You'd be surprised how doing a little bit of preparing each week adds up. And, you'd be surprised how easy it is to forget what you have collected. I spent most of last weekend making an inventory of what I had. What a great sense of accomplishment that was. It gave me an idea of what still needs to be done, and made me realize I need better guidelines.

Regarding food, I was doing a chicken-scratch kind of thing. I haven't really looked at the charts that say how much one person/two persons.....should have, for how long, etc. But that's a wise thing to do, otherwise you'll just have a bunch of this and that without any kind of plan. Which leads me to an invaluable resource.

Thank you to the folks at Simply Living Smart for the time they spent creating a user friendly chart that does all the work for you. They've created an Excel spreadsheet with pages for all the foods including dairy, oils, canned goods, sweeteners, and more. All you have to do is enter your family size, the items you have, and calculations are automatically done for you. You can see what you have and what the requirements are for different periods of time, such as one month, two months, 1 year, etc. You can easily keep track of what you have on hand, and what you'd prefer to have.

Here's the link to the chart.

http://simplylivingsmart.com/images/Resources/Food-Storage-Master-Plan.xls

Make sure you visit their site. It's outstanding. Link Here

I was taken by surprise to learn that coal represents 48.6% of the mix of fuels used to generate electricity! I thought it was something from days gone by, used infrequently, and in places where there weren't alternatives. I didn't realize that it is still the most predominantly used fuel for electricity generation, with natural gas at 21.4%, nuclear 19.4%, and hydropower, fuel oil, and non-hydro renewables making up the remaining 11%.

Visit this website. It's fascinating and interactive. You can see the pie charts showing the specirfic breakdown of fuel mix, but interestingly you can click on any state on the U.S. map and get the pie chart of fuel mix specific to that state. I think you'll be surprised at the differences for each state. For example, did you know that Washington use 75% hydropower and 8.6% nuclear? New Mexico uses 86% coal? Vermont 75% nuclear? You can also learn about each fuel source and developing technologies for the future.

Here's the link: http://www.getenergyactive.org/fuel/mix.htm

Be well! Be happy!

Louise

West Nile Virus Questions & Answers

 What is West Nile virus?

West Nile virus can be a serious, even fatal, illness. It can affect people, horses, certain types of birds, and other animals. In 1999, West Nile virus first appeared in the United States in New York City. Since that time, it has spread rapidly throughout the country. In Washington, the first cases of people becoming ill from West Nile virus were reported in 2006.

For an overview of West Nile virus, visit the Centers for Disease and Prevention,

How is it spread?

West Nile virus is almost always spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected after feeding on birds that carry the virus. There is no evidence that West Nile virus can be spread by direct contact with infected people or animals. 

Who is at risk?

The risk of getting West Nile virus is very low, but anyone can become infected. People over 50 years of age have the highest risk of serious illness.

What are the symptoms?

Most people who are infected with West Nile virus will not get sick. About 1 in 5 people infected will have mild symptoms such as fever, headache, and body aches. Even fewer, about 1 in 150 people infected, will have more severe symptoms. Severe symptoms may include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, paralysis, and coma. If you have any of these symptoms, contact your health care provider. 

Preventing West Nile Virus

Prevention is the key to minimizing the risk of exposure to WNV. Everyone should take action to minimize the risk:

·  Reduce mosquito larvae habitat around the home by dumping standing water.

·  Change water in birdbaths, fountains, wading pools, animal troughs, and other sources once or twice a week.

·  Stay indoors when mosquitoes are most active (dusk to dawn).

·  Make sure the screens on doors and windows are working properly.

·  Cover exposed skin with light colored clothing when outside in the evening.

·  Use an effective repellent on exposed skin and always follow the directions on the label.

I finally did it! I canned my first foods today. (Not like the sauerkraut thing I wrote about back in September.) In 95 degree weather! How's that for planning? I've been wanting to learn how to can for 2 years now. Last year I happened upon a garage sale and picked up a pressure canner and a steam canner, and have been buying canning jars ever since. I downloaded canning information from the internet, I bought the Ball Blue Book of Preserving, I found a hard cover version of the classic "Stocking Up", and dreamed up all kinds of great things to can.

I dreamed of having a big kitchen to do it in, and I'd be moving into that big kitchen really soon. (My kitchen is tiny, and making counter space requires that I'm not doing anything else, and there's room to put the things I take off the counter somewhere else.) Oh well, it's still the same kitchen.  With lots of jars and tons of information I hadn't canned a thing. But now that my son's away for a few weeks, the kitchen seems bigger and I decided to just do it! In fact, I couldn't put it off anymore because I had purchased 18 servings of the most outrageously delicious homemade chicken soup. If I didn't can it, it would go to waste.

So in the early morning of a hot, hot day, I got underway. I had already washed the jars and lids the night before. So all I had to do was heat the soup and the jars and fill them up. I put a fan in the window of the kitchen to pull out any hot air that the stove would be creating, and a couple of hours later, I had 8 jars of pressure canned soup, and two left over to eat NOW. The temperature didn't increase one degree. I was done by 9:00 a.m.

