Let me let you in on a secret: you can temporarily mitigate the pain and suffering with with oil of clove, an inexpensive and readily available essential oil.  Here is what you do:

Put a few drops of clove oil on a cotton ball, place the ball on your sore tooth and bite down.  Keep you mouth shut for about 5 minutes as the oil numbs the pain and kills the bacteria.

Afterward, remove the cotton ball and mix a bit of the clove oil (6 to 8 drops will do it), water, and salt into a cup.  Swish this around in your mouth for about a minute and spit out.  You should feel a whole lot better!

Note:  Undiluted clove oil can cause burning and even nerve damage, so be sure to dilute it if you are applying it to sensitive skin tissue.  You can still use it directly on a tooth by applying it to a cotton ball or cotton swab first.

So back to my little episode on the ship.  Turns out I needed a root canal (which by the way, these days is a piece of cake except for the pain to the wallet).  The dentist had one word of advice for me: when in pain, use clove oil.  As as matter of fact, he told me that it was a bit of clove oil on a cotton swab that provided preliminary numbing prior to my procedure.

History of Cloves

The use of clove dates back to the Han dynasty (207B.C to 220 A.D.) where it was used to hide bad breath. It was required that those who approached the Chinese emperor hold a clove in their mouth for this purpose. Over the years, traditional Chinese medicine has used cloves to treat indigestion, diarrhea, hernias, ringworm and also athletes foot and other fungal infections.

Cloves arrived in Europe in the 4th century A.D.  They were considered a luxury and were used as a part of a mixture it was used to treat gout. Once cloves became readily available in Europe, they were used in a manner similar to traditional Chinese medicine.  Europeans used cloves to treat indigestion, flatulence, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. It also treated cough, infertility, warts, worms, wounds and toothaches.

In America, cloves have been used to treat digestive disorders and have been used in bitter herb medicine preparations to make them more tasteful.

Factoid:  Americans were the first to extract the oil from the clove and it was used on gums to relieve toothaches.

The active component of cloves is eugenol oil. This oil makes up 60-90% of each clove and has long been thought to kill bacteria, viruses and fungi.  This oil also acts as an antiseptic, anesthetic, digestive stimulant expectorant, aromatic, antispasmodic, astringent and accounts for its various uses.

Proven Uses of Cloves and Clove Oil

Instant air freshener: Make an atomizer in a spray bottle mixing clove oil with water.  Be sure to shake well before each use as oil and water do not stay mixed.  If your household is smelling especially bad or is really stale, simmer some cloves, cinnamon and orange peel on the stove for awhile – the smell will be heavenly.

Got Doggie Destructo?  You can discourage puppy chewing by dabbing the most likely targets (wood moldings, your slippers) with a bit of clove oil.  One sniff and one taste and your pup will move on to something else – hopefully his dog food or doggie toys (try KONG toys – they are great).

Non-toxic Insect Repellent:  Did you know that many insect repellent companies use Clove essential oil as one of the active ingredients in their spray products?  If you have some clove leaves or oils, you can simply use these instead of spending money on bug spray. Another thing you can do is plant cloves around the perimeter of your yard to replace the number of bugs that cross into your yard. You can also put some of the oils on your body so bugs and mosquitoes won’t come near you.

What else?  Are there other benefits to cloves and clove oils?

As much as I tried, I could only find anecdotal information about the benefits of cloves. There seems to be little or no scientific research into the medicinal uses of cloves which frankly, I find baffling given the huge sums that are devoted to the research of toxic pharmacy products.

That said, here are some of the reported therapeutic uses of cloves and oil of clove:

Anti-bacterial and Anti-fungal:  Effectively aid for food poisoning, clove oil effectively kills many forms of bacterial infections. Clove is also effective in reducing fungal infections such as athlete’s foot.

Anti-inflammatory: Clove oil clears the respiratory passages, acting as an expectorant for treating many upper-respiratory conditions including colds, eye sties, bronchitis, sinus conditions, cough and asthma.

Antiseptic:  Clove oil can be used to reduce infections, wounds, insect bites and stings.

Cancer Prevention: Preliminary studies suggest that clove oil may play a chemo preventative role, particularly in cases of lung, skin and digestive cancers. The American Cancer Society states that more carefully controlled research is needed to determine the role of Chinese herbal medicine, including cloves, in cancer treatment and prevention.

Cardiovascular Health: The active essential oil in clove, eugenol, has been shown to act as a an effective platelet inhibitor, preventing blood clots.

Energy booster: When used for aromatherapy purposes, clove oil helps to stimulate the brain. The scent makes you more attentive and can even make you feel more energetic than you normally would.

Improve blood circulation. Clove bud oil is one of the ingredients used in Tiger Balm , which is an herbal formulation that dates back to the times of the Chinese emperors. It is used to sooth muscle aches and pains and is though to do so by increasing the blood flow in the affected area.

Indigestion: Clove oil offers a powerful action against gas and bloating. It reduces gas pressure in the stomach, aiding in the proper elimination of food and toxins. It also relieves the discomfort of peptic ulcers. Effective for stomach related conditions including nausea, hiccups, motion sickness and vomiting.

Infections: Due to its antiseptic properties, clove oil is useful for wound, cuts, scabies, athlete’s foot, fungal infections, bruises, prickly heat, scabies, etc. It can also be used for treating insect bites and stings.

Powerful germicidal properties: Gargling with clove oil can aids in sore throat conditions and bad breath.

Premature Ejaculation:  Some research has shown that clove may be useful as a aid for premature ejaculation.

Relieve flatulence: A tea made of cloves can relieve the foof’s. Try steeping 5 cloves in a cup of boiling water for 10 minutes. Drink it when it cools and repeat two of three times daily.

Relieve headaches: Clove oil is useful for reducing the pain and discomfort associated with tension headaches. Apply a rag soaked in clove oils to the forehead or temples to get help open the blood vessels and rid yourself of the headache.

Skin:  An aid for skin disorders, such as acne.

Stress reliever:  Clove oil stimulates the circulatory system, clearing the mind and reducing mental exhaustion and fatigue. It is also used to aid insomnia, memory loss, anxiety and depression.

Prevention from toxic exposure:  Some studies show that clove oil can prevent toxicity related to exposure to environmental pollution.

Make Your Own Clove Oil

Clove oil is easy to make at home.

Take 1/8 cup whole clove and cover with 1/2 cup of vegetable oil. Let sit overnight or for as long as 24 hours then strain and you are all set.

The Final Word

Remember that  clove oil is very strong in nature and hence should be used in diluted form. Further, it should not be used on sensitive skin.  That said, cloves and clove oil are inexpensive and useful for a variety of purposes and ailments.   And for a tooth ache?  Well in my view it sure beats strong pain relievers that require a prescription.

Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!

Gaye

From the Bargain Bin:  Today I present some suggestions for incorporating clove and other essential oils into your routine.  If you are just getting started, get some clove, tea tree and lavender essential oils and everything else can follow as budget allows.

Tiger Balm Pain Relieving Ointment:  The time-proven blend of herbal ingredients in Tiger Balm provides safe and effective topical pain relief without the pills for sore muscles, arthritis, neck and shoulder stiffness, and just about any other minor muscle or joint aches or pains that may come your way.  Good stuff – better than Ben-Gay for daily aches and pains.

Clove Oil: Clove oil should be a component of every survival first aid kit. For less than $10, you have a multi-purpose product that takes up little room but solves a myriad of unwelcome and unexpected ailments. Travelers – this especially applies to you!

The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy:  I first became interested in aromatherapy and essential oils in the early 90s which was before they really became mainstream. I read every book I could get my hands on and dabbled at creating synergy’s (a combination of two or more oils that create a chemical compound that is greater than the some of its individual components).  My bible then, and even now, is this book.

Aromatherapy for Dummies:  Another good book that will help you get started understanding and using Aromatherapy.  And you know how I love the “dummies” book series.

Top 14 Essential Oil Set:  This well-priced set included Bergamot, Clary Sage, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, Grapefruit, Lavender, Lemon, Lime, Patchouli, Peppermint, Rosemary, Spearmint, Orange & Tea Tree.

KONG Classic Kong Dog Toy: If Tucker the Dog spoke English and not dog, he would tell you how much he loves his KONG toys.  The treats I hide inside keep him occupied for 30 or 40 minutes and he prances around like an award winner when he succeeds.  We do love our pets, after all!

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The To Do List

Starting next month I will be offering some give-aways as well as special news flashes via email. Want to be the first to know? I am still working out the details but in the meantime, please take a moment to join the new Backdoor Survival mail list. Click here to sign up for the new Backdoor Survival mail list!

The Miracle of Cloves and Clove Oil is the latest article from SurvivalWoman at Backdoor Survival.

Bringing us forward to current times, in addition to hiking, boating, camping, bike riding and other outdoor pursuits, we have basic survival skills to think about and plan for.  After all, if the SHTF in a big way, without the proper gear we may all be up a creek without a paddle so to speak.

Enter the miracle of paracord.  This is very useful stuff that is also very inexpensive.

What Exactly is Paracord?

