How To Protect The Most Often “Overlooked” Survival Gear You’ll Ever Have

How To Protect The Most Often “Overlooked” Survival Gear You’ll Ever Have is available on Total Survival

As survivalists, we try our best to stay in shape and to live a healthy lifestyle. We exercise and eat healthily. Meanwhile, in the back of our minds, we are hoping that the next generation is paying attention as we teach them all we know about surviving. Let’s face it, our world is changing daily. Down the road, we all hope that our good health and physical endurance will get us through the SHTF days. However, even when we’re completely focused on prepping our bodies, we forget about one of our most important resources: our eyes. Eye health will be especially important when we have to rely purely on our survival skills and instincts.

Your Secret for Survival: Maintain Great Eye Health

Even I’m guilty of not paying enough attention to eye health. My eyesight isn’t what it used to be. I do, however, realize that needs to change. Starting today!

In this article, I will cover things we can all do to take proper care of our eyes. You’d be amazed how much can contribute to poor eye health. Anything from prolonged use of the computer to a poor diet can cause eye health degeneration.

*I need to be clear that I am not a doctor and none of these are surefire methods for helping your eyesight, these are just good habits to start that could help maintain a healthy body, mind, and eyes.

If you notice any major issues with your eyes, please see a doctor immediately. It’s better to address these issues and find a solution now before a crisis happens.

Eat Healthy

Healthy eyes start with a healthy diet. Vitamins C and E, along with nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, and lutein are a great place to start! These vitamins and nutrients will help fight against age-related vision issues later in life, such as cataracts and macular degeneration.

Consider adding these foods to your diet. They’re loaded with the vitamins and nutrients I listed above:

• Salmon
• Oysters
• Tuna
• Pork
• Eggs
• Beans
• Nuts
• Citrus fruits
• Leafy vegetables such as: collard greens, spinach, and kale

These foods will also help you maintain a healthy weight, which will lower the risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes. The leading cause of adult blindness is caused by type 2 diabetes.

Take Breaks From The Computer- Often!

Prolonged periods of staring at a computer and/or phone screen can cause the following:

• Eye strain
• Inability to focus
• Dry eyes
• Blurred vision
• Headaches

If you’re at a computer for long periods of time, here are some things you can do to keep your eyes protected:

• Make sure your eyeglasses or contact lens prescription is current. Consider asking your optometrist about computer glasses.
• Having glares on your screen from other light sources, such as windows or lamps, can cause eye strain. Move your screen accordingly to avoid glares. Also, consider getting a screen that is anti-glare.
• If your eyes become dry, make a conscious effort to blink more.
• If you can, try to rest your eyes about every half hour. A good exercise for resting your eyes is to look away from the screen for 20 seconds while staring at an object about 15-20 feet away.
• A 15 minute break every two hours will also prevent eye strain.

Quit Smoking

Smoking cigarettes can cause severe damage to your eyes. Smoking can lead to such extremes as macular degeneration, cataracts, and optic nerve damage.

If you’ve had a difficult time with quitting in the past, speak with your primary care physician for help.

Protect Your Eyes With Sunglasses

Prolonged UV exposure can be so damaging to your eyes and can greatly increase your chances of getting cataracts and macular degeneration.

How to choose the right sunglasses:

• Be sure to pick sunglasses that block 99-100% of UVB and UVA rays.
• Consider wrap-around lenses, as they will offer protection to the side of your eyes.
• Consider eye contacts that have UV protection. To add more protection, you should still wear sunglasses with your UV contacts.

Protect Your Eyes With Safety Eye Gear

Wearing safety eye gear in an environment with airborne and/or hazardous materials is a must! Certain airborne and hazardous materials can cause severe and permanent damage to your eyes.

Certain sports also can cause eye injury. Wear eye goggles with polycarbonate lenses or a helmet that has a protective face mask to prevent eye injury.

Get Regular Eye Exams

People of all ages need a yearly eye exam. Getting a yearly exam is necessary to keep your eyesight at its very best. Also, by getting an exam once a year, the doctor can detect any possible eye conditions or diseases, like glaucoma. If a possible eye condition or disease is caught early, they are easier to treat.

Why It’s Important

As any good survivalist will admit, being prepared for when TSHTF is as much about caring foryour body as it is about what you know. Maintaining good eye health is an often overlooked, but still vital, part of that necessary physical fitness plan. Implement these tips into your life, and you’ll be sure to spot trouble and its solutions a mile away.

Do you have some advice regarding keeping your eyes healthy and at their best? Share with us in the comments below.

Checkout these other articles to keep your eyes looking and feeling their absolute best!

How To Get Rid Of Bags Under Your Eyes Naturally

How to Make an Eye Mask Out of Rice

And check out our friends at Homemade Recipes to jumpstart your healthy diet!

If you’re looking for useful survival gear that you can’t make at home, check out the Survival Life Store!

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My EDC: 12 Survival Items I Carry Every Single Day To Stay Safe

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Image source: Flickr / Creative Commons

Every single adult in the world has an EDC – that is, an everyday carry. An EDC is simply the items that one carries on his or her person each day, particularly when they leave the house.

That being said, not all EDCs are equal. While there is no such thing as a “perfect EDC,” it’s still a good idea to carry around items with you that make you prepared for emergencies or other dangerous situations.

Here is what I carry:

1. WALTHER PPQ M2 9MM (IN GALCO SUMMER COMFORT IWB HOLSTER)

My primary carry pistol is the Walther PPQ M2 9mm, which I usually conceal in a leather Galco Summer Comfort IWB holster on my right hip. The PPQ disappears very nicely underneath a jacket, sweatshirt or even under just a normal T-shirt.

The only modifications I’ve made to my PPQ are replacing with the polymer factory night sights with Meprolight Night Sights and the plastic guide rod with a stainless steel one. I use Independence 115 Grain JHP ammunition.

2. SPARE PPQ MAG (IN GALCO MAG HOLDER)

I always like to have at least one spare magazine for my PPQ with me, which I carry on my left hip in a Galco single mag carrier. During the winter or when I’m wearing a heavier coat or jacket, I’ll carry two spare magazines in a double mag carrier.

3. RUGER LCP II .380 ACP (IN RUGER POCKET HOLSTER)

I believe it’s important to carry a secondary/back-up gun for a number of reasons, and my choice is the Ruger LCP II .380. I carry it in my left front pocket in a neoprene holster that shipped with the gun and that works very well at keeping the pistol secure in the pocket. The LCP II is very light and small, so I usually don’t even notice it on me.

You Don’t Need A Firearms License For This Weapon!

Note: I specifically chose to carry the LCP II in my left pocket rather than my right so I can access a pistol with either hand.

4. BUCK KNIVES REDPOINT KNIFE

My defensive knife is the Buck Knives Redpoint Knife. It’s a manual assisted model with a very ergonomic grip with a sharp serrated blade, and also comes with a window breaker and seatbelt cutter on the opposite side. I keep the Redpoint clipped into my right front pocket.

I’ve practiced with it extensively and am able to pull it out and flip open the blade very quickly despite the fact that you should manually do so rather than just push a switch.

5. SWISS ARMY KNIFE

I also carry a Swiss Army-style knife for utilitarian purposes in my right front pocket. Mine comes with a knife blade, scissors, screwdriver, corkscrew and two saw blades.

6. SCHRADE TACTICAL PEN

Image source: KnifeCenter.com

I keep a Schrade Tactical Pen clipped to my left back pocket, and while I normally use it for simply writing on paper, if I had to I could use it for defense, as well. Tactical pens really do deserve more credit than they receive; the pointed edge could easily puncture holes in an opponent with enough force.

7. CREE ULTRAFIRE FLASHLIGHT

In my right front pocket I also keep a Cree Ultrafire Flashlight. It comes with three different lighting modes (bright, low and strobe).

8. CHAP STICK

Not only do I hate chapped lips, but I also carry chap stick for the fact that it’s very flammable and could come in handy in a survival situation.

9. HAND SANITIZER

On days where I have a jacket or sweatshirt on me, I’ll carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer in one of the jacket pockets for both sanitation purposes and the fact that it’s very flammable should I need to get a fire going in a survival situation.

10. WALLET

Pretty standard, but in my back right pocket I carry a leather wallet with my various licenses, cards and cash. I try to keep cash on me at all times.

11. SMARTPHONE

My current phone is the iPhone 6S. I believe carrying a phone is critical for several reasons, the most important being to get in touch with your family members during a crisis.

