Urban Survival - Food Storage and Preparation

Global warming, climate change, eco-terrorism and an unstable economy should make American families think about returning to some of the practices of our grandparents.

Following a disaster, be it natural, or man-made, local emergency providers will probably be facing the same problems as the rest of the community. It can take three days, 72 hours, for anyone to come to your assistance, but in certain circumstances you may find yourself on your own for much longer than that.

We Americans take an endless supply of food for granted. Recent studies show that the average American family has less than a one week supply of food on hand. Grocery supermarkets and warehouses are the same.

Food storage is a major part of disaster preparedness and one that many people neglect to consider. In my articles I stress the need to be prepared to survive the 1st 72 hours following a disaster, but you would be well advised to store enough food your family to live for a month. In a true fuel crisis, in a widespread winter weather emergency, or following an act of terrorism, our normal food supplies will be depleted quickly.

In our unstable economy no one is sure if they will have a job next month, next week, or even tomorrow. Today, we Americans are more vulnerable to events beyond our control than we have been at any time since world War II. Food storage is an insurance policy that we can take to protect ourselves against such things as loss of power, job loss, unemployment due to injury or illness, or a loss of food supplies due to an interruption of food transportation.

This is not paranoia, survivalist thinking, or hoarding. It is a common sense practice that we have neglected because we could.

Here are some food storage tips that will make the practice more palatable, no pun intended.

The Basics

Always store a larger than normal supply of the basics, grains, dehydrated milk, sugar, salt, oil, flour, garden seeds and storable produce like potatoes, onions, beets, cabbage, etc.
Store food that is familiar and acceptable to your family and know how to prepare the food you store.
Use food from your stores that have a limited shelf life and replace them with fresh items, immediately.
If you have a limited budget, buy one item at a time until you have your stores in place.
Shopping at wholesale markets can save you a considerable amount of money on such things as salt, flour, oil and sugar.
Protect stored food from rodent and insect infestation by storing it in large tins. Empty potato chip cans make excellent storage containers. Many thrift stores and feed stores have these at rock bottom prices.
Once you have adopted this forgotten practice you will find that you actually feel better about your circumstances. Self-reliance is always better than depending on the charity of others who may, or may not, come to your rescue.

The author is currently certified by the Emergency management Institute under the auspices of FEMA and The Department of Homeland Security. He has been actively involved in disaster preparedness and survival techniques for more than half a century. You can get free up-to-date downloads and information about all facets of Urban Survival at: Dave Hardin Online


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Map of Fault lines In USA

MORE INFORMATION HERE










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DIY Local Self Reliance

Self reliance is of utmost importance in today's world especially owing to the growing awareness of urban survival. There are a couple of aspects in which urban self reliance can be achieved through DIY methods. One of these is by learning to make your own cleaning products. It'll not only help you save money but also keep you from using harsh chemicals.

It's possible to achieve self reliance with the DIY projects. It's also a great trouble saver, in terms of running to the grocery store every time you need to get some toothpaste or soap. Furthermore, it also prepares you for difficult times ahead such as when the store may be inaccessible or perhaps when the supplies may not be readily available.

Knowing how to prepare this stuff at home sure comes in handy in a lot of situations. And if you maintain a stock of the ingredients needed to make them, it can keep you well prepared to deal with any unforeseen situations.

But the benefits of making your own cleaning products are not limited to this. One of its main advantages is that you know exactly what you're going to use. As you can make your own bath supplies, lotions, and facial creams, you'll know what you'll apply on your body and on your skin. It is a fun learning experience that's also safe. So the whole family can enjoy it together.

The other aspect of becoming self reliant is by learning to meet your food requirements. These requirements may be in terms of vegetables or perhaps your poultry needs. You don't always need a large tract of farmland or a garden to grow vegetables. It is possible to grow vegetables such as lettuce, squash, potatoes as well as tomatoes even on a bale of hay, burlap bag or even in pots or barrels. Self reliant farming is especially healthier as opposed to market vegetables. They're more likely free of pesticides and other cancer-inducing chemicals.

Chickens would make rather interesting pets. You can surely give it a try if they can satisfy your own poultry needs. Taking care of them requires no special equipment. A towel can be used to cushion the eggs and an electric kettle may be used to hatch them. With proper care, your hens may reach adulthood and provide you with eggs on a daily basis. Regulations in most cities may allow you to raise a maximum of six hens. However, you should check the local regulations just be sure.

No doubt that DIY local self reliance can make you and your family independent and self sustaining. Best of all, you know where your produce comes from and you get the satisfaction of having grown them yourself. No doubt you and your family is going to have a lot of fun producing your own food.

Knowing the dangers that await you during a disaster is half the battle. Visit Urban Survival Guide for great info about surviving worst case scenario disaster.




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Where to Store Your Emergency Home Food Storage

It is very important to have an emergency food storage program; however, one of the first steps of having food storage is having a place to put it! There are many places and spaces to keep your food stored. To get started, I would suggest you take a good look around your living space to determine what area best fits your requirements for your food storage. You want to have a place that has the correct temperature and location for your dehydrated food.

Ideal Conditions for Food Storage. You want to find a cool, dry place that has a constant temperature of 40 to 60 degrees F. Stay away from any kind of furnace, freezers, refrigerators, and water heaters because this will cause the temperature to fluctuate. If there is a change in the temperature of the area, the nutritive value of your food can be damaged and shorten the shelf life of the item. The coolest room in the house is always a good place to start - basements (if you are lucky enough to have one), root cellars, temperature controlled garages, spare bedrooms, unfinished rooms, under beds, under stairways, closets, utility rooms and crawl spaces are just a few areas that may be appropriate for your storage. Make sure your room or space is dry at all times. It is important that you select a space that is relatively close to your kitchen so you have easy access to the items and can rotate them on a regular basis.

Location, Location, Location. Obviously, not everyone has a full basement with nothing in it, so you sometimes have to be creative in finding a space for your storage. If you have a stairway in your home, the space under the stairs is usually wasted space. Put in shelves to line the space and you have room for your 5 gallon buckets as well as any canned goods. Make sure you measure your shelves to fit your can and buckets exactly so you don't have any wasted space.

Most garages are not climate controlled, so there is a temperature fluctuation. If that is your situation, you may want to use your garage to store your paper goods, such as paper towels, toilet paper and napkins - or any other non-foodstuff items.

For smaller house or apartment dwellers, space is a rare commodity, so you have to make your own storage areas. Under your bed is a perfect spot. Make sure to put the items you use the most on the outside perimeter of your bed. You can always use your storage to create book shelves by adding a few boards, or an end table by using a large bucket with a round board on top and covered with a table cloth.

Whatever your situation is and what kind of space you have available to you, the most important thing to remember is to pick or create a space and fill it with your emergency food storage. Make the decision to be prepared and then get started!

