May 4, 2008 8:58 PM
KLEAN KANTEEN - ALTERNATIVE TO PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES
I know many of you have dumped your multi-colored Nalgene water bottles (and other polycarbonate bottles labeled with a number 7 on the bottom) since learning of the dangers of leaching Bisphenol-A, or BPA.
I've just come across a great alternative from Klean Kanteen. They make a lightweight stainless steel water bottle that comes in a variety of sizes including one for little hands that they call the Kid Kanteen. What I think is really cool is you can have them put your organization or company logo on them.
Check them out here
Here's a link for more info on BPA: The Green Guide
April 29, 2008 7:32 AM
OFFICE MAGIC
For those of you who know the significance of 2013, you'll so appreciate the profoundness of this. I review documents throughout my day at work, most of them come via fax. At the very top of a fax you'll find in small print, the name or business of the sender, and the date sent. This is programmed into the fax machine. Then the rest of the fax is in regular print, or larger. You've seen them before.
I usually don't notice this little date unless I'm questioning the timeliness of something. But on this particular day I scanned the small print and LO AND BEHOLD the date said
April 24, 2008 9:17 PM
April 23, 2008 10:34 PM
YOUR BACKPACK-DON'T JUST STUFF IT-USE IT!
I spent last Sunday in one of Steven Knopp's classes. This day he was teaching about emergency backpacks, 'marching' backpacks, fire making, a little bit about tracking, a little bit about edible wild plants, a little bit about SO much. Talk about download! It was fantastic. He's an excellent teacher, so present and clear, and is filled with reams of knowledge from his life's experiences. I went home absolutely exhausted and fulfilled.
I learned so many things, but want to focus on the backpack part for now. It's a lesson in, TEST IT BEFORE YOU NEED IT. I had an emergency backpack in my car which had some necessary things in it. I knew it wasn't complete, so when it came time to take the class I added a few more things so I'd be better prepared. That morning I put in some food I'd need to cook over an open fire, some snacks, water, etc. When I went to put the pack on it wouldn't go on! The straps were too short! I knew this wasn't a great backpack, and had planned to get a really good one some day down the line. But not to be able to put it on was a shock. So after all the careful placing of this and that item, in this and that compartment, I emptied it all out and found another old backpack to stuff things in, and off I went.
I don't care what kind of list you've found telling you what items to have in your pack, until you see it all laid out in front of you, and until you actually put the pack on with the stuff in it and go on an adventure to use it, you won't know if it's adequate, or how you would arrange it differently, or what you would add or subtract from it. What's in your pack, and do you know how to use what's in it? So test it out. Make a fire. Do you have everything? You won't know until you make it. Cook your meal on the fire. Do you have everything? Or did you forget a container for water, or an eating utensil, or something to pick up a hot pan from the fire? Have to go to the bathroom? What did you bring for that?
AND, what kind of shape are you in to carry a pack through the forest, for example, or walk for long distances if you had to? I was humbled by its weight, and I hadn't even included many very necessary items for a 3 day survival situation. We didn't even go far and I was huffing and puffing, not to mention when I'd bend down to get under a low hanging branch and fall over because my body wasn't used to the weight! (Lots of laughter lying sideways in the swamp). This may not be your story, but don't think that you can just throw things in a bag and walk for your life. Your focus better be super powerful to overcome the physical challenge. Meanwhile, I've decided to wear my pack during my morning walk a few times a week.
I'll tell you more about what else I learned another time. If you live in this area, give Steven Knopp a call 360-458-6777 x 228 or email him at flyertreetop@yahoo.com to find out when his next classes are in wilderness survival, emergency backpacks, fire making, bow making, self-defense, and on and on. You won't regret it. Click here for Steven's Bio. He's one of our experts from the Weekly (more like random) Wisdom Forum.
April 21, 2008 10:10 PM
OKAY LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN
This is not what I had intended for this Blog when I first conceived it- to go for days and days without posting anything. My grand intentions for the Weekly Wisdom Forum. Right. I should call it the Random Forum, because it sure hasn't been weekly. All my good intentions, all my great and creative ideas unexpressed, sitting as one-liners, incomplete sentences, unfinished drafts. What happened?
