Thread: BASIC LIST / SUGGESTED ITEMS FOR LONG TERM SURVIVAL

The Daily Reckoning

Surviving a Societal Breakdown

By Bill Bonner



03/16/11 Baltimore, Maryland – “…little electricity or gasoline…” reports an eyewitness from The Washington Post, visiting Sendai, Japan. “Nearly all restaurants and shops are closed…roads blocked…supplies depleted…the devastation is catastrophic.”
“Fuel almost non-existent…survivors will spend a fourth night in near freezing temperatures without food or water…”
We were elaborating on the benefits of having a family stronghold…a retreat…a bolthole somewhere. When the going gets tough, you need a tough place to go to.
Oh yes…dear reader…the world is a dangerous place. Just so far this year, we’ve seen two big blow-ups – one in the Arab countries…the other in Japan.
Neither was expected. What’s next?
Obviously, we don’t know. If it’s a big, nasty surprise, we hope we’re not here in Bethesda, Maryland, when it comes.
Why? Because the supermarkets would be cleaned out in minutes…the gas stations would run dry…and we’d be trapped in a hostile environment. We’re only here temporarily, while our youngest son finishes high school nearby. We have no family. Few friends. And none of the deep roots you need to survive a prolonged period of crisis and breakdown. Here, we are just anonymous passers-by… We would have to depend on the kindness of strangers and the competence of government officials.
What do you need to survive a disaster? First, you need access to water. As we’ve seen in Japan, even the most developed and sophisticated infrastructure in the world can collapse when it is struck by an earthquake and a tsunami. Public water pipes break. It can take weeks or months to replace them – assuming the government and local utilities are still functioning.
That’s why it’s a good idea to have your own private source of water – a spring, a well, a small, clean stream. Failing that, you should have enough water stocked up to last at least a couple weeks.
Then, you need to worry about food. How long could you live on what is in your refrigerator? We could make it for about 24 hours. Then, it would be slim pickings. And what if the supermarket were closed? What if the 7-11 were stripped bare? What if trucks couldn’t make deliveries?
Well, surely the president would call out the National Guard. Yes, if everything is working as it should…and the National Guard doesn’t have more important things to worry about.
Just as a precaution, you should maintain a stock of canned goods and dried food. Enough to last two weeks is the minimum. A month is better. Then, rotate your stock – don’t leave it untouched for so long it goes bad.
Having an inventory of basic foodstuffs and water is essential. It will keep you calm. You won’t be in desperate straits. It will give you time to carefully assess the situation and choose your best option.
Option?
Well, yes. What if the breakdown stays broken down for months? War…hyperinflation…a full collapse of the financial or political system – the crisis could take many months to run its course. In the meantime, supply and distribution systems may be severely or completely interrupted. You need a strategy.
And that’s where the family stronghold comes into play. First, you must be able to get there. When we were confronted with the Y2K crisis more than a decade ago, we lived in Paris. Maybe the French bureaucrats would be able to maintain order…and maybe they wouldn’t. We just kept our tank full of gas, just in case. It only took one tank of gas to get out to our country house. We figured we’d wait for the desperate mobs to leave the streets. Then we’d drive out of the city and make our way to the country. Once there, we had food stockpiled in the pantry and firewood ricked up to the eves in the barn. There were cattle on-the-hoof in the fields and chickens in the henhouse.
Your stronghold should be a place where you can live almost indefinitely – on local resources. It doesn’t mean you have to have everything you need on your own property. But you have what it takes to trade with your friends and neighbors to get what you need. You may have to barter for a cow…or vegetables…with the local farmers, for example. You may have to improvise with tools and machinery. You will almost certainly get your hands dirty. And you should keep on hand some small gold and silver coins. They could be useful.
Of course, your standard of living will surely go down – at least in money terms.

