Kansas Preppers Network

Food Prep Step 2 from the Urban Kansas Prairie

2012-01-22T21:27:00.000-06:00

By ldavies1

Starting your food prep—

So you have decided to start storing food. Maybe you have not made a long term commitment but it sounds reasonable to move away from living from one grocery store run to the next. Inflation and possible job loss are enough to get you moving. So you start to add a little extra to the kitchen cabinets. Once you get past the obvious what do you buy?

Begin to make a list of the food and nonfood items you regularly use and how much you use each week or month. This is your guide to stocking up. It does no good to buy things you or your family will not eat. Buy what you normally eat. Also start listing prices so you can learn when a sale is really a good sale.

Where do you shop? Discount groceries, closeout stores, salvaged stores are all good sources but you need to know how to spot a good price. Then go for the loss leaders at the major stores. You absolutely need to learn to control impulse buying. If I go into the store and there is a cart full of discounted items, it is smart to look and see if there is anything you use and if the price is really good. Buying ice cream that is not on your list is not a good buy but it is your choice.

Balance in your storage is important. Fifty bottles of ketchup is not good storage. As you begin, start an inventory in a spreadsheet or notebook. As you prep, think in terms of meals. Canned chunky soup over rice can be a pretty good meal without much prep so several meals worth these two items can go a long way. There is also great variety. If you purchase spaghetti sauce you must also have the pasta. Meat is actually optional, good but optional.

In addition to maintaining an inventory, it is important to rotate your food so it is used by the expiration date. When I bring home new storage items, I write the expiration date on the lid or label with a fine magic marker. This makes it easier to find and read. Slide the previous purchased items to the front of the shelf and put the current ones in back. I have several can rotators in my kitchen cabinets. This makes it easy to rotate. It handles the rotating – first in first out. I must admit that I skipped this step for the first three months because my mind was still in the normal shopping mode. It was a lot of work to go back and write all of the expiration dates on the containers and organize them. So if your new to prepping, learn this one.

Finally, as your storage begins to grow, you need to set goals. My initial goals were six months of regular food and six months of long term storage. I have to admit I had very little idea of what long term storage was at this point but I continue to research and educate myself.

Warning: food storage, water storage, equipment, etc can become overwhelming. I started a list of other topics to explore so I could stay focused on whatever step I was on but not forget the passing idea.

Until next time

Ida from the Urban Kansas Prairie

How I got started prepping

2012-01-12T23:25:00.000-06:00

by ldavies1
from the Urban Kansas Prairie

How I got started prepping—

I can’t remember what first peeked my curious 15 months ago but I began to read and research. I wanted to understand why people were prepping and how they were doing it. It was a year of many natural disasters so it was not completely out of the realm of understanding. I soon learned that I had a wealth of experiences that applied if I renewed my skills. I grew up in an urban area but my family camped, did lots of scouting, and had big gardens. Mom canned lots of fruits and vegetable. My dad was a carpenter so we did lots of hands on repair work on our house, my grandparents houses, neighbors, and the rental houses. So doing it yourself was always the first option. Over the years as I raised my children and they became adults, I had gotten so I did less and less for myself. Now as I approach retirement, I am prepping and rebuilding old skills and new ones. This is my journey. It is more about skill building than just acquiring stuff. As many have said, you can read all day long but if you do not learn to do it is of no use.

I started with food storage. I read and researched and printed more prepping lists than I care to admit. I finally came to the conclusion that I wanted six months of regular food and six months of long term storage food. I have accomplished both of those goals. So now when I find a GOOD sale I buy several. Last week I came up on an unadvertised sale of boneless hams for a dollar a pound. I purchased four of them. That was about 24 pounds. I brought them home and cut each one into three pieces and froze them. I now have meat for 48 meals for about fifty cents or less per meal. Not too bad.

Rotating the regular food storage is very important and I continue to find ways to do that. I have several can organizers in my kitchen cabinets. These little devices are easy –First In First out. I also have steel shelves in my storage room. Before I put can goods or jars on the shelves, I write the expiration date on the lid or label with a sharpie large enough to easily read. Then I put the new item at the back of the row sliding older items to the front. I always use the one with the closes expiration date next.

