20 items i wouldn't want to be without

1. car kit: warm clothing (very warm), rain coat and pants- waterproof boots, 4-ply plastic 12x12, waterproof hat, water (1 or 2 gallons), small water purifier, survival candy, survival bread, toilet paper, shovel, good pocket knife, granola, dried fruit.

2. water purifier: look for one that will clean hundreds if not thousands of gallons of water. rebecca likes the "aqua rain" it can be found on the internet.

3. first aid kit: sterilized wraps, scissors, water, blanket, band-aids, cayenne pepper, allergy medicine, aspirin, re-hydration kit, stretchable wrap.

4. survival bread- this lasts forever. keep in car, keep in 72-hour kit. (a recipe is included on this site)

5. yerba mate: a survival herb found in spanish stores. purest form is "rosarita" from argentina. (rebecca said that some storebought version contain caffeine, also if you aren't able to steep into a tea, the leaf can be put under the tongue)

6. pulse: a variety of seeds, grains, legumes that will easily sprout. (there are instructions on this site for swedish limpa)

7. salt: (not store bought)- real salt with 72 minerals. an absolute necessity for survival.

8. sanitation kit: you will still need to use the bathroom even if there is no toilet. this is a must to prepare in advance.

9. wash kit: how will you wash your clothes? (a bucket with a hole in the lid for a toilet plunger could work)

10. dehydrated food: learn to dehydrate your own food. dehydrate items hard so they will last a long time.

11. honey: this is medicinal, if it is raw.

12. wheat: the real wheat kamut or spelt. remember when Brigham Young said there will be no comparison to the value of a bushel of wheat over a bushel of gold. most wheat today has been altered or changed.

13. wonder box: cooking with little heat. it's a slow cooker with no electricity. (instructions and diagram on this site called "bean bag cooker")- i have a pattern that you can trace.

14. 8 hours of heat in a can (instructions on this site, called "emergency stove")

15. personal protection: pepper spray and a whistle. a must for all women. (i imagine that the whistle could come in handy if you got lost in the woods too)

16. toiletries: tooth brush, paste, empty bottle to replace toilet paper and re-usable toilet paper, vinegar, baking soda, colloidal silver, hydrogen peroxide, re-usable sanitary napkins.

17. organic sulfur.

18. money- silver coins (junk silver)

19. shelter (waterproof tent) or 4-ply plastic

20. disposable gloves, masks (N95), aged garlic, anti-plague, re-hydration kit.

rebecca also suggested a book: Instructions and Inspiration from the Prophets by Arlene Kay Butler.

home medical kit

2 aspirators
eyedroppers
2 enema buckets
6-8 rubber receiving blankets (about 3'x3')
12 dark-colored towels
tops of old socks
2 dozen thick washclothes (or more)
4 2-liter bottles (for ice packs or hot bottles)
stainless steel diaper pins
lg. rice bag
2 sm. rice bags
cotton twine (can soak in isopropyl alcohol or sterilize in the sunshine)
fracture pan (like a bed pan, angled on one side)
sterilized sheets in a brown paper bag
suture kit (cotton-wrapped thread for suturing)
cayenne (store cool, dark, airtight)
ginger
garlic (powder or dried)
comfrey
mustard (powder)
apple cider vinegar (must be organic- not just colored)
white distilled vinegar
epson salt
regular salt
hydrogen peroxide
cornstarch
baking soda
eucalyptus
lg. plastic-lined sheet (i had to wonder if a blanket coupled with a vinyl tablecloth would work in a pinch)
stethoscope
blood pressure cuff (just an inexpensive one)
ear light
other items necessary for your personal situation
...and a first aid manual

homemade fridge

LaVay's dad built a wooden box, covered with burlap on which a washdish was placed and yet another layer of burlap. the kid's were commissioned to keep the wash dish full of water. through condensation, the food inside the box (under a tree) was kept nice and cold.

