BASIC LIST / SUGGESTED ITEMS FOR LONG TERM SURVIVAL

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Survival Situations: Power Outage

By Angela, on February 11th, 2011

Here’s another survival situation that hits close to home: Power Outages. Unless you’ve been able to get your home completely off grid, you’re pretty dependent on power from the local power company to keep your place running. Usually a power outage hits without much warning (except you know it’s snowing or windy or whatever might cause an outage), but sometimes we get warning like with the rolling blackouts recently enacted to conserve power during the severe winter storms.

So here’s the situation with some variations you can apply to your own circumstances: You’re home watching MASH reruns again when the power cuts out. It is winter (or summer for y’all in the hot south) when you most need power to heat (or cool) your home. You now have no power to keep your appliances (freezer, refrigerator, heater, etc.) running.

What if this lasts 8 hours? What about 2 days? What about a week? Are you in trouble yet?


We had a power outage due to some crazy wind storm last Saturday and it was 6+ hours during the day. It’s much nicer to sleep through a power outage! We didn’t want to go out as it was almost dangerous with all the wind (it knocked our swingset over then later flipped it again–not a good day for playing outside). Luckily the power came back on in the evening so we didn’t have to break out the kerosene heater and try to figure out how it works! The kids did pretty well at entertaining themselves building blanket forts in the living room, but I know of at least one friend who fired up her generator and hooked it to the TV so her kids would quit fighting!

So your main issues are heat/cooling, light, cooking food, keeping fridge/freezer food cold, entertainment, and what else?

As a side note, I have since resolved to do a bit better at keeping up with laundry as part of my preparedness efforts–I’d hate to have to start a week of no power with no clean clothes!

So what do you do? What preparations have you made or could you make for a power outage that lasts a day? A week? Longer?

http://foodstorageandsurvival.com/su...-power-outage/

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How Micro Livestock Can Be Used For Suburban and Rural Sustainability

Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
April 2011

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The “back to the land” movement that is sweeping this nation has micro farms popping up on the grid left and right. These micro farmers are trying to get back to the basics and their goal is to live a more simplified lifestyle. They live primarily in a self sufficient manner by growing their own food, caring for smaller plots of land, and raising livestock.

The breeds that are typically chosen for homesteads and micro farms are the “heritage” breeds because they have a better survival rate. However, those homesteaders that live on smaller acreage or in urban settings who cannot provide the larger areas for animals to graze have chosen micro versions of these domesticated animals. These micro breeds are bred to not only produce a good supply of meat, but are also raised based upon their temperament, cost of raising the animal vs. it’s price in meat, and how much land the animal will need to graze.

Advantages of raising micro livestock

• For those of us who are unable to keep up with constant price increases at the grocery store, raising livestock that can provide you with meat, milk, cheese and eggs will help you cut your grocery budget down significantly.
• Raising micro livestock teaches us to be more self reliant.
• Is a good bartering product.
• Smaller species tend to use less of the resources from the land.
• Micro livestock grow faster and reach sexual maturity faster than regular sized livestock.
• Their greatest advantage is their compact size which is a result of living in harsh environments where they had to adapt. Therefore, they are highly adaptive to unconventional environments.
• Some breeds of micro cattle have unusually high tolerances to disease, internal and external parasites.
• Goats need less attention compared to other livestock breeds.
• Breeds such as goats, chickens and ducks startle easily and can alert you to dangers in the area.
• Micro livestock can help do work on the micro farm. They are good foragers, and can clear parts of land that are riddled with roots and weeds, and naturally fertilize the land.

Disadvantages of raising micro livestock

• Depending on the animal, space could be an issue.
• The smaller the animal, the easier the prey.
• Typically, microlivestock have a higher energy level, and may require more food.
• Smaller breeds may not match the overall productivity of the larger breeds.
• Like all livestock, animals can succumb to diseases if proper conditions are not met.
• Some animals do not thrive well in hot conditions so other living areas need to be built.

List of Micro livestock Breeds

• Cattle – Zebu Cattle, Miniature Herefords, Mini Holstein, Red Panda Cow, White Dexter, Lowline, Miniature Longhorns, Miniature Galloways, Jerseys, Ayrshires
• Birds -turkeys, chickens, ducks, pigeons, quail and guinea fowl.
• Goats – Terai, Nigerian dwarf, West African dwarf, Pygmy, Nubian
• Pigs - American Guinea hog, West African dwarf, Chinese dwarf, Criollo
• Rabbits – Cinnamons, Californias, American Chincilla, Creme D’Argents, Blanc D’Hotot, New Zealand, Palomino, Rex, Sables, Satins, Silver fox (Source)
• Guinea Pigs – Long haired, Short hairs, all different color variations
• Miniature Deer – mouse deer, musk deer, blue duiker antelope

What kind of micro livestock do you have on your micro farm?

For more information on starting a homestead with animals, self sustaining micro farms, and micro livestock.

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Meet Your Emergency Foods Worst Enemies

Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
April 2011

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If you plan on packaging your own food for the long term using any of the 11 food items that can last a lifetime, or other dry goods, knowing how to properly store these items will ensure their freshness and extend their lifespan. If improperly stored, spoilage can occur at exactly the moment when you need your larder the most.

There is nothing more disappointing than seeing your food investment ruined by natural elements or bugs. Knowing what your food’s worst enemies are, understanding how they can ruin your food, and how to prevent their havoc will help you preserve your food investment for the long term.

Who Are The Enemies and What Do They Do?

The best course of action to preserve your food storage is using a a multi-barrier system. Using this method protects your food investment by reducing oxidation of foods, bug infestations, and exposure to increase temperature and moisture levels. Protecting your future food supply can be achieved by simply investing in a few extra preventative tools such as Mylar bags, oxygen absorbers, and food grade containers.

Moisture

Foods can become contaminated by moisture through humidity, rain, and standing water. As a result, molds, mildew and microbial infestation can form and rot stored food, thus making it inedible. Since some foods draw in moisture, such as wheat, rice and grains, the best way to avoid moisture from coming in contact with stored food, is to store it properly.

Solution: Those that store food for long term, try to remedy this by using a multi-barrier approach and making sure the the food items are are away from any possible areas that can flood (laundry rooms, bathrooms, near water pipes, etc), and have been properly sealed to avoid moisture. Additionally, storing your food grade buckets or round cans on shelves or stacked on wooden platforms 6 inches off the floor is another method of preventing decontamination of food. Providing ventilation between the stored containers can also assist in preventing increased moisture levels.

Those that live in areas that are prone to high humidity may want to consider adding desiccant packets to their food storage. Desiccant packets only moderate the moisture levels, they do not completely absorb moisture. Being that desiccant is not edible, if the packet somehow breaks open and spills onto the stored food, the entire contents of the container must be thrown away. Desiccant manufactures recommend adding two 1 ounce packets per 5 or 6 gallon pail, or two per large barrier bag. There are certain food items that desiccant should not be added to - specifically: flour, sugar and salt. These items need a certain amount of moisture to stay activated, and if desiccant is added to it, they will turn into a hard brick. Note: make sure the desiccant packet is not touching the oxygen absorber.

Sunlight

When sunlight shines directly onto your food pantry or food storage area, photo-degradation (spoilage) occurs and results in losses of pigments, fats, proteins, and vitamins, as well as surface discoloration.

Solution: Storing food in Mylar bags is an easy solution to remedy this concern. Mylar bags are metallized foil liners that prevent sunlight, moisture and bugs from ruining food. Investing in the thickest grade of Mylar would be a good investment for your food storage endeavors. The thicker Mylar bags are more durable, and can be reused for future uses. Mylar bags come in different sizes and can easily be rotated into your food pantry. For those who are investing in a shorter term food supply, many simply pour the food contents into Mylar bags, add an oxygen absorber and properly seal the bag closed. This will keep a short term food supply fresh over a given period of time.
Other solutions include storing your food items in a dark area not prone to sunlight or temperature fluctuations is the best course of action. If you have to store your food supply in a room with a window, put up curtains or black out material over the window. This is also a good security measure so that others do not see your stored food.

Oxygen

Oxygen is another force to reckon with when food storage is concerned. Overtime, oxygen will break down food, cause discoloration, and create staleness in foods.

Solution: Using oxygen absorbers greatly prolongs the shelf life of stored food. Because it absorbs the oxygen from the container, it inhibits the growth of aerobic pathogens and molds.

Oxygen absorbers come in vacuum sealed packs. They begin working the moment they are exposed to oxygen. Therefore, it is best to work as efficiently as possible. Oxygen absorbers come in different sizes, so pay attention to the size needed for the container. Manufacturers of this product suggest that, 2,000-4,000 cc’s of oxygen absorbers should be added in one #10 can, and roughly 15,000 – 20,000 cc’s for 5 gallon pails. If working with smaller containers such as Bell jars, 50 cc’s of oxygen absorbers should be used. When in doubt on how much oxygen absorbers to use, check with oxygen absorber manufactures. However, it is best to add extra oxygen absorbers rather than not enough. Oxygen absorbers are not edible, not toxic and do not effect the smell and taste of the product.

Temperature Fluctuations

Fluctuations in temperature create an imbalance in the environment that the food is stored in. Ideal temperatures for stored food should be between 65-80 degrees F.

Solution: Typically, people store their food storage in unused closets or areas in the home that do not have large exposure to sunlight. Ideally, the area where the food is stored should have access to air conditioning. Those that do not have extra space in their homes have used their basements, root cellars and have even used temperature controlled storage warehouses. To ensure the area where the food is stored is at adequate temperatures and moisture levels, install an indoor thermometer and humidity gauge.

Bugs

Bug infestations can also occur from improper storage methods. Nearly all foods are susceptible to these pests. Typically the stored food product becomes infested at the warehouse it was processed at. Nearly all dried food products are susceptible to insect infestation, including cereal products (flour, cake mix, cornmeal, rice, spaghetti, crackers, and cookies); seeds such as dried beans and popcorn; nuts; chocolate; raisins and other dried fruits; spices; powdered milk; and cured meats. Insects will chew their way through cardboard, plastic or foil liners, or folds in the packaging system. This is why a multi-barrier approach to food storage is suggested.

Solutions: There are few different ways to prevent bug infestations. Learning the different methods can help you choose which is right for you.

Freezing Method – freeze food that will be stored for 72 hours. Freezing will kill any bug eggs.
Heating Method – Heating the food supplies is another option. Heating the food to be stored at 150 degrees F for 15-20 minutes will kill any bugs or eggs as well.

Organic Option – Diatomaceous earth are the fossilized remains of diatoms. They are organic and are safe to use on food. Use 1 cup to each 25 pounds of food.