Paracord is a lightweight nylon rope that was originally used in the suspension lines of US parachutes during World War II. Soldiers, however, found that this miracle rope was useful for far more than their paratrooper missions. In the ensuing years, both the military and civilians alike have found hundreds if not thousands of uses for paracord.

It is available by length, typically 50 to 100 feet (or more) and in a variety of colors. It is also available is large quantities by the spool. Many hikers and outdoor sports enthusiasts make or purchase “survival bracelets” made of several feet of paracord which is woven into a compact bracelets that can be unraveled in the field.

By the way, you will often see paracord referred to as Paracord 550 means that it has a breaking strength of 550 pounds or more.  Now that is strong!

Paracord can be used for many purposes such as securing things, removing heavy debris and fixed objects, strapping things together, as a harness to escaping a burning building, controlling bleeding as a tourniquet, and the list goes on. You can even unravel the cord and use the individual strands as a fishing line or as thread to sew on a button. Wonderful stuff.

And it can be fashionable too.

I was recently contacted by the folks at Cobrabraid 550 Paracord Gear and asked if I would like to take a look at some of their paracord products.  Are you kidding?  Of course I said yes.  I was especially excited because I had previously purchased a paracord bracelet for my pocket survival kit that was a bit large for me so this would give me a chance to get something a bit more suitable for my small wrist.

Look Ma!  It is Adjustable

 
Paracord Survival Bracelet and Key Chain from the folks at Cobrabraid

The first thing I noticed when my bracelet arrived was the Velcro strap.  This meant two things:  I could adjust the size to fit exactly the way I wanted and also, I could put the bracelet on and take it off with one hand and without fumbling.  This would be an especially important feature for someone with arthritis or simply very cold fingers out in the wilderness.

The second thing I noticed was the quality.  Sitting side by side with the other bracelet, you can see the difference.  The finish work is nicer and the paracord itself seems to have more heft.  I don’t know for sure but I wonder if that is because the CobraBraid bracelet is made from 100% US made paracord which is stronger and of higher quality than the Chinese made product, which isn’t 550 paracord ( it is usually about 200-300 pound break strength).

 A Belt Like No Other

Although the bracelet was nice, the true piece de resistance was the paracord belt.   What is neat about the belt (which you see being worn by Survival Husband) is that it is not simply woven paracord – it is a real double-ply nylon belt that has abut 60 feet of  USA made 550 paracord woven and wrapped onto the belt along with a super strong and attractive buckle.  The really cool thing is that in a survival situation you can remove the paracord from the base and still have a belt left to hold up your pants.

SurvivalHusband provided me with some feedback on the paracord belt:

First impression:  The belt is really well-constructed with a quality metal buckle (not flimsy and not plastic)

Very fashionable:  Great with jeans and other casual pants.  He is thinking of getting a few more in different colors or perhaps even with a base and a contrasting trim color.

Lots of Paracord:  He likes the idea that the belt has about 60 feet of paracord to be able to use in an emergency and also for practical things such as tie downs.  While hiking, if necessary, he could use the paracord with tree branches to create and emergency splint after a slip and fall incident.

Strong but light weight:  This speaks for itself.

CobraBraid, the Company

Doug and the team at CobraBraid are a family operation in central New York.  They build their products right there in their own facility using paracord that is produced by a military contractor with a break strength above 550 pounds.  They offer their paracord items in more colors than you can imagine and if you are so inclined, they will make up a custom color-combo just for you.

Doug is a veteran and is committed to great customer service.  A heck of a nice guy too.

The Final Word

I asked Doug about his top-selling items.  He indicated that the top sellers are the custom bracelet (you can choose up to 3 colors and buckle or Velcro closure), the DIY bracelet kit, the belt products and the dog items (leases and collars).

And me?  Next on my wish list is a lanyard (or two or three) to match my outfits.  Because after all, being prepared does not mean that I can not look good as well!

Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!

Gaye

Spotlight Item: Interested in a Paracord bracelet, belt or other paracord item? Cobrabraid is offering Backdoor Survival readers a 5% discount on everything on their site using the coupon code SURVIVAL.  Plus, shipping is free on all orders.

From the Bargain Bin: Interested in more Paracord stuff?  This will get you started.

FREE A Long-Term Survival Guide – 101 Uses For Paracord:  You can download this FREE 49 page eBook from Scribd. It is a pretty cool guide and as I said, it is free.

DIY Paracord Bracelet: If you have the time and interest, you can easily put together your own Paracord Survival Bracelet. Check out this kit which will make it easy.  Amazon has one too: Paracord Bracelet Do It Yourself Kit – Black & White Camo.

Rothco Type III Commercial Paracord: You can get 100 feet of Paracord for about $8. This is a real bargain but be aware that price can vary substantially depending on the color.

Kershaw OSO Sweet Knife: You are going to need a knife to cut your paracord while out in the field.  This “oh so sweet” knife is solidly built, stainless steel knife that comes razor sharp right out of the package. It will pretty much cut through anything the price is amazing at about $23.

Adventures in Paracord Black and White: Survival Bracelets, Watches, Key chains and More:  If you prefer a printed book rather than an eBook, this is a good choice.  The projects in this book are all fairly easy to do and fun too.  Here is a hint:  old backpacks and laptop/camera cases are great places to scrounge side-release buckles and other metal findings that you can use when creating your paracord items.

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The To Do List

Starting next month I will be offering some give-aways as well as special news flashes via email. Want to be the first to know? I am still working out the details but in the meantime, please take a moment to join the new Backdoor Survival mail list. Click here to sign up for the new Backdoor Survival mail list!

Paracord for Function and Fashion is the latest article from SurvivalWoman at Backdoor Survival.

I did not do much, prepping wise, this week due to my extended rehearsal schedule at the theater.  Thursday night was opening night and we danced in front of a full house (The Island’s alive with the Sound of Music).  This has been a lot of fun and a great way to connect with others in my community.

It has been a very busy week, but surely, I look forward to life getting back to normal.  So, with that said, let’s see what is new on the Sunday Buzz.

Tsunami Debris Posters

Living in the Pacific Northwest, I have been concerned about the delayed impact of last years tsunami and the incident (to put it lightly) at Fukushima.  Now I see that warning posters titled “Japan Tsunami Marine Debris: What to do if you see debris” are going up at beaches along the coast Washington State.

The posters come with a strong warning DO NOT TOUCH but no mention of why.  Of course the truth is that the floating junk may be radiation positive.  We are not dummies, after all.

Here specifically is what the poster says:

Be safe: If you don’t know what it is, don’t touch it. Collect as much information from a safe distance as you can – including photos – and report the debris to DisasterDebris@noaa.gov. If the item appears unusual or hazardous, contact your local authorities for specific guidance and instructions (see below).

Litter and other typical marine debris items: Common marine debris types will vary by location. If an object can be linked to the tsunami, please report it to DisasterDebris@noaa.gov. Please provide as much information as possible. Where it’s safe and practical to do so, people should remove the debris and recycle any plastics or metals.

Hazardous materials: Drums, fuel tanks and containers, gas cans, gas cylinders, chemical storage totes. Do not touch or attempt to move the item. Give authorities a detailed report about what you’ve observed.

Aluminum Canisters: 10-inch aluminum insecticide canisters often are found in high tide zones. Do not open the cap since these fumigant canisters may contain small amounts of toxic phosphine gas.

Derelict boat or other large debris item: Do not attempt to move or remove the boat. Report it to the U.S. Coast Guard 24-Hour Command Center,

Personal effects or possessions from Japan tsunami: Items that appear to be personal belongings should be treated with respect. They should be reported with as much relevant detail as possible. Generally, these objects should be left in place for later retrieval. However, if the object appears likely to be moved by tide or wave action and it is safe to do so, consider moving the object above the high-tide line. Report these to DisasterDebris@noaa.gov.

Human remains: It is extremely unlikely any human remains from the tsunami will reach the United States. However, if you encounter any remains, immediately call 9-1-1 and give local authorities a detailed report about what you observed. Do not touch or attempt to move.

Unknown Item: Don’t touch or attempt to move the item. Give local authorities a detailed report about what you observed.

As of April 7th, the disbursement of 5 million tons of tsunami junk was predicted by NOAA to take the following path:

But there are some feel-good stories, too

An observant beach comber on Middleton Island, in the Gulf of Alaska, found a soccer ball with Japanese writing on it.  A school name was stenciled on the soccer ball, and the soccer ball’s owner, 16 year-old Misaki Murakami, has been located and confirmed that this is indeed his ball.

The soccer ball with Japanese writing, which came from a school in the
tsunami zone and later washed up on an Alaskan island. (David Baxter)

Young Misaki lost everything in the 2011 Japan tsunami and is grateful that this object of sentimental value has been found. He received it in 2005 as a gift from his classmates in third grade before moving to a new elementary school, and one of the messages on the ball reads “Good luck, Murakami!!” (or rather “Hang in there, Murakami!!”).

The couple who found the ball has made arrangements to return the soccer ball to its owner.

High-tech credit cards putting you at risk for fraud?

Did you know that a lot of so called hi-tech credit cards include chips that can broadcast your personal information to anyone who has an appropriate reader?  These chips, called RFIDs, send out a radio signal with your credit and debit card information on it.  They are supposed to make paying at stores quicker since all you do is wave your credit card in front of a device at the cash register instead of swiping it.  Right.  Who needs it?

