preparedness nuggets part 8

8/14/2019 Preparedness Nuggets Part 8

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Preparedness Nuggets Part 8Preparedness Nuggets Home .Better Times Cookbook V |Justpeace | Better Times | BobWaldrop.net | Access to Energy Conservation | OnPilgrimage in Oklahoma City | Bookstore | Better Times II | Bulgar Bugle |Mutual Aid (Grassroots home and community scale disaster preparations)Preparedness NuggetsA Cyberbook of Practical Wisdom for Daily LivingPart the EighthThe original version of this page was 23 pages in Word Perfect format, 12 point

times roman type.Adult TricycleCanning CakesCoffee, Soup, Bleach shelf lifeIs chlorinated pool water safe to drink?Drying PotatoesDutch Ovens, Iron CookwareFirst Aid KitFood SealerFreezing PipesGarbarge or sewer emergency needs immediate community responseKerosene is very safeKerosene Lamps

More on iron cookwareOnline health and nutrition newsletterDiatomaceous EarthRadioSample preparation plansSourdoughStaying in your communityChristian HomesteadingThings to do listThink of helping othersVenison recipesWater filtersWater filters II

Your y2k medicine cabinet

COFFEE, SOUP, BLEACH SHELF LIFE TOPJust found out that Folders vacuum packed coffee can last up to 2 years onshelf. Once opened it will be good for about one month. Also, if you want toknow how long something will last you can call the 1-800-numbers that areusually on the back of the packages. I called Lipton yesterday and they gave methe shelf life for their soups which where about 3 to 6 months.

Don't forget to stock up on BLEACH!, I called Hylex in St. Paul re longevity,and she said it will retain its 5+% acidity for a year from the manufacturingdate. Shelf-life varies w/ termperatur of storage. Their number is1-651-454-1160 ask for Angie. There are cheap acid testers in a corner drugstorethat will give some degree of accuracy of acidity. There are chlorine chemicalsthat are 15% acidity available at Chemical Co---- remember to use just 1/3 asmuch.-------------------------------------------------------------------------DUTCH OVENS, IRON COOKWARE TOPhttp://www.lodgemfg.com/ Lodge Manufacturing Company, Inc. And to learn suchimportant things such as pre-treating and upkeep (very important!) We use it


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with charcoal briquettes. Ours is a 12" oven, so we use 15 briquettes around thebottom and 9 on the lid. AWESOME!http://www.macscouter.com/Cooking/DutchOven.html------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------FREEZING PIPES TOP

Way beforehand (like now) wrap the pipes and insulate the foundation of thehouse. If you are using some sort of alternative heat, thisll help keep pipesfrom freezing. This isn't 100% (and it depends upon how cold it is), but it willhelp. If you think your electric's going off on January 1, 2000, consider havingyour water turned off so that the pipes don't freeze and burst. You can turn iton again if the power & heat situation are OK. Freezing pipes: There areprobably shut-off valves throughout your house. You will shut those off all butwhere the water enters your house and to the portion of the house which isheated. If shut-off valves are not available throughout critical areas off yourhouse, you may have them installed by yourself or a plumber at a comparativelylow cost.

If caught in your unawares, you may allow a trickle of water to run continuouslythrough out the pipes and that will keep the pipes open. We live in a house witha full basement where the water heater is. If it's really cold with no heat orwater pressure, I could crack open every tap on every sink and then use thedrain on the hot water heater to provide us with the 40 gallons in it as well asall of the water in our plumbing that could have otherwise caused broken pipes.Without water pressure, water trapped in your plumbing is the water you willmost likely be drinking.If we lose utility services, it will also be a good idea to cut off the streetwater pressure to your house. When service is returned, you will not be able totrust the water in most areas for some time. When city water service pressure isstopped, the system follows the law of gravity and feeds houses in lower areaswith gravity feed. I like that, we live in a valley. The bad news is that this

creates a vacuum on the higher areas in the system. With any leaks in thesystem, outside trash and contaminated ground water will be sucked into thewater pipes. If these leaks in the water supply pipes happen to be nearsomeone's spilled septic system, etc., you can imagine the outcome. This is whyafter hurricanes, earthquakes, etc., that people are told to boil the waterafter interruption of water services.

Getting back to the freezing problem, the elimination of the possibility ofgetting contaminated water siphoned into your house is a necessity. Shutting offthe water utility service valve to your house will also help insure that yourpipes will be drained properly. Be careful that any plumbing hidden in outsidewalls does not have pockets that trap water in low sections of the supply lines

causing pockets of ice. Pockets in inside parts of the house are not a problemunless you allow the house to get below freezing.

Some people in situations without utility resources let their houses get reallycold for fuel conservation. This technique is not only uncomfortable if carriedout to the extreme, it can also contribute to freeze damage in areas that wouldotherwise be safe. If you have stored freezeable food in a pantry on an outsidewall of the house, these things could freeze if the house is so close tofreezing that not enough heat reaches these areas. I have also seen pipes inoutside walls freeze when the core of the building was nearly 40 degrees but it


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was extremely cold outside---------------------------------------------------------------GARBAGE/SEWAGE NEEDS COMMUNITY RESPONSE TOP

One problem with trying to store human waste "air-tight" is that itsdecomposition creates methane gas. I don't know for sure, but it seems likely tome that at some point the container would explode from the gas pressure. Yuck. I

think burying is the better option. Bleach would be handy for disinfecting thechamber pots.

Forget port-a-potties. In an emergency situation, all that a port-a-potty orchemical toilet do is postpone the day of reckoning for a few hours, they aredesigned to be filled and then emptied. It's remarkable quickly disgusting suchthings can be in only a few hours. In an urban setting, I vote for dug latrines,with regular piling of dirt over the waste. Our recent ancestors were wellacquainted with "chamber pots".This, folks, is one of the areas where I advocate being pro-active inneighborhood leadership. If you are in a city, and the sewers stop working, godoor to door and talk to your neighbors. Organize a community meeting and show

everybody how to dig a latrine in their back yard. I've been reading up onrefugee camps at the University of Wisconsin Disaster Center (a correspondencecourse in disaster management), and believe me, waste disposal in an emergencysituation is one of the most critical problems -- tied with clean water forfirst place, and ahead of shelter, food, and medical care.

