Made my monthly trip to The dollar tree and stocked up on my normal items, cleaning supplies, etc. Went to the food aisle and was so surprised to see these huge canisters of Grits!!! My family loves grits. We go through those big 5 pound bags from Wally world quickly. I bought all 4 of the Grits the dollar tree had. You might check and see if your dollar tree has them.These are 4 pound 8 ounces each. Hoping they have more next trip.
Sunday, May 3, 2015
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Cooking With the Sun
Solar box cookers are the be-all and end-all when it comes to
harnessing the sun to cook food. They run solely on the sun's rays which
makes them the ideal cooking solution for many areas where electricity
and fuel aren't options. They're also wonderful for outdoor cooking
because they pose little risk of forest fire and are much lighter than
hauling fuel around in your backpack.
How Solar Cookers Work
There are actually more than fifty different variations on the solar cooker theme. However, they typically fall into three basic designs or design principles. These include:
* Concentrating sunlight. In this type of device the sunlight is concentrated or focused by some type of reflective metal or a mirror. The heat and energy from the sun then becomes concentrated and much more intense.
* Converting light to heat. In this type of design the solar cooker makes use of heat-absorbing elements, like the color black, to amplify the cooking process. One example would be to coat the inside of the cooker with black paint or to use a black material to collect the sunlight and convert it into heat. If you've ever worn a black shirt on a sunny day, you know how effective this is.
* Finally, a third type of design traps heat by using a clear device, like a lid, to keep the heat inside and thus to use it to maximize cooking.
Of course, some designs take advantage more than one of these solar cooking elements to really maximize the sun's effects. A solar box cooker is one of the most basic types of solar cookers and can be made at home with few resources or technical skills.
Ingredients for a Solar Box Cooker
If you're going to make a solar box cooker at home (and why not!) then you'll need to collect a few things. They include:
* Two cardboard boxes. One box should be larger than the other and ideally the bigger the better because it's awfully difficult to make much in a children's shoe box. There should also be about ½ inch of space between the two boxes all the way around.
* One sheet of cardboard for the lid. You'll want it to be several inches larger than the top of your largest box. So for example if your box is 10X10 you'd want your cardboard to be around 13x13.
* A roll of aluminum foil.
* Flat-black, non-toxic, spray paint or tempera paint.
* White glue, non-toxic.
* A Reynolds oven cooking bag or a sheet of glass. The oven bags are ideal because they're inexpensive, durable, and easy to find. They're also designed to withstand 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
That's it; that's your supply list. Solar box cooking can be a fun way for your children to learn the amazing powers of the sun and to learn a bit about solar energy. You can also take advantage of this wonderful device and cook outdoors when the weather permits. You'll save energy and have fun in the process.
How Solar Cookers Work
There are actually more than fifty different variations on the solar cooker theme. However, they typically fall into three basic designs or design principles. These include:
* Concentrating sunlight. In this type of device the sunlight is concentrated or focused by some type of reflective metal or a mirror. The heat and energy from the sun then becomes concentrated and much more intense.
* Converting light to heat. In this type of design the solar cooker makes use of heat-absorbing elements, like the color black, to amplify the cooking process. One example would be to coat the inside of the cooker with black paint or to use a black material to collect the sunlight and convert it into heat. If you've ever worn a black shirt on a sunny day, you know how effective this is.
* Finally, a third type of design traps heat by using a clear device, like a lid, to keep the heat inside and thus to use it to maximize cooking.
Of course, some designs take advantage more than one of these solar cooking elements to really maximize the sun's effects. A solar box cooker is one of the most basic types of solar cookers and can be made at home with few resources or technical skills.
Ingredients for a Solar Box Cooker
* Two cardboard boxes. One box should be larger than the other and ideally the bigger the better because it's awfully difficult to make much in a children's shoe box. There should also be about ½ inch of space between the two boxes all the way around.
* One sheet of cardboard for the lid. You'll want it to be several inches larger than the top of your largest box. So for example if your box is 10X10 you'd want your cardboard to be around 13x13.
