12 DIY Compost Bin Ideas

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If you want to make your own compost at home, you should set up the right environment for this. The compost you make will be an organic fertilizer for your soils and it is the best way to make sure that no chemicals will affect your produce. The best way to store your own compost is to use special bins for this. But why spend a lot of money on such bins, when you can build your own? Using mostly recycled materials you can make your own compost bins in no time. To give you an example you can use a wide variety of materials to build your bins from old tires, to wire and even cardboard. How exactly will you make these projects happen? Find out on the following links and build your own compost bin as soon as you have some spare time.

1.How To Build The Ultimate Compost Bin

more details here…

2. A Used Tire Compost Bin

more details here…

3. How To Build A Tumbling Composter

more details here…

4. DIY Trash Can Compost Bin

more details here…

5. DIY Double-Decker Drum Composter

more details here…

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Prepping Food Storage – Top 10 Foods to Stockpile

Prepping Food Storage – Top 10 Foods to Stockpile is courtesy of http://ift.tt/1nr27gs

Prepping Food Storage – Beyond Freeze Dried Meals

More than one group of experts are talking about increased risk of soaring food prices and economic instability. With recent droughts and other natural disasters around the world, our food production and delivery system is under a lot of of stress. If you can, I’d highly recommend stocking up on non-perishable food items.

provides freeze dried food storage that is free of GMOs, MSG and fillers (unlike some other brands such as Wise Food Storage). The food tastes like good quality prepackaged food – not overly salty or metallic. We’ve stock up on some of meals as an easy to prepare option for emergencies such as an extended power outage.

In addition to prepackaged meals, I also keep a stockpile of other foods that store well without electricity. Many food storage lists include large amounts of heavily processed food items because they are cheaper, readily available, and have amazing shelf lives.

This list is different because it includes living foods to provide probiotics and enzymes, which are critical to good health. It also features food that are more nutrient dense than standard packaged fare, as well as foods that enhance the flavor of bulk foods and those that can be used to preserve other foods to increase your storage even more.

So what are some of the best options for “real food” storage foods? Here are my top ten choices for foods that can be stored at room temperature for extended periods:

1. Lacto-fermented vegetables/ Home Preserved Products

Large containers of properly fermented vegetables can last for months, if not over a year, in cool conditions (for instance, an unheated basement). Captain Cook used kraut on his ships to prevent scurvy, as did other sailors. My husband remembers my mom talking about how they would preserve large crocks (15-20 gallons or more) or kraut from season to season. She said it would sometimes taste a little different but it was still good. In my own experience, this past season I keep two one gallon crocks of kraut in my basement from October until May – seven months – and the quality was still acceptable at that time. The flavor was a little more tangy/bubbly than younger kraut. At this point I repackaged it into smaller containers and put it in the fridge and freezer. Sauerkraut is very high in vitamin C, and is also a good source of vitamin K, which is often deficient in modern diets.

Home canned, dried or root cellared fruits, vegetables and other foods are not quite the nutritional powerhouses that lacto-fermented products are, but they are much easier to use for the bulk of a meal, or for an entire meal. I’ve been working hard this season to preserve the bounty from the garden through canning and and drying, and will soon be filling the root cellar. If you’re unfamiliar with home food preservation, I recommend checking out the post “New to Food Preserving – Start Here“. If you decide to purchase canned food items, make sure to buy from a reputable source.

You may also be interested in:

• Canning and Preserving Recipes – from salsa and marinara sauce to jams and jellies
• Root Cellars 101
• Above Ground Root Cellars – Enjoy Your Local Produce Longer

2. Live Culture Dairy

You can use a yogurt culture to culture powdered milk. While powdered milk is not ideal, it does store without refrigeration. Culturing makes the nutrients much more digestible.

Milk kefir is also an option for a drinkable product. Milk kefir grains can also be used to culture coconut milk, if they are are occasionally revitalized in milk. Kefir provides protein, minerals and B vitamins. Traditional hard cheeses (such as Parmesan) may also last for months in cool dry temps.

3. Whole grains

Whole grains (in general) have excellent shelf lives, much longer than milled flours. Places like Emergency Essentials sell grains and grain mills (electric powered and hand powered). If you keep a sourdough culture, you can use it to make many baked goods, not just bread, such as sourdough crackers. Again, using sourdough culturing makes the nutrients in the grain more available. Grains can also be sprouted and used to make a simple essene bread, which is very filling and nutritious. Read about the bulk grain order I organized here.

4. Chia seeds

Chia seeds have a shelf life of 4 to 5 years for dried seeds. They have omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids, fiber, B vitamins, calcium and protein. They can be used to make drinks and no-cook puddings, as well as adding nutrition to baked goods and smoothies.

5. Sprouting seeds

Sprouting seeds also have a great storage life, generally 2 years or more. They are generally high in vitamin C, and may also contain other antioxidants and essential nutrients. They also provide fresh, growing food in a hurry when it may be in short supply. Sprouting seeds are easy to use. You can grow them in handy sprouting kits, or in sprouting bags or even nylon stockings. Mary Bell (in the Dehydrator Cookbook) suggests bringing sprouting seeds with you while camping. She says to soak them overnight in a bag of water, and then place them in a section of nylon sock attached to your backpack. Rinse daily, and in a few days you’ll have live, crunchy additions to your trail rations.

6. High Quality Saturated Fat

Coconut oil, lard and tallow will all keep for at least 12-18 months (most likely longer) in sealed, airtight containers kept in a cool area. Your body needs healthy fats. Your brain is largely made up of fat, as is protective coating on your lungs, and many other critical body systems. Fats are energy dense, which is also critical during emergency situations.

My personal favorite coconut oil is Nutiva, which tastes like fresh coconut to me.

7. Dried Legumes

Dried beans have a great shelf. They will keep around a year in just the plastic bags from the store, 10 to even 30 years if sealed in airtight containers with oxygen removed. Utah State University Cooperative Extension states: “Dry beans average about 22% protein in the seed, the highest protein content of any seed crop. They contain all essential amino acids, except methionine. Methionine can be obtained from corn, rice, or meat. Beans are an excellent source of fiber, starch, minerals and some vitamins. ”

8. Real Salt

Unrefined salt has many trace minerals that are essential to health. In my experience, the unrefined salts (Real Salt, grey sea salt, pink salt, etc.) have a “saltier” more robust flavor, meaning you can use less to achieve the same result. Salt can also be used to preserve food (such as fermenting vegetables, above, and meats). Since ancient times, salt has been also used as a valuable trade commodity.

