Medical Monday: Dental Trauma, Part 1
The following post is hosted on DoomandBloom.net and republished in part for you with the author’s permission.
We have discussed the issue of trauma evaluation and treatment in various articles over the past year, but we have rarely brought up the issue of dental trauma. During the Vietnam war, medical personnel reported that there were as many dental issues presented at Sick Call as medical issues. In a collapse situation, therefore, we can expect a percentage of the Survival Medic’s patients to come with dental problems as well. Despite this, few people who are otherwise medically prepared seem to devote much time to dental health.
Today’s dentists have high technology on their side, but this technology will not be available if things go South. Therefore, we look to historical methods of treating these problems. Although some of these methods may not currently be in use, they may suffice to at least temporarily deal with the issue in times of trouble. . Of these issues, some will be related to trauma
Dental trauma may appear in various forms. After an injury to the oral cavity, a person may have:
- a portion of a tooth chipped or broken off (a dental fracture)
- a loose tooth (a dental subluxation)
- a tooth knocked out completely (a dental avulsion)
The anatomy of the tooth is relatively simple for such an important part of our body, and is worth reviewing. The part of the tooth that you see above the gum line is called the “crown”. Below it, you have the “root”. The bony socket that the tooth resides in is called the “alveolus”. Teeth are anchored to the alveolar bone with ligaments, just like you have ligaments holding together your ankle or shoulder.
The tooth is composed of different materials:
Enamel: The hard white external covering of the tooth crown.
Dentin: bony yellowish material under the enamel, and surrounding the pulp.
Pulp: connective tissue with blood vessels and nerves endings in the central portion of the tooth.
When a portion of a tooth is broken off, it is categorized based on the number of layers of the tooth that are exposed. Classically, dentists have referred to these as Ellis class 1, 2, and 3 fractures.
To read more, Click HERE.
Replenishing Your Water Storage
Our friend, The Berkey Guy from LPC Survival, Ltd., has shared this article with us to share with you. Enjoy!
While frequently helping individuals and families set up their emergency drinking water storage, one of the most repeated tips that surfaces is that their water storage should be routinely rotated or replenished within a six to twelve-month period. For many, this comes as an unwelcomed surprise, as if water should just be able to set there for 20 years without any problems!
This brief article offers three points for routinely replenishing existing emergency drinking water storage. It was written for those who already have a basic understanding of sound practices in storing drinking water.
Security & Quality
Replenishing your water storage within a six to twelve month period ensures that the integrity of that water remains complete and that no unwanted influences have compromised the container or the immediate storage environment.
Some authors recommend accessing the water itself and simply closing it back up if all appears alright, but I disagree. The second that the stored water is re-introduced to an outside environment such as air, tools, or hands, the potential for contamination is a done-deal. Sterile technique outside of a lab is impossible which is why I recommend using tamper-proof caps after each replenishing session. This ensures a quick visual evaluation of tampering and compromise. Rest assured, if your technique was appropriate while putting the water into storage, routine replenishing and repeated form will ensure continued success. I also recommend writing the date of storage on each tamper-proof cap as a universal reference point.
The quality of the water is always affected by appropriate storage conditions:
- Using appropriate sources of water (U.S. tap water approved for drinking is a minimum)
- Using virgin (new & unused) containers approved for water storage
- Appropriate water preservative considering container & environment
- Proper filling & sealing techniques
- Out of direct sunlight
- Away from exposure to extreme temperatures
To read the original article, click HERE.
Medical Monday: The Importance of Patient Advocacy
This post is featured courtesy of Dr. Bones & Nurse Amy of DoomandBloom.net. As we are all committed to greater Self-Reliant Living, it remains important to grow in our abilities to provide medical care to our families, especially when immediate professional medical help is unavailable. As Dr. Bones shares in this article, simply being there and being proactively observant can save the life of our loved ones. We all wish Daniel a full recovery under the care of competent and committed providers.
Hey Prepper Nation,
We spend a lot of time on this blog talking about medical issues in times of trouble, from storms to a complete societal breakdown. However, times of trouble can be very personal, such as when you find yourself or a loved one battling a debilitating medical condition.
This has happened to one of my sons, Daniel. Daniel is a 30 year old who has had severe diabetes since he was nine years old. Due to his disease, he has developed kidney failure and partial blindness, and has been on dialysis for the last year. He has been on a kidney and pancreas transplant list since that time.
After a number of false alarms, a kidney and pancreas became available as a result of a drunk driver taking the life of a young father of two as he was riding his bicycle. He underwent the surgery at a large hospital, one of the few in the state that performed this type of procedure. The good news is that the new organs functioned well from the very start, producing urine and lowering his blood sugars to almost normal levels within 24 hours.
Several days after the operation, he was deemed fit enough to leave the Intensive Care Unit and go to a regular floor. This means that, instead of having a nurse specifically for him, he shared a nurse with several other patients. This is standard operating procedure, and usually has no ominous implications.
However, when I went to see him that day, he wasn’t looking well. He seemed pale to me, and his abdomen seemed more distended that it did before. There was a drain coming out of his belly, and it was full of, what seemed to me, frank blood. He was getting vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, etc.) taken every 4 hours, and the chart appeared to show that he was stable and doing fine.