You can purchase protective sleeves to prevent this and there are some sites on the internet that provide instructions for making your own protective wallet.  Me?  I think the best advice is to just say no to such cards.

A hat tip to Pat in Arizona for sending me this article: High-Tech Credit Cards Putting You At Risk For Fraud?

From the Backdoor Survival Mailbox

This came though in the comments to Taking Baby Steps to Reach Your Preparedness Goals.

A simple test for anyone who says “why bother, it won’t matter”. Stop eating tomorrow when you get up. Only drink water from streams and puddles. Do this for three days; a mere three days. Anyone can do that, right? Anyone who actually does it will understand why we prep.

Thanks to GoneWithTheWind for sharing this bit of wisdom.

New Recommendation:  The Home for Survival

I get a lot of inquiries from other web-sites asking for link exchanges.  The good news is that this give me an opportunity to visit some of the newer sites and to expand upon my own learning experience.  The bad news is that – and pardon my language – many are crap.

What this all means is that when I decide to recommend a site, it is the real deal so you can truly sit up and take notice.  After all, I do not want to waste your time anymore than I want to waste mine.  That said, today I would like to recommend and their mission is to provide the most current, relevant and insightful survival content on the web.  In addition, they periodically put up some blog articles, the latest being Army Of The Future – Robot Soldiers?.

After taking a look at the site, I asked Mike the Survivor the following question:   What is your primary concern when it comes to survival and what do you do to prepare for that concern?  Here is his response:

My primary concern is preparing my family (and extended family) for an economic collapse in our country.  I believe we’re headed for a whole new way of life here.  I am preparing by stockpiling food and water and essential supplies in our home.  Security is another major concern as we live in the suburbs and I’ve been feverishly securing our home with technology and hardware.  I’m also keeping a journal of how and when I am preparing and publishing that on our site.

The To Do List

Starting next month I will be offering some give-aways as well as special news flashes via email. Want to be the first to know? I am still working out the details but in the meantime, please take a moment to join the new Backdoor Survival mail list. Click here to sign up for the new Backdoor Survival mail list!

I also share interesting survival and preparedness lifestyle tips and articles on our Facebook page. What? You haven’t liked me yet? Join Backdoor Survival on Facebook too:

Switch to Full Feed

Today, and for a trial period,  I have switched over from a summary email and RSS feed to a full feed.  This means that for subscribers, the full Backdoor Survival article will appear in your email and RSS notifications.  Now I know that this next statement is totally self-serving, but my web site rankings are related to the number of clicks to my site – sooooooo, I hope you will continue to visit my site in addition to reading your email.

Be sure to let me know your thoughts on this switch.

Today on Strategic Living

This week George and I are pleased to share a very special interview with Teresa Leibrick, a Private Investigator in Southern California.

I met Teresa during my recent travels and was impressed with her knowledge that comes from over sixteen years of investigative experience with her firm, Pink Investigations.  She is an expert in undercover operations and shares a unique perspective on security and changing mores in our country. She claims that “No Information Worth Having Is Beyond Her Reach”.

Be sure to read the article Are You Safe from Snooping Eyes?

Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!

Gaye

Spotlight Item:    RFID Blocking Card Sleeve – this RFID Blocking Card Sleeve is a card holder for easy convenience and great protection. It will help protect your identity by preventing snoopers from accessing the RFID chips now imbedded in many credit/debit cards and driver’s licenses.

From the Bargain Bin:  Couple being a good neighbor and with strong primary defenses and you have a winning combination. Here are some items to consider as you build up your fortress.

Sabre Family Home & Property Protection Pepper Spray: This small fire extinguisher-style pepper spray delivers a strong blast covering an entire doorway. Offering extremely practical protection, SABRE provides distance from your threat with its 30 foot range. I like that it includes a wall mount. About $36.

Security Decals – 4 Pack: Security surveillance camera system warning decals/stickers. Increase security whether you have a system or not -no one will know but you. Less than $10.

Dorcy LED Wireless Motion Sensor Flood Lite: Not a bad deal. Runs for a year on 3 D size batteries. About $20.

Uniden Bearcat 200-Channel Portable Scanner: A hand scanner with ham band for less than $100. Very portable.

Two-Way Radios and Scanners For Dummies: Gaye thinks she is a dummy (she is not) but likes the “dummies” books none the less.

Motorola FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radios: There are lots of good uses for the these radios. Handy while hiking, traveling, or simply keeping in touch with your partner while out shopping.

Keypad Deadbolt: Need a good strong lock? With this, you will never have to worry about locking yourself out plus, you can secure the deadbolt from inside the house.

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The Sunday Buzz – Volume 12 is the latest article from SurvivalWoman at Backdoor Survival.

I have been writing Backdoor Survival for a little over eighteen months now and consider myself just a little fish in a big sea.  I am not “big” and do not have tens of thousands of followers (but then that was never my intent to begin with.)  Still, even though I have not been doing this as long as many other bloggers and writers out there, I do like to think I bring a common-man (ok, common-woman) perspective to the process.  That plus I only publish my own original content.

This leads me to the main point of this article:  Because I write this blog, you may think that my prepping is complete – that I have all the gear, all the food, all the knowledge that I will ever need.  Well, in five words, you have got it wrong.  I am adding, changing, learning, and developing new skills all the time.

So please keep your prepping going.  Keep the family preparedness light on and keep building up your supplies and your knowledge.  Keep learning new skills and honing those you already possess.  Drill and practice your communication plan and bug out strategy until you  can execute in your sleep.

Most of all, keep in mind that like the insurance you carry on your home and vehicle, you many never need everything you have prepared for.  Your preps are your safety net and your knowledge is your life raft.

You are a prepper – so own it with pride and keep on prepping!

Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!

Gaye

Spotlight:  Coming soon, I will be offering some give-aways as well as special news flashes via email.  What to be the first to know?  I am still working out the details but in the meantime, please take a moment to join the new Backdoor Survival mail list.   Click here to sign up for the new Backdoor Survival mail list!  

I also share interesting survival and preparedness lifestyle tips and articles on our Facebook page.  What?  You haven’t liked me yet.

Join Backdoor Survival on Facebook too:  

From the Bargain Bin: I put some thought into the things I would want to have if/when there is another Great Depression. These are all items I currently have on hand.

Lodge Logic 12-Inch Pre-Seasoned Skillet: Cast iron items were at the top of the list. My readers love cast iron and so do I. Also at the top were Lodge Set of 2 Pan Scrapers and the Lodge Max Temp Handle Mitt.

All New Square Foot Gardening: I put in a Square Foot Garden last year and was pleased with the results. It is not too early to start planning for spring planting.

Clara’s Kitchen: Wisdom, Memories, and Recipes from the Great Depression: If you don’t know about Clara, be sure to read Depression Cooking: A Visit to Clara’s Kitchen.

Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: The Discovery That Revolutionizes Home Baking: At an average cost of 50 cents a loaf, this bread is easy, delicious and inexpensive to make.

Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day: 100 New Recipes Featuring Whole Grains, Fruits, Vegetables, and Gluten-Free Ingredients: Ditto.

How to Live on Wheat: Everything you need to know about wheat.

Fiskars 7855 8-Inch Hatchet: The Fiskars products are easily sharpened and will last a lifetime. For less than $25, what is not to like? Oh, and while you are at it, you might also like the Fiskars Axe & Knife Sharpener for an additional $10.

Kaito Voyager KA500 Solar/Crank Emergency AM/FM/SW NOAA Weather Radio: A lot of different hand crank radios were sold but this was by far, the most popular.

Emergency Mylar Thermal Blankets (Pack of 10): I do believe in helping my neighbors in the community so a supply of these will be handy to hand out to those in need. You will be surprised at how warm these will keep you. Be sure to test one out in advance so that you have the confidence to trust the blanket in an emergency.

Holding Your Ground: Preparing for Defense if it All Falls Apart: I You NEED this book if you care about defending your homestead.

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Keep on Prepping is the latest article from SurvivalWoman at Backdoor Survival.

Now surely that is not someplace that any of us wants to be and for that reason alone, we find justification to prepare.  Prepare for what?  Who knows.  It might be a major disaster, it might be a personal health or financial crisis, it might be a terrorist attack or it might be the collapse of civilized society as we know it.  Whatever the reason, the need to prepare is ingrained in us from the time we reach young adulthood.  After all, the very first insurance policy we purchased was our way of saying “I am going to be prepared”.

These days, we can not count on traditional insurance to keep us safe, to keep us fed, and to keep us sheltered from the storms that are brewing in our world.   Instead, it is my belief that we must self insure by storing away supplies and learning skills that will get us by when going is not so good.

Last September, I laid out a calendar of prepping, 12 Months of Prepping, One Month at a Time. Each month since then, I have outlined a reasonable number of task to accomplish during the monthly period and today is no exception.  In Getting Prepared Month #8 we continue to fine tune by adding a few more items to our food storage and by putting together a simple, transportable kit that we can keep in our cars.

Are you ready to get started?  Let’s start to work on month #8.