I have to say I'm really excited about this. For those of you that have never canned, there's a really satisfying feeling about it- I've done something important to prepare and preserve good food. People have been doing this for years. I've just begun and want to can everything. What's on sale? I saw asparagus for $1.98 a pound this week at our local Yelm store, and peaches are going for the absurd price of 88 cents a pound!

By the way. There's a great canning website loaded with videos, for those who are just learning, or those who'd like more interesting recipes. The videos are very simple and clear, although a bit dry for my taste. But you'll learn it all. A great resource. Here's the link: www.canningusa.com 

 

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Your hot water heater holds between 30-50 gallons of water which can be used for drinking. In emergency situations, this is a valuable resource.

Check out this short video clip (1 ½ minutes) showing you how to do it. Thanks to the Washington State Emergency Management Division for this information.

How to obtain water from your hot water heater: Link here.

At a special awards breakfast on May 16, General Lowenberg presented Washington Emergency Management Division's 49-member Human Services Team with the coveted state Extra Mile Award from the Washington State Productivity Board as part of the Public Service Recognition Week.  

The team operated between Dec. 13, 2007, and Feb. 28, 2008, as part of the Presidential disaster declaration DR 1714 for the floods and windstorms of December 2007 in Washington.

The Extra Mile Award is given to an individual or group of public employees who surpass expectations for exemplary public service by demonstrating at least one of the following attributes:   

• Execute an innovative solution.
• Improve efficiency.
• Exhibit visionary thinking.
• Overcome great odds or disadvantages.
• Demonstrate personal valor or bravery.         

"The team selflessly provided exceptional, timely and record setting service to a highly traumatized segment of state citizens at the worst moment in their lives." the award stated.

Team members assisted individuals who were forced out of their homes or suffered uninsured personal property losses. The award said team members worked right through the holidays, logging 12 plus hours a day, seven days a week, for weeks on end providing qualitative services at a record pace

  The team's record was as follows:

·         conducted preliminary damage assessments in 11 counties leading to a federal declaration in 10 counties;

·         performed community relations operations in 10 counties in less than 60 days garnering over 10,600 registrations;

·         co-managed 10 Disaster Recovery Centers serving 6,139 disaster victims;

·         managed two different state help lines handling approximately 5,000 calls;

·         processed 4,330 Other Needs Assistance grant cases awarding approximately $2.8 million to disaster applicants for personal property losses;

·         helped 272 individuals/families find assistance for their disaster related needs not met through federal assistance in the largest flood disaster in the state in more than a decade.

Team members "should take great pride in being recognized for the quality and quantity of the work you have done to help others in this event.  It is one thing to excel as an individual, and yet another to excel as a team, Go Team!" stated Team Leader John Vollmer, deputy state coordinating officer--human services for DR 1714.

Before we moved, we gathered up a large amount of the local newspapers, the "Nickel" Want ads, and looked at postings on local bulletin boards. Seeing a fairly religious posting nestled next to an excerpt from "The White Book" showed us a possible leaning to balance was in the area. At least we could be among like minded folks! (Still, it helps to keep in mind, "It's an alone journey" after all.)

We developed relationships with others that provide services (and help) in this neck of the woods. We are very grateful for their experience and knowledge and knew we needed their opinions. This approach, treating folks as the 'experts' you deem them to be, has created good working relationships with fair-minded folks. We met members of several 'Pioneer' families who loved to share their history.

There is a once-a-month "Ladies gather" that rotates locations each month. It is a pot-luck, and you bring your choice of beverage to share. I met the 'Egg Lady', the 'Honey lady', and discovered who was good with computers, who was bi-lingual, who could sew, make wine, grow gardens, can food, was herbal-efficient, organic, could sing, babysit and could raise sheep. We circulated a "Contact List" and whoever wanted to be on it - is. They developed a call system where you called the people below you on the list. It works well. Several times it was used in emergencies to good advantage. We share a 'plant exchange' in May. We bring extra plant starts, and exchange flowers, veggies, house plants and often clothing exchanges, or items for a local family in need. For holidays, we each brought a poem or song or 'reading' from our many varied backgrounds, in a spirit of co-operation. And, we each helped in a local "professional" cannery, exchanging part of our work, to help make salsa, or to add our tomatoes to be canned for trade!

Learn to grow your own food. Not just tomatoes, although with a bit of seasoning, you will be in enchilada and spaghetti sauce for a long time. We discovered tomatoes stored better, more reliably, in jars. The new lining in the cans does not have the shelf life it used to have. You must learn to do your own canning! And, that means, you must have the proper supplies, now. We recently heard that there are now some "LED" Grow lights and are considering trying them with hydroponics indoors!!

Get a copy of Carla Emery's "The Encyclopedia of Country Living", it's great! Check and see if there is a food-co-op, such as www.azurestandard.com Or www.mountainpeople.com , delivery in your area. We belong to Azure, out of Dufur Oregon, they are in several states now. Call them and ask for your local contact person, and get a customer number, use it to see the 'better' prices on their web site. No tax!! There is also a magazine called, "Countryside (& Small Stock Journal) Magazine" for homesteaders and city folks that want to be living- an Inspired life!

Onward!! ~Niki & Howard

Click here for another posting from Niki and Howard

 

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 Klean Kanteen

Here's a link for more info on BPA: The Green Guide