Seeing the blood draining out of his abdomen concerned me. I took his vitals myself earlier than scheduled; he was tachycardic (pulse very fast) and his blood pressure had dropped. As I was unable to find medical staff, I emptied the bloody drain and it filled up again (and again) within 2-3 minutes. It was clear to me that he was bleeding internally, and it was a significant amount. He was heavily sedated and wasn’t complaining; I doubt , since he is nearly blind, he could find the button to push to notify the nurse even if he was awake.
This was late at night, and most visitors had left. Staffing was light, also, and it took some time to find his nurse, who was attending to another patient. My surgeon’s hackles were raised, and I (not ashamed to say) raised a ruckus which led to an overworked resident to take a look at him. To her credit, it was clear that something was wrong, and he returned to surgery. They wound up removing 3000-4000cc of free blood from his abdomen and stopping the hemorrhage.
He is back in the ICU and, thankfully, his kidney and pancreas are still functioning. However, thinking about this episode, it was clear to me that it could have ended very badly. If not identified in time, it’s very likely that I would have received a call in the morning notifying me that he passed away during the night.
I’m telling you this story not to gain sympathy or a pat on the back, but to convince you of the importance of being a patient advocate for your loved ones who are experiencing a medical TEOTWAWKI. If, like many of our readers, you are working to become a better medical asset to your people in hard times, then you must take patient advocacy as serious as learning first aid.
Most healthcare providers see themselves as advocates for their patients, but they are limited by their workload and many other duties, especially in public or university settings. Having an outside person who is invested in protecting their loved ones is important; it’s too easy to get lost in the system, and a hospital patient is often in too weakened a state to fend for themselves. You don’t have to be a medical professional to be a patient advocate. Most are just friends and family who offer their time and support to help the patient communicate with their doctors and cope with a process that is often confusing and, frequently, just plain scary.
Nurses are often excellent choices as patient advocates, as are any of you who have taken on the responsibility of survival medic. Ethically, you are honor-bound to be committed to the medical welfare of those in your family or group. Part of this duty is to protect the rights of the patient. You will be required to be inquisitive regarding the care given, as well as courageous and vocal in your dealings with healthcare providers. It helps a little to be a diplomat, as well, but I’ll take the first two requirements over that.
Many consider a hospitalization a time to heal quietly, but the patient is best served by participating in their medical process. This means steering their providers to a course of action that is best for them, not the system. If the patient is too weak to take on this burden, then someone else must. Some hospitals, to their credit, have patient advocates on staff; better, though, to have a dedicated and supportive friend or family member to run the gauntlet for them. That person must follow Ol’ Dr. Bones’ Three A’s of Advocacy:
- Accept the importance of a patient’s rights.
- Advise the patient so that they can be a full partner in the therapeutic process.
- Act to run interference between patients and their caregivers to ensure that the patient receives the best care possible for their condition.
My son is still in a fragile state, and I can’t tell you how he will end up. I CAN tell you that he is still alive, and he has advocates that will fight for him. Pick up the flag, and protect those who might not be able to protect themselves. It’s up to you.
Dr. Bones
Self-Reliance Expo: The School of Natural Healing
The director of The School of Natural Healing, David W. Christopher, along with his team will be attending the Self-Reliance Expo in Mesquite, Texas this weekend in booths 306-308. He will be lecturing on “Self-Reliant Health” at 4 PM on Friday, and also 3 PM on Saturday.
Having been raised in the simple ways of natural health, David’s interests grew beyond his university study and in 1974 he focused on the discipline of Herbology. In 1979 he became a Master Herbalist and the director of The School of Natural Healing.Today, thousands safely apply the Christopher methodology thanks to his directorship.
David is an international lecturer and was instrumental in establishing England’s College of Herbs and Natural Healing. He is the author of An Herbal Legacy of Courage and various articles on herbs and nutrition have been published in many magazines. David and his wife Fawn host a weekly radio program, “A Healthier You“.
The School of Natural Healing has five college which offer courses:
- College of Aromatherapy
- College of Herbal Medicine
- College of Homeopathy
- College of Iridology
- College of Reflexology
David W. Christopher is pictured in the blue polo on the right.
Self-Reliance Expo: FalloutX
FalloutX provides products designed to handle minor, moderate, and acute fallout associated with radioactive events. Their website has many articles to support the education of their product’s use. They offer solutions beyond the traditional potassium iodate/iodide that most Americans only learned about as a result of Daichi’s disaster last spring.
On their site, they also offer valuable maps that provide real-time information on conditions, weather patterns, and detected radiation. Access their maps by clicking HERE.
From their website:
- If you are in the northern hemisphere, what level of Fukushima fallout are you breathing, eating, and drinking?
- Do you live near a nuclear power plant where an earthquake, flood, or similar event could cause fallout?
The U.S. Government, in 1963, sanctioned the addition of pectin in the Alaskan Brooks Range Native diet. Average total body load of radio-nuclides (radioactive fallout) was 100 times above normal. Decades later, LM pectin and kelp were administered to the children of Belarus, dramatically reducing their high body-load of 137Cs and 90Sr particles. *
Please visit their website and also be sure to visit them at the Self-Reliance Expo, booth 312.