This also applies to trash (which I mentioned in a previous post) -- if trashpiles up, organize your neighborhood to take care of it, first of all byreducing what is thrown away, secondly by probably burning in a safe way (orburying, if there is space available).

Cities were once known as places to die, because they concentrated so manypeople in such unsanitary conditions in small areas. We currently useconsiderable resources to manage the waste products of our urban concentrations;if anything happens to them, people need to be ready to shift gears viapro-active neighborhood activism to take care of these problems on the day theyfirst surface (that is, the first day the trash isn't picked up. If you waituntil the second missed pickup, things will just be worse.)---------------------------------------------STAY IN YOUR COMMUNITIES TOPDear Friends,Some of you here may not know this, but we (husband and I, our three children,their spouses, and our six grandchildren) plan to do as the Cassandra Projectstresses, that being to stay in our community and work with the community for

its survival and ultimately, we hope, our own in the bargain. We have anestablished bug-out place we can go to if social unrest threatens here in theouter suburbs of Chicago. But we don't plan on buying any farmland ...at leastthat is not in our plans as of this date. We remain flexible though, willing tochange our minds on this matter given good enough reason. But for right nowbased on the information we have, our decision to stay put derives from our best"prayerfully- arrived-at" guess about how big this will get and what is theright and prudent thing for us to do in response.

Anyway, I am wondering if more and more people are getting seriously concerned


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about Y2K now than we realize. It could be that they are afraid to "come out ofthe closet" with it since Y2K had received bad press in some places. So, keepbringing up y2k with your friends, neighbors, business associates, fellow churchmembers, and your family members. Give them an opportunity to express a changeof mind.-------------------------------------------------------------PUT DIATOMACEOUS EARTH IN YOUR GRAIN TOPDE or diatomaceous earth is used at a ratio of 1/2c. to 50# of grain/product. We

use this for long term grain storage, insecticide on garden plants (earwigs areour main target), and as a wormer for our goats. Our co-op carries it both inbulk and under the "Concern" label for organic gardening. There are 2 verydifferent types of DE. One that is used as a filtering product (swimming pools)and NOT for animal or human use. It is hazardous to the lungs when breathed. Theother is for agricultural purposes and as an additive for feed. The filtering DEis hazardous. The agricultural DE is not because of the different millingprocedure. As an insecticide, agricultural DE is a natural product it is saferthan a poison.

Here is an article on it that I received from an ag company. It describes thedifference. It is natural, non-toxic, and as the article states, very effective.

I have some other info about grain storage and DE (Diatomaceous Earth). It says:Put about 2 inches of grain in the bottom of your 5 gal. bucket. Use 1 and 1/4cups of DE to a 5 gal. bucket. Have someone sprinkle DE into the bucket as youfill it with grain to be stored. Seal tightly and roll or shake the bucket tocover all of the grain with the powder.--------- Begin forwarded message ----------

Diatomaceous Earthby Philip A. Wheeler

If as much time was spent applying diatomaceous earth (DE) to insectinfestations as is spent writing about it, the pesticide companies would go outof business However, if someone doesn't keep writing about DE it seems to fadeinto the background. This could be explained by the fact that Dow, Monsanto,Union Carbide and other manufacturing companies don't really want theirprofitable poisons replaced by an inexpensive, non-tonic, naturally occurring,low margin material found in 27 countries of the world.

Diatoms Are the grass of the oceans and lakes. Just as green grass is the staplefood of earth animals, Diatoms (algae) are the food of the ocean or fresh watergrazers. These tiny organisms Are protected by a crystal shell which looks likea miniature sand dollar. When DE organisms die, the shells pile up on the bottom

to form deposits. These deposits are then mined from underwater beds or fromancient dried lake bottoms.

Once DE is mined, it can be milled or processed into a myriad of types for aneven greater variety of uses. Filtering and filler are the two main uses but DEalso ends up in paints, cosmetics, drugs, chemical insecticides, etc. Becausethe milling produces different sized and shaped particles, it is important notto use the filtering type for agricultural purposes Filter grind has longcrystalline structures which will puncture tissue and injure animals whichinhale or ingest it.


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DE used in agriculture must be milled until it is almost completely amorphous.This means it has no crystalline form left to cause damage to larger organismsInstead, it has small sharp edges which can damage tiny parasites, larvae, onstored grain, in animal manure, on infected plants and in the stomachs oflivestock and people. Since it also has an attractive mineral composition, DEusers have reported five distinct uses on the farm: grain storage, deworming,

mineralization, deodorizing/absorption, and insecticidal dusting. Each use hasits own folklore, facts and fiction associated with it so each will bediscussed.

APPROVED FEED ADDITIVEThe EPA has approved DE as an additive in feed for use as an anti-caking agentand has exempted it from tolerance requirements as an inert, inactive ingredientin chemical pesticides. Any uses other than those presented here are strictlyreports of what farmers have done with the material.

PARASITE CONTROL

DE has been used for at least two decades as a natural wormer for livestock. Itis believed that the DE scratches and dehydrates parasites. Some scientistsbelieve that the DE is a de-ionizer or de-energizer of the worms or parasites.Regardless of the method of operation, farmers report definite control. Foreffective use, the DE must be fed long enough to catch all the newly hatchingeggs or cycling of the worms through the lungs and back to the stomach. Aminimum of 60 days is suggested at 2% of dry weight of the grain ration.Caution: do not give to very small pregnant animals such as cats, guinea pigs,etc. and do not feed continually to babies or very small adult animals such ascats, hamsters, etc. The material may be fed on a continuous basis to largerlivestock for continuous parasite control and mineralization which is the nextmajor use.

MINERALIZATIONIf you began feeding DE to your poultry or livestock and noticed a gain inproduction, what could the gain be attributed to? The obvious answer would bethat the DE reduced the parasite population which resulted in decreased stresson the animal and increased food assimilation. But what about the "mineral"content of the DE? If oyster shell meal provides calcium, then finely ground DEmay also provide a broad-spectrum of naturally occurring chelated minerals.These include calcium, magnesium,iron, phosphate, sodium, titanium, potassiumand others. Numerous reports of gain have been reported when adding DE: to aration. With lack of mineralization in modern grains, it isn't hard to conceiveof mineral benefits from a finely ground natural mineral product. An Alabamastudy on hogs showed complete stopping of wood feeder chewing when DE was added

to the feed ration.