MONTH 8 SUPPLIES & GEAR:

• Box of crackers or graham crackers – 1 per person
• Dry cereal or oatmeal – 1 weeks worth per person
• 1 box of large, heavy-duty garbage bags

This month we are going to go easy on the budget and add some inexpensive foods that can be used as either meals, snacks or fillers for both adults and children.  We are adding a box of crackers (your choice, classic saltines or graham crackers) for each person in your household.  These will provide carbohydrates, calories and in the case of graham crackers, a bit of sweetness during times of distress.

From the Red Cross Book “Emergency Mass Feeding”

Did you know that crackers were a staple of fallout shelter rations during the Cold War era?  The Shelter Management Textbook published by the Office of Civil Defense included the following table:

This table is from the OCD publication SM-16.1 “Shelter Management Textbook”
Date July 1967. Table VIII.

1. Crackers or biscuits/from 5 gal can – 6
2. Crackers or biscuits/from 2.5 gal can – 4
3. Wafers/from 5 gal can – 1.5
4. Crackers or biscuits/from 5 gal can – 4
5. Crackers or biscuits/from 2.5 gal can – 3
6. Wafers/from 5 gal can – 1

These days it is difficult to wrap our mind around sustaining oneself on crackers alone, especially since there are so many other readily available, storable foods available and yet as evidenced by the popularity of the Mountain House Pilot bread or Pilot Crackers, these remain a staple in the survival pantry.

Add Some Rib-Sticking Goodness

The second food item we will add this month is cereal with oatmeal recommended for its superior nutrition and fiber content.  Although normally I would recommend getting old fashioned oats, for short term emergency purposes, I suggest instant or quick oatmeal instead since it cooks quickly, using just a bit of water and very little cooking fuel.Of course a box of those instant oatmeal packets can be expensive so try this trick for making your own instant oatmeal:

Put a batch of oatmeal (use either Old-Fashioned or Quick) in a blender or food processor, pulse a few times (don’t turn it into powder), and you are good to go.  Package it up with some raisins and perhaps a bit of brown sugar and you have instant oatmeal at a fraction of the cost.

To prepare your homemade instant oatmeal, add very hot or boiling water, stir then let sit fir a minute then eat.  Yummy.

The Practically Indestructible Garbage Bag

We are also going add a large box of heavy duty garbage bags to our emergency supplies.  The uses for these bags are limitless but what comes to mind first, is using these large bags as a poncho or emergency shelter propped up by sticks or debris.

A heavy duty garbage bag – and I am referring to those large 42 gallon bags not the smaller, lighter weight kitchen bags, also can serve as an emergency toilet.  If you are sheltering at home and the sewer system in not functional, merely line your toilet or even a bucket with a heavy duty bag and you are good to go.  (Of course it might be good to have some kitty litter to throw in the sack after going potty.)

Need more justification?  Thanks to Jessica at SaltnPrepper, for providing these 40 Ways to Use Garbage Bags in Emergencies.

1. Set Up as a Rain Catcher
2. Use as a Poncho
3. Waterproof Shoes by Covering with Bag and Tying Around the Ankle
4. Emergency Shelter (with multiples)
5. Fill with Leaves and Climb In for Emergency Sleeping Bag (or sleep on top to use as mattress – keeping the cold ground from sucking the heat out of you)
6. Store Food In
7. Use as a Sling
8. Use as a Swimming Suit so You Keep Clothing Dry (how stylish)
9. Store Garbage (duh)
10. Store Toilet Paper and other Paper Supplies to Keep Dry
11. Use as a Windbreaker
12. Use as a Sun Jacket
13. Cut a Strip with Two Slits for Your Eyes and Tie Around Your Face Like Zorro for Make-Shift Sunglasses (it worked for the Inuits, it’ll work for you)
14. Use as Compression Bandage
15. Fill with Water for Storage (short term)
16. Use as Tent Floor/Ground Cloth
17. Tape Edges of Bag to the Edges of Your Window Frame to Blackout Windows (must be heavy duty to shield light)
18. Use as a Backpack
19. Use to Create Shade from Sun
20. Use as Porta-Sink
21. Use to Wash Clothes In
22. Mix Ingredients for Cooking In It
23. Seal Off Room with Multiple Bags and Tape to Quarantine an Ill Person
24. Turn Off Water and Line Toilets with Bags (or line 5 gallon buckets)
25. Store Newspaper for Future Use as Fire Starter (keeping it dry)
26. Use for Concealment by Wearing Over Clothes at Night (black garbage bags)
27. Cover Wounds with Gauze and Wrap with Strips of Garbage Bag
28. Fill with Water, Tie to a Tree Branch and Poke Small Holes into the Bottom – You’ve Got an Emergency Shower
29. Use as Disposable Gloves for Cleaning
30. Use as a Tourniquet
31. Wrap Around Cloth Gloves to Make Waterproof
32. Fill with Water, Place in a Ditch then Add Hot Stones to Sterilize Water for Drinking (stones need to be hot enough to boil the water)
33. Great Bartering Item
34. Use them as Sterile Surface to Prepare Food
35. Use as Emergency Signal
36. Fill with Cold Water and Use as Cold Compress for Injuries (same can be said with hot water)
37. Use as Ties for Splints
38. While Wearing Socks, Step Into Two Layers of Bags to Use as Shoes
39. Use as Diapers (line with toilet paper)
40. Stuff Inside Your Clothing for Insulation

MONTH 8 TASKS:

• Make a small preparedness kit for your car. Include food, water, blanket, a small first aid kit, a list of important phone numbers and other useful items
• Secure water heaters to wall studs (if not already done)

A couple of months ago I made up some mini-preparedness kits for our vehicles (your can see mine pictured above).

As you can see, my kit includes the following items:

• Mylar blankets
• LED Flashlight
• Chemical light stick
• Two Kashi (protein and fiber) bars
• Band-Aids

I put them all in an inexpensive pencil box that I purchased at the office supply store.  I then added the kit plus a few bottles of water to an inexpensive backpack.  As simple as this may seem, I have already had to use everything except the blankets – and that is just recently.  Since then, I have added some Ibuprofen and a packet of Survival Husband’s daily medications to the kit.

As with all of our survival and preparedness kits, nothing is static and as needs change or expand, you should change or expand the kit as well.  And if you kit is hidden away in the back corner of your closet?  Well shame on you!  Emergencies happen everyday and since you are prepared, you should take advantage of your preps!

Protect the Water in Your Water Heater – Secure the Tank

Fresh water after a disaster may be as close as your water heater — provided, of course, it remains standing upright. You can protect this valuable resource by securing your water heater to the wall studs.  This will not only protect the water in your water heater, but will also prevent the water heater from tipping over and ripping out gas or electrical lines and causing a flood, gas leak or fire.

Note:  Securing water heaters in this manner is now a part of the building code in many areas of the country – especially in quake zones.

The easiest way to secure you hot water heater is with a commercially available strapping kit. You can also gather the strapping supplies yourself, using heavy-gage metal straps and 3-inch lag screws.

However you do it, keep in mind the following:Use two heavy-gauge metal straps, top and bottom

• To prevent the tank from tipping backwards, there should be very little space between it and the wall. If there is more than 1 or 2 inches, attach a wooden block to the wall with long lag screws.
• Wrap the heavy-gauge metal strapping 1-1/2 times around the tank. Start by placing the strapping at the back of the tank. Bring it to the front and then take it back to the wall.
• Secure this strapping to the wall studs or the wood block using several 1/4-inch x 3-inch or longer lag screws with oversized washers.
• If you are securing it directly into concrete, use 1/4-inch expansion bolts in place of the screws.

The State of Washington has a downloadable flyer showing you how to do this.  Print it out and you will be all set to go – just do it.  And while you are at it, this would be a good time to add a water heater blanket to your setup.

The Final Word

Although there are a tremendous number of resources available to the public that encourage disaster and emergency preparation, the vast majority do nothing.  Call in inertia or call it procrastination.  Whatever the reason, the vast majority of people are not preparing because they are relying on emergency responders to help them.

Well you know what?  If there were a major disaster in your area, you may be waiting a long time.  Yes, FEMA and the other alphabet agencies have gotten better since Katrina, but until there is another catastrophe of that magnitude, you will never know whether you will be “saved” or left to your own resources for three days, a week or longer.

I don’t know about you, but I would much prefer to do as much as I can in advance to take care of myself and my loved ones.

Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!

Gaye

Spotlight: Coming soon, I will be offering some give-aways as well as special news flashes via email. What to be the first to know? I am still working out the details but in the meantime, please take a moment to join the new Backdoor Survival mail list. Click here to sign up for the new Backdoor Survival mail list!

I also share interesting survival and preparedness lifestyle tips and articles on our Facebook page. What? You haven’t liked me yet?  Join Backdoor Survival on Facebook too.

From the Bargain Bin: Putting together a mini-car kit is easy.  Here are some selections to get you started along with a links to a great deal on Mountain House Pilot Crackers/Bread and a kit to secure your water heater.

Water Heater Strapping Kit:  This water heater strap kit contains four straps for restraining the top and bottom of the water heater. Lag bolts are pre-installed and held with paper keepers to prevent dropping behind the tank. The straps adjust easily to fit the water heater.  Less than $16 with free shipping.