home nursing basics

when assisting the sick, remember these basics:
1- do not feed the patient (eating takes energy needed for healing)
2- cleanse the bowels
3- touch is healing (warm hands)
4- administer a stimulant and relaxant simultaneously (ie.: lobelia & cayenne)

two survival buckets for two people

1st bucket:
5 c. jasmine rice
4 c. quinoa
4 c. millet
5 c. buckwheat
5 bags- 4 c. each: 1*barley, 2*rye, 3*oats, 4*kamut
real salt
wash cloth/bag for sprouting
yerba mate' with stevia
2- 1# bag beans
1- 1# bag lentils
5 c. life sprouts
2- 4 c. flax seeds
5 c. sesame seeds
5 c. sunflower seeds or pumpkin
4 c. mixed nuts
olive oil or coconut oil
honey
5 c. oatmeal
postum
seasoning for pulse
ion
castile toothpaste
lotion
lip salve
shampoo
cream rinse
floss & 2 toothbrushes


2nd bucket:
sweetened walnuts
2 c. tomato powder
2 c. barley green
2 c. carrot powder
2 c. beet powder
5 bags dried fruit
banana chips
for soup mix-5 c. mixed veggies and 5 c. garden veggies
recipes

seasonings-
1. spike 3/4 c.
2. dill 1 Tbsp.
3. oregano 2 Tbsp.
4. marjoram 1 Tbsp.
5. parsley 3/4 c.
6. cumin 1 Tbsp.
7. chili powder 3/4 c.
8. bay leaves 10
9. thyme 2 Tbsp.
10. peppercorn 1 Tbsp.
11. garlic 3/4 c.
12. basil 3/4 c.
13. onions 2 c.
14. ? anti-plague
15. ? masks
16. ? gloves

pulse- swedish limpa

1 c. oats
1 c. barley
1 c. rye
*soak 16 hours all together, rinse and drain a couple of times. sprout at least 24 hours or two days.

1 c. sunflower seeds
*soak 8 hours.

3 c. dried fruit (example: raisins always, dates, apples, wlofberries, cherries)
1 tsp. fennel- *soak 4 to 8 hours; save soak water.
1 tsp. carraway seed
zest of 1 lemon or orange
2 Tbsp. carob powder
1 Tbsp. cinnamon

1 c. coconut

after soaking and sprouting, mix all together. store extra in refrigerator.

you can use any mixture of grains.
also you can add any kind of seasoning like: banana, walnut, cinnamon.

fruit balls

8 dates (pitted)
3 dried pineapple rings
3 spears of dried papaya
4 dried mangoes
2 handfuls of macadamia nuts
2 handfuls of brazil nuts

pulse/blend in food processor until dough starts to form balls. roll into bite-sized balls and roll in coconut.

carob cream pie

crust (fake cake crust)
2 c. almonds
2 c. dates
on a cutting board, chop the almonds and dates thoroughly. knead the nuts and date together and then form into a 9" pie plate or you can mix in a food processor.

pie filling (ez pudding)
1 c. maple syrup or 1 1/2 c. dates (soaked)
2 medium avocados
1/2 c. carob powder
blend ingredients well. you may have to stop the blender and scrape down sides. if you use dates, rather than maple syrup, add a little orange juice to the blender or soak the dates in orange juice before using.
pour into pie crust.

cream
1 c. pecans or cashews soaked 30 minutes
1 c. dates soaked 1 hour
1 tsp. vanilla
blend until creamy. spread evenly or just dollop on top of pie.

grain preparation

grain- brown rice
*mix 1 part grain to 2 1/4 parts liquid for 45 minutes

grain- white rice
*mix 1 part rice to 2 parts liquid for 35 minutes

grain- millet
*mix 1 part millet to 2 parts liquid for 20 minutes

grain- p. barley
*mix 1 part p. barley to 3 parts liquid for 35-45 minutes

grain- quinoa
*mix 1 part quinoa to 2 parts liquid for 12-15 minutes

(there's a note here: 'must be rinsed well')


grain- wheat
*mix 1 part wheat to 6 parts liquid for 50-90 minutes

grain- wild rice
*mix 1 part wild rice to 3 1/2 parts liquid for 45-50 minutes

gardening indoors

i have a grow-light for starting plants... but just recently learned that it has to be within a couple inches of the plants to prevent them from being stringy. it also helps to have an oscillating fan near-by to simulate wind and make the plants stronger.