Feeding at 2% of grain ration can take care of both deworming andmineralization. Most livestock will acquire a "taste" for the mineral if a smallamount is mixed in with other feed. After acquiring a "taste" for DE they maytake it free-choice.

DEODORIZATION/ABSORPTIONThe third major farm use can be an added benefit from the first two uses.


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Deodorizing and absorption are natural functions of DE. These will continue tohappen as undigested DE passes through with manure. Reduced fly hatching isusually observed in manure from livestock fed DE. Some dairy and hog farmers arealso spreading it in bedding (for odor and moisture control) in addition to thatcoming through the manure.

FLY CONTROL/INSECTICIDE

Fly control is a major problem with livestock operations. DE can be placed intightly woven burlap bags and hung in doorways. Livestock will be attracted toit and work the bag until their heads are covered with powder which repelsflies. In closed areas, DE can be fogged with hand cranked or electric foggersto wipe out flies. Livestock need not be removed and contamination of milk orfeed is not a concern. Since the DE "kill" is always mechanical in nature, it isimportant that the material come in direct contact with the insect. Mixing DEwith things flies are attracted to around the farm may cause them to ingest DEin their attempts to eat the attractant.

Besides fly control, DE can be used as an insecticide on most crops. In 1943 theUSDA found that DE had an 86% mortality against pea weevil. On California cotton

fields, DE was found to be more effective than insecticides and the yield wassubstantially increased (Tucker, 1978).Other tests indicate that DE is effective in controlling aphids, brown mites,red spider mites, twig bores, oriental fruit moths and coddling moths inorchards (Alien, 1972: DeCrusta, 1979).Field use of DE had several problems Not sticking to the vegetation is the mainone. Apply DE when plants are moist from natural or artificial sources to aidsticking but re-application is usually necessary after a heavy rain. Putting anegative electrostatic charge on the DE has greatly increased in adherence toleaf surfaces. One company which has since gone bankrupt perfected anelectrostatic applicator but widespread use never occurred. Adding an attractantmay also be useful here and several patents have been issued for that purpose.

GRAIN PROTECTIONThe last use to discuss is grain and flour storage. DE offers the only easyanswer to chemical contamination of stored grain. Irradiation could be used, butcost and negative health effects make it very undesirable. This writer has keptwheat, oats, and spelt in open bins for two years or more with no insect damageby applying DE at approximately 7 pounds pet ton of stored grain. The DE wassprinkled into the auger by hand As an examination of its effectiveness, it wascompared with malathion and untreated grain on 1,000 bushels of wheat by theAgricultural Research Service of the USDA. After 12 months storage, the DEtreated material had 15 insects compared to 4884 for malathion and 16,994 foruntreated.Although 7 pounds of DE may lower the commercial grade of wheat immediately

after treatment, the wheat maintained its grade longer than other treated oruntreated grain. Flour yielding and bread baking qualities are not affected. Thenew patents allowing DE to be used effectively at 1 to 2 pounds per ton insteadof 7 pounds should eliminate any grade deterioration problems. Recent grainboard tests in Canada have proven in the field what the patents claimed onpaper, i.e. DE protects stored grain without contaminating it. DE is not thesame.Differences have accounted for large variations in past testing on DE as aninsecticide which has slowed the universal acceptance of DE for that purpose.This writer prefers fresh water diatoms to sea types for several reasons. Thebio-activity seems to be better and the health ramifications of breathing the


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fine white dust seems to be almost negligible because of its 99% plus amorphousstructure compared with a higher percentage crystalline structure. Since we nowhave electronic testing equipment available it pays to "check it out" beforebuying and using any DE.

Reprinted by permission of ACRES USA, INC., Kansas City, Missouri

Nutritional Research Assoc. Inc.'s FOSSIL FLOUR is a non-treated, non-milled,non-calcined fresh water form of Diatomaceous Earth. It consists of microscopicfresh water diatoms which were deposited millions of years ago and have sincefossilized. Under microscopic examination each particle looks like a tiny glassspear which pricks the outer skin or coating of insects, worms, maggots, etc.causing them to dehydrate and die. The product is a fine powder, white to grayin color. Diatomaceous Earth is approved for use as an anti-caking agent inlivestock and poultry feeds. Nutritional Research Assoc., Inc. makes no claimsabout diatomaceous earth other than for approved uses. Test results (Universityof Illinois) in 1966 show that the use of the product does not harm animals orleave residues in milk or meat.

FOSSIL FLOUR is packed and priced as follows:2 Ibs. for $2.755 Ibs for $4.4010 Ibs for $7.8025 Ibs. for $17.9550 Ibs. for $33.90Plus shipping

Nutritional Research Associates Inc.P.O. Box 354, 407 E. Broad St., South Whitley, IN 487871-800-456-4931

--------- End forwarded message ----------

____________________________________

THINK OF HELPING OTHERS TOPWe're going to call a "Disaster Preparedness" meeting of our neighborhood andtry to collect information such as how many houses are heated with woodstoves oralternative energy, how many homes have elderly, handicapped, etc., if an MD orsomeone else in the medical profession lives in the neighborhood, how many havegenerators, a stream nearby, etc. We will bring up Y2K but bill it as good infoto= have and a good dialog to start anyway in view of all the natural disasters

that have occurred in many parts of the country. It may be good to be prepared.

We have also begun to think of our preparations in wider terms, such as, howmuch food can I store to share, when will I deliver a load to church before NewYear's, can I heat my whole house that we can keep more people warm, etc. Thisreally keeps me from worry.

We are also going to bring it up to our pastor and perhaps get permission toaddress the parish council and heads of various concerns in our parish so that


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we can at least get people to start making contingency plans.-----------------------------------------

MORE ON IRON COOKWARE TOPI ordered through Chuckwagon Supply. The URL ishttp://www.chuckwagonsupply.com

You can get the phone number off the web page and place an order. I ordered thestarter kit ( but because of the big family - 8 people - the gentleman suggesteda deep 12") plus a 10" oven. I ordered one of those fireplace cranes for thefireplace and hope to be able to have one oven hanging from the crane and oneover coals. I am considering getting another stand for the second oven becausejust recently I have discovered that we can bake bread in these ovens!! I'd makea 10" round and a 12"round bread in the morning and put on the pots with somesort of main meal after this. If I use the woodburning stove too I can have theoption of heating up something else with some heavy cast aluminum pots I have.Also making coffee or tea.

