20 ways to stay cool with out AC

I live in Arizona, and it is HOT! Don't tell me it is a dry heat, and think that it is a comforting statement. It's just hot. It has been 115-118 the last few days and since I suffer from chicken-little syndrome and not a normalcy bias, I have been wondering how I am going to survive when we get hit with an EMP.
Since an EMP will knock out anything electrical- there goes my AC and fans.  I have been reading a bit and have seen a few ideas that I think are worthy to mention.
Water is the main source for most of the ideas, and in a survival situation if water was scarce that could pose a problem. Just keep that in mind....
1. Turn off and unplug devices such as t.v's that are turn on instantly as they can still give off heat when they are turned off but plugged in.
2. A cool rag on your pressure points will help dramatically.
3. Heat resistant/light reflective window coverings. I need to invest in that. Simple blinds are not going to cut it. You need something to keep the sun out.
4. Opening the windows at night, and closing them during the day. This would not apply to me in AZ because it is still 115 degrees at 2 o'clock in the AM.
5. Place fans in the windows to pull the cooler air from outside. (would not work in an EMP)
6. Spray bottle with water. Living with my mother for the first part of my married life I can say this works. I have fond memories of my husband and I spraying each other down because my mom is tight with her money, and would not turn on the AC.
7. Wetting and wringing out the sheets on your bed. You will sleep better.
8. Stay out of the sun. Snooze or just take it easy.
9. If you can hang out inside your house stay as close to naked as you can.
10. If you must go outside then cover up. People around here go everywhere in coochie-cutters, and tank tops. We need to take a hint from the migrant workers, or even those in the Middle East. They cover up with an Indian cotton, or muslin. That is the way to go. Coochie-cutters and a tank top just make you look slutty, they will not keep you cool.
11. Cook outside. Use your rocket stoves, solar ovens, or grills.
12.Use peppermint. There are many options like fresh peppermint in a pitcher water, peppermint soaps, lotions, or mint teas.
13. When you cook outside use spices. Spices make you sweat more.
14. Sit in the shade outside. It may be cooler out there then in your house.
15. I have not tried this one yet, but a cool slice of cucumber in the middle of your forehead is supposed to cool your body quickly. (again during an EMP- you would not have a cold refrigerator)
16. Instead of searching for the cool side of the pillow, get a buckwheat pillow and it will always be cool. The buckwheat absorbs the heat instead of holding it there next to your face.
17. Cool shower, cool bath, running in the hose.
18. Plant some trees
19. Drink plenty of cool water.
20. Wet and wring out towels and hang them in front of open windows. I would do that at night here.

I will miss tampons-hygiene kit

I have been working on a hygiene kit, and I am almost done with it. I will take pictures and post them when I am finished. Since I try and prep for the worst case scenario, hygiene has been a big subject on my mind. What am I going to use if I can not buy toilet paper? Tampons? What if I can not use my toilet? After 'it" hits the fan, the poop keeps coming... so what are we going to do with it? I know after the earth quake in Haiti there was an outbreak of cholera. Staying clean and free of disease is not easy after a catastrophe.
Instead of buying a butt load of tampons, and storing a butt load of tampons I thought a good option would be a diva cup or  moon cup or even a soft cup. If you search for menstrual cups- you will be surprised at how many different types there are. There is always the option of using a natural sea sponge.
The I learned from a friend how bad tampons really are. You might already know this because I am usually the last person to know anything. After I found out about tampons, I asked a few of my friends about them, and they all knew- so this may be snooze-ville to you BUT if you did not know....
tampons contain many things that are bad for your health like dioxins. Tampon makers bleach the tampons and cancer causing dioxins are by-products of the bleach. There is also conflicting information about tampons containing asbestos, but I happen to believe they do. It is said that the reason asbestos is in tampons, is that the asbestos will make you bleed more, and there for you will buy more tampons. After learning the truth about the tobacco industry and the food industry.... asbestos in tampons makes perfect sense to me. This article talks allot about the truth of tampons, and again if you search it you will find so much information.

But really bottom line it just pisses me off. Can I not just have one thing? One thing in this world that will not kill me slowly with cancer of any type?

Unless I grow my veggies and fruits they all come from a whole different country because the United states can not seem to produce anything anymore. The seed is planted and fertilized with night soil, then it is sprayed will all sorts of pesticides, and picked before it is ripe and then flown here. Just to be waxed beyond recognition once it arrives at the store.

My beef and chicken is riddled with hormones. Milk is complete trash and will give my kids boobs by the time they are 9 years old.
My clothing choices are synthetic crap, and all made by a 5 year old in some different country and laced with bed bugs.

The air is toxic.

Fast food is toxic. Even a sit down restaurant is questionable. One of my favorite things in the world was buffalo wings until a few year ago I was studying oils and learned that rancid oils are completely carcinogenic. Guess what they fry the wings in? Yep.

