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Food Storage Moms | To share ideas about food storage and preparedness and help one family at a time.




Posted by Linda Loosli on 27 Jul 2014 / 3 Comments
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Food Storage Survival Based Giveaway

Food Storage Survival Based Giveaway

 

I got together with a group of my blogging colleagues to share this great giveaway with our readers that is sponsored by Survival Based. There is something peaceful about knowing you are prepared for the unexpected. Remember you do not have to buy a pallet of food storage to survive a disaster. First of all, I could not afford that pallet of food. Plus I am picky and want to choose the foods my family will eat. I have tasted the food in this giveaway. It is really good! It is easy to prepare and comes in a bucket to grab and take with you. Easy peasy. All you need is water and some of your personal items. Look below to see ALL the items in this fabulous giveaway! Food-Fire-Filter! WooHoo! (more…)

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Posted by Linda Loosli on 26 Jul 2014 / 0 Comment
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12 Top Emergency Preparedness Items

12 Top Emergency Preparedness Items

Today I am showing you my 12 Top Emergency Preparedness Items that are the most important to me. I did not buy these all at once. I am not rich. I am very frugal and watch for bargains. I have always had a budget.  It doesn’t matter how much money you make, in my opinion, you need a budget. I have always had my monthly bills on automatic payment. They are setup through my bank, and on the 25th of each month I know exactly how much money I have to work with for the following month. (more…)

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Posted by Linda Loosli on 24 Jul 2014 / 14 Comments
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5 Mason Jar Oatmeal Recipes

5 Mason Jar Oatmeal Recipes

Today I am sharing 5 mason jar oatmeal recipes. I did a post a few years ago showing how to use these jars for breakfasts.  Meals In A Jar. Here’s the deal, I listed the ingredients of recipe #1 in the main part of the printable recipe. My husband and I decided we are starting to write down what we eat everyday. Just so you know…I have tried every diet. I hate the word…diet. I have a birthday coming up next year and I want to be healthier and more fit by then. So today I listed the calories according to a calorie book I have in the recipe below. I know what is in these breakfast jars.  (more…)

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Posted by Linda Loosli on 23 Jul 2014 / 2 Comments
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Preppers 52 Week Preparedness Course

Preppers 52 Week Preparedness Course

The Preppers 52 Week Preparedness Course called Countdown to Preparedness by Jim Cobb is my favorite new, “be prepared for the unexpected" book. I really like this book because it is broken out in 5 areas, The Basics, Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. I love the first one, The Basics. He explain, and I am sure we would all agree, we must start with the basics. They lay the groundwork for many future lessons we should read and understand. He gives you the option to jump around in the book, but explains if you follow the seasons you will be prepared for whatever happens in that season. He gives the example, it makes little sense to plan out your garden in late summer. I love it! (more…)

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Posted by Linda Loosli on 22 Jul 2014 / 8 Comments
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Merry Christmas In July

Merry Christmas In July

Merry Christmas in July 2014! Well, you probably know by now I am pretty practical. I love showing people how to make bread, use their food storage daily, make homemade laundry detergent and be as self reliant as possible. I have done a few posts on making your own detergent as well as a YouTube. Laundry Detergent (more…)

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Posted by Linda Loosli on 21 Jul 2014 / 0 Comment
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How To Make An Emergency Mommy Kit

How To Make An Emergency Mommy Kit

Do you know how to make an emergency mommy kit? It seems like just yesterday that I had one baby resting on my hip and another toddler hanging on my leg. At the time I thought it was a bit hard being a mom. It was something I wanted my whole life…to be a mother. I was blessed with four daughters. But being a mom is not an easy thing to do 24/7. We are the ones packing the car for road trips, usually. Oh, and getting the kids ready for church. Then there is laundry, meals, homework, etc. It is sometimes hard to remember everything, do you know what I am talking about?  (more…)

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Posted by Linda Loosli on 20 Jul 2014 / 2 Comments
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Why I Store Lysol Disinfecting Wipes

Why I Store Lysol Disinfecting Wipes

I have been thinking a lot about bacteria lately. This is why I store these Lysol Disinfecting Wipes. First they are not very expensive, I think I paid just under $14.00 for a six pack of these wipes. Each package contains 80 thick strong wipes. This makes them about three cents each. Here’s the deal, even if the container dries up and the cleaning solution is gone…they can be filled with a little water and they can still be used for so many clean up jobs. The container is small and easy to store in a cupboard. (more…)

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Posted by Linda Loosli on 16 Jul 2014 / 4 Comments
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Personal Hygiene After A Disaster

Personal Hygiene After A Disaster-Emergency

Have you thought about our personal hygiene after a disaster or emergency? There would be a number of things we might need. I like to store extra toothbrushes and toothpaste. Yep, that is one thing I would not like to have to share with anyone else. I want my own toothbrush and tube of toothpaste. You might laugh, but in an emergency or unforeseen disaster I am picturing popping lots of popcorn to share with everyone. Yep, this is why we need floss. Razors, lets be realistic here, it would probably be on the bottom of the list. But some people might want to shave. Who knows…if so, I am prepared with a few extras for those who might need them. (more…)

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Posted by Linda Loosli on 14 Jul 2014 / 17 Comments
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Water And Ways To Cook Giveaway

The Prepared Bloggers are always looking for ways to help our loyal readers be prepared for the unexpected. We are so grateful to team up with Titan Ready USA for this fabulous giveaway. We all know we need water, and we need a way to cook our meals. These units are just what the doctor ordered when it comes to being properly prepared. We will have four winners in this giveaway. One winner will win one of the following items listed below. The giveaway starts July 14th, 2014 @12:15 am (CST) and ends July 21st, 2014 @ 11:55 pm (CST). This giveaway is open to anyone 18 years of age and older who is a resident of the USA. This giveaway is open to residents of the 48 Continental US States only. Each winner will be sent an email and the winner must respond within 24 hours or another one winner will be chosen. We are so excited for this giveaway! Who couldn’t use these awesome items?!