Remember to store enough charcoal. For instance to bake bread you need about 7-8white hot coals on the bottom and 11-12 on the top. The kit comes with a greatlittle coal starter and the lid lifter.------------------------------------------

ADULT TRIKE TOPFor us older duffers, an adult tricycle is available from WalMart on-line (about$370). Same health benefits as a bicycle, but less chance of "kissing thepavement"!

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FOOD SEALER TOPTry Sears. That's where I got my vacuum bag sealer. peace, Darlene P.S. QVC homeshoppers also sells theses sealers. Just look up QVC on info or Yahoo. ;)-------------------------------------RADIO TOP

I'm impressed with this little radio from Emergency Essentials - the one thatruns on solar, battery, electric or hand crank power. It says to hand crank itfor 1-3 minutes. I counted off 1 1/2 minutes cranking on my watch and the radiohas been running for a hour so far, better sound than my expensive one!!! Andfor $22 dollars I got the radio from Emergency Essentials -http://www.beprepared.com - for $22. It has AM/FM and works on 4 types of

----------------------------------------THINGS TO DO LIST TOP1. Have chimneys cleaned.2. Buy fire-safe candle holders.3. Plan activities for children who have no TV.4. Buy a cheap non-cordless phone, as cordless ones generally don't work in apower outage. You may still have phone service, but not power.5. If you withdraw substantial sums of money from the bank, remember that itcould make you a prime target for robbery.6. Install battery operated alarm system on your basement and ground floorwindows and doors.


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7. Place important paper records (birth certificates, wills, durable power ofattorney, trust information, passports, bank statements, insurance policies,etc.) in a fireproof safe. (If you don't have a safe, we've been told thatpapers stored in a refrigerator or freezer will be safe from fire). An importantconsideration, with so many fire hazards about (candles, lanterns, wood stoves,etc.),8) Really cook with the new "appliances."9) Short wave radio, CB

10) extra fire extinguishers----------------------------------------------------------------------------------FIRST AID KIT TOPHere's a First Aid kit for the family that's available to purchase. Put togetherby a doctor. Could also look at the itemized list and make your own.http://www.fortunecity.com/millenium/rintintin/181/-----------------------------------------YOUR Y2K MEDICINE CABINET TOPHave any of you purchased any supplies from Peace of Mind Essentials?http://www.peaceofmindessentials.com

Of special interest to me are the herbal medical kits, dental and surgical kits,and the Dr. Christopher's Herbal medicines. I was thrilled at their web site, asthey carry just about everything we'll need.I just wanted to know what you thought about your purchases and are your happyw/ what you ordered? I figured it'll cost a good $500.00 to have a decentlysupplied medicine cabinet which includes supplies to make your own herbalpreparations when you run out or need to help your neighbors.I was thinking that we should also prepare by taking first aide courses and CPR.This could save one of our children's lives or a neighbor. And don't forgetmidwifery and birth supplies. God always blesses w/ precious babies!:-) Thiscould be a real help if there are no hospitals near by or they are closed down.From: Penny Witter Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 14:02:07 -0500

If you want some excellent herbal and naturopathic remedies, go to the sitesmentioned below. Think this will be vital information to have with the y2k andwhatever else is ahead of us. Richard Schulze is one of the foremostnaturopathic physicians and gives courses in Europe. We have Dr. Schulze's"Incurables" Video Series, as well as tinctures, tapes, etc. In addition to theonline info., one can call 1-888-HERBDOC and get a (at least it used to be free,not sure now) patient handbook, catalogue, and introductory audio tape. He has anew introductory video out for $25."Create Your Own Healing Miracle". 310 This will let folks work with theirhealth situation themselves, both now and if/when things get more interesting.--------------------------------------------------------->

>From thehealthfree newsletter:

If you know anyone who may be interested in receiving our FREE Health Newsletterplease e-mail [email protected] with "subscribe newsletter" in thesubject line, and don't forget to write their exact e-mail address.

To receive this newsletter in its entirety send a blank e-mail [email protected]. The Newsletter will be sent to you by our autoresponder


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promptly and depending on server traffic you could receive it as fast as 5minutes.

Online Health & Nutrition Newsletter (Excerpts) TOP

Vol. 2. Issue 5.

Spirit of Health- Special Triple Edition Report -

We present you highlights of the ninth issue of our online newsletter, "Spiritof Health. To receive the full newsletter please simply send an e-mail [email protected]. The newsletter will be sent to you immediately by ourautoresponder.We bring you articles, which are always beyond mainstream medical school ofthought and may be new to the alternative minded, as well.If you would like to access back issues of this newsletter you can do so by

selecting http://www.healthfree.com/ and choose the Newsletter link.This special triple issue brings you excerpts from Sam Biser's Newsletter "TheLAST CHANCE Health Report" featuring medical Herbalist Dr. Richard Schulze. Tosubscribe to Sam Biser's Newsletter contact the University of Natural Healing -(804) 973-0262. The cost for one year (12 issues) is $49.50. Two years (24issues) are $77.00.Highlights from our new triple edition newsletter."Natural healing can cure the medically-incurable. But as currently practiced,it is a disaster. According to Dr. Richard Schulze, "Medical doctors kill youwith their treatments. Natural Healers and herbalists kill you with theirinexperience, their ignorance, and their impotent therapies and remedies.

"Natural Healing can cure more than you believe it can cure - when donecorrectly.

Miracle cures are happening. But for hundreds of thousands of people whopractice natural healing, miracle cures are NOT happening. I know this becauseof what readers tell me in letters. Many follow their holistic doctors, butstill suffer and die. This is a painful fact I have not wanted to discuss inprint - until now.