I've got lots of excuses that I put in front of it. But besides the full time (plus) job, besides the driving almost an hour to work each way, each day, besides being a single mom, besides needing the solid chunks of time to do my disciplines.....(not in order of priorities by the way).
So now that I've gotten the excuses out of the way, the real truth is I have strayed from my original intent, and made it more difficult than I needed to. Thanks to friend Mary who kindly pointed it out to me. My original intent was to let people know what I'm doing to get prepared, on a regular basis. Here's a quote from my very first entry Humble Beginnings: "I chose to share my journey in this blog format because many people are just beginning too, or are starting over, and may benefit from what I uncover along the way, both from a practical as well as inspirational perspective."
But I got wrapped up in having to have a lengthy treatise each time, or researching links or more relevant information to add to the original entry, or it had to be lovely with a photo, and I'd spend inordinate amounts of time figuring out how to size the image properly, and which side should I place it, and what category should I put it under. On and on so that it became 'too time consuming' to even post one thing. So I put it off. And what benefit does that have for any reader? For me it turns into guilt and frustration. SO STOP IT ALREADY!
Okay, I will. From now on I'm not going to worry about photos, beauty, length, etc. Instead, I'm going to focus on what it's really like on my path of getting prepared, the excitement of finding and learning new things, the concerns about it, the humor of it. For example, the great intention to can all weekend- got all the equipment, the jars, the lids, the food, but never get the kitchen table cleared off to accomplish any of that. Did laundry or washed the car instead. So the jars are still sitting there.
So my posts may be really short two liners. So be it! But they will be more frequent. The Weekly Wisdom Forum? Oh well. This will be more like twice a month, which is much more realistic for me with my current life configuration.
Meanwhile, KEEP RETURNING AND READING. ASK QUESTIONS. MAKE COMMENTS. THIS IS ABOUT US ALL.
Louise
April 5, 2008 10:17 PM
PREPAREDNESS EXPO
April 12-13 from 8:30 - 5:00 at
And make sure you connect with Babes in Belts, a valuable resource during these ever changing times.
April 2, 2008 8:45 PM
Welcome to our Question and Answer postings, a dynamic forum for people to have their questions answered by a group of "wise ones". Our experts bring a rich and diverse background of skills and knowledge gained from years of experience living and breathing what they talk about. Click here to meet them.
It is my desire that the Weekly Wisdom Forum will reach out to a sea of people of all ages, from different backgrounds and levels of understanding and experience, and be a support and even a comfort to those who are looking for guidance in preparing body and mind for the days that are here.
Send your questions to louise@mastersconnection.com.
QUESTION: MAKING A FIRE
Can you give some suggestions on how to start a fire? More specifically, if I've only got my survival pack, what should I include in there. Will regular matches do the trick?
Always, always have three ways to make fire. This is your most important survival skill and equipment. Start with small roll-type cigarette or pipe lighters. Get the good ones that can be refilled, with an adjustable flame height. Don't count on the cheap throw-aways. I have found this out the hard way. Second, have good waterproof kitchen/camping type matches, kept in an air and watertight container of your choice. Third, have a magnesium bar and striker type fire starter. I always carry recycled vitamin bottles stuffed full of pre-made, very flammable fire starting tinder , stuffing as much as I can in the bottles. This is the secret to fire starting even in difficult situations, which is when you will need it the most.
This is just a brief overview on how to make a fire. If you live in this area, (Yelm & Rainier Washington) take my upcoming survival and preparedness classes. One whole day is on fire making. It's that important!
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Abigail Haddock responds:
Oh, I hear strains of Kumbaya in my head and see visions of all the Girl Scout camping trips I went on as a youngster!
Simple answer ...get a magnesium fire starter and always have a jackknife handy. Learn to find tinder (dried grass, pine needles, tree fibers etc.), scrape off some magnesium, create a spark with the flint side of the
In an emergency, under stress, or in the pouring rain, you are not going to rub sticks together to make an ember and ultimately create a fire. Only in good conditions are you going to have the fortitude to accomplish that task. I know how to do it. It is impressive but it takes time and energy better spent elsewhere, in my humble opinion. I am glad I have the skill locked away in my neuronet, but give me something simple when I am hungry, wet and tired, to start my fire any day. Yes, I do have a magnesium fire starter and jackknife in my briefcase. Just ask Louise!!