Everything you need to stack and connect two 55 gallon water storage barrels. Racks are welded and powder coated here in the USA. Wide base for stability in every emergency situation. Assembles in minutes with aluminum bung wrench (included) and a flat head screwdriver. Water rotation has NEVER been so easy!
Bake, cook and dehydrate without the use of electricity or gas, indoors or out; the HERC is extremely portable, durable and economical. The HERCules (Home Emergency Radiant Cooking)™ XXL Oven harnesses the thermal energy from tea light candles, storing it in quarry stones. Cook anything, anytime, anywhere, regardless of the situation.

The HERC Oven is designed to harness the thermal energy from tea light candles storing it in quarry stones. The patent pending design of the HERC uses not one but two methods of thermal energy transfer. Like your conventional oven HERC uses convection and electromagnetic radiation (radiant) like the sun heats you when you step outside. Fueled by tea light candles makes baking & cooking without the use of electricity or gas easy, economical and even fun! The HERC Oven provides an alternative cooking method for your family in the events of limited resources and/or emergency situations.

  • Fueled by 10 tea lights (Yes the same little candles you get everywhere)
  • Fuel cost is $0.15 per hour cook time ($2.50-3.00 per hour with propane after you buy the tank)
  • Average approximate burn time of 3.5 hours at 350 degrees with 30 minutes preheat period (total of 3 hours burn time)
  • Accommodates 8″x 8″ square pan, 9″x 9″ square pan, and 9″ round pan
  • Indoor use (because it might not be safe outside to cook, i.e. Zombie apocalypse)
  • Bake & cook 24/7 and when raining, snowing or whatever mother nature throws your way (ladies and gentlemen solar has left the building)
  • Easy to clean (heavy duty stainless steel construction)
  • Easy, convenient assembly and dis-assembly (can store in 12″ x 12″ x 2″ space)
  • Assembled Dimensions: 12″ square by 10″ high (fits nicely on your counter top)
  • Proudly manufactured 100% in U.S.A. (because it matters to us)
One (1) ECO HERC. Not on website yet. $189.00 w/shipping included
Thanks again to Titan Ready USA for making this fabulous giveaway possible!

 
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Posted by Linda Loosli on 07 Jul 2014 / 8 Comments
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How To Freeze Your Excess Tomatoes

How To Freeze You Excess Tomatoes

Did you know you can freeze your excess tomatoes? We have all been trying to grow a garden, or at least buy our produce from our local farmers market. Well, I have a very small yard but man, I must have a bumper crop this year. I have given so many of them to family, friends and neighbors. Do you sometimes have one small bowl of them left after canning those seven quarts or 14 pints? I do too!  (more…)

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Posted on July 27th, 2014

Zombie Facts: Real and Imagined (Infographic) | Zombies Pop Culture | Night of the Living Dead | World Zombie Day | Zombie Ants & Zombie Caterpillars


Zombie Facts: Real and Imagined (Infographic)

LiveScience Staff   |   October 06, 2011 09:22am ET
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Check your knowledge of the undead with today's GoFigure infographic.

Zombies, à la the walking dead, don't exist in the real world, but they have been a big part of pop culture and show up time and again in history and folklore.

As portrayed in the classic 1968 film "Night of the Living Dead," zombies are lumbering, flesh-eating corpses. Some say this film reinvented zombies, who were shown in earlier films such as 1932's "White Zombie" as "beings whose brains had been zapped by some 'master' who was then able to control their actions," according to the University of Michigan website.

Zombies are even mentioned in Haitian folklore, with the Haitian word "zombi" meaning "spirit of the dead." These tales showed voodoo priests who had the ability to resurrect the deceased through the administration of a magic powder. And according to legend, "In Haiti a zombi is someone who has annoyed his or her family and community to the degree that they can no longer stand to live with this person. They respond by hiring a Bokor, a vodoun priest who practices black magic and sorcery, to turn them into a zombi," according to the Florida Museum of Natural History.

Video no longer available
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Even the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has jumped on the zombie bandwagon, with a post on their website in May 2011 entitled "Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse." The post, a tongue-in-check way to promote real disaster preparedness, went viral that week.

Of course, the CDC was not suggesting we need to worry about zombies. "If you're prepared for the zombie apocalypse, you're also prepared for hurricanes and flooding," said CDC spokesperson Dave Daigle at the time. Another scientific endeavor, by the Oxford Internet Institute, visualized in map form the global distribution of Google Maps references to "zombies."

While no scientific evidence suggests human zombies exist, there are plenty of zombies in the animal kingdom.

