Flu Wiki Forum - Solar

Flu Prep 3 (III)

Bronco Bill — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 19:26:03 GMT

Flu Preps III --- third in a long series
23 May 2006

DemFromCT ¨C at 13:57
Start new thread. last thread is here.

nopower ¨C at 15:23
I¡¯m doing some cold testing. I filled my Coleman ¡°5 day¡± cooler with 4 frozen 2liter bottles. I then put in a sack of flour, a gallon of water, and a large bottle of gatorade (all items from my second fridge and already cold). I then used my indoor/outdoor thermometer to monitor the cooler temp (leaving it closed the entire time) and logged it. The tempature peaked at a cold level of 41.2F degrees and was at 44.6F when I switched the bottles out for 4 fresh ones (they still had a frozen core, probably about 50%). This was a 23 hour test. I¡¯m going to see how long it takes to refreeze the first set of bottles at maximum cold setting in my second side by side.
From reading online, everyone seems to agree that refridgerated food should be kept at 40F or less. Clearly I am not reaching that point, so is this a waste of time?? Anyone have any alternate thinking on safe food tempatures?
Here is what the USDA thinks: http://tinyurl.com/r...

anonymous ¨C at 15:26
nopower where are you keeping the cooler (outside/inside in darkness or in the light?) and how often are you opening it?

ElisaD ¨C at 15:43
I live in Houston, Texas and I¡¯ve been doing a lot of prepping latley¡.Went to Wallyworld this morning. I bought the last of the N95 Masks¡6 Boxes, none were in the paint section. Went to the camping section. Bought all of their 5 gal. collapsable water containers. (Always look up!!! They had 2 on the lower shelf and 2 more up on the top shelf) They only had 4!! They did have about 7 solar showers¡.but I wanted to talk to my dh about those. I wasnt sure if he wanted the one that heats¡(97.00). Or the other one that was about 7.00. All the other camping stuff was fully in stock. Lots of battery operated 10¡å fans¡.battery operated push lights¡lets see, Very low on water¡but always are¡low on evaporated milk, surgar and flour. TP was also low. Canned goods were picked over¡.Lots of ladies down that isle with lists. I saw at least 4 preppers¡.it was obvious¡they had all the usuals for beginner preppers:)¡H20, tuna, tp etc¡.Went to Sams yesturday¡.everything looked well stocked exept rice, flour and surgar¡.canned chicken small cans were really picked over. Saw no preppers their. Dollar Tree today¡.Bought these neat things called Fancy Heat 2.5 Methanol Gel¡.Great for just heating up those little things like soup for the kids¡etc. You can get 2 for a dollar¡they were low on bottled water¡.thats all I really looked at¡.buyers beware of their batteries¡.I have purchased them and they have absolutly no life to them!!!!! I have tried many times¡.I have 3 boys 14,13,12 and a 21 month old little girl¡..Believe me I have tried!!!! They are horrible!!! I would hate anyone to think they were getting a bargain and when TSHTF¡..have no batteries to really speak of. Just a heads up on that one!!

Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 15:49
nopower: What the USDA says and what you can get by with are two entirely different things. Upon reflection, I realized that what I will have to refrigerate if the grid goes down will be condiments, homemade margarine, some Velveeta cheese and maybe a leftover or two. The temps you are getting will do fine for storing these items until they are used up. I spent a week camping at the beach many years ago, storing all of my food in a cooler. Ice was outrageous and I guarantee you that cooler wasn¡¯t as cold as yours was during your test and I got along just fine.
Amazing how long those bottles stay frozen isn¡¯t it?

Rosie ¨C at 16:01
I finished planting my garden today, now have in tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, corn, peas, winter and summer squash, potatoes, lettuce, cabbage and beans. Bought a few more canned hams and ravioli on sale. Walgreens has flats of drinking water in the .5 liter bottles 4 for $10, picked up the limit of 2. Im planning to make strawberry jam later this week. Im now comfortably set for 6 months and am planning to work up to 12 months. I could stretch what I have now for at least another month or so but it would be pretty boring fare.

anonymous ¨C at 16:01
probably totally obvious-
but don¡¯t forget that solar showers can also be used to heat water for dishes and clothes washing-

nopower ¨C at 16:04
anonymous ¨C at 15:26 -
cooler is sitting in my unairconditioned garage and the temp according to the thermometer (it does two readings) is 80¨C85 degrees depending on time of day. It was not opened from the time the test began till when it ended (the thermometer has a sensor on a wire that can be a ways away from the digital readout so I didn¡¯t have to open it to check it).
HBB -
I agree that a couple degrees over 40 is probably fine, especially since it won¡¯t be long term storage anyway. I¡¯m trying to figure the best way to keep things cold the longest with a limited amount of gasoline. (I¡¯m planning on 1¨C2 hours a day max to run the well pump and keep water pressure). I won¡¯t be able to keep the fridge cold on 2 hours a day, but maybe I can keep the 2liters frozen and keep a cooler cold for condiments, leftovers, etc.
Hopefully I will have eaten all the frozen and fresh stuff and be into my canned goods before I ever lose power for any significant amount of time.

Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 16:23
nopower ¨C at 16:04 In my test, I found that running my 30+ year old chest freezer for an hour in the morning and an hour at night was all that was needed to keep the bottles of water frozen. I switched out my bottles in the cooler every 12 hours, but found out later that wasn¡¯t really necessary. The more frozen bottles in the freezer the better. I added some foam panels inside my freezer so that the entire area wasn¡¯t open to the ambient air when I opened the lid.
With the gas I have stored I can go 3 months this way. If the grid is down longer than that it won¡¯t really matter anyway.

DennisC ¨C at 16:34
The flu prep I almost forgot, and yet a very important one. My PPV -pneumonia shot. Remember that many ¡°flu deaths¡± are from secondary pneumonia. There are a lot of antibiotic resistant strains out there now and a PPV shot could save you life. If this does go to a pandemic, a pneumonia shot could save your life. If you are over 65 your county may even pay for it.
So for today¡¯s prep, I hope I motivate some of you to check about a PPV shot. It makes your arm sore for a day or two, but it is better than getting pneumonia when the hospitals are full.

tjclaw1 ¨C at 16:39
Good point DennisC. Got mine already, plus a booster on my tetanus. Also, with mumps going around, make sure you¡¯re up to date on MMR booster and any other vacs. Ped nurse suggested my hubby get a menangitis shot since he¡¯s a teacher. Don¡¯t forget to make sure your pets are up to date too.

EOD ¨C at 16:40
For many many years the HD & USDA & FDA had a temp of 45 degrees or lower for cold foods then in 1999 they went to 41 degrees. There are two main reasons they lowered the temp (1) Simply because 41 is better than 45 for keeping bacterial growth to a minimum (2) to ¡°make up for¡± the poor food safety & sanitation habits of too many people. There are a number of factors that determine the shelf life of your foods, temp is one, time and packaging are two others that are critical. Most bacteria need several things to grow; time, temp, and oxygen (food & moisture too but the food at least is kind of a given). As many of those you can keep to a minimum the longer your food will keep. Just a couple degrees can make a huge difference. For example broccoli will keep for about 1 week in the coldest area of the typical refrigerator where as if you lower the temp to just above freezing you can double or even triple that if you have the humidity high enough. You could get even more time if you removed or replaced the oxygen atmosphere, but then acidity becomes a factor. Following are several short but very helpful web pages that I really like; the last one deals with vacuum packing perishable foods and several cautions/concerns.
http://tinyurl.com/m...
http://tinyurl.com/m...
http://tinyurl.com/o...
http://tinyurl.com/r...

ricewiki ¨C at 17:37
Went out amping¡± over the weekend, tried a few items from my bug-out bag. Those emergency blankets DO keep out wind, water, and reflect heat (Standing in front of a fire with it wrapped around me I could barely feel its heat, if any) ¡ª but they don¡¯t really provide warmth. I say add a real wool blanket to your bug-out bag, it¡¯s more of a psychological comfort, too.

ricewiki ¨C at 17:38
Dennis C
how sore did your arm get? I ask because I have bad veins to begin with. Do they put it in the muscle? Did you bruise?

DennisC ¨C at 17:54
in the muscle- I got it in the afternoon and it was sore through half the night. (you milage may vary). It wasn¡¯t too bad but don¡¯t expect to go bowling.

nopower ¨C at 18:25
HBB - I just checked and my 4 orginals are refrozen nearly 100% after 3 hours back in the freezer. I wish I could have checked it at 2 hours but I was busy. So probably running the generator for an hour every 11¨C12 hours and using that time to refreeze the bottles would probably work. And the orginals were in there for nearly 23 hours, plus they went in with the cooler at 70F to start.
I think I will try and find some information on how long those chemical cold packs last and how long to refreeze, they might help me stretch out my 2L bottle time a little.
Little projects like this help keep me from checking the Indonesia/Romania threads every 2 minutes. I sure am glad I found this place two months ago :)

Jane ¨C at 19:14
I took a deep breath and finally ordered the Kelly Kettle and cooking kit from Waterstrider. Whew-$133.44 total. It will boil 2 qts. of water using twigs, bark, woodscraps, even dry grass or pinecones. Then I can cook in my Thermos. http://www.waterstri... Click on Kelly Kettle.
Also bought steel fence posts for catching water in tarps, and baling wire and hardware cloth (1/4 inch) for mouseproofing some food storage, just in case.

jon c ¨C at 19:22
Jane that is pretty cool, But $133. ouch!

3l120 ¨C at 19:39
About 6 years ago I sent for a Federal Firearms License (FFL) as a collector of Curios and Relics (C&R). I am mentioning this as a prep as there has been some firearm interest on this site. I am not saying it to advocate shooting Granny next door if she wanders onto your property, please! However it has allowed me to collect surplus firearms and ammunition directly from the distributor (Century Arms, AIM, SOG, etc.) at dealer prices and I believe my investments in this area have done better than the stock market or any CD. If interested, go to the BATF.gov site, download the application, get fingerprinted, sent the papers and print card, along with A check for $30 to the govmint and in 2 months get your license. Send copies to distributors and you are in business. For those who are not into firearms, I apologize for taking your time.
MY personal prep for the moment is to get back from DC tomorrow to home, in Utah, where I will feel a lot more confortable with the latest news from Indonesia. No offense to those in N. Virginia, but I wanta be HOME!

lauraB ¨C at 19:53
That Kettle is so cool! I googled it and it had good reviews on several camping sites, etc. It is pricey though. Have to think about that. But, if there is no heat a nice hot cup of coffee would be nice!
I¡¯m working on my prep letter for friends and family. I think I¡¯m doing a pretty decent job if I say so myself. Remains to be seen if it helps.
Need to buy soda bottles this week (we never drink it!)to fill my freezer!

jon c ¨C at 20:02
Laura B- I found some cheap generic pop in 3 liter bottles at Fry¡¯s grocery for 85 cents. Since you don¡¯t drink pop you won¡¯t feel so bad about dumping it out if it¡¯s cheap. Or you could always give it to the neighbor¡¯s kids. (just kidding)

lauraB ¨C at 20:04
Are you kidding - those kids are nightmares anyway. The last thing they need is sugar and caffine! But thanks - I go down the spft drink aisle so rarely I forgot about those cheapie brands.

kc_quiet ¨C at 21:02
Does anyone know if there are plans anywhere for building something like a Kelly kettle? No way I can afford to buy one, but hubby is pretty handy.

Green Mom ¨C at 21:19
Today I made doctor (physicals)/dentist appointments for everybody. Uasually I schedule these later in the summer-just before kids go back to school, but I¡¯m doing it now. Getting extra pair of glasses for myself. Also updated my lists, and shifted homecanned goods to a cooler, darker spot in the basement. I made strawbery jam yesterday, and dehydrated some green peppers. Finishing up garden this week-weve had a cool rainy spell thats put me behind with that. Also experimenting with heating water-my solar shower is not getting that hot!
Like nopower, I¡¯m coming up with projects to keep from checking the wiki too much!

Tina ¨C at 21:42
I didn¡¯t do this because of flu prep, but last week I got a tetanus shot. My arm hurt for about 3 days.

I¡¯m-workin¡¯-on-it ¨C at 21:45
Go to the Dollar Store for big soda bottles¡ªdoesn¡¯t hurt pouring the soda out!!

mmmelody47 ¨C at 21:50
3l120 ¨C at 19:39 - I had that license for over twelve years (owned a retail store) while still employed in my other job and can support everything you outlined in your post. Depending on your point of view, a win - win situation.

Hurricane Alley RN ¨C at 22:00
When you go to get updates on your injections, don¡¯t forget to take some OTC pain relievers before you leave home. This will combat the soreness caused by the shot. If taking Asprin or Tylenol, taking a backup dose afterwards is a good idea. I do this for my yearly flu shot and did it with my son and grandson. Gee mom, no pain or inflamaion. If you tend to bruse badly, put an ice pack on it.
Has anyone been brave enough to make an Icyball?

Prepping Gal ¨C at 22:43
KC quiet - I was thinking about that and while I¡¯m not handy my hubby is. I have two charcoal starters (large) and I thought that if I had a container that I could slip into the charcoal starter - tall like a thermos (have to search) I may be able to do something similar. I see what hubby thinks.

Jane ¨C at 22:59
The price of the Kelly Kettle included shipping and handling to my zipcode, if that makes it any better. Kettle alone-$79.95. And there¡¯s a smaller size-$69.95.

24 May 2006

EnoughAlready ¨C at 00:14
nopower ¨C at 15:23
This year for his science fair project, my 12 year old grandson conducted experiments on the differences in electric and regular ice chests. He was measuring how long it took ice to melt, how well they held temp between 40¨C45 degrees, and difference opening the chests made between regular, precooled elec, and elec not precooled. Elec not precooled and regular chest results were basically the same on every test. He measured 30 min, 1 hr, and 3 hr tests¡ w/ not opening for 3 hours showing the best results. The chests were not loaded with ice or anything, except 1 qt frozen ice in plastic containers in each chest. The ice didn¡¯t completely melt for 5 hours in the not precooled elec and regular chests, and 8 hours in the precooled chest. He was not able to hold any of them at 40¨C45 degrees¡ not even the precooled electric chest. Results might have been different if loaded with ice or more cold/frozen items, but we were wanting to know what it would be like w/o ice to hold cold/frozen items.
Might be helpful to load the chest and see if it reaches the temp and how long it holds.
BTW, he didn¡¯t even place. But, I betcha those teachers and judges will remember his experiment somewhere down the road. *He did take first place year before last on testing various water samples using SODIS method!

EnoughAlready ¨C at 00:16
Oh, the ¡°precooled¡± ice chest had to be precooled for 24 hours to make a difference.

Oremus ¨C at 00:58
kc_quiet ¨C at 21:02
Kelly stove = Hobo stove
I¡¯m sure if your Husband is handy he could make one.
Hobo Stove

STH ¨C at 05:12
My mushrooms are coming up! Got one of those kits with inoculated sawdust that you mix with coffee grounds and/or paper, then you start to get shrooms in a few weeks. It¡¯s fun to do at home, and I bet kids would have a great time with it.
I went to the local health department¡¯s meeting on panflu last night and was pleasantly surprised. The doctor that spoke didn¡¯t pull any punches; he didn¡¯t just stick with the ¡°don¡¯t panic, eat chicken¡± thing, but covered the whole topic, including both bad and good news. The county is working on their plan and running simulations, ¡°as fast as we can.¡±
Through our local freecycle group, I¡¯ve gotten two sets of metal shelves for organizing my preps. (Thank you, Lily; I think you were the one that introduced me to the concept of freecycle.) And I¡¯ve freed up some space by donating some stuff to the local peace group¡¯s annual rummage sale¡ªa win/win for everybody.

Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 09:01
nopower ¨C at 18:25 What I found was that the bottles I just put back in the freezer that had been in the cooler would not completely re-freeze within the first day, but since I had a LOT of frozen bottles it really didn¡¯t matter, I just keep rotating. What I was pleased to see, was that just running the freezer for one hour every 11 hours kept them frozen solid.
After I was done with my tests, I removed the foam panels from inside the freezer and left the lid up for three days. I was sure that the bottles would be unfrozen by that time so I put my plywood sheeting on top of the bottles and loaded my dry prep ingredients back inside the freezer (protects against rodents). Imagine my surprise when I got some pasta out of the freezer 3 days later and found it was quite cool inside. I checked it with my thermometer and the temp inside the freezer was 50 degrees. It stayed that way for another week.

Kathy in FL ¨C at 09:39
Well, I¡¯ve decided to ¡°splurge¡± and do some additional food stocking. I¡¯m off to wallyworld this afternoon. I¡¯ve got all the equipment that we need for necessities, and I¡¯m just transferring some of the funds for non-necessities back into the food budget.
I don¡¯t know how much more re-organizing I can do to find room for all of the food that I¡¯m stocking. I have a few other hiding places ¡ out of sight places anyway ¡ that I can place stuff in/under but my creativity is really being pushed.
I¡¯ll let y¡¯all know if I see any preppers out though I probably won¡¯t because I¡¯ll be going while most folks are supposed to be in the office.

Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 10:59
I am about to shell some serious dollars for an inverter. For some time I have been researching the battery bank/inverter setup and I finally came to the conclusion that I need to make this purchase so that I can safely run my computer and TV if the electric grid goes down. Those two units will provide us with information and entertainment while we SIP.
A poster on the wiki put up a link to some very inexpensive models and I was just about to order one when I decided to use a strategy I learned from Eccles. This involves using a clear definition in place of a noun or adjective. Therefore, if I replace the noun ¡°inverter¡± with the phrase, ¡°electronic devide that I will depend on¡± I find that heap¡± and ¡°bargain basement¡± are no longer adjectives that make sense in my application.
Just a word to the wise.

Eccles ¨C at 11:07
You have plucked the stone from my hand Grasshopper. Time to go.

Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 11:09
Eccles: LOL !!!!
Thank you Master.

Kathy in FL ¨C at 11:14
Another thing I found while I was out and about yesterday. At the local Dollar Tree they had a supply of generic type salsa and cheese dips in jars. I¡¯ve been looking for inexpensive ¡ ok ¡ cheap ¡ (sorry Eccles - grin) ¡ substitutes for block cheese in my recipes.
I know the stuff is cheese dip, but it is still heese¡± of a sort and can be substituted into recipes, just think of it as already melted cheese and adjust any dry ingredients accordingly. And at $1 (US) per jar that is a heck of alot cheaper than some of the other canned cheeses out there. And the stuff doesn¡¯t taste bad either.

Oremus ¨C at 11:16
Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 10:59
I bought the 700 watt inverter. Enough to run TV or computer. Short cables though, so you will either need an extension cord long enough to reach whatever you¡¯re powering, or have your battery near what you are going to power. Deep cycle battery recommended.
700 watt inverter
400 watt inverter

new birdie prepper ¨C at 11:16
I am going to make a first visit to Aldi today ¡ª there¡¯s a new one in a nearby town and I am going to check it out. I feel terribly underprepped food and water wise ¡ª I just don¡¯t have enough. I need to take a good inventory and figure out exactly what I do need, but I feel like I don¡¯t have more than a few months of stuff. Any thoughts on Aldi?
Question about the PPV shots ¡ª I thought that there were counter-indications for those under 65? Did I misunderstand this? I¡¯m under that age by a few decades, but wonder if the shot is a good idea anyway.

Oremus ¨C at 11:18
Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 10:59
BTW, when I ordered in Feb. they were out of stock and it took 3 months to get to me. But it was 5 bucks cheaper back then. Supply and demand 8^)

jon c ¨C at 11:19
We decided to go to our ¡°hotlist¡± this morning. With the H2H spector creaping around we are picking up the last items for SIP minus the last trip fresh supplies. Massive dog/cat/chicken food, Massive( we are going to fill up our VW bus) TP, 50 gallons of stabled gasoline, a new chainsaw, a case of motor oil, 50lbs of rice, 50lbs of flour, more lard, a tub of margarine, a whole bunch o¡¯ chocolate ( you can never have too much ) and we are filling three 50 gallon drums with water.

Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 11:19
Aldi¡¯s is prepper heaven, I think you will be happy when you leave. The one in our area only takes cash and debit cards, no checks or credit cards.
Oh, and take a quarter to get your cart. You¡¯ll understand when you get there.

Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 11:24
Eccles: you have mail

jon c ¨C at 11:31
oh, and several more boxes of Red wine flu killer.

nopower ¨C at 12:04
After working out the cost per hour of converting my generator to propane and buying the tank, having it installed, etc, etc I decided that is not an option. Maybe in a couple years when it is time to replace the waterheater (hello tankless propane) and the range (goodbye electric) then it might make sense to bury a large tank.
In it¡¯s place I¡¯m thinking of hooking up some 12v batteries and maybe convert some circuits over to run off inverter(s). This would be nice for those small power outages here and there (keep the fridge and computers up) and I could probably put 20 - 60 amps back in a day running off the generator in an emergency.
I¡¯m also thinking about buying or building a very small generator to supply 12v power only to recharge the batteries. There was a thread over at CE about using a 1.1Hp Honda engine with a genhead to produce 15amps and he said the fuel consumption was around 20+ hours for a gallon of gas. Unfortunately he gave very little info on what he used or how he did it.

Deb ¨C at 12:17
Hello All! It has been awhile since I have posted (just prior to the site going down), however, I have been reading on a daily basis after taking a short break. Psychologically I just needed a break from all of this.
Anyway, I have been continuing to prep and am now going to finish off my preps as things seem to be taking a turn for the worse. My question is in regards to water bottles. I know from reading the forum to not use plastic milk jugs, however, can I use the gallon size plastic juice containers, i.e., the type the Costco CranRaspberry juice comes in for water storage? I have been saving the and rinsing them out with bleach water so they should be sterile.
I look forward to any answers.
Thanks, Deb

Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 12:23
Deb ¨C at 12:17 I have used the same type of containers with no problems. I tested water I had stored in them for 3 months recently and it was fine.

new birdie prepper ¨C at 12:26
Deb, I know people reuse 2 liter coke/soda/pop/whatever-it¡¯s-called-in-your region bottles so I would think that the juice containers would be okay if they are the same type of plastic. Check the water thread on the wiki as I think this has been discussed before ¡ª if you search the forum for the water storage thread you should find it ¡ª and I will look too.
Hillbilly Bill ¡ª Thanks for the tips on Aldi ¡ª I hope it¡¯s a good trip and that we make it ¡ª we¡¯re going after a doctor checkup so if my assistant is grouchy, I may not get to go today. I¡¯m hoping it will relieve some stress to get a cart of goodies to store. You are WAY ahead of me ¡ª I figure as long as I get food going, we will be okay, and I¡¯m not thinking about how to run the tv until I¡¯ve crossed some other hurdles.

jt ¨C at 12:29
Also got my shots last week for tetunus and PPV, arm was sore for a couple days but gone now, I am 50 & no problem getting doc to give shots, he thought it a good idea!¡¡..having problems obtaining 55 gal blue water drums, got one but other orders from other companies are backordered, anyone have a source? Still having difficulity convincing relatives to prep, did talk some into getting tamiflu, I ordered a case of masks and sent boxes to relatives.Bird flu just on fox news!

Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 12:36
new birdie prepper ¨C at 12:26 When I started I was way behind a lot of other people. It¡¯s more a matter of staying the course than racing along. I hope you get to go to Aldi¡¯s, realistically I would not have been able to put away the food I have without their good prices. I¡¯m also using them to build up my church¡¯s food pantry. Check out their ready to eat soups, (Beef, Sirloin Burger, Grilled Chicken, etc.), practically a meal for two in a can.

new birdie prepper ¨C at 12:37
There was just a story on CNN about bird flu scams ¡ª mostly on fake Rx meds but they did mention food storage folks on line and showed a pic of Mountain house cans¡¡..and they are right that the food won¡¯t cure the bird flu, but it was rather dismissive of preps, imho.
jt ¡ª I gave up on ordering 55 gal drums because I found the shipping costs to be oppressive and have purchased several of the aquatainers at wallyworld. Have you considered that as an alternative? They seem stackable and they are easy to lug around (well, easy compared to a drum). I¡¯m going to get a pallet someplace to stack more on ¡ª right now they are on the bottom of my giganto shelves that store 900 lbs each that we just assembled.
Anyone have a link to, or general thoughts on, what preps can be stored in a hot garage? I¡¯m planning to keep water out there and to store paper goods in tubs, and keep cat food and litter there. Of course, I fear that the canned goods will deteriorate too quickly. Am I right in that I should try to keep all of our food in the house? Thanks.

DennisC ¨C at 12:40
jt ¨C at 12:29
I got a bunch of plastic drums from a car wash. They use them for the wax and soap. I don¡¯t drink from them but they are fine for backup water to flush, laundry,etc. They just gave them to me.

DennisC ¨C at 12:42
new birdie prepper ¨C at 12:37 paper goods, salt, sugar, bottles of lamp oil, bleach, books for gifts,

Mari ¨C at 13:29
For the blue water drums, check the Barrels and Drums section of your yellow pages. Sometimes a local company carries them.

Jane ¨C at 14:06
new birdie prepper at 12:37, could your garage be somewhat cooled with ventilation? There¡¯s an idea in a food storage thread about ventilating my basement, because root cellars are supposed to have some air movement: a pipe with opening at floor level and one on the opposite side of the room at ceiling level, both vented to outside, with metal screening to prevent pests from coming in. (Although in a garage, above ground, it would be just a vent at floor level, no pipe. Or just vents at each side at ceiling level? If you had gables, it should cool pretty well because you could place them high up (at least it works in my imagination). But other roof styles??)

anonymous ¨C at 15:54
New birdie prepper---cat food will not work in a hot garage¡ªyou will get bugse like crazy and rodents will chew through the bags if that is what you use. All food needs to be in the house and if you can a vacum sealer is very helpful---I seal everything beans,rice,dog food etc. good luck

Love Texas ¨C at 15:56
OH! that was me¡ªI am at work

AVanarts ¨C at 15:59
I¡¯d keep bleach in the house too. Liquid bleach will degrade with time, and heat will just make it lose potency more quickly.

Commonground ¨C at 16:16
Hi Everyone, They say ¡°fear is a good thing if it motivates you¡±¡.well, Monday, I topped off my preps. Spent $200. Today, I filled my freezer with meat and vegetables, another $200. One of my concerns is once everyone gets real nervous, we may very well see empty shelves at the market, even before a BF hits our shores¡¡what do you think?

STH ¨C at 19:16
I agree, Commonground. I¡¯m making the rounds tonight to hit the sales in the local grocery stores and fill some gaps in my preparations.
By the way, what do you folks think of Cash & Carry, which I gather is the west coast branch of the Aldi¡¯s chain. Good deals there?

Deb ¨C at 20:09
I have found Cash & Carry to have good deals on some things but not all. For example, I like to use Pacific¡¯s organic chicken broth and I have found that Costco sells it cheaper than Cash & Carry. So just be sure to check the prices. Otherwise, I really like them. In fact, I just made the rounds yesterday to both Cash & Carry and Costco to top off some of my preps.

DennisC ¨C at 20:55
Cash and Carry, Costco, Aldi (??),Sam¡¯s¡. It is interesting to see all these big city franchise names. Our town has no franchise stores in the entire town except for the one gas station. Got to drive 50 miles to get to a WalMart. I get most of my ¡°good¡± preps from the net. Got a good deal on a can of dried eggs (equivalent to 170 eggs for $9.99 -Honeyville- good for 3¨C5 years). I hope we have 3 years before it hits but I would be happy with 3 weeks.

bird-dog ¨C at 21:07
DennisC ¨C at 20:55 I think that I heard about Honeyville from you a month or so ago and ordered 2 tins of whole eggs, a box of assorted dried vegetables, and a box of assorted dried fruits (raspberries, yum), and some oxygen(?) packets. They arrived after a week or so and in great shape. Thanks so much for the info. :>) I¡¯ll be looking forward to some blueberry/apple pancakes if I¡¯m forced to SIP. I feel so fortunate to have this community and i feel so sad for the ¡®others¡¯.

California ¨C at 21:17
¡°Therefore, if I replace the noun ¡°inverter¡± with the phrase, ¡°electronic devide that I will depend on¡± I find that heap¡± and ¡°bargain basement¡± are no longer adjectives that make sense in my application.¡±
It depends on the use. I have an expensive (for the watts delivered) ¡°Exeltech¡± inverter. It uses circuitry to make a better sine wave than some of the el cheapo models do.
But it does so by using more power (in its own wave-shaping circuitry). And for laptops, a clean sine wave is not even really needed, as they have their own charging circuitry, plus an installed battery. I¡¯ve found that a $29.95 plug-in inverter works as well with my laptop and its wall wart charger as the ¡°built like a tank¡± Exeltech inverter does¡.and it doesn¡¯t ¡°heat up¡± as much (implying less battery energy being dissipated by the inverter).
So, more expensive does not necessarily imply better¡for this kind of use.
If your computer is a desktop, with a CRT monitor, a cheap inverter may not be wise. But older model laptops are inexpensive, so this might be a better way to go than using a desktop and CRT, for use during an emergency.
(This is what I¡¯ve been doing during power failures at my place¡ªswitching over to my laptop and, if the power outage last longer than several hours, plugging my laptop into an inverter coming out of a booster battery with a cigarette lighter output).
California

Oremus ¨C at 21:23
My Honeyville can says they can be stored 5¨C10 years unopened, 1 year opened with lid covering.
Bought fifteen 4qt plastic food storage conainers with plastic screw lids for 1 dollar ea. at the Dollar Store. One will hold two boxes of cereal, or you can use them for rice, dry milk, potato flakes, etc.

Watching in Texas ¨C at 21:33
new birdie prepper at 12:37 - do not store cat food in your garage in the bags that it comes in. Trust me - If you store it they will come! Rodents I mean. I made that mistake with dog food and ended up losing a couple of large bags. Also, do not store anything directly on the ground. And, just in case anyone was wondering - large disgusting rats will chew through gallon jugs of water and just about anything else. Do not store anything in your garage that they can smell. Put everything in airtight containers. I am just grateful I had time to deal with all this and learn my lesson before TSHTF. Sign me, Watching out for rats in Texas or WIT the rat killer

NEMO ¨C at 22:07
For those who would like some good basic and not so basic info on prepping, please go to this URL: http://www.stevenhar... Then listen to his seminar on Family Preparedness. I have been prepping for many years, and he has some very good ideas in his presentation. I think he comes off as a little ¡°know it all¡± but he does make some very good points. It is free and definitely worth a listen. It is a good thing to send friends and family too also who may not be prepping yet. I don¡¯t know this gentleman, just think he has some good ideas.

I¡¯m-workin¡¯-on-it ¨C at 22:57
new birdie prepper try this for food in garage¡.Petco Vittles Vault ¡ª they have 2 shapes & are stackable.
http://tinyurl.com/q...

new birdie prepper ¨C at 23:00
Everyone, Thank you for the information on storing in the garage. I would like to think that we wouldn¡¯t have rodents, since the cats live in the garage, but they are lazy beasts . . . . but now I am worried about my aquatainers ¡ª the big blue jugs from wallyworld. do you all think rats would get into those? Right now they are empty, but I want to store them on the shelves or on a pallet ¡ª I was planning to keep the stuff all off the concrete. WITexas, I was planning to put the paper goods in those heavy duty rubbermaid tubs, and do that with the cat food as well. Jane, will look into ventilation but I am not sure. Great suggestions. Again, great advice, all.
HillbillyBill, I *did* get to make a quick trip to Aldi¡¯s ¡ª thank you for the tips on cash and the quarter, as I would have arrived without either without you watching out for me. I didn¡¯t have a lot of time, but did get a 12 can flat of each of these: baked beans, black beans, carrots, tomatoes, mandarin oranges, peas. I am definitely going back soon! That may not be a lot, but it¡¯s a start.
Now the other thread on prepping and the law has me jittery ¡ª I don¡¯t want the house raided for my mandarin oranges¡.
Anyway, thanks, all!
Oh, by the way, I brought up bird flu at the doctor¡¯s office and they said they haven¡¯t been worried but maybe/probably should be more worried. Interesting response, I thought.

new birdie prepper ¨C at 23:41
I¡¯m workin ¡ª I¡¯ve seen those vittles vaults and have been interested in those!! I will definitely look at those on my next trip to PetCo or on line. Thanks!

25 May 2006

scooba ¨C at 00:17
I was on this website to order a Kelly Kettle and I found these survival straws and I was wondering if anyone has bought any of them or knows anything about them. I thought they might be good for a BOB. If anyone knows anything would appreciate the information.
http://tinyurl.com/q...

Kim ¨C at 00:46
scooba, the straws have been de-bunked, if not outright outlawed, by the FDA as ineffective. Stay clear of them, you¡¯d be wasting your money.

scooba ¨C at 00:47
Kim
Thanks!

Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 08:27
California ¨C at 21:17 I also have an inexpensive inverter for those uses, but I needed a quality inverter for my fairly new and moderately expensive HDTV. I was about to buy a modified sine wave inverter, but changed my mind after talking to Eccles. He said that if I replaced ¡°modified¡± with the words ¡°not a true¡±, then I could make a better decision. A quick check with the manufacturer of my TV confirmed that I do indeed need true sine wave power or my warranty is voided. I have several laptops and will use them in place of the ¡°regular¡± computer during grid outages, they use a lot less wattage than the CRT monitor alone.
I wasn¡¯t implying that there is a reason not to buy an inexpensive square wave or modified sine wave inverter, just that price alone should not be the determining factor for something so vital.

Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 08:31
new birdie prepper ¨C at 23:00 You are most welcome, I¡¯m glad you got to go to Aldi¡¯s. DW and I are stopping tonight after work. In response to recent developments (Indonesia) I have added more long-term items to the regular list.

Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 08:35
¡°Sign me, Watching out for rats in Texas or WIT the rat killer.¡±
Did you shoot them?

LMWatBullRun ¨C at 09:25
Quick tip- check your local area for recycled open top 55 gallon drums. Large bakeries, fruit processing plants etc, go through drums in fairly large quantities. In the Frederick Maryland area, call McCutcheon Apple Products- they have a steady supply and the last time I was there a steel drum was less than $10. They also have food grade plastic containers from 1¨C60 gallons. WHile a dedicated rat can check through a phenomenal amount of almost anything, steel is difficult to chew through, and plastic bagged containers are safer there than elsewhere. I combined this with a generous spacing of rat poison distributed around my stoarge area; discourages eating the good stuff and encourages eating the poison. If you cannot find recycled open top drums, I noticed that Lowes is stocking 30 gallon galvanized steel trash cans for $18 with lids.
as far as shooting rodents, I recommend a short barreled .22 pistol with shot cartridges; the short barrel causes less distortion of the shot pattern. I have gotten good results out to 7 yards on snakes, rats and pigeons. The CCI cartidges are the best, but also the most expensive. For the uninitiated, DO NOT shoot small critters in enclosed spaces with solid projectiles. A rat will not stop a .22 projectile; the bullet continues on once it has hit the rat. Richochets sting at best and can cause lethal damage at worst. (yes, that is the voice of experience speaking) Ear plugs and safety glasses strongly recommended.

bird-dog ¨C at 09:26
Hormel, Maker of Spam, Sees 2Q Profit Rise http://tinyurl.com/k...
¡°Hormel Foods Corp., maker of Spam and other canned meats, said Thursday its fiscal second-quarter earnings climbed 20 percent, beating Wall Street estimates, driven by gains from its refrigerated and specialty foods segments.¡±

but, ¡°Hormel¡¯s Jennie-O Turkey Store however, reported a 21 percent drop in profits to $26.6 million due to higher feed and energy costs.¡±
Gee, I wonder why¡??? :>)
Until my prepping began, I had never purposely bought anythng Hormel or anything from factory farms. Now, I do have many misc. cans of meat that I hope I¡¯ll never have to dig into. not complaining though.

Watching in Texas ¨C at 09:32
new birdie prepper at 23:00 - Good! You are smarter than me then - and I do think cats, even the lazy ones, will help!
Hillbilly Bill - No, silly boy, I used my bazooka! Just kiddin¡¯, actually we use glue boards, since we have stupid dogs we can¡¯t use poison. However, someone in the area must use poison because one afternoon, we (me and 2 youngest daughters) were leaving to go to a school program and lo and behold, betwix me and my van¡..was an extremely large, sick rat and we¡¯re talkin RAT here - not a mouse, not mice, a rat, an It Came From Another World Rat, a Creature from the Rat Lagoon rat¡.it was huge!! It just looked at me with those big buck teeth and dared me to get two girls (one of whom was now screaming like¡a little girl) past it. So, I put the kids back in the house, drew myself up to my full height (now, I know this is going to disappoint ya¡¯ll, cause you thought I was a tall, willowy blonde, so sorry) of almost 5¡ä2¡å, grabbed a broom¡.and well, it was pretty ugly and for a while it was touch and go, but let¡¯s just say, Wit the rat killer won¡.

Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 09:35
bird-dog ¨C at 09:26 ¡°Now, I do have many misc. cans of meat that I hope I¡¯ll never have to dig into. not complaining though.¡±
It just so happens I have canned ham and velveeta sandwhiches for lunch.

Watching in Texas ¨C at 09:44
I like Spam! Well okay mostly I just like to sing the song from Monty Python¡.

bird-dog ¨C at 09:45
that does sound good HB..i like the taste, esp. hot dogs¡ª at this point, it¡¯s not so important. hey, maybe I¡¯ll join you!

Eccles ¨C at 09:51
WIT- Perhaps you might wish to stock a few RPGs in case the rats get further out of hand?

Bluebonnet ¨C at 09:58
WIT - I like Spam, too. Must be a Texas thang!
My preps are bubbling along fairly well. Being from the Gulf Coast, I also have the problem of storage (and rodents) in a hot garage. Can¡¯t do it! Therefore, preps are in the house.
I found that by unpacking some of the food stuffs like ramen noodles, oatmeal, etc. I could put them into kits (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and store them under our beds in plastic containers.
Still stocking up on TP, cold meds, etc. I think I have enough food stuffs - but the OTC meds need to be organized and supplemented. Sam¡¯s here I come!

Watching in Texas ¨C at 10:09
Bluebonnet - we have moved some of our preps to a storage facility that is built out of cinderblocks and I have been amazed at how cool the inside of the building is, we checked when it was 97 degrees and high humidity. Yes, I am a friend of Sam¡¯s as well!

Green Mom ¨C at 10:32
I don¡¯t have the rats in my garage-I have snakes! I had a snake that lived in the soap dispenser of my washer for a while. That one I left alone, it went after the mice that were after the dog food that the lazy dogs left in their dish. I was afraid the mice would chew up expensive parts of my new washer. In a scenario much like WIT at 9:32 I had to go after a snake that some how got into the bathtub, only I had two little kids that wanted to play with the snake. I¡¯m getting somewhat used to the snakes- At least snakes don¡¯t chew through things, nor do they spread Hanta Virus. I despise rodents!

jon c ¨C at 11:32
I saw on CNN this morning that the company that makes SPAM( I think it is Hormel) Posted record profits. They made it a point to say it was because of SPAM sales. I know I helped a lot. LOL

Watching in Texas ¨C at 11:54
Green Mom - we had a rat snake that hung around for a while and took care of our rodents¡.sigh¡.it appears to have moved on. I actually don¡¯t mind snakes, the non-venomous ones that is. I was actually quite fond of one named Lady Hiss. But, with rats, it¡¯s either them or me and I am not going anywhere. I really have a live and let live attitude with most things, but not Rats From Outer Space¡I even attempted hostage negotiations with that one - go quitely, give me my mini-van and no one will get hurt. Fear not the outraged middle aged mommy with the broom, we can be friends, just leave. Did it listen? No, it did not. So¡.I am still here. And the rat is not¡

kc_quiet ¨C at 12:05
Green Mom- makes me feel a little better about the two snakes son has lost in the house over the years. Just a little.

Kathy in FL ¨C at 12:49
Hi all. Bought some additional food items at wallyworld yesterday. Its not hard to rack up a large grocery bill for the month with a family of 7 so buying almost double really pinches in the budget area.
But I¡¯m feeling a little better about food. I still have a lot of little odds and ends that I¡¯d like to fill the pantry out with but could make do with what I have right now for some time (3+ months or more) if we had to.
I wouldn¡¯t say there were too many completely wiped out sections of the store. Certain brands were empty but not a specific type of item was completely unavailable.
Noticed that food item prices are continuing to increase at an alarming rate though so even if no H2H in the near future, I figure I¡¯m ahead of the game financially by eating and rotating our stores of food.
Anyone know a good, inexpensive source of powdered sour cream? This item would make things unbelievably more varied as far as recipes.
Water barrels can be had for about $15 each outside the city ¡ check for places selling empty pepper barrels. They are food grade and just need to be cleaned out before use.
I want to defrost my freezer this weekend and refill next week if possible.
Still needing to stock up on some paper goods and office items. Thought I would have more time to squeak it into the budget. If I can do it earlier though I will ¡ but food for a family of 7 comes first.

Watching in Texas ¨C at 13:13
Kathy in FL - I just got back from taking one of my daughters to the doctor and don¡¯t worry - you have all the time in the world to prep, because this is ¡°much ado about nothing¡± according to the doctor. Oh, it will happen sometime, but not right now, nothing to worry about, go on about your business, the CDC is watching all of this, no worries¡.hmmmm¡.now I remember¡..this is why I don¡¯t ask anyone what they think about H5N1!

Mari ¨C at 13:13
Here¡¯s a recipe I just tried out, Pinto Bean Cake. The beans just disappear, and what you taste are the fruits & spices. Very filling! (I used cooked up dried beans, with the same proportion of liquid to beans as in the pot, and a 1/4 cup additional flour high-altitude adjustment.) I tried it out with a glass of non-fat dry milk that was really OK, not what I expected.
At the Big Lots store I saw a stack of Kleenex that had a plastic add-on advertisement that they killed 99% of viruses, though the small print said that no testing with actual viruses had been done! We¡¯re probably going to be seeing lots of attempts to make money from us.

jt ¨C at 14:14
Finally got around to buying a shotgun yesterday, hopefully won¡¯t have to use it. But feel better having it just in case! Also got clothes line and pins at walmart . Also noticied that if you mention God on this site , they are quick to remove your input. Why is that? I wonder.

Melanie ¨C at 14:24
jt,
It¡¯s been our policy from the beginning that this site is to be friendly to those of all faiths and none. Religion has been discussed here from time to time, but we don¡¯t allow prosylatizing or arguments which clearly favor one tradition over another. This mod holds a master¡¯s degree in systematic theology, so we are hardly unfriendly to religion. This forum is simply not the place to discuss it. There are other boards for that.

Dusty ¨C at 15:05
Dropped by Walgreen¡¯s today and got alcohol swabs (on sale), eye droppers and some OTC meds. I noticed that the aisle ends had full displays full of bf (not hurricane ¡ª I¡¯m in FL) prep products such as handgel, respiratory and flu meds, gloves, masks etc. Interesting that the store is being proactive.

Green Mom ¨C at 15:19
Kathy in Florida at 12:49- Have you tried yogurt in place of sour cream? In many recipies you cant tell the difference. Ive been doing my own with powdered milk and a thermos-there might be a recipie on the thermos link(?)

Lily ¨C at 15:51
Some rabid racoons being reported. Snakes don¡¯t bother me, had a big one under the front porch, a large black snake by the stream. Lift up a flower pot, and depending on its size your likely to see a very good sized garter snake, a toad or some other critter, that I wouldn¡¯t dream of distressing, usually have them upside down, but they find ways in. I passed a Costco and didn¡¯t stop, end of the month, too many charge accounts to pay, plus house insurance and all the rest of lifes little irritants, like paying for what you buy after you¡¯ve eaten it. Have to sit down someday and think sensible thoughts. Saw the Kelly Kettle, and it looks interesting. From here on in its only things that I would need for survival. I really think the powers that be are starting to let it filter through. The news casters don¡¯t seem worried, but they aren¡¯t as smug and dismissive as they were a few months ago. Of course I watched American Idol, the very first I ever saw. The winner so mediocre, the show actually entertaining. Today stopping at a rest stop that was what I heard, Watched American Idol, over and over. I like that. Life as entertainment. I think it is getting out there, slowly. People are hearing it over and over. They may prep and never admit it.

DennisC ¨C at 16:55
For today¡¯s prep, I will be getting a few jars of baby food for the ¡°sick room¡±. If one of us get it, some baby food, ensure, pediolyte and some items like that may be useful.

Felicia ¨C at 17:07
I bought silk long johns for my family today from Winter Silks (on sale, but still pricey). My thought is that it will be de rigeur as a first level if we¡¯re without heat. Silk insulates well and it¡¯s easy to handwash and dries quickly.

Desertstar ¨C at 17:32
Lily, you write the best posts on the wiki.

Lily ¨C at 17:58
Thank you, desertstar. Just read in the local paper that the gangs are moving into our idyllic rural area. Blood, ms13, the crips, the Latin Kings. 2/3 under 17 and thinking it glorious to die for what they beleive in. I wonder what that is? Frightening. Those weird scenarios I was thinking about, but didn¡¯t think would happen here, just might. The library is giving away a lot of donated new age tapes.Has anyone heard of the Oracle Chamber in the Hypogeum at Hal Saflieni, Malta. It looks incredable. One of the world¡¯s oldest temples in a chamber created for sound. Plus arab tapes, and a few others. I like weird things, and being a liker of the far out, I often come across it accidently in my travels. Synergistic.

Jane ¨C at 18:52
I stopped at the local newsstand this afternoon and found some good stuff I think. Probably overdid it.
Back Home mag:¡±Homegrown Water Storage¡± and ¡°Organic Pest Control¡± and ¡°Diatomaceous Earth¡±
Communities mag:ommunity Survival During the coming engery decline¡±, Preparing for a post-carbon world,Peak oil and Community Food Security, and Living the (almost) Petrol-free life
Home Power mag:the hands-on Journal of home-made power: Inverter efficiency. scads of ads for solar equipment. 12/24 VDC refrig and freezers, for ex.
Mother Earth News: ¡°Easier plumbing with PEX (a plastic pipe) Organic soil-building plan. Declare Energy independence.
Sorry about the lack of consistency in punctuation-I¡¯m rushing and should be cooking dinner now.

Rosie ¨C at 19:10
Dusty 15:05, I have noticed that at my local Walgreens as well, hand sanitizer, mucinex, pseudophed on the endcaps. They also have a pretty sweet deal on bottled water but with a limit this week. I found jarred nuts on a ¡°last chance¡± sale with exp dates in 07 for a quarter of regular price last time I was in.
Today I watered the garden. That was all I could fit in prepping wise today.

Melanie ¨C at 19:14
I made up a list of clothes to get for SIP in three seasons. My wardrobe is pretty shabby, I look like a grad student, and don¡¯t think living in sweats for months will do much for my psychological state. No, I won¡¯t be wearing heels and hose in front of my computer, but all of my jeans are ratty, my sweatshirts are old and not stuff I¡¯m going to want to face in the morning if times are tough.

Eccles ¨C at 19:17
Melanie- Perhaps you need to retain some of the rattiest stuff so you can ¡°pass¡± in public as one of the uprepared, so as not to draw undue attention to yourself.
My wardrobe seems to consist of only two modes, ¡°Saturday night fever¡± and hain Gang¡±. Perhaps I need to find something in between.

Lily ¨C at 19:20
Get some nice colors that look good on you, and make sure the jeans are stretchy. You want comfort and a lift if you look at yourself in a mirror.

Melanie ¨C at 19:23
Eccles,
I¡¯m pretty much hain gang¡± only and Lily¡¯s suggestions are helpful. Since I never throw anything out, the rattiest stuff will be washed and folded and stuck in the back of the closet.

Woodstock ¨C at 19:26
Today is cleaning day: Friday. I cant leave the house once i start as i wear my cleaning clothes. I¡¯m afraid folk would start throwing me coins! Maybe i should keep these clothes for if the balloon goes up!

Lily ¨C at 19:28
I¡¯ve worn the same shade of lipstick since 2001, and since 2001 other women ask me what color and brand. Revlon, the green plastic tube, Champagne lilac, only its pink. I don¡¯t know why but I feel good when I have it on. Other shades, so so. I buy two whenever its 2 for 1 at CVS. One of these days they won¡¯t make it any more. I may have a lifetime supply by now.Other women love it. I won¡¯t say anything about men.

Woodstock ¨C at 19:31
i finally found replacements for my purple john lennon glasses that broke! I feel like myself again now. So if TSHTF at least i can look at the world through almost rose coloured glasses :) I bought 3 pairs¡just in case!

lauraB ¨C at 19:35
Denis c- have your kids try the pediolyte first before buying large quantities. My kids (and many others) hate the taste. Gerber makes a much better version and now they even have one that has no flavor at all that you could add to someone¡¯s favorite drink to encourage tehm to drink.
Melanie - I just went out and got many of us new underwear for the same reason! Well, okay, the boys needed new anyway (they are boys after all), but I thought I needed to replace my old cotton regulars for a few more interesting ones! And chain gang works for me - I¡¯m on the floor with kids all day.

Lily ¨C at 19:39
We all have these little psychological lifts. For some reason Woodstock loves her purple john lennon glasses. If I wear another shade of lipstick, I feel strange until I find my green tube and then all is sunshine. I remember the guy from Kiss who went to England to form a rock group from some English music students for a reality show. He goes back to California, and he points up at the sky, See that, he says, for you in England, that¡¯s the sun. So for Woodstock its purple john lennon glasses, and for me its Champagne Lilac (really a hot pink) lipstick.

Lily ¨C at 19:43
Does anyone else out there have these must have items?

anonymous ¨C at 19:43
We have bought a bunch of Carhart double front work pants and some heavy duty work shirts. Also a couple pairs each of work boots. I guess if one was to have to wash the same clothes over and over again over a year these would hold up better.

jon c ¨C at 19:44
oops. anonymous-19:43 That was me.

Urdar-No ¨C at 19:51
nopower: experiment with salted water in your frozen bottles, it will keep them frozen much longer.
If you are worried about losing food in the deepfrece, and If you have the room for it, add large plastic botles with salt water, it may save your food long enough to get the el back.. or buy you some time to eat it all ;)

Lily ¨C at 20:01
Todays most important prep. I googled up the Bloods the Crips, Latin Kings, and MS-13. I think MS-13 might be the most important to watch out for in my county. I thought of them as big city hoods, now I¡¯m not so sure after reading our local paper. It might be a good idea to know a bit about them if you have any gangs in your area.

anonymous ¨C at 20:05
If anyone is thinking of acquiring firearms - not something to be done lightly - check out your local laws RIGHT AWAY. Some states require extensive paperwork, or long waiting periods. Some places just plain don¡¯t want law abiding citizens to have guns - much neater for the politicians to have only criminals and victims. If you want to have this option, start the paperwork early. Of course, if you don¡¯t know when ¡°early¡± was, that might complicate things a tad.
Most places, starting the papers does not mean you HAVE to purchase a firearm - but check that out, too.

jon c ¨C at 20:09
We are in Arizona and MS-13 are really bad guys. They are responsible for every type of crime you can think of. They make the Bloods and Crips look like boy scouts. We had them when I lived in Kansas too and they would run people out of neighborhoods and control whole blocks.

Lily ¨C at 20:14
Yes I read about them and my blood ran cold. I thought the Russian Mafia was bad, but these are out to get anyone who gets in their way, police, anyone. I am going to look quickly at tatoos now, never gave them a second thought. God knows some of the gentlest people I¡±ve known have art work all over, blue hair, mohawks and god knows how many peircings. These MS-13 are the ones smuggling in the illegals, they do anything and everything. Even the Mexicans are afraid of them, and in Salvador just having a MS_13 tatoo will get you thrown into jail.

Chesapeake ¨C at 20:14
Kathy in Fl at12:49¡some sour cream¡pricey though http://tinyurl.com/h...

Rosie ¨C at 20:17
Ive never even heard of MS-13 but I live in a small town. Who the heck are these guys?

Melanie ¨C at 20:19
If you are going to buy firearms, please, please, please learn how to use them. You cannot just buy a gun and stash. You are a danger to yourself and your family if you are not trained and practiced with a weapon, practiced at least a couple of times a month on a range. You will have the weapon turned on you unless you are trained and practiced. A weapon is a tremendous responsibility.

Lily ¨C at 20:21
They seem to have started with Salvadorians, primarily East Coast. They are completely ruthless and violent. Google them up. I just glanced and felt chilled. I¡¯m going to check them out again, more thoroughly. I think they might be the most evil. Are you in the East?

Rosie ¨C at 20:31
No, Im in Utah.

Kathy in OR ¨C at 20:34
Dennis C I got baby food the other day too. I bought the book the Can Opener Gourmet and the author Laura Karr uses baby food in many of her recipes. She likes them because they have no additives or preservatives. I thought it would be a way to add real banana flavor to Bisquick for a quick bread. I bet Kathy in Fl. Has a lot of ideas on other uses.
Melanie with all your spare time maybe you could come up with some SIP Elegant Loungewear. I would be your best customer. :-) Is this another common theme for folk on the wiki ¨C our stay at home clothes are not the best? I¡¯m trying to write this with many disruptions and a splitting headache so I hope my attempt at humor is not falling like a rock.

Lily ¨C at 20:34
They started in L.A. and Southern Ca. they are considered Americans most dangerous gang. Called Mara Salvatrucha 13. Started on 13th street in L.A. Evidently they are all over and spreading fast. Cold blooded killers. They move in where gangs aren¡¯t an issue and before authoriti

Flu Preps 4 (IV)

Bronco Bill — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 15:23:37 GMT

28 May 2006

BroncoBill ¨C at 23:44
Old thread was getting long fairly quickly. You¡¯ll find it here.
This is the all new, much improved (faster) Flu Prep page¡

29 May 2006

Melanie ¨C at 00:04
Thanks, BB.
Have at it campers.

giraffe ¨C at 00:09
H. Bill at 22:40 ¡°By looking at the purchase dates on the cans, it was obvious that February was when I had a major meltdown. Was that the Iraq clusters, or BF in Nigeria? ¡° So funny! As I was rearranging items on my new shelves, I noticed many of my preps had Feb. dates and was asking myself the same question. I have made several large grocery runs lately and DH is catchin¡¯ on¡because when I bring a car load home, he now asks-what happened on the wiki today? His agency is attending training for bird testing this next month, so he is becoming less passive in his quest for info.

Melanie ¨C at 00:11
The mods have started taking meltdowns into consideration in our conferences because two of us had them this week. YOu are not alone.

BroncoBill ¨C at 00:12
Melanie ¨C at 00:04 --- AND!! I did the markup without the spaces! :-)

BroncoBill ¨C at 00:33
I noticed many of my preps had Feb. dates
Remember this about expy dates ¡ª they aren¡¯t all written is stone. The USDA, FDA and others have required for several years (at least in the US) that nearly all products sold in retail grocery outlets have a reasonable expiration date placed on them. Things like milk, eggs, meat¡ªthings that you KNOW will spoil rather quickly¡ªmake sense to have these dates. But on some other things¡ªdry goods, powdered chocolate, soda in cans¡ªthe expy dates are there simply to satisfy a gov¡¯t mandate.
You can reasonably assume that dry goods will generally last well beyond their expy dates, as long as care is taken in their storage. Canned fruits and vegetables, as long as the cans are not badly dented, or rusty, will last years. Same with powdered items like Quic chocolate mix and powdered milk.
The best example of a silly expiration date? Honey. It has an expy date, but what they forgot to add is that honey NEVER goes bad. It¡¯s the only food to have this property.

Melanie ¨C at 00:35
See, Bill,
If I can figure it out, it isn¡¯t hard.

giraffe ¨C at 00:51
B.Bill, I write the purchase date on all of my preps for a quicker (and easier to read for failing eyeballs) indicator of which items to rotate sooner out of my stash. I was thinking i must have done some heavy duty shopping in Feb., as I was noting all of the Feb. dates while rearranging preps today. If I read Hillbilly Bill¡¯s post correctly, he was saying the same thing¡and that there was probably something significant that occurred in Feb. My husband can always tell when something new occurs on the h5n1 front, by the frequency of trips and how the car ¡°sits¡± upon the return from said shopping trips.

HillBilly Bill ¨C at 09:18
¡°how the car ¡°sits¡± upon the return from said shopping trips.¡±
My little Subaru has come home dragging its tail on many occassions!
BB: Like giraffe I write the purchase date on the can with a Sharpie marker. That way I know at a glance which ones to use first. There are very few cans marked January left on my shelves but a LOT marked February. All of my expy dates are well into 2007.

anonymous ¨C at 09:51
I¡¯d start a separate thread on ideas for how to deal with meltdown when you read upsetting news here, but I don¡¯t want the Wiki to meltdown from too many open threads.
Anyhow, when I¡¯m stressing a bit too much I do the following
1) Pull weeds in the garden by hand (or hack them to bits with a hoe). Nothing like a little healthy aggression vented onto the right thing. This calms me and also gives me a sense of accomplishment.
2) I take a look at what I have on hand and REALLY focus for a minute on what I ALREADY HAVE. I remind myself that some people have NOTHING put aside for any kind of emergency. Then I think about what I need to get for a later supply run, remembering what I do have already.
3) Go read a book, test out a recipe, plant a new crop, test a preparedness item ¡ª it¡¯s not just about having stuff on hand, you need to have some KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS too.
4) Do household chores. Even if a big awful pandemic is coming, laundry still builds up, dishes still need to be washed, trash still needs to be taken out, dogs still need to be walked etc. Better to stay caught up with mundane household tasks now while you can. Oh and aggressive cleaning is good exercise.
5) Do something mindless now and then ¡ª it¡¯s okay to take a break from preparing once in a while. Escapist books, TV, movies, video games aren¡¯t off limits.
6) For those who are into it, exercise isn¡¯t a bad idea. I get plenty in gardening (I do a lot by hand) but I know others like jogging, lifting weights, yoga etc.
7) Go out and buy something that will give you more peace of mind. This I think you should do only after you have done #2, taking a deliberate visual inventory of what you have on hand and #3 learn to use what you already have. Mindless buying isn¡¯t as helpful to preparing yourself.
8) Rediscover your sense of humor. Laughter and joy still matter.
9) Consider sharing SOMETHING with someone else. This doesn¡¯t have to be preparations or information about bird flu. Just go have a chat with a friend, share a meal with your family, mail a funny card to someone you care about.
If you all have more ideas on how to combat preparation overload, post away!

Kathy in FL ¨C at 09:55
Actually writing/checking purchase dates on cans, etc. is a good exercise to see how quickly you are using your preps up or if there are certain areas where you are using them faster than expected.
I realized that somehow my family¡¯s normal consumption was going up ¡ it was incremental but I couldn¡¯t figure out what was happening.
Then I realized all of my estimates for groceries was still based on what I needed last year. Sound strange? Well, as commonsense should have dictated, but which I didn¡¯t notice until I really started watching the purchase dates ¡ I added a teenager and a 2 year old, both of whom are high activity boys. My oldest son turned 13 and the baby started eating regular ¡°meals¡± though admittedly small. I didn¡¯t notice the difference at the grocery store because budget items shifted around and because I was already dealing with rising food prices. I attributed everything to rising food costs ¡ but when I looked at actual consumption ¡
Stable family size and ages ¡ as in they are all adults or are all already teenagers ¡ should have an easier time of it.
However, if you have growing kids ¡ watch how much you are prepping. Take into account ¡°growth spurts¡± when they can¡¯t seem to get enough to eat.
Also, if you have a house full of junk food junkies, you are going to have to deal with changing eating habits and finding ways to detour the calories they normally consumed in junk food to healthier food choices ¡ and make sure to have those food choices stocked.
Like I said, in hindsight this was all commonsense ¡ but it never hurts to take a second look at what and how much you are prepping to get a realistic expectation of how long your preps will last. And don¡¯t go by servings on the can ¡ they are too bogus for most families.

giraffe ¨C at 10:13
Great ideas annonymous!
I can¡¯t really say that my prepping is a result of a meltdown. I came on board pretty late in this endeavor and am playing catch up. One thing that I think I do need to do is to sit down and write some menu plans out and attempt to determine how many months I actually have. My guess is that currently I have about 3 months of preps. April and May have been extremely busy months for my family, so consequently shopping was usually for only bare essentials, plus we ate out a lot. That, in itself, could also account for most of my goods have placed-in-stock dates from Feb.
H.Bill¡I am so glad I am in such great company!

AVanarts ¨C at 14:09
Talked my wife into ¡°trying out¡± our new wind up flashlights. We went into the dark basement and took a tour of the ¡°stash¡± using only the light from the windups.

STH ¨C at 14:26
That¡¯s tricky business, giraffe, trying to figure out how long your preps would last. I¡¯ve never been able to do it, since there seem to be so many unknown factors in my case. My parents aren¡¯t prepping (unless you count the two cans of Spam as prepping), so I have to factor them in, but I don¡¯t have a good sense of how much food they normally keep around. And what I cook and how I cook it would change if I were feeding them as well as myself . . . .
It bothers me a little, since I don¡¯t like unknowns, but I don¡¯t see a way to do it that wouldn¡¯t be a massive pain in the butt or involve so many assumptions as to be useless.

Kathy in FL ¨C at 14:51
If your parents aren¡¯t prepping then they can¡¯t dictate what you are storing. Not being nasty, just we can only do so much to accomodate those we care about in the event of a crisis.
Keep prepping for what you normally would. If they suddenly need to depend on you then they will have to just ¡°be happy¡± with whatever you have prepped.
If your goal is one person for three months then adding two adults means your preps will only last 1 month.
And I assume that they wouldn¡¯t come to you until their own regular pantry was empty ¡ so you ¡°might¡± get another week or two out of what you are prepping, but I wouldn¡¯t count on it.
Just do the best you can and anyone that suddenly becomes dependent on your will just have to appreciate what you are sacrificing on their behalf.

Lily ¨C at 15:01
Getting a big laminated world map from Barnes and Noble to keep trap of all natural and unnatural events from here on in. Use postums to mark it up. Concentration is now my mode of buying. A good Sicilian lemonaid and sour cherry mix, and lemonaid and blueberry. A little satisfies, so a two fifty bottle takes less space and adds more to taste satisfaction. Will try diluting it with mineral water and plain water. Will get a baby pool. Suddenly its summer. A day ago I was wearing layers, today a short sleeved blouse. So keeping warm was a priority before, now keeping comfortably cool is.

ssol ¨C at 15:10
My wife and I are storing a number of our food inventory in the basement. It is not finished - an old hand dug basement that is cool year-round, 55 in the summer, 45 in the winter. I run a dehumidifier because it can get damp for 2 or 3 months during the year. We have our buckets of provisions from Y2K there. We still use them and they seem fine. What we want to do it store canned food there but I want to coat the cans with something to prevent rust. I am not sure what to use that is neutral. I know not to use Rustoleum! Any ideas or links? Thanks.

anonymous ¨C at 15:12
I have heard of people dipping cans in paraffin wax to prevent rust
http://www.endtimesr... shows pics of this!

deborah ¨C at 15:22
Keeping my garden going is high on the list for me now. I have a lot of the nice basics in it that will dry and can well, plus I plan on freezing some things. I now have a small greenhouse to keep it going longer when fall comes, plus it will let me start it earlier next spring.
I can do laundry when power is out, and not have to get in a tub and stomp around. Thank you Lehman¡¯s, gotta love some of their stuff.
Slowly stocking up on meds for my dogs (heartworm, fleas, other parasites) and food. I figure the meds are most important for their health, if things get really bad they can always eat rice and beans with us. I will just leave out the onions in their portions!
Thanking god every day that there is just me and my husband to prep for, plus assorted pets. I have enough on my plate to worry over without having the concern for small children or teens to care for also. I have a lot of sympathy for those of you who have children and elderly to care for. I know there is a lot of love in the bargain but there is so much worry as well. Hugs to you all!
It is nice that since starting to prep in earnest, I now have so much less worry in my daily life with respect to the ¡®what ifs¡¯ that are out there in the world. Thank yous from me to all here who helped me to get to this state of mind, you were a godsend and still are. I have a few major items I still want, but if I don¡¯t have them my world will not come to an end even if a pandemic hits. We will be comfortable, and that is all that really matters.
Mainly all the prepping now is replacements and normal stocking up when bargains are seen. I am sure you all can relate to that, hehe. A good bargain in my sights, and I can swear I hear it calling to me ¡®buy me! buy me now! and buy LOTS of me!¡¯ LOL

flourbug ¨C at 15:28
Kathy in FL ¨C at 09:55
Good point about increasing appetites. I¡¯ve been figuring on my seven year old¡¯s eating habits going up geometrically in the coming years, but really didn¡¯t figure what lifestyle changes might do to the rest of us. If my husband can¡¯t spend 18 hours a day sitting in front of a computer he¡¯ll hit the exercise equipment instead and work up a much bigger appetite. On the other hand, I¡¯ll probably be less physically active and need less food.

HillBilly Bill ¨C at 15:33
To help supplement the snack foods, I have been buyinh popcorn and storing it in the freezer. We used to use the microwave variety, but have been making it the ¡°old fashioned¡± way lately for practice. My granddaughter was amazed this weekend when I made a batch, she had never actually seen popcorn pop and she is 9 years old. Maybe a pandemic will eventually lead us to a kinder, simpler existence.

DennisC ¨C at 15:42
HillBilly Bill ¨C at 15:33 - granddaughter
You need to take her camping and fishing and then spend the evening showing her how to find the north star. Even camping in the back yard will be remembered for a lifetime.

Oremus ¨C at 15:47
Some of the amounts of food I see other preppers talk of having stocked had me thinking that they were stocking for more people than I (15) or for a longer time (6 months min.).
Having expanded my spreadsheet this weekend to include caloric content, I realize I am not as prepped as I thought. ¡ª sigh!
I have stocked just over one million calories of food. Visually, I thought I had enough for 6 months, and now mathematically realize I have enough for just over one month.
I need five million more calories!!!!
Sam¡¯s, Krogers, and Wally-world¡¡. Here I come!
If you haven¡¯t started prepping yet, please do; It¡¯s later than you think.

MissBliss ¨C at 16:16
I was picking up some things at the grocery store yesterday to make potato salad for todays BBQ (celery seed in potato salad is wonderful!) when I grabbed 4 gallons of water and some more TP. Hubby said, ¡°jeez we don¡¯t need more water!¡± Well I whipped out my ¡°1 gallon per person per day¡± math and floored him. We bought the water! LOL!

30 May 2006

preppiechick ¨C at 01:42
Ok, this may not be the place but I am panicked now, realizing that I have taken too much time getting ready. My plan is to go tomorrow and at least buy enough rice and beans for one year, for a family of four and 1 dog. I have been trying to do the ¡°plan for a month and add on¡± bit, so I do have things to spice it up and oil, etc. I do still need more water, too. I am sorry if this was addressed in another thread, but I couldn¡¯t find it. My question is what is the minimal amount of JUST beans and rice one would need to survive on? I think that it is a 5 to 1 ratio of rice to beans for a complete protein and know that you don¡¯t need 2000 calories a day, but I can¡¯t find any answer here or on the net as to what someone should store as a minimum. Thank you for any help ¡ª I appreciate all the help I¡¯ve received so far, mostly from lurking!!

anonymous ¨C at 08:04
preppiechick How many months are you preparing for and how many people???

Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 08:21
preppiechick ¨C at 01:42 You will also need some source of fat to supplement the beans and rice. I suggest lard, it is cheap and shelf stable.
This weekend I got the majority of my garden planted. We have had a cold, wet spring that has delayed planting so some crops are going to go right up to the first frost date. I hope to build up our canned goods over the summer while we are basically eating out of the garden.

DonJuansOtherDaughter ¨C at 08:34
Old fashioned popcorn has been the big hit here the past few weeks too!!!! Kids love it I¡¯ve also been putting in my garden its a busy time of year. But my carrots and peas and potatoes are all up. got to get my corn in today.( Black flies are insane)

AVanarts ¨C at 08:35
preppiechick, it¡¯s 3 to one for rice (or most other grains) to beans. The exception is corn which is 5 to one.

HeatherinVT ¨C at 08:49
My fiance and I went to Costco Friday night after work and we bought $400 worth of food. A Huge bag of rice (which I have to find something to put it in)peanut butter, canned vegi¡¯s (corn, greenbeans, diced tomatoes), canned fruit, a large can of tang, a large can of powdered gatorade, a large box of individual packaged instant potatoes, a box of indiv. various jams (the kind they have on the table in restaurants, crackers and several other things that I can¡¯t think of right now¡.but my prepping (for only starting about two weeks ago) is really coming along.

lbb ¨C at 08:53
Heather, get the storage first next time ¡ª as it gets warm, grain moths can be a real problem. Meanwhile, if you can make the room, put that bag of rice in the freezer to deal with any problems it may have brought in with it.
Still looking for a cheap source for buckets¡

Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 08:54
DJOD: I got eaten up by deer flies while planting yesterday. Repellant didn¡¯t even faze them.

Green Mom ¨C at 09:27
I took a break from prepping over the weekend-helped my state of mind tremendously as I was also having severe meltdown last week. Did A LOT of gardening! Weed whacking is a great stress relief! Put in a pool for the kids. Husband was going to build a solar oven, but he did the pool instead-thats ok. We really needed the pool first. Kids loved it, it was huge hit. It got really really hot all at once! Read some Jane Austin I love Victorian Novels and Gothics- just give me a good windswept heath, an old estate, dinner clothes, a broody man with a secret past, throw in a family ghost-ahhhh. Also went to see Davinci Code- I also love historical conspiracy Novels. (stopped at Big lots on way home and picked up a few preps-just cant totally get away from it!) Had family come over for big Cookout/sleepover first part of weekend. Did some Memorial Day stuff yesterday.
This morning-(after fluwiki) I¡¯m rethinking preps/prepstorage. Space is at a premium-we have a small house. I¡¯m also looking into the beans/rice/protein/calorie thing- last week I dug out some old ¡°seventies save the world eat vegetarian¡± cookbooks. They have a lot of protein/calory charts-am going to do a web search for updated info. Kathy from Fl is spot on about increasing food amounts. My 15 year old son is out of school and started mowing lawns /gardening work for extra money-good night! What that guy can eat!!!! He ate half a loaf of bread before supper! (Like, half an hour before supper) I¡¯m talking long loaf of French bread, then ate more than husband and I combined! Then an hour later came around looking for dessert!
I¡¯m vegetarian, we eat mostly vegetarian meals,(because I¡¯m the cook) but husband and son are not vegetarians, though they happily eat the beans and rice. (they happily eat just about anything as long as its food and somebody else cooks !) But they uasually get lunch out and then its hamburgers, or some other meat thing- I¡¯m thinking now about canning some ground beef/chicken/ turkey for them.
Preppiechick-if your considering the beans and rice route-a very good one IMO I¡¯d start now and gradually work into. Thats not a diet I¡¯d start all at once under stressful conditions-it can really play havoc on your digestive system. Canned beans are easier to digest-I suggest you start with those, then split peas and lentils.

HeatherinVT ¨C at 09:30
LBB- I have a huge freezer so I will move things around so that I can put the rice in the freezer for awhile to kill any bugs it might already have! Where can I get food grade buckets (My fiance said we could use the ones that spackle comes in but I told him they had to be food grade)¡?

lbb ¨C at 09:46
Heather, I have heard that you can sometimes get food grade buckets from restaurants or bakeries ¡ª they buy their supplies in these buckets and then don¡¯t need them afterwards. I haven¡¯t tried this yet but it¡¯s worth a go, given that the buckets are neither free nor cheap. Other than that, you can either buy via mailorder from one of the Disasters R Us stores, or you can look for a restaurant supply place that sells retail ¡ª they¡¯ll have these.
I wouldn¡¯t turn down the spackle buckets, though ¡ª if you¡¯ve got good lids for them, they can be used for non-food items that you want to keep water- and critter-proof, like tissues or TP or personal care items.

amak ¨C at 10:03
Green mom (and others!!) - was right there with you on the meltdown thing last week. I am actually going to TRY to keep myself off the wiki this week, except the news, which I am limiting myself to number of times I check. (Keep telling myself I am not changing the outcome by checking more or less..) I too can tell my meltdowns by a surge in items purchased at the same time. :-( oops.
But I am really having a perspective problem. A prespective on how much is really enough - a family of 4 - 2 adults, one grade schooler & a preschooler. I¡¯ve looked at LDS sites and many other lists provided here on food storage & am trying to note everything we use/eat, etc. and have just come to conclusion that we are unpredictable!! And then to prep for these things we don¡¯t use regularly or at all - masks, alot of the OTC meds we could possibly need but fortunately never used once for the kids. And bags - I know people say ¡°lots¡± of bags - I keep wondering what the border line of ¡°lots¡± and ¡°obsessive¡± is :) And I hate to admit it, with all you people who just know exactly what you are doing with canning, and growing gardens - but I don¡¯t have any of that - I am reading books like crazy but feel like I don¡¯t have enough time to really get over the learning curve in time to save my family with this. I am late bloomer for prepping and trying to get to comfort level - I have tried to get the rice & beans thing to a good level, but also alot of prepacked foods too. Not for lack of my trying to change it, but the kids are such picky eaters. If do figure if TSHTF, they will eventually eat what is served because the other option is starving. But I don¡¯t want everyday to be like that if I can help it.
Anyone have any advice for me??? (And yea, I am going out shopping again in a bit¡)

malachi ¨C at 10:11
Amak¡.I have been gardening since I was a kid and one thing I have found thru adulthood is if You plant it it will probably grow¡I do alot of summer festivals and preparing for them and have planted many a garden I did not really have the time to tend to.Usually they grow some food,albiet not as much as if I had tended them right.Put in the seeds and plants.There now you are a gardener¡

Eccles ¨C at 10:16
Amak- For a change of pace meal I think your kids will like, try ramen plus angel hair pasta. A package of Ramen plus about a fifth of a box of angel hair cooked in about 2¨C1/4 cups of water makes a very filling and tasty meal for a couple of kids for about 20 cents worth of storage food. It is not very nutritious, so I would only use it occasionally, but it is someting that would be something else for them. And it gives them enough calories to get to the balanced dinner you serve later. Ramen noodles can usually be gotten for less than 10 cents a pack on sale. I have several cases of them stuck aside for just such a change-up.

Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 10:26
Another Ramen meal that my wife and I like is to cook a pack of noodles in hot water, then saute with soy or teriyaki sauce to make a mock Lo Mein. Add whatever leftover veggies you might have on hand if you want. For the most part, nutritionally bankrupt, but filling and satisfying.

amak ¨C at 10:32
Thanks for the ramen ideas - I do have a few 12 packs of those tucked away - also in the category of things the kids won¡¯t eat, but if the choice is starve or ramen noodles, they better learn to eat it! :-)
I did actually plant some seeds which have sprouted - I guess I need to replant now - if I ever get any food off this it will be surprising¡

HeatherinVT ¨C at 10:34
lbb- all good ideas. Thank you!

Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 10:40
HeatherinVT: I have gotten several nice food grade storage buckets from the deli in my local supermarket. Ask them to save them for you, and make sure to tell them you need the lids as well.
I store my rice in cleaned out kitty litter buckets. After freezing and thawing the rice, I pack the 3lb bags rice in their original bags into gallon size ziplock freezer bags, then pack these in the buckets. I get 24lbs of rice per bucket.

Eccles ¨C at 10:57
Bill- I decant 20 pound bags of rice into canning jars. Either a dozen quart or half a dozen 2 qt sized jars do it for the 20 pounds. I lid them and screw it on tight, freeze and then store them. I have yet to meet the critter that can gnaw through a canning jar, and, if I remember correctly, they aren¡¯t supposed to sieze home canned foods. I would hope that if it ever came to that, the canning jars full of rice would not qualify for that.
Of coure, if things came to that, then OY.
Speaking of things coming to that, my wife expressed doubts as to whether one really wants to stock up on trade goods. her point was if you were in that situation and trying to trade, you would most likely run into someone like ¡°Beardy¡± from Lost (the ABC series), who would more likely than not say ¡°That¡¯s good. But the thing is, you gotta give us all of your stuff.¡±

NJ Jeeper ¨C at 11:03
Eccles Or even worse, follow you back home, find out where you live then come at you for all you have in a night raid. I am not planning on trading, unless it would be to help out a very close neighbor, and then would be very careful about it.

preppiechick ¨C at 11:05
Thnaks for all of the help so far. I guess that I wasn¡¯t clear, in my haste last night. I have been buying for a while now, but just doubling up what I was buying.I do have things, in small amounts, like ramen noodles, canned tomatoes, soup,sugar, flour,salt, etc. I do have vegie oil, crisco and olive oil (no lard, heard that makes really good piecrust and biscuits- last thing I need is to use that now and get hooked !)
My idea, for today, is to go out and buy the total amout of beans and rice needed for us to survive on, for a year -if thshtf, and break up the monontony with the preps that I¡¯ve already accumulated. Just looking for an inexpensive way to take care of my family today, and then go bck to adding other stuff as long as I can.
Also, get the best storage that you can. I live in a nice suburban area, of a good sized city and last night I opened my spice drawer and found that a mouse had gone thru and ruined a lot. Especially fond of the little gel things for writing on cakes. GROSS! But made me realize that if conditions change, we¡¯ll be in thier territory and our food will look and smell very good to them and others. They ate some plastic things, so now I¡¯m rethinking my rummermaid storage. Also, I don¡¯t have freezer room to debug rice - any other ideas? Thanks again!

Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 11:07
Eccles: Your wife has a point, but then again those types can possibly come around whether you have anything to trade or not. Maybe someday I will be at the point that I am stashing away pints of liquor and young coneys packed in cherry brandy to trade for non-mutant females of breeding age, but that is not in the immediate future.

amak ¨C at 11:18
Preppiechick - I have been thinking along those lines also - just one a day item - how much do I have & how much do I really need of this item to get through 3 mo,6mo, a year? My problem as stated earlier is the things I don¡¯t really use & can¡¯t figure out - gloves, masks, etc. Today I believe is canned beans day and more water.

preppiechick ¨C at 11:35
Amak- I can¡¯t guess amounts, either. My thought is to do the best that you can with those items, but make sure that you have the absolute survival amount of food, first. That¡¯s why today I just want to buy all the rice and beans(and beano!!)to just be able to survive, so that if I run out of time soon, at least I¡¯ll have one year of minimal food to survive.

ricewiki ¨C at 11:43
Don¡¯t forget, that fasting is an option too¡ many people fast once a week, or two days a month. If you go on a ¡°just water¡± fast it can be very healthy and replenishing for teh body - gives the body time to wash away extra toxins. (of course it doesn¡¯t feel great at first, but you really come to appreciate real, healhty food!)

Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 11:46
fasting is NOT an option for those who need to manage their glucose levels.

DennisC ¨C at 11:47
Yes, water is number one. No water, no life. You can cut back on on food and loose weight but you cannot do without water. If you do go with just rice and beans- be sure to include a bottle of multiple vitamins.

LMWatBullRun ¨C at 11:51
Have said this elsewhere but it bears repeating- Get a copy of ¡°making the best of basics¡± by James Stevens. Far and away the best food storage book I have read. Has checklists, calculation sheets, about everything you need to decide how much to order of whatever.
Walton Feed in Idaho has the best prices I have seen for the stuff in Stevens¡¯ book.

preppiechick ¨C at 12:02
I do have enough vitamins for a year. Still need to figure the water storage thing- hoping to move somewhere with a pool! Actually, I do plan to get a water filtration thing. I don¡¯t plan on living on just rice and beasn, but I want to get the absolute minimum in stores,NOW, so that I CAN live on it, if something breaks out soon and I don¡¯t have time or money to finish a balanced prep. I have not found any calculation sheet (i.e. provident living,walton feed, deyo, etc. ) that just figures rice and beans. There must be a ratio somewhere, i.e. from the UN or PeaceCorps or religious organizations, that provide survival amounts to third world countries. Again, any help is greatly appreciated as I am making a sams run in less than an hour!

Kathy in FL ¨C at 12:02
HeatherinVT ¨C at 08:49
If you go to Costco you¡¯ve probably seen the large plastic barrel looking containers full of cheese puff balls or pretzels. Well, the one with the puff balls will hold 20 lbs. of rice.
And no ¡ you don¡¯t want to know how I figured that one out. LOL! Suffice it to say that the story has a two year old, a playdough knife, and a burlap bag of rice with a hole in the bottom of it in there.

OCDintheOC ¨C at 12:07
btw, Walton Feed is *really* slow. I placed an order several weeks ago and then two days ago I finally got an email acknowledging the order, asking if the shipping cost was okay, and then stating that my order would be filled in another 2¨C3 weeks. And this was for a very small order. I¡¯ve seen another very similar complaint about Walton on the wiki as well so not at all sure that I would recommend them.

preppiechick ¨C at 12:26
I ordered powdered eggs from honeyville and they were very quick and very helpful. I got my order delivered in less than a week!

Green Mom ¨C at 12:41
For folks with kids- when I try to get my kids to try something new, I used to make up just a little of the new dish with a side of one of their favorites-say a soy dog, (new thing) with lots of Mac and Cheese(big favorite at our house)
or a really fab dessert
or call it something else-my kids wouldn¡¯t touch quiche, gobbles down ¡°vegtable pie¡± don¡¯t even tell them-but you have to be sneaky about this. My kids ate tofu for a month before they relized what it was, I just put little bits in things and gradually increased the amounts.
Preppiechick-I¡¯m doing the same thing you are-making sure I have basic rice and beans first, then filling in with other things. And heres a help-if you keep reciepts, go back and look at grocery recipts for a month or so and see what you buy. If you don¡¯t keep reciets, you might want to start! I have also been marking things with a bit of tape and sharpie-¡°bought this on 05/15/06¡å and see how long it lasts. Ive discovered oatmeal is lasting longer than I thought, but we are using more flour and oil, than I thought. Dogs eat more, cat eats less than I had calculated.
sometimes they will surprise you-we inadvertantly ran out of milk over this last weekend-unexpected company, and my son went in the pantry, found powdered milk, mixed it up and poured it on his cereal, said it tasted ok-especially since we were out of milk! I never would have guessed he¡¯d go for powdered milk¡.
Of course, now my kids are older-12 and 15-they eat anything that dosn¡¯t move¡.

deborah ¨C at 12:47
preppiechick - it seems no one has addressed your issue, so I will attempt to for you. I will go with your earlier statement about 4 adults. I will ignore the dog in this, as I don¡¯t know the size or caloric needs for it. I suggest buying a year¡¯s worth of inexpensive dog food, unless you can afford a higher quality one. The dog food will most likely be infested with weevils or moths, so while you are out, purchase 2 large metal trash cans as you will be needing to store the dog food in your garage.
You should probably count on 1600 calories a day per person of the rice and beans. With what you will add from fats and your current stores, I am sure that will come to 1700¨C2000 per day. Keeping in mind that you need a 3¨C1 ratio of rice to beans, and you asked specifically about those items then:
You need 1200 calories per day from rice, and 400 calories per day from beans. Navy beans have 80 calories in 1/4 cup of dried beans. Rice has 150 calories per 1/4 cup dry rice.
You will need 1 1/4 cups dried beans and 2 cups uncooked rice per day per person, which for 4 is 5 cups dried beans and 8 cups uncooked rice.
Per pound of dried beans, you will have 3 cups of beans. Per week for 4 that adds up to 11 2/3 pounds. For a year 11 2/3 x 52 weeks= 606.32 pounds. I would vary the beans as navy beans for a year would get mighty boring!
To make things a bit easier regarding the rice, you will have 50.5 cups per 20 pound bag. Per week for 4 you need 56 cups. So for a year that equals out to 2912 cups, or 58 20 pound bags or 1160 pounds of rice if my math is right.
I couldn¡¯t find my calculator so had to do this all quickly by hand, excuse any mistakes. The calorie counts are accurate, I got those directly from bags I have in my own storage. You can redo the math to see what the exact total is.
As others have stated, you will need to kill any insect infestations by freezing, You cannot skip this step or you will end up with inedible foodstuffs. What I suggest is buying 5 gallon plastic buckets and lids from your home improvement store, and ordering mylar bags online. Place the rice and beans into the mylar and seal. If you cannot afford the oxygen absorbers, you can get the majority of the air out by using a vacuum sealer. An inexpensive version can be found for about $39 at Walmart.
Place a mylar bag inside a bucket and fill it. Use the vacuum sealer to remove the air then seal the mylar. This will make sure you have the maximum amount in each bucket. Place the lid on the bucket to seal it, then freeze the bucket and contents for 3 days. If you cannot fit the bucket in your freezer, you need to place just the mylar bag with rice or beans in the freezer. You can seal all the bags as soon as you start the job, then place as many as will fit into your freezer for the required time. Keep rotating bags out, sealing them into buckets, then new bags in until you have treated all your beans and rice. It will take a lot of time, so be patient. By removing the air and sealing the bags, you remove the potential of infesting your foods. The best way is with the Oxygen obsorbers. That removes enough oxygen that any bugs inside can¡¯t live for long, if at all. Plus it extends the storage life of your food stores.
I hope this helped. Again, make sure you have fats and spices and other things to make your diet varied. I would get a lot of dried onions and garlic to help also. Don¡¯t forget some vitamin C, either tang or chewable tablets. You will be needing them on a limited diet.

deborah ¨C at 12:51
Someone with a calculator check my math, as I may have figured incorrectly.

Jane ¨C at 13:16
Nuts add protein and oils, and peanut butter is good in many ways, with honey, with soysauce and cayenne pepper (maybe with something sweet and something sour-honey and lemon juice, say) as a sauce. Also cheese for calcium, protein and fats. Kraft makes a canned cheese, 8oz. for about $3 from Internet Grocer. Haven¡¯t tasted it yet, but others here liked it.

DennisC ¨C at 13:18
preppiechick ¨C at 12:26
same here- I figure that the powder eggs will be good for 3,5,10 years or better. scambled eggs and rice is not to bad. I also have tried the eggs with the ¡°bacon bits¡± added- that works OK. Even if there is no H2H in the US, I think that the price of eggs will be going up and this is an easy way to be ready. I also got some of their(Honeyville) smoothie mix- you got to have some fun ¡.. That,dried fruits and M and M¡¯s will be my ¡°comfort foods¡±. I normally don¡¯t eat much chocolate, but I wanted to boost my calories when needed. You can do a lot of recipies with powdered/canned millk and powdered eggs.

NauticalMan ¨C at 14:01
Some folks out there are prepping for sure, as have noticed that the lag time for dehydrated/freeze dried foods is now fairly long. Have been trying to order a small amount every month or so and it has been 3¨C4 weeks before they ship most of them, and the time has increased for each order I have made, some companies take longer than others. All in all have been pleased with the products sent, but still waiting for a few back ordered items from most of them, to include 21st Century Food Storage and Emergency Essentials, have got all my ordered items from Survival Acres, they all are very responsive to emails or problems, great companies, IMO. Meyers also has been great, seem to have the best prices for MREs. If you can take the heat, the Tasty Bite line of Indian foods are great, try them from markets then order them by the case if you like them, also the Trader Joe¡¯s equivalent line. And TJs is a wonderful place for gourmet preppers on a budget!
Heard they have battery powered fans at Walmart, dread no power in Summer even here in New England, as my house gets very hot after a couple of scorching days, might have to move to the basement in a pinch. Still not enough batteries, are there ever enough? Crank LED lights, LED lantern, fluorescent one also, old kerosene lamp, candles, but thinking of one of the Aladdin oil lamps, has anyone experience with the Aladdin? Noticed that there are about 100 different variations of that one, brass, glass, nickel, etc. Too many choices.
Dennis C, have tried stockpiling chocolate and nuts also, but seem to have a problem with them as they tend to disapear during stressful times (which seems to be more frequent these days, but will try again.)

Eccles ¨C at 14:10
Perhaps one of the chemists in the group could explore the apparent increase in the vapor pressure of chocolate when it is placed into storage. It seems that it is a universal experience that storage chocolate evaporates long before it is needed. This needs to explained.

NJ. Preppie ¨C at 14:24
If you are stocking for a year, consider if there is a loss of electricity, what will you be eating? Dried beans take a lot of time and fuel to make. Consider the safety of having a portion of your beans in canned beans,-refried,pea/lentil/bean soups, chilli, baked beans, etc. I don¡¯t want to get stuck eating raw rice and flour, so I¡¯m getting a no-cook supply of food, beyond the normal cook-type food. Where will you be cooking if there is no power? Outside grill or inside wood stove- which will be more secure? I think to be prepped for a bad year, I need to take the next leap and get a wood stove. However, it¡¯s not the type of thing you can keep in a closet and pull out if you need one. I would have to install it, and there¡¯s never a great place to put one, if you don¡¯t have rural decor.

BroncoBill ¨C at 14:32
Ahhh¡the disappearance of chocolate in storage. This is caused by a super-secret cocoa-sensing government satellite. This satellite circles the globe, searching out preppers and their stashes of consumable chocolate in any form.
The best way to keep your chocolate from being appropriated by this satellite is to first: wrap each piece, individually, in 27 layers of aluminum foil. Second, wrap duct tape at least 3 times around each piece. And third, melt at least 47 pounds of paraffin wax, and dip each piece into the wax a minimum of 45 times, letting the wax harden between each dipping.
This will, in effect, protect your chocolate from this nefarious satellite, and preserv it for at least the next 250 years. Of course, each 1-inch piece of chocolate will now measure approx. 15 inches square, and weigh about 4 pounds.
IMHO.

lauraB ¨C at 14:46
Bill - you and your conspiracy theories! In order to evade the gov¡¯t chocolate sattelite, make the fudge recipe off the back of Fluff jars. It¡¯s super-easy, very rich (don¡¯t need a big piece) and freezes well!
I 2nd the slowdown at Waltonfeed - I got the same message OCDinthe DC got from them - I ordered three weeks ago and they are still saying 2¨C3 weeks to ship. Honeyville was quick and at my door in one week. Cans are enormous though - take up a lot of space. Walton has lots more items but the wait is crazy.

DennisC ¨C at 14:47
NJ. Preppie ¨C at 14:24 I have a propane stove- but my back up is a Kelly Kettle and a thermos. You can cook rice, barley, oatmeal, soups in them. The Kelly Kettle is pricey, but it doesn¡¯t take much fuel- a hand full of twigs to boil your water, then just pour in a thermos with the rice and wait. In reality, I have some Sterno cans and homemade fuel ¡°gels¡± that I can use. I have almost all my Beans in cans. The reason is that at my altitude it takes a half day to cook them even if soaked a day.
But the bottom line is don¡¯t forget water and cooking fuel. I don¡¯t know if we will be entirely without utilities for months but I do think there will be ¡°outages¡± of days and very slow repairs to the grid.

Swann ¨C at 15:24
Thanks deborah! That was helpful.
DennisC: Have you tried making Chinese fried rice out of your rice and eggs? You can find the seasoning packets in the ethnic foods section.
Are you guys freezing your chocolates? I plan on storing M&Ms and Snickers bars.

Eduk8or ¨C at 15:42
My prep this week is to clean closets¡. I¡¯ve been putting this off for almost 3 years now, trying to get a dissertation completed¡ but no more, I¡¯m hoping that a morning of cleaning closets will make working on the dissertation more appealing! :=)
In reality, I¡¯m looking for more room for my preps and while I¡¯m confident I have 4¨C6 months of most foodstuffs, manufactured products, and medical supplies for illness, I¡¯m not so confident in clothing for my growing children if we SIP over next winter and spring.

Hide-in-the-Hills (and wait) ¨C at 15:49
ABOUT COOKING DRIED BEANS: I built a super insulated (styrofoam sheet between two wooden boxes) with a super-insulated Lid to fit my biggest soup pot. This works great with dried beans. Soak the beans. Bring to a boil and set the whole pot with lid into the box and place its lid on. Leave on a few hours and the beans are done or stew or rice or you name it. THIS SAVES PRECIOUS FUEL!!!

DennisC ¨C at 15:50
Swann ¨C at 15:24
down here it is Mexican fried rice with black beans - and some chili

Swann ¨C at 15:56
I have only recently discovered the great taste of black beans¡we make taco soup frequently. Do you use scrambled eggs in Mexican fried rice?

DennisC ¨C at 16:00
Hide-in-the-Hills (and wait) ¨C at 15:49 I am at 9000 feet, my problem is that water boils at a much lower temp so it takes forever to cook dried beans even when soaked for the day before.

DennisC ¨C at 16:25
Swann ¨C at 15:56
the tradition here is an egg over easy on top of your rice/black beans.
but scrambled eggs and a beef burrito is a nice meal. Tortillas are not too hard to make. They also make breakfest burritos with eggs. refried beans (from dried powder) is also normally on the side. (these things are regional and depends on who the cook¡¯s mom was but there are a lot of ¡°real Mexican¡± food places here in New Mexico cook by undocumented Mexicans).
Some where there is a thread about beef (fry then dry in oven and freeze). You can make a lot of ¡°Tex-Mex things¡± with beef, rice, beans (black, refried, pinto), tortilla, and spices- Not to mention the Velveta and tobasco sauce + peppers. I can find all the Mexican spices I want here, but I still haven¡¯t found any chutney. You can also make the dishes with canned chicken instead of beef.
My neighbors include a Nat¡¯l Forest and an Indian Reservation. There are a lot of things like fried bread and native plants that can be added. THere are a lot of ¡°ethnic¡± homecooking meals around here but like any homecooking, it all depends on who the cook¡¯s mom was.

tjclaw1 ¨C at 16:55
BroncoBill ¨C at 14:32, while your method might keep chocolate from being found by government cocoa satelites, what about the ¡°chocolate¡± detection canines utilized by the chocolate SWAT teams? hee hee You know, those dogs are trained in associative odors, such as duct tape and aluminum foil! Oh my, our precious chocolate will never be safe:(
For the Tex-Mex crowd, don¡¯t forget to add Rotel Tomatoes to your stash. I bought a case at Sam¡¯s club recently. Will add to Velveeta for a cheese dip with homemade tortilla chips, or add to chili for an extra ¡°kick.¡± Also plan to buy some Louisiana Hot Sauce to my stock - may make the dehydrated scrambled eggs a little easier to swallow, and I use it as a dipping sauce for quesedillas. I recommend you practice making flour tortillas before you need to make them. I found unbleached flour tastes better. I have a griddle that fits across two of my burners, or on my outdoor grill, so I can cook 2 at a time. Also use this for pancakes.

green Mom ¨C at 17:08
If you Tex-Mex types could do some canning-there is an excellent ground beef in tomato sauce recipie in the Ball Blue Book that goes with all kinds of TM foods-good chutney recipies too.

NauticalMan ¨C at 17:57
Thanks to all for the solution to the chocolate evaporation problem. That explains it! My solution to evade the SWAT team Chocolate detectors is the old fashioned scent killer/coverup, GARLIC!
NJPreppie, in regards to using a wood stove as backup cooking in case of power failure, have an old one myself which could be used for heat and cooking, but would not want to fire that big monster up in warm weather, besides which my wood supply is small, limited to emergency heat use. My solution was a single burner butane stove, uses small cans of fuel. They are popular as a tableside burner for making things right by the diner such as Steak Diane etc. Mine has almost 10k BTUs, will boil 2 cups of water in just a few minutes, available many places, got mine through kingbutane.com, fuel very inexpensive, read somewhere that puts out little carbon monoxide, but use with ventilation anyway so as to prevent oxygen depletion. Last item on my food prep list is probably going to be a bread machine. Reading up on them now. Not enough room in my small freezer for more than a few loaves of bread, and the alternatives like Cheerios make an awkward sandwich! Any preppers using one, I would welcome your comments.

Galt ¨C at 18:35
Nautical man @ 14:01
The battery powered fans at Wal-Mart are not bad (in the camping section). Mine was about $12. Says it will last for 24 hrs on 8 D batteries.