9. Bulk Spices, Herbs and Teas

Don’t underestimate the power of herbs and spices. As well as being high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, many of them have preservative properties as well. The New Agriculturalist explains:

“Cinnamon is just one of a large number of spices that have long been known to preserve food. Recent research has tried to find out exactly how effective the spice can be, over what time period, and in suppressing which bacteria. At Kansas State University, microbiologists have been testing the effectiveness of cinnamon and other spices in eliminating one of the most virulent bacterial causes of food poisoning, E.coli type 0157. Complications arising from the bacteria can include anemia and kidney problems, and a serious outbreak can lead to fatalities. The Kansas researchers found that cinnamon added to apple juice that had been contaminated with E.coli, was able to kill 99.5% of the bacteria within three days, at room temperature. They also did tests on meat and sausage, and found that cinnamon, cloves and garlic all had a powerful ability to stop the growth of the bacteria. Other microbiologists in Tennessee have found that oils extracted from oregano, coriander and basil, also have strong anti-microbial properties. In future we may see more natural preservatives supplementing the synthetic compounds currently in use.”

I store my spices and herbs in glass jars out of direct light. I buy in bulk (generally from Frontier or Mountain Rose Herbs, listed on the sidebar), store a small amount in the cupboard and the rest in the bulk food storage. Both stores sell small, inexpensive glass shaker jars to repackage your spices for easy use. Larger spices, such as cinnamon sticks or other “chunky” spices, can be vacuum sealed in mason jars to extend shelf life. Under cool, dry conditions out of direct light, spices should have a shelf of two years. They can still be used after this time, but potency will diminish. Spices could also be used as a trade commodity.

10. Sweeteners, Including Refined White Sugar, Raw Sugar, Honey and Maple Syrup

I’m sure some foodies will cringe at the inclusion of white sugar, but it is less expensive than the other options and has a great shelf life (white sugar will last indefinitely if kept in a sealed container in a cool, dry location). It can be used as a preservative for fruits. Sugar can be used to heal wounds (as can honey). (More details on the sugar for wound healing here.) I use sugar to brew my kombucha, too. Raw sugar can store as well as regular sugar, but may be cost prohibitive for many.

Honey can store easily for over a year, possibly decades. They have found edible honey in tombs over 1000 years old. To store honey, Honey.com states:

Processed honey should be stored between 64-75°F (18-24°C).1 Honey can be exposed to higher temperatures for brief periods; however, heat damage is cumulative so heat exposure should be limited. It is best to minimize temperature fluctuations and avoid storing honey near heat sources.

The recommended storage temperature for unprocessed honey is below 50°F (10°C). The ideal temperature for both unprocessed and processed honey is below 32°F (0°C). Cooler temperatures best preserve the aroma, flavor and color of unprocessed honey.

Maple syrup has the shortest shelf life – around one year in glass bottles without freezing or refrigeration.

There are many other food options, but these are my top choices for foods that store a long time without refrigeration.

In addition to food, water is critical. Learn more about water storage and water filtration in the post Emergency Water Storage – What You Need to Know.

What are your favorite storage foods? Have any tips you’d like to share? Please leave me a comment and let me know.

View all our preparedness posts, including:

• Emergency Cooking – 10 Ways to Have a Hot Meal When the Power Goes Out
• Preparedness – Summer Storms, Tornadoes and Hurricanes
• Emergency Power Options for Your Home

Originally published in 2011, updated 2016.

Posts may contain affiliate links, which allow me to earn a commission to support the site at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

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Getting and Storing Water

The following post Getting and Storing Water is available on Total Survival

Getting and Storing Water

Understanding One of the Fundamental Basics of Survival

Water is the most basic element of life and survival. When a disaster occurs, if you find yourself without access to water, you will not survive for long. There truly is nothing more important to your survival.

So how do you prepare for such an event? How do you make sure that you have enough water to survive if a disaster occurs and cuts off access to your water source? Storing large quantities of water can be challenging, and many people — even seasoned preppers — don’t store enough to last them very long if and when a disaster takes place.

SPECIAL: The perfect water filter for home, camping or bugging in (or out.)

Prepping expert Gaye Levy from backdoorsurvival.com has some great tips on storing water in the case of an emergency, as well as finding water when bugging out or other situations where water isn’t readily available. Read her tips below, and be sure to check out her website for more great prepping survival information.

During a recent book giveaway, the question asked was “What piece of prepping gear is at the top of your bucket list?” Needless to say, I was more than a little bit surprised to find that the top response was water storage, water filters, and water purification equipment.

While having the gear is nice, anyone interested in preparedness also needs to have a basic understanding of the concepts behind water and water storage. Where to find, store, purify, and filter water are all questions that need to be asked, answered, and periodically reviewed.

And why do I know that? A couple of months ago I was personally without running water for 12 days. Being up to speed on the do’s and don’t of water were key to my getting by just fine during this period.

With that in mind, today I share an article on water as a survival basic.

Back to the Basics: Water for Survival

When I first started Backdoor Survival, my focus was on gathering the basics: food, water, shelter and fire. Of course, along the way I have learned that there is so much more that is essential to long term survival. Things that come to mind are clean air, clothing, first aid, self-defense, signaling and a community with others.

But today I want to keep things simple and, for the benefit of my newer readers, go back the basics and review the essentials of water for survival.

Water is the Most Important Survival Basic

Clean water is something that we all take for granted. We turn on the faucet and there it is. It is plentiful, it is clean and it is drinkable. Yes, it may have some undesirable chemical additions such a fluorides, but for the most part, having clean, drinkable water is something we have come to rely upon.

The bottom line is that if a disaster occurred and the supply lines to fresh water were comprised, we would be in a pickle. There is a possibility that safe water would not be available for days and possibly not for weeks.

The rule of thumb propagated by FEMA and just about every other authority out there is that you store at least one gallon of water per person and pet, per day, for a minimum of three days. But if you think that a three day water supply is adequate, think again.

A more reasonable recommendation is that you up the recommended amount of stored water to a two week supply. So for two people that would be 2 people x 1 gallon x 14 days = 28 gallons. This amount should cover your minimal needs for drinking, food preparation and nominal, and I mean nominal, hygiene.

DIY Water Storage

Storing water for an emergency can be as simple as filling thoroughly washed plastic or glass containers with tap water and sealing them tightly. This is something that anyone can do without incurring a cost so long as few simple rules are followed.

Here are the steps to can take to store water for emergency use:

1. Thoroughly clean your plastic bottle and jugs with dishwashing soap and water then rinse completely so there is no residual soap.

2. Sanitize your bottles by adding a solution of 1 teaspoon of un-scented liquid household chlorine bleach to a quart of water. Swish the sanitizing solution in the containers so that it touches all interior surfaces. Don’t forget to sanitize the lids and caps as well. After sanitizing the containers and caps, thoroughly rinse out the bleach solution with clean water.

Note: Bleach has an effective shelf-life of one year. Make sure that the bleach you are using is fresh.

3. Fill the sanitized containers to the top with regular tap water. Add two drops of non-scented liquid household chlorine bleach to the water, then tightly close the containers using the original caps. It is probably a good idea to use some latex or nitrile gloves at this point so that you maintain the sanitation and do not contaminate the caps by touching the inside of them with your fingers.

4. Date the outside with a permanent marker such as a Sharpie.

5. Store in a cool, dark place.

6. As a precaution, rotate in six months to a year. Dump the water, re-sanitize the jugs, and start all over. Or, if you have the space, mark the jugs as “non-potable” and save the water for non-drinking emergency purposes.