Recent research in a Thai rain forest showed how a parasitic fungi, a species of Ophiocordyceps, forces an infected ant to wander drunkenly over the forest's low leaves before clamping its jaws around the main vein on the underside of a leaf in an ant-zombie graveyard. [Mind Control: Gallery of Zombie Ants]

By watching 16 infected ants bite down, the researchers, who describe their findings in the journal BMC Ecology, found that the ants' last bites took place around Noon, indicating they are synchronized to either the sun or a related cue, like temperature or humidity. Another study found the fungus not only guided timing of death but also the zombie ant's whereabouts, on the undersides of leaves sprouting from the northwest side of plants that grow on the forest floor. That's where temperature, humidity and sunlight are ideal for the fungus to grow and reproduce and infect more ants.

Zombie caterpillars have also been spotted by scientists, with one study revealing the mastermind behind the gypsy moth caterpillar's zombie-like run for treetops once infected with a virus. Turns out, a single gene in the virus turns the caterpillars into tree-climbing zombies. Once up high in the trees, the caterpillars die and their bodies liquefy, raining deadly "zombie" virus onto their brothers and sisters below.

Follow LiveScience for the latest in science news and discoveries on Twitter @livescience and on Facebook.

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Posted on July 27th, 2014

How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse


Reference:

How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse

by LifesLittleMysteries Staff   |   September 07, 2012 02:58pm ET
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Science says zombies — lumbering, flesh-eating corpses — don't exist in the real world. Except in rare emergency room situations, dead people can't come back to life, and even if they could, there is little reason to suspect they'd wake up with a sudden, unquenchable appetite for human flesh.

Still, every time a criminal act of cannibalism makes headlines, the Internet comes alive with chatter about an impending zombie apocalypse. A spate of flesh-chomping that occurred earlier this year, including the famous "Miami zombie attack," even prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reassure people that the zombie apocalypse isn't coming.

But judging by the ongoing interest in zombies, not everyone was convinced. For all those who fear that the living dead really could rise up and go on a mass cannibalistic rampage à la the classic 1968 film "Night of the Living Dead," we've put together a little guide to help you prepare for the worst.

Fortunately, these tips will help you weather many other types of disasters, too, from hurricanes to tornadoes to pandemic virus outbreaks. So whether or not you believe in the living dead, read on.

Disaster kit

If a zombie attack (or some other catastrophe) crippled society's infrastructure, you wouldn't want to be stuck without basic necessities. Keep an emergency kit in your house. According to the CDC, this kit should include enough supplies to last you until you're able to make your way to a zombie-free refugee camp (or disaster shelter, or until utility lines are restored). Here's the gear you need to survive zombie doomsday:

  • Water: 1 gallon per person per day
  • Food, namely canned goods and other non-perishable items
  • Medications, including prescription and non-prescription meds
  • Tools and supplies, such as a utility knife, duct tape, candles or flashlights, a battery-powered radio
  • Sanitation and hygiene supplies, such as soap, towels, etc.
  • Clothing and bedding, including a change of clothes for each family member and blankets
  • Important documents, such as copies of your driver's license, passport, and birth certificate
  • First aid supplies to treat basic cuts and lacerations

And while this wouldn't really help for any other potential disasters, the online zombie-fearing community also recommends keeping a baseball bat in store. It doesn't require ammunition or skill, and can be effective in clearing a path through hordes of notoriously ill-balanced zombies.

Emergency plan

When chaos ensues, you won't be able to think rationally. Your survival may depend on whether you came up with an emergency plan in advance. The plan should apply in cases of a flood, earthquake, blackout or, of course, when a pack of zombies starts clambering across your front yard — and make sure everyone in your household has it down.

Here's what your emergency plan should entail, according to the CDC:

  1. Pick two meeting places for your family, one close to your home and another farther away. These come in handy if family members are separated when an emergency kicks in, or if an immediate evacuation from your home becomes necessary (such as in the case of a fire).
  2. Identify the types of emergencies that are possible in your area. Besides a zombie apocalypse, this may include floods, tornadoes, or earthquakes.
  3. Make a list of emergency contacts. This should include local officials like the police and fire department, as well as a more geographically-distant contact who you can call during an emergency. This person can notify the rest of your loved ones about your status.
  4. Plan your evacuation route, both out of your home and out of your town. Make sure you know whose house you will go to in case of an emergency (zombie-related or otherwise) in your area.

Good luck out there. If zombies are real, you'll need it.

Posted on July 27th, 2014

5 Strange Facts About the Pentagon's Anti-Zombie Plan


5 Strange Facts About the Pentagon's Anti-Zombie Plan

By Stephanie Pappas, Senior Writer   |   May 16, 2014 02:51pm ET
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zombies, fear
Ready … aim…

Credit: Aeviin Talloni.

Citizens of the United States, breathe easy: The Pentagon has a plan in case of a zombie attack.

Don't pack your bug-out bag and put up your zombie defenses, yet, however. CONPLAN 888, first uncovered this week by Foreign Policy magazine, is not an indication that the Department of Defense has gone off the deep end. The plan, written in 2011, was part of a training exercise.

And a detailed one, at that. The plan summarizes responses to threats ranging from pathogenic zombies (zombies created via infection) to space zombies (what they sound like) to chicken zombies (they really exist!). Here's what you need to know.

1. It's not (exactly) a joke

The U.S. military is not actually expecting the country to be overrun by zombies. But the work and thought that went into making the plan was very real. [Everything You Need to Know About Zombies (Infographic)]

"During the summers of 2009 and 2010, while training augmentees from a local training squadron about the JOPP [Joint Operation Planning Process], members of a USSTRATCOM [U.S. Strategic Command] component found out (by accident) that the hyperbole involved in writing a "zombie survival plan" actually provided a very useful and effective training tool."