BroncoBill ¨C at 18:42
Eight D cells?!? That¡¯s a lot of batteries over a period of 3 months¡
BB goes shopping for more batteries¡

Jane ¨C at 19:05
Walmart also has $1 ¡°keychain¡± fans, 2 AA batteries included. The blades are foam, so painless if they hit you. It makes a very strong breeze! Maybe I¡¯ll get some more. It¡¯s about 6¡å by 1 1/2¡å so it could hang off a belt loop by its metal clip.
I bought a Coleman LED micropacker lantern, for $10. It uses 3 AA batteries and is about 7¡å tall. There¡¯s a sliding reflector and a (rather delicate) folding handle. Run time ¡°up to 125 hours (test used fresh alkaline batteries).¡± Batteries are included. It¡¯s cute, too, and looks sturdy overall. I haven¡¯t pulled the tab to try it, though.
Also bought 2 folding 5 gal. water containers, so we¡¯ll have 5 more days of water even if it doesn¡¯t rain. So now we have water for 50 days, for 2 people, if we drink from the plastic garbage cans. Filtered, I suppose.
The camping aisle at Walmart looked cleaned out today, so I got alarmed, but turns out they are moving the contents to a bigger area.

preppiechick ¨C at 19:32
Deborah-
THANKS! I already left when you wrote and just got back! Of course, I now feel even more unprepared even though I bought another 50# bag of rice- they didn¡¯t have any dry beans. How on earth can I store that much - ugh! As for chocolate, I coincidentally bought 5#s of tootsie rolls. The expiration date is 2008, it was only @ $5.00 and I can resist them a lot easier than Ghiradelli¡¯s! I also bagged them and stuck the bag in some large metal coffee cans - my kids don¡¯t even know that we have them! Thanks again for all the hard work - I¡¯m sorry that you had to do all that calculating (my least favorite subject!) _I was thinking that there was a formula already out there. Well, now to figure where to put all that rice!

Galt ¨C at 21:05
Bronco Bill @ 18:42 I agree. That¡¯s a TON of batteries and is one of the reasons for considering rechargeable batteries, solar charger, etc. Am very concerned about the potential for Alabama heat though. Today it was 92F here, with heat index of 97F. Humidity is 52%. Just lovely May/spring weather in AL.
Anyone have any experience with the ¡°Dollar Store¡± batteries? Last time I was in, they had 4pk of Panasonic D cell batteries for $1, exp. date 2010. They weren¡¯t alkaline; they were described as ¡°heavy duty.¡± Anyone know if these are actually any good?

HillBilly Bill ¨C at 22:03
¡°The camping aisle at Walmart looked cleaned out today, so I got alarmed, but turns out they are moving the contents to a bigger area.¡±
Reminds me of the time I flipped out when there were no 5 gallon gas cans.
¡°Anyone have any experience with the ¡°Dollar Store¡± batteries?¡±
I have used them and for the price they stack up well against name brands.

DennisC ¨C at 22:28
Galt ¨C at 21:05 92F here
Ha, Ha, the high was 76 here -humidity 28%. (NM at 9000 feet) But it will be in the low/mid 50¡äs tonight.
I just have a small muffin fan linked to my 12V solar array/battery. I have a second on in the sick room to keep it negative pressure from the rest of the house.

STH ¨C at 22:54
DennisC, you might try ethnicgrocer.com for the chutney. They have all kinds of foods from all over the world. Here in Washington state, you can get 10 different kinds of chilies, masa, and corn husks in grocery stores, but I like to cook Thai and Middle Eastern food, also. I can get things like lemongrass and halvah (mmm!) from ethnicgrocer that I can¡¯t buy locally.

GetNReady ¨C at 23:01
Preppie-I understand your concerns completely..I too purchased rice and beans first using my non mathematical eye estimate for three months..just so that if tshtf I could feed us..but also am nickle and dime¡¯n the other supplies. I just completed three months of breakfast this past weekend. Now onto lunches..(almost there as my daughter could live on ramen noodles with green beans..she eats green beans as a snack.)We now eat out so much I have plenty of room in my pantry for preps.

STH ¨C at 23:10
All the talk about summer heat got me thinking that my current home improvement project might help some other apartment dwellers. My very creative sister (who watches WAY too much HGTV) suggested that I screen in my little apartment balcony. I¡¯ve ordered a roll of fiberglass screen from the Home Depot website and we¡¯re going to screw a board to the overhang, staple gun the screen onto it, then staple the other end to a board placed on the floor of the patio (I¡¯m a little hazy on the details because my sister is the handy one, not me).
This will create a little sleeping porch for summer nights¡ªa lot cooler than inside the apartment if the AC is off! And the cats will be able to come out on the balcony with me, which it isn¡¯t safe for them to do right now. (I wouldn¡¯t do this if they were kittens that would try to climb the screen, but they¡¯re all grown up.)
My sister and I are doing this on the cheap (screen was $35 or so with the shipping), but the Lowe¡¯s website has instructions on how to do it with fancy little dealies to hold the screen¡ªmore expensive and involved, but it looks like it would be bug-proof, more or less.

Galt ¨C at 23:13
Hillbilly Bill¡ªthanks for info on Dollar Store batteries.
Dennis C @ 22:28--Wow, 50F, that¡¯s what we call a blizzard here! (ha)

Swann ¨C at 23:17
DennisC at 16:25 - Thanks for pointing me to Tex-Mex ideas; my cooking style is southern country (fried chicken, cornbread, collard greens) :) I need to widen my horizons.
Look for chutney in the aisles that have olives, relishes, pickled onions¡usually find it on the highest shelves.

Elisa D ¨C at 23:51
I have done so much with prepping for food and water¡.now is the fun stuff¡..
I have purchased solar lights, they will not be really bright when brought inside at night but we wont have to rely so much on batteries¡¡¡which I have tons of. I have also bought a solar shower at Wal-Mart as a luxury item:) The nice one for 97.00 (its not ¡°nice¡± now but it will be then:)) Also bought the portable toilet. I think that was about 100.00 too. I wanted to get that just in case h20 got low and we needed the water. All of which we will be able to use when we go camping.
I think everyone should have some luxury items. If this is really bad when TSHTF and we have a really long time to SIP these simple ¡°luxury items¡± will be a huge deal then!! Chocolate is next on the list:)LOLOLOL
I have got to check out Honeyville¡.I have read so much in these forums about all that you can get there¡.gotta check it out.

Flu Prep 5 (V)

Bronco Bill — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 15:44:53 GMT

02 June 2006

Oremus ¨C at 00:03
Old thread Todays Flu Prep IV was getting long.

lauraB ¨C at 06:30
Some local companies in my area seem to be taking notice of an opportunity. I just got a flier from the company that services my heating/ac and they are now selling stand-by generators. And the local tractor/lawn/light equipment company is selling portable generators.
I¡¯m stressed about getting more done before my older two get out of school for the summer. My poor toddler keeps getting dragged around from one errand to the next. Glad she is oblivious to what I¡¯m buying.

malachi ¨C at 07:01
Last school day for my kiddos today.Noticed a flyer for a food auction here next week.Never saw that before.A semi full they say¡I will be going for sure.

Kathy in FL ¨C at 07:07
Whatever is going on with H5N1, regular life must continue. I¡¯m in the midst of about 6 huge projects ¡ not least of which is trying to fix all the damage from the break in and vandalism at our other property. Also, my 13 year old son will be going away from 3 weeks at the end of June on a Boy Scout survival canoe trip.
I¡¯m trying to clean and reorganize so that I can add another round of preps to our inventory. I¡¯m fairly confident I have enough to get by for 3 months for our family of 7. I would dearly love to get to 6 or 9 months before the end of July ¡ but that simply is not happening until I can find more space to store things.

AMIREADY ¨C at 07:16
Don¡¯t know if this is the right place for this request ¡ª but --- where do you buy canned Roast Beef? Thanks

birdie74 ¨C at 07:16
One thing that prepping has ¡®taught¡¯ me, is how to be even more organized and stuff a large amount of things in a small space. My project this weekend is to clean out the kitchen cabinets which are filled with plenty of useless kitchen appliances and more stuff that I could ever use. I¡¯m finding that once I get a closet/cabinet cleaned out, I¡¯m amazed at what I can fit in there!!
BTW Kathy, I just purchased a canner on-line and am planning to start doing my very ¡®first canning¡¯ next month.

Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 08:13
Another trip to Aldi¡¯s last night. I got several cases of canned goods as well as more rice, flour and dry beans, both for at home and for our church pantry. Indo has made me a little jumpy. I also ordered some powdered eggs from Honeyville Grain. I must say they are prompt and very fair with their shipping charges. DW and I had our first salad out of the garden last night which was really nice. The months of July and August we pretty much eat entirely home grown items. I have very few canned and boxed food items left with a January purchase date on them so they are rotating through well.

Watching in Texas ¨C at 08:37
AMIREADY at 7:16 - I don¡¯t know where you are, but here in Texas, you can buy it at most grocery stores. I have bought two brands, one is Hormel and I can¡¯t find a can of the other brand right now and don¡¯t remember what is was. If I find one, I¡¯ll post again with that info. Most stores do not have lots of it - here, it is on the aisle where the canned tuna, chicken, crab, etc is - but you really have to look for it - it¡¯s in a small can, similar to a small can of pineapple in shape. Our store won¡¯t have more than 10 cans of both brands at a time. Let me know if you have any questions, and yes, this thread is just fine for asking that kind of stuff:-)
Good morning Bill - gonna be hot and humid today in my part of Texas. Don¡¯t even wanna know what your weather is like;-) Have those puppies eaten the basement yet?

Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 08:42
AMIREADY: we get really good, inexpensive roast beef in gravy from ALdi¡¯s, but I know those stores aren¡¯t everywhere. Their canned chicken is really tasty also.
Mornin¡¯ WIT! Horrificly hot and humid (at least for here) this week but much better today. Had to buy cages for the puppies while we are at work to preserve what walls were left in the basement. Still, we are losing an average of one household item a day per puppy. Just bought their THIRD set of collars at Wally World last night. Thank goodness they are so cute¡.

AMIREADY ¨C at 08:52
I live in New Hampshire and haven¡¯t found it in my local store. Will look closer in the tuna isle. I have a Sam¡¯s Club about an hour away and have been wanting to take a trip and join. Maybe they have it.
Thanks much everyone

Watching in Texas ¨C at 08:55
Bill- no, I don¡¯t think we have Aldi¡¯s in Texas, at least not this part, but after listening to you ¡°talk¡± about it, I sure wish we did. At least we have Sams. Hang in there - remember: the puppies will get bigger and then you lose larger household items;-)Our chocolate Labrador ate the wiring on my husbands¡¯ boat, and that was after she ate the paneling in the utility room. I¡¯m sure they are adorable though, we say the same thing about our youngest child with special needs - thank heavens she¡¯s such a cutie (our CPS adoption caseworker told us that God made this one cute for a very good reason!!) Do ya¡¯ll have air conditioning? I know we went to Red River, New Mexico one summer during a heat wave - it got up to 95 and no one had A/C, of course it was 40 at night, which helped.

Watching in Texas ¨C at 08:57
AMIREADY - I have not seen it at my Sams, but that does not mean yours won¡¯t have it - I think they are all different. But do try looking again at your local stores, it really is hard to find. Good luck.

Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 09:00
WIT: Don¡¯t dare ever post your address on the wiki or I will ship you both puppies. Didn¡¯t you say your husband couldn¡¯t resist them if he saw them?
ALDI¡¯s is great, my supplies would be nowhere as extensive without them. We are getting a new Sams closer to where I work so that will be good as well.
No A/C at our house, but then there are usually only a few weeks in August when we wish we had it. Lots of shade, usually a breeze, and cooler temps at night keep the house pleasant.

Green Mom ¨C at 09:13
Morning All! Its been hot and humid here too, though we had rain last night and it cooled things off-supposed to be nice this weekend.
This is for AMAK-and anyone else interested from yesterdays post-FEMA units.
I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t know how to do links, but you can go back to Forum Index and pull up ¡°Personal and Family Planning 05 December, posted by Skye at 22.21 theres a whole list of great links for all sorts of things. Under +food+ you will see the address for FEMA units.
or Google
AAOOB Storable Foods
Thats the actual site.
Bill- What kind of puppies do you have? Planning a trip to Aldis tomorrow-Ive only been there once before and thats been quite a while. Anything in particular thats especially good there?- I do know about the cash and quarter.
Eccles- I dug my styro cooler out- it was really grungy and needed to be cleaned up. Prep today is to try the styro rice. I do hope you were not offended by my smart a** car remark yesterday. I live with a couple of motorheads and often feel a childish need to get in a smart remark everynow and then. Its especially childish because I rely on these guys to fix anything and everything mechanical. But they give as good as they get!!!!!
Does anyone know where to get small amounts of powdered eggs? I would like to try them out before ordering a large amount. Has anyone cooked with these? We had chickens until fairly recently and afterwards eggs have been so cheap and easy to get I havn¡¯t thought about powdered ones.
Thanks!

Watching in Texas ¨C at 09:14
Hillbilly whathisname - I am sorry, I have no memory of ever saying that¡.who are you again¡what husband¡.what puppies¡..oh, and did I tell you we were moving soon¡..to an undisclosed island reachable only by canoe during the first weekend of every third month? Signed, no name, no city, no state, no more puppies

Watching in Texas ¨C at 09:16
Green Mom - I have been using the powdered eggs that I ordered from Honeyville and can not tell any difference in recipes. Shhhhhh¡..don¡¯t tell Hillbilly Bill I was here¡.no more puppies, no more pupppies¡..

Overly?Protective Mother ¨C at 09:20
We can get canned beef at our local Walmart. Sam¡¯s around here doesn¡¯t have it. This past week, it was a huge display on the end of an aisle.

Mari ¨C at 09:48
Green Mom ¨C at 09:13 I¡¯ve seen Just the Whites at the Whole Foods/ Wild Oats kind of stores. They are sold by the can (but smaller cans than Honeyville, if I remember correctly).

Eccles ¨C at 10:00
Green Mom- No offense taken. I usually just sit there when my wife¡¯s male bashing friends make remarks that would be hurtful if males had sensors for reacting to those kinds of comments.
As for powdered eggs. I actually like the Honeyville powdered eggs and use them now for real (my wife still insists on the real deal). The only difference I have personally found is in making egg-drop soup, where the powdered egg does not create the threads you seek, but rather creates a cloud of powdered, cooked egg. Still tasty, but not cosmetically what was anticipated.

Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 10:04
Green Mom ¨C at 09:13 I ordered powdered eggs from Honeyville Grain. You can get a can for $10 plus shipping.
At Aldi¡¯s I especially like the ready-to-serve soups (grilled chicken, beef, sirloin burger, etc.) They are hearty and if served over rice, one can would make a meal for 2¨C3 people. I also like their canned chicken and canned roast beef in gravy. The canned corned beef is good also, and a good item to add fat and protein to meals.

Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 10:06
WIT: LOL!!! I¡¯m going to print out your postings and let the puppies sniff them to get your scent¡

Green Mom ¨C at 10:42
Eccles- So glad you weren¡¯t offended. I don¡¯t go in for male bashing-it was the car thing¡.Dh and I are having a bit of a tiff as to just how much to spend on vehicles. We don¡¯t have cable, but latly he¡¯s been getting these mysterious packages wrapped in brown paper¡ Curiosity overcame me-a wifes gotta do what a wifes gotta do. Just as I suspected-his brother has been sending him tapes of ¡°Monster Garage¡± Ive also caught him using the internet to download photos of re-built cars. He disappeares when ¡°Car Talk¡± comes on-but I can hear it through the closed doors. I am beginning to suspect that the family station wagon really doesn¡¯t need a turbo charged suspension system. :-)
On another note- $10 for a can of powdered eggs is not too bad-probably quite a bit cheaper than Whole Foods which can be pricey.

Eccles ¨C at 10:46
Green mom- I learned a long time ago that my wife does not consider household appliances or things of that nature to be ¡°Gifts¡± on gift-giving occasions. Yet she persists in buying me tools and electronic gadgets on those occasions when she is giving me ¡°Gifts¡±. Turns out, that¡¯s OK with me. I suspect if I were ever to do sometiing like give her a vacuum cleaner, a team of surgeons would labor for 5 hours to remove the wand from where she ends up putting it.

DennisC ¨C at 10:50
Green Mom
Yes and the can is equivalant to 170 eggs - good deal and by a year from now, eggs prices will be up as they cull chickens.
I like to have them in the mornings with some of the ¡°bacon bits¡± in them.

Galt ¨C at 11:37
Eccles @ 10:46
LOL, LOL! Spoken like a happily married (and wise) man.

MAinVA ¨C at 11:46
Becaue of recommendations on this site from all you wonderful people, we ordered 2 of the canned powdered eggs from Honeyville, along with some dried fruit. QESTION: after opening the can of eggs, how do you store them? Glass jars? Zip lock bags? Thanks!

Oremus ¨C at 11:58
The plastic lid on can. They can be stored for a year opened. Unless it takes you longer than a year to go through 170 eggs; try mason jars.

TreasureIslandGal ¨C at 12:03
I have a dehydrator. How do you make jerky with meat? Do you just spice up the meat and put it in there to dehydrate or is there somethign you are supposed to add to it to make it last a long time first?

MAinVA ¨C at 12:08
Thanks, Oremus. Forgot about the lid since I¡¯ve already stored the box away.
TI gal ¡ª there are several sites that give you receipes for making beef jerky. I was reading up on them yesterday and now can¡¯t find the site address. Just google ¡°Beef Jerky recipes¡±

Ange D ¨C at 12:17
I hate to tell you guys, but the much anticipated ¡°CIVIL UNREST¡± has begun. ;-) lol! Hubby and I went to a large store last night to stock up on items for emergency health kit. Every month we always purchase an extra gigantic bag of dog food to squirrel away . . .¡±just in case¡±. On the way to the cash registers, we stopped off at the book area and picked up a stack of books to read for June. (It couldn¡¯t have taken more than 2¨C5minutes. Turned around and the dog food is GONE out of our cart! And there is a mother and what look to be her 13 year old child, hauling up the aisle towards the cashregisters with a 44 lb sack of OUR DOGFOOD. They had the gall to look back at us and laugh. Unbelievable.
Being the refined, positive, peacemaker type of person that I am, I start sprinting up the aisle loading my brain with all sorts of un-peacemaker choice words to share with these pariahs of human society. Hubby catches up with me and told me that I looked like those films of the North Korean soldiers parading before the government CEO¡¯s over there, hopping and moving in jerky steps.
He said he would rather get another bag of dog food than have me start the first episode of civil unrest over preparing for a possible pandemic.
I HATE simple solutions . . .AND, I think it¡¯s good to be prepared before anything happens. I am horrified, I could be dangerous if someone took a can of tuna or a roll of toilet paper out of my cart. ;−0

FriscoParent ¨C at 12:56
I have some good news. My sister who lives with me is actually helping me buy prep items now. She buys a case of water every week and she bought some n95 masks as well. Also she bought a bottle of Vodka to store away. My son helped me organize a closet this morning. He rearranged all the water, juices and gatorade. This week I just bought more water and canned food. I am living on a budget and so can only buy a little at a time. I worry about not putting enough food away. My son eats for three people and I cant imagine ever having enough food for him. Oh well, beats nothing, right? Take Care all.

FriscoParent ¨C at 12:58
Ange D, Someone taking dogfood out of your cart..OMG! That is pretty bad! What is that parent teaching her child? geez¡.

Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 13:04
Go for Ramen noodles and cheap mac-n-cheese. They may not be his first choice to eat right now, but you¡¯ll both be glad you have them later.

BroncoBill ¨C at 13:25
TreasureIslandGal ¨C at 12:03 --- I have a dehydrator also. Here¡¯s my recipe for making beef jerky:
Fill a 4-quart bowl about 1/2 way with Soy Sauce, and a tablespoon of Liquid Smoke (hickory or mesquite flavor)
Cut as much of the fat off the meat as you possible can. The fat won¡¯t dry, and will turn rancid after a few days. Slice the meat about one-eighth to one-quarter inch thick. Drop the meat into the bowl and let stand for about 1/2 hour.
Put on a pair of latex or rubber gloves, and lay the meat out on the drying trays, leaving about 1/4 inch between the pieces. When empty, dump the soy sauce down the drain¡you don¡¯t want to keep it.
Grind some black pepper over the meat slices in the trays. Place the trays in your dryer and turn the heat up to about 145 degrees. Let it dry for about 18 - 24 hours.
Perfect jerky!! Just remember to make certain the meat is dry!!
You can change the recipe to suit your taste¡

BroncoBill ¨C at 13:32
TreasureIslandGal ¨C at 12:03 --- The recipe above assumes that your dehydrator has an electric fan at the bottom to circulate the air. If not, the meat will have to dry for about 48¨C72 hours. Don¡¯t forget to rotate the trays¡ªput those on top at the bottom, the ones in the middle on top, and those on the bottom in the middle.
Hmmmm¡sounds like an old Johnny Cash song¡

Kathy in FL ¨C at 13:40
There used to be kits where you could make jerky out of ground beef. Not as good as using descent cuts of meat of course but it was cheaper. You would mix the ground beef with the seasoning packet then put that mixture into an extruding tool.
You pushed the trigger and the meat mixture was extruded to be the correct width and thickness for a ¡°log¡± of jerky. My dad used to make it and it wasn¡¯t bad at all, just different.

Lily ¨C at 13:51
Who can resist the good natured guys on Car Talk. I assume we are talking NPR. I get it on my car radio now and then, and its always good for a laugh or two. I¡¯m not a car nut though my husband was, and we had some of the great cars of this generation. He started out with a 37 Packard as a teen and I will admit I enjoyed what he bought too. People were always trying to buy them out from under us wherever we went, a pain, since we knew what they were worth, and a lot of people didn¡¯t. Now my Honda Civic does it, though I hate that the lights don¡¯t go off automatically, and the battery can¡¯t take it. So, A few years back at the Grounds for Sculture in Hamilton I saw two embroidered hankies on the way as art work. One said, ¡°IF you eat you Poop.¡± the other ¡°If you live you die.¡± very profound. So today since I have enough to eat I bought a commode from Walmart. I am alive right now, I think, but I¡¯m not ready to die, quite yet. Sorry, Grounds for Sculpture. Not ready to retype either. On the walls. They have some of the damndest things that they count as art. Not on the order of Duchamps urinal, but close. Its worth a trip, and eat if you can at Rats. or is it Ratties, though the food is fine at the cafeteria, and you eat with one of Manets Paintings in Sculpture. A fop trying to pick up a woman, while the waiter regards him with a jaundiced eye. Peacocks strut through caging a snack.A nice day if you can make it.

BroncoBill ¨C at 14:03
??

Lily ¨C at 14:25
Got a commode, Bronco Bill.

Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 14:25
BroncoBill ¨C at 14:03 - I gave up a long time ago.

Lily ¨C at 14:27
Ah well. I¡¯ll save it for my other writing.

Lily ¨C at 14:28
From here on, its just the facts.

BroncoBill ¨C at 14:47
Lily ¨C at 14:25 --- Your style and grace in your writing amazes me. I missed that part as I read your post. Sorry¡.I¡¯ll read more carefully in the future. ;-)
And, not just the facts, ma¡¯am. More of your calm-ness is what is needed here¡

BroncoBill ¨C at 14:57
HB ¡ª ;-)

AlabamaPrepper ¨C at 15:05
AMIREADY¡ªThe canned roast beef and gravy (in the groceries here) will be with the other canned meats. (As others have said) In Walmart, it is on the top shelf, the Hormel is under $3.00/can.
You¡¯ll find tuna, salmon, and the other canned seafood, then there should be a section of chili, another of chicken, and one of things like corned beef. The roast beef will be somewhere in there, if the display is arranged similar to my local stores.
Another area next to all this will have the Spams, and my personal taste test has found that WM¡¯s house brand is tastier than Hormel Spam.
The canned roast beef can also be found in the various Dollar stores. It will be under different names such as Hereford, but it all comes from the same place.
One thing I¡¯ve found is that visiting a smaller, more local type grocery will let you find things that the larger ones do not carry. For example, an Independent grocery in a very small town south of me carries a vast assortment of dried beans of all types, not just pintos and northerns. All for under $1.00/bag. They also carry the Morton House Gravy and Salisbury Steak, which was a regular item for me to eat years ago. It is $1.69 a can. There are other varieties, which I¡¯d have to drive to a store 40 miles away to get, and gas is too high to do that.
My local big grocery is having a great sale on canned goods¡ªLucks Beans, all varieties are 10 for $5.00, and Margaret Holmes Turnip Greens, and Mixed Greens are $1.00 for a very large can. (They are good, believe it or not!) That, to me is a good meal, rice, beans, and turnip greens. But, I¡¯m a Southerner. :^}
Have noticed the stores are putting out big bags of rice, 20 lbs., and a larger amount of the institutional sized cans.
Plus this; I¡¯ve found a good thing¡ªJiffy Bisquit Mix, just add water. Makes really good buttermilk bisquits. WM doesn¡¯t have it, but the Dollar stores do, 2 for $1.00.
I¡¯ve had a very sucessful shopping expedition the last few days, and am feeling much better with that load of groceries in the cabinets. **GRIN**

AMIREADY ¨C at 15:13
Hi All - Thanks for the great advice. Just got back from a Super Walmart that is 3 towns away and they had CANNED ROAST BEEF!!!!!! Of course since I drove all the way there, I couldn¡¯t just get that. Couldn¡¯t get out the door without filling my cart. Found several things that were on my list so it was worth the trip. Had to clear another shelf for todays purchases. Of course the little chocolate covered donuts will be gone by tomorrow but then it will just be an excuse to go back to the store.
Thanks again.

PBQ ¨C at 15:14
Alton Brown has a wonderful reciepe for jerky. It is at foodtv dot com. Search under Alton Brown or Jerky and the receipe will come up. I have some sitting in my pantry now. I will never make it again because it is expensive and difficult (read time consuming). He said on his TV show that it will last for thirty years but be sure NOT to store in plastic baggie. Good luck and let me know how you like it.

Swann ¨C at 16:16
LOL!

NauticalMan ¨C at 17:09
AMIREADY
Have not tried it, but Provident Pantry brand dried foods, available through Emergency Essentials at bepreparted.com, also carries dehydrated or Freeze Dried Roast Beef, plus the usual dried Chicken, Turkey etc. Sounds like it would be an alternative or backup to the canned goods. Have bought a few brands, but have not tried any yet, as opening a #10 can would leave me with a lot of food to eat.

KimT ¨C at 20:49
bought a home drying book at used bookstore the other day. Home drying veg, fruits & Herbs. has instructions for eggs. copywrite is 1975 by Phyliss Hobsin
¡°combine several eggs in a bowl and beat with egg beater until light. spread in a thin layer on an earthenware platter or flexable cookie sheet with sides. Dry in a warm oven. break into pieces and grind in meat grinder or electric grinder. use the finest blade or highest speed.¡±

Jane ¨C at 21:05
BroncoBill, do you partly freeze the beef before you slice it? I read that it¡¯s easier to cut thin if it¡¯s sorta firmed up by being slightly frozen. (Of course, then it hurts your fingers.)

Petticoat Junction ¨C at 21:23
I scored big today in the container department, yay! I have a neighbor who works at a large food production plant near here. It suddenly occurred to me to ask her if they had leftover food-grade buckets. (I have been slowly accumulating them, one or two at a time, from the grocery store bakery, but have been stressed lately about the increased pace of my preps outstripping my meager supply of containers¡for now it¡¯s harder to find a container than to find $4 to buy 25 lbs of flour at Sam¡¯s, even on my tight budget.)
¡°Well,¡± she said, ¡°I¡¯m not sure, we just have these buckets (showing me some in her garage that were *exactly* what I was looking for). The only other ones we have are a bunch of those big 55 gallon plastic barrels. We just throw them all away, though. Did you want me to bring you some?¡± Although I just smiled and nodded and told her that I¡¯d be more than happy to take as many as she could send my way, on the inside I was doing the happy dance!
Two neighbors down the street were moving out, too¡one gave me about 15¨C20 ft of wire fencing to make trellises for the new raised garden beds I¡¯ve added and the other gave me a huge piece (4¡ä x 8¡ä?) of white plastic trellis. My garden just gained a lot of ¡®upright¡¯ growing space.
My one other unexpected bounty was from someone, not even here in town, who knows I am trying to build up my garden and food storage, but also knows how difficult it is with dh in grad school and four children to feed. Out of the blue, she sent me $100 last night and told me to buy flour, seeds, whatever I needed. (I¡¯ll definitely be needing those containers now!) I was beyond floored, to say the least. I think it¡¯s time to check out Honeyville¡¯s powdered eggs listing. ;o)

Swann ¨C at 23:59
Petticoat Junction: Your post made me smile for the first time today. Thanks for sharing your good fortune with us.

03 June 2006

Swann ¨C at 00:08
Oops¡except for Bronco Bill and Lily, who cheer me up quite frequently! Thanks!

EnoughAlready ¨C at 00:34
Petticoat Junction ¨C at 21:23
WOW!! This is just such great news!! Girl, I am so excited you got those 55 gal drums!! Just¡ WOW!!
I have been checking WalMarts for seeds¡ since Elisa D said they didn¡¯t have any at her local WalMart. WalM in Alvin has tons. Also, the family stores and some big lots. The Stanton in Alvin has a really nice stock of seeds. A little pricey compared to the discount places (just watch the expiration dates), but really good quality. Stanton¡¯s is a old country store¡ grocery, hardware, seed, feed¡ kind of place. Also, I have luck harvesting seeds from bell peppers¡ peppers in general. Also, cantaloupe. (I still have a cantaloupe plant ¡°coming back¡± after 2 seasons!) I have heard alot of stuff about harvesting seeds like this, but heck, if it works¡ it works¡ if not, so what. Also, keep your eye open on garbage day. You will be amazed what shows up that can be used for gardening¡ containers, posts, wire, just all kind of creative things¡ don¡¯t limit your creativity when it comes to things you can use!
I priced those powdered eggs¡ you had told me to look into them and they just seemed so pricey. But, it turns out to be about 70 cents a dozen before SH costs. Considering you don¡¯t have to do any work, it is a good deal.
Congradulations!!!!

EnoughAlready ¨C at 00:46
Vertical Gardening/google search

anonymous ¨C at 01:21
Swann - glad I could make you smile¡it made me smile, too. :o)
EnoughAlready - I got the wire and trellis by watching what people were putting out the night before the trash came ¡then I just got up my nerve to go ask them for their discards, lol. A few weeks ago, the people across the street were going to throw out half a dozen of those metal chafing dish holders that use Sterno; they¡¯d used them once for a party and didn¡¯t want them anymore. They¡¯re safely tucked away in my attic, lol. I hang out on the Freecycle loop, too, but haven¡¯t had as good of luck there.
We don¡¯t have Stanton¡¯s here; sounds like it¡¯s my loss. The WM here has a bunch of seeds, too, from 10 cents to $1.50/pkg, and Dollar General (or was it Family Dollar?) had a bunch at 25 cents each, too. I would prefer the heirloom seeds instead of the hybrids, but at least it¡¯s better than nothing for now. I was at Ace Hardware a few weekends ago and the nursery guy asked me if I wanted some big flats of flowers he was going to have to toss. I said yes but realized once I got home that the real ¡®deal¡¯ was not the flowers, but two heavy-duty rubber/plastic nursery growing flats with 24 of those 4¡å pots in each! I need to call him back and let him know I¡¯d be happy to help him take care of any unwanted flats of half-dead annuals, lol.
Cantaloupe, eh? I need to go back and reread your post in the Houston thread on all the stuff you grow¡it¡¯s just sooo different from gardening in Colorado that I¡¯m sure I¡¯m missing lots of good opportunities.
I¡¯m glad it looks like the eggs will work for you. I did the same thing and thought they were too pricey until I figured it out per dozen. With my windfall from last night, I need to figure out how many to get. I¡¯d like to get the full case but can¡¯t quite decide¡

Petticoat Junction ¨C at 01:23
Oops, that was me¡guess the kids erased the cookies. I feel like Bronco Bill in reverse, lol.

Blackbird ¨C at 01:24
I got 2 cans of eggs from Honey¡ one to try out and one (172?) servinge to store, lomg term.

Petticoat Junction ¨C at 01:30
Blackbird, I¡¯d love to hear how they work out for you. Looks like Eccles likes them, from his post above! :o)
I¡¯m looking back at recipes for homemade ¡®master mixes¡¯ that make pancakes, biscuits, etc and trying to adapt them to adding powdered eggs. I could always reconstitute and add the egg in when I mix it up, depending upon what I was making, I guess, but would like to figure out how much to add in advance if I could. Might have to have separate boxes for whatever the mix would be designated instead, then (mix being made into pancakes would need eggs, but the same mix being turned into biscuits wouldn¡¯t)¡hmmm¡.

Eccles ¨C at 01:41
Two preps today to speak of. With major storms approaching, and conditions potentially developing to get water into the downstairs, I finally decided to actually check whether the hoses I had bought fit the fittings on the 120V and 12V pumps that I bought for moving water around in the event we ever had to harvest water. (Or get it up out of the downstairs quickly). it turns out that everything fit. But since this was the first time I actually tried fitting anything together, I could have been unpleasantly surprised.
Second prep of the day was to have my DSL go out AGAIN. Calling the help desk at before 11 PM got me talking to Timmy the Wonder Tech, who after going through his short script told me I needed to check my router settings. I told him that we had been through this before, that every time they make me take my whole setup apart it eventually turns out to be them, and that I am running an industrial router which up till THEY got hit by the storms had been up for 3 weeks straight. (Only that short because they went up and down like a YoYo one night). In the middle of discussion, the clock turned 11 and I was instantly talking to a disconnected line.
In order to get back on line, I went about connecting my old 56K modem to the router to use the Dial-Up service I still subscribe to. I had been planning to do that one of these days. As it turns out, I lack a Null Modem cable, and the straight-through cable that I have in stock doesn¡¯t work. I have a bajillion kinds of modern cables in stock, but the obsolete stuff, I don¡¯t have that one.
So, as many folks have urged, actually try out your stuff before you need them in an emergency. You will learn many things.
(By the way. DSL is still out till morning, when Eccles will calmly and gently make the service tech¡¯s day a living hell until service is restored. And I am currently running over a dial-up connection using other equipment, improvised to get me running. So I can get things working, but it was really painful, and totally uncalled for.)

Eccles ¨C at 01:46
PetticoatJunction- I really do like those eggs. But you will find that the servings they call for are smaller than the servings I call for, so there are less than 172 servings in that can in Eccles-Land.
One thing I have found to do with the egg powder is to add 2 tablespoons to the dough ingredients for my machine white bread recipe, and it comes out awfully close to Challah. I woulda never thought that 2 tablespoons would make that big of a change in a whole 1¨C1/2 pound loaf, but it does. You may need to add just a smidge more water to feed the egg powder. but you know bread dough, add water a teaspoonful at a time or suffer the (runny) consequences.

Jefiner ¨C at 01:53
I feel your pain, Eccles. Our cable internet has coughed about thirty times a day over the past three weeks¡ªCox tells us it is because of all of the construction going on in our neighborhood. I have had no offers of refunds from Cox yet, but I am beginning to get ticked¡ªdh runs his business from the house, and without Internet he is crippled!
Preps: four more airtight containers, smallish (5#) bags of rice and beans, table cream, miso, hot/sour soup, horseradish (clear your sinuses!) shelf stable cheese, jarred hummus and one lonely package of curry. Tomorrow, off to Sam¡¯s for dog food, meat, tp, and other stuff.

Eccles ¨C at 02:04
Jefiner- I understand your husband¡¯s position completely. the last time this happened on a weekday, and the resulting business impact cost me more than all of my preps combined.

Jefiner ¨C at 02:09
Eccles¡ª
DH has been reading your posts, especially on solar power, and he is *running* with it ;-) (e.e., rf engineer turned magazine publisher turned consultant). We have the solar monster in the making! Thanks for all your expertise!

Petticoat Junction ¨C at 02:44
Eccles ¨C at 01:46 PetticoatJunction- I really do like those eggs. But you will find that the servings they call for are smaller than the servings I call for, so there are less than 172 servings in that can in Eccles-Land.
LOL, I suspect there would be fewer servings in our home too; egg fiends abound here! Do they seem to work out about right when used for baking, though?
It is amazing the difference that egg can make in dough (though I tried to like the bread machine someone gave me and ended up passing it on to someone else¡just something about human contact with kneading, I guess¡). I appreciate the input.
Stil trying to figure out how much to order ~ I¡¯d really like to get a case, but wonder if it would be better to spread the available $ around right now and then go back later (hopefully!) to add more eggs¡.aaugh, the uncertainty!

HillBilly Bill ¨C at 07:14
Petticoat Junction ¨C at 02:44 I bought two cans to start with, one to try and one to store. 170 eggs sounds like a lot but it isn¡¯t really. If we find we like them I will definitely be getting more. Seems to be an easier way to add eggs o baking recipes.

HillBilly Bill ¨C at 07:33
I got up early this morning (puppies were awake at 5:30) so I mixed together a batch of sourdough bread using the Herman starter. I had just glanced through the recipe before and didn¡¯t actually realize it took two days to make this bread. Of course, during SIP, that won¡¯t be an issue. I want to get this bread thing nailed down now while I can still make mistakes with little or no consequences. I¡¯m also thinking about tinkering together an ¡°oven¡± that can be heated with my propane stove, sterno cans, or worse case a wood fire.

Mari ¨C at 09:16
I saw some ¡°just whites¡± powdered eggs at one of the local supermarkets (Raleys) yesterday (they were next to the powdered buttermilk). You¡¯ll do better price-wise at Honeyville, but it¡¯s good to know some are available without having to wait for shipping.

HillBilly Bill ¨C at 09:18
¡°without having to wait for shipping¡±
Honeyville was really quick with my order.

nopower ¨C at 09:27
HBB - I¡¯m seriously thinking of picking up one of these:
http://www.walmart.c...
I¡¯ve baked banana bread in my large grill using 1 burner on medium-low and a thermometer. I¡¯m thinking that this device on a single burner propane stove might use less fuel per bake.

HillBilly Bill ¨C at 09:28
I was staring out the window, running ideas for making a sheet metal ¡°oven¡± throuh my mind when I realized I was looking at the pile of bricks I have left over from bricking the addition to our house. I thought that I could build an outdoor, wood-fired oven out of the bricks. Sounds like a nice summer project. Has anybody seen any plans for something like this? A clean-out door like the one I have on the chimney for my woodburner would make a dandy door.

Petticoat Junction ¨C at 09:53
HillBilly Bill - there are a bunch online; perhaps you could modify them to suit your purposes. Brick Oven Plans
I have a friend who has been known to bake her bread in her closed grill/bbq to avoid heating up the kitchen in the summer. I bake a lot of bread but haven¡¯t tried that.
Hmmm, a thought¡I¡¯ll bet there are camping recipes for cooking bread in coffee cans since I know there are oven-based ones that do the same thing. Generally speaking, they tend not to be yeast breads but it might be worth looking into. (eek, pardon my dangling participle; the baby and puppy kept me up most of the night)
Re: powdered eggs - I¡¯ve looked all over town and have only been able to find a small can at a local grocery chain although people in other cities have found it at Super Target, too. The one I saw here is pricey, though¡about $5 for the equivalent of just under 2 dzn eggs, yikes. They had powdered egg whites, too, but that can had fewer eggs¡¯ worth for the same price.

Green Mom ¨C at 10:08
Wanted to let y¡¯all know that my ¡°styro¡± experiment worked really well, cooked a dish of lentil curry, seperate dish of rice and it turned out quite well. I posted a whole thing about this yesterday but that post has disappeared! I¡¯m really sorry but I don¡¯t have time this a.m. to write it out again, if anyones interested, I¡¯ll do it on Monday. I have a trip to Aldis planned today and lots o gardening since the weather has cleared. Have a nice weekend everyone!

Petticoat Junction ¨C at 10:13
Coffee Can Campfire Bread
More coffee can bread recipes mostly for the oven but could probably be adapted
Coffee Can Casserole & more camping recipes

Petticoat Junction ¨C at 10:14
Green Mom, I¡¯d be very interested to hear about your experiment when you get the time!

Kathy in FL ¨C at 10:49
Hey HB, if you are serious about the brick oven you might want to look here
They have free plans for pompeii ovens and they have a user¡¯s group to help when you have questions. I was seriously considering building one for us, but it only makes sense if I build it at our primary SIP location. Unfortunately I don¡¯t have access to enough wood for it to be practical at that location. I may still build one at our secondary location, but it isn¡¯t a current priority.

Eccles ¨C at 10:50
Green Mom- Mmmmm Styro-food urghhhhhhhhh!
Jefiner- I¡¯m glad that someone is able to benefit from anything I post here. Since your DH is a EE, I¡¯m sure he has done all of the analyses before running with it. I¡¯m not sure if care and feeding of batteries has been covered as heavily as other aspects, so as long as he treats them nicely, your system will do well.

Jane ¨C at 11:10
My supermarkets have dried eggs, egg whites, and buttermilk, too, but they are in foil-lined cardboard cans, not metal, so they have a shorter shelf life.

Dan in MA ¨C at 11:18
nopower @ 9:27 I have that Coleman oven and it¡¯s great. I started looking into it after many failed attempts at making a quality one out of a cardboard box and aluminum foil. I use it with a combo Coleman grill/stove (9921A), the stove burner is smaller than the what the oven was designed for - but as long as you are careful (no tipping) it works great. Watch for clearances or sales - I picked mine up at Sports Authority for less than $20.

NIdaho ¨C at 11:21
For those who feel they need a handgun and are on a low income. I found a 9mm double action from a company called Highpoint for 103.99. This was at Impact Guns in Boise ID.

AVanarts ¨C at 11:31
I have three cans of those eggs from Honeyville. From what I have read here, it sounds like I need to order another case.

Kathy in FL ¨C at 11:50
AVanarts ¨C at 11:31
Rather than throw more money into powdered eggs ¡ though yea, I have three #10 cans myself ¡ I¡¯ve been looking into alternatives.
There are several good vegan egg substitutes like using flaxseed. You can also replace the egg content in some recipes with applesauce or prunesauce.
If you are talking scrambled eggs and souffles I haven¡¯t found a viable substitute other than the powdered eggs, but there are egg substitutes for most other cooking stuff.

PBQ ¨C at 12:23
Kathy in Fl, Love your recipes but I started to print them out from the first thread (Feb. 8th I believe) and it was 172 pages long! I can¡¯t do that many. Do you know of a way to print using less ink? Or some kind of cut and paste that I have heard about but do not know how to do. Very creative stuff on the posts. It reminds me of dinners I used to do but have long forgotten due to decreasing gray matter. The receipes are always such a ¡°spark¡± to read. Thank you so much.

Mari ¨C at 14:15
You can do a File/Save As/Text in Internet Explorer and edit as you please.

I¡¯m-workin¡¯-on-it ¨C at 14:22
PBQ, I¡¯ve been highlighting the text of the recipes I want, copying and then pasting into a Word document ¡ª that way I can change the margins to suit the recipe, etc.

HillBilly Bill ¨C at 14:24
Kathy in FL and Petticoat Junction: Thanks for the brick oven links! Maybe I¡¯ll slap something together this summer. It would be nice to have an alternative that could be wood fired.
nopwower: I think I am going to get one of those camping ovens. Thye are small, but from what I have heard work well.

Watching in Texas ¨C at 15:26
Okay, now I am thinking that 2 big cans of powdered eggs from Honeyville is not going to be enough, so I may have to place another order. I do have one can of the just egg whites that I got at a local grocery store - get this, I thought I might want to make meringue or perhaps a nice angel food cake - I also bought Meringue Powder, just in case. Sigh, the weird things that I think I might want when we SIP¡..

Petticoat Junction ¨C at 15:28
Kathy in FL - we do the ground flax substitute for eggs in baking a lot here when we want to go completely vegan (plus you get the added health benefit of the flax).
For anyone who is wondering what we¡¯re talking about, you can combine 1 Tbsp ground flax (freshly ground has the most nutrients) with 2¨C3 Tbsp of water, simmer a few minutes until it reaches a thick ¡®eggy¡¯ consistency and let cool. Use in baked goods as you would one egg.
Just keep the ratio to make a larger amount: 1 c ground flax to 3 c water makes roughly 16 eggs¡¯ worth of substitute (one egg = 4 Tbsp or 1/4 c). You can refrigerate it for up to 2 wks.

Petticoat Junction ¨C at 15:31
Watching - lol on the meringue powder! I haven¡¯t gotten enough of my basic preps in place to buy too many extras without stressing about it, but since I¡¯ve never heard of meringue powder before you just know that¡¯s going to be floating around in the back of my brain, lol! It will be well behind the choc chips, dried fruit, and coconut so will probably never make it into the house, but I¡¯ll think of you whenever I see it now. ;o)

KimT ¨C at 16:18
You can download fineprint for free, it allow you to print more on a page, saves paper and ink, but you may need a a magniying glass if your eyes are getting old like mine.
Just got back from Sportsman Warehouse, was that fun! They have all kinds of hunting and survial gear. I got me a loo bucket lid, a bung wrench for my barrels and a pump to get the water out of the barrels easier and they had all the different water purifiers, good to know since I had bought my katydine online and wondered where to get replacement stuff for it. Also saw they have an oven that fits on top of a cooking stove for $30.us $ so you can bake bread and other items, I didn¡¯t pick it up yet but knowing it was available was cool, gonna hit walmart tomorrow and compare prices on that and the stove.

Kathy in FL ¨C at 17:22
PBQ ¨C at 12:23
Just cut and paste the individual recipes you want to save into a text file or other word processing program.
Then set the whole document to 2 columns.
Then set the whole document to smaller margins ¡ say .7¡å or something less than a 1¡å margin but more than what your printer needs.
Change your font size to something smaller than 12 pt. Even 11 and 10 pt and still readable depending what font you are using. My favorite font is ¡°Arial Narrow¡± at 10 pt ¡ you can get mucho info on a single piece of paper this way.
After you get all of the recipes over you want, you can always pretty it up later.
Hope this helps.

PBQ ¨C at 18:25
Thanks for the info. I¡¯ll have to play around with it and then call DH for show and tell.

ricewiki ¨C at 18:45
Don¡¯t know where else I should ask this question, but, as I believe I am moving to the U.S. come fall, I am wondering if I will be able to bring my food preps over the border with me. I don¡¯t want to buy more and not be able to take them. Checked out the U.S. and Canadian customs sites, but couldn¡¯t find a specific answer. My understanding is that I probably couldn¡¯t take fruit, seeds, or farm-things over, but dried food goods¡?
Anyone know more details than me on this sort of thing?

Boonct ¨C at 20:38
First of all: what state are you moving to. We moved about a year ago from Munich, Germany to CT. The rules for taking food were very strict, stricter than usually. By now we have experience because we moved back and forth already a couple of times. This was the first time that I got the advice not to bring ANY food, I cheated a bit of course. They told us that the Homeland Security nowadays is focussed on stuff that looks like explosives, unlike other years when mad cow, dioxine chicken or drugs etc were the bad guy. I couldn¡¯t even take my spice rack, in 18 years I moved that all over the world and got attached to it! It depends very much on what state you move to. Our shipment went from Europe to Boston, MA. Ask your shipping company, they will stick to the rules as much as possible, but you can cheat if it¡¯s worth it. I even asked about that and the shipping company said that if you are caught they open your container and leave it in the harbor for months. That didn¡¯t appeal to me. Strange thing is that in your suitcase or handluggage you can bring almost everything. My DH brings back cheese, cakes, candy, spices etc. all the time.
My advice: do you have a large shipment, your option would be: send the prepping ahead by airmail. But this is expensive so not really worth it if you have to pay for this yourself. Also no guarantee it arrives in one piece. Therefore: donate your prepping, and start over again rightaway when you arrive. (Find an Aldi ASAP!) This was my conclusion a couple of weeks ago when it looked like we had to change countries again (was false alarm, thank you Lord!) Good luck, let me know if you have more questions.

Flu Prep 6 (VI)

Bronco Bill — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 15:47:51 GMT

06 June 2006

BroncoBill – at 01:59
Continued from Part V

Ceredwin – at 05:03
Another location for canned meats is Zerling and Sons, it’s a family business and have canned beef, pork, chicken and turkey, I bought some to have some variety. Reasonable prices and shipping. http://www.werlingan... (BAD LINK)

amak – at 09:23
Okay - new toy for me - oh so thrilled with myself. “as seen on tv” I bought one of those pasta expess containers - you put your pasta in, boil some water & put that in too. Thinking if no power for the electric stove, I can just bring the water to boiling & cook the pasta that way - save fuel by just boiling water, not having to cook that extra 10 minutes…. tested it and it really worked!

Eccles – at 09:25
Amak- Glad you’re happy with it. Another way is to use a widemouth thermos. Gets about the same results. For about the same price. Either way, you get to cook with much less fuel.
Also, check back in an earlier prep thread about my test of cooking in a styrofoam cooler.

Hillbilly Bill – at 09:45
“cooking in a styrofoam cooler”
Eccles: The hillbilly shadetree mechanic in me is itching to build a “custom” styro cooking box with the left over panels from my freezer test and some construction adhesive. Best case, I’ll have something that works well. Worst case, I’ll have something extra for the trash collection and everybody will assume it’s something my granddaughter did while I wasn’t watching.

TreasureIslandGal – at 09:47
Hey, did anyone ever test the “black mailbox” cooking method? We talked about it a few weeks ago on a prep thread and I never saw the results.
If it worked, I’m heading out to Home Depot to get me a mailbox!

Eccles – at 09:49
HBB- The one thing we all need to watch out for is that styrofoam, when heated very much above hot coffee temps will outgas stuff which is decidedly not good to ingest over the long term. hence, you shouldn’t use it in a solar oven. But as a passive cookin box like I did should be fine.

Eccles – at 09:50
TIG- Since then, I haven’t had enough (A) sunlight and (B) spare time together in a single place to actually try it out.

Love Texas – at 10:04
Hey everyone I don’t know if you know this or not -------Emergency Essentials will give large orders a beak if it is a group order. So if you are prepping with family or friends do group orders and you can save. The orders don’t have to be that big either. I am working on an order now. Example: flash lights we only had to order 8 to get a break on the price.

Hillbilly Bill – at 10:31
Eccles – at 09:49 Not planning on heating my lovely creation up in one of those high falutin’ solar thingies. Just going to nuke the rice and water in a casserole dish and stick it in the box. Have you done any more tests? It would be great if one could just pour boiling water over the rice, stick it in the styro-cooker and later take out a finished product as with pasta in the thermos.

TreasureIslandGal – at 10:35
Here’s a question…
Can we put water in a glass container and just add rice and let it sit in the sun? Like sun tea? -would it be ready to eat in a few hours? Or maybe just in a covered dark pan. I bet that would work. Sure, ti would take a while, but it wouldn’t use fuel. Stick it in the sun in the morning and have all the rice cooked up by dinner time. ????

Hillbilly Bill – at 10:41
TIG - Something tells me there is a problem with that idea, but I have not tested it. Maybe soaking would lessen the cooking time, as it does with dry beans.

BroncoBill – at 10:45
Love Texas – at 10:04 --- will give large orders a beak if it is a group order
A chicken beak? LOL!! Sorry
BB couldn’t resist…it’s just one of those mornings without enough coffee…

preppiechick – at 14:44
Eccles:
Has anyone tried this with a crockpot? I have one of the fancy ones, that has a removable pottery insert, and heat retaining carrying case. Maybe rigged up with the styrofoam, black box, or maybe a brick could be heated in the sun (black or foil wrapped) to keep the heat? I’ll try it myself, but would like to save my preps, if someone has already done this!

mmmelody47 – at 17:58
Don’t forget that you can use a pressure cooker - needing little water (or stock) and relatively short cooking time.

Green Mom – at 18:05
Last week I posted the styro cooker experiment- post disappeared. Earlier today I rewrote instructions-again the post disapeared. I don’t understand. Anyway I tried it, it worked really well. Lets see if this post stays.

Green Mom – at 18:06
Ok-that post worked. I think. does anyone really want more info on the styro cooker?

mmmelody47 – at 18:06
Green Mom – at 18:05 do you want to try it one more time?

Prepping Gal – at 18:16
I cooked white rice with raisins (old dry) in styro cooler after bringing pot to a boil in my oven. I used my normal oven so that the entire pot and lid were hot before putting it in cooler (insulated inside with newspapers). Worked like a charm and I’ve got two outdoor ovens already. But I want to test brown rice, I think it will need a second and possibly a third boil to cook but I’ll still save fuel.

amak – at 18:21
I am interested in the styro cooking thing. That is on my list of threads I needed to get back to and find the full directions….

Sahara – at 18:22
Its a Asian cooking method to soak the rice before cooking. Shorter cooking time. I’ve tried it and it works. I soaked it for about an hour I think. I don’t think that just soaking it all day without cooking would work. The rice needs to steam to fluff up the starch and make it fluffy, not mushy.

Lily – at 18:29
Nope, am gettin my mail at the p.o. and ignoring my poor battered mailbox, until I put up a new post and the new box. I like to let things be for a while.One day I’ll spray the ivy painted box flat black and try things out, but we had torrential almost tropical rain for days and am going away for a few days.

Green Mom – at 18:39
Ok, I’ll give it another go-
I made a lentil curry and white rice. I’m thinking if I have a Coleman type stove, how could I do this? So first, got everything ready and did all the prep work-chopped the ononion, measure everything etc. I used two pans, one burner. First I brought the rice and water up to a boil. Then, poured that into a crockery bowl, covered the top with tin foil and set it in my cooler, and brought the lentil curry up to a boil. While I was cooking that, I washed the rice pan, and filled with water. When the curry came to a boil, I poured that into a crockery dish, covered with tin foil and put in the cooler and then brought the pot of water allmost to boil-more like low simmer. I poured the hot water in the bottom of the cooler put the top on the cooler, and covered with a thick towel-I could see some steam coming out from the crack between the lid and the cooler.
I had every thing in the cooler by 10:30. I checked it at four oclock, and it was completly done and still hot. I didn’t want to bring the water to a boil becouse I was afraid of melting the stryofoam, and also, some times styrofoam can emit chemicals. I used lentils because they cooked quicker than dry beans, but I want to experiment somemore and see how dry beans would do. I used less than fifteen minents of burner time.

Green Mom – at 18:41
Hurray! It posted! I really want to try the glass jar rice cooking experiment.

07 June 2006

johnnystop – at 11:42
Is there a single page handout describing Human Influenzic Plague and how you can prepare for it that we could pass out to our neighbors?

anon UK – at 12:15
Have I heard that rice needs to be boiled for a certain length of time to kill any dangerous ? bacteria in it? I’m sure I’ve read that despite people thinking it’s a safe product, it can be dangerous if not properly cooked and also when you re-heat it you need to re-heat it to boiling point (again for safety reasons) - or am I imagining this. I am pretty certain I’ve read it somewhere but can’t think when or where.
Would cooking using minimum fuel mean any problems re food safety?

prepperbabe – at 12:28
Does anyone know how they do baking in the ground for luaus or clambakes?

Eccles – at 12:35
Anon UK- At least the mehodologies I’ve used to cook both rice and spaghetti start with the cooking process at the boiling point. Once the product starts coasting, it is in a sealed container which is not exposed to the outside environment until cooking is finsihed. Much like crock-pot cooking, which is safe.

preppiechick – at 12:53
Basically, it’s an oven in the sand, that uses heated rocks to maintain heat, and damp seaweed to steam and cover. I think that this method came from the Native Americans and I would suspect could be modified for other cooking (along the lines of a slow cooker) and would also be less noticable!
“New England Clambake how-to
This important regional feast requires the freshest softshell clams, native seaweed, corn, potatoes, lobsters, sand and salt air. Here’s how to build and cook a clambake, step by step.
1. Locate a beach where clambakes are permitted; you can build one elsewhere, but it won’t be the same as one prepared next to the ocean. Assemble a group of friends to help with the digging— and the eating. 2. In firm sand, dig a hole 3 feet deep and 4 to 6 feet across.” ……….
heres the link:
http://tinyurl.com/o...

Mari – at 14:13
Thanks to KimT for the Sportsman’s Warehouse tip. Got a second siphon pump today. Turns out it’s orange, while the one I got online is red. If need be, I can designate one for clean/treated water, the other for water needing to be treated. They also had 30 gal water drums for around $30.

prepperbabe – at 14:20
Thanks preppie chick! I’m going to try a *much* smaller version this weekend. Maybe try porkchops, since they cook pork at luaus. Can take lava rocks from lansdcaping and substitute banana leaves, since I have those. Aloha, baby!

amak – at 14:30
Do you all freeze beans (like you do rice and flour) to kill critters before you store them?

analyst4mkts – at 14:50
Clambake Tips I would like to offer some tips to those interested in the clambake idea. As alternate method that is shown the link provided by preppichick.
Dig a pit 3 feet wide, 8 feet long and roughly 18″ deep. Build a fire in each end and allow one to burn down to white hot coals about 3″ inches deep.
Start with a new steel trash can (size dependant on how much food to be prepared) Fill 1/ to 1/3 with fresh wet sea grass/weed. Layer in order: potatoes/onions, lobster, corn, clams. Put seaweed in between each layer of food. Do not cover clams. Place cover on trashcan Place trashcan in fire reduced to coals as above. The second fire to be enjoyed as sun begins to set and for replenishment coals to be added to cooking fire. Periodically check clams, when they are steamed open, the entire menu will be cooked to perfection.
Note: This is not the most efficient fuel method but avoids potential of shattering rocks with heat. Also allows for the food to be transported relatively easily to another location for consumption. We often use the second fire for cooking burger/dogs etc for the kids (& hungry cooks).
After trashcan is removed a few large logs dropped in make for a great evening bonfire!

preppiechick – at 14:59
Analyst:
Great idea!
Prepperbabe:
I also remember Martha doing a clambake on the stove. Let me know if you want me to try and find the recipe.

tjclaw1 – at 15:36
I picked up 16 lbs of strawberries at Sam’s Club today. Plan to make some jam and can the rest in syrup. Needless to say, I’ll be up late tonight.
Next will be peaches…spiced peach jam, frozen peaches, peach pie filling, canned peaches in light syrup, peach gumbo… ;)

Green Mom – at 17:16
Anon Uk- I havn’t heard/read anything about rice-though I do take the precaution of freezing it for several days in my freezer to kill any big bugs, - but who knows? I had heard something similar about Sun Tea and tracked that down. Several issues on food safety have popped into my head lately and I am currently reading a book on food safety now, and doing research. (If anyone is having a problem staying on a diet, just dive into a book on food safty-ugg!)
My family eats tons of rice. We’ve never had any problems. One of the ways I cook it most often is to bring it to a boil, put the lid on the pot and turn the burner off-I have an electric stove so that the burners stay hot for a long time-I just let it finish in its heat.
I cook almost all my family’s meals from scratch- we have a lot of food allergies/sesitivities plus being vegetarian. I also can/dehydrate/preserve a lot of food. The only time I know that Ive gotten sick from food was a few months ago I ate a salad at a major chain resterant-not a fast food place, while chaperoning a school trip. I was extreamly ill for several days.
It seems to me, and I know this is an oversimplification, that food poisonings result mainly from two things- the first is contaiminated food to start with- i.e.-E.Coli, Salmonella in things. The things mostly affected here are moist juicy things-raw meats, dairy products, eggs, alfalfa sprouts, salad greens, etc. Rice is nice and dry and hard. Then those items are either not cooked-(salad greens), or not cooked enough- (eggs, dairy, meats,) or cross contamination has taken place- you take a cooked hamburger off the grill and put it back on the platter on which you had a the raw handburgers.
The second area is not taking care of food properly after its been prepared, such as the classic potato salad at the picnic, or leaving stuff out overnight, or whatever. With the Sun Tea- several people became ill after drinking Sun Tea-that had been left to stand at room tempature for twenty hours. This is what I am concerned about if we have power outages and loss of refrideration. People will survive the flu and succumb to food poisoning.
This might be a good idea for a new thread-maybe we could get some health offical types to weigh in. I suddenly have an urge to go scrub down my kitchen with Clorox.

nopower – at 22:52
I just watched “Dawn of the Dead” (2004). Since it has been mentioned numerous times that PanFlu will turn people into zombies, I should have a leg up if that time comes.
Actually, my real prep was to combine two of my staple prep items. I used the liquid from a can of Progresso Chicken Noodle Soup (1.75 cups liquid approx) to make my instant white rice instead of water. After bringing it to a boil, letting it sit, I added the solids from the can and let it heat up. Very filling meal for two people for less than $2.00 a day and it is easy to make.

MissBliss – at 23:17
Today I made up a menu for 3 months worth of meals. I was going about my preps kind of willy nilly ( not to be confused with hillybill :))and that helped me focus and get a handle on what I need to purchase yet.

08 June 2006

EOD – at 00:18
Green Mom – at 17:16
You are pretty close on all of that. The most common cause of food born illness is cross contamination and that usually from raw meats and their juices not being cleaned up and work surfaces not being properly sanitized before working with ready-to-eat stuff like raw veggies, lettuce, etc., what you gave is also a good example. The second is improper handling of leftovers, not cooling them rapidly enough and not reheating them to a high enough temp. About 8 or 10 years ago the health department in a fairly large southwest city did an experiment. They had their staff select 100 friends and families, all “educated” people who from the relationship knew something about food safety & sanitation, and after giving them advanced notice when to their homes and conducted an inspection just like they would do at any restaurant. The results were startling; of the 100 homes 96 were found with what them were called critical errors, items which could have caused some form of food born illness, items which in a restaurant would have required a second inspection to verify all the needed corrections were made or stricter measure would be taken. The other 6, had they been restaurants, would have been closed on the spot until things were corrected and re-inspected. Not one single home “passed” the inspections.
The current standard for holding foods are at or below 41 degrees F for cold foods and 140 degrees F or higher for hot foods. Food must be cooled to at least 70 degrees F in the first 2 hours and then down to 41 or below within the next 4 hours (6 hours total). To cool foods quickly, use an ice water bath (60% ice to 40% water), stirring the product frequently, or place the food in shallow pans no more than 3–4 inches deep and refrigerate. Pans should not be stored one atop the other, and lids should be off or ajar until the food is completely cooled. Check the temperature periodically to see if the food is cooling properly. Cover the food once it has reached 41°F (5°C) in order to avoid contamination. When reheating foods you should reheat rapidly to a minimum internal temp of at least 165 degrees F. If any prepared foods are held higher than the 41 degrees F or lower than the 140 degrees F for longer than 2 hours they should be disposed of. Now there are exceptions to that but only with certain foods like those with a high acidity or other qualities that slow bacterial growth. It’s easiest just to follow the 2 hour rule.

OKbirdwatcher – at 11:55
nopower - at 22:52 - Great idea with the soup and rice!!!

Mari – at 12:02
EOD – at 00:18 - Is there a web citation for this info? It’s great!

Green Mom – at 21:45
Nopower-I couldn’t quite bring myself to watch “Dawn of the Dead” “Shawn of the Dead” was hilarious!

09 June 2006

nopower – at 14:20
Green Mom -
I watched “Shawn of the Dead” long before watching any of the “Dawn of the Deads” (horror flicks aren’t usually my choice). The whole time I was watching “Dawn…” I was drawing comparisions :)
________________________________________
We talked about organizing cans in pantries previously and today after much searching, I wasn’t going to pay $25 each for a chrome can dispenser, I discovered a gravity fed can dispenser at Bed, Bath & Beyond for $2.99. I picked them up at the store as there is one about 5 minutes away, here is the item for reference.
http://tinyurl.com/z...
My cabinets have shelves that are too deep (22″) and not tall enough (12″) to easily rotate new items to the back of the stacks. I bought a couple and currently have one with glue drying as I had to modify it to hold wider cans (Most of my canned vegtables are a little thicker, but shorter than a soda can). In order for it to work with canned vegtables I had to trim a little plastic at the back where the can drops and then remove a support (the one in the top middle in the picture) so that cans would roll foward. I found it to be too flimsy without the support so I cut a piece of thin flat metal and glued it a little foward of where the previous round support sat. Once it dries I’ll test it and probably convert a couple more.
Unfortunately, these racks won’t work with Progresso or Campbell’s Chunky soups (they should work for the smaller condensed - I didn’t test those), but should work for alot of canned goods and at $3 a rack are really cheap.

Kathy in FL – at 14:31
As I’m feeling too wimpy at the moment to do any physical prepping, I’m working on my list of what to get and how quickly to get it. I’m reprioritizing some items and having to put items back in that I thought I had enough of.
I wonder if I can corner the liquid Lysol market?

preppiechick – at 14:44
Don’t forget that a bleach solution works just as well and is more cost effective!
Clorox
I bought the new sanitizer from them - after getting home, I read the label to discover that it was just a more diluted version of bleach! Lot of money for water! It was good to know, though, that you could dilute bleach to the point that it didn’t white out everything and still killed 99% of junk! Lot cheaper than Lysol, though I will still keep a couple of cans around.

OKbirdwatcher – at 16:09
This may be getting too nit-picky, but I notice some products “disinfect” while others “sanitize”. I think a product that “disinfects” destroys ALL germs and one that “sanitizes” destroys ALMOST ALL germs. Can someone clarify this for me and why the need for two different types of cleaners other than profit, i.e. selling the consumer more water in the form of a “sanitizer” perhaps???
Also learned once that a product that is truly a disinfectant will have an EPA Reg.# at the bottom of the label. Check it out.

Kathy in FL – at 17:37
Lysol and bleach are the only two products that I’ve found thus far that are spray on and immediately wipe off for disinfection.
All the other products that I’ve found read that to disinfect with their product you need to spray on and leave on for 10 seconds to for several minutes to achieve disinfection.
Like you said OKbirdwatcher … gotta read those labels.

10 June 2006

Cinda – at 07:38
Anyone who has a BJs near them (I’m in MA)- BJ’s’ has the best price I’ve seen anywhere on the big box of Carnation powdered milk- almost 1/2 what the big supermarket chains are charging for their house brand.
Also a very good deal on Swiss Miss 60 envelope hot cocao mix. ounce for ounce-It’s actually cheaper than the big can that they also sell- and much less that regular supermarkets.
But Shaw’s has a better price than them this week on Bounty P-towels. $9.88 Also got the box of mayo packets for if we lose power and have run out of gas for the generator.
For people looking for some interesting condiments to add to their preps- Ocean state Jo Lot has stuff you don’t find elsewhere- reasonable prices.
And a great thing we found at the Christmas tree shop- True Lime and True Lemon crystalized, both in shakey containers and packets for your purse. 0 calories, all natural, no sweeteners. It does have lactose- so be aware of that if you have lactose intolerant persons in your group. We tried both and went back for more. Lot’s of uses for this product. One thing daughter pointed out- if you add lemon or lime juice to some things, like dips, it can make them runny, not with this product, and it doesn’t take much either.

Jane – at 13:29
Tested my charcoal chimney yesterday. (My dh usually uses an electric starter.) It worked really well, but it took me 25 kitchen matches to keep the newspaper burning! Maybe it was too windy. The directions said use 2 sheets of newspaper, so I used 2 double sheets (8 page numbers) and really crammed it in. Maybe I should have used 2 single sheets? Does anyone have experience with this?

MAV in Colorado – at 14:52
I don’t think I would rely on product claims as to sanitizng disinfecting etc. I looked into the lysol aerosol disinfectants and decieded against them. I plan to keep it simple and cheap and go with what hspitals and labs have been using for years. Alcohol >=70% and diluted bleach bleach solutions for surfaces and inanimate objects. Be careful with bleach though as it is corrosive on certain surfaces. Pour on a rag, wipe. KIS! Contact time IS important and I would recommend using enough liquid so that it leaves a bit of solution on the surfaces to air dry by itself.

Melanie – at 15:44
Jane,
Yes, I have experience. You overloaded the newspaper chamber, 2 single sheets will do it.

Jane – at 16:30
Thanks, Melanie!

preppiecick – at 17:39
Make sure that there is air circulation - loosely crumple the paper and don’t pack tightly. I use a chimney, when I use the charcoal grill and it works great. Girl scouts have a lot of tips for fire starting, also. Here is a link, with instructions, for lighting a chimney starter.
charcoal chimney

12 June 2006

Mari – at 12:18
My major prep the past couple weeks has been reorganizing my back yard for raised beds and getting sheet composting started. Though I’m in a city, I’m near enough to the edge of town that there’s a place that boards horses and was happy for me to take away some of their manure. Many of us will be doing manual labor that we haven’t done in years. Please everybody be careful moving heavy objects! I’ve been moving bricks and stepping stones from the home improvement stores to my backyard and carrying buckets of water to the compost heap. My lower back is holding up, but I’ve managed to irritate a tennis elbow problem in my right arm that I had years ago. This kind of exercise is different from in a gym!

Hillbilly Bill – at 12:34
I have finally gotten my inverter, the batteries to power it, and a computer-controlled charger. All of it is heavier and bigger than I imagined so now I need to build some type of rack or workbench to safely contain it all. The idea that this might be something portable that I could move around in the house went away quickly.
Still continuing my experiments with sourdough bread (as reported in another thread). At least this week’s batch was edible!
I filled up two more 5 gallon gas cans and stored them at the farm. I plan to fill up two each month until I hit my goal of 120 gallons.
Our church pantry is coming along slowly, but I have members saving two-liter bottles for water and asking different deli departments for empty food grade buckets.

Eccles – at 12:46
Bill-
Yep’er, them batteries sure do weigh considerable, don’t they?
Whenever I watch Star trek and see how they can use a hand phaser to melt their way through a wall, I always say “I gotta find ME a set of batteries like that”. I guess tech-nerds get something different from the shows than other folks do.

Hillbilly Bill – at 12:54
Eccles: “Yep’er, them batteries sure do weigh considerable, don’t they?”
Dang if they don’t! My Subaru thought the canned goods from Aldi’s were bad enough, but the trip home from Wallyworld was slow going up the hills, (if you have ever travelled two-lane blacktop in WV you will know what I mean). It is neat to have some new toys to play with, but they definitely don’t fit in my backpack. You should have seen my face when I saw the box the inverter came in. Let’s just say it’s slightly bigger than the one I have that plugs into the power outlet in the car!

Jane – at 12:55
Maybe dilithium crystals come in a miniature size?

Kathy in FL – at 13:11
My prep has been rather more prosaic than power inverters and dilithium crystals.
I have been doing laundry. After a week of the stomach flu there were simply mountains of sheets, towels, clothes, etc.
And I get to have this fun without being able to put any on a laundry line because here in Florida we have the gates open wide for TS Alberto to pay a visit. Many cities around the state are down over 8 inches of rain … and most expect to be in the black again after Alberto passes through. That’sa lotta watta!
So, I hope everyone else manages to stay high and dry as I wade through my mountain of ye ol’ laundry and try and figure out exactly how much more I might need if a pandemic were to hit our home.

Lily – at 14:12
Going home to put up my new mailbox post, and mailbox, if I can find it in the garage, and find some proper tools. To each day the evil thereof. I don’t like coping with these things, and my current male friend is no better at this than I am, a New Yorker. Just hope all the parts are there. (Box retaped, last one at Home Depot) I don’t like asking for help, usually some passing man pitches in, like the man who saw me struggling to get a tree into a car. He lifted it like a matchstick and said. “Thats how you do it.” It’s my “Thats how to do it” sour gum tree. Paul Bunyon couldn’t lift it now. Yay Kathy. Clean laundry. We have had torrential rains too, but just nor-easters, not Hurricanes.

Sea Urchin – at 15:25
preppiechick – at 14:44 Don’t forget that a bleach solution works just as well and is more cost effective!
Also don’t forget about the best germ killers of all, especially around food and on food preparation surfaces - vodka and rum. The higher the proof, the better. Allow rum to soak briefly into wooden cutting boards, then wipe it off. If eventually gives it a nice shiny pleasant smelling surface. And there is nothing left behind that’s poisonous which will get into your food and no perfumes. Any remaining alcohol evaporates.
I pour rum onto my pastry board, spread it around and scrape it with a dough scraper, rub it with kosher salt until it shines and sometimes rub it with lemon juice. Then let dry. Every once in a while I take the board out on a sunny day and let it sit in the sun. I use vodka (and rubbing alcohol, too) to clean surfaces and windows. You can pat down a roast or a chicken with rum before cooking. Rum, vodka, brandy, etc, can be used as a throat gargle if you feel you’ve just been exposed to something (ie someone sneezed or coughed nearby). And you can use it to dress wounds, bandages, etc.
And if you’re in a pinch, rum can be added to drinking water, too. Pretty useful to have on hand as a prep.
Cinda, thanks for those tips! I also shop at Ocean State Job Lot and bought cans of sardines at .50 cents each. Sardines are high in calcium and protein - just put them in a sandwich. And I got some Nestle’s Table Cream for $1.00/can - might be good to add to powdered milk and bread/pancakes/waffles/fruit.
I also bought some lemons at Sam’s and I’m planning on making lemon curd to can (for lemon pastries, puddings, cakes, lemon bars and pies).

preppiechick – at 15:45
Sea Urchin @ 15:25:
That’s a great tip, re alcohol sanitizing, but as someone of Irish descent, I have to say that I still might use the diluted bleach and save the alcohol for sanitizing my stomach!!! I use plastic cutting boards and throw them in the dishwasher, now (and bleach, after raw meat). I do have a wood one, but only for bread, etc. I bought several large bottles of hydrogen peroxide, from sams, for toothpaste (with baking soda), gargling, cuts (though don’t use on deep cuts), sanitizing, etc.
I have relatives from RI, and my sister in law still wraps gifts from some HUGE rolls of giftwrap, that she bought at Job lots, several years ago!

Green Mom – at 16:08
My big prep for today was getting a pnumonia vaccination. I went in for a physical this morning and asked if it would be possible to get one in the fall with my flu shot, and the Doc said “Hey! Lets do it right now!” So I did. (I do have asthma and allergies) Also scheduled Mammogram for next week, and am getting some involved dental work done. I getting all my familys medical/dental stuff done NOW! no more putting it off! We’re all getting extensive physicals, and I’m taking my daughter in for an eye exam.-She’s not complained of any vision problems, but I just want to be sure. Plus I’m getting extra pair of glasses.

EOD – at 18:02
Sea Urchin – at 15:25
“Sardines are high in calcium and protein - just put them in a sandwich”
I know it will sound crazy BUT…Sardines in a peanut butter sandwich. Every now and then I just have to have one - I usually endulge when the wife is not home, made her start gagging the time she found me out LOL

birdie74 – at 19:44
Well, I found two new product today (haven’t tried it yet) at HEB grocery store in Texas. They are made by Knorr and are small boxes of bouillon cubes, but instead of the normal chicken/beef flavor, they are chipotle and onion flavored bouillon cubes. The box is very small, so will be easy to store. I checked Knorr’s website and didn’t see the products there; the packaging indicates that they are new products.
I think I paid around $1.67 for each box. Might be a nice way to add some flavor to those rice and beans without taking up much storage space.

13 June 2006

bird-dog – at 09:09
A few weeks ago I started to pick up a 5 or 10 lb. bag of rice and several bags of lentils and split peas every time I went to the store. I’ve then thrown them in a large (clean) plastic trash can in my barn.
I’m doing this for my neighbors as they have refused to prep (so far). I live alone in a wooded area (except for a fierce enormous dog and an even fiercer(?) free-flying killer parrot {she’s actually a sweetheart!}) and I’m not particularly close (frienship-wise) to my neighbors. It really feels good to know that I can help out if the time comes and even more so, good to know that if they forcefully come after my preps, that I can offer them their own.
So far, the critters have left the stash alone. If there’s a problem I can bring the can into the house. It really feels good to be doing this. :-) I don’t know what they will do for water though.
I’ve also bought jars and jars of cheap peanut butter for them too. If we dodge this flu, my local homeless shelter/food pantry will be well stocked!

Hillbilly Bill – at 09:22
bird-dog – at 09:09 Once our own needs are relatively well taken care of, it is natural to start thinking about those around us. I know we can’t feed everybody, but what you, (and a lot of us), have put away for othes will make a tremendous difference. I also think that having provided for our neighbors will be a tremendous help if civil unrest does occour. For $25 I was able to fill up two big buckets with rice and dry beans for the members of my church. They don’t know about it, but if it is needed I know they will be grateful and I will be glad I did it. I plan to keep adding to this as I am able.

bird-dog – at 09:31
yup, and it’s so easy and inexpensive to do. Plus, it just feels good.

AMIREADY – at 09:34
Ceredwin: I went to the link you had for Werlingandsons for the canned meats. They did not have any product information on the site - such as shelf life etc. Have you tried any of the cans you purchased? Just wondering what your thoughts are about the meat.
Thanks

I’m-workin’-on-it – at 09:57
HillBilly Bill, can you put your stuff on a rolling hand cart/dolley from the home improvement stores? The flat wide ones are great!
Kathy in FL, I’m glad you at least feel like being up and doing laundry, no matter the weather. Ya’ll hang in there & don’t float away with Alberto!

Hillbilly Bill – at 10:01
I could find something to wheel the batteries and inverter around, but the main problem is that the inverter needs to be grounded with a fairly substantial guage wire to a permanent ground (such as a metal pole pounded into the ground). Also, it should be permanently mounted in a safe place that is not accessible to grandchildren or curious cats, both of which I have at my house.

Mari – at 10:16
What I’m doing now is going through the non-food items I’ve purchased and returning things bought locally that I don’t need after all. Examples are a small kiddie pool, extra RV hoses (the 2 I’m keeping reach from the outside faucet to each of the water barrels), and a small metal garbage can (I now have lots of plastic buckets).

Hillbilly Bill – at 10:22
I’ll take the kiddie pool and the metal garbage can..:-)

lohrewok – at 11:44
Help please! I’m picking up some 5gal buckets from my bakery today. I’m planning on filling them with rice, beans, flour etc. My question is, can I store them in the garage without damage to the contents? I know there are occasional mice and then of course the tempature changes-100 in summer and 0 in winter.
Also can someone tell me where to buy kerosene? I’m planning on buying a kerosene heater shortly just to have handy for winter.
Last question, at least for today. How can you figure up how much food you have and how long it will last? I went to the morman website and it sounded kind of off for our family. I am keeping an inventory of everything I buy.
Thanks for all the help, you guys are great! I am new to this, having just started a couple of weeks ago. My family thinks I’ve gone over the edge and I’ve gotten the old “we’ll come to your house WTSHTF” also. Actually the responses I’ve gotten from people are discouraging and depressing. :(

Hillbilly Bill – at 11:53
lohrewok – at 11:44 Mice will chew right through your nice plastic buckets, so if at all possible, keep them in the house. Also, your dry goods will last longer the cooler you can keep them. Temperatures over 80 degrees will cause problems.
I bought my kerosene at my regular gas station, however it is common to sell it in this area. You may have to check around, but surely some station will have it. It will be in a seperate pump, perhaps away from the regular gas pumps.
You will only be able to determine how long your stored food will last by making up menus that use only your stored food and planning out meals for a least a couple of weeks. I know several others here have already worked this out and their efforts may be listed on the wiki side (left sidebar).
Good luck and hang in there!

Kathy in FL – at 11:56
lohrewok – at 11:44
Temperature extremes will damage most food items, even those in cans. You’ll have to watch things. The rice … assuming no humidity … may be your cheapest experiement for this.
For kerosene, check your local building supply company to see if they sell or can recommend someone.
As far as figuring out how much food my large family of 7 is going to need … well, its an inexact science at best but it appears to be working in the food area.
I created a menu for “x” amount of time and then created a grocery list for that menu. I made sure to include absolutely everything that I would need for the recipes as if I had totally bare pantry shelves to start. This will give me a list of food for “x” amount of time … if I want to have a food supply for longer I either add the appropriate number of meals and add the groceries from those meals to the list or just double everything until I have what I want for how long I want. I prefer the first option as it gives me the opportunity to maintain a greater variety in the menu, but the second option is easier.

NJ Jeeper – at 11:59
HB, you mention grounding an inverter. Please explain. I have an inverter but not grounded. There was instruction on grounding if it was hooked up to the vehicle, but it was grounded to itself if not hooked up to vehicle. I am a little confused. Thanks

Jane – at 12:10
I saw kerosene in the paint department last week, but in the Fall, it’s on the end caps at Lowe’s and Home Depot. I think it’s more expensive in the paint dept., but gas is more now, so…? We’ll see in the Fall. There’s a new form of kero. Klean Heat, that has less odor (and costs more). But that probably won’t show up again until Fall either. I think I’ll buy another wick for the heater, in case we’re using it every day.
A garage is awfully hot to keep food in, for the summer. Some posters have said they’ll keep paper products in the garage, and try to keep the mice out of them. Don’t know if mice can chew through that plastic or not. I bought some 1/4″ hardware cloth to protect some supplies, but haven’t used it yet. I don’t know whether to wrap a bucket or line a shelf to make it like a box. We don’t even have mice yet, so I guess I’ll keep the wire in reserve.

Hillbilly Bill – at 12:26
NJ Jeeper – at 11:59 My inverter has a grounding lug on the back of the unit. The instructions state that the unit should be grounded to a properly installed metal grounding pole (which I already have). Not all inverters are going to be the same. Mine looks like it is on steroids, which it should for the price I paid :-).

Green Mom – at 12:34
Mari at 12–18
Good luck with your raised beds projects-I have them and I love them. I have heavy clay/rocky soil so raised beds are the way to go for me. I also do sheet composting and love it. I have two suggestions- If you’re handeling horse manure, especially if your collecting it yourself from a place you don’t know very well, you might want to make sure your tetnus shots are up to date. Also I have found that Omega three oil(I like the flax seed oil) REALLY helps with those sore muscles especially the “tennis elbow” type. I take it everyday and ibuprophen for a severe flair up. Also you might try “Bio-Freeze” Thats awesome stuff for sore muscles. Chiropractic shops uasually carry it as well as some Nutritional suppliment type store.
Lohrewok- Mice WILL chew through plastic. I stored some grass seed once in a plastic bucket with a lid thinking they couldn’t chew through it but they did.(alas) I opened the lid and saw about twenty beady little eyes staring back at me. Ive allways gotten kerosene for my heater at my local gas station. The pump is off to one side away from the regular pumps. For my kerosene lamps, I buy the lamp oil at department/discount stores.

ANON-YYZ – at 12:35
Hillbilly Bill – at 10:01
For grounding the inverter, would it be possible to get a three prong plug, connect the grounding wire of the inverter to the grounding pin of the plug, make sure the other 2 wires in the electrical cord are NOT connected, and then simply plug this special ‘grounding plug’ into any outlet around the house. Even if the power is cut off, the ground should still work - better confirm that.
Any electrician here please? (Or move to the electrician thread).

ANON-YYZ – at 12:38
ANON-YYZ – at 12:35
Is there such a thing as a grounding plug where the Live and Neutral Pins are actually insultion material, not copper?

Hillbilly Bill – at 12:41
ANON-YYZ – at 12:35 Much better to run the wire to an outside ground, or connect it to your water pipes if you have copper plumbing.

Chesapeake – at 12:46
AMIREADY at 9:34, we ordered from Werling, we got some beef w/gravy and some bbq pork. The beef we had it over egg noodles, it was ok but not buying more because we won’t rotate it. Have not tried the bbq pork yet. I called to get the shelf life, she told me 3 to 4 years, maybe more.

Hillbilly Bill – at 12:49
I just finished my lunch of spaghetti rings and mini-meatballs (my granddaughter’s favorite). While not the healthiest choice around, it is definitely satisfying. I know we have all talked about “if we get down to just rice and beans”. It occoured to me that if one had the space, it would be really nice to have a few cases of this type of canned good hidden away. I mean hidden away from even your regular preps. When the menu got slim, some ravioli or canned pasta would taste like heaven, and the fat and calories would be a blessing rather than a curse. I get mine at Aldi’s and it is really reasonable.

AMIREADY – at 13:24
Thanks Chesapeake. Ordered some freeze dried meats from beprepared.com for emergency after freezer and canned stuff is gone. Will probably stick with things like Dinty Moore stew, canned chicken and tuna. Same shelf life and I know we would eat them.

OKbirdwatcher – at 13:47
Hillbilly Bill - at 12:49
You make a good point. Just yesterday I looked at those items and decided not to buy; but variety could be important on down the road and herbs and seasonings can be added to improve/vary the taste. I think I’ll re-consider and add some to my preps. Thanks!

Mari – at 13:55
Green Mom – at 12:34 - Thanks for the tips on things to do for sore muscles & tennis elbow pain. I also ice down for a few minutes after I’ve moved stepping stones or lots of bricks (currently using a bag of frozen brussel sprouts on my elbow). The sorest muscle group has been my glutes, so I must be doing something right. Where I live everything dries out quickly, so the manure wasn’t that heavy. I was thinking about the tetanus shot for other reasons - should have gotten that done at my last physical.

NauticalMan – at 19:09
HillbillyBill
Your comments about the higher fat foods rang a bell, have been avoiding some foods because of fat/sodium, but those things might be welcome someplace down the line, and might be needed. Well, how else can I justify the dark chocolate I will be putting in my preps? Have bought some already, but have a problem getting it from the kitchen to the basement. Maybe should leave it down there on the way to the kitchen from basement garage?!

Green Mom – at 20:25
I ve put some canned pasta in my preps. Because of the sodium/fat content as well as food allergies, I try to avoid foods like this in general, but it would be a welcome change! Somebody else must have thought so too, because my stash was dicovered! I have teens so I’m lucky I have any food preps left at all! I think canned gravy was on the Sarajavo thread-(100 things to disappear first.) I have also read about World War II folks talking about canned gravy. I think I’ll put some of that in as well. Its the kind of thing that none of us really care for much now, but I bet it sure would taste good later.
None of my dark chocolate has made it to the basement. I managed to wrestle some chocolate poptarts down to my storage and after great effort, hid some Hershey bars in the freezer under several packages of Tofu Weenies. I’m lucky if dark chocolate even makes it into the house.

Snowhound1 – at 20:31
Today’s “flu preps”- Grand Marnier, Courvoisier, and Brandy..you know, in case I have to make some homemade cough medicines. :)

MAinVA – at 20:49
Received one of four packages of foods that I ordered through Amazon.com over the last week or so. Finding food that was gluten-free such as Pamela Baking mixes and Glutino pasta has really made my preps so much easier. The Pamela brand goods alone would have cost me over $130 more if I’d ordered them from another gluten-free site I’ve used in the past and with the food coming directly from Amazon I could opt for free shipping since the order was over $25. The other things I found on Amazon were delivered directly from the company [Berry Farms in Ohio, which has over 1400 items inventoried on Amazon!] will go to add variety and spice to the plain rice, beans, flour, pasta, etc. I was floored to find out how much food is listed on Amazon and recommend checking it out if you live a distance from big box stores. Even though we have Sam’s, Walmart, Dollar Store etc, some of the items I found would have never been stocked in any of them.
And, I must thank Kathy in Fl for all her information this week regarding her family’s encounter with the flu! I would never have thought of getting supplies for the “sick room” and found nearly everything this week at the nearby Dollar Store. I’ve created as special box just to hold those supplies so if one of us gets sick I don’t have to try and gather them from all different areas of the house. So, in gratitude, I want you to know that some good has come out of your very difficult experience.

Flu Prep 7 (VII)

Bronco Bill — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 15:57:28 GMT

16 June 2006

Oremus ¨C at 13:55
Starting new thread due to length of Old Thread.

Oremus ¨C at 13:59
I bought 10 five gallon food buckets and lids. I did check with area grocery stores for free ones but they would not part with theirs.
I told a friend of my purchase and he said he could get me some free from a restaurant he used to work for. I hope it pans out.
I also bought two boxes of masks.

Mari ¨C at 14:13
The best place I¡¯ve found so far for free 5-gal food-grade buckets is the Krispy Kreme doughnut shop.

17 June 2006

Lily ¨C at 12:31
We have a monthly clean up day, Today I rescued from a neighbors trash, two coolers, About 25 lbs of miracle grow potting soil, and a bunch of very fine veneered particle boards used for a bookshelf. Will be having a candlelight and firefly and stars picnic for a friend, so all will come in handy. Use large crystal trays for water, green leaves, floating daisies and candles. The coolers for icing wine, the handsome boards for extending a bench into a serving board. to hold the candle trays. The Potting soil for fragrant herbs (spearmint for mint julips) and fragrant purple petunias. Just what I needed. I noticed that most of everything put out by this neighbor has vanished. Actually a few blocks away so I didn¡¯t feel too bad about this rescue. Now all I need is the fireflies.I¡¯m going to swing back on my way home and see what other treasures she is tossing out.She must be clearing out a relatives garage. My kids always tossed a lot when they had a chance. (Don¡¯t throw out all those great shopping bags is my cry, if nothing else donate them.)

Lily ¨C at 12:34
Now I have to go home and throw out a few useless doo dads too.Heart breaking to part with junk.

HillBilly Bill ¨C at 12:36
I had a rather odd thing happen when I stopped at my local grocery and asked for any buckets they were throwing away. First I was questioned extensively about why I wanted so many buckets. I explained about storing food at home and at our church for emergencies but did not mention PF51. Then the manager of the deli was summoned and she said that she thought I was getting the buckets for free and then re-selling them! She handed me a 5 gallon bucket with a lid and said I could have this one but not to ask anymore. Pretty strange huh?
Anyway, between that grocery, Family Dollar and the Dollar Store I spent about $100 on cleaning products, paper towels, TP, canned hams, sardines, smoked ham hocks, salt pork, lard, butter and butter-flavored crisco. For some reason I have the ¡°willies¡± again, but then I have had them a lot of times before.

Jefiner ¨C at 12:56
Regarding the paranoia over five gallon buckets¡ªgroceries around here won¡¯t part with them, because people use them for cleaning and when they are not watching, some toddler falls into the bucket and drowns. One store is being sued because of this :-( (I guess because there wasn¡¯t a label in three languages stating to watch your kids while cleaning).
I found containers at Big Lots-for seven bucks per- (designed to hold pet food) which are food grade, airtight and have a latch. These can be stored two high. I bought several, and use them to store rice, beans, taters and dried fruit.

Galt ¨C at 13:05
Sorry if this is a dumb question, but can it generally be assumed that anything designed to hold pet food is food grade (in the human food sense)? That sounds like a good deal taht Jefiner got.
For others looking for buckets, I have gotten them from my local ¡°hole-in-the-wall¡± bakery. They now sell theirs, but they only want $1, for a 5 gallon **CLEANED** food grade bucket with lid. Owner appears to have formed a cottage industry of sorts having her grandchildren cleaning out the icing buckets for resale. For the mess that cleaning that greasy icing is, $1 is some bargain to me. Others might find similar good deals at the smaller places in their towns, rather than the bigger stores. By the way, re: Jefiner @ 12:56, the bakery buckets I¡¯ve gotten have a safety label in two languages about kids drowning. Galt

Mari ¨C at 13:08
HillBilly Bill ¨C at 12:36 - I had hoped getting buckets that were going to be thrown away was going to be a win-win situation (the bakery gets to reduce their trash and I get a free bucket), but often they spend time cleaning out the buckets before handing them over, so it¡¯s probably a net cost to them. Our throw-away society strikes again!
Jefiner - at 12:56 - Nampac, the company that makes most of the buckets used by bakeries in my area, has a warning message in shiny gold paint on their 4 & 5 gallon buckets about kids potentially falling in.

lohrewok ¨C at 13:13
Some more questions here:
Hillbilly Bill-how are you going to keep the smoked ham hocks for long term storage?
On different lists I¡¯ve seen large amounts of wheat recommended for long term prep. ex: 300lb per person for 1 year. What does one do with all that wheat? Grind it for bread? Any other uses? Where can one find a grinder? Could I just buy flour? Is the ground wheat used the same as whole wheat? LOL the whole idea is just confusing to me.
I also scored some frosting buckets at the local grocery. $1 each. I am going to call our local Pepsi company to find out about 55 gal drums.

Mari ¨C at 13:17
lohrewok ¨C at 13:13 - Please post the response you get from your local Pepsi company. When I called several months ago, my local Pepsi company said ¡°No¡±. If another one says ¡°Yes¡± it will be valuable info for me when I try again.

OKbirdwatcher ¨C at 13:30
Oremus - at 13:59
May I ask if you bought your buckets and lids locally or mail order? I found them for $7 from a mail order source that I¡¯ll be ordering other items from anyway - so no extra shipping. Is $7 for a 5-gal. bucket & lid a good price? Thanks! (I¡¯m just now venturing into the whole food bucket thing.)

gardner ¨C at 13:35
I think Home Depot has 5 gallon buckets with lids for $5.

Safety Lady ¨C at 13:35
Other uses for wheat: sprout, grow wheat grass, cook for pilaf, cook sprinkle with oil, roast to eat out of hand, etc, etc, etc.
Our local Albertsons Bakery often has the 3 and 5 gallon buckets. I have 20 filled with various dried foods. I am well stocked, have an artesian well, masks, 2 fire arms and lots of ammo, a husband that supports me. I also have 36 large cans of preps I ordered. In the next couple of months hope to have 52 cans of dried foods. I am also canning. I have three tiered prep foods. Fresh, home and commercially canned and dried (both home and commercial. None of my three grown kids prep. Oldest son lives in Sacramento. He has a full cupboard. Youngest son is a chef and lives locally. He has nine boxes of cereal, poptarts and crackers (he eats at work, kids eat out or at home.) Daughter lives in NY. Has a full freezer and cupboards and is working in a hospital with her boyfriend. Guess where she will be if something goes down. At work! Her 12 year old son will be at home.

OKbirdwatcher ¨C at 15:32
Thanks gardner!!! And I guess it¡¯s been determined by the bucket experts:)here on the forum that these would be food-safe? I¡¯ve read some of the discussions on that topic but don¡¯t remember specifically about Home Depot buckets. Seems if they¡¯re sold for paint and such that they might not be.

Mari ¨C at 15:39
As far as I know, nobody has gotten a ¡°yes, they¡¯re food-grade¡± from Home Depot. I especially wonder about the orange ones.

Lily ¨C at 15:42
Went to my local A&P because a local paper had a headline about the bird flu and I wondered if people had paid any attention, also had a good sale on Poland Spring water, less than 10cents a bottle which I swig down with a tea bag in it. Poland Spring a little low, other things in full stock. Bought a few items extra things at 2 for 1 and Pure Blueberry juice to buy the full amount to get the water steeply discounted. They seem to be running the 10 for 10$ specials, on things I don¡¯t deem needed. I am not putting expensive items into my gift prep baskets. As I upgrade my own preps I¡¯m putting things aside for others. noticed that on one brand of pastas they put the cooking time on the front, so I bought some that cook in 6 minutes to see how I like them.Tiny bows which might flesh out chicken broths.

Mari ¨C at 15:53
Well, I baked my first batch of cookies in my new Sport Solar Oven (without reflectors), and they came out fine. The oven reached a maximum of 250 F according to the supplied thermometer. I¡¯ll be testing other recipes next week. Eventually I want to build several of the cardboard/aluminum foil designs and compare performance. My SO¡¯s backyard has no shade, so we should be able to cook almost anything there.

Gary Near Death Valley ¨C at 16:13
Mari ¨C at 15:53 my wife and I have had two solar cookers since 1999, one a Solar Chef and one called the Sun Oven. We have used them for chickens, turkeys, cakes, cookies, beans, stew, etc,. and we use it alot during the summer time. One thing about solar cooking is that it is very rare that you ¡°burn¡± the food, as the sun passes in front and goes down, the temperature drops. Yes have to make a trip to turn it ahead of the sun every hour or so, but it cooks great.