Dry Ice Method – This method can be done two different ways. According to the Family Preparedness Handbook by James Talmage Stevens, the proper method for this techniques is:
Basic on-top method:

• On top of almost-full 5 gallon container, place 1/4 lb. dry ice on non-conductive (insulating) material such as Kraft paper
• Press lid down gently so some air can escape
• After 20-30 minutes, check to see if dry ice has completely evaporated.
• If not, wait another 5 minutes, then check again.
• When dry ice has completely evaporated, remove material and seal container.

Basic on-bottom method:

• on bottom of 5-gallon storage container, place 1/4 lb. of dry ice under non-conductive (insulating) material, such as Kraft paper.
• Press lid down gently so some air can escape
• After 20-30 minutes, check to see if dry ice has completely evaporated.
• If not, wait another 5 minutes, then check again.
• When dry ice has completely evaporated, remove material and seal container.

In Conclusion

A little preventative maintenance can go along way in terms of food storage. Understanding the different methods for storing your food supply for short or long term storage will help you get the most out of your food investment.



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Water Testing Kit, WaterSafe

8 Different Water Tests in One Complete, Easy to Use Kit.

Fast, near instant results!

Do you really know what is in your water?

The truth is, most of don't. Now you do your own WATER TESTING right at home simply and easily and GET ON-THE SPOT RESULTS! Despite modern water treatment facilities, water remains an all too common source of illnesses. Maybe your city just had its water tested and it passed. But what if the problem is in the pipes in your home. It wouldn't matter what quality your city water is if your pipes are bad.

Now you can find out for yourself in your own home or apartment.

Now you can test your own water at home quickly and easily. In about 10 minutes, you'll know on-the-spot about the quality of your drinking water.

Watersafe® testing kit IDENTIFIES harmful levels of 8 different common contaminants in water:

Bacteria
Lead
Pesticides
Nitrates
Nitrites
Chlorine
pH level
Water Hardness

Recommended by Health Magazine, Watersafe test kits are accurate, easy-to-use and produce results on the spot. The WaterSafe "one-step test kit" can detect dissolved lead at levels below the EPA Action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb).

Play it safe, don't leave your family's good health to chance--Test it! Also excellent for traveling (several kits can easily be combined to about the size of a mans wallet) or for pre-season testing of your favorite water filter. Made in the USA.

You cannot see, smell, or taste most contaminants, but if they are in your water, the potential danger to your health is staggering. Learn more about Bacteria, Lead, Pesticides, Nitrates and Nitrites, Chlorine, Hardness, and pH level below.

Bacteria
THE MOST LIKELY SOURCE OF ACUTE WATER-BORNE DISEASE - E. coli Bacteria and other potentially dangerous microbes are commonly found in our environment, but they should not be present in our drinking water. Thousands of cases of bacterial illness occur every year, many of them fatal. Many strains of bacteria are not toxic, but some can cause very serious illness. Even mild cases can result in diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Young children and those with weaker immunity are more likely to be affected. Since contaminated water may not taste or smell "bad", most cases of water-borne disease are not likely to be identified as such. The presence of bacteria in drinking water indicates that treatment methods are not working properly and are not adequate to remove all viable microbes. When treatment fails, drinking water may become potentially toxic. Community water systems take steps to disinfect drinking water, but they may not become aware of problems until it's too late. This bacteria was first recognized as a cause of illness in 1982.

Lead
LEAD FROM PIPES CAN LEACH INTO HOUSEHOLD WATER USED FOR DRINKING, COOKING, AND WASHING - Many homes and buildings have pipes and plumbing fixtures that contain lead. Lead can leach from pipes into household water, making this plumbing a major source of water contamination and a potential source of toxic lead poisoning. Lead is so toxic that even very low levels may be dangerous. Lead consumption and poisoning has been linked to many serious illnesses, especially in young children. Lead can harm mental and physical development and may cause brain abnormalities, kidney damage and hypertension. As with other water contaminants, the risk of lead damage are much greater for children than for adults --families should be particularly concerned about the health of the water supply. Consumers should test lead levels at each faucet in the home, especially if the plumbing fixtures could be from the 1980's or older. Lead from pipes can leach into household water used for drinking, cooking and washing.

Pesticides
PESTICIDES ARE COMMONLY FOUND IN DRINKING WATER - Pesticides are deadly chemicals used to eliminate weeds, insects and other harmful elements in crops. Their pervasive use, however, has produced its own harm. Now it is not uncommon to find pesticide contamination in our drinking water. Atrazine and Simazine are two of the pesticides most commonly found to contaminate drinking water. More than 60 million pounds of these two chemicals are introduced into the environment each year as herbicides, and left to potentially leak into the soil, groundwater, and the lakes and rivers that are the sources for the water we drink. They are so toxic that the EPA-mandated maximum level is equivalent to less than one drop in a swimming pool. There are laws that require the regular testing of community water supplies, but they are, in practice, rarely tested. Now, Watersafe® brings laboratory-level accuracy within your reach.

Nitrates and Nitrites
A COMMON YET INCREDIBLY HARMFUL POLLUTANT ESPECIALLY TO CHILDREN AND SMALL ANIMALS - When animal and human wastes or field fertilizers come into contact with water, they show up as nitrates and nitrites. Both are serious contaminants because they affect the very core of human life - birth and the development of young life. In 1992, when the survey was released, some 22,500 infants drinking domestic well water were estimated to be exposed to levels of nitrates exceeding the EPA safe drinking water limits; for community systems, the number was estimated to be 43,500 infants.

Chlorine
DRINKING CHLORINE IN SMALL AMOUNTS MAY NOT HURT YOU, BUT CHLORINE BY-PRODUCTS CAN - The consumption of chlorine in very small amounts most likely will not cause you serious harm. What may be harmful, however, are the by-products, including chloroform, that chlorine produces when mixed with organic matter.

Hardness
WHEN YOU HAVE HARD WATER, IT CAN TAKE TWICE AS MUCH SOAP TO DO YOUR LAUNDRY - Water hardness is primarily caused by calcium and magnesium compounds. These chemicals are not easily detected, but the numerous negative effects can be unpleasant and costly. When you have hard water it can take twice as much soap to do your laundry.

pH Level
KNOWING THE PH LEVEL OF YOUR WATER CAN HELP YOU PREVENT SECONDARY EFFECTS - If the acidity of your water is too high, corrosion can leach out lead from pipes and plumbing as well as damage your water supply system and water heater..

http://www.nitro-pak.com/water-safe-test-kit-complete

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Are You Ready Series: Off Grid Refrigeration

Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
September 2010

Many would not argue that our entire way of life is dependent upon gadgets of convenience. The air conditioner cools off the home, the home’s main water supply is pumped by a fuel source, and our food is kept cool and fresh by the refrigerator in your kitchen. Did you know that your refrigerator consumes on average 8% of your monthly electric bill? If a sudden emergency were to occur, all the food in your refrigerator is spoiled. Some individuals do not see this as a real threat to their well being. However, the threat is real and entirely possible.

In an article at SHTF Plan, a physicist states that a solar flare is a real possibility and could pose a serious threat to our way of life. This type of threat is such a concern that in the physicist’s own words believes, “We’d be thrown back 100 years.”

If we do find ourselves in a sudden long term emergency where the use of electricity is non-existent, what are our options as far as keeping food rerefrigerated? Are you equipped and prepared to live in an environment where there is no electricity? Many off-grid homesteaders have found a few solutions that could help us out of with this predicament and save us on our monthly electric bill.
Off-Grid Solutions for Refrigerating Food

Battery Powered Refrigerators - Many of the refrigerators that operate on 12v or 24v DC battery were designed for those that live on boats or in smaller living quarters such as an RV. The DC motor compressor operates on 12 or 24 VDC. In comparison, the average off-the-shelf refrigerator operates at 250v-300v. However, a drawback to this type of refrigerator is the insulation walls can be quite thin making it inefficient in terms of preserving it’s fuel source. Another drawback is these types of refrigerators are expensive and could be maintenance intensive.
Gas/Propane Refrigerators – A gas or propane refrigerator has no moving parts and use gas or propane as their main energy source. Many boats, RV and off-grid homes use this type of refrigeration method. The average cost for a propane fridge is $800. Many would argue that these types of refrigerators eat through gas, so plan on lots of trips to fill up on fuel. Of course, if you can afford a little extra, there are models that are “multi-fuel” — propane/AC, propane/DC, and propane/AC/DC (which might be the best way to go for “insurance” against possible shortage of one fuel/power supply). Ideally it would be advisable for the homestead using this type of refrigerator to have a natural gas well in order to have a continual free source of fuel.
Solar Powered Refrigerator - These innovative types of refrigerators use evaporation to cool the box off. Another type of solar powered refrigerator works with the help of a solar panel. By creating electricity with the help of the solar panels, it then uses the electricity like a normal plug in refrigerator. Battery free refrigerators such as the SunDanzer DDR165 Battery-Free DC can be hooked right into the solar panel. Many believe that solar refridgerators are expensive, however, old refrigerators can be converted into solar powered refrigerators. An article on Mother Earth News explains it all. Layout Plans for a Solar Powered Ice Maker
Prototypes – The prototype zero-emission fridge doesn’t need gas, propane or kerosene and is powered by regular fire. According to an article on ecogeek, “At that point it begins to grow cold, and it is inserted into an insulated container of some sort of a jug, or even a hole in the ground. It gets colder and colder, bringing the temperature of the container to just above freezing, and keeping it that way for about 24 hours.” It is also fairly affordable to. At $40 per unit you can’t get any better than that!
Ice Houses – This is another alternative refrigeration source. For more information on this refrigeration source, click here.
What Do I Do With My Current Refrigerator?

If a long term emergency occurs and you no more have use for your electrically operated refrigerator, convert it into a solar dehydrator or a solar cooker. It could also be used as a bulk storage container for preparations. This would be a great way to keep bulk preparedness items like wheat out of contact with insects and temperature fluctuations. Additionally, some feel that due to the zero oxygen inside the refrigerators can be used as an anaerobic digester to create bio-fuel.
Whether a person is planning for a hurricane, EMP or TEOTWAWKI, electricity or lack there of, will pose a problem to those that are not prepared. There is a lot of great information out there regarding this topic. Finding which alternative refrigerator source works best for your family, requires some researching on your part. Here are some additional articles that may be helpful:
http://eveningrainfarm.com/2005/08/r...-off-the-grid/
http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/yago102.html
http://www.backwoodssolar.com/catalo...s.htm#SUNFROST

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Are You Ready Series: Using Mental Preparedness to Survive

Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
December 2009

Having the right frame of mind to handle the stresses before and after a disaster is a key component to surviving the event. Mental preparation is usually the last item one prepare’s for. Without mental preparedness for a given situation, many succumb to the traumatic event, due to distress, shock, indecision or panic. When it comes to survival techniques, there are many who feel confidant with their knowledge and skills, but without the will to overcome a given situation, panic will set in and mistakes will be made.