-------------------------------------------------------SOURDOUGH TOPSourdough Starter and Sponge

Sourdough starter: Mix 1 cup flour, 1 cup water, 1/2 to 1 package (or cake) ofyeast in a pint jar. Let stand in a warm place overnight. =20Sponge: Empty starter into a bowl. Fill the pint jar with war water (2 cups),empty it into the bowl, add 2 cups flour and eat to a smooth batter. let bowlstand in a warm place overnight. Batter should be thin enough to pour,. If toothick add a little warm water. In the morning, take out 1/4 to 1/2 sup of the


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sponge, put in clean pint jar, and place in refrigerator or cool place for thenext sponge.A sourdough starter will be good for many years if kept in a cool place and usedevery week. never add anything to the starter except flour and water.To carry the starter, or keep it longer than a week, thicken it with flour toform a ball and keep it in the flour or in a covered container. To activate it,thin it out with water.

Sourdough Brown Bread1 cup sourdough sponge1 teaspoon salt2 tablespoons molasses2 tablespoons fat2 cups coarse graham flour

To the sourdough sponge add the salt, molasses and fat. Mix well. Add the 2 cupsgraham flour, or enough to make a stiff dough. Knead lightly. Place in warmgreased loaf tin, let stand 1/2 hour, then bake at 375 degrees F. until lightlybrowned, about 40 minutes. This is a coarse, heavy bread with a good flavor.

--------------------------------------------------------Subject: Re: Christian Homesteading/Faheys TOPFrom: Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 18:13:00 EDT

The Faheys teach a fabulous course on homesteading. They can be reachedat: Christian Homesteading Movement Oxford, NY 13830

Richard occasionally writes for Full of Grace, the Catholic simple livingnewsletter.-----------------------------------------------------------

KEROSENE IS VERY SAFE TOPKerosene is quite safe to store, not nearly as flammable as gasoline, and itdoesn't break down over time.As a boy, we heated our home extensively with kerosene. Kerosene is very safe.To illustrate, my brother and I used to extinguish the match we used to lightthe kerosene heater in... kerosene. Dumb, yes, (our guardian angels should get aspecial commendation), but kerosene is not volatile enough to be lit that way.Now, spray it in the air, THAT's another story.--------------------------------------------------------WATER FILTERS TOPOur whole house is on the inexpensive filter canister/cartridge systems sold atHome Depot. We use the charcoal cartridges after the sediment cartridge --thecharcoal makes the water taste better by taking out chlorine.

I have tried using filters like these as gravity flow filters for emergency useand they work fine if you have enough head pressure. If you have a hose attachedthat is long and tall enough, these filters work for a cheap high volume filtersystem for basic dish washing and laundry, etc. You have to elevate the filltube at least one floor above the filter to get adequate flow. We used an RVwater hose because they have no plastic taste. The hose fittings are alsoavailable at Home Depot to adapt to the 3/4" pipe thread filter housing to ahose. RV hoses are available where camping and marine supplies are sold. I putfaucets on food grade Pepsi containers with the filter between them. Put one


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high and let gravity clean the water going to the lower tank. Equal size tanksmakes the job very clean with no spills. I have three tanks so I can rotate two"clean" tanks having a supply of clean water at all times. Clean water isessential when public services fail because things are going to go into creeksand streams that would normally go into sewers. People will purposely emptyporta-potties, etc., into the creeks before they will make a latrine. What doyou think?

The bulk water can be filtered again with a better, finer filter for drinkingpurposes only. We have a Basic Designs hand pump filter sold by Target for about$20 that uses a ceramic filter and really gets the water incredibly clean. Thisportable filter is small enough for a backpack (or bug-out bag) and removesGiardia, Fecal Coliform, Salmonella Typhii, and other pathogens and claimsbetter than 99.99% removal. The filter is rated at 0.9 microns and is capacityrated at 500 gallons. If you used this filter to refilter relatively clean waterfor drinking only, it could last indefinitely.

When any filter is used, sediment primarily clogs the outer surface. To clean aceramic filter, you just wipe the outer surface of the element and the filter is

clean and ready for use again, unlike disposable filters that are uncleanable.When you clean the ceramic filter, some of the filter actually wipes awayexposing new filter media. When the filter is reduced to 1.75 inches diameter,you discard it. New elements are available mail order from the manufacturer for$15. An extra cartridge on hand might not be a bad idea. You could just buy asecond complete assembly for about $5 more and have a complete new pump withhoses etc. too. The cartridge is the main item that you are really paying foreither way.

I have had several camping filters in the past. Some more compact and all moreexpensive but this filter is probably the most practical for most applications.Every stroke on the pump handle gives about one ounce in 2 seconds. If you used

this filter in conjunction with a bulk sediment and/or charcoal filter, thewater would be purer than most water found anywhere, even if you filtered waterfrom a puddle in the street!

Other places have portable filters including REI, Sportsman's Warehouse, etc.,but for the money, this Basic Designs ceramic filter bought at Target is hard tobeat.--------------------------------------------------------SAMPLE PREPARATION PLANS TOPAssure adequate supplies of the very basics. FOOD, WATER, HEAT, ELECTRICITY,MONEY.

1. We have begun a system of food storage and rotation in a basement pantry.Store what you eat and eat what you store.We will probably wait until Sept 1999 before maximizing the food stores due toexpiration dates of regular grocery store items. I don't see any immediate rushto stockpile large quantities at this early date.

2. Water can and has in the past been accessed from the well with the generatorto allow for a convenient uninterrupted life style, during short termdisruptions. What if the generator goes down? Redundant planning is needed here.


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I've setup space for 150 gallons of water with provisions for expansion to 300gallons by December 30, 1999. To insure freshness, I plan on rotating the supplyevery 3 months with a fresh refill on 12/25/1999. In the event of a brokengenerator or limited gasoline supply, 300 gallons of water can serve a family of4 for well over a month.

3. Heat may be disrupted by breakdowns in production or delivery of propane.

Redundant backup again is needed. Kerosene heater with 50 gallons of kerosenecan keep at least portions of the house warm. I estimate the heater will use 3gallons of kerosene per day allowing for about a 15 day auxiliary heat supply.

4. Electricity, of course is available through the generator if gasoline isavailable. I estimate 100 gallons of gasoline will run a generator for 15 daysat 7 hours per day, or 30 days at 3 hrs/day. I have taken time and thought tosetup a safe storage location for gasoline and have made one trip to the gasstation for 20 gallons. I plan on building the store to 40 gallons, then usingit for the cars before it sits too long. Again, a rotation system to insureregular usage and replenishment with a final refill some time in December of1999.