Self-Reliance Expo: Dallas Chicken Coops
We are pleased to announce that DallasChickenCoops.com will be attending the Self-Reliance Expo this weekend in Mesquite, Texas! They will be in booths 510-512 and will be glad to answer your questions regarding building your own chicken coops, chicken coop plans & blueprints, valuable resources available to raising poultry, and many more topics related to the subject.
From their website:
Our main focus is chicken coops. There are several challenges when trying to find the right chicken coop. There are usually not that many designs available locally. So, many chicken owners are faced with building a chicken house themselves or paying to have one shipped to them. Shipping these chicken coops is not cheap!
We offer a different solution! We will bring the chicken coop to you in the Dallas area. We can build the coop on site. You can choose from any of the designs we have available or we can do custom work to suit your needs. We can build custom chickens coops in your backyard. Tell us what you want and we will get you a free quote.
Please be sure to pay them a visit and get their advice on chicken coops.
Cast Iron Collection Contest, Inspired by Backwoods Home Magazine Article: Cast Iron Loaf Pans from Breakfast to Dessert
The following article from Backwoods Home Magazine has inspired a contest over this next week. We are looking for pictures of your cast iron cookware. Please post your pictures to the Self-Reliance Expo Facebook Fanpage. The winner will receive a FREE year subscription to Backwoods Home Magazine. The article is available online and in the print edition, and was written by Matt & Linda Morehouse.
“Cast iron loaf pans are not just for bread. Nearly as versatile as the cast iron 10-inch (#8) covered skillet, the venerable cast iron loaf pan will truly see you from breakfast to dessert — and all points in between.
“Want proof? Here are four recipes ideal for cast iron loaf pans. One is for breakfast, one for anytime bread, one for a dinner entrée, and one for dessert.
(Click on the images to visit the original article at Backwoods Home Magazine)
Quick Video-Tips for the Urban Homesteader
The following clips are from Christropher Nyerges‘ appearance on National Geographic’s “Doomsday Preppers” show. He’s a smart guy who is also extremely resourceful…he should be, considering he’s living in Los Angeles, California! Christopher also attended the Self-Reliance Expo in Salt Lake City, Utah last fall, promoting his School of Self-Reliance.
Meet Christopher Nyerges Video
Make a Survival Bag
How to Start a Fire
How to Forage
Using Nature to Heal
You will be able to watch this season’s new series premiere of Doomsday Preppers on the National Geographic channel Tuesday, February 7, 9 PM ET/PT.
Self-Reliance Expo’sed Radio Show, Friday, January 28, 2012
Join Colorado Ron & Bubba Davinci on their show tonight 8 pm Central on the Preparedness Radio Network. (Click the image for the link or click HERE.)
This week 1/27/2012, on Self-Reliance Expozed, the official Self-Reliance Expo radio show, your hosts Colorado Ron and Bubba DaVinci will be introducing themselves and discussing what the future brings for both the Self-Reliance Expo and Self Reliance Expo’zed.
Tonight they’ll have a special guest who is a long time supporter of the Self-Reliance movement and creator of one of the best solar back-up power units on the market The Humless Sentinel. We will also be introducing a segment called “Radiation Watch”.
BHM Radio and Self Reliance Exposed will alternate weeks in this time slot, Friday at 8pm Central. Please join us again next week for our BHM Radio Show!
Featured Product: The Doom and Bloom™ Survival Medicine Handbook
I, for one, am super-excited to pick up Dr. Bones & Nurse Amy’s new book: 
Check out the trailer for the new book:
We look forward to reviewing this book & posting that review here…Stay Tuned!
-David SafeWater
Dallas, Texas Self-Reliance Expo: WIN FREE Tickets!!!
With the Dallas’ Self-Reliance Expo right around the corner February 10-11, we want to give individuals and families the opportunities to win FREE tickets to the Self-Reliance Expo! (It’s actually gonna happen in Mesquite, just east of Dallas). What we are looking for:
- Entertaining videos which highlight/demonstrate your most innovative Self-Reliance Creations, Contraptions, or Inventions (this can include modifications to products that you use or a tool that you created to fit your needs)
- A brief & entertaining instructional video that teaches a Self-Reliance Skill or Short-Cut
- A 2-3 minute silent video on anything Self-Reliance themed:
- Comedy/Parody
- Educational
- Entertaining/Creative
- Product Review
- A humorous video that features a song you write & perform on:
- Self-Reliance
- the Benefits/Joys of being a Prepper
- Buggin’ Out
- Things Preppers Say
- Life on the Homestead
We have plenty of tickets to give away for the most creative, fun, and entertaining submissions, so have fun & be SAFE! Only selected submissions will win tickets to the event. Winners will be selected by judges from the Self-Reliance Expo, based on creativity & entertainment. We look forward to seeing your content!