* A roll of aluminum foil.
* Flat-black, non-toxic, spray paint or tempera paint.
* White glue, non-toxic.
* A Reynolds oven cooking bag or a sheet of glass. The oven bags are ideal because they're inexpensive, durable, and easy to find. They're also designed to withstand 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
That's it; that's your supply list. Solar box cooking can be a fun way for your children to learn the amazing powers of the sun and to learn a bit about solar energy. You can also take advantage of this wonderful device and cook outdoors when the weather permits. You'll save energy and have fun in the process.
From Solar Ovens to Solar Heated Water the options in today's
energy conscious world are enormous. Discover more about Solar Hot Water
Panels [http://www.squidoo.com/SolarHotWaterPanels]
Build a Survival Safe Home
30 Amazing Lessons on How to Build Survival Safe Home and Save Yourself from Natural Disasters
We all know that nothing lasts forever. This also includes our current economy and modern life. A time may come in the future where we don’t have electricity or the other conveniences of life. It’s important that you have a plan for that or a natural disaster. What would you do and where would you go if your current home was demolished due a natural disaster?
In this informative ebook, we discuss some of the best survival safe home plans that can help you survive when SHTF for any reason. Many of the ideas require little more than your sweat equity and some eco-friendly materials.
You’ll learn:
- How to build a home out of plastic bottles that is almost bullet proof;
- How to make your own cement so that you can make bricks;
- How to build a home out of cordwood;
- How to collect rain water;
And other important tips. You’ll also learn how to build immediate shelters that can get you out of the elements and keep you safe. Additionally, we will discuss some of the things that you need to know about protecting your new homestead. But we didn’t stop there. We will also tell you how to make your own solar panel and how to make a smoker for your food.
Survival 101 Box Set: 25 Tools Every Survival Kit Should Have and 33 Tips on How to Construct a Safe Home and Survive in the Wilderness. Prepare Yourself ... out bag essentials, survival safe house)
Survival 101 Box Set (FREE Bonus Included)
BOOK #1: Bug Out Bag: 25 Tools Every Survival Kit Should Have
This well searched book is based on the notion of “importance of survival tools within the survival kit”. It’s a so rot preparation to handle and tackle the survival situations with ease. This book contains a good set of 25 survival tools that ought to present in a good survival kit. The major working, function and elaborations of the survival tools have been described in this book.
The major notions covered in this astounding book embrace:
- 3 W’s to solve for selecting survival tools
- Bug out bag – 25 mandatory tools every survival kit should have
- Why to keep survival tools in survival kit
- Tools with survival priority within the survival kit
BOOK #2: Build a Survival Safe Home: 33 Tips on How to Construct a Safe Home and Survive in the Wilderness
Whenever it comes to wilderness, the homeless and helpless situation appears in your mind. Wilderness can be in the snow or forest but how can you cope up with the hazardous dangers of that particular location? How can you find shelter? Do you’ve any ways to construct the temporary home? All the answers of these queries will be disclosed in this book. You should be prepared for confronting any situation of life, regardless either it is about the financial constraints or dealing with wilderness. This book will be the basic tool for all the individuals because it is equipped with the effective measures as well as the basic guidelines for either implanting the survival shelters or facing the wilderness along with the fascinating extra tips at the end of each chapter
Some highlighted aspects of this eBook are:
- A brief introduction about the survival safe home
- Things to be considered before constructing the survival safe home
- The basic guidelines of the survival safe home
- 33 tips on constructing the survival shelters
- Measures of surviving in the wilderness
BOOK #3: Survival 101: Prepare Yourself and Your Family to Survive Natural Disasters
This book outlines the basic steps to be prepared for surviving natural disasters. It instructs you of how to act when the disaster hits in order to ensure your family’s safety throughout the duration, and it teaches you what to do in the aftermath of the disaster.
You will be guided through these instructions for the four most common, and most destructive, natural disasters:
- Earthquakes
- Tsunamis
- Hurricanes
- Tornadoes
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Great Use For Blow Up Pool!