12. KEYS

Last but not least, I carry my keys in my front right pocket. Not only do I need my keys to get into my car and my house, but you could also use them defensively by putting a key in between your fingers.

What is in your EDC? Share your list in the section below:

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11 Foods That Unclog Arteries, Fight Heart Disease, And Help You Live Longer

The following article 11 Foods That Unclog Arteries, Fight Heart Disease, And Help You Live Longer Read more on: http://ift.tt/1nr27gs

Image source: Pixabay.com

Do you exercise regularly, eat healthy foods, do not smoke nor drink alcohol excessively? If that is you, then congratulations, you are in the 2.7 percent of Americans who live a healthy lifestyle. However, the other 97.3 percent live dangerously, even deadly, lifestyles.

It’s not too late to turn your health around, however, with exercise and the right diet. Eating certain foods can help to literally unclog your arteries, resulting in a major reduction in the risk of heart disease.

To help, here is a list of foods that you should be eating regularly:

1. Asparagus

Asparagus comes in at the top of the list because it’s full of minerals, fiber and vitamins, such as B1, B2, C, E and K which can lower blood pressure and prevent clots from forming. For maximum vitamin potential, try steaming raw asparagus.

2. Broccoli

Broccoli is loaded with vitamin K, which helps prevent calcification and the hardening of arteries. It is also full of antioxidants and fiber, which averts oxidation of LDL cholesterol, normalizes blood pressure, and reduces stress that may cause tears and plaque build-up in arterial walls ─ all leading to severe heart conditions.

3. Avocados

Studies show that a daily consumption of avocados literally results in improved cholesterol levels with a decrease of the bad cholesterol by 22 percent and an increase of good cholesterol by 11 percent.

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Additionally, avocados are full of fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.

4. Cinnamon

According to studies, adding one teaspoon of ground cinnamon to your food daily will help reduce your high cholesterol levels. Cinnamon can clear plaque from the arteries and prevent further build-up. Moreover, cinnamon is full of antioxidants that improve cardiovascular health by protecting blood from destructive oxidation. A simple way to get a daily dose of cinnamon is to add a teaspoon to your tea or coffee.

5. Chia Seeds

Just two ounces of chia seeds eaten daily contain enough fiber and alpha-linolenic acid to help clear out arteries and maintain a healthy blood pressure. Chia seeds additionally reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol, lowering triglycerides and increasing HDL (good) cholesterol. Moreover, they are full of protein and other essential nutrients.

6. Cranberries

Image source: Pixabay.com

Cranberries are another “superfood” that lowers bad cholesterol and raises good cholesterol levels due to its high antioxidant content. In fact, cranberry juice has the highest level of antioxidants, coming in only second to 100 percent black or red grape juice. What’s great about cranberries, though, is that they are essential to urinary tract health, as well.

7. Green tea

Matcha green tea contains high levels of catechins, which are antioxidant phenols contained in plants that hinder the absorption of cholesterol during the ingestion of food. Drinking a cup or two of green tea will improve your blood-lipid levels, help to reduce arterial blockage, and even boost your metabolism.

8. Orange juice

Drinking two cups of 100 percent orange juice will reduce inflammation of the arteries and help to improve blood pressure. Orange juice is high in vitamin C, an antioxidant that prevents oxidation from occurring in the blood stream, keeping arteries clear. Additionally, orange juice improves and maintains a healthy circulatory function, keeping your heart and arteries healthy.

9. Spinach

Studies show that eating one serving each day of folate-rich greens, such as spinach, can reduce homocysteine levels that are a known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis. In fact, spinach is loaded with potassium, folate and fiber, all of which help to keep arteries clear and reduce blood pressure levels.

10. Turmeric

Curcumin, the primary components of Turmeric, is a potent anti-inflammatory. By adding turmeric to your diet, you can reduce inflammation and damage to arterial walls that are leading causes of plaque build-up and blood clots. Moreover, recent studies show that the high levels of curcumin in Turmeric can benefit in the decrease of fatty deposits in the arteries by up to 25 percent.

11. Flaxseeds

Flaxseeds are a potent source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Eating them regularly can reduce inflammation and blood pressure significantly. This helps to keep arteries clear and to improve and maintain overall heart health.

What would you add to our list? Share your thoughts in the section below:

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

check out the full article Here: 11 Foods That Unclog Arteries, Fight Heart Disease, And Help You Live Longer

Our Homestead – Then and Now – How Things Have Changed

Our Homestead – Then and Now – How Things Have Changed was first seen on http://ift.tt/1nr27gs

My mother-in-law brought over a photo collage for my birthday last week featuring old photos from our homestead – before it was a homestead. Bare grass and gently rolling terrain was all there was to see. It was quite a reminder about how much things have changed around here. I thought you all might enjoy a little peek into how things have changed over the years. Our place will never be quite like grandma's homestead, but we've made a pretty nice oasis of growing things here.

Our Homestead – Then and Now

The Driveway

The land we found for our homestead was 35 acres of farmland that was being sold separately from the original farm. 25 acres was in production, being farmed by another neighbor, with 10 acres of abandoned pasture that was landlocked behind the original farmstead. We swapped a strip of land with the neighbor who bought the original farmstead so we could put a driveway in.

The first path to the house was cut through the overgrown pasture but the neighbor who agreed to swap the land. He's a hard working young man. He bought the old farmstead not long before we bought the raw land, before he turned 21. To get our driveway in, he had to pull and move the line of fence posts he had only recently put in. As it turns out, the swap worked well for him long term, too, because he used the land that we swapped him to put in a large machine shed. We also agreed to a variance for his shed because it was fairly close to the lot line. Good neighbors are worth their weight in gold.

The original access path, circa 2004, with our van parked out on the road.

The driveway circa July 2017. We had the contractor put a loop in so we could turn around larger vehicles and heavy equipment, and it's worked out well. Over the years I've tried planting flowers in the center of the driveway, but only the strong survive. (It's a high wind spot.) There's a big garden bed to the left of the photo, north of the house. You can see the white and purple lilac trees at left center of the photo, which were a gift from another neighbor.

The Backyard

To the south of the house, away from the road, the biggest transformation has taken place. Since most of the windows face that direction because of the passive solar aspect of the house, we wanted a nice view. It's also more protected there, by the house, and the treeline, the outbuilding placement and now the pond.

Facing due south, roughly in the area of the house, circa 2004. Not much to see except grass.

View from our south facing deck, circa 2017. There's the main wheel garden, plus seven rectangular garden beds. At left center, there's asparagus and peonies, then a patch of red raspberries, and finally sunchokes and strawberries. To the right rear of the photo, there's a small orchard/nuttery that is still quite young, with apples, pawpaws, bush cherries, a butternut, chestnuts, rugosa roses and autumnberries. Between the gardens and the pond, there's a kiwi trellis with boy and girl hardy kiwi plants.

At the upper left of the photo, you can see the new pond, which will help moderate the temperature in the immediate area. We left the back hill to grow up with autumnberry shrubs, and have added some maple and birch trees just this year. It's tough to get new plants established because of the deer. A friend told me that mark Shepard of Restoration Agriculture uses willow corridors to funnel the deer away from his orchard, so after the final pond work is done, willows are next on the planting list. Unfortunately there was a miscalculation by the pond builder and the pond is not as deep as it needs to be to support panfish, so we're working on finding a solution.

The Outbuildings

Obviously we didn't have any outbuildings to start, but we identified the area to the west of the main gardens as a good spot to build. It was close enough to the house that we'd have ready access, but not directly upwind in case the critters get messy. Most of our winds come out of the west, so it also protects the main gardens.

We added the greenhouse in 2015, and the connected coop/garden shed in 2016-2017. The building was all done by family and friends, mostly on weekends, so it took a while.

We had to cut into the hillside a fair amount to get the space needed for the foundation and proper drainage away from the building. A retaining wall is in the plans for this fall where the raw dirt is at the corner of the building. The yellow raspberry patch is between the building and the treeline. There's a shade cloth over the greenhouse to keep it from overheating. The baby chicks and ducklings are hanging out at the near end of the building, which is the coop. They're be ready to graduate outside soon. The first evergreen trees we planted over 15 feet tall. This year we put in another 25 trees to extend the windbreak farther south. A different neighbor is farming the field, a dairy farmer with Organic Valley.