Mari ¨C at 16:25
Gary Near Death Valley - For those of you with lots of experience with solar oven cooking, how about posting some recipes adapted for solar oven?

Mari ¨C at 16:51
Second batch of cookies were done by 1 hr, maybe less. The cookies are peanut butter, pressed down with a fork crossways.

DebP ¨C at 17:50
I happened to take my mother to target today. All their summer merchandise is half off. I got a single burner propane stove and two rain ponchos for less than the actual cost of the stove. As a bonus, my mother even bought one. I am slowly convincing her to prep. It was a good day.

HillBilly Bill ¨C at 18:03
lohrewok ¨C at 13:13 I¡¯ve got the smoked hamhocks in the freezer for now, same with the salt pork. I have a plan to keep refrigeration for a few months so I will be able to keep them for awhile. Since dry beans take so much water and fuel to cook, I plan to use them up as much as possible at first and try to save easily heatable canned food for later on. MMMM..soup beans with a hamhock and a pan of cornbread!

Kathy in FL ¨C at 18:13
HillBilly Bill ¨C at 18:03
Hey ¡ glad I caught you. Have a question on canning soups. I¡¯ve never used any recipes for soups except what is in the Ball Blue Book but I have a couple that I would love to can.
Do you can your soups fully cooked or do you just partially cook them and allow the pressure canning to finish the cooking time?
Thanks.

Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 18:19
Kathy in FL: After eating mushy soups for awhile, I found it best to just partially cook them an let the pressure canner finish the job.

Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 18:23
Working on more sourdough bread today. Hopefully this batch will be better than the last.
I mowed pature with the tractor for several hours today, not the most intellectually stimulating activity, but it does give you some time alone with your thoughts. Something occoured to me that I would really like an answer on. Where do cabbage seeds come from?

Kathy in FL ¨C at 18:23
Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 18:19
Thanks, that¡¯s what I thought but I did wonder a bit. I found a really good beef short rib ¡°stew¡± type thing that you are supposed to add dumplings to.
Our grocery has BOGO sells on the boneless beef ribs at least once a month and I thought this would be a good recipe for that. I¡¯ll just brown the ribs and then add the remainder of the ingredients, bring to a boil, then pour into hot jars and process for 90 minutes.
When I¡¯m ready to use it I can always add some more tomato juice and bring to another boil and put dumplings on at that point. I sounds like a good, hearty meal that can even be poured over rice or egg noodles if I don¡¯t want to do the dumplings.

Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 18:25
Kathy in FL: MMM..sounds like a winner to me!

Kathy in FL ¨C at 18:26
Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 18:23
You ever seen cabbage ¡°bolt¡±? Broccoli and lettuce do it as well. Its when you leave it in the garden past its prime and a flower stalk appears. Seeds are in the flowers thought I¡¯ve never seen how you gather the seeds.

Jane ¨C at 18:27
Only white buckets *might* be food grade. I got mine from Lowe¡¯s and I think they are food grade, because someone called the manufacturer, Encore, to check on it.
lohrewok, there¡¯s a luxury dessert I¡¯ve had, and made it myself once, Italian wheat pie. Probably we could substitute dried eggs, and any dried fruits and flavorings we have on hand. Might work if steamed in a pressure cooker?
Easterwheatpie
Easter grain pie
While searching, I found another Easter pie recipe with meat and cheese.
meat pie

Jane ¨C at 18:32
Just remembered, there¡¯s also a chocolate wheat pie. < g > Don¡¯t have time to find it now.

Gary Near Death Valley ¨C at 18:33
Mari ¨C at 16:25 basically what ever we can cook in the oven of our kitchen stove, with addition of a little more liquid, and any thing you use in a slow cooker works great in a solar oven. Everything we have cooked in the soalr oven, we did not use a recipe. The approximate time is about the same as in a conventional oven,,,you just have to turn the solar cooker so that the face of the sun crosses it. If the item is getting close to being done, just turn the solar oven past the point that the sun directly hits it, away from the path of the sun, and it will slow cook with the trapped heat. One thing with beans, you do not have to let them soak overnight.

Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 21:49
Kathy in FL ¨C at 18:26 I have seen brocoli, cauliflower, lettuce and spinach do this but around here the cabbage just turns rotten in the middle. Must take a longer growing season. Thanks for the answer!

gardner ¨C at 22:18
Hillbilly Bill, regarding cabbage.
According to the handy Growing Garden Seeds by Robert Johnston, Jr. (founder of Johnny¡¯s Seeds of Maine), cabbage is a biennial and flowers in the second year.
¡°Plants are grown so as to produce mature heads before the ground freezes in the North, and in late fall in the South. Plants are harvested, leaving roots attached, the outer leaves trimmed, and heads sorted out for desireable characteristics. . . . Optimum storage conditions are high humidity to prevent drying, and temperatures near freezing. Heads can be stored outdoors because with cabbage, some degree of freezing will not damage the tissued due to the fact that the heads will thaw very gradually because of their bulk. In this method plants are reset early the following spring about 2 1/2 to 3 feet apart, setting the plants deeply so the heads rest on the soil or slightly below.
¡°In Denmark it is common to reset the plants immediately after roguing in the fall. Plants are set in furrows and soil is hilled over the plants for winter protection. In the spring soil is drawn away to expose a portion of the heads. This method eliminates the work of transporting and storing heads, and could prove well-adapted to cabbage seed produciton in parts of the Northern US.
¡°In mild areas heads can be sorted and immediately replanted as above and require no protection over the winter.
¡°It is common practice in early spring to make cross cuts, about one inch deep, into the top center of each head to facilitate emergence of the second-year growth. Do not cut too deeply or you may in jut the growing point of the cabbage¡¯s core.¡±
The book goes on to say that you can plant cabbage seeds very late, just in time so that the plants form rosettes of leaves (but not heads) before cold weather sets in, then hill up the soil around them or partially cover them to protect them in winter. They¡¯ll produce seed the next year without ever forming a head. But since they don¡¯t produce heads, this method doesn¡¯t allow you to choose only the heads with the most desireable characteristics to produce seed.
The flowers produce thin pods with the seeds. When they are mature, the pods turn brown. Harvest the whole plant near the base when all but the terminal pods are mature and brown. Then lay the plants out to allow them to complete drying. If it¡¯s humid, that might take a few weeks, and plants should be kept under cover if possible. You can dry the plants on a sheet or something to catch any seeds from seed pods that shatter early.
And on other matters, I made soup beans with ham hocks yesterday. Wonderful stuff.

gardner ¨C at 22:21
I should add, I¡¯ve never tried growing cabbage for seed. This is just what the book says (though the book has no typos).

HillBilly Bill ¨C at 22:53
gardner: Thanks for the info, funny what you think about while sitting on a tractor for hours.
Gotta have some cornbread with those beans and ham hocks. I found packages for $0.99 that only need water.

18 June 2006

lohrewok ¨C at 00:24
Thanks for the wheat info everyone. I¡¯ll try freezing some ham hocks. I¡¯ve always just bought them and used them up right away.
I could kick myself. I bought a camping stove on ebay without reading any details about what fuel it uses. apparently it uses some type of butane cartridge. Anyone have any ideas on where I could find such an item? I am so clueless when it comes to any type of camping/survival stuff.

Mother On A Mission ¨C at 00:31
Wal-Mart, camping stove propane bottles.

Oremus ¨C at 02:55
I was in the Kmart camping section today. They had these utility tents (picture a tent the size of an outhouse that you stand in). It said you could hang your camp shower inside. You could also use it for your portable toilet. I did not buy it as I¡¯m tight on funds at the moment.

kmart-skeptic ¨C at 03:08
Oremus at 2:55
unless you go primitive camping with large groups on a regular basis, save your money.
Buy a large tarp you can use for other things. Buy 4 2¡Á2¡äs or some 2¡Á4¡äs and some rope, and download some plans to build a teepee type frame. If you really want to get fancy, add some grommets at the appropriate places to your tarp where you have large screws in the 2¨C4¡äs to hang the grommets from.
Buy or collect a bag of small river rocks (like path sized rocks) to make a standing base, so you don¡¯t stand in the mud.

gardner ¨C at 11:33
I have an odd question.
I¡¯ve seen mention of the need for drinks with electrolytes for fluid replacement. Gatorade is often recommended.
I haven¡¯t had Gatorade since I was in high school, but I recall I hated it.
What are electrolytes and how can I get them without resorting to Gatorade?

gardner ¨C at 11:40
RE: electrolytes. Woodson¡¯s monograph suggests water with some salt and sugar or honey. Is getting electrolytes as simple as that or are they something different?

Average Concerned Mom ¨C at 11:48
I¡¯ve spent the past week decluttering my basement closet (under the stairs) and getting unneeded (baby) items in there ready to sell. I put my 4 7-gallon Aquatainers in there (my preschooler helped me fill them) and 4 cases of half liter bottles of water.
I also put in our 72-hour ¡°kit¡± ¡ª right now it is just a thrift strore backpack filled with some water bottles and milk boxes. And we have a big rubbermaid tub I¡¯m filling with all our tetrapacks of liquid from the pantry ¡ª cartons of chicken broth, Parmalat milk, cases of soda and juice. So, the closet is essentiaaly our ¡°liquid storage area¡±.
Finally, this is really funny, in decluttering the basement, I just discovered we HAVE a 55-gallon barrel in the corner ¡ª we were using it to prop up our bikes that we never ride. It smells a lot like Pepsi¡ª I am remembering now that 3 years ago we moved in and a neighbor gave us the barrel along with instructions to make a rain barrel collection system! So, I can clean it out and use it for water storage if ever I feel it is cenessary!
I can believe the basement was so cluttered I didn¡¯t KNOW I had a barrel. (-:

not trying to be rude ¨C at 12:10
gardner-
electrolytes are ionic compounds (salts) our bodies need to function. Gatorade was developed by the univ of florida (the gators) as an efficient electrolyte replacement therapy for their football players.
I hope this doesn¡¯t sound rude, but maybe you should pick up a basic biology book to help you understand how the human body works and reacts, it¡¯ll help you to understand what may or maynot happen

gardner ¨C at 12:29
I know a fair amount about biology for a layperson¡ªperhaps not as much as I should, of course. But electrolytes have never been in my radar before. I run a lot, but not enough to require electrolyte replacement like a pro football player.
So Gatorade is best for electrolytes, and I might grit my teeth and buy some anyway, but can you get electrolytes in any more natural sources, even if not as efficiently as in Gatorade? What did people do before there was Gatorade?

Melanie ¨C at 12:32
gardner,
Salt tablets.

not trying to be rude ¨C at 12:37
Gardner at 12:29
on the wiki side there is a recipe, salt, sugar, and baking soda I think. The exact recipe is there.
Electrolyte replacement is for anyone who is sweating and excreting, on a ¡®normal¡¯ day, most people get more than enough from food and drink. If you exercise your needs go up, if you exercise in humidity where you sweat more your needs go up, if you exercise in heat your needs go up, hiking in the southwest, football in florida, being home sick, are examples where you need to actively replace your electrolytes. Just drinking plain water makes it worse, because that allows you to sweat more and lose more electrolytes and can be dangerous. Look up hyponatremia.

Jane ¨C at 12:38
Average concerned mom, does your closet have a floor that¡¯s something other than concrete? We¡¯ve been told that plastic bottles can absorb unpleasant/toxic chemicals from concrete, and perhaps something that will break down the plastic, too. I put my kerosene and Klean Heat containers on plastic grocery bags, but I think I¡¯ll put some cardboard under them too.
Also, the water might need something added to make it last without growing anything while stored. Some people are waiting until the last minute before filling containers. And congratulations on your discovery of the barrel!
We have piles of stuff in the basement, too, and I don¡¯t even know where to start. I¡¯m trying to think of a way to sort the odd pieces of lumber and not have it be in the way of water pipes or windows.

Average Concerned Mom ¨C at 12:46
Jane¡ª
Our basement is semi-finished, and the floor has some kind of 1970¡äs era tiles on it ¡ª I believe the home inspector said that they were ¡°suspected asbestos-containing materials¡± and not too fuss with them too much, i.e don¡¯t try to remove them. I had never heard that concrete would do anything to plastic; I wonder about the tiling now? Most everything I have is on a wooden or metal shelf, anyhow.
I did add 1/8 tsp. chlorine bleach per gallon of water to the Aquatainers, just to be safe. I don¡¯t mind refreshing the water every 6 months to a year if necessary. I¡¯d rather have it than be trying to fill something in an emergency, with my luck I¡¯d forget anyhow, I have a pertty hectic life. I am waiting on filling the barrel.

flourbug ¨C at 13:51
gardner ¨C at 11:33 - What are electrolytes and how can I get them without resorting to Gatorade?
Electrolytes are minerals - specifically, salts, and for our purposes especially sodium and potassium - that your body needs. You lose electrolytes through perspiration and urination. Your body is always eliminating some electrolytes, but you lose a lot more when you exercise, or are ill, or the temperature is high.
Emergen-C is a powdered drink that comes in a variety of flavors. The tangerine tastes a bit like Tang. Just add it to water, and drink. I keep a few packs in my purse, along with a bottle of spring water (grabbed from the fridge as I head out the door). Hubby and son both like to drink it after playing in the park, on the beach, etc.

gardner ¨C at 14:14
flourbug and others, thanks. In my experience, people talk about replacing your salts. Just not used to hearing them referred to as electrolytes. Even my UC Berkeley Wellness Encyclopedia, which I presume is not completely worthless, has long and detailed discussions of sodium, potassium, etc., sources for them, etc., but ¡°electrolyte¡± isn¡¯t even in the index. It talks about sodium after exercise and fever, but doesn¡¯t use the word ¡°electrolyte.¡±

flourbug ¨C at 15:06
gardner, when I was younger I was involved in gymnastics, whitewater kayaking, horse riding, and I really enjoyed training and going on bicycle ¡°century¡± runs - 100 mile trips on my bike through the Pocanos or Lancaster areas of Pennsylvania, usually when it was over 90 degrees in the shade. When we took a break I ate a bag Fritos and drank a bottle of Pepsi. If I was really lucky, I¡¯d be able to get some ice cream to go with it.
There are better ways now¡ but none of them taste as good as a bag of chips and a bottle of cold soda¡ and a Good Humor bar. lol

CashB ¨C at 16:56
gardner, if it has been many years since youve tried gatoraide, there are newer flavors than the original yellow one. There is an orange one and a red one that taste much better to me. The other advantage is that is is sold in big cans as a powder that lasts for years and would take up much less space than equal amounts of the liquid. The doctor told my DH to drink a half gallon of the stuff per day not long ago when he had a respriratory infection.

birdie74 ¨C at 19:31
Regarding the Gatorade: You can purchase the powdered mix (in many different flavors) at Gatorade¡¯s website, or Wal-Mart sells the powdered mix in about 3 flavors. I bought the Gatorade ¡®Frost¡¯. To be honest, I haven¡¯t tried this flavor but didn¡¯t want to pay the shipping charges from ordering on-line at Gatorade. My personal favorite is the ¡®Fruit Punch¡¯ flavor, which my Wal-Mart didn¡¯t have in the powder. The expiration date on the powdered mix that I bought is 27-MAR-08 and makes 2 gallons.
I made a trip to Big Lots today and purchased 4 cases of mason jars; I¡¯m going to start experimenting with home canning next month (wish me luck¡.)

EastTN ¨C at 19:49
My mom is in a local nursing home and when I visit I go out the back door and see what they have in the trash pile. Since the time I have doing this I have gotten 4 33 gallon poly barrels (held bathroom cleaner), plan to use them for non-potable water storage. Today I even got a toilet seat stool. It is an aluminum frame stool with a toilet set on it. It is used by the residents that can not get on or off a standard toilet, the legs are adjustable so the hight can be adjusted to what ever level is needed. It is missing a metal support piece, which I can fabricate/replace easily. For me it will be the pit toilet seat: just dig my hole, put a frame around the hole, then a piece of ply wood with a hole in it and then the toilet stool. A couple of tarps ($2.50 each from Tractor Supply) makes the walls for a little privacy. Amazing how excited I was on my find today. Just recommend everyone stop by your local nursing home and check the junk pile in the back, no telling what you can find.

Flu Prep 8 (VIII)

Bronco Bill — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 16:19:49 GMT

21 June 2006

Hillbilly Bill - at 13:17
The Advance Auto stores in our area are selling 5 gallon buckets for $3.97 No lids of course, but these would be nice to have for collecting grey water and moving collected water around.

2beans - at 13:28
Got a document safe today - went to the hardware store and had them cut a 12? length of 1.5? PVC pipe. Glued end cap on one end and screw collar and cap on the other. I've finished copying all insurance policies, pet vax records and microship numbers and will start on financial and medical next. The safe is relatively waterproof and fits in my backpack to have the info handy in case I get moved from one mass shelter to another.

Hillbilly Bill - at 13:29
That is a really good idea!

BroncoBill - at 13:42
Just a quick note for those prepping their tool box:
There are only two tools necessary---Duct Tape and WD-40.
If it sticks, but shouldn't, use WD-40
If it doesn't stick, but should, use Duct Tape.

amak - at 13:48
Water question - I have been saving my 2 liters mainly (since learning milk jugs will keep bacteria from the milk). Anyone think it is still worth keeping the clenained out milk jugs for any type of water storage? Trying to think of what I could use water full of milk-bacteria for?..

Hillbilly Bill - at 13:54
amak - at 13:48 How about flushing the toilet?

DonJuansOtherDaughter - at 13:55
2beans that is a great idea, thanks

amak - at 14:07
Hillbilly Bill - I thought about that & that was the only use I could think of offhand. (But then that brings to the forefront again the reminder I need to find the threads talking about sewage/plumbing? cuz if the toilets aren't flushing, electric out/pumping stations not working.. backups? should I be stuffing the toilets & drains by that point to stop backflow???) I guess there may be other uses for not the cleanest of water so it couldn't hurt to save them too. Although after 9/11 I did save some water in milk jugs - used them about 2 years later as water for the cat. She didn't get sick & there was nothing noticable floating around in it. (NOT THAT I AM RECOMMENDING THIS TO ANYONE!)

lohrewok - at 14:08
I'm going to be a rebel here on the milk jug water issue.
For Y2K- we filled them with water and froze them. They were in the freezer a couple of years, then when I took them out, and let them set for about another year before I FINALLY dumped them. The water looked fine. However, we didn't test it. They would be fine for using for tiolets/laundry I think. I would even drink out of them if kept refrigerated for a month or so. I used to store a gallon in the fridge and drank out of it for months. Kept refilling it.
First I wash them out with soapy hot water, rinse, and fill with bleach water. I let that sit for about an hour and then let them dry out. I've got bunches stored away.
Back in the day when I worked in fast food, we had a shake machine and were very careful in cleaning it. After the machines was disassembled, we used bleach water in the tank and scrubbed it down with a brush solely for that purpose and let it air dry. Never had a problem with anyone getting sick. But that is stainless steel, not plastic.
So I am going to further my experiments. BAWHAHA (mad scientists laughter) I will fill one of my cleaned milk jugs with water, let it sit for several days, and drink it. I'll let you know how it goes.
Also, someone else mentioned they guy extra gallons of milk and freeze them, then defrost in fridge when needed. It works great! Never have to worry about running out of milk. Thanks.

Cinda - at 14:20
Freezing milk- That was me!! I have been doing that for years!!! Just remember to shake them often as they are thawing- the more fat content- the more shaking.
Actually my market just had a great sale on 1% and I bought 25 gallons. Took some rearranging between the 2 freezers but I fit them all, and actually now that they are frozen I could turn them on their sides and fit more if I wanted to. We're using the older freezer for the longer storage of milk, bread (from the Arnold's day old store- GREAT prices and much better than my homemade bread so I won't subject my family to that if I don't have to:) )icecream and meats, as it is not frost-free and I figure the less it's opened the better. People kept asking me if I ran a day care and I told them about freezing milk- then I saw about 5 women with 6 or 8 gallons of milk in their carts! Hey- it's a start you know.
The other great thing is, if you don't have to run out to get milk - you stay out of the stores and spend less $$$ on spur of the moment things-
Glad I could help someone.

BroncoBill - at 14:23
amak - at 13:48 --- If you wash them really well, you can fill them with water and freeze them for your coolers.

Hillbilly Bill - at 14:35
amak - at 14:07 Are you connected to a municipal sewer system, or do you have your own septic tank?

BroncoBill - at 14:43
lohrewok - at 14:08 --- "I will fill one of my cleaned milk jugs with water, let it sit for several days, and drink it. I'll let you know how it goes."
And if we don't hear from you?
BB checks his own insurance policy for "Death by Drinking Icky Water"?

Green Mom - at 14:44
What about using that water for watering plants? I have a lot of house plants I'd hate to lose.

lauraB - at 14:44
I odn't have that much freezer space and prefer to fill it with food, but have plenty of podwdered and UHT mil on hand. However, the idea of using the containers as extra ice to keep freezers cold is good. I think the leaching issue is more is you let it sit for months on end, not necessarily when it is frozen. Plus we could use the water for other things.

Hillbilly Bill - at 14:51
There will be lots of water need for cleaning and washing clothes, much more than what we will need for drinking.

Green Mom - at 15:25
Spent the last two days shopping for preps- I'm about done in! Yesterday verged on disaster. Due to a series of unfortunant events, I had to take my fifteen year old son with me, which was mostly cool-he's great company-no wise cracks about prepping for flu, and his young muscles certainly were handy for lifting and carrying things, but he freaked out in Aldis-he has a problem with sensory overload. Krogers was ok-its kind of dim, in there, everything in neat ordarly rows, free coffee. But Aldi's with its harsh lights, and chaotic stacking of things was too much for him-plus, I'm sad to say, the cashiers were really rude. Also it was hot and very humid-heat index of over a 100 degrees- the heat/humidity really plays havoc with our asthma, plus car fumes and weird city chemicals-we were both really fried when we got home.
But I did get some good stuff-Big Lots has huge-40lbs bags of Purina dog food for $8.00 which I though was a really great price. I'm guessing a metal trash can will hold a little over fifty pounds. (The can held all of one of these bags, plus some extra) Cleaned out the Annies Mac and Cheese, also they have a hot and sour soy noodle soup that I love and I eat when I get sick-really helps with sinus congestion, its a cup a soup, just add hot water-so got a lot of those. I filled a shopping cart full of Kleenex Anti-viral tissues. I'm not counting on the anti-virals, so much but they might help some and were only a dollar a box.
I bought several gallons of soy milk-it can be stored non-refrigerated. I stopped at a GoodWill and bought several books and puzzles for the kids. Also bought quite a few piller candles there-non-scented white- a couple were still in packages, only one or two looked like they had even been burned at all, plus an un opened bottle of lamp oil(?) I also bought, for .50 cents, a book on divination. So the next full moon, I'll cast some runes and let you all know when and how the flu will hit. Its amazing what you can find at Good Will. I lost my head at the farmers market and tons of plants (and some produce) There was a delightful Artimsia that really really wanted to go home with me-how can I resist? My son thinks I have too many plants allready- nonsense!
So today I'm recovering from all that. Whew! Its summer soltice, so I'll plant all the plants I bought and just enjoy the day. We used to do bon-fires, but that dosn't seem to be such a good idea anymore what with global warming and all that. Oh well. Its too hot today anyway!

Jane - at 16:03
Green Mom, your description of the hot (productive!) day you had reminded me of a 90+ day teaching kindergarten. We sat on the cool linoleum floor and smoothed talcum powder on our arms and legs because we were so sticky. Maybe I'll make a place to rest in our unfinished basement-it's ugly but cool.

Lily - at 17:54
My old white wicker chair went out for trash, because I saw one that isn't completly ready to collapse at the second hand shop for 40. Said they just picked it up at an estate sale, I hope it wasn't the same estate sale that I sent the old farmhouse owner on the other day. I did pick up some nice large platic imitation clay pots to grown tomatoes. The neiborhood gardener was doing the lawn when my neighbor who I met at the second hand shop dropped off my chair. She has a nice roomy SUV. She slim as a read, looks just like Natalie Halloways mom and is a lovely person. Couldn't squeeze it into my car. Nice day. Had a peice of the best apple pie at the library. Have to find out the bakery, crust and filling just wonderful. Ah the joys of rural life. Gardener doesn't think my pine tree should be restaked, roots too shallow even though the new pine needles are lush and healthy. So rather than have it topple on the house in another storm, sadly forked over 250 to get it hauled away.

Lily - at 18:09
Green mom, exciting casting runes on the summer solstice. I have to look at one of those see whats what. Looks like Cabin Girl is having an unwelcome bonfire for the summer solstice. Think I'll leave now and read up on that. Thanks for the reminder.

lohrewok - at 18:43
broncobill at 14:43 I'll leave instruction with my post to post results here if I can't. :0

lohrewok - at 18:44
Already lost some grey cells here.
Meant to say I'll leave instruction w/ family to let you guys know results?

22 June 2006

Pat in AZ - at 00:01
Woo-hoo, I'm in the prepping groove! I got 20# of pinto beans at the Mexican grocery store for $10, and Big Lots had canned vegetables for 50 cents each, so I bought 3 dozen ? plus 200 bags of green tea, 4 bottles of shampoo, and a dozen quart Mason jars. Now that my credit card is all warmed up, I don't want to stop!

Swann - at 00:21
Trust us, you won't! It never ends. You've made a good start, though!

Green Mom - at 08:08
Today I'm harvesting yarrow and elderflower to dry to make teas. Theres an old old recipie for equal blend of yarrow, elderflower and peppermint that supposed to be really good for flu. My peppermint is not quite ready for harvest-I'll do that later and add to the mix. I have made cough syrup from honeysuckle and that works really well it just dosn't keep very long. I bought several ginger roots on my excursion and will chop those today and put in vodka to keep. If I have any yarrow left, I will make a vodka tinture for that as well.

Watching in Texas - at 11:05
Cinda at 14:20 - I have a question for you, can you also freeze heavy cream and/or half and half?

Kathy in FL - at 11:10
For the next two weeks my prepping is going to include an all-out house cleaning, decluttering, reorganization ? and whatever else I get myself into.
I'm trying to get all those little house repairs out of the way before I go too much further.
We are also looking into security measures for our alternative location. After the big break in and vandalism, we are just now beginning to get some repairs completed up there. Awful hard to do long distance. Insurance has been a pain in the backside as well.
So much to do and it feels like so little time to do it in.
Next week I've also got planned a major round of canning ? getting all that meat out of my freezer so that I can defrost it and converting it to quarts of stew meat, ground hamburger, sausage, soups, etc.

Jane - at 11:35
Green Mom at 8:08, about the ginger in vodka, do you just use a clean jar, or a sterilized jar and lid, or do you pressure can it? Will you keep it on a shelf or in the fridge? Thanks for the idea - ginger is delicious. I have crystalized ginger that I use for shredded carrot salad as well as for stomach troubles.
I bought 3 sets of metal shelving to set up in the basement. The wire ones from Target can hold 350 pounds, 36? wide. The odd thing is that they are rated for 350# for 12? and 48? wide also.

Cinda - at 11:45
WIT- Wish I could help but I have never tried to freeze either - only milk- I think if I was going to try, I would try the 1/2 and 1/2 first. maybe just a small amount. a cup or so in a jar, then thaw it and see what happens- I'll bet there's even more shaking involved. Good excersize!!!!
And anyone else who wants to freeze milk- remember you HAVE to pour some out or the plastic containers can split and will leak out all your milk as they thaw making a mess in the fridge, or at least bubble out as the milk expands during freezing and make a mess in your freezer. Found that out the hard way!!

flourbug - at 11:47
pssst, Kathy in FL, its been in the mid 90s in FL? and you are CANNING? I hope you have an outdoor burner for that. *fanning myself just at the thought of keeping the stove on high all day*
I'm playing with my new dehydrator. Its the nine drawer Excalibur with timer. Last night I diced 12 red peppers and set it on 125 for 6 hours. This morning about 1/3 of each drawer was still a bit moist - which the instruction booklet warned about, saying I might need to rotate the drawers about half way through the drying cycle - so I cleared off the finished peppers and consolodated the rest, put it back on for 2 more hours, and that did the trick. 12 LARGE firm peppers filled one sandwich bag after dehydration. Next time I am going to dice them smaller. 3/16 came out fine for chunky soups and stews but a bit too big to add to chili or use for pasta salads.
Although the machine and trays are fairly fragile plastic (don't they make anything out of metal any more?) I'm really happy with my purchase. I got it off excalibur.com, which is running a sale until the end of the month. Its the perfect time to take advantage of all the seasonal summer produce, and I really like the idea of being able to store large quantities in a small space. I need to look into the best way to preserve dehydrated foods now that I'll be making a lot of them. I wonder how the large packers can get their items to last 10 years +. My next purchase will most likely be a seal-a-meal to vacuum pack canning jars. I'm also looking for recipes for finished meals like the type campers use. GFS has powdered gravies, cheeses, and white sauce base, which I think could be utilized along with pasta, dehydrated meat and veggies, and spices, then sealed in single or family sized portions in glass jars and mylar bags.

Watching in Texas - at 11:48
Cinda - thanks, I think I will try it - just 1/2 pint or so to start out with. And I appreciate the info on pouring some out!

Green Mom - at 11:49
Jane- I just use any clean jar with a lid that I have, just wash it really well-I usually bleach out my lids-probably because I reuse a fair amount of tomato sauce jars and their stained a little bit with the sauce. I just peel the root, chop it up into little bits, and cover it with vodka, and stick it in the back of the fridge-I use a lot of ginger-dh LOVES it. I pressure canned little pickled onions-hmmmm! Now that herbs and produce are starting to come in, I'll do some oils and vinegars too.

Jane - at 11:56
Thanks, Green Mom!
WIT, my mother-in-law freezes 1/2 pints of heavy cream when it's on sale, then uses it on cereal. (I don't know if the whipping capacity changes after freezing, though.)

Watching in Texas - at 12:04
Jane - thanks, I will try that too. I don't really want it for whipping cream, I have gotten some Dream Whip and have Cool Whip frozen - mostly I wondered cause my husband prefers heavy cream in his coffee.

Cinda - at 12:04
Flourbug - I have that one too and I love it. My family loves dried apples and jerky and It does a fine job with both. I also did diced onions and sliced carrots - they are great for throwing into soups

Kathy in FL - at 12:06
Flourbug, I need to pull out my dehydrator also. Saturday I hope to hit a couple of farmers markets/flea markets. Wish I had the time to go to Webster ? their produce area is huge ? but they are only open on Mondays, takes me an hour to get there, and I just don't foresee that happening for a few more weeks.
As far as the heat goes ? I won't notice it one way or the other. I'm going to be painting a couple of rooms and will probably have to turn off the AC so I can open windows for ventilation. I'm having to Kilz my bathroom ceilings so that I can paint them and my bedroom hasn't been painted in nearly 8 years so I will be painting in there as well.
I'm also giving all of the floors a heavy cleaning ? carpets I'm steam cleaning, tile floors will be scrubbed and the grout re-sealed, etc.
I just haven't been able to stand it anymore. After that bad bout of stomach virus we had last week I feel like I've got invisible monsters crawling all over my house. Yuck. Gives me the heebie jeebies ? and if we do have a pandemic, at least I'll know that I got the major house cleaning out of the way for a while.

Lily - at 12:06
Can't think of anyplace to put this. Stopped at a fair in town for some italian sausage. Full of young families, small children to be taken on the rides. If anyone has contact with Lyons clubs, or the various chambers of commerce that put on these fairs, and there will be many over the summer months, they might have simple flyers from the gov. stocking up available. sitting under a rock near the napkins and utensils in the food tents. These are the families by the thousands that take their kids out for an afternoon or evening of fun. The only thing I am continuing to stock up on is fluids in glass containers on sale. Concert and fireworks tonite, fireworks on Sat.Actually saw fireflies on my car windshield when I got home late last nite. So firefly season has begun.

Cinda - at 12:09
I have room for cream on top of my milk!! I made the mistake of making real whipped cream once and now nothing else will do!! I'd like to buy a lot of it when it's on sale if it will still whip. I'll get some and give it a whirl and let you know
Jane - does you MIL pour out any of the cream first? And do you know if she uses plastic or `cardboard' containers?

Mari - at 12:13
Kathy in FL - at 12:06 - If you're doing all that work yourself, you must be in really good shape!

Kathy in FL - at 12:24
Mari - at 12:13
Just used to doing things myself I guess. Hubby and I manage properties so its not like it is something new to me. I've helped lay tile, paint, complete punch lists of cleaning between tenants, etc.
Plus, I'm cheap. Why pay someone else to do something when I can do it myself. Not to mention I have some cheap labor that we call kids. LOL! My husband and son will be away and my 3 daughters and I (16, 10, and 7) will really be able to boogie on the indoor stuff. I'll set the 7 year old to babysitting the 2 year old boy to keep him out of the paint ? I hope.
Then when my hubby and son get back I'm hoping we can tackle the outside of the house ? pressure washing, painting, fixing some of the soffit and facia, etc.
House is in good shape, its that regular maintenance that you need to do though. I also want to cut back a couple of trees and then set the limbs aside for possible firewood.
Killing two birds with one stone ? prepping and keeping up with the housework. It will honestly be a load off my mind to get it done.

Love Texas - at 15:12
Kathy you are a wonder ---I get tired just reading your posts.

Lily - at 15:44
Kathy in Fl. Well at least your recovered. Just never stop and sit down. Your like a perpetual motion mechanism.

Green Mom - at 15:44
I thought about painting my kitchen but the thought of shutting off the a/c makes me queasy! I'll just wait until fall-we usually have at least a couple of cooler /dryer kind of windyish weeks in October that will be good for paint drying. Its so humid here now I don't know if paint WOULD dry! I'm thinking/hoping that if we do have flu it will be during the winter months and I'll be able to do the kitchen. I don't know though-sometimes I feel like we're all racing against an invisable clock.
I do understand about the need to clean after an illness though. The energy in my house gets all flat and stale and yucky and needs to be recharged. I use a lot of lavender and rosemary to revitilise the air during/after illness.

Lily - at 15:48
Doesn't a thunderstorm do that. The air always seems more vital with humidity removed. But I thought the lightning does something too.

Eccles - at 15:55
Lily- The lightning creates free negative ions. It essentially give the air an electric charge. The most striking experience one can have along those lines is to enter a production "clean room" where electrostatic devices are used to introduce just such a charge to help in dust control. The first time you wlak into such a facility, it smells just like you are walking out into a crisp spring morning. (Its the negative ions) A good home ion generator can do the same thing.

Green Mom - at 16:03
yes you can buy negitive ion nachines-this is one of those times when "negative is possitive" I have to remeber not to get that confused if the battery in my car dies. Then negative is possitivly negative. (this is why I don't work with machines!) A rapidly flowing creek or river gives off negative ions and supposivly evergreen trees-especially pines do the same which is why walking in a pine forrest is so pleasant. Rain water-charged with lightening is so much better than hand water a garden with flat tap water-I think so anyway, plus it gives the gardener a break! :-)

Lily - at 16:13
No wonder I am so positive, Always have lived surrounded by Pines, Large large pines. Hugh pines lining drive, pines by the library,pines by the kitchen. Almost without exception. have had pine groves, pine avenues and so on. Have a quick moving creek behind also, no wonder I'm loathe to move.I feel good always, but I often sit under the pines and just think, very soothing.

flourbug - at 16:24
Kathy in FL, what/where is Webster? I usually go to the produce market in Tarpon Springs - the one up by Rt 19, but I want to try the Tampa Wholesale Market too. I hear you can buy case lots at good prices. If you have a source, I'm game to check it out.
Your story reminds me, years ago my husband and I decided to add several decks to our home. There were two large decks, about 40? x 30?, joined by a longer, narrower deck that wrapped around one corner of our house. He and I put in the cement footings, and the upright beams and main frame. I was working on the flooring while he worked on making stairs. He decided it would be easier to just buy a premade staircase and drove off in search of one. He searched all over but finally found what he wanted. By the time he got back it was almost sunset, and my three daughters and I had finished all the floors and the railings, the only thing missing was the staircase. We were very proud of "our" deck.

food storage nut - at 16:25
Have been working out in the garden. I am on a steep learning curve. Peas seem to have a very small yield so I am not sure if they are worth planting again. Does anyone know the best variety of peas for the greatest yield?
I am hoping that the beans will do better. I will pick a lot of the herbs tomorrow, dry some and some I will put chopped into ice cube trays topped up with a little water and then after freezing transfer the cubes to ziplock bags.
I notice from this thread that it does not have the activity that it used to have. I suspect that most of us are getting pretty much prepared now.
I think that it is probably time to start seeds indoors for the fall crop too.

Hillbilly Bill - at 16:30
food storage nut - at 16:25 I have always found peas to be a low yield crop and more of a specialty than something to "put up". If you planted enough beans, you will have more than you want to pick. My wife and I are always glad when we finally process the last batch of beans, although it is satisfying to see all of those jars on the shelf.

Cinda - at 16:38
Food Storage Nut- It may be that something is lacking in your soil. I've had very good luck with Paso Peas- very small and very sweet (many don't ever make it to the table or the freezer- they go straigt from vine to tummy!) and I think I got them from from Park's seeds. Last year I got an "innoculant" puts back what peas and beans take out and gives them something else they need- from one of the seed houses specifically for peas and beans and I had beautiful peas. Can't remember the name of it but if you log onto Parks or one of the big seed houses you'll probably find it. I had some left over an didn't order another for this year- wish I had- But I didn't know I was going to be trying to raise all these peas- and I haven't even planted the beans yet. I haven't found it in any local nurserys so I'll have to order it. This year the weather's been so bad that the peas- which are about the easiest thing to grow- look pretty skimpy. I planted about 1000 peas and I'd be amazed if more than 60% of them came up. But it'll still be a lot of peas!

food storage nut - at 17:06
Hillbilly Bill and Cinda
Thanks for the information. Are you going to be planting seeds indoors for fall crops, if so what will you be planting? Am I too early to start seeds indoors? I'm in Virginia

Green Mom - at 18:00
Food Storage nut-How about POd peas Like the kind you eat in Chinese stir fry, you eat pod and all. My kids love them and eat them as a snack. And since you can eat the pods too, I feel you get more yield. My faves are "Sugar Ann" They prefer cooler weather, though. Neither my pod peas or my English peas did very well this spring. I'll plant some more, but probably wait til mid July to start them. I'm in South Central Kentucky, zone 6.I usually start fall seeds a litte later-it could just be that I'm really busy now with the first "wave" of produce coming in, I'm doing herbs, blackberries, blueberries and starting the wine batches. I'll get all that done about the 2nd/3rd week of July and have a bit of time to start seeds before I start on tomato sauce!

Lily- Lightening also puts nitrogen in the rain water-another reason that a good rain is better than water from a hose. Still and all, I'm grateful for that hose!

Melanie - at 18:04
food storage nut,
You are actually late to be starting seeds outdoors right now. Seeds or plant sets can go in around here at about the 15th of April.

EnoughAlready - at 18:16
food storage nut, melanie
Most extension agencies in all states have calendars that tell you when you can do seeds to prepare as plants. I will give a shot at Texas calendar? aggie horticulture
Also, the Square Foot Garden website has similar info, except it isn't regional. It is actually approaching time to start seeds for fall plants here.

food storage nut - at 18:17
Melanie this is a planting in fall for fall and early winter harvest not for the summer. You can do a second planting of stuff at the end of the summer. I just don't know when to start the seedlings off and if I should start them inside.

EnoughAlready - at 18:19
well, I am flunking linking on this site. It is a newsletter, horticulture update page with a calender link for several years. Each year has all the months. It disucusses a lot of issues, including planting schedules. Like I said, most extension agencies have similar info.

Melanie - at 18:21
fsn,
Depends on which crops you are planting. What does your second harvest look like?

Kathy in FL - at 18:21
Regular sugar peas are cooler weather crops ? black eyed peas are more suited to the southern heat and humidity.

food storage nut - at 18:21
Thanks EnoughAlready I will try and find a site for my local extension agency.

food storage nut - at 18:23
Melanie: The second harvest can have stuff like swiss chard, fava beans, spinach, cauliflower, late peas and a lot of leafy green type stuff.

Kathy in FL - at 18:26
Also, most peas are the type of plants ? beans in general really ? that the more you pick the more they yield. So as soon as pods are ready to pick, start picking. Then you save them up until you have enough to cook or process.
Just keep at it. It can be a pain. Its not like being able to go to a farmers market and get all the peas you want at one go. My grandparents and parents would pick every day ? just kind of go over the kitchen garden and pull whatever was ripe enough. Then it was put away until there was enough to process. Eventually the plants would peak and then decline. At some point ? never figured out, but probably had to do with who much they had gotten for the year ? my grandparents (and mom) would then say leave the rest to dry on the vine. That way they had dry peas and/or seeds for the following year.

EnoughAlready - at 18:26
food storage nut
I have set some plants out in the shade already. Just trying to keep them alive at this point. I will be starting seeds in a couple of weeks? and varying seed planting times. I will probably have to do it inside because it is so blame hot here! The ag newsletter says it's okay to plant outside, but I dunno. We've had rain lately, and that is the only thing I think has saved me from watering like a mad dog all day long. And I have drip lines set up.

Green Mom - at 18:28
You can do broccoli and brussels sprouts too-the brussel sprouts actually taste better if they are hit by a mild frost-defiantly start those inside though-way too hot for them outside. You can also plant carrots and beets for overwintering. Check out Eliot Coleman's four season harvest. I keep some stuff going year round.

food storage nut - at 18:31
It is dreadfully hot here too. I have a small garden close in to Washington DC so not much space. I will have to wait until the stuff I have planted here has produced so that I can pull it out and then make room for my seedlings. It is all a big experiment for me since I haven't done much of this before. But I think that I need to practise doing this so that when and if the time comes I will have the skills.

Melanie - at 18:34
fsn,
All of the salad greens can be started indoors now-this heat would be murder on them out of doors. Fava beans are quick growers and like to be harvested at first frost, so hold back on those until mid-July.

food storage nut - at 18:36
Thank you for all the advice. There is a lot to learn and it is regional specific which makes it difficult.

HillBilly Bill - at 18:39
fsn: I'm north of you and definitely in a different growing season. I keep planting lettuce, green onions and spinach through the season, but it is hard to get a second crop of anything in this area, we have early frosts. Gardening takes practice. By experimentation you will find out what grows well in your area and in your soil. I have learned over the years to grow what grows best and leave rest to others. In about a month I will be able to send you a truckload of zucchini if you want it.

EnoughAlready - at 18:44
Looks like the University of the District of Columbia Cooperative Extension Service is your ag agency. I'd call them for a planting calendar.

Melanie - at 18:47
fsn,
The Washington Star Gardening Book (in paper) is the gold standard for gardening in the mid-Atlantic.

Jane - at 19:20
Cinda, my MIL buys heavy cream in cardboard half-pints and just puts them in the freezer.
I bought the $21 commode at Walmart and a 40 qt. 5-day cooler and hid them. The cooler is so big though, my DH will probably find it. The instructions say to use a pound of ice for each quart of capacity- so 40 lbs. of ice(!) to keep contents cold for 5 days. That doesn't leave much room in the cooler for food. Not sure this is worth it. Maybe 10 pounds of ice will be good for a full day, just so long as the thing is completely filled?
Also bought some good nail clippers, extra sox and underwear for DH, a roll of plastic laminate, and some Angostura Bitters for flavoring-it contains gentian, so maybe it's healthy too.

HillBilly Bill - at 19:25
Jane: Freeze 2 or 3 two liter soda bottles 85% full of water until they are solid ice. Put them in your cooler and use a refrigerator/freezer thermometer to check the temperature after a few hours. I'm betting it will be in the safe zone and you willl have plenty of room for food.

Kim - at 19:44
Jane, that 5 day cooler will perform quite well for you. We have 2 of them at our off-grid cabin as our sole source of refrigeration. We load them up with two (10 lb?) bags of ice each, then fill with food. They are kept inside the cabin, which averages about 70-75 degrees in the summer. Those two bags of ice will last anywhere from 3-7 days? the shorter time when we first arrive and the insides of the coolers are normal room temperature, and the longer time after about a week or so and the insides of the cooler are good and chilled. I try to always pre-cool everything I put into the cooler. Leftovers are left at room temperature and frequently stirred for at least an hour before being put away, while pop, beer, etc is placed into our "double clay flowerpot cooler" for pre-chilling (we only bring in enough beverages that will be needed that particular day, to save room in the coolers. The flowerpot cooler keeps them to where they're already drinkably cool, but sometimes we're too lazy to walk 30 feet out the door under the trees to fetch drinks from the flowerpot. And HB is correct, block ice (such as frozen 2 liters) will last longer than cubed ice.

Mari - at 19:59
Kim - what's the typical relative humidity/temperature outside when you're using your double clay flowerpot cooler? For relative humidity in the single digits & low teens & high temps in the 90?s, a small flowerpot cooler at my house was keeping a mayo jar of water in the mid 60?s after it cooled down from ambient (outside temp down to the low 60?s at night).

Melanie - at 20:04
My grocery just started stocking the five day coolers so I'm going to pick up a couple. I'm a camper and not having to leave my campsite to drive into town for ice every other day improves the quality of my vacation life.

Flu Prep 9 (IX)

Bronco Bill — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 04:41:59 GMT

26 June 2006

Pat in AZ - at 20:00
Bronco Bill, thanks for the lead on silica gel. It was beginning to look like a lot of work for not saving a lot of money.

Mari - at 23:10
Whoa, a real thunderboomer with hail, the first real rain since last November! I got out a tarp anchored on bags of bark chips & stepping stones in the back yard, but it flapped around too much to capture much water. I did get 6 samples spaced out over the shower as the water poured off my roof (of course got soaked in the process). My garbage can ended up 2 blocks away, blown by the wind & carried by the runoff.
I took the top part of each bucket as the final sample so debris from the roof won't be soaking in the water. I suspect that after the dirt etc was washed off the roof there wasn't enough dwell time for the rainwater to get contaminated by the asphalt in the shingles. I'll see how much the heavy metal & organics tests cost to see how many samples I'll get tested. It might make sense to go through the water treatment steps (sedimentation, filter through cloth, add chlorox) for each sample before I send it in - I'll ask the testing lab what they think.

27 June 2006

Hillbilly Bill - at 09:53
Mari - at 23:10 Good for you! The time to practice collecting (and treating) rainwater is now while you can still go pick up what you find out that you need. For those that wouldn't enjoy standing out in the pouring rain switching buckets, I suggest you look into purchasing a big tub from a farm supply store, or at least a 50 gallon washtub.

Strider - at 11:16
I went to a local Pepsi bottling company and asked (VERY politely!) if I could get a few of the 55 gallon food grade plastic barrels that they get their syrup in. YES!
A word of advice, don't try to drive a pickup filled to overflowing with 18 empty 55 gal barrels in a thunderstorm on an expressway. Not only do you look like the Beverly Hillbillies, but you end up being blown over both lanes and the shoulders from the wind gusts.

ssol - at 11:25
About 55 gallon barrels. I looked on the web and saw they were about $50/each with $50 in shipping. But?I bought mine from Bergen Barrel in Kearny, NJ for ~$50 and picked them up myself. Very nice people. These are new, FDA ok for potable water with 2 bung holes. Perfect for storing water in the basement. The key is to find them locally to avoid shipping. So if you are in NY or Eastern Pa. look at them. I have no relationship with them, just a customer. Don't forget to but a pump - need to get that elsewhere though.

Mari - at 12:38
When I checked the water in the tarp this morning, what little was there was full of leaves, bark, and dirt blown by the wind. The tarp idea would work a lot better if you have a big yard and can position the tarp away from the roof, trees, and source of dust. It also would work better if the rain is a quiet one, not a downpour with 50 mph winds.

Hillbilly Bill - at 14:41
Mari - at 12:38 If you suspend the tarp using metal fence posts, you can angle it so that water collects and runs into a washtub or water trough. I agree that a storm is not the best scenario, but the method I am talking about will handle a hard rain.

BroncoBill - at 14:45
Mari - at 12:38 --- Using HBB's method above, you can also purchase aluminum window-screen material and place it over the top of the catch-tub you're using. It won't keep the dirt and dust out, but will keep leaves and bugs (and `skeeters) out of it?as well as thirsty animals.

LoveTexas - at 15:35
I would like to do this test also-but it requires rain and we are in the middle of a drought and we have not had rain for 42 day at my house and we are on water restrictions. Everytime I hear about you guys getting rain up there it makes me cry!

Melanie - at 15:37
LoveTexas,
We'd love to send you some of ours. We're expecting another 3 inches on top of the foot we've had since the weekend.:?9

Hillbilly Bill - at 15:40
LoveTexas - at 15:35 I wish I could give you most of the rain we have been getting. Nevertheless, get everything you need ready for when it does rain.

LoveTexas - at 15:45
Melanie and HBB---I know what you mean in Texas we never get rain we get storms really-and we get a lot of wind on a regular basis. I know when we do get rain it will be like 10 inches and we will have floods. I just hope it is in the near future. August could be 110 to 114 in the shade if this keeps up. If the flu hit and no power in Aug I think I will die!!!!!

Mari - at 16:40
I'm hoping that a downpour off my roof won't have time to leach much from my asphalt shingles. Will call the testing lab tomorrow to find out cost.
The only place I have in the back to use a tarp is over a concrete slab that the former owners put in for an above-ground pool (the slab is larger than a large tarp). Metal fence posts wouldn't work well for my situation. I might try hooks along the roof line to attach the tarp grommets on one end and thread ropes through the grommets on the two sides, then tie the topes at the bottom to a tree. That might work if I got a fairly wide, heavy container to empty into.

PBQ - at 22:45
I don't remember seeing this. Sorry if it is a repeat but everyone needs to get a tetenus shot! Doing all the outside work you are bound to cut or scrape yourself. They are only good for 5 years if you are prone to cuts and scrapes. We have all heard the story about a woman contracting Tetenus from a rose thorn. Pity to survive BF and die from tetenus.

28 June 2006

NauticalMan - at 00:06
PBQ, great thought about the tetanus shot, had mine last year after whacking my head falling out of bed! Lost power for about two hours last night, luckily just as the microwave finished baking the potato and all the veggies and salmon burgers from Trader Joes were done.
I did get to use my new LED lantern, worked fine but very bright if it shines directly into your eyes. My hand cranked LED lights with rechargeable batteries which I wound when I bought them six months ago still were bright. An hour after power loss, used the LED lights to get my butane single burner stove out of the dark basement, within 3-4 minutes boiled water to make us a cup of tea, puts out a lot of BTUs in a short period, think I could easily cook on this when the need arises. Nice to know that some of my preps work when I need them. It is a comforting feeling. Now need to overcome that procrastination glitch I have and get the last few items in my list.

KimT - at 00:15
During the flood of 93, I was at home with a parilized hubby and two little ones. We had elec, but no running water for weeks. I collected rain from the down spouts into barrels and put in my big bath tub, used for flushing & then ran a hose from the tub down the laundry shoot and was able to do laundry, cold wash and it took a while to fill it up, but it worked. Today I think I would stick it thru the basement window directly on to the back of the washer for laundry.
A tarp would be better if I could stablize the tarp, attach to pvc pipe and lead the water directly to the container for storage so you woudnt have to carry it very far if at all, hmm

Hillbilly Bill - at 10:29
You could find a container that has a hose fitting at the bottom and use it in conjunction with a tarp, (or tarps), and use a hose to drain that water into a tank in your house. If there are farm supply stores in your area that would be the place to look

Mari - at 12:26
Phooey, to get one sample tested would be about $350. For the amount of rain we get here, it's not worth it. I'll pursue one or more of the tarp options.

Hillbilly Bill - at 12:28
Ouch! That's pretty steep, but then you are asking them to test for more than the usual stuff. You should be able to rig the tarp with ropes.

Satago - at 19:48
Well, I've thought a while about posting this, and after advice from an esteemed member of this community, decided to go ahead.
I've been watching H5N1 in the news and assorted sources for little over a year now. Done lots of reading up on viruses and related topics. Started my preps sometime this past winter. Problem is, my job ended in January. There's been barely enough cash to pay the bills, and things have been pretty bleak. I've got a wife, 3 year old daughter, and a mortgage. No frills like cell phones or cable TV. A bit stressed about it, of course, but not overly so. There's always been up times and then down times. I have part time work that is getting the basic bills paid, but that's it.
What stresses me is that I see this pandemic as a real probability. I see it as *likely*. But I haven't been able to do much about it. Although even with the lack of funds, I've been able to get together about a months worth of supplies together by keeping an eye on sales and taking advantage of what I can. My wife and I got a 40 dollar gift certificate on our anniversary. Guess what I spent my half on? Meds. It was kinda funny, when we met back up in the aisle at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, she had a nice bath soap and new sponge, and I had my arms full of Advil.
So, I'd been trying to think of ways to generate a separate income to fund my preps, and eventually I came up with something. I don't know if it's going to lead anywhere, but I weighed the cost versus the benefits and decided to go for it. I opened a CaféPress shop.
I know, I've read good and bad reviews on them. But I like to judge for myself, so I'll see how it goes. Now here's the part that makes it relevant. I gear all my merchandise towards Pandemic Flu awareness. What makes me feel good about it is that I can accomplish TWO things I've been trying to do, raise money for preps AND increase awareness of an imminent pandemic.
I'm trying to walk a fine line in this, a few fine lines really. I don't want to exploit the situation, as some are doing (a while ago someone here posted a link to a place that was actually selling prep lists, which I thought was an amazingly disgusting act of huckstering). And if you do a search for "bird flu" you'll see that -aside from items meant to profit from people who are worried- there's also a fair amount of humorous t-shirts and the like. I think it's sorta tasteless, but what's new. Bird Flu joke t-shirts aren't as bad as selling prep lists, I guess. I'm trying to keep my profit low enough to not be exploitive, but high enough to at least finance a big bag of rice or maybe get my chimney cleaned and some firewood.
I made some designs that are meant to be eye-catching. In my head I imagine (hope for) a scenario where someone who is wearing a shirt or drinking from a mug or using a mousepad (etc) is asked about Pandemic Flu, and a conversation might be sparked. I'm aware of how hard it is to bring up as a subject without sounding like an alarmist. I also am trying to incorporate some basic hygiene advice and basic facts about flu into the designs, although that's a little harder to do. Still coming up with stuff.
I ordered one of my mugs and got it today. It's fine. Not as sharp as I'd like?but I really don't think that matters. My intention isn't high quality merchandise, it's "good enough" quality that serves a purpose.
Lastly, I've seen the Flu Wiki T-shirt thread, but have purposely not read it. Don't know what the design looks like, though I'm pretty sure it doesn't resemble mine (My main design is based on the dove with an olive branch image, but is a red bird carrying a virus). As far as I'm concerned, anyone that has the means to do this type of thing ought to give it a go. It may not be a discussion for this thread, but will "hip" merchandising increase awareness?
So, I'm posting this here in this thread because it's an alternative way of raising funds to supply preps. Others that are having a hard time in this area might think about it as a method. I like the "self contained" aspect of it, using whatever skills you may have to raise awareness of Pandemic Flu and accruing a small profit to help prepare yourself (and others! I always try to put aside a little for the kids in the neighborhood). The site is http://www.cafepress...
Thanks for reading my long post.

Kathy in FL - at 22:23
My prepping is still house cleaning. My Lord ? I've gotten more stuff to donate to local charities than I thought would have been possible. Toys that all five kids have finally run through but still have plenty of life left in them. Clothes that the youngest daughter has outgrown and there is no way that the baby boy will wear. LOL! Mismatched glasses, pieces of curriculum that I got free because I reviewed it for a publication, and so on.
I cleaned out a lot more room than I thought I would and still have a few rooms left to go. And I'm painting, cleaning, and reorganizing as I go. Gives me that "feel good" feeling.
Getting more than a couple honey-do projects off the list as well. Tomorrow I've got some toilet guts to replace and a couple of new baseboards to attach. Feeling pretty good. Now if I can just find the time to re-lay some of the ceramic tiles that popped up in the utility room.

29 June 2006

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 23:50
Today I landed an inexpensive large used upright freezer and somehow, and this is very surprising since I am not known for my charm, managed to talk the kind man having this moving sale into delivering it and helping me get it into the basement. I'm not even sure if I'll bother plugging it in! May just use it for flour/rice type storage and worry less about critters! I'm feeling a bit proud of myself and wanted to share this silly little piece of progress!

30 June 2006

lauraB - at 07:15
Congrats Lisa - I had to get mine new! But I am so glad I did. It doesn't have as many prep foods in there yet as I would like, but it is also nice to have extra frozen items that my kids seem to hoover through every few days. Who knew a 3yo could eat 3 frozen waffles when in the mood? Over the next month or so I will fill it with more meats, veggies, etc. I've made enough chili to feed an army. I'm worried about the kids getting enough protein if tshtf.

Hillbilly Bill - at 11:19
Lisa in Southern Maine - at 23:50 Excellent score! I don't have mine plugged in either. I have a good bit of the space full of (nearly full) two liter bottles of water waiting to be frozen. The rest of the space has dry preps like rice mixes, mac-n-cheese dinners, sugar, oatmeal, etc. Freezers are great for protecting your dry foods from bugs and critters.

Pat in AZ - at 21:02
Yay, my grain mill arrived today! But I can't even test it yet without having it bolted down - so tomorrow's task is to get a table to affix it to, and bolts to affix it with.

glennk - at 21:12
I'm curious folks. What are your ages? ladies can deduct 10 yrs. ;) I want to know because I have a theory about this.

HillBilly Bill - at 22:02
A theory was presented quite awhile ago by Eccles and verified with the collected data. It turns out that the majority of those prepping are in their 50?s. Boomers if you like that term. There was another spike at a younger age but the exact point escapes me right now, early twenties perhaps.

glennk - at 22:05
Not surprised. Also, not surprised at the 20?s somethings only because they pre-dominate the web. Doubt though they will persist is their preps over time. We 50?s somethings will because we have kids to protect in their teens , 20?s & 30?s.

Melanie - at 22:09
Here's the FluWiki Survey Summary. Go and take a look at this snapshot of us.

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 22:18
I'm curious now too, glennk, about wjat this train of thought might be?I'm forty. No give or take (as in deduction), just a few crows feet!

bgw in MT - at 22:51
I've got a suggestion. For a no-cost 5 liter water container, save any empty wine box containers that you can scrounge. I have actually taken the silver bag out and pried the little spigot open and filled it with water for my husband. I imagine it would be best to wash them out as you get them so the water wouldn't taste winey. It's free and I don't see why it wouldn't work. They should stack easily, too. Of course if your RWFK has to be the expensive kind you are out of luck (unless you have some cheapo friends like me).

02 July 2006

Melanie - at 01:52
It's time to rename these threads with the dates on which they are created, and put them to sleep after they are done.

Kathy in FL - at 09:01
I think my prep for today is NOT to do anything too constructive. I may do some reformatting on my prep inventory form, but that's probably about it. Too tired to do much else. I've been "overly productive" for the last week and me body is telling me so. LOL!

lohrewok - at 09:58
Does anyone have any good ideas for keeping track of where you store preps? I have a running inventory, so that's covered. But when it comes time to fix a meal, I don't want to have to search all over the house for ingredients!
This is what I'm currently doing:
Kitchen cabinets- cereals, crackers, spices, smaller containers of staples, items that I use daily now.
Pantry-mostly canned items-meats, soup, veg & fruits, jars (a shelf for each) Its at maximum capacity now and I figure there is enough food in there for one month.
That is the organised section. LOL
then in milk crates in the utility room, more canned items, condiments, dried food. A large plastic crate of flours, sugar, rice etc. A back closet in the house full of water, more cans, rice, flour, etc etc.
In DS closet, flu related items-masks, gloves, meds, more water, water containers. Garage-water containers, fuel type items.
I really don't want to store food in the bedrooms because of rodent problems. But I am running out of space elsewhere. Currently we have 3 months worth of food but I think I want to get more. Also, can you keep canned items in the garage? (not temp-controlled) I know this is kind of confusing but any ideas would be appreciated. My closet- TP & paper towels.

Irene - at 10:10
TP and paper towels take up a lot of space. Perhaps those items could be moved to the garage, leaving room for canned goods in your closet? Canned food shouldn't attract rodents as there is no odor and no way for the rodents to get into the cans.

Strider - at 10:59
Rodents can't get into cans, BUT they can (and do) eat the labels off. When we moved into our farmhouse we diligently put many cans of vege's etc in the cupboards. Three weeks later we were eating mystery meals as all of the labels had been eaten away. Came up with some interesting (but not appetizing) combinations that way.
Solved the problem by putting a few cats in the cupboards at night. In the morning we would have fat, happy cats.
Also taught our Shepherd and Newfoundland to mouse. Quite a sight to see a 150 pound dog that looks like a black bear leap two feet in the air and pounce on a mouse. It was a shame about my wife's sofa though, mouse under cushions in framework, shepherd "dug" him out. Wife NOT happy!

OKbirdwatcher - at 11:26
lohrewok - at 09:58 I've reached the point of having to store some food in bedrooms. I'm storing canned items and vacuum-sealed rice, beans, etc. in large plastic Rubbermaid-type containers(not the see-thru kind). Not really a plus for the decor, but keeps it out of sight because I just don't want to see food items everywhere I look.

Alan the Pom - at 12:02
Not sure if this has already been included in any "what to prep lists", if not, some of you may be interested. I have included on my list, a couple of bags of `cement' (I already have plenty of sand/shingle) I feel this could be very useful in making repairs/modifications if the SHTF.

KimT - at 14:50
I have this old cat ernie, he is 22. He quit mousing and boy did the mice figure it out and it wasnt long before I had a herd of mice, yes a herd. ( I could hear them in the attic as they played)
They must have told every mouse in town that the cat was sleeping. I went to the animal rescue league and got a cute little female kitty, she learned how to mouse real fast. She would catch it and go running off with it to the bathtub and play with it but she wouldnt kill it, they ended up snuggling up together and sleeping,So I had to get another cat, she is an awesome hunter, mean little sucker. she takes the mice that the other one brings to the tub and well its kinda icky. Tecnically now the mice problem is gone but then I went to the same pet store for supplies and there was this aboulutely beautiful male kitten, he is so BEAUTIFUL that I couldnt resist,you would have to see him to believe him,long haired grey and white his markings are perfect. He should be a model. Have no idea what kind of a hunter he is since the mice are gone, but he loves to play fetch.
I have been stocking up on lots of pet supplies and meds for them just is case. They don't go outside and that helps prevent a lot of illnesses.

Commonground - at 17:37
Hi Everyone, I thought I might mention that if you plan to use your fireplace or wood stove this upcoming winter, and haven't used it much or at all in the past, there are some things to think about. Get it cleaned, the chimney, and have it looked over if it's a wood burning stove. Also, the air becomes very dry when using it on a daily basis, so prep with plenty of lotion, and especially saline solution for your nasal passages, and a whole bunch of chapstick and lip ointment. You will need it!!!

lohrewok - at 22:11
Thanks everyone for the storage ideas. Looks like I'm going to be spending the week shuffling things around.
Also, can canned goods be stored in an unheated/un a/c space. Like the garage?

OKbirdwatcher - at 22:34
lohrewok - JMO, but I would think no. That's why my preps are overflowing into the bedrooms ;)

03 July 2006

mom11 - at 02:22
Yay! My canner jiggled and I have 13 quarts of beans cooling on the counter. I have another batch in and am waiting to see if I can do this again!
I picked blackberries for five hours and canned six quarts of pie filling and 4 pints of jelly. Ummm!!! They better love these pies! Those thorns are deadly and it was 98 degrees! Why do I do these dumb things?! Geeze!!
Tomorrow?Gonna try the bean thing again and also yellow squash!

Irene - at 02:24
If you store canned goods in a non-temperature controlled garage, it will affect their shelf life. Per Del Monte - a 15-degree change reduces expected shelf life by 50% (ideal temp is 65; if stored at 80, then shelf life is reduced by 50%).
From here: http://www.a1usa.net...

Melanie - at 05:16
My prep for the day is re-reading MFK Fisher's "The Art of Eating, in particular her chapters on dealing with hardships and rationing.
This is spectacular writing and elevates survival to an art.

Oremus - at 12:24
LoveTexas - at 15:35 June 27 I've felt that we could benefit from a national water grid similar to the power grid. It would supply peak usage points from points that have an abundance.
It would be enormously expensive, but a great achievment like the Panama Canal, or Moon Landing.
The environmentals would probably oppose it.

Love Texas - at 15:41
Oremus-at 12.24 What a great idea!! I would have never thought of it. Boy do we need it here, think about this Texas only has one natural lake the rest are man made??? Hope it rains this weekend it is cloudy but no rain. I would imagine the people or states that have plenty of water would oppose it also. It would be a great achievment.

OKbirdwatcher - at 15:57
mom11 - at 02:22 You remind me of my mom many years ago. She worked WAY too hard. PLEASE take care of you :)

bird-dog - at 16:52
Melanie - at 05:16 "My prep for the day is re-reading MFK Fisher's "The Art of Eating, in particular her chapters on dealing with hardships and rationing.
This is spectacular writing and elevates survival to an art."
Thanks Melanie! Great great idea! I have loved her writing but it's been awhile. I'll dust it off and reread it too! Now if I can only remember where I put it? :-(

Love Texas - at 17:28
Melanie-at 5:16 Yes that is a great book-I need to find it myself!

04 July 2006

mom11 - at 02:11
Hi Okbirdwatcher! We all work hard, just do different things!
I think I have the hang of this canner. My neighbor came over tonight and set up my Presto canner. I was too tired to even read the instruction book. Still 98 degrees here and stupid me?canning away! I canned 10 quarts of squash and 20 quarts of benas. I think I will be dreaming about beans tonight! Baby Madonna tried out the new pasta maker and we had homemade fettuchini with Alfredo sauce. I made some Artisan bread. I want to ask my Amish friends how they dry and keep their pasta.
Tomorrow I want start planting more beans and carrots. I hope i don't trip on ore beans while I am out there. I am getting nothing esle done though except laundrey, food and kids. this house is trashed!

05 July 2006

bgw in MT - at 01:11
Thanks, Melanie, for your mention of MFK Fisher's books.She sounds so interesting that I have ordered three of her books from Half.com. Your mention of the coverage of rationing made me think. You know, it's entirely possible rationing could happen again. I was born in December, 1941, so I just barely remember what ration books looked like. I do remember what a treat chocolate candy was when I was small.
I found a fascinating web site about rationing in Great Britain during World War II:
Food Rationing in World War II
Clothes Rationing in World War II
Absolutely gripping details are included that I hadn't read about even though I have read a good many fiction books on the period. For instance:
"Many things that were in short supply people could do without. The one thing that was a necessity rather than a luxury was medicine But, just as in the First World War, drugs and bandages were in short supply. Committees were set up around the country - known as `Herb Committees' and women would go out into the country with their children to gather the much needed recourses for the chemists. Items such as nettles, foxgloves, Coltsfoot, Deadly nightshade and other herbs were gathered and dried. The older women would make drying racks from net curtains nailed onto wooden trays to dry the herbs. Bandages were made from sheets and anything else that was available."

Hillbilly Bill - at 15:33
I was at my in-laws for the 4th and we talked some about general preparedness. My FIL bought a really neat water storage tank and has it in his garage. It is 2? D, 4? W and 6? H, and holds 485 gallons. Because of the dimensions, you can get it into practically anywhere and it takes up very little floorspace. He is storing rainwater in it as they already have a good source of drinking water. He needed to know how much Clorox to add to keep it safe and I was glad to provide that info.

jane - at 15:45
HBB, is that measurement in feet, or some Vulcan measurement? :)

Hillbilly Bill - at 16:00
jane - at 15:45 Actually thats Appalachian shorthand for `bout this here wide, this here tall and nearly this here deep.
Sorry, should be two feet deep, four feet wide and 6 feet tall.

Anonymoose - at 17:23
I'm thinking of joining either Costco or Sam's Club to buy both preps and routine stuff. Any opinions as to which store is better? I'm thinking in terms of both price and range of merchandise. Is there much variation between different locations of the same chain? (The closest Costco and Sam's Club for me are both in Gaithersburg, MD.) Thanks!

Melanie - at 17:26
Anonymoose,
I'd like to hear the answers to that question, too.

Edna Mode - at 17:55
Anonymoose: I can't speak to what is available and/or pricing, etc. at Costco because we don't have them where I live. I am a member at Sam's Club, and I can recommend it for buying cheap preps. I have bought a lot of my bulk preps from Honeyville, but certain things are much more affordable at Sam's.
Examples: 50# white rice for $11, 25# sugar for $9, 25# flour for $5.75.
Canned meats, fruits, and veggies are often really good deals at Sam's. Sam's also sells restaurant pack condiments (the single-serve type). Lots of good bulk hygiene items, too (soaps, shampoos, etc.) and meds. For example, 1,000 ibuprofen tablets for $9.
Selection does vary by location. I know that if you go to Sam's Web site, you can find bulk beans, for example, but they aren't sold in our local store for some reason.
Also, on Sam's Web site, there is a much broader selection of medical supplies than what is available in the store. Gloves, masks, etc. can be ordered online and shipped direct to your home.
It would be nice if you could compare prices, etc. between Costco and Sam's online, but Costco's online presence is pretty lame-at least the last time I checked. You might want to peek at it again just to make sure.
One place I personally wouldn't recommend joining is BJ's. Compared to Sam's, it's just not worth the membership fee.

Love Texas - at 18:41
I shop at Sam's the membership is a little cheaper. I tried both and I just think that Sam's has more food and Costco has more stuff. I don't need the stuff and I am in it for the food. So I shop at Sam's. I have shopped there for years.

preppiechick - at 18:58
We had a short discussion about costco vs. sams, it may be of some help:
[discussion
I have a membership to both, for different reasons. You just need to keep a notebook or something because their prices are different on the same things - sometimes they are packaged differently. Good luck!

preppiechick - at 19:00
so sorry, i forgot the other bracket -thankfully, it wasn't too long!

KenCalif - at 19:26
Does anyone know how best to purify swimming pool water? Could a forced air furnace be run for a short time with an inverter from a car battery? Ken

Anonymoose - at 21:04
Thanks, Preppiechick!
(Though after all this, I might end up choosing Costco simply because I dislike the Wal-Mart corporation.)

Love Texas - at 21:36
KenCalif---There was a thread on that subject and it is probably in the index-check it out

HillBilly Bill - at 22:00
KenCalif - at 19:26 You need to be reading here.
A short answer is maybe, and for a VERY limited time. There are better ways.

Flu Prep 10 (X)

Bronco Bill — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 12:45:40 GMT

14 July 2006

LauraB - at 16:34
Okay I'll start. I can't beleive we are up to X already!
So today I was sorting through some preps (great deal at my grocery store on canned soups) and decided I'm not buying any more beans! I don't care how cheap or nutritious they are, no more! I can totally see food fatigue in my future.

Melanie - at 16:38
Worked with Wiki friend Mike to get the Wiki data base set up. That's definitely a flu prep.

Love Texas - at 17:15
Thanks Melanie and Mike for keepimg up the good work--- Today I went to Walmart and spent 178 dollars---wow. I am a little behind in my prepping for I have spent a month doing other things. Now back to prepping I did let my can goods too low I have to watch that. For some reason I am feeling a little uneasy right now, just a feeling so I am back on prepping big time. We are at the point of having to rearranging this stuff. I am still finding new places to put it. Finding places to put it is the hard part.

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 17:48
I'm feeling uneasy today too. Did a $238.32 walmart run, mostly canned goods, whole evap.milk abd buttermilk, gravies, pie fillings, freezer flours?Have backed off on food prepping for past month but felt big need to buff up supplies today. Home depot - outside lighting, gas can/syphon and pump attachment/light bulbs/small hose to fill water storage barrels in basement from washing machine spigot? I think the Thailand quarantine is under my skin even though reports are negative for bf. Anyone else feel pressured to improve stock after learning about those 30 or so symptomatic people?

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 17:50
LauraB - Of the (app)100 cans I bought today, not a single one contains even a single bean!

Orlandopreppie - at 17:54
We're ordering the canner now, and will got get the supplies for raised garden beds when that's done. We need to get a hand pump and bung wrench too. Who names these things?"bung" how weird. That would be a fun word to say after six or seven glasses of wine.

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 17:57
Orlandopreppie - when I got our bung wrench, my youngest asked if he was `allowed to say that word"! It is a bit suspicious sounding, isn't it?

MAV in Colorado - at 18:10
six more 5 gal gas cans from sportsmansguide.com $14, swiss, used but in great shape

Orlandopreppie - at 18:27
Ok, went back and looked at IX to see if my questions were answered. Thanks everybody.
I will pick up acryllic containers today for the flour, that will fit into the freezer. I just took out some pumpkin seeds I stored for one of my parrots. It keeps the moths down. Nothing short of land to air missile will kill a palmetto bug. I have a side by side so there's no way to stuff in a 25 pound bag of flour. It looks kind of like stuffing me into the MRI machine! Oh what a hoot that is! Seriously, I don't have a palmetto bug around, I hope. There were plenty on Merritt Island, where I grew up. Big roaches with wings. They crunch too. God, I haven't been able to stuff a date since.
Lisa, I would have ROFL when he said that. I'll let you know how it sounds after those six or seven glasses of wine.
MAV, I just came back from a long "vacation", and I noticed at least TEN red five gallon cans laying by the side of various highways, interstates, and byways. I wasn't driving, but I wanted to stop as most of them looked new. I think, they were still very red and down here in Florida anything that's red fades fast. I'd never seen that before, it was spread out over two and a half weeks too. Somethings going on.

Orlandopreppie - at 18:29
One more thing, I may try to vacuum seal a bag of flour with a paper towel "capping" it. It worked for rice. I've had some preps need to be revacuumed because of "sharp" food. Dog food, cat food, rice, etc. It seems to put a little cut in the bags?and they're the food saver bags too! Boy, that doesn't make me happy as they're pricey.

Kathy in FL - at 19:33
Well the best laid plans of mice and men ?
I thought I had all the shopping done for a bit then go to put away and rearrange all the preps that I had gotten over the last couple of days. Well ? discovered that there is no point in trying to push in one more can or box and it is back to reorganizing. Ugh!!! I just did THAT!
I still have a couple of cabinets in the kitchen that I keep the "good" dishes and holiday dishes and glasses in. I figured what the heck, I'll go tomorrow and pick up a couple of storage boxes and get them out of the kitchen since I only use them once or twice a year ? that will give me a couple of more cabinets to put things in. But that means that I'm now a day "behinder" in getting the house cleaned up. You can only move cans and boxes so many times around a room before you realize you really DO need to find a home for them.
I bought 10 more gallons of water ? glory knows where I'll find room for that. But hey, I'd rather trip on it in the short term than go thirsty in the long run. I've a few more areas that I think I can exploit for space ? but the kids are beginning to wonder where they are going to find food next.

OKbirdwatcher - at 22:57
I buy flour in 5# bags, then vacuum seal, then freeze. Sooo easy and no mess. Seems to suck all the air right out of the paper bag. That flour is like a brick. Though I realize the flour is costing a little more in the 5# size.

Texas Rose - at 23:46
I got my canning supplies today! I'm returning to my Earth Mother phase and going to can whatever fruits and veg that are in season around here.

15 July 2006

History Lover - at 10:21
Texas Rose - I'm from West Texas. All these people keep talking about "rain" so I looked it up in the dictionary. It's that "wet stuff" right?
One other category I'm adding to my preps are office supplies. I realized that during an emergency, I don't want to run to a store for a mouse or a keyboard or cartridges. So I'm putting some of these things aside gradually. Hopefully the internet will survive so people can work from home and communicate with each other.

Kathy in FL - at 10:50
Day 2 of our Prep Test:
Today's menu:
Breakfast = Breakfast bubble bread (made with "canned biscuits, shredded cheese, and real bacon bits)
Lunch = homemade hot pockets (made with crescent rolls and filling ingredients of choice, in this case the tail end of a bag of shredded cheese and a couple of leftover hamburgers that I will break apart/grind)
Supper = Ranch cheeseburgers, home fries, baked beans, and Peach Bake
Major prep chores for the day:
clean out and re-organize cabinets that I use for my spices and flavorings (which I didn't get to do yesterday)
Finish the reorganizing that I started yesterday
How things are going thus far:
Well, since our hypothetical SIP includes the idea that if the power goes out it won't go out immediately, I am still able to use what I have in the frig and freezer and will continue to do so until it runs out for the month. I'll use the meat that I still have in the freezer to make the cheeseburgers for supper rather with a package of ranch salad mix for flavor. I'll use what I need to out of the frig as well ? but I foresee that before the end of the month both freezer and fridge will be close, if not completely empty.
The meal plan hasn't had a glitch in it yet. We haven't cheated and its business as usual ? at least thus far.
I am already noticing items that I need to do more stocking of. When you can just zip to the store if you run out, you might over look things.
Condiments: even though I buy the commercial size for our family of seven, if I really want to have a year's worth of preps I don't have enough ketch, mustard, mayonnaise, pickle relish, etc. Am starting a list that I've attached to the fridge so that I can do a major prep shopping trip later this month.
laundry detergent: Normally I wash at least 2 to 3 loads of laundry per day ? and that just barely keeps me from getting buried. I know in an SIP situation I may have to go to washing fewer items less often, but on the other hand in the event someone in the house gets sick we may have to do more laundry regardless of how difficult it is. They have these new super concentrated bottles of liquid laundry detergent. I was sceptical at first, but they really do wash as well as their unconcentrated equivalents. Will mean that I can store detergent for more loads in less room. And I'll definitely be needing it.
Someone mentioned office supplies - want to pick up 2 more cases of printer paper (something else to find room to store) and at least 1 extra toner cartridge for the printer, preferably 2 but the things are awful expensive. Also need pen refills, pencils, and a good "by hand" pencil sharpener.
jane - at 11:22
Last week I bought 2 more clothes drying racks from Target and hung 2 1/2 loads of laundry on three racks and a bunch of hangers. Problem one was deciding if the towels were dry enough to put away in this humidity. They are still hanging. Problem two is the ease of hanging a load of machine washed and SPUN clothing/linens. The racks aren't all that sturdy, it seems to me. Things that have been hand wrung will be so much heavier. I found an old wringer at a second-hand store that has to be cleaned up and a place found to clamp it, but even then the clothes will be heavy. I guess the racks can't be filled up, both because of the weight and the air circulation needed to dry such wet things. Oh, no, I just realized that the stuff will be DRIPPING on the floor. More plastic sheeting, I guess.

Kathy in FL - at 11:32
jane - at 11:22 Let `em drip outside or on the porch/lanai. If it is raining you probably won't be doing laundry anyway.

EOD - at 11:40
Kathy in FL - at 10:50 Go to this website for printer cartridges, they have the best prices I have found and I've been using their cartridges for several years with no proble3ms at all.
http://tinyurl.com/g...

EOD - at 11:43
Lisa in Southern Maine - at 17:57 even more questionable when you consider that what it is used on is a "bung hole". LOL

Kathy in FL - at 11:59
EOD - at 11:40 Wouldn't you know it? They don't carry our model.

Wrenna - at 13:41
Prepping has been on hold since early June, although I lurk here daily for inspiration and ideas. Had to save my money for both unexpected and upcoming expenses. Property taxes and car insurance are due soon and the hot water heater died after 20 years of faithful service. It's been torture to want to continue buying supplies but not being able to. Now I can finally resume and am making lists for Honeyville Grain and Wal-Mart.
This morning I went to the local Food Lion grocery store for soft drinks and salad mix and discovered that every department had clearance items that the store was going to discontinue stocking. Instead of 10 minutes I spent two hours in the store, carefully checking every shelf. I ended up spending $110, including enough no-water-needed soup to last a month. It's a relief to be back in preparing mode!

MAV in Colorado - at 13:50
The old water heater can be a 40? gallon storage tank with a little creativity and hose connections. I've got an old one in the basement I'm working on.
Also thought about how handy wire coat hangars can be, right there next to duct tape

OKbirdwatcher - at 13:56
Wrenna - Every time I think I'll take a break from prepping, for one reason or another, I read something on the FluWiki that kicks me right back into prep mode. Happened just yesterday.

Dennis in Colorado - at 14:20
Today's prep: one monster large rechargeable handheld flashlight/spotlight, purchased at Sam's Club for ~$29. It has a 130W automotive driving light for a bulb, and two 6V SLA batteries (in series) to power it. It is 14? long; the front lens is 9? in diameter; and it weighs about 8 pounds. It also has a 3-LED "auxiliary light" built into the handle. It can be charged from 120VAC or 12VDC, and has a 12VDC outlet of its own, for powering other devices.
It was obviously designed to appeal to some testosterone-laden young hunter or camper ("Hey, Bubba, looka here!" Wwhhoooom! "Hahaha! Got'cha!"), but I hope to be able to use the 3-LED auxiliary light as a VERY long-running light, to be able to use the 12VDC outlet to power my CPAP machine for a few hours if needed, and to be able to use the main light as a tactical light if needed if I choose to open our front door at night. I have other, more mundane, flashlights to use for ordinary purposes. I could not find the light at Sam's Club's web site, but a similar, newer, model can be seen at the importer's web site here. That model has two 100-watt bulbs and I presume that you could probably aim that light at a pot of beans and rice and cook dinner with it.

Petticoat Junction - at 15:34
I'm out of prepping funds at the moment?all funds, really, since dh completed his PhD last week & passed his defense (yay!!) but his job doesn't start until August. At this point, we're not completely sure how to cover the mortgage on Monday, sigh.
I've managed to get up to 2-3 months' worth for our family of six; not too bad considering I've had to do it $10 at a time. But while that seemed alright a month or two ago?well, if not OK at least better than where we'd been?I've really got that edgy feeling right now, too, and am very much wanting to get us up to 6 months sooner than later. But there's nothing I can do at the moment about buying any preps. I'm trying to find other ways to prep so I don't go crazy.
I'm working instead on rearranging the house to accomodate a higher quantity of preps. Kathy in FL, Northstar, & other homeschoolers, I thought of you. The closet in our dining room has been our school closet and works soooo well that way but I'm beginning to redistribute items to shelving in the garage that don't get used as often (all the craft stuff has already been moved out ~ no small task, lol). The top shelf in the school section is now powdered milk, eggs, and potatos. ;o)
I moved small kitchen appliances out to the garage yesterday, too, to leave more room for food in the AC (a garage in TX heat is not the ideal storage spot). Today's job is to try and figure out how to get shelves into the front coat closet that will support all the canned goods and then find a place in the garage for the coats.
The 14 mo old, from her playpen vantage point, is alternately looking confused and laughing at Mommy's trips back and forth as I redistribute the household goods. ;o)

Petticoat Junction - at 15:36
"?powdered milk, eggs, and potatos"
Potatoes, duh.

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 15:53
EOD at 11:43 - I'm laughing and will not share that information with youngest child! wiki gets dirty!

Dennis in Colorado - at 16:10
Orlandopreppie - at 17:54 We need to get a hand pump and bung wrench too. Who names these things?"bung" how weird.
OK, I'll morph into one of my other roles, as a member of the International Grammar Police: "bung" comes from the Middle English bunge, from Middle Dutch bonge, from Late Latin puncta, meaning "hole." Alas, that won't make it any easier to explain the word to your snickering children, since puncta comes from Latin feminine past participle of pungere, meaning "to prick."
? better just tell your children it comes from an old Middle English word and leave it at that?

Swann - at 16:16
ROFLMAO!

2beans - at 16:45
Refreshed backpack contents. Two pair superlight, quick-dry undies, microfiber towel, new rain poncho, set of 4 small carabiners, nylon cord and LED micro-headlight. I also drove all around my neighborhood (downtown area) and made note of locations of 24hr payphones and what payment they took. I may make up flyers and distribute them thru the civic assn. Also, I found some "devices" at Lowe's that look like they could be quite handy for all sorts of things. They're plastic alligator clamps with a hole at the opposite end for threading tie-down cord. They're for holding tarps down and are found right next to the tarps. They're $0.97 each. I may go get some along with the $12 double pack of assorted length bungees.

Mari - at 16:55
Dennis in Colorado - at 16:10 - As noted elsewhere, at least in my area Sportsman's Warehouse carries the drum siphon pump (and I think also the bung wrench), as well as smaller (30 gal) closed-head plastic drums

lohrewok - at 17:34
I got a bung wrench on ebay for $5 and I think shipping was $5.

Texas Rose - at 18:51
I'm from West Texas. All these people keep talking about "rain" so I looked it up in the dictionary. It's that "wet stuff" right?*
"Rain"? What's "rain"? We haven't seen any wet stuff in so long that we're about ready to go into stage 1 drought restrictions in my area(Hill Country west of San Antonio).
I was driving to Castroville the other day on a back road and the cornfields were in really bad shape. The peach crop up in Fredericksburg is nonexistent. The cattle people are concerned because they're going to have to go to hay because the pastures are bone dry and pretty much grassless.
I read somewhere to watch the price of hay and that will give you an idea of the price of beef in a few months. Might behoove people to look into going as meatless as possible(Got to dig out my old "Diet for a Small Planet" book).

MAinVA - at 19:21
Kathy in FL - regarding printer cartridges. You might consider checking Laser Monks at this link http://tinyurl.com/6... They have great products and really ARE monks, making money for their monastery!

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 19:55
Dennis in Colorado - That is by far the very best language lesson I have ever received! Thank you!

EnoughAlready - at 21:42
Welp? this end of Texas has gotten "plenty" of rain! Finally drying out after nearly 3 weeks of rain, rain, rain. Grass in one part of my patio was chest high? sprigs of pasture grass. That got us to thinking, about yard maintenance (& bug control.) We bought an enormous container of round-up type stuff, as a prep. (Those sprigs of pasture grass are pesty.) Also, dug 2 kiddie swimming pools out of a neighbors trash? gonna call them "container gardens."
This last week we decided to have the septic system cleaned, and the guy messed something up. Turned into a major headache. Got somebody else out. That guy gave us some really good how-to tips, and tips on the system (like the extended clean out valve we have? how to make it more efficient. And, the clean out valve by the kitchen, not the grease trap.) Also, the well had been making a "noise" so we decided to have it get a check up. The well guy gave us some tips, too. One thing, we can get a bigger tank. It is now on our "prep dream list." Really glad to have those two things "in order."
My husband has been looking for a place to relocate his office, in the country as opposed to Houston. We think we found someplace today! It is on 2 1/2 acres and has capability of a welding shop, mechanic shop, chemical lab, equipment storage and seperate office space. I am hoping and praying this works out! It also has capacity for his crew to live and work off of the property.
All this has been like a 2-ton weight lifted off our shoulders.
All of the rain we had resulted in an ant invasion (& misquito.) Ants were invading the house, and nothing seemed to get rid of them. Finally, Bengal sprayed into the window casings (& every crack I could find) killed them. They are still a mess in the yard, and we are still trying to figure out how to manage that problem. I would hate to have to deal with this type situation and have no way to get "treatment." I have put up ant baits, boric acid, and bug spray? but not Bengal. Decided it is another "don't put all your eggs in one basket" scenario. Rethinking that, and plan on having a variety of stuff on hand.

Kathy in FL - at 21:57
EnoughAlready - at 21:42 Yep, all the rain we've been getting ? finally, our afternoon shower patterns are coming back ? has given us a few critters problems as well.
We've got a bad problem in our county now with a non-native species of roach ? two of them actually. The Asian and the German. They have no natural predators and are hard as the dickens to kill as a lot of them are resistent to the normal, run-of-the-mill bug controls. About the only way to truly deal with them is to step on them or break their breeding cycle which requires some heavy duty chemicals.

Tall in MS - at 22:10
While surfing Flu Wiki, my wife and I were discussing life and death.
I told her, "Just so you know, I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug."
She promptly got up, unplugged the computer and threw out all my RWFK.
:-O

EnoughAlready - at 22:19
Kathy--- for years we have kept our dog food outside next to the storage shed in a big steel cabinet. We have never had any vermit problems. After this rain, roaches (water kind) and ants were working alive in the dog food. We thought we had it sealed and secured. Thank goodness we haven't prepped dog food. We are now seriously thinking about burying a container (plastic garbage can with locking lid) partially under ground with a mulched mound surrounding it? sort of like a make-shift root cellar. Even though water is a problem because of where we live, we think if we put straw around the container when we bury it we may get away with it. I don't think anything else will work. Heck, I have had racoons open latched garbage cans!
BTW, my cats love to "play" with roaches? as much as mice! We haven't had roaches inside, thank goodness! But they are working alive outside! Those german roaches are a nightmare! They are attracted to wallpaper (& the glue), magazines, newspapers and all kinds of things. I once moved into a house that was so invested with them they even got into my microwave control panel. It took months to rid those things! Didn't "notice" them when we purchased the house? but sure didn't take long after we moved in to discover them! ugggh.

Swann - at 22:22
Give your lady a hug, boy.

OKbirdwatcher - at 22:25
Tall in MS - LOL!!!

Texas Rose - at 22:42
my cats love to "play" with roaches*
We lived one place that had water roaches that were fairly good sized. The roaches would walk along the ceiling until they realized gravity still worked and would hit the floor with an audible whack. That would draw the resident cat over and he would play kitchen hockey with the roach puck until the roaches died. Then the cat would leave them for me to clean up(of course).

16 July 2006

2beans - at 09:21
Re: roaches - never, never, never bring used cardboard boxes into or near your home. They love the glue and if the box has ever held food, like those you can get from the grocery store, the odds are high they already contain egg capsules.

Strider - at 09:53
EnoughAlready - at 22:19 "We thought we had it sealed and secured. Thank goodness we haven't prepped dog food. We are now seriously thinking about burying a container (plastic garbage can with locking lid) partially under ground with a mulched mound surrounding it?"
Mice, rats, and racoons will go right through the plastic. You might want to consider a metal can, with a coating of roofing pitch on the outside to slow the rusting problem. Bolt two hasps onto it to keep the racoons out.

Pat in AZ - at 09:59
Yesterday I got started on a rainwater capture system. Discovered that my local Ace Hardware has 55-gallon steel ($70) and 30-gallon plastic (Dr. Pepper) drums ($17). I went for the 30-gallon. A plastic "Flex-a-Spout" will direct the water over to the drum. It was a challenge to figure out how to get the water from the rectangular opening of the Flex-a-Spout into the much smaller, round opening of the drum.
The Ace Hardware Man was very helpful and I ended up with a PVC downspout that mates the gutter on one end and is round on the other end, plus another, round, PVC item that will fit into the opening in the drum. Only problem is the second PVC thing is smaller than the first one. So I'm trying stuffing the space between them with weatherstripping.
I'm more than a little skeptical that this joint is going to hold together in the hard rains that we get.

Mari - at 11:00
Pat in AZ - at 09:59 - I hadn't thought to check Ace Hardware for drums - thanks for the tip. $17 for a 30-gal plastic drum sounds like a real deal.

Jefiner - at 12:19
For dog food-get a vittle vault. Kind of spendy, but has a spin on lid, and so far (here in AZ in the middle of the summer) critter proof.

Pat in AZ - at 12:27
Mari, yeah, I hadn't expected Ace to have them - I went in just to ask, figuring they could suggest where to go, and was shocked to find they actually carry them. Plus the guy probably spent 45 minutes with me figuring out how to put the system together.

Prepping Gal - at 13:01
Decided to splurge and get a butane 1 burner stove (already have dual coleman propane stove, 18 magic heat cans (glycol),outdoor oven & stove (wood or charcoal) bags of charcoal, wood fireplace (various cast iron pots and pans)(have to pick up free firewood), barbecue with natural gas BUT felt I could use butane in well ventilated area(near kitchen window since restaurants use them at tables should be okay) so at least in winter most cooking can be done inside. Also picked up 18 cans of butane. I'm thinking I'll boil things on butane and once boiled remove to magic heat cans (6 hours each) to stretch fuel. I'll save fireplace for baking or anything requiring lengthy cooking. It seems as long as I have heating and cooking I feel under control. I've prepped items to carry us for probably a year. Still think of things almost everyday. I spend time trying to visualize us being SIP for months.

featherinthewind - at 16:57
I worked on prepping the freezer today.
2 big pots of homemade chili Made 6 meat loaves Parboiled 24 bell peppers (love `em) Cooked 10lbs extra lean ground beef & drained 24 meat balls
After everything cooled I vacuum sealed and stacked in freezer. Next week I plan to add more meats, lots of vegetables, and ice cream.. I seldom eat meat but I'll have it on hand `just in case'.
Garden tomatoes will be ready next week..I wash, dry, put them in zip lock bags and place them right in the freezer..some I parboil first.
Got to mow the lawn now?I let my lawncare provider go after reading that the virus can easily be passed. Just one gram of manure on a boot, clothing, or piece of equipment can contain enough of the virus to infect a million birds.
He has many clients and could be mowing lawns near or on a poultry farm for all I know. Am I being too paranoid?

History Lover - at 17:27
Canned goods & water for 3 months - $$$$ Small portable generator - $$$ Disposable face masks & gloves - $$ Having peace of mind knowing that I've prepped as well as possible - PRICELESS!

Kathy in FL - at 17:42
Day 3 of our Prep Test:
Today's menu:
Breakfast = homemade oatmeal ? its our usual Sunday breakfast and the kids (and hubby) love it
Lunch = sandwiches on the last loaf of storebought bread ? quick and easy fix because I have a lot of cleaning to do and am trying to clean out all of the perishables out of frig just like I would just in case of power outage
Supper = baked chicken, cheddar mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, pineapple slaw
Major prep chores for the day:
try and finish cleaning up the mess I made yesterday while reorganizing the food preps
plan my week so that I make as few runs in the vehicle as possible
How things are going thus far:
So, not a single complaint or half-eaten item menu item. It continues to be a daily relief.
I've made a lot of headway in prep organization. Everytime I think I've done my best, I go back a few weeks later to find that I've got a few more ideas to make it even more compact and efficient.
Big thing I've been doing is where possible, getting rid of excess packaging and putting like items into see-through storage containers. Walmart has some good ones ? I buy them out almost every time I get more ? that are about 2 quarts capacity each. Two of these are just under $2 (US). They are squarish and stack wonderfully well ? and fit perfectly on the two shelving units that I've purchased.

Orlandopreppie - at 18:51
We just went out and bought the supplies we needed to make four 4×4 raised garden beds. Husband is mowing the lawn now so we can go out and figure out where to put these. With the Florida cow pasture grass/roots, it's easier for us to build it up than dig in it. Pressure canner is on order, since I didn't see the post telling me Ace would order w/o shipping. I'll go to our local Ace and see if they have barrels?it's kind of small so I don't know if they'll have them. Thanks for the tip!

17 July 2006

EastTN - at 15:21
I came across a source for can meats (beef, ground beef, chicken, turkey). The cans are 28 oz (1.75 lbs ) and a case (twelve cans) appears to be the minimum order.
http://tinyurl.com/q...
I am not associated with this company, just wanted to pass along another resource.

Eccles - at 15:45
EastTN - Just curious. I get 10 oz cans of Swanson canned chicken for about $3.00 each. That is cheaper than what looks like an equivalent product from them in a bigger can. What is the advantage to using this product rather than the stuff I can get at my local supermarket?

EastTN - at 15:49
My thought is I am prepping for 6 people and one of the 28 oz can is would be just about the right size. The other thing is that I have found no canned "ground beef" I guess that is what caught my attention, just an alternative to the canned swanson chicken and other meats that I have now. You are definitly right on price, I was looking at some variety.

Kim - at 15:53
People talking about roach problems reminds me of an old remedy to get rid of them. Mix equal parts of baking soda and granulated sugar together and put in old jar lids where you've seen roaches. I'm told this works really well and is non-toxic. If anyone tries this please post your results.