Great for older kids, or you, to lay out at night and star watch.
Nepal Earthquake Kills Hundreds and Levels Buildings in Capital - Disaster Preparedness - Earthquakes
Nepal Earthquake Kills Hundreds and Levels Buildings in Capital - NYTimes.com




Disaster Preparedness - Earthquakes
In the event of an earthquake, there is no better way to avoid
injury and death than preparing the home and knowing what damage
earthquakes cause and how they do it. Every year, thousands of people
die as a direct result of earthquakes--but not necessarily because of
the movement of the ground beneath them. In fact, these sorts of deaths
are quite rare.
It is more common to die because of a lack of
preparation: people don't know where the safest place to be is during an
earthquake, the community isn't prepared, the buildings aren't safe, or
there isn't any good food or water to support communities after the
earthquake takes out electricity and makes it unsafe to go outside
looking for food.
Knowing all the facts about earthquakes and all
the recommendations by experts will not only help save lives; it can
protect homes and businesses, result in fewer injuries, and lessen the
number of people the government and emergency rescuers will have to
save.
First, people should understand that earthquakes come with
little and often no warning. Seismic activity is difficult to detect
until it is actually on the surface, causing damage. People will often
get no warning at all, except for the standard declaration to be
prepared for an earthquake, particularly if people live near a fault
line, or in an area with a lot of seismic activity.
States like
California, Alaska, and Hawaii are of course notorious for their
earthquakes. But lesser known states like Nevada, Washington, and even
Utah and Oregon are in the list of the top ten states for seismic
activity. Basically, those who live in the western U.S. are more likely
to be affected by seismic activity than those further east. (Though
there are a few exceptions--check USGS.gov to see the seismic activity
of each state.)
And since an earthquake can and will strike
anywhere and at any time (there's no such thing as an earthquake
season), people need to prepared themselves as soon as possible.
As
previously stated, the first thing people should do is prepare
themselves and their homes. First, check for hazards around the home.
These can include light fixtures not braced to the ceiling and walls,
cracks in the foundation or ceiling, large, heavy, or breakable objects
on high, uncovered shelves, or pictures and mirrors near furniture,
among others.
Be sure to fix these things before an earthquake actually occurs, or there could be serious damage and even injury done.
Next,
identify safe places around the home and develop a plan for everyone in
the household. The safest place to be is indoors, under steady
furniture (like a table or desk) or against an inside wall, and away
from glass. People who are outdoors when an earthquake occurs should do
their best to get away from buildings and into an open area.
Once
there, they should stay there until they have been told by officials
that it is safe to move. The whole household should understand what to
do once they have found their safe places in which to wait out the
earthquake. Just like in a fire, where the life-saving mantra is "Stop,
Drop, and Roll," for an earthquake, it's: "Drop, Cover, and Hold On."
Families
being separated during an earthquake is a very real possibility, with
parents at work, and children out and about at school and friends'
houses. That's why everyone in the household should be aware of a
meeting place in the neighborhood where everyone will reunite after the
earthquake.
It's also a good idea to establish an out-of-state
contact for the family to communicate with, since people nearby may not
have any communication devices that work. Finally, just as schools
practice earthquake drills to prepare their students for the disaster,
families should have these every six months or so, just to keep
everyone's memory fresh.
Once a plan has been set, next it is
important to have a kit of emergency supplies. This is crucial in any
emergency, but in an earthquake, where roads and communications could be
destroyed for as long as several weeks, it is vital that people are
self-sustaining.
It may not even be safe to go outside because of power lines, gas mains, and other dangerous services
Each emergency kit should have a first aid kit
[http://www.thereadystore.com/emergency-first-aid], complete with
medications (both prescription and over-the-counter items for pain and
cleaning wounds), bandages, and other essentials.
These essentials
include things like scissors, thermometers, splinting materials, and
many others. A standard first aid kit should have all of these things,
so people won't have to worry about where to find and store all of it.