Personally, I think it would be a good idea to put up a few jugs at the first of each month. Do this for six months and you will build up a nice, rotating stock.

Plastic soda bottles or juice jugs work well for DIY water storage. On the other hand, milk jugs should not be used for water storage. Milk and protein sugars are difficult to remove and will compromise the stored water because they create an environment for bacteria growth. In addition, milk jugs are flimsy and will not hold up, even for a short period of time. Ditto cardboard. The cardboard will eventually leak and make a big mess. Glass is okay but be aware that glass is heavy and subject to breakage.

Water stored as described above will be good for at least six months to a year and possibly longer. Let me be clear: you rotate water not because it has an “expiration date” but that it may become chemically or biologically contaminated and foul. Why take a chance?

Technically, if water is stored in a cool, dark area and away from chemical and toxic fumes, it should last forever.

If the cleanliness of the the water is in question, it can be purified with purification tablets, fresh bleach, or a filtering system such as the Berkey or LifeStraw, among others.

If you have the space and the budget, you can also purchase food-grade plastic containers and drums designed for water storage. These containers typically hold up to 55 gallons of water and with the addition of proper purification chemicals, will keep the water safe for up to five years.

I personally have a 55 gallon water storage system. It was easy to set up and it came outfitted as a complete kit with all of the various tools and siphons I will need if/when that emergency situation occurs.

Another alternative, of course, is bottled water. The same rule applies: store in a cool, dark area and periodically rotate just to be on the safe side.

Hidden Sources of Water

In addition to tap water, there are other hidden sources of water that you can use when a disaster occurs. These sources include the water in your hot water heater, pipes, and even the ice cubes from the icemaker in your refrigerator or freezer. Before tapping in to these sources, however, you will first need to shut off the main valve coming in to your home so that you do not contaminate the ”good” water with the “bad”.

Here are some specific instructions for using the water in your hot water tank:

• Turn off the electricity or gas.
• Open the drain at the bottom of the tank.
• Start the water flowing by turning off the water intake valve at the tank and turning on a hot-water faucet.
• And don’t forget: be sure to refill the tank before turning the gas or electricity back on.

Outdoor Sources of Water

Barring the use of stored water or the hidden water sources in your home, there is always the outdoors. Water may be available from rainwater, streams, ponds, lakes and natural streams. Absolutely stay away from flood water since it is likely to contain sewage and other nasties that you do not even want to think about.

When using outdoor sources of water, you are going to have to undertake purification measures to make it safe. There are many ways to purify water, some better than others and some easier than others.

Water Purification

For ad hoc water purification, nothing beats plain old bleach as long as it is fresh (no more than a year old) and unscented.

According to the Clorox website: When boiling off water for 1 minute is not possible in an emergency situation, you can disinfect your drinking water with Clorox® Regular-Bleach as follows:

1. Remove suspended particles by filtering or letting particles settle to the bottom.

2. Pour off clear water into a clean container.

3. Add 8 drops of Clorox® Regular-Bleach (not scented or Clorox® Plus® bleaches) to one gallon of water (2 drops to 1 quart). For cloudy water, use 16 drops per gallon of water (4 drops to 1 quart).

Boiling water is considered the safest method of purifying water. What you do is bring water to a rolling boil for three to five minutes. The water may not taste that great but it will be safe to drink.

Factoid: To improve the taste of boiled or stored water, you can put some oxygen back in to the water by pouring it back and forth between two containers.

As an alternative to bleach or boiling water, the EPA has guidelines for using calcium hypochlorite, commonly sold as “pool shock” to disinfect water:

Add and dissolve one heaping teaspoon of high-test granular calcium hypochlorite (approximately ¼ ounce) for each two gallons of water, or 5 milliliters (approximately 7 grams) per 7.5 liters of water.

The mixture will produce a stock chlorine solution of approximately 500 milligrams per liter, since the calcium hypochlorite has available chlorine equal to 70 percent of its weight. To disinfect water, add the chlorine solution in the ratio of one part of chlorine solution to each 100 parts of water to be treated.

This is roughly equal to adding 1 pint (16 ounces) of stock chlorine to each 12.5 gallons of water or (approximately ½ liter to 50 liters of water) to be disinfected. To remove any objectionable chlorine odor, aerate the disinfected water by pouring it back and forth from one clean container to another.

Tip: For more precise (and in my opinion better) instructions, visit the article How to Use Pool Shock to Purify Water. In this article, I go into great detail describing plus showing you how to safely use Pool Shock for water purification purposes.

A good reference for this and other purification methods can be found in the downloadable and printable article Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water.

What About Water Filters?

The use of water filters to make raw water drinkable is another solution to the water for survival dilemma. The nice thing about a filtration system is that it will not only supplement your stored water, but will provide you with great tasting, chemical free drinking water for day to day.

I personally have a Royal Berkey and to tell the truth, wonder what took me so long to discover this alternative to purchased water in bottles and a countertop Brita.

This is not to say that I don’t have bottled water because I do. After all, if I have to leave my home, it would be tough to drag along a 55 gallon water barrel or a Berkey. But for day to day drinking as well as long term survival needs, you simply can not beat a quality filtration system.

Portable Water Filters

I have had good luck with the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter. This lightweight and affordable filter is like an oversized straw. You can use it with a cup or dip it directly into a pond or stream. There are other portable water filtering systems as well and these are handy to keep in your emergency backpack, your car or your travel kit.

Additional Reading

I have written about various aspects of water for survival purposes. Here are some additional articles for you to peruse as time and interest dictates.

16 Tips for Coping Without Running Water
The Five Myths of Water Storage
How to Use Pool Shock to Purify Water
8 Reasons to Drink Water for Survival
15 Ways to Conserve Household Water Now

The Final Word

Thanks to a tip from a Backdoor Survival reader, I learned that you can find pre-used, food grade, 55-gallon plastic drums on Craigslist for about $25 each. If you decide to check in to this, be sure to confirm that the original contents was food. Clean them well first with vinegar and baking soda to remove odors, and then with a strong bleach for sanitation.

Here in my area, there is a fellow that sells such barrels and will even add a hose bib at the bottom for a nominal cost. I am not 100% sure I would drink from such a barrel but the water inside should be great for bathing, laundry and housekeeping chores.

Another reader has suggested the use of colloidal silver to get rid of bacteria in water. I have not researched this personally, however.

Whatever your water storage method of choice, I highly recommend that you store at least two weeks of water for every member of your household, including pets. Please remember that depending on climate conditions, you can only survive for an average of three to five days without the intake of water.

Why take a chance when it is so easy to store water ?

Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!
Gaye

This Article Was First Found at survivallife.com Read The Original Article Here

Read Full Article Here: Getting and Storing Water

9 (More) Survival Skills Your Great-Grandparents Knew (That We’ve All Forgotten)

9 (More) Survival Skills Your Great-Grandparents Knew (That We’ve All Forgotten) is republished from http://ift.tt/1Qfw8v0

A while back, I wrote an article called “Survival Skills Your Great-Grandparents Knew.” It turns out that it was one of the most popular articles that has appeared in Off The Grid News, which got me thinking. What other skills have we lost — skills that were part of our ancestors’ day-to-day lives?