Our Homestead – The House

The house looked pretty raw and rough when primary construction officially wrapped up – no deck, no greenhouse, no slab, no retaining walls near the front door. Some things we finished ourselves, like the deck. Others we contracted out, like the concrete work.

Now it's a whole lot greener and a whole lot busier. At right, although it's hidden behind the pole beans, the attached greenhouse is finished. There are also two retaining walls to keep the hill in place. We have a stash of wood under the deck. The deck itself runs the whole length of the house, with stairs at each end and wrap around access from the front door. Just out of frame to the left are the solar water heating panels.

The front door looks a bit more welcoming.

Our Homestead – Where We're Headed

Our homestead, like our needs and dreams, is always evolving. Long term we're looking at teaching classes and diversified income from value added specialty products. Maybe northern kiwi jam will turn out to be a hit, or seaberry sauce, or organic Siberian pea shrub chicken feed? (There are other planting areas around the homestead that I didn't cover in this post. You can see a full site overview in the post The Homestead Permaculture Project.

We're not sure if the boys will stay on site, or other friends or family will join us. The only thing I know for sure is that there will always be plenty to keep us busy, and I hope to keep sharing snippets of our projects online for many years to come.

How have your homestead and homesteading dreams changed over the years? Leave a comment and share your story.

You may also enjoy:

• No More Gold Stars – Creating Real World Rewards
• 7 Things My Mama Told Me
• What Destroyed the Extended Family?

The post Our Homestead – Then and Now – How Things Have Changed appeared first on Common Sense Homesteading.

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11 Uncommon Uses For Aluminum Foil

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In a crisis, you make the most out of everything you have. This means that you might need to get a little creative. Now things like paracord and duct tape have some fairly obvious “other than intended” uses… but other items may require a little more critical thinking….But the more you know now, the better off you’ll be in the future. Today let’s take a look at one of the most common items you have in your kitchen, Aluminium foil: (Contrary to popular belief…we don’t keep tinfoil around to make cute hats…)

Aluminum Foil For Survival?

It’s not just for keeping leftovers covered! When it comes to multi-purpose survival tools… this common kitchen item has no equal.

In this article, I’ll go over just a few of its many uses such as:

• Boiling water
• Signaling For Help
• Make Fishing Lures
• Water Bottle Repair
• Sharpening Scissors
• How To Fix Loose Batteries
• Keeping Your Matches Dry
• Scrubbing Your Pots And Pans
• Blocking The Wind Around Your Fire
• Collecting Rainwater
• Removing Rust

Let’s get started!

1. Boiling Water

In any survival situation, it is important to stay hydrated. However, water acquired from any “untrusted” source needs to be made safe for consumption. Boiling water is the best way to purify the water and kill all germs and parasites it may contain.

No pots or pans? No problem! That aluminum foil can be folded to create a makeshift bowl!

Bring your water to a rolling boil and keep it at a rolling boil for a minimum of one minute. This will make your water safe to drink.

2. Signal For Help

Since aluminum foil is reflective, it is great for signaling purposes! Place along on branches and/or any other areas where it will be well seen from the air and/or a road close by.

You can also use aluminum foil to make a makeshift mirror which is great for signaling for help as well.

3. Make Fishing Lures

Fish love shiny lures! If you do not have bait, wrap aluminum foil around the hook, which will act as bait.

4. Water Bottle Repair

Pine sap and aluminum foil will act as a temporary patching solution for cracks in water bottles or small piercings in hydration packs. It will not hold up to a lot of water pressure but, will help with drips and small seeps temporarily.

5. Sharpen Dull Scissors

I keep a multi-tool on me at all times. The scissors are my most used tool so, they can dull up from time to time. To sharpen scissors using aluminum foil, fold the foil over two or three times and cut the foil with your scissors. This will help sharpen the scissor blades.

6. Fix Loose Batteries

If batteries become loose, the most common reason is that the springs inside of the battery compartment have lost some of their tension over time. Loose batteries can cause glitching. To remedy this problem with aluminum foil, fold a small piece just big enough to fill in the gap and you’re good to go.

7. Keep Your Matches Dry

Wrapping your matches with aluminum foil will keep them dry as long as you don’t go underwater!

8. Scrub Dirty Pots And Pans

Do you have dirty pots and pans but forgot to pack the scrub pads? Not to worry. Crumble up a piece of aluminum foil and scrub your dirty pots and pans and rinse.

Remember, it is important to keep the smell of food away from your shelter area and/or campsite. Having clean pots and pans will help to prevent predators (such as bears) from snooping around at night.

9. Create A Quick Windbreak Around Your Campfire

Building a wall out of aluminum foil around your campfire will help protect it from the wind. This will also help reflect heat to help you stay warm at night.

10. Collect Rainwater

Remember the makeshift bowl you made to boil water? Make it about 3 or 4 times that size (or just make several of them) to collect rainwater.

11. Remove Rust

Crumple up a piece of aluminum foil like you would a piece of paper. Use the crumbled foil to remove rust from metal objects.

SensiblePrepper shows 20+ SHTF uses for aluminum foil that you can learn about:

Do have a survival use for aluminum foil that you would like to share with us? Share with us in the comment section below.

Check out these other great articles on everyday items that have multiple uses!

34 Ways to Use Duct Tape for Survival

Multipurpose Survival Items to Use in a Pinch

30 Uses For Trash Bags In Your Bug Out Bag

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The Benefits of Tongue Scraping

5 Things STILL Worth Doing Grandma’s Way (That Is, Without Gadgets!)

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Image source: Pixabay.com

No matter how many fancy little electronic gadgets I get, sometimes there is just no substitute for doing things the way your grandmother did.

I’m not going to bash gadgets in this article. I am a big, big fan of anything that makes my life less complicated. (Yes, I am forever grateful for dishwashers, video doorbells and washing machines).

However, some things just don’t seem to work out as planned once they go electronic. I have found that there are a few things that simply work out better when you do them the old-fashioned way. Yes, it might take a bit more effort, but you will find it is well worth it.

1. Use a real camera.

Of course, having a camera on hand for those spontaneous videos or spur-of-the-moment pictures is a great thing, don’t get me wrong, but gathering the family around a cell phone or tablet to view Christmas photos just doesn’t cut it.

“The Big Book Of Off The Grid Secrets” — Every Homesteader Needs A Copy!

You don’t have to lug around an $800 camera and a box of lenses. A simple digital camera will do nicely for pictures you know you are going to take, including family photos, Christmas and other holiday photos, birthday parties, etc. Save your cell phone for times when you simply must send a picture of these shoes to your sister to see if they go with her new outfit.

2. Make a real photo album.

Again, there is nothing heartwarming about passing around a cell phone to view Susie’s first birthday party pics. It really is worth the effort to take pictures with a real camera (digital is great) and then order prints of the photos you think are the best. Put those photos (don’t forget to write who is in the photo on the back) in photo albums. When your family gets together, sitting around an album is much nicer than a cell phone. In addition, albums can be passed on to other family members throughout the years. I really cherish the pictures of my parents and grandparents, which would most likely be lost in a computer crash.

3. Keep a paper address book.

I only know three phone numbers now: my husband’s cell, my cell, and our home phone. Why? Because I don’t have to. My cell phone keeps track of all my phone numbers and addresses for me.

However, after losing my cell phone for a few hours one day, I realized that I would only have access to whatever backup I had as far as those names and addresses go. When was the last time you backed up your cell phone? Exactly! And what would we do if we had no way to access even our backup files?

For this reason, I now keep an old-fashioned paper address book in my home. I write in pencil and can make changes as often as needed. If I should lose all my contact information, even if it’s slightly out of date, my paper address book will still be there to help me out.

4. Use a paper calendar.

Image source: Pixabay.com

Phone calendars can be a great thing when you are on the road or away from home, but how many times have you relied on your Google or phone calendar, only to find that you forgot to set the alarm or that you put the appointment for 2 p.m., when it should have been 12 p.m.? It has certainly happened to me.

For this reason, I use a paper wall calendar in my kitchen to write big notes or achievements, as well as a small paper calendar in my purse, in addition to my electronic calendar. When I make an appointment, I write it in my paper calendar in my purse, first. Just a simple “John Dr. 12PM” will do the trick. Once I am home and not so rushed, I add it to my cell phone, then to the wall calendar. This way, my husband doesn’t have to ask me six times when his doctor’s appointment is and I have a backup I can check in an instant if my electronic calendar should fail, or if I should misplace my phone. Again.

