Hi Everyone,
NOTES:
* I found this “Scout Survival Kit.” It includes suggestions for first aid, shelter, water, fire, food, knife, signals, everyday carry items, compact survival kit, and optional items. Mountainman’s Mantra: Scout Survival Kit Considerations
* Mountain man also has a blog about making fires: Mountainman’s Mantra: A Fire Kit
And making a tarp shelter: Mountainman’s Mantra: Tarp Survival Shelter Weekend
GARDEN HAPPENINGS:
I’m continuing to clean up the garden and get things pruned. I cut back the raspberries, and need to get started on the blackberries. I have an errant potato plant growing. Three celery plants are still producing. Also the herbs: oregano, basil, and parsley are hanging in there. I pick and dehydrated the herbs every few weeks. I moved my two green pepper plants into a sunnier location. They are still putting out peppers.
I let a few lettuce plants go to seed. I never picked the flowers, but somehow they have blown into the lettuce beds and I have volunteer lettuce plants–just in time for cooler weather. Yay!!!
LONG-TERM FOCUS: Baby Items
One of the saddest stories I heard was after Hurricane Katrina. New Orleans was flooded and a lot of people were moved to Houston. One mother of two babies in diapers had nothing. She was left to beg on the street for food. But also diapers. She talked about having to scrape out the diapers and put them back on her babies. She talked about going to gas stations and trying to get people to help her.
We know that empty grocery shelves are only a few days away and can stay empty for weeks.
Get cloth diapers!! Even if you never have to use them. You could get a bucket at Lowes, with a lid, and store the cloth diapers in it. If you have to use the diapers, you could use the bucket to keep them in between washes. You “could” store baby wipes, but you could also just store a few washrags, then wash them along with the diapers. Stick in some Desitin, and baby powder, and you’re good to go. Maybe add a small container of bleach. (Fill the bucket with water, and add a little bleach to soak the diapers between washes.)
Another item that is really cool is this:
It’s for grinding your own baby food. The top lifts out, you put food inside (fruit, veggies) and press down as you turn the handle. Instant baby food. In an emergency, it would be the perfect thing for feeding infants and toddlers. Fresh Baby Food Mill | Easily purees food for baby | Seperates seeds & skins from puree, Compact size, No batteries or electricity needed, Dishwasher safe : Baby
I’m pretty sure that after I bought this, I never bought baby food again.
SHORT TERM STORAGE: Mayonnaise
So many times I have thought about making my own mayonnaise. This is it. Check out how easy it is:
Easy Homemade Mayo! | Scratch Pantry
She used a large mouth pint jar.
1 egg
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp mustard
1 c. oil
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
72 HOUR KIT FOCUS: trash bags
When we went camping last summer, I was surprised at how many bags we used. We used one for trash, of course, and one for dirty clothes. I think we used one for the BBQ grill that was too dirty to just put in the car. You could even use them as raincoats. I can’t remember what else, but I took A LOT with us and was glad I did. You can put 1-2 in your 72 hour kit, or just put several in the car.
FOOD STORAGE RECIPES:
Dutch Apple Pie
Filling:
2 c. dried apples, firmly packed
2 c. boiling water. Pour water over the apples and let stand for at least 10 minutes. When apples are rehydrated, mix together:
1/3 c. sugar
2 TB flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Mix this in with the apples and cook in a heavy pan until thick
Place in a greased pie tin
Topping:
1/3 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. flour
1/4 c. butter
Cut butter into flour and sugar until crumbly. Sprinkle over the apples. Bake 350˚ for 55 min. NOTE: You can increase the filling as desired. No need to increase the topping.
Tootsie Rolls
1 c. honey
Cook to 255 degrees. Do not overcook. Remove from heat and add
1 tsp vanilla
Separately, mix
1/2 c. cocoa
1 c. powdered sugar
Stir into the honey until the gloss is gone. Roll into small rolls.
Nestle Crunch Bars
Prepare your pan. The author did not specify a size, but I’m thinking 9X9. Use parchment paper that hangs over the sides
Melt 2 c. chocolate chips
1/4 c. peanut butter (optional, but who wouldn’t want this!!!)
When melted, add
1 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt
Working quickly add
1 c. Rice Krispies
1/2 c. chopped nuts (also optional)
Press into prepared pan and chill
Marti Shelley