The Mental Game

Fear can strike at the heart of anyone that allows it to, thus causing them unwanted stress and anxiety. Mental preparation for a given situation can create a resilience in them that can keep a person moving on. Maintaining a positive attitude and using seeds of hope in the wake of a disaster, can literally keep a person alive, and keep them putting one foot in front of the other. When a person begins to lose their sense of self, and begin to doubt they will see another tomorrow, they need to cling to their higher hope.

There are many ways of maintaining and keeping the right mind frame. For many, there own stubbornness can see them through the disaster. For others, they will need to use other methods.

• Maintain the will to live, no matter what.
• Adapt to the situation and use ingenuity.
• Be proactive and find anything that can alleviate the situation.
• There is more than one solution to the problem. All one needs to do is to find it.
• Having a goal (survival plan, see loved ones again, revenge).
• Go with the flow. And make the best of it.
• Refusing to give into negative core beliefs (not smart enough, not good enough, unlovable, defective, powerless, not safe, etc).

If a person is in a situation where they feel powerless, there are two scenarios that could play out. They will either imagine themselves as a hero and figuring a way out, or imagine themselves as a victim. When playing stories out in one’s head, the mind does not know if the story is real or not real, it just plays the story out as it unfolds. If a person imagines themselves being decisive and controlling their fears and acting rational, then the mind will only know to act this way in the future. If the person imagines themselves hiding and afraid, then they will train their mind to act in this manner.

These fears can break a person’s resolve, thus causing indecision. In the popular series, Band of Brothers a young leader for the soldiers suddenly freezes up when he is confronted with enemy combatants. He cannot face the situation he is in and cannot make a rational decision, all the while leaving his young soldiers in a vulnerable and precarious position. Failing to anticipate the stresses that a person may be under and not preparing for them can cause panic, indecision and possibly death.

Focus on What Can Be Controlled

Focusing on things way beyond one’s control is allowing negative core beliefs to come into the mind. Finding ways to stay busy and focused on the task at hand can help a person get the right frame of mind back. For example, if a person found themselves alone in the wilderness and are beginning to feel helpless, they could regain some confidence by physically putting out their items in their 72 hour bag to see if there are enough survival items there to keep them alive. Additionally, the person would be able to create a decisive plan with these survival items. The survival plan is the goal, and the seed of hope that will get the person out of danger and on their journey back to their family.
Reactions to Survival
For many, the immense amount of disruption from a disaster situation will create trauma and distress for them. Some go into shock and do not know how to deal and interact with their environment. The acknowledgment of fear can create emotions that many disaster victims are subjected to. Emotions such as fear, disbelief, disorientation, and difficulty making decisions. In a survival situation, a person feels these emotions for a reason, and those emotions are there to keep the person alive. Remember that using these feelings to a person’s advantage is making good use of the situation as well as the energy that those emotion’s are exerting.

Using our Emotions to our Advantage

Stress, fear and anxiety are all associated as negative and destructive emotions. However, these could make a person more alert of the situation, stimulate and motivate a person to perform at their very best levels. The emotions will not only to take advantage of a person’s strengths, but to work on one’s weaknesses and the face their fears. Using these emotions as an advantage requires great concentration and control, because too much of these stresses can cause distress and even paralyzing fear. A person must confront and manage these emotions head on in order to keep up their momentum and to not go into panic mode.

In Les Stroud’s book, Survive! Essential Skills And Tactics To Get You Out Of Anywhere – Alive, Stroud advises anyone in a disaster situation to stay focused on how a person can improve their situation in order to find the strength to go on. Stroud goes on to say that “Finding ways to relieve fear through knowledge by assessing the situation and environment, and understanding the specifics of the emergency, a person should be able to begin formulating a decisive plan of action.”

Nature can be a cruel and unforgiving place to be in when a person is facing it on their own. Depression and loneliness can set in and the act of giving up hope only approaches that much faster. The focus shifts from surviving and maintaining health in order to get out alive, to being convinced there is no way out. There is always a way out. There are always a multitude of solutions that someone can find. Focusing on what is important in a person’s lives and clinging to that thought with all of their might will help lead them out of danger.

http://readynutrition.com/resources/...vive_27122009/

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Are You Ready Series: Emergency Evacuations

Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
December 2009

Some disasters cause evacuation orders for people to leave their homes and communities. For some, a state of panic will set in due to lack of preparedness. The amount of time a person leaves their home solely depends on how prepared they are and if an initial plan was set. Having a predetermined plan in place a head of time will save time, money, energy and sometimes a life.

According to FEMA, evacuations are more common than many realize.

Hundreds of times each year, transportation and industrial accidents release harmful substances, forcing thousands of people to leave their homes. Fires and floods cause evacuations even more frequently. Almost every year, people along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts evacuate in the face of approaching hurricanes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLtrn...layer_embedded


A decisive plan of action should take into account the pros and cons of any given situation. Be objective. The main priorities to keep in mind are shelter, fire, and water/food. Always have Plan A, B and C. And stay focused at the task at hand. Evacuating due to an unforeseen emergency has two parts:
Evacuating from a home due to a fire or flood - If a home evacuation is in order, there is little time to collect belongings. Some experts say a person has 10 minutes or less to collect needed items. Prepare a list a head of time of the items that would need to be taken such as photo albums, identification (birth certificates, social security cards, financial documents, wills/deeds, and medical insurance information), proof of address, as well as items for a 72 hour bag. Dividing the duties between family members will make this situation more efficient as well as make better use of time.

Household Emergency Evacuation Plan

• Draw a blue print of the home and then draw an evacuation route and a meeting place.
• Make one drawing for each story of the home. Keep this in a area of the home where members of the family can see and review often.
• If the home is more than one story, have an emergency ladder or rope to use as a secondary evacuation method.
• Have maps ready for the closest evacuation centers, main and alternative route for leaving the city in North, South, East and West directions. Driving the routes a head of time can determine the best ways of arriving at the determined location.
• Meet up spots outside the affected areas if a family is separated and not traveling together.
• Designate person outside of the area as a primary contact for the family.
• If there is time, shut off main gas valves to the home.

Source – www.nationalterroralert.com

Evacuating a community – Community evacuations normally provide a person with more time to prepare their homes and collect belongings, but this is not always the case. The faster a person begins traveling to their destination the better chance of dodging traffic and any unnecessary stressful situations. If a person can evacuate before a mandatory evacuation has been announced, the better off they will be.

Community Evacuation Plan

• Plan the evacuation - Have maps on hand with the planned route already made.
• Have a Plan B – In the event that certain roads are closed, have an alternate evacuation route.
• Have a place to meet - If a family is not all together when an evacuation is ordered, having a predetermined meeting place will allow the members to reunite and travel to their primary location. Make sure each of the family members knows the meet up spot.
• Choose a location to stay – When evacuations are ordered, some go to hotels to wait the disaster out, some flee to family or friend’s homes that are outside the affected area. Where ever that location is, make sure that if need be, staying there for a longer amount of time is alright. If a person goes to a hotel, bring extra money in case staying there longer is needed.

Source – www.nationalterroralert.com

Considerations When Evacuating

• Is there reliable form of transportation?
• Are there properly mapped out routes?
• What is the emergency evacuation procedures for children’s schools? Will they be taken someone else? Can you get them?
• Is there a full tank of gas (and extra gas if needed)?
• If there are possible dangers or bad weather elements, can a person stay safe and protected?
• Is there an alternate route or escape route?
• Leave early enough to avoid any traffic.
• Follow recommended evacuation routes.
• If possible, try and stay off of main highways feeding into the city.

If a person or family has no means of transportation and realize that walking is the only option:

• What is the route that will be taken?
• What is the distance walked each day?
• Where will each person sleep?
• Does the person have a method of signaling in case of emergency?
• Does the person walking realize that extra food and water will be needed to compensate for the extra needed energy from walking?
• Is the person properly dressed for this type of traveling?
• If the person follows the main highway system out of town, there could be a lot of trouble that could occur. Can the person defend themselves?
• Does the person have an escape route?

Evacuating With Pets

The Humane Society encourages all pet owners to take their pets along when a evacuation is ordered. According to the Humane Society, “many pets who are turned loose or left behind to fend for themselves are likely to become victims of starvation, predators, contaminated food or water, accidents or exposure to elements.” Many evacuation shelters do not accept pets, so plan accordingly. Preparing a three day or 72 hour kit pet kit will keep the pets as safe as possible.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMEGf2Ja7uc&feature=player_embedded

Evacuating a home or community is a stressful situation for many who are unprepared for this possibility. Following the correct protocals by having a family emergency plan, a decided meeting place, pre-established traveling routes and maps can help alleviate this tension high situation.

Related Articles:
Are You Ready Series: Emergency Medical Supply
Are You Ready Series: Emergency Water Supply
Are You Ready Series: Emergency Clothing

Are You Ready Series: Essential Footwear
Are You Ready Series: 72 Hour Kits

http://readynutrition.com/resources/...ions_16122009/

Hurricane Katrina Animal Rescue http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAQwZIGB ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAQwZIGBor4&feature=related

In memory of those left to die http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCjm8WHN ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCjm8WHNkt4&feature=related

Plan for your pets and take them with you

Extreme Dog Backpack so they can carry their own food / water / supplys

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http://common2.csnimages.com/lf/1/ha...-and-Black.jpg

Features:

Dog tripper
Available in Green, Orange and Red colors
Travel packs that pets can wear
Two zippered storage pouches that are connected by an adjustable center strip
Rugged travel pack for pets on the go
Adjusts to balance load and padded for comfort
Leash ring, top handle, and reflective strips
Available in Large and Medium sizes

Measure Dog to Find the Perfect Fit

Measurement Instructions:
Length (L) = Measurement from Neck to Tail
Girth/Chest (G) = Measurement around the broadest part of the chest
Neck (N) = Measurement around the Neck

Recommended Sizing by Breed:

Medium: Basset Hound, Bulldog, Keeshond, Norwegian Elkhound, Dalmatian

Large: Afghan, Doberman, German Shepherd, Irish Setter, Rottweiler, Collie

or here http://www.petsbycsn.com/Dog-Packs-C441 ... +backpacks

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"End Of The World" Inflation: 47% In Six Months