Terri R. Simmons currently works as an Human Resource Manager for a small company. She is concerned about the state of the economy and wants to share different ideas that may be helpful in preparing for the future. She has many years of experience in using food storage. Find out more about emergency food storage by visiting Food Storage for You










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Last big purchase.

I just made my last purchase for the year. From now on out all that I will spend money on is bills and food. Mini Plus Kitis something that we needed so that I can store the food I do get and the food that I dehydrate. Now we are set. I have our bills down to just the water, gas, cell phones and electric. This spring we plan on buying a vehicle , but by then I should have a bit in savings. I am not missing the expense of having a car. That is the only thing I dread about getting a car. But, with it getting close to my son going to college, we better get one!


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A 72 Hour Kit

When planning emergency survival kits one of the more important ones that you can put together are the 72 hour kits. These emergency preparedness packages are frequently referred to as the first step towards become prepared for any sort of emergency.

The objective behind these kits is that they can be created ahead of time and placed in a closet or cabinet near the door ready and waiting to be grabbed at a moments notice. Their very existence originates from the concept of being quick to grab and get to the bug out vehicle. These are the perfect solution to being prepared if you have to depart the area at a moments notice.

In any emergency a person wishes they had specific items that they need. As an example a fire which I recently dealt with involved a family who literally lost everything they owned. They had nothing left what so ever. We provided them with the necessities of life but in many cases what would these people have done if we were not around to help them?

In times of emergencies complete communities are affected in a similar manner. Emergency supplies are few and often unavailable. What if your town is suddenly informed that they must depart the area would you and your family be prepared? You would if you had a 72 hour kit ready and waiting near your door.

A 72 hour kit should contain the essential supplies which your family would need to take you through three days of taking care of yourself. The reason that a 72 hour kit is valuable is because it has been shown that it could take up to three to four days before emergency personnel could get supplies moving during a disaster. What this amounts to is that until the emergency crews and their supplies are in place you and your neighbors will be on your own. According to how bad your emergency situation is the time limit could even be much longer.

To get you started on construction of a personalized 72 hour kit I will provide you with a few supplies to include. These are not bound in stone items and each kit should reflect the individual's desires and likes.

You could include one or several first aid kits in your pack. I have one in my vehicle, a personal kit and a family kit. In my family kit I include both foot and body powder. I have included both a means of making light such as a flashlight or lantern as well as some ways of creating a fire by either matches or a magnesium block.

In the event that you end up traveling it's always a good idea to include a compass and a set of maps in your kit. Today everyone seems to want GPS systems but you really should know how to use a map and compass as well.

If you can only have one tool in our kit the best item to have would be a "Leatherman" multi-tool. If you are fortunate enough to be able to include several you could easily add things such as a saw and an axe with a sheath.

For cooking your food you may need some sort of folding frying pan, a P-38 can opener and naturally food to go with these items. Your sanitary equipment should include some toilet tissue, soap, and personal hygiene products.

Always include some cash with your kit. I like to have one or two hundred dollars in small bills along with about 10 or 20 dollars in quarters. You can take your credit card and your debt card but never rely solely upon them for funds as you will never know if the ATM machines will be functioning.

Lastly include clothing appropriate for the season and geographical location. Don't pack summer clothing in your kit for use in the winter time. There you have a rough idea as to what you can include in your kit. The rest is up to you. You can personalize your kit as you see fit.

By Joseph Parish

Copyright @2010 Joseph Parish
http://www.survival-training.info

For more information relating to survival visit us at http://www.survival-training.infSimple: Just Add Water - Outdoor Gourmet Meals - WiseFoodStorage.com

Food Storage Guidelines

Just am wanting to share a couple of links with my readers about the shelf life of food. It is a Chart that I plan on printing off for reference. USA Emergency Supply has some great points on storage life of foods.



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The Survival Homestead

Imagine walking onto a cobble stone path out in your back yard. As you are wandering through the path you begin looking at your garden growing in the distance. The plants have grown and are beginning to bear their fruits. This is you and your family's second garden after the Crunch happened. You are giving in to your fantasies of fresh tomato salsa, pickles, watermelon, husks of fresh grilled corn. These are the fruits of your tireless labor. The satisfaction of knowing your family is going to eat is overwhelming. You quietly laugh to your self thinking, "Wow, you give 'em half-decent conditions and they just do what they know how to do. "

Medicinal Garden

As you are nearing your garden off to the right is a smaller garden full of small bushy medicinal herbs. They too are growing into attractive looking adult plants. The way you placed them looks almost as they were there for aesthetic reasons. Seeing that the echinacea is blooming and the sage and thyme flanking it is a sigh of relief knowing that you can create natural medicines for your family as well as dry it for seasonings. Peppermint is spreading its way through the garden. You make a mental note to cut some of that back. You took a basil leaf in your hand and instantly bring it up to your nose. The fragrance is intoxicating. The soft spikes of chives, dill and lavender are swaying in the mild breeze.

Companion Planting and Crop Rotation

You are glad that you took your neighbors advice to create a companion garden to naturally repel insects and nourish the plants. The 12 tomato plants are growing in nicely and the fruit is ready to be picked. The marigolds that you grew as a companion plants are protecting the tomatoes from pests and enriching your soil. You reach the garden and smell the sweet air that the corn is giving off. The small melon vines that are slowing growing and twisting on the corn stalk looks as if they are making their way up to touch the sun.

Your wise neighbor came by to bring a basket of okra he had grown and noticed your mistake of placing the tomatoes and potatoes next to each other and advised that they be moved away from one another because of their heavy feeding. He went on to add that there are certain plants that work well with each other and are companions, so to speak. Some plants have little personalities: some like their space, some are invasive, some take a lot of nutrients and some give off nutrients in the soil.

Crop Rotation

You think back on your life two years ago and realize how much you took for granted driving down to the store to pick up a few vegetables and some meat for dinner. On the south side of your land is where your crop rotation is. After reading different farming books and talking with wise neighbors, you decided that crop rotation was the best way to grow food and condition the earth. Your neighbor describes that crop rotation is that each year a person rotates a set of crops that nourish the soil with nitrogen, and then in the next line of crops you add a plant that is a high feeder on the soil's nutrients. This swapping will create balance in your soil. Looks like it paid off. You have beans, carrots, onions, squash, tomatoes, cabbage, peas and potatoes.

Irrigation Area

Walking around the "country swimming pool" filled with fish and ducks swimming around each other, you only feel blessed seeing the mini ecosystem that you assisted in creating. You smile back and realize that the earth is giving its blessing back to you. The fish pond is not only another source to find food, but it can also be used to irrigate the vegetables and crops growing. After reading more from the many farming resources you have, you discovered that the Native Americans used fish to fertilize the soil. And after using this method, the vegetables were even healthier and robust.