Thank you experts! I would like to comment by saying PRACTICE THESE FIRE MAKING TECHNIQUES BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY NEED TO USE THEM!
NEXT WEEK: Powdered Milk. Rumor has it, it tastes a lot better than it used to.
Be well. Be happy. Be outrageous.
Louise
March 22, 2008 8:43 AM
Welcome to our Question and Answer postings, a dynamic forum for people to have their questions answered by a group of "wise ones". Our experts bring a rich and diverse background of skills and knowledge gained from years of experience living and breathing what they talk about.
It is my desire that the Weekly Wisdom Forum will reach out to a sea of people of all ages, from different backgrounds and levels of understanding and experience, and be a support and even a comfort to those who are looking for guidance in preparing body and mind for the days that are here.
Send your questions to louise@mastersconnection.com.
QUESTION: COMPOSTING
Do any of you have any experience with composting? It's something I've put off because I seem to find more information than I know what to do with, and I don't like the idea of attracting animals to my yard. I'd like to recycle my kitchen wastes and have good stuff to put in my garden. Does it take many months or more than a year to get compost that I can use? Do I need to have a special container for it? Does it take a lot of physical labor? What things can I include in this pile?
Steven Knopp responds:
There are many complete books on this. I have been a devoted composter since my first organic garden at age 9, through the years when I had a large organic /biodynamic farm, to times when it was my job to design and implement large scale composting projects for farms and municipal situations.
It's a wonderful, interesting and valuable science and art. Observe nature. It is continuously growing new life and then recycling its nutrients back into the system to be used again. It is continuously doing this with everything, everything, including man and everything man-made. Approach it anew with the childhood enthusiasm of a school science project.
I take all organic kitchen wastes and or yard and garden material and layer it in a pile, bin or container. Since I heat with wood, I burn all paper and wood and add the ashes to it, throw in some earthworms, and a little human urine (the uric acid is a great nitrogen source], and voila! Soon you will have a wonderful natural fertilizer.
The length of time will depend on several factors- the composition and size of the materials, the amount of nitrogen, aeration, moisture, and the size of the pile. THE MORE NITROGEN, BENEFICIAL MICROBES, AERATION, OR TURNING OR TUMBLING, QUICKER THE PROCESS. I highly suggest the use of beneficial microbes like E M brand {effective microbes, a mixture of bacteria sand yeasts that will compost everything including toxic wastes]
P.S I love nature and welcome all animal friends to my environment, but I keep them out of the compost and from eating the garden. This is not hard. Yes it takes some work but not too much. Unless you're doing it on a very large scale, nature does most of it.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Abigail Haddock responds:
Being the Frugal Fraulein that I am, I simply tied free wooden pallets together with plastic ties. I throw in my free garden refuse, grass clippings, leaves, non-meat food scraps and coffee grounds. From spring till late fall, let it sit over the winter and voila in early spring I have yummy, free compost for my garden beds.
I do keep a garden fork nearby and when it calls to me I turn it to aerate, and in dry times I give it a splash of water occasionally. I cover the pile loosely with a piece of black plastic during the winter to keep it cooking and hot. I have not had a problem with animals, but then I do have dachshunds!
In years past I purchased advertised additives to promote growth of good enzymes. Most years I bless it and let it evolve on its own.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Thank you experts!
NEXT WEEK: How to Start a Fire-There's More Than One Way
Be well. Be happy. Be outrageous.
Louise
March 16, 2008 8:29 PM
Reader Asks About Waterproof BackPacks
What type and brand of backpack do you recommend? Where would you shop for a good, not too big, waterproof back pack to carry the sort of items Steve recommends? There are a lot of different ones out there. Some are $70; others $250. Where do I start?
Here is a backpack from REI for $79. What does Steve think about this type?
http://www.rei.com/product/714376
-Bill M.
Steven Knopp Responds:
Yes there are many to choose from. First I will assume you're asking in terms of the 72 hour, or in-your-car type of survival backpack. If not, then the answer will be very different. There are many places to choose from: REI, Sportsman's Warehouse, Cabela's, military surplus, catalogs. And don't forget all the second hand stores. I always find good deals on name brand things of this nature there.