5. Money is a tricky issue. It's embarrassing to take all your money out of awell performing stock market and lose 15 months of interest and dividends. Butwaiting until after the market corrects, could eat up a portion of your currentvalue, probably equal to or greater than the interest you would have lost. It'sa tough time critical decision! My current plan is to wait for the first marketcorrection followed by a second decline or a leveling off. I'll transfer fromstocks to money market. This may occur between March and July 1999. The nextmove would be from money market to regular passbook savings in the local bank.And ultimately from savings account to safe deposit box by Dec 1, 1999 with amonths supply of cash in hand. I'm willing to forfeit a month or two of interestto protect the whole of my principle.

The moral of this story is then, Backup the backup!--------------------------------------------------------DRINK CHLORINATED POOL WATER? TOP

Water in swimming pools is chlorinated, but it also contains other chemicalsthat can make it unsafe to drink Therefore, EPA does not recommend drinking poolwater. However, any water (even wastewater) can be purified from microorganismsby boiling it at a rolling (vigorous) boil for 10 minutes. (Longer at higheraltitudes.)

If you have additional questions, please contact the Safe Drinking Water Hotline

by telephone at 1-800-426-4791 [(703) 285- 1098 outside the continental U.S.],by fax at (703) 285-1101 or by email at "[email protected]".For more information, please visit EPA's Office of Ground Water and DrinkingWater Internet site at "URL=http://www.epa.gov/OGWDW

--------------------------------------------------------KEROSENE LAMPS TOPFuel: Use #2, water-clear kerosene; tinted/scented lamp oil gives less light,can gum up the wick or smoke up the chimney excessively. Lower grades kerosenewith higher number will work but may cause similar problems with wicks and the


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chimneys will be dirty sooner.Cost of Fuel: May cost as much as $2.00/gal. Using 5 traditional lamps and alantern 5 hours /night in the winter will use about 1 gallon/month.Transferring the fuel, use a cheap bulb siphon and ONLY use it for kerosene(gasoline residues in a kerosene lamp is extremely dangerous). Try not to siphonany of the sludge and throw away the last 1/2 cup in the can.Siphon outdoors to minimize problem spills. If you spill over several thickness'of newspaper, do not burn in wood burning stove (chimney fire). Lamp: Do not

overfill kerosene reservoir. You need air space between the bottom of wickholder and top of the kerosene for good wicking.When installing a new wick, soak it in kerosene first. You will then burn thekerosene and not the wick. If the top of the wick is dry only ht wick will burn.

Trim the wick occasionally while using it and the first time you use it. A wicktrimmed straight across will give a wide, flat-topped flame and will smokeexcessively; too pointy of a wick produces a thin flame and little light. Youshould cut off the corners, and round the top of the wick a bit. After manyhours of burning, the top of the wick will get ragged and charred. The flame mayeven have two lobes. Trim the char off into the shaped that works best for yourlamp.There are two kinds of lamp owners: those who've burned themselves and those who

will. Always check before touching the chimney. You cannot see heat.To light a kerosene lamp, remove the chimney, turn the wick up a bit, and lightand replace the chimney. As the wick begins to smoke, turn it down, just enoughto keep from smoking. Adjust the wick for max light without smoking.Extinguish a kerosene lamp by holding your hand just behind and above thechimney top. Adjust the angle of your palm to direct your breath straight downthe chimney. Blow against your palm and a quick puff will blow it out.Maintenance: Cleaning the chimney. Remove soot with a facial tissue and wash inhot, soapy water(Dawn?). Rinse in very hot water, to which baking soda has beenadded to eliminate spotting and then air dry.Wicks: Take stub of wick with you when buying a new one. There are circularwicks, and flat wicks, which come in different widths and thicknesses. One thatis too thick or thin will not feed through the wick adjuster and may even damage

it. It is better to use one that is too narrow than one that is the wrongthickness or width. A narrow wick will not produce as much light, obviously.

Chimneys: Keep spares on hand. A lamp without a chimney is worthless. Thin glasscost less but break easier; frosted diffuse the light but are less bright. Tall,thin straight chimneys produce a thin, very bright flame, while bulbous chimneysproduce wider flame and maybe more total light. Different chimney styles meansadjusting to trimming the wick differently.

You may eventually have to put on a new wick adjuster through normal usage or bydamage by improper wick. You will have to replace the whole burner. Keep an

extra one or two on hand.

The best lamp has a heavy glass base which allows you to see how much keroseneis left. The weight of the base gives stability.

Aladdin Lamps: They are more expensive than traditional lamps. They use pressureto volatilize the kerosene and a mantle to distribute and intensify the flame.They use twice as much kero as a traditional lamp and the mantles have to bereplaced frequently. The parts of one model of Aladdin lamp may not be


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interchangeable.

-----------------------------------------------WATER FILTERS II TOPHowever, as far as filters go, Katadyn makes the best. They offer many modelsbut it seems the most practical for our situation would be the TRK Table Topfilter. Retails through Homestead Products for $220.00. I'm sure pool water is

no problem for it, as this filter is used in third world countries by agencieslike the Red Cross. The water they use sometimes has to be much worse than poolwater. For more info, go to:http://www.teleport.com/~dany/mill/katadyn.htm------------------------------------------------VENISON RECIPES TOPVenison Jerky> makes enough marinade for 3 pounds boneless meat cut in thinstrips

1/2 cup Each soy & teriyaki sauce2 Tablespoons either brown sugar or steamed cane syrupgarlic powder and onion powder to taste

fresh ground black pepperDo Not Add Salt & add just enough spice to a bit less than what you like As thejerky dries out the flavors intensify. Just mix all ingredients togethermarinate over nite. I use meat that has been soaked and cleaned beforemarinating it ( cuz hubby said to)

Venison & Beans ( serve with cornbread or biscuits)Soak venison meat ( cut for stew) in a beer & water or vinegar and water mix fora couple hours ( this helps remove "gamey strong taste") in a crock pot ( orDutch oven) place meat that's been browned well, onions ( or onion soup mixdon't add any more salt) carrots in big chunks, and 1 pound of either Lima,Pinto, Roman or Great Northern beans that have been soaked for at least 7 hours

( my family thinks changing the beans radically changes the flavor they call itvariety) add 1/4 cup cooked roux**( rue? roo?) and water to cover, cook 8 hourson low ( while you sleep) or 4 hours on high & then 2 hours on low( if I cook itduring the day) You can add in potatoes if you like Too - I almost forgot.