Cell phones, computers, televisions-anything we plug in give off EMF's. You can read about EMF's here

Seriously? What do I have? And now I can't even have the simple sweet pleasure of a tampon! I am so pissed about this. I will be purchasing a menstrual cup, and I will let you know how it goes.

damsel in distress.

Last night I got home at 10:00 PM. I was out for the evening, first at a church activity and then to china-mart. My husband had left the house the same time I did with my kids to go to his brother's house, and help with a computer problem. I got home and the porch light was off and I unloaded my things on the porch. I tried to make some noise like slamming the car doors. This way our loud large dogs will notify my husband someone is outside, and then I will get help with the groceries. :)

But.... my loud dogs never notified. They did not bark at all. I went up to the door and knocked softly so that the dogs would hear, but would not wake my (supposed to be) sleeping kids.

They did not bark when I knocked.  My dogs let me know when my neighbors get home, so I knew something was wrong. I then realized all the lights in the house were on, and I did not leave them on.  My first thought was my family and my dogs are dead inside my house. I fumbled for my keys, and realized I did not have the new key for the new security screen we just got. Not smart.

Then I realized that I did not have the garage door opener. Not smart.

We do not have a cell phone, so I ran next door to use my neighbors phone. I called my brother in law and asked should my husband be home by now? He wasn't sure. "What time did he leave"? He was not sure. So, then after the practical advice from my neighbor to call the police.... I called a friend of mine in the neighborhood that owns lots of guns. She did not answer.

I remembered that I just purchased a axe at china-mart, and it was sitting on my porch in the dark. I ran back home and fumbled for it in the bag, and ripped the cover off. I was about to go through the back yard to the back of the house when I hear my husband call my name. AAHHH!! I could have killed him!!

Turns out the whole clan was in the bathroom. UGH.

I made some very stupid decisions last night like not having my keys- and shopping so late.

I will never forget when I asked my husband if he ever gets freaked out while walking through a parking lot at night. He looked at me and puffed out a "no." As if to say "do you? how silly!"

Men and women might be on the same planet but I think in certain areas we view the world very differently. I want to be able to take care of myself and I do not want to be a damsel in distress.

 I am not some amazon-bush woman who "doesn't need a man."

I need a man, and I love men- especially my husband.

But I want to be able to take care of myself. I have been flirting with the idea of self defence classes, and shooting classes. I have a new found resolve to set the date, and stop saying "I need to do that."

Always being prepared is filling up my car when the tank reaches 1/2 empty instead of coasting to the gas station on fumes, always having all of my keys when I leave the house, having a full car emergency kit, putting my keys and purse and shoes in their designated places so that if i need to GO I am not dead because I couldn't find my keys. Not wearing flip flops all the time, but actual shoes. These are things I need to work on.   

 Why must she be naked? Seriously? Tied up and naked... that is just sad.

 Almost naked.

 Again with the naked?

 She is almost naked. ....but I do like her eyebrows.

How cool is this ninja spike.
I keep focusing on food storage, and that is important but I can not forget the simple truth that I can't eat if I'm dead....and I can't cook for my family if I am dead, and if that happens they will all die with out me.
Self defence and physical strength are an important part of self reliance.
So we better get to working out and learn how to better protect our bodies, or else we will end up naked and tied to a tree waiting for a man to save us, and that is no place I want to be.

Les Stroud

Some of ya's might like Justin Timberlake or maybe Johnny Deep. I will admit they are nice to look at but I would take Les Stroud over those two chumps any day.
And in a survival situation some of ya's might like Bear Grylls.... but I must chime in on the Grylls vs. Stroud controversy.
My opinion: there is no comparison. Les Stroud kicks the trash out of big bear any day of the week. Besides the fact that I heard Bear got caught sleeping in a hotel suite at night when he was supposed to be out "surviving."
If I had a shirt that said "I love Les" I would totally wear it. I just wish I could shrink him and pack him in my bug out bag.
Here are five videos of Les surviving a flood in different scenarios.
A house, a car, and the work place. Les You da' man.
Watch number 1 here
watch number 2 here
watch number 3 here
watch number 4 here
watch number 5 here

Notice the normalcy bias in the woman that Les interviews who luckily survived Katrina. He asks her why she did not leave? She says that no one thought it would be that bad. Officials have warned in the past about bad floods, but it never happened.
Luckily she stayed calm, and stayed safe.
But... do not think like her and all the others. Do not get caught up in the normalcy bias thinking that nothing will happen. There are first times for everything- just like Katrina.

hygiene kits coming soon.

vinyl

I am so excited about this! Big vinyl lettering will make my storage so much easier to read and it is so much cuter then the normal duct tape tag. My friend over at let your heart soar designs made them for me.

more on bug out bags.