It almost goes without saying, but please remember that the content should be appropriate for families to share & we will be featuring the winners on the Self-Reliance Facebook fanpage, an interview, and will likely be featured on other websites online. By submitting the content, you are allowing the Self-Reliance Expo to use that content in a promotional manner, with the opportunity to win a prize of tickets for admission to the Self-Reliance Expo referenced above. You must be the original producer of the content that you submit. Any prizes awarded for selected & featured content do not hold cash value, void where prohibited, winner must confirm contact, blah, blah, blah…
Several Ways to Submit Content:
- Upload your content to your YouTube account & Email the link to david[at]selfrelianceexpo[dot]com, or
- Upload your content to your Facebook account & share it on the Self-Reliance Expo Facebook Fanpage, or
- Send an Email to: david[at]selfrelianceexpo[dot]com with a link to your content outside of Youtube & Facebook
Winning submissions will be notified via email and announced here & on the Self-Reliance Facebook Fanpage. Content will be accepted until February 6, 2012, with the earliest announcement of Ticket winners beginning this Saturday, January 28, 2012. We are accepting submissions from anywhere and everywhere. Remember: be safe, have fun, and be creative!
I’m thinking that if we get enough submissions…we can open it up for a grand prize winner to be announced at the February’s Self-Reliance Expo…the Grand Prize will be awarded to the winner there. The Grand Prize is yet to be determined….but it’s gonna be GOOD!
-David SafeWater
Featured Post: Recycling a Glass Bottle Pantry Paratus Style
Our friends Wilson & Chaya at PantryParatus.com wrote a great article, and we are featuring it here with their permission. Enjoy!
Convenience is pretty expensive. The just-in-time logistics system has changed our shopping experience in the Industrialized world. If you pick up the last bottle of ketchup on the shelf, there is no such thing as “the back room” for someone to check to see if there is more.
I have bargain hunting in my genetic makeup. I come from a long line of blue-collar immigrants who worked beyond modern imagination and were determined to get ahead in this great country. My grandmother lived through the Great Depression in a family of ten children. Her pantry was stocked deep at any given time. She gardened actively throughout the summer and always had food in the refrigerator. To her credit, I would put that below the fishes and loaves miracle when you consider how many grandsons she had. If you left her house hungry, it was your own fault. Her basement could have been a Cool-Whip museum for all of the washed, dried, sorted and organized-by-size containers that she kept down there.
So when I passed by this bottle in the break room at work, my upbringing kicked in and I reflexively picked it up to examine it and see what other purpose it might fulfill. After all, the price was right—it was being thrown away. Here is a short list:
- Lightning bug catcher—it is winter in Montana, bummer
- Soil sample container—see conclusion number one
- Yellow jacket trap— see conclusion number one
- Seed sprouter—cool
- Head bonker—as seen on the movie, The Gods Must be Crazy
- Food storage container—yes, my grandmother would be proud!
Then the idea hit me that this bottle had a capacity in fluid ounces, but how much food could it store for me?
Great thoughts often sneak up on you, and it eventually came to me that frozen vegetables were on sale at the local grocery store. We dehydrate with our Excalibur 9 Tray pretty much all the time. Bananas were on sale this week and so we have banana chips in process as I write this.
First of all, why glass? As fantastic as plastic is for space exploration, medical devices or fishing line—not all food plastics are the same. We typically reuse all of our glass jars in our house. A spaghetti sauce jar is on a one way trip when it leaves the store. With this experiment, I wanted to reclaim something from the waste stream that can be used for our profit. A post-consumer glass bottle can be taken to the dump or to the bank.
Secondly, why fill the bottle with dehydrated food? I have seen some interesting experiments done with commodities such as rice, oatmeal and wheat in post-consumer bottles before, and I do like the idea. Storing food in a five gallon pail is great, but if you want oatmeal do you really want to break the seal on a five gallon pail for one or two breakfast servings? Ditto for wheat or rice in a spaghetti sauce jar.
There are lots of great posts on the internet telling you how to store water–slightly chlorinated in a two liter soda bottle under the bed is great peace of mind. And it is mighty cheap insurance if you are in earthquake country.
Lastly, why frozen vegetables? Anything that goes into the dehydrator with as much cellulose and fiber as a carrot or corn kernel needs to be blanched first. If you are not familiar with blanching, here is a great article on it from our friend Sharon Peterson at simplycanning.com. Basically you dip the item in boiling water to soften the outside so that you avoid “case hardening” in the dehydrator. You would have to look long and hard to see the down side to something that is blanched (dehydrator ready), pre cut and on sale!
- Step one: wash and dry bottle.
- Step two: dump frozen vegetables on dehydrator tray.
- Step three: set time for dehydrator.
- Step four: put dehydrated vegetables in the bottle.
- Step five (optional): add oxygen absorber
Here are the vegetables at 12 hours:
Here are the vegetables at 24 hours:
Done!
Later, when frozen vegetables are not on sale, you can still enjoy them in a soup or stew anytime. They will always be on sale to you because you preserved them minus the risk of freezer burn.
I managed to get two one-pound bags into the bottle. As you can see, 2 ½ pounds would have easily made it in there. These will go on the shelf without any further cost to store them.
Wilson
Pro Deo et Patria
Dallas, Texas Self-Reliance Expo: G & R Foods, Red Feather Butter & Cheese, & Bega Cheddar Cheese
Last week, I had the opportunity to speak with Laurie Gawronski of G & R Foods, Incorporated. Laurie heads the sales of Ballantyne Butter and Bega canned cheddar cheese. Although G & R is based in Wisconsin, they are the largest domestic wholesaler of New Zealand’s Ballantyne butter brand and the nation’s exclusive importer of Australia’s Bega cheddar cheese.