** To make Roux ( or rue or roo)Measure equal parts fat ( butter is our favorite - but you can use olive oil, orany fat your family likes) and flour. Melt the fat over medium heat till reallywarm ( butter just starts to brown) add flour and reduce heat, stir whilecooking till as browned as you like. I make a batch light for fish and poultryand a darker brown ( not black though") for beef, and game.

--------------------------------------------CANNING CAKES! TOPApplesauce Cake in JarsYield: 1 Servings

2/3 c Shortening2 2/3 c Granulated sugar4 ea Large eggs2 c Applesauce


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2/3 c Water3 1/3 c All-purpose flour, sifted1/2 tsp. Baking powder2 tsp. Baking soda 1 1/2 tsp. Salt 1 tsp. Ground cinnamon2 tsp. Ground cloves 2/3 c Nuts; chopped, optional

Sterilize 8 (12 oz Ball Quilted Crystal - #14400-81400) canning jars, lids and

rings by boiling for 10 minutes. Remove the jars and allow to air-dry and cool.Leave the lids and rings in the hot water until ready to use.

Once the jars are cool enough to handle, grease them (use a pastry brush) withshortening (DO NOT use Pam or Baker's Secret); set aside. Cream together theshortening and sugar. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until the mixture islight and fluffy. Add the applesauce and water; set aside.

In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt,cinnamon and cloves. Blend dry ingredients into the applesauce mixture. Fold inthe nuts. Pour batter into the jars, filling them about 1/2 full. Place jars

onto a cookie sheet or they'll fall over. Bake in a preheated 325-degree ovenfor 35-40 minutes or until a pick inserted deep into the center of each cakecomes out clean. Remove jars from the oven, one-at-a-time (use HEAVY-DUTY MITTS,the jars ARE HOT!); place a lid, then a ring on top and screw down tightly.Place jars onto your counter top to cool. You'll know when the jars have sealed,you'll hear a "plinking" sound. If you missed the sound, test them by pressingdown on the lids once the jars have cooled--they shouldn't move at all.Store jars in a cool, dry place. They should keep for about a year. I've onlybeen able to keep them for a few weeks, they don't last that long around here.They're wonderful for last minute gifts, especially for single friends.

Gingerbread Baked in Jars

Yield: 5 Servings2 1/4 c Flour (all-purpose)3/4 c Sugar1 tsp. Baking soda1/2 tsp. Baking powder1/4 tsp. Salt2 tsp. Ginger (ground)1 tsp. Cinnamon (ground)1/2 tsp. Cloves (ground)3/4 c Margarine (softened)3/4 c Water

1/2 c Molasses

Preheat oven to 325-degrees (NO higher).Sterilize 5 (12 oz) Ball Quilted Crystal (#14400-81400) jam/jelly canning jars,lids and rings by boiling them for 15 minutes. Remove the jars from water andallow to air-dry on your counter top; leave the lids and rings in the hot wateruntil you're ready to use them.

Once the jars are cool enough to handle, use a pastry brush to grease them with


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shortening (DO NOT use butter, margarine, PAM or Baker's Secret); set aside.

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, ginger,cinnamon and cloves. Stir in margarine, water and molasses until well blended.Divide batter among the 5 jars (they should be about full). Place jars onto acookie sheet or they'll tip over.

Bake in preheated 325-degree oven for 35 minutes or until cake tester insertedin center comes out clean. Move the jars around in the oven while they'rebaking, so they'll bake evenly.Have your HOT lids ready. Using HEAVY-DUTY MITTS (the jars ARE HOT!) Take onejar at a time from the oven and place a lid on, then the ring. Tightly screw onlids--do it FAST because the lid gets REAL hot! Allow jars to cool on yourcountertop.

Once the jars are cool, decorate with round pieces of cloth. Unscrew the ring(the lid should be sealed by now) and place a few cotton balls or a wad ofbatting on top of the lid (makes it poof-y on top), then a piece of cloth (about

3" larger than the lid) on top and screw the ring back on.

Decorate as desired. I used pinking shears to cut the cloth rounds out,otherwise some material will start to unravel. --glue on dried flowers, bows,ribbons, etc....

Apple Cake in a Jar

Yield: 1 Servings2/3 c Shortening

1 1/2 tsp. Salt2 2/3 c Sugar3 c Flour4 ea Eggs2/3 c Water1 tsp. Cinnamon3 c Apples; grated2 tsp. Baking soda2/3 c Raisins1/2 tsp. Baking powder2/3 c Chopped nuts

Mix the ingredients together in the order given. sterilize 7 to 9 wide mouthpint jars and lids. Grease them with shortening. Fill the jars half full andbake on the middle wire rack in the oven.Bake for 45 minutes at 325 degrees. as soon as the cake is done, remove thebottles from the oven one at a time.Wipe the rim of the bottle clean with cloth and put on the hot sterilized Lids.Screw down the bands and let cool.

Important-- do not use small mouth jars. do not add any other ingredients.


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As the cake cools in the sealed jar, it will pull away from the sides of the jarand come out easily when ready to serve. Slice and serve with lemon sauce.

LEMON SAUCE2 Tbs.. cornstarch2 Tbs.. butter

1/2 cup sugar4 1/2 tsp. Finely grated lemon rind pinch of salt 2 Tbs. lemon juice 1 cupboiling water in a pan, thoroughly stir together the corn starch, sugar, andsalt.

Gradually stir in the boiling water, stirring constantly to keep it smooth.Continue stirring and cook over moderate heat until boiling. Boil gently for 20minutes. remove from heat, add butter, lemon rind and juice. Stir thoroughly.Serve hot over apple cake in a jar. Makes about 1 -1/4 cups. This sauce isthicker and more tart than the usual lemon sauce.