I did not used to brag, I was always very humble but after I had my kids... my brain began to crumble.
So... when I think of a good idea- when something comes to mind? I am overcome with boasting, with gloating I'm inclined. 
I am going to gloat- so prepare yourself:

I have been having a hard time with the clothes in my bug out bags and how much room the take up. So I came up with this

You know this thing?

Well I used it on my clothes!!! It will keep them dry and clean until we need it, and it takes up SO much less room! YAY!

In this picture you can see on the left clothes in a Ziploc. Then in the middle is the first thing I sealed. On the right is the second one I sealed, and it is so much less bulky then the middle one because as I was sealing it I was smacking the clothes and pushing down on them.

I would advise doing that or else the clothes are still bulky.

Here the middle one re-sealed. I pushed down on the clothes this time.

Here are the clothes that were furthest to the left now sealed and ready to go. Now if I could just have an emergency to use all of this stuff!

FEMA will NOT help you

This is a good example why we need to do it ourselves. You can not rely on FEMA or anyone else to step in and save you.

Wallow fire

The mountains are burning in my home state and my prayers go out to those who are affected. Some areas are on pre-evacuation alert. Meaning that they could be told at any time to leave their homes, and not know if it will be there when they can finally come back. My heart just sinks to think about that, and I started to ponder about what I would take? And given the stress of the fire, and then the stress of being asked to leave- would I remember all the precious and practical things that one should take if forced to evacuate? Or would I get to where we were staying, only to remember my   great-grandmother's Bible that is tucked up in my closet?
I think I am going to make a list and keep it by my BOB. I am going to write down all of the things that I would like to have if I ever needed to leave and had a few minutes to do it, so I could grab more precious items. My great-grandmother's Bible will be one of those things.
Please pray for those going through this.

water storage

Storing water is so crucial- especially for those of us that live in the flipping desert. My closest water source is about 15 miles away and since I am not used to walking 30 miles a day carrying buckets of water and there are so many different scenarios that would not allow me to leave my house I can not rely on that water. The average recommendation for stored water is one gallon per person per day. This is minimal.

Washing your clothes, drinking, cooking and cleaning takes allot of water. I have been storing water in different containers. Drinking water can be stored in plastic drums (if previously used make sure the drum had edible contents inside- no chemicals), Water bottles even used soda bottles. I also store water that I will not use for drinking in old bleach bottles, and house hold cleaner bottles. I will say this again the water stored in bleach bottles, or house hold cleaning products can nor be used for drinking. I will use them for washing, and cleaning. Make sure you have a thick plastic container when doing this, remember milk jugs can not be used for any type of storage as they will disintegrate.

I call BS

Here is an article about shelf life of condiment debate. I declare shenanigans all over this- here It is. I especially disagree with what they say about mayonnaise- it does not need to be refrigerated. All of these items will last allot longer then this article says. 

The importance of fuel.

After making more rocket stoves I have been thinking about the importance of fuel. It is great to have a year supply of food- but how are we supposed to cook it? Or make a fire to stay warm if we need to? Or see at night?  There are different solutions for all of these issues that I would like to discuss. One option is newspaper fire logs. You can start saving old news papers if you receive it at home, know someone who does and doesn’t keep them, or retrieve old papers out of dumpsters.  When making these I prefer the wet method to the dry method because they stay together better. I want to say they would burn for longer too but you can do which ever method you would like. For the wet method soak the newspaper overnight in water with a squirt of detergent. Take the newspaper out of the water and lay flat (outside will be best) Smack it good with a mallet. It will cause it to be more like paper mache- and it will stick together well.  Roll it up tight on a dowel or boom stick handle squeezing the water out as you go, and keeping the log nice and tight. Slide it off one end of the dowel and let it dry in the sun standing on one end for a day. You should get about 2 to 3 logs out of one paper. The dry method is much easier as it is just rolling up dry newspaper and the securing it in place with string. These can be stored just about anywhere- outside with your regular logs protected under a tarp or in the attic in a garbage bag etc. They will help prolong the life of you wood, as they can help get your wood burning or make a fire all on their own.  If you are thinking “I don’t have any firewood” then I would suggest in getting some. I am not talking about paying 10 dollars a bundle from a gas station- I am talking free wood. Start looking on Craigslist (just don’t pick it up alone- there are some freaks on Craigslist) People are always trying to get rid of wood, and it does not need to be nice logs; Scrap 2x4 will burn just fine. Dryer lint is great to save for starting a fire- and it is free!  Charcoal   (and a charcoal grill) is another thing you can have.  The charcoal will need to be kept dry and can be stored in big buckets, 55 gallon drums or steel trash cans. Look for it on sale, around Holiday’s like the 4^th of July.  A Solar oven is on my wish list, and will be a must when there is no electricity. I spoke to a sister at a Stake Activity who said after a hurricane in Florida there were people who did not have electricity for 6 months!  A solar oven would be crucial. I must give a shout out to the rocket stove. Not only are they light, cheap, and easy to make but are so efficient and can cook a meal on a couple of sticks, which will be important when fuel is in a shortage. If you still want to make one let me know. Kerosene is also a great option and there are different local sources to purchase it. Kerosene needs to be stored in a safety can away from direct sunlight and sources of heat i.e. water heater.  You can purchase the kerosene lanterns for cheap at garage sales or places like craigslist. I got a new one at China-Mart for was a good price. Matches are very important of course! Matches and ammo are two things you can never have enough of!! I would estimate maybe 6-8 matches a day for cooking needs, and you know as soon as you light one the wind kicks up and kills it- so you need a second.  My husband loves his Plumbing torch for a fuel source. He says the tanks last forever, will light a fire quick, and you can store it anywhere (just away from direct heat sources).  Flashlights stored with some extra batteries. You can tape the batteries around the outside of the flashlight so you have them ready to go, and the power will not slowly drain out of them. Also for indoor light at night I like the solar lights that people use to line their walk ways. They can sit out during the day and charge, and then come in at night. I like these because they require no matches to light, and there is no smoke or flame for my kids to burn themselves with.  When we have power outages I always realize how important light really is, and I do not think it was a coincidence that one of the first things the Lord did was separate the light from dark. Candles are another choice. They can be purchased cheap at thrift stores or you can make them yourself. Do I smell an FHE activity?? I am practical and like to use soup cans- but for you crafty ladies there are molds.  There are a lot of ideas on the internet; I have a great way to make them let me know if you are interested. Just remember do not let the paraffin wax boil- it will explode.  Just keep it warm enough so it will pour. Propane is easy to store, and is readily available. I know some sisters that have a propane oven/stove combo.  And most people have propane grills.

