (a comprehensive list and excellent resource is at this website):

1.  Store your food in a cool, dark, dry place.  This can be a basement, closet, kitchen, attic, under your bed, or even stored in a chest and used as a table.  Be creative if you have small living quarters!

2. Figure out how much storage you need for you and your family.  Use this cool calculator to figure it out.

3.  Decide how to store your food storage.  Put your food in 5 to 6 gallon buckets or pails.  There are different ways of "sealing" your food so moisture doesn't get in and cause the food to spoil.  There are mylar bags, the dry ice method, CO2 and Nitrogen flush method, bay leaves, freezing your grain, and the diatomaceous earth powder (which is used to kill insects and is approved for human consumption).

4.  What is the shelf life of your food?  There is a great chart on the website that shows the general shelf life of foods.

5.  Make sure to rotate your food so it doesn't spoil or get eaten by rodents or insects (I grew up eating wheat that was stored it in a big 5-gallon bucket, and we never had problems.  The same thing goes for home canned goods, or canned goods from the store).

- Make sure that you have food on your shelves that you are willing to eat, because if there is no emergency, you will want to eat and rotate your storage. 

- It is important to store extra water for your dehydrated foods that you will be rehydrating.  Follow the chart on the website for rehydration.

- If you eat one meal a week from your storage shelves, you will go through your one year supply in 7 years.

Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog!

I have decided that it is time. Time for me to relearn the basics of daily living.  I am used to purchasing items without thinking twice about where they come from or what kind of work went into making them. Essentially, I take for granted the world at my fingertips. This is what our society is based upon. It is time for me to venture into the world of "making", not buying, and "doing", not relying upon hired help. 

It is also time for me to get prepared in case of an emergency (should my husband or I lose our jobs, our economy collapses, a natural disaster hits, etc).  This type of preparation includes food and equipment storage, knowing how to do handy-man work, the art of homemaking (sewing, cooking, canning, etc), gardening, survival strategies, first aid, natural remedies for ailments and injuries, etc.

This blog will cover all of these topics above.  I am new at this, so together we can start this journey towards more knowledge and power.

My journey starts here and now. Join me as I learn and grow. We are at the drawing board, and back to the basics.