Livestock and Compost

Not far from your crops and the pond are where the small goats are feeding. They are feeding on the left over wheat hulls that had fallen when the crop was threshed the other day, and they seem quite attentive to their task at cleaning up. Their manure has been a God send to the composting area. Once again, you see that you are creating a ecosystem where each aspect of the system is supporting one another. To think this Eden that you have created only started out with a dream put on paper. Your well planned micro farm is utilizing every resource available.

Find some answers to your homesteading and survival questions at http://www.readynutrition.com

Tess Pennington is the lead content contributor for Ready Nutition. Ready Nutrition is an educational resource for those wanting to learn more about home safety preparedness, learning how to cope in disaster situations, and for those wanting to learn how to be more self sustaining. Her career at the American Red Cross left her with years of experience in safety and disaster preparedness. Tess is establishing herself as one of the foremost authorities on safety development and disaster preparedness on the internet. She describes herself as a mixture of Martha Stewart and Les Stroud.

Tess Pennington's work today encompasses:
Teaching disaster preparedness
Informing readers about the importance of preparing for any given situation.
Writing
Speaking
Media consultation





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Merry Christmas

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Complete Survivalist

I got my free copy of the Complete Survivalist today and I have to say it is pretty good. I have already looked through it and have some articles marked to read later when little one goes to bed. I liked what I seen so far. The timing was perfect for getting it. Just in time to count as a Christmas gift to myself! Check out the website when you get the time and look through all of the information on it. Tons of it.












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Sixty Great Uses For Salt

Sixty Great Uses For Salt


Although you may not realize it, simple table salt has a
great number of uses other than simply seasoning your
food.

The following list will give you sixty uses of salt, many of
which you probably didn't realize:


Soak stained hankies in salt water before washing.


Sprinkle salt on your shelves to keep ants away.


Soak fish in salt water before descaling; the scales will come off
easier.


Put a few grains of rice in your salt shaker for easier pouring.


Add salt to green salads to prevent wilting.


Test the freshness of eggs in a cup of salt water; fresh eggs sink;
bad ones float.


Add a little salt to your boiling water when cooking eggs; a
cracked egg will stay in its shell this way.


A tiny pinch of salt with egg whites makes them beat up fluffier.


Soak wrinkled apples in a mildly salted water solution to perk
them up.


Rub salt on your pancake griddle and your flapjacks won't stick.


Soak toothbrushes in salt water before you first use them; they
will last longer.


Use salt to clean your discolored coffee pot.

Mix salt with turpentine to whiten you bathtub and toilet bowl.



Soak your nuts in salt brine overnight and they will crack out of

their shells whole. Just tap the end of the shell with a hammer to

break it open easily.


Boil clothespins in salt water before using them and they will last
longer.


Clean brass, copper and pewter with paste made of salt and
vinegar, thickened with flour


Add a little salt to the water your cut flowers will stand in for a
longer life.


Pour a mound of salt on an ink spot on your carpet; let the salt
soak up the stain.


Clean you iron by rubbing some salt on the damp cloth on the
ironing surface.


Adding a little salt to the water when cooking foods in a double
boiler will make the food cook faster.


Use a mixture of salt and lemon juice to clean piano keys.


To fill plaster holes in your walls, use equal parts of salt and
starch, with just enough water to make a stiff putty.


Rinse a sore eye with a little salt water.


Mildly salted water makes an effective mouthwash. Use it hot
for a sore throat gargle.


Dry salt sprinkled on your toothbrush makes a good tooth
polisher.


Use salt for killing weeds in your lawn.


Eliminate excess suds with a sprinkle of salt.

A dash of salt in warm milk makes a more relaxing beverage.



Before using new glasses, soak them in warm salty water for
awhile.


A dash of salt enhances the taste of tea.


Salt improves the taste of cooking apples.


Soak your clothes line in salt water to prevent your clothes from
freezing to the line; likewise, use salt in your final rinse to
prevent the clothes from freezing.


Rub any wicker furniture you may have with salt water to prevent
yellowing.


Freshen sponges by soaking them in salt water.


Add raw potatoes to stews and soups that are too salty.


Soak enamel pans in salt water overnight and boil salt water in
them next day to remove burned-on stains.


Clean your greens in salt water for easier removal of dirt.


Gelatin sets more quickly when a dash of salt is added.


Fruits put in mildly salted water after peeling will not discolor.


Fabric colors hold fast in salty water wash.


Milk stays fresh longer when a little salt is added.


Use equal parts of salt and soda for brushing your teeth.


Sprinkle salt in your oven before scrubbing clean.


Soaked discolored glass in a salt and vinegar solution to remove
stains.


Clean greasy pans with a paper towel and salt.


Salty water boils faster when cooking eggs.



Add a pinch of salt to whipping cream to make it whip more
quickly.


Sprinkle salt in milk-scorched pans to remove odour.


A dash of salt improves the taste of coffee.


Boil mismatched hose in salty water and they will come out
matched.


Salt and soda will sweeten the odor of your refrigerator.


Cover wine-stained fabric with salt; rinse in cool water later.


Remove offensive odors from stove with salt and cinnamon.


A pinch of salt improves the flavor of cocoa.


To remove grease stains in clothing, mix one part salt to four
parts alcohol.


Salt and lemon juice removes mildew.


Sprinkle salt between sidewalk bricks where you don't want grass
growing.


Polish your old kerosene lamp with salt for a brighter look.


Remove odors from sink drainpipes with a strong, hot solution of
salt water.


If a pie bubbles over in your oven, put a handful of salt on top of
the spilled juice. The mess won't smell and will bake into a dry,
light crust which will wipe off easily when the oven has cooled.





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Build Your Own DIY Wind Generator

Build Your Own DIY Wind Generator - (Plans)(Instructions) - For more amazing video clips, click here

Safety Tips For Using a Portable Generator

The last couple of years many portable electric generators are sold. Many of these generators are user as a backup for the household electricity. But these small generators are also used for outdoor activities like camping or hunting. And because of the electrical power they generate, safety is a very important issue. It is a fact that generators made by well known manufacturers, are built conform strict safety rules. But if not properly installed or operated even the safest generator can become a lethal hazard! In this article I will give you some tips to avoid the most common mistakes.

My first tip is: read the Instruction Manual that you received when buying your generator. It is important that you know the basics of operating the generator. If you have to read the manual during an emergency for the first time you will loose too much time that is needed elsewhere. So read the manual NOW. If you lost your manual, then you can always download a copy of it at the website of the manufacturer of your generator. Be sure to have the type or serial code of your generator at hand (in case of doubt check the identification data on your generator), so you can be sure to download the right manual.