as a reminder, the best seeds -in our opinion- are open-pollinated, non-hybrid seeds. reason: they can be harvested and re-planted. (something about retaining the integrity of the original seed and not cross-pollinating to make cantaloupe looking zucchini).

radiation pills

if you're interested in anti-radiation information... look up potassium iodate.

potty or not potty

alright- i guess we have to tackle the dirty stuff too. we've mentioned sanitation kits that gather all the cleaning supplies into a bucket with a potty-seat lid. we've found them at cost (for info, e-mail me at rogneva@cut.net)

however... if you're stuck in a superdome without adequate toilet facilities or your handy dandy porta-potty - here are a few survival tips for the prepared at heart: builder's lime (also for dead bodies) is a great anti-odor perfume. just sprinkle liberally. if you don't want this to spread all over your backpack, you can double-bag it first. or option #2: dirt. okay, who wants to carry a zippy bag of dirt in a survival pack? not me. so... maybe just look for a nice spot to bury it (no non-biodegradable items, please.)

dehydrated garden food

dry fruit/vegetables for 24 hours - leave in plastic bags (open for thorough drying). hint: for oranges/lemons, slice very thin with rind on.

can toss into the blender to make powder. (why would we want to have carrot powder?)

taking care of dead bodies

what to do with a dead body (possibly toxic from contagious disease)...

rule #1 - do NOT touch.

1) put VICKS VAPORUB in nostrils to protect from odor.
2) wrap shoes in plastic.
3) suit up! wear medical/kitchen gloves (we like nitrile gloves from costco), plastic apron, hat, goggles, mask (filter to 2 micron- find in pharmacy by sanitation gloves or at Peterson Medical).
4) put plastic down to protect the floor.
5) collect and write as much personal information about the deceased.
6) make a body bag- NOT PLASTIC BAG- *black 6 ml plastic, seal with duct tape, then tie. *do not cremate, bury if possible.
7) take everything off: gloves last.. bury with the body.
8) strip off your clothes and disinfect with clorox or vinegar/hydrogen peroxide.

extreme cold weather

what would you do in the case of extreme cold, no utilities and a bad storm?

some suggestions:
1) turn water off (to protect the pipes from freezing and bursting)
2) drain all faucets - store the water
3) remember, if you turn off the gas.. the utility company has to turn it back on again.
4) ventilate if cooking inside.
5) conserve heat inside the house.

window warmth
*sandwich the following materials: cardboard, quilt batting and mylar (emergency blankets) for each window opening.
*using firring strips (thin strips of wood), staple thick plastic into the window opening.
*other suggestions- fiberglass insulation in a wood frame, styrofoam insulation cut to fit each window, blankets...

cold weather clothing (made with dense foam batting) - instructions in the Boy Scout field book.
*wear next to the skin (like long john's); then normal clothes over the top.
*synthetic fabric inner layer (tricot works great), then 1/2" soft foam (indoors) or 1" soft foam (outdoors), outside fabric/shell should be breathable, wind-tight, not waterproof.
*bring paper next week if you would like the pattern for wrap 'n stuff.

galoshes made from canvas and connected to the sole of an old boot with a sewing awl and heavy-weight thread (several sizes too big to accomodate 1 1/2" medium weight foam boot liners).

water purification

please submit your suggestions regarding water purification. i'm most interested in reviews for THINGS THAT WORKED.

for really bad water, it has been suggested to run it through a coffee filter first.

send your responses to: rogneva@cut.net

thanks!

foot reflexology chart

i recently discovered the meaning of "catastrophic health insurance." essentially it means that i don't dare go to the doctor for anything not life-threatening. therefore, i've become instantly more interested in the art of healing.