Hillbilly Bill - at 15:55
I get 10oz cans of chicken and 12oz cans of roast beef at Aldi's. That size is just right for a non-SIP meal for two. My plan is to have lots of these in reserve to add to rice mixes, fried rice, rice-and-whatever, etc. to make a meal for 4 in case we have to SIP.

EastTN - at 16:02
The recommended serving size is certainly not what we are use to, but am planning my preps on the suggested serving size. This is mainly a planning tool, just so I know where I am on the amounts and quatities. Am hovering around the 8 month mark with food preps, at the suggested serving size, in reality, it will be more like 6-7 months I believe. At least during the first couple of weeks I expect the meals to be larger, then will decrease as the people become more adjusted to the situation and SIP.

Eccles - at 16:06
EastTN - Just a suggestion- put a supply of your treats and sweets deep away. The early days of SIP, people will be foraging for snacks like times are normal.. They can (I know I can) gnaw through a great deal of your 8 month supply in the first couple of weeks. Then they get grumpy. Then they blame you.

galt - at 16:06
EastTN @ 15:21--The company that you link to is a secondary marketer of the product. You can buy the product much cheaper directly from the supplier at www.brinkmanfarms.com. $40 cheaper for case of beef, $25 cheaper for chicken. Also, can mix and match cans w/in case. I have no affilitation with the supplier, just have ordered from them several times with generally good results (product is great IMO, some small irritation with dented cans via FedEx, but again, small irritation, as I ordered twice more).
Eccles @ 15:45--I agree, considerably more expensive than supermarket canned meat, even when ordering direct from the source. I found the canned beef, pork, white meat turkey, and ground beef to be worth it in terms of the extra money. My family will actually eat them under normal conditions, so it's easy to rotate. Also, getting a canned ground beef was a big plus. I did not think that the chicken was any better than a national brand like Tyson or Sweet Sue that I could get at Wally's. If anyone is thinking about ordering these, do note that unless they specifically state, these are not meats in gravy, just meats in their own juices.

EastTN - at 16:14
Thanks galt - You just saved me some $$$
Eccles - thanks for the advice on hiding the sweets, treats and snacks. Rice and beans front and center :)

Eccles - at 16:17
Perhaps SPAM balls dipped in Hershey syrup on toothpicks will make a tasty treat?

EastTN - at 16:32
I have cases of #10 can fruit, every couple of weeks open one and let everyone enjoy themselves. Also a couple of cases of #10 can Chili, will give everyone a good second helping, plus provides the nightly entertainment (lol).
I have alot of hard candy saved and some chocolate (which nobody has gotten into - a miracle), but last minute prep list includes much more of that stuff, but no spam balls!!!

Kathy in FL - at 16:39
Day 4 of our Prep Test:
Today's menu:
Breakfast = breakfast burritos
Lunch = tomato-French onion soup
Supper = Fried Ham Steaks; Sweet Potato Wedges; Brown Rice; Dinner Rolls; Angel Salad
Major prep chores for the day:
Found several old cookbooks that I had packed away, not having room for them on my book cases at the time. Will be spending time over the next couple of evenings to see if there are any recipes of merit in them that I can share.
Work on the food and water contingency plans so that they are some where else besides in my head, in case something should happen to me.
How things are going thus far:
So far, so good. We aren't using quite as much water as I had thought, but I am being very frugal and reusing all available fluids from canned products. Of course, that is only under the headings of drinking and eating. I'm doing a lot more laundry and dishes than I plan on doing SIP.
Lunch wasn't such a hit. It was good, but more adult-taste than kid taste. I took the leftovers and will be mixing with rice as a side dish for dinner.
Cooking from "scratch" has both good and bad points. Its good that everyone is enjoying their meals and bad that it takes so much more time in the kitchen, even using short cuts. There is also more clean up ? need to revise how I cook as much as what I cook.

Kathy in FL - at 16:46
EastTN - at 16:32 I know what you mean about larger families. I have a family of 7 and those small cans don't go far. I'm canning my own ground beef ? have a pressure canner to do it.
Do you have a neighbor or family member that has a pressure canner? You might want to say that you are just trying something you heard about and then can some ground beef yourself. You brown it and drain it prior to the canning process. Pack it in jars with beef broth. Its saving me a ton of money.
And at Big Lots I got lucky and found a lot of Sloppy Joe mix with ground beef in that metallic like packaging for shelf storage. Each pkg only covers about 2 buns or 1 bun generously ? but there were 4 pkgs per box. I picked a few up just to add variety.

18 July 2006

Orlandopreppie - at 02:54
Took my two small birds to get their nails and wings clipped and picked up another 25 pounds of seed for them, and two toys for the big one. Big bird gets one toy now, and one toy "in storage". Trust me, you do not want to SIP with a bored Cockatoo. I'll vacuum seal and freeze for three days?tomorrow. Rained a lot today, and right after we put the raised vegetable garden wood next to the house. Have not be able to assemble yet. In addition, my effort to placate DH's ego backfired. I KNEW not to get treated lumber because of chemicals, but to avoid a fight I caved. Instructions very clearly say not to use treated lumber. He'll never question me again. Now I think I'll have to wrap the inside of the boxes in plastic. We already had it cut, so can't return it.

Bronco Bill - at 08:25
For those of you who are planning to wear full PPE if TSHTF?.when I get back from vacation, I'll post what was said by the two young men who worked on my new house for 2 hours in PPE during mold remediation!! I think a lot of folks will be surprised?.

Carrey in VA - at 08:25
Orlandopreppie - at 02:54 You have lots more self control than I do! Kudo's to your girlie! LOL

jane - at 08:51
Orlandopreppie, that wood isn't a kind that you can use to reinforce doors and windows after TSHTF , or repair stairs? Or keep non-food supplies off the concrete floor in the basement? (Or is it something you don't want in the house at all?) It wouldn't be wasteful to get the right kind if you found another use for the treated wood.

NJ Jeeper - at 09:19
Galt, re Brinkmanfarms meat products
I wanted to know about shelf life of their products, and sent an email and got an response right away, which is a good sign.
They said 6-7 years and after that I am on my own.
If I can get 6-7 years on canned meat, that is a good prep.

Grace RN - at 09:42
Orlandopreppie - at 18:51 We just went out and bought the supplies we needed to make four 4×4 raised garden beds.
What supplies do you need- would love to have them but dh not interested so it's on me?

Hillbilly Bill - at 09:45
Another cart full to the brim at Aldi's last night. Several cases of canned goods, more powdered milk and flour, another bucket of beans and another tub of rice, and I replenished the snack foods that were used up while on vacation.

Grace RN - at 09:48
Anyone eat the canned meats from Brinkman farms? How is it?

NJ Jeeper - at 09:56
Grace: Rn 09:48 Yeah what Grace said.

Galt - at 09:58
Grace RN @ 9:48 I posted my experience with the Brinkman Farms meats at 16:06 yesterday (this thread). I like them. Personally, I found them to be much better than spam or the canned DAK hams. Good selection of meats. I found the soups to be good too, just harder for me to justify the expense on their soups, given that I can get plenty of good canned soups at my local grocery. I really wasn't crazy about their chicken, but your mileage may vary.

NJ Jeeper-I agree, customer service quite good. When I have ordered in the past, orders by noon EST Thurs. arrived at my house by Tues or Weds of the following week.
No affilitation with the company, although I will say in this day of Wally's, I like to see a smaller, family-owned business do well.

bird-dog - at 10:18
Orlandopreppie - at 02:54 That is one of my great dilemnas. My sweet free-range Amazon(Fiona)?presently sitting on my head, needs her nails clipped monthly and I drive her to a vet who specializes in birds. She requires two people to get the job done. What am I going to do when sheltering-in-place? Guess I could wear leather all the time. ;-)
Also, she loves those dog squeak toys that keep making noise once you squeeze them. She attacks them and gets great exercise doing so. Audubon makes various cloth birds that sound like chickadees, grosbeak, etc. that keep vocalizing. Wild Oats used to carry them. Baby rattles are great too!
Also, a friend of mine said the other day that the very toxic chemicals (arsenic?) are no longer used in the treated wood. He was having to decide on wood for replacing a porch. (He decided against the treated wood after-all though.)
I agree with > jane - at 08:51 <. Get the untreated wood and let your DH find an outside use for the other. Just flatter him into submission. It used to work for me occasionally with one beau or another. :)
Also those chemicals in the wood could be hazardous to your birds!!!!!

Kathy in FL - at 11:43
Day 5 of our Prep Test:
Today's menu:
Breakfast = homemade biscuits and glazed bacon
Lunch = leftovers - was supposed to be salad and sandwiches but I've got to clean out the fridge before I go nuts
Supper = (this was supposed to be last night's dinner, but we ran into a scheduling conflict and I postponed it until tonight) Fried Ham Steaks; Sweet Potato Wedges; Brown Rice; Dinner Rolls; Angel Salad
Major prep chores for the day:
Yesterday I reorganized some of my cookbooks and found several recipes that I want to convert to canned and dry foods. I also have several that I need to add to the archive at eprep (there are over 700 there now, who would have thought I could have accomplished all of that in just 3 months?).
Converting my handwritten prep notes and plans to computer files will take up much of the day.
How things are going thus far:
Found an issue with having leftovers. In an SIP situation, where the electricity might be compromised, I wouldn't want leftovers. Need to come up with some strategic plans to deal with the problem of "abundance."
Using more milk than I've planned for. Some of it is that the kids inhale the stuff if I don't watch them. Tried to deal with this by getting the kids a water jug (each of them have their own). They are to finish the water in the water jug before getting any other kind of beverage, except at meal times. Hopefully this will help.
Keeping up with business and home related chores is getting to be a little problematic. I'm spending a lot of energy on cooking and prepping. Need to remind myself to keep a better balance ? there are only so many hours in the day. Plus we start our homeschool program back up on 7/31 so that will be one more thing to add to my schedule. Thank goodness I've already finished their schedules and assignment plans for the year (2nd grader, 5th grader, 9th grader, & 11th grader - plus a 2 year old).
Average Concerned Mom - at 11:53
Kathy in FL - thank you for your posts of your momth-long SIP trial!
We just returned from a 2 week driving vacation and the fridge and freezer were pretty bare. I held off on going grocery shopping over the weekend until it was payday (yesterday) and we lived fine off of the pantry; my husband did go to the store for fresh milk and bananas. This week it has been very hot, poor air quality and so on, I don't want to take the kids to the store or even to drive.
I thought about it, and decided we will make this week a "surprise" SIP trial (at least a "pantry" trial, I'm not worried about utilities, etc. at this point yet.) I have plenty of food in the pantry but a lot of gaps and holes, no fresh milk, eggs, fruit etc. I wasn't planning on this, but exactly this situation could happen with no warning, so there you are!
Immediately after making this decision (an letting DH know about it) I looked at my "full" basmenet pantry again with sinking heart and loss of appetite. Beans, canned meats, bleah. We have a serious lack of fruit of any kind. Our camping trip plus frequent lunches with kid friends here have depleted my supply of "fun lunch foods".
But, I know how to cook and improvise, and fortunatley EVERYONE in my family enjoys eating beans. Can't imagine what I'd do without that blessing.
Anyhow, just wanted to thank you for your inspiration to try this NOW, not at some future time when I'm more prepared, this will be a better test.

Orlandopreppie - at 13:33
Wow! Lots of sympathy with the doorknob husband situation huh? He really is a good guy, just got no man-training growing up. I'm just lucky he's on board with this or there would be problems. For those that don't know, DH is disabled (multiple amputee) of fingers and feets/leg tissue from hot water burns sustained in abusive childhood. Thank God for Shriner's Burn Hospital in Boston. They saved his life. He was inpatient there for 18 months.
Jane - We live in Florida, so we don't have a basement (it's called the water table)to use wood in, and because we're in Florida we already have pre-cut plywood for each window and door. It's also 2×10×4 cut, so too heavy to attach to a door. I could build an ark though!
Grace - The whole idea came to me in the shower while on vacation. Then I came home and find out there's a book on it called "Square Foot Gardening"! Just backs up my opinion that there is a universal stream of creativity out there that, at times, we can all tap into. Anyway, you just get wood planks (can be one inch thick, by six inches wide, and cut four feet long). We got 10 inch wide stuff so we can grow carrots better. They already have stuff like that pre-cut at Lowes and Home Depot. Then you nail them together to make a box (like a whelping box for puppies). We got corner brackets to screw in since the wood is so heavy. Then you put down landscape screen wherever you want to put them (cheaper at Sams), put your box down on it, and then fill it up with soil or a combo of growing stuff. Leave a 3 foot aisle between boxes. It is so simple. And it's made for folks like us, disabled and out of shape! The books author likes to have a grid seperating each square foot, you can use almost anything?we'll use twine. Using this method you can really grow some stuff! Earlier on the original thread there was a link, but you can probably find it by Googling "Square Foot Gardening".
Bird Dog- My Umbrella (Mak) is the same way. I have a large yellow concrete perch that keeps them needle-point free, and I put his new toy where he HAS to stand on it. You know what I'm talking about by needle point right? How can anything biological GET that sharp? Also, I can trim his some when he's in his cage, hanging on the side. I just walk up confidently (you know what I mean!) and snip a couple before he knows what to do. Also, DH is not working so money is really tight (I'm a teacher) so purchasing the wood a second time isn't possible. By free range, are you saying she doesn't use a cage?
Getting ready to go pick up said book, and stop at Ace. I have four more weekdays to use before teachers report back. Got to make good use of time.

jane - at 13:54
Orlandopreppie, could you paint the inside surface with something that would seal it? Actually, I guess you'd have to paint the edges, too, at least, so it wouldn't peel off. Kilz, maybe? Rustoleum?

bird-dog - at 14:15
Orlandopreppie - at 13:33 LOL? needle-point is right! I have two of the concrete perches that she has to stand on when she's eating in her cage before she goes to sleep but they don't quite do the job. She sleeps in her covered cage at night (on and next to a hand towel for snuggling) but during the day I've placed drift wood to protrude from the cage which she sits on to watch the birdfeeder birds and the w. turkeys, deer, etc.
She also has an old opened cat carrier on my wood pile at another window with more protruding braches and a jungle jim hanging above it to play/rest on. When I say free-range I mean that she can fly(zoom is more like it) anywhere in the house until she's put to bed. If I'm out she's restricted to the living room with her toys and food etc..
Sorry ?hey, this is a wiki forum regarding birds and prepping?right? As she's often on my shoulder, hand, or head, I do need to figure out the nail problem. I rescued her 10 or 11 years ago so I am quite attached to the knuckle-head. I'll try the cage trick but as you know Orlandopreppie, stange objets are *not* welcomed! :-)

Orlandopreppie - at 17:59
Jane- excellent idea! I have some "shiny" paint, what's it called???? that I painted baseboards with, it's thick and ought to work. Thank you!
Bird-dog, I've hand raised Mak from hatchling, almost 15 years. At first I had a bright pink concrete perch but it never did anything! I don't think it was textured enough (at all!). I was skeptical, but thought I'd try another one about two years ago. It's yellow, and much more textured. It works. I limit "out" time, sadly, to an hour a day. Cockatoo's are unlivable when spoiled. Let me stress, UNLIVABLE. If they don't get what they want when they want it you can lose a finger or an eye (or an ear drum). I have the scars to prove it. So I have a "bird room". It's the north facing former guest room, has great windows to see everything, including me coming and going so they can tune up, a tv to play CMT (they love it), and I've got sound insulation on one wall. Mak is much happier now that he has two other birds to boss around, each in their own cages. I love hearing the little Quaker Parrot, Gimli, tell Mak to "be a good boy" when he starts yelling. It's hilarious!

Texas Rose - at 18:05
Got the BP cuff today. I had to order it since I wanted one with a gauge as opposed to a battery-operated readout because I didn't want to have to worry about batteries going dead at an inopportune time.
Now I have to teach the husband how to take BPs, just in case he needs to do so at some point.

Prepping Gal - at 18:37
Texas Rose - I got one of those old fashioned BP monitors. I tried to learn on myself; I didn't get the hang of it. I want to try it on my husband but he won't likely have much patience if I'm fiddling around. Any hints to make it look like I know what I'm doing. He has high BP (monitored) and I have a digital one that I could use on him but it doesn't work on him very well (even digital ones in hospital don't work on him). I would like to learn.I got it at a medical supply store along with a stethoscope.Oh any hints on using the stethoscope for BP or lungs etc..

annie - at 19:47
Went to the store for more prepping. Purchased 5 cases of water, 5 boxes of cereal, lots of lean cuisines (they were on sale)

annie - at 19:52
How could I leave this out? I spent hours on the net and the phone comparing canned meat prices from 3 companies. I finally figured out the cheapest after factoring cost and shipping. One company stands out as the best buy. I ordered 4 cases of chicken, turkey, pork, and beef. Now I'm set for the winter! I have the name and phone number of the company upstairs and can post it it anyone is interested.

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 19:56
Prepping gal - here is a link that teaches about b/p monitoring. http://tinyurl.com/8... I hope it helps.

Galt - at 21:40
Annie @ 19:52--please post. That sounds like great info!

bird-dog - at 21:47
Orlandopreppie - at 17:59
Good luck with your wood. I think that Jane's idea should work. If you are still concerned you could call a local environmental agency, camp, or conservancy to be sure that the paint will restrict the chemicals from leeching into the soil and then into your vegetables, etc..
Now, this is probably TOTALLY inappropriate to post here so I'll briefly connect it to the `prep for bird-flu' mode:
ie., I know that I can count on my parrot to rip the throats and eyes out of anyone who tries to steal my preps. Like anon_22 and her new pup, you and your husbands' and my households have `other' means for protection. Who needs guns! lol
Now, back to gushing?
Awwwe that's so sweet re. `the bird room'. You and your husband must have fun with your `guys' and vice-versa. It breaks my heart that Fiona only has me and the dog?no bird buddies. She was born in the states in a hatchery so other than her archetypal memories/dreams/reflections and normal longings she hasn't had other birds in mind (AFAIK)? to preen her and interact. Of course I scratch her head and under her wings and am with her almost constantly but I ain't no bird, sigh?at least not a feathered one. She has rejected possible `friends'.
Hmmm, my furred and feathered housemates are a very spoiled lot but {>>so far!<<} have not acted out too terribly. I have been bitten inadvertantly on my face when something startled her at the beginnings of living with me. Nice big scars. Lol! Your crew have each other so probably don't need to be madly flying around as much. Mine watches pbs kids tv half the day turned very low (I love Dinkers), or listens to Maine public radio, or AirAmerica radio (if she's hanging out with me)? but her fav. sounds are celtic ballads, strathsby's, and pipes. She bobs and sways and sings like the parrot in "the Parrots of Telegraph Hill" movie. Joy `o joy. And she laughs and laughs and laughs. I can just imagine overhearing Gimli tell Mak to `be a good boy'. OMG they are so sweet!
Ok, I'll stop. :-) {thanks for the `perch/nail' info too!}

bird-dog - at 22:01
Lisa in Southern Maine - at 19:56 (Hi Neighbor!) ?That's such a helpful site! Thanks

KimT - at 22:18
Just got back from the store, bought a tent for the house in winter to keep warm, was on sale. Yea! another 8 gallon water container in the camping section. More TP. pet food. spot light. water,more batteries and a large selection of personal care products. Now I have to unload the van but its so hot, i don't wanna.

EnoughAlready - at 22:51
Strider - at 09:53/Jul 16 - Thanks Strider! Great input! I won't have to bury this, right?

Jefiner - at 12:19 - Vittle vault, what is that? Thanks, in advance!

Orlandopreppie - at 18:51 - Pasture grass? uggggh! I have used round-up then put black plastic down, added mulch AND built up beds from there? and still that stuff comes up. I am beginning to think the birds bring in the seed. Surely this stuff isn't that hardy. Somebody told me putting hay on top as mulch helps. I am gonna try it this fall, since this is turning into serious gardening.
Bronco Bill - at 08:25 - vacation???? HEY, he can't do that! (can he) Who will be closing??? And, BTW, yeah? we wanna know what the young mold men had to say!
~Big Lots had these things (some sort of bungie deals) especially to use with tarps. They don't have the usual hooks, but a ball on the ends. I had never seen these things before, and looked like they could be handy gizmoes. I bought several, and threw them into the "whatever" prep box.
~Big Lots also had those things you plug in to keep out mice, roaches, etc. I bought a package. So? anybody used these things? My kids are making fun of me. It sounds like a water drip. (And, the package came with 3 of the things. This is going to get annoying!) Maybe that's how it kills (or whatever it does) to the critters? like chineese water torture! ;)-

anonymous - at 23:01
annie please post the name and phone number. I have also been checking prices and was just getting ready to order thank you

EnoughAlready - at 23:03
Eccles - at 16:06 about those "sweets & treats"? I shamefully have to admit, I broke into my stash of Dove chocolates during some stressful moment. (I think it may have been about the time everything started breaking loose in Indonesia.) Sadly, somebody else will have to be in charge of chocolate around here? I can tell I am not going to be able to handle stress and monitoring of the chocolate!

2beans - at 23:03
Bought (2) 10 X 12 contractor grade, reflective silver tarps and 100? nylon rope. I wanted to buy them when I looked at them Saturday but couldn't quite reach the justification - just needed a second to that motion. (Thanks, Melanie). Tried a Dinty Moore shelf-stable microwave tray, roast beef and mashed potatoes. Not bad. I couldn't find them at Walmart but did find at Walgreen's.
Canned Meats - there are only two people at my house. Has anyone found a site offering smaller cans than 28 oz.?

Jefiner - at 23:03
check Petsmart for "vittle vault". It is a squarish container with a spin on lid (omega?) and mine holds fifty pounds of dry kibble at a shot. I also found some nifty dog food containers at Big lots that have a pretty airtight seal with a latch for $8. I bought a bunch and store rice, beans etc. in them. Only one failure (pasta) and I think that was because there was an infested package in there. Now I freeze everything to kill off insects! I would freeze the dog food if I could!

Galt - at 23:07
Jefiner @ 22:03--have you had any trouble with freezing the pasta? I freeze rice but had always wondered if the pasta would get soggy or something as it thaws back out. Do you think that you could safely freeze stuff like the Kraft mac n cheese? Thanks.

KimT - at 23:08
EnoughAlready - at 22:51 ~Big Lots also had those things you plug in to keep out mice, roaches, etc. I bought a package. So? anybody used these things? My kids are making fun of me. It sounds like a water drip. (And, the package came with 3 of the things. This is going to get annoying!) Maybe that's how it kills (or whatever it does) to the critters? like chineese water torture! ;)-
I tried em for mice before i went out and bought cats. I never had problems with mice chewing wires until I plugged those darn things in and the mice went crazy?they chewed thru the copper ice maker line, ( had a minor flood)the microwave plug also started having wiring problems in the house, It is an old house but, it was really crazy, had to get an electrician. I couldnt swear in a court of law that they drove the mice crazy, but I did swear a lot.

EnoughAlready - at 23:12
Thanks Jefiner! I bought a couple of those $8 containers, too! I use them for dry beans. (Went back to get some more, and they were sold out. at 3 different stores!) No way would they hold up outside (here)! I'll check out Petsmart.

Galt - at 23:14
2beans @ 23:03 Awhile back another fluwikian recommended Werling and Sons. www.werlingandsons.com I haven't used them, but they do have 14oz cans of meat as well as 28oz.

2beans - at 23:20
Galt: Thank you. Just what I was looking for.

EnoughAlready - at 23:36
KimT - at 23:08 Good grief? I'll take your word on it! Did yours sound like a slow water drip? I pulling the things out, I can't afford to attract mice? and crazy mice at that! Thanks!

CashB - at 23:42
Bought a product called True Lemon (they make True Lime too). It is a lemon substitute that comes in a foil pack, there are 40 packs in a box. Thought it would be nice to use in tea,water,recipes or anywhere you would use lemons or limes but may not have them during SIP. They have a web site Truelemon.com, with info and recipes. In the ingredients are acorbic acid which is Vitamin C, lemon oil,etc. Would prevent scurvy AND get rid of that clorox taste! I found it a Wal-Mart. I also saw on the website that they will send a free sample?

KimT - at 23:54
More like a buzz

Flu Prep 11 (XI)

Bronco Bill — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 12:51:20 GMT

24 July 2006

Swann - at 02:21
Hi everyone! Saw an Office Max ad today with something parents may be interested in for their school-age kids?tiny, brightly colored bottles of Purrell hand sanitizer. The bottles have little clips which can attach to keyrings or backpack zippers. Price at my Office Max is $1.49.

Hillbilly Bill - at 09:12
So far I have $85 to spend on supplies for our church food pantry and there will be a special collection next Sunday. This may sound crazy, but I am really excited about buying and storing the food for my fellow church members. I made an announcement yesterday about why I thought it was important to keep a food pantry at the church. We will use it for handouts for those who really need it and for any church member who is having financial difficulties, but I told them it will also be emergency supplies for the congregation. I didn't specifically mention a pandemic, but just talked in general terms about how little it would take to disrupt supplies and how quickly the store shelves would be emptied. I said that they could always count on being able to get food and some water at the church if we all supported the collection now. As I looked at the elderly and widows on fixed incomes in the congregation, I felt that I had been led to undertake this job. It is a VERY good feeling.

Jefiner - at 09:51
Good work on preparing your church's food pantyr, HBB. I have to admit that I wonder what will happen to all the elderly and disabled folks who live in assisted and subsidezed living; so many of them are absolutely dependent on social services, food boxes and other assistance. I am going to start asking the superintendents and other staff at these buildings about what they are doing to prepare for disaster (not just bird flu). Katrina should have taught us a lesson abou this, but how quickly we forget.

Hillbilly Bill - at 10:12
Jefiner - at 09:51 - "Katrina should have taught us a lesson abou this, but how quickly we forget."
So true. Actually, there has been ample warning for decades, but for the most part it has all been ignored. The longer I work on this the more I realize it's something we used to do in this country, but we have gotten away from the principles that made us strong and as ready as possible for any problem.

bird-dog - at 10:40
Has Lisa posted since this one? She's usually on and posting daily but haven't seen one since this post: 23 July 2006 -- Lisa in Southern Maine - at 01:25
Today was more cellar clean up. Tomorrow will be getting the clean-up out. Back is pretty sore right now, but glad to be seeing results finally from this really huge project. Reminded of security again tonight, when unaskedfor visitor rolled into driveway with car lights out. Spotlighted them and let the dogs out. They took off. Rural ares can be tempting in the isolated darkness. Goodnight all.
just wondering and a bit concerned about the `un-asked-for' visitor?.

Love Texas - at 10:47
Yesterday my husband helped me inventory my food storage it took forever not because I had so much just the fact that it is everywhere. He took our laptop and followed me around and typed as I called off the items. I was on a ladder, under the bed, under the guest bed, under tables etc. Now it is all on paper and I can print it out, so much better. I can now mark off items I use on the paper copy, and have a record to use when I have time to enter in the computer. But most of all I can take it with me to the store, that will be a big help. It made me realize I am low on some things. For some reason I have over looked fruit for the most part and I am a big fruit fan. I think you just have to see it on paper.

Kathy in FL - at 11:46
Love Texas - at 10:47
I've been trying to do the same thing. I found though that as I "organized" things I messed up my inventory.
What I am doing now is breaking down packaging as much as possible so that I can twice or more as much in the same space ? turning out to be especially true with boxed items like bouillon, ranch seasoning, seasoning packets, dry soup mixes, etc.
I hope to complete the reorganizing soon so that I can do a proper inventory.

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 21:44
bird-dog - I'm fine but sorry to have worried you. The dogs scared the hell out of the (kids?)(guys?) 2 people I could see in that car. I didn't even get the door fully opened before they barrelled out snarling and growling. They are really scary creatures when they're too mad to bark. Their growls remind me of a scene from the excorcist! The car has not returned and I don't think they've been back at all. The dogs protect perimeter to about 150 feet before getting angry. All has been quiet except deer (which make them drool stupidly, not growl). Boy does my cellar look great! Are you well? What prepping projects are on your list this week?

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 21:50
Kathy in FL - Your idea of breaking down packaging to fit twice as much in same space is an excellent one and is now adopted into this household with thanks. Are you done with your months trial of using prep food for menu? I was learning a lot!

MAV in Colorado - at 21:52
Swann - at 02:21 those are handy for about 4 good applications. Expensive in the long haul. There are medical supply places online that sell the refills for dispensers that are $8 per liter. Maybe use em up and refill em

bird-dog - at 22:12
Hi Lisa ?lol, I was worried. Glad that all is well! You have inspired me to clean out my crawl-space under my house tho I haven't started yet. It's dark, wet, spidery and most of the *pink* insulation has fallen down into the puddles. It's also cool and may be a good place for canned items in enormous plastic totes. I need to clean it out first! I can access through a trap door in my house and it usually doesn't freeze in there in the winter. We need more dry days like today?beautiful.
I bought and filled more 5 gal. gas containers, and bought more 7 gal. water jugs, and spent another $100 plus on my usual preps--- propane cannisters, batteries, RWFK, canned fruit `n beans, pasta, rice, on and on? My major task will be the crawl-space this week! Next week maybe my attic. I'll try to recruit a friend to help. ;)

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 22:57
Bird-dog - the crawl space sounds perfect for good storage. Good luck with the cleaning and the spiders. eewwww! While cleaning my cellar, I found a clump of what I thought was lambswool (I use it for medicinal stuff - like if the boys have respiratory infection). I picked it up, and (yes, I really did this) squeezed it because it was so soft. But it wasn't lambswool. It was a clump of insulation left there by an electrician. I forgot that insulation is usually white these days. So?My palms got so itchy that amputation for a little while was considered a viable option! Well?maybe not that bad?but very itchy! This was actually a prep mishap - but that thread isn't active. By the way, `canned fruit `n beans' could be a volatile combination! Be careful!

Eccles - at 23:14
Seacoast - Sorry for not getting back to you, I missed your question in the roll-over to the new thread.
Bob's your Uncle is a Canadian/Midwest/British expression. It means something like "And then you've got it made", or "Voila!" or Badda-Bing Badda-Boom.
I picked it up years ago when living in the great Plains region. At first it puzzled me. now I'm hooked on using it, but back East I usually just get blank looks.

Average Concerned Mom - at 23:17
yes bird dog, that crawl space sounds like a perfect root cellar! I'm quite envious!
For my preps this week we have been living just on our pantry; my family is rebelling but I am holding firm. I have learned we need a lot more oil, soy sauce, and parmesan cheese.
I bought a LED lantern from a sporting goods store on someone's recommendation and it is GREAT! Gives off a ton of light, you can read a book by it.
Otherwise I am just saving money on food in order to put an old credit card debt to rest as part of financial prepping.

bella - at 23:26
Can anyone recommend a decent battery operated fan? Campmor.com has one, but it's awfully small. It was 114 degrees in my SoCal backyard on Saturday. Fortunately we haven't had any power outages in my neighborhood, but I can only imagine how it would be if we did this time of year. I'm saving for a generator, but in the meantime I'd like to have a fan or two just in case we get an outage this summer.
If anyone knows of a good one, I'd appreciate a brand or a link. Thanks.

25 July 2006

bird-dog - at 00:02
bella - at 23:26 I've been using the smaller O2 Cool fan which is battery operated, It has 2 speeds and has cooled well but the switch on the side is annoying as it's O2 small! >>> http://tinyurl.com/q.... It may be my hands tho and not a normal problem.

bird-dog - at 00:11
Lisa in Southern Maine - at 22:57
"By the way, `canned fruit `n beans' could be a volatile combination! Be careful!"
Fruity-Tooty! ?sorry, couldn't resist. ;-(

Houston 6-Pack - at 00:19
Bella~~
I bought a 10? battery operated indoor/outdoor fan that has up to 72 hours of battery life. Its called 02 COOL. I purchased all 6 of mine on Ebay?.but I have recently seen them at Wal-Mart?I think there they run about 14.00 each.
It is fantastic!! Here in Houston, Texas if the electricity goes out?.these have proven to be awesome. Keeps you really cool?..awesomely cool!! This fan has a two-speed fan, dual powere sources, lightweight-less than 3 lbs. its easy to hang hook/handle, folding design-is easy to pack, and also came with an AC adapter. The only downside I found is that it takes 8 D batteries. Still?..its awesome!!

Houston 6-Pack - at 02:39
Hillbilly Bill
I have enjoyed reading all your posts and have to say that your idea of a church pantry is now my favorite. I also go to church here in Texas and would really like to start up something like this at our church. Are you heading up the whole thing? How has it caught on? Where are you storing this food and water at church? Would you let me know everything about this idea so I can have enough information to head this up at my church? Thank you so much!!

anonymous - at 03:36
I said this on another thread but thought I would repeat it here. The preps above have been great motivators and this might have already been mentioned in this thread but it is easy to do and costs no money.
Make sure that you let the people you love know that you love them. Say it every chance you get. You never know when something will happen. This is obviously not just a pandemic issue. Life goes on and stuff happens.
We all make the assumption that our parents, spouses, children, other loved ones know that we love them but saying it, in my experience, is a good thing. I did not have a chance to say it to both of my grandmothers before they passed on and that is something I will always regret.
This issue came to the forefront this last week when my mother, who is frail anyway, was admitted to the hospital with multiple "issues". Fortunately, she is recovering nicely.
Anyway, something to keep in mind.
Mike

CAMike - at 03:38
Oops. That was me at 03:36. No idea where my handle went. Maybe the cookie monster was hungry.

Houston 6-Pack - at 03:45
CAMike~~
Well said CAMike thank you?..glad to hear that you mother is recovering nicely.

galt - at 09:53
I saw a post quite some time ago (I thought on this forum, but maybe on a different one) about a crank operated fan. Sounded like the same idea as the crank radios and crank flashlights, only the internal generator powered a smallish personal fan. Can't find any information on this anywhere. Has anyone else seen or heard of this product? Thanks.
Galt

Hillbilly Bill - at 10:02
Houston 6-Pack - at 02:39
Thanks for your interest in my project! We have a really small congregation of mostly elderly people, but I don't see why this type program wouldn't work for any church. I approached the Pastor with the idea to revive our church food pantry. The original purpose was to have food available to give to people would come to the church in need and also for any members who suffer financial hardship. I think you will find most Pastors willing to approve such a project as long as you are willing to manage it and do most of the work. As an aside, most of the people who stop at the church looking for handouts only wany cash. I feel OK if I offer them food and they don't take it, at least I have done my part.
So here is how it works for our church. Members bring in assorted canned goods or cleaning supplies that they buy on their normal shopping trips. Members also give me money to do the shopping for them, something I don't mind at all. The current plan is to take up special offerings to support the pantry every 3 or 4 months. We are storing the food in an unused room right. Most churches have a "fellowship hall" or some kind of addition where they have functions or meals so space should not be a problem.
I date all of the canned and dry goods and do whatever packaging is necessary to keep them safe. When donated items get close to their expiration date, I plan to set them out on a table in the vestibule for members to take home. Also, we have monthly dinners at our church so I have asked members to check with me to see if I have any ingredients they need for what they are bringing to the dinner. Then they replace what has been used so our stock gets rotated.
I have also asked that members bring empty 2 liter soda bottles for emergency water storage. This past Sunday I did a quick inventory and I already have 30 gallons collected. It only takes me a little time each Sunday to do what is needed to keep the pantry in order. There is a speaker in the room where I work so I don't even miss out on the adult Sunday school lesson. All in all this has been a blessing to me to be able to do this.

Houston 6-Pack - at 11:17
Hillbilly Bill
I bet it has.
I know our church doesnt have anything like this. What a blessing it would be if TSHTF and our church has this and it helps so many people at one time:).
I will start on this project today and keep you posted on its outcome.
Also, are you treating the water in the 2 Liter soda bottles? If so with what and how much? I am also going to do this at home?..

Kathy in FL - at 11:29
Lisa in Southern Maine - at 21:50
Your welcome on the idea for breaking down the packaging.
We are still working on the month prep test. I'll post that in a bit ? learning lots.

Hillbilly Bill - at 11:40
Houston 6-Pack - at 11:17
Of course it isn't possible to store enough food for everybody for an extended problem, but at least they will have something. Also, everybody in your congregation can get to the church, so you know they can get to some help.
I'm not treating the water in the 2-liter bottles as the church is supplied from a municipal water works. I will dump, rinse and refill bottles as they reach the 6 month mark. I bought some round stick-on labels that fit on top of the cap of the 2-liter bottles. I just put a number there to designate the month, (i.e. 7 for July), the bottle was filled so I can tell at a glance what ones need changed.

LauraB - at 11:42
Went and had an exam today for additional life insurance. I already have coverage, but was thinking not only if something happened to me (dh would be lost and would throw money at the problem of taking care of the kids, grocery shopping, running errands, etc. and burn through it quickly) but if he were out of work as a result of a pandemic it would be very bad financially. He's got plenty of coverage if god forbid something happen to him.
I think HBB's church [project is awesome. I brought it up at our church but it fell on deaf ears, just like with prepping for anyone else in my town.

Kathy in FL - at 11:45
Days 10, 11, and 12 of our Prep Test:
Things that were on the menu:
? praline ham slices (using canned ham)
? lemonade chicken (using frozen chicken and lemon concentrate)
? sweet potatoes (in the form of sweet potato fries and sweet potato casserole)
? french toast
? blueberry coffeecake
? oatmeal (a family favorite)
? spicy chicken and rice (using canned chicken)
Major prep chores for the day:
? reorganizing our "classroom" for the start of the new school year and making a list of all the school supplies so that I can purchase them during "tax free week" here in FL
? still trying to put our home in north FL back together from all the vandalism ? taking a lot of time and money that we really don't have, even with the insurance settlement. Until all the repairs are complete, we can't do any prepping there.
? trying to schedule in some of the major house maintenance/projects for our primary home so that we can complete them before the end of the year. There is gutter cleaning and repair to do, some painting, some baseboard repair, etc.
? finished changing all the toilet "guts" in the house. Next is to clean out the tank with a mineral and metal cleaner ? we have problems with iron settlment in the tanks. Messy.
How things are going thus far:
? Fairly certain that our food choices are going to work for our family. Plenty of variety including if we lose power.
? Soups and stews are great pantry items, but they aren't the best choice during a hot day ? this would be even more true if we lose electric and have to deal with summer heat and humidity.
? My freezer is a crutch. I can and will do without it if the power goes out ? but boy will I miss it. I caught myself "saving" my canned goods and going for stuff in the freezer instead.
? Keeping to a strict schedule/menu was easy the first week ? but have found life intruding here in the second week and caught myself longing to just blow off one meal and pick up fast food. Didn't do it, but sure wish I could. Bound to have the same feelings during an SIP.
? Baking all our bread is a pain. Yes it is yummy and every body in the house loves it ? but it is still a pain. I'll get over it once I get used to the additional work load but who ever said that store-bought sliced bread was a god-send for the modern housewife was so not kidding.

Bertha'sKittyBoutique - at 12:28
HillBillyBill - Love the idea of your church food pantry, but the idea of donated empty 2 liter soda bottles creeps me out. Is it just me or is anyone else bothered by the thought that folks drank from the bottle? If we're not supposed to use soap to clean them, then?well, yuck.
KathyinFL - I want to buy your cookbook! No kidding, you should make your prep recipes available in book form. I am agog at your test run. You possess knowledge that other's envy. Please consider compiling breakfast, lunch and dinner for a month for those who aren't as far along as you.

Eccles - at 12:53
Re: Store bought sliced bread.
Home-making bread is not much of a pain at this moment for me. Have 2 bread machines and use them fairly well. My problem has been in slicing. Even using an electric knife, I get some too think and some too thin and mangled. The only slicing thingee I have seen is on Amazon for about 20 bucks, and the reviewers all say it is a waste.
Does anyone out there have either some bread slicing tips/tricks, or else something to do the slicing in between the $20 plactic piece of junk, and a couple of thousand for a commercial slicing machine for bakeries?

Hillbilly Bill - at 13:00
Eccles - at 12:53
I wish I had an answer for this one, but unfortunately I don't. I just hack at my loaves with a serated knife. Many years ago I did know a girl who could cut a loaf of warm homemade bread into perfect slices with a bread knife. She said her Mom always made homemade bread and since she was the oldest child the job always fell to her and she got, in her words, "pretty good at it."

Hillbilly Bill - at 13:04
Bertha'sKittyBoutique - at 12:28
I understand your concerns. I do rinse the threads and caps of the bottles very well in hot water as I rinse out the inside. Having observed the communion ceremony in a variety of churches, I would say this would not be a worry for some.

Kathy in FL - at 13:06
Eccles - at 12:53
I don't know if this will help or not but here goes:
? never try and slice warm bread
? always use a sharp bread knife - don't know what it is exactly about using a knife especially made for slicing bread, but it helps
? Set the loaf on the flat side, then let your knife do the cutting for you ? don't force it through the bread. Kind of the same motion you use when cutting limbs with a hand saw.
? you might want to check on the texture of the bread that you are making. I know bread with larger air pockets is harder for me to cut without making a mess. I have an easier time with denser bread. Run into the same problem if the bread is too dry.
I have a bread machine and we use it ? but I've been trying to do things "the old fashioned way." Truthfully my hubby says I'm just punishing myself for some misdeed. LOL! Plus I'm trying out breads that wouldn't work well in a bread machine because they are non-yeast.
Plus I'm trying lots of flat bread and tortilla recipes out. They just take technique which is what I'm trying to develop .

tjclaw1 - at 13:09
I've used something similar to this for years, but mine doesn't store bread, just a slicing guide:
http://tinyurl.com/f...
It appears to get good reviews and I just might get one: http://tinyurl.com/k...
Looks like Amazon.com has it on sale for $8.99: http://tinyurl.com/z...

Eccles - at 13:24
Thanks all- I DO use either a sharp serrated bread knife, or else an electric knife. I actually prefer the electric knife as the counter motion of the blades just lets it cut without pulling back and forth on the bread.
The last time I looked for such a thing, the slicing guides out there all had dreadful reviews. Since this one is under ten bucks, I might as well give it a try.

Prepping Gal - at 16:21
I've had a serrated bread knife with a 1/2 inch guide for years. It has the knife edge away hinged away from the handle so the bread slices between the handle & knife edge. It came with a bread board that has 1/2 slots to aid in cutting and a catch underneath for bread crumbs. I don't do a great job with it but my husband for some reason gets perfectly sliced bread every time. Now it's his job. I have no idea where I got it.

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 21:16
Kathy in Fla - todays menu made me drool! I've thought about the bread baking and how time consuming it will be to make nourishing loaves while in SI. Really not looking forward to it. It'll be OK as long as electricity lasts?but then I think it'll be a major pita. Did you handmake of breadmachine this month? If hand - how many hours over the course of a week do you think this task consumed? Sorry about the vandalism in your other home?

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 21:21
Bird-dog - how's the crawlspace coming? Any progress? I've done no prep work since Sunday?unless I can count active learning from Kathy in Fla's posts. Actually, I think I will count those and say that I've been learning more about meal planning and preparation this week. Sounds much more productive, doesn't it?

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 21:22
Laura B - I'm surrounded by prep-deaf people too. Frustrating, isn't it?

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 21:31
Eccles - with bread on its side, stabilize loaf with hand over crust end/rear end (could get dirty here!) - putting hand on top of loaf while cutting helps crush it. Use the bread knife not in sawing motion but in a gentle single-sweep cut in one direction, and slightly lift the blade for the return direction. So all cuts are towards you and non-cuts are away from you or vice-versa). This way you have the steady rythm of the knife without sawing the bread to death or crushing it. Hope this helps. One of my few talents?bread cutting?who woulda thoought!

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 21:34
thought?

NoisyJoey - at 23:44
Kathy in FL, thank you so much. I've just discovered your prep test posts and am so impressed. 5 children and you still have time to not only cook from scratch (plus the millions of other things moms do), but to share your information with us. I'll refer back to your posts in the future for some really good information. I agree that you should post/publish your recipes. Good luck with the rest of your test?looking forward to the next installment. Can we SIP at your house??? I'm going to sleep now - I'm tired just from reading about everything you've been doing!

Eccles - at 23:57
Lisa- Thanks for the advice. I am currently using an electric knife with dual counter-moving blades. Crushing is not a problem with this device. I have some problem with uniformity of cuts, either making slices a little too thick, or a little too thin and ending up with partials or with slices with holes missing in the middle.
Perhaps its just my lack of ability ot "do neat". I could never "do neat". I was the only student in my drafting class (this was before computer assisted drawing by a couple of months) who could take a clean piece of paper, fasten it carefully to a clean drawing board. Clean my T-square and triangles. And then sit down to something that looked like Pigpen from Peanuts had been there.
I think I'll try one of those slicing guides. they are cheap enough to buy one, use it once and throw it away.

26 July 2006

Anna NY - at 12:51
I cannot seem to find a place that sells mylar bags that fit into a 6 gallon bucket. Does anyone have suggestions.

EastTN - at 12:59
I had a couple of days off and was able to catch up on some of my preps.
Finished the installation (by propane company) of a stand alone propane supply system. This will provide heat during the winter months and a source of fuel for cooking.
Sealed the mylar bags in 21 five gallon buckets, with oxy absorbers.
Re-organized paper products, actually found 1 more case of TP than I thought I had.
Began cutting fire wood, about a cord done, need a totat of 3-4 cords.
Developed planning list for remaining food supplies to complete 1 year supply. Currently at 8 months. Overall 70 % of a 1 year supply of food for 6 persons completed. Goal is December, but sooner the better.
Next household items to do: Pump septic tank, well/pump maintenance, keep cutting fire wood, double size of garden plot and prepare for fall plantings.
Immediate Goal - Let the money catch back up!!!

Chesapeake - at 14:41
Anna NY..Walton Feed has them on page 8 of their catalog, item #F015, 20×30 holds 50 lbs, for$1.85 each. They also have other sizes and ziplock bags too.

Eccles - at 14:55
Here's a suggestion I would like people's opinions about.
Since it has been discussed for a long time that TP could well be a means of barter, or a form of currency if TSHTF (sorry), I was thinking that it would be awfully generous to approach each deal with a full double or triple roll (which is what we are stocking).
What I've been thinking of is stealing partial rolls from the family when they aren't looking and replacing them with full rolls. These partials can go into storage as barter rolls for when you need to have a smaller denomination of TP than a full roll. A strange way to make change to be sure, but is this over the top, or reasonable?

Hillbilly Bill - at 14:59
Eccles - at 14:55
It would seem that an agreed upon measurement of the diameter of the partial roll would be needed?.

Kim - at 15:05
Ahhh, Eccles, the old "bait & switch", eh? Well, all I gotta say is, when you gotta go, you gotta go? and Eccles sure drives a hard bargain!

EastTN - at 15:07
Eccles
I have been stocking a small quantity of "travel rolls", which I get at Target, in the miniatures. You now all the small bottles of shampoo, toothpaste, and such. The small rolls hold 20-30 single sheets I believe. I carry them now in vehicles and backpacks, you are right it could be worth it's weight in gold later. And your idea is also good, in fact I think I will start doing it with the in-laws cabins and campground bathrooms, start saving all the small rolls for barter items.

annie - at 15:10
Just got back from a sucessful prepping trip!
For the vegetable shelf: 24 cans of corn 96 cans of green beans (on sale for .50 a can at our local Food Lion!)
For the baking cabinet: 5 pounds sugar lemon juice morton salt 5pounds whole wheat flour 2 lbs brown sugar 2 packs of 3 sticks each butter crisco 6 packs of yeast box of baking soda can of baking powder slivered almonds 4 more cans evaporated milk 3 boxes of parmalat
For the medecine box Alum (found with spices but when sprinkled on an open wound, it draws out the infection and disinfects) 2 bottles of Elderberry (read it's good for immune system..especially flu symptons) bandaids with antibiotic on them After bite stick for bites and stings Anti-itch gel
General survival stuff: 12 more coleman propane cylinders for stove 2 flashlights 2 lanterns (battery kind) 1 battery operated fan (have 1 and it works great)
I even had a chance to tell the check out girl a little about the bird flu. She questioned what you do with alum. When I explained, she asked how I learned that. That opened the door to mention BF. I'm not sure it sunk in. I think she thought I was nuts! You should have seen the people looking at me with all the cases of vegetables. This is the sale I've been waiting for. I was in prepping heaven!

annie - at 15:13
Sorry about lack of commas in above post. No sure what happened. I typed this in a list and it changed to different format.

MAV in Colorado - at 15:54
Amazon.com has em

Hillbilly Bill - at 16:05
MAV in Colorado - at 15:54 - Amazon.com has em
what? commas?

Kathy in FL - at 17:38
Lisa in Southern Maine - at 21:16
If I had to take a wild ? really wild as I've never really measured it ? I would say baking my own bread adds about 3 to 5 hours worth of work per week.
Doesn't sound like much but it is so interspersed through other tasks ? and I'm not including actual baking time ? that it kind of hard to guess at.
Also, it depends on what I'm baking and how many days a week that I bake.
If I make biscuits at breakfast, sandwhich bread for lunch, and rolls at dinner time ? that's quite a bit of my time. Now I can use the bread machine to make the loaf bread at lunch ? and I could even use it to knead and rise the dough for rolls at dinner. BUT ? I don't always make yeast breads. I make a lot of cornbread and baking soda/salt breads as well, not to mention tortillas and flat breads.
Tortillas are the most labor intensive, but in a way are one of the easier breads as well. Not too much you can mess up as long as you don't burn them.
There is also the idea that we may not have electric to actually run the bread machine. If we are out electric, I am also out my stove though ? no gas appliances here. But I do know how to make breads using a dutch oven and we have a Coleman oven that I've made just about any kind of bread you can think of in ? including pretzels. You just have to think in smaller quantities.
But ? with electric ? I really do think its about 3 to 5 hours per week extra work. But for a busy mom and business owner that is 3 to 5 precious hours of time I could be doing something else. The myth of the housewife sitting around all day eating bonbons and watching soap operas is a load of hooey ? who ever made that one up must have taken their laundry home to mom to do.

Average Concerned Mom - at 18:17
Now Kathy in FL, I am a bonbon eating soaps-watching stay at home momma and I take offense at your remark! (JUST KIDDING)
Actually 3 to 5 hours per week of bread baking sounds like a LOT of work to me. If there's no electricty to run the bread maker, all I can say is, my family will be eating gruel.
Just in case anyone is interested, I am on about day 8 of my SIP meal plan, inspired by Kathy but way less interesting. I was just too lazy to go shoping after a 2-week vacation and decided to make my picky-eating family eat off my preps (which aren't substantial) For fun, here's what we've been eating:
day 1: rice, can of beans, homemade tortillas, freezer cheese and canned salsa day 2: leftovers from day one; macncheese for the whiners day 3: tuna salad sandwich with mushy celery day 4: more rice and beans; homemade tortillas came out better this time day 5: canned turkey with a noodle/cheese mix, canned fruit day 6: leftovers from day 5 with macncheese for whiners day 7: ravioli from the freezer with tomato paste sauce; steamed froze broccoli day 8: canned roast beef and hash with some rice
The good enws is, my family HATES canned fruit but boy oh boy did they appreciate it after this week of canned foods. I am teaching them to be less picky as we speak.
I've also decided I can't shop for any more preps until I force my family to eat the really weird stuff in our pantry - 3 tins of sardines come to mind. (-:

OKbirdwatcher - at 19:42
My husband's grandmother had 14 children. For breakfast she would make about 100 biscuits. The leftovers were bread for lunch and supper. I never heard anything about her making yeast breads. Can you even imagine?

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 20:01
Kathy in Fla - thanks for taking the time to respond. I guess I need to master tortilla making. So?You haven't been eating bon-bons while your cook and maid did all the prep work? I was just about to bring you my laudry too! :)

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 20:07
Average Concerned Mom - I'm laughing at how you've ended up on day 8 of sip plan. Too lazy?I know just how you feel! I have shop-phobia after all the store time logged in while prepping. Not that I'm done, but it does feel good to reach into the preps instead of going to the store?and it helps with rotation too. What is freezer cheese? How many whiners are there?

Average Concerned Mom - at 21:24
Freezer cheese: just a big bag of grated cheese that I bought on sale several months ago and put in the freezer, then forgot about. (Under the frozen 2 liter bottles of water.) So, it was still there after the vacation.
Whiners are basically my husband (though he has the grace to be quiet about it, I can see the disappointment on his face when the meal isn't "fresh") and the 4 year old. The baby doesn't whine. She eats if hungry and if not decorates the floor with it and demands to nurse late rin the PM.
Seriously my husband doesn't even like frozen vegetables. Even expesnive ones. Everything has to be purchased fresh. And forget about powdered milk. He and my son must be these "super tasters" you read about - they can immediately taste if anything is even the tiniest bit off or different.
I joke with my husband that if anything serious ever does happen, the first thing I'll do is, not feed any of them for 3 days. Maybe just a little broth. Them a week of just beans and rice. By the time that's over, they'll be darn glad for a few cans of tuna and some frozen veggies will taste like heaven!

Average Concerned Mom - at 21:29
Hey, here's a prep I did today. I wanted more water storage. It seems Aquatainer-type containers run about $8 for 7 gallons of water - so about $1 per gallon stored.
We don't drink soda so it is hard to get those 2 liter bottles whicih seem to work so well, PLUS they fit in your freezer.
I was at Aldi's and they had some Gosh-awful orangy drink soda in 2 liter bottles for something like 3 for $1. So I bought $5 (15 x 2 liters = 30 liters which is over 15 gallons, I think? and poured out the soda. How's that for wasteful? But it made me think, why can't the soda companies just sell us the water in the bottle? (And the main expense of soda must be the packaging?.)

Houston 6-Pack - at 21:32
Average Concerned Mom
ROFLMAO!!!!!!!! You've got winers too?!?!?!?!? Would mac and cheese be their `comfort food'?!?!?
I gotta ask too?.what is freezer cheese?
I think that if we all tried our preps on our families as a dry run?.we would be suprised how fast those not so desirable foods would be desirable!!! I'm trying my hardest to only buy things that we usually eat. There are some things like salmon and lobster in a can that the kids wont like?.but I use that in some hor'dourves that I make?that will be used for my DH and I with a very TALL glass of wine?..I have made sure that I do some special preps for just DH and myself?since we wont be able to dine out?.we can have a special `dine in' evening??but dont forget the wine!!!!! LOLOLOL
If the kids chose to eat the lobster and salmon?..that would make me the happiest mom ever!!!! You've got to understand that they are THE pickiest eaters around:)

annie - at 21:36
Average concerned Mom?How was the quality of the cheese? Would you suggest freezing cheese as an option for preppers?

AVanarts - at 21:37
Average Concerned Mom ,
I've never seen plain water in the 2 liter bottles, but COSTCO has it in one liter bottles, which cost considerably less than the same amount of the same brand in the little 500 ml bottles.

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 21:39
I think I'm a supertaster whiner like your husband. Absolutely hate anything not fresh. Only canned product I've had before this prepping was tomatoes. Tough stuff. I won't do the powdered milk either - but the shelf-stable soymilk is fine. And Nido - the dry whole milk, is tolerable. I've found, since experimenting with canned and frozen veggies, that they're OK in a rich coconut-cream curry sauce. I guess I'll be eating an awful lot of curry in sip. At least it's good for you! And you're right - I too believe our tastes will become more accepting as food supply is restricted. And we probably won't whine itshtf, we'll just be grateful. How was the freezer cheese? Taste OK? Do you freeze cheddar blocks?

CashB - at 21:51
picked up a box called heater meal, at the local publix. It was on a shelf of hurricane items and I've never seen these before? They look like commercial, for the public, MREs. Same concept but smaller and 1/4 the calories(thank god). They sell for about 5 bucks so they are a little pricey for preps but would be great for BOBs. The box advertises Heater Meal Plus that has more to it I guess? Bought one out of curiosity but haven't eaten it yet. Only had a 2 year shelf life instead of the good till infinity MREs.

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 21:53
Average Concerned Mom - my 21:39 post is to you.

Houston 6-Pack - at 22:09
Cash?.I wonder if any other supermarkets carry those (Heater Meals). Do you know? I'm going to google that and see what I can find out. It would be something to have if preps run out?.

CashB - at 22:12
I just looked them up on the net heatermeals.com and the company sells and ships them individually and by the case. I didn't look up shipping costs tho. Seems they have been in business several years and they also make one that has a 3 year shelf life.

Average Concerned Mom - at 22:14
Shredded cheese keeps very well in the original package in the freezer for a few months at least. (Well, anyhow, the whiners don't mention anything against it!) The smaller packages thaw quickly too. I'm sure you could do blocks but have never tried. I freeze the mexican mix and probably montery jack. I wonder if provelone or mozzarella would hold up as well? Surely it would be fine for a pizza. You probable couldn't go longer than 3 months unless you specially sealed them and so on - freezer burn, I bet.

anonymous - at 22:15
I bought 2 cases of canning jars, rings and lids, a jar lifter, and a funnel. Also as replacements for things that rust out, 2 sink drain strainers/haircatchers and an all metal grater. (The old one has a plastic handle which retains the water for too long.) I didn't find any refillable liquid candles, though. I read that parafin oil is not recommended for tubular lanterns with a 7/8?or larger wick and perhaps not for my cookstove. The lantern company said it would contaminate the wicks and replacement would be necessary. Also, the Ultrapure parafin only burns half as bright. Drat! I have so much of it, lots bought for Y2K. So now I need refillable candles, the only approved use for the stuff. :(

Houston 6-Pack - at 22:16
CashB
I just pulled it up?..They look pretty good?.and it would be a good switch. I'm going to order a couple cases. Sorta reminds me of a lunchable?.with all the extras they have?.but I did notice that one of themhey have a shelf life of 3 years?..

CashB - at 22:16
Hou 6-pk, I don't know who else might carry them? I've never seen them before. Am going to Wal-Mart tomorrow night so I'll look there. Maybe their web site has a list of suppliers?

Jane - at 22:16
Forgot to sign- Jane. My computer died, I'm afraid. This is a substitute, and it freezes after a while, too.

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 22:17
Average Mom - Thanks. I'll freeze mozzarella and tell you how it goes.

Average Concerned Mom - at 22:24
I hear rumors you can freeze cold cuts as well?. (-:
I know, I know, don't count on having electricity? but I tell you, the worst that can happen is, we lose some great freezer food?.or bust a gut trying to eat it all before it goes bad. Then, the week long fast? and then, the canned food?.Well, it's a plan, anyhow?.thanks God you don't have to freeze wine?.

Cinda - at 22:28
annie - at 21:36 Average concerned Mom?How was the quality of the cheese? Would you suggest freezing cheese as an option for preppers?
I have been freezing store bought shredded mozzerella, mont-jack, taco/pizza & cheddar and grated parm/romano for years. it's always fine. I often use it right from the freezer as it thaws so fast. I have shredded my own to freeze and had mixed results. You have to put cornstarch in with the shredded cheese (to keep it from sticking together in a big clump)and I haven't hit the right amount yet or a good way to get it spread evenly through the cheese. It's a worthwhile $ saver if you buy the big bag at BJs (like Costco or Sams) and repackage into smaller amounts

Petticoat Junction - at 22:29
Hillbilly Bill - at 09:12 "So far I have $85 to spend on supplies for our church food pantry?..This may sound crazy, but I am really excited about buying and storing the food for my fellow church members."
HBB, I think that's great! I thought of you this evening ~ I had the older girls at choir practice and was hanging out in the office/nursery with the toddler/preK dd's. Today's church mail was on the table (dh is one of the clergy; I wasn't being too nosy, lol).
On top of the stack was a postcard from the county public health dept (we're in central TX), apparently sent out to all the churches and major non-profits, asking them to be partners in preparing for public emergencies, along with something that sounds like a CERT class for individuals. There's a website and phone number for more info. I'm going to have dh tell the head priest that I would love to be a contact person for our parish. I may be asking you for suggestions! :o)
(I just peeked at the website and the link for this program is on the front page, right next to "Pandemic Flu Resources." Yay, I have some slight hope for our county, lol.)

Cinda - at 22:37
Yes you can freeze cold cuts too! I regularly buy the large ham, salami, lean pastrami, turkey breast and r-beef - like what you see in the deli case- from a resturant supply store and slice it and freeze it. That is a considerable savings also- often 2.00 or 3.00 per pound. I have a small Chef's Choice meat slicer that was 99.00 a few years ago from Pleasantville Grain and has paid for itself a few times over already as I use it for lots of other things that need uniform slicing, like fruits or vegetables for dehydrating -also meat for jerkey - more savings

Houston 6-Pack - at 22:53
Petticoat Junction~~
Because of Hillbilly Bill I am going to do the same thing at our church. I was going to start working on it 2 days ago but had a little one that was trying to catch a cold and I didnt want to take her out. I think its a wonderful idea?.I wonder if my church has gotten a postcard like the one your talking about. I live in Houston, Texas?.:) Lots of rain down here right now?.:)

bird-dog - at 23:06
Lisa in Southern Maine - at 22:57 from yesterday
Sorry to take so long to get back to you? nope, I haven't finished the crawlspace yet - sigh. After reading BB's posts on mold i was even more reluctant to get `down and dirty'. It is sooo dank and is on a very hard-on-the-knees ledge. I have to crawl down in there every month or so to change my water filter(iron, etc.) and I'm convinced that an unknown species of mammal lives there too. I scan the dark with my flashlight but have yet to pick up some eyes. Anyway, I did borrow a staple gun and started to reattach the insulation.
My main prep yesterday was to check out my finances?not good. I'm planning to cancel my newspapers since I read them online anyway and to only eat out once a week. I've also broken into one to my cheap nicotine gum boxes and will only buy a pack of cigs in an emergency. I have a trip to Mass General this coming Wed?.that may be the day! Naaa. I'll chew my gum. Lol
It really felt great to organize some preps today (batteries, propane cannisters, tool kit, tackle box, and books) and to get out of the buying mind-set. I still always need more toothbrushes and sponges, plus an axe, Silk in boxes, and quilted shades(!!!), etc., etc..
After reading tonight about the `Stage 4? news, I may be tempted to do a Whole Grocer and Wild Oats run tomorrow. Whoops, on second thought, no? I also suddenly have a seriously cracked tooth so I'll need to pay for that first! Thank God I'm not SIP now! I can't eat well and it hurts like crazy. Ate some 90 second rice tonight. Did the trick. Appt early tomorrow thank goodness!
As for baking bread,,,I used to eat somewhat macrobiotically and baked unyeasted bread-25-30 yrs ago! I'll be happy with chapati's. I'll drag out my Tassajara Bread Book and reaquaint myself. ;-) great book!
I'm so impressed with Kathy in Fla. and Average Concerned Mom!! `You are amazing!' Thanks for the ideas!!!
Every one is amazing here, for that matter!

KimT - at 23:54
I went shopping tonight, the only thing I bought was a couple of below 0 sleeping bags, then I got back and saw the news thread.

27 July 2006

Ima-Prepper - at 00:12
In response to the bread topic, anyone who has ever been on an atkins diet knows that the cravings for bread are almost unbearable. I do plan on making it even though it is time consuming.

Flu Prep 12 (XII)

Bronco Bill — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 13:02:59 GMT

27 July 2006

bird-dog - at 00:37
Hey BB, ayah-we say ovah heah in Maine too!

Bronco Bill - at 01:38
LOL!! bird-dog --- I actually picked that up from the Doc Holliday character that Val Kilmer played in the movie Tombstone, but I've heard Mainers (Maineians?) say it the same way! Mostly the Down Easters and lobstermen?

Melanie - at 03:53
It's lobstah in the local dialect.

LauraB - at 06:19
mmmmm?.I could go for a lobstah roll right now. yum!
I've been blowing through some prep foods because I just haven't had time for regular grocery shopping (when does school start again? not soon enough! get these kids out of my house!). Another advantage of prepping! Still have some major items on my prep list that I'm not sure how we'll pay for - $$$ are tight right now.

Kathy in FL - at 10:55
I'll be out on Friday and Saturday ? business trip with some fun thrown in. However, I'm planning to see if I can make our preps work better on the road.
All 7 of us (2 adults and 5 kids) will be going. I'll have 5 road meals to deal with ? we'll eat breakfast super early a.m. on Friday at home. Cooking will need to be limited so will only take minimal gear. Will probably try and use some of my freshly dehydrated stuff to go along with anything "fresh" that I pull from the fridge. Milk won't be a problem as the kids like the Creamsicle stuff I make with powdered milk. I'll throw a container of juice in there to drink at dinners ? throw a few gallons of water for the rest.
Hopefully this planned road trip will be easier than the unexpected one that we had to take last week. The kids travel well, even the 2 year old, but it is still a pain in the back side this close to school starting.

Mari - at 11:29
Got a good test of my temporary tarp setup for collecting rainwater last night. A thunderstorm blew in about 9:30 pm, and it rained for about an hour. I also collected water from my roof, though I will have to use that with caution since the roof is asphalt shingles. (At least it should be OK for watering trees that have deep roots.) I got a total of 24 gallons of water from the tarp (it would have been more but I discovered water sloshing over the tarp at the low end). The PVC connectors are supposed to arrive on Friday - I'll make a frame to support the tarp that will be much better than the bags of mulch and bricks that are holding it up now. I may make another one to fit on the driveway - the neighbors will have fun laughing at me scooping water at all hours.
The rain barrel that drains about 1/4 of the roof was about 3/4 full and I had various buckets collecting water elsewhere. If TSHTF, I'll tarp the roof so that water would be treatable just with straining & bleach. I must have about 60 gal total off the roof. All of the water is now in milk jugs for ease of pouring (the good water) or plastic buckets. It was a lot of work, starting immediately after the rain stopped for about 1 hr to get most of the rainwater, and about 3 hr this morning for transferring the roof water from collection containers to storage containers and throwing out any debris or water that wasn't clear after settling.
Based on this, I'd say water handling is going to take a significant amount of time if you're collecting rainwater or surface water, letting dirt settle and scooping off the clear top part, and treating it. If you're in a location that gets lots of rain and plan to use rainwater as a main water source, it would be worth working out an automated process, at least for moving water from a collection barrel to a storage container.
On my way shortly to pick up more used food-grade barrels. Two for my sweetie and one more for me, if I can fit it in the Subaru.

Kim - at 11:30
Here are some excerpts from a thought-provoking article on the fragility of the good life that most of us are leading, by Victor Hanson. Perhaps it can help convince someone of the importance of prepping?
"But could our good life really sometime come to an end - as the histories of past affluent societies suggest it will? Imagine al-Qaida attacking the New York Stock Exchange or an unexpected North Korean missile taking out a West Coast city. What if Beijing suddenly had to sell off billions of its accumulated American dollars? Or how about a good old 1970s-style recession in which interest rates hit 20 percent, with inflation and unemployment each hovering near 10 percent? What would millions of younger Americans do - people who have known only the prosperity, material surfeit and mostly peace and security of the 1980s and 1990s?
In our own new age of war, terrorism, huge debt, high-priced gas and frightful weapons and viruses that we try to ignore, we should remember that civilization's progress is not always linear. The human condition does not inevitably evolve from good to better to best, but always remains precarious, its advances cyclical."
http://www.realclear...

HillBilly Bill - at 11:46
Mari - at 11:29
Thanks for the results of your field test. This just points out how important it is to try our plans out now so problems can be corrected and the results can be tweaked.

Kathy in FL - at 12:15
Mari, thanks. Water is one of those huge problems that have been difficult for me to address.
We have an inground pool so I think we are OK for non-potable water, especially so if I redirect any run-off. It just so happens that the pool is very near two downspouts from gutters and it would be a simple fix to mate the downspout with soem pvc pipe to run the water through a screen and into the pool.
I've GOT to find a solution for drinking water. We've got the tarps that are big enough to go on the roof ? but a really odd roof line as the house has been added onto about four times over the years. Its correctly engineered but odd to try and tarp effectively for run-off if you get my meaning. We've gotten back into our afternoon shower cycle in our area, but that doesn't last all year. Still need to come up with solutions for the times of year when water from the sky is less likely.

AlabamaPrepper - at 13:59
Has anyone suggested this? Or would it be practical?
Rainwater collection using an old trampoline frame, putting a tarp or heavy plastic on it instead of the trampoline mat. Put a hole in it in the middle, and weight it down somehow so that the rainwater runs to the middle and drains into whatever.
They sit up high enough off the ground that buckets, or kiddie pools could be put under them easily. Buckets could be lined up to be filled.
Wonder if folks with an unused trampoline would be willing to sell them?

Kathy in FL - at 14:11
Those things are certainly big enough that they would work. I would think that to avoid problems with high winds you would need to firmly anchor the framing ? but you have that issue with any tarp set up.
Certainly worth considering.

HillBilly Bill - at 15:36
Kathy in FL - at 12:15
Do you know the average monthly rainfall in your area? When we were in Orlando on vacation it seemed like there was a pretty good downpour just about every afternoon. An 8? x 10? tarp will collect approx. 42 gallons of water from a one inch rainfall. That's 6 days of water for your crew. Now, if you had two tarps feeding that collection device, you have doubled that amount. How big is your yard? Sure it would look like a gypsy camp, but it would be worth it.

Mari - at 15:43
AlabamaPrepper - at 13:59 - One problem in my area is hail. Another area of town had penny sized hail last night that made the ground white. We also routinely have 50 mph winds. I'm keeping my tarp lying on a concrete pad, weighted down with rocks & bricks, hoping that will help. I've seen hail shred a lawn chair in a couple of minutes.
Are you planning to be underneath the trampoline moving a filled bucket to make room for an empty one? Remember how heavy water is.

Eccles - at 15:52
One way to potentially move water from its collection point is to use a 12 volt utility pump. I have tow, that I got from harborFreight. these pumps run off of either a 12V power pack, a battery bank or a car electrical system, and can pump about 240 gallons per hour really far laterally, or about 20 feet up, or some combination. Then, you don't have to go out in the rain, just let the pump move the water through 2 garden hoses, one for Goes-inta and the other for Comes-outa.

Bronco Bill - at 16:14
Reading all the comments here brings to mind something I've seen in a few of the backyards here in FresNo, and also seen in some of the "high end" home improvement catalogs that we are constantly being bombarded with in the mail (and, yes, I do read them?something about wanting to be able to spend $350 on a 12-inch glass ball for my garden just intrigues me?).
But I digress?one of the most amazing things I've seen is called a ShadeSail. They're made of a lightweight, weatherproof canvas, and hung from 3 points to provide shade over a patio area. Their angle can be adjusted from two of the three points via a pulley system to provide shade at all hours of the day.
Now, since this device is triangular in shape, and it's height and angle can be adjusted, this just might work as a way to catch large amounts of rainwater. It would require a couple of posts to be buried upright in the ground, but the benefits of providing shade in the summer and being able to catch rainwater during the rainy season (which in some places is the summer) far outweighs the cost of placing a couple of 4×4 posts in the ground. Even being canvas, which isn't completely waterproof, you could layer a couple of plastic tarps on top of the fabric in order to catch all the water.
Just a thought?.

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 19:27
Bird-dog - your cracked tooth is a reminder to ua all to tweak any health issues. My preps this coming month are the human kind - physicals and Flu and pneumovac for boys, optometrist to make sure younger boys prescription up to date. They're good on dentist - checked 3 months ago. Consulted with friend who is physical therapist about how best to excercise these boys while in sip. Have purchased - well, a Mainahs ideaahh of puchase which is going to transfer station community recycle shop and making goods exchange - weight bench and dead weights for them, and treadmill now cleaned up. PT suggested I set up a good and heavy sand bag in basement for them to use too. I'll get to that in coming month. It does feel good to organize preps, doesn't it? Gives clear idea of how far you can go. Take care of that tooth.

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 19:29
Bronco Bill - any idea of cost on shadesail? It sounds like a much easier solution than others I've considered, as does Alabama Preppers trampoline idea (which is really creative and resourceful!).

Texas Rose - at 21:45
I'm working through freezing the flour and rice we bought at Costco and wishing we had room in the house for an actual freezer so I could do more than a one gallon Ziplok bag at a time.
And?what's "rain"?

silversage - at 22:02
Check before you buy shade sails as they can be very porous if they're knitted material versus woven. They may not be strong enough at the gromets to support a tarp and rain. We plan on tenting our swingset on both sides and using garden poles to get a U shape at the bottom to funnel the water into storage tanks. So no matter which way the winds blow we should be able to capture rain water.

Jefiner - at 22:02
Check harbor freight for shade sails-we got several-made out of umbrella like fabric-for a little less than $20. you could cover them with a plastic drop cloth for water collection. We just use them for shade-works great!

Mari - at 22:03
Oh, by the way, another "lesson learned". If you use a rock as a weight to keep your tarp from flying around in the wind, use a smooth one.

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 22:25
Thanks all for shade buying tips. And Mari - I have a return tip for you. When people say `you can freeze eggs', they don't mean buying a box and sticking it, eggs whole, in the freezer. Live and learn:)

Jane - at 22:27
I guess if the shadesail is fairly vertical, the water would run off instead of staying there, weighing on it.

Jefiner - at 23:23
Jane-
closer to the equator, the more horizontal the sail? I went out and looked at the one we have pitched over the south side of the house and it is at about 40 degrees; it could be configured to funnel rain water into a barrel.

28 July 2006

cactus az - at 00:39
I had some overtime on this week`s check.
So ,I went shopping.
I now have a dehydrator, a propane camp stove, and the cannisters to go with,another lantern, not solar this time. And lots more food.And scored 4 tubs with lids from Safeway`s bakery for free. Free is nice!Look to be around 3 gallons.
I also can`t walk in my kitchen.:-),Guess I know what I`ll be doing tomorrow.But, tuna at 20/$10.00 was too good to pass up, along with other loss leaders.
I think I have enough vittals to do me for about 6 months. So, I think I`ll start on extras for whoever. Beans and rice are cheap, along with Ramon noodles.
My 5 gallon bucket was positioned under a runoff spot ,and it got filled. As my average yearly rainfall is around 7 inches, don`t think I`ll plan on rainfall to meet my water needs,tho.My tomatoes in pots on the patio will enjoy the rainwater.They seem to have a growth spurt after they get some.

On the fence - at 00:44
I bought a portable toilet with hand pump, detachable tank and a camp shower. I told my wife that we can charge the neighbors one can of tuna or corn to use my new BF potty if TSHTF.
Warm shower? That will be one box of mashed potato flakes and a jar of spaghetti sauce.

cactus az - at 00:58
Does that warm shower come with soap or do I have to provide my own ? And, how about back washes? :-)

On the fence - at 01:03
Soap- free. Back washes- I give back one can.

On the fence - at 01:06
depending on the backs of course. ;-)

Bronco Bill - at 01:44
depending on the backs of course. ;-)
I was gonna ask about that, but I'll just shut up?

HillBilly Bill - at 07:35
And as Eccles pointed out, you will want to have partial rolls of TP in all denominations to "make change."

knowall - at 08:03
HillBilly Bill - at 07:35 - LOL! Gives a "roll of quarters" new meaning! BTW, I was once at a party and the host had stocked the bathroom with "joke" TP with dollar bills printed on it. Maybe we should find out who makes it . . .
My latest project is making labels for all the food that I repacked into mason jars, buckets, etc. Originally, I stuck cheap masking tape on the containers with an expiration date but with all the humidity, the masking tape has started coming off and I realized new "stickier" labels are in order.

Carrey in VA - at 08:21
knowall - at 08:03
I cheat and just write on the lid with a marker the contents and date. I do right it small enough that I can mark it out and right something else next time its used.

Eccles - at 08:37
Knowall- I just write on the glass with a Sharpie pen. The Sharpie can write on glass very well. In the future, you can remove the ink completely by just using isopropyl alcohol (That also works to get Sharpie and many other markers off of hands and other accidentally marked places.

knowall - at 08:48
Eccles - at 08:37 -
Thanks so much Eccles, that's a great suggestion and much easier than stickers, no adhesive gunk to remove later. I didn't know Sharpie Ink comes off of glass with alchohol.

Green Mom - at 09:20
Major prep for me this week-I officially withdrew my two kids from school and will be homeschooling them. Ive been very busy setting up a homeschool room, doing paperwork, researching and putting together a curriculum, gathering supplies and so on and so forth.
Although flu was not the reason I took them out, still it is comforting to know thats one less thing I would have to deal with if TSHTF-whether that S*** is flu, storms, energy prices, what have you.
Also have been getting in all those dentist/eye/physical type appointments. Went in for a routine mammagram and they found a small "nodule" Had it checked out and turned out to be a small benign cyst, probably caffine related, theres a familiy history of this so it wasn't too surprising. Still-I can't emphasize the importance of getting these checkups BEFORE flu hits. My hubby had to have major dental work done, that took several appointments over a couple of months.
Because of the homeschool room reshuffling, my preps have somehow gotten "rearranged" as well and are now all out of order. (One of my storage areas is now a Science lab) Also, I have been out of the house quite a bit, doing some community theatre work and to my chagrin I found that one of my snack-preps bins has been discovered and all the pop-tarts, cereal and oother goodies have disappeared. (Sigh) Also detected a major Ramon-noodle deficet Because Ive been so busy, Ive been lax about recording what I have-I have been tossing stuff in the freezer or in bins without writing it down,-not a good idea. As soon as I finish up with the homeschool prep, I need to inventory and re-arrange the flu preps again.
So much for those lazy days of summer! More like crazy!
With the heat and humidity, we still have plenty of "Hazy"
Ok, I'm getting giddy now, so I'll hush up and go get some breakfast.

AVanarts - at 10:34
When it comes to removing the ink from Sharpies, Acetone (finger nail polish remover) also works very well. It was common practice in a lab I once worked in to mark flasks with a Sharpie, then rinse the marks off with acetone when cleaning up.

Eccles - at 10:42
AVanarts - I have found that Isopropanol works even better than Acetone for Sharpie. I think it may be the carrier solvent used in the pens. We also used to extend the life of Sharpies by ading a little Iso back into pens when they ran dry.
We used to mark lab equipment with Sharpies. You could remove the marks completely with an alcohol prep.

kycreeker - at 12:00
Getting ready for the bird flu is nothing but hard work.
I canned 30 pints of corn relish and put 12 quarts of corn in the freezer. This morning, I picked more corn and tomatoes. I am going to can 24 quarts of soup mixture with corn, tomatoes, celery, onions and carrots today. I add potatoes later when I cook it. You can't get this stuff in a store! Yum.
Are you aware that you can grow potatoes by simply covering them with straw? In some parts of the country, it is not too late to do so. Allow several months to pass?rake back the straw or grass clippings, and you have medium sized potatoes. They do not have a peeling like those grown in the ground. There are other ways to grow potatoes in a small area. Lay down potatoes. Cover with soil and skirt with scrap wood formed into a square. Lay down another layer of potatoes?repeat as long as you have wood to frame with..The vines will grow out through the openings in the "pig pen" When you want potatoes, simply remove the top layer of soil and the top layer of framing. Leave the other layers until needed. You avoid having to store the potatoes. This probably would not work in the North.
My next project will be to make elderberry,grape jelly and grape juice.
kycreeker

Kim - at 15:59
Here's an article from the UK (though it may well apply to the US as well) about how the heat wave is affecting availablity of fresh vegetables and fruits (and may affect prices for frozen produce as well).
http://news.bbc.co.u...

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 16:05
Green Mom - Congratulations on getting the homeschooling up and running! What a major task! Although bf was not your motivation for homeschooling, it is great that now you will not have to worry about when to `pull them out'. Also, you're 10 steps ahead of those of us (me) who will need to plan sip coursework after a school closure. I will need to play catch up by building coursework from wherever they leave off in school. Your kids will have no interruption or readjustment phase to endure. Well done.

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 16:06
They ate the sweetened cereal! Had it hidden away in large bin in cellar, but it was found a devoured. Probably because its a rare treat our household usually doesn't see?and may not see again for a long time! Repackaging flour and sugars this weekend. Loving vacuum sealer and even the mylar bags and O2 absorbers. New toys! Buying dehumidifier for basement food preps tonight.

annie - at 16:47
Hairspray also takes off sharpie..use it all the time at school to erase sharpie on laminated surface

bird-dog - at 17:39
I posted this last night in the `Winter Heat' thread but it may really belong here. (Plus a reply to fellow Mainer, Lisa.)
> In searching around for thermal shades I came across this article from The Mother Earth News magazine with directions for sewing three types. The shades would make such a great difference on those cold cold nights esp. if I'm SIP and concerned about folks looking in. Scary thought! I also really like the idea of a "draft- and moisture stopping vapor barrier" between the layers of fabric. Here it is >>> http://tinyurl.com/7....

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 21:20
Thanks Bird-dog.

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 22:11
Bird-dog - read your post in winter heat. Sorry (really, really sorry) about the root canal. You actually should take the prescribed antibiotic post procedure as infection a definite painful possibility?but I understand your wanting to keep it. I'm looking for a US army study done on efficacy and toxicity of expired meds. I used to have the study but can't find it right now. In it, they examined and used meds years out of date with no ill effects and no loss of potency, even sulfa drugs like Bactrim, and the antibiotic ampicillin which has a `goes bad' reputation. Some of the meds used were 10 years out of date! Seems as though many meds have the shelf life of twinkies? I'm going to NIH and Medscape to see if I can find it again and I'll post it, so you can have some reassurance about those old pills.

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 22:13
anyone - if your next big prep was either a generator or heatsource (in this case, propane stove), which would you get first? Both big money items?both to perform most valuable functions?

Jane - at 22:24
For a northern climate, I'd get a stove. Can you get an 80# propane tank, or are you thinking of 20?s? Will you install the stove or is it a portable?

Kim - at 22:47
Lisa in Southern Maine, I'd go for a heatsource as well, unless I lived where the temp's rarely drop to freezing or below. Electricity you can make do without, but you can only get just so cold before it becomes life-threatening.

StLucieLady - at 22:53
Bird dog If you are worried about getting antibiotics, why not get a few bottles of the fish antibiotics online? I used the amoxicillin pills a few months ago for an ear infection and it worked great. No doctor, no prescription. It was very cheap and is pharmaceutical grade just like regular scripts. I looked up the dosage online. Obviously only use when you know what you have and how to treat it. Most mothers have the knowledge for all the normal stuff. Just a thought.

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 23:28
Jane - I think I can gett a 200gal propane tank and then have a line run to the stove. Would have to have professional installation. Plan to run generator off tank too, if pos. Sounds like stove will be next, and generator late fall if there is still time and/or $. Do you have a propane stove Jane? What's your experience, positive or negative?

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 23:30
Kim - succinct and direct. Can't argue with that kind of logic. Question answered. Thanks!

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 23:34
StLucie - I bought some fish antibiotics in case shtf but I couldn't find (surely didn't look hard enough!) validation of them being human consumption safe. I'm glad to hear of your experience with them. Do you know where I can get any documentation on them?

29 July 2006

KimT - at 16:14
I'm allergic to anything icillin.
Just bought another tarp, more water, more propane, more canned milk. canning jars with extra lids, I ordered wheat yesterday, bought more cat food. I also got my daughter an mp3 today, will run for 19 hours on 1AA battery and has a radio on it too. She put over a hundred song on it in less then a half hour, she is really happy at the moment and it will save me countless batteries, those cd players soak up a lot of energy.
I think I'll go to sams tomorrow, I have this urge to get more preping done, but my house is a mess.

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 21:48
mp3 is a great idea. I wonder if I can budget one in this month for the kids?or would they each have to have their own in order for any peace to be had in the household?I avoided both prepping and cleaning today by walking and grooming the dogs. Yay! But I'll pay for this avoidance tomorrow!

KimT - at 22:17
We got the mp3 at walmart, was a pretty good deal. She uses limewire/free and legal to download the music. Will save money on cd's too at an average 10 bucks a pop or more. My son bought his there too for $40, not the best but it does the job.

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 22:44
KimT - thanks.
if I keep `adding' afforadable items to prep I won't be able to afford a bankruptcy lawyer :). This does seem necessary though?an adolescant peacekeeping device. Priceless!

Melanie - at 22:51
Here's the USDA Nutrition Site. http://riley.nal.usd...

knowall - at 23:15
Lisa in Southern Maine - at 23:34 Hi Lisa, I did some reading on fish antibiotics awhile back and I learned that the ingredients are exactly the same as human grade and are regulated by the FDA the same way human drugs are. I will try to find a link for you. I took some fish antibiotics myself and they worked, for what its worth.

30 July 2006

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 00:00
knowall - each positive experience I hear with the fish antibiotics makes me more calmn about possibly having to use them. So?it's worth a lot to get your input. Thanks.

Houston 6-Pack - at 00:31
I am clueless about fish antibiotics??I pulled up petcarerx.com and the price was really cheap 100 for about 15.00?anyway, I guess what I would like to know is I realize that fish and people are different?.duh?.but for a single dose what would an adult take???

I'm-workin'-on-it - at 00:45
Oh Bronco Bill said earlier: Y'all can find Part XII ovah heah! (Ah'm practicin' tahkin' Suthurn?)
Chile, you've earned an A+ on Suthurn! Bless yur littl' heart!

Jefiner - at 01:16
been working the dehydrator overtime! Grilled, and then dehydrated some marinated chicken breasts (about three pounds) that were strongly flavored-too much straight from the grill, but cut up and dried turned out great-I threw some into a chicken tortilla soup, and definitely kicked it up a notch. BAM I also overhauled all the dry preps today. Everything was out on the floor (on a tarp of course) and I washed, dried and left out in the sun all the containers-there was a little odd odor-maybe outgassing from the plastic-but now, all is neutral. Repacked everything, threw in some bay leaves that I bought in the Hispanic section of safeway-so much cheeper than the spice section!---, and back out to the garage with it. Sounds easy, but much harder than it looked; just ask my back!

Billie tonight - at 01:53
Houston 6-pack
That is where simple math comes in. Don't go by the pill. Look at the mg per pill. Find a good reference for antibiotic dosage, maybe the Physicians desk reference, and do the math.
I highly, highly suggest only using the fish antibiotics in the case of an emergency where it is impossible to see a doctor. I worry about the prior poster who self dosed her/himself for an ear infection. The majority of ear infections usually turn out to be viral in nature, and run their course and go away, with or without antibiotics. Taking antiobiotics in the case of a viral infection would be at the very least a waste of antibiotics, or more worrisome, contributing to the overuse of antibtiotics and risking culturing an antibiotic strain of bacteria within the user

Houston 6-Pack - at 01:56
Billie tonight~~
You know, I think I'm going to skip the whole fish antibiotics. Thank you for your input?.it would be a wast of antibiotics??

Jefiner - at 02:11
The whole fish antibiotics thing is complex. Yes, I do have the full complement, but I work in health care, so I have a little understanding of the different meds. I also have a Merck Manual, a Washington Manual of Medical Therapeutics and a Physician's Desk Reference. All well and good, but there are times when I say "we gotta call the doc", and know full well if something goes south, I have no one but myself to blame. FA are for emergencies only. This is from soemeone who spent way too much time in the ER after suffering a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) after taking her husband's Levaquin. This sh*t can kill you!!!
`nuff said

Billie tonight - at 03:04
Jefiner- Houston 6-pack
I too have some fish antibiotics, primarily for my animals, but I would use them on myself under the following cirumstances- 1.- I could talk to a doctor who'd advise me to take antibiotics 2.- I couldn't get antibiotics from a pharmacy 3.- I told the doctor what I had and he said it was better than not.

jplanner - at 06:10
Lisa in S. Maine (I'm in MA?not to far) and others about antibiotics aging/going bad.
In nursing school I remember there is ONE antibiotic that goes bad and becomes TOXIC, and that the rest of them just fade away in terms of efficacy, ie if they are TOO old, they don't work as well or eventially at all. I remember that very few drugs turn into something toxic if they are older than the expiration date.
Can a healthcare person, pharmacist, MD, nurse etc confirm which one that is? it's a common antibiotic. Don't want to mention the one I think because the name might stick wrongly in peoples brains!;) (I didn't finish nursing school;))
I agree with the posters that it is smart to TRY to avoid taking something you haven't taken before (allergic rxn etc). If you are going to get fish antibiotics (or some other way?I had an infected toe, got erythromycin, and by the time I filled it the infection was gone so didn't take it-added to preps), it probably is best to learn the correct dose, indications, side effects, etc-info that would be in a good drug book, a nursing book would work. Perhaps that's obvious, I just feel the urge to mention prepping Knowledge-wise whenever people talk about prepping meds.
I was psyched to get the erythromycin. I admit to also ordering from a foreign online pharmacy amoxicillin (or was it Augmentin?)when I got my Tamiflu (?, because who knows if it's real!) because Where THere Is NO Doctor (search online, it's free manual) suggests that is most useful antibiotic overall. And I have had it before and know I am not allergic. I also have plenty of Benadryl which may help in case of allergy?as well as rashes?as well as seasonal allergies?as well as sleep?etc etc..
I haven't had any kind of bacterial infection that I know of since I was a child more than thirty years ago. I find that comforting, and it reminds me that people that TEND to get certain types of infections periodically might be stuck. For example, a friend tends to get bladder infections, maybe she should be sure to store cranberry juice which can cure bladder infections (before they get to your kidneys and become something serious). IT's great because it's available in those soft boxes that are dated over a year away.
I am thinking how useful having yoghurt will be. I am lactose intolerant but can eat youghurt it'll be a great source of calcium and protein, as WELL as great to take as many know when you have to take antibiotics or when recovering from stomach/intestinal problems. (restores the good bacteria in your gut, which antibiotics can kill). Also will be great for the kids that (pray it doesn't happen) I might have to take in if it gets very bad. I made it from fresh milk this spring, flavored it with stored maple syrup, or honey, or stored fruit-only jam. Yummy sweet treat! I need to see if I can make it with dry powdered milk. I did an experiment and it kept fine overnight at room temperature (70 degrees) for 24 hours. iI think one of my last minute supermarket buys will be a container of plain yoghurt to use as starter if TSHTF. I think under most conditions I could keep a constant "culture' of yoghurt to always have..at least for the cool part of the year hear in the Northeast.it needs to "incubate" in a warm place, that needs experimentation as currently i put it in cool oven with pilot light?maybe some candle-thing will work.
I ramble on, just some ideas I think Billie tonight's post on circumstances to take prepped antibiotics, unless you are healthcare trained, are a good guide for all of us. With the caveat, at least in my mind, that if you could NOT reach a doctor, you would have printed out WHERE THERE IS NO DOCTOR or some other knowledge base, and the person was very ill and getting worse, I'd take it. Well, I am confident enough myself to do it in other cirucumstances, but I consider self healthcare trained enough like Jenifiner described for self.
AVanarts, Eccles: I worked in labs for years also! We used Isopropanol to remove sharpie ink almost continuously?on tubes, glasswear, etc. I am under impression Acetone is more toxic than isopropanol. Sharpies are great. ..I got a bunch of them and put them everywhere in my preps of ease of finding?even put one in my bug out bag so I can write signs etc (such as "KEEP AWAY?INFECTED WITH FLU")
hope all of you affected by by the heatwave are keeping cool. It is 86 degrees in my living room (sigh)
wow this ended up being a long post! sorry! alot on my mind, feeling alot of things are going increasingly bad in the world economically, politically, environmentally etc. THinking about my preps alot and that they are so multi purpose and give me comfort to have increasingly given this

Apharmacist - at 06:38
Back there in pharmacy school, I was taught that tetracycline is the one drug that should never be taken after the expiration date. The risk is severe kidney damage from one of the breakdown products as it degrades. I believe I may have read something lately that even this may not be true, but personally, since I can't confirm it, I would advise anyone to throw away any outdated or visibly deteriorating tetracycline that might be hanging around.

jplanner - at 06:55
Apharmacist: Phew! Thanks so much. Thats what I remembered too..doxycycline, which is same family. so folks, TOSS (better, FLUSH or wash down drain?so dogs, kids have no chance of getting it?thats what they say to do to old meds) the old tetracyline or doxycycline. If you have any current, maybe you'd want to circle the expiration date and write (with your Sharpie!) "toxic if expired" on it.
we have enough threats to our lives upcoming it seems.

Green Mom - at 09:49
We've really been trying NOT to take any antibiotics if we can possibly avoid it, -mostly out of concern of bacteria becoming more resistant due to overuse of antibiotics. Husband is allergic to "icillians" anyway. He used to get really nasty sinus infections-we've found that a morning flushing of the sinus passages with salt water has almost elimanated the infections! Many conditions for which an antibiotic is prescribed turns out to be viral anyway. Ive had weird reactions to meds that were prescribed specifially for me-I would really be nervous about taking someone else's meds, especially meds prescribed for fish!!!!
I totally understand the appeal of having lots of meds on hand for emergencies-and I do have a pretty awesome first aid kit assembled, but I'm just too chicken to experiment with "extracuricular" antibiotics.

Green Mom - at 10:09
Lisa at 16:05 on homeschooling-
Thanks! I'm kind of surprised how relieved I feel now that the kids are out of school. Thats one prep I feel pretty good about. Ive also have been secretly buying additional fun books, games, puzzles, models kits etc for them- trying to get non-electric, non battery powered entertainment items for teens is a challange! The mp3 that runs on one battery is a great idea! Ive been scouring yard sales, thrift stores, deep discount places like Big Lots.
Now I have to really work on food preps which is the prep area that scares me the most.

knowall - at 11:11
Hi everyone, just in case anyone is interested, I am posting this excerpt of an article on fish antibiotics and general use of animal medicines by people. It was posted on the Consumer Health Information website (link is at the bottom). It claims that many fish antibiotics are actually produced by the same companies that produce human antibiotics, and sold under a different name. They are subject to the same FDA regulations. The main risk of using these drugs comes from potential improper storage at the pet store and from people misdiagnosing themselves.
Should You Be "Chicken" About Taking "Horse" Pills?
"The cost of prescription drugs is hard for many Americans to swallow. Many people have found a different way to treat themselves in their local pet store. Along these aisles, bottles of fish antibiotics line the shelves. Is this the best way to treat your illness? Are medicines that you would give your fish safe for you to take?
Many people think that the drugs for pets are not as high quality as those for people. However, this is not true. The requirements by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for animal and human drugs are the same. They do inspections of the manufacturing process to be sure that animal medicines are safe and high quality. Many companies that make animal medicines also make the same product for humans but sell it with a different name.
On the other hand, the storage of these products may not be as well monitored at a pet or feed store as in your local pharmacy. Expiration dates are checked regularly in a pharmacy. The pet store does not have medical staff that are concerned about the medicine's quality. The expiration dates may not be as thoroughly checked. If a drug product expires and is taken, you may have more side effects or the medicine may not work as well."
full article at http://www.consumer-...

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 12:21
JP Planner - in nursing school the percieved offender was tetracyclines. This was based on one MDs experience of a patient getting violently ill after taking the expired tetracycline and incurring renal tube damage. But no one has been able to prove the meds did it, and it was an isolated case. Still, enough of a caution for me.
I'm still looking for the Dept. of Defense drug expiration study. Have found multiple refernces to it but haven't located the study itself in it's entirety (spelling?). Here is a DOD later, briefer write up of the study, and there is a chart of some meds showing potency up to 18 years (pralidoxime) and 15 years (atropine) from manufacture, 13 years potent from expiration date. http://tinyurl.com/m...
http://tinyurl.com/h....

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 12:29
Greenmom - I think we're all a bit intimidated when we start our food preps. Good luck! I did water, then the `farthest out' food, such as the huge buckets of grains, potatoes, freezedried fruits/veggies and meats, milks..Then I moved to midrange foods, canned goods mostly, meats/fruits/veggies, bouillions, etc?Now I'm on short termers - freezer meats and veggies, milks, flatbreads, etc? With long-term foods, the farthest out group, I bought bulk spices too. Week by week, it's reassuring to see progress. Careful not to get overwhelmed. Notice the progress you make and congratulate yourself on what you achieve!