The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) and Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) offer a checklist for portable generator owners. First of all they recommend that a qualified, licensed electrician should install portable electric generators to ensure that they meet local electrical codes. Because power from incorrectly installed generators can backfeed along power lines and electrocute anyone coming in contact with them, including line workers making repairs.

Make sure your generator is properly grounded.
Keep the generator dry.
Make sure extension cords used with generators are rated for the load, and are free of cuts and worn insulation and have three-pronged plugs.
Do not overload the generator. A portable generator should be used only when necessary and only to power essential equipment or appliances.
Never operate the generator in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces. Use carbon monoxide detectors in nearby enclosed spaces to monitor levels. Generators can produce high levels of carbon monoxide very quickly, which can be deadly.
Use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) to help prevent electrocutions and electrical shock injuries. Portable GFCIs require no tools to install and are available at prices ranging from $12 to $30.
Make sure fuel for the generator is stored safely, away from living areas, in properly labeled containers and away from fuel-burning appliances. Before re-fueling, always turn the generator off and let it cool down.
Turn off all appliances powered by the generator before shutting down the generator.
Keep children away from portable generators at all times.
I hope you find these tips useful and help you use your generator in the most safe way.
David Marsden has written many articles for the internet. If you want to read more tips from him about portable generators, then visit his website about small diesel generators.


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Do You Know What a Gas Mask Can Do and Which Gas Mask is Right For You?

If we were to think back several decades ago, it would be awkward to think about owning your own personal gas mask. However, times have definitely changed, and so has the personal protection products. In this day and age, it is very wise for any family to own gas masks for every member of your household. There is no reason why one should not own such a security device, especially know that prices on such respirators have dramatically dropped. Gas masks are perfect for protecting you against chemical or biological attacks. However, gas masks have far more uses than just protecting you from the above attacks. They are perfect for industrial workers, which will protect them from dust and various chemicals in paint spray.

Gas masks not only come in the bulkier items that many people are familiar with, they also come in smaller packets, which can easily be stored in the car or in your home. There is a whole line of discrete, pocket-sized gas masks. One example of a perfect discrete gas mask is The Breath of Life Emergency Escape Mask. This particular mask can last up to 15 to 20 minutes, and is perfect for personal and commercial airborne hazardous matter. This gas mask will protect its users from simple smoke or dust, as well as the unfortunate biological terrorist attacks. However, if you live in sections of the world where natural disasters may become an issue, The Breath of Life Emergency Escape Mask is ideal for protection from the various toxins that can be released in the air via an earthquake, tornado or any other type of natural disaster. But, how does this gas mask protect you from the various airborne toxins that threaten us? This personal protection is brought to you through four filtered layers. These filters are compiled of polyester fibers, Cetylpyridinium Chloride (CPC), as well as micron particles, which are put through the grueling Fraizer Air Permeability Method. And the big ingredient in this gas mask is the use of charcoal. When you breath through this gas mask, the charcoal is literally purifying the air you breath and is removing the toxic gasses that are in the air around you. This gas mask is made for portable use, and is ideal for storing away in your car's glove box or in your pocketbook.

One of the gas masks is Breath of Life Emergency Escape Mask, is small and extremely portable. However, this type of gas mask is mainly intended for short term use in a case of emergency. There are other gas masks that are rugged and are made for longer more intense use. SGE 400/3 gas mask is the best of the gas masks. This mask is perfect for use whenever the users respiratory system is in line of becoming endangered. There are several different ways this gas mask can be used. One of these uses is for industrial gas protection, by using it whenever you are on the job and toxins fill the air, such as sandblasting, paint spraying, metalworking and demolition. If you are needing job protection, this mask will give you the heavy-duty protection you need for your heavy-duty workplace. Although, the SGE 400/3 Gas Mask can be used in the work place, it is also perfect for when the threat of Chemical Biological Warfare (CBW) is present. There are also various filter protection classes which are available for purchase. The SGE 400/3 gas mask is suitable for children ages 12 and up.

Knowing that there are such personal protection gas masks on the market is a comforting feeling. However, how do gas masks work? Basically, a gas mask filter can use up to three different techniques in order to get the air pure again. These options include particle filtration, chemical absorption or adsorption and chemical reaction to neutralize a chemical. Even though there are many different steps in the actual filtration process, the most common filtration method used is by activated charcoal. Activated Charcoal is charcoal which has been treated with oxygen in order to literally "open up" millions of pores between the carbon atoms.

Whether you are needing a gas mask for industrial use within your place of work, or if you are heading towards biological warfare dead on, there are hundreds of various respiratory protection products on the market today. Make an educated decision as it is your or your loved ones life.

Andy Jones

Media Relations - Name Brands Inc

Gas Masks - Best NBC Protection

Ezine Articles Expert Author

Copyright Name Brands Inc. Free Reprint rights with proper credit to author without removing the links



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The New Year Ahead

Are you getting ready for the new year? How has the last year changed you and how are you going to do things different next year?

This last year has changed me a lot and I hope that next year I can really buck down and get things done that need done to become more prepared. I have been working on my stockpile so that is off to a great start, I have been getting some seeds stocked up, and have my food dehydrator. The number one thing that I want to work on this year are some safety issues. Like weapons, etc. We also really need a new vehicle. I would love to get a truck, but another mini van would work awesome.

I know that we are going to be spending less money!! So, I am going to be learning to do a lot of things.

What are your thoughts on the upcoming year??

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Are You Prepared??