Joint operation planning involves organizing between multiple branches of the military. It's a complex task, and training can be fraught. If real countries are detailed in the plan, the public might mistakenly believe the plans are real. Using zombies gets around that problem (for most citizens, at least).

Using zombies was also fun, the report's authors write. By allowing the trainees' imaginations to run wild, the instructors were able to teach them about the basics of writing military plans and orders, they wrote.

"If you suspend reality for a few minutes, this type of training scenario can actually take a very dry, monotonous topic and turn it into something rather enjoyable," they wrote in a disclaimer to the report.

2. There are eight types of zombies

The anti-zombie plan covers eight threats. Pathogenic zombies are created by infectious agents; think "World War Z." Radiation zombies are created by extreme doses of radiation. Evil magic zombies are the result of "occult experimentation." The report notes that military chaplains may be the best defense against these "EMZs," and that atheists may be most vulnerable to attack.

Space zombies come from space or originate from extraterrestrial toxins. The report notes, "Asteroids and nuclear space radiation that can convert people into zombies can affect any landmass or population on Earth." Weaponized zombies are bioengineered by hostile forces. Symbiant-induced zombies are similar to pathogen-induced zombies, but they are created by parasitic life forms and don't kill their host right away. [Mind Control: A Gallery of Zombie Ants]

Vegetarian zombies eat only plant life. They don't threaten humans directly, but they could destroy basic food crops. The report notes that instead of moaning, "braaaaains," vegetarian zombies groan, "graaaains." (And you thought the military didn't have a sense of humor.)

The final threat noted in the report is chicken zombies.

3. Wait, what? Chicken zombies?

Oh yes. Unlike the other seven potential zombie threats, chicken zombies are "the only proven class of zombie that actually exists," the report notes.

Chicken zombies are old egg-laying hens that are no longer profitable for poultry farmers to feed and house. The cheapest way to dispose of these birds is to euthanize them and turn them into compost. Farmers gas birds with carbon monoxide to kill them, but survivors are sometimes seen struggling out of piles of dead chickens. A 2006 Associated Press article described the phenomenon and the response from animal-cruelty organizations.

"CZs are simply terrifying to behold and are likely only to make people become vegetarians to protest animal cruelty," the military report notes. It goes on to add that counter-measures against chicken zombies fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration.

4. The legal status of zombies

Chicken or otherwise, zombies qualify as neither human nor animal life, the report notes. Thus, the military is free to counterattack without concern for U.S. and international laws that regulate treatment of opposing forces. Given the dire nature of the threat, the country would likely be under martial law during a zombie attack, the plan goes on to note. Because zombies can't be reasoned with and they don't fear pain or death, riot-control strategies would do no good. Zombies are also unable to swim, the report helpfully notes.

The only way to effectively kill zombies is assumed to be a shot to the head. The only way to dispose of the corpses safely is by burning.

5. Call in the CDC

An effective response to zombie attack will have to involve the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the plan notes. As there is no known zombie medical cure, the CDC is the best source for pushing back against the pandemic. Fortunately, the CDC is one step ahead of the military on this one: In 2011, the agency wrote a blog post on how to prepare for the zombie apocalypse. The plan was to promote real disaster preparedness, but the post went viral.

Humans infected by the zombie plague may overrun hospitals, the military report notes. Other stalwarts of the medical field might help against a zombie attack, however. Hand sanitizers are marketed as killing 99 percent of germs.

"Although none of these products has ever indicated any efficacy against biohazard level 4 pathogens like Ebola, it is entirely possible that such products could limit or delay the spread of pathogen-based zombieism if properly employed," the report reads.

Follow Stephanie Pappas on Twitter and Google+. Follow us @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science.
Author Bio

Stephanie Pappas

Stephanie interned as a science writer at Stanford University Medical School, and also interned at ScienceNow magazine and The Santa Cruz Sentinel. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of South Carolina and a graduate certificate in science writing from the University of California, Santa Cruz. To find out what her latest project is, you can follow Stephanie on .

Stephanie Pappas on
Contact @sipappas on Twitter Contact Stephanie Pappas by EMail

Posted on July 27th, 2014

Zombie Squad • View topic - Prioritizing Preparations: A Layered Approach


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AnonEmous
PostPosted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 10:36 pm 
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Goal: Highlight in a simple graphic one approach to preparation priorities for people new to emergency preparedness or those reevaluating ongoing efforts.



Image

(larger graphic which requires scrolling included below)



After searching here and Google and finding no simple graphic prioritizing steps to prepare for an emergency or disaster, I opted to design a basic graphic just in time to honor the now-defunct food pyramid.

This pyramid is based in part on my understanding of preparations and several insightful observations of several others (included below). It highlights that taking basic steps as part of a balanced lifestyle are central to many kinds of emergency preparations. This tries to capture in a straightforward way that day-to-day living and habits are as important to emergency preparations as the latest bug out bag or hi-tech knife (which do have their place in preparation).



Overview: how to read

The left side highlights one possible view of how to prioritize steps to prepare specifically for an emergency.

The right side highlights some steps not always considered relevant to emergency preparations, but which have benefits in every day circumstances as well as in emergency or disaster situations, whether they be for a few hours, days, or longer.