5. Paper invitations and/or thank-you notes.

Yes, I’ve heard how e-vites and thank-you notes are all the rage because they are “greener” than using paper, but if you use sustainable paper sources, such as bamboo or hemp, that argument quickly falls by the wayside.

There is nothing more personal or sweet that you can send someone than a handwritten, paper invitation or thank you-note. If someone took the time to go to the store, buy a gift, have it wrapped, and show up at your event, is it too much to ask to write a three line thank-you note?! Invitations and thank-you notes are also great mementos to keep in your scrapbook or photo album.

There are plenty of other old-fashioned things that I like to do, but when it comes to electronic gadgets, I prefer my grandmother’s way to the Apple way.

What would you add to our list? Share your thoughts in the section below:

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See Full Article Here: 5 Things STILL Worth Doing Grandma’s Way (That Is, Without Gadgets!)

A Republic, If You Can Keep It

A Republic, If You Can Keep It was first seen on http://ift.tt/1nr27gs

“But between a balanced republic and a democracy, the difference is like that between order and chaos.”

—John Marshall, Life of Washington (1805)

“At no time, at no place, in solemn convention assembled, through no chosen agents, have the American people ever proclaimed the United States to be a democracy.”

—Charles and Mary Beard, America in Midpassage (1939)

Republics and Democracies

At the close of the Constitutional Convention, a Mrs. Powell of Philadelphia walked up to Dr. Franklin to get the inside scoop on what the Convention had finally produced. “Well, Doctor,” she asked, “what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” Without a blink, Franklin replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.” A republic, he said. Not a democracy.

The word republic comes from two Latin words: res publica—literally, the “things public.” That doesn’t tell us much on the surface. It isn’t as descriptive as democracy, which means “the rule of the people.” But in the history of the West, and especially in political history … republics and the republican tradition have been associated with the way Rome governed itself for a period of time on the way to empire. The Roman republic operated in terms of political representation, and it assumed the existence of some moral and legal standards that every citizen was supposed to assume and acknowledge.

Democracies, on the other hand, have their prototypes in ancient Greece, particularly Athens, during those brief times when tyrants weren’t in charge. Democracies involve the direct political participation of all the citizens. (In Athens, this was usually less than 15 percent of the population and was usually adult males.) All the citizens come together in one place, debate the issues at hand, and then vote. Anything over 50 percent supposedly settled the matter.

Turn Drive Time Into Fun-Filled, History Time With Your Kids!

Our Founding Fathers, however, understood political democracy and opposed it fiercely. For example, James Madison wrote that democracies “have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths” (Federalist #10).

In the Constitutional Convention, Alexander Hamilton said, “The voice of the people has been said to be the voice of God; and however generally this maxim has been quoted and believed, it is not true in fact. The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge or determine right.” In a letter to John Taylor in 1814, John Adams wrote, “Remember democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet, that did not commit suicide.”

And then there’s Edmund Randolph, in describing his vision for a senate, said that this house of Congress ought “to provide a cure for the evils under which the U. S. labored; that in tracing these evils to their origin every man had found it in the turbulence and follies of democracy. . . .”

Finally, Fisher Ames, Federalism’s most eloquent spokesmen, wrote: “Liberty has never yet lasted long in a democracy; nor has it ever ended in anything better than despotism.” Without question, the Founders believed that to hand “the majority” political sovereignty was to invite legalized theft, chaos and ultimately tyranny.

Safe for Democracy?

And yet today, most Americans think this nation is a democracy. What happened? When did this shift come, and why?

It’s much easier to narrow down the when than to prove the why. The when lies mostly in the first two decades of the 20th Century. Though the words democracy and democratic had certainly been tossed about before and after the Civil War … no one with any political authority ever labeled the new republic … a democracy. Nope.

Heirloom Audio: Putting God Back Into History!

The first blatant attempt to slap that label on the United States came from President Woodrow Wilson in his call for a declaration of war against Imperial Germany (April 2, 1917). In arguing his case before the Senate, Wilson gave us the immortal words, “The world must be made safe for democracy.” And as he moved toward the conclusion of his speech, he said further, “And we shall fight for the things which we have always carried nearest our hearts … for democracy … and for the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their own governments.” Wilson seems to give “democracy” an even warmer meaning than the Greeks did, but he also rewrote American history and tradition in the process.

But there’s more. In the middle of his speech, Wilson makes reference to Russia, a faithful ally of Great Britain and France in prosecuting the War:

Does not every American feel that assurance has been added to our hope for the future peace of the world by the wonderful and heartening things that have been happening within the last few weeks in Russia?

What was happening was a murderous revolution that had led to the abdication of the czar. The Provisional Government (that’s what it was called) was clearly less imperial, but it was heavily influenced by Marxist factions. Wilson goes on:

Russia was known by those who knew it best to have been always in fact democratic at heart, in all the vital habits of her thought, in all the intimate relationships of her people that spoke their natural instinct, their habitual attitude toward life. The autocracy that crowned the summit of her political structure, long as it had stood and terrible as was the reality of its power, was not in fact Russian in origin, character, or purpose; and now it has been shaken off and the great, generous Russian people have been added in all their naive majesty and might to the forces that are fighting for freedom in the world, for justice, and for peace.

Seriously? In this speech, Wilson completely reinvents the psyche, character, and history of the Russian people. He also lied about what was happening in Russia in 1917. And he had every reason to know the truth. A few days before his call for war, Wilson had authorized an American passport for the Marxist revolutionary Leon Trotsky. It’s true: Wilson signed off on Trotsky’s plan to return to Russia and turn the Provisional Government into a Marxist dictatorship. So much for democracy. So much for Wilson.

The War Department on Democracy

Another snapshot of an attempt to shape America into a democracy comes from documents published by the War Department. In 1928, the War Department’s U. S. Army Training Manual defined democracy like this:

A government of the masses. Authority derived through mass meeting or any other form of “direct expression.” Results in mobocracy. Attitude toward property is communistic — negating property rights. Attitude of the law is that the will of the majority shall regulate, whether it be based upon deliberation or governed by passion, prejudice, and impulse, without restraint or regard to consequences. Results in demagogism, license, agitation, discontent, anarchy.

But within a few years, there was a call in the Senate to change the manual completely. In fact, by 1952 the U.S. Army was pushing new definitions and a new philosophy of government. Field Manual 21-13, “The Soldier’s Guide,” says:

Meaning of democracy. Because the United States is a democracy, the majority of the people decide how our government will be organized and run – and that includes the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The people do this by electing representatives, and these men and women then carry out the wishes of the people.

Conclusion

The move to the Left was rapid, less than 25 years, at least on paper. And it was accomplished with intention and malice aforethought. Next time we’ll consider why.

For Further Reading:

Gary DeMar, God and Government, A Biblical and Historical Study, Vol. 1 (Atlanta, GA: American Vision, Inc., 1997).

John F. McManus, “A Republic, if You Can Keep It,” The New American, 6 Nov 2000.

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North Korea Launches ICBM That Could Reach Denver Or Chicago, Warns Of Strike ‘Without Warning’

The following blog post North Korea Launches ICBM That Could Reach Denver Or Chicago, Warns Of Strike ‘Without Warning’ is republished from http://ift.tt/1Qfw8v0

North Korea on Friday tested an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that experts say likely could have reached Denver or Chicago if the rogue nation had fired it in that direction

The missile flew for 45 minutes and reached an altitude of 2,300 miles before crashing into the Sea of Japan. But if its trajectory had been toward the U.S. – and not straight up — it likely would have had enough fuel to reach cities throughout the nation, experts say.

38North, a project of The US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, posted an assessment noting that “if flown on a flatter trajectory, this missile could reach as far as 9,000 to 10,000 km.” That’s 5,600 to 6,200 miles. Denver is roughly 6,000 miles from North Korea, Chicago 6,341.

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Friday’s launch was apparently timed to coincide with the 74th anniversary of the end of the Korean War in 1953, The Washington Post reported.

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un is attempting to develop a missile with multiple nuclear warheads.

The Hwasong-14 missile tested on Friday is theoretically capable of reaching targets in the Rocky Mountain West or the Midwest. That would include not only Denver and Chicago but also Colorado Springs, Kansas City, St. Louis, Minneapolis and Milwaukee – as well as cities such as Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

“My guess is that they want to show more range,” Jeffrey Lewis of the Center for Nonproliferation (CNS) studies said. “We basically dared them to do this. We said, ‘It’s not really an ICBM until it can hit Alaska, and they’re, like, ‘OK.’”