Personally, I think we’ve got to hand it to our grandparents and great-grandparents. They managed to do everything they needed, and they did it without smartphones, YouTube and Google. They were much more prepared to survive than you and I are, simply because life demanded it of them.

Here’s a few more skills that were common years ago:

1. Hitching a team

What are you planning on doing for transportation if there’s a disaster and the gas pumps are down? For a large part of our country’s history, the horse was the main motive power used. Not only did people ride them, but they hitched them to wagons, carriages and plows.

Need Non-GMO Heirloom Seeds For Your Spring Garden? The Best Deals Are Right Here!

Of course, the first problem is finding the horses, but even then, how do you put that horse to work? I seriously doubt you’ve got a set of harnesses hanging up in the garage, and even if you did, would you know how to put them on the horses? We’ve lost the art of saddle making, harness making and even the knowledge of how to hitch a team up to a wagon.

2. Shoeing a horse

We tend to think of taking a horse to the blacksmith to get it shod. Blacksmiths, or more correctly, farriers, did shoe people’s horses in town. But on the farm or ranch most people did their own. It took too long to ride into town just to get your horse’s shoes shod. Considering that it needed to be done about every six weeks, it was easier to learn how to do it yourself than to keep interrupting your work.

Shoeing really isn’t all that hard and only takes a couple of specialty tools. Most farriers use factory-made shoes. The first automatic horseshoe-making machine was invented in 1835, but factory-made shoes predated that. Shoes could be bought at the local feed store and most horse owners kept a couple of sets on hand.

3. Birthing a calf

Most animals give birth pretty well on their own. After all, when a baby decides it’s time to come out there’s not much you can do to stop it. But what happens when the baby isn’t coming out correctly? Just like with people, calves and colts can be turned the wrong way, causing the equivalent of a breach birth.

When that happens, you’ve got to know how to go in and turn the calf or colt around, and you’ve got to do it quickly. If the baby isn’t turned, it may not be able to come out, causing it to die in the mother’s uterus. That usually causes the death of the mother, too.

4. Felling a tree

There’s a true art to properly felling a tree. If it’s not done correctly, that tree can end up landing on your chicken coop or your newly restored ’57 Chevy. Not only that, but you want to do the job in such a way that you waste as little wood as possible. Felling a tree incorrectly can actually cause the tree to split, damaging much of the wood you were hoping to harvest.

5. Turning that tree into boards

Felling the tree is one thing, but turning it into usable lumber is a whole other thing. If all you want is firewood, that’s not such a big deal. But if you want building material, you’ll want to be able to turn it into boards.

Today, just like 100 or even 300 years ago, it’s the job of a sawmill to turn those logs into boards. Before sawmills or in areas where sawmills weren’t available, people used wedges to split the tree’s trunk, making boards out of it. The boards could then be cleaned up with an adze. The adze also was useful for squaring logs into beams or flattening the top and bottom surfaces of logs, making a tighter log cabin.

6. Milking a cow

This one might not seem like a big deal, but it’s amazing how many people today don’t know the right way to milk a cow. It takes more than just pulling on the nipples. You’ve actually got to first close off the nipple with the thumb and forefinger to keep the milk from flowing up into the udder, and then squeeze the nipple to force out the milk.

7. Making butter and cheese

Fresh milk is great, but it doesn’t keep long. Our forefathers and especially our foremothers solved this problem by turning the milk into butter and cheese. Since one cow gives more milk than the average family can use, this was a great way of preserving that milk in other forms.

It was not uncommon for families who owned a milk cow to churn butter once a month and have cheese aging pretty much all the time. Both are fairly easy to make and retain nutrients from the milk. Butter and cheese can both keep for an extended time without refrigeration, although keeping them cool does help them to last longer.

8. Wearing fabric

What are you going to do when your clothes run out? Make more, right? But what if you can’t find fabric? Can you weave it? For that matter, can you make thread or yarn from natural fibers so you have something to weave?

Few people have any idea of how to use a spinning wheel or a loom. Even fewer know how to build these machines.

9. Sewing clothing

Sewing clothes – or even making repairs to clothing – is fast becoming a lost art. A generation ago, all girls grew up learning how to sew. Today, few people even have a sewing machine, let alone know what to do with it.

When you consider how fast children grow and how many clothes they go through, the ability to make your own is a valuable skill.

What skills would you add to this list? Share your ideas in the section below:

Every Spring, Gardeners Make This Avoidable Mistake — But You Don’t Have To. Read More Here.

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NOW CASTING: Seeking Survivalists Of All Levels For Reality Show

The article NOW CASTING: Seeking Survivalists Of All Levels For Reality Show is courtesy of Total Survival

Home Homesteading News NOW CASTING: Seeking Survivalists Of All Levels For Reality Show

SURVIVALISTS: READY FOR THE ULTIMATE SURVIVAL EXPERIENCE? Sure, you can make fire, source water, build a shelter, and find water. But can you do it while dragging along a novice? If so, Fox, Lionsgate, and the executive producer of Wipeout and Fear Factor want you to consider sending you on the race of your lives!

Hey Homesteaders, Riley here. I’ve been contacted by a casting director for yet another survival show! Check out the details, and see if this is your chance to showcase your survival skills. We are not affiliated with this show, we just think this is a cool opportunity! Check it out:

SURVIVALISTS: READY FOR THE ULTIMATE SURVIVAL EXPERIENCE?

Sure, you can make fire, source water, build a shelter, and find water. But can you do it while dragging along a novice? If so, Fox, Lionsgate, and the executive producer of Wipeout and Fear Factor want you to consider sending you on the race of your lives!

In this new series, you and your partner will be dropped into the wilderness where you must survive for one month. To win the competition and a huge cash prize, you will have to guide your privileged partner kicking and screaming across the finish line.

We are conducting a nationwide search for all types of survivalists. Do you have an elite survival skill set? An expert-level intelligence that can get you and a novice out of the stickiest of situations? An unexpected skill that will surprise your teammate when you cross the finish line? Has your real-world experience made you a survival kingpin?

Here is your chance to prove it and win a huge cash prize!

All candidates must be US citizens or permanent legal US residents, 18 years or older with a compelling story of why you want to win and what trait you have that sets you apart from other candidates. A fierce competitive streak and legitimate survival skills are required. This could be the chance of a lifetime for the right individual.

To apply, please email us at [email protected] with your name, age, phone number, a photo and a short paragraph detailing your survival credentials.

Other terms and conditions will apply.

I’m going to repeat that:

If you or anyone you know might be interested, please email [email protected] with your name, age, phone number, a photo and a short paragraph detailing your survival credentials.

Are you going to apply?! We wish you the best of luck on your journey!

Want to refresh your survivalist knowledge?
Check Out Our Skills Guide.