Cake in a Jar1 Servings

ANY quick bread-type cake can be baked in canning jars. I usually bake one jarfirst -- you have to know how high the batter rises. I usually fill ONE jar 1/2full then bake it to see how high it rises, then go from there. You don't wantthe cake to come out of the top of the jar, only to within 1/4 to 1/2 inch fromthe lip of the jar. Write it down on your recipe (how far you filled the jars)!Once you've established how high the cake rises, you can go from there. Thefirst time is tricky because you won't know how many jars you'll need. MOST ofthe recipes I've tried I end up using around 8. Sterilize as many jars as youthink you'll need and go from there. Make sure your LIDS are new, the rings

don't have to be As the jars do seal, the cakes are as moist as the day you putthem into the jars--sometimes MORESO.

The baking times will vary -- the moistness of each cake recipe will determinethe time. MOST of the recipes I've tried bake in 35-40 minutes.

Start checking the cakes at 25- 30 minutes and go from there. YES, the cakes DOslide easily out of the jars IF you use the jars I've listed. They're Ball 12-ozQuilted Crystal Canning Jars (#14400-81400). They can be found at most grocerystores next to the pectin and other canning supplies. Also, I've seen the 12 ozstraight-sided (plain) jars (# ?) at Smart & Final. The plain jars work fine too

but they're not as pretty and you have to make your own labels--the jars I usecome with decorative labels.

One IMPORTANT tip--get your jars NOW! Once summer's over with they're = veryhard to find. Also, when you can, ask for the jars back, they're NOT cheap. Mostfolks don't mind returning them though, they usually want refills!

There will be a little condensation on the lids and some in the jars so when youseal them it's trapped inside. Don't worry about getting the water off of the


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lids before placing them onto the jars, the added moisture doesn't hurt thecakes in the slightest. Quick bread-type cakes work = best, I've found thatlighter cakes tend to fall when the jars seal.

I'm trying to address every question that's been asked of me before, I hope I'vedone that. If I've missed anything or if anyone has any questions, don'thesitate to ask. These make WONDERFUL gifts and you can start NOW! Single

friends really appreciate these because each jar makes enough for one or twopeople. I'll post the recipes I've made in my next notes. Try them, they're FUNand delicious to boot! Be right back with a few more tips...

Several folks have asked me how long the cakes can be safely stored...I'm notsure. The longest I've been able to keep them (without getting eaten) is 6months. The jars DO seal, like any canned good. No need to refrigerate the jars,just keep them in a COOL, dark, dry place. I've only had 6 jars go bad on me: myfault...I put them in a cupboard that got too hot and the seals broke. I nowcheck the jars at least once a week by pushing down on the lid (in the middle);if the lid moves up and down, that means the seal has broken. If you've checkedthe jars frequently, they're safe to eat; otherwise, toss the cake. I've been

making cakes in canning jars for over 3 years and haven't poisoned anyone.

If you give the jars away, be sure to tell the person to check the jarperiodically (if they plan on storing it for any length of time).

Not only are the cakes tasty, they're very pretty to decorate. You can glue ondried flowers, ribbons, dough-art ...you name it, it can be glued onto the lid,ring and side of the jar. I usually cut out a piece of cloth (about 3 incheslarger in circumference than the lid), using pinking shears (so the clothdoesn't unravel), place a wad of cotton or batting in the center of the lid(take the ring off -- the jar lid should be sealed by now), then place the piece

of cloth on top and replace the ring. Decorate to your heart's desire!

There are probably a few more tips I've forgotten...if anyone has any questions,don't hesitate to ask. Don't limit yourself to the recipes I've given you...ANYquick-bread type cake can be baked in canning jars.Lighter cakes tend to fall once the jar seals.Pumpkin Spice Cake in Jars Yield: 8 Servings

1 c SEEDLESS RAISINS1 c WALNUTS2 c ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR

2 tsp. BAKING SODA1/4 tsp. BAKING POWDER1/2 tsp. SALT2 tsp. GROUND CLOVES2 tsp. GROUND CINNAMON1 tsp. GROUND GINGER4 EGGS2 c GRANULATED SUGAR1 c SALAD OIL16 oz Canned PUMPKIN


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Preheat oven to 325-degrees.

Sterilize 8 (12 oz) Ball Quilted Crystal Canning Jars (14400-81400), lids andrings by boiling them for 10 minutes. Leave the lids and rings in the hot wateruntil you're ready to use them; remove jars and allow the jars to air-dry andcool. Prepare batter in the meantime. Using a pastry brush, brush the inside of

the cooled jars with shortening (DO NOT use Pam or Baker's Secret); set aside.

Coarsely chop the raisins and walnuts; set aside. Sift together the flour,baking soda, baking powder, salt, cloves, cinnamon and ginger in a large bowl.Add raisins and walnuts; toss to lightly combine.

In another large bowl, beat eggs at high speed until thick and yellow (2-3minutes). Gradually beat in the sugar until thick and light. At low speed, beatin the oil and pumpkin; blend well. Gradually stir in the flour mixture untilwell blended.

Divide among the 8 canning jars (should be slightly less than 1/2 full. Wipe thesides of the jar off (inside/ outside) in case you slop or it'll burn. Placejars onto a cookie sheet or they'll tip over. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until apick inserted into the center of each jar comes out clean.

Have your lids and rings ready. Take one jar at a time from the oven; place alid and ring on and screw down tightly. Use HEAVY-DUTY mitts--the jars are HOT!Place the jars onto your counter top too cool. You'll know when they've sealed,you'll hear a "plinking sound".-------------------------------------------------------DRY POTATOES TOP

I found this in my dehydrater book.Preparation; Peel, wash and slice 1/4 to 3/8 inch thick or shoestring3/16 inch thick , or grate or dice depending on how the dried potato is to beused. Pretreatment: Steam blanch over water containing 1 tsp. sodium bisulfiteper cup of water 4 to 6 minutes or until translucent but still firm. Rinse wellin cold water to remove gelled starch.Drying Temperature: 160F for 1 to 2 hours, or until done. How to use: Grateslices and rehydreate for hash brown potatoes.Better Times Cookbook V | Justpeace | Better Times | BobWaldrop.net | Access toEnergy Conservation | On Pilgrimage in Oklahoma City | Bookstore | Better TimesII | Bulgar Bugle | Mutual Aid (Grassroots home and community scale disasterpreparations)

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