Pictured is string turned hearth cooking. If you have a fireplace this would be easy to do, just be careful if you have dogs! 

 A fireplace Rotisserie is a different fireplace option, also a fireplace grill. You can find both of those on the internet.  Dutch oven is a delicious way to cook, and smart too. You can cook Dutch oven style in your fireplace or on an open fire with the right hinge and some cast-iron. Camping is a great time to practice this cooking method.  I would suggest investing in cast-iron cook wear. It is just a smart choice all the way around and retains heat so well that in a worst case you are using less fuel.  Skewer cooking is usually thought if for roasting marshmallows- but can be used for lots of things from hot dogs to small game birds. I have seen long handled roasters with little cages on the end for roasting different things. Those would be nice if you had something more delicate like fish.  A haybox oven is something I would like to make as an activity. Haybox cooking is an old time method and is very efficient in conserving fuel and labor. It is basically a container that is heavily insulated with hay. I have heard of people using feathers, cotton, straw or wool to insulate. After bringing the food to boil (in cast iron- cough) you place it in the haybox to continue cooking. So instead of using fuel to cook the meal entirely you only use the fuel to get the meal to a boiling point, and the haybox does the rest. It is an especially great way to cook soups, chili, beans, and potatoes. There are lots of different options on how to make them, you can search the internet- just make sure whatever you choose will withstand heat. Depending on the situation that you were cooking in this would be safe because you could bring the food inside to finish cooking, and there would be limited amount of smoke for thieves to smell and see. You need to think about the risk of being a smoke signal. In certain situations if the world is really dangerous you do not want to advertise “hey- I have food! I prepared!!”  And smoke will do that. We will have to talk more about that later. Apple box oven or flower pot grills are easy to make and store. Apple boxes are made from heavy duty cardboard boxes and use hot charcoal briquettes for long slow cooking. Flower pot grill is made from a terra cotta flower pot, sand and hot charcoal. More information can be found on the internet. Try this month to cook a different way than usual, and take a second look at your stored fuel to make sure you have enough for a year.

San Fransisco ban on circumcision

What in the hell is happening to our country? San Fransisco has a ban on circumcision on the ballot in November. If this passes having your child circumcised will be a misdemeanor with a punishment of a fine or a year in jail.  Can a parent not choose this for their child? What is next?? Are vaccines going to be mandatory? Will there be a ban on homeschooling? Is spanking going to be outlawed? A year for giving a child a time out? When we give the government control like this- parents loose all ability to raise their own children. This makes me sick to my stomach. Here is a video on the issue.

He thought of everything: food preservation

 I have known for some time that eggs can be stored for up to a year in a cool dark place if you rub warm mineral oil on them and place them narrow tip facing down in an egg carton. Yes a year! Fresh eggs! I know right?! ..... Unless you already knew that and this piece of information is snoozville. I never knew why mineral oil until I read an article that said the mineral oil is imitating a protective covering that the hen puts on the egg when it is popped out How cool is that? As I have been becoming more self reliant I realize that the Lord thought of absolutely everything and He is amazing. I get to have fresh eggs. Real to goodness eggs in my pantry. Isn't it funny the things we store in the fridge that do not need to be? Mayonnaise being one of them. Aw! Eggs- I am so excited.