Water Heater Blanket:  In colder climates, a water heater blanket can save you oodles. Standby heat loss is reduced by 25%–45% resulting in about 4%–9% in water heating costs (depending on your climate).  Do the math and see if this is worth it.

Mountain House Pilot Crackers: At about $20 a tin, the price for these Mountain House pilot crackers at Amazon is about as inexpensive as you will find, especially when you factor in free shipping.

Cyalume SnapLight Chemical Light Sticks: Read all about light sticks at Lighting Your Way With Chemical Lighting.

Emergency Mylar Thermal Blankets: These come in compressed packets small enough to fit in a pocket or wallet. You will be surprised at how warm these will keep you. About $8 for a pack of 10.

Emergency Shelter Tent: The Emergency Tent is a lightweight and compact emergency shelter. It is wind and waterproof and easy to set up and is roomy enough for two people. Less than $10.

Streamlight Nano Light Keychain LED Flashlight: extremely small and light weight yet it will throw off a decent amount of super-bright light. At just .36 ounces and 1.47 inches long, the Streamlight Nano Light Keychain Flashlight will take up a minimum of space in your pocket or bag. About $7.

Sani-Hands Instant Sanitizing Wipes: These are the wipes I use. I personally called the manufacturer and confirmed that they have a two-year shelf life. This is an important consideration when purchasing hand sanitizers. I also can recommend the version that comes in individual packets such as the Purell box of 100.

Kashi GOLEAN Bars: These happen to to be my favorite but any high protein, high fiber bars are good to have in your emergency car kit.

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Getting Prepared Month 8: Adding Supplies, Tasks, and an Emergency Preparedness Kit for Your Vehicle is the latest article from SurvivalWoman at Backdoor Survival.

I have been busy with rehearsals this week (Survival Husband and I are two of the featured waltzer’s in our local production of the Sound of Music) but I still found time to pick up some organic lettuce starts as well as some other early spring veggies for the garden.

What? No seeds this year?  Well here is the scoop.  Last year I went through three batches of seed-starting and still ended up buying starts.  It is not that I have a brown thumb – quite the contrary.  It is just that our PNW climate has been cold, damp and cloudy and there is simply not enough light in my home to get the little seeds started.  So this year I caved, at least for now.

As you can see, my little square foot garden still has some onions in the ground from last year.  But a big oops – I thought I was growing onion onions.  You know, the onions that mature to the size of a fist.  But no, these are green onions.  So the moral of the story?  The time to learn about growing crops is now so that you learn what works in your climate and what doesn’t.  Like me, you will make mistakes but keep at it and soon you will learn what works for you.

And if you need some help, be sure to check out my article Growing and Raising 100% of your Food.

But enough about me.  What buzzing around in the prepping and survival world this week?

Titanic’s Wake: Shipwreck of the Century Retains Its Grip

Newsweek recently ran an article titled Voyage of the Doomed.  The article was, of course, about the Titanic and about how, in their words:

All walks of life teemed aboard the RMS Titanic—from dollar dukes to striving immigrants. Little did they know how they would be betrayed.

Now what I find interesting is that this MSM publication liked the sinking of the Titanic to the supposedly unsinkable liner we know as global capitalism.

Of course, the supposedly unsinkable liner that is global capitalism recently hit an iceberg, and its name was Lehman Brothers. And lo, in the twinkling of an eye there was much screaming, and the fanciest and most sumptuous vessel looked as though it would slide right into the deep. Now, too, it is steerage that gets the short end of the stick, just as it did in 1912. Will we ever learn that the best systems, the most money, the cleverest engineers, and their most infallible designs are of no avail when it’s that imperfect thing—the human being—that drives them at a reckless speed?

Forgive me if I doubt it. But as we sail on into that dark ocean of the future where who knows what perils lurk in the darkness, is it too much to ask that there be at least enough bloody lifeboats for everyone—for us in third class as well as the ladies and gents living it up in the state rooms?

Bloody lifeboats indeed.  That would be nice but I am not counting on it.

From the Here We Go Again Department:  Another Casting Call

First it was a call for the doomsday prepper types, then the prepping singles, and now the weapons savvy.  This hit my email on Friday.  If you are interested, send contact information, a brief bio and a “preview” of what security items you have to gunshowcasting@gmail.com or call 720-259-1547 for more information.

ORION ENTERTAINMENT IS CASTING FOR A DOCU-REALITY TELEVISION PILOT FOR PREPPERS IN THE PERSONAL SECURITY SPACE

Orion Entertainment, the world’s leader in outdoor-adventure television, is currently casting for a new docu-reality television pilot that explores weapon-savvy Americans and their families. These regular and everyday citizens are armed and prepared for when the fabric of society unravels in the wake of any major cataclysmic event.

The weapons preppers featured in the television pilot will be armed with the latest in firearms technology, ammunitions, night vision optics, vehicles and security systems. They believe their preparedness and armament is to ensure the safety of themselves and their loved ones for catastrophic events such as terrorist attacks, economic meltdowns, global pandemics and natural disasters.

Potential candidates would need to be available for approximately 4 days of filming and provide camera access for a full 360-view of their defensive strategies:

· On-camera interviews with preppers and their family and friends (when applicable). Need to hear of any past incidents and events that have shaped their mindset today. What motivates them now, and what are their biggest fears and thoughts on the future of the world?

· An “all-access tour” of their security items – firearms, ammo, knives, night vision, etc. What do they have, and more importantly, why?

· Access to test-firing weapons – our preppers will show our host and audiences what their firepower can do.

· A sneak-peak into their security and safety plans and strategies. What is the plan for an economic crisis? Tornados that wiped out the states power grids? A terrorist attack on U.S. soil?

· What is their training of real-world scenarios and situations to keep their skills up-to-date? The preppers and our host will run the drills.

· We want to see it all, hear it all and feel it all.

Kashi to Embrace Non-GMO Organic Ingredients

I adore Kashi products and especially Kashi protein bars so I was pleased to see the following announcement: All new Kashi foods to be Non-GMO Project Verified and contain at least 70% organic ingredients beginning 2015.

Currently, less than 1% of cropland in the US is organic and about 70% of all processed food contains GMOs.  As one of the largest food brands in the natural and organic marketplace, we are in a unique position to make a sizeable, positive impact on the food system. That’s why we’re announcing a long-term initiative to produce significantly more organic and Non-GMO Project Verified foods.

By the end of 2014, all existing Kashi® GOLEAN cereals and Kashi® Chewy Granola Bars—which are our biggest offerings—will be Non-GMO Project Verified. Plus, beginning 2015, all new Kashi foods will contain at least 70% organic ingredients and be Non-GMO Project Verified as well.  Seven of our cereals already meet the Non-GMO Project Verification standard today.

This is good news for Kashi but hopefully better news for the food system as a whole.  Currently, it’s difficult for companies like Kashi to source enough ingredients that are organic and grown without using GMO. But with this commitment, we ensure more farmers make more organic and non-GMO crops accessible for everyone.

The Truth About Neighborhood Crime

This recently came across my desk.  (Can you tell that I love infographics?)  I was surprised by some of the dangerous cities.  Who would have thought that Anchorage, Alaska would be in the top 10?  Personally, I vote for living in the country but for many, that is not possible due to their work or family situation.

Compiled By: Home Insurance Guide

Today on Strategic Living

Do you get the feeling that your life is being over-run by digital media?  It seems as though everywhere you look, someone is pitching an eBook your way – some for free and some for a mere two or three bucks.  Today on Strategic Living, George and I share some thoughts on the future of reading in our article: The Questionable Future of Reading and Books. 

Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!

Gaye

Spotlight:  Coming soon, I will be offering some give-aways as well as special news flashes via email.  What to be the first to know?  I am still working out the details but in the meantime, please take a moment to join the new Backdoor Survival mail list.   Click here to sign up for the new Backdoor Survival mail list!  

I also share interesting survival and preparedness lifestyle tips and articles on our Facebook page.  What?  You haven’t liked me yet.

Join Backdoor Survival on Facebook too:  

From the Bargain Bin:  It is not too late to start your spring and summer gardening.  Whether you start your own seeds or purchase starts, the moment is now to get outside, roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty.

Food Production Systems for a Backyard or Small Farm:  Big yard or small, you will find lots of valuable information in this DVD set.  There are so many practical, no BS tips that this DVD can take you from beginner to expert over a period of time.

How to Grow More Vegetables: Decades before the terms “eco-friendly” and “sustainable growing” entered the vernacular, How to Grow More Vegetables demonstrated that small-scale, high-yield, all-organic gardening methods could yield bountiful crops over multiple growing cycles using minimal resources in a suburban environment. This is the bible.

All New Square Foot Gardening: This book will prove that you can grow a significant bounty in limited space. Just add seeds or plant starts.  I even do a bit of “square foot gardening” on my deck in pots.

Kashi GOLEAN Bars: After a day of gardening, treat yourself to some high protein, high fiber Kashi bars.  These happen to to be my favorite but any high protein, high fiber bars are good to eat now and also to keep handy for emergencies especially since they are easily stored and do not require cooking.