Analysts at the CNS believe the Hwasong-14 might be capable of reaching targets on the East Coast, including New York and Washington, if and when it is perfected. Lewis believes the North Koreans are trying to show the Pentagon that they can build a workable ICBM.

It was the second time in a month that North Korea has tested a Hwasong-14. There was another test on the Fourth of July.

This week, North Korea’s defense minister warned the U.S.

“If enemies misunderstand our strategic status and stick to options of staging a preemptive nuclear attack against us, we will launch a nuclear attack on America’s heart as the most relentless punishment without warning or prior notice,” he said.

What do you think America should do? Should the Trump administration launch a pre-emptive strike? Share your thoughts in the section below:

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

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BREAKING: North Korea Launches ICBM That Could Reach Denver Or Chicago, Warns Of Strike ‘Without Warning’

BREAKING: North Korea Launches ICBM That Could Reach Denver Or Chicago, Warns Of Strike ‘Without Warning’ was originally published to http://ift.tt/1nr27gs

North Korea on Friday tested an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that experts say likely could have reached Denver or Chicago if the rogue nation had fired it in that direction

The missile flew for 45 minutes and reached an altitude of 2,300 miles before crashing into the Sea of Japan. But if its trajectory had been toward the U.S. – and not straight up — it likely would have had enough fuel to reach cities throughout the nation, experts say.

38North, a project of The US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, posted an assessment noting that “if flown on a flatter trajectory, this missile could reach as far as 9,000 to 10,000 km.” That’s 5,600 to 6,200 miles. Denver is roughly 6,000 miles from North Korea, Chicago 6,341.

Are Your Prepared For A Downed Grid? Get Backup Electricity Today!

Friday’s launch was apparently timed to coincide with the 74th anniversary of the end of the Korean War in 1953, The Washington Post reported.

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un is attempting to develop a missile with multiple nuclear warheads.

The Hwasong-14 missile tested on Friday is theoretically capable of reaching targets in the Rocky Mountain West or the Midwest. That would include not only Denver and Chicago but also Colorado Springs, Kansas City, St. Louis, Minneapolis and Milwaukee – as well as cities such as Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

“My guess is that they want to show more range,” Jeffrey Lewis of the Center for Nonproliferation (CNS) studies said. “We basically dared them to do this. We said, ‘It’s not really an ICBM until it can hit Alaska, and they’re, like, ‘OK.’”

Analysts at the CNS believe the Hwasong-14 might be capable of reaching targets on the East Coast, including New York and Washington, if and when it is perfected. Lewis believes the North Koreans are trying to show the Pentagon that they can build a workable ICBM.

It was the second time in a month that North Korea has tested a Hwasong-14. There was another test on the Fourth of July.

This week, North Korea’s defense minister warned the U.S.

“If enemies misunderstand our strategic status and stick to options of staging a preemptive nuclear attack against us, we will launch a nuclear attack on America’s heart as the most relentless punishment without warning or prior notice,” he said.

What do you think America should do? Should the Trump administration launch a pre-emptive strike? Share your thoughts in the section below:

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

Original Post Here: BREAKING: North Korea Launches ICBM That Could Reach Denver Or Chicago, Warns Of Strike ‘Without Warning’

Home Canned Salsa Recipe – Plus 10 Tips for Safe Salsa Canning

The following article Home Canned Salsa Recipe – Plus 10 Tips for Safe Salsa Canning See more on: Total Survival

This home canned salsa recipe rates an “Awesome!” from friends and family alike. To keep the salsa “canning friendly”, it contains a higher proportion of tomatoes than most fresh salsa recipes, plus added vinegar to lower the pH. (More on Safe Salsas for Canning at the end of the post.)

The taste and texture of this salsa recipe is similar to a popular commercial brand we used to use, but canning with your fresh local produce at the peak of ripeness really makes the flavors sing.

Organic spices are great if you can get them. To me, the flavors and aromas seem more intense than their conventional counterparts. More grocery stores are starting to stock bulk organic spices, allowing you to stock up on a quality product at a great price, or you can buy them online.

Cilantro gives you a more authentic flavor, but my parsley grows much better than my cilantro. I’m also one of the people who think cilantro tastes like soap, so I usually use parsley.

You may use whatever sweet peppers you have on hand – red, yellow, green, orange, banana – just don’t exceed one cup chopped per batch. We used to use only one hot pepper when the kids were younger, now we use four. Meaty paste tomatoes are best, but slicing tomatoes will do in a pinch.

Home Canned Salsa Recipe

Ingredients

• 20-22 pounds of tomatoes
• 3 cups onions, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro or parsley, finely chopped
• ¼ cup celery, finely diced
• 1 cup assorted mild peppers, finely chopped
• 1 – 4 hot peppers, finely chopped
• 1 Tablespoon sea salt
• 1 Tablespoon dried oregano leaf Buy oregano online.
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin (optional, but recommended) Buy cumin online.
• 1 cup 5% apple cider vinegar
• 3 6-ounce cans tomato paste (optional, for thicker salsa)
• ¼ cup Ultra Gel (optional, for thicker salsa) Buy Ultra Gel online.

Directions

Blanch and skin the tomatoes. To blanch tomatoes, place them in boiling water for 30 to 60 seconds, until the skins start to split. As soon as the skins start splitting, remove the tomatoes and place them in a cold water/ice water bath. This stops the cooking so they don’t get mushy, and makes them cool enough to handle for peeling. Slip off skins.

A photo from several years ago, with my boys skinning tomatoes.

If you are working alone, you can squeeze the tomatoes and put them to drain in a colander while you prepare the rest of the ingredients. In our kitchen, the boys chop tomatoes while I prep the rest of the ingredients.

The boys, chopping tomatoes then and now.

To finish the tomato prep, dice the tomatoes into small chunks and place in colander to drain off excess juice. We prefer to scrape out most of the seeds and squeeze out excess juice for a thicker salsa. If desired, juice can be strained and consumed, or canned separately for later use.

Finely chop onions, garlic, cilantro (parsley), sweet and hot peppers.

Caution: Use gloves when handling and chopping hot peppers. I leave the hot peppers until last to minimize risk of spreading the hot pepper juice around my work area.

Prepare canning jars, two piece canning lids and water bath canner or pressure canner. Your canner will need time to heat up for processing.

Place all salsa ingredients except vinegar and Ultra Gel in a large stockpot. Dissolve Ultra Gel (if desired) in vinegar, add vinegar mix to stockpot. Mix salsa thoroughly.

Heat the salsa to a gentle simmer. There is no need to cook it; you just want to get hot enough for canning.

Fill the jars with salsa, allowing 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe rims for any spills. Seat the lids and hand-tighten the rings around them.

To water bath can the salsa: Put the jars in the canner and keep them covered with at least 1 inch of water. Keep the water boiling. Process the jars in a boiling-water bath for 15 minutes for 8 oz and pints and 20 minutes for quarts.

To pressure can the salsa: Fill canner with water according to manufacturer’s directions. Process the salsa at a pressure of 10 to 11 pounds, 10 minutes for pint jars and 15 minutes for quarts.

Makes around 12-13 pints.

Note: I usually run my jars through the dishwasher and try to time it so they are done and warm when I’m ready to fill jars. Never fill cold jars with hot salsa! The difference in temperatures may cause the glass to break.

Print

Home Canned Salsa

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

This home canned salsa recipe rates an “Awesome” from friends and family alike. Hot or mild – you choose how spicy you like it.