Submitted by Tyler Durden
04/11/2011 22:22 -0400
266 comments

Back in October, Zero Hedge discussed a Costco offer http://www.zerohedge.com/article/costco ... g-business for Shelf-Reliance THRIVE's one year's supply of dehydrated, freeze dried food, better known as "apocalypse rations." Six months ago a one year's supply of food for one person which included 5,011 total servings (84 #10 cans) could be purchased for $799.99 (the link for the offering is here, or rather was, here). A series of events made us encounter a comparable THRIVE offering at Costco. To our amazement in six months, the real price inflation in apocalypse rations, when factoring proportioning, is almost 50%! While the original set that was presented back in October is no longer available, what Costco does offer is a Shelf Reliance THRIVE 6 month supply supply for the price of $579.99: this represents the pinnacle of that ultimate in inflation disguising techniques: cutting the price by X while cutting the amount offered by Y>>>X. Indeed, to last a person a full year, one would need to be two of the 6 month supplies for a price of $579.99 or $1,159.98. And even that has to be indexed: the current set has 2,470 total servings, whereas the previous offer had 5,011, or 203% more. In other words, to index for the proper serving ratio the final price is actually $1,176.65. We can only hope that there are those who purchased this product when we first presented it (and don't worry, with a 25 year shelf life, it lasts a looooong time) and saved themselves the 47% inflation in 6 months! And then there are non THRIVE product offerings, such as the one below for 2 people for 3 months for $999.99 (and includes its own 55 gallon water storage set), which represents price inflation well over 100% for those who need a little extra caloric kick (and, naturally, post-apocalypse social status with the neighbors). Something tells us in another 6 months, the Costco price today will be just as lamented as the price from 6 months ago currently is.

Then (link): http://www.zerohedge.com/article/costco ... g-business

http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/defau...%20Rations.jpg

And now:

http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/defau...%20April_0.jpg

And for those for whom greeting apocalypse in style means price is no object...

http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/defau...%20April_1.jpg

A description of the "cost-effective" apocalypse ration:

Shelf Reliance is known for providing unsurpassed quality in all of its products, and their line of food storage is no different. THRIVE Food Storage is a premium name you can trust. Every THRIVE product has been carefully selected based on taste and quality, and we are confident that you will look forward to using THRIVE in your everyday meal planning and emergency food storage.

This THRIVE Package was built to provide a 6 month supply of food for 1 person. This package offers a variety of grains, vegetables, and protein-rich foods, along with comforting goodies like chocolate milk, fudge brownies, and strawberries. Adding this package of 54 cans to your long-term storage will provide extra flavor, nutrition, and energy when you need it most.
For questions or additional information please email costcosupport@shelfreliance.com. Please include your the item number and description that corresponds with your question.

• Shipment arrives in 9 separate boxes
• 2,470 total servings
• Freeze-dried products have up to 25 year shelf life if unopened
• Dehydrated products have up to 20 year shelf life if unopened
• TVP products have up to a 10 year shelf life if unopened
• Shelf life varies per can/product (see individual cans for optimum shelf life suggestions)
• All items are suitable for vegetarian diets
• Wheat can be easily milled into flour, and non-milled kernels can be cooked to make a variety of recipes
• Easy rehydration instructions, useful tips, and recipes on each can

This THRIVE 6 Month Food Supply contains 54 #10 (gallon size) cans. See below for specific package contents.

• 2 cans of Instant White Rice (48 servings per can)
• 6 cans of Hard White Winter Wheat (44 servings per can)
• 2 cans of Elbow Macaroni (25 servings per can)
• 2 cans of 6 Grain Pancake Mix (46 servings per can)
• 2 cans of Cornmeal (46 servings per can)
• 4 cans of Freeze Dried Potato Dices (41 servings per can)
• 2 cans of Freeze Dried Sweet Corn (46 servings per can)
• 2 cans of Freeze Dried Green Peas (41 servings per can)
• 2 cans of Freeze Dried Green Beans (50 servings per can)
• 2 cans of Freeze Dried Broccoli (52 servings per can)
• 2 cans of Freeze Dried Mushroom Pieces (47 servings per can)
• 1 can of Freeze Dried Spinach (41 servings per can)
• 3 cans of Freeze Dried Strawberries (45 servings per can)
• 1 can of Carrot Dices (49 servings per can)
• 1 can of Mixed Bell Peppers (42 servings per can)
• 3 cans of Non-fat Powdered Milk (43 servings per can)
• 2 cans of Chocolate Drink Mix (48 servings per can)
• 2 cans of Bacon TVP (47 servings per can)
• 2 cans of Beef TVP (44 servings per can)
• 2 cans of Chicken TVP (45 servings per can)
• 2 cans of Taco TVP (42 servings per can)
• 1 can of Pinto Beans (49 servings per can)
• 1 can of Lentils (51 servings per can)
• 1 can of Black Beans (49 servings per can)
• 1 can of Kidney Beans (44 servings per can)
• 1 can of Lima Beans (49 servings per can)
• 2 cans of Fudge Brownies (75 servings per can)

http://www.zerohedge.com/article/end-wo ... six-months

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AirborneSapper7

Plan for your pets and take them with you

Extreme Dog Backpack so they can carry their own food / water / supplys http://www.petsbycsn.com/Doggles-BPEX-0 ... 1.html?cv=

http://common2.csnimages.com/lf/1/ha...-and-Black.jpg

Features:

• Dog tripper
• Available in Green, Orange and Red colors
• Travel packs that pets can wear
• Two zippered storage pouches that are connected by an adjustable center strip
• Rugged travel pack for pets on the go
• Adjusts to balance load and padded for comfort
• Leash ring, top handle, and reflective strips
• Available in Large and Medium sizes

Measure Dog to Find the Perfect Fit

Measurement Instructions:
• Length (L) = Measurement from Neck to Tail
• Girth/Chest (G) = Measurement around the broadest part of the chest
• Neck (N) = Measurement around the Neck

Recommended Sizing by Breed:
• Medium: Basset Hound, Bulldog, Keeshond, Norwegian Elkhound, Dalmatian

• Large: Afghan, Doberman, German Shepherd, Irish Setter, Rottweiler, Collie

or here http://www.petsbycsn.com/Dog-Packs-C441 ... +backpacks

or here http://www.thedogoutdoors.com/ezydog-ba ... -dogs.html

or here http://wolfpacks.com/

---

I like this idea :)

Dr. Newport's effective work on memory loss and Alzheimer's with coconut oil- Part II

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOrDIixb ... 4B11E5C8F2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOrDIixbGMs&list=PL8AB3004B11E5C8F2

Quick Release Dog Backpack http://www.petsolutions.com/storefront/ ... gBackpacks

Pooch Pack- Back Pack http://www.dogids.com/pooch-pack.html

More at this link http://www.nextag.com/pet-backpack/products-html

Understanding Your Acid-Alkaline Balance

March 12, 2010
by Dr. Michael Cutler

As newborn babies, we are full of alkaline reserves and our metabolism moves smoothly and cleanly. When we die, we rapidly turn to acid waste. Alkalinity is health, longevity, and quality of life. Acidity, in simple terms, and in the minds of natural health practitioners, means sickness and death. When I see a patient with chronic symptoms of arthritis, diabetes, emphysema, arteriosclerosis, or cancer, I know their tissues and metabolism are running acidic. Regardless of the particular symptoms, all of these conditions originate with an increase in the amount of acid in the body tissues, which translates into impaired cellular metabolism, enzyme function, and energy production within the cells.
Tissue acidity has a long list of harmful effects upon the body if not neutralized or eliminated. For example, the body’s ability to absorb minerals and other nutrients decreases significantly in acid conditions. Additionally, the enzymatic processes that control the repair mechanisms for damaged DNAand other critical structures become weakened. And the liver cannot detoxify heavy metals from the body when an acid pH predominates. Clearly, cancer cells proliferate wildly in acid conditions. Acid tissue pH causes fatigue that leads to depression and stress.
What is pH?
The pH or “potential of Hydrogen” is a measure of the relative acidity or alkalinity of a solution. Because it usually takes a full hour lecture to explain pH in detail, I will first give the technical overview of pH and then follow with a simple explanation of it. The pH of a solution is expressed as a “negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution.” In other words, in a solution with a pH of 7.0 (such as pure distilled water) there are 10 billion hydrogen ions per cubic decimeter. More simply put, the term pH is a symbol for the amount of acidity or alkalinity of a solution. A pH of 7.0 is a perfectly neutral pH; from 0 to 7.0 indicates acidity; and from 7.0 to 14.0 indicates alkalinity. Another way to think of it is that fluids become more acidic the farther below 7.0 they become (like stomach acid at approximately the pH of 2.0) and more alkaline the farther above 7.0 they become. And just for clarity, here are some pH values for various items before they enter the body:

• orange juice is 3.0
• tomato juice is 4.0
• milk is 6.8
• neutral is 7.0
• baking soda is 9.0
• milk of magnesia is 10.7
• household bleach is 12.5

Physiologic pH
There have literally been volumes written about the pH of the body. The physiologic pH is the acidalkaline level of any given area of the body that allows for optimal function. For example, the blood of a healthy human is at physiologic pH (optimum) which is 7.36 to 7.40. Yet the urine has its physiologic pH ranging between 6.0 and 6.4 when it is dumping acid and at 6.8 to 7.0 when the body is happily alkaline and there is little acid to dump. Saliva is another measurable fluid “compartment” of the body that reflects the lymphatic system and ranges from 6.4 to 7.2 optimally, depending on what else is going on in the body (illness, stress, dehydration, etc.).
The human body is constantly struggling to maintain a healthy alkaline pH level. Why? Since the natural metabolic byproduct of cellular energy production and utilization of nutrients within the cells is generally acid as will be explained, there must be sufficient buffering (neutralizing) effects to keep from moving toward more and more acid.
The Typical American Diet
Many people are not successful and live every day in an acid state. When our digestive system metabolizes foods, acids are produced. The body has natural ways of eliminating excess acid including the lungs, kidneys, intestinal tract, and skin. These systems can become overworked if you consume too many acid-producing foods. If this excess acid is not counteracted by consuming the right amounts of alkaline foods, the excess acid becomes overwhelming for your body to handle naturally and you may begin to experience headaches, illness, colds, allergies, viruses, and diseases. All this dysfunction in the body is the sign that the body is trying to balance the sensitive pH level inside itself.
How Do You Know if You’re Acidic?
You can get a useful trend of your acid-alkaline balance by using pH test strips or litmus paper which you can purchase at most pharmacies. In clinical practice, patients use litmus paper to periodically test their own saliva or urine. Over time, their pH values tend to be more alkaline (toward optimum) as they overcome disease and institute alkaline lifestyle habits.
Does it really correlate with health and is it really useful? This question is often asked by the patient or doctor unfamiliar with the concept of tissue acidity. In fact, you will find that this concept has no meaning to a physician trained only in conventional medicine. But for those skilled in natural therapy and who address the underlying cause of disease, body pH is definitely important.
If you’re like most people who regularly eat animal meats, fried foods, processed foods, refined sugars, pasteurized dairy products, or other acid-producing foods, then most likely you’re acidic. The list below of alkaline-forming and acid-forming foods is revealing— especially if you realize your foods are mostly from the acid forming category.