I also have some wheat and a hand grinder. One of my upcoming projects is to grind the wheat and make bread from scratch. I made bread from scratch many years ago but wheat grinding will be a new skill but that is for a future blog.
Ida

The Record Heat Waves

2011-07-22T16:19:00.001-05:00

With the record heat waves and drought across the nation, the American Preppers Network hopes that you have been prepared. Disasters of any type can and do happen anywhere, at anytime, and without warning. We are now witnessing and will continue to witness a prime example of how one disaster can cause a chain reaction leading to other disasters. Here are some potential disasters to be aware of as a result of the drought and heat waves.

1) Water shortages. Water is the number 1 most important necessity to survival. The average human can only survive 3 days without water, and even less in a heat wave. I hope you've stored some. If the water system shuts down or does not have enough, you could turn on the tap only to have a few drips. If you run into a situation where there is not enough municipal water supply to your home, start looking for other sources of stored water.

Your hot water tank may have 30 - 50 gallons of water stored.
The top supply tank to your toilette is typically clean water that you can use.
Your plumbing in your house could have a few gallons. Open a higher faucet in your house as in a shower, sink, or upstairs source to relieve pressure, then open a lower outside faucet to retrieve water from your plumbing system.

Don't short change yourself on water! Make sure you have plenty for personal consumption. If you stop sweating, that means you are dehydrated!

Got Water?

2) Heat. Heat poses many risks, including but not limited to:

Heat Stroke. Watch family members closely, especially the elderly, watch for slurred speech and disorientation. When in doubt, call for help. Time lost is brain lost. Never leave pets or children in a vehicle, and keep them out of the direct sun. Drink lots of water.
Fire. Fires are much more common in the heat. Things dry out and become more flammable. Keep dry brush and trash picked up. Do not store fuel in or around your house, and keep well ventilated in a cool area out of the sun. Keep grass cut short, especially if your city is rationing water and not allowing watering of lawns. Do not store any flammables in the direct sun or in your attic.
Vehicle breakdowns. Avoid driving unless it's absolutely necessary, or drive at nite. Check your fluid levels and make sure your oil and coolant are topped off. Bring extra oil and coolant with you in case you need it. DO NOT top off your fuel tank! Make sure your tires are property inflated and not over or under inflated. Bring extra water with you in case you do break down. Drive with the A/C off when going uphill. Watch your vehicles tempature when climbing grades. If your car starts to overheat when going uphill, pull over at a safe location to let it cool. Check to make sure your thermostat is working before you make your trip.

3) Blackouts. The nations grids are maxed out. With everyone using A/C, expect rolling blackouts. If you are in a blackout, you can wrap sleeping bags around your refrigerator or freezer to help insulate it. To conserve power, only use what you absolutely need. Keep lights turned off and keep your A/C set to the warmest temperature that you can safely stand. Do you have a generator? Be prepared to use it. Do you have plenty of non-perishable food stored? If there is an extended blackout, you may need it. Stores and gas stations will be shut down in a blackout. Do you have an emergency battery powered radio and flashlights?

4) Food Prices Expect food prices to increase. Especially meat. Many ranchers are butchering all of there livestock as there is not enough food and water to care for them, this means shortages in the future. Produce crops are drying up. Prices of corn, wheat and other grains will increase. Even produce grown in unaffected areas may increase in price as well due to demand. If the blackouts are too severe, stores, gas stations and truck stops may close down temporarily disrupting the supply chain and preventing food from making it to the stores.

Stay safe during this heat wave and dought. This is a serious and potentially devastating national disaster.

If you have tips, ideas, news, videos or pictures that you wish to share regarding this heat wave you can submit your article to americanprepper@yahoo.com. If your article is chosen we will post it on your states preppers network blog. Top articles will get posted on APN. The top article of the week will win a free flashlantern valued at $49.95 (made in the USA). Articles must be submitted before 7/29.

Feel free to copy and repost this article in it's entirety. Credit source as AmericanPreppersNetwork.com

Here are some free helpful pdf files to download

Fire and Heat Waves
- ARC - Are You Ready - Fire

- ARC - Are You Ready - Heat Wave

- ARC - Are You Ready - Wildfires

- Fact Sheet: Fires

- Fact Sheet: Fire Safe

- WildFires

Water
- ARC - Food and Water in Emergency

- Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water

- How To Make A Solar Still (Plastic Cover)

- Purification Of Water On A Small Scale

- Simple Solar Still For The Production Of Distilled Water

- Slow Sand Filters

- Water Purification

- Water Treatment

Fire Safety

- Fighting Fire

- Fire Safety

Get More Free Downloads here:
http://preppers.info/Free_Downloads.html

How to grow your own mushrooms indoors

2011-05-12T06:42:00.000-05:00

You can go and purchase a mushroom growing kit or make your own.