Take These Important Steps NOW Before an Emergency Strikes Preparedness used to be a word reserved for 'conspiracy theorists'. People would think you were a little strange if you were ready at a moment’s notice to evacuate with an emergency kit, or if you stored extra food and water in case the stores shut down due to a natural disaster. That’s no longer the case. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, state emergency management agencies, the American Red Cross, and other leading government and non-profit agencies are consistently delivering the same message to the public: Be prepared. Your Responsibility for Emergency Preparedness It’s your responsibility and yours alone to prepare yourself and your family for emergencies. There’s no escaping the fact that everyone is at risk. Earthquakes and hurricanes do not discriminate. There are also the everyday disasters that you hear about on the news, such fires and floods that wipe out the home of an entire family and cause serious injuries or death to those who were not prepared. Disasters can strike any region. The Department of Homeland Security continues to issue alerts and warn citizens about emergency preparedness. You cannot rely on others to bail you out of an emergency, and you’ve been warned by the very agencies that might come to your aid that they may not be able to help you. You are responsible for purchasing preparedness kits and supplies for your family to overcome and survive disasters. Where to Purchase Supplies There are four things to look for before selecting a company to buy your preparedness supplies: Trusted brand Expanding line of products Education for customers One stop shop Let’s take a look at each of these in more detail... Trusted Brand You don’t want to go with a fly-by-night seller for your preparedness supplies. Those companies buy and resell junk to customers with a shorter or expiring shelf life. For example, if you buy an emergency kit with a food bar and water, the supplies may expire within months, or they may have already expired. A company with a trusted brand will offer quality products, and the contents of the kit will have a shelf life of five or more years. Expanded Line of Products You first step to be prepared is to an buy emergency kit. It’s a great start, but it’s not sufficient for all of your needs beyond the first three days of an emergency. To extend your supplies to last you two, four, eight weeks or more, you’ll need to buy more products. The same company you buy your emergency kits from should have an ever expanding line of products to choose from. New and cutting edge tools and supplies may improve your state of preparedness, but if you buy from a 'stale' company, you won’t know that more options exist. Education for Consumers The information on the Internet and in well-intentioned books can be overwhelming for the beginner. A catalog of supplies does you no good if you don’t know how to prepare for emergencies and why you need certain things. A company who is dedicated to educating its customers will be tremendous resource and guide to helping you make the right buying decisions. One-Stop-Shop The last thing you have time for is to hunt down hard-to-find preparedness supplies. You end up paying more because of inconsistent shipping costs and purchase prices. It’s not only convenient to have everything in one place, it also saves you money. Our Recommendation Having done the research and compared what’s available using our four point evaluation criteria, we’ve found the preparedness products and education offered by 1-800-PREPARE.com exceed all others. They are a virtual one-stop-shop for all your preparedness supplies and information. We urge you to visit 1-800-PREPARE.com and get prepared now -- before the next emergency or disaster strikes.

25% OFF Family Preparedness Package! Includes a 5 Person Deluxe Survival Kit, two Economy Road Warrior Auto Kits, and an Solar-Powered Emergency Radio & Flashlight. If purchased separately, these items total $216.84... buy them together now as our Family Preparedness Package and save 25%! This is a limited time offer and may be ended at any time. Be prepared -- check out the Family Preparedness Package now!

One Second After

I am waiting on this book to come. I am giving it to my son for a Christmas present, but plan on reading it myself. Has anyone else read it and how did you like it?? My son is an avid reader and loves books like this. He is also into The Walking Dead. But those books are so high. What other fiction books about survival should I look into getting?? One of our favorites is Alas, Babylon. Great book. If you have not read it - you should.


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Food Dehydrator Arrived!!

I got my Nesco FD-75PR 700-Watt Food Dehydrator yesterday! I cleaned it and my son promptly made him some beef jerky. He loves the dehydrator more than I do. It was fast!! This is a great dehydrator. I had a Mr. Coffee one years ago and it took forever to do anything. He had some jerky in just a few hours. So, my shopping list this weekend will include a ton of fruit, veggies, some lean beef, and anything else that I will need. Like lemon juice for treating the fruit. I am so glad that I broke down and bought one. I have been wanting one for a long time. This is going to really help this summer too with stuff from the garden.

Next thing on my list is to learn how to can!!




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Freeze Dried Food Shortage

Just want to give my readers the heads up that Mountain House is saying that they are having a shortage of their freeze dried foods. Please read the article for more details.


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Survival Food: Peanut Butter

There is an increasing trend across America - people are storing more food. Why? The reasons are many and they include increasing food prices and concerns over the economy. Food storage programs generally consist of buying quantities of canned goods as well as staples like beans, sugar, salt, and wheat.

One of my biggest priorities in Preparedness is increasing my food stores. Although not difficult - for me it is a matter of money, space, organization and planning.

One of my favorite food storage staples is peanut butter. It can be eaten right out of the jar, on crackers, on bread - it just tastes great. From a nutritional viewpoint - peanut butter does pretty well. High in fat and containing equal amounts of carbohydrates and protein - it has the calories needed to make a big dent in your caloric intake needs daily.

Now - I have no plans to live on peanut butter - but it certainly can be included in a post-TSHTF diet. It also could be a great morale booster for those that may be getting board with their survival diet. Peanut butter is also very useful as an ingredient in baking.

Shelf life is excellent - coming in easily between 1.5 to 2 years or more for a jar. I have found that some brands are lower than others - so shop around. Since my family consumes peanut butter on a regular basis - it is an easy food item to rotate on the shelf to keep fresh.

Cost? Very cheap. Buying on sale as well as using coupons a typical jar can run under $2.00. Also - multi-packs as well as large value sized jar can be purchased at a discount at wholesale clubs like Costco, BJ's and SAM's Club.

Peanut butter is a great addition to any size food storage program - whether it be a 72 hour kit or a 1 year supply.

Time to go get some Ritz crackers and a jar of peanut butter. Yum!

John Rourke

ModernSurvivalOnline.com.

John Rourke is the owner of http://www.modernsurvivalonline.com - a daily blog with thoughts on survival and the world today. John has had a life long interest in survivalism.Download our free toolbar

My Last Big Purchase Before The New Year

I broke down and bought me a Nesco FD-75PR 700-Watt Food Dehydrator and I cannot wait until it gets here! This is my last purchase before the new year and my plan to save money. I think that this will be a great thing to have and will be used a lot. Especially this time of year, my son will be making deer jerky. I will be working daily dehydrating stuff to stockpile. I think that it will be fun. I had been doing stuff in the oven all week. I did diced carrots, celery, and green peppers. They turned out great. But I wanted a regular dehydrator, because I was worried about the electric bill with the oven on all day! I might be wrong , but the oven being on all day just seems like a power runner upper. If anyone knows what the power usage of ovens as dehydrators and actual food dehydrators is , I would love to know.


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Want to Start Stockpiling Food But Can't Afford to Stockpile Food?

Many parents are saying, "I simply can't afford to stockpile food right now."

Unfortunately, many people are just barely surviving and struggling to make ends meet so stockpiling food seems to be out of the question when the electric bill needs to be paid and fuel put into the car. But in the back of our minds, there is this nagging fear that all the talk about a coming food shortage will actually happen one day and we will not be able to feed our families.

Here are a few simple tips to help you get a small food storage started for your family. I know it works because we have done it while on a monthly income of $1000 as a family of six!

We all go grocery shopping, whether it is at a Walmart superstore (my all time favorite for stockpiling groceries!) or a regular grocery store. And I dare say that most of us love sales. I like to shop sales myself, so here is what I like to do.
Allow yourself five to ten bucks to spend towards your stockpile food list every week. That may not sound like much but what will happen is that as you start building up your emergency food supply, you will find other ways to add to it.

Be careful to only stock up on things that have a fairly long shelf life, and things that you use a lot of. A lot of folks are really worried about their food getting outdated, but you really do not have to worry about that. If you have a pretty good food storage going in about a year, you can start rotating items. (for most of us with families, it is rare that food stays stored for more than a few months anyways!) If your family rarely uses stewed tomatoes, then for heaven's sake, DON'T stock it up just because there is a really good sale on them!