"Reflexology is a very efficient healing modality for addressing a number of stress related ailments like:

Migraines
Infertility
Arthritis
Sleep Disorders
Hormonal Imbalances
Sports Injuries
Digestive Disorders
Back Pain
Stress-Related Conditions"
(from http://www.circlesoflight.com/alternative/reflexology-chart.html)

besides, who doesn't want to have a foot massage?

upcoming ham radio operator class

if you are interested in taking the class, please e-mail your name and contact information to: rogneva@cut.net

the minimal cost includes a manual- i'm guessing $30? don't quote me.

recommended books

marlene's magic with food storage
po box 802,
american fork, ut 84003
http://waltonfeed.com/marlene.html


there's a cow in the kitchen: powdered milk recipes
ok, i didn't find this one... but there was an interesting website:
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/powderedmilk.htm

the complete book of essential oils & aroma therapy
(janet's favorite)


cindy's favorite food storage cookbook:
mix-a-meal (available through the same website as marlene's magic)
http://waltonfeed.com/mix-a.html

red worms

while visiting the topic of garbage disposal, richard mentioned RED WORMS. since i'm very curious... i decided to look it up. not only can you feed these little guys to your chickens, you can also put them to work composting!

this is one of the sites that i found about getting started:
http://www.cityfarmer.org/wormcomp61.html

homemade outhouses

for this one you'll probably want a more descriptive or technical guide in order to implement your own toilet. since we plan for everything... this made the list to keep us from drowning in- well, you know.

the public sewer system relies heavily upon water to move the "stuff" through the cleaning process. if water is in short supply, the system is useless. therefore we needed a more efficient option: i like to call it "the hole in the ground" method.

we specifically explored two plans.
a: go outside (full facility outhouse) and
b: go inside and carry the stuff to the hole in the ground.

you choose!

for plan a, the dimensions were as follows: (reminder- this is just basic)
main floor -
6'6" high in front, 5'6" in back.
roof: 5'8" wide and 6' deep.
bench: 4' wide and 2' deep, 15" high (fit toilet seat on it)
floor in front of bench: same size as bench- 4' wide and 2' deep.
door: 30" wide, 6'3" tall, and has a quarter moon cut into it. (the quarter moon is the privacy icon, also provides light, some suggested it be covered with glass or netting to keep the flies out)
garden apartment - use your imagination...
dig this one 3'6" square and 4'11" deep (any deeper and you might not be able to get out, jk)

for plan b,
dig a big hole.
how big?
enough room to fit a 55-gallon water barrel (metal or plastic) with 2-feet below and some room on the sides to fit gravel for drainage.
next, fill bottom of big hole with 2-feet of gravel.
put in big barrel (with holes drilled in side).
**top of barrel should protrude enough to allow the lid to be lifted**
backfill with gravel.
disguise as desired.
**you may want to devise a method of keeping this unit accessible during freezing season.... gazebo, fake water well thing, a tarp or whatever.**
i was thinking that i'd add a lid-lifter like the dutch oven things so i wouldn't have to touch the lid ever.
also, somebody said you can attach a piece of 2"x4" under the lid so it won't get stuck shut.

k. that was fun... now when do you dig this?

the correct answer is in the spring when the ground is soft. unless you live in fairview and the terrain is all rocks... then it might not matter.

so... happy digging!

sewage

myth: the septic tank treats and the drain field soil filters.

truth: dirt and other solids settle to the bottom. the effluent floats to the top, then the tank makes the initial breakdown using anaerobic bacteria (water breathing.) the stuff then flows under the barrier and up into the drain pipe. the drain field then completes the breakdown using aerobic bacteria (air breathing.)

you'd almost have to see richard's diagram to completely understand this process. it looked something like this:



for those who are interested in reading further about septic systems, there is a really good site:

http://www.apalacheeseptic.com/septic-info.htm

good garbage!

our lesson this week was about being able to sort and store/dispose of garbage more efficiently. richard shared the following basic categories:

a:
paper and wood - store and burn in wood burning stove. (remove staples first) OR use as mulch in your garden (not colored ink) OR just burn in the spring.
cardboard - 1: save for storage, 2: burn, 3: use as insulation in windows or other places, 4: use to keep containers from touching the concrete floor.

b:
plastic - save is usable. melt if not usable. this will reduce the space it takes.

c:
glass - save if usable. smash if not; then pour the powder into the gravel or dirt driveway.