Breakdown: the layered approach

This approach emphasizes that basic necessities most likely to be needed in an emergency should come first. Paralleling these necessities are basic steps to improve the ability of an individual, family, or group to help or survive in an emergency.

The premise of this layered approach focuses on a mix of what is most important to survival in an emergency and the most likely threats facing an individual or family. Most people are far more likely to face personal ruin through crippling personal debt, poor health, or imbalanced planning instead of through a horde of scavengers; however, that does not mean that adequate planning, training, or personal security are not relevant.



Limits:

This simple graphic is intended to help people prioritize and evaluate their efforts. It therefore specifically and intentionally omits any lists of what to included in a bug out bag, bug out vehicle, or a bug out location.



Insightful posts: a few specific ideas that I am attempting to capture here

Edit: added names to give credit to individuals (if any poster believes I took their text out of context, I will remove it if you let me know)



Hydrostatic wrote:

Untill now, my preps have been centered around dealing with civil distress and disease outbreak. After two weeks of putting my preps through hard use, I have found that I was lacking in many areas. One problem that I ran into, was that I had devoted to much of my resources to self defense. While having an AR15 and enough ammo to hold off a small army, provides myself with a sense of security to no end, it holds little practicality in the situtaions that I am most likely to be in.



One of the things that I found was needed most was extra medical supplies. After two days of clearing debris, I had already burned through my basic FAK. Between dozens of cuts recieved from routine work, and my friend suffering an allergic reaction from a bee sting, the only medical crysis I could take on was premenstraul cramps. (read more at viewtopic.php?f=6&t=79870#p1760084)



tarafore wrote:

For someone in this situation, the best prep is debt reduction, creating an emergency fund, and achieving financial stability. This isn’t really that compatible with $1,000 rifles, $600 pistols, thousands of dollars worth of ammunition, range fees, etc. (read more at viewtopic.php?f=108&t=80088)



WhoShotJR wrote:

...Approaching preps like a ladder, taking one step at a time. Imagine the whole ladder as your total prep goals, with each step representing 5% of each individual goal. You have a twenty rung ladder in front of you to climb, each one a well defined step. (read more at viewtopic.php?f=6&t=70736)



Vel454 wrote:

I believe a financial crisis is the most likely disaster that an individual family could experience, and I believe with that, it should be the disaster you should most diligently prepare for…(read more at viewtopic.php?f=6&t=81082)



MikeDoyle wrote:

The thrust of the article is that we tend to rationalize our way into irrational decisions about our exposure to hazards. (read more at viewtopic.php?f=6&t=77149)



Image As usual, if you have reads this far, you have some right to critique this.


_________________

Amateurs talk strategy; Generals talk logistics



The necessity of the routine (clean water) often trumps the lure of the exciting (expensive gear).



What Food to Carry in A Pack?



A Graphic: One Strategic Approach to Preps




Last edited by AnonEmous on Fri Jun 17, 2011 6:42 am, edited 2 times in total.



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Caenus
PostPosted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 10:48 pm 
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Interesting. I'll need to think this over. Some things are conflicting unless I don't read it right. Most pointedly...defense is both a short term and long term need. Perhaps the food pyramid died for a reason.


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Check out my Zombie Novels!; Phoenix Rising; ...and the sequel: Through the Ashes




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Caenus
PostPosted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 11:15 pm 
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Sorry for the dueling pyramids. Obviously there is a lot of thought put into that graphic it looks very well thought out. My plan is based on short term, intermediate and long term goals based on Maslows theory:

Image

yours seems more detail oriented so maybe they don't compare.


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Check out my Zombie Novels!; Phoenix Rising; ...and the sequel: Through the Ashes




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AnonEmous
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Caenus wrote:
Interesting. I'll need to think this over...defense is both a short term and long term need. Perhaps the food pyramid died for a reason.




The intention is that without food, shelter, and water, all the security in the world will not matter. It also is a nod to tornadoes and wild fires which have disrupted thousands of lives in the US as of late: people are in desperate need of clean water, food, shelter and sometimes even medical treatment (as noted here viewtopic.php?f=6&t=80924) but security seems to be less of a near-term issue in these situations, which are much more frequent, at least in the US, than riots, looting, or rampant breakdowns in authority.



Of course, there are situations which trump the immediate need for the basics and security does rise to the forefront (such as when shopkeepers defend their stores during riots).



This pyramid is more of a day-to-day approach to emergency preparation. As Hydrostatic noted in viewtopic.php?f=6&t=79870&p=1782771 "One problem that I ran into (note: he was helping people recover in the wake of devastating tornadoes), was that I had devoted to much of my resources to self defense."


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The necessity of the routine (clean water) often trumps the lure of the exciting (expensive gear).



What Food to Carry in A Pack?



A Graphic: One Strategic Approach to Preps




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AnonEmous
PostPosted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 11:31 pm 
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Caenus wrote:
Obviously there is a lot of thought put into that graphic it looks very well thought out. My plan is based on short term, intermediate and long term goals based on Maslows theory:





Interestingly, I came across Maslow's hierarchy when trying to find a preparedness-type pyramid. Even more interesting, the preparedness pyramid which started the topic focuses mostly on the two lower parts of Maslow's hierarhcy (food, water, homeostatis [what I would argue is shelter or clothing], security, health and resources).