Back to reality

We just got back from Disney Land, and it is now back to reality. This is my little guy strolling through like he owns the place. I had so much fun, and enjoyed turning off my chicken little brain for a while. But now that I am back- the chicken little hat has gone back on... and I thought this recipe for home made hand sanitizer was cool. You must know I am anti- hand sanitizer but I do think that it in an emergency situation it is useful.
While on this trip I was telling a family member how I feel the sun gets a bad rap- we blame so many things on it, and all it does is give us life and vitamin D. I think sun spots, and skin cancers are caused by toxins in your liver, and not sun exposure.
After I finished my controversial thought I swallowed the last bight of a cupcake I was eating (and it was hard to swallow.)  What in the heck am I doing?? I need to be practicing what I preach, and I am not. I always get annoyed when people tell me (in regards to their food storage) "it is there if I need it"
Seriously?? That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard- and here I am basically doing the same thing. Prepping can help in lots of situations like a job loss or a death or sickness or divorce OR an EMP or a earthquake... there are lots of possibilities. And since I prep for the worst case I will have no electricity, and will be number 2-ing it in a 5 gallon bucket with a toilet seat lid attached. I will be grinding all of my wheat I will be cooking in a solar oven, and on a rocket stove. I will be gardening, and I will be using more physical energy and exertion.
I need to practice these things more. Do you?  NASA is predicting a sunburst in 2012 which will cause an EMP. This is NASA- not some crazy guy on the street corner wearing a sign strapped to him. If something were to happen could you take care of and feed your family for 6 months? 3 months? How about 2 weeks??
If we have practiced, and we can handle the physical requirements of a disaster, if we are familiar with our food storage and we know how to prepare/cook it, and we like the food and will even eat it -we will be so much better off as we try and handle the emotional and spiritual side of a disaster. I am from Oklahoma and saw a family that lost two of their little boys in the recent tornado. They have to pick up all the psychical pieces of their homes, and all the earthly possessions but also the loss of two precious children. My prayers are with them. I think resolutions are stupid. I am setting a goal to be better. Not wimping out and using my electric grinder when I should use the hand crank. Not feeding my kids macaroni and cheese because I know it wont be a fight at the table like rice and beans will. Not sitting on the couch when I could be working out. And definitely not preaching about toxins when I am eating a cupcake. I do think there is time for a cupcake, but I take that time way too much- and I am going to stop that too. There are my goals. What are yours?

I stand with Israel

I knew this was coming, but can't believe it just the same. The president does not speak for me- I stand with Israel and I know the Lord does too. Luckily for me I have a Bible, and I know how this trip ends. As long as our courage does not fail and we stand in holy places I know we will be fine, gather the necessities for your family and stay close to the Lord. We are heading toward rocky waters, but if we choose the right in all things we will return to our Father in Heaven after a long and rewarding life clean and pure. Go here to see Obama's speech.

Being cheap is greener then being green... i need to make a shirt that says that.

I hate the term "green." What is the opposite from green on the color wheel? Red? I'm Red. I don't believe in global warming or any of that crap and will stop using paper towels when Al Gore travels on South West Airlines. But I do like saving money, and after doing more laundry with my fabulous made it myself detergent, I went to unload my dishwasher. Yuck. Soap residue all over everything, and I know that those detergents are totally toxic and carcinogenic (you can hear my mother in law roll her eyes... NOW!...love you Janice)
So- I found these two recipes, and I wanted to slap my mama' they are so easy. I am excited to try them.


1 cup Washing soda
1 cup Borax
½ cup salt
½ cup citric acid
Mix together and store tightly covered in a Mason Jar. Use one tablespoon per load. Add vinegar to the rinse dispenser for the best results.



1 Tablespoon Borax
1 Tablespoon baking soda

Mix the Borax and baking soda together. Then, add to your dishwasher's detergent compartment, and run as usual.

black beans and rice

Black Beans and Rice

INGREDIENTS:

4 teaspoons olive oil
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 onion, finely chopped
5-6 cloves garlic, finely minced
2 (16-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
3/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

4-5 cups hot, cooked brown rice (I usually use white)

DIRECTIONS:

In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add bell pepper, onion and garlic and sauté, stirring often, for about 15 minutes, until all the veggies are tender. Stir in beans, tomatoes, chicken broth, thyme, bay leaf, oregano and water; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and the vegetables are tender, about 45 minutes.  Stir in the fresh cilantro and season with salt and pepper. Serve over the hot rice.
**if you could not get to a store or grow your own peppers/onions- you can buy freeze dried, and store those.

I made it myself!