First you will need a shallow container, something like a plastic storage bin works well.

We use a cardboard box lined with plastic.

Mix equal amounts of sterile compost, potting soil and peat, filling your container with a 2-to-3-inch layer. Reserve 1/4 cup for use later. Smooth the top layer of soil as uniformly as possible.

Now gather some shroom spores. If you know your wild mushrooms then go for it. However, if you are not sure, it is best to purchase your mushrooms. Grocery stores are fine to purchase them, as pesticides are not used in mushroom production. Once you have them you need to do some spore printing. Remove the stems and with gills down, press you mushroom caps down on a piece of clean white paper. Set aside and wait 12 hours for the spores to be released.

Mist the soil of your new kit with water enough to make the soil glisten. Scatter the spores over the top, then sprinkle your reserved soil over the top. Place plastic wrap over the top, poking several holes in the plastic for air flow.

Place this into your closet or anywhere that is is relatively dark and cooler, no more than 75F no less than 55F. Keep the soil lightly damp by misting every few days.

Mold will appear on the soil. when this happens (usually in about a week), remove the plastic wrap and cover with a light towel. Mushrooms could appear in as little as 10 days. Harvest your mushrooms at will.

You should be able to get mushrooms for 6-8 weeks using this homemade kit.

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Plants you should know; Redbud tree.

2011-05-09T07:32:00.005-05:00

The flower buds are a high source of vitamin C. Without natural citrus growing in Kansas this is important. TEOTWAWKI happens, and we have a population suffering from scurvy, argh!

You can eat them raw, adding to your salad or pickle them for later use. (good replacement for capers)

Pickled Redbud Buds

2 cups flower buds (remove stem)

1 cup cider vinegar

1 tbl. sugar

1 tsp. brown sugar

1/2 tsp. canning salt

1-one inch long cinnamon stick

1 whole clove

Combine all. Bring to just boiling. Add to your sterilized jar. Refrigerate until ready for use. Or can as you would your cucumber pickles.

The pods are edible as well. Finding the right time to harvest the pods is a trial and error attempt, you want them young, but not so young that seeds have yet to develop. Eat and can like green beans.

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Eating the Lillies

2011-05-04T08:55:00.002-05:00

Lillies are common here. People love to dress up their yards with them. But to a prepper they might not be the the flower you would want in your edible garden. But before you rip them out, think of them as a treat, a way to pep up that prepper diet of yours.

Day Lilly's are edible, Tiger Lilly's are not!

You can save them for future use by drying. Soak them for 30 minutes in water to rehydrate for use. Day Lilly's taste a little like green beans when used fresh.

Sautéed Day lily Buds
Melt a tablespoon of butter in a heavy skillet over a medium heat. Add rinsed and trimmed buds, sauté until lightly browned. Add a few teaspoons water. Salt and pepper to taste. Cover and 10 min. drain.

Day Lilly Blossoms stuffed with Chicken salad

6 open day Lilly blossoms
2 1/2 c. cooked chicken breast meat, chopped
25 seedless grapes, cut in quarters
1 slice green sweet onion, diced
1/2 stalk celery, diced
3/4 c. mayonnaise
2 tbsp. fresh chopped parsley
2 tbsp. fresh chopped French tarragon
6 borage flowers
Fresh ground pepper to taste

Wash day Lilly blossoms and remove stamen . Make sure there are no flaws or discoloration in flowers. Mix chicken, grapes, celery, onion, mayonnaise, parsley, tarragon and pepper together in bowl. Stuff chicken salad into blossoms and top each with a borage flower.

Spiced Pickled Day Lilly
2 qt Day lily buds, unopened freshly picked
3 c White vinegar
3/4 c Light brown sugar, packed
1/2 ts Salt
1/2 ts Whole allspice
2 Two-inch sticks cinnamon,
10 To 12 whole cloves

Rinse and drain unopened day lily buds; remove any stem remnants. Place buds in to a saucepan. Add water so it barely covers buds. Bring to a quick boil, cover, and simmer 20 minutes. Drain. Pack hot buds into 8 hot an sterile half-pint canning jars. Combine vinegar, brown sugar, salt, allspice, cinnamon, and cloves in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Boil 3 minutes. Pour pickling solution over buds, distributing spices equally. Seal, process in a hot water bath 10 minutes.