For instance, if you use a ton of ketchup and the ketchup is on sale one week, stock up on $5 - $10 worth of ketchup. Next week, it may be salt. Get $5 - $10 worth of salt.

As you build your stockpile of food,try to stick with plastic or metal containers and bottles. It seems almost everything is in plastic these days anyways, but if you have a choice, choose plastic and that way, if you ever have to move everything quickly, you will not have to worry about glass jars breaking, etc.

I know, you can't get pickles in plastic... yet. (And I sure like my pickles...)

But you get the idea. What will happen, and it has happened for many others, is that as you start your emergency food storage in the small ways that you can, you will be amazed at how quickly you will start thinking - "Oh, we can make it without ice-cream this week, and get that case of fruit that is on sale instead"... especially if you make a family thing.

The beauty of starting to stockpile food is that even though there may not be a food crisis within the next year or two, as we build up our storage, we have the comfort of knowing that should even harder economic times hit us, we will be prepared for it... Plus, you save a ton on your grocery bill by getting into the habit of buying when things are on sale!

Viola Bontrager is the author of Emergency-Survival-Skills.com where she talks about the basics of survival. Visit her blog to learn more about how to stockpile food, emergency food storage, how to make your own emergency kits, etc...Download our free toolbar

Budget Planning!

Since I am wanting to stop spending money, I think that I need a Budget worksheet to see what money is actually coming in and what goes out. If I see it all in writing, I will be able to budget it better!! I hope. This is going to be hard, to not spend any extra money. But we have very little bills so we should save a bunch. I hope. That is the the whole plan ~ TO SAVE MONEY!! I want to have cash on hand in case of an emergency.


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Saving Money!

We have decided that we will start a spending freeze after the first of the year in our home. We will pay bills and buy food and that will be it. No eating out, no buying of anything unless it is something that we absolutely need. We have to build up a stockpile of cash and this will be the only way that we can do it. I will take the money out of the bank so I will not be tempted to go online and buy stuff. Since we have no car that is what I have been doing, shopping online. That will stop. But I did buy all of the back to school items and all Christmas gifts online! So January 1st - THE SPENDING STOPS!!







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Dehydrate Spaghetti Sauce

This would really come in handy if you buy bulk spaghetti sauce in extra large cans or jars. That way you could have them in smaller servings.



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Make Your Own Dehydrated Food

I did not get anything done this weekend that I wanted to do. I did not feel good. It must have been a 24 hour bug. But I did relax and read through a ton of great blogs about self reliance, survival, stockpiling food, and more. I found this post about making Dehydrated baby food and will be busy this upcoming weekend!! Great idea even if you do not have babies , I think. I am going to have so much fun seeing what all I can do with this. I need a new blender first though. But, I already have ideas in my head spinning around.





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Wood Burning Barrel Stove Kit

I saw one of these kits at the local True Value today and have to say that it is such a neat idea. I want one now. They only had one left and the salesperson walked by and heard me talking to my husband about it and how neat the idea was and she said that they had sold 29 of them today alone!!! How great that other people are thinking about being prepared and taking care of their families. I wonder where someone would get one of those big metal , burn safe, barrels from though????

ANYONE HAVE ONE OF THESE OR KNOWS ABOUT THEM PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!! SEND ME PHOTOS OF YOURS , ETC TO My EMAIL AND I WILL POST A WHOLE THING WITH ALL OF THE PHOTOS THAT I GET OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

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Dehydrate Food In Your Oven

This is what I will be trying this weekend. I do not have an actual food dehydrator , so I am going to try and use my oven. I have searched online and found some great information, websites, and tips on doing it. And since it is supposed to be cold and snowy here this weekend, it seems like the perfect time to try this out. Download our free toolbar

How Much Food To Store??

I have been wondering about this a lot lately. The times are not getting any better and more and more people are out of work. We all need to be stockpiling as much as we can , while we can. I found this Food Storage Calculator online that is helping me with some ideas on how much to have stored. This gives you an idea of what you will need and you can work off of from there.

We need to get prepared and be ready in case something , like an natural emergency or job loss, comes a long our family is well prepared for anything that comes.

Think about non food items also. Stockup on EVERYTHING that you normally use every day!! Soap, laundry items, tools, paper items, etc.

THINK THINK THINK AND PLAN PLAN PLAN.


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How Are You Keeping Warm??

It is snowing here and it is making me think of how every one is keeping warm.

Do you have enough blankets, an alternate form of heating your home, warm clothing, and more??
Have you gotten the windows secure and covered so there are no drafts??
Do you have enough food stocked up in case you can't get out to the store??

I hope that all of you out there have taken the precautions that needed to be taken that will ensure that your family is safe, warm, and well fed this winter season.

Cooking From Food Storage

This is something that I need to work on. I have trouble with the dates and stuff on the food. I am working on a list that will be pit up on the wall by my food storage to help me and then am working on remembering to cycle through everything to use the old items first.

Anyone have any tips and ideas on how to keep the food storage fresh??



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Hand Crank Washing Machine

The hand crank washing machine is ideal for cleaning clothes when you don't have power available. If you spend any time on a boat or at a camp ground, you know that having an effective way to wash clothes that doesn't require you to put your vacation on hold and head in to town, is a life saver. Vacations are supposed to be fun, not time spent lugging laundry to and from a laundromat.

These little washing machines work by the use of a hand crank that rotates a cylinder or tub to produce the agitation action that washes the clothes. The rotation creates internal pressure in the tub or cylinder that forces the water and cleaning agent through the clothing. The pressure is contained in the unit by a pressurized cap that releases the pressue when the cap is unscrewed.

The rinse cycle works in the same manner, but instead of pushing soapy water through the clothes, the clean water is forced through the fabric, thus removing the soapy water.

Since there is no power required, clothing can be washed virtually anywhere where there's available water and the hand crank washing machine is light and compact making it ideal for traveling, camping or boating. Adding one to your boating or camping gear is an inexpensive way to spend less time on your vacation traveling to and from a laundromat. If you've ever had to wash clothes at a laundromat, you know that waiting around for a couple of hours for the clothes to be finished is a tedious, boring chore.

So where can you get a hand crank washing machine?

If you want to spend less time lugging laundry around and more time outdoors while on vacation, get a hand washing machine by visiting
MiniWashing Machine.


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Berries ~ Yummy ~ Grow them in your yard!

I have a huge list of seeds and bushes that I am planning on ordering from an online store. You can Click here to order a Free Nature Hills Nursery Catalog. But I am ordering some blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries. I plan on having a yard full of edible plants next year!! I am also ordering some herb and veggie seeds. I want to be able to walk out my back door and be able to obtain anything that I need to keep my family healthy and fed. I am looking into getting some cherry trees also. That would be so fun to have one of those. When I was a kid , our back yard was full of cherry trees and me and my friends would make ourselves sick off of them!!