I have been wanting to make some laundry soap for some time now, but just never set some time aside to do it. It was on my forever long and continuously growing "to do" list until a friend of mine made some and gave it to me, with the recipe. What a great gal!
I tried it and I really like it. It will be easy to store the ingredients too. Go here  for the recipe.
I used the powdered soap.

good old expiration

Expiration dates can be a problem when storing. I have come to realize that they don't mean much at all. These dates are thought up by attorneys for food companies, so that the food companies do not get sued.... they are not created by the FDA. The only expiration date that I can find that is regulated by the FDA is on baby formula.
So- eat away. The nose knows. If you open a can and it stinks.... don't eat it.
If you have a can that is seeping..... don't eat it. I think common sense comes in real handy when dealing with this. But- I cut the mold of cheese and eat the rest. I'm crazy like that.
and now I'm feeling a bit vindicated.

"the Utah State University Cooperative extension you can read the latest information on the shelf life of commercially canned foods. This website says, “ For emergency storage, commercially canned foods in metal or jars will remain safe to consume as long as the seal has not been broken.” They go on to say that the quality won’t be retained for that long, but it’s still safe to eat in an emergency. The Canned Food Alliance concurs and has stated that canned food is safe to eat “as long as the can is not damaged in any way.”

milk and milk

I love milk and we drink it raw around here. Nice and thick! I am having a hard time adjusting to the idea of powdered milk (gulp. yuck)
I do not want to drink it and I hope I will always be able to get my raw milk.... but I KNOW that I will not. So I need to get used to the powdered stuff, and I am trying to get my family used to it, so that if we had to drink it all of a sudden it would not be a big deal.
BUT- I do like almond milk (I want to make pecan milk) and I can store whole almonds for a few years in glass canning jars. All you need is a food saver and the attachment that goes on the top of the jar that sucks all the air out. (you can find food savers cheap on craigslist or ebay)
And in a pinch you could have almond milk. In a true worst case you would need a hand powered blender.

ALMOND MILK:
2 cups raw almonds
6 cups water
4 dates or some honey or some stevia
a pinch of salt

soak the almonds overnight. Just cover then with water-keep in mind they will swell a bit so put them in a bowl to accommodate that. (in a worst case you could use this water to give your plants a drink)
The next day rinse and drain them well and take 1/2 the almonds and 3 cups water and blend well. I try and blend each batch for about 2 minutes.
Then take the rest of the almonds and 3 cups water and your sweetener and blend. You will pour this through either a nut bag or some cheesecloth. I used cheesecloth, and it worked but I know a nut bag will be much easier to work with and I want to get one.
It is ready to drink!!
You can store it in the fridge.

Here is a great link to the Hillbilly Housewife
She has instructions for making different things out of powdered milk like yogurt.
I made the yogurt and it turned out great!

On a different note- have you hear the news about the flooding and tornadoes in the Midwest/south??
I heard in Alabama people were looting. My first thought was "what terrible people" but then I slapped myself on the wrist and realized my house is standing, my kids are healthy, and I have food in my house. I know that if my kids were hungry I would be breaking a grocery store window along side  those looters. I was asking a friend of mine from back home to get a 3 months supply of food in her house. She thought I was completely crazy, and asked me if I am living in fear.
I do have the chicken little syndrome, and I am the first to admit it.... but prepping is not fear.
When you go on vacation do you pack? Do you plan for things that might happen? I will bring this dress in case we go out to a nice restaurant one night.
We plan for other things in our lives. I see no harm in prepping our home. Look at what is going on around the world. Earthquakes, floods, and tornadoes and that is just in the last two months.
What happens when gas skyrockets? Do you think the trucks are going to be able to deliver to the grocery stores? What happens after a flood? Those trucks can not drive in that water.
This is not fear- it is using your brain. Do not be part of the normalcy bias and think that your life as it is right now will never change.

Granola

I want to start posting recipes that will be storage friendly, and will use up food storage.
I love granola! I never really liked the store bought stuff, and so I never liked granola. Then a friend made me some and it was amazing. I have played around with different recipes and I made up with this one, and I think it is the bees knees. Hope you like it.

GRATIFYING USE UP YOUR OATS FROM FOOD STORAGE GRANOLA

INGREDIENTS:

1/8^th cup olive oil (I have started using coconut oil)

1 cup juice (I recommend pineapple, orange or apple)

¼ cup honey

Splash of vanilla

3 cup oats (old fashioned)

¼ cup ground flax

¾ cup almond sleeves

½ cup sweetened coconut

¼ cup brown sugar unpacked

Pinch of salt

Pinch of cinnamon

Dried cranberries

Raisins

DIRECTIONS:

Bring the oil and juice to boil in a saucepan till it reduces by half (about 10 minutes)

Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl.

Once the liquid is reduced add the honey and vanilla to the sauce pan.

Pour the liquid over the dry ingredients and mix with a big wooden spoon.

Spread over a cookie sheet and bake at 300 degrees for 35 minutes, stirring it every 10 minutes.