Authorities
also recommend that people have a survival kit for their home and
automobile. These kits would include things like tools and supplies,
sleeping materials, alternative shelter, and light and communication.
The
automobile kit includes these things, plus important auto supplies like
jumper cables, ropes for towing, and a map and compass, among others.
Basically, it is important to plan for any possibility since earthquakes
are unpredictable and sometimes causes damage that no one could have
foreseen.
In the case of becoming trapped, it is also crucial to
have some food stored as well as some water. If the earthquake is large
enough, FEMA and other emergency organizations will not be able to free
all the survivors in a few days.
People may have to become more
self-reliant if they want to survive an earthquake. Experts recommend
having at least two weeks' work of nonperishable food and water stored
if they want to be prepared for any possible emergency.
Once
someone is prepared for an earthquake, the actual event is much less
terrifying than it could be. When indoors, people should remember to
Drop, Cover, and Hold on to any secure, sturdy object. Stay away from
glass, windows, elevators, and light fixtures.
Do not attempt to
go outdoors until well after the shaking has stopped, since most
earthquake-related deaths are a result of falling debris from buildings.
When outdoors, get away from buildings as soon as possible, as well as
any power lines, street lights, or other monuments that could cause
damage. Stay in the open and do not try to enter a building until
authorities say that it is secure.
If someone is in a car when the
earthquake occurs, they should pull over as soon as safety permits and
stay there. Exiting the vehicle will only result in greater injury.
Don't stop under or near buildings, overpasses, or things like trees or
power lines. And finally, if someone does become trapped under debris,
they should stay calm. Blow a whistle if possible, but do not light a
match to get rescuers' attention.
That can result in a fire if
there are any dangerous spilled chemicals; and if there is that much
debris, chances are good that there will be. The person trapped should
cover their mouth and nose with a piece of cloth to limit the amount of
dust they breathe in, and they should tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers
can find them.
After the shaking stops, first check oneself and
those nearby for any injuries. If someone is seriously injured, don't
move them unless they are in danger of being injured further. Do give
first aid whenever possible. Next, check the house or other buildings
for damage. Put out fires and turn off the gas if anything smells
strange or if there is a hissing sound.
Finally, everyone should
expect aftershocks (every time there is one, be sure to repeat the same
drill: Drop, Cover, and Hold On) and be constantly listening to the
radio or some other form of emergency broadcasting so they can know when
the earthquake is officially over and when it is safe to go indoors
again.
injury and death than preparing the home and knowing what damage
earthquakes cause and how they do it. Every year, thousands of people
die as a direct result of earthquakes--but not necessarily because of
the movement of the ground beneath them. In fact, these sorts of deaths
are quite rare.
It is more common to die because of a lack of
preparation: people don't know where the safest place to be is during an
earthquake, the community isn't prepared, the buildings aren't safe, or
there isn't any good food or water to support communities after the
earthquake takes out electricity and makes it unsafe to go outside
looking for food.
Knowing all the facts about earthquakes and all
the recommendations by experts will not only help save lives; it can
protect homes and businesses, result in fewer injuries, and lessen the
number of people the government and emergency rescuers will have to
save.
First, people should understand that earthquakes come with
little and often no warning. Seismic activity is difficult to detect
until it is actually on the surface, causing damage. People will often
get no warning at all, except for the standard declaration to be
prepared for an earthquake, particularly if people live near a fault
line, or in an area with a lot of seismic activity.
States like
California, Alaska, and Hawaii are of course notorious for their
earthquakes. But lesser known states like Nevada, Washington, and even
Utah and Oregon are in the list of the top ten states for seismic
activity. Basically, those who live in the western U.S. are more likely
to be affected by seismic activity than those further east. (Though
there are a few exceptions--check USGS.gov to see the seismic activity
of each state.)
And since an earthquake can and will strike
anywhere and at any time (there's no such thing as an earthquake
season), people need to prepared themselves as soon as possible.