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How To Make These Cozy Blankets

How To Make These Cozy Blankets was originally published on Total Survival

Weekends are for relaxing, enjoying a nice meal and cuddling in your bed, alone or with your loved one. But on cold nights and rainy days, a comfy blanket can be more than welcomed. If you like to knit and want to make the ultimate blanket, then you will love this next idea. It’s a super thick and fluffy knitted blanket that will keep your warm and protected on cold days. Don’t get intimidated by the size of this blanket, as with a bit of patience and skills you can make it happen. You will need to invest in a bigger amount of yarn and a chunky knitting needle and you can start this great project right away. If you have kids, they are going to be so delighted by this huge blanket and you can snuggle with them all day. You can learn more about this project on the following… About these products, are made by a design studio called Ohhio. “Ohhio history began one year ago. Our creator, Anna, started experimenting with exceptionally soft and luxurious merino wool yarn. The material’s distinctive properties gave her a creative impulse to knit the first Ohhio blanket.”

This Article Was Originally Posted on goodshomedesign.com Read The Original Article here

Read More Here: How To Make These Cozy Blankets

5 Gardening Tips and Tricks That Everyone Should Know

The article 5 Gardening Tips and Tricks That Everyone Should Know Find more on: http://ift.tt/1nr27gs

5 Gardening Tips and Tricks That Everyone Should Know

Gardening Season is Right Around the Corner

In my recent gardening research I came across some pretty awesome tips and tricks that will make gardening even MORE fun! Here are my top five gardening hacks for your garden this Spring, which is right around the corner!

The Easiest Way to Grow Tomato Seedlings

I was so impressed with this simple technique!

What You’ll Need:

• Potting Soil or Garden Mix
• Container or Pot
• Ripe Tomatoes

The following video demonstrates just how to get your tomato seedlings from these 3 items.

Turn Your Plastic Milk Jug Into a Watering Jug

I love this idea because it’s all about recycling what you have around the house to save money. Let’s face it, gardening can become expensive. The other handy thing is that you can make one with a super fine/gentle spray by using a small needle and one with a more substantial flow by using a bigger needle.

You can find instructions here!

Use Coffee Grounds in Your Garden

(Image via Organic Farming Blog)

Recycle those coffee grounds! They make an excellent fertilizer and compost….and so much more! Check out this wonderful article on just how many benefits coffee grounds can bring to your garden this Spring.

Eggshells

One way to protect your plants from pests is by sprinkling crushed eggshells at their base.

(Image via BlogLovin)

For other tips and tricks using eggshells and egg cartons check out my other article Egg Carton Seedlings.

Regrow Your Vegetables from Kitchen Scraps

(Image via The Gardening Cook)

After your meal, don’t throw out the leftover vegetable scraps! You can regrow so many different vegetables by sticking the bottom end of them into a well-prepared patch of good soil and making sure their bed is kept moist. Surprisingly easy!

You can find detailed instructions on how to regrow your own vegetables here!

There you have it folks, my top five tips and tricks for your garden! If you have a gardening tip you would like to share, please share in the comment section below. Best of luck, fellow gardeners!

This Article Was First Found at survivallife.com Read The Original Article Here

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Could You Handle Living Life Off The Grid?

Could You Handle Living Life Off The Grid? was first published to http://ift.tt/1nr27gs

February 29th, 2016

Video courtesy of SeekerStories

One family left everything they had behind to live without electricity, running water, or any means of communication in the backwoods of Eastern Idaho. In Going Off Grid, Laura Ling examines how 180,000 Americans a year are choosing to live entirely disconnected from our modern internet-focused world in pursuit of a more sustainable, simple lifestyle. Part 1 of 2

New Book Reveals the Little Known Secrets of How To Maintain An Extremely Low Profile In An Age Of Hackers, Snoops, Data Miners, Corrupt Bureaucrats and Surveillance Grid Profilers.

This Article Was Originally Posted On offthegridnews.com Read the Original Article here

Article Source Here: Could You Handle Living Life Off The Grid?

8 Outdoor Survival Tactics For Off Grid Living

The following post 8 Outdoor Survival Tactics For Off Grid Living was originally published to http://ift.tt/1Qfw8v0

Home Self Sufficiency Emergency Prep 8 Outdoor Survival Tactics For Off Grid Living

Find out what survival tactics you need to master now. If you’re planning to go out in the wild, it’s always better to be prepared for anything.

— This post is courtesy of SurvivalLife.com and shared with permission —

8 Survival Tactics For Off Grid Living

Think you know how to survive in the wilderness? Sorry to break it to you, but going camping or hunting a few times, or getting some badges in the Boy Scouts doesn’t mean you are ready to SURVIVE. Here are the 8 outdoor survival tactics you need to master now if you want to come out alive.

How to Find Water

When you go camping, you need to carry water with you. But what would you do if you ran out of water?

The first thing you need to learn is how to find water. Ideally, you would have a map packed into your wilderness survival bag so you could find a water source. If not, then you better know some tricks – like dragging a cloth on the ground behind you to absorb dew and water which can be squeezed out.

And once you do find water, how can you be sure it is safe to drink? Even the cleanest-looking streams and rivers usually have bacteria, viruses, and parasites in them. So you will also need to master the survival tactic of purifying water – which can be done multiple ways. You can:

• Make sure you put purification tablets in your survival pack
• Put a camping water filter in your survival pack
• Boil the water for 10 minutes before consuming (works for most bacteria and viruses)
• Learn to make a DIY water filter out of sand and charcoal

Read: 3 Ways To Purify Water In The Wilderness

Making a Shelter

A prepared person would have a tent and sleeping bag in their Bug Out Bag. But what if you get caught in the wilderness without a tent? Would you know how to make a survival shelter? This is by far one of the most important outdoor survival tactics to learn. Practice making different types of shelters, such as debris shelters, tarp shelters, teepees, A frame shelters, and 90 degree shelters.

Read: Survival Shelters: Things You Need To Kow

Starting a Fire

While other parents were telling their kids not to play with matches, my dad was teaching me how to make a fire. That’s because he knew what an important survival skill this is to have. You probably know how to make a fire by making a teepee out of dry sticks and lighting a bit of paper underneath. But what if it just rained – how will you find dry kindling? Or how about making a fire in the snow? Or what about in the dessert where there are no sticks? If you can’t answer how you’d go these things, then you better master the fire making skill NOW!

Read: How To Start A Fire Without A Spark

Vegetation Recognition

You are in the woods and go to take a dump. Since your survival kit is all out of toilet paper, you grab a handful of leaves. Little did you know that those leaves were actually stinging nettles, and now you’ve got an itchy painful rash on your rear to deal with!

This is just one example of why it is so important to be able to recognize local plants in your area. The other obvious reason is that a lot of plants are edible (including stinging nettles). It is a lot easier to master the edible wild plants guide than it is to master the art of hunting with nothing but a snare line and survival knife!

Read: Wild Edible Wild Plants Survival Guide

Acquiring Food

This survival tactic goes along with the one above, because a lot of plants in nature are edible. Since it is hard to identify every single plant in the wild, I recommend learning the Universal Edibility test, which has you put a small piece of unknown plant first on your lips, and then in your mouth, and then finally eating a small bit. This method takes time, but will allow you to forage food.