Let granola cool and add raisins, and dried cranberries. You can add any dried fruit or nuts you enjoy like bananas, or peanuts for a salty taste.

Store in an air tight container. Great by itself, in yogurt, or as cereal with milk!

Tis the season! For jam.

This is how old I am... I told some of my young women that my jam won first prize at the county fair. They looked at me with a perplexed look on their face and one of them said "like a song?"
I died. "NO! Jam! like on bread- jam!?" .... and then I realized I am old, and I wish it was a song. BUT- this jam is so good. I could give you instructions, but all the know- how I learned I learned from here
There are easy instructions, and pictures! I love the pictures!!! Jams, canning, drying oh my! All sorts of good stuff.
and by the way- the jam KICKS smucker's trash. It is so good.

the stove of death.

Introducing the rocket stove. These things are so awesome and because of the way the heat is directed they can cook a meal on just a couple of sticks. If you do a search for a rocket stove you will find all sorts of ones that people have made. Some of them you can order and they are really nice. I just made some.
To make one like mine you will need gloves, one number 10 can, 4 soup cans, ashes, or vermiculite, some tin snips,  and a sharpie for tracing  your cuts.
Keeping you cuts as exact as you can, trace and cut a hole on the number ten can for the first soup can.
This soup can will be part of the elbow joint. The second soup can you are going to cut the top and the bottom off of it. Then cut a hole in the first soup can which then you will slide the second can inside the first can. That is your elbow joint.
The put some ashes or vermiculite inside the number ten can and they will help absorb the heat and protect your number ten can.
There are some variations:
The stove with the skillet on top of it has a lid and bottom to the number ten can still attached. You could either cut a hole in the top of the can and dump the contents or get a new can and just have the lid sealed on. If you cut a hole in a can that already has food in it DO NOT EAT THE FOOD!!! There will be little shards of metal from the can in the food, and I don't want you to cut an intestine and bleed to death slowly. OK? Great.
I also cut 4 triangles in the top of the can and stood them up so they will hold the skillet. I did that with an ice pick and my tin snips, just starting a hole and then off that cutting two lines of the triangle.
The second can in the picture has the top removed, and will need a grate or grill over the top to hold the skillet. If you make this version you will need to save the lid of the number ten can and then cut a hole in the lid. After you fill the number 10 with ashes or vermiculite you will slide the lid down the elbow joint, and it will keep all the ashes/vermiculite inside.
TA-DA!

I cant wait to take these camping and they will be great for an emergency when fuel is scarce.
I have been calling it the stove of death because as a good friend pointed out it seriously could double as a weapon! Wear your gloves.

how much to store?

People often wonder how much to store and there is not a definitive answer. It will be different for different people. Store what you eat, and eat what you store and please never say "it is there if we need it" because statistics show that you wont eat it. You will starve because you do not know what to do with it, or you think it is gross and are not used to it, or it will wreak such havoc on your body you will be sick and then die. Everyone in my house stunk for about a week after I introduced wheat into our diet- I would not want to introduce anything new into our diet during a calamity. Here is a general idea of how much basics we should have.
per person, per year:
300 lbs. grain (that is wheat, rice, oats, dry corn)
60-75 lbs. dairy products (milk, butter, cheese)
5 lbs. salt
20 lbs. fats (cooking oils, shortening)
60 lbs. legumes (dry beans, dry peas, peanut butter)
1 gallon water a day per person- bare minimum!

menu plan- a good way to get organinzed.

I think a menu plan is the perfect way to start storing, and to help organize what you already have. With out a menu plan you are likely to keep buying stuff you don't need. I don't want to end up with 4,000 pounds of wheat and not have enough yeast, salt, honey and milk- how would I make bread?
Pick a time when your family can sit together and discuss this. Prepping is not just for one family member to take on.  Maybe they will be more helpful if they feel included?
First decide how long of a time period do you want to store for? 3 months? 6? a year?
Second while everyone is together plan what you would like to eat. macaroni and cheese? spaghetti? some casseroles? chili mac?
You should pick at least 7 different meals, but I do think variety is the spice of life and in this case more is better.  Once you have decided what you want to eat, write down everything it takes to make that dinner. The salt, the water, cans or jars of something? Write it all down. There is your shopping list!
One of my recipes is chili mac. I got this recipe from http://www.melskitchencafe.com/ (very good recipes)

To eat this for a year (if I am having it once a week I will take everything x52.)