But some people actually yearn for simpler, more “authentic” lives. Some find genuine satisfaction in small community life, with heavy emphasis on self-sufficiency and survival skills. As for us, we’re never happier than when we’re cutting firewood or planting a garden. Keep your laptops and your hard drives. Give us a wrench and a hammer! Dining “al fresco” on “dinde aux groseilles” at a fancy restaurant is fine…but we’re just as happy eating a turkey sandwich outside in the yard.
A breakdown in complex civilization? Bring it on! Well, maybe not…

Regards,
Bill Bonner


http://dailyreckoning.com/surviving-...tal-breakdown/



http://www.alternet.org/food/150428/...es?page=entire

http://stealthsurvival.blogspot.com/

Growing A Backyard Organic Garden Is Good For Your Health

April 4, 2011 by Peggy Layton


One of the best ways to get organic fruits and vegetables is to grow your own backyard garden. It becomes a very personal and sometimes even a spiritual experience.
One of the best ways to stay healthy year round is to eat in the season there of. This simply means that when certain foods are in season, you eat as much of them as you can and preserve the excess by canning, dehydrating and freezing.
Have you ever noticed that you crave seasonal fruits and vegetables? That is because our bodies need the nutrients that we get from the different foods that are grown in those seasons.
If you don’t grow a garden you can shop the local farmers markets and purchase the most organic foods you can find. This is the best way to avoid sprays, chemicals, pesticides, additives and preservatives and you will be able to save money on your food bill each month. Locally grown produce is better for you because it hasn’t been picked while still green and shipped thousands of miles to get to your local supermarket.
Even if you live in the city you can take advantage of the farmers markets and other organic produce when it is in season. Most farmers sell off their abundant harvest at bulk rates. You can bottle or put up the excess food. This will ensure that you will have seasonal foods rear round. This is much more nutritious and it will keep you out of the grocery store and help you avoid impulse buying.
During and after World War II, the concept of the Victory Garden was introduced to the nation. Individual backyard gardeners and farmers produced the same amount of food as did the entire commercial farming industry. It was a great success, and every family that participated felt a sense of accomplishment by doing it.
The economic crisis of 2011 is demanding the return of the backyard gardens as a way to ensure that each and every family is self-sufficient in hard economic times. Saving your own seeds from your personal harvest is a way to lower your cost of living. Eating the food that you have grown is the best nutrition that you can get. (Source: Heirloom-organics.com, Victory Gardens of WW II)
Getting Started Growing A Garden

1. First you prepare a plot of flat ground that gets full sun during the day. Figure out how much growing space you have. Turn the soil over with a shovel and add compost or other organic material. Till it with a hand or motorized tiller to mix it up. Rake it to level it out.
2. Plan out the garden plots and plant accordingly. A garden planned in advance will save you a lot of headaches in the future. Lettuce can be grown in tight quarters, but tomatoes need to be spaced about 2 feet apart. Growing and spacing requirements are provided on seed packets, in catalogs, and on nursery tags.
3. You can grow vegetables in containers or in pots on a patio or porch. Lettuce is a great pot plant. Certain varieties of tomatoes will grow well in a hanging basket. Plants that climb and have vines, such as cucumbers and pole beans, can be trained up a metal fence, chain link or a trellis to take up less room.
4. Grow the vegetables you enjoy eating. Some examples of vegetables to plant are beans, peas, tomatoes, sweet corn, onions, carrots, broccoli, potatoes, zucchini squash, cucumbers, radishes, lettuce, spinach, melons and strawberries.
5. If you are a beginner, you can purchase books on growing vegetables and gardening. Don’t be afraid to try growing something.
6. Herbs such as parsley, thyme, basil, chives and oregano, and any other herbs you like to cook with, can be planted between flower beds.
7. There are two planting seasons. Cool weather, as in the spring, and hot weather, as in the summer and early fall. The most common cool season crops include beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, lettuce, onions, peas, potatoes, radishes, spinach and turnips. Warm season crops include beans, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, melons, peppers, pumpkins, zucchini and other squash and tomatoes.
8. Starting your own seedlings in the spring and transplanting them in the summer is the least expensive way to get plants. However, you can purchase seedlings that are already started at any nursery.
9. If you are going to purchase plants from a nursery, then these are the best ones to get: eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. These plants tend to do better when started in a greenhouse and transplanted in the garden later.
10. The following seeds are best started right in the ground. Beans, beets, carrots, chard, corn, cucumbers, lettuce, melons, peas, pumpkins, zucchini and other squash and turnips.
11. Squash and cucumbers are two of the ones that you can plant as either seeds or seedlings. I have had better results with them by planting the seeds right in the ground. It seems that the plants go into shock and take as long to grow as the seeds do.
12. Seed packets do have a shelf life. Look for the seeds that have been packed for the current year.
13. Purchase seedlings when your soil is ready to plant. Keep them watered and don’t let them sit around for more than a few days. Buy healthy-looking seedlings. They should stand up straight and be stocky, with green and not yellow leaves or any bug damage.