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Edible Wild Plants

I got 2 more books in the mail and I am now happy with my survival book shelf. I have 5 shelves of books that will come in handy in any situation. Today I received 2 more for the shelf and they are Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide to Over 200 Natural Foods and The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants. They both will come in handy if ever we are on the lookout for food supplies. Both of them have tons of illustrations and information about wild plants that are edible. Even let you know which ones to stay away from because they are poisonous. These are great reference books that anyone should have on their survival bookshelf.


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The Easiest Way To Make Homemade Butter!!

I love this video on how to make homemade butter and just had to share it with all of you.

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Sew For Baby!

Great ways to save money and be prepared with a baby in the house.


Free baby sling and carriers patterns

Free Maya Wrap baby carrier pattern

Great resources for making cloth diapers - FREE

Free Cloth Diaper Patterns

How to sew a fitted diaper

Martha Stewert Tea Towel Bib

Martha Stewert Felt baby shoes

Free info on sewing cloth diapers and training pants

Free patterns for making baby toys and there is even one for making a cloth book


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Happy Thanksgiving

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The Frugal Homeowner's Guide to Home Security

4uthor: Ken Krysinski


The Frugal Homeowner's Guide to Home Security





If you want to keep your home safe but are put off by the cost of alarm systems, don’t despair. There are other devices you can use to keep your family and your property safe and secure and you don’t have to spend a lot. Here's how:





Determine your vulnerable points


Before you set out to buy anything, check your house first. Go outside and look around, test your doors and windows for any weaknesses (old hinges, rusted locks, weak frames, etc.). Sometimes it's as simple as replacing a few of your old hardware to keep your home safe.





Next, put yourself in the shoes of a potential thief. Imagine how you could enter your house unnoticed. Identify the most vulnerable points in your house - your front door, rear and patio doors and your windows. Another point of vulnerability is your garage or shed.





Install alarms


First things first. There ARE low-cost home security devices available on the market. These are usually the wireless systems which are easy to install and set up. Wireless systems are very popular because they provide the peace of mind that homeowners want at an affordable price.





You might also want to buy one of those small door-installed alarms that cost about $20 or less. Powered by cell batteries, once it's turned on and the door is opened, the alarm emits a sharp warning to alert you. It's cheap, unobtrusive and it works.





Bolts and locks


For doors and windows, you can install bolts and locks to reinforce an existing lock. As long as the bolt is solid and the hinges are properly screwed in place, you will have little worry.





If you have sliding doors that don’t have an anti-lift device, it would be a good idea to install one. Or, you could install two door locks – one on top and another at the bottom – to reinforce the hook lock.





The garage is a common point of entry for most burglars, so keep the door padlocked and the garage windows closed before you enter the house.





Keep the light on


Illuminate your porch, back door and garage. If you're willing to spend a little, invest in dusk-to-dawn lighting powered by photoelectric cells. These save a lot of energy and will be cheaper to use than electric-powered lights.





Keep things thorny


If you don’t have a fence or wall, keep thorny plants and shrubs around. Plants like roses, holly and hawthorn have spiny leaves and thorny stems are great deterrents because they can produce punctures and tear at the skin. They not only provide you with security, they are also great ornamentals.


Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/the-frugal-homeowners-guide-to-home-security-125615.html


About the Author:

The above article was written by Sarah Miller on behalf of a buzzing online Residential Remodeling Contractors community where homeowners easily and painlessly find the right contractor for their home improvement projects and in turn, contractors can find the right Home Improvement Leads! Also check out the QuoteCity.com Blog for more related Remodeling Ideas and Articles/a>.
















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Home Remedies - Huge List

1. Budweiser beer conditions the hair

2. Pam cooking spray will dry finger nail polish

3. Cool whip will condition your hair in 15 minutes

4. Mayonnaise will KILL LICE, it will also condition your hair

5. Elmer's Glue - paint on your face, allow it to dry, peel off and see the dead skin and blackheads.

6. Shiny Hair - use brewed Lipton Tea

7. Sunburn - empty a large jar of Nestea into your bath water

8. Minor burn - Colgate or Crest toothpaste

9. Burn your tongue? Put sugar On it!

10. Arthritis? WD-40 Spray and rub in, kill insect stings too, remove glue from labels on plastic containers.

11. Bee stings - meat tenderizer

12. Chigger bite - Preparation H

13. Puffy eyes - Preparation H (but don't get it in your eyes)

14. Paper cut - crazy glue or chap stick (glue is used instead of sutures
at most hospitals)

15. Stinky feet - Jell-O!

16. Athletes feet - cornstarch

17. Fungus on toenails or fingernails - Vicks vapor rub
17a. Infection in/around nails - White Vinegar
18. Kool aid To clean dishwasher pipes. Just put in the detergent section and run a cycle, it will also clean a toilet. (Wow, and we drink this stuff)

19. Kool Aid can be used as a dye in paint also Kool Aid in Dannon Plain yogurt as a finger paint, your kids will love it and it won't hurt them if they eat it!

20. Peanut butter - will get scratches out of CD's! Wipe off with a coffee filter paper.

21. Sticking bicycle chain - Pam no-stick cooking spray

22. Pam Will also remove paint, and grease from your hands! Keep a can in your garage for your hubby

23. Peanut butter will remove ink from the face of dolls

24. When the doll clothes are hard to put on, sprinkle with corn starch and watch them slide on.

25. Heavy dandruff - pour on the vinegar!

26. Body paint - Crisco Mixed with food coloring. Heat the Crisco in the micro wave, pour into an empty film container and mix with the food color of your choice!

27. Tie Dye T-shirt - mix a solution of Kool Aid in a container, tie a rubber band around a section of the T-shirt and soak

28. Preserving a newspaper clipping - large bottle of club soda and cup of milk of magnesia , Soak for 20 min. and let dry, will last for many years!

29. A Slinky Will hold toast and CD's!

30 To keep goggles and glasses from fogging, coat with Colgate toothpaste

31. Wine stains, pour on the Morton salt And watch it
absorb into the salt.

32. To remove wax - Take a paper towel and iron it over the wax stain, it will absorb into the towel.

33. Remove labels off glassware etc. rub with Peanut butter!

34. Baked on food - fill container with water, get a Bounce paper softener and the static from the Bounce Towel will cause the baked on food to adhere to it.
Soak overnight. Also; you can use 2 Efferdent tablets, Soak overnight!

35. Crayon on the wall - Colgate Toothpaste and brush it!

36. Dirty grout - Listerine

37. Stains on clothes - Colgate

38. Grass stains - Karo Syrup

39. Grease Stains - Coca Cola, It will also remove grease stains from the drive way overnight. We know it will take corrosion from car batteries!