Acid-Forming Foods:

Alcohol beverages Barley Breads and cakes Canned fruits and veggies Cereals (dried) Chocolate Cigarettes Coffee Cooked grains (except millet and quinoa) Corn, dried Cornstarch Dairy products Drugs Eggs Foods cooked with oils Fruits, especially glazed or sulfured Ketchup Legumes and lentils Meat: Fish, foul, shellfish Mustard Nuts, seeds, beans Oatmeal

Pasta (refined grains) Pepper, black Popcorn Processed foods Sal Crackers Soft drinks Soy beans, fresh Soy products (refined soy, not miso, tempeh, tofu, edamame) Sugar, white and processed Sweeteners, artificial (Splenda, Equal,Aspartame, etc.) Tea, black and green Tomatoes Vegetables, overcooked Vinegar, distilled Vitamin C (synthetic in pills) Wheat Also remember that stress, anger, discontent, and any other negative emotions contribute to acid-formation in body tissues.

Testing Your pH
If you choose to test saliva, wait two hours after eating. Spit into a spoon and dip a pH test strip in your saliva. Read the results immediately by matching the color of the pH strip to the color chart for the correct indication of your pH level. An optimal reading is 7.2 which reflects that you have effectively alkalinized your tissues.
When testing urine use any void other than the first one in the morning. Fill a small cup with urine and dip the pH strip in the urine. Read the results immediately by matching the color of the pH strip to the color chart for the correct indication of your pH level. A reading of 6.4 to 6.8 is a favorable reading; more acidic (in the 5.5 to 6.4 range) usually means you are dumping excessive acids but that your kidneys are working hard to do so. Above 7.0 for urine could either mean that you are well alkalinized or that you have stirred some ammonia to help fight an infection of some sort. Urine pH fluctuates more with your diet and daily activities.
If your test results are acidic, then consider what you could do for yourself by increasing your intake of alkaline foods while reducing the acid foods you eat. You may also wish to supplement with alkalinized buffering minerals, such as Ultimate pH Balance™. Ultimate pH Balance™ is a tasteless supplement that you can add to your water (4 drops per 8 oz. of water) to increase the alkalinity of your drinking water which is carried throughout the body.
You really are not the same person that you were last year. The body replaces the lining of the stomach about every five days, the skin in about a month, the liver about every six weeks, and the red blood cells circulate for about 120 days before being replaced by new cells. The new body that you are building today is affected predominately by the foods you eat. And if you eat predominately acidic forming foods, the long-term acidic environment at the cellular level that is created will have a real and damaging effect. If cells cannot function properly, your body cannot function properly. On the other hand, a healthy alkaline diet creates an environment that is conducive to cellular health.
Alkaline Foods and How to Get Started
When discussing foods, you must understand that there is a huge difference between “acidic foods” and “acid-forming foods.” A good example is citrus fruits, which are truly acidic foods because they contain citric acid—until they enter the body. So just because lemons are acidic, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy them! In fact, a few drops of lemon juice in your water can be a “pHenomenal” alkaline booster.
How does it work? During the process of digestion, foods change their chemistry. Energy is derived from foods by oxidation similar to the burning of fuel in a stove. And as in a stove, there is always an ash or residue. The residue that occurs in the human body as a result of the burning of foods is termed as “ash” and has a definite chemical reaction. Some foods leave an “acid ash” and are therefore known as “acid-forming foods.”
Other foods leave an “alkaline ash” and are therefore known as “alkaline-forming foods.” To clarify this point, please remember that the acid and alkaline reaction described above occurs AFTER digestion and assimilation, and these terms do not indicate the chemistry of the foods BEFORE digestion. Therefore, do not assume that all acid foods are acid forming, and vice versa.
After reading the extensive food list earlier you might ask, “So what is a person to do—to eat only alkaline-forming foods, and eliminate all the acid forming foods altogether?” No, you can eat tomatoes and acid-forming fruits and vegetables as long as you balance them with other foods. You don’t have to give up your favorite foods to get your body in a healthy balance.
It turns out that our goal is to find an “alkaline balance,” which can be accomplished by eating predominately alkaline foods along with minimal acidic foods. This, of course, takes some serious consideration of how to prepare foods, how to shop, how to combine foods to achieve this alkaline balance, and how to keep from getting “alkaline burnout.” This term alkaline burnout refers to the enthusiastic beginner who starts eating vegetarian only to become disillusioned when former food cravings come back with a vengeance.

Alkaline-Forming Foods:
All fresh and raw fruits, vegetables, and sprouts Alfalfa sprouts Apple cider vinegar Apples Apricots Avocados Bananas Barley Beans, green Beets and greens Berries Blackberries Broccoli Brussels sprouts Cabbage Cantaloupe Carrots Cauliflower Celery Cherries Collard greens Cucumbers Dates Dulse Figs Fresh corn Fresh, raw juice Goat whey Grapefruits Grapes Herbal teas Honey, raw Kale Kelp Leaf lettuce	Leeche nuts Lemons Lima beans Limes Mangos Maple syrup Melons Millet* Molasses* Mushrooms Mustard greens Okra Onions Oranges Parsley Parsnips Peaches Pears Peas, green Peppers Pineapple Plums and prunes Potatoes* Quinoa* Radishes Raisins Raspberries Raw, cold-pressed organic olive and flax seed oils Rhubarb Sauerkraut Spinach Squash Turnip Greens Watercress Yams
Remember that feelings of appreciation, happiness, and peace are alkaline-forming for the body. *When doing an internal cleanse, these foods will significantly slow the cleanse process. Also note: All foods become acidic when sugar is added.

The 80/20 Rule
As mentioned, most chronic diseases and many aches and pains are associated with acidosis. A good rule to follow is the 80/20 rule, where you eat 80% alkaline forming foods and 20% acid-forming foods. The easier way is to read over the list but don’t memorize or follow it in detail. Because what do you notice about the list? Can you see some patterns?
The Simple Pattern to Follow
Notice that in the acidic foods list you find nearly all meats, processed foods, refined flours, pasteurized dairy, extracted oils, cooked grains, chemicalized beverages, vegetables, and fruits that have been altered in some way (except a few), sweets, and drugs. Also note that whenever we cook, boil, process, freeze, or otherwise alter foods they become acid-forming in the body. The main exceptions to foods on the acid forming list not being a “whole food” are certain nuts, seeds, and starchy vegetables. This is why when you look over the alkaline foods list you will recognize foods that are high in fiber, enzymes, micronutrients, minerals, vitamins, and otherwise “live foods.”
Now it becomes easier to remember to eat 80% or more from the “live foods” list (alkaline-forming foods) and less than 20% from the dead (acid-forming foods).
Fast Foods and the Acid/Alkaline Balance
Of course, it’s best to avoid fast food altogether, but sometimes it is not possible. We get busy and end up on the run, trying to find some health options at the drive through. Well, if you balance some acid-forming foods with alkaline-forming foods and remember to balance all those later during the day with whole, natural foods, then it won’t be that bad.
You can even look for options such as a grilled chicken salad instead of the fried chicken sandwich, or just grab a vegetarian wrap instead of a burger. Most fast food chains these days offer smaller portions and healthier sides such as salads or fruit cups. Just watch out for added sugar and fats in the dressings.
For example, if you eat acids foods like:

• Burritos
• Hot dogs
• Chicken nuggets
• Hamburgers
• Tacos
• Biscuits

Then balance it with alkaline foods like:

• Baked potato
• Green/chef salad
• Hash browns

And instead of the sugar-loaded soft drink or sweet tea, ask for water with lemon, which will turn into an alkaline booster once in your system!

http://www.personalliberty.com/healt...aline-balance/

The Three Causes Of Pain, Illness And Disease

April 12, 2011 by
Dr. Mark Wiley

Pain affects everyone, but in most cases it needn’t be a chronic health issue. Pain is not a disease; it is a symptom. Pain is not the problem; it is an indication that a problem exists.

The secret of alleviating pain and poor health is to understand where it begins. The basis of “The Wiley Method” (the self-directed wellness model I pioneered), is grounded in techniques of uncovering these “beginnings” and developing a protocol for relieving the acute health issue. You can then make changes in your lifestyle that make it better and create balance to prevent it from returning.
Regardless of your diagnosis, only three things cause pain, poor health and disease: Excesses, stagnations and deficiencies. To understand what is meant by these terms, let us first consider homeostasis—the body’s natural state of balance.

The Baseline of Health
Homeostasis is the body’s baseline of health and wellbeing. It is the state where we feel good, not too stressed, tired or excited. You are in a state where your digestion is working properly, your body is absorbing proper amounts of nutrients and oxygen and is expelling toxins through the skin, lungs and intestines. Our sleep and wake cycle is set, we work and exercise, we have a balanced social, work and family life. Life is good. But life often gets in the way and we don’t feel as good anymore.

Poor health, pain and disease are all felt in the body when it becomes off balance. It is no longer functioning at homeostasis. This happens when we experience excess (e.g., too much alcohol or sweets), a deficiency (e.g., not enough sleep or iron in the blood) or a stagnation (e.g., muscle spasm or constipation).

People suffer needlessly every day because they and their healthcare practitioners operate from a disease-based model of health. Mr. Smith, you have migraine headaches, so we will treat the pain of these headaches in this way. This approach does not work, obviously, because millions of people still suffer from migraines!

I propose that we view poor health, pain and disease as examples of being out of balance. We must seek to uncover what causes the imbalance, and this can only be the result of an excess, deficiency or stagnation. My wellness model of health corrects these imbalances and the ailment is eradicated by returning the body to homeostasis—its natural state of balance!


Here is a chart with some of this outlined for you.

http://plimages.blob.core.windows.ne...omeostasis.jpg

Restoring Balance is the Key
One of the most common areas of poor health is rooted in how we deal with pain, illness and disease. When we don’t feel well or balanced, we tend to reach for various pills and liquids. The short-term use of such things is fine for quick relief, but long-term use allows the underlying cause or imbalance to continue, thus leading to chronic problems. Taking excessive quantities of painkillers, muscle relaxants and prescription medications of all kinds—even in low doses—causes problems.