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 12:30
knowall - thanks for the fish abt. article. Looksa like the caution is right med/doseage for diagnosis, not a concern about human consumption.

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 12:32
jplanner - sorry for spelling your name wrong in previous reply. Your yogurt sounds so yummy. Please tell me how it goes when you make it with the evaporated milk.

01 August 2006

Hillbilly Bill - at 13:44
I spent my lunch hour at Aldi's buying canned goods for our church pantry. I had $115 from the various offerings and contributions and was able to purchase the following:
? 5 cases (12 cans to the case) od assorted vegetables.
? 3 cases assorted ready to eat soups.
? 1 case each of pasta and meatballs and ravioli with meat.
? 24 boxes of mac-n-cheese.
I really enjoyed doing this shopping, and even more enjoyed the sight of all of those canned goods stacked in our church pantry.

Eccles - at 13:55
I'm not quite sure where to stick this, but I'll try here. This is an article warning about potential problems using high strength Hydrogen Peroxide, which I know some on Fluwikie have espoused for use in water purification: FDA Warns Against Internal Use of High-Strength Hydrogen Peroxide uly 28, 2006 - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a health advisory to warn consumers against the purchase and ingestion of high-strength hydrogen peroxide products for medicinal purposes due to the risk for serious harm or death.
Consumers are advised to immediately discontinue use of these products, which include currently marketed items such as "35 Percent Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide," and consult their healthcare provider, according to an alert sent yesterday from MedWatch, the FDA's safety information and adverse event reporting program.
The high-strength hydrogen peroxide products are more than 10 times more concentrated than topical products used for disinfecting minor cuts. Ingestion of these highly corrosive products can cause gastrointestinal irritation or ulceration, and intravenous administration can result in blood vessel inflammation at the injection site, gas embolisms, and potentially life-threatening allergic reactions.
Link to Full Article https://profreg.meds...
I found this on Medscape. I have a subscription, so I'm not sure whether the page can be read by non-subscribers.

Flu Prep 13 (XIII)

Bronco Bill — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 13:40:58 GMT

01 August 2006

smitty - at 16:34
jplanner - at 06:55 July 30
Please stop flushing unused/old antibiotics and hormones down the drain/toilet. Wastewater treatment plants can't remove them. The treatment process removes "solids," nutrients and heavy metals. Antibiotics and hormones are pervasive in our environment. We recycle (apply) wastewater sludge on our pasture land and crop fields and the plants absorb the antibiotics and hormones as 2nd and 3rd generation compounds. We in turn ingest them when we eat those crops or the animals that eat them.
Just add a little water to the pill bottle to create a mush so the pills are no longer attractive to whomever might want to retrieve them from your trashcan-ugh! Better yet ask your pharmacist if he can reclaim them. The federal govt is looking into reclamation possibilities now.

I'm-workin'-on-it - at 16:58
smitty, I never thought of that. You've taught me a lesson. Thanks.

knowall - at 17:04
smitty - at 16:34 thanks so much for the info, I've been ignorantly flushing my old meds. I'll stop immediately.

AlabamaPrepper - at 17:24
Excellent suggestion. I have read that these hormones and other chemicals are doing things to fish, strange things.
Think about it, nothing should be flushed but bodily waste.

02 August 2006

Hillbilly Bill - at 08:44
Last night DW and I loaded up a truckload of firewood and stacked it in the woodpile. Yes, it was dam*** hot, but we drive by where we get the firewood on our way home from work and when we saw what nice pieces were there we decided to get a load. I also paid for a dump truck load to be delivered. It cost us $10 for a pickup load and $50 to have the truckload delivered. I hope to go back this weekend and get some more. Even though it is hot as blazes, now is the time to be focusing on the winter. Everybody thinks about firewood once it turns cold.

Malachi - at 10:16
Sounds like a wonderful price on the firewood hillbilly bill,I too need to make calls to arrange for more wood but will pay alot more than you quoted.Is that hardwood or slabs?Just took 4 beautiful ripe tomatoes out of the garden.I hope the weather breaks because with my 70 plants I will soon be canning tomatoes daily.

Hillbilly Bill - at 10:21
Malachi - at 10:16
It is slabs from a sawmill, but this mill only cuts mine timbers (which are 4 x 4 posts). That means that the slabs are nice and thick and they work great in my wood furmace. A mill that cuts boards from logs will only have very thin scraps of slabs which are for the most part useless for firewood.

Malachi - at 10:26
Yep I found that out the hard way once :)

Hillbilly Bill - at 10:43
Malachi - at 10:26
They get EVERY possible board out of a log that they can! I willing to bet that the sawmill I get my wood from makes almost as much money from firewood as from cut timbers.

OKbirdwatcher - at 11:38
Just curious about this - Yesterday I bought a 12-pack of ramen noodles at Wal-Mart. After I got home, I noticed on the bar code sticker was printed the words "INVENTORY PREP". Can anyone explain? Maybe someone in grocery retail? I'm guessing it's some kind of industry lingo. Anyway, the ramen noodles are now part of my "prep inventory" :)

tjclaw1 - at 12:17
I received a catalog from a company called TravelSmith yesterday and noted some interesting articles that might be good prep items, including: biodegradable "Tush Wipes," "Restop 1? and "Restop 2? disposable travel toilets (I'll let you guess what the "1? and "2? designations mean!)- I think these would be expecially good for bug-out bags, "Fresh Bath" biodegradable extra-large wipes, disposable underwear and socks, and a portable water purifier that runs on 4 AA batteries. This company sells clothes and items to meet every travel situation. Their web site is travelsmith.com

Love Texas - at 16:35
I am still buying preps and I have run out of containers besides the 5 gal buckets what are you using to hold you bulk items as beans etc.?

03 August 2006

blackbird - at 01:42
Looking for fireplace bellows. I always blow myself lightheaded starting fires in the fireplace or grill.
Powdered cranberry to make cranberry juice (a staple around here). Real juice only keeps for a few months. Also looking for powdered grapefruit, without a lot of additives. Anyone have a link?

Melanie - at 01:53
Travelsmith is a reliable company, I've ordered from them in the past. Good luck with your preps!

Petticoat Junction - at 02:48
OKbirdwatcher - at 11:38 Just curious about this - Yesterday I bought a 12-pack of ramen noodles at Wal-Mart. After I got home, I noticed on the bar code sticker was printed the words "INVENTORY PREP". Can anyone explain?
They are getting ready to inventory the store, item by item. It's a total PITA (I've done it, though not with anything on that scale). There are entire companies like REGIS that only go around and inventory. I've noticed several stores here (WalMart and others) have had their pre-inventory tags up; it's just that time of year for many companies.

Kim - at 07:39
Blackbird, a good (and cheap) substitute for fireplace bellows is a plastic foot pump.
When stores are getting ready to inventory, they want their inventory to be as low as possible because they have to pay taxes on whatever they have in stock. That might be the reason that shelves are not being restocked quickly and they're out of things.

Slainte - at 07:46
Blackbrd-I'm from Wi. and got my fireplace bellows at FLEET FARM.

Hillbilly Bill - at 08:07
Love Texas - at 16:35
I left my dried beans in the original packages and packed them in 5 gallon buckets. I also left the rice I bought in the original 3lb package and put those inside ziplock freezer bags. Then I packed that into empty (and fastidiously washed) kitty litter buckets.

Hillbilly Bill - at 08:11
I received an email announcement about the sales items in the link below. I have no connection with the manufacturer, or the reseller of this product, other than the purchases I have made from them which have been satisfactory. I don't even know if this is a good price, but it seems like it to me.

Link http://www.inverters...

Green Mom - at 09:01
Hillbilly bill and firewood- Even though its hotter than blazes here-heat index 105 yesterday, we're ordering our propane for the winter. Aug. is when the rates are the lowest, plus with this particular company-Mammoth Propane, if you pay your bill in full at time of delivery, you get a 5% discount. We budget so much a month through the year and stick in savings to get the discount-every little bit helps you know!

Green Mom - at 09:10
My prep for today is cleaning out my daughter's bedroom. (Ugg) She is a brillant creative child-and can make a mess faster than any child I have ever seen. I'm afraid of what I might find- she has been know to keep various amphibians as pets! But I'm also hoping to recover several overdue library books, and personal items that have mysteriously disappared- I might also find some of my missing preps.

Hillbilly Bill - at 09:21
Green Mom - at 09:01
Same way with fuel oil here, you get a discount if you fill up in July or August.
I'll put my granddaughter's room against your daughter's room anyday. My GD has a habit of "assembling" boxes and bags of items (most of them household) for particular tasks. Then she loses interest in that project and the bags or boxes end up under her bed, at the bottom of her closet, or anywhere else she might decide to stuff them. When we ask her where the _________(insert anything missing) is, she has no idea.

OKbirdwatcher - at 09:23
Petticoat Junction at 02:48 -
Thanks for the info! I do remember seeing a shirt-and-tie-type guy with his notebook and calculator in the food section - just didn't make the connection.

Green Mom - at 09:37
HB- Thats exactly what my daughter does too! She has all these collections of things in various bags boxes ect, except the contents spill out and mingle with all the other stuff in her room.
I really hate to stiffle creativity but I would also hate for the health department to show up.
Over the summer I've been really slack about making my kids clean their rooms-Ive been busy, and they have too and I've just kind of let things go. Plus they have the upstairs to themselves and I didn't have to see the mess. The time has come, I suppose, to don the haz-mat suit and do what needs to be done?..

Hillbilly Bill - at 09:58
Green Mom - at 09:37
Let me know when you are "going in". If I don't see a post from you in a day or two I'll send help!

Eccles - at 10:51
Green Mom - You can have one of my Tyvec suits. It's supposed to fend off buglets and homuncules.

tjclaw1 - at 12:29
Green Mom and Hillbilly Bill - I totally relate. My 5yo is a slob! Can't walk into her room in the dark for fear of tripping over or stepping on one of her plastic horses. Then 2yo slides under-bed prep boxes out so she can use them as a step stool to get up on sissy's bed, and then I stub my toe on them. Daddy cleaned up the room earlier this week, which lasted, oh,? about an hour! My trick - she has 10 minutes to clean her room or everything on the floor goes in garbage bags (I have 6 Hefty Garbage bags full of toys in my basement). I can't be too hard on her though, because I know where she gets it - I was the same way as a kid, so I know she'll outgrow it or soon she won't have any toys to play with!

Kathy in FL - at 13:47
Green Mom - at 09:10
My prep for today is cleaning out my daughter's bedroom. (Ugg) She is a brillant creative child-and can make a mess faster than any child I have ever seen.
________________________________________
You haven't met my two year old. He just walks through a room and things fall out of place. My 7 and 10 year old girls aren't much better. I love `em to death, but I will be SOOOOOOO glad when they learn the concept of clean as you go. It would save all of us a great deal of aggravation.

Slainte - at 13:54
I'm on vacation this week; from my 7 day in a row job with lots of 12 hr. shifts and I sure could use a little help with my bedroom. After you all get warmed up in your kid's rooms.

AVanarts - at 13:56
Kathy in FL, Unfortunately, kids tend to learn "the concept of clean as you go" about the time they have kids of their own. LOL

Lily - at 13:57
Early this morning 2a.m realized I was either nip a bladder infection in the bud or end up in my doctors office. Trotted down to my preps and pulled out a big bottle of the cranberry juice mix (Don't care for it genereally, but put it in preps for this eventuality) Sure enough it took care of what had appeared so suddenly. I think its time to start using up old preps and replacing them with newer items. Stopped at a small table farm stand. farmers wife in a nice cotton dress, blond hair, stood arranging multi colored arrangements of zinnias. We had a comfortable time as there was a nice breeze under the farmhouse trees, and we had a pleasant chat as I chose my tomatoes and cukes. Her pin money comes from her garden.

Kathy in FL - at 14:04
How my prep test went for the month.
? food choices were good, though I will need to adjust choices based on weather. Even with air conditioning and fans, soups and stews may be more than we want duing a warm spell.
? I need to back off how much I'm cooking at any given time. Too many leftovers. Great if there is electricity and I don't feel like cooking a full meal ? bad if there is no electricity and no way to salvage a large load of leftovers.
? I'm tired ? I mean really tired. Getting up at 5:30 am and not getting in bed until midnight has pretty well wiped out my energy reserves. It hasn't all been about prepping ? running our business and the start of the school term has given me an extra load to carry ? but not being able to occasionally escape using fast food and quick junk out of the freezer has been hard.
? Also, trying to avoid those occasional runs to the grocery store just becauce I am in the habit of it has been more difficult to give up than I thought. I dislike shopping and have no idea, except as masochistic torture, that I want to go grocery shopping more than I actually need to.
? Water may not be the problem that I thought it was, though it will have to be rationed if the power goes off. By saving and using all the fluids from canned goods and fruits, supplementing with canned drinks and juices, canned gravies and sauces, and reducing the amount that I am cooking as well as watching cooking time just so that I'm not boiling water away, we will be better off than it would appear at first glance.
? I need to vary how I'm storing my preps but at the same time it is a lot easier to know that all of one thing or another is in the same spot. Haven't figured out a solution to this. I got tired of looking through all my preps when I was looking for something in particular. Space is best utilized by storing like items together. But time is sometimes wasted by having to search for a particular item. I'll probably have to stick with saving space and just prep for the next day's meals the evening before.
? Of all the people in the house, my husband will probably get picky first unless we can find him projects to occupy his time. He is a snacker when he is stressed. He was also very catered to while growing up and 20 years of marriage hasn't adjusted his thinking. I can see a potentially grouchy husband scenario on the horizon. Of all the folks in the house, he is also the one that consumes the most water/fluids.
? We are not coffee drinkers in this house, but I have found a can of caffienated soda and/or high-energy drink has been a welcome addition every few days when I was getting particularly bogged down with work. I'll probably also need to add ? though they are price prohibitive for a large family ? some good energy bars to the prep pantry.
We will probably be painting the exterior of the house next week. That will be a load off my mind. Its actually not the prep work so much as all the prepping that needs to be done. Gutter work, addressing long standing window issues, caulking, yard work that has been put off because it wasn't absolutely necessary like tree and bush trimming, etc. - that is going to knock a lot off my "to do" list.
Overall, its been a good experience and I've learned that things are both better and worse than I thought ? which is basically what the test was all about in the first place. Our strengths will help with our weaknesses and the weak areas are things we can work on.

Kathy in FL - at 14:15
And just as an aside ? especially for those of you who will have children in the house ? you may want to locate a list of old fashioned remedies (those that really work) for things like insect bites/stings and ingestions of inappropriate items.
Our two year old gave us a scare last week. He climbed up ? besides being part dragon he has now become part monkey ? to where I normally keep my cleaning supplies. Not even my 7 year old can get them without a step stool and usually she just asks for help. The old kids started screaming that he had opened something and was splashing it on himself and he was crying because he had gotten it in his eyes. Luckily it was just my vinegar and water cleaner ? but it could have been worse.
You don't have much time with stuff like that and having a plan a head of time will help. My 13 year old son had gotten to his baby brother first and run with him to the shower, stripped him and had the shower running on him before I could even shout directions. He learned it in Boy Scouts, but he said that he learned it from me before that ? and I can't remember specifically teaching them what to do in such an eventuality.
I plan on putting together a box to be kept close at hand of things that could be useful in such a situation.
Scared us all, though all's well that ends well.

Oremus - at 14:22
Monday, I washed out 42, 2-litre bottles and filled them with water. Have over 100 stored so far.

Kathy in FL - at 14:30
Oremus - at 14:22
Which reminds me, now that my official "prep test" is over I can start going back to the grocery store any time I want to. But I do want to start buying more drinks in 2 liter bottles.
How on earth did you rack up 42 of those things? I figure at most I'll be able to accumulate 5 a week and not go into diabetic shock or break the budget. LOL!

Oremus - at 14:49
My sister runs a Pump it Up franchise. If you're unfamiliar it has huge inflatable play equipment for kids parties. She saves me the empty 2 litres.

Melanie - at 15:14
I don't drink sodas. Is there another way to acquire these things?

I'm-workin'-on-it - at 15:21
LILY!!!! Have you not posted in awhile or have we just been visiting different threads?? I told my husband last night that I was missing the imagery of your writings.
Isn't that cranberry stuff wonderful?? Someone mentioned here once that there are cranberry pills - if you don't like the drink, maybe your health food store or a CVS (do they have the pills??) might have some that you can keep on your shelf!
Good to hear from you!

Oremus - at 15:21
Ask friends to save them for you. Fish them out of recycling bins. Places that host parties, probably throw out a lot.

I'm-workin'-on-it - at 15:22
Oh and Lily, glad you're well now ?.. and what is `pin money'??

I'm-workin'-on-it - at 15:27
Melanie, is there a day care near you? They might use the plastic bottles and be willing to save them for you.

Oremus - at 15:28
Melanie - at 15:14
Also join a freecycle group in your area if available. They list and ask for things people are throwing away anyway. It's a great way to slow the rate of growth of our landfills.
Freecycle Groups http://groups.yahoo....

Prepping Gal - at 18:05
I found that so funny "what's pin money?" I'll let Lily explain but I sure feel old now.

Green Mom - at 18:20
The dust monster slayer emerges triumphant from the Chamber of Horrors! Bwaa haa haa!
Ok-didn't find any missing preps, though evidence of prep consumption was dicovered-i.e. Pop-tart wrappers. I did find a very nice sleeping bag wadded up under the bed-don't know where that came from, plus various unknown t-shirts, socks, hats, stuffed animals etc. We have had lots of cousins and neices and nephews visit over the summer. I put all these in a big bag and will take it to a family gathering next week.
Filled a hefty bag of trash- the aforementioned food wrappers plus old notebooks, school worksheets, old valentines that were stuffed behind the desk etc remnants of a gazillion craft projects.
A bag of outgrown clothes-will go to the previously mentioned family gathering.
a good size box of books she no longer reads will go to the used bookstore to be swapped for more books. (I secretly went through these and pulled out books that I know she will wish she had kept like her "little house" books.
a box of puzzles, coloring books, activity books etc goes to a theraputic childrens center.
Another bag of toys and misc. items will be sacrificed to the Goodwill Gods.
A box of items that belong to other members of the family (i.e. her brother's Shonun Jump and Artimus Fowl books, her mothers favorite comb, and good scissors, four flashlights(?????) and her father's handsaw (I don't even want to know?.) has all ready been distrubuted, plus various dishes and utensils returned to the kitchen.
whew!

Lily - at 18:21
Women used to sell eggs, bake bread, just to get what was referred to as pin money.I assume hair pins, pins for sewing, all those little doo dads, that weren't in their reach otherwise. A bit of ribbon, something special like a soda for the children if they went into town. The little treats. Or for squirreling away in a jar somewhere for bad times.I think I'll google it up, my idea of pin money is just my own way of thinking. There is probably a better version.

blackbird - at 18:51
Thank you Kim and Slainte. Will check out both suggestions.
Today I got a shipment of flour, oats and other supplies from Walton in superpails for long term storgage. They were labeled on the outside of the box in felt-tip pen, so I guess the UPS folks will know where to come if they every get very, very hungry. :(

Melanie - at 18:56
Green Mom,
The good scissors? That's a death penalty offense where I live.

Eccles - at 19:23
Melanie- If I even APPROACH within a few feet of DW's good sewing scissors, I am threatened with immediate corporal punishment involving the removal of the offending hand. (Well, maybe I exaggerate a little).
But what harm does cutting sheet metal and stripping wires do anyhow. It's a tool, right? It's meant to be used, right?

Melanie - at 19:26
Eccles,
Rotflmao! I would have killed you.

Melanie - at 19:27
And a jury of women my age would have found me innocent.

Lily - at 19:32
My son once built a treehouse in the woods by the creek. Tools vanished, never to be seen again. In my house, scissors melt into nothingness. At one auction I bought a hugh box of scissors, not one remains. When I finally move I think there will be a great gathering of the scissors,. like the Highlander series. They will duel it out, and I'll leave with the triumphant scissor. Right now I have one that is a paper scissor cutter,. It can't be misplaced, its a foot long.

Average Concerned Mom - at 19:42
For the past 2 months on eo f my "preps" has been to practice living with less electricity. Specifically, our dryer broke and we were too lazy-broke-confused to repair it or fix it or replace it, so I just decided to live without it and hang laundry "like in the old days"?i.e. when we lived in an apartment 3 years ago and only had a washer. It's good for the environment, and good for the laundry, right?
So, I've been hanging laundry in the basement for 2 months, and honestly, it's no big deal; it;s going fine. I have a system. Also, it forcers me to not do so much laundry, if I have to look at each item as I hang it (on a clothes hanger) onto the clotehs line, I realize how many clothes I am washing, and I subconsciously cut back?.
Anyhow, three days ago our dishwasher also broke. (-:
So now I'm doing the dishes by hand again, as in the old days ago (3 years ago in the old apartment.)
So, I rearranged our kitchen so the kids could eat in there and keep me company while I washed the dishes. (The 4 year old helps, too.)
We'll see if I get the dishwasher repaired. But that's been my prep. At least we should save some money on electricity, I hope. (I wash very frugally, using 2 dishpans, in case you were wondering.)

Kim - at 21:43
Eccles, I am SHOCKED that you'd even think of going anywhere near the sewing scissors. My DH has a penchant for losing and abusing tools, but at least he knows that my scissors are completely off limits. Just as your wife did, I had to make a few minor threats to convey the seriousness of messing with them, but he apparently understands and has not touched them ;)

AVanarts - at 21:47
Back in my college days I conserved dryer energy by drying my clothes on a line out back until they were almost dry, then finished them in the dryer so they didn't have the wrinkles from drying slowly without tumbling.
Of course there were also other times when I washed my clothes in the bathtub and dried them on a line out back because I just didn't have the couple of bucks that it would have taken to wash them at the laundromat.
I must have been in my 40?s before I had my first dishwasher. Dang, I must be getting old.

Swann - at 22:39
LOL! Don't touch my scissors or my measuring stick.

OKbirdwatcher - at 22:41
AVanarts - I still conserve dryer energy but by doing the opposite. I partially dry things in the dryer, then hang on hangers to finish drying. Few, if any wrinkles :)

04 August 2006

Green Mom - at 08:27
I did say that my daughter had the good scissors. She is being allowed to live because she didn't touch, nobody does, my dressmakers shears. I've worked for years and years in costume shops-still do occasionally, where we refer to tools for cutting paper-i.e. patterns, craft paper, etc as scissors and for cutting fabrics as shears. I should have been more clear in my post-its just that my brain was still clogged with dust!
My husband understands this- tools, I mean not having dust-brain. he worked sometime as a carpenter and has, to my knowledge, at least seven different hammers. We're still working on teaching the kids. My son is venturing into computer. We bought him some Computer cleaning/repair tools and he's becoming respectful of his tools and those of others. My daughter is starting to ask for permission to borrow the tools, but she forgets to bring them back. (If she thinks I'm going to say "no" she "forgets" to ask permission.)
We're working on it!

Green Mom - at 08:35
Prep for today-
Since I have been cleaning out the house to make room for homeschooling, and we cleaned out both son's room (early in the week) and Daughter's room (yesterday) I have a car load of stuff to go to Goodwill, recycling,etc so I'm going to do that this am. (I'll also hit the day-old bread store and check out what the Godwill Gods have to offer) This afternoon, I'm hauling kids to the dentist, hopefully just cleaning and checkups. We are actually quite late doing this, but I wanted to get as close to flu season while still allowing for possible work (i.e. fillings) as I could.
Hope everyone has a great day and manages to cope with the heat. There are some rain clouds flirting with me this morning-Ive got my fingers crossed, but I'm not very hopeful?..

Hillbilly Bill - at 08:40
"Thall Shall Not Touch My Sewing Scissors" was long ago added to the other Ten Commandments in our house.

knowall - at 08:44
Average Concerned Mom - at 19:42 - I've been practicing using less electricity, too. I was amazed at how much my electric bills decreased when I reduced my use of the dishwasher and clothesdryer. I've been hanging my clothes to dry upstairs in my finished attic and they dry very quickly, even jeans (especially in this hot weather!).

Love Texas - at 08:50
We got our electric bill, after I got up off of the flour, I started turning out lights.When the temp is 107 the air-Cond. never stops!!!! Thanks for the info on the clothes dryer I will try it.

knowall - at 09:02
Love Texas - at 08:50 - I can do without my dishwasher and clothesdryer, but not my AC! I hope the pandemic doesn't happen during the summer . . .

Hillbilly Bill - at 09:04
Love Texas - at 08:50
You might want to invest in a Kill A Watt meter. It is astounding how much energy a lot of appliances use, sometimes even when you are not using them.
http://www.p3interna...

Average Concerned Mom - at 09:16
Gppd pont Hillbilly Bill - I suppose I should actually unplug my broken appliances if I'm not using them.
Note to everyone trying to stop using the dryer re: laundry management - what works for us is, skip the clothespins completely. Hang all clothes on hangers. When dry, move hangers to closet. Skip folding entirely.
If you have more clothes than you have space in your closet - you have too many clothes. (-: Sue dresser drawers for your preps.

Malachi - at 10:48
Spent a few days with my sister and her new baby?.Brought 3 boxes of diapers and wipes?Wish it could have been more?.I brought 4 frozen cassaroles and one freshly baked one as I knew her hubby would want us to go to China buffett.I gave up chinese the day I read about us here in MI having all that untested illegally imported poultry meat.eeewwwwwww???.

Lily - at 14:25
I used to get two wash days(consecutive days) when I lived in places in Switzerland. It sufficed. Here in the states when I used my washer and dryer I would toss things in just about every day (even if alone). Then my washer went on the fritz, and like other things I just let it go. Now and then I mosey over to the laundramat, have a good breakfast at a low end cafe, (good hash browns and coffee) while the wash washes, and while it drys I read the paper. Sometimes its as rare as once a month. I have a lot of underwear. Saves electricity and runs me about 6 to 8$ and it saves a lot of time. Have a lot of blue jeans too. Usually I don't overdry anything, just sitting in a hot car dries it, or put the jeans out on the back stairs till dried. I feel I'm conserving everything, electricity, water, not so much tide or bleach in the sewers. I look as clean and crisp every day as I did when I washed clothes constantly. We are used to so many things that are actually not needed. For a family, of course a washer and dryer are a godsend. The older I get, the closer I seem to get to my roots, a simpler time, an easy pace, a tranquil way of living.

I'm-workin'-on-it - at 19:18
Well, I've got to toot my own horn?..I'm an avid pack rat & so is my husband to a lesser degree - I tend to save too MUCH stuff, he tends to take stuff & make a "new" place to put it, which happens to be just whereever he sets it down when he's through with it. Our guestroom had become an office/guestroom several years ago (not a neat one) & then it became an office/guestroom/exercise room (we're talking a space about 14?x12?! Anyway, the whole room was crowded, then I started adding in every other thing that didn't have a home?..which was a LOT of stuff.
My attic is full of ebay stuff I sell?or want to sell?.and my pantry is up there (a climate controlled area) and I've been reorganizing it since I moved some stuff down to underneath the foyer stairs, which is another area we cleaned out to store preps.
My guest bathroom tub had a board covering it & 3 cat crates (it's our `safe' room during storms) and about 9 big bundles of paper towels & 10 packages of toilet paper.
Sooooooo?..I gave my late mother's rocker chair to my sis in law first of this week, which made more room in the guestroom, I had DH move the exercise equipment up to the attic (yes, it's actually cool enough to use up there if you go up there veeeeeerrrrryyy early in the AM during summer or veeeeeeerrrryyy late in the winter.
The guestroom was finally big enough to actually set up the Aerobed again! That was a goal of mine, since if I have to have a sick room, that's it, & I didn't want to find myself having to move all that crap when sick.
Suddenly we got a call from family to see if they could stay overnight (first time in 3 years which is why I'd broken down the regular bed in the first place). I was READY FOR THEM!!!!
I also got our air mattress down from the attic & blew it up because it was the brother in law, who will stay in the guestroom, the daughter who was going to sleep on the air mattress in the living room, and then after a second phone call, we found out her friend was coming too, so she's going to sleep on the sofa.
So today, I took every piece of junk from EVERY room and put it in our master bedrooom - the prep supplies & pet crates went up to the attic for the time being & will end up back behind the shower curtain after guests leave, but right this very minute, the living room, the kitchen, the dining room, the guest bathroom and the guestroom are clean & straight & you can navigate easily in any room. Our bedroom & bath are NOT clean, but with the progress I've made today?..including a trip to buy ANOTHER inflatable bed (this time a raised one) because the air mattress wouldn't stay inflated, I've made tremendous progress & know of some other places where I can store some more preps!!! Later I found out that I think the plug for the air mattress just came loose & it's probably OK, but I got a newer better bed out of that mistake - just don't tell my DH!!!
I'm sighing with relief that I pushed myself and was able to turn our home back into a home rather than a huge supply closet!!
Sometimes prepping doesn't involve ANY beans or rice!

Melanie - at 19:22
I'm workin',
Sometimes real life intrudes and reminds us of the real priorities.

Kathy in FL - at 19:29
We are pressure washing the house tomorrow and hopefully will finish prepping all of the small repair projects this weekend so that next week we can begin painting the exterior of the house. House hasn't been painted in 10 years and there are places that are really needing it. That bit of work will be a load off my mind.
At the same time we will be reorganizing all of the outside stuff ? such as lanai, front porch, and anything that needs to go in the shed.
As an added bonus since we are painting already, we will repaint the cool deck around the pool ? which hasn't seen new paint in probably 15+ years, before we bought the place anyway.
Lots of work to look forward to.

05 August 2006

Lisa in Southern Maine - at 12:28
Kathy in Fl - I want to thank you for all of your help in relation to meals and sip. Your months experience and the time you took to document it here is appreciated and so very helpful. Thanks again, for taking something unknown and breaking it down into steps/plans/days/weeks. Lots of work that benefits anyone who followed your month as I did every day.

OKbirdwatcher - at 13:03
Lily at 14:25 -
"The older I get, the closer I seem to get to my roots, a simpler time, an easy pace, a tranquil way of living."
hear! hear! I'm trying to get there too :)

lohrewok - at 17:40
Anybody here ever do dumpster diving? In our college town during the moving weekends (end of May, start of August) there are so many things dumped by the students. I have found furniture-which I love to paint/refinish and then resell. But my latest find was 6 milk crates. These are working out great in my storeroom for storage of preps. Very sturdy and can easily be moved. Great for canned items. If you run across any, grab'em.

Love Texas - at 18:12
I found an antique armoire in town fell in love with it and bought it a great price and it was delivered today. After my husband and the man got it into my quest room and the man left I looked at it and said food storage!!!!!!! So now I have a new place to store stuff---------What fun!!! Sure could use another one! I think this means another trip to town!

Texas Rose - at 19:23
The husband and the offspring learned very early to not touch my good sewing shears and sharps without my permission. If they want to use scissors, I have generously provided three pairs for household use. Just do not touch my tools.
Why does using an apostrophe cause a wiki search box to pop up? It has happened every time I have attempted to use a contraction in this thread(which explains the stilted posting).

Melanie - at 19:27
TR,
It changes the way the software reads the title. Post threads minus any punctuation marks.

Eccles - at 20:00
Love texas- if you want to cut down on the power bills, I would suggest you stop using old fashioned incandescent lightbulbs and start using COmpact Fluorescent bulbs. The way they label the packaging is confusing, since some manufacturers label them as though they were 60 or 75 or 100 watt lamps, when in actuality they are 15, 18,or 22 watt lamps.
A quick lesson. The power consumed by a lamp, whether it be incandescent or Compact fluorescent ends up in the room in the form of heat. The lower the number of watts consumed, then the less heat that is deposited in your room that you then have to pay the AC to blow back out again.
Think of it this way. Look around at night. Suppose you see a total of 4 60 watt and 4 100 watt lamps burning in the downstairs while people are active. That is the equivalent of 640 watts of heat being dumped into your room. About like a small space heater. You wouldn't dream of running a space heater in summer, would you?
Here is a Mantra to learn and repeat incessantly. Watts is what I pay for. Lumens is what I get. read the label of a lightbulb package. it specifies power consumed (and radiated as heat) in watts, and light output as lumens. The fewer the watts you consume for the same number of lumens, the cheaper the lamp is to run, and the cheaper the AC bill will be to remove that waste heat from the house.
True story. We live in an all electric house. Everything is electric. Lights, heat, AC, water heater, well pump. Everything. We air condition it much cooler than normal folks. We have over 3000 Square feet. And our electric bill for July just got here. $240. I think that's pretty good. Winter is about the same, including heating the house with electricity.
The more you learn, the more you can cheat the power company out of its profits.
here is a thought experiment for you to do. The power company distributes pamphlets to teach you how to save energy. What;s in it for them? they make their money by selling you electricity. There are ricks out there your mother (and your power company) never taught you. Stick with us kid, we'll teach you some good'uns. But stat with Compact Fluorescent lamps.

Eccles - at 20:01
And a note to the Prep Lady's Sewing Circle-
I never actually used my DW's sewing scissors for those purposes. I just threaten to. So y'all can put those pitch forks and torches down now. OK?

Texas Rose - at 20:39
Thanks for the info, Melanie@1927.
Eccles@2001: Pitch forks and torches? Please. We wield seam rippers and rotary cutters.:D

Green Mom - at 21:14
The compact florescents ARE great. Another trick is to shut everything down as much as possible at night-example UNPLUG applances like tvs and computers-they will continue to draw power even when switched off. We found these great little LED glowlights at Lowes that we plug in critical areas of out house-top, bottom and landing of the stairs, in frount of the bathroom, kids rooms etc. they give off plenty of light, yet remain cool to touch and use very little power-something like seven cents of electricity a year. That way we don't have to leave any lights burning at night.

Green Mom - at 21:34
Prep for today concerned Homeland Security.
DH and son constructed a spud gun. For those of you not familiar with a spud gun,(and I was blissfully in those ranks until a very short time ago) it is Basically constructed out of two lengths of PVC pipe, a sparker and a can of hair spray. This weapon will propel ammunition of a vegtable variety an astonishing distance, produce a thunderous boom, terrify any domestic animals that might be lurking around and cause everybody else to FOTFLTAO. We had rather too much fun firing produce that was, shall we say, somewhat past its prime? Dh sent a potato some three hundred feet in the air. A rotten tomato didn't go nearly as far, but the sound it made when it hit the ground was way cool.
Of course this time of year, if we couldn't scare of an invading horde with the spud gun, we could just club them with the zucchini.
Well, if the spud gun dosn't

Average Concerned Mom - at 21:41
Eccles-
By all means let us know when it is time for Lesson 2 in how to avoid paying too much to our electric company! Fluorescent bulbs are all in. Unused appliances have been unplugged. (Wait, was that lesson 2?) Anything to save a little money for more preps. (Or in my case, paying off old debts.)

Green Mom - at 21:51
Oops sorry about the end of that last post- I meant to say; IF the spud gun dosn't work out, a pumpkin catapualt is next in the works.

lauraB - at 21:54
Green mom - that sounds like so much fun. My kids (and dh) would love that! Good way to scare someone, or at least gross them out with rotting veggies!

Eccles - at 22:00
OK
lesson 2.
For many this is already done, but if not, you should immediately switch to Low Flow shower heads. If you use electricity to heat water, this is a substantial bill reducer. With natural gass coming up rapidly, you folks with gas heaters need to do this too.
Here is why:
A high flow old fashioned shower head can flow up to ten gallons per minute. As a general rule of thumb, about half the water in a shower comes from the water heater. thus, you will be flowing about 5 gallons per minute.
Depending on your electric rates, it costs you about 1-2 cents per gallon to heat the water. So, at 5 gallons per minute, at even 1 cent per gallon (and its usually more), a 10 minute shower will cost you about half a buck. If you feel it appropriate to shower daily, that is about $180 per year in electric bills to heat the water for one household resident to shower. Got a couple of teenagers? Then Uh-Oh.
Same scenario, this time using a Low Flow shower head. Now you are using about 1-1/2 gallons of hot water per minute, so now you are spending 15 cents for the same shower, or about $55 per year. Thus a savings of $125 per year per resident, assuming you shower daily. And assuming you hold the shower to only 10 minutes. longer shower? higher savings.
This does not take into account the water and sewer charges that some of you are paying for the opportuity to flow water from the shower head, past your body and back down the drain.
Work the numbers. One of the unsung savers of utility bills is the low-flow shower head. And those of you who act like they did on that Seinfeld episode, you deserve the bills you get.

Hillbilly Bill - at 22:03
Spud guns are a lot of fun, but they are also powerful. I have heard reports of people putting a firm tater through a car windshield. There are dozens of different ways to construct such a gun with a variety of propellants. I live in WV, if you can blow something up or start a fire with it, we know all about it.

ozgirl - at 22:36
Hi just wanna add my 2 cents about the dryer issue, where I live in Australia hardly anyone uses a dryer, we all have what are called Hills Hoist clothes line (aussie invention) its a clothes line in the back garden on which we dry all our clothes sheets etc. My parents brought me a dryer when I had the children and I only use it very occassionaly maybe 3 times a year even in winter we dry outside in the non rainy patches (like right now) and at night if it raining we have an indoor clothes wire dryer we set up and they dry over night, when i did use the dryer for one season our electric bill went up about $50.00 for that 3 month period so it quickly stopped. Everything is more than double the cost of in USA except health insurance so we must save where we can. Cheers

06 August 2006

blackbird - at 01:58
Today I drove a distance to pick up some internet orders and check out various items `live' vs the teesny pictures on the internet. Purchases include: new sleeping bag; Mountain House freeze dried food and heater to try (freeze dried ICE CREAM??); canned items on 10 for one sale; finally found a 3qt metal can of EVOO, WUSTHOF knives; shears and sharpener - LOVE them; replacement drinking glasses for the ones the dishwasher etched to death; freeplay hand-crank flashight (one minute of cranking gives an hour of pretty good light, "no batteries or bulbs required, ever"); extra environmentally friendly fire extinguisher; 3% hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol on sale; Dr Scholl's moleskin plus sundry small other purchases. The place I went to was close to a fancy new mall w/ Valet parking so I spent some time deciding not to buy a bunch of new clothes and other items I don't need.
Now to find room for all this stuff.
Am I supposed to know what to do with freeze dried ice cream? There are no directions outside the bag, besides `ready to eat'. Are there directions inside? Do I add water?

Eccles - at 02:22
Freeze dried ice cream - just eat as it is. You'll see.

I'm-workin'-on-it - at 07:09
Melanie - at 19:22 I'm workin', Sometimes real life intrudes and reminds us of the real priorities.
Yeah, our reason for getting the other aerobed & rushing to get everything neatened up was to have the overnight guests who were also going to a memorial service the next morning - my husband went with his family to this service of his cousin's wife, then came to where I was out of state to our annual family reunion on my mother's side. My only remaining sibling of my mother's is from Idaho and is in his 80?s and his wife has Parkinson's & they were going to be traveling since June 15th to go to her family reunions in VA, to some Veteran's events in DC (in reverse order), then to TN for our family's event yesterday. Partway through this veeeeeerrrryyyy long trip for people in their 80?s, the lady who was looking after Aunt Dixie got homesick & wanted to go home so they had to arrange for that & then travel by themselves from DC to VA where my uncle got a UTI and the antibiotics they gave him at a doc in a box made him so sick he was throwing up even water for a week - how on earth he managed to take care of his wife and her increased needs for help and take care of himself too, was just unbelievable.
Plus, once they reached the cove (that's what we call an area where mountains' feet come together sorta), where he grew up, it started the process of most likely being the last time he'd ever be there. He was visibly tired, and sad at the same time, and the rest of us were painfully aware of how fragile they both had become in the year since we'd seen them, and he knew every sunrise in the Cove was so precious to his memories.
Anyway, not to get too sappy, I've had a hard time with what I'm calling residual grief of losing my last parent, and 2 of my elderly "children-cats" in the past year and with DH having been to a memorial I wanted to attend too, but couldn't due to my own family's event, as well as the saddness of watching my uncle say goodbye to his roots, and being worn out from rushing to clean the house, etc., I spent the entire trip home crying & talking to my DH about how I was feeling & whether he and I thought the dead come back to `visit' you (like my sister thinks) or whether they are so totally enraptured with being (what I believe) in the presence of God on a higher plane of understanding, that they are no longer worried with details of what goes on with us and don't come back to visit us, and whether it's the same with cats, etc.
I say that to show that it was a heavy, hard conversation - when you're more aware of your own mortality, these conversations take on a more serious, deep meaning. I was just barely able to talk sometimes because of the tears & the pain I was feeling. I know that I tend to be overly-sensitive emotionally, which doesn't help either, and after 2 hours of heavy conversation, I'd almost gone through a whole new box of Kleenex I'd put under the car seat!!!
So my prep for today???I need a bigger boat??of Kleenex. I probably need to stock as much Kleenex as toilet paper, if I'm going to possibly find my self in melancholy or devestatingly sad frames of mind or am going to be deathly sick from flu!! Gotta have more!!!
So we move forward one more step.

Mari - at 10:46
I've been stocking up on bandanas that I find at thrift stores. With my allergies, I use a lot of kleenex. If TSHTF, I'd rather save the kleenex for other things!

blackbird - at 11:02
inelegantly, I often use tp for kleenex, especially for bulk usage such as during colds. it costs less.

OKbirdwatcher - at 12:22
blackbird at 01:58 -
"?so I spent some time deciding not to buy a bunch of new clothes and other items I don't need."
That's the choice I've been making for months now and it's gone far in helping pay for preps. Priorities. As for the clothes and other items, I haven't missed them a bit. Tells me I had plenty already ;-)

Love Texas - at 15:02
Eccles---thanks for the hints, I have been using the FB for a while-but I need to check into the low flow shower head---we are restricked to our water usage now(drought) and it is not getting any better. The lake we get our water from is down 18 feet now and we have not had rain in 6 weeks and it is hot very hot. Our population is 105 thousand so it is going fast. We need to do all we can. Well the armoire holds all of my freeze dried and dehyrated foods and all of my back TP. I think it will also hold my paper towels. I would have never thought I would get so excite over storage space!!!! My how life changes!

blackbird - at 15:09
Mari - at 10:46 Say more about your bandana plan. Do you plan to wash them out (and avoid germs), when would you use one vs the kleenex saved for other uses?

blackbird - at 15:11
OKbirdwatcher - at 12:22 Exactly. It was fun looking for a little while, then deciding I didn't need `em.

Thordawggy - at 15:53
Regarding pin money. My mom had her pin money for emergencies and to keep it safe from theft. They keep it in a little pouch `pinned' inside the clothing or around your neck on a string. She lived through WWII in England and that was one thing people did. I have something similar. It is a little travel pouch with a few pockets but very thing. I wear it around my neck and it holds cash, a spare house key, and my credit/debit cards, emergency phone numbers etc. I am always afraid of getting ripped off on the bus or train, so this works well. Or, if you get separated from your BOB in other ways. My German Jewish grandma used to always have hers pinned under her apron that she always wore. She always said, "never use it unless you have too. It is for emergencies".

blackbird - at 20:12
Question regarding preps:
DH's base food group is bread, which doesn't store well. Same with regular crackers, the shelf life isn't years as with my other preps. What are y'all planning for bread in SIP? Baking is an obvious answer, are there other suggestions out there? I'd prefer to prep to have multiple choices, so > 1 solution is best (especially ones that are easier than *having* to bake - I enjoy it, but if I'm sick - with anything, not necessarily BF)I know I won't feel like it).
I've ordered a can of brown bread, as an experiment.

Mari - at 22:04
blackbird - at 15:09 - If I'm SIP and don't feel sick (but have a runny nose), I'd use the bandana to blow my nose and save the kleenex & TP. I'd wash the bandana along with my clothes. If I suspected I was coming down with an illness, I'd switch to the kleenex or TP and also wash or disinfect hands more often. Some guys regularly use handkerchiefs - this is my way to do the same thing but with pretty colors!

NauticalMan - at 22:06
blackbird
Being from New England, brown bread was a staple ingredient growing up, along w/Boston baked beans (still have the old family beanpot, it's probably over a hundred years old). Thought about buying some myself, it is available in every supermarket here, only problem is it is rather high in sodium and usually contains milk and we are slightly and very lactose intolerant! High on my list of preps not yet obtained are a bread machine and flour. Way back someone recommended Ak Mak crackers from Trader Joes, great product, but shelf life is only about four months (no preservatives)and they are so tasty I can not keep them long enough to rotate. Ordered some of the worlds best chocolate, at least IMHO, plan on hiding some of it as it seems to have a tendency to evaporate. Also bought a bottle of my favorite Single Malt Flu Killer, but opened it so a guest could try it, so once opened that also evaporates so back to buy another! One more order of FD items and hopefully a couple of boxes more MRE's. No matter how many things I prep, there always seem to be a few more things we need. That last 5% or so of preps is very elusive?

Flu Prep 14 (XIV)

Bronco Bill — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 13:59:45 GMT

From Flu Wiki 2
Forum: Flu Prep XIV
07 August 2006
Bronco Bill – at 17:12
Yep…we’re up to Fourteen now…
________________________________________
Eccles – at 15:39
Kathy in Fla. - One question that may help you save some energy money. Are all of your lamp shades white and translucent? or do you have darkly colored lamp shades?
Kathy in FL – at 18:12
Eccles – at 15:39
We use flourescent bulbs in light colored shades. I rarely use regular bulbs anymore … don’t even have them in our ceiling fans. Besides using up more electric … they are just plain hot.
We run our ceiling fans to ease up on the ac usage. We also have ceramic tile on the floor in all the living space, except bedrooms. Pain to clean, but does keep it cooler. I put down rugs on the tile in winter to do the opposite.
My big culprits are my dryer, the ac, the well pump, the pool pump, hot water tank, and the dishwasher. Dishwasher solved by going to washing by hand except for one load per day. Well pump I really can’t control … we did get a larger bladder last year which has helped some. Pool pump is only used about 1/2 the year on a regular basis … we close the pool about October and don’t open it until April or May … but when that sucker is in use it can eat a lot of power. Hot water tank we can’t turn down or the bathroom on the other side of the house wouldn’t get hot water.
That leaves the dryer and the ac. We have a two unit system because of the size of the house … we turn one off during the day and close those two rooms off. The other unit is set at 78 or 79 at all times.
I’m hoping that the clothes line helps with that problem.
Just not a lot you can do with a family of 7 … that’s a lot of laundry, water, cooking, cleaning, etc.
Eccles – at 19:15
Well, one of the bug hitters for your utility bill that you might get a handle on is hot water usage. Try to keep from doing things like running continuous water while washing dishes (We got a neat little aerator that reduces flow, puts out two kinds of spray, and has a little lever thing on it to let you shut the water at the end of the faucet and only run when exactly needed but it stays adjusted).
Its old news to repair sink drips, but they really do add up. Warm water was and cold water rinse.
Close blinds and drapes to keep all sky light out during hot days
Beyond that, we need to talk some more
Bronco Bill – at 21:00
Kathy in FL – at 18:12 --- I’ve found that my utility bill has dropped by about $150 a month by setting my thermostat at 85 during the day. I’m not home anyway, but I do have three cats, and if not for the A/C, they would cook in the house with outside temps up into the 100+ range. And a change from being outside in 100 degree heat to walking into a house at 85 degrees? Nice and cool…
Of course, I don’t have the humidity in FresNo that you do in FL either…in fact, yesterday was really muggy. Somewhere up around 23% humidity here. ;-) But that’ll change once I get to VA!!
08 August 2006
analyst4mkts – at 10:35
I’m looking for some “nutty” advice! I have a number of large Hickory trees and I’m wondering if it worthwhile to attempt to harvest and store some of the nuts before the squirrels make off with them.
Do hickory nuts taste any good?…I never see them for sale anywhere.
When and how do I collect, shuck, and preserve them.
Is it worth the effort?
Kim – at 10:40
analyst4mkts, it all depends on what kind of hickories they are. Here’s some info to get you started.
http://www.cas.vande...
Hillbilly Bill – at 10:42
Do hickory nuts taste any good?… Yes if you are a squirrel.
Is it worth the effort? IMO, no.
Seriously, I have black walnut trees and chestnut trees on my property and have found that neither of these are worth the trouble. Of course I’m sure some will disagree, but when I can buy cans of mixed nuts and cashews at Aldi’s for $1.39, I can’t see spending hours of labor to get a handful of nuts that may be wormy if the trees have not been sprayed.
Kathy in FL – at 10:44
analyst4mkts – at 10:35
Hickory Nuts are wonderful!!!!! But they are a pain in the butt to crack. A common method is to dig a shallow trench about as wide as your tire and lay a piece of cardboard on the bottom. Fill the trench with your nuts. Then drive over said nuts.
I’m not kidding. That’s the way my grandparents used to do it. You won’t find hickory nuts except in a gourmet shop because of this. Pecans are just easier, but hickory nuts are just … well they just have something about them. And hickory nut pies and cakes are scrumpdillyicious!
I believe the Foxfire books have a good section on hickory nuts. You could also try looking on line. You store them the same way you would any nut. In the shell you can hang them up in a burlap, or similar, bag to keep a air flow about them. After you shelf them the nutmeats will go rancid unless kept in the fridge or freezer. In other words, store them the same way you would walnuts and pecans.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 11:08
Soooooooo………how long do pecans last outside of the freezer? Like if I found some from last year (or year before, I can’t remember) and they were bought in bags, shelled, whole, ‘recon they’re still good??
OKbirdwatcher – at 11:48
I’m workin’ -
Doubt it. My family harvests a lot of pecans from their own trees. The nutmeats go promptly into the freezer and never see the light of day until time to use them.
Kathy in FL – at 11:52
I’m with OKbirdwatcher. Nutmeats have oils in them. Oil goes rancid.
I don’t think the nuts would kill you but they would taste fairly hideous. Double check for safety though.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 12:05
That’s what I figured about the pecans, but it’s like almost wanting to hold a funeral for them as I discard them, they’re so precious — life just got in the way of me using them.
Kathy in FL – at 12:14
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 12:05
Throw ‘em to the squirrels or racoons or ‘possums or other varmint in your area. You’ll know soon enough just how “bad” the bad was. If not even the critters will touch them …. that’s nasty bad.
Lily – at 12:46
Black walnuts stain things black, but they are good. If you are starving you’d gather them up and use the car methods to get them cracked. I have three big ones. The wood is also valuable harvested, so try and sell it if the trees come down.They aren’t a very attractive tree, last to get leaves in the spring, first to lose them in the fall, bt when the squirrels do courtship rituals and scamper up and down across and around it is an entertainment. Time to start swimming and walking. Injured shoulder(butsitis) so am having physical therapy, injured foot so wasn’t walking and it is amazing how quickly a few pounds accumulate without exercise. Not buying any water until shoulder is back to normal. What I have been doing is buying frozen new foods and trying them out. With coupons as enticements. How they sell a second at full price is beyond me. My husband flatly refused frozen food except for Stouffers macaroni and cheese. Sorry to say I think he was right and a lot haven’t improved over the years. I am just going through the supermarkets experimenting. And stocking up a little if something is palatable.
Lily – at 12:51
Electric bills went down when I pulled plugs on a few things. Microwave when not in use, anything that has a light on it.
analyst4mkts – at 15:46
Amazing how quickly useful info comes back from the knowledge base on this forum!
Kim – at 10:40 Thanks for the insites and references on the nuts. I could possibly have one of the bitter varieties. I will have get leaves and nuts to compare to internet references to be sure (maybe taste a few).
Hillbilly Bill – at 10:42 Kathy in FL – at 10:44 Either way I look at it, it seems the critters love ‘em and probably can get the meat out easier than I. I may still give it a whirl…more for entertainment and educational project for my kids who are into scouting.
Tonight, my boys will be overnighting in the treehouse that spans between 3 hickory trees. When the squirrels are active, you need a helmet to protect against the “incoming” nuts. This is their first overnight without Dad, so any guesses when they acve and return to the house?
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 16:55
Well, my prep for today was to buy 1.9oz bottles of Texas Pete Hot Sauce at Winn Dixie 2/$1.00!! Great for my bug-out bag — gotta have something spicey on those MRE’s if I ever have to use ‘em.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 17:00
Correction…..make that our local Bruno’s, not Winn Dixie!
Nimbus – at 17:10
Found a very nice propane space heater on craigslist today for an excellent price. Last week we picked up some free 55 gallon food grade steel drums also from craigslist. I’ve been watching it like a hawk lately!
OKbirdwatcher – at 17:27
analyst4mkts at 15:46 -
~~Sooner~~ rather than ~~later~~ is my guess. Depends on their ages, maybe. Sounds like fun.
OKbirdwatcher – at 17:35
I’m-workin’ at 12:05 -
I understand. You have my sympathy. I *love* pecans; thus, they’re a highly protected and pampered item in my food supply. I would toss something less valued if I had to in order to make room in the freezer for my precious pecans:)
Lily – at 18:25
Analysts 4 mkt. Guess about when dusk falls and the mosquitos zero in, first on ankle, then arm, and so on. Nothing like the itch to get you back in the house to watch something on T.V. and get something cool to drink.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 21:32
Lily sounds like you’re having a peaceful night — ‘cept for the itching!
09 August 2006
analyst4mkts – at 09:57
The boys surprised me…they made it all night. Two 9 yr olds and one of their buddies slept peacefully after 3 group trips to the loo, 2 trips for supplies (popcorn, water and games), and 1 trip for the forgotten flashlight on previous loo trip. Luckily, the night couldn’t have been better with cool dry air (low 60s) and little activity with biting insects. There are about a dozen mosquito magnets in the hood and a healty population of bats so that helps.
I haven’t begun to explain anything about panflu to the kids yet…it is not a burden that nine yr olds should shoulder. I want them to enjoy the innocent fun of youth right now. I am trying to educate them in skill sets that will be useful in a pandemic or even life in general…things like preparing meals, hygiene, laundry, first aid, etc.
Gary – at 15:50
With the comments about nuts and all, I guess this is the right thread to bring up all the free food kind of “hiding in plain sight”. There are lots of ignored apple trees in my area. Yep, they are tiny and buggy, but when cut, culled and run thru the pressure cooker, they make good apple sauce. We’ve got 45 pints in the freezer at this point and maybe 20? 40? more on the tree. The woods produce blackberries in the early summer. As previously mentioned, black walnut trees grudgingly yield black walnuts. Every spring, the first thing up in our lawn is the wild “onions” (really garlic). The neighbor has a pear tree dripping with pears that will likely be left to rot. Mulberry trees produce about the same time as the black raspberries (they come before the blackberries). There are intire Indian tribes that subsisted on acorns. It is worthwile to get a book on edible wild plants and peruse it. It is one of the most long lasting of preps.
OKbirdwatcher – at 17:56
Gary - During my childhood it was a ritual every spring to gather wild “onions”. My mother would chop them, then boil for a short time and then add them to scrambled eggs. Delicious!
In our neck of the woods there is a wild fruit called a paw-paw that is pretty tasty. We have persimmons too.
Pat in AZ – at 18:19
Rosemary grows like a weed here, and pomegranate trees are all over the place. I put a rosemary plant in my herb garden and the little neighborhood girls were grossed out — “eew, you put that in your garden??”
I love pomegranates.
So today I mounted and used, for the first time, my Country Living Grain Mill and Home Workout Center. Eating the bread might just even out the calories I burn grinding and kneading.
Jane – at 18:57
The hickory nuts I could find as a kid were delicious. It was a lot of work to get them out of the shell-we used sewing needles- but the taste was worth it. Just think of it as entertainment rather than nourishment, unless you are disciplined enough not to eat as you go.
AVanarts – at 20:21
Pat in AZ – at 18:19
Yeah, sure takes a lot of work to grind whole wheat. I tried some rolled oats a while back, and they were very easy to make into oat flour. It kinda made me wonder if something could be done to roll or crack wheat to make it easier to grind. In fact I was thinking of buying some cracked wheat just to try. Maybe someone with some experience along this line can chime in now. There has to be an easier (no power) way to make wheat into flour than hand cranking whole wheat.
Melanie – at 20:30
Cracked wheat for sale. No recommendation implied.
Pat in AZ – at 20:32
AVanarts, I’m just putting it down to exercise that I need anyway. But clearly if someone is ill or had little strength, this would not be practical.
I wonder if the “soft” wheats are actually physically softer and would be easier to grind — though I understand hard wheat is recommended for bread.
AVanarts – at 21:13
I was using soft white when I tried. I also have a bunch of hard red which I didn’t want to experiment with.
Generally, the hard red us prefered for bread due to the higher protein content. The soft white is used for pastry flour, although I know people who make bread with it.
When I was in Southern Oregon, a friend of mine knew a farmer who was about to harvest a field of soft white and he made a deal for us to buy direct from the farmer for the same price he would get selling to a bulk buyer. We showed up with our pickups and a stack of burlap bags. I bought two tons and sold a ton and a half of it at just enough of a profit to pay for the half ton I kept.
Pat in AZ – at 21:20
Somehow the idea of hand grinding half a ton of wheat makes me feel tired.
AVanarts – at 22:06
Me too. That’s why I’d like to find an easier way. I’ve even dreamed of finding a way to hook the thing to an excercise bike so at least I can “leg grind” it, so to speak. I have a feeling that the key will probably be to find a way to roll it and get the grains broken down before putting it into the grinder though.
Pat in AZ – at 22:17
Country Living has some pictures of grinders set up with bicycles.
10 August 2006
Bump - Bronco Bill – at 01:16
blackbird – at 02:06
Thanks for all of the help and links on breadmaking in the previous installment (prep 13). I experienced somewhat of a meltdown in the past few days (for no concrete reason I can point to) and am just getting back to replying. It pretty much bypassed my brain and went right to a visceral reaction. Better now. :)
AnnieB – at 02:55
Not sure if this is the right thread for this but here goes anyway …
I have put bells on the collars of my cats so they cannot catch birds. When they last lost their bells I neglected replacing them but I have donne so now. I hope this will lower the chances of them becoming infected from birds should the virus make its way here that way. I look upon it as a form of social distancing for the cats :-)
heddiecalifornia – at 03:00
AnnieB — Won’t work if the birds are dead. Seems like the tigers in the Thai zoo that got it were feed dead chickens. I am thinking I should get a muzzle for my dog — do they make cat muzzles?
Strider – at 07:41
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 11:08
Soooooooo………how long do pecans last outside of the freezer? Like if I found some from last year (or year before, I can’t remember) and they were bought in bags, shelled, whole, ‘recon they’re still good??
I have several bucket loads of pecans on the back porch from last years crop. My dogs grab them when they come in from outside (they think they are candy). No drop off of their interest due to age (the nuts, not the dogs.) When I get home from work I’ll get the sledge out and crack a few and do a taste test and let you know.
My pecan trees (6 huge ones) surround the house, and it looks like a huge new crop will soon be dropping. With all these nuts around me, maybe I’m going nuts from association?
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 07:59
Melanie,
back in #9 thread, you’d asked for a link on the Hormel/Dinty Moore shelf-stable meals I keep on hand in bulk…someone posted a link, but there is no link to the individual meals there. What I did find was a picture of one of the meal packets; it’s the oval one to the right of the canned goods — that’s what you should look for, and be aware that the Dinty Moore ones have DM written on the sleeve covering the oval bowl, the others have Hormel on them. All of them are oval!!
http://tinyurl.com/m...
Thom – at 08:11
I’m-Working-on-it: Can you please tell me what the shelf life is on the Dinty Moore shelf stable meals is?
Chesapeake – at 08:14
I just bought some Hormel Teriyaki Chicken w/rice shelf stable meal, it has an expiration date of 11/09/07
Thom – at 08:16
Chesapeake - Thanks much - looks like I will be making a little shopping trip.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 08:33
Thom, Cesapeake is probably about right……..I WILL tell you that I buy some every time I go to the grocery because my husband is addicted to these things. They’ve gotten me through work Saturdays when there wasn’t time to cook, grief periods when I just didn’t want to bother eating much less cooking, and husband’s meals to take to work when I ran out of left overs! They have a Southwestern Beans that is (as far as I know meatless) in their entrees too. What I like most about them is that they are covered with a THICK white seal — not a thin see-through film. That means that, in a pinch, you can drop the whole container in a pot of boiling water using a little Sterno stove for the least amount of fuel usage, leave it for awhile, fish it back out with tongs, peel back the white film, and have a hot meal WITHOUT the microwave.
I’m heading up to the pantry now….I’ll check several and let you know so you’ll have an overall idea!
Average Concerned Mom – at 08:41
I will report the Dinty Moore Rice-n-Chicken meal is one food my picky eating 4 year old will eat in non-survival, non-hungry situations. He’ll even eat it cold! (-:
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 09:40
Thom, I checked my pantry (currently have 86 of the rascals) and the fartherest out expiration date I have is 12/07. I don’t check for long dates when I buy though because I know we’ll go through them rapidly!
Thom – at 10:19
I’m-Working… & all - Again, Thanks much - This is just one GREAT group…
analyst4mkts – at 10:25
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 07:59
This link will give a list of all the “oval” Hormel products you were discussing. They are listed as microwave trays under Hormel.
http://tinyurl.com/l...
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 10:47
Hey, analyst4mkts, that’s GREAT! I even found one there I didn’t know existed — Au Gratin Potatoes with CURE 81 Ham. I’ll have to hunt for it.
I should tell everyone that my brother called me one day, after having been sick & I had taken some of these things over for him and my SIL, who has MS and doesn’t cook a lot, to get by on if they felt like eating at least something while he recovered. Anyway, he called me the next day to tell me that the Turkey and Dressing one was the BEST turkey he’d ever eaten in his life (keep in mind he had been sick). His wife, how had spent years cooking a turkey every Thanksgiving was sooooooo thrilled to hear this exclamation of the wonders of Hormel Turkey dinners, that she swore that this coming Thanksgiving that’s what he’s getting for his holiday meal!
analyst4mkts – at 11:07
I can’t say that I will vouch for the flavor and nutrient content of any of these, but I will say that kids tend to love ‘em. They tend to be high in fat and sodium and are fairly filling. One of the favorite quickie dinners for my kids (after a late game) is DM beef stew over white rice. I usually try to augment the stew with additional lower-carb veg such as green beans, carrots or diced tomatoes. During SIP, this will be a regular meal in our house.
I have only tried the canned product so far…I will give these micro dinners a try given endorsement regarding heat and eat with hot water. Water could also be recycled for washing up after dinner.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 11:14
Actually the water would most likely be suitable for cooking other products, whether they are ‘boil in the bag’ or loose veggies — at the least it could be used to steam fresh veggies from the garden!
Lily – at 12:49
When I go for physical therapy for bursitis (carrying water bottle) will stop and look for Dinty Moore products. Bought bounce for the mosquito repellent qualities, (never used it for clothes) and will put in a few sheets into the dryer with my jeans. Bought sea salt, pomograte and orange flavored teas, and real vanilla extract from the clearance shelves of T.J Maxx. I heard that vanilla will also repell insects. Will be checking the shelves for more bargain high end items. I like luxury and quality, just don’t like paying top dollar for anything. A chintzy streak I share with a lot of women of my generation.
MAinVA – at 15:33
I haven’t tried any of the DM redi-to-eat packages yet; however wanted to mention that I have seen them at the Dollar Store in our area. May now pick up a few for the I’m-too-sick-to-cook emergency box.
OKbirdwatcher – at 15:53
Tried the Dinty Moore shelf stable Beef Stew the other evening when DH was out of town. I thought it was pretty tasty and filling. I tried to ignore the fat and salt content. Also bought the Hormel lasagna and chicken and rice but haven’t tried them yet. I could certainly eat these during any emergency situation with no problem. Plan to stock more.
anonymous – at 17:32
Posted this on another thread, thought I’d post it here too. got a 10% discount with Honeyville Grains today by using discount code AATW. Found it through a google search. I didn’t think it would work because it was from 2004 (Atkins All The Way), but it did.
Orlandopreppie – at 19:01
My prep was six five gallon food buckets from Sam’s bakery. DH picked them up…two were half full with frosting! The others were just really messy. I also learned that my supposed 40 gallon hot water heater really has about 20 gallons of hot water, and 20 of tepid, as I cleaned these out with hot water in a bath tub. I feel better having them, plan to use them to grown potatoes and to collect rainwater. Isn’t it odd how the little things can give such piece of mind? Does anybody have any other ideas for these buckets?
AVanarts – at 19:13
OK, folks, one note about plastic buckets.
I have around 2500 pounds of dry grains and legumes packed in “4 gallon” square plastic buckets. I always keep d-con in the storage space where I keep them. BUT, a couple of weeks ago, I looked on my stock and noticed a real mess, with what looked like either the remains of wheat or oats all over the place and also a lot of mouse poop.
Like a good trooper, I hauled everything out, cleaned up the buckets (did an updated inventory) and cleaned up the mess. What I found was a hole in one of the (now empty) wheat buckets. This hole was about 3/4 inch in diameter and almost perfectly round. In fact it looked like it had been drilled.
Moral of the story: Keep a close eye on anything you have in “chewable” containers and don’t rely on d-con alone to take care of the meeses.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 19:54
Orlandopreppie, uses for buckets……
step stool
storing shampoo, etc. (things that could get messy)
battery storage
art supplies
get a luggable lou toilet seat & connect the two for a portable potty
cat food/dog food storage
store tools to keep moisture from harming them
line with trash liner for a barf bucket for sick room
others?
Orlandopreppie – at 22:29
Thanks IWOI…the only one I hadn’t thought of yet was the barf bucket. Already have the toilet but want a second one for DH. I don’t want to share if one of us gets sick.
Jane – at 22:35
Water container, for tap water at the beginning of SIP or for catching/storing rain water caught by tarps. Or from downspouts, depending on your type of roof.
Melanie – at 22:36
Contact the vet for likely drugs for your pets.
11 August 2006
Green Mom – at 08:53
I’ve been growing things in my buckets-I have some very nice peppers-both hot and sweet that are doing nicely in the buckets on the back porch. Ive also been using them to water the gardens-a five gallon bucket is really too heavy to carry but the 3 gallon is great.
I don’t know that I would store pet food in them-as mice really dig pet food. I keep my pet food in metal containers.
Lily- I also have bursitis and what I have found to really help is Omega Three oils-either the fish oil or the flax seed oil. I found some very reasonably priced at a Dollar General Store-they can be outragous at other types of stores. It takes a few days to start working-unlike ibuprophen which works pretty much right away. Hope you feel better.
Thanks all on tips about storable dinners-I think I’ll try some.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 09:03
Orlandopreppie, uses for buckets……
I thought of another one!
As you begin to use water, you’ll want to recycle as much as you can. For instance, if you use a boil in the bag (or bowl) type meal you can reuse the water you boiled again and again for the same type thing before you’re done with that amount of water. So you need a container to store it in, one marked “Kitchen Reusable Water” for instance. Once you don’t think it’s OK to cook with it anymore, it still may be clean enough to mix with Clorox & put in a spray bottle, etc..
Rotate your water usage down and down until you put it into your final bucket — “Flush Water”. I need some more buckets myself!
Kathy in FL – at 15:42
Orlandopreppie …
My folks grow a lot of their veggies in 5 gallon buckets they find on the side of the road.
The dirt on my parents 5 acres is really bad. When they moved in it was pure “sugar sand” and covered over with Live and Black Jack oaks and little else … well, deer moss too.
For 10 years they’ve been amending the soil, etc. to have 2 garden plots. The problem is that all the oaks surrounding them suck the nutrients out just about as fast as they can put them in.
So they make their own soil mixture and use 5 gallon buckets to grow stuff in … tomatoes, okra, bush beans, peppers, etc., even small fruit trees until they are big enough to survive against the oaks.
You can grow potatoes in garbage bags filled with soil … just make sure the soil doesn’t get saturated or you’ll get stuck with rot.
anonymous – at 16:25
An order for Zatarain’s seafood mixes arrived from Amazon today. The box is sealed with bule tape and stamped across the blue tape several times is, “SDF1 DON’T OPEN”. Does anyone know the meaning of this?
NauticalMan – at 17:51
anonymous at 16:25
Tried one of the Zatarain’s mixes, very tasty, but so much sodium my head almost exploded! Why do they have to put such outrageous amounts of salt in so many items? Try some of the Trader Joe preparted rice, much lower in sodium…
Orlandopreppie – at 21:29
Kathy in FL, would it be a good idea to drill a couple of holes in the bottom for drainage in the buckets I use for veggies?
IWOI, what an EXCELLENT idea about the buckets for kitchen. I’ll definately implement. I can see that I might want to go ahead and get another 7 to 10.
anonymouse, I’ve got no idea what that blue tape is about. Does it look like the carrier put it on or the packager? If it’s carrier, contact them. Otherwise, I’d be calling Amazon.
Kathy in FL – at 22:00
Orlandopreppie – at 21:29
I think they may put one hole in the center of the buckets they use … something that is easy to repair if they want to use the bucket for something else.
They put drainage material … such as gravel … in the bottom of the bucket before adding the soil mixture.
12 August 2006
Jefiner – at 00:28
Zatarain’s rocks! I love the jambalya and red rice and beans in the “sixty second microwave packs”.
Today I found a portable (read free standing on wheels), 10k BTU/hour 110 v. air conditioner at Big Lots. We are using it to cool the garage (seriously—my husband putters out there, and I have lost some preps already to the AZ heat), but in a pinch we could run it off the genny for some much needed cooling.
MAinVA – at 00:53
Anonymous @16:25. I’ve received several orders from Amazon Grocery. I’ve figured out that the “don’t open” message is so that the clerks filling the orders do not open the boxes, which are sold as a set, and take out items. We are buying in bulk — whatever the amount in the box is: 6 items, 8 cans, etc.
witness – at 01:18
Just read about a great tip to deter mice. They avoid mint. So-I’m off to the store for some mint teabags to place all around my food stores. Hope it works.
EnoughAlready – at 02:53
I guess I am just sick of thinking of food, or something. Lately, I have found myself stocking up on books. And no rinse bathing stuff.
LauraB – at 06:35
Another great mouse deterent - steel wool. They chew on it and it cuts their mouths and they stay away. Good if they’ve started a hole in a wall.
Green Mom – at 08:45
Witness- I hope your teabags work-I’d like to hear about it, but I’ve heard the same tip and I havn’t found the mint deters them. I used mint leaves, maybe the smell wasn’t concentrated enough.
For gardening in buckets-I don’t put any holes in my buckets-most of the time the problem of growing plants in buckets is that they dry out too fast. I do put gravel in the bottom, to act as a resivour, and to keep roots from getting waterlogged. I have also had great success using styrofoam packing peanuts in the bottom of growing containers-its really good if weight is a problem-i.e. buckets on a deck or balcony.
Enough Already- I think I know what you mean. I get tired thinking about stocking up on different things. I’ll work on meds, or plants or homeschool supplies of something else for a while. It gets overwhelming, and I don’t know, kind of depressing or something thinking about buying all that food, and trying to find a place for it, and worring if youve bought the right thing, or enough, or if its going to keep. Even when I’m in one of my “off” moods, I’ll still try to pick up one or two extra things and put them away so when I swing back into full prep mode, I don’t feel devestated by the feeling of having lost ground by not prepping. I hope that makes sense. Sometimes I get really depresed by the whole flu thing. Still- “Todays prep” is my favorite thread!!!!
Eccles – at 09:06
Jefiner- Do you know, or can you read the data plate to find out, how much power that A/C uses. A 10K BTU unit sounds a little hefty to run on 110V, but if I could get my hands on an emergency A/C to keep DW and DS comfortable, even for an hour a day, it might be wirth it. Also, how much costs it?
Hillbilly Bill – at 09:26
I used my propane grill to bake biscuits for breakfast this morning. I put 4 fire brick on the grill to evenly distribute the heat and to keep open flames off the baking pan. The biscuits cooked in about the same time as in the stove, or would have if I hadn’t kept opening the lid of the grill to see how they were doing. The bottoms are a little cripsy and the tops not completely brown, but with a little expirimentation I think I can get better. Sure I could buy a camping propane stove, but for the same bucks I can buy two filled 20lbs tanks of propane. I’m a “use what ya got” kinda guy.
Hillbilly Bill – at 09:29
Green Mom and Enough Already:
Whenever I feel like that, I just take a break from buying anymore food. What I do focus on is trying out some of my plans, making meals strictly from preps, etc.
Average Concerned Mom – at 09:38
I’m taking a break from spending money. So I’m dong anything that is free. Meals all from pantry (we do get fresh veggies delivered from a farm though, so not a true test)build shelves from scrap lumber I find lying around, getting buckets from bakeries (haven’t had too much success) inventorying stuff I have; and printing out info I want from the web. Oh, and selling stuff I don’t need to have room for stuff I do.
Okieman – at 09:44
Ya’ll might like to take a look at this website that describes pioneer cooking. Seems to have very good instructions. I’ve already saved it to my favorites. I believe it is wise to gather info concerning how to do things the “old way”, pre-1900. Very good site.
http://heritage.uen....
Jefiner – at 11:49
Eccles – at 09:06
Eccles, the Electrical Engineer (in other words, DH) is still in bed, so I went out and copied all the info off the information plate on the side of the unit:
• model MPK-10cr
• Volts 115
• Hz 60
• Btu/h 10000
• Watts 1040
• Amps 10.5
• EER 9.5
• Design Pressure High 380 Low 150 psig
• r22 18 oz.
This is a refurbished unit with no brand name I purchased from Big Lots for $250. We have had it running all night, and it has slowly brought the temps down in the garage from 102 to 80—there was a lot of mass in there to cool off! There is a duct that we ran to a vent in the outside door (it can be configured for window exhaust) and the air coming out is HOT!!! muy caliente!
HTH-
Lily – at 14:06
Havwe to restrain myself. They are starting to put things out for refuse pickup. Resisted a striped market umbrella and a set of outdoor ironwork furniture, only because I knew they wouldn’t fit in the car. Lucky no pickup in my town this month. If I do pull over, it better be in tip top condition, and suprisingly sometimes it is. I have known of people doing this and selling it at auctions, but it requires a pick up truck and a good back. I still have scruples about this, but occassionaly someone does put a sign up, Take me, or Free, and I feel less grad student poor. Am going to be very thrifty and very picky about anything I buy from here on in. Should check in at odd lots which I haven’t done for years. RAn into friend who goes to Rices in Pa. Where I went years ago, have an invite to join her any time. You do well at some flea markets. I’m sure anyone in Bucks county Pa, knows Rices.
knowall – at 14:49
Hi Everyone, I took the plunge and bought 2 150-gal aquatanks today. I also bought 2 large tarps for putting underneath the aquatanks and a food grade hose. This was my biggest prep layout so far but I feel good about the decision, I’ve learned more about water here at FW then I ever thought possible!
Lily – at 15:15
For those of you who might be going on a frugality binge, vs. spending, perhaps you might want to check out http:www.totalyfrugal.com… I think I’m gooing to investigate it next week. Money only stretches so far and with taxes skyrocketing in Jersey and everything else I think its time to do whatever I can to cut back.
knowall – at 15:20
Lily – at 15:15 That looks like a great link, thanks! (BTW, I live in Jersey, too).
Eccles – at 15:23
Lily - The link you posted was a bit flawed Here is the Correct Link
(A free public service from totally Eccles, at no additional charge)
Lily – at 15:25
Thanks, Eccles, was just going to put the // in that I missed out on. Nothing gets past the people here.
13 August 2006
EnoughAlready – at 02:22
welp… today… my oldest son delivered a new dog to us. He had a friend in the service who got stationed off and had the dog who needed a home. It is part golden retriever and part something that starts with a M (full breeds get 300 pounds… ~gulp~) He weighs 109 pounds and is 3 years old. Our Australian Sheperd drinks out of an automatic watering bowl. This dog… we had to get a large silver/tin feeding pan for his water… he sticks his hole head in it!! ~snicker~ He loves water… he found a ditch on our property with water on sprawls out in it. Guess I am gonna have to get him a kiddie swimming pool. We put the dogs in the dog run tonight, because of the new dogs first night. They finally quit whinning. One thing is for sure, he will make a great guard dog. The two dogs have been running and playing all over the yard and pasture all day. I am definitely going to have to rethink dog food prep now… something on the line of silo. So, that’s today’s prep. New guard dog. He is sure a sweet dog… loaded with personality. First dog loves him, and visa versa… and the grandkids love him and he is great with them. First dog junps on the trampolines with the gkids… it’s gonna be interesting to see if new dog joins them.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 09:21
EnoughAlready – at 02:22 thanks for taking him in and giving him what sounds like iwll be a GREAT new home!!! That was a very good thing for you to do, to take that load off our solder’s shoulders.
I have a LOT of prepackaged foods, because we keep that in our pantry usually, but I’m working on building up my stash of baking supplies, rounding out spice varieties, adding more lean white meat, instead of beef, getting things that have the least amount of salt (the Zatteran’s French Market instant mix is the lowest of that line of products), and labeling, listing & organizing better.
Yesterday’s prep was to finish labeling the pantry, & have the last 3 shelves installed. Later I plan to upgrade the plastic bookshelves I use, to the real metal can storage racks, but that will take some $$.
Today’s prep, I think the hardest will be calling a cousin who’s father died a month ago…I’m not good at dealing with grief, especially when I’ve been bogged down in my own lately……the easiest prep will be setting up a plan of action for what I want to can this week.
Jefiner – at 14:36
Today we replaced all light bulbs in the house with the compact flourescent style bulbs. I was pleasantly surprised in the quality of the light—not harsh or bluish, but pleasant and easy to read by, and best of all, no heat! My next project is to assemble some emergency food kits for neighbors and friends. I am thinking of a pound each of rice and beans, two liters of water, multivitamin tabs, water purification tabs, little bottles of hand sanitizer and the travel size packs of baby wipes. Maybe throw in some ibuprofen as well. I want to be able to help, but I am trying to keep the expense reasonable.
amak – at 14:42
Hey Jefiner
Are those bulbs the ones that are spirly looking? Are they safe to use with lamp shade? (Not critisizing, just curious). I thought of doing that too, but thought there was a fire danger from them. Thanks!
Lily – at 14:45
Bought a couple of those electronic rodent repellers at half price. I don’t know why. The ones I put in year ago just sucked up kilowat hours, and the mice snickered.
treyfish – at 15:07
YEP..im a prepper.Just got back from the store.Foodlion this time.MORE gravy, canned meat,cornmeal and bleach.I started a bio chicken shed experiment this week and will pour the floor tommoro nite.when i was cleaning out the 200 yr old shack i found a 55 g barrel of #2 stove oil!3/4 full.wondering how good that is and will have to run a test.also does anyone know how long that stuff can sit?bought 3 buff orphingtons and before they were in the pen were laying eggs.Got the c.b. working finally in my music room,with wind up radio and police scanner,4 walkie talkies and acrap pile of batteries.a new generator “still in the box”.I havent broke that out yet.just got off the phone for 200$ of wood delivered next weekend”in case towelboy” does something stupid on the 22nd.30 gallons of gas and some atabilizer,3 security cams not installed yet!dammit the more i write the more i find i got to do!I did move to a big colonial farm in the country surrounded by 300 acre of field corn and woods in feb.1 woodstove,2 kero heaters,2 dogs,5 chickens and a rabbit.no guns yet.tons of canned and dry goods.also a well but no hand pump but a couple small ponds nearby.im hopin to hook the well to the generator if i need to.satttelite internet and t.v.,6 guitars,1 drum set,1 fiddle,1 mandelin,and a partridge in a pear tree.What am i missing?
treyfish – at 15:17
forgot..25 small cans of propane,3 gallons lamp oil,1 gas camp oven and stove.Bags of seeds,wind up flashlights,toilet paper,not enuff.hand sanitizers and some meds,3 boxes of gloves,3 boxes of masks.1gallon of grain alchohol!
AVanarts – at 15:19
Amak, we use the compact fluorescent bulbs almost exclusively. Both the small “spirally” ones and “straight” ones. If they fit inside the lamp shade they work fine, but they will not fit all lamps. I have also seen them in the lamps in most of the motels that I stay in.
We even use them in our ceiling fans with good results. I was concerned that the vibration might shorten the life of the bulbs, but an electrician friend told me to not be worry about that.
knowall – at 15:41
EnoughAlready – at 02:22 - congratulations on your new dog! Is the breed called a Mastiff? I used to have one (I miss her terribly, she died last year), they’re fantastic dogs, super-friendly and excellent guard dogs. Lots of drool.
Jefiner – at 15:44
Amak, I found floodlight style CFB’s and we replaced all the bulbs in the “can” lights. Some bulbs are different than others; the cheapos I bought at big lots fit almost everything, but I found with my desk magnifyer lamp I had to use a brand name “Sylvania” to make it work. It is amazing how little heat they put out.
On the new portable a/c: we found shortening the exhaust hose and insulating it with some fiberglass insulation helps the unit work more efficiently; a lot of heat was radiating out from the hose as it went from the unit to the vent in the door.
I am trying to tighten up my preps in the next few days. Politics aside, recent world events are giving me the willies, so I have reorganized my personal bug out bag that I carry in my car, and I’m not going to let the gas tank get below two thirds (just in case I have to make a night journey of my own!)
Green Mom – at 15:57
TOdays prep-Laying around on the couch with hubby and a big ol’ bunch of magazines. Kids are away FOR THE WHOLE WEEKEND! with relatives so dh and I are having some much needed downtime. How is reading mags related to prepping? Its all in the mags! Example: Countryside and Small stock journal has a great article on building and using solar ovens. Unfortunantly this particular issue also had quite a long letter from a reader stating bird flu is just government hype and will in no way actually happen. Oh well. In general this mag is really great if your into homesteading/self reliance. In my opinion its the best of the “back to the land” mags. In fact, I have a subscription. I can get Mother Earth News at the library, and occasionally I’ll pick up one of the others off the stand. Countryside is an old favorite and during my house cleaning frenzy a couple of weeks ago, I pulled out a grate of back issues dating around 2000. They had a big 10 issue countdown to y2k. I thought there would be some good info for dealing SIP issues.
On the other end of the spectrum is MAKE magazine which is a really cool DIY mag for tech types, but lots of great info for everybody. This month we learn how to build a small engine from tin cans, extract DNA from plant cells right in your own kitchen, and power a LED with an Icecube tray, paper clips and some spare change. (Somehow, I kept thinking of Eccles as I was flipping through these pages.) Its rather pricey (this was a Christmas gift subscription for us), but its packed full of articles, with surprisingly few adds.
Also reading Vegetarian Times-hoping to pick up some good vegetarian recipies, and NAtional Geographic-just because its a great mag-last year they did a really good (scary!) article on Bird Flu.
I’m curious if anyone else has any good recommendations for mags that might help with Flu issues? I think there was a book thread-but I don’t know if anyone did anything on mags.
knowall – at 16:04
Green Mom – at 15:57 - Hi, have you read Backwoods Home? I’ve never seen the mag itself, but I’ve found lots of really useful info on their website: http://www.backwoods...
Green Mom – at 16:21
Yes-I lucked out and was able to buy two compilation volumes of their first three or four years at a library sale. Occasionaly I’ll pick up an issue, but money is really tight so I really have to be picky about what I buy. Alas. I’d probably get a subscription if I had more funds. Our problem here is that the nearest decent newstand is over an hours drive away so we tend to fork out money for subscriptions, or ask for them for Christmas, or try to con the local library into getting them. Yesterday we were in THE CITY! THE DAY AFTER PAYDAY! (whoo hoo! Our idea of a big time-the bookstore and the China King buffet!)
Backwoodshome does have a really good website.
EnoughAlready – at 16:32
Knowall… yes, that’s it! Mastiff. He is such a sweet dog… and yes, he drolls like crazy. He was use to being kept in a small yard, being walked on a leash. He was loved and very well taken care of, making him a stable dog. He is going nuts out here on all this land!! Chasing rabbits, etc. We sure are enjoying him! The dogs are getting along great… playing like litter mates! We were honored to help the soldier friend out, and consider ourselves extremely fortunate to have been on the recieving end of such a precious animal!
lady biker – at 20:47
Hello yall, newbee herer, I’ve been readin this site for months and months, I even have lots of favorites among you guys but , haven’t seen any from missouri that are prepin. I’ve been preppin for about six months. it’s funny but I live in the country, own my little house, am disabled and live on limited means but I feel so blessed. I do relate to yall about that hurry up feeling. I order from three different places and have cans stuffed everywhere. I have a huge order comin in this next week and haven’t figured where I will hide it yet. Thats what’s fun. yup. my problem is I have some questions and hopefully someone can answer them for me. can the law come in and take your food away from you? and I don’t know what to do about my neighbors. they don’t lilsten to me and I also don’t tell them I have preped cause if they knew they would take it away from me. I love life and enjoy everyone but there is some nasties in it too. LOL. thank for listening to me. I’m here lurking in the shadows. and am learning a lot. love yall…….thanks
lady biker – at 20:55
yup I’m cannin too. I just put up 24 pints of punkin butter. mmmmmmm I’ve done the peaches and peach butter, and gettin ready for apples. I don’t worry about cookin cause I’m totally propane and don’t need electric for cookin or heatin. and have my own well. can ya believe it , LOL my well is in the house. in my laundry room with a cabinet built around it. no one would know if I don’t tell them. lil brother said I could put a hand pump on it if need be and no one would know. I like that thought.
Swann – at 21:04
Hi lady biker! Nice to meet you! I believe you might be “sitting pretty”, as they say around here.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 21:17
Hi lady biker glad you’ve come out of hiding!…here’s a link to one of the Martial law links here…it’s actually continued into a second thread which you can access at the bottom of this first link.
http://tinyurl.com/k...
And you might want to start a new thread looking for Missouri people! I couldn’t find one right off the bat!
14 August 2006
lady biker – at 00:08
thanks Swann, and I’m-workin’-on-it, makes me feel welcome. and that Martial law stuff is scary thank you. I just keep thinkin throw some more pillows and table covers on the stuff and maybe it won’t be noticed. and I gotta remind myself not to look too anxious, my lil brother tells me I look guilty permanently. now I got a guilt complex and would confess to anything. lolol shoot me and get it over with. but seriously I’m kinda enjoyin myself , I feel llike maybe I can do some good. I got a brother, two sisters and some of their kids to think about if things get nasty,cause right now they think I’m goofy as all get out. and I hope they are right but I consider it insurance. yup. so keep on havin fun.:)
Swann – at 00:22
lady biker: It appears you and I are in the same boat. I have a brother, three sisters, one SIL, one BIL, several nieces and nephews, and an elderly great-aunt and cousin to worry about. None of them think I’m goofy (I think!), but I have not been able to convince them that the danger may very well be imminent. I am frustrated beyond words. I too am partially disabled and getting by on a retirement income, so prepping is difficult. Too many people to worry about, not enough money/storage space. Still prepping though. They are the beings who make up my world; what happens to one, happens to all.
Malachi – at 00:26
Treyfish…A banjo :)
lady biker – at 00:51
well Swann-at 00:22. guess we just gotta paddle that boat a little harder. eat your cheerioes and dig in. just kinda relax and remember we’re all workin toward the same thing. and with a little faith and lots of encouragement from our friends we are gonna do it. I look for the fun in finding good bargins and even more fun finding somewhere to hide it in plain sight. hahahha and the way food prices keep climbing if no flue appears we are all gonna eat well. nothing takes the place of a good pot of ham and beans , fried potatoes and a big pan of cornbread. it just don’t get much better. so onward and upwards my preppin friends. never say never…….and now it’s my bed time. but tomorrow I’ll shock ya all when I tell ya what I bought first to squirrl away…hahhahah and I’m still laffin about it. and feelin good too……..nite nite everyone
cabingirl – at 01:02
anonymous – at 17:32
Thanks for the great tip about the Honeyville discount code. worked for me too!
Swann – at 03:00
Good night! Thanks for sharing….I think I am needing a bit of cheerfulness right now…you popped up at just the right time.
lady biker – at 07:25
when I first started prepin I did a lot of reading. Read a lot about food fatigue and starving to death, and it scared the livin daylights out of me. I have a tooooo vivid imagination. So when I started to checkin on what a person could buy to store for long term if need be and what could all happen to keep ya from goin to the grocery store, well needless to say , this little girl panicked. hahhaa. So I prepped from the bottom up. got the comfort foods and goodies first and am now gettin the solid staples and major meals and meat. My first big purchase was Chocolate Chip cookie dough and Oatmeal Cookie dough mix. just add water and bake all the cookies ya want. hahaha. then I got pudding, then lots of dried fruit and cases of raisins. whew. figured nothing was gonna stop my baking if I could help it. yup…. and lots and lots of cocoa for homemade fudge. gotta have my chocolate……..if I go, I’m gonna go with chocolate smeared all over my face and be smiling……..LOLOL
Prepping Gal – at 10:35
Lady Biker - you are a hoot - and that’s from a Canuck! Your attitude is refreshing.
OKbirdwatcher – at 10:53
lady biker - I love your upbeat preppin’ philosophy!!! I approached the whole thing differently than you, but maybe a prepper should start with the comfort foods first. Anyway, I’m getting to that now. Like you, I’ve gotta have baking ingredients on hand and that always begins with chocolate:)Good luck to you!
NEMO – at 12:17
In a previous thread, we were having a discussion (heated at times) about how many people in America had food storage in truly adequate amounts. Several thought that all of the 5 million or so Mormons could be counted in to that number. I had shared that I knew that Mormon compliance with their food storage counsel was not widely followed. This was met with one Mormon Fluwiki member flaming me seriously and yet another member backing up those assertions of the low compliance. I have since found a Mormon document (the newest LDS Food Storage booklet- available for free on the net) which states the following:
“…the latest surveys indicate that in North America the average membership with a years supply of food is around 3%. That would drop the numbers down to around 150,000 people in North America.”
This quote can be found on page 207 of the book, which can be downloaded for free at: http://www.dtmb.biz/...
This is an EXCELLENT book on Food Storage at the very least. It will be helpful to everyone who wants to learn about Food Storage.
My point here is that there is an INCREDIBLY small portion of the US population who have food storage of any depth. If a religious group who have this as a major element of who they are and what they do —do not take it seriously— how low is the number of the general population who have a month, three months, six months, a year of supplies laid in???? It’s rather amazing when you look at it that way.
On the flip side.. those of us who are making a daily effort (even if it’s just mental planning) to set aside food and supplies to maintain our families, friends and neighbors are a very, tiny miniscule portion of a self-absorbed population and we should take pride in our efforts, no matter how measly we may feel they are at the current time!
Now on a completely different thought:
Hubby went on an exploration trip to Tuscson with my military kid and they drove by the camps that used to be used for the Japanese internment (one of many), and they had all new razor wire on them and were all spruced up and ready to go………for what, one wonders??? Yikes!
NEMO – at 12:27
BTW- Many of the LDS families who claim to have a year’s worth a food only have the “Mormon 4″— wheat, dry milk, oil and honey! I dare you to stay alive on that! Notice not even yeast in that list or salt!!! Many have these items, but no fuel, and no grinder!! This is a common “complaint” amongst the stake preparedness leaders who are trying to help their members with compliance of the food storage counsel (it’s not a commandment- just counsel that is highly important). Don’t assume your mormon neighbors will be well stocked! You may be able to inspire them however, and get them over that hump and then they’ll be coming to YOU for help in figuring out how to put in a Food Storage that is truly eatable.
I homeschooled my three kids and found through the grapevinve of relatives that over 30 families began to homeschool their kids because of us. We had never even met these families! But someone who knew us would talk about us to someone and on and on. They found out how great our kids were doing and they decided to take the plunge. They knew about homeschooling, but until someone was ‘successful’ at it, they didn’t take the plunge. Your food storage may be influencing people you may never know! The gal behind you at the grocery store, the inventory specialis that sees lots of beans flying off the shelf…we never know where that influence will end. So just by doing what you are doing now, you may be saving future lives!!! That’s a pretty good feeling and something to hold on to when you are feeling overwhelmed with the whole process.
NEMO – at 12:32
BTW- Many of the LDS families who claim to have a year’s worth a food only have the “Mormon 4″— wheat, dry milk, oil and honey! I dare you to stay alive on that! Notice not even yeast in that list or salt!!! Many have these items, but no fuel, and no grinder!! This is a common “complaint” amongst the stake preparedness leaders who are trying to help their members with compliance of the food storage counsel (it’s not a commandment- just counsel that is highly important). Don’t assume your mormon neighbors will be well stocked! You may be able to inspire them however, and get them over that hump and then they’ll be coming to YOU for help in figuring out how to put in a Food Storage that is truly eatable.
I homeschooled my three kids and found through the grapevinve of relatives that over 30 families began to homeschool their kids because of us. We had never even met these families! But someone who knew us would talk about us to someone and on and on. They found out how great our kids were doing and they decided to take the plunge. They knew about homeschooling, but until someone was ‘successful’ at it, they didn’t take the plunge. Your food storage may be influencing people you may never know! The gal behind you at the grocery store, the inventory specialis that sees lots of beans flying off the shelf…we never know where that influence will end. So just by doing what you are doing now, you may be saving future lives!!! That’s a pretty good feeling and something to hold on to when you are feeling overwhelmed with the whole process.
Green Mom – at 13:17
Nemo-thanks for the encouraging words! I’m feeling a little edgy about my preps this morning. Thanks for the link as well.
Welcome aboard Lady Biker!- My family got through the snow storm of ‘78-no power for a month! by eating fried potatos, ham and beans and cornbread. I surely could do it again. Thanks for your cheery words.
Kathy in FL – at 13:37
Welcome Lady Biker! I’ve got a lotta that comfort food type stuff put away as well.
Things have been time-tight around our home this passed month and after using all of the stuff that I did for the Prep Test I did and then getting into the preps again because I just literally did not have time to make a grocery run … I feel like I’ve depleted a lot of areas.
I need to stock back up on several food items but on the up side have found that many of my food items are lasting longer than I originally expected. You live and you learn.
Kathy in FL – at 13:41
Oh … and the idea about drinking some broth before meals to control hunger pangs really does work. I have 2 kids going through growth spurts at the moment. The broth also helps control the craving for salty snacks. My kids have a tendency to crave salties rather than sweets … I think they picked it up from hubby.
lady biker – at 14:20
yup I grew up on ham beans and cornbread.and still love it….sorta ranks up there around fried chicken…LOLOL depends on the occassion. and thank yall for makin me feel welcome. I do have a big order comin in this week from Mt.House and am excited and sorta worried where I’m gonna stash the stuff. I cleared out the bottom of three closets but it’s all full so now am lookin at my linen closet. put the bedding in boxes and stash the food. I know I’ll get it worked out somehow. but yall have given me lots of good ideas and I do thank ya. :)
lady biker – at 14:31
I gotta ask yall something……..have any of ya tried the B&M Brown bread in a can? I just got two cases of it last week. had to hide it cause everyone was takin it . I ended up with one case left. half plain and half with raisins.so yup it’s in the closet. LOL
NEMO – at 14:54
Lady Biker: It’s delicious! It’s better, of course, warmed a bit, but could easily be eaten out of the can. Some of my family says it makes ‘em “go” like crazy, while the other half claim the opposite…so you might want to try a bit of it so you will know how your family will react to it.
NJ Jeeper – at 15:05
Lady Biker, I read about this, and although it is excellent, it apperas to be more of a snack than a bread. Do you think it could be eaten as a bread at meal time. Probable not good for sandwiches. Did you order if from internet and if so how much did you pay? Do you know the shelf life? Sorry for so many question, but I am interested in this, but have not ordered it.
a lurker – at 15:21
I keep holding off on ordering that BIG order from emergency essentials. It is around 1500.00. Mostly dried foods for long term use. These are items we would not normally eat, but ITSHIT, it won’t be normal for a long time. I really am unsure what to do and would like some advice. I know there will be a flu pandemic. But when? If money wasn’t an issue, I’d do it in a minute and talk DH into it. I guess my question is, how long do we have? A lot of people on here believe maybe this fall/winter…
Hillbilly Bill – at 15:27
a lurker – at 15:21
This is just my opinion, but I would not order any food you do not normally eat. I do have powdered eggs and powdered milk in my preps, but we have made the switch to using them on a regular basis. Other than that, we have stored canned goods and lots of dry goods, all of which we eat regularly. Since what I have bought will keep for years, I don’t see the advantage of buying expensive emergency supplies. So far we have used up everything we bought in January and are working on supplies bought in February, so there is no danger of any of our preps going bad. With $1,500 I could buy one heck of a lot of food from a regular grocery store.
OKbirdwatcher – at 15:30
a lurker - at 15:21
I have no idea how long we have (sure wish I did); but a lot of the freeze-dried/dehydrated foods will keep for 5–30 years. I am beginning to incorporate these foods and ingredients into our food plan now, figure out what we like/don’t like and expect them to become pantry staples for the long term. No waste goin’ on here:)
lady biker – at 15:32
oh yea I checked it all out. and yea everyone was grabbin it and so I had to hide what is left..one case out of two ain’t bad I reckon. and NJ Jeeper……yup….I talked to the man who sells it in Main. yup I did. and he informed me that it is a wonderful bread with baked beans and yup NEMO can be toasted and warmed up and even eatin with meats and yup NJ Jeeper……it has a shelf life of two years but if kept cold could make it last longer. I ordered it from the Net. and they sent me a small catalog with my order and now got another order to send off. I bought two cases, one plain and one with raisins. and they both together cost me $99 so figure 50 a case of twelve cans which are a Lb each.and I got it in a week. he said he sends off his orders the same day he gets them. It’s called MainGoodies.com . and it is a heavy brown molasses bread. always good to try something new………..:)
NJ Jeeper – at 15:35
HB, what food do you buy that last for years. Almost everything I buy or see has a 2 year ± shelf life. Since I don’t rotate, it I put in a g