Laurie confirmed that not only will samples of the butter & cheese be available at the Expo, but there will also be an incentive for group purchases of the products. According to her, group buys of the product are popular because of their established and well-known quality. In fact, I also learned that G & R will also have a newer product available at the show. I will let you know more about that product within the next couple of weeks before the Expo, running February 10-11, 2012 in Mesquite, Texas.
Ballantyne's Red Feather Creamery Butter
Ballantyne Butter
Ballantyne is the world’s largest producer of canned butter. Sealed airtight for maximum freshness, this canned butter delivers convenience in the form of extended shelf-life and easy distribution without the need for refrigeration. Take it anywhere. It’s ideal for camping, boating and remote areas where refrigeration is not available. There is no defined expiration date because its shelf-life is primarily dependent upon storage conditions (temperature, humidity, altitude, sunlight/shade, etc.) G& R Foods, Inc., does guarantee the shelf life for two years however, the actual shelf life of the butter will ultimately depend on the storage conditions (temperature being the main factor) and the seal of the can remaining intact. Protection from exposure to oxygen & extreme temperatures will make the butter last for a very long time. Oh, and there are no artificial colors or preservatives. Ballantyne butter is a product of New Zealand.
Bega Cheddar Cheese
Bega Cheese
Bega has been making cheese since 1899 and has found a way to put great tasting cheddar cheese in a can. This product has a natural cream color with medium cheddar flavor and a pleasing texture. The cheese is easy to cut, grate or slice. It’s great melted on a burger, on hashbrowns or just straight out of the can. There is no expiration date on the cans, only the date of production. These cans are guaranteed for 730 days, but if stored properly, will last much longer. This cheese is also hormone free. There are no artificial colors or flavors.
Shelf Reliance Consultants @ Dallas, Texas Self-Reliance Expo, Feb. 10-11, 2012
Texas Shelf Reliance®
For those of you out there who enjoy the free samples given out at Costco, Farmer’s Markets, or In-Home Presentations, you’re in for a treat at the upcoming Self-Reliance Expo just outside of Mesquite, Texas in three weeks. A team of select Independent Consultants from Shelf-Reliance® & Thrive™ Foods will be there, coordinated by John & Diane Runnells. The Runnells are based out of North Richland Hills, Texas and are excited to share their experience and knowledge of their products.
Shelf Reliance® Consultants will include (click on any one of the links to visit their independent sites):
- John & Diane Runnells, serving North Richland Hills, Texas area
- Vicki & Emmett Koen, serving the Canton, Texas area
- Krystal Windham, also serving the Canton, Texas area
- Carrie & Michale Folsom, serving the Forney, Texas area
John & company will have fresh samples available as well as a display of their practical shelving options for storing & rotating home food storage cans. They look forward to answering your questions & arranging free consultations for individuals as well as families. Having tasted tons samples of the Thrive™ Foods, I can vouch for their quality and goodness!
Please be sure to visit their websites where there are many valuable tools available to guide your food storage. Some of the free online tools available through Shelf Reliance® include:
- Their online store of course!
- Food Calculator- calculate your family’s food storage needs
- Shelf Reliance® University- learn about food storage & becoming better prepared
- Recipes- get tastefully creative with your food storage!
- How to host a Food Storage Party in your Home
- The Thrive™ Q- develop your own personalized food storage solutions
- & Many more…
We look forward to seeing you all in Dallas! Please visit www.SelfRelianceExpo.com for details. To order discounted tickets, please visit the Self Reliance Expo Fanpage on Facebook & be sure to Like it.
-David SafeWater
Lehman’s 2012 Cast Iron Recipe Drawing: Enter to Win a Gift Card!
Lehman’s-”the world’s purveyor of historical non-electric merchandise technology”- is hosting a drawing for a recipe which utilizes cast iron cookware in one of four possible categories:
- Main Dish
- Dessert
- Bread
- Breakfast
I want to point out that this is a drawing and not a contest to select a preferred recipe. All submissions/entries must be received by Lehman’s by February 1, 2012 at the latest, and the drawing will occur approximately one week later. One winning entry will be selected per each category, with each winner receiving a gift card, redeemable at Lehman’s for products they sell.
Once the winners are selected, their names will be posted on Lehman’s blog. Please visit Lehman’s.com for full details regarding the drawing, and GOOD LUCK!
Frugal Friday Feature: Money Mistakes Frugal People Make
The following post quotes an original article written by Emily Guy Birken at CashMoneyLife.com. I am posting my thoughts on her points in that article titled Mistakes Frugal People Make.
Emily’s first example of attempted frugality does a great job at reminding us that many times cheaper is more expensive!
After my son was born, I decided that I wanted to start running to get back into shape. I knew that the best jogging strollers were expensive, but I also knew they were like any other fitness equipment: people used them once or twice and then let them collect dust. I went on Craig’s List, found a jogging stroller in nearby Indianapolis, and happily handed over cash, feeling smugly superior to those retail-paying saps out there.