Choose The Best Garden Seeds
Non-hybrid seeds: The best seeds to purchase are the Heirloom open-pollinated type or non-hybrid.Saving seeds is only possible with open-pollinated seeds. These seeds are also calledHeritage seeds. These are the best kind of seeds to buy. You can save the seeds fromyear to year and dry them out, then plant them the next season and they will grow theexact same fruit, vegetable, or grain. Open-pollinated varieties display certain horticulturaltraits, such as: fruit color, leaf shape, flower color, etc. This means they are stable within the variety and seeds saved from these plants will be the same as the parent plant in subsequent plantings. The variety will not be cross-pollinated with any other plants of species.
Hybrid seeds: These seeds have been genetically modified to only produce one crop that is true to form.The following generations of plants cannot be counted on to produce the same variety.The hybrid is definitely cross-pollinated with another similar species that might havea different trait. The offspring will be genetically different than the parent plant. Thescientists that cross-pollinate these plants are trying to come up with a better, more hardyplant, however the seeds can only be used once and that could possibly create a shortage of seeds. If you save the seed and plant them the next season, you might get somestrange fruit that you don’t recognize. Most seeds purchased from a nursery or store is the hybrid type. If you are stocking up on these seeds, you will need to purchase them every year.
The Advantages Of Stockpiling Non-Hybrid Garden Seeds
Better Nutrition: Seed varieties are being bred for many reasons, but typically for disease and pest resistance, their look, transportability and other commercial reasons. Nutritional content is not one of the reasons, but profit is. When you grow open pollinated (non-hybrid) varieties you are growing original strains with much higher nutritional content than varieties that have been bred for color, storability, portability, etc. Growing your own garden ensures that the food you produce is much more nutritious than commercially-grown produce. When food is grown in Mexico or other countries, we do not have any control over how it is grown, what chemicals are used, what fertilizers and minerals are—or are not—in the soil. We also cannot control whether or how much radiation is used to kill the bacteria. The food
is picked before it has ripened and it is shipped hundreds, even thousands of miles before we purchase it. The plants are sprayed to keep them from ripening too fast in transit, then sprayed again to get them to ripen. Have you ever noticed that the vegetables in the grocery store taste blander rather than rich in flavor like their home grown cousins?
Variety: We can participate in saving many original varieties of seeds. Once the food supplyhas been genetically altered to the point that there are no more original strains ofvegetables left, we will be at the mercy of the genetically altered seed companieslike Monsanto. This won’t happen with non-hybrid seeds because we can save many varieties of our own seeds from year to year and we will be in control ofthese seeds.
Self-sufficiency: In hard times, recessions and depressions, FOOD IS SECURITY. You willbe able to take care of your family and even friends if you have the skills to grow food.You will have better health because you will be ensured the highest nutrition available. You can save foods like potatoes, carrots, onions, apples and squash in a cool, dry garage and they will keep all winter as long as it doesn’t freeze.
Shortages of food: If food supplies are challenged and the food cannot be trucked for thousands of miles, home gardening is a way to ensure that your family will have the food to sustain them in a crisis. It can also be looked at as food insurance. The economic crisis facing the United States and the world right now is causing the price of fresh produce to go up. When an economic downturn drives inflation up, the cost of real goods, like groceries, skyrockets. It becomes unmanageable very quickly, with items like a loaf of bread costing 10 times more than normal. It sounds unbelievable but this has actually happened many times throughout history. I have heard a prediction for years that when times get tough and our economy fails, it will take a wheelbarrow full of money to buy one loaf of bread.
Trade or barter: For a self-sufficient person to be truly prepared he must have plenty of non-hybrid seeds available for personal use, storage and bartering. Seeds are an excellent alternative investment to paper money, as well as gold and silver. You can’t eat money or precious metals, which means food is the best investment. Growing your own food is a skill that is invaluable. Organic open-pollinated seeds must be in the hands of the organic backyard farmers. There is a huge movement sweeping the country right now. The small organic farmers are banding together to collect, save, sell or trade their seeds. It is called seed exchange. This movement is preserving the hundreds of heirloom seeds so they are not genetically altered or cross pollinated and lost.
Peggy Layton is the author of seven books on the subject of food storage and preparedness. She and her husband grow a backyard garden every year and live off the land during the growing season.
Peggy bottles and dehydrates excess produce. Peggy and her husband keep winter vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, squash, onions and apples in a root cellar that they built. During the winter, when produce is less plentiful, they grow food in their year-round growing dome greenhouse, and they gather fresh eggs daily from their chickens. Provident living is a way of life in their home.
To purchase a variety of heirloom garden seeds that can be grown from year-to-year with seeds that can be saved, go to my website, www.peggylayton.com, and click on the “Garden Seeds Non-Hybrid” link on the left sidebar.
I have been testing out emergency food storage meals that have a 15-year shelf life. These meals are packaged in Mylar® pouches, serve four people and are ready to just add water and cook. I find them delicious, convenient, and easy. For more information or to order go to www.peggylayton.efoodsglobal.com.
–Peggy Layton