The one you mention from REI is a pretty good pack for the money, but it's not that large. Well packed with a few things strapped on the outside (like a small machete, etc) and it can get the job done. However, you will find none of these packs are truly waterproof. They are water resistant - two different animals entirely! But, you can make them waterproof with an additional lightweight cover, or pack everything inside in a good plastic trash bag, (which is good to have a few of anyway). Only the rubberized military surplus packs are actually waterproof without a cover. Trust me on this. I lived in the Olympic rainforest for 12 years.
P.S. There is no need to spend $200 plus on a good backpack. Even the really nice ones with the water reservoir and drinking tube are less than that.
Louise comments: I did a quick internet search on waterproof backpacks and found the following link. http://store.thewaterproofstore.com/backpacks.html
March 11, 2008 8:17 PM
Welcome to our Question and Answer postings, a dynamic forum for people to have their questions answered by a group of "wise ones". Our experts bring a rich and diverse background of skills and knowledge gained from years of experience living and breathing what they talk about. Click here to meet them
It is my desire that the Weekly Wisdom Forum will reach out to a sea of people of all ages, from different backgrounds and levels of understanding and experience, and be a support and even a comfort to those who are looking for guidance in preparing body and mind for the days that are here.
Send your questions to louise@mastersconnection.com.
QUESTION: COOKING WITH PROPANE OR ALCOHOL
What is your experience cooking with propane or alcohol? And are these fuels easy to store for long periods of time? Can either be used inside?
Abigail Haddock responds:
I have cooked with propane, alcohol and butane over the years. All three are volatile flammable liquids that burn vapor when exposed to heat. They are dangerous substances that should always be treated with respect.
Propane or LP gas is heavier than air. In its raw state, propane sinks and pools at the floor. It will continue pooling until it reaches a spark or flame, such as your water heater, furnace pilot light or static electricity. Once it reaches this ignition source...BOOM!!! Propane has more heat energy and will burn hotter boiling water more quickly than alcohol.
My own experience with propane is that there is quite a bit of water vapor that is produced. I lived in a small travel trailer and always cracked a window and opened the ceiling vent when cooking or heating with propane. If you are preparing an elaborate emergency home with more than adequate air flow, then propane would be an excellent choice. Propane does not have an odor so a sulfur-like additive is used to detect leaks or give a warning when the tank is running low. It is stored in canisters or tanks and a supply of extra hoses and regulators would be necessary.
Alcohol (use methanol not ethanol) burns with fewer BTU/hr. It is easy to store in metal pails. I actually have a 55 gallon metal barrel with stored alcohol. It must be stored in a dry location to prevent rust. Simply pour alcohol into the stove reservoir for use. It must be capped securely when not in use or it will evaporate. The flame is difficult to see and it cooks more slowly than other fuels. It is a good, inexpensive alternative to propane for the more economical alternative. All fuels need ventilation. Remember, a single candle burns more oxygen than one person so plan a good supply of air flow in any design.
Butane is another alternative that is very inexpensive and easy to use. It can be purchased in hair spray like cans for use in a simple inexpensive stove that comes with a carrying case for about $20. This is by far my favorite stove. Boils water in 4 minutes, a single can lasts for about 2 hours of cooking time and no pouring liquids. This stove is my favorite for emergency use. I always recommend it for use by older people because of its simplicity in use.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Pam Paizs responds:
This is such an important question.
Both of these stoves/ovens will cook your foods but there are very different reasons you should be aware of before you choose which method. But first we must look at the safety of using either one.
Propane is a clean heat and easily available in small sealed tanks-plentiful for either hiking or for keeping in a "safe house". When using the smaller propane tanks (1 pint size) they are less likely to harm anyone if there were to be any earth movements. They are easily stored into a large plastic tub. If you were to use larger size tanks, I would suggest no larger than a 5 or 10 gallon size. These 2 sizes would require securing to the wall of a "safe house" with strong fiber straps, so they will not fly about the room and potentially hurt anyone during earth movements.
Their heat output and cooking time are excellent. I have used a two-burner camping stove for a period of 10 days and have only used 2 of the small size tanks for 3 meals per day. I cook my beans or heavier foods in a small stainless steel pressure cooker, so it all takes 15 to 20 minutes start to finish. There is less moisture in the air (surrounding area will stay dryer), plus the wonderful fact that you use less water by cooking with a pressure cooker.