The self-reliance and self-confidence aspects were intended to highlight the need for people to take survival into their own hands and understand the concept that if a large disaster does strike, the local police/fire department/EMTs probably will be busy and will not be able to respond to everyone, at least initially.



We will see how this idea shakes out... am sure there will be many more comments coming....


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What Food to Carry in A Pack?



A Graphic: One Strategic Approach to Preps




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Caenus
PostPosted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 11:48 pm 
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I was thinking the same thing. But survival only encompasses basic, bare bones needs. Your pyramid looks good to me.


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KnightoftheRoc
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AnonEmous, me likey. :mrgreen: I'm printing it out for the fridge door at home.



The graphic alone shows you've put a lot of thought into it's organization, the write-up only proves it further. (we need a clapping hands smiley)


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EricinVirginia
PostPosted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 7:22 am 
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Love it. As I'm reading it, I'm going... check, check, hmmmm 20% on that one, need to revisit that one... BUT: "Practical Emergency Experience"... is going to be a hard one for me to come by outside of seeking emergency situations. I thought about simulating, but that's more in the training side. I almost feel like the peak of your Pyramid should read "Crisis Event" and then silo outward depending on type of crisis... since you color-coordinated different parts, the crisis would correlate to the type of crisis: military crisis for example might be colored green where immediate need is: Personal/Family Security --> Water/Food/Shelter as the long term goal at the end of that crisis.




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Vel454
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Absolutely love it! Like KnightOfTheRoc, it's already saved to my comp, and will be printed out today and thrown on the fridge. Also, you mentioned my Financial Preperations 101 post as part of the information you used to construct your pyramid, I'm glad someone found it useful, I didn't really get any responces like I was expecting :lol: oh well. :roll:



I agree with Caenus about self defense skills being both a short-term and long-term need. But looking at the top of your pyrmaid, on the right I see self-reliance. To me, that would mean living completely off the grid, having a piece of land that sustains all of my immediate needs in the bottom left side of the pyramid. If the land was turning a profit for you as well (say, selling honey from your bee's, apples from a small orcherd, whatever.) the perscription meds would be paid for, from the land. Emergency cash would be conjured through the profits of the land, first aid kit, some home remedies can be made/grown on the land, some would have to be bought like the p-meds.



And on the top left, Self Defense. Which would be the protection of yourself and that self-reliance you've created. So, while I think self-defense is an all-time skill set thats needed, if you were to have to place it on the board, I think you picked the right place. I can live a couple days without water, a few weeks without food, lack of shelter can kill quickly. Self defense may not have to be used for decades. Well thought-out bro!


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I like it!

I think it demonstrates the levels of importance of priority, expenses, and time. For the different aspects of survival. When you get to the level at which you have to test yourself, you then start realizing where the gaps in your preps are.


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Interesting, I too like this approach.



At the end of the day some prepping comes down to what you enjoy. Buying stuff is easy, learning skills and practising them is very different.



Also am quoting this for truth

Hydrostatic wrote:
One problem that I ran into, was that I had devoted to much of my resources to self defense. While having an AR15 and enough ammo to hold off a small army, provides myself with a sense of security to no end, it holds little practicality in the situtaions that I am most likely to be in.




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Let me start to saying thanks for the post, you have clearly put some thought into the graphic.

What it lacks is specificity.



You do not specify the “hazard", impact of the hazard, any preventative measures in place for or mitigation of what you are planning for.

Once you have identified a hazard(s) - you plan for response, recovery and so on.



Once you have done that, you begin to gather your “prep" items. If you don’t define what you are planning for, how do you know -- how ready are you?



I use a SMART model for prepping - IOW, is what I am planning

Specific

Measurable

Attainable

Realistic

Timely



For example - “water"

I need to have 40 gallons of water in storage to be able to bug in for 15 days.

I need eight NATO water cans and a way to pour the water

I will buy at least one NATO water can every month for a cost of $xx.xx

This requires I set aside $xx.xx each payday - is this realistic? Other sources of income?

I will work to meet my goal for water in 6 months or less.



A specific set of items, amounts and a method you have worked out to pay for them is likely a planning tool more useful for the bulk of folks starting on their preps…



An old saying - Fuzzy tasking equals fuzzy results.



Thanks for the opportunity to add my bit to the discussion.



.


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AnonEmous
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TacAir wrote:
Let me start to saying thanks for the post, you have clearly put some thought into the graphic.

What it lacks is specificity.




Thanks for the comments, completely agree. A simple graphic can not replace the details needed for real planning; its intent is to put priorities into persepctive and reveal that simple preparations and taking care of yourself can go a long way to overcome a range of emergencies. You also probably saw it has no mention of a bug out bag or any specific way to prepare.



It is a pyramid of priorities to explain that someone may want to consider at least a basic food and water supply before planning to become a martial arts expert or charge $2,000 on their high interest credit card to upgrade their bug out vehicle before having a decent first aid kit (or better yet, buidling it from scratch and understanding the difference between an ace bandage and Kerlix).



It is applicable to a range of potential emergencies. The entire pyramid is bounded to whatever you consider reasonable: when I think self-reliance and self-confidence, I think of the ability to take care of yourself and your family and take proactive measures for your own survival (either when the lights go out in a storm, you find yourself off the hiking trail some afternoon with no one in sight, you are with your family at home three days into a major snowstorm, or riots are breaking out just a few miles from your home).



It serves to highlight priorities, nothing more.