http://www.personalliberty.com/survi...r-your-health/

Best Practices For Long Term Food Storage

Tess Pennington
Ready Nutrition
April 201


Archaic food caches have been found all over the world. The fact that our ancestors planned for the unexpected gives us a clear picture into their unpredictable lifestyle. Foods such as nuts, extra tools and foraging tools were put away for a time when they were needed the most (Source). Of course, the lifetimes of these preps were contingent upon proper storage methods.
These days, we know much more about proper techniques for food packaging. With the proper storage tools a person can store many different types of foods indefinitely. Learning how to store food is cost effective, simple to understand and is a life saver if an emergency arises.
Many preppers like to choose a multi-barrier system to store their food. This barrier system is for long term purposes, and will keep natural elements such as sunlight, moisture and air out of the container when sealed.
Storing Food in Containers
Any food that you plan to store indefinitely, should be stored in food grade containers. These containers will not transfer any non-food chemicals into the food, nor are their any chemicals within the container that are hazardous to humans. Typically a food grade container has a #2 by the recycle symbol or the acronymn ”HDPE” stamp on the bottom (HPDE stands for “high density polyethylene”). Before any food is to be stored, clean the containers with soapy water, rinse and dry thoroughly. 5 gallon plastic containers are the most popular amongst those who store bulk quantities of food.
Additionally, make sure that the lid you purchase for your container is air tight and spill proof. Lids with gaskets and gamma lids are great lids as they do not require a lid opener. They are typically a little more expensive compared to the traditional bucket lid. However, they are easier to open and close, and are worth every penny!
Food Liner
Research has shown that over time, slow amounts of oxygen seep through the walls of plastic containers. Consequently, over time natural elements, and even insects can find a way inside the container. To add additional protection, adding a food liner, such as Mylar bags will ensure that there are multiple barriers for the food to be protected in. Investing in the thickest grade of Mylar would be a good investment for your food storage endeavors. Simply because if properly cared for, mylar bags can last up to 20 years! Additionally, the thicker grade Mylar makes a big difference in the taste of food. The greatest part of investing in these food liners is that because they are so durable they can be reused over and over again.
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.
Oxygen Absorber Packets and Dessicant Packets
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 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. Typically, 2,000 cc’s of oxygen absorbers should be added in one 5 gallon bucket. Oxygen absorbers are not edible, not toxic and does not effect the smell and taste of the product.
Desiccant packets moderate the moisture level when placed in a food container. They do not absorb the moisture. Please note 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. 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.
*Bonus*
To prevent bug infestations, use diatomaceous earth. 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.
The Sealing Process

• Place the Mylar bag into the 5 gallon container.
• Add your oxygen absorbers or desiccant to the bottom of the bag to ensure all sections of the container are protected. Also, remember you will be adding an absorber at the top of the Mylar bag as well.
• Begin pouring contents into the Mylar bag.
• When you have poured the contents into the Mylar bag and have hit the middle section of the being filled, shake the Mylar bag from time to time to make sure the food gets into the crevices of the bag.
• Continue adding food to the mylar bag until you hit your desired amount. I usually stop 3/4 to the top.
• Next, begin folding the Mylar down in order to get trapped air to escape out the gap.
• Once the air is out, begin sealing the Mylar. A person can use a heat clamp or they can seal their Mylar bags with a simple at home iron put on the highest setting. If the home iron method is used, make sure you have a hard surface such as a cutting board or book to iron on and slowly go over the Mylar bag. Note: this method must be done gently and slowly or the Mylar will be damaged. Seal straight across the Mylar bag in a straight line. Leave the last 2-3 inches unsealed in order to push the last remaining air out of the bag.
• Once the trapped air has been pushed out, seal the last 2-3 inches.
• Push the sealed Mylar bag into the container. Optional: Add another oxygen absorber on top of the sealed Mylar bag. Place the lid on the container and make sure the lid is on completely.
• Store in a dark storage area, where temperatures, moisture levels and sunlight do not fluctuate.