Except this purchase was a big mistake. The stroller was badly worn, missing a cup holder (a necessity for runners) and seemed to want to pitch my son on the ground anytime I went faster than a trot. I later found out I could have gotten the same stroller new for only about $40 more than I spent…
Craigslist has helped me save a ton of money. There are tons of similar sites which provide the same convenience of “free and quick.” There are also lots of scams to avoid. It may sound trite, but my rule of thumb in using classified sites and buying products: I don’t buy it unless I’m OK with throwing that money away. Some things are worth the cost of buying them new or from a reliable source, like:
- expensive electronics or expensive equipment- with little or no documentation on maintenance/performance, you’re risking using a product that is faulty. It may turn on and work for a while, but it might have a problem which motivated its sale for some quick cash.
- software- Example: If you find Adobe’s CS5.5 for way under it’s lowest price on reputable sites like Amazon, for like 50 bucks, then I’d keep shopping. It will likely prove pirated, may not function because it is a copy, or have a bunk activation code.
- jewelry or genuine precious metals- I am not trained in jewelry appraisal and would not recommend this unless you’re pawn-store sidekick best friend is willing to join you in exchange for lunch.
Emily shares the following four examples to illustrate. Here is her list (my thoughts are italicized):
1. Using credit for the rewards.
While there are many great credit cards that offer cash back and other rewards, sometimes it’s easy to forget that you’re using a credit card that will charge you interest. It can be tempting to look at the percentage you get back for each purchase and whip out the card for everyday and extraordinary expenses. That’s why the credit companies offer these rewards. But if you’re not able to pay off the card each month, it doesn’t matter what perks are offered: you’re paying interest. Only use credit if you have a plan to pay it off each month.
Point 1 Response:
Pay off your credit card monthly…it’s as simple as that! She references points and rewards and stuff, but ultimately the main strategy in using a card is to leverage the lending offer of credit card companies…EXTENDING CREDIT. Although you may not be rewarded by the issuing credit card company for using their money without giving them any, lol.
2. Overplanning.
I’m a big believer in planning ahead as a method for keeping control of my finances. However, there is such a thing as too much planning. When I purchased pounds of organic carrots on sale to make into baby food and freeze, I thought I was being savvy. Unfortunately, my son refused to touch carrots leaving me with a lot of frozen orange mush. Always plan for a little uncertainty. Too rigid a budget, monthly menu plan or grocery list might end up costing you in the long run.
Point 2 Response:
She really is talking about knowing your consumption behavior more than planning your budget here. Being savvy about a great sale is not relevant if you would never use the discounted products…unless you’d resell them! Even so, plan your work & work your plan.
3. Spending a dollar to save a nickel.
This is a common problem among the frugal types. You may be able to get cheaper groceries 20 miles down the road, but is it worth the gas to get there? What about talking yourself into buying a house because you will be able to claim the mortgage interest deduction in your taxes? Don’t let your frugal mindset make you forget the big picture.
Point 3 Response:
The reference to grocery savings vs. money lost in gas is only one aspect of saving money & is old. Perhaps the most important factor in spending is the ability to make purchases of quality; products that will last & perform well! ROI ring a bell?
4. Forgetting what your time is worth. I used to bake bread weekly—it was cheaper and tasty. But as my time becomes more and more crunched, it’s worth it to me to buy store bought. For anything DIY, from cooking to home improvement, take the time to weigh how long it will take you versus how much it will cost you to contract it out. Sometimes it’s worth your money to have more free time.
Response to point 4
I’m a real idealist, meaning that I materialize my ideals. Bread-baking is one of those ideals: the ability to consume fresh whole wheat with minimum cost & simple preps, and enjoy it with family & friends. I will continue to bake bread weekly…to me it’s about being a productive consumer. I don’t blame her for wanting to leverage her time…just be careful about the “weighing time” in analyzing. There is such a thing as analysis-paralysis, that is counter-productive. It’s OK to spread tasks over time. Just be sure to run your schedule, not the other way around.
Read Emily’s original article HERE.
The Benefits of Cinnamon
Cinnamon serves uses beyond bread pudding, french toast, and tea. In fact, Pliny the Elder referenced an unknown native people’s guarding of a pricey cinnamon by “a terrible kind of bats,” circa 77 AD.1 Both bark and flower have their practical application. Following are some important facts about cinnamon which should prove useful to you.
Both cassia and true cinnamon come from the genus Cinnamomum (C.), and the Lauraceae family. Although related, cassia (Cinnamomum aromaticum or Cinnamomum cassia) is not to be confused with true cinnamon, Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum or Cinnamomum verum). Cassia identifies cinnamon originating from Southeast Asia and which is the commonly available ground cinnamon here in the States.
Constituents of cinnamon include coumarins, gum, mucilage, sugars, tannins, and volatile oil.1
Bark
Ceylon cinnamon and cassia are easily distinguished by their unique roll structures, texture, and colors:
Ceylon cinnamon have an identifiable single roll, are thin, brittle, and tan in color.
Cassia rolls look like scrolls (double-roll), are thick, hard, and dark brown.
Typically, the bark of cinnamon is used orally. My copy of Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database 2 cites the following ailments/conditions associated with its oral application, as a(n):
- anthelmintic- used in addressing parasitic intestinal worms
- antidiarrheal- used to treat diarrhea
- antiflatulent- used to reduce intestinal gas
- antimicrobial- kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms
- antispasmodic- used to suppress smooth muscle spasms within the gastrointestinal tract
- appetite stimulant
Twigs
The Chinese name for cinnamon twigs is gui zhi.