• Author: Laurie Neverman

Ingredients

• 20-22 pounds of tomatoes
• 3 cups onions, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro or parsley, finely chopped
• ¼ cup celery, finely diced
• 1 cup assorted mild peppers, finely chopped
• 1 – 4 hot peppers, finely chopped
• 1 Tablespoon sea salt
• 1 Tablespoon dried oregano leaf
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin (optional)
• 1 cup 5% apple cider vinegar
• 3 6-ounce cans tomato paste (optional)
• ¼ cup Ultra Gel (optional)

Instructions

1. Blanch and skin the tomatoes.
2. To blanch tomatoes, place them in boiling water for 30 to 60 seconds, until the skins start to split. As soon as the skins start splitting, remove the tomatoes and place them in a cold water/ice water bath. This stops the cooking so they don’t get mushy, and makes them cool enough to handle for peeling. Slip off skins.
3. If you are working alone, you can squeeze the tomatoes and put them to drain in a colander while you prepare the rest of the ingredients. In our kitchen, the boys chop tomatoes while I prep the rest of the ingredients.
4. To finish the tomato prep, dice the tomatoes into small chunks and place in colander to drain off excess juice. We prefer to scrape out most of the seeds and squeeze out excess juice for a thicker salsa. If desired, juice can be strained and drunk, or canned separately for later use.
5. Finely chop onions, garlic, cilantro (parsley), sweet and hot peppers.
6. Caution: Use gloves when handling and chopping hot peppers. I leave the hot peppers until last to minimize risk of spreading the hot pepper juice around my work area.
7. Prepare canning jars, two piece canning lids and water bath or pressure canner.
8. Place all salsa ingredients except vinegar and Ultra Gel in a large stockpot. Dissolve Ultra Gel (if desired) in vinegar, add vinegar mix to stockpot. Mix salsa thoroughly.
9. Heat the salsa to a gentle simmer. There is no need to cook it; you just want to get hot enough for canning.
10. Fill the jars with salsa, allowing 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe rims for any spills. Seat the lids and hand-tighten the rings around them.
11. To water bath can the salsa: Put the jars in the canner and keep them covered with at least 1 inch of water. Keep the water boiling. Process the jars in a boiling-water bath for 15 minutes for 8 oz and pints and 20 minutes for quarts.
12. To pressure can the salsa: Fill canner with water according to manufacturer’s directions. Process the salsa at a pressure of 10 to 11 pounds, 10 minutes for pint jars and 15 minutes for quarts.
13. Makes around 12-13 pints.

Notes

• I usually run my jars through the dishwasher and try to time it so they are done and warm when I’m ready to fill jars. Never fill cold jars with hot salsa! The difference in temperatures may cause the glass to break.

What is Ultra Gel?

Ultra Gel is ultrafine cornstarch, which is used to thicken the salsa. It is now the preferred product for thickening when canning. I recently purchased Ultra Gel, which is GMO free. Clear Jel is a similar product. When I first made this recipe, it called for cornstarch, but Ultra Gel and Clear Jel are now recommended over corn starch for canning.

Click here to purchase Ultra Gel Online.

What Makes a Salsa Safe for Canning?

Want to learn about how to all the parts of a good salsa work together? The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service has put together a great explanation of all the ingredients that are typically used in a salsa, some sample recipes and what makes a recipe safe (or not safe) to can.

Some safe salsa canning tips include:

1. Add acid, such as lemon juice or vinegar, to lower the pH. For water bath canning, pH should be ≤ 4.6.
2. Lemon may be substituted for vinegar, but vinegar may not be substituted for lemon. (Vinegar is less acidic then lemon.)
3. Use purchased vinegar with 5% acidity (homemade vinegar may be less acidic)
4. Use ripe, firm tomatoes, preferably paste tomatoes. Don't used fruit that is overripe or rotting.
5. It is safe to add additional dry spices such as salt, pepper or ground cumin. Do not add extra low acid fresh ingredients such as peppers or onions.
6. Do not use flour or cornstarch for thickening, only canning safe thickeners like Ultra Gel.
7. Store canned salsa in the refrigerator after opening.
8. Store any jars that did not seal in the refrigerator and use within a week.
9. Do not eat home canned salsa with bulging lids, off smells or any other signs of spoilage.
10. If you want to store your favorite salsa recipe but are not sure if it's safe for canning, try freezing instead, or refrigerate and use within a week.

Check it out at Safe Salsas for Canning for additional information.

You may also enjoy:

• Home Canned Spaghetti Sauce
• 2 Homemade Ketchup Recipes – Canned or Lactofermented
• No Canning Required Dill Pickles

P.S. – My History With Canning Salsa

This post has been updated from a post originally published in 2009, which included more of my salsa canning fiascoes. For the curious, I've included part of that original post below.

The first time I canned homemade salsa (around 13 years ago, I think), I used recipes from the Ball Blue Book (one batch of each) and some “mild” Tam jalapeno peppers. Those “mild” peppers ate through two pairs of rubber gloves and filled the house with fumes so strong that I could hardly breathe and my husband started tearing immediately as he soon as he entered the house when he came from work. The salsa was thin and watery, strong on vinegar, and not too tasty. I gave up on salsa for quite a few years – I couldn’t put myself through that again.

Enter older and wiser me, several years ago (2006?), now with close to an acre of garden after moving out to to the country, over 20 heavily producing tomato plants, and the awesome power of the internet. It was time to try again.

I started hunting around for recipes, and came up with several that looked promising, but the one I settled on was from PickYourOwn.org. I just checked the link, and they’ve changed the recipe that’s posted, but I’ll be sticking with the one I have. I’m so glad I saved it to my home computer. This makes a mild salsa, thick with tomatoes. In 2013, we made seven batches. The boys love salsa. They are much bigger now than when this post was first written.

Originally published in 2009, updated in 2015, 2017.

The post Home Canned Salsa Recipe – Plus 10 Tips for Safe Salsa Canning appeared first on Common Sense Homesteading.

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Summer Gardening Tips For Your Survival Garden

Summer Gardening Tips For Your Survival Garden was originally published on http://ift.tt/1nr27gs

Garden maintenance is necessary in all seasons, especially in the summer. As temperatures continue to rise, our survival gardens need extra care. This summer, some states are experiencing record highs, therefore, our summer gardening tips deserve proper consideration!

Like humans, plants need food, water, and protection against disease to survive and thrive. Let’s give them a fighting chance in one of the hottest summers in recent years.

In this article, I’ll go over these summer gardening tips:

• Feeding your plants
• Proper watering for your plants
• Protecting your plants against pests and disease
• Weed control

Also, I’ll cover vegetables you can plant in the summer! Let’s get started!

Summer Gardening Tips: Survival Garden

Feeding Your Plants

Even if you added compost at the time of planting, keeping your plants fed throughout the summer season is important as plants produce more when they’re well fed.

About mid-summer, add a very thin layer of compost throughout the soil about 1 inch away from the plant making sure not to disturb the root system. Adding a layer of mulch on top of the compost will help keep the soil moist which will help keep those necessary nutrients provided by the compost in place. You should not have to compost more than once throughout the summer months.

If you use fertilizer, never add more than is directed as it can burn the plant’s root system. Also, avoid adding it to any plant in extreme heat or drought as this can put stress on your plants, which can make them more susceptible to things like plant disease.

Proper Watering For Your Plants

During the summer months, vegetable gardens require about 2 inches of water a week to stay hydrated. It is important to know that the amount of water you give them is just as important as how you water them.

Here are some great tips for watering your survival garden throughout the summer season:

• Make sure the water is reaching the plants root system and not just sitting on top of the soil. Also, leaves that are wet continuously is an invitation for plant disease to set in.
• As I said before, add mulch to your survival garden! In the case of watering, adding 2-3 inches of mulch to your garden beds will help keep the root systems at a steady cool temperature, conserves water, and helps to prevent weeds. Ground pine bark, wheat straw, and pine straw make great mulch for your survival garden.
• If you are growing your vegetables in containers, they will require daily water. Containers tend to dry out much faster than garden beds.
• Consider a soaker hose or irrigation system as these are the best options for watering your garden beds as they allow just the right amount of water to reach the roots.

Protecting Your Plants Against Pests And Disease

The summer months are when your plants are most susceptible to pests and disease!

Follow these steps to help protect your survival garden against plant disease:

• First and foremost, proper sunlight, feeding, and watering all play a role when it comes to keeping your plants disease free!
• Keep garden beds free of debris as debris can carry disease organisms.
• Keep your garden tools clean. Clean them after every use. Wash your gardening gloves as often as you can.

To help control pests this summer, look out for damage on each plant often. Catching pests early is key to getting rid of them quickly. Check out my article, 4 Organic DIY Insect Sprays For Your Survival Garden, for all natural solutions for pest control.

Weed Control

Controlling weeds in your survival garden can seem like an impossible task at times, especially in the summer! Applying mulch, cultivating, and using weed mats all help tremendously but, will not guarantee a weed free garden.

If you are in search of all natural solutions to killing weeds, check out these articles:

• 6 Benefits Of Using Vinegar In Your Survival Garden
• 8 Baking Soda Uses For Your Survival Garden To Try
• 6 Secret Survival Uses For Hydrogen Peroxide You Didn’t Know!