It would be a mistake to assume that only one of these three causes is the root of any health condition. In fact, it is usually a combination of the three that makes a simple problem become chronic and seem incurable. The first “cause” of an issue could be singular (i.e., an excess), but when not approached with the wellness model of health (i.e., restoring balance), it becomes multi-faceted.

The way to rid oneself of a health problem is to consider it from my three-part perspective. If you can categorize where you are in excess you can then make changes toward decrease and balance. If you are able to list areas of deficiency you can then take steps to improve them. Where you find stagnations you can look for ways to “move them along.”

Returning the body to homeostasis can be difficult and challenging. You may have been polluting your body with toxins in foods, beverages and air and aggravating it with stress, tension, poor sleep and bad lifestyle choices for quite some time.

In order to re-establish homeostasis—natural wellness balance—the many toxins and stressors that tax the body must be removed or, in the case of psychosomatic triggers, dealt with in new ways. This includes reducing food triggers, correcting musculoskeletal triggers, regulating biological functions, reducing the effects of stress and anxiety, keeping the body in a perpetual state of proper hydration and engaging in regular exercise.

The Wiley Method entails lifestyle changes. But such changes are the only way to correct imbalances and remain in an optimal state of health.

I would like to help you along this journey and invite you to learn more about self-directed wellness. I wrote a 17-page report called, The 3 Secrets of Living Your Optimal Health that I would love for you to have. Simply visit my website www.DrMarkWiley.com, fill out the ‘sign-up’ box on the top right and then a PDF of this important wellness information will be delivered right to your inbox.

——Dr. Mark Wiley

http://www.personalliberty.com/alter...s-and-disease/

Scientists Discover Additional Benefits Of Vitamin A

http://pictures.directnews.co.uk/liv...000322_300.jpg

April 13, 2011
by Personal Liberty News Desk

Vitamin A may play a key role in sperm production, central nervous system development and a host of other functions, according to recent research that was conducted at the Van Andel Research Institute in Michigan.

A team of scientists discovered that the nutrient stimulates a nuclear receptor in the body which activates genes to carry out essential bodily functions.

"Because [the nuclear receptor] TR4 plays roles in sperm cell production, lipid and lipoprotein regulation, the development of the central nervous system and the regulation of hemoglobin production in the embryo, we can imagine that Vitamin A may play more important roles in human physiology than was previously believed," said lead researcher Edward Zhou, Ph.D.

Authors of the study said its findings may lead to more effective therapies for various diseases.

The National Institutes of Health reports that chicken and beef liver, carrots, cooked spinach, kale and cantaloupe all contain more than a day's worth of vitamin A per serving. The nutrient has been shown to promote healthy eyes, bones and skin. It may also strengthen an individual's immune system to help them avoid disease.

http://www.personalliberty.com/conserva ... =238434262

http://readynutrition.com/images/RN2_logo.png

Whats Lurking In Your Canned Goods?

Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
April 2011 http://readynutrition.com/wp-content...n1-226x300.jpg

According to consumer reports, canned goods may contain harmful chemicals that could cause adverse health issues such as reproductive abnormalities and heightened risk of breast and prostate cancers, diabetes, and heart disease. Sources say the harmful chemical is in the lining of the can and contains an industrial chemical called Bisphenol A, also known as BPA.

Reports from the FDA indicate that BPA has been present in hard plastic bottles, canned foods and canned sodas since the 1960′s. Some organic labels of canned foods are also guilty of containing traces of BPA. The FDA is aware of this concern, and are currently debating whether or not this is safe for our food supply. An organization dedicated to BPA suggest that there is no known risk from human consumption. Simply put, any harmful effects that may occur from BPA are seen later in life, so it is hard to say if this chemical poses harmful effects. However, with the vast increase in cancers, many wonder if it is something in our food supply that’s the culprit. There is also some debate regarding whether BPA leaches out of plastics (especially from heat exposure) and how much BPA is considered too much.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Fp1YRENsSw&feature=player_embedded


So What is a Safe Level of BPA?

An FDA report suggest that a safe exposure of BPA is 50 micrograms per kilogram of body weight. However, any testing that has been done for BPA has been done on rodents, not humans. Tests have concluded that when BPA is in the bloodstream, it tends to mimic estrogen. For girls, this means earlier puberty, and for boys this can lead to infertility problems. According to a test conducted by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) who targeted and tested the BPA lining in canned goods and drink cans, the tests found:

• Of all foods tested, chicken soup, infant formula, and ravioli had BPA levels of the highest concern. Just one to three servings of foods with these concentrations could expose a woman or child to BPA at levels that causes serious adverse effects in animal tests.
• For 1 in 10 cans of all food tested, and 1 in 3 cans of infant formula, a single serving contained enough BPA to expose a woman or infant to BPA levels more than 200 times the government’s traditional safe level of exposure for industrial chemicals. The government typically mandates a 1,000-3,000-fold margin of safety between human exposures and levels found to harm lab animals, but these servings contained levels of BPA less than 5 times lower than doses that harmed lab animals.

Common sense tells us that the best way to prevent exposure to BPA is to limit or stear clear from canned goods, foods in hard plastics and canned sodas. Eating fresh foods, or frozen foods would be a healthier approach. This is easier said than done considering most of our food comes pre-packaged in cans or plastic containers. Perhaps now would be a good time to consider growing a vegetable garden.
It must be stated that the FDA is supporting reasonable steps to reduce human exposure to BPA, including actions by industry and recommendations to consumers on food preparation. At this time, the FDA is not recommending that families change the use of infant formula or foods as the benefit of a stable source of good nutrition outweighs the potential risk of BPA exposure. it’s nice to see the FDA looking out for our best interests.
Related Reading:

• Home Canning Makes A Comeback
• Fox News Demonstration: Long Term Food Storage Basics – How to Pack Rice, Wheat, Beans and Dry Goods
• Proof It Can Be Done: A Micro Farm in the Suburbs
• Vitamin D: The Secret Weapon in Fighting Influenza.
• Food Storage: Getting Started

http://readynutrition.com/resources/...oods_13042011/

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Honey May Be Effective Alternative Medicine For Infection

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April 15, 2011
by Personal Liberty News Desk

A type of honey from New Zealand has been shown to reduce bacterial infection in wounds and also prevent antibiotic resistance, according to researchers at the University of Wales Institute Cardiff.

Manuka honey is produced by bees that collect nectar from the manuka tree. The sweet stuff is already used in some healing products, and scientists now believe that its antimicrobial properties may even be effective enough to act as alternative or complementary medicine to antibiotics.

"We need innovative and effective ways of controlling wound infections that are unlikely to contribute to increased antimicrobial resistance. We have already demonstrated that manuka honey is not likely to select for honey-resistant bacteria," said lead author Rose Cooper.

The scientists discovered that topical application of the honey helped prevent bacteria from sticking to a wound and also prevented a biofilm that protects the infection from treatment. Additionally, the substance appeared to weaken the superbug bacteria that causes the MSRA infection and is resistant to most antibiotics.

Authors are hopeful that the findings may lead to inexpensive, natural antibiotic therapies.

Website TrueHealth.org has reported that honey has long been used as a household remedy for wounds, burns and sore throats, as well as a gentle facial cleanser due to its antibacterial properties.

http://www.personalliberty.com/news/hon ... 04_15_PLA_[P11509803]&rrid=238434262

An Apple A Day May Keep Cholesterol Away

April 15, 2011 by Personal Liberty News Desk


http://pictures.directnews.co.uk/liv...0_2035_300.jpgIn a randomized trial of 160 post-menopausal women, it was found that regular consumption of apples lowered unhealthy LDL cholesterol, raised beneficial HDL cholesterol and diminished the presence of inflammatory and damaging compounds, according to Florida State University researchers.

Every day for a year, half of the women ate 75 grams of dried apples and the remainder consumed the same amount of prunes. Their blood was tested at three intervals over the trial period.

The women who ate apples experienced an average 23 percent decrease in LDL cholesterol after six months, and raised beneficial lipids by 4 percent. They also had lower levels of cell-damaging lipid hydroperoxide and inflammatory proteins, compared to the participants who ate prunes.

Moreover, despite the 240 calories that the apples added to the women's daily intake, they saw an average weight loss of 3.3 percent.

"Reducing body weight is an added benefit to daily apple intake," said study author Bahram H. Arjmandi, Ph.D., R.D.

The researchers noted that the pectin and fiber found in apples may help consumers feel satiated.

http://www.personalliberty.com/news/...2011_04_15_PLA_

Omega-3s Lower LDL Cholesterol Levels

April 12, 2011
by Bob Livingston

Since your body can’t produce essential omega-3 fatty acids on its own, you need to consume a diet rich in these nutrients that help reduce inflammation, boost circulation and lower bad LDL cholesterol levels. Foods rich in these fatty acids include salmon, mackerel, tuna, walnuts, flaxseeds, olive oil, kidney beans and winter squash. As an added bonus, salmon is also rich in the mineral selenium and several B vitamins.

http://www.personalliberty.com/healt...sterol-levels/

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How to Make Your Own Herbal Teas

by M.D. Creekmore on April 15, 2011

Making your own herbal teas is very easy, exciting, and rewarding. You may choose to grow your own herbs or you may buy them. Herbs cans be very beneficial to your health but before taking herbs in any way, you should do some research on them and talk to your doctor. When you get the okay, you can make a number of different herbal teas–each with its own special tastes and benefit.

Supplies Needed for Making Tea

Once you have made the decision to make your own herbal teas at home, you will need a few basic supplies. There are many different ways to make your own herbal tea. You can buy empty tea bags to fill with your own herbs or you can use a tea ball. You also buy a teapot that is designed for making tea with loose herbs.

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile tea has been proven to help provide relief from certain digestive problems, it is also known for its ability to help you sleep. It is safe for adults and children, alike. To make a relaxing cup of chamomile tea you will need to steep two teaspoons of dried chamomile flowers in eight ounces of boiling water for 15 to 20 minutes.

Feverfew Tea

Feverfew has many medicinal proposes. It is best known for its ability to provide relief from migraine headaches. It can also help to regulate and ease menstrual symptoms, reduce fevers, and provide relief from the pain and inflammation of arthritis. To make feverfew tea you will need to steep one teaspoon of dried feverfew in boiling water for at least 10 minutes. Feverfew can be a little bitter, so you may use a little honey or lemon to improve the flavor. Feverfew should not be taken by children or pregnant women.