d:
food waste - feed to animals, bury in garden, feed to red worms, make alcohol.

e:
metal - if unusable for anything else, try to reduce in size and store it. (assuming that recycling facilities are unavailable)

f:
toys or other what-nots - recycle for use by others OR treat as above depending upon the material of which it is made.

everlasting yeast

1 qt. warm potato water (left after cooking potatoes)
1/2 cake yeast or 1/2 Tbsp. dry yeast
1 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. granulated sugar
2 Tbsp. flour

stir in all ingredients and put in a warm place to raise until ready to mix for baking. leave small amount of everlasting yeast for the next time you make bread. keep in a cool place and add to the everlasting yeast all of the above ingredients except the yeast. do this each time and you will never run out of yeast. now add the everlasting yeast that you took out and make the bread the way you always do.

1 cup = 1/2 yeast cake

brown sugar from food storage

everyone who has tried to store brown sugar knows that it doesn't last long before caking into a brick. this recipe is a solution for having instant brown sugar using ingredients that store well.

2 Tbsp. molasses
1 c. granulated sugar

add molasses to sugar and stir with a fork. store brown sugar in an airtight container to keep it soft.

for those who like to experiment, like me... try reviving your brick of brown sugar (or clumpy white sugar) by placing a soft piece of bread into the air tight container for a day or two. i've also tried this on dried up cookies and it worked.

confectioner's sugar replacement

yield: 4 cups (1000 mL)

2 c. (500 mL) nonfat dry milk powder
2 c. (500 mL) cornstarch
1 c. (250 mL) granulated sugar

combine all ingredients in food processor or blender. whip until well-blended and powdered.

buttermilk (for baking)

1 c. powdered milk
4 c. water
4 Tbsp. lemon juice
pinch of salt

blend until milk is dissolved. chill, keep in covered container in refrigerator.

light corn syrup substitute recipe

2 c. granulated sugar
3/4 c. water
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
dash of salt

combine all ingredients in a heavy, large pan. stir and bring to a boil. reduce heat to a simmer and put cover on it for 3 minute to get sugar crystals off the sides of the pan. uncover and cook until it reaches soft ball stage. stir often.

cool syrup and store in a covered container at room temperature. it will keep for about 2 months.

makes almost 2 cups.

bread crumbs

preheat oven to 250 degrees F.
using 2 cups stale bread, arrange bread in a single layer in a shallow baking pan.

BAKE for 20 minutes until crip. Cool. break into small pieces and feed, slowly, into a blender or food processor.

store crumbs in an airtight container. they will keep for several weeks on the shelf and indefinately in the freezer.

ITALIAN BREAD CRUMBS
2 c. bread crumbs
1/4 c. parmesan cheese, grated
2 Tbsp. parsley
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. basil
1 tsp. garlic powder

combine all ingredients and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.

SWEET CRUMBS
2 c. cookies, crackers, sweet buns, or dry cake
(and you were wondering what to do with them anyway...)
1 Tbsp. brown sugar

grind the cookies, crackers, sweet buns or dry cake in the blender for 1 minute or until you have a fine-textured crumb. store in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer for up to 2 months.

just for fun "life survival kit" for students

physical needs:
poptarts- to help you pop up and get to class on time.
stuffed animal- to get enough sleep and to have sweet dreams at night.
mini hand scrubber- to help you keep things clean so that you stay well.

spiritual needs:
picture of temple- remember your spiritual goals.
prayer rock- to keep you grounded in eternal perspectives.
extra gum- make an extra effort to stick to your standards.

intellectual needs:
ruled paper- will help you adhere to the rules of each class.
larger eraser- no mistake is too big for this tool when you mess up.
pencil- to get the lead out and get your homework done in time.

emotional needs:
chocolate kisses- to cheer you up when you are done.
ear plugs- to help keep out the noise when you need study or sleep.
kleenex- because everyone needs a good cry once in awhile.