Vegetables You Can Plant In The Summer

If you are looking for a few more vegetables to add to your survival garden but, aren’t sure which ones will do well being planted this time of year, consider these vegetables.

• Beans
• Zucchini
• Celery
• Squash
• Peppers
• Corn

If you would like to know which plants would make great companion plants to these vegetables, check out my article Companion Plants To Benefit Your Survival Garden.

Do you have summer gardening tips to share? Share with us in the comment section below.

Check out these other great articles on survival gardening:

Survival Gardening – How To Grow Lettuce Indoors

Survival Gardening Hacks To Achieve The Perfect Tomato Plant

Composting For Beginners | The Building Blocks To A Better Harvest

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13 Creative Ways To Eat Kale (And 8 Good Reasons You Should)

13 Creative Ways To Eat Kale (And 8 Good Reasons You Should) was originally seen on http://ift.tt/1nr27gs

Image source: Pixabay.com

Kale is everywhere these days — in the produce section of health food and big box stores, on the pages of foodie magazines and nutritional bulletins, and in all sorts of gardens.

But not everyone has jumped on the kale bandwagon. If you already enjoy kale but have run out of ideas for ways to eat it, or have been meaning to try kale but are not sure where to start, or even if you still need a little convincing, this article is for you.

13 Best Ways to Love Kale

1. Raw. Kale makes a great snack straight out of the garden. To make kale—or any vegetable, really—appeal to grazers, it helps to keep it accessible. Prepare kale ahead of time by cleaning, removing the tough stems, and cutting it into snack-size ribbons. Then store it in the refrigerator in a location that’s easy to reach in and grab a handful.

Raw kale also can be added to sandwiches instead of lettuce, used alone or with other greens in salads, and eaten in tacos and burritos.

2. Smoothies. Green smoothies are an excellent way for people who aren’t excited about vegetables to incorporate some leafy greens into their diets. Kale blends perfectly with many fruits such as peaches and oranges and berries for a tasty and healthful drink.

3. Chips. Pieces of mature kale leaves, some olive oil, a little salt, a hot oven, and shazam—a delicious, easy, inexpensive treat that even the kids will love!

4. Stir-fry. Kale leaves can be fried up with winter squashes or other vegetables, any kind of meat, or cashews, and served over rice or noodles.

5. Flash-cooked. Simple and fast, flash-cooking is a great way to enjoy kale. Just toss leaves into hot oil and seasonings in a heated pot until they soften to your liking. You can eat them as-is, or add soft cheese, tomatoes—either fresh or canned—or even a nut or seed butter such as tahini paste or peanut butter.

6. Braised or sautéed. Kale can be cooked by itself or with an infinite variety of add-ins.

To braise, start by heating up olive oil with anything from minced garlic to sliced onions to diced apples to sun-dried tomatoes to red pepper flakes. Add a pound or more of kale sliced into ribbons along with the braising liquid—chicken or vegetable stock, or cooking wine—cover, and simmer until tender.

Just 30 Grams Of This Superfood Provides More Nutrition Than An Entire Meal!

Image source: Pixabay.com

Sauteeing is similar, but often involves more oil or butter and less liquid, and is cooked uncovered, usually in a wide shallow pan.

Cheese, sausage, ham, any kind of bean, other legumes such as lentils, short pasta, walnuts or pine nuts, flavored vinegar, lemon juice, hot peppers or chili sauce can be added to cooked kale.

7. Added to other dishes. When frying, sauteeing, or roasting other vegetables and meats—from potatoes to summer squash to green beans to ground beef and more—consider throwing in a few leaves of kale.

8. In soups of all kinds. Kale leaves are great in just about every kind of soup. Whether it’s beef, pork, chicken or vegetarian, in stock or tomatoes, with pasta or rice or potatoes, or pureed or left whole—you can’t go wrong by adding kale.

9. In purees. Kale can liven up mashed potatoes, mashed vegetable medleys, brown rice or risotto.

10. On pizza and in calzones. Pre-cook the kale leaves a little first with a little onion and garlic, drain well, and add to your favorite cheeses for a great topping or filling.

11. Gratin. Steamed or parboiled kale leaves, mixed with a cheese sauce and sprinkled with bread crumbs and baked—with or without other vegetables—is hard to go wrong.

12. Pesto. Most people expect pesto to be mostly from basil, but this flavorful paste can be made with just about any green, including kale.

13. And it’s a wrap! Choose kale leaves that are mature enough to resist tearing but still supple enough to roll, and use them in place of a bread wrap for anything from cold cuts to eggs and cheese to enchilada-type fillings.

But Why Bother?

In a word: superfood. Kale is good for you and has few calories, is widely available, and generally affordable. Among the many compelling reasons to eat kale, following are eight possible health benefits:

1. It contains vitamin K for cardiovascular health.
2. It contains luteins for healthy eyes.
3. It has a relatively low number on the glycemic index (GI), which is simply a measure of how sugar is processed by the body. Lower GIs can help lower risk of blood sugar complications.
4. It is said to help lower cholesterol.
5. It contains folate, which is key for brain development.
6. It has calcium, which is good for bones.
7. It contains vitamins C and E, which can help keep skin and hair healthy.
8. It can lower risk of chronic inflammation.

Kale is not a cure-all for every deficiency and malady. And not everyone can or should eat it. People taking blood-thinning medication need to be cautious about consuming foods containing vitamin K, and should consult a health care professional before eating kale. Additionally, some sources—but not all—say that kale can increase gout symptoms. Anyone with any doubt whatsoever about the way kale might affect their health should always check with their doctor first, and, of course, extreme overindulgence of any food is never a good idea.

But for those of us who are fortunate enough to be able to embrace hearty helpings of this delicious and versatile leafy green superfood, we can eat well and kale on.

How do you eat kale? Share your tips in the section below:

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5 Easy-To-Catch Freshwater Creatures That Resourceful Off-Gridders Eat

The following blog post 5 Easy-To-Catch Freshwater Creatures That Resourceful Off-Gridders Eat was originally published on http://ift.tt/1nr27gs

Image source: Pixabay.com

Check your local regulations for fishing methods, times and limits. Please make sure also to have your fishing license, too!

1. Crayfish

Where to find: On hot days, you can see them gliding across the rocky bottoms of creeks, lakes and ponds. They like to hide under logs and roots that grow along the banks, as well.

How to catch: Crayfish can be caught in a variety of methods: by trap, hook, net or by hand. Put them in a bucket without water or they will drown. I am a fan of looking under rocks. I can get 50 in less than two hours on a good day. Traps seem to work OK if you have a bunch out, but depending where you are, it may not be that successful. With a hook and bait, you can just drop the bait in front of them, and then lift your bait and shake off the “mud bug.” Nets may work if you put the net behind the crayfish and use a stick to tease it into your net.

How to clean: After catching your crayfish, sort through them. You don’t want to eat a dead crayfish — it could make you sick. Then just rinse them 3-4 times with a garden hose. Try to get off as much dirt as possible.

How to cook: Cooking crayfish can be as simple as sautéing in butter, shell and all. Some people like to make a “mud bug boil.” This means boiling your crayfish with Cajun seasonings. You also can peel the tail and use the meat as you would shrimp. After cooking, try tearing the heads off and sucking all the stuff inside. That is known as the crayfish butter. Yum!

2. Frogs

Where to find: Frogs can be found in the day, hiding in tall grasses and under banks. It’s much easier to find them at night. Best time is usually in the warmer months because the frogs are a little larger than in spring. Using a spotting light (red lenses can be used so frogs won’t see it), just shine along the water banks. They will signal you with shining eyes or by guiding you to them with their croaking call.

How to catch: Catching frogs is usually done with a gig. A gig is a spear with points to impale the frogs, then dump them into a covered bucket or net. As kids, we would just take hot-dog pokers and tape them to a long branch. You can buy commercially made frog gigs now. A few more ways to get them are with nets (nice because you can keep them alive to butcher in the morning), slingshot, 22 rifles with shot shell, bow and arrow, teasing with a spinner on fishing line or by hand.

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How to clean: Frogs do not need to be cleaned, just skinned. Up north, we only eat the rear legs.

1. Make a shallow slit around the waste.
2. Use pliers to grab the skin.
3. Peel down like you’re taking off his pants.
4. Cut through the spine where you made the initial cut.
5. Cut off the feet.
6. Dump the legs into a pail of ice water.
7. Cook

Image source: Pixabay.com

How to cook: Most people like to bread and fry like you would chicken or fish. It’s also good in just about any soup or stew. Treat them like chicken wings.