40. Fleas in your carpet? 20 Mule Team Borax - Sprinkle and let stand for 24 hours. Maybe this will work if you get them back again.

41. To keep FRESH FLOWERS longer Add a lit tle Clorox , or 2 Bayer aspirin, Or just use 7-up instead of water.

42. When you go to buy bread in the grocery store, have you ever wondered which is the freshest, so you "squeeze" for freshness or softness? Did you know that bread is delivered fresh to the stores five days a week?
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Each day has a different color twist tie. They are: Monday = Blue, Tuesday = Green, Thursday = Red, Friday =
White and Saturday = Yellow . So if today was Thursday, you would want red
twist tie; not white which is Fridays (almost a week old)! The colors go alphabetically by color Blue - Green - Red - White - Yellow, Monday through Saturday. Very easy
to remember. I thought this was interesting. I looked in the grocery store and the bread wrappers DO have different twist ties, and even the ones with the plastic clips have different colors. You learn something new everyday!
Enjoy fresh bread when you buy bread with the right color on the day you are shopping. Download our free toolbar

Ramen Noodles

One thing that i can never have enough of in my stockpile is Ramen Noodles. But they can get boring. Use some of the recipes in these cookbooks and you will not get bored. There are even desserts that can be made with them. Great way to add to your stockpile. They are cheap and can be stored for a long time. Also they do not take up a ton of room. Download our free toolbar

ArmyNavyMall

I think that we have found the place to get all of our gear. It is Army Navy Mall. They have all of the camping gear that we need. They also have all of the other items we need for an outdoor life, like footwear, camo, clothing, tools, and they even have giftware for the outdoorsman (or woman) on your Christmas list.
I like all of the survival gear that they have, so that I know that when we are out in the outs , we can take care of ourselves and be self sufficient.
If you have a police officer in your family they even have the equipment that they need for law enforcement. There is also a great selection of military supplies and books. I just love this type of gear and I am glad that we found this site so that we know that our gear will arrive in a speedy fashion, safe, and sound.Download our free toolbar

13 Ways To Kill A Cold

Cold and flu season is upon us.
Here’s a list of 13 things you can do to save money this cold season,
Prevention
The best way to prevent spending money on treating a cold is to avoid getting sick in the first place.

1. Wash your hands.

2. Get enough sleep.

3. Exercise.

4. Eat Right.

5. Get plenty of vitamin C.

6. Drinks lots of water.

Sometimes no matter what you do, you still get pegged with a cold. Here’s how you can treat it without spending a fortune.

7. Eat spicy food.

8. Linger in the shower with the steam.

9. Sip some hot tea.

10. Savor some Home Made chicken soup.

11. Gargle Salt. Is your throat feeling tender? Put a 1/2 teaspoon of salt into some water and gargle it. It will help reduce inflammation in your throat.

12.Drink lots of water when you are sick also.

13. Suck a mint. If you don’t have a cough drop on hand, substitute it with a mint. Sucking on the mint will help reduce the coughing reflex when you’re having a coughing fit.

I Got My Books!!

I wrote about ordering some books for my survival bookshelf about 10 days ago and I got them in the mail today and they are everything that I had hoped. I was really surprised that I got them so fast. I had to mail in the order with a check and it had to clear and then they had to send them , so really the turnover was very fast!!! I finally have an Edible plants book and this one is a very good one. By National Geographic. I got one about Living off The Grid, Save Your Ass, Homemade Contrivances, and Backyard Medicine. I got Free Shipping ,also.

I will be ordering from them again.


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Hand Crank Radio & Light

No electricity? No problem! Just turn this radio’s hand crank to tune into important broadcasts and breaking news. Super-bright light is perfect for navigating in the dark. A must-have for any well-prepared household! Features include: AM/FM weather band radio broadcast; tri-LED super bright flashlight; 3.6V rechargeable battery pack; three-way power supply; mobile phone charger; and wrist strap. Plastic. Two AA batteries not included. AC/DC adapter not included. 4 1/4 x 2 1/4" x 5 1/2" high. Buy It HERE


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Reuse Old Clothes.

I always have tons of t-shirts and stuff that I keep and try to make something else out of it. I make cloth diapers, shorts, etc. I love doing this. It is basically free fabric. Jeans can be made into many things , also. Like purses, quilts, pillows, curtains, etc.

If you use your imagination , you can come up with tons of things to make and this is also a great way to save money.

I have found some great ideas online to make items out of clothing.
Recycled T-Shirt Patterns

Great Ideas can be found here

Sewing Projects Using T-shirts

Make Easy T-shirt pants for kids!!

Recycle T-shirts into underwear!!

25 Things to do with your old jeans

Repurpose Jeans

Fabric and Clothing Reuse: This is a mega list!!

Sew A Prefold Cloth Diaper From a T-shirt Check out the whole site for other cheap ways to make cloth diapers.












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Home Made Laundry Soap

You can make your own laundry items for a lot less than buying them and usually the stuff it takes to make them is already sitting in your cupboard.

Homemade fabric softener:

1/4 cup of baking soda
1/2 cup of white vinegar
Fill your washing machine with water. Add the baking soda with the clothing. During the final rinse cycle, add the white vinegar.

Homemade laundry soap:

1/2 cup soap flakes
1/2 cup baking soda
1/4 cup washing soda
1/4 cup borax

You also need a clean 16 ounce plastic container with a good lid.

To make the soap flakes, lightly grate a bar of Ivory, with a kitchen grater.
In a large bowl mix all of the ingredients together. Store in plastic container. Use about 1/2 cup of the mixture in each load.



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$5.00 Meals

5DollarDinners is an awesome website that is chock full of recipes for low cost meals. It was even featured on Rachael Ray!! I just love this site and I still have not looked through it all. I love the low cost meals that are on this website. When times are hard it is great to still be able to make great tasting meals that do not cost a lot.


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Printable Lists For Survival

When things do go bad , I think that power will be one of the first things to go out. So, anything that is on your computer needs to be printed off. I found this Website that has a list of printable pages and more to help with survival and if you search on Google you will find many more. If you have no power - you have no computer! It is not a good thing to have every single thing on your computer, you have to have hard copies also. Print it off and put into folders or binders. Add it to your book shelf with all of your other survival and cook books. You can easily get to it and not miss your computer at all.

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Be Frugal About Stockpiling.

I want to stockpile and have my home ready with everything, but I do not want to run out of money doing it. I have found that the Dollar Tree has many items that are useful and can be stockpiled. they have many food items, first aid items, games, tools, toys, candles, cleaning supplies, and much more that can be stockpiled. I go to my local one about once a month and get a lot of items and I always keep my total below 40.00!! I love the Dollar Tree. Like I have said before, My little bitty house is starting to burst at the seams. But we will be prepared.

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