Lavender Tea

Lavender has many benefits. It has been known to help aid a person with emotional disorders, such as anxiety, stress, and depression. It is also believed to help treat insomnia and increase your appetite. To make lavender tea, you need to steep one teaspoon of dried lavender in one cup of boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes.

Peppermint Tea

Peppermint is a very calming herb for stomach problems. It can help relieve the pain associated with nausea, gas, or motion sickness. It can also help relieve many symptoms of the common cold, such as cough and congestion. To make peppermint tea, you will need to steep one teaspoon of fresh peppermint in boiling water for 15 to 20 minutes. Peppermint can also be combined with other herbs to create a unique flavor combination.

Eucalyptus Tea

Eucalyptus tea can help to clear your nasal passages, calm your cough, and help reduce fevers. To make your own eucalyptus tea, your will need one teaspoon of dried eucalyptus leaf and one cup of boiling water. Place the eucalyptus in a cup and pour boiling water over it. Let it steep for ten minutes. Drink this tea every night before bed to reduce snoring and get a good night’s sleep.

Orange Ginger Tea

Ginger is known to provide relief from stomach ailments such as nausea, morning sickness, and motion sickness. Oranges are full of vitamins and are very good to keep your skin healthy. To make orange ginger tea, you will need two tablespoons of minced fresh ginger and four orange slices. Place ginger and orange slices in a glass teapot and pour two to three cups of boiling water over them. Let the mixture steep for at least five minutes. Strain before serving.


If you enjoyed this article, you might also like...

1. How to Make Your Own Herbal Teas
2. How To Make And Use Herb Preparations
3. Simple Directions For Using Herbs
4. How to make pinto bean pie
5. How To Make Your Own Home Brew

http://www.thesurvivalistblog.net/ho...n-herbal-teas/

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We address these challenges by employing a Multi-Hazard Engineering methodology in our design and planning stages that not only recognizes individual hazards/threats sequentially, but also address all hazards/threats simultaneously as a problem of optimization under constraints. A Hardened Structures facility can be designed to protected against a wide range of threats including:

* WMD's
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* Ground shock
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* Penetration

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Letter Re: Steel Cables as Road Obstacles for Rural Retreats

By James Wesley, Rawles
April 17, 2011 2:38 PM

Hello,
I bought and read your book ("How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It") and have read several sections of your blog, but I'm having a lot of trouble finding an item you mentioned several times - "defensive road cables". I have Googled this exact term and all I get is your article quoted over and over. Can you please send me a link or two or three where I can buy these or other info that will help me find them. Thanks. - M.B.V.

JWR Replies: To block vehicle traffic from roads, I was referring to 1/2" to 5/8" diameter steel cable and cable clamps to fit the same. These are available at any logging or machinery supply company. They are set 18" to 24" above the ground, and locked with large padlocks. If large trees are not already growing in suitable locations for attachment, then you should set stout steel posts in concrete. Used lengths of standard gauge railroad track work well. You can use a cutting torch to punch holes through the thin (side) sections, to thread through the cable. After the cable clamps are positioned and tightened, you should braze or weld a blob on each bolt and nut end, to prevent the nuts from being loosened.

An important proviso: As previously mentioned in my blog and per widely-accepted military doctrine, any obstacle that is not within line of sight (and line of fire) of your retreat's defenders will only serve as a brief delay--not a true obstacle to advance.


http://www.survivalblog.com/2011/04/let ... _road.html

Abatis

Abatis were trees cut to point in the direction of the enemy, with the tips of the trees sharpened into spikes. One or more lines of closely packed abatis could make a tricky and treacherous obstacle. The abatis in front of the fortifications surrounding Petersburg in 1864 represented an intimidating sight for soldiers before they attacked.

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Emergency Prepping For Apartment Dwellers

By James Wesley, Rawles on April 15, 2011 8:29 PM

Preparing for an uncertain future when living in an apartment or a condominium ("condo") can be a struggle. When the Lord has not chosen to give you land to work with, you work with what he has given you, knowing first and foremost that he is your first retreat, and no matter what happens, "All things work together for the Glory of the Lord...". There are many limiting factors when you do not have the smallest amount of land. And if you are reading this, you probably agree that our future has many uncertainties from economic, to natural, to spiritual. I would like to share a bit of my families walk in this world that the Lord has chosen for us.

Our Situation
As a starter, I have been married for 12 years, and have two wonderful children who are not in school yet, although when the time comes, we will likely do home-school. Our finances are poor, weighted down by circumstances beyond our control, and poor spending habits from our youth, so living on a budget is a new thing for us. We have lived in our condo, that is for all intents and purposes, an apartment on the top floor, with neighbors beside and below, for five years. Our condo is in a cold climate, with a very abbreviated growing season, but with much hunting and wilderness close by. Still, as you might expect, the condo is in a small city, about 80,000 population, and not in the best neighbor hood. During our time here, we have learned many lessons, and would like to share those with you.

Setting Goals
Before you start anything, it is wise to have a plan, and a destination. Our goal over this time has been to prepare for any situation that may arise, so that we will be self sufficient for 30 days minimum in our condo, and then have resources to contribute should we be forced to relocate.

Water
The first concern of any prepping situation should always be water. It is the most vital component of any survival situation, second only perhaps to shelter. You can understand the difficulties of storing watering an apartment, but there are some things that can be done. The 5 gallon office jugs that are used in office are great for storing gallons of water, and can easily be stored in a closet. For 30 days and 4 people, it was decided that 30 gallons would have to do. Worthy of note, is that you should still add a cap full of water purifier to this, since it will be stored for a long period of time, and should be rotated about once a year. This provides a gallon a day, and could be supplemented by a nearby creek. This is the next step in our water prep plan, to have a water filter capable of handling raw water to supplement what is on hand. Also an option I have considered, is installing a large water tank in the condo (in a closet or under a cabinet) and have all the water run through it, so if the water goes out, there will still be a large tank of water we could draw from, and it will constantly be rotated and fresh. This will take some investment though, and handyman work, so for now, the 30 gallons and filter plan will have to do.

Food
Food storage is also an issue that has special considerations. Space being the most obvious. For living in an apartment, all the same food rules apply, but I would say that storage is a bit different. Here again, a converted closet fills in as a Larder. When an item is used up in the pantry, it moves in from the Larder, and you go shopping for the larder. But there is a catch for the apartment dweller, so everything is made mobile. Placing everything in 5 gallon buckets, that may or may not be sealed, but this makes them portable in case the need to relocate comes up. Also, there are no 'root cellars' or basements in apartments, and not in our condo. So keeping things cool dry and dark becomes an issue, and the 5 gallon bucks with gamma lids seems to work will, especially with mildew issues, that seem to happen.

Expanding food stores to a year or more is something else that is a important, but as the space is an issue, has to be handle carefully. We decide to diversify our food and store it within our community of friends, so if a retreat is necessary, we will have already been contributing to them, and relocating should be a little easier.

A surprise is that a garden is not out of the question. Although it is small, the association or manager may allow you to put up a small garden were flowers or anything else may grow. We setup a square foot garden behind our unit. Its not private, and pretty open to the neighborhood kids, but it is better then nothing, and also teaches us need to know stuff information for when the Lord decides we may have a home.

Fuel
Fuel is a large concern for apartment dwellers. It is dangerous to store, and very needed when temperatures can reach 20 below zero (Fahrenheit) all winter, and even colder, at times. Not to mention the need to cook, and power for other living needs. Our solution at this time is to make sure we can last for 30 days, and with this in mind, we have gotten a Big Buddy heater. This has the low O2 sensor on it, and in addition, we have a CO2 detector. In our apartment, we have ventilation vents, about 6 inches in diameter that allow fresh air into the house, but I don't think I would rely on these. When push comes to shove, there are also the dryer vent, stove vent and bathroom vent that will allow rotation with outside air. At this time we haven't tested our heating, and possibly cooking means, but with a little piping, a heating system should be available. As for storage, Some of the small enclosed fuel for camp stoves are kept in the house, but the large propane tanks that would be required for the heating are stored outside, at a friends house within walking distance.

Security
Security for some people is large concern. I personally believe it is taken out of proportion to other needs that may exits, that is why I mention it only after 4 other points. That being said, it is a priority, and I do believe that in a worse case scenario, we would be more like New Orleans then Japan. To that end, I do have arms in the form of:

* A semi-automatic rifle with full capacity magazines,
* A hunting rifle,
* A .22 rimfire rifle
* A 12 gauge shotgun

I hope to add a large caliber revolver, later.

Of more import though is the operational security (OPSEC) of keeping what you are doing out of direct light of your neighbors eyes. With an apartment dweller, this is all the more important because of the close proximity of potential threats, especially, if like me, you do not live in the greatest neighborhood. This is best handled in the obvious ways. Keeping things low key, and moving equipment and food in small amounts. [JWR Adds: I advise apartment dwellers to use musical instrument cases when they transport their guns. Used cases can often be found for very modest prices at thrifts stores or via Craigslist. ] As a follower of Christ, it is still important to reach out to your neighbors, and form bonds with them that the gospel may be spread through love, but at the same time, there is no need to broadcast your preparation plans. Here the saying is best applied, loose lips sink ships.

Medical and G.O.O.D. bag
These two I will mention as they are important to any prepper, but only in passing as these do not differ greatly for an apartment dweller then with a home owner. But there are some points that I will bring up that I think should be made.

G.O.O.D. bags are easy enough to put together, and should include a mini set of everything you would normally make for prepping. I include at the end of this a simple list of our bob bags, a starting point that we used. We put these together for less then $150 over the course of two weeks. Special attention was placed on the weight, and should be a special note to an apartment dweller, as if it comes to bugging out, you will have to hike your bag out.

The First Aid kit or Medical Cabinet as I am coming to call it is also a priority, but does not differ greatly for the apartment dweller. There was recently a fantastic post about your first aid kit (What is a Well-Stocked First Aid Kit?, by K.M.), and I will simply reference it here and say that is what we are aiming for. For preparing, there will be a medical cabinet that is currently under construction, a first aide kit for the BOB bags, and a car kit, for any camping or out of the house needs.

Retreat and Community
It is apparent to me, as a condo or apartment dweller, making plans beyond 30 days would be unreasonable, as the logistics and OPSEC become more and more complicated and dangerous with each passing day. The time to move out to a retreat would be highly dependent on the situation. Should there be an event were a break down in society takes place, waiting 30 days may be suicide. But this is very situational, and should be handle as such. I would add to this only that you should not push it, if you wait until the last minute when the decision is obvious, it may be to late.