Flu Prep 15 (XV)

Bronco Bill — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 14:27:58 GMT

From Flu Wiki 2
Forum: Flu Prep XV
15 August 2006
Bronco Bill – at 01:09
Continued from here.
________________________________________
Opening post from previous thread:
Kathy in FL – at 18:12
Eccles – at 15:39
We use flourescent bulbs in light colored shades. I rarely use regular bulbs anymore … don’t even have them in our ceiling fans. Besides using up more electric … they are just plain hot.
We run our ceiling fans to ease up on the ac usage. We also have ceramic tile on the floor in all the living space, except bedrooms. Pain to clean, but does keep it cooler. I put down rugs on the tile in winter to do the opposite.
My big culprits are my dryer, the ac, the well pump, the pool pump, hot water tank, and the dishwasher. Dishwasher solved by going to washing by hand except for one load per day. Well pump I really can’t control … we did get a larger bladder last year which has helped some. Pool pump is only used about 1/2 the year on a regular basis … we close the pool about October and don’t open it until April or May … but when that sucker is in use it can eat a lot of power. Hot water tank we can’t turn down or the bathroom on the other side of the house wouldn’t get hot water.
That leaves the dryer and the ac. We have a two unit system because of the size of the house … we turn one off during the day and close those two rooms off. The other unit is set at 78 or 79 at all times.
I’m hoping that the clothes line helps with that problem.
Just not a lot you can do with a family of 7 … that’s a lot of laundry, water, cooking, cleaning, etc.
Bump – at 01:59
Nearly Ready – at 02:13
Hey Kathy - I’ve been drying clothes on a line for 57 years. It’s great. Sweet smelling, few wrinkles, quick and easy. Winter can be a drag, but you’re in Florida - I would think you have plenty of sunshine, as long as you can deal with the monsoons!
Dan in MA – at 08:26
Hi everyone, The discussion about the B&M brown bread got me thinking about products that we might take for granted because they are common in our regional market, but are not available nationally. I grew up just outside Boston, MA (aka beantown). Like Nautical Man our family had franks, beans, and brown bread almost every Saturday night. The MyBrands link that Kim posted has a fair price, $2.50 to $3 a can is our regular non-sale price at our local Stop & Shop or Shaw’s.
I have been looking for Tyson Premium Chicken in a pouch http://tinyurl.com/j... after it was recommended as top “hurricane food” for the second year in a row, by the Miami Herald http://tinyurl.com/f.... The article mentions that it is $3.29 a pouch at the Publix store in Miami. I have never found it in any grocery stores in Mass or Maine. Has anyone tried this? or have a link of where I my get it? Thanks.
Kim – at 08:28
Dan in MA, google “tyson chicken pouch”. Looks like you’ll come up with plenty of sources to buy it.
Dan in MA – at 11:37
Kim, I respectfully disagree. Happy to provide a finder’s fee to anyone that can provide a link for a company that will ship the Tyson chicken poouch described above…name your price.
Nimbus – at 12:02
Dan in MA – at 11:37
Here you go! $2.99 per pouch.
http://tinyurl.com/h...
Lily – at 12:08
With the coming of fall its time to take to the apple orchards and start picking my apples for storage. Will stop by the closest farm stand and check out schedules. Our local Kings is having specials on specialty potatoes and sleeves of garlic. Have one big elephant head in a garlic jar, and a bottle of chopped. I think thats about it for me and prepping. Outside of getting a few kiddie pools when they go on sale and barbeque items when their reduced. I like to make my cash stretch as far as I can make it go. I’m stopping using credit cards to everyday purchasing as I want to feel how the money is disappearing and for what. When you have the cash disappear its different than just the bill every month. Its like gambling, its too easy. I want to get on a different footing with what I do have to get more realistic about things. It is time to start living again, Nothing like meadering around historic sites when the weather is good. Nothing like driving down winding country roads, lined with sugar Maples that are turning golden or russet. I live on one of the most perfect roads for this in the North East, and every days driving is a joy until November 2nd when we always get the first light snow. Its time to enjoy the turning of the seasons and just soak it all in day after day.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 12:38
Lily, you make me wish I lived in your world…through your eyes…….
Dan, if your local grocer carries anything in the Tyson brand, he should be able to special order the chicken pouches for you — just ask, but be certain to follow up. I’ll die before I special order anything else from Publix because first they tell you it will take 6 weeks to get, then they NEVER call you to tell you it’s in — if it even came in in the first place. I’ve had trouble with our local Bruno’s as well — had to check over a 5 week period each week for a 7 case order of canned catfood. Laborsome. However, if I tell our local Winn Dixie, they’ll say it’ll be in on Tues, or Saturday, and most of the time it truly is. Every once in awhile the order will have to be placed again, but nothing like dealing with the other 2 stores, so just shop around and ask the managers to follow up with you.
Pat in AZ – at 15:20
Today: Bread — sourdough, first attempt, home-ground wheat and my own experimental starter. It’s in the oven right now. Okay, it’s not rising much, but … oh my, the aroma. My mama never told me.
Hillbilly Bill – at 15:22
Pat in AZ – at 15:20
I never did get any of my sourdough attempts to raise very much, especially the second time. However, those that I could cut were very tasty!
Pat in AZ – at 15:25
I’m willing to gnaw on it, it smells so good.
Dan in MA – at 15:59
Thanks Nimbus and IWOI! Nimbus, feel free to name your price…how about some Boston baked beans??? :)
Nimbus – at 17:21
Dan in MA – at 15:59
Thanks for the offer of the beans but I seem to be drowning in beans these days! ;-)
anonymous – at 19:35
To Nimbus
The link you gave has some personal info (yours?) to it. Perhaps you could log out and then go back to that prod. page then do the link.
Nimbus – at 20:11
anonymous – at 19:35
Thanks for flagging me on that! As it happens that is not my info (I haven’t bought anything from them and haven’t opened an account). It certainly doesn’t speak well for their security!
16 August 2006
anonymous – at 18:02
On Sunday DH and I bought a used 16 foot travel trailer. Our most extravagent prep yet, especially considering we don’t have a vehicle that will tow it. But we plan on using it for a quarantine room or a sick room if TSHTF. If TSDNHTF then we will use it for guests who want a little bit of their own space.
18 August 2006
Green Mom – at 08:28
prep for today-recover from the scare I had yesterday when the wiki went down!
I’m clearing out the clutter from my house-a chore I started a few weeks ago when the weather turned really hot. We have a small house, so stuff tends to pile up quickly. I reckon that if we have to go into increased hygene mode, it will be much easier to clean if theres no clutter, plus I want to be able to lay my hands on supplies in case of emergency without having to clear a bunch of stuff out of the way. Plus its a good way to work off a little nervous energy!
Lily – at 10:49
After doing some chair yoga and having some massage by someone who is taking a course in becoming a Yoga instructor, I decided after realizing how creaky I had become in a summer of inactivity to walk on the few goose dropping free paths in our town park. The clean pathways border trees and brush which make the geese nervous about predetors. I think people should be walking now that the weather is bearable, and getting into better condition. Just walking taller, breathing, doing a bit of yoga before I get out of bed is making me feel more vibrant and alive, just as the sunlight is turning. I had stopped taking vitamins and herbs, but am beginning to take them again. Buying things like canned beets for Harvard beets, pickled beets and eggs. Gearing up for a wonderful Fall season and Indian summer which is so welcome after the first hard frost. Though I am finished in food prepping, I still pick up a few items on sale. Latest jumbo lump crab in a pouch. It was on sale, will try it tonight to see if it matches the fresh kind. Also got the little tuna cans with crackers that have thai seasoning, dried tomatoe, and lemon seasoning. I always took them when I traveled for a quick protein pick me up. Got a slew of tapes of Ballets, operas Der Rosenkavilier and La Traviata at 50cents each. Will be going to the Womens club booksale after my physical therapy session. An entire school auditorium, and toss aways from a very literate, well educated group of townies. I have thousands of books in my home library, and now I’m stocking a basement library of these toss aways. Will be putting sheets of Bounce in each book to discourage silverfish and mice.
History Lover – at 11:43
Lily if you ever write a book, I would be the first in line to buy it.
Green Mom – at 12:08
Thanks Lily- your posts are like a breath of fresh air-especially when I’m feeling edgy. You are soooo right about yoga and walking-though its still hot here-mid nineties, but we have been getting some rain which helps. Best of luck at your booksale- hope you find some great volumes!
Kathy in FL – at 12:52
This afternoon I will be doing a little restocking of the preps and will also be working on next month’s menu. I plan to include even more prep-friendly recipes to try out.
We also finally started painting the outside of the house. We’ve been stuck in repair mode for over a week before we could even start putting paint on the walls. But I’ve had to litterally take the outside and yard apart so that we could even do that. Once the house is painted it will be on to landscaping where I’m trying to create a plan that includes some edible landscaping.
Tomorrow I’m off to the flea market to see if I can pick up some stuff at the produce aisle on the cheap. I’m also looking for more of those “shaking” flashlights. One of my husband’s employees left his by the wheel of his van and it got crushed. I have two small ones but I want a bigger one and I’d like to get it less expensive than what they are in the regular stores.
Watching in Texas – at 14:30
Just FYI: due to the latest activity on the news thread and the fact that a number of posters have indicated that their PPF’s are increasing, I thought I would just post this for general knowledge. As of this last week, an order from Honeyville Grains, is taking less than a week to be shipped and delivered. Survival Acres is running about 2 weeks from the order date to delivery, and on some items it will be closer to 4 weeks. I suspect that if the news gets worse, the time it will take to get an order from either place will be longer. Please note: I am not endorsing either company and have no vested interest in either company. And, I placed a very small order with both companies last week. It may have changed by now, or if you place a large order, it may be different. Just thought that if some of you were thinking about ordering something and had not gotten around to doing it, you might want to consider the time it might take to receive your order.
PreparationNotPanic – at 14:35
Watching in Texas – at 14:30 Just FYI: due to the latest activity on the news thread and the fact that a number of posters have indicated that their PPF’s are increasing, I thought I would just post this for general knowledge. As of this last week, an order from Honeyville Grains, is taking less than a week to be shipped and delivered. Survival Acres is running about 2 weeks from the order date to delivery, and on some items it will be closer to 4 weeks. I suspect that if the news gets worse, the time it will take to get an order from either place will be longer. /////////////
Absolutely.
This happened last year with some clusters and Tsunami relief contracts, and of course with Y2K preparations.
MRE’s are just now coming back on the market after a year on backorder.
The food storage industry is small compared to the “regular” food industry, and the processing is certainly specialized.
Walton Feed is about 3–4 weeks behind, however Mountain Brook Foods in California is shipping within a week, so there are still viable suppliers out there….. NOW.
Don’t wait and expect to do any of this last minute.
Not going to happen.
OKbirdwatcher – at 14:54
Kathy in FL - We’ll be doing someinside painting starting tomorrow, but I’m finding it hard to focus on the job at hand with all the news swirling about. Think I may just have to “unplug” for a little while;)
Watching In Texas - Yep. I’ve been getting that feeling. I’ve got some things in my cart at Honeyville. Guess I’d better get that order on it’s way.
Lily – at 15:35
Bought 10 $ worth of books on Herbal, Alternative and Natural Health, plus 2 on Carl Jung, one on dreams, the other analysis, and oddly one that makes me feel very calm. Its a picture book of Princess Diana in her pregnancy with Prince William. There she is photogenic and lovely and serene. A natural beauty hughly pregnant. Sadly, that marriage was a disaster, but at that point it didn’t show, and looking at this English Rose, natural and genuine in her way with people made me smile. Life is good, but complicated. A little sleeping baby left at the door under the care of a complete stranger. We still have trust in other people in these little towns around me. I doubt it would happen in NYC or London or Paris. Bought a very comfy pair of Life is Good Logo Zoris on sale. Grateful to toss off the rather ratty 1$ pair I was wearing. So comfortable, and cheaper than the same sale item on the Life is Good clothing internet sale. I would have bought two, but its time to go to the bank, and I swore to myself to cut out using any of my credit cards for a while. Didn’t have a cent left in my pockets. I really like doing this reality check. You have to pay sooner or later. Going to a big pig roast tomorrow so better not eat anything till then. Everyone pigs out, supurb American picnic foor. Hundreds of chickens. 5 pigs, A few haunches of beef, and everything else that goes with it. Wouldn’t you know after weeks of gorgeous humid free weather, the humidity has begun and will be worse tommorrow. But there is a pool, and two shaded bocce courts under enormous weeping beeches.With so many children attending the hostess( a friend ) is always attentive to the weather, and so far no children have been injured, but she always breathes a hugh sigh of relief when it is over, without a hitch. A perfect hostess. It’s a set party, perfect in its way. For me, one of the pleasures of being older and single, is that I don’t need to do parties. You love it or you don’t.Depending on who sits near me I might find out more about county and state preps. Last year some county commissioner and I chatted, the year before some political wives and their husbands. Just have to sneak the subject in carefully and not press.Usually conversations are light and airy as we are all concentrated on oohing and ahhing over the hundreds of different sweets, cakes, pies and cookies that guests bring with them.
Kathy in FL – at 19:07
Thanks for the recommendation to try the Hormel shelf-stable meals. It would be too expensive to try and live off of them for a family of our size … but I thought “what the heck” get a few and throw ‘em in with the preps just in case. Well, I almost didn’t because the cheapest I found them was $2.50 a pop … stopped at a local Big Lots and found 2 varieties of the Hormel meals for $1.49 each. Bought 12 to use in case of extreme emergency only … too expensive for regular use.
HillBilly Bill – at 20:54
Kathy in FL – at 19:07 Bought 12 to use in case of extreme emergency only … too expensive for regular use.
I agree, too expensive for regular meals in this household also, but good to have on hand for extraordinary times. We also took them on vacation once when we were staying in a hotel room with a microwave. We saved on eating out for a few meals and that was definitely worthwhile.
ColoradoTom – at 21:08
Watching in Texas – at 14:30
Your post motivated me to get to Honeyville grains and place the order I’ve been wanting to. I’m a single home dweller and my preps are getting close to where I am beginning to feel comfortable. I have a 200 gallon vertical tank for water that I need to complete the “filling station” plumbing for but for the most part, I’ve really kicked the prep activity into high gear. My PPF is at a rock solid 6 until confirmation of H2H in the newly reported cases returns positive. My gut feeling is that the pandemic will be upon us this flu season — qualified only by my own observational assessment. I value everyone’s input that I’ve read and appreciate the things you all have taught me.
NauticalMan – at 21:21
Lily, Wow, a few thousand books! Thought my house was jammed with just a few hundred. Where do you put them all?! As mentioned on another thread, got my Aladdin Lamp, which I guess is about the fifth option for when the juice goes out. It is a very cool item considering the design is almost one hundred years old and puts out a considerable amount of light. Think this will be my last order of FD and Dehydrated foods, have been getting a box every other month. The fastest have been Emergency Essentials, ordered on 8/14, already shipped and should arrive on 8/22 according to their info.. Maybe later a couple of boxes of MRE’s, these would also be good if someone needs a care package like a friend or neighbor. So other than rotating what I have in the way of canned goods, water and that, am satisfied with my stores as is. Only thing left is possibly a breadmaker, as can not store much bread in our small freezer. Have come a long way from last September and those first extra cans of beans and veggies. It all seemed overwhelming back then, but it has all come together, so take heart newbies, one step at a time! Only thing left is to inventory and list it all so I know what I have and then if I really get ambitious, try to figure out what kind of meals and how many. The freeze dried and dehydrated veggies and fruits really give your diet some balance, man does not live on rice and beans alone. Even stocked a few dark chocolate bars, let’s see if they survive long.. Have Tamiflu, RWFK, WWFK, SMFK. Don’t know how effective the last three are, but will go out happy anyway! Be Well All
Melanie – at 21:33
NauticalMan,
All of my walls are bookshelved and I have 10 times more than Lily in much less space.
Lisa in Southern Maine – at 21:36
I guess my ppf did quietly and sneakily rise because today I found myself with a full cart of chinese noodles, tamari, sesame oil, coconut oil and milk, ghee, lentils, rices, and various other cheap bulk foods from my asian supermarket. Then, I had to go to w-m to get a couple of containers for the new food. Also bought a case of motor oil from the auto store. Will have to spend a day this weekend putting the food into mylar bags…just when I thought I was done! On a positive note, we ran out of milk and opened a parlmat(? spelling?) for breakfast cereal and it was perfectly palatable.
Watching in Texas – at 21:36
ColoradoTom - glad my post helped someone:-)
NauticalMan - I am a firm believer in the effectiveness of RWFK and chocolate!! Just not at the same time….
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 22:49
FYI: WalMart’s everyday price on the Hormel meals is $1.49 and the variety is wonderful!!
EnoughAlready – at 23:58
Kroger’s has catfish (not exactly filets or nuggets) on sale for $1 a pound. When I bought mine, you could buy a case for $15 (15#’s.) Now, they are in packages on yellow trays with plastic wrap.
Tonight, I stopped at Dairy Queen to get a Power Slush for my grandson after football practice. They were selling food grade 5# buckets with lids for $1.50, with a limit of 2. I found that especially interesting. We stop there every night after practice, and tonight is the first time they were advertising this.
19 August 2006
EnoughAlready – at 00:01
Oh… another interesting thing … well, at least to me. I was snooping around on my county website this morning. They have a posting for an epidemiologist (sounds like an assistant position) with emphasis apparently on tracking of infectious disease outbreaks. What this has to do with prepping… well… eyes and ears open, I guess! ;)
Oremus – at 00:21
I went to Wally World this morning and bought all 15 of their 2% UHT milk. I also bought 16 of those two can La Choy dinners; the ones where one can is the meat and the other the vegetables (I have plenty of rice to serve over).
I pity the fools (in my best Mr. T imatation) that wait to prep. No UHT milk or La Choy for you.
Going to Sam’s tomorrow.
bump – at 00:55
Lily – at 11:19
Bought a taupe market umbrella greatly reduced. Yesterday they had a dozen, when I looked today they had four, three coral, when I checked out they had one left. Good thing I stopped after the stop at the farm produce where I brought purple asters and a mess of sunflowers to bring with the piggie calender and piggie oven mit. I always bring something a little differenet though the blueberrie cakes at the market looked great. I keep thinking prepping is over for me, but its a treadmill you hop onto, a habit… My husband turned a wing of the house into a library, had the builder add studs in the basement to hold the overload, and built a library out of redwood. It probably is the reason I haven’t moved, He carefully made it detatchable, but it would cost a great deal to transport. Fortunatly my kids are biblophiles also. Its a great thing to detatch yourself from everyday problems by reading a cookbook or something light and frothy before you doze off. Need to get my flowers into some water, so stopped and am filling a plastic bag with water before zipping back for half price day at the book sale. Lost another pair of glasses, so I hope my typing isn’t too bad. Time to buy another dozen magnifying glasses at the dollar store.It will be nice to sit outside under the market umbrellas and read while its so pleasant out of doors. We had our really hot spells, but the grass is emerald green, you’de think yourself in Ireland, and this dry pleasant spell is a god send. I am getting acclimated to staying in one spot after years of wandering. SIP won’t be bad if I ease into it slowly.
tjclaw1 – at 11:44
Oremus – at 00:21 You have to watch the expiration dates of the UHT milk at Wal-Mart. I was looking at it a while back and it was all expired. I also bought some canned cream there that was at or near its expiration.
Love Texas – at 13:38
Melanie and Lily---nice to know that I am not the only book nut on the site—I admit it is a real sickness, but if the bird flu hits—I can read forever and have a lot of fun. My husband is building bookcases even as I write this.
OKbirdwatcher – at 17:57
I try to check expiration dates on everything I buy, but it sure lengthens the shopping trips (and probably annoys others as I search for the freshest items).
Malachi – at 18:03
How long beyond the use by date can the uht milk go?I had a friend give me 10 quarts with yesterdays date.Any guesses?We used it for cereal today and the kids drank glasses of it chilled and liked it just fine.
Green Mom – at 19:05
Oremus- my family likes those La Choy canned meals pretty well-they are generally not keen on “instant food” Thats a good prep item. Your post made me laugh-dh is a big A-team fan!
Glad to meet other “book nuts” We ran out of book cases a long time ago, but we try to to keep the books corraled the best we can. I havn’t counted my books but theres at least 500 paberbacks in a niche in the hallway, four floor to ceiling bookcases-one in living room-three the library plus 16 milkcrates full, plus the books scattered here and there. We’ll have enough to read…..
PBQ – at 19:21
I spoke with the VP of quality control of a major food producer. He said that the expiration date on canned goods were a suggestion. That is to say the food past it’s date may not taste quite right or may even taste “funky” but it will not hurt you as long as the can is not bulging, rusted or other wise impaired. It is the quality of the food that goes downhill not the saftey. Good news for me as most of my canned foods will expire next year, though I do not wish to eat funky food, at least knowing it won’t kill me or my family puts my mind at ease if we have to eat expired food.
KimT – at 20:42
Picked up my extra pair of glasses today, more propane and a marine battery and cables, also got my hair done with my daughter today; it was getting a bit unruley and its something I rarely do. Going to the state fair tomorrow with my kids. Surrounded by 100,000 people, not something I would want to do when tshtf, I’m trying to get fun family type things into the normal routine, I want recent happy memories should it hit soon.
I also am a major reader with books all over the place, I need more bookcases tho, the ones I have are over full, with excess on tables, boxes.
I need to make a run for more pet food, the cats eat like pigs. I have garbage cans full of food for them, my dog eats a lot less and he often shares with them.
anonymous – at 23:21
Malachi – at 18:03 The milk is good for a short while after, but not months. I’d use it up in the next month if I were you. At six months past date it is separated and turning to something else. It is really a great milk, comes in full, 2%, skim, and small (school lunch size) boxes of 2% and chocolate.
lady biker – at 23:34
I have been like everyone else here and prepping away , and have been feeling pretty good about what all I’ve got hidden. and then……..I get on a Government site about Avian Flu and they are saying prep for possibly three years. Three years, that’s a little more than my mind can take in right now. Three years, so come on someone please rationally tell me how a person preps for three years and doesn’t loose it completely. I’m ready for my Prozac now. I gotta go lay down. way tooo much for this little girl to even comprehend.
Oremus – at 23:39
tjclaw1 – at 11:44
I always check exp. dates, at least since I started prepping last year. I have enough ( I hope ) UHT milk now, I’m just rotating the stock.
I’ve posted this before but in case anyone missed it: [Good Shelf Life And Stamped Code Decoder] Surprising Expiration Dates
Oremus – at 23:41
I think I needed a line separation between those two links, but they both work.
Average Concerned Mom – at 23:45
lady biker — WHAT? Please tell me what government web site is saying prep for 3 years!
20 August 2006
lady biker – at 00:09
Average Concerned Mom at 2345 I’m trying to get it to you but it doesn’t want to cooperate hang on.It’s on Survival Acres.com/bird flu
Average Concerned Mom – at 00:17
thanks lady biker! I see that is a commercial site, not a government site. Wasn’t actually able to open the “bird flu” section though to see what they were saying.
bumping for bill – at 01:10
BirdGuano – at 01:37
US Fire Academy has told us to prep for 3 months or one wave of flu as a minimum.
Personally I’m prepared for 18 months, with a 2 year goal.
But 3 YEARS ?
Ya, I’d tell you to prep for 3 years if I was selling you the stuff too.. LOL
3 Months should be a MINIMUM, and HOPE you can re-supply during a break in waves.
You are much better off prepping for at least a year so you don’t have to expose yourself in between waves and HOPE there is something to resupply with.
AnnieB – at 05:09
Does anyone have any helpful hints on storing potatoes and similar vegetables so they don’t go to seed? I would like to be able to use ‘the real thing’ for as long as possible before having to resort to dried, canned and packaged forms.
HillBilly Bill – at 07:28
AnnieB – at 05:09
Keep them cool an dry with some air ciculation. Really 3–4 months is the best you can do and still you are going to have to check them often and remove sprouts. It is their nature to start growing again and you just can’t get around that.
Green Mom – at 10:43
We had a little SIP expriment this week, the kids and I. We stayed home all week and didn’t see anyone (‘cept DH) for a week) We homeschool in a rural area so it was fairly easy to do. Here are a few things I learned:
Oldest Son and I drink WAAAAAY to much coffee-must cut back.
Its important to have some kind of schedule-you don’t have to be rigid, but a schedule helps.
I’m thinking in case of a real sip situation keeing things as “normal” as possible is important.
I’m gonna need something to do with my hands-one can only clean a house so much. I have tons of books, but when the wiki went down I had trouble concentrating on reading. Maybe I’ll take up knitting again!
If the power stays on, it will be much much easier to survive all this-Something I think we already know.
Oldest Son (15) and I- sat down one afternoon and had a serious talk about bird flu-and other possible disasters and what we could/would do. It was rather amazing how he jumped on the prep-board, and he had some pretty good ideas! We’re working on a family plan,-he’s looking into some alternate energy ideas.
We’re cutting back on pre-packaged snacks-never used them much anyways but young teens need to eat. I bought lots of cheap bread (whole grain, high protein) at the bakery outlet) Kids love it-that will be one of my last stops before a permanant SIP.
Lily – at 13:28
I think my prep for today is live large. Life gives, life takes away. So much bad news yesterday. A young man with pancreatic cancer. A neighbor , like Mom of 5 who got a skin abrasion in Mexico, and ended up on IV drip for that nasty business one can get with skin wounds. Lyme disease in that one, sciatica in another, A exchange student drowned in his hosts pool at the age of 23. A young boy who had been scheduled for a sleep over with the 12 year old who was smothered to death by his mother. Very sobering news all round. The young boy will always mourne his friend, the family of the mature man with cancer will limp along as well as they can if it can’t be stopped. While his mother has him on every prayer group she knows and that aspect is covered, I”m adding him to the local prayer group. NNNNNOOOOOO politicians to talk to. Strange feeling off sadness, as though this is the swan song at the farm. While a blue grass band performed while we were sitting under the weeping birches it began to rain. (had gone to escape the flies, never seen before here) As it got heavier and heavier we retreated to the main tent, and with over 200 people the noise level escallated higher and higher, and rather than try to talk, or wait for coffee and desert, we abandoned the party. Though I carried an umbrella the line to the food tent would have been long, and who wants to feel like a drowned rat. Still, with wine, root bear, good food and company it was with mixed feelings that I left. A mile away, nooo rain. All the way home nooo rain. It was like one large cloud have hovered over the farm, and there alone had showered down on us. So, while I am always of the mind that LIFE IS GOOD, it also has its tragic moments, days, months and years.
Bronco Bill – at 13:33
?
Stinkinrose – at 13:35
Kathy in FL.: Thank you so much for sharing your family’s experience with stomach flu earlier this year. Your comments along with Dr. Woodson’s statement in his _Preparation for the Coming Influenza Pandemic_ that “preventing dehydration in flu victims will save more lives than all the other treatments combined” (17) spurred me into action.
After weeks of on and off work I’ve finally finished eight Rehydration Kits for family members. Into each cooler, I placed the following:
1.) packets of homemade O.R.S. (using the new lower osmolarity WHO formula) http://tinyurl.com/g...
2.) enema kit for rectal rehydration http://tinyurl.com/k...
3.) a one-liter nalgene bottle with funnel to mix the ORS
4.) a variety of unsweetened Koolaid to flavor the ORS
5.) some anti-nausea medicine
6.) medicine droppers/straws to help get ORS into very sick patients
7.) anti-diarrhea herb Tormentil Root http://tinyurl.com/r...
8.) a brief notebook with “How to” instructions
9.) a mini LED lantern http://tinyurl.com/c...
I am keeping our kit in our bedroom when TSHTF.
giraffe – at 14:11
Bird Guano at 1:37 USFA is stating prep for 3 months? Did I read that correctly? Is it on their website somewhere? Thanks…
EastTN – at 14:46
I worked at Grand Canyon National Park for 9+ years. Five of those years I worked in the canyon, along the most frequently travelled trails with hundreds of hikers each day. During the summer months it was common to have multiply heat exhaustion cases, normal day 5–10, busy day 20–30 people. Most mild, some very severe.
The reason I bring this up is that dehydration was/is a common effect and can be extremely severe and life threatening. My experience, based on hundreds of cases that I worked, is that the oral re-hydration is critical and time consuming (have to be very patient). The best product that we had is called Gookinaid. To us, this was the best medicine (if IV was not available), looks and tastes like gatoraid, but the chemical makeup was a lot more effective in replacing the electrolytes into the body. I am not associated with the company and have not used the product in over 15 years, but at that time and place it was a true life safer.
Included is the link, but am just providing information based on my past experience. The excellent list that Stinkinrose put together, made me think of this as another possible tool in the tool box to address dehydration.
http://www.gookinaid...
Bronco Bill – at 14:56
lady biker – at 00:09, Average Concerned Mom – at 00:17, BirdGuano – at 01:37 and giraffe – at 14:11 ---
Here is the SurvivalAcres website. A caveat here: they ARE commercial, and are quoting someone’s opinion from someplace called the “Sustainable Living and Common Sense board”. I’ve Googled and Yahoo!ed it and can’t find it anywhere. The author is claiming that a pandemic will last “years, not months”, and that people should store “several years worth of food” for survival. This site also has a political slant to it, and does a lot of “fear-mongering”. Oh, and the link for their “Bird Flu News Site” is Recombinomics.com
A quote from their “News”:
Bird Flu News Site (all the world developments and maps): Yesterday WHO (World Health Organization) was testing for Human to Human transmission. Today the US government is officially telling people to stock up. They wouldn’t do that unless they ‘thought’ (or want us to believe) that H5N1 was about to go pandemic.
SurvivalAcres News
COMMENT
Be very careful regarding what you read on sites that want to sell you something. They’re going to try to scare your money out of your wallet by making one helluva lot of false and misleading claims. If you read it on one site, search for it on other sites as well, just to verify the claims…
Kathy in FL – at 15:18
AnnieB – at 05:09
Try dehydrating the “real thing” and you still have the “real thing” … you’ll just need to rehydrate it.
I’ve done it so far with broccoli, grated potatoes, carrots, peas, and corn. All sorts of fruits but I usually buy my dried fruits in large commerical size containers as they are “prettier” than what I wind up with and are already packaged for long term storage.
Kathy in FL – at 15:21
Green Mom – at 10:43
I hear you and then some. I’d go nuts without at least a skeleton schedule … it helps you get from point A to point B, even if you have to make a few unscheduled detours.
Kathy in FL – at 15:24
Stinkinrose – at 13:35
Glad the bought of stomach flu helped somebody.
Seriously though, we as a family learned a great deal from it in terms of learning not to overestimate our capacity to do things while attending to the sick or being ill ourselves. Its also led me to prepare a sick room cooler full of supplies that has a home in the bottom of my closet at present. Had to get one with a locking lid because of our curious 2 year old or I would have put it under the bed.
Petticoat Junction – at 15:50
I’m rethinking some of our medical preps this week. I was feeling fairly confident, but am now wondering what else to add. Our 9 yr old was at asthma camp the week before last: loved it, had a great time, but mentioned when she got home that one of her cabinmates had a lot of coughing, many nebulizer treatments, etc. I idly thought about the conversations here of unexpected disease transmission and hoped she hadn’t picked up a summer cold.
Well, we got a call from the camp director on Thursday. Turns out the cabinmate (who slept in the bed next to dd and was with her day and night for a week) had….*pertussis/whooping cough*. (!!!!) NOT what you want loose in a camp full of kids with lung problems! They were having to notify the parents, volunteers, counselors, kitchen staff, drs/nurses/resp techs who were on staff (and were treating her symptoms and yet, being asthma camp, assumed the zebra was a horse).
The dr here bumped up her DTaP booster by a couple of years and put her on antibiotics 4x/day for two weeks. (She is right in the middle of the incubation/early symptom period and has been feeling under the weather and coughing a lot, but that could also easily be the allergies which hit her hard this time of year). Apparently it was quite the talk of the dr’s office. We are quarantined and hoping that she didn’t get anything, let alone give it to my parents and niece and eldest dd who left for Colorado the morning before we got the call.
THEN it turned out that she had a reaction to the meds and was up sick all night long and now is on something else for the next two weeks and being watched closely by the dr’s.
It really brought home to me how easily the very serious diseases (which are supposedly ‘mostly eradicated’ can be encountered (not like I didn’t know it before) and how glad I was that we could make a quick phone call and get right in to the dr, get multiple rounds of meds, etc. Obviously I wouldn’t have access to antibiotics, but it has gotten me thinking of medical issues ‘outside the box’ that I now feel a greater need to prepare for, in case they hit at the same time as tshtf.
Jane – at 17:02
Stinkinrose, what exactly is your recipe for the ORS? Is anhydrous glucose the same as sugar? Did you use iodized table salt or non-iodized? Did you use salt substitute for the potassium chloride? The trisodium citrate, dihydrate, is completely new to me. Did you get it at a pharmacy? Thanks for the help!
AnnieB – at 17:09
Thanks HBB and Kathy in FL for your suggestions about the spuds. I have decided that probably the best way to get a supply of fresh veges is to increase the size of the vegetable garden. I am also going to get one of those camping food safes - the mesh cages that you stand in a cool air flow.
HillBilly Bill – at 17:35
AnnieB – at 17:09
The nice thing about potatoes if you can grow your own is that the period without a real one is short, unlike other veggies like tomatoes. I harvest our potatoes before the first freeze in October and they last until about March. You can plant potatoes early in the spring and start digging them as soon as they are big enough to eat (no peeling necessary on young potatoes). “Peas and new potatoes” is the first dish eaten out of the garden around here.
AnnieB – at 17:52
HBB, in NZ, Christmas isn’t Christmas unless you have new potatoes and fresh green beans as part of your meal. My Mum-in-law always kept a small garden but these 2 were always guaranteed on the day … yum. (Remember that our Christmas is in the summer …)
giraffe – at 18:12
Thanks—Bronco Bill @ 14:56
I was referring to BirdGuano’s post at 1:37—”US Fire Academy has told us to prep for 3 months or one wave of flu as a minimum.”
I was wondering if the info was listed on the National Fire Academy or United States Fire Assoc. website. I tried to locate any mention of avian flu on the site, but to no avail. It surprised me that a national association or training organization was speaking in favor of prepping for three months. If this organization is stepping up with such an anouncement, my family will definitely raise our own personal threat level…lol.
Did I misunderstand his/her post? thanks
Stinkinrose – at 19:49
Jane
The formula for the reduced osmolarity ORS formula is in this WHO document: http://tinyurl.com/j...
Let me know if the link doesn’t work.
Here’s how I made it:
My husband purchased a small digital kitchen scale to measure all ingredients in grams. http://tinyurl.com/j...
For anhydrous glucose, I used regular white table sugar. For sodium chloride, I used non-iodized table salt. For trisodium citrate dihydrate, I substituted baking soda (the WHO documents that this is an acceptable substitute) For potassium chloride, I used “No Salt” (a salt substitute found in most grocery stores)
Then I just put all the measured ingredients in small sandwich baggies with labels I printed. I’ve made several hundreds for my immediate and extended family.
Hope this helps. Let me know if you have other questions. Cheers.
Chesapeake – at 20:32
I went to a restaraunt in San Fran called the StinkingRose….garlic…loved it…..flu prep…Garlic, good shelf life
Stinkinrose – at 20:36
Chesapeake
I love that restaurant! and garlic is such a great antiviral with wonderful taste and aroma.
Cheers.
lady biker – at 22:42
Bronco Bill at 1456 Thank you for that information , I wasn’t thinkin right I reckon and got a little shook. Three years was just a little much.
Malachi – at 23:27
When I cook I usually use 10 times the garlic called for in the recipe.Love that stuff.My sister once made a remedy for flu or cold that was crushed garlic and lemon juice, pulp,grated lemon rind.It seemed more like an appetizer to me….Came across “The diary of Anne Frank” and reread it.I noted that they were eating in season crops and veggies and even peeling the film out of the pea pods and using that part of the food that we now toss out.Here it will be only 3 or 4 week until it is time to plant next years yummy garlic crop.My daughter and I picked 4 quarts of blackberries from a big wild bramble.We have the picky scratches all over our arms to prove it and will enjoy them all the more for it.
21 August 2006
EnoughAlready – at 01:15
3 years. ~faint~
Love Texas – at 11:00
Just got a e-mail from Internet-Grocer.com, they now have a source for the canned butter, they will get a shipment in Sept. date not known, depends on customs. This makes me real happy, now I know I can do some real baking during SIP!!!!!!
OKbirdwatcher – at 12:25
Love Texas - Great news!!! Thanks for sharing. I’m on their list for notification, but haven’t heard from them yet. Canned butter - I’m almost giddy! :)
Kathy in FL – at 12:38
I’ve got a #10 can of powdered margarine. I’m hoping that between that, the butter I have in the freezer (I still haven’t attempted to “can” my own butter though I’ve eaten stuff that friends have canned without incident), the butter substitute I can make from powdered milk … and if I can find ghee … that I should be able to cover our butter needs.
Hillbilly Bill – at 12:48
This weekend I stocked up on household supplies from Family Dollar. I also drained and re-filled my water tank. I know that I could leave it empty and fill it when TSHTF, but I enjoy the peace of mind I get from knowing it is there and ready if I need it. In fact I give it a pat evey time I walk by it in the garage. While the tank was empty I built a platform out of cement blocks and boards to get it up higher and make it easier to fill containers from it. It was a herculean task to get the tank up on the platform. Have you ever tried to lift something heavy that is big and round?
On the downside, I have given up on stocking Vanilla Wafers. Instead I’m looking for a recipe to make them. I can resist eating them if they are in the cupboard unassembled.
nopower – at 13:05
Home Depot had Rubbermaid containers on sale right by the door of my S. Florida store, don’t know if it is regional or national. Unfortunately they were the 18 gallon that I can’t fit on the shelving in my garage so I had to go over to Lowes and pay a buck more for the 14 gallons that I can use. Home Depot also had some larger, 37 gallon maybe, Rubbermaids on sale as well as some really small ones that didn’t seem practical for prep use.
My only complaint with the Rubbermaids is they don’t stack well which is why I have to use the shelves. Lowes had a heavy duty model that was atleast 40 gallons and claimed to hold 400lbs on the lid. It was twice the money but you don’t have to worry about your items on the bottom getting crushed.
Kathy in FL – at 13:09
Hillbilly Bill
Can’t make promises, but try this one. I’ll keep looking and see if I can find any copycat recipes.
Vanilla Wafer Cookies
• ½ cup butter (softened)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 1 1/3 cups flour
• ¾ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients; add to creamed mixture and mix well. Drop by teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 12 to 15 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Remove to a wire rack to cool. Makes 3 ½ dozen cookies.
Blue Ridge Mountain Mom – at 13:12
Kathy in FL - 13:09
As always, you are the bomb!! I can’t tell you how much I LOVE all of your recipes and all of the time and attention that you’ve spent getting them together.
Hillbilly Bill – at 13:48
Kathy in FL – at 13:09
Thanks! Is there ANY recipe you DON’T have? I’ll give this one a try and make sure I can make them if we have to SIP.
Kathy in FL – at 14:56
Thanks BRMM and HB …
After all the help that folks here on the wiki have given me … I want to try and give back when I can. Its trading ideas and lending support that will get us all through this with as few scars as possible.
Hillbilly Bill – at 15:30
“Its trading ideas and lending support that will get us all through this with as few scars as possible.”
So very true.
Allquietonthewesternfront – at 16:02
I thought I would share my Bird Flu treatment program since I got a practice run this summer. Of course it wasn’t bird flu but just plain pneumonia. I have a chronic illness that makes me susceptible and I am allergic to every antibiotic ever tried on me although my doctor has tried out a few that I don’t react to for a couple of days. My doctor understands how bad hospitals are for me for antibiotics and a few other complicated reasons so when I come down with pneumonia, he puts me on oxygen and breathing treatments and trusts my own herbal treatment. In June, I was hit harder and faster than I ever have been and they weren’t sure I was going to make it. Then I realized that I had my bird flu treatment. I was so out of it I had been thinking I should save it for survival of bird flu. Duh! I realized it wouldn’t do me any good if I didn’t survive until the pandemic. For three days I took the treatment except for one item and I improved a little. Then I had a dangerous night and my frantic husband realilzed we had forgotten the oil of oregano and began giving me that in large doses. In one day there was a dramatic improvement. Over the next few weeks, whenever I went off the gelitan capsules of oil of oregano, I would go down hill. I tried just that and went off the other stuff and I also went down hill so I believe it is all important, especially the oregano. Here is what I did: Two packets of emergenc-c per day in a glass of fresh lemon or limeaid, sweetened with real maple syrup. Also added a dropper full of elderberry extract to each glass. Two cayenne capsules per day, four capsules of gingerroot, a zinc lozenge, 8 capsules of oregano oil. I also was given a very high-roughage diet to clean out toxins. Needs to be natural roughage IMO. It scared me how fast this hit and now I realize that if we get bird flu and one of us even seems to be getting symptoms, we will start them immediately on the full program, no time to waste. And, if we believe the pandemic is really starting, we will increase our daily vit. C before it hits. I know some of you think this may not apply since this wasn’t bird flu but all I can say is, my family and I believe it will and this is what we will be doing. I don’t need scientific proof, it was in the pudding and I ate it and it was good! ;)
Allquietonthewesternfront – at 16:05
Dang, I forgot one of the most important parts. I knew I was forgetting something. Must have been psychological since I doubt most people want to do or even hear this but when you are fighting for your life, its amazing what you’ll do. Fresh garlic enemas was crucial for me. One a day, plus I drank down garlic suntea with honey. Actually, with honey I kind of like it. Weird huh?
Green Mom – at 16:17
A frog or toad got into one of my roof water collection barrels,result: lots of little tadpoles. we rescued them-a few went into a small (10 gal) aquarium for my daughters science porject, the rest we liberated into a farm pond. there was a lot of algae build up so the barrel had to be scraped, and washed out with bleach. Fortunantly, this barrel collects water for my backyard garden and NOT drinking water. So the fifteen minent chore of watering the garden turned into a halfday chore. Oh well.
I have a feeling that this might be an example of unforseen things that will pop up as we do more gearing down towards our possible SIP.
Vanilla wafers do not last long here-I’m also going to try Kathys recipie. Thanks!
anonymous – at 23:14
Allquietonthewesternfront – at 16:02
I have one question…..you said, “Also added a dropper full of elderberry extract to each glass”……
In the prep lists here, once upon a time, I think either Owl’s or EOD’s had a link to a page explaining about cytokine storm & how chocolate can intensify the storm effects and it also said that elderberry extract did the same, or was suspected to do the same. The pages have been modified or something or I just can’t find the link anymore (the page had a black background and on it was a link to the light blue-I think-page explaining about chocolate & elderberry extract)…..
Anyway, I had taken the liberty of copying the following information from that website & added it to my own prep list which is published below Owl’s list. It said:
“Tamiflu or Relenza if prepping for Bird Flu-do NOT give black elderberry extract (increases Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha [TNF] & more cytokines which the H5N1 flu is already increasing called a chtokine storm) and don’t give CHOCOLATE to a H5N1 patient (stimulates TNF) “
So did you find that was incorrect or does the regular pneumonia not create a cytokine storm so you didn’t have any problem, but if it had been the bird flu & you took the elderberry extract would it actually aggrevate the condition by intensifying the cytokine storm?
I hope I worded all that right, I’m not good at this technical stuff at all, just remember that the elderberry extract was considered almost a poison, like the chocolate was in the case of BF & cytokine storm…..is it safe to take under regular pneumonia conditions but not under BF conditions?
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 23:25
Heck again and again…that was me above. I just can’t seem to remember that my computer cleans cookies on Mondays!
22 August 2006
BirdGuano – at 02:35
Elderberry is ok as prophylactic, but once you have the flu, yes, it promotes cytokines so is counter-indicatd in bird flu infection.
Elderberry extract is not for pneumonia. It only affects the flu virus, and nothing bacterial.
For secondary bacterial pueumonia infections, you need a good Rx antibiotic.
Green Mom – at 08:32
Chocolate considered almost a poison? Oh dear……..
That might be the most disturbing news Ive heard so far.
Love Texas – at 09:17
OKBirdwatcher—I got a e-mail about the butter because I e-mailed about something else and asked about it and she replied. I am sure she will let us know when the shipment comes in---
Carrey in VA – at 11:04
I bought a big bag of frozen broccoli at Sams last time I was there. I’ve just let it thaw and loaded it into the dehydrator. I can’t wait to see how it comes out. This will help rice ALOT.
Kathy in FL – at 11:09
Carrey in VA – at 11:04
I’ve dehydrated lots of broccoli. I use it in rice, soups, and stew recipes rather than reconstitute it and cover it with cheese like you can with fresh or frozen stuff.
I’ve never had a problem with it.
Carrey in VA – at 11:16
I like to bake rice, chicken, broccoli, cheese, and cream mushroom soup. YUMMMMY LOL
I also thought I could grind some up and use it in other things just to boost the nutrition. I could get really good at sneaking veggies into things if it were dried and powdered LOL
amak – at 11:22
Kathy and Carrey - I just bought a dehydrator. ANy good links/suggestions you can give me for using this thing? What is the best way you’ve found to store the items after dehydrating? And how long do they last? I am worried about making us sick from growing bacteria or something while I am storing it.
amak – at 11:47
or anyone with experience in the dehydrator area…. not being exclusive to just Kathy and Carrey :-)
Kim – at 12:40
amak, try the Excalibur website, lots of instructions on drying different products.
http://www.excalibur...
Bronco Bill – at 12:53
amak – at 11:22 --- Whilst you have power, dry your foods and put them in plastic bags and then into the freezer. I dehydrated fresh sliced tomatoes two years ago, and they’re still great in soups.
Hillbilly Bill – at 12:57
Dried Roma (pear) tomatoes are also really delicious when reconstituted in olive oil. Add a little garlic if you desire. I dried several gallon freezer bags full last year and they are still fine. As BB said, keep them in the freezer after drying.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 13:28
I just bought a dehydrator too, a Ronco 5 tray from Big Lots for $30 — I need to line the trays with something for some chopped up onion & peppers…..anything around the house I can use or do I need to purchase liners from somewhere?
Carrey in VA – at 13:35
I dehydrate almost all my hamburger now. It is so nice to decide to make chili an hour before supper and not have to worry about thawing the burger and then frying it up. I just pack it into a jar and vacuum seal it keeping it on the pantry shelf. Its really nice.
I’ve dehydrated apples alot, but found that I will just eat and eat them till thier gone, so I stopped drying them LOL
I tried drying sausage like Ido the burger, it didn’t work well though. I guess the sausage just has too much fat, I could never get it all rinsed off.
Allquietonthewesternfront – at 14:12
Bird Guano, First off, I figured since this was the wrong place to talk about flu treatment since nothing else on this thread discusses it so sorry to others for hijack. Anyway, my pneumonia was viral, and in addition, I am deathly allergic to antibiotics. More to the point, since I was attempting to suggest a program to others, more to the point, bird flu is viral so that is the point here. I have to admit, I didn’t specifically focus on elderberry extract so I can’t tell how efficatious it was in my treatment but I have read a great deal about it on many flu boards (but not lately so maybe new info came out re: cytokine storms and sambucol) so I thought it was widely believed to help. I am certainly willing to adjust my treatment and obviously since I didn’t have bird flu, I can’t be certain what will work best. I studied it for months and put together my program. Any others know why elderberry was so talked up and now is thrown out? Does it conclusively cause the cytokine storm?
Closed and Continued - Bronco Bill – at 16:09
Most excellent series. This thread getting long, so continued here
Last posts copied to new thread

Flu Prep 16 (XVI)

Bronco Bill — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 14:47:36 GMT

From Flu Wiki 2
Forum: Flu Prep XVI
22 August 2006
Bronco Bill – at 16:10
Continued from here
Kim – at 16:42
amak, I store everything (veggies, fruit, hamburger) I’ve dehydrated in glass jars which are kept in my pantry. You can use canning jars with canning lids, or just jars leftover from things such as pickles etc with the lids they came with. I’ve kept hamburger just fine this way for two years, and have some fruits and veggies which are pushing 5 years. I usually vacuum seal the jars with a Pump-N-Seal, so when I get into a jar to remove some of the contents it’s easy to re-vacuum them. Just keep dehydrated foods in a dark, cool spot (my pantry stays about 60–65 degrees F) and keep them dry. The darkness will help prevent color changes, cooler is always better when it comes to food storage, and if kept dry the dehydrated foods won’t support mold or bacterial growth. I use the Pump-N-Seal to draw as much air (and therefore moisture) from the jar as possible whenever I open one. You can order polyscreen tray inserts from Excalibur (you’ll have to cut them to fit your round trays) or use window screen cut to fit.
http://www.pump-n-se...
http://www.excalibur...
amak – at 16:57
So you just cook your hamburger (any % of fat work better or worse for this?) and then dheydrate it & then put it away in a glass jar in a dark space? It sounds so simple, but I hate food poisoning!!!
Dennis in Colorado – at 17:01
Allquietonthewesternfront – at 14:12 Any others know why elderberry was so talked up and now is thrown out? Does it conclusively cause the cytokine storm?
The effect of herbal remedies on the production of human inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines
“The Sambucol preparations increased the production of five cytokines (1.3–6.2 fold) compared to the control.”
You’ll have to decide for yourself if a 1.3–6.2 x increase in cytokine production is good or bad. Of course, you must take into account that the study was done with exposure to “normal” influenza viruses and not H5N1. There is no way to say if cytokine production would be increased or decreased when using elderberry extract after exposure to H5N1.
nsthesia – at 17:11
I was looking for some of those 5 year, USCG life raft approved food bars from the Red Cross (to put in my BOB) and ended up talking to one of the disaster planning guys.
It was kinda nice to speak to someone about disaster planning and not have them make snide comments to you. Anyway…I asked him about disaster planning classes and if anyone was teaching them in the community, focusing on hurricane and/or pandemic planning? And he said they quit giving them because no one attended. He said they would give the classes and only one or two people would show up.
I told him I would be glad to volunteer if needed. I think I’ll have to come up with a racy title to get attention. Something like:
EXTREME PREPAREDNESS: How to Have Safe Sex During a Panflu in the Middle of a Hurricane!
Refreshments would consist of survival bar appetizers.
What’s it gonna take to get people to pay attention???!!
Carrey in VA – at 17:21
amak – at 16:57 So you just cook your hamburger (any % of fat work better or worse for this?) and then dheydrate it & then put it away in a glass jar in a dark space? It sounds so simple, but I hate food poisoning!!! Carrey in VA
I buy the cheapest burger I can find. Which is usually 75% lean for about 1.39 a pound. I fry it just like I would for taco meat or chili. Then I rinse it REALLY well with boiling water. Getting off as much fat as possible. Then I just layer it on the dehydrating trays. I have found that if I put the fruit roll up try on the bottom rack and fill the other trays with burger it really saves on the clean up. The tray catches all the little bits that fall through the racks. When the burger is dry it’s like rocks. I let it cool on the racks and then package into canning jars and vacuum seal them. It works GREAT! and it really is simple.
Kim – at 17:36
amak, I brown hamburger (usually 80% lean, but leaner is better if you can get it on sale), then scoop it out of the frying pan with a slotted spoon. I put it on dehydrator racks lined with paper towels and dehydrate. Dump in jars, seal with Pump-N-Seal, and I’m done. (I have an Excalibur dehydrator which blows air from the back of the unit and across the trays, not one of those round dehydrators that blows air up from the bottom, so I’m not sure if this method would work in a round dehydrator.)
I used to fry the hamburger then put it in a colander over a big bowl and squish it down with paper towels to absorb any grease. That was alot of trouble, so I got lazy and skipped doing that. The hamburger is just as good and keeps just as long the way I do it now.
Carrey in VA, doesn’t it clog up your pipes with grease to rinse that hamburger with water?
MAinVA – at 17:43
Adding to Carrey’s comments A 17:21. I have not yet gotten a dehydrator so have done this process in my regular oven. Probably adds to the electrical bill; however I do about 5 −7 lbs of hamberger at a time, which takes up tons of room! I do it exactly as described by Carry, put it into large jars with an Oxegen absorber. Works beautifully! When I reconstitute a cup or so of dried, I use beef bullion to kick up the flavor. So far I’ve used it in Mexican casserols, skillet stroganoff, and, if I’ve dried some ground sirloin in Kansas City steak soup.
To keep pecans longer, I also soak 2 lbs of nuts in water for 12 hrs and then dry the batch on two cookie sheets for another 10 hrs in the stove. This came from a health food recipe that my Drs wife shared with me, so I’ve used it for at least 3 years now. Don’t need to worry about the nuts turning because of the oil.
Bronco Bill – at 17:48
Carrey in VA, doesn’t it clog up your pipes with grease to rinse that hamburger with water?
Let the hottest water from your tap run for about 3–5 minutes after you’re done rinsing the meat. During the “wash-away” (that’s what I call it!), I squirt a little liquid dish soap into the drain…it keeps the grease from coagulating and sticking to the pipes….and it smells good, too! ;-)
Carrey in VA – at 17:54
Kim – at 17:36 and Bronco Bill – at 17:48
We have a septic system so I NEVER pour grease down the drain. I put the water and grease from rinsing the meat into a wash pan. Then the next morning I skim off the fat. Sometimes I freeze the fat into small portions for the dog in the winter time. Most of the time I just throw it away. Then I take the water outside and dump it. It is a pain, but well worth the trouble not to have to pump out the septic tank.
Green Mom – at 19:29
We’re having wierd food week here this week. I hate to throw out stuff-espicially food, but I’m cleaning out the pantry so this week I’m actually cooking all the odd cans and boxes of things in the pantry-like the low-carb pasta that I bought for my sister-in-laws visit, and the flavored coffee and tea from Christmas gift baskets and the instant flan mix that I bought for my daughters class when they were studying Spain but then she got sick and missed the Spanish dinner and the off brand chili that seemed like a good idea at the store but at home I’m not so sure. Anyway, I’m getting rid of all the stuff because if we do have to SIP things will be wierd enough. Surprisingly, they liked the Tabouli mix-I’ll stock up on that, but the “gourmet” brownie mix that came in a Christmas gift basket was dreadful.
amak – at 21:16
Oh, so if I don’t have a pump n seal, I can use oxygen absorbers instead? Great ideas - thanks! I like this pump n seal thing - I briefly looked at it - is it electric or hand pumped?
Any dehydrated ground turkey meat instead? We usually eat that instead of ground beef * was wondering how that turns out.
Calandriel – at 21:23
I’ve just discovered the miracle of dehydrated ground beef! It’s easy to do, easy to store, and once rehydrated, tastes practically as good as the fresh thing.
Q Has anyone tried to cook & dry ground turkey the same way you dehydrate ground beef with the same great results?
amak – at 21:39
I think tomorrow I am going to start small - apples. Any advice? Just slice and start my machine? Do you all treat them with something first?
Call me simple but I just can’t get over the whole dry the meat in a machine and it can sit on shelf with no refirgeration etc!!!! (Yea, you can tell prior to becoming a prepper I was not a gourmet cook!!!)
23 August 2006
2beans – at 07:31
Amak:
Add a tsp fresh lemon juice to a bowl (2cups?) of water and briefly dip your apple slices in it before placing them in the dehydrator. This isn’t essential but it does keep them from turning brown. I add a tiny dusting of brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg to the sliced apples before I dehydrate. Makes great snack food.
2beans – at 07:39
Calling anon-22:
Any suggestions for home supplies to treat MSRP? I assume in the event of pandemic there will be a greater prevalence due to lower resistance and/or self-sufficiency-induced injuries to the skin. Is ordinary antibiotic cream the thing to use or something else AND is there any way for the average person to distinguish the condition from regular garden-variety infection?
2beans – at 07:41
correction:
Make that methicillin resistant staph - Not manufacturers suggested retailprice!
Kathy in FL – at 09:32
amak – at 21:39
You can dip apple and pear slices in jello powder (sweetened or sugar-free) and then dehydrate them for a “candy” like treat.
My mom leaves her’s rubber-y and it is a mess. I slice mine much thinner … think potato chip … and then dry them crisp.
To help with clean up, either dry them on cooking parchment or spray your racks with a little bit of non-stick spray.
Kathy in FL – at 09:41
2beans – at 07:39
For all skin breaks I treat them with triple antibiotic cream. I don’t care if this is a simple scrap of a single layer of skin or a slice that has required deep stitching (including my husband’s injury from a chain saw ).
That stuff really works, and on the smaller cuts and dings I’ve found that it actually helps prevent scarring. I have keloid scars (I can’t remember how to spell it) … the scar tissue is raised and “puffy” or actually quite dense and tough depending on the location on my body. Even a mosquito bite can cause me to scar. In addition, I tend to “try” and get infected easier … think it has something to do with a lower resistant level to that sort of thing … and the triple antibiotic cream really works.
Just my two cents … but that IS what the doctor told my husband to use to keep the infection down in his chain saw injury and what I had to use on my caesarean staples. It also helps keep the skin protected and prevents it from drying out while it heals.
Triple antibiotic is different from first aid cream … look specifically for the tube that says triple antibiotic.
AVanarts – at 10:03
I always try to keep several tubes of the triple antibiotic cream around. I buy the generic stuff and it seems to work just as well as the more expensive name brand.
Jefiner – at 10:21
I have been dehydrating all kinds of meat: hamburger, cooked cubed chicken breast, pork loin, roast beef and jerkey. I have been storing it all in zip loc bags for the time being, but I plan on seal a mealing all of it this weekend. I have some silica gel and will make up some packets of the stuff (in triple thick paper towel) for any stray moisture absorption.
I am definitely moving towards dehydrating, because canned takes up so much pantry space and is heavy, besides. We will use what I have in place in rotation, but I don’t think I will expand on any more canned items.
Jefiner – at 10:23
Brave Soldier is an ointment which, while not cheap, works very very well. It has tea tree oil and lidocaine in it as well as the standard antibiotic ingredients; I have used it when I crashed my bike with lots of road rash—kept the areas from getting infected, and healed within a few days. Good stuff.
Kathy in FL – at 10:35
This afternoon I hope to be able to go out and get a few more holes filled back up in my prep pantry. I’m finding it is a lot easier to use some of the items than it is to keep them stocked up.
We eat a lot of rice and I keep getting into the stuff faster than I buy it. I also need to restock a lot of my paper goods … again, easier to just break into the supplies that make a special trip to the store to pick up more. My canned goods are going faster as well. I guess I could consider it part of the normal rotation schedule … but I’m doing more rotating out than rotating in.
And I’m going to try another road-trip prep test. Hubby is taking the family on a 4 day holiday for my birthday. It will be nice to get away for a few days and focus just on fun. That will be my prep for the weekend.
2beans – at 10:44
Kathy and Jefiner:
Thanks but the news I have seen is that newer antibiotics don’t work on MRSA. It requires some very old ones. I don’t know w/n the tripleA ointment works on it. I do use it all the time on other scrapes.
Jefiner – at 23:14
2beans – at 10:44 Thanks but the news I have seen is that newer antibiotics don’t work on MRSA.
IV vancomycin or a few other high end IV antibiotics (Zosyn) are the only meds to treat MRSA.
EnoughAlready – at 23:35
Question about dehydrating meat: After putting it into a sealed container (like canning jar, or anything that is truly tightly sealed) why do we have to vacuum seal it? I am assuming there is something out there that is sucking the air out… this pump and vac deal? I have a seal a meal. But it doesn’t suck the air out. If I put dehydrated meat into a sealed container, it isn’t going to keep?
• Today the grocery store had chopped celery in 16 oz containers on sale for 80 cents. I bought everyone they had… 13. I have had great success dehydrating celery like this previously. Celery gives a salty taste to things, and crunch, and I love it in so many dishes!
There is some discussion about MRSA on the New Rumors III thread.
24 August 2006
Kim – at 06:31
EnoughAlready, it’s not *necessary* to vacuum seal dehydrated stuff but for really long-term storage it’s a good idea. Dehydrated foods in storage have two enemies… moisture, which can be kept out simply with a tight-closing jar, and oxygen, which will eventually degrade all foods. If you’re planning to store deydrated foods long-term (years, not months) it will really help if you can either vacuum seal or add an oxygen absorber to the packaging. If you plan on using up the product within the next year then the oxygen exposure is not such a big deal, just try to keep the product in as small a container as it will fit into to reduce exposure to oxygen.
Dusty – at 07:25
Just bought 50 lbs of bread flour — is it bay leaves that helps prevent bug infestation?
2beans – at 07:38
Dusty at 7:25:
Yep - lots of’em. If you can do it, organize your flour into, say, 5lb. units and freeze each one for 48 hrs. This kils what you can’t see bugwise.
Dusty – at 08:25
2beans – at 07:38 Thanks! Would not have even thought of freezing first. Looks like I have a busy weekend ahead of me.
Green Mom – at 09:07
Dusty- I freeze grains-flour rice etc for 48 hours-or until I remember to take it out of the freezer! I usually repackage my grains either in jars or zip-bags-I just don’t trust store packaging, and put a bay leaf in each package. Look for bulk bay leaves at food-co-ops/health food stores waaaaaay much cheaper than those little spice jars at the grocery. I bought a pound of bay leaves a couple of years ago-that is a LOT of bay leaves I’m telling you! I also stuff bay leaves in the cracks around the door of the pantry and sprinkle them under shelves-and I don’t have any pantry pest problems-except for the two teens living in my house. If I could find a way to keep THEM out of the pantry….
I dehydrating zucchini today. Ive havn’t done ground beef, but I think I’ll give it a try. I still can some things, jam, beef in sauce, but more and more I’m using the dehydrater.
Prep today-dry the zucchini, drop off extra Pressure guage for re-calibrating at County Extention office. Also will pick up some info on orchards- we have a peach tree, an appricot, and several apple trees that are not doing as well as they should-they are young trees, but I suspect they need some pruning this winter. I’ll take son in for (hopefully) last dentist visit for a while.
Texas Rose – at 19:04
“IV vancomycin or a few other high end IV antibiotics (Zosyn) are the only meds to treat MRSA”
I am MRSA+ and have had a few rounds of Vancomycin, to which I am allergic but hey, when that’s all that works, one deals(with the help of pre-meds of Benadryl and Tylenol).
But the Vanc was given when the infections were systemic and my immune system was nonexistent. Since that time, my immune system is back and the outbreaks have been minor. For the ordinary, garden variety outbreaks on the skin, I’ve used regular OTC antibiotic creams and those work. I also clean the skin around the outbreak with either Betadine or Chlorhexidine before applying the antibiotic. If I deal with the outbreak right away, it doesn’t get bad enough that I have to have the IV Vanc(last time I had to do that was three years ago).
Disclaimer: This works for ME. I’m not saying nor am I advising that it would/could work for others.
EnoughAlready – at 21:32
Kim – at 06:31
Even though I have put this stuff into canisters that have rubber seals, or jars with clamps and seals, or tins… very tight fitted lids… do you think I would still need to add the oxygen absorbers? If so, I am very glad you told me this because nothing I have read in any of the books I studied up on has said to do this. Even the manual that came with my dehydrater didn’t say to do this. I am very careful to get stuff really dehydrated! I want this for long term prep, not to use now… now I can go to the store! ;) Let me put it to you this way… if you didn’t have my attention I would have just blown this off as nonsense. But, some little bell is going off making me think there may be some credence to this exercise. Before I go investing in oxygen absorbers, I just want to make sure this is necessary. So, how do you know this?
I appreciate so much bringing this to the discussion table! And… we aren’t just talking meat anymore… are we? You’re talking “everything”??? Ugggh. I have a whole lot of stuff put up! Better to know the answer now than later.
Kathy in FL – at 21:57
Made a great find yesterday at wallyworld. Someone had mentioned that they had found lemon and lime flavoring in packets that could just be added to water. Then they couldn’t find them anymore.
Well, I found boxes of them at wallyworld. Bought the last two boxes of lime (40 packets each), and 2 or 3 boxes of lemon … I can’t remember now that I’ve put them away.
We are going away for a 4 day weekend … probably the last “fun” weekend we will have before the more traditional holiday season. Its for my 4–0 so … … I plan to enjoy it. When we get back I plan on some more extensive prepping. If nothing else I plan on doing a little early shopping for the holidays and making more plans.
Kim – at 21:57
EnoughAlready, hmmmm, well, how do I *know* this? Well, I’m no scientist, have no lab, and have run no tests so guess I can’t say I *know* this. I’m just going on common sense which tells me that exposure to oxygen degrades foods, and the fact that nearly all of the commercial packers of dehydrated foods either vacuum-pack or nitrogen-pack their products for extended shelf life.
BTW, the cheapest place I’ve found to get oxygen absorbers is Honeyville Grains. I think I paid about $4 for 100 there, plus about $4.95 shipping. You probably only need one O2 pkt per container so this shouldn’t break the bank.
http://store.honeyvi...
InKy – at 22:13
I’m buying a few jars of honey to put in my preps. It’s an effective antibacterial agent and disinfectant whether you are treating a cut, and infection, an ulcer, or bacterial diarrhea. See this 1999 article in Mother Earth News.
OKbirdwatcher – at 22:19
Kathy in FL -
Happy B-Day to you!!! 4–0 isn’t so bad. I’ve been there, done that (a few years back;) Have a great time!
Average Concerned Mom – at 22:26
EnoughAlready — I’m just learning about dehydrating — but — what Kim said makes sense to me. I am guessing here than most people who dehydrate food are doing so for the short term — they have extra produce in fall, want to “put it up” for the winter and eat it in the spring or so — i.e. not trying to store it for longer than one year. So, probably no need for O2 absorbers. But, if you want to make the food store longer than that, the absorbers would be a good idea.
I just bought 15 pounds of hamburger on sale — dehydrated 5 pounds, cooked 5 pounds with equivalent amount of kidney beans and froze it, and plan to can 5 pounds as well. I must say, the dehyrdated experiment seems to have worked, but it doesn’t really look like food anymore. I’m going to try to rehydrate it and see if it is edible in the morning.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 22:29
Kathy, have a great trip, and when you come back, try those powdered additives for your drinks. I bought some (Fulfill I think it was called) and didnt’ like them. They have aspertaime as the sweetener but left a bitter aftertaste. I DID get offered some Crystal Light water bottle drink mix in the little individual servings and the CL was GREAT! Aspertaime again, but this time no aftertaste. So try some while you can still return it if you don’t like it.
EnoughAlready, you can check the LDS food storage websites or Nitr-Pak.com or beprepared.com for information on the oxy absorbs. If you REALLY want to store food for a long time, then you prep the food in the freezer, then let it sit out for a day so any moisture evaporates, then line a food grade bucket with a mylar liner, fill to nearly the top with food & the appropriate amount of oxy absorbs, seal with an iron (you can use a piece of wood to give you a ‘straight-edge’ to iron on so the seal is secure) & your food could stay fresh for up to 20 years if stored properly after sealing. There’s a chart on one of those sites (I think) that shows you how many oxy abs per gallon of food — I don’t remember how many. I just know that on some of the professionally sealed buckets that I have, the sides of the bucket actually ‘sucked in’ due to the amount of oxy absorbs inside!
You can sometimes find oxy abs on ebay, but the Honeyville price is a great one & they are dependable!
amak – at 22:43
I did my first dehydrating of apples today - I think they turned out okay. I put them in a seal a meal bag in the freezer? Overkill?
Question though - do fruits have to be stored in the freezer? How long would they lsat on a shelf? And if I do leave them in the freezer and I should lose electricity, how long would they be good when they thaw? Just looking for others personal experience. thanks!
Thinking of doing broccoli tomorrow.
Kim – at 22:55
Dehydrated foods do NOT have to be frozen. I am still eating apple rings that I dehydrated 3 years ago, keep them in a jar in my pantry… I LOVE them, way better than even fresh apples.
gharris – at 23:01
For folks without a dehydrator - check out your local bulk foods shop - they have all kinds of great dehydrated stuff at good prices:- potato slices, powdered dried potatoes, veg mix for soups, fruits (of course)- I was surprised at the extent of choices! It is also a good place to get different grains like quinoa, bulgar, barley etc in case we get tired of rice and couscous with our lentils/peas and beans!
amak – at 23:20
Kim - you just keep them in a jar that you open & close as you want stuff without anything special to the jar? I was nsacking a bit as I packed mine up today. :-)
I have some books ordered on dehydrating stuff & recipes ( not here yet) but my hope was to NOT have to freeze these things.
SaddleTramp – at 23:42
All this talk about dehydrating has inspired me to give it a try. BUT ---- I am seriously mechanically challenged. If a thing doesnt poop and have hair, I cant communicate with it.
So which one do you guys recommend? It’s gotta be super simple. Inexpensive would be nice, too, but not required.
amak – at 23:49
Well, I was able to unpack the machine from the box and wash it and plug it in & woo hoo! And I didn’t burn the house down. So I think anyone can DO it. I just don’t know what to do with it after I dehydrate all the life out if it!! I really want to work up to the meat thing, but yeah, I’m scared too….
25 August 2006
SaddleTramp – at 00:01
So what brand/make is the WooHoo?
Any other specific ones you guys have used successfully?
amak – at 00:09
Woo hoo was just the sound I made being so proud of myself that I accomplished that much! Honestly I had a coupon & gift certificate to a local housewares stores so that made my decision as to what I got… what they had in stock. I got the Nesco brand. It sucked the moisture out of the food so after my first attempt I’d say it worked. I don’t know where it ranks compared to others - I figured if I really get into it someday I’d upgrade. I have heard of the excalibur brand too.
LEG – at 01:40
has anyone tried a Pump’n’seal? Do the tabs stay sealed for a long time? Is it hard to use on bags?
Green Mom – at 01:55
I bought my dehydrater- a Magic chef at a thrift store for two bucks! I have noticed though that Big Lots had quite a few of them on sale. The packaging was promoting them as a way to make your own beef jerky-I think that was something of a food fad a couple of years ago. Kind of like deep fried turkeys. (which are really really good by the way)
I havn’t done any meat with mine. The instructions tell how to make the jerky but not anything else. Ive dehydrated all kinds of produce though and have been really happy with it. I’m also curious about the pump’n’seal.
Anon-today – at 02:56
A couple of people have mentioned buying drink powders to add to water. One caution. If you end up using iodine to purify your water, it is deactivated by citric acid. So if your powders have citric acid in them, make sure you wait the required amount of time for the iodine to work before you dump in your flavored powders.
EnoughAlready – at 04:11
Kim – at 21:57
~~snicker~~ smartalec! I hate it when I’m wrong! Honestly, this makes good sense.
Average Concerned Mom – at 22:26
“it really doesn’t look like food anymore” ROFLOL!! Ya’ oughta see what dehydrated cantaloupe turns out to look like!!! I have dehydrated stuff for years, stuff like herbs… but not like I am doing now. There is a difference, IMHO, in short-term vs. long-term “storage” planning. (As I am discovering NOW.)
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 22:29
Prep the food in the freezer- You mean after dehydrating it? If so, am I doing this to cause any remaining moisture to form ice crystals? Which I am assuming then evaporate. I am not sure I am following you here… want to make sure I am on the right thought pattern!
SaddleTramp – at 23:42
Dehydrating is the easiest of all the homemade stuff. Biggest thing is to make sure it gets dehydrated. One reason I really like it is because I can put it on and leave it… w/o “babysitting” the stuff! And, holy smoke, it shrinks down like crazy! Really space saving. (But, now, I’ve got to go back and stick 0–2 absorbers in all those containers.) :0 I like the temperature control kind with a blower. I bought one at a thrift store that didn’t do that and didn’t like it. Then I bought another kind at a thrift store that did do all that and liked it enough to go buy another one like it at the store. Mine is an American Harvest by Nesco. Someday, I will probably upgrade to an excalibar.
Has anybody made tomato powder? I’ve been reading about it online. Sounds to me like it is nothing more than dehydrated tomato paste.
Somewhere on one of these threads I asked about dehydrating cheese. I did it. It is a flop. Did skim mozzarella. Top was “crisp” and bottom “greasy”.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 07:30
Ah oh…..I didn’t mean prep the food in the freezer for dehydrating…..SORRY! I was thinking about 2 things at the same time. Your flour & rice you put in the freezer before sealing it up with oxy abs, the food for dehydrating you just clean, dry, & then store with oxy abs.
I bought the Big Lots Ronco brand dehydrator for $30 & am using it — I DO see the drawbacks of this cheaper model…first, there are no trays for Jerky or fruit roll-ups so I went online to Ronco.com & ordered extra trays & the tray liners. It DOES smell up the house very strongly for hours until the stuff gets dry enough to not smell any more. Lots of people who dry things regularly think it’s worthless and I suppose in comparison it probably is, but it’s what I got so I’m using it. Ronco makes a bigger one that works 4 times as fast as the Big Lots one, but I don’t know if it’s any ‘better’.
I know that Kathy was referring people to the excalibar line — just google excalibar dehydrator should get you to that one — it’s square & apparently very good.
Green Mom – at 08:00
I think if we get through this winter-i.e. no flu, I’ll probably upgrade to a better model. Right now every extra penny is going into preps. I really like dehydrating stuff-its easy, and y’ll are right-you don’t have to babysit the thing!
Jefiner – at 09:45
I keep my dehydrator running outside or in the garage when I am dehydrating strong smelling stuff (like the killer jerkey). The machine gets hot enough to keep visitors away(like the occasional fly or unruly Labrador).
amak – at 09:58
Okay - so I am getting this straight in my head - you all DO NOT freeze after dehydrating (to store it?) So I can take these fruits and veggies, dehydrate, then dump into like a canning jar, throw in the 02 absorber & just put the lid on???
And I know this will sound stupid, but how do you know when to turn the dehydrator off? I thought the apples were pretty darn dry yesterday, but is there a rule of thumb to know when they are done? For apple s- completely crisp? A little flimsy still? Today I am doing broccoli - any hints???
Kim – at 10:58
amak, look at the “using your excalibur dehydrator” (middle) section here on the excalibur site, it will tell you to what degree of crispness (or pliability) various things should be dried to, as well as temperatures (only applies if your dehydrator has various temperature settings/thermostat) and approximate times (times will vary some depending on humidity, beginning moisture content of food, etc). Apples I dry until leathery, they’ll still bend but are pretty dry, kind of like beef jerky. Mmmmm, I could eat them til I explode :-) For broccolii, get it pretty dry, almost crunchy. Yes, just dehydrate, throw in jars, and you’re done. If you’ll be using it within a year or less, no real use for oxygen absorber or vacuum-packing. For storage over one year, I recommend either O2 absorber or vacuum packing.
http://www.excalibur...
As for the Pump-N-Seal, I use mine alot. It isn’t too whippy on sealing bags (in my opinion), but for sealing jars it is WONDERFUL. Takes maybe 30 seconds or less to seal a jar. I’ve never had a problem with the seal failing or the tabs falling off. The thing looks like a little bicycle pump and is very easy to use. It does pull a better vacuum than the jar-sealer attachment for the Foodsaver (which I also have).
If you have a cheapie dehydrator and decide to get serious about dehydrating, or are looking to make a good investment, I suggest the Excalibur dehydrator. For “plug-n-play” it can’t be beat. I started out with one of those cheapie round dehydrators, and frankly, it was a pain in the rear. Seemed like things would burn and/or I always had to be shuffling the trays around to get things to dry evenly. The Excalibur eliminates all that… everything dries evenly, no tray shuffling, it has a timer that shuts it off at whatever time you set, and best of all it has a thermostat so you can properly dry things at different temperatures. Just my 2 cents.
EnoughAlready, yep, tomato powder is nothing more than dehydrated tomato paste. Once dehydrated, run it through the food processor or blender to powder it (see excalibur website). You can get those big #10 cans of tomato paste (Contadina brand, the best) at Sam’s Club about $3.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 11:02
Amak, you’re exactly right about the process —everything you dry should be shelf-stable, meaning you can just set it on a shelf without any further ‘treatment’, freezing or otherwise — nothing, nada!!!
As far as the time to dry things…..my machine came with a booklet that gave instructions for my machine & for Ronco’s larger one. The differences were significant, for instance in my smaller 5 tray one, peppers, onions, celery, etc. need to dry for 1–2 days until the peppers & celery are ‘brittle’ and the onions are ‘leathery’, while the bigger 10 tray with a fan would only need to run for 6–9 hours for the celery & 12 hours for the onion & pepper.
My manual says that broccoli should be steamed until tender — 3–5 minutes, then dried 1–2 days until brittle for my 5 tray ionic dryer (which basically is just a heater)
It says that apples should be dipped in pre-treatment solution (like lemon or pineapple juice or liquid fruit pectin to prevent discoloration) for 2 minutes, drained and then dried until ‘pliable’, 1–2 days for my 5 tray ionic dryer. It also says you can dip the apples in jello powder as a coating to make the snack sweeter when dry.
You might google ‘dehydrator drying table for fruits & vegetables’ and see what you come up with for additional charts.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 11:46
Oh I forgot, when you order the oxy abs and they arrive, they will be in one big bag most likely. You will need to get some jars ready BEFORE you cut open the bag, and then open the bag and hurridly spread out the oxy abs into small groups and place in jars and seal up tightly, otherwise they’ll loose their ‘oomph’ quickly. Then as you need to use a couple to put in with your dried foods, just open one of the jars, take out what you need and seal it back up.
amak – at 11:55
Thanks all! I will dig deeper in that excalibur site. My book that came with my machine I think said 4 - 10 hours for apples - which is why I didn’t know when the heck to stop!!
Hillbilly Bill – at 11:59
amak – at 11:55
I found when drying sliced Roma tomatoes that there was a great variety in individual drying times. I had to keep checking the pans and taking out the ones that were done and regrouping those that needed more time. For the tomatoes, it was a fine line between still wet and crispy as a potato chip.
BirdGuano – at 12:13
The definitive food storage FAQ by AT Hagan:
http://athagan.membe...
bird-dog – at 12:31
For a single person with limited finances and many months worth of canned beans, fruits, veggies and a few cans of dried fruits and veggies, etc. from Honeyville, I’m feeling that buying and using a dehydrator isn’t necessary. It sounds so great though! ;-)
Do you guys agree that it wouldn’t make sense to scrimp ‘n save for a dehydrator &/or a foodsaver? Thanks!
BirdGuano - Yup, I did read and then ‘saved’ Hagan’s report…it was so helpful.
Hillbilly Bill – at 12:34
bird-dog – at 12:31
I don’t have a dehydrator, I dried my tomatoes in my oven.
nopower – at 12:35
I finally got around to getting a sample of Wheatgrass juice from my neighbor who grows it, grinds it and sells it out of her home. It takes about a week from seeds to ready to juice and grows year round here in Florida. She sent me some emails detailing how much protein and vitamins it has but I haven’t read it yet. It tastes like grass at first but has kind of a sweet taste after that. You drink about 1–2 oz. and follow it with orange or another juice.
I’m hoping it could serve as a replacement for stocking lunch supplies and it could also help stretch out my other food preps.
She lent me a manual juicer (~$45) and gave me some fresh Wheatgrass to juice everyday. I’m going to try substituting it for my lunch and see how I do. If it works good I might look into storing seeds for her to grow for me if TSHTF.
DennisC – at 12:38
you do not have to spend a bunch on a dehydrator. People dehydrated long before they had electricity- just cheese cloth and the sun. clean screening, a light bulb and a box with a vent will work.
And you can get plans for making your own see for example:
http://tinyurl.com/h...
I think I have seen plans for them in “mother earth news” - check it out at your library.
bird-dog – at 12:39
Hillbilly Bill --- Thanks…guess I *could* do that! I’ll have to chase the mice out first though…
bird-dog – at 12:58
DennisC — thanks, too! good site and M.E.N. and the Foxfire books (which I own from the 60′s and 70′s) should have lots of info.
I guess that I’m feeling lazy/overwhelmed and wondering if with all my canned and dried food already in my stash, if I need to take on another project. Maybe when I get these totes, etc. out of my way (can hardly move without bruising a shin) and into appropriate spaces, I’ll have more energy to have fun with dehydrating. Guess one person doesn’t need to prep as much as others…duh! :-)
Dennis in Colorado – at 13:00
nopower, I won’t discourage you from investigating wheatgrass juice … but I checked several websites promoting it and I normally shy away from anything described as something that will “purify and build the blood, and is an excellent all round detoxifier.” (http://www.ukjuicers...)
Ocean2 – at 13:03
nopower at 12:35- Wheat grass juice is just great! Very purifying; the chlorophyll that it contains is chemically similar to hemoglobin in human blood. Watch out, tho, some people can have a strong reaction to the juice (nausea). Sip it slowly. If you google it I’m sure you’ll find some good stories about it. When I lived in California years ago I used to take wheat grass enemas when I was losing weight. My gosh, what a natural high!!!
I hope you don’t mind my adding this post I wrote for the gardening thread, on sunflower sprouts – they’re easy and nutritious. Perhaps it’s something for the kids as a task.
One food I’ve always loved is sunflower sprouts. Who would ever think of it?!? They’re very easy to sprout and are ready to eat in a few days. Of course, the seeds themselves make very healthy eating. These sprouts are delicious!
I sort the seeds first; you’ll find a lot of yellow, broken or dark-coloured ones. Those go in the compost pit. The good ones go on a dinner plate with enough water to cover them, and a piece of paper towel over that. Generally, I use 20–25 seeds for a 3 inch pot. They’re pretty close together. After some hours, before they dry out, pop them in a small shallow plastic flower pot, with the pointy side of the seed down. Each seed has an almost translucent “bag” around it; when I make ‘em I gently squeeze the seed out of this bag; this way when the leaves come up the bag doesn’t stick the young leaves together. I always use good clean soil.
After 2–4 days, when the plants are about 3 inches high you can harvest them, stem and all. If the second pair of leaves start to appear the sprouts lose their fresh taste and become a little bitter. I eat half a pot each time, as salad. You can also sow them in bigger pots to feed more people; just keep in mind to use shallow pots or trays because these power house seeds grow very long roots, very fast. Every 4 days or so I start the process over. Try taking these beauties in a mixed salad to a potluck party sometime; people flip out when they see them!
I’ve also experimented with them in the winter on a cold window ledge. They grow much more slowly but if they don’t freeze they’ll come up eventually. I do re-use the soil, after taking out as much of the root system as I can. I set this soil aside so the roots compost back into the soil; this way you avoid the soil getting moldy. I have to recycle in this way; we live in a small appartment in the big city with little money.
I know that all sprouts are very nutritious and easy to grow; even the rinse water is very good to drink. Only the alfalfa seed water has a bitter taste, IMO. Try sprouting beans in a jar with a screen over the jar mouth. Any kind of eating beans are good; beans for planting sometimes are coated with anti-fungals. Soak the beans some hours in the jar, pour off the water (use for soups or drink it as is), give them a fresh bath a few times a day and eat before they start getting green (I mean, with leaves). Lentils and peas are especially delicious. One advantage of eating bean sprouts, besides their high nutrition value, is that they are easily digestible and they don’t give you the flaming pants syndrome!
BirdGuano – at 14:15
Ya, I’ll have to be REALLY starving to drink my lawn clippings.
Yuck.
Be careful with all sprouts and salmonilla. Rinse them in a diluted bleach solution first.
nopower – at 14:16
nopower at 12:35-
“When I lived in California years ago I used to take wheat grass enemas when I was losing weight. My gosh, what a natural high!!!”
That’s much more information than I needed, now I’m going to think about that tommorow morning when I go to drink a shot.
My neighbor grows all kinds of sprouts, sunflower being one of them. I’m not much of a salad eater so sprout salads aren’t going to be a regular for me but she sells them to people with all kinds of ailments (cancer, arthritis) and they seem to find a benefit from it I guess.
Dennis in Colorado – at 13:00:
I am skeptical too but I watched a program on Discovery about Baja and one of the championship drivers was in his kitchen talking about how he does a shot of wheatgrass everyday before he goes and worksout. I’m going to read the emails my neighbor sent me and see what they say.
Ocean2 – at 15:21
What goes in, must come out.
Wheat grass is not the same as lawn grass.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 16:16
bird-dog, if you have a good assortment of your canned dry foods, then you should be fine — prepping for 1 doesn’t take as much and buying a big dehydrator would be almost pointless, unless you just LOVE to make soups, and things like that. I would imagine that you’d be more inclined to open a can of wet food & eat — even eat out of the can if you wanted to, with little or no need for preparing the food to ‘look good’. The only thing you would really need to be aware of is getting tired of eating the same ole thing over and over, so just keep a good variety of things on hand!
bird-dog – at 16:34
I’m-workin’-on-it
Yup, that’s about my speed. And I love rice and grains so have many chutneys, soups, gravy’s, veggies so I’ll be doing well. I do make soups and bread but feel that I have a sufficient amout of Honeyville odds and ends to get me through. Thanks for the reassurance!
And I agree, sprouts will be a tasty crunchy fresh addition. Plus a full indoor herb garden if there’s enough warmth.
anonymous – at 18:50
Today’s prep purchase:
Three kerosene lanterns @ WalMart, $4.62 each.
One 5-gallon kerosene can @ WalMart, $6.93.
One 40 oz pump bottle of Germ-X (identifed on the receipt as “hand soap”), $4.86.
Now all I need to do is find a near-by convenient source for bulk kerosene. I once worked as a dispatcher/office assistant for a local fuel & lube distributor and I know they have a few thousand gallons there but they are all the way across town :(
Genoa – at 20:30
Kim,
Another question about the Pump-N-Seal. (I’m so glad you have one, as it looks like something I’d want to buy but then would be afraid it was just a gimmick. From your description, it sounds very useful.
Would this work for big gallon glass jars with screw on tops? I was thinking that it would be perfect for storing rice and beans if it would pull out the oxygen and create a seal---wouldn’t have to use the oxygen absorbers or mylar bags, etc.
Also, in another vein, I made a tuna sandwich for lunch today and I was thinking what a terrific item canned tuna is for prepping. The cans I opened today have a “best if used by” date of January 2010. Another plus, is that if you like tuna (even just moderately), you’d probably be more willing to open a can and eat it cold than many of the other canned items you might have on hand. Just a thought.
Oremus – at 21:41
That reminds me, I need to dehydrate a lot of celery for all the tuna salad in my plans.
Kim – at 21:46
Genoa, yes, the Pump-n-seal will work on any size jar. Only requirement is that it be airtight (ie, the lid must fit down tightly, so I don’t think plastic lids would work). On canning jar lids and most screw-on metal lids (from thing like pickle jars, etc) you’ll know when you’ve pulled a vacuum because the center of the lid will pop down… kind of like when a jar of canned goods has an indented top with no “give” to it.
26 August 2006
blackbird – at 00:27
A house in my neighborhood burned to the ground today. Needless to say, I’m re-thinking my bug-out bag (contents currently spread out on the floor instead of in the bag while I consider best arrangement of stuff). That won’t do much good in the 30 to 120 seconds time allowed to get out the door during a fire. Also thinking about the poor people who just lost everything in their house. Life goes along, but then when things change, they can change very quickly.
blackbird – at 00:28
Also, thanks for all the info on pump-n-seal. I ordered on last week but haven’t gotten it yet. Sounds like exactly what I wanted.
BirdGuano – at 01:03
Fire is very very bad.
Yes life can change RADICALLY in the blink of an eye.
Unfortunately I know from experience. LOL
In a pandemic you probably can’t count on the fire department and better hope the water supply has pressure.
Otherwise, plan on being your OWN fire department.
anonymous – at 09:33
blackbird – at 00:27:
I’m currently rethinking mine too. Fire seems the only thing I would need a BOB for as I don’t plan to leave for PanFlu and I have enough time to pack for a hurricane evac. After a fire I would have the resources to get a motel room and eat at restraunts so it seems like clothes, personal hygiene would be the important things to have in a bag. I’ll throw some power bars and water in there too. I plan on having one in each car since they sit in the driveway and hopefully would survive.
The other very important thing to have in there would be copies of important documents for when my cheapie firesafe burns into the foundation.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 10:26
anonymous, maybe I misunderstood what you were saying, but your comment about after a fire, having the resources to get a motel room, etc, made me want to mention that lots of times fires start during the night — most people don’t sleep with their wallets nearby where they would keep cash, or ATM cards & credit cards, which you need for motel rooms, car rentals, etc., and they don’t think of ‘saving’ it during a fire if they have family & pets to worry about getting out first! Same with duplicate checks for the checking account.
So be sure to keep some cash & an extra credit card in your BOB!
nopower – at 11:16
That anonymous at 9:33 was me, using a different computer today…
Yeah, I planned on having a small amount of cash and a credit card in the BOB in the car. I just have to figure out how to keep an extra car key outside so I can get to the BOB when the car keys are inside with the fire.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 11:46
When you figure that one out let ME know too…..I’ll be busy watching our firesafe melting into the foundation just like yours…..and I never can remember the combination anyway…..I need to write that down on my emergency sheet & put the key on top of the BOB.
Jefiner – at 12:21
Yesterday, I found a nifty Swissgear rechargeable flourescent camping lantern at Walmart—well designed and throws a decent amount of light! I will probably pick up one more.
Kim, thanks for the info on the Excalibur dehydrator. I started out with a Nesco, and it works ok, but as I have been dehydrating larger and larger amounts, it has been running full steam, and does not seem to work as well. Thinking about an Excalibur, and saving the Nesco for putting together my “emergency handout stuff”.
By the way, this really has become a way of life for me, not just a knee jerk reaction to the flu. Now that we have a system (sort of !) DH and I are more comfortable knowing we have resources, and by rotating—whether it is food, water or gas—we could most likely weather a disaster. Except the house burning down with all our preps; but I am working on a contingency for that, too.
cactus az – at 13:01
My local Frys had a closeout on baby wipes. $1 a pack. Bought the entire bunch they had left.Cashier said,”Wow, that`s a bunch!”
I told her that I had lots of g-kids. Which I do, but didn`t tell her that the youngest is 8. :-)
Average Concerned Mom – at 13:40
Just wanted to report back for anyone looking into dehydrating — I dried a few pounds of hamburger meat a few days ago, and the result was very unappetizing. So I put it in a ziplok bag and thought about it a while.
This afternoon for lunch, I cooked some ramen noodles, and added to the hot water a few dehydrated veggies I’ve been working on, plus a spoonful of the burger. It was great! It tasted just like hamburger meat is supposed to taste (maybe a bit dry because I had drained all the fat) But now I see why people do this. I will definitely continue.
I got a cheapie circular dehydrator at the thrift store for $6 and I can tell it isn’t the best, but it is good enough for now. I bought up 15 bags of grean peas, corn and carrots at the grocery store today because they were all on sale; I’m going to slowly dehydrate them to have to add as ramen noodle toppings.
new name – at 13:55
All this talk about dehydrating as me wanting one. My DH is a meat and potaotes guy. So dehydrating hamburger and potatos would be great. He really like Hamburger Stew which is just hamburger,potatos,onions and green beans. But, I have a question… will the hamburger and potatos really taste the same as fresh made or will they taste ‘funny’? Thanks for all comments.
MAinVA – at 14:15
new name, I can’t speak to the potatoe question; however the dehydrated hamburger has always worked well for me. To make certain that it has a good flavor, I reconstitute it in beef boullion or concentrated beef broth for a few minutes BEFORE adding it to a recipe. For long term, I’ve bought the jars of concentrated beef soup base at Sam’s and will use that when I run out of canned boullion or broth. Perhaps you could get some canned sliced or whole new potatoes to add to the hamburger for your husband’s stew?
DennisC – at 14:39
If you have dried beef (I fry, dry in oven, then freeze), the Honeyville veg combo with some beef boullion from powder makes a nice beef stew or soup. (I like it with just a dash of allspice) It tastes a little different but it is good.
blackbird – at 17:22
Jefiner – at 12:21
Except the house burning down with all our preps; but I am working on a contingency for that, too.
(Hope the formatting above worked. It’s supposed to be italics.) Based on yesterday’s whole house bbq, I’d be interested in what you come up with, Jefiner.
Today’s prep here is a semi-broken refrigerator that’s causing activation of our “dealing with unreliable refrigeration in the summertime” contingency planning. Coolers, ice (“Where do they sell ice? Must be near the freezer section”), minimizing leftovers, and basically renegotiating the usual routine. Very instructive excercise so far. The 5 day cooler is coming in handy for longer-term storage, and a smaller styrofoam cooler (insulated with blankets) is providing cooling for items we use during the day.
Prepping Gal – at 20:42
I had a solar type shower setup (its white not black) which was really meant for indoor use. Anyway got a black solar shower and thought what will I use other one for; I know I’ll hang it over the kitchen sink to rinse my dishes; I remember camping always having to refill rinse basin so this could probably do a better job.
27 August 2006
Dennis in Colorado – at 15:31
Today’s prep purchases:
From Sam’s Club:
Extra case bath tissue, $16.58/36 “double” rolls
1 bottle generic Benadryl, $3.22/400 tabs
Spaghetti, $13.88/six 1-pound packs
Spaghetti sauce, $5.88/3 jars
Spaghetti sauce (Alfredo), $5.65/3 jars
From True Value Hardware:
Kerosene for lamps, $15.96/4 gallons (didn’t expect it to cost that much…)
Closed and Continued - Bronco Bill – at 17:50
This topic just keeps going and going, and is now continued here

Flu Prep 17 (XVII)