Where Do I Purchase These Products?

• The Ready Store – For smaller scale purchases
• Amazon - For smaller scale purchases
• Ropak – For large quantity purchases
• Sorbent Systems – For large quantity purchases
• Call around to different restaurants around your area and see if they have any food grade containers with lids that you can have. Typically, restaurants are happy to give these away as they have no need for these containers after they are used. This could save you a lot of money investing in food grade containers.

Food is an investment into your future and your family’s livelihood. Therefore, you must do all that you can to protect that investment for the long term. Using the multi-barrier system will ensure that the food is stored in optimal conditions and that the contents inside are protected for the long term.
Related Reading:

• Week 19 of 52: Food Storage Tools
• Get Prepped Newsletter: September 9, 2011
• Meet Your Emergency Food’s Worst Enemies
• Food Storage Demystified
• Fox News Demonstration: Long Term Food Storage Basics – How to Pack Rice, Wheat, Beans and Dry Goods

http://readynutrition.com/resources/...rage_03042011/

Personal Preparedness Kit for Kids

We all know that emergencies occur when we least expect them – especially when children are concerned. Teaching them to be prepared for unforeseen events starts at home. And, like school, you have to start with the basics. Putting a few basic emergency items in your child’s book bag will help your child be the most prepared kid in school. And, knowing that your child has his or her basic needs met will calm your concerns while they are away.

Studies have shown, that a child is less fearful of unforeseen circumstances when they know they can handle the situation on their own. Having the right tools at their disposal will significantly reduce their stress levels, while at the same time, give them a bit of comfort during a stressful event. Consequently, your child’s self confidence will increase because he feels entrusted by you with these emergency items.

As long as I have had this blog, I have advocated that each person should have a personal preparedness kit that they carry around with them. I firmly believe children should be taught this as well. Most of these small preparedness items can fit conveniently into a pencil bag, or a small sized bag with a zipper. These items were approved through the school nurse at my children’s school. Before packing up these basic emergency items, check with your child’s principal, school nurse or teacher.

Items May Include:

[ ] Bandages

[ ] First aid ointment

[ ] Chapstick

[ ] Whistle/compass combination

[ ] Pen/tablet

[ ] Light stick or wind up flashlight

[ ] Emergency blanket

[ ] Sanitary bags

[ ] Hand wipes

[ ] Emergency rain poncho

[ ] Energy bar or snack

[ ] Water bottle

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Published by Tess Pennington on March 31st, 2011

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Viking Preparedness

Wilderness Survival, Family Preparedness, Security

http://vikingpreparedness.blogspot.com/

Seed Savers Exchange - Trade, Swap & Sell Seeds for FREE!

http://www.heirloomseedswap.com/

Welcome to HeirloomSeedSwap.com the FREE Seed Exchange for Seed Savers Worldwide. This site is brought to you free of charge, so everybody can afford to share their seeds. We encourage you to trade your seeds, offer them for free, or you can even offer your seeds for sale. These ads are free and we hope to keep them that way. Help us get the word out. Let Everybody know they can swap their seeds here free. And, if you are interested in learning everything about saving seeds you need to read Seed to Seed cover to cover. If you are creative and want to learn how to develop your own vegetable variety, you need a copy of Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties. Who knows, you may develop a variety everybody just has to have and you can name it after your dog, "Fido." Now lets get to SAVING & SHARING our seeds.

Foods In Your Kitchen That Fight Pain

http://www.ivillage.com/natural-pain-re ... 4-06-2011|


Cure a toothache with cloves

Got a toothache and can’t get to the dentist? Gently chewing on a clove can ease tooth pain and gum inflammation for two hours straight, say UCLA researchers. Experts point to a natural compound in cloves called eugenol, a powerful, natural anesthetic. Bonus: Sprinkling a ¼ teaspoon of ground cloves on meals daily may also protect your ticker. Scientists say this simple action helps stabilize blood sugar, plus dampen production of artery-clogging cholesterol in as little as three weeks.