As
previously stated, the first thing people should do is prepare
themselves and their homes. First, check for hazards around the home.
These can include light fixtures not braced to the ceiling and walls,
cracks in the foundation or ceiling, large, heavy, or breakable objects
on high, uncovered shelves, or pictures and mirrors near furniture,
among others.
Be sure to fix these things before an earthquake actually occurs, or there could be serious damage and even injury done.
Next,
identify safe places around the home and develop a plan for everyone in
the household. The safest place to be is indoors, under steady
furniture (like a table or desk) or against an inside wall, and away
from glass. People who are outdoors when an earthquake occurs should do
their best to get away from buildings and into an open area.
Once
there, they should stay there until they have been told by officials
that it is safe to move. The whole household should understand what to
do once they have found their safe places in which to wait out the
earthquake. Just like in a fire, where the life-saving mantra is "Stop,
Drop, and Roll," for an earthquake, it's: "Drop, Cover, and Hold On."
Families
being separated during an earthquake is a very real possibility, with
parents at work, and children out and about at school and friends'
houses. That's why everyone in the household should be aware of a
meeting place in the neighborhood where everyone will reunite after the
earthquake.
It's also a good idea to establish an out-of-state
contact for the family to communicate with, since people nearby may not
have any communication devices that work. Finally, just as schools
practice earthquake drills to prepare their students for the disaster,
families should have these every six months or so, just to keep
everyone's memory fresh.
Once a plan has been set, next it is
important to have a kit of emergency supplies. This is crucial in any
emergency, but in an earthquake, where roads and communications could be
destroyed for as long as several weeks, it is vital that people are
self-sustaining.
It may not even be safe to go outside because of power lines, gas mains, and other dangerous services
Each emergency kit should have a first aid kit
[http://www.thereadystore.com/emergency-first-aid], complete with
medications (both prescription and over-the-counter items for pain and
cleaning wounds), bandages, and other essentials.
These essentials
include things like scissors, thermometers, splinting materials, and
many others. A standard first aid kit should have all of these things,
so people won't have to worry about where to find and store all of it.
Authorities
also recommend that people have a survival kit for their home and
automobile. These kits would include things like tools and supplies,
sleeping materials, alternative shelter, and light and communication.
The
automobile kit includes these things, plus important auto supplies like
jumper cables, ropes for towing, and a map and compass, among others.
Basically, it is important to plan for any possibility since earthquakes
are unpredictable and sometimes causes damage that no one could have
foreseen.
In the case of becoming trapped, it is also crucial to
have some food stored as well as some water. If the earthquake is large
enough, FEMA and other emergency organizations will not be able to free
all the survivors in a few days.
People may have to become more
self-reliant if they want to survive an earthquake. Experts recommend
having at least two weeks' work of nonperishable food and water stored
if they want to be prepared for any possible emergency.
Once
someone is prepared for an earthquake, the actual event is much less
terrifying than it could be. When indoors, people should remember to
Drop, Cover, and Hold on to any secure, sturdy object. Stay away from
glass, windows, elevators, and light fixtures.
Do not attempt to
go outdoors until well after the shaking has stopped, since most
earthquake-related deaths are a result of falling debris from buildings.
When outdoors, get away from buildings as soon as possible, as well as
any power lines, street lights, or other monuments that could cause
damage. Stay in the open and do not try to enter a building until
authorities say that it is secure.
If someone is in a car when the
earthquake occurs, they should pull over as soon as safety permits and
stay there. Exiting the vehicle will only result in greater injury.
Don't stop under or near buildings, overpasses, or things like trees or
power lines. And finally, if someone does become trapped under debris,
they should stay calm. Blow a whistle if possible, but do not light a
match to get rescuers' attention.
That can result in a fire if
there are any dangerous spilled chemicals; and if there is that much
debris, chances are good that there will be. The person trapped should
cover their mouth and nose with a piece of cloth to limit the amount of
dust they breathe in, and they should tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers
can find them.