Bronco Bill — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 14:55:09 GMT

From Flu Wiki 2
Forum: Flu Prep XVII
27 August 2006
Bronco Bill ¨C at 17:50
More preps to add to your preps as you prep, from here
________________________________________
Dennis in Colorado ¨C at 15:31
Today¡¯s prep purchases:
From Sam¡¯s Club:
Extra case bath tissue, $16.58/36 ¡°double¡± rolls
1 bottle generic Benadryl, $3.22/400 tabs
Spaghetti, $13.88/six 1-pound packs
Spaghetti sauce, $5.88/3 jars
Spaghetti sauce (Alfredo), $5.65/3 jars \\
From True Value Hardware:
Kerosene for lamps, $15.96/4 gallons (didn¡¯t expect it to cost that much¡)
SIPCT ¨C at 18:18
You know you¡¯re prepping the right stuff if you have to keep onreplacing it ¡®cause they keep eating it.
Pat in AZ ¨C at 18:33
Seems I¡¯m more trying to learn things than buy things lately. Today I started an attempt at buttermilk, from the Fankhauser site. Next stop, yogurt.
Dennis in Colorado ¨C at 18:38
I just realized I skipped a line when I read my receipt and I didn¡¯t think about the price as I was quoting it above. Rest assured, gentle readers, we did not pay $13.88 for six pounds of spaghetti (the $13.88 was for mini cheesecakes for tonight¡¯s Bible study group¡). The cost of the spaghetti at Sam¡¯s Club was $3.37.
Jefiner ¨C at 19:33
mmmmm, cheesecake
MissBliss ¨C at 20:01
Noticed today in the coupon section that Poland Springs is selling water in stackable 3 liter bottles¡.hmmm stackable, maybe they are getting more aware of the preppers out there¡here¡¯s hoping!
NEMO ¨C at 20:46
Dennis,
Thanks for that clarification. I was sitting here going¡OMG! He got ripped off! But didn¡¯t think you would appreciate a stranger pointing that out! I have been picking up 1 pound packages of spaghetti for 50 cents a piece at Dollar Tree, so I was wondering if your spaghetti was White Truffle sphaghetti or something! BTW..Dollar Tree has very nice packages on all pastas..good brands too!
lady biker ¨C at 21:01
I get so tickled sometimes while readiing this, it¡¯s like a hive of busy little bees, workin workin workin, I just got in a big order of FD stuff from emergency essentials and sent off two more orders, and I¡¯m still canning too. gotta go get more jars next week. I still have apple butter to put up. seems like the more I do it makes me think of more that I will have to do later. will it ever end??????? I do feel good about it all though, and I don¡¯t know about everyone else but I feel secure almost like I could take on anything and win. hope that is true. just gotta keep on goin
Dennis in Colorado ¨C at 22:58
NEMO, never hesitate to gently question ¡ ¡°Are you sure that is the price you paid¡?¡±
Jefiner, the cheesecake was delicious, as were the chocolate-covered strawberries. Those would never make it as prep food, but its not all about food preps, is it?
prepping in the columbia river valley ¨C at 23:27
Pat in AZ ¨C at 18:33 THANKS for posting the buttermilk/yogurt/cheese link! I¡¯m going to print out the recipes so I have ¡®em handy. (Some I already knew but in slightly different versions).
29 August 2006
anonymous ¨C at 12:24
On the topic of MRSA. Tea Tree oil (TTO) has been found to be effective. I would not hesitate to use it on any skin lesion in older children (4 and up) teens and adults. Some people may be sensitive to the ingredients. It is toxic to some animals (cats) so use with caution around small critters. We have used it on scrapes, boils, impetigo, athletes foot, cold sores, insect bites, itchy rash, chafing with excellent results. Relieves pain and itching of lesions. Also repels flying insects (downside-smells like turpentine). I have been buying it by the ounce for years but I just broke down and bought a gallon. Antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral all in one- hard to beat. Before the advent of antibiotics TTO was one of the chief antimicrobials used in medical field.
Texas Rose ¨C at 15:24
Anonymous@1224: ¡°On the topic of MRSA. Tea Tree oil (TTO) has been found to be effective. I would not hesitate to use it on any skin lesion in older children (4 and up) teens and adults.¡±
I¡¯m MRSA+ and use a tea tree oil facial soap and that really helps to minimize the occasional lesions that pop up around my nose. I stumbled across how well TTO worked when I used the St. Ives clear pore skin cleanser which contained TTO.
31 August 2006
DennisC ¨C at 13:59
today¡¯s prep is updating my bug out bag. I had copies of my ID¡¯s and other info. I got a new voter registration card and it dawned on me that I need to update some of my info for my bag. I also rotated my medicine in my bag- I had not done that for a while.
So just a reminder: rotate bug out bag items and update any info.
Kathy in FL ¨C at 14:24
Regarding DennisC¡¯s post above ¡
Especially if that bug out bag is kept in the truck of your vehicle. I know its a handy storage location for bug out materials but heat can seriously deteriorate items.
Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 14:37
I keep a carton of 12 bottles of water and a box of granola bars in the car all the time. Every month I replace the granola bars that are in the car and use them up for lunches and snacks.
Love Texas ¨C at 15:10
In Texas there is not much that will not melt in the trunk of a car so for the summer months I keep a can of dry roasted peanuts in my BOB in my car. It is not perfect but it works.
DennisC ¨C at 15:13
It is interesting to me that people keep their bag in a car/truck. I was assuming that if I really needed to bug out, I would not be able (or want) to use a car. The roads will be ¡°killing zones¡±.
Hillbilly Bill ¨C at 15:13
Love Texas ¨C at 15:10
That¡¯s a good idea, I think I¡¯ll add a can to my emergency kit.
01 September 2006
anonymous ¨C at 02:02
Yesterday I received my first order from bulkfoods.com- five pound bags of mixed fruit and dried mixed veggies. It took a week for delivery after placing the order. I¡¯ve had to wait up to three weeks for delivery from similar companies. The fruit looks really good and, except for the prunes, I¡¯ll be taste-testing the contents to determine what to order more of.
According to the label on the veggies the bag contains about 454 servings. When I first read that I was floored until I noticed that they consider a serving to be 1 tablespoon. That¡¯s still a lot of potential vegetable soup.
I¡¯m-workin¡¯-on-it ¨C at 08:04
1 TBLSP dry = how much rehydrated?
NEMO ¨C at 12:24
We keep our bug out bags in our vehicles as well.
While Dennis is correct that the roads MAY be killing zones, I can always abandon my vehicle on the side of the road, grab my bag and hoof it.I don¡¯t want to be away from my retreat/home and have no supplies at hand to get back here. My Bug Out Bag is geared for that scenario.
I have thin socks and thick socks for layering if lots of walking is necessary. White Tshirt for hot weather, black tshirt for stealth. Thermals to put on underneath whatever clothes I might be wearing at the time. A dark colored lined windbreaker to layer on top. A rain poncho to aid if its raining or snowing. I don¡¯t have a change of pants because I keep it all in a backpack and don¡¯t have room for them. I have a liter of water and a filter than can ¡°grab¡± water from a puddle if necessary to refill the Platypus liter container (Platypus are FABULOUS bob gear).
I have copies of my id¡¯s, some cash, some no heat food, instant heat packs for my hands and shoes. First aid gear, especially band aids and mole skin if I¡¯m walking. My husband keeps his bag in the car he uses to commute the 2 hours back and forth each week to a major airport. On weekends, if we are going on a day trip, we transfer his bag to my vehicle- which always has my bag and my sons.
The things that have gone bad in the heat of the vehicle were the rubber straps on our N95 masks, the rubber straps on our goggles, the ear plugs are a little crunchier than we like, but still work. We trade out food, but not as often as we should. A few of the bandaids could probably stand to be made new. These have been kept in our car in major heat of the midwest for five years now.
I do worry about someone breaking in to my vehicle when I travel to a major midwest city because of my extra ID¡¯s. I have decided to make a 4¡å slit in the black lining and make a hidden space at the bottom of the bag in which to slip the papers (which I have shrink wrapped in a food saver bag which will keep them from decaying as easily and insures they stay dry no matter where my bag my ends up.) That way, in case someone steals my bag, they won¡¯t find the papers, even if they take everything out and shake the bag upside down hard.
We keep other items in the bags: a fairly good first aid selection, personal hygiene items, bug spray, sunscreen,fire starters of various types, parachute cord for rigging up a mini tent with the ponchos. We also carry a small notepad and thin point sharpie for writing notes that can be left with the car, tacked to a tree along the way, etc. for family who may be following or law enforcement, etc.We all have a good quality multi-tool (Gerber or Leatherman) and a ¡°necklace¡± saw that could cut through a chain link fence if need be. If anyone is interested in a more detailed list of my bag, let me know. BTW Marshalls dept. stores are the BEST place to get good quality backpacks for BOB¡¯s at about $10!!! When you are doing a bag for each family member, the cost of the bags alone can be daunting. I was even successful in getting my inlaws to make up their own bags. They sat with me and had me go over the contents of our bags, made out a detailed shopping list, and I spent one whole day running around town with them and we put together some fabulous bags in one day (it took me weeks to develop our bags.)
In the event of a home fire, we wouldn¡¯t have to worry about grabbing our bags because they would be safe in the cars (which aren¡¯t garaged.) We could grab our pets and shoes and dash from the house. We have used our bags when we have stayed at our inlaws and it was an unplanned visit. It¡¯s great to have a fresh shirt, fresh undies and be able to brush your teeth and hair. I make sure I replace those items immediately however. Be careful about ¡°borrowing¡± from your bags!!! Make sure you put back those items immediately so it is complete and ready to go when you need it.
NEMO ¨C at 12:54
I have an Excalibur dehydrator and haven¡¯t been making the most of it, so I have been trying to do more lately. I was reading on an earlier thread that Kim mentioned drying tomato paste or tomato sauce to make tomato powder. I have purchased tomato powder from Walton¡¯s, but didn¡¯t want to dip into it if not needed. Since my pantry stash of 50 or so cans of tomato sauce is getting a bit on the aged side, I figured I would give a go at seeing if it would work for me!
I tried one can yesterday since I didn¡¯t want to waste a bunch of cans if it just didn¡¯t work. It dehydrated failyly quickly (about 5 hours). After it was about the consistency of fruit leather (a fruit roll-up), I pulled it off the Teflon sheet, and tore it into pieces about 3¡åx3¡å and stuck it back in the dehydrator (still on the Teflon sheet) for another hour until it was cripsy. I let the pieces cool for about 15 minutes, then broke them in half again, and tossed them into my trusty old Hamilton Beach blender. Whirred the puppy up to the highest speed for a few times, stopping to check the progess and give the container a brisk shake or two. The 15 ounce can of Contadina Tomato Sauce turned out to make powder that equaled a scant 1/4 cup of powder. I put that in a clean jelly jar, and decided to convert the rest of my aging ¡°wet¡± stock of tomatoe sauces and pastes into powders. Once I have more powder I will transfer it into a canning jar and toss in an oxygen absorger or two and then seal it with my Food Saver. I keep my Food Saver and Jar Attachment out on the counter, so it is easier to make sure that I always reseal all the jars that I use in my everyday cooking. I use mostly the half gallon canning jars, but do have a few wide mouth quarts for spices, teas, herbs, buttermilk powder, baking powder. That extends the life of those items WAY beyond what they claim is the usual shelf life. When those are empty, I refill the jars from the #10 cans or the 6 gal buckets. This enables me to use my food storage in my everyday cooking and I am able to know if I like a product and my family would actually eat it WTSHTF.
I was thinking of ways to use the tomato powder beyond just reconstituting it and using it as I usually would use tomato sauce. I am going to make some bread today, using my tried and true recipe, and add some of the tomato powder and some dried basil. Panera Bread (St. Louis Bread Co. - same thing) makes a killer tomato/basil bread and now that we are 2 hours away from one of those stores, it would be nice if I can come up with a decent replacement for it. It¡¯s great for roast beef sandwiches, grilled cheese, and cut into little shapes and toasted- it¡¯s a fabulous appetizer item when topped with flavored cream cheese and a tidbit or two. (yes, us farm folks have been known to entertain now and again and open up a bottle of wine even!)
I also experimented with using my cast iron cookware, which I have had for 4 years but really never used. I let my son use it once on our farmette for a cookout/sleepover and that was stupid! He made a real mess with it, burning eggs in it, and after that I didn¡¯t use it- just kept it for outside cooking emergency or using on top of our woodstove if need be. I had taken it out of the mudroom, gave it a thorough cleaning and did a re-seasoning of it in the oven for many hours. Yesterday I decided to make some from-scratch cornbread to use up a little teensy tinsy fraction of the corn meal that I have (I WAY overbought on cornmeal and some it will have to go to the chickens here soon!) I used fresh eggs from the hens since I have them instead of the egg powder, but I used buttermilk powder instead of fresh milk, so for the most part they are a complete pantry recipe. I cooked it in the 8¡å skillet that I preheated in a 400 degree oven. It was gorgeous and didn¡¯t stick at all! I did give it a quick spritz with Pam but when I use my normal cookware and PAM it still usually sticks a bit. I was able to wipe out the skillet and put it away. I split a slice open, slathered it with butter (cheater- yes- not a pantry item unless I would break into one of the jars of canned butter I have) and poured some honey on top. Boy, was that tasty.
My next dehydrator project is to make a go at drying hamburger like many of our fellow wikians have been doing. Then I want to use several of the things I have dried (tomato powder, hamburger, zucchini, peppers- sweet and hot, carrots, celery, onion, garlic) to make up some soup mixes that only need to be added to water and heated up. Toss enough for a pot of soup good for six generous servings into a food saver bag, seal it up tight and toss into the cupboard. I plan on using this soup whenever the mood hits me and replacing the bags every few months. I really appreciate having home canned meats on the shelf and soups I made, but they take up quite a bit of shelf space. Having ¡°ready made¡± soups in little bags on the shelf will be a nice alternative to add to my storage.
Kathy in FL ¨C at 14:10
Another way to get tomato powder is to dry sliced tomatoes to the crispy stage and then blend them to smithereens. Once or twice a year I wind up with all the tail ends of the last of the tomatoes out of my parents garden or off the flea market shelves. They are usually at that point getting past their prime. I just cut out all the spots, bruises, and mushy places and then slice and dry for a pretty good tomato powder.
I¡¯ve used tomato powder in bread, pasta dishes, rice dishes, reconstituted for tomato-based beverages, and in soups/stews. Its pretty versatile.
I¡¯ve trying to get that balance between the space savings of dried products and the necessity of having a potable water source. Canned products help me save on water storage ¡ dehydrated products mean I¡¯ll have to store even more water. But the benefits of dried items are too great to discount them all together. I¡¯m working on having a little of this and a little of that.
NEMO ¨C at 16:03
Kathy,
Thanks for the tip on the tomato slices. So far this summer, I haven¡¯t been the beneficiary of too many tomatoes. Maybe next summer. I agree on the water issue. We have multiple water supplies on our property so water storage won¡¯t be issue for us. It might be a pain to haul and filter, but we should have plenty of it. The previous owners lived year round off the cistern, and didn¡¯t even use the other cistern, well or pond for their needs.
The water situation was on the ¡°must have¡± side of the equation as we looked at real estate. No independent water- no sale. Period. We also, in case anyone wonders how rural retreat shopping works, insisted on some fencing for livestock, a useable barn, a decent house and had to be on a gravel road- back from the road a ways for less visibility. At the time it was a second house, so price was critcal too. I sure put mileage on our van looking for property for those three months we looked. Looked extensively in a five state area and finally found our place. It was a complete change of lifestyle, but we are enjoying the peace of the country even if hubby now commutes all the way across the country. He¡¯d be doing that anyways.
Completly off the topic above, I want to put in a pitch for a breed of dog for a farm/retreat. We have a Great Pyrenese. He WORKS nearly 24 hours a day, keeping our livestock safe and keeping us safe. Sweet as can be with visitors and strangers, but when a questionable looking handyman was here, he judeged his character to be less than he expected, and sat with his teeth bared (almost smiling- but not quite) between myself and the handyman until the guy just kept backing up a bit at a time and finally decided to leave. I have no doubt this dog would fight to the death to save me. I would like to get a German Shepherd as well, but the house is just too small at this point. The Great Pyrenese lives outside 24/7, is easy to care for and well worth his dog chow!!! If you are in the boonies or outer burbs, I highly recommend this breed.
lohrewok ¨C at 21:43
Nemo @ 16:03
My sister has a great Pyrenese. The old guy has been a faithful and much loved companion for many year. My brother-in-law even accidently ran over him in the driveway a while back, he was crippled up for a week or so, but was fine after. Just a sweet guy, loves to collect stray cats & dogs too. They talk about cloning him. :)
ON another subject, does anyone know how many loaves of bread can be made with 5 lbs. of flour?
A note: Aldi¡¯s sugar comes in 5lb bags, the normal supermarket stuff is 4 lbs.
OKbirdwatcher ¨C at 22:17
lohrewok - about 5 loaves
Jefiner ¨C at 23:13
NEMO ¨C at 12:54
Nemo, thanks for the info on tomato powder. I am thinking of experimenting with a small jar of spaghetti sauce¡ªI will post my results!
Next we dehydrate wine . . . no, wait, let¡¯s try bourbon first! (jk)
02 September 2006
Texas Rose ¨C at 00:11
I admit up front that I¡¯m not a gardener. I have never been a gardener. Yet today I planted my first tomato plants. I¡¯ve started small, just two plants for now, to see if I can manage to keep them alive in the Texas heat and drought. If I actually get some ¡®maters, I may branch out to other veggies.
I figure any food I can grow means that much less food I have to buy.
Bump ¨C at 00:50
I¡¯m-workin¡¯-on-it ¨C at 08:59
Texas Rose, that¡¯s great! Let us know how it goes! I tried some earlier in the year in pots on our patio¡..it was a horrible experiment¡I hope yours goes better. For all my watering, I got 4 little tomatoes about the size of my thumbnail! Gotta add some manure when we do the big above ground beds my husband built (2 months ago) and still needs to fill with gravel & dirt!
Kathy in FL ¨C at 09:17
My project for the next couple of days ¡ in between all of the rest of ¡°real life¡± ¡ is to reorganize my prep areas yet again. Its becoming exponentially more difficult to find the space for all our preps. It is simply astounding how much stuff a family of 7 can go through.
Modern homes simply are not set up for a large family plus an extended pantry. What I wouldn¡¯t give to have even a small basement for storage. But that isn¡¯t going to happen here in Florida. Nor is any kind of outside storage facility ¡ to much risk of varmint/pest infestation, not to mention lack of climate control.
I also hope to do some canning this holiday weekend. I¡¯ve got several pounds of meat in the freezer than need to come out before it gets freezer burned. After I empty the freezer, it needs to be defrosted again. Once I get that done I¡¯m going to pull a Hillbilly Bill and use one of the shelves to freeze water in 2 liter bottles. I figure I can actually get some use out of these by rotating them out ¡ giving my husband one for his van on the days he goes out to do maintenance, etc. He drinks a lot of water on those days and having ice water would be a big benefit for him.
Lots and lots of projects running around in my head. Now if I only could find the time and money to complete them.
Green Mom ¨C at 09:41
My preps this week included taking pets to the vet for thier shots/checkups. I put it off til closer to the flu season, but when things started heating up in Indonisia, I didn¡¯t want to put it off any longer. I also had an eye exam and got a second pair of glasses. We also had our winter propane delivered.
At this point most of my major preps are in place-the routine doc appointments, winter fuel, etc, plus the genny, oil lamps, crank lights and radio, etc. Ive got the kids homeschool schedule worked out-we¡¯ve been homeschooling a month now and its really working out well. Now its just getting more food preps. I am considering a part time job with flex hours to raise some extra money for preps and also to help lower my anxiety a bit. I find that when I¡¯m at home, Im glued to the Flu wiki and my anxiety really goes up. I love the wiki and will always ¡°stay tuned¡± (and continue prepping of course) but I need a diversion, and of course, the extra cash would really be handy.
Mari ¨C at 11:12
Texas Rose ¨C at 00:11 - I live in New Mexico. I grew some tomatoes this year in containers using Miracle Grow soil. They did very well, but I had to watch them carefully for any signs of wilting. I came back from a weekend away, and they were gasping their next to last breath (water, water), even though I had made sure they were watered thoroughly before I left. Two days in full sun almost did them in (I had hoped for at least one cloudy day or rain). They¡¯re still alive, but two of the plants lost a lot of leaves. Next time I¡¯ll drap a soaker hose around them & use a timer. Our monsoon this year was a record-breaker - too bad they aren¡¯t all like this one.
Pat in AZ ¨C at 11:29
Rose ¡ª I live in eastern Arizona and have been growing tomatoes the last two years without any serious problems. (We do not get as hot as Phoenix, but it¡¯s regularly in the 100s in June and July and got up to 112 or so this summer.) It¡¯s good if you get varieties that tolerate heat. I water nearly every day (unless it rains, which is not often). The plants do not set fruit when it gets too hot, but will start up again when it cools off. You can make a sun shade out of PVC and shade fabric if that seems necessary (I have not). Does it stay warm there into December? September seems late to start tomatoes, unless you have quite warm winters.
You could also try peppers ¡ª those are really easy too and are smaller so if you put them in containers you could bring them indoors if necessary. Also they¡¯re a good source of Vitamin C. And many herbs are easy and rewarding.
nopower ¨C at 12:00
Kathy in FL ¨C at 09:17:
¡°Modern homes simply are not set up for a large family plus an extended pantry. What I wouldn¡¯t give to have even a small basement for storage. But that isn¡¯t going to happen here in Florida. Nor is any kind of outside storage facility ¡ to much risk of varmint/pest infestation, not to mention lack of climate control.¡±
My neighbor across the street is a snowbird and has an empty patch of property next to her house that used to contain some sheds before the hurricane (Wilma) took them down. I was thinking I should build a food storage bunker while she is gone and hope that when she gets back she doesn¡¯t remember if it was there before or not :)
I think an entire concrete structure with A/C, something the size of 20¡äx40¡ä would be sufficient. And it would have to have thick steel doors!
________________________________________
I found some ¡°Beverage can holders¡± at Lowes for $5 a piece that are stainless steel and hold almost everytype of can in my pantry from small condensed soup to large Progresso and Campbell¡¯s Chunky cans. They aren¡¯t feed at the top and it comes out the bottom but they are gravity fed so the empty space is at the back. I emptied out my Lowes of all 7 and got my pantry organized the other day. Now I just need to pull out all my rubbermaid containers and add the extra food I bought that is still sitting in bags.
BirdGuano ¨C at 14:45
I have a 20 ft sea container on my property, bermed on all sides (except the entrance) with earth, painted to match the landscape, and covered with climbing vines.
I put in a reinforced door and an a/c unit, along with power and lighting.
All for around $2K
nopower ¨C at 16:05
By ¡°sea container¡± are you talking about a shipping container that they load on to trucks or trains??
My neighbor had one delivered with all his stuff to his lot when he started building his house. It¡¯s still sitting along his fence and I don¡¯t know if it has anything in it¡ I have the space I¡¯d just need to rent something to dig the hole.
Bronco Bill ¨C at 16:48
And I sing:
I¡¯m SO happy! I¡¯m SO happy!
As happy as happy can be!!
DW is in SE Virginia¡living in the house we¡¯re moving to at the end of this month (I¡¯m still in lovely FresNo, packing). Yesterday, Sept. 1, she got a taste of tropical depression Ernesto. 12 inches of rain, all power out, no communications by phone, freezer full of food thawing out¡
Well, she went out to her car yesterday afternoon, in the rain, and sat for 2 hours out there to charge up her cell phone. When she called me, to tell me just to ¡°get my butt to Virginia¡±, she sorta mentioned that I was right all along: we need a generator. And stored food. And flashlights. And stored water. For at LEAST 2 weeks!!
Right now¡I am LOVING life!!! :-)
Oh¡the frozen food? She took it to future Sis-in-Law¡¯s office, a Veterinarian Hospital, and put it all in THEIR freezer!! I can¡¯t wait to hear what the Dr. says this afternoon when he opens THAT up, and sees all the frozen meat there! ¡°HEY! Where¡¯s the doberman that came in yesterday?!?¡±
Love Texas ¨C at 17:26
I¡¯m working on it----- When growing tomatoes, it is best to set the blossoms with a spray that they sell It makes a be difference that could have been your problem .
Love Texas ¨C at 17:27
that is big difference
Lisa in Southern Maine ¨C at 17:58
Bronco Bill - Now that I¡¯ll have that song zinging in my head for the next day (or week, or month), I feel (I¡¯m as happy as happy can be!!!) that I must reply to you. Yay! Preparedness has entered her consciousness and no longer will you have to plead your case! Congratulations! And thank god it didn¡¯t take a disaster to cause this shift. I¡¯m working on the generator issue here too. Hurricane season in New England¡seems like necessity to me¡Take care.
Watching in Texas ¨C at 18:02
Bronco Bill at 16:48 - congrats on the DW conversion!! Now, if you can just convince her to stretch the 2 weeks into several months¡..
Bronco Bill ¨C at 18:33
Watching in Texas ¨C at 18:02 --- That¡¯s what night deliveries are for¡whilst she¡¯s asleep, the prep pile just seems to grow¡¡±Honest, honey¡we really did buy 12 years worth of TP in one trip to Wally World¡±
I¡¯m-workin¡¯-on-it ¨C at 21:54
BirdGuano ¨C at 14:45 I¡¯m jealous!!
Love Texas ¨C at 17:26 I¡¯ll ask for some & certainly will use it!
And I second WIT¡¯s comment: Bronco Bill at 16:48 - congrats on the DW conversion!!
gharris ¨C at 23:35
bump
03 September 2006
Kathy in FL ¨C at 08:36
Well, my reorganization went really well. Didn¡¯t take me as long as I thought it would but still have some cleaning to do. I found a new type of tub/bin that is working better than what I had before. The only thing is that they are a little over 8 bucks at wallyworld. I only have one thus far, but like it quite well. I figure that if I buy one with each major stocking trip then that should work.
I continue to add tried-and-true recipes to my eprep cookbook and the thing is now in excess of 160 pages in arial narrow 10pt font. They are fairly well organized and I¡¯m even indexing them. At this rate though I¡¯ll have to buy a new printer cartridge just to print the doggone thing out.
Tomorrow I plan another slash-and-burn on the clutter in the house. Its about time to go through the kids toys again and their clothes as well. I¡¯d love to get at my hubby¡¯s closet but that would be taking my life in my hands.
And I¡¯m finding that I¡¯m again going through some of my preps faster than expected ¡ especially cleaning items. I¡¯m estimating that I may need as much as triple what I originally estimated if I have to clean up from illnesses. I¡¯ve stocked concentrated liquid Lysol disinfectant so that helps some ¡ but laundry is going to be a pain in the backside.
lohrewok ¨C at 09:20
I have some questions regarding fish antibiotics. :) I found some in capsule form, but how many would a human need to take for say- an ear infection? Also what other problems do doctors prescribe amoxicillin for?
Petticoat Junction ¨C at 09:37
Kathy, what bin did you find? We are a family of six in a house that is barely over 1000 sf and no outside storage so reorganization has been my big goal lately, too. (Explains the oatmeal in the coat closet, eh?) I¡¯ve been moving stuff all over the house. I need to find someone to come help me build shelves in the front closet, though, to move canned goods in there ~ I know it should be simple enough but it¡¯s nothing I¡¯ve ever tried before. Time to learn a new skill!
One big focus this month is updating all of our documentation. I found out that US citizens can get up to 10 free Social Security cards in our lifetimes, so am heading over this week to request one ~ I have a form filled out for dh, too; must get him to stop by. I¡¯m also getting copies of birth certificates for the youngest girls, for whom I just realized we had none.
I¡¯ve also called and set up a chimney sweep for the beginning of Oct ~ would rather have done it this month but have to spread out the project $. Apparently the people who lived here before never had that done in almost a decade; it¡¯s horrible.
I need to stop by the hardware store, too, and pick up a couple of those vent hoods for this winter to keep the heat from going through the rooftop. Too bad there wasn¡¯t some way to bottle it all from the *27* days of 100+ temps we had in August and save it for Jan!
silversage ¨C at 09:39
Kathy in FL ¨C at 08:36
You should start a new business, Organization and Prepping Inc. ¡°We slash and burn your excess and fill you closets with preps. This week¡¯s bonus with membership: The Kathy Cookbook¡± :-)
We recently did a ¡°clean sweep¡± on toys. Moved everthing on to tarps on the lawn and sorted and purged. It worked really well but man is that a lot of work.
Petticoat Junction ¨C at 09:40
For those with Dollar Tree stores and a penchant for Ramen, lol¡I picked up several 12-packs of Ramen (only beef & chicken options) for a buck apiece this week. I usually feel like I¡¯m doing good to find Ramen at 10/$1; this even beats that by a bit. They aren¡¯t shrink-wrapped but are boxed per dzn. so they stack better in the closet.
Jefiner ¨C at 11:28
lohrewok ¨C at 09:20
Regarding fish antibiotics: standard disclaimer¡ªtaking fish antibiotics for infections can work, not work, or make the infection worse. You gotta know what you are about here.
With that in mind, get a copy of the Washington Manual of Medical Therapeutics and a good drug reference (i. e. Physician¡¯s Desk Reference)and start reading. Make sure that your ABX collection includes cefelxin, amoxicillin, erithromycin and tetracycline. Pay attention to expiration dates; tetracycline can be deadly if taken too long after expiration. Other ABX lose potency.
I think there was a forum thread regarding fish abx some months ago that addressed a lot of these questions.
Kathy in FL ¨C at 12:27
Petticoat Junction ¨C at 09:37 They are rubbermaid but they look like those bins you see them use in the places like Walgreens and CVS for their stock. Its opaque/see-thru on the bottom then has blue handle clips. The lid is the kind that it is in 2 pieces and to close it, you overlap the two pieces. Not the greatest description in the world, I know ¡ but they see sturdier than regular tub lids and they stack nicely when packed.
Kathy in FL ¨C at 12:28
silversage ¨C at 09:39
Hmmm. Let¡¯s see if I can fit one more thing into my schedule ¡ nope. I wouldn¡¯t mind a business like that. It sure is easier to give advice than to take my own advice. LOL!
Pat in AZ ¨C at 12:45
Set up a vermiculture bin ¡ª never thought I¡¯d be happy to have worms!
Also picked up some aloes to plant in the front yard ¡ª well known as a burn salve, the gel is also great for daily skin care.
Kathy in FL ¨C at 13:01
Pat in AZ ¨C at 12:45
Keep us updated on the worm farm. Its something I¡¯ve thought about and I even have a pretty good spot picked out ¡ but I¡¯m just not confident I would have the time to commit to it. What do you figure is the amount of time you spend on your farm?
silversage ¨C at 13:32
Kathy in FL ¨C at 12:28
I knew you were too busy, but you help the rest of us sooooo much. I think to my self, well Kathy¡¯s not slowing down, we need to keep plugging away at all the big and little things that need doing. I keep making my honey a list and he keeps crossing stuff off while I keep up with the fluwikie :-)
Pat in AZ ¨C at 15:08
Kathy, my ¡°farm¡± is just a bin ¡ª a 73 qt. Rubbermaid bin from Walmart. I drilled drainage holes in the bottom and air holes in the top and put in wet strips of newspaper as bedding, then added some soil, manure, and worms. It needs a tray under it to catch any water that drains, and something to hold the bin up off the tray ¡ª wood or bricks. This size bin is supposed to be able to process 3 pounds per week of kitchen scraps.
I¡¯m going to keep it inside the house except when the weather is moderate ¡ª it¡¯s too hot in the summer and too cool in the winter to leave it outside. (Has to stay between 40 and 80 degrees F.)
I got the worms at our local garden center. They didn¡¯t have worms to sell so just let me dig them out of their own beds ¡ª which means I probably got some ¡°extra¡± critters, as well. I¡¯m hoping this doesn¡¯t create any problems. Actually I think the worms are the same as ¡°redworms¡± that are used to catch trout, so that¡¯s what I¡¯ll try next if this bin doesn¡¯t ¡°work.¡±
I spent about six dollars in all ¡ª including the newspaper, which I don¡¯t normally buy!
From what I understand, the only maintenance necessary is adding food (kitchen scraps) and making sure that the moisture stays right. Every six months or so you ¡°harvest¡± the castings, which sounds like a process that will take only a few minutes of labor (separating the worms from the castings). The bin also might yield ¡°tea¡± from the drainage, which will go straight into the garden.
I am doing this mainly because I don¡¯t have enough material to have a compost pile, and also because I don¡¯t believe in wasting anything that can be used. Up to now I have been doing what my grandmother in Oklahoma did with her kitchen waste ¡ª burying it in holes around the yard.
LauraB ¨C at 21:52
BB - I was literally posting to you last night when we LOST POWER AGAIN! We just can¡¯t catch a break with the power lately. This time was just for 24 hours but it was very wide spread. Luckily I was up early and cleaned out the closest open grocery store of all their ice and delivered it to multiple neighbors and re-stuffed my fridge and freezer. But I felt the way you did the last time we lost it for 2 1/2 days and that was the ah-ha moment for dh. he sat out in his car on his crakcberry trying to do work. I felt good that I had finally convinced him of the importance of this vital piece of equipment.
Kathy in FL - I have a basement, but it¡¯s full of utlitiy equipment and piles of stuff we need to get rid of. Seems the more space you have, the more you fill it.
So, once the kids are back in school this week, I am going to 1) research and buy a generator and 2) do a big prep re-org. We have to first clean the basement out of all the stuff we¡¯ll probably never use and put up shelves. But right now my preps are all over and not easy to get to. As a result I¡¯m not rotating as well as I should just because I can¡¯t be bothered to look for stuff. It¡¯s not that I¡¯m worried someone will see them, but I just had no place to put much beyond what we usually use. It will feel good to get those two things done. But having htem all home all summer is like living in a black hole - kids conume all light, time and energy!
04 September 2006
Petticoat Junction ¨C at 00:13
Kathy in FL ¨C at 12:27
Thanks for the description of the bins; I think I know exactly which ones you mean. I like the idea of them being more sturdy/stackable. The budget is still too tight to accomodate anything but the most conservative preps (and the kids¡¯ math books, lol) but it is getting better¡hopefully quickly enough!
Actually, as I¡¯m thinking about it, I may end up moving school supplies into those in the garage so that I can finish the prep take-over of the big school closet¡.hmmm¡.I¡¯m picturing one filled with math games/manipulatives and one with¡.
re: Pat in AZ¡¯s worms: I¡¯ve looked into vermiculture quite a bit, too, over the years. I may finally have my avenue for getting a worm farm up & running at home. Our family is part of a small group of homeschoolers working with our local zoo to set up a homeschool/community green classroom, a grant-funded prototype program for the state. Part of it will include vermiculture and once it is established we will all have extra worms to bring home. The simplest things can make my day, lol.
Bump ¨C at 00:45
Kathy in FL ¨C at 08:25
Well, I had planned on doing some canning today, but don¡¯t know if I will get to it after all.
Had a weird kind of ¡°a-ha moment¡± in our house. Steve Irwin, the crocodile guy from Australia, died yesterday and we woke up to here about it here in FL. My middle daughter is a huge fan and she is just heart broken about it. The guy was only 44. But that led me to thinking about all of the other folks that could die in a pandemic. It kind of spreads out the trauma ¡ heroic or trusted public figures and their deaths will make for some heavy social influencing. Especially if these are the kind of people that are heroes to our children.
I guess its a bit off-topic, but it got me to thinking about all that might influence my children¡¯s state of minds during and after a pandemic.
Petticoat Junction ¨C at 19:32
Kathy in FL ¨C at 12:27
I was at Sam¡¯s this afternoon and they had those bins w/the 2-piece blue lids like you were describing. I think they were 12 gallon size. They had a 2-pack for $12.88.
My almost-10 and 11 yr old dd¡¯s are very sad about Steve, too; I was having similar thoughts to yours this morning (and also thinking of all the moms who may be left to unexpectedly raise small children on their own).
MAinVA ¨C at 19:48
Kathy and PJ ¡ª first, I¡¯m so sorry that your children are being affected by Steve¡¯s death. Has to be hard on the young ones who are seldom exposed to something like this happening to one of their heros.
Regarding the bins you found at Sam¡¯s: since we also have limited space, 905 of all my preps are collected in those containers [used to hold office files] and also in new cardboard boxes of the same size, stacked in closets and in stand alone armoires that we used for off seasonal clothing and office supplies. We simply do not have room otherwise, especially for separate shelving. Of course this means that ¡°shopping¡± from the various bins and boxes later will be harder since they are two to four high! Much easier to simply walk up to a set of shelves and take from whatever level you need.
MAinVA ¨C at 19:49
905 is supposed to be 90%¡.but you probably figured that out already.
Eccles ¨C at 20:32
LauraB @ 21:52
¡research and buy a generator¡
Just remember that low price is not a good thing. (They ahev to cheapen it up by scrimping on something). Find one that is reliable to run for hundreds of hours straight with minimal maintenance. As a guide, instead of the word generator, use the phrase the machine that my family will utterly depend on in an emergency and which must not fail.
Every time you think of a generator, substitute that phrase. See if it doesn¡¯t change the rank ordering of the features considered for the purchase. So, instead of going out to look for a generator, you are going out for a ¡.
lady biker ¨C at 21:09
yesterday was my birthday, so significant other or SO (LOLOLOL) took me shopping , and man was he in for a BIG surprise, I brought no food what so ever, just a new cabinet for a pantry in the computer room and it locks. YEA, NO one can get in it but me. I have so far unloaded seven boxes of FD foods into it and loads of cleaning stuff that I brought yesterday too. I feel so good about all this and when he saw all the stuff he was actually tickled that almost made me pass out. he didn¡¯t know I was prepping. sorta doing it on the side and hiding stuff. don¡¯t have to hide anymore and it¡¯s a good thing cause I was running out of room. I got in a big order from Main and I had ordered some of the maple syrup sugar candy. I have always wanted to try that and liviing here in Missouri it¡¯s only a dream , and now good thing my new cabinet locks cause i caught him with his fingers in a box pilfering. I took the key so he can¡¯t mooch too much unless I say so. like some little kid. honestly.
lady biker ¨C at 21:28
oh yea one other thing I got and I¡¯m so excited about. (man I gotta get a life) I actually found and bought a beautiful stainless steal percolateor coffee pot. like the ones mom and daddy had. that to me was a wonderful find. yup I gotta get a life someday. LOL
I¡¯m-workin¡¯-on-it ¨C at 21:43
When you DO get that life Lady biker, along with the rest of us, please don¡¯t let it change you one iota!
Average Concerned Mom ¨C at 21:44
Pat in AZ ¡ª I¡¯m trying to figure out, what¡¯s the benefit of the worm farm? Is it mostly to reduce waste (you can feed them your kitchen scraps?) like in a compost pile? Or is it if you are a gardener, to have good compost? (Maybe both¡.)
LauraB ¡ª how old are your kids? You are one of the only people on fluwikie who writes about their kids they way I feel about mine ¡ª i do love them tremendously and am glad to be with them, but at least one of them DOES consume all light, enegery, time¡. (-: I¡¯ll be so glad when he¡¯s off to preschool, even though it is only 2 hours a day. Psychologically it will give me much mroe bretahing room here at home¡ and time to can!
lady biker ¡ª funny, it was my birthday last week, and my mother in law sent me a nice check. My husband wanted to know what I would buy with it, and what I want is a big order of emergency supplies! He¡¯s a bit disappointed, thinks birthday money shoudl be spent on frivilous stuff¡
lady biker ¨C at 21:55
Pat in AZ¡..that worm farm thingy¡¡..well if things get too tough I remember years ago reading receipes for worms..they are pure protein¡¡.hahahha¡¡.lots of ketchup please¡¡pttttttt diet time
Average Concerned Mom¡¡yup that¡¯s what I used my BD money for preps ¡¡.and a hot fudge sunday of course it don¡¯t get much better. :)
mj ¨C at 21:55
Average Concerned Mom ¨C at 21:44 About your birthday check - be sure to have fun. Buy desserts, pie filling, a ¡°thing¡± you¡¯ve wanted but felt you couldn¡¯t justify spending money on. Holidays will happen, just like pandemics, so get special stuff for that and celebrate your birthday all over again when you use them. And get the usual necessary stuff. But be sure there¡¯s something in that order for YOU.
05 September 2006
Pat in AZ ¨C at 00:12
ACM ¡ª Happy birthday! You¡¯re right, the worms are to provide organic compost for the garden and to use kitchen scraps. I just can¡¯t stand to throw anything away if it can be used. It¡¯s a genetic condition.
I¡¯m a little worried, though ¡ª it¡¯s started to mold. Well, if it gets worse I¡¯ll just bury the whole danged thing and try again.
lady biker ¡ª I think you just gave me nightmares. I am NOT Fear Factor material! Eeeewww!
Pat in AZ ¨C at 00:15
I¡¯ve been making buttermilk. It¡¯s really easy. You put one part buttermilk and three or four parts milk in a quart jar, shake it up, and put it in a warm place for a day or two until it gets thick.
EnoughAlready ¨C at 02:04
Average Concerned Mom ¨C at 21:44
I¡¯m trying to figure out, what¡¯s the benefit of the worm farm?
Worms help improve soil aerateion, porosity, and permeability. If you can farm them, you can spread them! Worms improve soil fertility by stirring up minerals and nutrients. Plants grown in worm-rich soil do better. (Greater growth and output.) They love mulch/compost conditions!
AND¡ they make great fish bait!
Texas Rose. ¨C at 02:19
The ¡®mater plants are in a container, planted in Miracle Gro. I asked the guy at the garden place how to grow tomatoes and that¡¯s what he told me to do and I did. If they die, it¡¯s his fault.;)
Actually, the plants are doing well. I have them on the back patio where they get morning sun and afternoon shade to protect them from the Texas sun and heat(per the garden place guy). I¡¯d swear they¡¯re growing so fast that it¡¯s noticeable.
EnoughAlready ¨C at 02:30
Okay¡ just¡ WHAM! Went to bed last Monday night, woke up Tuesday morning feeling like I¡¯d had a ton of concrete dumped on my chest. Out of nowhere¡ WHAM! All this stuff in my chest, and deep coughing. It has lasted a week. For the last two days it has just started in my head (nasal sinuses.) When I was finally able to make it out of bed, I discovered this stuff is overtaking my town. Everybody seems to have some ¡°version¡± of it. It¡¯s a nasty cold. Lesson learned: I could cared less about eating. I was thirsty beyond reason¡ drank 2 gallons of water in one day! (No fever, either.) I realise that those ORS kits need to be highly individualized. Like, no mixing or measuring¡ just able to drop a dose into a bottle of water. I layed in bed thinking about this¡ knowing when I ever made it up from the bed, I needed to make up single portions. Sorta like those koolaid and tea ¡°single servings¡± you dump into water bottles. No way could I make up ORS with what I have had (a cold), let alone anything way worse (BF.) And housework¡ forget about it. Who cared. Thank goodness my husband and sons pitched in when they got home! But, I could have cared a less. Outside of some robot that cleans, I don¡¯t have a clue on this. Also, nothing seemed to penetrate this ¡°congestion.¡± That was very discouraging. What did offer some relief was menthol chest rubs and hot steam baths with eucalyptus oil. (Relaxing and vapor.)
THEN¡ our phone just went dead on Friday evening. My husband and son-in-law troubleshooted all weekend. Turned out to be a messed up connection at the junction box outside. *Get phone wire, etc. (We have cell phones so we weren¡¯t totally w/o phones. However, we were without internet¡ and our ¡°home phone.¡±)
THEN¡ one of my daughters had a child come home with headlice. None of the other children in her house, or any of the other g¡¯kids, had it. All the same, she had to hang out pillows & comforters on my clothesline. There¡¯s been discussion here about the importance of sanitizing with sun, air and wind. I am here to tell you¡ I have 300 feet of clothesline. It didn¡¯t come near holding what was needed. And that was just for bed pillows and comforters. That could easily be a daily routine. Not to mention ¡°other stuff¡± that needs to be hung out. And I know¡ put out, take in, put out, take in¡ but sheesh¡
kc_quiet ¨C at 06:51
Enough: hope that cold is gone by now! If it comes to clothesline space (for drying- I don¡¯t know about sanitizing) you can hang clothes on regular clotheshangers and then hang the hangers on the line.
LauraB ¨C at 07:17
Enough - hope you¡¯re feeling better soon! Evidently the pukies are going around our town so I¡¯ve been militant about the kids washing their hands lately. I¡¯ll take just about anything over three kids puking in hte middle of the night.
ACM: you¡¯re so funny. Mine are 10, 6 and 3. Two boys, one girl. All high energy, full of life, love them to pieces. But, enough family togetherness. I¡¯ll be doing the happy dancec when the yellow bus comes down the road!
Eccles: thanks for your always wise words. I agree 100%. Especially since water is our main reason for getting one. I don¡¯t often buy just based on prices, but kind of the whole value of the item - what am I getting for my money? Ironically my electrician is getting one as well and has already started doing research and offered to get me one at his cost if it is something his supplier carries. Turns out he¡¯s a prepper too!
I¡¯m-workin¡¯-on-it ¨C at 07:24
EnoughAlready ¨C at 02:30 that¡¯s scary! I¡¯m used to sinus headaches & congestion & have had mild colds turn into sinus infections but I¡¯ve never even had a mild flu ¡ª you can see how ¡°excited¡± I¡¯ll be to see a seriously deadly flu! The way you folks that have been sick in the last few months describe how you¡¯ve felt just puts the fear of God in me about keeping germs away ¡ª I swear I¡¯m turning into Mr Monk!
Green Mom ¨C at 09:03
I thought about vermiculture too, but dh absolutly refused to have worms in the basement. ( we had a snake that took up residence in the washer, and tadpoles in the living room, I suppose that was enough) He¡¯s great about other stuff, so I conceded. Ive been working with different types of composting piles. Ive had great success with one that is just a large Rubbermaid tub, with holes drilled for airation-This one was posted on the You grow girl website, but Ive seen them in other places-great for one person, limited space. Since we are a semi-vegi family with lots of room, I also have the three bin monster out in the big garden.
Garden is an absolute mess. We¡¯ve (thankfully) had quite a bit of rain in the last week or so, and ragweed is at its hight, and so Ive just been running out, grabbing a few tomatos, and running back in. The weeds are awful. Winter project-lay down some sort of weed barrier on the perimeter of the garden. FIL swears by black plastic-but I hate the thought of all that plastic¡..
Prep today is dehydrateing tomatos.
Enough allready- hope you are feeling better. I swear by the mentholated rub and the eucalyptis oil- I simmer the E-oil in potpouri burners in the winter time with some mint and tea tree oil. Ive really stocked up on the rub as well.
I am also beginning to feel like Mr. Monk.
Pat in AZ ¨C at 09:15
Green Mom:
Tadpoles?
Paris ¨C at 09:58
Don¡¯t have time to read everything so maybe this is already on here somewhere¡ Some masks are on a 3 day special sale on Amazon. I just got some extra 3M N95¡äs.
NoFluingAround ¨C at 10:28
Nemo, a list of your Bug out Bag would certainly be helpful. Thank you for offering, I am now taking you up on the offer¡LOL, appreciate it!
Kathy in FL ¨C at 12:41
EnoughAlready ¨C at 02:30
Sorry you are feeling crudy. Yep, those ¡°sick-y¡± experiences have led to some changes in how I prep. I¡¯ve got single serving size ORS made up and I also have those ¡°power ade¡± kinda things in those single servings do-hickies stockpiled. They aren¡¯t cheap, but they¡¯ll be worth it if we need it.
Even if we don¡¯t get sick in the house, my husband sweats like a son of a gun and so does my 14 year old. As they will be the ones doing most of the ¡°heavy labor¡± jobs I¡¯m willing to foot the extra bill.
Bronco Bill ¨C at 14:27
Pat in AZ ¨C at 09:15 --- Yeah, you know. In the fish pond between the bookcase and TV set¡ ;-)
Closed and Continued - Bronco Bill ¨C at 14:29
On that note, this thread needs to be closed for length and continued here

Flu Prep 18 (XVIII)

Bronco Bill — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 15:00:07 GMT

From Flu Wiki 2
Forum: Flu Prep XVIII
05 September 2006
Bronco Bill – at 14:30
Continued from here
AzNewBe – at 17:17
ok I have a question thats going to sound dumb but here goes..lol Can the bottles of propane that you use for camping stoves etc. be used with different brand names example would be ozark with coleman and vise versa? Am wondering as our local Wal-mart has the ozark brand for 2/4.59 and single coleman for 2.69. Thanks for any advice or help you can shead on this
DennisC – at 18:06
yes, propane is propane. You may want to check the connections, but most all the small bottles of propane work on all the others (some are narrow and some are fat bottles).
The point is propane is just C3H8- the same chemical for all.
Dennis in Colorado – at 18:27
Today’s prep purchase:
2 each of the famous Brinkman rechargable lanterns from WalMart, $34.88 each. Actually put them on lay-away, since I ride my bicycle to work and won’t drive the car to work until later this week. I opened one of them and did note that the outer layer of the solar panel was scratched but there was no evident damage to the cells. Won’t know for sure until later this week, I guess.
silversage – at 19:09
Dennis in Colorado – at 18:27
I got a scratch and dent Brinkman rechargable lantern today. The plan is to run it down tonight (seeing how long it will last) then recharge it tomorrow (if there is sun!) and then run it down again tomorrow night. I’ll post my results when finished.
NoFluingAround – at 19:47
This past week I have spent a gargantuan amount of money on preps. My gut tells me, it’s any day now. Everything is very quiet, at one point I was getting several BF alerts on suspected cases, fatalaties, and now, nothing, nada, nil, zero on human cases or infections. I find it hard to swallow.
periscopic – at 20:00
Went to WM to check out the Brinkman rechargable lantern yesterday, the price tag was marked in red pen “recall”. Went out to comsumer affairs on web, went to Brinkman but could not find the item listed. This is just a heads up and may be worth doing some checking into.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 20:17
Well, I have in my temporary possession 5 Brinkmanns tonight, only until I return 2 tomorrow!!! I went to 2 WalMarts & checked 2 lanterns at one and 6 lanterns at the other and made switches for the ones with the least amount of scratches & no ‘shattered’ look to the cells. My husband will have a fit when I post this all to the online budget keeper thingie.
I never got through on the 800 number to ask our questions, but I got a scare after I’d made a switch at the first stop, then purchased 3 at the next stop — at the register, the lady tried to ring up the first lantern her POS screen showed something like “this item not for sale” and she commented “oh no, this must have been recalled because that message only comes up when something has been reported to have a problem!” I groaned….she tried to ring up the next one & it rang up just fine so she tripled that entry rather than trying to scan the others and off I went!!!
I have no clue what caused that, unless it had something to do with my other purchases less than an hour before — that RFIG tracking you know…
I DID take time to look and there are NO Brinkmann light bulbs (but the Coleman FLores single tubes look the same — I’ll take mine apart tomorrow and check) and there are NO Brinkmann batteries, but it doesn’t say Brinkmann on the one in the bottom of the lantern that I saw at a glance, so we’ll have to check online for a battery supplier.
LauraB – at 22:05
More proof that things just don’t go as planned. My littlest monkey broke his leg! Spent the whole day in doctor’s offices (ped, radiology, orthoped.) Luckily a small break, but it just gets your mind racing - what if this happened in a pandemic? Yikes. Some things you can prep for and some you can’t. Plus, my back is already killing me from lugging him around everywhere (he weighs oover 40 lbs!). no moving preps around for me this week - I’m just going to hang out with him, rent movies, pop popcorn - spoil him rotten.
LauraB – at 22:06
kitty – at 22:37
This is my first posting, My family think I am nuts and my mother made me promise not to buy anymore food. I knew I was lying because I can’t help believe that some thing is going to happen soon. I have been buying plastic shelves that you can stack from walmart and plan to put them in a trailer and leave if something happens. This week I bought 3 additional shelves now I have about 8 filled. I bought a waffle iron that makes belgian waffels and 10 lbs of pancake mix at sams. I tried the waffle iron it heats up quick and makes waffles quick. I figure i can make waffles with the generator. Does anyone know if that is realistic?
Texas Rose – at 23:01
Just a thought: How often do you plan to make waffles? Generator power is limited. Do you want to use it to make waffles more than once or would you rather have it for something else?
Texas Rose – at 23:01
Oh-and because I’m slow sometimes-Welcome!
MAinVA – at 23:07
Welcome, kitty. Perhaps you ought to consider some of the Ramen noodle pkgs. They are inexpensive, have lots of variety and can be fixed with just a little boiling water. When I traveled a lot doing consulting work, I sometimes even used hot water from the tap to make them. Of course that presumes there is water and it is heated. It takes a lot less power to heat a cup of water than it does to run a waffle iron. [Although, perhaps like you, I do adore waffles!]
Average Concerned Mom – at 23:10
I really want one of these Brinkma lanterns now; but it HAS to have the solar panel scratched, or I will know it is counterfeit! (-:
And, welcome Kitty!
silversage – at 23:17
kitty – at 22:37
I think we need to know if your running your generator to run the frig every couple of hours or like me to run the sump pump or would you be starting it just to cook? Hillbilly Bill has a kill-o-watt meter. Lets ask him to fire up his waffle iron and see what the running wattage is on that. Then just check it against the the running and max wattage of your generator to see if it’s even doable. Then decide if you want the noise to bring in the neigbors for waffles! :-)
silversage – at 23:22
Average Concerned Mom – at 23:10
My brinkman lantern has been on for about 5 hours now and I’m starting to lose light. Maybe it wasn’t fully charged, the led is still going but it’s not very much light. On the other hand, I also got some outside solar landscaping lights and I have a “coach light” that would make a good nightlight and a spot light that’s OK. It’s brighter now than the brinkman is.
silversage – at 23:24
The Brinkman had good light, not great like my battery lantern, for the first couple of hours. Just to keep the record straight.
Average Concerned Mom – at 23:27
Well, if the solar panel isn’t scratched, I don’t want one — I want one like all my fluwikian friends have!
Seriously, I bought a battery operated LED lantern from REI a few weeks ago, on the recommendation of someone here — and it is fantastic light! When we lost power over the weekend and I had to finish canning by lantern light, that’s what I used, and it was almost like having the lights on. I do like the idea of solar power, versus having a battery, but supposedly this type of lanterns uses very little power for pretty good light — it was about $45 though, but I’d be happy to get another one.
silversage – at 23:26
That’s what I need, something bright to see what I’m cooking. Other wise it’s early to bed and early to rise…… Does REI carry those in the store. I didn’t look last time I was in because I was focused on water filters and they didn’t even carry the one I wanted to look at, only in the catalog.
I think I need to install a hook over my stove for a lantern. lol
Average Concerned Mom – at 23:44
Yes, I bought this one in the store — they also will sell on-line.
http://tinyurl.com/e...
Not sure if that link will work — if not go to www.rei.com and search for LED lantern. Mountain Green it is called.
silversage – at 23:51
WOW, 30 LED lights. That’s great. My old lantern takes 8 D batteries. This is probably half the weight and 10X the light! Maybe I should take this brinkman back to the store?
06 September 2006
MAinVA – at 00:00
….and at the other end of the scale: I bought two small book reading LED lights tonight! I’m just catching on the the LED phenom all because of reading your discussions on this board. I figure we are probably going to have to get up with the dawn and go to bed at sunset; however this way we can read in bed for awhile. I’ll work my way up the ladder to checking out more powerful LED lights over the next week or so. [assuming we still have time]
EnoughAlready – at 00:02
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 07:24
I swear I’m turning into Mr Monk
~snicker~ I have downloaded posters from CDC and the Red Cross and hung them around the house and given them to my kids for the grandkids. Handwashing, coughing and door handle ettiquite. I carry hand sanitizer on me, even passed some out to teachers while visiting my gkids school. Seriously thought about passing out spray bottles of bleach to the teachers… for my babies rooms & desks. Anyhow… I know whatcha mean!
Green Mom – at 09:03
we had a snake that took up residence in the washer, and tadpoles in the living room, I suppose that was enough)
LOL!! Oh my gosh… it hurts to laugh because it triggers coughing! But, I just have such a “visual” of this & it is just toooooo funny!
Garden is an absolute mess. (*Mine too. ~sigh~ Hoping fall garden is better!)
Kathy in FL – at 12:41 How did you make your single serving ORS packages? About all I can do is “think” about it presently. One thing I keep getting hung up on is the flavoring aspect. I figure adding unflavored koolaid would help, but how do you portion it out? How did you portion any of it out? Thanks in advance!
Thanks for the well wishes everybody. Yes, I am doing “better”. BUT… still feel awful. I am taking my little grandson to the doctor tomorrow for the same stuff. All I can say is thank God for antibiotics!
My prep… is reading what y’all are doing so I can hit the ground running… when I can run again! Great ideas, y’all (as usual!) Man, I hope there are still some of those solar lantern lamps left when I ever get “out” again.
DennisC – at 00:13
EnoughAlready – at 00:02
“I swear I’m turning into Mr Monk “ There will be more “Monks” than “Rambos” that survive.
I normally use an electric shaver- today, I got blades for my razor- just in case.
EnoughAlready – at 00:50
DennisC
:) I think you are correct!
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 09:21
EnoughAlready – at 00:02 I love the idea of printing out the posters….we should start a Monk flu fan club!!
NauticalMan – at 13:16
Dennis C
Get yourself an inexpensive battery powered razor. It has been about 30 years since I used a blade, would not be pretty if I did. They are about 20–25 dollars and my Braun uses two AA batteries, in ample supply, in fact it gives a better closer shave than my much more expensive electric…
DennisC – at 13:26
NauticalMan – at 13:16 Yes, I have one of those Braun battery razors, but I figure I may be out of batteries and have no power after about 3 to 5 months. I tried the rechargeable batteries in the rszor but they just don’t work as well as the alkaline (slower “buzz”=lower voltage/current).
So- Yes, I have a Braun rechargable that I normally use, one of the AA Braun for my Bug out bag, and some Gillette Sensors for when there is no power or batteries.
Hillbilly Bill – at 13:33
silversage – at 23:17
We don’t have a waffle iron, but we do have one of those XPress101 sandwhich makers that work just like a waffle iron. I plugged it into my Kill-A-Watt meter this weekend and found out that it uses 750 watts! That is a LOT of power, at least 15% of the output of my generator. I could see using it if you were running the genny anyway and had the power to spare, but I would definitely not run a generator just to make waffles!
On the subject of lanterns, I stopped at Wally World today and looked for a Brinkman but there were none to be found. I did find this lantern and I bought two of them. I am charging one up today (initial charging takes 20 hours) so I will test it out and report back. You can charge it either from household current or a 12 volt source. The bulbs are standard 6″, 4 watt flourescent which should be easy to find. I like the two power settings and the LED nightlight feature. The cost was $22.96 before tax.
I know it does not have a solar panel for recharging, but I already have some of those.
Sailor – at 13:39
Hillbilly Bill – at 13:33
What brand of lantern did you buy?
Hillbilly Bill – at 13:41
It would be a good idea or me to include the link….DUH!
Lantern
silversage – at 13:44
Hillbilly Bill – at 13:33
Thanks for checking that, I knew those electric buggers would be high. I have a griddle to use outside on the weber or coleman or over charcoal to make our pancakes.
kitty – at 22:37
In the long run using the waffle iron from the generator probably isn’t the most efficient way to cook, but it sounds doable if your generator can handle the surge while the iron is heating up. I burned up a small generator when the sump pump and frig kicked on at the same time during a storm. I didn’t even think about it at the time, but reading all the good info here I’ve learned a lot (like I over loaded the generator). Keep reading and keep prepping!
LauraB – at 13:45
HBB - cool light. Did you find it at Wallyworld? I’d rather not schlepp out there if this is a good option and can be ordered on-line! Thanks.
Green Mom – at 13:45
To the guys- my hubby uses the Braun battery razor and loves it. I think he even uses rechargable batteries -we have a solar recharger, that comes in handy when theres no electric.
Sign me up for the Monk Flu fan club!
I didn’t print out CDC posters, but last year I did cut out a “Prevent colds and Flu” sidebar from a magazine and put it on our bathroom mirror. It mysteriously disappeared over the summer.
LauraB- I hope the break wasn’t too serious… Theres another thread going right now-Acheille’s heel, and thats one of my big fears that someone will break a bone or need stitches or something while we’re SIP. I’ve had first aid courses, but setting a bone, or stitching someone up is definatly out of my comfort zone. Your video popcorn plan sounds like a good one- and by all means, watch out for your back! You don’t want any injuries now!
Oremus – at 13:47
Saw this on the CNN money site review of food show.
Quick Cuisine self-heating meals
The idea: Kiss your microwave goodbye. Quick Cuisine offers shelf-stable, ready-to-eat meals that contain their own heating device. The technology - similar to that used by the Army for its MREs - lets a meal cook at 140 degrees in 10 minutes with the push of a button.
Created by Swiss chemist Nicky Sevim and developed over four years, the meals are already available in Europe and are especially popular in the United Kingdom, where 350,000 are sold each month, mostly to office workers and campers.
The debut: Albertsons, Kroger, Publix, and 7-Eleven will start carrying the meals this fall for $6 to $7 a pop.
Too pricey for me, maybe it will come down in price. I wonder what the shelf life is?
QUICKCUISINE
LauraB – at 13:51
Sorry HBB - another Q. Have you tested this light out yet? I’m curious how long it stays fired up. thanks again!
Hillbilly Bill – at 13:52
LauraB – at 13:45
Sorry to hear about your son’s leg, I hope he is getting along OK.
Yes, I did find it at Wally World, but no guarantee it’s going to be at all of them. If you can find it online for a decent price I would go for it. When I took it out of the box I was impressed with the weight and quality of the lantern and I REALLY like that both power adapters fit inside the base of the lantern. I have a box full of those and it hard to remember which goes with which. Plus, it has a compass in case I get lost in the house….
TreasureIslandGal – at 13:59
Did anyone ever try using a black mailbox as a solar stove yet? I’ve passed by them at Home Depot a few times but haven’t bought one to try it yet until I hear whether or not it works. I certainly can’t use a mailbox for anything else, so it woul dbe a big waste if it doesn’t work.
Hillbilly Bill – at 14:03
LauraB – at 13:51
The lamp has to charge for about 20 hours before it can be used the first time. I won’t get a chance to play with it until tomorrow night. I’ll let you know how it works.
Green Mom – at 14:04
Pat at 9:15- (previous prep thread)
My daughter scooped up a bunch of tadpoles out of one of my water-collection barrals and is raising them as a science project. We didn’t know if they were frogs or toads-we are beginning to think they might be tree-frogs. One very quickly developed legs and disappeared-I guess he went over the wall.
LauraB – at 14:14
Thanks HBB! Since there doesn’t seem to be a lot of options with solar portables out there, I’m thinking it would be good to have a few different lighting optins, like that one, or the one from REI. A solar panel for recharging battereis and running a few small other things as well. So many things, so little money…
TreasureIslandGal – at 14:31
my biggest fear is long term SIP and no water. no natural clean water sources around me. :(
Hillbilly Bill – at 14:33
LauraB – at 14:14 - So many things, so little money…
Ain’t that the truth! Buying a storing rice and beans was easy compared to this.
I agree that different options are a good idea. I’ve got a bunch of different cheap lanterns and lights (tap lights, etc.) that run off AA batteries. I want to be able to have some options. I’m hoping this lantern will be bright enough for cooking, playing cards, etc.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 14:36
Plus, it has a compass in case I get lost in the house….
LOL!! That’s too funny!!
I have 2 Rayovac battery lanterns fron WW that are excellent light, and reasonably priced-use the Coleman bulbs….I wanted the Brinkmann for the solar……..maybe I should return all instead of just the 2 damaged ones!
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 15:05
http://www.cpsc.gov/
I checked there for any recalls under the name Brinkmann & only came up with old stuff…..a tabletop propane heater, a cooking grill, a solar lawn light with a faceted globe that would actually magnify the sun & cause combustable materials like dry grass to catch fire.
Nothing on the Brinkmann lantern we’re all scooping up — it’s PROBABLY an internal thing at WalMart — if that’s possible — they’re probably tired of folks bringing them back or something like that…..just guessing!
Swann – at 15:52
Here’s a link for Heater Meals (I have not tried them, but there’s a great variety of meals and they cost less than $4.00 each).
http://tinyurl.com/f...
DennisC – at 16:26
Swann – at 15:52 they look “interesting” but I can find no info about their nutritional value - that worries me- but then again I worry too much.
silversage – at 16:44
DennisC – at 16:26
got a question for ya? How do non ham radio people benefit from ham radio? Is that the SW1 and SW2 settings on my radio that I can listen in? I’m concerned about a information black out if the power goes down long term.
Kathy in FL – at 17:00
I know everyone is thinking light, light, light … but the truth is most people will probably revert back to a more natural sleep cycle if the power is out for a prolonged period of time. And, any cottage industries will likely operate around those hours as well. Certainly the “have-no- prep” ers will be operating around the natural light/dark cycle.
I know when we are camping our bodies quickly adjust to going without a lot of artificial light sources. We hit the sack earlier and then get up earlier … and feel better for it to be honest.
Just a thought.
DennisC – at 17:01
Well I am not a Ham person myself. (Eccles are you out there?) However, there are no restrictions on receiving radio signals just on transmitting. So you can listen in without any restrictions. I would imagine that the public short wave stations would be a major source of info if TSHTF. ANd yes, that should be some of the stations you hear on the SW settings.
you can find info about stations here:
http://tinyurl.com/g...
and info about Voice of America is here:
http://radio.about.c...
I would think that “they” would keep that up through most emergencies.
I am hoping that my XM radio will still be funtioning durring most problems and I can power it off 12 V easy.
OH, yes, the trick to a good signal is in the antenna.
silversage – at 17:05
Thanks, guess I thought you were a ham person. I’ll check those out.
DennisC – at 17:06
Kathy in FL – at 17:00 I think you are right - as long as we are healthy. I have my lights mainly for the case of taking care of the sick at night.
The old story is that it was the need for more light for his mother’s surgery that Edison was motivated to invent the light bulb.
DennisC – at 17:10
silversage – at 17:05 Ham person- not that kind - just someone that likes to play in the community musicals :)
anonymous – at 18:19
NoFluingAround – at 19:47 “My gut tells me, it’s any day now.”
Naahh. My gut tells me we’ll be screwing around on this forum for a long time before the real deal occurs. Prep at will. I am. I’ll be ready because there’s no time like the present for making hay while the sun shines and it’s the early bird that gets the worm. Oh,… and a stitch in time saves nine (whatever that means).
MAinVA – at 19:28
anonymous at 18:19 “A stitch in time saves nine [whatever that means]”
As a long time home seamstress, what that phrase is saying is if you have a rip in a garment, it is better to repair it as soon as possible so that it doesn’t get worse — where it might only take one or two stitches when discovered, if you ignore it, then it will take 9 times that amount to fix the tear.
anonymous – at 19:35
Thanks! And so true!
LauraB – at 19:42
Kathy in FL: the reason I am also concerned about light is up here in the NE in the winter it gets real dark real early - we’re talking dark at 4:30/5:00. No one in my family will go to bed that early! And eventhough our recent outages were that - recent - so it was still light out later, we still went through far more batteries and candles than I ever thought we would. But in general I think you are right. I definitely hibernate more in the winter - go to bed earlier - and with no power we’ll be expending more energy cooking, etc.
Carrey in VA – at 19:47
Note to self, buy more kerosene for lamps
DennisC – at 20:24
Carrey in VA – at 19:47 Kerosene is OK but paraffin lights don’t “smell” as much and you don’t get that black soot on your walls.
Also did you know you can use olive oil in some of them.
Carrey in VA – at 20:31
You can use olive oil in kerosene lamps? huh didn’t know that. We don’t mind the kerosene smell that much. And if you keep your wicks trimmed it doesn’t smoke too bad. Plus the added benefit that they can help heat the room up.
DennisC – at 20:42
Carrey in VA – at 20:31
I use kerosene lamps and heat in my old workshop. They are OK for a while, but after 6 months or so I started to notice the black film on things (like glass in pictures) and I worried about what was going into my lungs. One problem I had was the “smoke” durring lighting and putting out the lamp.
you may want to check: http://en.wikipedia....
“Kerosene smoke can also cause health problems, especially respiratory problems, and especially if used in enclosed spaces.”
I try to avoid anything that might stress the respiratory system.
Love Texas – at 20:51
I have a new used Ham radio—to play around and see if it is doable. It seems a little complicated but it will be fun to have something new to learn---good for the brain cells.
DennisC – at 21:07
here is a fair site concerning Kerosene use for “emergencies” and such.
http://www.atsdr.cdc...
It includes the health concerns.
anonymous – at 21:10
Love Texas – at 20:51
What make/model radio did you get?
07 September 2006
NauticalMan – at 00:04
Dennis C
Concerning Kerosene health concerns, see the thread Illumination without electricity. Am using Aladdin lamp oil in my Aladdin lamp, supposedly distilled rather than refined!? Seems to give off no noticable odor or smoke, in fact the match I use to light it gives out much of what is objectionable so will switch to a butane lighter. The oil seems to be cheapest through Lehmans. Very pleased with the lamp, heads and shoulders above others, good for an almost 100 year old technology..
Hillbilly Bill – at 09:16
When I got home from work my Swiss Army lantern was all charged up so I did have a chance to test it out last night. On full power it does a good job of lighting up a normal size room. You could read or play cards by it, but it works best as a general area light. I had it on for two hours with no problems. The nightlight was also nice and bright. I may get a couple more of these if I can easily find the replacement bulbs. I’ll have to sneak them in the house though, DW is about at the end of her patience lately with prep purchases.
NJ Jeeper – at 09:29
HB where did you get these please?
Hillbilly Bill – at 09:55
Believe it or not, Walmart. I was looking for the Brinkmann but it was out of stock.
Here is a link, but I got it for about $25 with tax at Walmart. I’m impressed with how well made and functional the lantern is so far.
NJ Jeeper – at 09:59
HB, thanks, and also thanks for not inflicting debilitating injuries on the MU team Saturday. I read only 1 couch burned.
Hillbilly Bill – at 10:33
NJ Jeeper – at 09:59
You are most welcome. Actually I think MU played a tough game and never gave up. However, if I were the WVU coach, a lot of our starters would have been on the bench for most of the second half. I never understand coaches that moan about backups not having much real game experience, but then don’t put them in until the last series of a contest that is already decided.
There was a song being played on the local radio stations called “Save a Couch, It’s only Marshall” sung to the tune of “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy”
NJ Jeeper – at 10:36
That is really funny, I like it. Maybe next time. :-)
Hillbilly Bill – at 10:51
NJ Jeeper – at 10:36 It’s definitely going to be a good rivalry and good for the state overall.
Mari – at 11:00
As monsoon season winds down, I’ll be taking down my tarp arrangement for harvesting rainwater. A few observations:
• A Folger’s coffee container has indentations for gripping that make it great for scooping.
• Protect your tarp with something underneath, like a heavy plastic sheet, especially if the tarp is on concrete or other potentially abrasive surface. Otherwise, you’ll be using a lot of duct tape. Any place you can see light through when you hold the tarp up to the sun is a leak, even when it’s not an actual hole.
• Mini bungee cords are better than clothesline for securing the tarp to the PVC pipe (I got mine at WalMart - a jar of 20 for a few dollars), and it’s much faster to disassemble & reassemble the system if you need the space for something else or just want to clean it up a bit.
• It can be a bear to get the lid off a bucket, especially if you’re in a hurry. If you’re using the buckets primarily to store water, just stack the buckets with the lids coverning the bucket openings but not secured, and put a rock on the top lid.
• If storing water outside, cover the buckets or barrels with something to keep the bird poop off.
• If you haven’t gotten used buckets completely clean, you’ll have pretty green water after a few days (actually not a bad way to use up any extra icing if the water is for watering plants, provided you clean the containers thoroughly with bleach later).
• Milk jugs filled with water make great supports for the PVC pipe at corners & connections, and for weighting down the tarp in the middle of the structure so it doesn’t flap.
Texas Rose – at 16:25
Right now we can’t afford a dehydrator so I experimented with dehydrating some carrots in our oven. I found a book on putting up food at Half Price books a while back and there was a section on various ways of drying/dehydrating food.
These were fresh carrots so I cleaned them and steamed them until just barely tender first. Then I spread the carrots out on cookie pans lined with paper towels and popped them into the oven, which was set as low as it would go(170 degrees).
Our oven has a feature called “speed bake” which is pretty much a fan that blows the hot air around(sort of like Congress but in our oven) so I figured it wouldn’t hurt to try that as well.
Since I didn’t know how long the process would take, I set the timer for 2.5 hours and went about my business. I checked on the progress now and then just to make sure the carrots were drying and the paper towels weren’t burning.
The result? I now have about a cup worth of dehydrated carrot slices.
I’m quite pleased with the result. Now I have the option of dehydrating fruits and veggies.
One question, though: The book said to store the dehydrated foods in a cool, dry place and even recommended the fridge. I’d like to be able to store ‘em in the pantry. Is there anything I need to know or consider before I toss bags full of dehydrated foods on a shelf?
Carrey in VA – at 16:37
Received 2 cans of dried whole eggs, 200 oxygen absorbers, and a sampler case of smoothies from HONEYVILLEGRAIN today. Took EXACTLY 6 days from order to received at the door! WHOOO HOOOO
DennisC – at 19:03
Today, I got a bunch of those low wattage high light output fluorescent light bulbs. I am replacing some of my incandescent bulbs. The idea is to keep my electrical load low in case I have to use a generator later.
To be honest, when I have multiple bulbs in a fixture, I keep one incandescent since the fluorescents take a while to “turn on”.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 19:18
Carrey in VA, you probably already know this, just want to remind those who might not, to open your 200 oxy absorb pack & split it into smaller packages & reseal in airtight containers, like glass jars in order to keep them fresh. Don’t open the pack until you have the jars ready to fill! Be sure you don’t just stick them in a plastic container (like Rubbermaid or Tupperware or regular ziplock bags) that might not really be truly air tight since the whole purpose is for them to suck air! If they’re not airtight, they’ll absorb air through any looseness of the plastic lid & bowl until they loose their potency.
Texas Rose, I put one oxy ab in the bottom of a canning jar & then fill with my dehydrated foods & seal and set on the pantry shelf where I’m checking them weekly for any sign of mold, since I’m new to dehydrating too!
08 September 2006
Closed and Continued - Bronco Bill – at 00:15
Another Flu Prep thread filled to capacity!! Closed and continued here
Last relevant post copied to new thread

Flu Prep 19 (XIX)

Bronco Bill — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 15:02:48 GMT

From Flu Wiki 2
Forum: Flu Prep XIX
08 September 2006
Bronco Bill – at 00:16
Continued from here
________________________________________
DennisC – at 19:03
Today, I got a bunch of those low wattage high light output fluorescent light bulbs. I am replacing some of my incandescent bulbs. The idea is to keep my electrical load low in case I have to use a generator later.
To be honest, when I have multiple bulbs in a fixture, I keep one incandescent since the fluorescents take a while to “turn on”.
________________________________________
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 19:18
Carrey in VA, you probably already know this, just want to remind those who might not, to open your 200 oxy absorb pack & split it into smaller packages & reseal in airtight containers, like glass jars in order to keep them fresh. Don’t open the pack until you have the jars ready to fill! Be sure you don’t just stick them in a plastic container (like Rubbermaid or Tupperware or regular ziplock bags) that might not really be truly air tight since the whole purpose is for them to suck air! If they’re not airtight, they’ll absorb air through any looseness of the plastic lid & bowl until they loose their potency.
Texas Rose, I put one oxy ab in the bottom of a canning jar & then fill with my dehydrated foods & seal and set on the pantry shelf where I’m checking them weekly for any sign of mold, since I’m new to dehydrating too!
MAinVA – at 00:30
Texas Rose, if I’m correct the whole point of dehydrating is to make them shelf stable. I’ve also used my oven to dehyrate ground beef [25 lbs so far!] and a recipe out of Silver Palate cookbook called “Comforting Beef.” I put the dried product in small glass canning jars with an oxygen absorber. So far so good! I’ve had then on a shelf now for over a month and they appear fine. I’ve used one of the earlier jars of ground beef to make several casserols and it worked beautifully. Think I may follow your lead and do some carrots since, for some reason I’m not finding a lot of canned carrots in my grocery store!
deborah – at 10:38
I have my dehydrated veggies in canning jars, stored on the shelves. As long as you keep them in a dark, dry place, that doesn’t get hot, you are ok for at least a year if the foods are completely dry. For anything longer, you want to add oxygen absorbers or vacuum seal the jars to maintain quality and freshness.
An inexpensive option for a dehydrator is the American Harvest snackmaster by Nesco (no, I don’t own their stock or have any financial interest in this company or its products). I bought one in Walmart for $33 when it wasn’t on sale, so I imagine you could get one for much less if you timed a sale right, or looked in a resale shop. For a basic version, it works very well, and has temperature settings that let you dry anything you want with it while making sure the food is safe to eat.
One thing that has helped me is blanching veggies in my microwave. It is fast, and I don’t lose any nutrients in water. For carrots, I shred fresh ones, put the shreds in a plastic freezer bag, or a glass bowl that I cover tightly with plastic wrap. A minute or two is all you need, depending on the quantity.
I can dehydrate blanched carrot shreds in a few hours, juicy things like tomatoes take much longer. A timesaver is to get bags of frozen veggies from your local stores when they are on sale, then add them directly to the dehydrator with no need to blanch as that was already done before the foods were packaged. They will already be cut up in the sizes you like too. This will cost more in most cases than buying fresh would, but the cost isn’t really that much more, plus you save on prep time. And sometimes, the cost can be much less, like with corn for example.
Once my foods are dry, I store them in glass canning jars. The ones I want to store long-term go in 1/2 gallon sizes with an oxygen absorber. The ones I use frequently (to enrich meatloaf, casseroles, soups etc) go in quart jars. Anyway, this post got much longer than I expected, so excuse my long-windedness, hehehe. Don’t give up on the dehydrating effort, it really does pay off and it totally worth the work involved.
History Lover – at 12:36
I know this is very trivial, but I thought I would add it anyway. I was at Wal-Mart today, and they had those small battery operated hand-held fans on sale for ten cents each. I bought a couple extra (I always carry one in my purse), because if the power goes down, and you don’t have enough of the large battery-operated fans, these can give you some relief in the heat.
Oremus – at 12:38
I just opened a carton of UHT milk with best used by date of 16JUN06. Tastes great, no degradation as far as I can tell. I bought it last December.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 12:43
History Lover & Oremus, thats two good pieces of info to know — I’m on my way to Wallyworld in just a minute to return some mini storage cubes I ended up not needing (yep, I said that) so I may check on those fans. I’ve used the milk for cooking but I try to use it up by end date or near it so it’s good to know that date can be stretched if stored correctly!
Green Mom – at 12:51
Where do y’all get the oxygen absorbers? Ive been using silica gel packs, but they draw out moisture, not oxygen. Ive also been using recycled pasta sauce jars for dehydration. I did some tomatos the other day that came out quite nice. The potatoes not so good-but I didn’t treat them first. Fortantly, It was only a two potato test run.
DennisC – at 12:55
I get mine at Honeyville
100 for $5. I also use them to get my powdered eggs. Good company and fast delivery.
http://tinyurl.com/l...
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 12:59
http://tinyurl.com/l... for $5 with $4.95 or so shipping on anything you order!
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 13:01
make that $4.49 shipping anywhere in US.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 13:04
Yep, what DennisC said! I just checked over on ebay and there’s an auction set up with buy it now for 100/$14.95!!!! OUCH!
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 13:15
By the way, here’s some oxy info:
from this website: http://tinyurl.com/m...
Number of oxygen absorbers needed: We [Walton Feed] sell 500cc absorbers. They will absorb 500+ cc of oxygen. A #10 can holds 13 cups or very roughly 3300cc. Air is 21% oxygen. So that empty 3300cc #10 can actually has about 683cc of oxygen in it. If you take a full cup of beans it takes about 0.375 cups of water to bring the water level up to the top of the cup. I’ve found this to be true with most of the whole seeds I’ve measured including wheat and rice. This figure is important because it also tells you how much air is in the can when it is full of seeds - 37.5%. With a #10 can full of these products, you now have about 256cc of oxygen left in the can. If you are canning a powder you probably have less air than this but foods like macaroni would have more. Already you can see that one 750cc absorber should do the job nicely, in fact it’s a bit of overkill. A 300cc absorber would also do the trick. We use one 500cc absorber in each of our #10 cans as we’d rather have a bit of overkill than a little oxygen left in the can should the absorber become loaded. Actually, on the cans, this is a lot of overkill as the absorbers we use now actually have more than twice as much oxygen absorbing capacity as what they are rated for.
DennisC – at 13:22
Another O2 trick is to use CO2 from dry ice to fill you container and push out all the air- CO2 is “heavier” than air. But be warned you can explode containers if they are sealed. I do use it to fill some of my “buried supplies” but they are 35 gal things and I just put a piece of plastic over the vent hold so that any expanded gas can push it up. I come back the next day and seal the vent and bury my container.
DennisC – at 13:23
13:22 oh that should have been vent hole and not hold….. the keys are close on this keyboard…
nopower – at 13:25
HBO has a documentary that is airing about Hurricane Katrina. Lots of footage from the event shown day by day. Very moving. The interesting thing I just saw was on several houses it was spray painted “Hope is not a plan”.
I really like that saying. Alot of people I talk to about BF say they hope there will be a vaccine or they pray that there won’t be a pandemic. But in the end, I truely believe I am the only one that will take care of me and my family.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 14:10
Nopower you should post that comment on the great quotes thread!
NEMO – at 15:44
Well, this is a first. I keep losing most of my internet connectivity from Direcway (satellite). I can get my email, go to anything google and get on the WIKI!!! That’s it so far!!! Is someone trying to tell me something?? This is the fourth time this has happened in the past month. It’s that way on all our computers and will fix itself again (hopefully!) but at least I can get to the wiki!!!
NauticalMan – at 15:55
Hope is not a plan should be the official motto of Fluwikie!
tjclaw1 – at 16:00
“Hope is not a plan.” That should be the used for a panflu public awareness campaign.
Dennis in Colorado – at 20:13
Today’s prep:
I picked up the two Brinkman lanterns from layaway at WalMart. They work well as-is from the box. I’ll try the solar charging capability tomorrow. I do note that the instructions for them have one line whited out: “LED indicator on back of lantern turns off automatically when battery is fully charged.” I conclude that the LED will not turn off. There is another instruction to not charge the battery for more than 24 hours.
There were no more Brinkman lanterns on the shelf; all shelf space in that area is now given to Coleman lanterns, of all types.
I also bought 3 large boxes of kitchen matches; specifically for the kerosene lanterns (I have three of those) and for the fireplace.
MAinVA – at 22:03
DH just tested the inverter we bought last week at WM. While he is a retired engineer, I know nothing of how these things work. Goal was to see if he could run the refrigerator off of the car [or is it the car’s battery?] Anyway, he found that it worked and we are both thrilled. We do not live in a place where we could have a generator; however the car is parked right outside the kitchen window, so this is a match made in heaven!
FWIW, I feel that I’m just about finished with prepping, primarily because my intuition is telling me we are running out of time, not for any other reason. In other words, my majorly large run to the grocery, Sam’s and Super WM last week may have been a sort of “topping off.” I think we will continue to buy water almost every day, and will also consider every extra hour and day in the same way as Dr Navarro: “God’s Gift of time.”
Texas Rose – at 23:16
MAinVA@2203: My gut is telling me the same thing.
Thanks for all the info about oxygen absorbers. I can see I’m going to be ordering some PDQ.
09 September 2006
Chesapeake – at 07:51
I got this link from another site and thought I should borrow it. You can download or just read some important books. I downloaded “ Where there is No Doctor” http://tinyurl.com/h...
HillBilly Bill – at 09:05
I have 7 quarts of soup beans with salt pork in the canner and another big pot to eat and share this weekend. I hope to convert a lot of our bags of dry beans to canned beans this fall. Like others, I really feel an urgency to all of this.
Petticoat Junction – at 11:28
OK, wierd. NPR (National Public Radio) just had a big on-air promo for the selection of emergency crank radios they have for sale online. Sure, there’s a connection re: radio, but I have been listening to NPR since they started in the 70′s and have NEVER heard anything like that until this morning.
I did look at our WalMart yesterday for the Brinkman, but the guy working the dept (seemed to be a crochety manager type, not a high school kid) said they don’t carry them. They did have that Swiss lantern for $22, but I only had $5 and was using that to get a couple of bottles of behind-the-counter kids’ cold & flu meds.
MA in VA and TX Rose, I feel the same way, but am stuck right now with extremely limited prep funds (which is sending my PPF way up every time I look at my daughters). I spent $25 last week and $25 yesterday and that was pretty much the end of the funding for this month. :o(
• However* I have to say that I did pretty well with that money yesterday. If you have a CVS pharmacy near you, go check out their 75% off summer/camping clearance. I spent $25 but got (well, obviously) $100 worth of:
Tabletop grills (hibachi for $1.75 and round grill for $3.75) Coleman stove propane canisters ($1.75 for a 2 pack!! I bought the last three sets) MatchLight charcoal ($1.75 for a 7.7 lb bag…I bought the last 6) Grill baskets down from $4 to 99 cents
I feel much better about being able to cook…now I just need to find $$ to get more food TO cook.
KimT – at 17:15
My Hy-Vee store is having a 20% off sale for all meat you can fit in a sack, I think I will stop by and pick up a lot of hamburger for dehydrating tonight. Stopped by Sportsman today and made sure I have all the connectors for the propane canisters, picked up a bunch of misc things, dutch oven supplies, hand warmers, emergency blakets for the windows and more supplies for my water filters and I stopped at the church rummage sale and they had a bunch of candles and some camping pans, a big thick wool blanket and it was a sack sale too, Got everything at the church for $3.
Prepping Gal – at 18:01
HillBilly Bill – at 09:05
I too feel that we’re on the eve of some major event whether that’s pandemic or whatever. I topped up my supplies today just in case. Wanted to get some lamp oil but DH’s car broke down (he’s refitted a v8 into a 78 Jag but there’s a fuel problem) so right in the midst of shopping I had to stop and go to get him. So I grabbed a half dozen 105 hour candles because I couldn’t find the lamp oil (huge store) quickly. Anyway grabbed some more large bags of milk powder and day to day stuff and I feel we’re set. This is the first time I’ve felt I needed to be prepared to not leave the house at any given minute. I hope so much that this is some subconcious reaction perhaps to 9/11 but it’s there. Not panic mode but definitely prepared mode. Stay close to home over the next 24 to 96 hours folks.
anonymous – at 18:04
Thanks for the CVS tip Petticoat - I’ll check them out tommorow.
KimT - When you say “Sportsman” I assume you are talking about “The Sportsman’s Guide”. At first I was jealous because I would love to have one by me, then I realized I would buy way too much stuff if I didn’t have to pay shipping and could window shop.
I had to put a 20′x30′ tarp on the back roof because we discovered a leak during the daily rain storms. Just waiting for some roofers to come and give us quotes, they are still working roofs from hurricanes two years ago down here in South Florida. On the bright side, I have a nice tarp for collecting rain after the roof is fixed!
EnoughAlready – at 18:19
Our well holding tank sprung a leak. Not big, but a leak all the same. I have been wanting to increase the tank size anyway. Just thought I’d add this to the ongoing list here today of things going wrong. So, Monday I’ll call the well guy to come do the work.
lady biker – at 18:52
I have had a heavy load on my mind lately, and I’m trying to fix it. I was reading an old forum that is closed here and it was about money and preppiing. I know in my heart that I can’t save the world. I am prepping for family cause to me family will always come first but there is a lot out there that I wish I could do and from the looks of this website so does a lot of others too. I have come to the conclusion that I’m gonna buy some five gallon buckets, once I get to a fairly comfortable level with my preps for my family. then I’m gonna fill these buckets with large bags of rice , beans, soup mixes, and things that I might wish I had if I was starving or my family was. Maybe just maybe I can help someone who might really need it, I know my neighbors will and I will only help once but it’s a start. what do yall think? will it work????or will I be killed?????
Oremus – at 19:25
lady biker – at 18:52
Not to get into a religious discussion, but my ethics are influenced by my religious beliefs, so in regard to helping your starving neighbor:
Biblical Scripture, Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 25 verses 31 to 46 and also the widow from the first book of Kings, Chapter 17
I know I am mortal, and I believe that I will stand before God and have to account for all my actions in this life.
Petticoat Junction – at 19:44
Lady Biker, my husband and I had the same discussion the other night (even as we were trying to figure out how to find another $10 to buy beans for our own family, lol). We both feel strongly about putting together some Rubbermaid-type boxes with some basic preps and foods and keeping them aside to give to those who need them when tshtf. I keep thinking of one single working dad and his pre-teen son, in particular, so lots of easy ‘bachelor’ foods in their box.
Somewhere I remember reading a thread or at least discussion(s) about putting together ‘prep gift baskets’ and have been thinking I need to go back through the archives and find it again.
I’ve also seen suggestions to have some preps like that which are easy to give away, if the need arises, so you can hand them out to…whomever…to try and keep them from going for more of whatever you have stored, so I guess there’s always that way to look at it, too.
KimT – at 20:14
anonymous – at 18:04 Sportsman is a hunting and camping store a few miles from my home. I discovered this spring, just opened up last fall. My Boyfriend gave me a half hour because he needed to get home and go to bed, works the night shift..but he knows me better then that and I was easily there an hour and if he hadnt looked so darned tired I would have been there longer. I was planning on practising with my dutch oven, but was invited out to eat at the folks. I had been avoiding them of late, hadn’t figured out a way to tell them I was sick and they hate it when I bring up the bird flu to them.
I have mom looking up in the family geneology the years 1916–1920, she said she will look deeper but already knew that a lot of healthy young men in Kansas died in 1918 & 19 and they were not in the military at the time. I asked her to look for journal entrys…this may help break the ice with them and get them to prepare more.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 20:26
Lady Biker, you’ve touched on something that is very relavant to all of our discussions — everything we consider, in the back of most of our minds, we consider for others as well.
I think you won’t be killed if you do your gifting quietly — anonymously. I would not even use buckets necessarily, unless you must leave the gift where raccoons might get into it. Leave your food gift (if you include non-food products, keep them separate from the food stuff outside of the bucket or whatever you’re using.
And you’re right you can only do so much — enough food to get them by until they can get to the help that they need like their own family, or medical help from somewhere. I believe in tithing on the gross of our income so I try to tithe or ‘gift’ out a 10th or more of my entire store of supplies, meaning I also let go of the luxury stuff like the good soap, and the chocolate!!
I will mention this…..I’ve found it easier to set up an emptybin near my pantry door & sort of toss in things as I put new stuff in — it helps me keep my rotation running smoothly & it hurts less than trying to pull stuff out of your preps later to give away — you get sort of panicky when you do that. Doing it gradually day by day or week by week, makes you feel good seeing the gift food grow, while not feeling like your own family’s food is being ‘robbed’. I guess it’s just all in my head but it balances with my heart that way & makes it easier to do.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 20:27
I wanted to share an idea with you that I’d forgotten about from Y2k. I learned back then (and haven’t practiced since) using wax paper on countertops, several layers if you need it, to use to protect the countertop as you’re preparing food. You can wad it up and throw away without having to wipe the counter with water every single time — great for crumbly things, but will work for wet foods too, just use more — it’s sooooooo cheap that it makes it reasonable to use it.
DennisC – at 20:58
Just putting this over on this thread to avoid News thread “clutter”.
There was mention of the NOAA radio service. It is around 160 MHz. NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR) is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from a nearby National Weather Service office . NWR broadcasts National Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day.
http://www.nws.noaa....
It should give emergency warnings during times of problems. Good in case you are not tuned to the weather channel or have no TV service. The give a warning signal so you know something is “up”. If you go to the site you can find where their stations are. Most major city areas are covered. THere are lots of people that sell them (25-$100) or so. You can also get scanners (for police, fire and so on) that have it built in. (I got mine from Radio Shack, but lots of people sell them)
another good “emergency service” for the average person is the emergency email service (free public service item).
http://www.emergency...
You put in your state and county and they send emails to warn you of bad weather, terror threats, hazzards, bad driving conditions, and such items. I use it to keep me aware of snow storms in the winter.
heddiecalifornia – at 21:11
Question on prepping — water.
I was wondering if instead of buying water to store, if it is possible to just can it in canning jars — I have lots and lots of empty jars and sealing rings and tops, etc. and it occurred to me I could just fill the jars from the tap, put on the lid, and boil them for 15 minutes in the canning pot.
Also could do this later over a campfire to ‘can’ rainwater and such if regular water supplies are iffy.
I have never seen this suggested anywhere, but it seems to me to be a real possibility — is there any reason this would not work? thanks for any opinions —
10 September 2006
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 08:12
Someone did mention doing just that on a thread somewhere, but we’d be the luckiest people in the world if we happened upon it again….they didn’t go into detail, but I made a note of it & realized that I have boxes of jars stacked to the ceiling that don’t have food in them right now and probably they all won’t so water would be a great choice to fill them. Wonder how long you’d have to process water?
tjclaw1 – at 08:25
Here are the instructions for “canning” water, which I got from Consumer’s Guide:Preparing an Emergency Food Supply Storing Water Supplies http://tinyurl.com/k...
Q Can I ?can? water at home to prepare for emergencies?
You may use home canning methods to stock water for emergencies, but it really is unnecessary. The directions above for using clean containers and chlorine treatment are just as suitable. Canning refers to putting boiled water in jars, covering with a two-piece metal home canning lid, with screwband, and processing the submerged jar in boiling water for a specified number of minutes. Container size for canning will be limited by the size of your boiling water canner. Also, glass jars are required for home canning lids and the weight of these filled jars will be an issue. They also are subject to more easy breakage (the glass) and rusting (the lids) during disaster situations. However, if you want to ?can? water for storage, follow these directions:
The boiling water canner must be deep enough so that the filled jars will have 1 to 2 inches of water boiling over the tops of them during the processing time. It must have a rack in the bottom and a lid. Prepare home canning jars by washing in hot , soapy water and rinsing well. Keep warm until ready to use. (You can do this by filling with clean hot water, or submerging in warm water in your boiling water canner.) Prepare lids for use by following the manufacturer?s directions on the package.
Bring clean, potable water to boiling. Fill into the warm, clean jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Adjust prepared lids and process in boiling water for 10 minutes. (Start timing the process after the water in the canner comes to a boil around the filled jars.) At the end of the 10 minute process, remove jars from the canner and place on a rack or towel out of cool drafts. Allow to sit undisturbed for 12 to 24 hours, until cool and the lids have sealed.
Green Mom – at 10:28
Prepping Gal at 18:01-
Why do you say “stay close to home for next 24–96 hours”? Is it 9/11 anniversary, or do you know something……?
I’m feeling really jittery as well, but I have nothing to base it on.
Wolf – at 11:08
Real low on cash for the next couple months, but based on a recommendation here at fluwiki (forgive me, I can’t recall the source) I bought the Sony ICF-36 Portable AM/FM/TV/Weather Radio for $25. Had been looking for a shortwave receiver, but the technical aspects of the antennae requirements dampened my enthusiasm (let alone the $$$). This little radio is highly rated, uses little in the way of juice, and seems pretty goof-proof. I’m with those who believe it’s better to have more ‘primitive’ preps that you’re comfortable in using, than more elaborate preps that may confuse the bejeebers out of you - even on a GOOD day, let alone when tshtf. Thanks to whomever posted the radio info - much appreciated!
KimT – at 13:38
I tink I need to go shopping again. The pig thread has me nervous.
Need much more pet food for my critters and more porpane.
OKbirdwatcher – at 13:46
Wolf at 11:08 -
I think that was Eccles recommendation :-? Thanks Eccles! Wolf, may I ask where you got your Sony ICF-36?
Wolf – at 14:27
OKbirdwatcher @ 13:46: Eccles is a good guess, however, just can’t remember! Followed the link to Amazon, purchased from Target through Amazon site. Not sure if they have it in the bricks-and-mortar stores.
Patc – at 15:50
You guys are probably going to think I am crazy for putting this on this thread!!! I also think knowledge is preparation. I hope I do not offend anyone who does not believe in God, I do not mean to do that!!! Some of you probably already know this one; there is a website called fulfilledprophecy.com. They also look diligently at world events. I found a lot of things I did not know(have been studying BF for a year now). Most of you probably already know this also but the US and the world is demanding every cow, hog, horse, sheep ect., be tagged so they can be traced. There is a lot of other information there that could be helpful. (Some people think 2007 is going to be the starting point of the Tribulation.) I also told them about fluwiki.
OKbirdwatcher – at 15:53
Wolf at 14:27 - Thanks!! I’ll check it out.
Green Mom – at 18:17
Patc- why 2007?
silversage – at 18:42
Petticoat Junction – at 11:28
Thank you, for the tip about the CVS clearance on BBQ stuff. I got 2 pack coleman propane canisters for 69 cents!! 69 cents for two!! I got all they had. The other CVS near me had nothing but I couldn’t be happier!!
Patc – at 21:14
A peace treaty is to be offered to Israel.
Oremus – at 22:23
package of 16 AA batteries for a dollar at dollar tree.
Texas Rose – at 22:57
Went Target for a litter pan and discovered there were camping supplies on clearance. I was able to get one of those collapsible 5-gallon water jugs for a couple bucks. Also got mess kits to go in the BOBs for a few bucks each.
We made a Costco run, too. I figure we’re good for food for at least 3 months now, if we don’t ration, longer if we do.
Eduk8or – at 23:13
Ever since I shared the pigs dying in China information with hubby, he’s kicked his side of the preps (heat, electric, water & fuel storage, defense, & a Plan B) into high gear. He’s found a farm auction near-by on Friday that has the PTO generator he’s looking for so he’s planning time out of the field to head over there and see if he can get it bought. He’s called and ordered the installation of another large diesel storage tank for stockpiling diesel for the tractors, as well as some solar pumps for the cow pasture water supplies.
He dug out our shotgun from the back of the closet, cleaned it, and then made a note to buy ammo for it while it’s on sale for hunting season..
I just found out from his mom this week-end that she’s putting up more jelly, applesauce, and tomato sauce than she normally would in anticipation of needing them in the upcoming year for “whatever” reason. But I know he was going to talk to his folks about bringing our family and preps to their house (since we’re in a very visible location just off a 4 lane highway) in the event of public unrest as well as the possibility of his brother coming back to the farm with his family if TSHTF.
So all in all…a good prep week-end, even if it wasn’t my work directly!! :-)
tjclaw1 – at 23:21
I’ve been busy canning the last month. Lots of salsa, some dill relish, jams, pie filling, and fruits. Will be doing some tomatoes, applesauce, and apple butter yet. If I can get my pressure cooker in order, I want to can some beef stock from bones I’ve been storing in my freezer from the last cow we had butchered. I’d also like to do some mushroom stock and vegetable stock. If I get stuck eating lots of rice I at least need it to have some flavor!
11 September 2006
EnoughAlready – at 00:31
went to COSTCO today. bought a case of rice drink, several bags of dehydrated fruits, Flax seed oil capsules and Omega 3 pills, and a case of v. sausage. oh, and 2 huge cans of tomato paste… one of which I am dehydrating now to make tomato powder. Looked at those survival buckets, then came home and looked at them online. They are actually 1/2 price at COSTCO, and seem to be relatively nutritious. There are 55 meals in there that serve 5 people each. Comes out to be about $1.80 a meal. I didn’t get the buckets, but I do think they are a good deal.
Texas Rose – at 01:12
D’oh! I never thought about using those big cans of tomato paste for dehydrating! Drat. I may have to trek back to Costco.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 14:27
Did the website say anything about the lawsuit over those survival buckets? Do you think that’s why they were half price??
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 14:32
My prep for today was to contact Ronco & tell them that they messed up my order — I’d ordered 2 food trays in smoke color, and Herb screens.
They sent me 2 clear food trays that were broken & a whole new dehydrator with 5 trays of it’s own(in clear)!!!
When I called to ask for a return label for the extra dehydrator, they messed up the ‘reorder’ & wrote it for only 1 tray so I had to call (and hold and hold and hold) to get them to increase that to 2.
Returning some things to WalMart, so I’m also going to purchase 2 of their large clay pots for that outside cooler thingie!
giraffe – at 15:04
What outside cooler thingie, workin’-on-it?
Mari – at 15:10
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 14:32 - If you’re talking about the pot within a pot cooler that has wet sand in between the two pots, it will do a good job cooling in low relative humidity situations (e.g., not more than 30% during the hot hours) during the summer. I wouldn’t count on a temperature difference of more than 30 F on the hottest days, however.
Chesapeake – at 15:17
Here is a link explaining the pot inside a pot cooling method. http://tinyurl.com/f...
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 15:27
That’s the one!
Snowhound1 – at 15:37
Enough Already or anyone else….do you have a link for the online site for the “survival” buckets? I looked at costco online and couldn’t fine them. I was thinking that it might be something I might be interested in for “longterm” food storage for my kids at college. I did find information regarding the lawsuit, and it has to do with not enough calories in each bucket for 3 months for one person. I would be happy if it contained enough calories and food for one month.
Closed and Continued - Bronco Bill – at 17:17
These threads fill up pretty fast…this one is closed and the new thread, Number XX, is continued here
Last relevant post copied to new thread