Kershaw OSO Sweet Knife:  This “oh so sweet” knife is solidly built, stainless steel knife that comes razor sharp right out of the package. It will pretty much cut through anything the price is amazing. Great to have in the garden, too. About $23.

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The Sunday Buzz – Volume 11 is the latest article from SurvivalWoman at Backdoor Survival.

“To keep the body in good health is a duty, otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.”

Now it seems to me that if the world were to drastically change in a TEOTWAWKI situation, having a strong and clear mind would be paramount to survival.  And yet, as we plan for such an event, how much of our effort is spent on the matter of good health in the here and now?  Not as much as we could and should I say.

The reasons are simple.  It is just easy to continue to do things the way we always have.  Some chips with our burger, a nice piece of pie for desert, and oh yeah, what about the can of soda to wash it down?

I have always been interested in diet and nutrition, most likely because I was an overweight child and have struggled to maintain trim my entire life.  For the most part I have won the battle but now I also face the dreaded prospect of aging, and am acutely aware that what goes in can materially affect both how I look and how I feel as I get older.

Just What are Antioxidants?

For years, the mention of the term “antioxidants” sent me running.  Perhaps it was the “anti” which denoted a negative connotation or perhaps it was simply confusion since the term was applied not only to food products and plants but to skin care, cosmetics and industrial chemicals as well.

I finally came around, however, and jumped on the knowledge bandwagon a few years back, recognizing that antioxidants were a good thing.  But why?  And what the heck are they, anyway.

According to Wikipedia:

An antioxidant is a molecule that inhibits the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers electrons or hydrogen from a substance to an oxidizing agent. Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals. In turn, these radicals can start chain reactions. When the chain reaction occurs in a cell, it can cause damage or death to the cell. Antioxidants terminate these chain reactions by removing free radical intermediates, and inhibit other oxidation reactions.

In plainer English, antioxidants are dietary substances can prevent damage to your body cells or repair damage that has already been done.  They work by slowing down or even preventing damage to the cells from the bod-boy free radicals that are created by oxidation.

Using an example provided by the Academy of Dietetics and Nutrition (formerly the American Dietetic Association), let me describe what happens to an apple when you cut in to it.  Slice the apple, expose it to air (oxygen) and it turns brown.  But, and this is the key, dip it in some orange juice or lemon juice which contains the antioxidant Vitamin C, and the apple stays apple-colored, or white.

Examples, Please

Several of the top antioxidants include:

• Beta-carotene: This antioxidant is believed to be helpful in helping prevent heart disease and cancer. Beta-Carotene is found in bright green, orange and yellow produce, including carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, apricots, cantaloupe, mango, papaya, red bell pepper, spinach, kale, turnip greens and broccoli.
• Vitamin C: It helps protect and fight against infections, promotes the absorption of iron and helps produce thyroxin (a hormone that regulates metabolism and body temperature). Look for Vitamin C in guava, papaya, red and green peppers, kiwi, orange and grapefruit juice, broccoli, cantaloupe, potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, strawberries, mustard and turnip greens.
• Vitamin E: This protects the white blood cells, which helps keep the immune system in top shape. Vitamin E is found mostly in vegetable oils. Look for it in corn oil, olive oil, peanut oil, sesame seed oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, almonds, wheat germ, nuts, seeds, and olives.
• Selenium:  Selenium is incorporated into proteins to make selenoproteins, which are important antioxidant enzymes. According to the National Institutes of Health, the antioxidant properties of selenoproteins help prevent cellular damage from free radicals.  Good sources of selenium include brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, chicken and turkey breast meat, eggs, and brown rice.

Enter in to the World of Plants

The good news is that the plant world contains thousands of types of antioxidants and that when these plants are consumed, these defensive antioxidant plant molecules are passed on to the people who eat them.  This means that lucky for us, antioxidants are easy to include in our diets.

Brightly colored fruits and veggies are the stars in this arena, with fruits taking the lead.  Berries of all types head the list along with plums and cherries.  Then come the green and red vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, red cabbage and green peppers.  But honestly, there is no bad fruit and no bad vegetable when it comes to antioxidants.  The only thing bad is the person who refuses to eat them.

Of course, it is well and good to eat fruits and vegetables but it is equally important to make sure that they are prepared correctly.  No boiled or microwaved mish-mash please.  To retain the most value, veggies should be lightly steamed or stir-fried.

More Sources of Antioxidants

In addition to fruits and veggies, herbs and spices (try cinnamon, turmeric, cloves and oregano) and nuts and seeds with skins are antioxidant all stars.

Lets talk about the herbs and spices a moment.  According to Los Angeles-based dietitian Vandana Sheth, RD, CDE, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

“Most people think of antioxidants as coming strictly from foods like fruits and vegetables, dark chocolate, or red wine, but many herbs and spices not only provide flavor but also a big bang of antioxidants. A little bit goes a long way.”

So, for example, a single 1/2 teaspoon of ground clove contains more antioxidants than 1/2 cup of blueberries and a teaspoon of oregano contains as many antioxidants as an entire cup of sweet potatoes.  Certainly this is something to think about as we store spices and condiments for long term storage.

But there are other big winners in the antioxidant camp.  Red wine, chocolate and yes, coffee and espresso.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the antioxidants in red wine are called polyphenols and these polyphenols may help protect the lining of blood vessels in your heart. Although they are careful to use the word “may”, the Mayo Clinic as well as other credible authorities claim that resveratrol is the key ingredient in red wine that helps prevent damage to blood vessels, reduces “bad” cholesterol and prevents blood clots.

When it comes to chocolate, dark chocolate is the celebrity when it comes to antioxidants.  Dark chocolate is loaded with flavonoids, a type of antioxidant that has been shown in medical studies to offer protection to the vascular system, heart and brain.  Of course there is the waistline to consider, but a tiny piece of dark chocolate is probably going to do you more good than harm.  For more information on the value of chocolate in your diet, check out the article Heart-Health Benefits of Chocolate Unveiled which was written by the well-respected Cleveland. Clinic.

And finally, there is coffee.  Going back once again to the Mayo Clinic, here is what they say:

A “cup of joe” has up to 2,000 different components, including micronutrients such as magnesium, potassium, niacin and vitamin E. Among coffee drinkers, coffee may be the largest food source of antioxidants — substances that protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals.

What about Organic Fruits and Vegetables

No one will dispute the fact that pesticides can cause health problems, such as birth defects, nerve damage, cancer, and other effects that might occur over a long period of time.  However, these effects depend on how toxic the pesticide is and how much of it is consumed.  This is especially true when it comes to children.

Connecting the dots with the oxidation process and the development of free radicals, it makes sense that in addition to providing antioxidant benefits, consuming organic fruits and vegetables may further foster long term good health by diminishing the effects of pesticide residue.

Now I know that in many areas, including my own, the cost of organic food products may be more than double the non-organic items.  There are three choices left:  grow your own, be selective and choose only non-organic items that are least likely to harbor pesticide residues, or a combination of the two.

The produce types least likely to be toxic are those items with thick skins such as onions, avocados, sweet corn, pineapples, mango, asparagus, peas, kiwi fruit, bananas, papaya, broccoli and cabbage.  Produce with thin (or non-existent) skin is most likely to be contaminated with pesticide residues.

On the other hand, there is a strong likelihood that peaches, apples, celery, berries, lettuces, spinach and potatoes will be contaminated with pesticide residue.  If you can not afford organic, be sure to wash these items well before consuming.  We actually scrub our potatoes with soap and water!

The Antioxidant Grocery List

I make no apologies for admitting that I enjoy the antics of Dr. Oz.  A lot of what he does is wrapped around a bubble of hype and entertainment (think reality show) but his show also includes a lot of useful information, most of which is credible and well documented.

A while back he published the following Antioxidant Grocery list which can also be printed out and used as a shopping list.

The Final Word

Where as beans, bullets and band-aids are the mantra of the prepper community, so is good health.  After all, you can have a three year food supply and a lifetime stash of ammunition, but if you are too feeble to eat and too weak to defend yourself, all of those great preps will go to waste.

It is far better to plan for a healthy body along with the rest of your preparedness tasks.  Focus on eating more of a plant based diet with the emphasis on brightly colored produce.  And don’t forget about that nightly glass of rid wine.  And by the way, how about a small handful of almonds with that  wine?

Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!

Gaye

. . . Your comments welcome (jump to the bottom of the page)

From the Bargain Bin:  A sound and healthy body is something I plan to keep for as long as I can.  Need some help?  Here are some ideas to get you on the road to health.

500 MG Resveratrol Extreme Capsules: In addition to red wine, this is another way to get some of the great resveratrol into your system. I like this brand because it comes with a 3 month money back guarantee. 68 reviewers give it close to a perfect 5 star rating.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Mediterranean Diet:  Survival Husband’s doc recommends a Mediterranean Diet rich in brilliant colored veggies.  Now truth be told, I am a lot better with the veggies than he is and sometimes go weeks eating just veggies, fruits and dairy.  YMMV, but this book will be a good start.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition:  If you are thinking about migrating to a plant based diet, this book will answer the questions:

• Where to get nutrients that others get from meat and dairy.
• How to avoid the vegan pitfall of overfed but undernourished.
• How to spot hidden animal ingredients in packaged foods.