Traditionally, the Chinese use the twigs (gui zhi) to stimulate circulation in the hands and feet, enhancing warmth. Its ability to promote sweating assists in caring for individuals with colds.1
Essential Oil
Cinnamon in the essential oil form is often produced via steam or water extraction from the inner bark of the tree.
References
1 Ody, Penelope. The Complete Medicinal Herbal. 1st ed. New York: DK Publishing, Inc.; 1993: 192 p.
2 Jellin JM, Gregory PJ, Batz F, Hitchens, K, et al. Pharmacist’s Letter/Prescriber’s Letter Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. 5th ed. Stockton, CA: Therapeutic Research Faculty; 2003: pg. 358.
3 EverythingDoTerra, n.d. Cassia Cinnamomum cassia. http://www.everythingessential.me/Oils/Cassia.html. Accessed 2011 November 1.
4 Abundant Health. Modern Essentials: A Contemporary Guide to the Therapeutic Use of Essential Oils. Utah: Abundant Health; 2011: 235 p.
Beekeeping 101…A Sweet Resource
Kate Ferry is a beekeeper in Custer, Washington. Her blog is SacredBee.net and offers great information about beekeeping, as well as many matters focusing on self-reliance. She writes:
- Are you fascinated by the honeybee?
- Do you have access to a bit of land? Anything over about 20 feet by 20 feet will do just fine.
- Are you interested in reaping the benefits of a well-pollinated, seasonally rounded garden?
- Do you have a spare hour every two weeks or so?
- Do you have a sweet tooth for honey?
And, last but not least…
- Can you check off the “no” box on the doctor’s information form that asks “Are you allergic to bees”?
If you can answer yes to these questions – any or all of them – then beekeeping might just “bee” the thing for you.
I first became interested in honeybees while studying anthropology in college a few years ago. The social structure of the honeybee is unlike any other living organism and the level of organization, community and work ethic is second to none. Inside the hive, they are truly remarkable creatures. Outside the hive, they are both critically beneficial and incredibly fascinating to study.
After graduating from college, I enrolled in a six-week course at a honeybee learning centre just outside Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was an intense learning environment and it only fueled my interest and determination to bring honeybees into my life.
That next spring I jumped in headfirst and haven’t turned my back on them since. For the past seven years, I have enjoyed keeping bees at my homestead in northwest Washington. And, through trials and tribulations have managed to keep the honeybee a sacred part of my life and that of my family.
But, back to you and keeping YOUR bees…
1 - First things first – Read up on honeybees. Get familiar with the terms and the level of time involved. Start to understand the basics and what you will be tackling when you make the commitment.
My absolute favorite book on beekeeping goes by a somewhat embarrassing moniker, but it’s loaded with quality information that is presented in an easy-to-follow format – whether you are a complete novice or well-practiced beekeeper.
Beekeeping For Dummies by Howland Blackiston and Kim Flottum
The second and third book worth taking a peek at are Natural Beekeeping: Organic Approaches to Modern Apiculture by Ross Conrad & Gary Nabhan and The Backyard Beekeeper – Revised and Updated: An Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Keeping Bees in Your Yard and Garden by Kim Flottum.
Still ready to keep going? Good, because you’re gonna have fun!
2 – Find your local beekeeper’s association and check it out. And, if you are lucky enough to find one or get to a meeting and meet one – try, try, try to hook up with a mentor that you can observe in the field and go to with question after concern after inquiry.
3 – Get your ducks, er bees, in a row. Find that plot of land to keep your hives. Order your gear through a local supplier or a number of online retailers including Mann Lake and Glory Bee. Start-up cost for one single hive and all brand-new gear is going to be about $200 to $300. Be on the lookout for used beekeeping gear (hat, suit, smoker, etc…) but, be wary of used equipment (hive boxes, frames, tools). Hive parts can harbor diseases and parasites that may have infected the previous colony and transfer over to your new, healthy bees.
4 – Scout out sources for acquiring your bees. A box of bees is going to run you about $80 and a nucleus colony is around $100.
- Order them online through a retailer of choice
- Get in with your local beekeeper’s association and join in on their group order
- For the brave at heart – capture a swarm (a.k.a. FREE BEES!!)
5 – Enroll in a formal course. If you live in the Pacific Northwest, check out the Honeybee Centre in Surrey, B.C., Canada. Otherwise, you can check out your nearest university and ask to speak with their agriculture department. Most state universities offer extension courses at the very least, but a number of them have an apiculturist on staff, too!
Well, if you know you aren’t planning on keeping honeybees, thank you for sticking with me and reading the past 600 words. The next bit pertains to those interested in welcoming honeybees into the garden and providing a safe haven for an endangered insect.
The past five years have seen an enormous decline in honeybee colonies.
The honeybee population is vanishing at an apocalyptic rate and keepers are opening the hives in spring to find them empty. The fate of the honeybee is particularly worrisome when considering that over one-third of the food on our table is the direct result of honeybee pollination.
So, even if you aren’t interested or can’t keep honeybees, you would doing a world of good to educate yourself on how to help keep them relatively safe and enjoy the benefits of their industrious work ethic.