Heal heartburn with cider vinegar

Sip 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar mixed with 8 ounces of water before every meal, and experts say you could shut down painful bouts of heartburn in as little as 24 hours. “Cider vinegar is rich in malic and tartaric acids, powerful digestive aids that speed the breakdown of fats and proteins so your stomach can empty quickly, before food washes up into the esophagus, triggering heartburn pain,â€

Freeze Dried Food Distributor: Six Month Wait Time Amid Extreme Shortages

Author: Mac Slavo- April 5th, 2011
43 Comments

If there was ever a sentiment indicator for economic uncertainty and fear, this would be it.
As of April 2011, major distributors of freeze dried food, namely the Mountain House brand, are indicating that shoppers should expect delays of nearly six months on any orders placed today:

***CURRENT INVENTORY UPDATE AS OF 04/05/11*** All Mountain House & Nitro-Pak food storage #10 cans are in EXTREMELY HIGH DEMAND due to national & world current economic uncertainty and inflation fears. With this increase in demand, our food order processing times have greatly increased also. As Mountain House’s leading distributor, we are receiving HUGE shipments WEEKLY to fill our customer orders, but demand exceeds the available supply. Most Mountain House dealers have been been cut off & receive no food, period. Supplies are VERY SCARCE. Like Disneyland, the line is long but still slowly moving. Please be patient. This is a line you do not want to get out of!
…
All canned food orders and units may take up to 160 days to ship. Thank you for your business!
Source: Nitro-Pak

Other large distributors we contacted indicated similar shipping delays, with many simply marking their freeze dried food inventory as completely “out of stock.”
Mountain House has advised they are expanding their production facilities, but this upgrade will not be completed until the third of fourth quarter of 2011.
When we first covered the shortages of freeze dried food in December of 2010, a spokesperson for Mountain House, the largest freeze dried food manufacturer in the world, indicated that they were estimating the shortage to abate by February or March of 2011. In February, we received an update from Mountain House, which further pushed out the availability date to the Summer of 2011, and feedback from the largest freeze dried food distributors indicated shipping delays of 30 – 60 days. This most recent alert suggests that while freeze dried food manufacturers are working round the clock, demand for emergency supplies continues to sky rocket at an unmanageable pace.
Economic uncertainty, fear of inflation, government policies, natural disasters and the mysteries surrounding the 2012 doomsday date have been cited as the primary reasons for the parabolic spike in demand over the course of the last six months.
Because there will likely be no relief for any of those fears in the near future, we suggest to our readers that demand will continue to increase well into 2012, and question whether the new facilities being built for freeze dried food production will be enough to offset demand. As more people come to the realization that things may not be exactly as they seem, further demand will likely flood the market going forward.
Due to the uncertainty in the freeze dried food market, those concerned with acquiring quality, long-term food storage should consider and act on other options.
As we’ve suggested previously, dehydrated foods and MRE’s (Meals Ready to Eat) are one option that remains available at major emergency food distributors. The other options would be to self-stock and package dry goods, like the 11 Emergency Food items that can last a lifetime, including wheat, rice and beans. Most have a shelf life of 20 – 30 years and provide a well balanced, nutritious diet in the event of an emergency, widespread disaster or protracted crisis.

http://www.shtfplan.com/emergency-pr...tages_04052011

Maple Syrup May Be A Healthy Sugar Alternative

April 5, 2011 by Personal Liberty News Desk

Pure maple syrup contains double the amount of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds than food scientists previously thought, according to researchers at the University of Rhode Island.

Furthermore, they found that the sweet condiment contains phenolics that are beneficial in the management of type 2 diabetes, a discovery that the authors noted came as a stroke of irony.

"I can guarantee you that few, if any, other natural sweeteners have this antioxidant cocktail of beneficial compounds. It has some of the beneficial compounds that are found in berries, some that are found in tea and some that are found in flaxseed," said lead researcher Navindra Seeram.

Foods with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties have been shown to reduce the risk of several illnesses, including cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurological disorders.

A compound dubbed Quebecol — named for the maple-growing province in Canada — was among the new discoveries. Authors noted that the compound is a byproduct of the sap-boiling process required to make maple syrup.

The researchers said the discovery should not prompt anyone to consume mass quantities of the product, but rather it is meant to inform them that the sweetener is a healthier alternative to high fructose corn syrup-based products.

http://www.personalliberty.com/news/...ive-800476704/