Flu Prep 20 (XX)

Bronco Bill — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 15:05:15 GMT

From Flu Wiki 2
Forum: Flu Prep XX
11 September 2006
Bronco Bill – at 17:17
More preps from here
________________________________________
Snowhound1 – at 15:37
Enough Already or anyone else….do you have a link for the online site for the “survival” buckets? I looked at costco online and couldn’t fine them. I was thinking that it might be something I might be interested in for “longterm” food storage for my kids at college. I did find information regarding the lawsuit, and it has to do with not enough calories in each bucket for 3 months for one person. I would be happy if it contained enough calories and food for one month.
LauraB – at 17:22
BB - at least one of the dyhydrated food companies also has survival buckets. I remember there was even one that was supposed to last a year - all grains and beans basically, nothing else. It weighed a TON (okay, not that much) but shipping must be high. If I get a chance after I assemble something for dinner I’ll try to find it.
Carrey in VA – at 17:23
Snowhound1 - 15:37
There is a lawsuit over these buckets. Click here http://tinyurl.com/z... and go to page 4 basis of claim They might have had to pull them from the shelves
EnoughAlready – at 18:12
Caveat venditor (I’ve just been waiting to get to say that!)
It’s on the lawsuit CarreyinVA sited: www.nutristorage.com
well, mayabe not… it doesn’t work, it’s a dead page. It worked yesterday. I guess it’s the same company… sounds like it. I can’t find the flyer, probably threw it out.
The flyer I got didn’t say anything about being a 3 month supply for one person. At 55 servings… which includes 5 of milk… even with 5 servings in each packet… 1 cup servings, IIRC… even with that I don’t see how they get 3 month supply. The website from the flyer had the nutrition label you could look at for each item. It wasn’t a spectacular bucket of food, but it wasn’t bad… like a concentration camp. I can’t see it any worse, if as bad, as a diet of spam, or tuna for that matter. I wasn’t sure there was $100 worth of stuff in there. I guess the “bucket” jacked the price up.
I was considering it for a 90+ y.o. man that lives down the road from me. Guess that’s out, lawsuit and all.
If I find the flyer, I’ll post the info!
DennisC – at 18:20
I had no problem with the link at 17:23 The bottom line seems that the Costco buckets only offer 455 calories a day and people need 1,500 to 2,000 calories. The moral is to check the caloric content of your preps.
EnoughAlready – at 18:41
I am having a really bad day here…
not Carry’s link, but the link from the lawsuit for nutristorage. I can’t get into nutristorage at all today. The stuff in the bucket was similar to HB helper stuff. It had a nutrition label you could read… on the website. You couldn’t read it on the bucket itself, or on the flyer. Going to the website, you could read up on the contents of the bucket. I can tell you this much, what adult is only going to eat 1 cup of chowder or vegetable soup and consider that a nutritionally balanced or nutritionally dense food source? Of course it isn’t calorically adequate or nutritionally balanced. They are getting slammed for advertising it was 3 month supply for 1 person… and nutritionally adequate. I didn’t see this advertisement at COSTCO or on the flyer. Guess they got smart and removed that. But… there are stacks of those buckets at the local store… and I mean STACKS!
NEMO – at 19:57
Changing the subject a bit… I had a hard day. We had to have the vet come out and put my dear kitty to sleep. She was 13 and ravaged from a wasting disease. It was even very difficult to watch her go here in our home, much different than taking an animal into a vet’s office. My big brave son had to leave part way through, and he continued working on a small coffin for her in the garage. We placed her in the box and buried her by the garden. I can’t imagine doing this with one of my children or my husband. I can barely see tonight from crying so hard, how much worse to be helpless to help an ailing family member. So…Prep, prep, prep will be my healing mantra.
Lisa in Southern Maine – at 20:02
NEMO - so sorry about your beloved cat.
EnoughAlready – at 20:12
NEMO… a year ago we had to have our 21 year old cat put to sleep. She also had a wasting disease. It was just so hard! But, she was in so much pain, and wasn’t able to do the things she loved to do. Likewise, this summer my mother passed away. I, too, have thought about how difficult it would be to face death like is predicted in this pandemic. My mother’s passing is quite possibly the most difficult thing I have ever experienced. Some days are hard, and some are much easier. I will probably carrying the loss of both my mother and beloved cat (I know that may sound silly) with me every day of my life. Fortunately, I was enriched and blessed by both of their lives! And, like you, I find strength in the task now at hand.
I am so sorry for your loss! You poignant point about your husband and children is indeed a deep emotion I imagine we all are struggling with. Take care! And embrace your precious loved ones!
Gary Near Death Valley – at 20:48
EnoughAlready – at 18:41 link I had saved it as soon as I saw it earlier listed, so here it is
Texas Rose – at 22:28
I dehydrated more carrots today. I’m getting quite accomplished at carrot dehydrating.
I headed to our nearest CVS pharmacy to see if they still had any propane canisters and they did. I picked up the remaining canisters for $0.69/2. I also picked up a LED lantern and a small weather radio for cheapo bucks.
Then it was off to pick up some more fruits and veggies to dehydrate. Tomorrow will be the day I attempt to make tomato powder.
Nemo: I’m so sorry about the loss of your dear kitty.
EnoughAlready – at 23:44
Gary Near Death Valley – at 20:48
Thanks, Gary! But… it isn’t the lawsuit I couldn’t get to come up… it is the bucket makers, nutristorage, website. Which, by the way is working now. Maybe it was my computer. Anyway, thank you!
Snowhound1:
They have a sample you can order on that website. My question would be if you had to make the entire 5 serving packet, or if you could take some out. That might be a problem, or maybe not. It would be worth having it all done for me, sealed and contained. You can read the nutrient information and what is in the packaging on the website. I can tell you this… Kroger’s has 10 for $10 on Clam chowder, Chicken chowder, Beef Vegetable soup, and some other soups. The nutrient value seems to be compariable, and you don’t have to add water. It might be worth making your own boxes. My problem was keeping my college kid out of something like that. Also, making blueberry pancakes may be a problem. Most grocery stores have carnation instant breakfast, or a generic brand, that would be easier and possibly more nutritious. If you could think of a way to “kid” proof the box, like this bucket, it might be something you’d rather do. Nice thing about the bucket is it keeps for 20 years. Unless that’s part of the lawsuit, too. ;0
OKAY--- anybody dehydrated tomato paste for tomato powder? This stuff is like bad rubber. I don’t think this is what it’s suppose to be like. If I put it in my food processor I think it will … well, I am not sure… probably make a mess. Did I do something wrong? Thanks in advance!
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 23:46
Nemo, I ache for you — wanting to be there at the very last breath is the best gift you can give your precious kitty who probably spent many an hour just being with all of you.
It’s torture just thinking right now, so try to keep your mind at peace in the fact that kitty is well now, and waiting for you at the Rainbow Bridge.
EnoughAlready and Nemo, I lost my mother a year ago, and 6 days later my 16 year old cat died of kidney failure (same as mother for probably the same reasons) and this May we had to put my sweet 22 year old fur-child to sleep. I know exactly what you mean about one death compounding the grieving of the others. I was unconsolable for weeks with Jenny’s passing, crying every minute of the day and a lot of the night. I’d wake up crying. I have to tell you both that depression set in — I lost my desire to do anything, I felt like every move I made with my hands, my feet, or my whole body I was making under water. It was EFFORT to move. Most of the time it was too much effort. That commercial about depression that says it hurts everybody is so right — it HURTS your body, muscle cramps from trying to withdraw into yourself.
Anyway, I’m STILL not all OK, and I feel like people would think I’m silly ‘still’ grieving over the losses, but I can’t stop yet. My sister, who has dealt with depression as well, suggested that I hook up with a grief support group to help me understand how to cope with my feelings. So far, all I’ve done is sign up with a pet loss grief group on Yahoo — very nice people….reading their posts makes me cry, but it also makes me feel close to someone else who understands how much we can love our pets, because they love us back so unconditionally, just like a mother (usually) does.
May I suggest a book, Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates to help you and the kids get through your grief more easily.
Prayers for you both,
Rose
12 September 2006
KimT – at 00:01
I had a little Chihuahua names Lucy, I got her the day Lucille Ball Died, and several months after my infant daughter died. She and my son kept me going. My son kept me busy and gave me lots of hugs and love, he was two and my dog gave me something little to hold and love. She was a spoiled dog! When Lucy died a few years back it was very hard indeed. One day I had fallen a sleep in the afternoon, I wasn’t thinking of her but I woke up to her doggy breath and the feel of a lick on my nose.
Nemo, my thoughts and prayers are with you and yours tonight.
Kim
EnoughAlready – at 00:34
I’m-workin’-on-it
When my mother died I couldn’t get out of bed for 2 weeks. At that point, I called a dear friend who I use to work with. (I use to teach for a company that employed mostly psychiatrist, psychologist and therapist. She is a therapist.) She assured me what I was going through was a perfectly natural process. That, coupled with a lot of support from my family and friends, and a lot of prayer, helped me get on with my life. In fact, I don’t think I ever have felt as close to God as I did in those first weeks after my mom died. One thing I know, without hesitation, is that my mother would want me to move on. I was so blessed and fortunate to have had her as my mother. I will always miss her, but I accept she is gone. I am still working through that grief. And, I realise that only time will help me adjust to her permanent absence. Meantime, I find comfort in my children (who she loved dearly), my husband, and my precious brother! And life!
I can’t think about “what if” this pandemic… That is just too big. And too mind boggling. Today, however, I can embrace the wonder of life! And, I can continually try to make this pandemic somewhat “managable.” In that… I have control! And… I pray alot!
anonymous – at 09:36
Coping skills are going to be very important to have and/or develop in any catastrophic situation. Coping mechanisms for dealing with the grieving process only begin to scratch the service.
Society, generally speaking, used to have a lot of structure for the grieving process that we now lack. There were ceremonies that were followed, there were faith-based activities and beliefs, there was a general understanding that grieving was a process that took time … but the people — again, generally speaking — didn’t just disappear from the family history and thought processes. The social and family support network was also extensive and played a large role in the grieving process. But there was also the idea that as individuals, there were still things to struggle through in this life that gave purpose and dimension to the lives of those left behind. There frequently wasn’t time to sit around grieving, grieving was dones while still in the active survival mode. Physical labor played a large role in healing.
That isn’t always true these days. However, planning how to help our families, and ourselves, create healthy coping mechanisms in the event of a tragedy should be a high priority goal in our preparations.
Kathy in FL – at 09:39
Whoops, that was me. I haven’t a clue what is going on with my computer at the moment. Been having some trouble … older, cranky computer that needs replacing … which is one of the reasons why I haven’t been around much the last few days.
LauraB – at 10:24
Nemo - I am sorry to hear about the loss of your beloved pet. I’ve had many furbabies in my life and their departure is always extreemly difficult. Sending you many cyber hugs.
anonymous - I agree that many these days have not faced nearly the kinds of grief and hardships that previous generations have. In addition, most are fully unprepared for what may be coming down the road. The possibility of lossing loved ones is what motivates me to prep. But I also know that it could happen.
Snowhound1 – at 10:40
Enough Already…and others. Thanks for the info. I was thinking of something I could get for my young men to just keep in storage until needed. (Even if it would only feed them for two weeks.) Somehow, something in a bucket does not sound quite as appetizing as say a can of Campbell’s soup on the pantry shelf, and I really think my boys wouldn’t scrounge from it, unless they didn’t have anything else to eat. :) Costco is quite a ways from me, and I don’t have a membership, and I was trying to decide if making the trip would be worthwhile.
LauraB – at 11:17
Snowhound - I was looking over another sites “buckets” and nutritionally they are less than optimal. yes, they’d feed you, but it’s a lot of grains and beans. Plus, that assumes you’ll have power for cooking. For a college student you’d probably be better off making something up yourself - lots of canned soups that could even be eaten cold if necessary, high-protein power bars, quick-cook rice, canned tuna, etc. You could make up a box of items that could tide them over for say two weeks - since dorm rooms have NO STORAGE! Even if they are banned from their buildings, a hotpot or small burner might be good thing for them to have in their rooms also.
kc_quiet – at 11:23
And don’t forget the peanut butter!
LauraB – at 11:25
So, between the WSJ article yesterday discussing why AF is so lethal (scary stuff), activity in Asia and all the memories of 9/11 flooding back yesterday (hard to escape it here in CT, very close to NYC) I am fully motivated to get more done in the next few weeks. The kids are FINALLY back in school (I did the happy dance out of the preschool today!) and before we know it we’ll all be busy with the holidays. So now is the time. I’m ordering my generator this week (yeah!), have a list of other equipment I need (mostly camping gear), cleaning more cra8 out of my basement so I can put up big storage shelves to put all my preps. They are all over the house right now, hidden out of necessity because I don’t have lots of room in my kitchen. While I’d prefer the stuff be less visible (kids, cleaning people, heat/ac guys, etc. all go down there), I know I’ll start missing expiring preps if I can’t have easy access to them. Some things that I’ll never use I’ll keep stowed away until an emergency hits (sorry, I know some of you like canned veggies but my family will only eat fresh!). If things start to get ugly and I think we need to hide things again, I’ve already found most of the good hiding spots in the house anyway. Once I get all that done, I’d like to start working on getting others to prep again. I tried a while back and only had a few takers. Time to strike again.
Bird Guano – at 13:13
On bucket foods:
Lumen foods makes “bucket foods” for the Lousiana prison system.
Mostly non-meat entrees like stews and soups.
A couple of years back I managed to convince them to sell me a pallet load.
Since the caloric and nutritional requirements are codified in law, I felt comfortable that they would meet survival needs.
I keep them around for non-preppers.
Toss them a bucket with the instructions taped on the outside, a bucket of rice, and have at it.
It was WAY more calories than the costco stuff being advertised.
You could make up the same thing using a dry “scotch broth” mix and supplementing it with TVP.
Dennis in Colorado – at 13:28
RE: Lumen Foods: I was not familiar with that company, but they have an interesting website. Several interesting products there:
http://www.soybean.c...
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 14:09
http://tinyurl.com/h...
That’s a food company I didn’t know anything about…….very good variety & info.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 14:10
“food NUTRITION company” SORRY
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 14:13
WAIT!!! They DO have food, too. I need to eat something…..I’m typing crazy stuff :-)
EnoughAlready – at 14:46
Snowhound1
I have planned to add canned chicken, or clams, or ham (depending on what the soup is) and even vegetables to the soup if I need/have to. That’s one thing you could do to add nutrient value and kcals. Instant oatmeal in packets and dehydrated fruits are another suggestion for breakfast foods. Family Dollar has Sue whatever her name is (in a blue and white can) chicken and dumplings for $1… that’s about the only canned stuff like that we like. We don’t like canned stew. The dollar kind of stores have large cans of spaghetti-o’s for $1. Cambell’s bean with bacon soup… I plan to add tomatoes, carrots and ham to that to increase calories. Somebody mentioned those rice ready to eat packages… my boys love them. (One of them is 6′5″… so I worry about him getting enough.) And if this thing doesn’t happen… there will be plenty of food to take hunting and fishing!
I have been looking seriously at those food bars mentioned. The one the coast guard uses is what I have sort of decided on… anybody tried those? I am considering those for 2 reasons. First, during sickness typically people have a loss of appetite. Second, I have grandchildren and my college age sons who need the calories. Both of these instances require calories for growth or repair work. Depletion of kcals (espcially if drastic &/or long term) can impede healing and increase risk of susceptibility.
DennisC – at 15:45
My PPF is now around 4. I decided to add a few more weeks of supplies.
I have heard about the Costco emergency bucket problems. Basically they are only about $150 or so and only have about 450 calories a day when most people will need closer to 2000 calories a day. I wanted to see what was realistic.
I went to Wal-mart today and bought what I considered about 2 weeks of supplies for 3 (me, wife and one guest). It included OTC meds, vitamins, propane (4), sugar, salt, lite salt, Epson salts, Gatoraid, lamp oil (2qt), batteries, 60 lb of rice, ramen noodles(24), Vienna sausage(12), summer sausage, corn beef (4), beans (8 canned), powder milk, beef stew (3), peanut butter, instant potatoes, dried fruit, TP, tissue, storage tubs, trash bags, corn bread mix (3), and some small items (like season/gravy mixes). It ran about $150. I placed the total calories at 146,925 (most from the rice at 90,460). That is enough calories for 24 days for 3 or easily 2 weeks for 3 with some extra rice and noodles to give away to those in need.
Now it is nothing fancy, but it would allow one to survive. But then again, I already have the lamps, stove, light,….
Bird Guano – at 16:51
Ramen noodles have VERY little nutritional value.
You’re better off with pasta or soba and thermos cooking in a survival situation.
I know it will fill your belly, but it’s almost useless as a caloric supplement.
Nutrition Facts
Serving size 1 container (43 g)
Amount per serving % daily value
• Calories 150
• Calories from fat 5
• Total fat .5 g 1 %
• Saturated fat 0 g 0 %
• Cholesterol 0 mg 0 %
• Sodium 480 mg 20 %
• Total carbohydrate 29 g 10 %
• Dietary fiber 1 g 4 %
LauraB – at 16:54
If you can find them, there is a high protein bar called DETOUR. It is made with whey protein which is easier to digest. They all taste good - even my picky kids will eat them and they think they are a treat since they are slightly candy-bar-like. I can usually find them at GNC or Vitamin Shop. Read the labels of nutirtion bars carefully - many of them get their calories from sugar vs protein.
DennisC – at 18:25
I think I found the near “perfect” comment for those that look at your prep cart and wonder. As I was checking out with 60 pounds of rice the clerk gave me “the look” on the third 20# bag. All I said was “wedding” and she just nodded and smiled. If she asked anything else I was just going to say “I don’t want to talk about it”.
EnoughAlready – at 18:32
Ramen Noodles:
Each packet = 2 servings
And there are also 10 g protein
AND… 1820 mg sodium (This is the problem I have… but compare it to soup in a can.)
• Apparently ramen noodle brands vary because I am holding a chicken flavored on in my hand. They are not only cheap and filling but easy to prepare. They aren’t useless.
Prepping Gal – at 19:04
Went to four stores and bought up all the lamp oil I could find; not that much but I’ve decided to supplement my lighting ( LED light (28 led which is just enough light) candles, outdoor solar lights and flashlights) with oil lamps. Already had a huge antique dual oil lamp (beautiful), one bedroom oil lamp (has handle to move around) and bought two cheap glass oil lamps for kitchen and backup. I don’t like the idea of mantels and lots of wicks on hand which I think should be easy to use and fairly efficient. I’m surprised there isn’t much lamp oil around my parts.
I bought a couple dozen cans Vienna “Chicken” Sausages because I don’t eat beef and very limited pork. I also bought several gourmet brand antipasto since it has many veges and tuna; love it on crackers or bread. Bought the shredded pork in large jars that is shelf stable to add a little for flavoring with noodles, pasta or rice.
We are in Alberta and expecting snow Friday, it’s 27 C degrees today (that about 75 F I think) so I wanted to top up before then. If our summer is truly over I won’t make many more trips to the stores to prep.
By the way I saw a flock of birds I couldn’t identify heading south today (thought they were geese but not so- strange) so the migration has begun. Get ready, we may not have much time.
nopower – at 21:32
“AND… 1820 mg sodium (This is the problem I have… but compare it to soup in a can.)”
ok. One of my staples is Progresso Traditional Chicken Noodle Soup - 19oz - Serving size is 1cup - 2 cups in a can.
Per Serving:
• Calories: 100 Calories from Fat: 20
• Total Fat: 2g 3%
• Saturated Fat: 0.5g 3%
• Trans, Poly, Mono: all 0g
• Cholesterol: 25mg 9%
• Sodium: 950mg 40%
• Total Carbs: 13g 4%
• Protein: 7g
I plan to combine the 1.75 cups of liquid with 1.75 cups of Instant White Rice to cook then add remainder of can. The 3/4 cup of rice per person adds 300 calories, 7.5mg Sodium, and 6g of Protein. So for $1.25 for soup and about $.50 for the instant rice I get two meals of 400 calories and 13g Protein each.
Bird Guano – at 22:04
Protein in instant ramen noodles ??
What brand is THAT ?
EnoughAlready – at 22:10
Nissin- Top Ramen (Ooodles of Noodles… chicken flavor)
EnoughAlready – at 22:12
Maruchan Ramen Noodle, creamy chicken flavor has 4g protein per serving and has 2 serving per pack.
DennisC – at 22:15
I checked my “great value” (walmart) beef Ramen noodles and they have 5 gm of proteins. I think you may want to compare “flavors” of the noodles.
DennisC – at 22:18
and again, I always eat the noodles with things added are part of another dish and not as a thing unto itself. (and normally without any extra salt)
EnoughAlready – at 22:25
nopower – at 21:32
That’s what I am talking about! Of course it isn’t what we may want to eat or even the best we could eat. But, most of us can’t prep any other way. Some of these tactics are good every day lessons.
Your brain needs minimally about 140 grams of carbohydrates (somewhere around that figure) a day. This is it’s preferred “fuel”. (glucose) Carbs are also protein “sparers”.
Essential amino acids are just that… essential every day. These are found complete in meat, but we can get them by combining foods. And, this food just has to be eaten within a day… not necessarily together. So, throw a serving of beans in that soup… or somewhere in the day (but if total protein throughout the day becomes problematic… throw it in with the soup for 50 cents or less per can)… and you have a complete protein. Another trick… 1/4 cup of milk to a serving of oatmeal = a complete protein.
Throw some carrots, spinach, tomatoes, etc, into that can of soup and you’ve added more minerals and nutrients. And stretched your can of soup at a minimal cost. You may have to add some seasoning. But… probably not salt! ;)
EnoughAlready – at 22:30
Dennis C--- and that is probably for one serving. Usually there are 2 serving per package. If that is correct, that’s 10 grams of protein. Adding the other economical stuff is easy and practical. Dropping an egg into this would really up the protein level. (Like egg drop soup.)
IMHO, these are the kinds of things people need to know about & discuss. It is so expensive to do this prepping. And trying to achieve quanity and nutrition on a shoe-string budget is doable. I have read so many times on various threads how people just can’t do this. It is understandably frustrating. But how can we help?
13 September 2006
BUMP – at 10:25
bump
Sidescroll Alert – at 13:49
I believe it’s caused by the link from Gary Near Death Valley – at 20:48
Could one of the Mods please fix it
crfullmoon – at 13:51
Still juggling day-to-day and disaster stuff. Am getting some car repair/maintenance, dental, household stuff done; did get more supplies, still important stuff going undone everyday.
(Note to younger self; why didn’t you want to get on a track that would have gotten you some staff or personal assistants by this age? “Too soon old, too late smart.”)
Sidescroll Alert – at 14:11
bump
Dennis in Colorado – at 14:33
EnoughAlready – at 22:25 Your brain needs minimally about 140 grams of carbohydrates (somewhere around that figure) a day.
The brain (and all other organs except the liver) gets along quite nicely on ketones, a product of fat metabolism. The liver is the only organ that requires glucose and it can make its own from protein through the process of gluconeogenesis.
Paris – at 14:57
Has anyone thought about couscous? I don’t know how easy it is to find over in the States, but here it is inexpensive and everywhere. It has become the foundation of my preps since I really don’t enjoy rice. I also think it will be more economical to prepare, needing less water and less cooking time (except with a thermos!) then rice or pasta. Basically, you bring one measure of water to a boil, then turn off the heat, sprinkle an equal measure of couscous into the water, stir, cover, and let sit for 5 mintutes, add salt and a little olive oil and voilà! I have recently tried preparing it in the same way but replacing the water with vegetable soup (blended so it’s liquid) to feed the baby. She loves it and now I’ve started stocking up on extra soup.
Petticoat Junction – at 15:09
Paris - re: cous cous
Great idea! I was thinking exactly the same thing last night. I was looking through my cupboards and had a few small boxes. I got to wondering why I hadn’t thought to get more before now, since it’s so simple and all the kids like it. We use it for both savory and sweet dishes.
Where I used to live, I could buy it inexpensively in bulk at several health food & grocery stores. Here I have only been able to find it in small boxes in one aisle of one store…much pricier that way. For now that I’ll try to add extra boxes as I am able, and then plan to visit a Whole Food market or similar the next time I’m in the big cities (about 100 miles away) and raid the bulk bins.
According to the nutrition info on my box here, one serving has 8g protein, 1g fat, 0 cholesterol or sodium, 43g carbs (2g of which are dietary fiber) and provides 4% of daily iron.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 15:19
WOW That’s still very high in carbs — not very diatetic friendly — isn’t that higher than rice?
Petticoat Junction – at 15:23
White rice seems to run about 35g carbs; brown rice about 32….
Watching in Texas – at 15:38
I’m-workin’-on-it - my DH is on a low carb diet, but not because he is a diabetic. While I have some low-carb pasta, it is rather pricey and I simply cannot afford to buy much of it.
I keep telling him - If we need to eat these preps…..the carb count on food is going to be the least of our problems;-)
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 15:42
WIT, you’re right about that! But since we’re rotating by eating, I have to consider those carbs now! :-)
And low-carb anything is so expensive, it just makes you depressed doesn’t it?
We have to make trade-offs — what seems low in carbs will probably be high in sodium! :-)
Kim – at 15:47
I found a product at Walmart that some may be interested in. It’s a sugar-free (sweetened with aspartame :( caffeinated drink mix that has 200% of the daily vitamin C requirement, called Morning Spark. Comes in 4 flavors; apple, orange, ruby red grapefruit, and cranberry, just mix with water. Since I’m not a coffee drinker but am addicted to caffeine thought I’d give it a try ($1.50 for 10 packets that make 16 ozs. each). I got the ruby red, and must say the stuff is pretty good. I’ll be laying in a supply of it for my preps, and will probably also use it regularly when I can’t make it to the convenience store to get my daily shot of “Rooster Booster” caffeine drink.
Jane – at 15:59
Bulgur (tabouli) is another quick food. I used to make Near East brand tabouli on hot nights when cooking wasn’t appealing. With chickpeas, tomatoes, whatever you have, it can be a salad.
One thing to watch out for is not eating the same foods so often that we get sensitized to them. I don’t know what the probabilities are for such a change, but I can’t eat wheat anymore ( or barley or rye or beer) since I developed gluten intolerance. If I eat it, my throat gets really sore and red; my daughter’s symptoms include stomach upset. Maybe it only happens in people who have other allergies?
mod help please – at 17:02
tooooooooo wide! thanks
Mari – at 17:48
Does anybody have names of grocery or health food stores in the U. S. that stock bulk couscous? Sounds like something I want to try, but I’ve only noticed small packages.
DennisC – at 18:21
Mari – at 17:48 bulk couscous
http://tinyurl.com/f...
11 lb at $25.56
I should repeat what I said in the Ramen thread- a single food item is not the answer. The important thing is to have a variety of items.
of course there is always blue green algae (almost perfect nutrition but not to good on taste).
LauraB – at 19:56
Also, I find Couscous in large containers where the regular rice is, usually down towards the bottom shelf. The nice thing about it is all you need is some boiling water. Add it to boiling water, cover and let stand five minutes. A good base for other foods when cooking fuel is limited. Boiling regular pasta or making regular rice takes a long time.
14 September 2006
Sidescroll Alert – at 00:05
The following is a cut and paste from survival website, followed by the link.
Perhaps one of the biggest jokes in the world is “Liquid Paraffin Lamp Oil,” priced at about $20.00 per gallon. As few people these days have any familiarity with the history of lamps, their design, or their fuel, they actually buy “Liquid Paraffin Lamp Oil” to burn in kerosene lamps. The lamps were all basically designed before 1890 to burn coal oil, so they are still called “oil lamps” even though coal oil was replaced by kerosene well over 125 years ago. But some marketing genius realized that kerosene is called “paraffin” in England, but by that name is a solid waxy substance in the US, so why not call clear kerosene “Liquid Paraffin Lamp Oil” and fleece the unwary? It worked! Just a few weeks ago (early February, 2006) I purchased 16 gallons of Low Odor Mineral Spirits at a True Value hardware store to use in my B & H, P & A and Kosmos lamps…on sale at $4.19 a gallon. While I was checking out with the best lamp fuel available, others were waiting to purchase “Liquid Paraffin Lamp Oil” on sale for $19.95 a gallon.
Oil Lamps
Sidescroll Alert – at 00:07
sorry sidescroll alert was me.
Oremus – at 00:08
oops, was me
EnoughAlready – at 00:58
Dennis in Colorado – at 14:33
hmmmmmm, then I guess they need to change a whole bunch of biochemistry and nutritonal biochemistry literature and textbooks. Because glucose is the brains fuel of choice. And, to operate under ketosis long term is a very expensive metabolic procedure.
Paris – at 03:53
Here’s a strange question for you. My toddler has weaned herself (too early for my taste - I wanted to get her through this fall but there you go, she certainly knows her own mind!) Anyway, as I was putting away breast pump and assorted paraphenalia, I came across some of those sterilisation tablets that you drop in water before plunging bottles or pump in to sterilise them. Each tablet has 800 mg of NaDCC. Are these going to be useful in any way for BF sterilisation?
LauraB – at 06:16
Paris - I used those when I lived overseas (in US now and I’ve never seen them here). I only used them when traveling and didn’t have access to hot, clean water or cleaning equipment. I didn’t “trust” them to do 100% of the job - I just felt better giving everything a good scrub vs just letting something just sit in water. They might be good for cleaning certain things, especially if water is limited, but I wouldn’t trust it to kill off AF since it’s such a tricky little bugger. Can you call the manufacturer and see what they say about what it kills?
DebP – at 07:52
I have a unusual prep story. My “significant other” had been out of work for over a year. I was to the point of kicking him out (long story). Two months ago I caught him stealing my preps, alot of them. Come to find out, in the last 2 months he has had a 18 year old girlfriend, he is 52. He had been setting up a apartment for her using my things. His reason for having the affair- I accused him of stealing a can of chili. At first I was very angry, we had been together for 10 years. But now I am glad he is gone. I would not want to go through bird flu, or life in general with him. I guess prepping can include more than buying things, it can also be letting go of people that aren’t good for you.
Watching in Texas – at 08:00
DebP - If that was his “reason” for having an affair, I’d have to agree that you’re in better shape now without him. Keep prepping, it sounds like you might have to replace a few items!
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 08:07
DebP – at 07:52
That’s an AMAZING story! How awful a betrayal for you and honestly, for that 18 year old who doesn’t understand yet how people (men AND women) can be so selfish. After 10 years, you’d think you knew someone’s underlying ethics, but you just can’t always tell.
You’re very wise to realize that prepping can mean not only getting rid of the physical junk that we accumulate like junk in a closet we need to use, or extra weight around our middles, or the things that would break our hearts any day of the year. Doing it now, while we have time to adjust is really such a blessing, even though it might not feel like it right now to you.
There are so many positives for you at this point, and I assume you’ve changed the locks, considered a pistol, and are much more aware that you can now stock only the foods that YOU like! :-)
Seriously, I hope you can adjust to this betrayal over time, and my prayers are with you — the pain is the still the pain, no matter how it got there.
Hillbilly Bill – at 08:29
DebP – at 07:52
My sympathies concerning your betrayal, but having been through that situation before, I can tell you that even though you are missing a lot of preps the trade-off was well worth it.
TreasureIslandGal – at 09:12
DebP - if you rent, I would consider going elsewhere, cuz you know he’ll be back if TSHTF…he knows you have supplies. He probably also knows that you will have replaced what was taken. Do you have another potential storage location?
Malachi – at 09:38
Been off the net for a few days again,but keeping my eyes on the TV news.So I assume h5n1 is not a problem anymore (kidding!!!! but over 5 days of no net and TV news only I didn’t hear a word about it)Been pretty cash poor but garden rich here.Since I am an avid canner I am able to sock away lots of food.Peaches, pears , and tomatoes are all in season here and if I run out of one I just look to the next loaded tree I see from the road and pull in and ask the owner if they would trade a few quarts of finished canning for the fruit laying around.Most are glad to have them cleaned up from the yard.If they are small and poked,I just make sauce out of them.Thank god for the foley food mill.
DebP – at 10:07
Thanks for the support, unfortunately I bought this house with him. This will be a major complication as I have made all the payments myself. I have told him I am not moving right now. On the plus side, he is afraid of my son(no real reason other than he is over six foot tall and 250 at 16) so I am hoping that is somewhat of a detterant. I do have to admit, I am considering getting a gun for protection, for the first time in my life. I was taught how to shoot by my father when I was younger, so I know how to use it. I have been slowly replacing the things he stole. I am considering moving some things to my mothers apartment. He wouldn’t go over there even if he was dying. He views her as the “evil mother-in-law”, so I guess that is a good thing in this case.
Jefiner – at 10:32
I have been in a similar situation myself. I am sure that there will be responses that say “No gun!” It is interesting to see how this might fall along gender lines though . . . ;-p
1. Get a restraining order, for you, for your residence, for your place of work, for your mom’s apartment against him and his girlfriend. That gives you a lot more legal protection in case you have to use . . . (drumroll)
2. THE GUN. Whatever you purchase, make sure you have all licensure, paperwork, concealed carry permits—and don’t advertise to him or anyone else that you have it. Even though you have experience, spend some time practicing with it (best with a NRA instructor if possible.
Hang in there! You are better off without him—
Malachi – at 10:45
DebP….Good luck with this difficult situation.I do feel concern for your son as 52 yr old bas***ds are much meaner and sneakier than 16 yr old boys.My friends son once tried to get involved in his mom and stepdads serious arguement and ended up with a blackeye and concussion.He felt he could over power the guy but did not have the stuff needed to really make sure the stepdad was incompacitated.Even really big 16 yr olds are kittens at heart usually…..Sorry if I bring new worries to the table for you,it just struck a cord within me….I know 2 men who have pulled this move on their wives( getting with 18 yr old girls) one being my dad and the other my hubbbies dad. My hubby once joked with me that when I turn 40 he would trade me in for 2 20′s….That didn’t go over too well with me.It prompted me to store one secret prep from him.Condoms…..We are close in proximity I think,and if you would need anything let me know….
Jane – at 10:55
Can you get some strong locking cupboards for your preps, in case he broke into your place when you weren’t home? Also, lock up your tools so he can’t use them to break into cupboards. Sorry you have such a worry before pandemic even starts!
Jane – at 11:03
oremus, here’s a site regarding parafin oil for lamps- under FAQ, Parafin oil notice (scroll down). Parafin oil isn’t kerosene; apparently it’s thicker and isn’t recommended for lamps with wicks over 7/8″ wide. I’ve been looking for refillable liquid candles, because I have so much parafin stocked already, but no luck so far. Funny, my Walgreens has large bottles of Ultrapure oil, but only tiny non-refilllable candles. Too bad. http://www.lanternne...
deborah – at 11:04
DebP, wow…talk to a lawyer right away about the house. There is every possibility you can have it placed in your name only since you were not married, especially if you can prove he made no financial contribution. Many states have no recognition of common-law marriage, and even the ones that do have certain requirements to make it valid. A divorce laywer is the best place for you to begin getting control of your life again.
Make sure all the locks are changed, and perhaps consider a short-term move of your preps to a storage facility or your mother’s place. With the temps falling, now is a good time and will keep the items safe until this situation is sorted out.
Once the house problem is resolved, sell it and make sure he doesn’t know where you live. And when you visit places he knows you will go to (such as your mother, or your place of employment) be very sure he isn’t watching or following you when you leave. Jefiner has it right about the restraining order. And try to vary your routine, in case he is watching you or your residence.
You never know what could happen, even seemingly normal men can become ‘temporarily insane’ in situations like yours. Not using that term as an excuse for the bad behaviour that some men have at times like this, but more as a warning that it can happen when you would least expect it. It happened to me once, and was very scary.
A really nice guy I dated, from a really nice and very normal family stalked me when I broke up with him. One day he showed up at my home, pounding and kicking on the door and I got scared. I called 911 and got my kids to the master bedroom along with my dogs as protection. Turned out I was right to be afraid…he had a knife and threatened the police officers who responded to my call.
When he went to court, he had no explaination for why he acted as he did, he just said I had driven him crazy by refusing to see him…he got probation for a few years which was lucky for him. But if he had made any further attempt to contact me, he would have gone to prison for a year.
One more thing, you might want to consider a basic self-defense course at a local martial arts school. You can learn how to use various common items as weapons in an emergency, and how to have a good chance at hurting an attacker enough to allow you to escape with your life. This will be useful in many ways, even if you never need it because of your ex. It will teach you to always be aware of your surroundings, a vital skill imo.
Good luck, and don’t stop prepping! Remember, learning to defend yourself is a prep skill. And securing your home is too.
Chesapeake – at 11:13
Jane- check this site for oil candles, they have tons http://tinyurl.com/q...
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 11:28
This morning I pulled out my powdered buttermilk (which I rarely use) and found it hard as a rock. I know how to soften brown sugar in the microwave, and this would have probably worked for the buttermilk too, but if I didn’t have power, I’d have been up a creek!
Fortunately, awhile back I’d purchased a heavy (thick) plastic mortar & pestal — it looks just like a marble one, but is plastic. I got it for $4 at our regional Winn Dixie grocery store. I’d priced ‘em on eBay & the stores that sell marble stuff & always those had rough bottoms, to help with the pulverizing I guess.
Since I wanted it to crush up my pet’s medications, I couldn’t afford to leave a bunch ground into the bottom because most cat tabs aren’t that big to begin with & it would have adjusted the dosage if I couldn’t get it all out. ANYway, I found this one — with a smooth bottom!
So I grabbed it and started on my buttermilk powder & it works great! I’ve now transferred my powder to a glass jar with an oxy absorber! I’ll do my egg whites the same way!
You might want to consider something like that if you have a lot of powdered drink mixes or foods in your pantry!
Dennis in Colorado – at 12:25
EnoughAlready – at 00:58 I guess they need to change a whole bunch of biochemistry and nutritonal biochemistry literature and textbooks. Because glucose is the brains fuel of choice. And, to operate under ketosis long term is a very expensive metabolic procedure.
Your previous post on this issue was:
EnoughAlready – at 22:25 Your brain needs minimally about 140 grams of carbohydrates (somewhere around that figure) a day.
My response was:
Dennis in Colorado – at 14:33 The brain (and all other organs except the liver) gets along quite nicely on ketones, a product of fat metabolism. The liver is the only organ that requires glucose and it can make its own from protein through the process of gluconeogenesis.
I stand by that statement. The human brain does not need dietary carbohydrate. Ketogenic diets have been used by neurologists to treat seizure disorders for more than 80 years. Children have been maintained on ketogenic diets for years at a time without deleterious effects. The long-term efficacy and safety of ketogenic diets is well-established. We have mounting evidence that ketogenic diets have neuro-protective effects in persons with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury, and CVA (stroke). Also, please note that the “preferred” energy source for the human heart is ketones.
While the human brain appears to “prefer” glucose as its primary fuel when we consume a “normal” diet, metabolism changes from that of a glucose-based energy substrate to a ketone-based substrate quite readily when we consume a ketogenic diet.
It simply is not true that your brain needs 140 grams of carbohydrates a day.
I emphasize this point for the subject of surviving a pandemic: If you find yourself away from your normal prep food, with nothing but a freezer full of elk or deer meat, do NOT despair. The fact that you will not get your government-recommended 10 ounces of grains per day and six cups of fruit & vegetables per day will not adversely affect your health. You don’t need the carbohydrates.
Oremus – at 13:45
Jane – at 11:03
I just wanted people to know that they could use Low Odor Mineral Spirits in oil lamps.
MaMa – at 13:55
Other than socking alot of supplies away, our family has made another significant change that was influenced at least in part by the possibility of panflu. We’ve been considering homeschooling for a couple of years and finally decided to do it. It’s gone very well so far. I’m really enjoying spending much more time with my children, teaching them is certainly an exciting and interesting experience.
Snowhound1 – at 14:05
Wow Mama! You are homeschooling now? That’s great. I never felt confident in such things. (Well, maybe K-6) :) I was looking over my son’s calculus last night when he had a question and all I kept thinking to myself is “Gosh, I’m glad I’m not his teacher!” :) If we all end up stuck in the house together for six months, maybe I’ll take up calculus as my hobby. :)
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 14:25
Snowhound1 – at 14:05 If we all end up stuck in the house together for six months, maybe I’ll take up calculus as my hobby. :)
I’d rather die! :-)
silversage – at 14:25
MaMa how do you get started with homeschooling. I’ve been thinking about it, and now that our teachers are going on strike my DH said OK. I feel they would benifit from have a schedule in place and I wouldn’t have to worry about pulling them out too early(or too late) when TSHTF.
silversage – at 15:01
“I feel they would benifit “ ha ha
I can’t spell but I can teach calculus!!
EnoughAlready – at 15:26
Dennis in Colorado – at 12:25
Ketosis is the bodies survival system. It’s been known for decades that the brain burns ketones. It is a very expensive, metabolically, and comes with risks. The diet you are sugesting (ketosis) does not support the body’s “optimal” functioning. There is a reason it is recommended that a diet consists of ~55% of calories from carbohydrates (CHO).
After one day the body depletes glycogen (stored glucose in lean tissue and muscles), the body starts breaking down protein structures to provide “glucose” to the brain & nervous system. (The brain needs a constant level of glucose to stay alive. It is so highly specialised for nerve conduction that it has had to compromise by almost soley relying on glucose. The brain is very limited in its scope to do this. Apparently the brain only enough glycogen to provide glucose to the brain for a total of 2 minutes. All other body organs and muscles have much longer glycogen stores.)
Eating less than 120–140 grams of CHO a day increases ketone build-up in your blood (i.e., ketosis) and can cause high level of uric acid to build up, which is a rish factor for gout and kidney stones. Dehydration is also a risk factor. Understand this, ketosis is only one part of the equation--- dehydration is the other. Ketones irritate your kidneys and the kidneys try to get rid of them via urine. Your body drains water from your tissues to wash these ketones out. That’s the reason you have to urinate so often on this type of “diet.” The diet you are suggesting can also cause the body to loose calcium. Also, when the body depletes it’s stores of glycogen (glucose stored in lean tissue and muscles), there is a loss of lean tissue mas (for example, the heart is a muscle.) Metabolic rate slows, which is why a person gets sluggish and mentally --- your brain gets sluggish because IT ONLY RUNS ON GLUCOSE. CHO is NECESSARY to SPARE PROTEIN! In addition, in the Journal of American Medical Association’s Aug. 20, 2003 edition, a significant study showed a 60% increase in carciovascular disease relating to the ketogenic diet. Ketosis is also a symptom of diabetic shock. Ketosis is not meant to be anything but survival mode. And, keeping out of ketosis is the best “diet.” (Studies have shown that morbidly obese patients, 100 pounds or more overweight, benefit from a ketonic diet… UNDER MEDICAL SUPERVISION. There are risks associated with this diet.)
Current recommendations by the American Dietetic Association, the US Surgeon General and the American Medical Association encourage people to eat a diet centered around the Food Guide Pyramid and the Dietary Guide Lines for Americans for a reason (that’s why it is on most labels.) A diet that is balanced and varied is the cornerstone. If living on elk or deer (as in your scenario) was the place you find yourself, it would behoove you to find natural vegetain as well to sustain “optimal” body and life functioning.
Please, understand--- this could become part of the problem. If one is sick, stressed, and does not have the adequate body fuels… it becomes a slippery slope with a downward sprial. Proper nutrition is a key tool in survival and recovery.
I don’t want to fight with you. I very much want to get over to you the importance of carbohydrates and all nutrients and minerals in one’s diet. Especially during a crisis like we are considering… a pandemic. This most likely will be a long term journey, not a short term journey.
I beg and implore you to contact a registered dietitian, a medical doctor, a nutritionist (with certified credentials) and ask them about this. Don’t take my word. I don’t have to hang around here on this site. I choose to because it is a way I can make a difference in helping others prepare. I know what I am talking about.
MaMa – at 15:28
Hi guys! Sorry for disappearing, I got called away unexpectedly.

Snowhound1, I am so lucky- mu hubby has 5 years university level math- I am completely off the hook for anything past what I call ‘normal’ math:-)

I feel confident in being able to teach the rest of the subjects. There are a tremendous number of excellent resources out there, many of them at little or no cost.
MaMa – at 15:50
silversage at 14:25, I’m not sure where you live but the best first step is to contact the education dept. in your province/state. Ask them what the requirements are to homeschool. In Manitoba, any parent can homeschool their child- all that needs to be done to fufill provincial regulations is to 1.)advise the education dept. of your intention to homeschool, there are a few forms to fill out and a course outline must be submitted for each child. There are several choices in how you will homeschool- you can buy courses from the edu. dept.- you can develop your own curriculum using the depts. general guidelines(our choice)- or you can have another curriculum, such as religion-based.

2.)2 progress reports must be submitted each year, one in Jan. and one in June. You might find it helpful to get in contact with any local homeschooling associations or parent groups. Many of them have events throughout the year, like textbook swaps, which can save alot of money.

My kids are in gr.2,7 and 8. I’ve found alot of great sites for worksheets, research for projects, etc. on the internet. If you’d like feel free to e-mail me(my addr. is in my profile) and I’d be happy to share them with you and answer any other questions you might have.
Dennis in Colorado – at 17:07
EnoughAlready – at 15:26 After one day the body depletes glycogen (stored glucose in lean tissue and muscles), the body starts breaking down protein structures to provide “glucose” to the brain & nervous system.
Only in the absence of adequate caloric intake. You are clouding the issue by confusing starvation with a ketogenic diet.
The brain needs a constant level of glucose to stay alive. It is so highly specialised for nerve conduction that it has had to compromise by almost soley relying on glucose.
No, it doesn’t. You already acknowledged that “It’s been known for decades that the brain burns ketones.” You needn’t deny that now. The brain can function very well burning glucose or ketones, depending on what is available.
Eating less than 120–140 grams of CHO a day increases ketone build-up in your blood (i.e., ketosis) and can cause high level of uric acid to build up, which is a rish factor for gout and kidney stones.
Again, you are confusing a ketogenic diet with starvation. In a ketogenic diet study published in the International Journal of Obesity (PMID: 617109), “serum proteins, electrolytes, uric acid, cholesterol and blood haemoglobin and haematocrit were unaffected.”
Also, when the body depletes it’s stores of glycogen (glucose stored in lean tissue and muscles), there is a loss of lean tissue mas (for example, the heart is a muscle.)
Once more, you confuse ketogenic diets with starvation. A ketogenic diet of adequate caloric value does not result in the loss of lean tissue mass. Even a hypocaloric ketogenic diet depletes muscle mass less than a “balanced” hypocaloric diet does. Body builders use ketogenic diets to burn fat while preserving lean muscle mass. I served as proofreader for Lyle McDonald’s book, The Ketogenic Diet, and he had an entire chapter devoted to cyclical ketogenic dieting for body builders.
Metabolic rate slows, which is why a person gets sluggish and mentally --- your brain gets sluggish because IT ONLY RUNS ON GLUCOSE. CHO is NECESSARY to SPARE PROTEIN! In addition, in the Journal of American Medical Association’s Aug. 20, 2003 edition, a significant study showed a 60% increase in carciovascular disease relating to the ketogenic diet.
Now you’ve moved from “misleading” to “lying.” The 8/20/2003 article in JAMA (PMID: 12928468) concerned elevated cholesterol levels in children who consumed a ketogenic diet. It in no way reached any conclusion regarding any increase in cardiovascular disease. The exact quote is, “CONCLUSIONS: A high-fat ketogenic diet produced significant increases in the atherogenic apoB-containing lipoproteins and a decrease in the antiatherogenic HDL cholesterol. Further studies are necessary to determine if such a diet adversely affects endothelial vascular function and promotes inflammation and formation of atherosclerotic lesions.”
There is, indeed, a slight decrease in cognitive functioning that lasts for approximately 3 days, as the brain switches from glucose metabolism to ketone metabolism. After that, cognitive function is normal.
Ketosis is also a symptom of diabetic shock.
No, you are confusing ketosis and ketoacidosis. Ketosis is one of the body’s normal processes for the metabolism of body fat and is not pathognomonic.
I don’t want to fight with you.
Nor I with you, as long as you use truth in your statements and not red herring and straw man logical fallacies. I will, however, identify untruths and inaccuracies wherever I find them.
If you are comfortable in consuming a politically-correct “balanced” diet, that is fine. Just don’t try to confuse others by mixing in statements about starvation and passing them off as applying to ketogenic diets and don’t mis-quote medical studies.
If people find themselves in a situation where they choose (or are forced) to consume a low-carbohydrate diet, they should not be frightened by the Food Police into thinking their brain will not function. The brain does not need 120–140 grams of carbohydrate per day.
Carrey in VA – at 17:23
silversage – at 14:25
I’m not sure if your in the U.S. for sure or not, but homeschooling is legal in all 50 states. Some states are more strict than others. For instance here in VA I can homeschool with just a HS diploma. All I have to do is remit a “letter of intent” in the begining of the school year, and the scores of a nationally standardized test at the end of the year. Some states don’t even expect that much.
My suggestion is not to contact the school district, but to google “homeschooling support groups” and the name of your state.
EnoughAlready – at 17:48
Dennis in Colorado – at 17:07
First of all, I am not a liar.
Secondly, I have a masters degree in nutrition and dietitics. My information is based on research, education and clinical experiences from people with degrees in nutrition and dietitians. My own experiences include research and field experience.
Finally, you are just wrong about the brain not needing gluclose. As I suggested earlier, contact a dietitian, medical doctor and nutritionist (with certified credentials) to verify. Your food police remark is not only uncalled for, but unprofessional and tacky.
Bottom line: we need food from a variety of sources presented in a balanced manner to obtain and maintain optimal functioning. That should be the focus. And how to achieve that in an economiical fashion with scarce resources.
Dennis in Colorado – at 18:03
EnoughAlready – at 17:48
You have ignored each piece of evidence I have presented to you. It is apparent that you cannot refute that evidence. I shall not continue the discussion.
Jane – at 18:14
Oremus at 13:45, thanks for the tip. Sometimes it’s hard to find a particular fuel, so looking in the paint department for low-odor mineral spirits instead of kerosene is a good idea.
anon – at 19:02
http://www.medscape....
Bergqvist and the group from The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have also begun to examine bone density in children on the ketogenic diet.[7] Using a cross-sectional (rather than longitudinal) design they showed that males on the ketogenic diet for 12–24 months experienced a significantly worse osteopenia than females. This is part of an ongoing prospective study that may clarify observations made in 1979, when Hahn and colleagues[8] reported that children on the diet had a significant reduction in serum 25OHD as well as loss of bone mass, which can be partially reversed by vitamin D treatment. This work will be important to providing optimal care for children who are on the diet for an extended period of time.
A broad review of both early- and late-onset complications of the diet was presented by Kang and colleagues[9] from Sang-gye Paik Hospital, Seoul, South Korea. They reported their experience with 117 patients. Typical early problems included GI intolerance, hypertriglyceridemia, and transient hyperuricemia. Other early problems of interest included lipoid pneumonia in 5%, suggesting aspiration. Late complications (after 2 months) were seen in 30% of patients and included infections, dyslipidemia, hepatitis (6%), and single cases of cardiomyopathy, acute pancreatitis, and secondary hypocarnitinemia. Of interest is that most children who experienced growth failure showed normalization of growth when the diet was discontinued. Diet-related deaths were presumed in 4 cases (sepsis in 2, cardiomyopathy, and lipoid pneumonia).
Carnitine deficiency was also addressed in a study by Werner and associates[10] from Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, in Milwaukee. Although the clinical relevance of measuring free carnitine remains in question, the investigators conducted a retrospective chart review and found that 61% of 20 children on the diet developed a carnitine deficiency. However, only 1 child developed symptomatic carnitine insufficiency (acyl/free ration > 0.4) with increased seizures and lack of energy. Two of the 20 children experienced improved energy and alertness after carnitine supplementation, although free carnitine levels had improved in all of them. Children who received the diet orally appeared to have more abnormalities than those who were fed enterally, perhaps because the formula was fortified. Others who have looked at total carnitine levels find that they stabilize or return to baseline over time and that most children on the diet do not need supplementation. This remains an area in need of further prospective clarification with clinically relevant observations.
Bronco Bill – at 19:24
Dennis in Colorado and Enough Already at a bunch of times ---
How about you two swap email addresses and argue via email? That way, the Flu Prep thread can get back to Flu Prep. Thanks…
NJ Jeeper – at 19:32
Play nice children.
LauraB – at 19:34
I will only home-school if and when necessary. You know how you know when you are not cut out for certain professions? Being a teacher is definitely one for me! Anyone who does it well, at school or at home, amazes me. That being said, since the kids could be out f

Flu Prep 21 (XXI)

Bronco Bill — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 15:11:05 GMT

From Flu Wiki 2
Forum: Flu Prep XXI
15 September 2006
Bronco Bill – at 13:57
Continued from here
________________________________________
Green Mom ¨C at 10:51
Another prep this week-I visited a GREAT used book store and picked up 5 veggie cookbooks from 1970¡äs lots of info about combining grains/legumes, complimentary proteins, cooking with tofu/tvp, etc. I¡¯m going to spend next few days reading them and then comparing with current nutrician info-I know the current thinking about proteins for example is a little different.
Also picked up a couple of copies of Barry¡¯s ¡°Great Influenza¡± pretty cheap. I¡¯m putting some website info-fluwiki, pandemic.gov etc inside, then will ¡°release¡± the books a¡¯la Bookcrossings. I very much want to get the word about panflu out, but I also very much want to remain anonymous. I¡¯m thinking this will be a good compromise.
________________________________________
tjclaw1 ¨C at 11:11 I read a review of a cookbook in our local newspaper this week. The book is Stories & Recipes of the Great Depression by Rita Van Amber. The reviewer tried several of the recipes and said they were really good. One I found interesting was that they used to make a large pot of oatmeal (the slow-cooked kind), put the leftovers in a bread pan, refrigerate it, and then for dinner, they¡¯d slice it, fry the slices in lard, and serve with maple syrup. Some of the recipes utilize plants we would consider weeds. Think I¡¯m going to order it.
JWB – at 14:10
This is a great time of year (northern hemisphere) to get a great deal on a home reservior system. Its amazing how many people have these. If you buy them new they cost thousands. I bought a used one several years ago and only paid $250 for the whole thing, pump, filter, and above ground open tank. It even came with a ladder to get into it, (for cleaning?). And the previous owner was GLAD to see it go! Just check you local newspaper classified ads under, I think they are usually called, em, oh yeah, swimming pools.
And Wallyworld has chemicals on clearance.
A 15ft diameter pool filled 3.5 ft deep holds 4600 gallons. That is a lot of water.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 14:16
Well, I did it…..on the What to wear for a Pandemic thread, someone mentioned sweats being easier to clean than jeans (certainly easier to wring out) so I just bought 6 lightweight pr of sweats/loungers & matching tee’s on clearance for my husband for his birthday next week!
Later on I’ll add some heavyweight ones for a Christmas present.
I also put up 1 case of quart jars of instant milk, with oxy absorbs in each jar.
lady biker – at 14:31
I have been concentrating on putting up all the food I can and buying deoderant and soap and paper plates. I figured yesterday that I needed to think of something that would be nice and fun if I have to SIP and I so far am alone although that could change with my brother and two sisters and their families. So I went shopping and brought a really nice portable Movie CD player. has rechargable batteries, plugs into a regular outlet , and also plugs into a vehicle cigarrette lighter. so think I’m good to go , I have a solar battery charger so, now gotta get more movies. LOLOL….and lots more books, yup gotta have my books.and I already have two windup radio’s. and coloring books and crayons. yup entertainment is covered. including the great outdoors cause I live in the country. is there anything I might have missed????
Texas Rose – at 14:37
I have three pans of green beans dehydrating.
I asked about swimming pool chemicals at a couple stores that carry them in the summer. Oh, I was told, those are seasonal items and they’ve been pulled. Hello? I said, This is Texas, the land where one can swim year round? And those pools need chemicals year round? Didn’t anyone think of that? One of the salesclerks gave me a long suffering look and said I know that and YOU know that but the suits in the home office apparently haven’t figured it out yet.
Bronco Bill – at 14:38
Here’s a thought for those who plan on building an outdoor fire to cook on. If you line your fire-pit with rocks, try as hard as you possibly can NOT to use wet, fresh-from-the-water river rocks! The water inside of them boils off, and can cause them to ‘splode!! Been there, done that, found out the hard way.
And yes, water CAN get inside of rocks that have been submerged for any length of time…
tjclaw1 – at 14:54
lady biker – at 14:31, how about some games like Monopoly (there is a junior version for younger kids) a Cribbage board, several decks of cards and a card playing rule book (just in case you cheat at Solitaire!). Puzzles are great to work either alone or with other people too. Backgammon is another game my husband and I used to play a lot (before we started having kids). Some of my fondest memories are of playing Cribbage all afternoon with my Grandfather (who taught me to play).
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 14:57
lady biker – at 14:31 is there anything I might have missed????
I’m thinking a deck of Uno cards & regular playing cards & maybe poker chips—I personally don’t play poker yet….may have time to learn!
lady biker – at 15:10
tjclaw1 and I’m-workin’-on-it, thanks I did completely forget about cards, I love playin solitaire, and yea I cheat but it’s still fun. I’ll have to check out the other card games and see what’s all out there. um poker might get me in trouble. LOL…….I love puzzles and I need to find one of those puzzle pads that you can rolll the puzzle up on and move it if it’s not finished. yup ……. great ideas there folks…. I love productive feed back , helps a lot……..thanks
tjclaw1 – at 15:30
Here’s a place for a puzzle stow n go. http://tinyurl.com/n... Also, Ravensburger produces high-quality thick cardboard German made puzzles. Can also buy at Amazon.com. Don’t forget to have a good card table and chairs (don’t want to have to clear the game/puzzle off the dinner table constantly!) A great trick a teacher gave me is to use a pen or a marker to identify each puzzle piece so it makes it back in the right box (or if you find one later, you know where it goes), and keep the pieces in a baggie when storing in the box (picture a child pulling puzzle boxes from top shelf of closet and pieces spilling all over your preps). Or, what happened to me last weekend - my 5yo worked several 300 piece puzzles and maybe 15 smaller puzzles and had them beautifully displayed on her bedroom floor. Two year old sister was so impressed she wanted to help - result, thousands of pieces in one pile in the middle of the floor. Took the 5yo hours to re-work all the puzzles and put them away.
lady biker – at 15:46
OMG……..tjclaw1 ,LOL…a puzzle nightmare……I can see it all in my mind. and I gotta say lady, your a better person than I am, I’m afraid I would have screamed and thrown the whole mess away……LOLOLO
Texas Rose – at 16:32
Handy helpful hint: When using a handheld blender to turn dehydrated tomato paste into tomato powder, use a cover on the container to prevent flying tomato bits all over the counter top and you.
Thank you. You may now return to your regularly scheduled prepping.
OKbirdwatcher – at 17:13
IWOI at 14:16 - Introduced my DH to sweats a few years ago. He won’t wear anything else for lounging around the house when the weather gets cooler. Won’t wear them in public but he loves them for R&R time.
Bought myself some new ones a few days ago. I just can’t think of anything more comfy or cozy. Today I’m ordering silk long johns.
Green Mom – at 17:46
Texas Rose-thanks so much for that tip! (snicker…) And heres one for you- When pouring a BIG 10 pound bag of rice into smaller bags, make sure that none of the smaller bags have a hole in them!
Kathy in FL – at 18:06
Sounds like everyone is prepping to beat the band. Frankly I’ve had to take a break … my nerves and my pocketbook were getting a bit strained and I wasn’t even buying anything unusual.
I think its OK to just only live in the here-and-now once in a while as long as you don’t make it a permanent change. I’ve needed the break.
My mom is sending me 2 or 3 five gallon buckets of canning pears by way of my brother sometime this weekend. By this time next week I hope to fill back out my supply of canned sliced pears, pear sauce, and pear butter … depending on how much the pears make.
I’ve got a load of meat in the freezer looking at me accusingly every time I open the door. I just can’t seem to block out enough time to get it all taken care of. The kids activities have really started eating into my time again and have a lot going on in the business as well.
I have gotten some more decluttering done but lots more to do. Seems stuff in this house seems to multiply … or maybe everyone else’s junk is migrating to my house for the winter. Either way, next week I want to do some work in the toy and stuff department.
May not seem like much prepping is going on around our house, but I look at it like it is just another type of prepping. Mind prepping … not stuff prepping.
Bronco Bill – at 19:49
I just posted this on the News thread also:
NEWS For those whose preps include infant formula!
Hundreds of thousands of bottles of infant formula recalled
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Abbott health care company is recalling hundreds of thousands of
bottles of infant formula because they might not have enough vitamin C.
The recall is for approximately 100,000 32-ounce plastic bottles of Similac Alimentum
Advance liquid formula and approximately 200,000 bottles of Similac Advance with Iron,
Abbott spokeswoman Tracey Noe said Friday.
On the web here
Jane – at 20:59
BB, the link at the closure of PrepXX goes to a page that says “password required.” ?
Jane – at 21:31
This site has information on ancient grains and the genetic differences that modern grain has (now wheat has more chromosomes!), and how modern factory baking methods have made bread into a product that instead of being healthful may do harm, because of the speed with which it is made as well as its additives. The intriguing thing is the suggestion that letting grains ferment, as earlier people did, makes them more digestible. (Not just beer, though :) )
http://www.westonapr...
Bronco Bill – at 21:34
Jane – at 20:59 --- It do?!? Oops…it do!! I’ll check with the Mods to get that fixed forthwith and immediately!! Sorry….and thanks.
OKbirdwatcher – at 21:58
Kathy in FL - Good for you! We all need to catch our breath now and then:)
Sailor – at 23:55
Preps for the Day
Went to “Princess Auto” store in our local town and purchased some “Mini Digital Multimeters” with a temperature probe for the princely sum of 9$ each. Will use the teperature probes to monitor the temperature of the freezer and fridge as the probe is 36 inches long and thin enough that it will fit between the door gasket. This will eliminate the need to open the door to see if evey thing is still frozen and should minimize the number of times required to start the generator.
16 September 2006
Green Mom – at 12:21
Kathy- yes everybody definatly needs a break. I geared way down, prep-wise, in July and Aug. I uasually go into winter-prep nesting mode this time of year pan-flu or not Probably something Ive gotten from my Mom, grandmother, etc.
Bird Guano – at 12:39
MAJOR decluttering effort under way here.
Cleaning carpets, washing walls.
Some interior painting before winter sets in.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 12:42
Bird G., I’ll send you my address by email and a bus ticket….I hope to see you first of the week — I have a small house; you should be through within a couple of days at the rate you’re going! :-)
Bird Guano – at 13:19
What size is your dumpster ???
:-)
Blue Ridge Mountain Mom – at 14:44
Lined up the 300 gallon water tank today. I just have to go pick it up..for FREE!!! Check with local businesses in your area. I got mine from an egg processing plant. It originally contained acid to wash and sterilize the eggs. I’ve got to get the acid cleaned out ‘cause it’s strong enough to eat through your skin. With about $7 at the hardware store for PVC pipe, we will be set for water storage if it rains. Still working on the solar pump for the well….
JV – at 14:52
Here is an oven that I ordered from Lehman’s that can either sit over one burner or on top of a wood burning stove.
http://tinyurl.com/k...
Edna Mode – at 15:09
Blue Ridge Mountain Mom – at 14:44 Lined up the 300 gallon water tank today. I just have to go pick it up..for FREE!!! Check with local businesses in your area. I got mine from an egg processing plant. It originally contained acid to wash and sterilize the eggs. I’ve got to get the acid cleaned out ‘cause it’s strong enough to eat through your skin.
Free is great, but do you really think this is safe to store water in? I don’t know for sure, but I’d guess that this stuff may have permeated the tank if its plastic. Are you using this for potable water storage? You might want to call the mfg. of the acid to find out what they recommend re: whether it’s OK for non-potable and/or potable uses.
Dr Dave – at 15:42
Last spring we went online with Carey Container and ordered 48 1 gallon plastic jars with screw on lids and 48 5 gallon plastic pails with lids and handles. The lids of the 5 gallon pails have rubber “0″ rings and collapsible pour spouts. The 5 gallon pails can each hold 30 pounds of grains or legumes. They are airtight, waterproof, and they can stack. The 1 gallon plastic jars have wide mouths, so they are very useful for smaller quantities, and they make bug-proof containers for odd quantities of cereal, snacks, spices, flour, corn meal, sugar, etc.
A lot of sites sell plastic jars and pails. A good cost reference is $1 per gallon, including shipping, regardless of the size.
Carrey in VA – at 17:58
Went shopping today stopped at a garage sale and scored 2 jerry cans (ok I don’t know how to spell it, military gas cans) for 1$ a peice. WHOOOO HOOOO
Topped off my food preps at Sams, and on a whim asked at the bakery if they had any empty 5gal buckets. She said how many do you want? Walked out with 6 FREE 5 gallon buckets with lids. WHOOO HOOO again.
What a great shopping day!
Dennis in Colorado – at 18:07
Today’s prep purchases at Sam’s Club:
An extra case of paper towels, 30 rolls.
An extra 2-liter pump dispenser bottle of alcohol gel hand sanitizer. We bought two and will use one in the kitchen and put the other in the prep pantry. I may go back and get another one for my desk at work. A half-gallon jug of hand sanitizer definitely says “I’m serious about this.”
A #10 can (7 pounds) of cooked pinto beans. Listed as 24 half-cup servings.
A 3½ pound box of Minute Rice. Listed as 37 half-cup servigs.
A 18-can case of Vienna sausages.
>><<
InKy – at 18:16
Dennis, how are you going to eat that can of pinto beans before it spoils? I’ve been buying lots of small cans of any food that won’t keep without refrigeration. I’m on the prowl for little jelly packets next.
lohrewok – at 18:45
InKy I believe at food service direct/bulk they sell pc packets of all conditments. (by the case)
Dennis in Colorado – at 18:51
InKy – at 18:16 how are you going to eat that can of pinto beans before it spoils?
We’ll put it in the refrigerator.
I don’t expect to be without utilities from the first day of our SIP and, even if we are, I think I can hold the fridge at a safe temperature with the generator running 4 hours per day. If TSHTF during the late fall, winter, or early spring, then it is even easier. Our second refrigerator is in the panty, and that room can be left unheated. Nighttime temps here during the winter go down to single-digit range, with occasional excursions below 0°F. Keeping the whole pantry at 40°F will not be difficult.
I agree with your strategy of using small cans; we also have 16-ounce cans of garbanzo beans, blackeye peas, pinto beans, pinto beans with onion, and pinto beans with jalapeño peppers.
Once we use up the canned beans, we’ll fall back to the dry beans that we also have.
Our Sam’s Club has “JELLY CUPS ASSORTED 200 CT., .5 OZ” for $6.47.
lohrewok – at 18:52
Just checked there, they have 200pc grape or apple jelly for $12–13 each. Another thought, check with your local fast food place, like KFC. They might be willing to sell you a case of whatever condiments you want-ask the manager.
InKy – at 20:07
Dennis C - your plan makes sense. I don’t have a generator, so I’ll have to kiss refrigeration goodbye when the power’s out, though I can keep things cold, as you suggest, if it’s winter out. My garage is unheated, and for that matter most of the house will be, too, alas. Thanks for the tip about the jelly cups at Sam’s. I’ll look for them on my next run.
Kathy in FL – at 20:58
So far I have managed to peel, slice, and process four gallons of canning pears. I’ve got another large box of pears to go that should give me about 3 or 4 more gallons.
Next week I want to process as much of the meat out of my freezer as possible. Don’t know if I will actually get it done, but that’s the plan. I’ve browned a lot of the ground beef already … its just a matter of reheating and then canning it in quart jars. I also have some stew meat and roast to do.
Finally got an authentic lesson on preparing Ropa Vieja … a dish from my husband’s side of the family that I never learned from my inlaws before they passed away. Seems fairly easy … I’ll save some of it and can it in a pint jar to see if it is “can-able” or not. If it is, boy will it be a treat for my husband over rice. I’d also love to love to find a “can-able” Picadillo … that would be another treat for hubby. I think I’ve found a way to can pork loin so that it has the flavor of our traditional Christmas pork … but that is yet another experiment in the making.
bgw in MT – at 21:41
Overstock.com has a five inch 3-way power 5 in tv, plus 2 battery operated radio-alarms for $37.99. The adapter cords on the TV are included. The smallest radio also has a temperature readout (F and C) and light. The price sounds so good I’m a little leery but have ordered two sets anyway. We’ve been pleased so far with everything we have ordered from them. The link is:
battery tv and radios
They also have a 5 LED lantern with a crank for $19.95. I’ll let you know what we think after we receive the order. We just placed it tonight.
bgw in MT – at 21:49
That should read, “Overstock.com has a five inch, 3-way (AC/DC battery powered) tv, plus 2 battery operated radio-alarms for $37.99… Things never look the same when I’m typing them in the comment box for some reason. Maybe its the old style type.
bgw in MT – at 21:52
One more time… LOL… the lantern has also has an FM scan radio whatever that is.
Dennis in Colorado – at 22:28
bgw in MT – at 21:52 the lantern has also has an FM scan radio whatever that is.
Probably means it doesn’t have a knob tuner or a keypad via which you could enter the frequency of the station you want. Just an “up” and “down” (or maybe only “up”) button that will take you to the next station and lock there until you hit the “scan” button again.
Orlandopreppie – at 23:08
Kathy in FL, we took a break at the same time. I went a little overboard and decided that the mortgage might need to get paid this month so I’ve cut way back. I’ve been so busy with school, and I think a little delayed adjustment reaction that I haven’t come here often. I’ve really missed you guys.
Now that money is flowing again I need to see the great ideas. I’m sending in my money for a group buy on canned cheese and canned butter. I did order the dehydrated fruit special from Honeyville Grain, and we just got the second raised garden bed filled with dirt today. I go and sit in my prep room, former guest room, and think to myself that “we just might be okay”…and I am quietly very proud.
Have a surprise surgery coming up. It’s one of those little “just when you thought you had it all plannef for” kind of things. An old shunt has disintegrated in my abdominal cavity and parts are floating around…resting on my lung. In a weird way I’m really glad it happened now and not during a pandemic as that would have been a real problem. I didn’t see this coming as NOBODY ever told me they could come apart! At least my Neurosurgeon isn’t blowing me off this time. I can’t imagine what I would have done if this happened during a SIP! I think God is looking out for me. If something weird will happen, healthwise, it will happen to me. I’ve really learned to just roll with it. I think I’ll be checking in more often, my little mental vacation has ended.
17 September 2006
Love Texas – at 16:46
Orlandopreppie---good luck on your surgery—I have had a few surprises this year myself and I feel the same way thank God they found this now and not sip. Thinking about you!
Love Texas – at 17:40
I now have a complete inventory of my preps and now I am working on a list of things I don’t have. This list is much longer than I thought it would be. I thnk that means more money. It also means more research on the items I do not have. I get so much information here, I could not do it without this community. I guess I am going to have to read that generator thread!!
NoFluingAround – at 17:43
I now have a complete inventory of my preps Love Texas, you are my hero…LOL, I seriously need to take an inventory.
silversage – at 18:48
Love Texas – at 17:40
WOW, good for you!! Inventory is so hard, do you have any suggestions or lessons learned. I finished an excel spredsheet for one area, then I locked it shut. But I would like to do one for each storage area so I know where everything is, then merge them together. Do we have any excel experts available for questions? :-)
Kim – at 19:38
If anyone is interested in buying a battery operated (therefore portable) LED night light with built-in motion sensor and photocell, I’ve found a bargain. These normally sell for $14.99 each, plus $7–10 shipping, so I really thought this was a good deal. I ordered two of them today, one for my bathroom and the other for my kitchen (neither has convenient plugs for a nightlight, and since these are portable (attach with velcro), I figure that these are perfect… I have read accounts of people who got them for elderly relatives who have to get up frequently in the middle of the night). On this site they are $11.99 each with free shipping. They also have a 3-in-1 LED emergencylight/night light/LED flashlight on sale for $17.99 with free shipping. I know the sale is good today, but don’t know how long it continues. I have no relationship with this company other than placing an order with them, but I’ve researched these motion-sensor LED nightlights pretty thoroughly and believe this is a great price.
http://tinyurl.com/p...
Prepping Gal – at 19:52
Got a couple more oil lamps, additional wicks and low odor mineral spirits (so much cheaper than those small lamp oil bottles). I now have 1 dual large, 2 medium, 2 small medium and one small. I need to try them out. I find I am still nervous about starting appliances needing flammable fuel; I guess its just a healthy respect.I have many other light sources as well.
Tried out our two Kerosene heaters (Kero-World KC2400 and KC1100) & I must say they were a cinch to set-up and ignite and I was really impressed by the heat and lack of smoke or smell. I feel better knowing I have these and Kerosene for about 10 days (24 hours) or 20 days for 12 hour days. Will stock up on Kerosene until I have about 3 months worth to help over the worst winter weather. My husband helped me with this test so I now feel okay about lighting them.
Irene – at 19:57
I’ve been taking a prep break for the last couple of months and am just about ready to start up again.
I’m in a cold climate with plenty of snow cover in winter. A nice little project for me this last few days has been to prune my backyard shrubs and then cut up the thin branches into very small pieces. I’ve got a nice big pile of twigs and leaves now drying up in the back yard. I plan to bag it up and place in my garage - free fuel for my Kelly Kettle.
Lisa in Southern Maine – at 20:16
Made crabcakes with all prep ingredients today and they were fantastic. And that, sadly, is the only activity that relates to prepping done the whole weekend…unless the dismal checkbook balancing counts (grey hairs sprouting rapidly and can’t call the wrinkles laugh-lines any more!!!).
Anon_451 – at 20:35
Love Texas – at 17:40
Now that you have your inventory, use it to draw up menus for the number of mouths you need to feed. This will tell you what you really have an how long it will last.
Example I have 180 vacume sealed bags of rice with 6 cups in each bag. That will provide the basis for 1 meal for 7–8 people. I then compare that to the amount of canned meat, beans chile etc and draw up a menu for 6 months. Next I take my pasta, canned soups and dried soups, make the menus for lunch for 6 months. Then I took the amount of cerels, pancake mix and other breakfast type items (included powdered milk) to determine the breakfast for the kids (none of the adults eat breakfast, just coffee at one can a week needed 30 cans or 5 cases) You now have an idea of how long you can go with no out side food. Do the same with water, 1 gallon a day for drinking and cooking per person, PLUS 3–5 gallons a day for cleaning and hygene. The second number could come from rain barrels, swimming pools etc. But the first one MUST be clean drinking water.
You get the idea.
Posie – at 21:01
i now have a serious commitment to checking the dollar store on a once or twice a week basis.
this week i scored many large bottles of alcohol hand sanitizer for children (strawberry/watermelon) and will be placing one in my daughter’s cubby at school. “use as much as you want honey!”
: D
also scored board games and word search books there this week…for a dollar!
every time i walk in this store seems to have exactly what i need that week, from rolls of plastic, to duct tape, lighters, wet wipes, latex gloves, superglue, swim goggles, condiments, gross msg-laden freeze dried meals…
i couldn’t prep well without the place.
Nimbus – at 21:16
We are eating bread today made from freshly ground wheat. I had been on the lookout for a grain mill but couldn’t decide between motorized or manual. I finally found one that attaches to my mixmaster and and also has a separate base that allows it to be used manually. I picked up 10 25lb bags of wheat ($4.75 each) from the local LDS cannery (they welcome non-mormons), ran some through the grinder and baked up a fresh loaf of bread. It’s everything I hoped it would be and more - the flavor is just wonderful. It’s great to be set up for whole-grain baking as a prep but it’s also something I’ve wanted to try for ages.
Lisa in Southern Maine – at 20:16 - Yummmm Crabcakes :)
Michelle in OK – at 21:51
Nimbus, I’ve had a Wonder Mill for about a year (and will surely miss it if the electricity goes.) Thanks for the reminder, I have a few extra bags of wheat, but not nearly enough.
Whole wheat pancakes in the morning are my favorite. And if you lean towards Sugarbusters eating habits, applesauce in lieu of syrup is a pretty good substitute… especially if its followed with lots of coffee.
Anon_451 – at 21:55
Michelle in OK – at 21:51
Whole wheat pancakes in the morning are my favorite. And if you lean towards Sugarbusters eating habits, applesauce in lieu of syrup is a pretty good substitute… especially if its followed with lots of coffee.
YUMMY: If we promise to bring all our preps (may need an Simi for it all) Can we come stay with you?????? :
Malachi – at 22:01
Saw a guy raking up pears from his yard today (I had actually been eyeing the tree for awhile now) so I figured I would stop in and ask if I could have them.Scored 2 bushels of nice pears,2 buckets of apples,5 zucks for breads,and an invitation to come back for tomatoes,grapes and more apples.They had already canned all they wanted.I traded the wife 2 pairs of Amber earrings that I had made.I love the country life.
Green Mom – at 22:43
Ive been hitting some pretty good sales lately. I missed the propane on clearence sale at CVS last week, but did get some big pacs of tp half price. This week RiteAid Pharmacy has cupo’noodles five for a buck, bottles of apple juice 64 oz for a buck, plus BOGO vitamins and suppliments.
Local grocery had jars of pb for a dollar each, plus 8oz cheese blocks for a dollar.
I’m begining to feel like Posie-I think of some preps I need, and there it is on sale! At the risk of sounding trite…..little and often soon fills those prep bins.
Now if the pandemic will just hold off til I get some more tubs/buckets filled……
18 September 2006
Love Texas – at 01:28
Silversage My inventory was a lot of work because I waited until I had lots of stuff and it took a lot of time. It is in an excel spread sheet and I have a column for location, exp: MBC is master bedroom closet. GR is guest room. That has been a big help. I also have a column for food type exp: fats and oils, Veg. or fruit. Med supplies. I find the more you break down the food types the easier it is to find things on the list. Veg. Beans, green Vegs or yellow veges. The best part is taking this list to the store, it helps keep me focused on what I need. I also use it to mark off what I use and up-date it about once a week. I can sort by food type or location, you would be amazed at how much this helps. I am still working on it. Anon451---yes the menu is a good idea, I have some of that in my head but I need to get that down on paper. Nimbus and Michelle in Ok.—I have a Nutra- mill and then I have a small hand crank mill. I have LDS friends and they have been real nice to me and they ordered some really good wheat from Montana and I bought 720 pounds. I have soft white and gold wheat and a real dark wheat. I bought a Bosh mixer and I am having fun baking bread.
EnoughAlready – at 02:52
After reading on the storing food thread, where somebody mentioned freezing anything that wasn’t canned, I decided to check through my storage of pasta. (I knew I hadn’t froze that first.) Sure enough… there were bugs. Thank goodness I had put them all in ziplock baggies. Not all were infested, but nearly half were. What a mess. I stuck the uninfested in the freezer. It was a job going through all that, but I certainly was glad I did. Now… I have tor re-prep that. But… better to discover it now, than later!
I can’t remember, do bay leaves help with pasta, too?
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 07:08
Yes!
Green Mom – at 09:57
Prep today- I have been out of the house a lot latly, plus a couple of prepping trips and now my house is a MESS! I’m home until evening today with a good slow steady rain- Cleaning is on the agenda this am, then curl up with veggie cookbooks this afternoon and cook some fabulous veggie/prep kind o’meal
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 10:03
Sounds great! What time’s supper?? :-)
I made no-bake choc oatmeal cookies last night — honestly it’s one of the cheapest best-tasting preps you can make — especially if you’ve purchased or canned your own canned butter…..cocoa, evaporated milk, sugar, peanut butter, oats, a pot over heat, a spoon and wax paper!
I’ve also been drinking WalMart’s GV (great value) instant non-fat milk and honestly that stuff’s GOOD! That is if you’re used to drinking non-fat milk already, as I am. I’d put up a case of it in jars with oxy abs, but will do more!!
Today’s prep is, like you to clean up the house from the mess we made over the weekend — we moved some stuff from the attic, emptied it down here, then moved the crates back up to the attic. I need to finish incorporating them into the ‘regular’ stuff. Sometimes organizing is the best prep step you can make!
Hillbilly Bill – at 11:02
We had a quart of home canned soup beans for lunch on Saturday and it was delicious! For those that have the equipment and the time, I highly recommend converting your dry beans into canned ready-to-eat beans while you have plenty of water and cooking fuel. I get salt pork in a 4″ x 4″ slab about an inch thick. I put approximately a 1″ cube in each jar and added the beans after they had cooked 30 minutes, really just enough to get the whole pot full nice and hot. Don’t forget cornbread mixes or cornmeal.
Kathy in FL – at 11:15
Tried out the Ropa Vieja for dinner last night. Ouch! Definitely will need to try that again with adjustments … husband’s comments was it was eatable, but nothing like he remembered his dad making. LOL! I know which seasoning I left out so will give it another go and think that it will be “can-able” but will seriously have to make a double and triple batch if I expect to actually have enough TO can.
Hubby has eaten most of the trail mix that I had stashed and nearly all the tins of cookies are gone as well. Hope they have a holiday sale on them or those two items will be missing in action for the preps for the foreseeable future.
Kathy in FL – at 11:18
Here’s another prep that I thought some of you might be interested in.
The HistoryChannel on cable has a pretty good allowance in their copyright. And I quote:
“Programs airing on the HistoryChannel Classroom (weekday morning 6–7 am ET & PT) are copyright cleared for educational purposes for up to 2 year from the airdate.”
They’ve got some great programming that is very useful for school as well as just plain interesting. I use the History Channel programs in our educational program at home all of the time. I believe A&E has the same copyright clearance. TLC may as well. I’m not sure about Animal Planet and Discovery Channel though.
Green Mom – at 11:23
Hmmmmm, I LOVE those no-bake cookies-thanks for that, I think I’ll make some today!
My kids-especially my daughter are drinking the powdered milk-it works best if you can mix it in a blender. Ive been cooking with it for quite a while-I’m definatly storing AMAP.
I’ve never canned beans, but it sounds like an awfully good idea to do it now. I think I’ll give it a try.
Watching in Texas – at 11:26
I’m-workin-on-it - do you think that butter flavored Crisco could be used in that recipe? I have some butter in my freezer and I have butter flavored powder for use in instant potatoes, but I was planning on using butter flavored Crisco for some recipes.
Kathy in FL - what is the name of the recipe for homemade margarine? I think you posted that recipe, but I am having trouble finding it, so I thought maybe what I am calling it is not really the name of the recipe.
Kathy in FL – at 11:34
Watching in Texas – at 11:26
Hasn’t got a name that I know of unless you call it a butter or margarine substitute or alternative. I’ll post it again here anyway.
Margarine Substitute using powdered milk
• roughly 1/2 cup powdered milk
• roughly 1 1/2 cups of chosen cooking oil
• 2/3 cups of water
• couple of drops of yellow food coloring if desired
Mix water and food coloring with powdered milk until completely dissolved. Drizzle the cooking oil into the milk/water mixture and whisk as you drizzle. You need a nice, even incorporation of the oil. If your mixture is still too soft for your preference, you can mix in a little additional powdered milk. You can also add just a little bit of salt if you desire.
Other additions: a little bit of butter flavored extract; herbs; flavored salts, etc.
Watching in Texas – at 11:36
Thanks so much Kathy!! You’re the best:-)
Posie – at 11:53
>>Now if the pandemic will just hold off til I get some more tubs/buckets filled…… >>
me too, Green Mom! which reminds me…
all preppers should be aware of the phenomenonon of freecycle.
go here and search for your area of the world/country: http://freecycle.org...
everything available on a freecycle list is free. people post things they’re looking for (WANTED:) or perhaps something they’d like to get rid of (OFFER:).
exchange is typically as simple as leaving something on one’s porch for pick-up, or grabbing something off someone else’s. one person’s trash is another’s treasure you know.
i have scored many prep items this way, including plastic buckets (cat owners go through so many of these litter tubs…), lanterns, jars etc. and it just feels really good to be scoring cool items for free, and/or for getting rid of things one might otherwise have thrown-away.
it’s a preppers dream.
Green Mom, you might have a knack for this!
i’ve scored lots of non-prep items to boot, including a VCR, a bike, houseplants, an easel, a two-person tent, a nice HEPA air purifier, lots of kitchen items, a small keyboard for my daughter, etc.
cheers, all.
anonymous – at 13:22
Watching in Texas – at 11:26 You know it probably would work….maybe Kathy would know for sure. I’m sitting here trying to figure out just what role the butter actually played in the recipe since the boiling of the sugar & milk is what created a sort of soft ball liquid to mix over the oats to hold it together. I’m not sure just what the butter actually does now that I think about it!
Kathy? Any ideas?
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 13:27
that’s me above!
Watching in Texas – at 13:27
I’ve used the butter flavored shortening instead of butter or margarine in baked cookie recipes before and no one could tell the difference. Sometimes there was a slight difference in the texture, but the cookies still tasted good. Shortening has a fairly good shelf life, which is why I wondered.
Any bakers out there with ideas/suggestions?
Watching in Texas – at 13:29
Gee, you know, I guess sometime this week I could try making them with shortening and report on the product. Darn, fresh homemade cookies - well, I suppose everyone must make sacrifices for the greater good;-)
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 14:31
WIT, I’m laughing!! I’m thinking maybe I need to make some more and try to leave the butter OUT altogether!! We may end up with messes on our hands, but then again, we may not!
Hillbilly Bill – at 14:33
Watching in Texas – at 13:29
In the interests of scientific testing and reliability, I also volunteer to make a batch. One must do what ever is needed for the cause.
Watching in Texas – at 14:57
I just want ya’ll to know how proud I am to be serving on the Fluwiki front lines with such brave and selfless souls;-)
I’m-workin’-on-i: do you mind posting the exact proportions of cocoa, evap. milk, peanut butter, oatmeal, butter (or I don’t believe it is butter ) etc. so that our testing kitchens may report on the same recipe. I have a couple of recipes for this type of cookie, but if we are going to be subbing ingredients, it might be better for us to be using the same recipe.
Bill - if you have any of that margarine subsitute from Kathy’s recipe, you could try that in the cookies…??
tjclaw1 – at 15:13
You can substitute applesauce for part of the fat in many cookie recipes. The cookie turns out softer, but tastes wonderful. I usually bake cookies on parchment paper to avoid sticking. For example, when making oatmeal raising cookies, I substitute applesauce for half the fat. I also substitute whole wheat flour for 1/3 of the regular flour to make them more nutritious. Can also substitute applesauce for 1/3 of the veg oil in quick bread recipes, but it will take longer to cook (i.e. banana bread, zucchini bread, date bread).
Diana – at 15:30
Used to wear silk longjohns, have to sort through all old clothes and find them. Expensive so don’t want to get more. Since I’m pretty much a jeans and polo shirt type day to day, will add a few sweats. Polo shirts under sweaters for winter, and polo shirts are great for summer.Same white shirt. About 9 at Walmarts. Not as fancy as the better ones from Brooks Brothers but good enough to wear a fresh one every day while times are good, and they stay clean under sweaters for a week or more if you don’t spill anything like spaghetti sauce or tea on them. They really had a great sale at Walmarts. Nice stretchy nitegowns reduced to 3$ I buy them sizes too large initially because only really large sizes were on sale, but they look fine and are soooo comfortable when you move around when you sleep. They also had bathing suit separates at 1$ each and all kinds of tops reduced to a $. I went to 2 different Walmarts, and bought bras for 5. and so on. Really got a good pile of comfortable clothes for very little. I think I’m going to get down and really sift through their sales as I didn’t want to buy too much until I tried them on at home.
Oremus – at 15:37
I should probably post this on the recipe thread, but since y’all are talking cookies, these are my favorites:
Odds & Ends Cookies = from Lee Settersten
1 cup shortening 1 cup white sugar 1 cup brown sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. vanilla 2 cups flour 1 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1 cup oatmeal (quick) 2 cups any dry cereal 1 cup chopped nuts 1 tbsp. water
Cream shortening & sugars. Add eggs, vanilla & mix well. Then add flour, salt, baking soda & baking powder. Last, add oatmeal, dry cereal & nuts. Make into balls the size of walnuts. Lightly spray pans with PAM or similar stuff. Bake 10 min. — leave on pan for 1 more minute, then remove to rack. Makes about 5 1/2 to 6 dozen.
I use 1 cup rice krispies & 1 cup cornflakes, and pecans for the nuts.
Oremus – at 15:38
oops, meant to bullet the ingredients.
Watching in Texas – at 15:41
We will note that said cookies use shortening;-) I bet you can use powdered eggs instead of fresh too. Hmmmmm….WIT feels a baking marathon coming on…oh dear….hide the scales.
Mari – at 15:45
Hey, keep going, you baking mavens! Especially with recipes that involve dry cereals. But could you post over at the canned/dry recipes thread also? That way it will be easy to include your recipes on my next update. Thanks.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 15:47
Oremus, those sound good!! We’ll have to try them too!
Here’s the No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies recipe I used:
I DID add peanut butter as given, but will leave it out this next time, it really doesn’t make any difference. With it, they’re perfect, without it they’re perfect! :-)
2 cups of sugar
1/2 cup of milk (regular or evaporated)
1/4 lb margarine (1 stick) (melt in the microwave if you want to)
4 Tblsp. cocoa
2–1/2 cups oatmeal (honestly any kind will do)
1/4 to 1 full cup chopped nuts (as much or as little as you want)
2 teasp. vanilla
1/2 cup peanut butter
Cook sugar, milk, butter, and cocoa until it boils, stirring constantly. Let boil 1–1/2 minutes.
Take off stove and immediately add remaining ingredients and stir completely.
Drop cookie mixture by teaspoon onto wax paper & let cool & set.
EAT!
tjclaw1 – at 15:56
I’ve been using the powdered eggs in recipes and they work well. I haven’t tried the powdered egg whites yet, but since chefs use them, I assume they’ll work very well.
I’m-workin’-on-it – at 16:56
Oremus – at 15:37 do you REALLY mean any kind of cereal….like Lucky Charms or Cocoa Puffs, or even Kashi (looks like tiny pieces of firewood) good-for-you cereals for grown-ups that want lots of fiber????
Watching in Texas – at 17:01
Fellow chefs - will try to bake those, or I guess I should say not bake those;-) tonight after dinner, homework, yada yada. I did say try, didn’t I?? I will report back after not baking!
Closed and Continued - Bronco Bill – at 17:06
Thread is getting long, so it’s time for Flu Preps XXII
amak – at 17:09