How can you help?
Keep that garden natural – a bonus for the honeybee, your home, your health and your environment! Avoid pesticides at all costs and work with natural, environmentally friendly products. Or, embrace the weeds.
Try to have a variety of flowers and plants in your yard that are in bloom all year round. Think early spring to harvest time – work with the dandelions in April and finish with some sedum in late fall.
Get those wasps. Wasps are carnivores that feed on honeybees. A hive can be severely incapacitated by a wasp attack and the only evidence for the keeper is the body remnants after wasps have dissected the abdomens of the bees. Wasp queens are all that live over winter and are responsible for starting the entire hive on their own come spring. So, each wasp you kill in late winter or early spring (you know those sneaky slow movers that come out of the wood pile?) is one wasp hive down. An affordable and effective organic bait for wasps is half orange juice/half water in any sort of trap. If you use a sugar bait – you are going to be killing honeybees, too (a big no-no).
Host a hive. Contact your local beekeeping association and let them know you are interested in hosting a hive. Your provide the land and an experienced beekeeper provides and cares for the bees and gives you a portion of the honey harvest for your support and participation. Can you say win-win?!
Keeping bees is a wonderful hobby, but is understandably not for everyone. Even if honeybees are not an integral part of your life, they can find nectar and pollen from organic sources in your yard.
Give beekeeping a whirl – it’s truly a delightful pastime and a special stewardship to the honeybee.
StockUpFood- How do I calculate my food storage?
One of the reasons I have a such a great time traveling to Utah is because of the almost endless amount of creative products & services having to do with Self-Reliance, Homesteading, Emergency Preparedness, and just plain old frugal living. I recently met two brothers who have created the coolest functional and neatest looking site aimed at helping people calculate the basics for food storage…and emergency supplies…
Please visit this site and set up a FREE account!
Here’s why I signed up with them:
- I started off with the free version and experienced just how simple it is.
- After I set-up my account & inputted where I’m currently at, I decided that I wanted to extend my goal & customize my plan.
- In order to customize your plan, you’ll need to pay for the upgrade…only $3 a month!!!
- Once you upgrade, you can also input your current inventory of Emergency Supplies & customize that plan too!
- Their site is super simple to navigate…and it’s a great looking one too!
Another aspect I liked about their customization option is that it allows a family like mine to address dietary requirements specific to our situation…same goes with the Emergency Supplies option in their “recommended account”. The recommended account is their way of referring to the paid version.
Check them out & have a blast!
-HomesteadBasics
Win A Country Living Grain Mill
Open to the public! Here is your chance to win a Country Living Grain Mill!
Only at the Self Reliance Expo
April 8-9, 2011
National Western Complex
Denver CO
View a demo below:
School of Natural Healing
Below is a great presentation given by David Christopher at the Self Reliance Expo. David’s father is the one who started The School of Natural Healing. He offers some great advice about how to heal yourself naturally where there is no medicine.
Emergency Solar Power Setup
I like this easy setup, especially how the guy used light switch panel to select which room gets power. Slick!
Check out this link: www.thereadystore.com Great survival supplies at great prices!! I am a affiliate, its a great company to buy from… This is my 45 watt solar panel setup. I purchased this kit from Harbor freight for about $200. I use it for lighting in my home, as well different power tools around the house. This is a great source of power in the event of power failures (which happens often). Please comment if you have any question, comments, or concerns… Please subscribe as I plan on adding to this setup and posting more videos.
Condor Urban GO BAG
The Condor Urban Go bag is very sweet. Capable of carrying a ton of gear and best of all, a slick laptop storage compartment.
Benchtop of the COndor Urban GO BAG available at www.SunflowerAmmo.com.
SOG SEAL Pup vs. Camillus Pilot Survival Knife / Ontario 499 ASEK review & demonstration
I too have both of these knives. They are both great knives. I agree with the outcome as well. Good side by side comparisons.
Which knife is better, the SOG SEAL Pup or the Camillus Pilot Survival Knife? They’re similar in size but differ greatly in weight and blade material. The Camillus is much heavier due to the awesome butt cap on the handle, and the SOG’s serrations are far superior to the saw teeth on the ASEK. The Camillus blade is 4-7/8″ long and is made of 1095 tool steel, which is easy to sharpen. The saw teeth on the spine work well on wire and nails, but fall short on cutting metal and plastic sheeting.The size of the blade and the protective metal casing on the sheath make this a safe choice for all skill levels. The Camillus Pilot Survival Knife is on the “must have” list of many survivalists for three simple reasons: It’s a comfortable, safe, and reliable survival tool. The SOG SEAL Pop is light, balanced, and tough. The blade is made of AUS 6 S/S, which makes it hard to get a good edge in the field. That said, it maintains an edge better than a softer blade. I’d recommend the SOG SEAL Pup knife to anyone looking for a decent camping/utility knife. A straight edge would be better for bushcraft, but for urban survival applications, the serrations will gnaw right through metals, plastics, nylons, and other synthetics with ease. The protective sheath and managable size make this a safe knife for all skill levels. Which knife proves best? Watch the video and find out. Be sure to leave comments and a rating. I just sold my Camillus 499 to survival instructor Paul Tarsitano of www …