After the shaking stops, first check oneself and
those nearby for any injuries. If someone is seriously injured, don't
move them unless they are in danger of being injured further. Do give
first aid whenever possible. Next, check the house or other buildings
for damage. Put out fires and turn off the gas if anything smells
strange or if there is a hissing sound.
Finally, everyone should
expect aftershocks (every time there is one, be sure to repeat the same
drill: Drop, Cover, and Hold On) and be constantly listening to the
radio or some other form of emergency broadcasting so they can know when
the earthquake is officially over and when it is safe to go indoors
again.
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Friday, April 17, 2015
Tornado Safety Tips
By taking basic emergency preparedness precautions before a
tornado strikes, you can dramatically reduce risk of injury to you or
your loved ones.
Understanding the Warnings
Tornado safety begins by listening for National Weather Service advisories. A tornado watch is issued when tornadoes are possible in your area. You need to be attuned to environmental cues:
A tornado warning is issued when a tornado has been sighted or picked up by radar. You must immediately seek shelter. Don't wait for twisters to appear or touch down.
Tornado Safety Tips
Tornado safety begins by listening for National Weather Service advisories. A tornado watch is issued when tornadoes are possible in your area. You need to be attuned to environmental cues:
- Dark, often greenish sky
- Wall cloud
- Large hail
- Loud roar, similar to a freight train
A tornado warning is issued when a tornado has been sighted or picked up by radar. You must immediately seek shelter. Don't wait for twisters to appear or touch down.
Tornado Safety Tips
- In a home or building, move to a pre-designated shelter, such as a basement.
- If an underground shelter is unavailable, move to an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor, and take cover under a sturdy piece of furniture.
- Stay away from windows.
- Get out of automobiles.
- Do not try to outrun a tornado in your car. Instead, leave it immediately.
- Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes and should be abandoned.
American Family Safety is an international corporation that
distributes emergency supplies and emergency preparedness education
materials. American Family Safetys emergency kits contain all the materials needed for complete 72-hour emergency preparedness.
The SHTF Stockpile: Uncommon Items You Never Thought About That Will Save Your Life (The SHTF Stockpile, prepper stockpile, Survival)
Uncommon Items You Never Thought About That Will Save Your Life
It may not hit the fan today, it may not hit the fan tomorrow, but one day, it will. And when it hits the fan, are you ready? Or will it spray all over you?
This book will tell you all you need to know when it comes to it hitting the fan. Whether it’s a financial crisis, a food shortage, an oil shortage, or the takeover by the government, you need to be prepared. In the worst-case scenario, there are plenty of ordinary items that you can use that will determine if you make it or not. You’ll learn how to survive in the wilderness, how to stay rich during economic troubles, and how to get out of there! So when it hits the fan, you’ll be ready, and get through all the ordeals while others will not.
You may think there’s nothing to worry about, but this world is on the verge of some crisis. And when it happens, will you be ready?
With The SHTF Stockpile, you’ll learn about:
- All the dangers you may face
- Items You’ll Need in the Wilderness
- Items for Surviving a Snowed-in Car
- SHTF Tips and Tricks
- Preparing for the Rest
How We Built A Low Cost Tornado Shelter
With the weather getting really crazy we needed a tornado shelter. We didn't have a lot of money to build one. After lots of research we decided to build an earthbag tornado shelter. This book describes how we built it with lots of pictures showing the process from the beginning to the end. It tells about where we located the tornado shelter, how we constructed the site, and how we laid the bags. It also tells about the ventilation system we used for lots of fresh air inside the shelter.
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Affiliate Disclosure: I am grateful to be of service and bring you content free of charge. In order to do this, please note that when you click links and purchase items, in most (not all) cases I will receive a referral commission. Your support in purchasing through these links enables me to share more information and get closer to getting my family totally off-grid and on our own piece of land. This will let me share more and more information to allow , hopefully, for you to become more self-sufficient and able to become more prepared by reading my blog and purchasing items that I share with you that will help you. Thank you! :)