     skillet chili mac+  skillet chili mac for 1 yr.                                                                                   
1 tablespoon vegetable oil                                                                                               
52 TBSP. veg. oil
1 pound ground beef                                                                                                         
52 pounds beef
1 onion, minced
 52 onions -freeze dried would be best for worst case scenario.                                                                                                      
3/4 tablespoon chili powder (add more if you want more heat)                                       
40 cups chili powder
1/2 tablespoon ground coriander (substitute ground cumin for a smokier flavor)            
26 tbsp. cumin (i use cumin) there are16 tbsp in one cup, so you will need 1 cup plus10 tbsp.
1/2 teaspoon salt                                                                                                                 
26 tsp. salt or (48 tsp in 1 cup) so1/2 cup plus 2 tsp.
3 garlic cloves, minced                                                                                                  
156 cloves garlic-  20 tsp minced is = 1 cup. so a little less then 8 cups. you can buy shelf stable garlic that is already minced
1 tablespoon brown sugar                                                                                                  
52 tbsp. brown sugar or 3 cups+4 tbsp.
2 8 oz. cans tomato sauce                                                                                              
104 cans tomato sauce (a good time to stock up on those is when they go on sale for 20 cents a piece)
2 cups water                                                                                                                       
104 cups water 16 c. =1 gallon so 7 gallons water
3 cups elbow macaroni                                                                                                
  156 cups macaroni almost (4 cups in a 16 oz pkg.)
1 cup frozen corn                                                                                                                 
52 cups canned corn is just as good
1 4.5-oz can chopped green chile's   (i don't do this, but if you did it would be 52 cans)                                                                                
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped (i don't do this- but an herb garden is a smart idea)
2 cups shredded cheese (I used a combination of cheddar and Monterrey jack but you can use pepper jack or a Mexican shredded cheese blend)                                                                     
104 cups cheese-freeze dried or I'm trying to learn how to wax it. you could buy/store it already waxed
Heat oil in a 12-inch non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef, onion, chili powder, coriander, cumin and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook the ground beef until it is no longer pink. Drain off any excess fat or grease (the amount will depend on how lean your beef is). Stir in garlic and brown sugar and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in tomato sauce, water, and macaroni. Cover and cook, stirring often and keeping the heat at a steady simmer, until the macaroni is tender, about 10-12 minutes.
Stir in 1 cup of the cheese, frozen corn, green chile's and cilantro and sprinkle remaining 1 cup of cheese over the top. Cover and let sit off the heat until the cheese melts, about 2 minutes.

  The good thing about this meal (besides the comforting deliciousness, and it is comforting a delicious) is that it is a skillet meal. It all goes into one pot, and I could cook it on a rocket stove if there was no electricity.
Fuel and the cooking method are also things to think about while doing this. These things should not determine what you choose to make, but should be a consideration.

this is helpful

Wheat	5 pounds	37 pounds
White Flour	4.5 pounds	33 pounds
Cornmeal	4.3 pounds	33 pounds
Popcorn	5 pounds	37 pounds
Rolled Oats	2.5 pounds	20 pounds
White Rice	5.3 pounds	36 pounds
Spaghetti	N/A	30 pounds
Macaroni	3.1 pounds	21 pounds
Dried Beans	5.6 pounds	35 pounds
Lima Beans	5.4 pounds	35 pounds
Soy Beans	5 pounds	33 pounds
Split Peas	5 pounds	33 pounds
Lentils	5.5 pounds	35 pounds
White Sugar	5.7 pounds	35 pounds
Brown Sugar	4.42 pounds	33 pounds
Powdered Milk	3 pounds	29 pounds
Powdered Eggs	2.6 pounds	20 pounds

The ladies over at www.foodstoragemadeeasy.net  came up with this list, and I love it! You will see the food item and then how much will fit into a number ten can and a five gallon bucket.

buy for the packaging

I feel guilt no more when I buy a 4.00 bottle of juice! Even if I can't coupon it, I think of what I can store in the container after the juice is gone.
(this is sad. who have i become? seriously? this is what i think about. using old juice containers. yikes.)
Soda bottles are good too- BUT remember you can store water in soda bottles, so you might use those for that. Juice bottles should only be used for dry goods, no water.
I wash them out with hot soapy water and let them dry completely. Pour in what ever I am storing and pack it in as much as I can, then put in an oxy pack.
I have stored all sorts of crackers, white flour, pasta, sugar.... the list is never ending.
*think of spices too.... ketchup bottles are good for that, mayo, honey- any container (if has an air tight lid) will work. start saving. I'm sure your husbands will love it!

Remember no milk bottles- the plastic is too flimsy. Look on the bottom of your containers for PETE. 

PETE is a good indicator you have a solid plastic that you can re-use and store food in.

why should we store?

"World Bank President Robert Zoellick says the surge in food prices is the biggest threat to the world's poor, pushing 44 million more people into poverty over the past year."

go here for the article

not extreme. but still couponing none the less.

i just started, and this was my first trip. i am pleased with myself. i spent 18.79 and saved 53.73

i think the trick is not having kids with you. this will have to be a late night or early Saturday morning thing. i could not do the usual routine of dispensing crackers and promising we will go see the lobsters every five seconds, and also coupon.