_________________

Amateurs talk strategy; Generals talk logistics



The necessity of the routine (clean water) often trumps the lure of the exciting (expensive gear).



What Food to Carry in A Pack?



A Graphic: One Strategic Approach to Preps




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AnonEmous
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TacAir wrote:
A specific set of items, amounts and a method you have worked out to pay for them is likely a planning tool more useful for the bulk of folks starting on their preps…




Lists of items are important and people often look for them (just look to the popularity of bug out bag posts, item critiques, and the post 'em when you find 'em deals), but lists are not a one size fits all type of thing for emergency preparations. Generally the more specific they are, the more exclusive they are. Much like the now defunct food pyramid, there are basics that can be covered a number of ways and some things are more important than others (x amount of apples a day are not required, just get those servings of fruit; fruits and grains are more important than fats and oils).



Also, I wanted to provide a few insights and build on what already has appeared (and sometimes reappeared) here, instead of trying to recreate lists or must-have items, which do serve a purpose and can be insightful.



A brief sampling of those helpful lists and items:

raptor's Budget Preparations and Where Do I Start Sticky viewtopic.php?f=6&t=79725

Gunny's Where to Buy Medical Products: The Definitive Thread viewtopic.php?f=43&t=31455#p657685

Gunny's ZS Presents: How to Build Your Bug Out Bag (B.O.B.) viewtopic.php?f=14&t=36016

PistolPete's How to get started prepping (a must read for new people!) viewtopic.php?f=89&t=53423


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Amateurs talk strategy; Generals talk logistics



The necessity of the routine (clean water) often trumps the lure of the exciting (expensive gear).



What Food to Carry in A Pack?



A Graphic: One Strategic Approach to Preps




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Posted on July 27th, 2014

Grill Checklist

Posted on July 27th, 2014

Mums make lists ...: Save Money on Laundry


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My grandma believed that if you looked after the pennies the pounds would look after themselves.



And when it comes to laundry she was right!



Not convinced?



Well add up your spend per load ... not just detergent but conditioner, stain removers et al & the power for the washing machine, dryer & iron.



Even getting good prices on bulk buys, you can easily spend £1.30 / $2.00 per load.



Then multiply that out per month and year.



And then across your "laundry life".





Do you know what that adds up to? Near enough £20,000 / $30,000.



Crazy, crazy, crazy numbers!



And if you think I am exagerating, here's the breakdown....





ITEM           UK£            US$
Laundry Detergent          £0.24           $0.36
Conditioner          £0.08           $0.12
Washing Machine          £0.43           $0.65
Dryer          £0.30           $0.45
Iron          £0.15           $0.22
Dryer Sheets          £0.08           $0.12
Stain Removers          £0.05           $0.07
Per Wash          £1.31           $1.96
Per Month         £33.00          $49.00
Per Year        £393.00        $588.00
Over Adult Life     £19,650.00    $29,400.00


£0.24 / $0.36 per wash is the recommended retail price for the UK's two biggest detergent brands even if you buy a big 50 wash family pack. A 40 wash bottle of one of the UK's cheaper fabric conditioners costs around £3.40, that's £0.08 /$0.12 per wash.



And if you pay around £4.50/$6.75 per stain removal spray per quarter ... not the cheapest but less than half the price of some of the popular "oxi" brands, and you average 7 washes a week that's another £0.05/$0.07 a wash.



See how it's adding up and that's before you even get onto the power!



If most of your washes are 40c/104f you can easily spend £0.43 /$0.68 per load just on the washing machine - the vast majority of that is the power required to heat the water.



So how on earth do you save money on laundry?



Well these are the tips that are working for me, plus some that other mums swear by ...



Save Money on Laundry

  1. Use Less Detergent ... keep reducing how much detergent you use little by little in every wash and see what you can get away with without reducing results. We have very hard water and grubby kids clothes but only use just over half the recommended amount.  Just that can save £36 / $54 a year - that doesn't sound much but over your "laundry life" it's £1,800 / $2,700!
  2. Always Buy on Sale ... never buy any laundry products that aren't on sale - if you shop around you should be able to get your fave brands for half the recommended price
  3. Experiment With Cheaper Brands ... some cheaper brands are definitely a false economy, you end up using more and they don't get things clean but there are some good ones.  I use an own brand which works out about 7p/11c per wash. Check out all the online reviews you can find before buying and mix it up with a detergent you know works until you're confident in it. 
  4. Make Your Own Detergent ... I haven't tried this yet but it can be a great way to save money whilst still getting a greener product ... Jess @ Practically Functional has a borax free recipe
  5. Use Less Conditioner for a Softer Wash ... ever had that experience where you keep adding more conditioner and the laundry just gets stiffer and crustier? I now use the tiniest drop of conditioner from an enormous 5 litre bottle which I get on sale - it works out about 1p/1.5c per wash. That's a £1,000 / $1,575 saving over your "laundry life".
  6. Use Vinegar Rather than Conditioner ... vinegar is great at softening fabrics particularly towels - again you only need the tiniest amount
  7. Ditch the Expensive Stain Removers ... I confess I've become a bit obsessed about removing stains and have found you can get most out with dish liquid & biological (enzyme based) detergent ... and the trickier ones can be cleaned with either bicarb (baking soda), hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol which are great general cleaners so much more cost effective
  8. Lower the Temperature ... most of the electricity for running the washing machine goes on heating the water and washing at lower temperatures can cut the cost per wash by half which will save you thousands over your "laundry life" ... personally, I do think you have to be careful about washing at lower temperatures - the germs in towels, tea towels and underwear are not killed at lower temperatures
  9. Wash Full Loads ... you use the same amount of electricity to heat the water however much you put in the machine so making sure you do a full load will save money ... most of the time this goes without saying, I can always ... big sigh ... fill the machine but we have a few fiddly things that aren't happy in with the rest of the wash that I am trying to get better at hand washing
  10. But Don't Overload ... unfortunately if you really do shove too much in ... (oh for a bigger drum for my towels!) ... it just won't get clean as it really needs to move around 
  11. Dry Outside ... not possible all year round, and in the winter you need the heating on to dry inside but even if you just cut use of the dryer by half you can save £45 / $68 a year which over your "laundry life" is £2,250 / $3,375 and that's not counting the money you can save on ditching extras like dryer sheets which can be fully of nasty chemicals
  12. Just Don't Iron! ... I am a total convert to the just don't iron school of laundry ... get everything hung up or folded away neatly as soon as it's dry and let the creases drop out ... only iron things when you need them if absolutely essential ... this will save hours a week, not to mention your sanity and thousands over your "laundry life"
So you can see, without lots of effort and without compromising on the quality of your laundry it really is easy to save 50% on your cost per load ... that could be £0.65 / $0.98 a wash. That may not sound a big deal but you know what it's £10,000 / $14,700 over your "laundry life".