The Antioxidant Counter: A Pocket Guide:  This little $8 book is presents easy-to-understand antioxidant scores for hundreds of foods. It’s specially designed to show which nutrition-loaded foods offer the greatest healing power and how to include more of them in your diet.

Spiegelau Vino Grande Bordeaux Glasses:  Yes, a bit of a splurge but these are wine glasses that I use.  I have had them for almost 8 years now, and still love drinking from them.  They make drinking budget wines (think Charles Shaw and such) festive and special.

Screwpull Corkscrew: For heavens sake, if you are storing red wine for SHTF drinking or bartering, be sure to also pack away a manual corkscrew.  This is a nice one.

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What are Antioxidants and Why Should the Prepper Care? is the latest article from SurvivalWoman at Backdoor Survival.

Having been stung in the past by my own naive ignorance of what could happen, a few years back I said “no more” and went on a mission to be prepared for all of the annoying and disruptive side-steps in life.  Along the way I have a learned a thing or two with the primary lesson being that if the SHTF, it will be too late to prepare.

Now I assume that since you are reading this article you already know that.  I also know that you are probably not an extremist but rather a practical and, dare I say ordinary, sort who would rather blend into the woodwork as you quietly prepare for some unknown event and in an unknown future.

Assumptions not withstanding, that is how I like to think of myself and trust me, I am very ordinary.

What to Do Before Things Go Boom

I was recently contacted by Brian Howard, the author of the book “When Things Go Boom!” and asked if I would like to review a copy on Backdoor Survival.  He told me the book’s subtitle was “A Highly Practical (NO FLUFF!) Guide To What You Can Do Now To Prepare For The Coming Chaos: Techniques, Tips and Supply Checklists.”

Since I am always in search of new prepping tips and strategies, I said sure, along with the usual caveat that any review I write will be honest and not a whitewash for sales sake.

So what did I think?  Well first and foremost, this is a book for people who are looking for straightforward facts, basic techniques, a list of tips and do-it-now checklists.  What it is not is a book of gorgeous photos or lengthy dialogues on performing any esoteric and exotic skills.  Instead, it gives you the basics in a clear and simple manner that is written as though Brian were sitting across from you on the living room couch.

But when I say clear and simple, do not be put off.  Some of his tips were new to me.  For example, he suggests that you include a manual pencil sharpener in your bug out bag so that you can create wood shavings from twigs.  These shavings can them be used when starting a fire.  Now how neat is that?  Another neat tip has to do with making handcuffs out of zip ties (for subduing a bad guy you have clobbered with a baton or baseball bat).  These are just two of the many useful tips.

Now to be honest, there were a couple of tips I will choose to ignore such as eating raw worms for protein.  Ugh!

The book is organized into seven chapters:

• Personal Defense/Safety
• Water/Filtration
• Food/Nutrition
• Shelter/Habitat
• Medical/First aid
• Communications/Navigation/Signaling
• General

Each chapter begins with a description of why the topic is important as well as key techniques and concerns relative to the topic.  When it comes to gear and supplies, Brian names names in terms of the brands he has tested.  He even goes so far to recommend some specific models that he has personally used and tested.   Plus, at the end of each chapter he lists Tips, Do Now items and a Checklist of gear and supplies to add to your shopping list. And finally, at the end of the book, there is a section listing the websites of all of the vendors mentioned – a real timesaver when you want to do your own research.

My favorite chapter was the section on Shelter and Habitat.  His discussion of creating a safe, outdoor shelter suggested some unique approaches to protect yourself when getting out of dodge as was his discussion of basic perimeter security.  Setting up a trip line of bells and cans – now why had I not thought of that?

The Final Word

When Things Go Boom! is great for beginners but even old pros will pick up a tip or two.  If you, or someone you know, is struggling getting started and would like to have everything laid out in a simple and practical check list format, this is a great book to get you going.  I think it would be especially useful for an experienced prepper to read and pass on to someone needing that extra little push toward self-reliance in an emergency.

At $4.99 for Kindle version and $12 for the paperback, the book is priced for just about everyone’s budget.

Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!

Gaye

. . . Your comments welcome here and at The Buzz.

Spotlight Item: When Things Go Boom! Have you ever thought, “I want to get prepared, but I don’t know how to start or what supplies to get”, or even, “I don’t have the time to do all the research, and I wish someone could help me”? If so, then this book is for you.

Bargain Bin: Here is a convenient list of some the books that I personally own and recommended in every Survival Library.

Clara’s Kitchen: Wisdom, Memories, and Recipes from the Great Depression: If you don’t know about Clara, be sure to read Depression Cooking: A Visit to Clara’s Kitchen.

Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: The Discovery That Revolutionizes Home Baking: At an average cost of 50 cents a loaf, this bread is easy, delicious and inexpensive to make.

Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day: 100 New Recipes Featuring Whole Grains, Fruits, Vegetables, and Gluten-Free Ingredients: Ditto.

How to Live on Wheat: Everything you need to know about wheat.

Holding Your Ground: Preparing for Defense if it All Falls Apart: An instructional guide and planning tool that addresses defensive preparation of a location. If the government can no longer protect your home, farm or property, Holding Your Ground will teach you how.

The Prepper’s Pocket Guide: 101 Easy Things You Can Do to Ready Your Home for a Disaster: Written by Bernie Carr at the Apartment Prepper blog, this is highly readable guide to all things preparedness.

2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR and ECC: This is free so you have no excuses. Be sure to download and print out a copy.

How to Grow More Vegetables: Decades before the terms “eco-friendly” and “sustainable growing” entered the vernacular, How to Grow More Vegetables demonstrated that small-scale, high-yield, all-organic gardening methods could yield bountiful crops over multiple growing cycles using minimal resources in a suburban environment. This is the bible.

All New Square Foot Gardening: This book will prove that you can grow a significant bounty in limited space. Just add seeds.

Desk Ref: This hand book includes 1280 pages of tables, maps, formulas, constants and conversions and will serve you will in an off-grid situation.

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When Things Go Boom it is Too Late to Prepare is the latest article from SurvivalWoman at Backdoor Survival.

This week I purchased a dozen additional 6 gallon buckets with gamma seals.  Costco had a special going and although I could of used Rubbermaid tubs, I like the convenience of storing my 1 gallon Mylar bags filled with food in these easy to use buckets.

The other thing I did was to give up my plan to put up a grow camp in my back yard.  Alas, I simply do not have the room plus, with the small amount of sun I get, I believe I will get a greater return on my investment by planting my crops in tubs on my desk and porch.  Plus, of course, my small square foot garden.

But enough about me.  What buzzing around in the prepping and survival world this week?

Local band draws controversy with anti-vaccine song

Last Monday I shared this link on my Facebook page.  In case you missed it, a local Seattle area band has created quite a stir with it’s anti-vaccine song.  According to KOMO News:

A local band’s controversial song is taking the Internet by storm, but the band’s message has some health officials warning listens about the lyrics.  The Refusers make funk rock with a message.  The message is that parents can refuse vaccines for their children. Their title song is a rip on the Hippocratic Oath doctors take to practice medicine ethically, to “first do no harm.”

Just a week after posting their music video to YouTube, the clip has had more than 260,000 hits and the band is trending on social media.  Lead singer Michael Belkin has been warning about vaccines since the 1990s, when he lived through the unthinkable.

“Our first child, (we) took her to her pediatrician and she said, ‘Bring her in for shots,’ and she died after her first vaccine at the age of five weeks. Hepatitis B vaccine, she died within hours,” Belkin said.
Desperate to reach fellow parents, Belkin turned to music.  “I’m not telling parents what to do,” he said. “It’s everyone’s own decision they should make for themselves, but you do have the right to say yes or say no.”

Now what I find interesting about this is that KOMO is actually drawing attention to video and increasing views by including numerous links to YouTube as well as an embedded video.  At the same time the story also quotes local physicians and health officials promoting the use of vaccines. Curious indeed.

Will your computer be shut down in July?

Back in November 2011, the FBI, the NASA-OIG and Estonian police arrested several cyber criminals in “Operation Ghost Click”.  The criminals operated under the company name “Rove Digital”, and these bad guys set up a botnet that points victims to malicious DNS servers.  These malicious DNS servers point to fake sites, give malicious answers, alter user searches, and promote fake and dangerous products. Because every web search starts with DNS, the malware shows users an altered version of the Internet.

On July 9, computers that are infected will no longer have access to the internet.

Want to determine if you are infected, and how you can clean infected machines?  To check if you’re infected, click here (no software is downloaded and it only takes a second).  If you believe you are infected, you will find instructions on how to clean your computer.  I just tested my laptop and came out “green” or clean.

For more information, go to DNS Malware: Is Your Computer Infected at the FBI website.  This is legit.

Hat tip to Andrew – AK4EU for sending me this link.

Here We Go Again – This Time it is Mad Cow Disease

We all remember William Shatner citing Mad Cow disease as the cause of his memory loss on Boston Legal, right?  Well entertainment and humor notwithstanding, Mad Cow Disease is rearing it’s ugly head again.  This time the USDA has confirmed that a case of mad cow disease was found in a California dairy cow.