You’ll also want to master some basic hunting tactics for outdoor survival. I don’t expect you to be able to kill a deer with a homemade bow and arrow, but being able to fish and catch a rabbit with a small trap are good skills to master. And don’t forget that most insects are edible.

Read: Native American Survival Skills

First Aid

image source

In wilderness survival situations, you are likely to come across medical problems like fractures, burns, sprained ankles, dislocated limbs, diarrhea, and blisters. Take a first aid class so you learn how to handle all of these problems.

Read: The Homesteader’s Guide to First Aid and CPR

Animal Attack Response

Do you know the difference between a brown bear and a black bear? Hopefully you won’t come into contact with either of them but, if you do, you better know the difference – because you should make some LOUD noises and stand your ground if you encounter a black bear but WALK slowly away if you encounter a brown bear! Better yet, make sure you’ve got a can of bear pepper spray in your survival pack if you plan on going somewhere where there are bears…

And while we are at it, do you know how to hang a bear bag? Otherwise all of your hard-earned food is going to be gone in a flash. If a bear doesn’t get it, then some other critter will!

In addition to bears, you’ve also got to worry about a whole bunch of other wild animals when you are in the outdoors. These include:

• Snakes
• Wolves
• Mountain lions
• Wild boars
• Scorpions
• Poisonous spiders
• Ticks (yes, these can seriously be dangerous!)

Read: Animal Attack: How To Survive

Self Defense

In an End Of The World situation, you are more likely to encounter dangerous people than dangerous animals. So you better be prepared to defend yourself from attacks. Simply having a gun or other weapon doesn’t count as self defense. You’ve also got to know how to use it! Master self defense tactics if you expect to survive outdoors!

Read: Self Defense When SHTF

What do you think of these survival tactics? Think this will help you out of any situation in the wild? Let us know below in the comments!

Next: Survival Tips for Winter Day Trips

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Candida – Missing Link to Healing Psoriasis and Other Illness

Candida – Missing Link to Healing Psoriasis and Other Illness Read more on: http://ift.tt/1Qfw8v0

Candida – I didn’t really know much about it, other than that it could cause yeast infections in your tucks and folds and private areas. I had no idea that it would change my life forever – and may be affecting a lot of other people who knew as little as I used to know. I’m jumping ahead of the original timeline I set out for myself in the Psoriasis series, but this is important. I tried many other things before I figured out this piece of the puzzle, but without this knowledge, I couldn’t heal completely.

In this post I’m going to explain what candida is, what health problems may be linked to candida overgrowth and how I discovered candida was a problem for me. Next week we’ll tackle how to get it under control.

What is Candida?

Candida albicans (which I’ll refer to as “candida” throughout most of this post) is a harmless yeast that lives naturally in your body. It lives in the gastrointestinal tract, on the mucous membranes and on the skin. It’s part of a balanced microbiome – all the microorganisms that work symbiotically with your body’s own cells to keep you healthy. It is also sometimes referred to as a fungus – such as when a person gets a case of “jock itch”. This is typically referred to as a “fungal infection”, but it’s due to yeast overgrowth.

Candida is harmless and normal – except when it isn’t. When candida grows out of control, it becomes pathogenic (disease causing). It sheds high amounts of mycotoxins (fungus related toxins) and the fungus can burrow roots into the gut lining, leading to leaky gut syndrome. Leaky gut then contributes to toxins escaping into the bloodstream (instead of exiting via the waste cycle). This systemic fungal infection (candida overgrowth) is referred to as candidiasis.

What Causes Candida Overgrowth?

There are often a variety of factors that contribute to candida overgrowth. They include, but are not limited to:

• Antibiotic Use
• Steroids
• Birth Control Pills
• ERT (Estrogen Replacement Therapy)
• Poor Diet
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation
• Heavy Metals
• Alcohol Overuse
• Recreational Drugs
• Acute and Chronic Stress
• Amalgam Fillings
• Refined Carbohydrate and Sugar Consumption
• Excessive Dairy Consumption

As you can see, many of these factors are part of the daily lives of most people. I have a mouth full of metal fillings (which I plan to get replaced by quadrant as they need replacing and budget allows). I have also had pretty high stress levels in recent years, and was given antibiotics for a staph infection last year. I’m also on thyroid medication for my underactive thyroid – a hormone therapy.

Something not mentioned on this list is kombucha consumption. Kombucha is brewed from a SCOBY – a Symbiotic Colony of Bacteria and Yeast. One of the yeasts that may occur in kombucha is Candida albicans. Not normally a problem, since as mentioned earlier, it is part of a balanced microbiome. When it might become a problem is if you drink large amounts of kombucha (which I did) and you have other risk factors in play (which I do). Nowhere in the literature on kombucha that I read back when I started brewing was this risk mentioned, so I had no idea there was any risk at all. I still believe live culture foods are critical to good health – but there can be situations when you get too much of an otherwise good thing.

What Toxins Does Candida Overgrowth Produce?

Candida overgrowth produces toxic byproducts – over 79+ different mycotoxins. These mycotoxins attack the body and weaken the immune system. These toxins include:

• Acetaldehyde – in excess, can cause brain fog and vertigo, create a thiamine and niacin deficiency leading to depression, fatigue, memory loss and more
• Gliotoxin – deactivates critical enzymes that remove toxins and creates DNA changes in white blood cells that weaken the immune system

What Conditions are Caused Directly or Indirectly by Candida Overgrowth?

This list is adapted from “The Candida Cure: Yeast, Fungus and Your Health“. It is a partial list only.

Autoimmune Diseases

• Chronic Fatigue Sydrome
• Fibromyalgia
• HIV/AIDS
• Leukemia
• Lupus
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Muscular Dystrophy * – I wonder if this may have been part of what triggered my mom’s MMD?
• Rheumatoid Arthritis

Blood System

• Chronic Infection
• Iron Deficiency

Cancer

Digestive System

• Anorexia Nervosa
• Bloating/Gas
• Carbohydrate/Sugar Cravings
• Colitis
• Constipation/Diarrhea
• Crohn’s Disease
• Dysbiosis
• Food Allergies
• Hearburn
• IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
• Leaky Gut

Skin

• Acne
• Diaper Rash
• Dry Skin and Itching
• Eczema
• Hives
• Hair Loss
• Liver Spots
• Psoriasis

Respiratory System/Ears/Eyes/Mouth

• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Dizziness
• Earaches
• Environmental Allergies/Chemical Sensitivities
• Hay Fever
• Oral Thrush
• Sinusitis

Endocrine System

• Adrenal/Thyroid Failure
• Diabetes
• Hormonal Imbalances
• Hypoglycemia
• Insomnia
• Over/Underweight

Nervous System

• Alcoholism
• Anxiety
• Attention Deficit Disorder
• Autism
• Brain Fog
• Depression
• Headaches
• Hyperactivity
• Learning Difficulties
• Manic-Depressive Disorder
• Migraines
• Schizophrenia

Urinary/Reproductive

• Cystitis
• Endometriosis
• Fibroids
• Impotence
• Loss of Libido
• Menstrual Irregularities
• PMS
• Prostatitis
• Yeast Vaginal Infections

How I Realized Candida Overgrowth was a Factor in My Psoriasis

Unfortunately, while I’d love to be able to say that the dermatologist who diagnosed my psoriasis mentioned a possible link between psoriasis and candida, she did no such thing. She never even mentioned that candida was a possibility. Instead, she said it was likely some product I was using (I use very limited products on my skin and in our home, and they are as non-toxic as I can get). She sent me on my way with a shopping list that looked like a Proctor and Gamble advertisement. (Proctor and Gamble received an “F” for Chemical Transparency in their products. Not a company I care to support.) She blew off my request to test for allergies, and when I directly asked her about changing my diet to help my skin, she said, “You can try, but what you eat doesn’t affect your skin.”