Using propane, I can see the flame. This will be the most important point, along with no problems with spillage, smell or moisture!
Now onto Alcohol
Most buyers of alcohol stoves have little understanding of how dangerous they are. They work with liquid FIRE! The problem with liquid fire is it falls, spills and runs over the stove on to everything! A small drip can burn, melt and start a huge fire!! The liquid is unlike propane!! It stays on anything it touches and spreads to everything!! So now everything is on FIRE!
I personally do NOT like using this product at all. It is the most dangerous product to use in a "safe house" as well as outdoors, where it can easily spill and start a fire in a flash. Let me be very clear, Alcohol cannot be seen well at all when it is alight and on the ground. Yes, you can see a flame when you are using your burner but if a little of that same alcohol spills, or we have earth movement, you will not see it on the ground. It will still be alight and it will burn anything that it meets. Unfortunately the flame itself is hard to see because it burns at a low temperature.
It is the most unsafe item you could have, especially with small children around, or being cooped up in a "safe house" where you cannot readily get away from it. I have been privy to some horrendous stories regarding alcohol stoves, where folks have had an UNKNOWN spill and their entire lodging has gone up in smoke. Remember, they could get out into the safe surrounding air!
In addition, alcohol will give off extreme amounts of moisture into the surrounding areas which can create mold and mildew. Moisture is okay if you are outdoors but not if you are inside. As far as I know, alcohol fumes aren't dangerous--just nauseating. Take all that information and place it in a small space that you may not be able to get out off and alcohol is not your best choice.
So my vote goes to Propane!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Steven Knopp responds:
This one is tricky business! Both propane and methyl alcohol are excellent fuels in terms of relatively clean combustibility and availability [at this point]. However, each has their dangers and drawbacks! Both can be stored long term. I will assume here you're asking in terms of a shelter situation. Obviously with propane gas in quantity you have a major bomb on your hands, so its installation and storage must be very professionally and safely executed.
With methyl alcohol it must be stored in steel drums. However, methyl alcohol is a neuro-toxin and can cause blindness and other very serious health problems at exposure levels before you can even smell it. If it is used you must have very good ventilation at both the cooking site, and storage and refilling of containers site. I would wear a respirator while doing the second task, and store this fuel far from the living space, with very good ventilation.
Biodiesel would be safer and cleaner, but I have not seen anyone do this yet. But it could be done. So for cooking I would go with the smaller canisters of propane and a tank for long term hot water.
Thank you experts!
NEXT WEEK: Composting
Be well. Be happy. Be outrageous.
Louise
March 9, 2008 9:46 PM
March 3, 2008 9:14 PM
Reader Comments:
Wanted to make a comment about those canned goods getting rusty! Click Here for posting on moisture and storing food. I cleaned out my root cellar, and had the same problem. The books I checked never did address this well, other than suggesting to open and eat, or open and re-can into glass jars. I cleaned up ours with steel wool, and dried them well. Where the labels had come off, I used a heavy black marker, wrote the content and date if I had it. There were some cans I had to send to the dump, all the while wondering about the bears that shred the coca cola cans, such as one in an ice chest that we had when we were first building our home. The bears drank our citronella oil for the outside lanterns as well!
I was wondering if a light wax "dip" would help? We stack our cans on those cardboard flats, and I check for too much moisture quite often. The problem is not as bad as it was when we had a dirt floor. We ended up pouring a four inch thick cement floor, and it has taken three years to adjust the moisture in there!! Plan ahead!!
Niki
February 13, 2008 11:05 AM
Shelf Life is 30 Years or More
Did you know that properly packaged low moisture foods carefully stored at room temperature or cooler (75°F/24°C or lower) have a much longer shelf life than previously thought? Estimated shelf life for many products has increased to 30 years. While this doesn't apply to vegetable oils, many staples will still retain a significant nutritional value over many, many years; certainly significant enough to sustain life. Here's a sample.
|
| |
|
Food |
New "Life Sustaining" Shelf-Life |
|
Wheat |
30+ |
|
White rice |
30+ |
|
Pinto beans |
30 |
|
Apple slices |
30 |
|
Macaroni |
30 |
|
Rolled oats |
30 |
|
Potato flakes |
30 |
|
Powdered milk |
20 |