This is not something to be taken lightly.  You might recall that  Mad cow disease, (bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE),  is the infection that decimated English cattle herds in the 1980s and 1990s, and caused hundreds of deaths in humans from a gruesome and lethal brain disease called Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). Supposedly, the US cattle industry ceased the feeding practices that could lead to a major pandemic of the disease in the US and as far as the beef industry was concerned, the matter was settled.

Well guess what?  There is still a problem, Scotty.  More and more I am beginning to think that a plant bases diet is the way to go. I just ordered a copy John Robbins No Happy Cows: Dispatches from the Frontlines of the Food Revolution as well as Michael Natkin’s Herbivoracious: A Flavor Revolution with 150 Vibrant and Original Vegetarian Recipes.  I still eat a bit of meat but for how long ??

Self Sufficiency Projects

Bernie, the Apartment Prepper, has set up a new page on her site:  Self Sufficiency Projects.  Here is what she has so far:

I’ve learned that being prepared includes learning skills in addition to storing supplies. I found it is fun, and helps you save money at the same time. These projects are easily done in an apartment or small house, at very little cost. Here are a few easy projects that I’ve done:

• Breadmaking
• Make Your Own Cereal
• Yogurt Making
• Make your own Cleaning Supplies
• Basic Shoe Care

Knowing Bernie, she will be adding to this page over time, making it worthy of a bookmark. Oh, and by the way, she started her adventure in bread making with my article Baking bread and why you should do it.

This Week on Wake Up World

My feel-good story for this week comes from Wake Up World: Scientists Prove You Can Think Your Way to Wellness.  I don’t know if this is really true, but being an optimist, I sure want to this so.

Today on Strategic Living

We have a doozy for your this week on Strategic Living.  George and I are both concerned about our future so turning the tables a bit, I ask George some biting questions about social security, the government, the economy. Fukushima and more.

Ponder the answers as we move beyond the collapse in our “Quest for a Future Framework”.

Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!

Gaye

. . . Your comments welcome here and at The Buzz.

From the Bargain Bin: Everyone needs a portable pocket survival kit. Here are links to the items in my own Portable Pocket Survival Kit.

Kershaw OSO Sweet Knife:  This “oh so sweet” knife is solidly built, stainless steel knife that comes razor sharp right out of the package. It will pretty much cut through anything the price is amazing. About $23.

Streamlight Nano Light Keychain LED Flashlight:  extremely small and light weight yet it will throw off a decent amount of super-bright light. At just .36 ounces and 1.47 inches long, the Streamlight Nano Light Keychain Flashlight will take up a minimum of space in your pocket or bag. About $7.

Paracord Survival Bracelet:  Why a Paracord Bracelet? So you always have some of this useful cord on your person!  About $7.

Windstorm Safety Whistle:  This particular whistle can be heard a long distance away and above howling wind and other competing sounds. About $7.0

Swedish Firesteel:  Using this basic pocket fire-starter, you can get a nice fire going under almost any conditions. This is a small, compact version. About $11.

Pepper Spray:  It is always good to have some form of defense that will temporarily halt a bad guy that is in your face. About $7.

Emergency Mylar Thermal Blankets:  These come in compressed packets small enough to fit in a pocket or wallet.  You will be surprised at how warm these will keep you. About $8 for a pack of 10.

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The Sunday Buzz – Volume 10 is the latest article from SurvivalWoman at Backdoor Survival.

Yet from time to time, it feels good to be a social butterfly.  Get me out on the dance floor or at a small gathering and I will bloom and shine.  And so it is.  We as humans crave our privacy while at the same time we long for the intensiveness of a satisfying social experience.

So how do we find the right balance, especially when it comes to living the preparedness lifestyle?  On the one hand we need to feel secure that our “stuff” is safe and that out painstakingly gathered preps will be there for our use when and if we need them.  On the other hand, we need to defend ourselves, our homes and our loved ones from physical harm.  Is this something we can do on our own in isolation or would we be better served with some help?

Whose Your Neighbor?

Over the years, being a good neighbor has become somewhat of a cliché.  A good neighbor watches the house when you are gone, loans you a cup of sugar when you run out and babysits your pooch while you are on vacation.  But cliché or not, a by-product of our modern society is that with improved communications, cell phones, texting, and the internet, people are increasingly interacting primarily with a digital device.  And not only with the next door neighbor but with folks around the world.

Basically, the idea of a neighborhood has expanded and includes anyone and everyone with a common interest and not just someone who happens to live nearby.  The problem with this, though, is that a texting buddy hundreds or even thousands of miles away will not be able to help you out in times of need.  After all, a method for watering your neighbors lawn over the internet has not been invented yet.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

I would like to propose that for the purpose of prepping, we go back to the old-fashioned definition of a neighborhood and a community that is created by pulling together folks in close proximity and with common interests.

Wikipedia has a definition of neighborhoods that I particularly like:

A neighborhood  is a geographically localized community within a larger city, town or suburb. Neighborhoods are often social communities with considerable face-to-face interaction among members. “Researchers have not agreed on an exact definition. Neighborhood is generally defined spatially as a specific geographic area and functionally as a set of social networks. Neighborhoods, then, are the spatial units in which face-to-face social interactions occur – the personal settings and situations where residents seek to realize common values, socialize youth, and maintain effective social control.”

The best of such communities are those where the individuals have taken the time to get to know each other by learning each other’s names, sharing emergency contact numbers and agreeing to look out for each other.  This can be as simple as checking on neighbors after a storm, flood or power outage or as complex as have a well-organized block watch that will descend upon bad guys targeting the the streets after dark.

Okay you say, that sounds good but my neighbor is a beer guzzling jerk and I want nothing to do with him.

Fine.  Like family, you can not always pick your neighbors and again, like family, you may not even like them.  But that does not mean you should not nod a hello from time to time.  After all, this very same neighbor may be the one to call the cops when he sees a prowler or the fire department when he sees unusual smoke coming from your home.  That said, it does not mean that you need to become friends or invite them for dinner.  Just a friendly hello from the front porch or parking lot may be all that it takes to have an extra set of eyes watching your back.

Getting Out into the Community

There are many ways you can involve yourself in your immediate community without giving up too much of your personal privacy or personal security.  (The more people you know, the more people you have watching out for you.)

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Participate in community theatre.  No acting or singing required.  You can work backstage, help build sets, work as an usher, or like Survival Husband and myself, be the featured dancers on stage during the annual musical production.

Beautify your neighborhood.  Where I live, we volunteer to walk an assigned section of the trails system so that we can report hazards, fallen trees and other woes to the trails committee.  We also also routinely pick up trash at a secluded pond frequented by those without regard for the environment.  Many communities have programs where you can get outside, get some exercise, meet people and beautify the neighborhood.

Join CERT.  CERT stands for Community Emergency Response Team. This program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.  For more information, go to the CERT website

Join the Red Cross. Talk about meeting like minded people and doing good as well! The American Red Cross (or the Red Cross in your own country) has tons of opportunities to not only meet people who care about preparedness and self-reliance, but also affords you an opportunity to do some real good helping those suffering following a disaster of crisis.

The Final Word

Being prepared is a lifestyle that involves much more that storing food, preserving water, and learning to use a firearm.  Being prepared means having the tools and the where-with-all to face life and all of its hazards and impediments head-on and without hesitation.

It is my belief that to survive, people have to learn to rely on each other and what better way than to get to know your like-minded neighbors and others in your community?  Working together and planning together you can create a more effective defense in the event of an emergency.  Sometimes, the old saying about strength in numbers really does apply.

Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!

Gaye

. . . Your comments welcome here and at The Buzz.

Bargain Bin: Couple being a good neighbor and with strong primary defenses and you have a winning combination. Here are some items to consider as you build up your fortress.

Uniden Bearcat 200-Channel Portable Scanner: A hand scanner with ham band for less than $100. Very portable.

Two-Way Radios and Scanners For Dummies: Gaye thinks she is a dummy (she is not) but likes the “dummies” books none the less.

Sabre Family Home & Property Protection Pepper Spray:  This small fire extinguisher-style pepper spray delivers a strong blast covering an entire doorway. Offering extremely practical protection, SABRE provides distance from your threat with its 30 foot range.  I like that it includes a wall mount.  About $36.

Security Decals – 4 Pack: Security surveillance camera system warning decals/stickers. Increase security whether you have a system or not -no one will know but you. Less than $10.

Dorcy LED Wireless Motion Sensor Flood Lite: Not a bad deal. Runs for a year on 3 D size batteries. About $20.

Defender Security System with 4 Indoor/Outdoor Night Vision Cameras: This will give you a good start on an exterior video system. Eight cameras are even better but this will certainly be a good start.

Motorola FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radios: There are lots of good uses for the these radios. Handy while hiking, traveling, or simply keeping in touch with your partner while out shopping.

Keypad Deadbolt: Need a good strong lock? With this, you will never have to worry about locking yourself out plus, you can secure the deadbolt from inside the house.

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The Importance of Community and Neighbors to Survival is the latest article from SurvivalWoman at Backdoor Survival.