Now a retreat is not like it sounds to to most, and perhaps I should not call it so, but for the lack of a better word. Here it means going someplace for the long term, a year or more. This could be a friends house, or perhaps a relative, but someplace planed far ahead of time, as dropping in on anyone only adds to your problems, and theirs. This will likely get you turned away, even by the best intentioned people, when it comes to choosing your family or theirs. So Planning ahead is important, probably the most important, and this leads into community.

By connecting with like minded people in your area, you can begin to plan ahead. Finding out what they need, and building relationships that will endure. You can learn skills that will add to the group, buy things to supplement what they have or add to needs that they may have already. This will provide you some place to retreat to. It is highly advisable that you pre-stage food and other things there ahead of time. This proves your commitment to them, and at the same time diversifies your assets, in case of fire or other eventuality, all your resources are not lost with your apartment.

Something else that can be considered in conjunction with the retreat portion is a trailer. Getting a trailer, or a pop-up camper, is a great way to expand your flexibility. You may not be able to keep it in your apartment parking lot, but by setting one up, you add to you storage space, add space to store volatile things best stored outdoors, and also provide a living space in case you are forced out at the apartment.

Don't get down yet, there are some positives for being an Apartment Dweller!

Education-Training
This deserves its own special section. Lets face it, if the SHTF, then apartment dwellers are going to need someplace to go. But this doesn't have to be a bad thing. Everyone can't know everything, and as an apartment dweller, you can make yourself much more valuable to your group by learning and expanding skills that will be needed. In addition to two strong arms and like minded faithful Christian loyalty that any apartment dweller can bring they should also be able to bring other skills, like Sewing, woodworking, cooking with raw ingredients, baking, engine repair, and many others. Personally, I am focusing on butchering, as that is what is needed in my community. So I am gathering those skills, as well as some of the specialized equipment that demands. This coincides with planning ahead for your retreat, so people are not doubling up on skills, and invests you in the group, even if you don't have your own dirt.

Communications
Communication is a point that is often overlooked in prepping. If a community wants to be effective in coming together and working together, then they will have to be able to communicate in a grid down situation. This is actually an asset for the apartment dweller. Communications gear, and ham radio training is relatively cheap, and with little creativity, is easy enough to keep out of sight. For the community, which is likely not in the middle of town, information will become more important then gold. This is were the apartment dweller can and should shine. Just like a scout that feeds information back, the apartment dweller can do the same, and holds a highly valued place in the system in which they support. Countless people have died for lack of good intelligence, and an apartment dweller can give this back to the group like no other.

Conclusion
I often wonder why the Lord keeps me where I am, I have tried to move into a house 5-6 times, and it just was not to be. But that doesn't mean that you shouldn't do your best to prepare. When "you see the red sky in the morning" you should prepare for the storm. And to those who may think that an apartment dweller has nothing to offer, think again, the Lord has placed us all exactly where he wants us. All things work together for the Glory of the Lord and those who serve Him!

As a final point, I have found very little for apartment preppers, so I have started my own little blog. http://www.daoc-links.com/ Please drop by. If I get enough interest, I will keep up with daily posts and tips on prepping while on a budget and living in an apartment.

Appendix--My G.O.O.D. Bags Contents:

Bag X2 Waterproofing Clothes Base layers Fleece pants Fleece shirts Wool socks Hats Gloves Undies Diapers Covers for Diapers Re-usable wipes for diapers Ring Sling Packable rain coats/ pants x4 Gun and ammo Water Food 6-8 Mountain House meals Chocolate Blanket--wool or emergency blanket Fire Matches Magnesium or fire key Fuel, steel wool, fire sticks Propane cook top Camp cooking set Knifes Sharpening stone Leatherman Saw Hand axe Machete Tarp Compass Magnifying glass Mirror whistle Duct tape String & rope & hooks & Carabiners Documents - copies Cash Optics--binoculars Traps--rat traps Emergency radio Batteries Water filter Pencils, paper, books Waterproof cards Survival books Portable med kit Insect repellant Fishing box Sewing box LED Flashlights and headlamps Children's bags - Blanket, bottle of water, food, book, and stuffed animal

http://www.survivalblog.com/2011/04/pre ... eller.html

http://www.survivalblog.com/img/logosm.jpg

A Glossary of Survival and Preparedness Acronyms/Terms

http://www.survivalblog.com/glossary.html#SHTF

http://www.survivalblog.com/img/logosm.jpg

Recommended Retreat Areas

This page is divided into three sections:

Criteria for Choosing a Retreat Locale in the Continental United States (CONUS) http://www.survivalblog.com/retreatareas.html#CONUS

State Level Data and Rankings http://www.survivalblog.com/retreatareas.html#StateData Very special thanks to "Wise Tioga", who out of the goodness of his heart laboriously converted my data on 19 western states into a handy Excel (.xls format) spreadsheet. http://www.survivalblog.com/statedataexcel.xls

Detailed Retreat Locale Data http://www.survivalblog.com/retreatarea ... etreatData

Note: The contents of this web page are brief draft excerpts from the much larger and more detailed hard copy book "Rawles on Retreats and Relocation", available from Cafe Press. http://www.survivalblog.com/writings.html#RoRR

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(Click for high-resolution map) http://www.survivalblog.com/retreatareas.html

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(Click for high-resolution map) http://www.survivalblog.com/retreatareas.html

http://www.survivalblog.com/retreatareas.html

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Outdoor Cooking Tip #1

Friday, April 15, 2011

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Cooking out in the open is a great way to enjoy the outdoors. It is also a wonderful way to prepare your family for emergencies by learning how to cook without electricity. Cooking and eating outdoors does take some knowledge and preparation.

With that in mind, we have a series of five tips that will help make your outdoor cooking experience a good one.

Tip #1: Decide what you will use to prepare your outdoor meal. Will it be a gas powered camping stove, http://beprepared.com/category.asp_Q_c_E_240&sid=ppblog an open fire, charcoal briquettes or some other method? Before you decide how to heat your meal, be sure to check any local restrictions in your camping area. Are open pit fires allowed? If not, you may need to bring a camping stove or some other alternative cooking method.

If open pit fires are allowed and you plan on using one, be sure to only build fires in designated fire pits. If there are no designated fire pits, find an open area away from low hanging branches, miscellaneous groundcover, and dry vegetation. Clear a ten-foot circle around the area where you will build a fire and then create a fire bed or fire pit. Fire beds can be made of rocks, silt, clay, sand or any other non-flammable materials available. A small pit, approximately 4 to 10 inches deep can serve quite well as a fire bed. Surrounding your pit with small rocks and provide an extra layer of protection.

Come back next week for the rest of our outdoor cooking tips that will help you have more fun cooking outdoors this summer.

Posted by Emergency Essentials® at 2:03 PM

http://preparednesspantry.blogspot.com/ ... tip-1.html

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Outdoor Cooking Tip #2

Monday, April 18, 2011

In preparation for warmer weather and all of the great outdoor cooking opportunities, we have five tips to help you stay safe and have a much better experience with outdoor cooking.

Click here for Tip #1. http://preparednesspantry.blogspot.com/ ... tip-1.html

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Tip #2: Set up a cooking fly. An old tarp of heavy fire-resistant blanket strung between two trees, poles, or walking sticks can provide protection from the elements for your cooking area. Always face the fly away from the wind. This will provide maximum protection from unexpected wind, rain, sleet or snow. Be sure to dig your fire pit about ten feet in front of the fly, far enough from the fly that sparks won't harm the fabric, but close enough that you can step beneath when weather is bad.

If you will be using a camp stove, http://beprepared.com/category.asp_Q_c_E_240&sid=ppblog be sure to plan ahead. You will need to pack more fuel than your stove will carry, unless your trip is very short. Be sure to pack flammable fuels in high quality metal containers and always mark them to keep them separate from drinking water and other liquids. Also, be sure that fuel containers http://beprepared.com/product.asp?pn=CK ... sid=ppblog are airtight so that there is no leakage of fuel or fumes. Any leaks might prove disastrous later on. Store extra fuel far away from your cooking area. This will provide extra safety and peace of mind.

You may want to bring a small table or some wooden blocks to put your stove on. Many stoves have their own stands, but others will need to be kept off the ground and away from potentially flammable materials.

When lighting your stove, http://beprepared.com/category.asp_Q_c_E_358&sid=ppblog be sure to follow the manufacturer's recommendations. Never use a stove in or near a tent. http://beprepared.com/category.asp_Q_c_E_230&sid=ppblog Never open fuel containers on or near a hot stove, and never try to refuel a stove that is hot or still burning.

Posted by Emergency Essentials® at 3:37 PM

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Lemon Pepper Salmon & Festive Vegetable Rice

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Apr 12, 2011

Learn how to cook Lemon Pepper Salmon & Festive Vegetable Rice exclusively with your food storage!

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Simple Water Storage Solutions for the Urban Homesteader

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

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The lack of critical resources can create a major problem for you and your family during a crisis. While many people have sufficient food resources, many lack that most vital of resources…water. You’ll need water for hygiene purposes, for cooking and to drink. You will also need a way to filter and purify any water that is used for drinking or cooking.

A good water filtration and purification system is pretty easy to obtain and many are lightweight and portable. The problem arises in how to have sufficient water storage for your family in an urban environment. The trick here is to use a little “stealth” in your prepping.

In a survival situation, those items which can serve a multitude of purposes will often serve you best. It also helps if they don’t draw unwanted attention and are readily available in a crisis. People often don’t think in terms of alternate uses and this can be utilized to your advantage.

Water poses a unique problem in that it is heavy and difficult to store in large quantities for the average urban homesteader. A five gallon jug of water is over forty pounds and can be difficult to carry if you’ve neglected to stay in shape or suffer from a physical impairment that limits your activities. They will also take up a lot of space inside your home. Space you may need for other things. There are a few simple solutions that can be utilized by most anyone to solve these problems. Sometimes you just need to think “outside the box”.


Simple Water Storage Solutions for the Urban Homesteader

1.) Use a small inflatable pool to store additional water outside. The neighbors won’t give it much thought and if needed can furnish your family with a large amount of water in a crisis. Even a small, rigid “kiddie” pool can hold a lot of water for use in a crisis.

2.) Use small water features to store additional water for a variety of purposes during a crisis. A couple of small water fountains on the patio or in your yard can be utilized as a resource to store additional water supplies without being obvious to your neighbors. A small artificial pond could be used to store an even greater quantity of water.

3.) Utilize a rain catchment system to harvest additional water. Even a small 30 gallon garbage container will catch a large amount of rainwater and can be easily hidden from prying eyes by a little “stealth” landscaping.

These are just a few of the ways to increase your water storage in an urban environment. Chances are you can think of many other ways to accomplish your goal of additional water storage for use in a crisis.


Be aware. Be informed. Be prepared.
Riverwalker

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