3. Turtles

Where to find: Many people find turtles, specifically snapper turtles, to be a delicacy. You can find these guys in just about any body of water. Ponds are a favorite, so ask some pond owners, who will probably be glad to be rid of them. Rivers and creeks also hold snappers, so give them a try, too.

How to catch: The main way to catch snappers is with 3-inch turtle hooks and line, but you can also build a turtle trap. Turtle traps are just cages with a spring door. They check in but don’t check out. Hook and line is the preferable method. All you need is the 3-inch turtle hooks on the cord (I also use the cheap nylon) and some bait. Bait can be pieces of fish, liver or rotting meat. I know a few people who use road-killed groundhog chunks. I like to take some stocking material, put some liver in it, and then run my hook through the stocking material. This helps keep the bait on the line so fish won’t pick it off.

Basic turtle line uses about 10 feet of cord hook on one end and a stake or piece of rebar to anchor to the ground. In my state, I must tag each line with all my personal information, so check for your local regulations.

How to clean: I always leave turtles to sit in a tub of clean water for a week. I change it daily; you will get rid of that swampy muddy flavor turtle can have. Every time you butcher a turtle, you will get a little better.

Get the turtle out of the tank and on its back. Have someone pull the cord so that its head is pulled out. Separate the head from the body using a hatchet. Then, separate the bottom shell from the top with a hacksaw. Using a knife, separate the meat and skin.

You can find many other ways (air pressure or a water hose) to help skin your turtle. Just check online and you will see many other ways to get that precious meat out of that shell.

How to cook: Turtle can be used just like chicken. Soup is a good way to eat it, but breaded and fried will trick most into believing you are serving them chicken.

4. Eels

Where to find: You can find eels in rivers and creeks. As a child in Pennsylvania, I found them easily, but it’s been harder as time has passed. The Delaware river water gap still has a healthy stock of eel.

How to catch: Eels can be trapped in eel traps (commercially made) with a gig, such as the one for frogs and hook and line. I prefer hook and line with at least 20-pound fishing line. Not many freshwater fish can fight like eels. Once you have one on the line, get it in as quick as possible or it will tangle into rocks or sunken trees. They will eat just about anything from worms to cut-up fish.

How to clean:

1. Get a 55-gallon drum and let them soak for a few days.
2. Make sure they can’t get out of the tank.
3. Take an eel out with the help of a towel for traction.
4. Hammer a nail through its head into a post or tree.
5. Put a small slit all around its neck.
6. Use pliers to just pull down to strip it.
7. Now you can gut it and use pruners to decapitate it.

How to cook: Eels are fantastic smoked; cut into chunks and breaded and fried is good enough for most people. Just don’t overcook or it will be tough as leather.

5. Water snails

Image source: Pixabay.com

Where to find: Freshwater snails can be found in most lakes and clean bodies of water. Just look close and you will be able to pick until your heart’s content!

How to catch: Just a hand is needed for these little guys.

How to clean:

1. Boil them in water for 15 minutes.
2. Rinse them in cold water.
3. Repeat two other times for a total of 45 minutes of boiling.

How to cook: Just toss the boiled snails into some butter and garlic till warm. Season to taste using any herbs you like. Enjoy!

What creatures would you add to our list? What advice would you add on catching or cooking? Share your tips in the section below:

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Buckwheat Pillows 101: Why And How To Make Your Own

The post Buckwheat Pillows 101: Why And How To Make Your Own is republished from http://ift.tt/1nr27gs

Chances are you’ve already heard about buckwheat pillows, which are making the rounds online. If not, this article will tell you all you all need to know about this organic cushion, and how you can enjoy a refreshing nap with 100% natural buckwheat pillows!

Buckwheat Pillows Are Your New Sleep And Nap Pals!

Like a cat with a ball of yarn, I have become so attached to my buckwheat pillow. I would brush my hands and cheeks across the surface just to feel the interesting texture and smell the earthy aroma. Although buckwheat has long been used as stuffing for pillows, cheaper and more convenient plastic, and foam stuffings are more common and popular. But as a true-blue homesteader, I couldn’t pass up having organic and comfortable pillows for my family–they just love it. Here’s why you should consider buckwheat pillows and how your home can have them too.

5 Reasons To Go For Buckwheat Pillows

1. Buckwheat Pillows Are Comfortable

It’s hard to picture grain hulls as comfortable when they can be hard with pointy edges like any grain. If you haven’t seen buckwheat hulls, they’re actually pretty small. They will slide through your fingers nicely when you sift through them. When you’re used to the fluffy down or foam in pillows, it may take a bit longer for you to adjust, but by and by, you’ll realize and feel just how much more comfortable they actually are.

2. Get Improved Sleep

Give it a try for 2 to 3 nights and you’ll notice a change in the quality your sleep, for the better. The flexible hulls provide good support for your back and neck, with a massage-like effect. It allows for better air circulation with the gaps in the shells. You’ll find them cooler in warm temperatures and warmer when the temperature is low.

3. They’re Organic

Really, don’t you want to stay far away from chemical-laden, petroleum-based cushions and beddings? My mother used to tell me how my great-grandmother used dried herbs and plant parts for pillow cushions and I have been curious ever since. I haven’t gone as far yet, but these buckwheat cushions could be the start of organic and healthy beddings for me. It’s definitely great for our body and for our environment.

4. Cleans Easy

How many times do you change pillows with plastic, foam, or down stuffings? Along with dust, our body fluids and dead skin cells can be easily absorbed by these materials. What makes me have issues with it is how it can be difficult to clean them. Anytime you want your buckwheat pillows clean and fresh, you can just unzip your pillow case and rinse them clean. Then you can place the buckwheat hulls in a shallow container and spread them out in the sun to dry and air out.

5. Last Longer

Considering buckwheat hulls are organic, you might think they easily spoil. Amazingly, they don’t, for as long as they aren’t exposed to moisture for long. You can reuse buckwheat hulls for years and years and when the time comes, you can also just throw them out in the compost pile or bin. See how amazingly zero-waste buckwheat-stuffed cushions are?

Tips On How To Make Buckwheat Pillows

Making your own buckwheat pillows is as straightforward as it can get. Sewing a pillow case is probably where you will be challenged. Well, we have this guide to make your own pillow case. With the right pillow case, it’s as easy as stuffing it with the buckwheat hulls, and voila! An instant cushion. So, what I have here instead are tips for you to remember when making your own buckwheat pillows.

1. Do Your Research

Buckwheat pillows are not for everyone. Their therapeutic effect experienced by others may not work for you. Also, buckwheat hulls might be an allergen for you, so it’s always best to do your own research or to check with health experts first before you go ahead and replace all your cushions. It is also a great way to find out for yourself the qualities you like about buckwheat stuffings besides the price.

2. Buy Only Organic Buckwheat

Buckwheat hulls are practically allergy-free if you use 100% natural and organic buckwheat hulls. Some of the agreeable qualities of buckwheat are dust-free and triple cleans. There are organic buckwheat hulls you can buy inexpensively online, especially if you are buying in bulk.

3. Use Pillow Case With Zipper

It is highly recommended to use pillow cases with zippers for easier cleaning. You can learn how to sew a zipper to a piece of fabric here, which in this case, a pillow case. You may also tuck away the zipper so they won’t easily be visible to your youngster who might venture to let it rain buckwheat hulls all over the room.

4. Air Out Buckwheat Hulls

Remember dust can also collect inside the pillow case. Other than taking the hulls out in the sun, perhaps you can also give it a quick washing and thorough drying before refilling the cleaned pillow cases.

5. Use Organic Fabric For Pillow Case

Simply because we are using organic stuffings, we might as well go all out and use organic pillow cases as well. Remember, beddings come directly in contact with our skin, so if you are especially concerned with allergens, using organic materials for your pillow case is ideal.

Follow the full details on how to make buckwheat pillows here in this video:

Making my own pillows have an added sentiment for things homemade and DIY-ed. It sure was fun and exciting with interesting and unique pillows (at least for me) made from completely organic materials. Experience buckwheat pillows and make your own!

Are you enjoying buckwheat pillows now at home? Tell us all about it in the comments section below!

Up Next: How To Make A Traditional Rag Rug | Homesteading

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