I don't know about you but I can think of better things to spend that money on than laundry!!



Grandma was right ... look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves.



P.S. Are you struggling to keep on top of the housework?



If you are, you'll love my other easy housework posts and my monthly mailer of super simple tips that help you conquer the housework before it conquers you ....





Subscribe to my mailing list for super simple housework tips ...





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Posted on July 27th, 2014

Deter Spiders with Peppermint Oil and Vinegar


Deter Spiders with Peppermint Oil and Vinegar

We've discussed how to manage pests like spiders, but weblog Housewife How-to's has a good tip: Spiders don't like peppermint or vinegar. Spray a mixture of peppermint oil and vinegar around your home to deter them from coming inside. P

The goal here is to make your home less inviting to spiders: P

Spiders don't like peppermint oil or vinegar, so use a combination of the two against them. Spray windowsills and entryways with a solution of 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1 1/2 cups water, and 20 drops of peppermint essential oil. (Eucalyptus oil purportedly works, too, but I find peppermint a more pleasant scent.) P

Also, try to keep your home as clean and clutter-free as possible. A messy home is attractive to spiders and other pests. Of course, if they do end up in your home, you can always use this awesome no-kill DIY spider catcher. P

How To Get Rid Of Spiders In Your Home | Housewife How-to's P

Photo by Bjorn. P

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Posted on July 27th, 2014

Home Wind Power: Yes, in My Backyard! - Renewable Energy - MOTHER EARTH NEWS


Home Wind Power: Yes, in My Backyard!

Considering residential wind power for energy self-sufficiency? Find out whether a home wind turbine is right for you.
By Megan E. Phelps

April/May 2013
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So maybe you’re thinking you want to generate your own electricity, and home wind power has crossed your mind. After all, who really enjoys paying a utility bill? Small wind energy is renewable, non-polluting, and, in the right circumstances, can save you money.

But is home wind power a good choice for you? The answer may surprise you, because living in a windy area is not necessarily the most important factor. In fact, many properties are not a good fit for installing a wind turbine even if they have a lot of wind (for reasons we’ll get into). On the other hand, if you want to go off-grid and produce your own electricity, you almost certainly want to consider installing a home wind turbine, even if your location is not notably windy.

Off-Grid Residential Wind Power

Here’s the deal: For a home wind turbine to be worth your investment, you really need to live on an acre or more. That’s the guideline from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Guide to Small Wind Electric Systems, a free publication for homeowners. Living in a rural area helps, because if you’re in a residential neighborhood, you’re likely to run into conflicts with zoning and local homeowners associations. Additionally, you’re more likely to find a high average wind speed in wide open spaces far from windbreaks such as buildings and trees. Altogether, while installing a small wind turbine in a city or suburb is certainly possible, you’re much more likely to have the right conditions for home wind power if you live well outside city limits.

That’s the case for Cam and Michelle Mather, who live on 150 forested acres in rural Ontario. The Mathers live in an off-grid home powered by solar panels and their micro wind turbine, a 1-kilowatt (kw) Bergey Excel 1. On such a large property, they’re nowhere near their closest neighbors, so there’s no one who might be upset about the noticeable — but not unpleasant — wind turbine noise or the very visible 100-foot tower in the couple’s yard.

What’s surprising about the Mathers’ situation is that their local wind speeds are not ideal, yet home wind power works beautifully for them. “Technically, if you look at wind maps, we’re in a bad location for wind, but we wanted to be off-grid for environmental reasons," Cam says. The biggest issue with the Mathers’ property is that they have too many trees, and even though their small wind turbine is easily 40 feet above the tree line, the landscape slows down the wind. Wind still makes sense for them, though, because they’re off the grid, so their only electricity is what they produce and then store in batteries. They started with solar panels, but adding a wind turbine to the mix made the whole system much more stable and efficient — a major benefit when you’re solely responsible for generating your own electricity.



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Small Wind Electric Systems


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Posted on July 27th, 2014