For a person with multiple medical degrees, she sure was awfully wrong.

It turned out I had a staph infection in the open skin on my elbow, so I was given antibiotics. I filled the prescription for steroid cream, and did use a little on my face leading up to the presentation I had to give at the Naval College last October. Meanwhile, I also tried out The Psoriasis Diet, with little change.

When I got back from the trip to Rhode Island, I stopped using the steroid cream – and my skin went crazy. The steroids had only been suppressing the symptoms, not curing the cause. I went in for allergy testing, hoping that something could be found that was a trigger. Results were good and bad – the few foods that registered as potentially problematic were, for the most part, not ones that I eat regularly. There was no obvious “smoking gun” – except that candida levels were moderately high – which I didn’t pay much attention to at first.

Time passed. Then I was discussing my skin with my friend, Casey. She looked at a photo of my face via Messenger and said, “That doesn’t look like psoriasis.” All of the sudden, it clicked. I searched “candida overgrowth face”, and saw an image that looked almost exactly like mine associated with the article, “The Curse of Candida“. BAM! Now that I had a name, I could develop a strategy to heal (including using the book that was recommended). It’s a work in progress, but I’m doing so much better than I was several months ago.

Easy Home Candida Test – The Spit Test for Candida

Wondering if you may have candida overgrowth? One of the simplest candida tests is called the spit test.

The testing is done when you first wake up in the morning, before you brush your teeth or get a drink.

1. Fill a glass with clean, filtered water at room temperature.
2. Spit gently into the water in the glass. (Just drop a nice gobber in – no flem.)
3. Check the glass at 20 minute intervals for signs of candida, such as:
   1. Filmy “strings” hanging down from the split glob.
   2. A cloudy saliva film at the bottom of the glass
   3. Cloudy specs of spit suspended in the water

This test may produce false positives if you are congested or dehydrated, so it’s best backed up with lab testing for confirmation. Lab tests can be run testing blood, stool or urine. If you have a number of the risk factors listed above, your odds of candida overgrowth are much higher.

Next week I’ll talk about the steps I’ve taken to get my candida overgrowth under control. If some of these symptoms and causes sound familiar to you, I’d love to hear your story. The more information we all have, the better chance we have of finding a way to heal.

Recommended Resources:

• Eating Alive
• Eating Alive II
• Totnes’ Stomach-Surviving Probiotics

Other posts in the series:

• Psoriasis Causes – Mainstream and Alternative Viewpoints
• Toxic Skin – My Mother’s Nightmare
• Psoriasis – The Year My Face Exploded

Posts may contain affiliate links, which allow me to earn a commission to support the site at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

The post Candida – Missing Link to Healing Psoriasis and Other Illness appeared first on Common Sense Homesteading.

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Enter Our Gun Vault Photo Contest!

The blog post Enter Our Gun Vault Photo Contest! is republished from Total Survival

Enter Our Gun Vault Photo Contest!

Think You’ve Got the Most Badass Gun Vault? Show it to Us for a Chance to Win a $500 Cabela’s Gift Card!

That’s right… we’re giving you a chance to show off your gun safe to our Survival Life audience!

So how does the contest work?

Here’s what you do.

1. Take a picture (or have someone else take a picture) of your gun vault/safe.
2. In order to qualify, YOU MUST BE IN THE PHOTO holding up a piece of paper with your first and last name OR your email address. This is to ensure that the safe in the picture really is yours. If you do not include this in your photo, you will be disqualified from the contest.
3. Email your photo to SLPhotoContest@nativecommerce.com between now and Sunday, March 6.
4. We’ll pick our favorite photos from the entries and post them on our Facebook page for our readers to vote on.
5. Once voting is closed, the photo with the most “likes” wins a $500 Cabela’s gift card! (Winners will be notified by email.)

Need a little inspiration? Check out these badass gun vaults we found around the internet:

(Via Buzzfeed)

(Via Pinterest)

(Via Pinterest)

(Via The Brigade)

(Via The Brigade)

This Article Was First Found at survivallife.com Read The Original Article Here

This Article Was Found Here: Enter Our Gun Vault Photo Contest!

What Does The Bible Say About Forcing Women To Register For The Draft?

What Does The Bible Say About Forcing Women To Register For The Draft? See more on: Total Survival

OK, ladies, I need to preface everything I am about to say with this …

You are not the “weaker sex.” Any thoughts I have concerning women in combat have absolutely nothing to do with any thought that you, as a gender, are less capable of serving in the military. Women can, and have, performed admirably in military roles around the world.

But even though the military has opened these jobs to women, should we require women – as the top officers in the Army and Marine Corps believe — to register for Selective Service, potentially opening America’s daughters, sisters and even moms to a future draft?

My answer is a resounding NO!

Christian Heroes For Christian Kids: These Amazing Stories Are Putting God Back Into History!

There are many that argue that if women want total equality, they should accept equality of risk, as well. I do not share this thought in the least. While I believe very strongly in equality of pay and opportunity, and a level playing field professionally, I also believe that the traditional gender roles are supported by common sense and Scripture. It is the duty of men to guard women, but not because they are “weaker.” Quite the contrary, because ladies are much stronger than us in certain areas. These are very important areas –and areas that should be guarded at all costs.

Let’s begin by looking at a passage out of Proverbs:

Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” … Proverbs 31:25-30 (ESV)

Do we want to subject women — our repository of the teaching of kindness — to the possibility of being drafted into military service in a combat role? Do we wish to make women as base and war-like as men? If we allow equality to go this far, who will teach our children in the ways of kindness and godliness? In this, I feel that protecting women from this fate does not make them any less equal, but instead makes them more than equal. The world needs women of a Godly spirit to raise up future generations to expand the Kingdom of God on Earth, and this spirit is not fostered in a combat zone.

Let’s look at another passage:

For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of his body, the church; he gave his life to be her Savior. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives must submit to your husbands in everything.

And you husbands must love your wives with the same love Christ showed the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by baptism and God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man is actually loving himself when he loves his wife. No one hates his own body but lovingly cares for it, just as Christ cares for his body, which is the church. And we are his body.

As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. Ephesians 5:23-32 (NLT)

Here we see that the marriage relationship, the fundamental unit of the family and God’s plan for men and women, is likened to Christ’s relationship to the Church.