*****

upcoming classes

as a result of our latest planning meeting... we have decided to implement the following topics in relation with our food storage and preparedness classes:

*felting boots
*greenhouse, how-to
*hands-on activities (learn by doing)
*food storage recipes/nutrition
*recycling garbage
*water management: collection, storage & use
*bulk-buying opportunities
*watching preparedness and survival movies
*homeopathic medicines
*gift ideas

the cannery food pack - 3 days full!

when it comes to portability... size matters! this three-day menu fits into a #10 can. imagine adding a shoulder-strap and- whew- you are ready for anything, right?

anyway, here is the list of ingredients:

2 granola bars
4 fruit snacks
2 pkgs apple cider
1 pkg oatmeal
4 pkgs crackers
1 canned juice
1 canned meal
plastic cup
18 pcs individually-wrapped candy
2 pkgs hot cocoa
1 jerky
2 pkgs peanuts
2 pkgs soup (mash up into ziplock bag; keep one cup for cooking)
2 pkgs raisins
1 pkg corn nuts
plastic spoon
15 sticks gum (keep on outside of container--not in can- under lid)

menu:
1st day
breakfast-
1 granola bar
1 pkg hot cocoa
1 pkg fruit snack
lunch-
1/2 beef jerky
1 pkg apple cider
1 pkg peanuts
dinner-
1 canned meal
1 pkg crackers
snacks-
6 pcs candy
5 sticks gum

2nd day
breakfast-
1 pkg hot cocoa
1 pkg oatmeal
lunch-
1/2 beef jerky
1 pkg fruit snack
1 pkg apple cider
dinner-
1 pkg soup
1 pkg crackers
snacks-
6 pcs candy
5 sticks gum

3rd day
breakfast-
1 canned juice
1 granola bar
1 pkg fruit snack
lunch-
1 pkg soup
1 pkg crackers
1 pkg corn nuts
dinner-
1 pkg fruit snacks
1 pkg crackers
snacks-
6 pcs candy
5 sticks gum

questions about anti-plague formula

good question... what is the ratio of the equal portion dry ingredients to the organic apple cider vinegar?

the answer... as much "pulp" or solids from the dry mixture as possible. of course, you'll just have to experiment to see how talented your blender is!

i have been helping convert my mom's family history stories from WordPerfect on floppy disks to Word and eventually to a CD. since these are my ancestors too, i just keep getting mesmerized by their stories. having not tested the formula personally, i had to wonder if it could have helped my great-grandmother. read on:

"The year of 1919 was a dark year for many families of the United States. The flu (Spanish influenza) hit hard. Schools and churches were closed that they might be used as hospitals. All public meetings were banned, even funerals.

Fred's family was not passed by; the whole family had it. Melba and Estella were in the hospital. Grandma Olson came to take care of the rest of the family. Estella died during the night of January 11, 1919. She was only 28 years of age and left four small children, the oldest 7 years old --my grandmother, Ila (Christensen)-- and little Melba, only 2 years old. At that time it was feared that Melba would soon join her mother but in time Melba was able to get better."

my personal question was what to do with this concoction once its mixed up. according to dr. christopher's version, "This is the best remedy for colds, flu or any communicable disease (especially bacteriological). It strengthens and stimulates your immune system and should be used as a tonic and preventative at the dosage of one tablespoon of syrup per day. If infected, increase to one tablespoon per hour.*


*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. As always, seek the care of your healthcare professional." dr. christopher's version of anti-plague formula is more exact for those who get nervous about the dump-and-pour method of mixing with a very different list of ingredients from this one. i found his recipe by typing "anti-plague formula" in my google search bar (just in case you are interested in comparing)

best of luck... and stay healthy!

can-do taco soup in five minutes

okay, i'm not sure exactly how many minutes it took to open and dump the six cans but this one definately qualifies for the category: heat and eat.

thank you joanne for sharing (and renee for typing the recipe)--

JOANNE'S TACO SOUP

2 CANS DICED TOMATOES
1 CAN WHITE BEANS
1 CAN RED BEANS
1 CAN BLACK BEANS
1 CAN OLIVES, SLICED
HEAT THE ABOVE AND SERVE OVER CRUSHED CORN CHIPS. GARNISH WITH SHREDDED
CHEESE AND SOUR CREAM.