Want To Know About The REAL Constitution And What The Founders Truly Intended?

Men are called upon to lay down everything, even our lives if needed, in caring for our wives. Again, not because women are weak or frail, but because they have strengths and virtues that are worthy of being preserved. By maintaining these strengths, men become better, families become better, children are made better, and God’s plan is furthered. Here, too, these strengths and virtues are not furthered in a combat zone.

In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands, even those who refuse to accept the Good News. Your godly lives will speak to them better than any words. They will be won over by watching your pure, Godly behavior.

Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty … You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God … In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat her with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. If you don’t treat her as you should, your prayers will not be heard. 1 Peter 3:1-5, 7 (NLT)

Despite how it first may appear, it is clear that subjugation of women is not God’s will. Once again, we see that women have been given the very important role of softening men to God’s intentions. Women have been gifted with Godly kindness, wisdom and giving hearts, and they have been tasked with instilling these virtues in their men. It is readily apparent that the role women play is arguably – in many areas of life — more important in many ways than the roles played by men. I will submit one more time that these virtues are not fostered in a combat zone.

Scripturally, it is clear that subjecting women to the potential of being drafted into military service is not in keeping with God’s design. Do we really want our precious daughters, sisters and moms drafted into combat? What type of society does that?

Should women be permitted to serve in the military? Yes. I think that they should, but only by choice. But Selective Service registration and a draft for women in general? Absolutely not.

Do you agree or disagree? Share your thoughts in the section below:

This Article Was Originally Posted On offthegridnews.com Read the Original Article here

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The Greenest Ways To Get Around: How Your Commute Impacts Your Carbon Footprint

The Greenest Ways To Get Around: How Your Commute Impacts Your Carbon Footprint is courtesy of http://ift.tt/1nr27gs

Home Self Sufficiency Emergency Prep Skills & Tips The Greenest Ways To Get Around: How Your Commute Impacts Your Carbon Footprint

Want to know the greenest ways to get around? Learn how your commute impacts your carbon footprint, and seek greenest solutions while going out and about.

Greenest Ways To Get Around

With the population growing, the number of people who need to go to work, school and other places also increase. And with the technology now, you don’t have to walk miles and miles to get where you have to be. All you have to do is hop in your car and drive to your destination. But did you know that transportation releases 30% of the greenhouse gases in the United States alone? If you really care for Mother Earth, you should start going green with how you get around. Luckily, here are a few tips on how you can do just that.

Click To Enlarge Image

Infographic courtesy of DailyInfographic.

The Greenest Ways To Get Around: How Your Commute Impacts Your Carbon Footprint

image source

• Close to 30% of the greenhouse gases released in the United States come from transportation.
• Each gallon of gasoline burned in an average car’s engine blows 19.4 lbs. of CO2 out of the exhaust and directly into Earth’s atmosphere.

The Average American Commuter

• 86% of all workers over the age of 16 drive a car, truck or van to work; 76% of these workers drive alone.
• The average fuel economy of U.S. cars is 24.6 miles per gallon.
• The average commuting distance is 13.9 miles for a single-occupant vehicle: 13.9 x 2 times/day x 260 business days = 7, 228 miles traveled to and from work in a year. Which means that most commuters in the U.S. have a total carbon footprint of 6,214 lbs. of CO2 per year for gasoline users.
• Alternative Fuel’s Impact on the carbon footprint of an average commute:
  • BioDiesel: 5728 lbs CO2/year
  • All electric: 14,752 lbs of CO2/year
  • Compressed natural gas: 4,627 lbs of CO2/year
  • Ethanol: 931 lbs of CO2/year
  • Diesel: 7,162 lbs of CO2/year

Stop Being an S.O.V. (Single Occupant Vehicle)

image source

What you can do:

1. Carpooling

• 10% of American workers carpool.
• The average distance for carpooling is 12.9 miles.
• Carbon footprint: Divide your footprint by the number of people you share a ride with.

2. Public Transportation

• 5% of American workers use public transportation to get to work.
• The average distance of public transit is 13.3 miles.
• 37 million metric tons of CO2 are saved daily with US Public Transportation.
• One person’s switch to Public Transportation can reduce their footprint up to 4800 lbs. of CO2 a year.

3. Bicycling

• Less than 1% of American workers bicycle to work.
• The average bicycle trip to work 3.6 miles.
• Carbon footprint: One time fee – carbon footprint of the manufacture of a bicycle: 530 lbs. of CO2 (according to one manufacturer)

4. Walking

• 3% of Americans walk to work
• Carbon footprint: ∞ miles
• The average walk to work is 1.2 miles.

5. Working from Home

• 4.6% of Americans work from home.

Transportation By City

Metropolitan Areas With The Most Public Transportation Usage:

• New York / Northern New Jersey / Long Island, NY / NY / PA ……. 30.5%
• San Francisco / Oakland / Fremont, CA …………………………………….. 14.6%
• Washington / Arlington / Alexandria / DC / VA / MD/ WV …………. 14.1%
• Boston / Cambridge / Quincy, MA / NH …………………………………….. 8.4%
• Philadelphia-Camden / Wilmington, PA / NJ / DE / MD …………….. 6.3%

Top 5 Metro Areas For Commutes By Bicycle:

• Eugene-Springfield, OR – 6%
• Fort Collins-Loveland, CO – 5.6%
• Boulder, CO – 5.4%
• Missoula, MT – 5%
• Corvallis, OR – 3.9%

Top 5 Metro Areas For Walking To Work:

• Ithaca, NY – 15.1%
• Corvallis, OR – 11.2%
• Ames, IA – 10.4%
• Champaign-Urbana, IL – 9%
• Manhattan, KS – 8.5%

Hybrid Cars

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Hybrids are your best bet for a lower carbon footprint vehicle for now.

According to President of Toyota Motor North America, Inc., Yoshi Inaba, compared to the average car since the year 2000, our Prius has saved an estimated:

1.1 Billion gallons of gas

16 million tons of CO2

And $2.9 Billion in fuel costs

As we move towards renewable energy production in the U.S., the carbon footprint of an electric car will be smaller than hybrids.

So are you going to start greening your transportation preference? Let us know below in the comment!

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Source Here: The Greenest Ways To Get Around: How Your Commute Impacts Your Carbon Footprint

Amazing Bike Folds into a Backpack

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How great it would be to be able to carry your bike around wherever you go? Just pack it and go on adventures and hikes with your bike on your back. That’s exactly what the company called Bergmönch thought about when they developed this awesome bike that folds into a backpack, named Bergmönch Bike. The company is located in Schrattenbach, Austria, which has designed this bike that can be folded and worn as a backpack. Perfect for camping and hiking, this backpack becomes a bicycle in just a few minutes. The Bergmönch weighs 9.5kg and has an ingenious design with a telescopic frame that becomes a downhill bike in just 2 minutes. It also has a storage compartment capable of transporting up to 12 liters of supply. To learn more about this amazing product, visit the following link.

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Check out the Original Article here

Article Source Here: Amazing Bike Folds into a Backpack