You can stuff the Day Lilly buds with cheese after the 20 minute simmer, and drain, to serve as an appetizer.

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Hybrid does not mean GMO or GE

2011-05-02T09:28:00.002-05:00

Cross post from A Homesteading Neophyte

I was wandering around the world wide web yesterday ( as it was too cool and wet to do much outside) and noticed something. It bothers me a bit when people that put themselves out there as an authority figure, confuse issues. If I give the wrong info I really hope someone calls me out on it. I will either give you examples as to way I think what I stated was correct, or apologize and fix the post. There are some out there however that are adamant that they are correct.

A woman asked a question about hybrids verses heirlooms. The answer by someone was that all hybrids are GMOs. No one questioned this. As I wasn't a member of the group, I was not allowed to correct the information. And I see little point just to join so that I can blast their leader.

Hybrid plants do not have their genomes messed with. They are plants that have been either open pollinated or done so by hand. As Humans we do this selective breeding all the time and have for centuries. It helps make once non-edible foods, or hard to digest foods, easier on our stomachs and our palates. Our heirloom and heritage plants were once hybrids, it just that these plants have been able to breed true for many many generation.

Do not fear the hybrid.

GE or GMO's are different. Man has gone in and spliced and removed certain genes to create a more perfect monster.

Attack of the killer Tomatoes

Now I am not going to go into why GMOs are good or bad. I think they should be clearly marked on food labels and seed/plants so that we can make decisions based on the information available and believed by the consumer. The point of this post is that hybrids are not GMOs.

Hybrids can be made by nature as well a by man.

When it comes to choosing a hybrid, look at the filial number. 1 means that it is the first cross hybrid generation. If you are choosing plants to seed save for, this filial number is not one you really want. You will be able to seed save and a plant will grow, however it will not be true. F2 and F3 are the 2nd and 3rd generation of that hybrid plant. Seeds saved from them will produce true to parent offspring. (exception to the F1 rule is plants that can only propagate themselves by roots, graphs (like apple trees) and vine)

Then you have your heritage and heirlooms that are almost guaranteed to produce true to parent plants because they are 100's of generation removed form the parents.

What seeds and plants to purchase and consume is up to you. Just do your research and make the best decisions for you and your family.

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How to sterilize your soil/compost;

2011-04-27T09:02:00.000-05:00

Place soil in an oven roasting bag (like those turkey bags you see at the store). Add a bit of water (dampened) and tie off the bag. Place the bag on a cookie sheet and poke a hole for a meat thermometer. Heat oven to 200F. Bake soil until the dirt temp reaches 160-170F. (if soil reads higher, reduce your oven heat). Bake for 30 minutes. Remove and cool completely before using.

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3 ways to preserve your homemade broth

2011-04-25T07:36:00.000-05:00

Before we start, does everyone here know how to make a basic broth?

There are 3 ways to preserve your homemade broths, be it beef, chicken or vegetable stock. (broth and stock are indeed different, however are interchangeable in your recipes). With all the following preservations, remove as much fat as possible. You can freeze the fat for use later in soap recipes.

The first is canning. Pour your hot broth into a pint canning jar and pressure can 20 minutes at 10 lbs (11lbs on dial gauges). Allow to cool for 24 hours and then stack up in your pantry.

Next is freezing.

Pour your broth evenly into an ice tray. I highly suggest you line your tray with parchment paper or foil. Allow to freeze, remove and store in a freezer bag. Each cube is 1/8 cup of stock. This is also considered a cold bouillon cube.

And finally, and my favorite, dehydration.

Pour 1 cup of stock onto a fruit rollup tray and place it into my dehydrator. Set it on the meat setting or 145F. It tends to withdraw from the center and pool along the edges. Let sit overnight.

Once dry, peel and crack off the tray onto foil.

Tightly fold up your foil and place into a zip-lock type bag. If you have a food saver I would use it, and remove as much air as possible.

You end up with a little packet of flavoring that equals 1 cup broth. Kind of like those Ramen packets. You can do more than 1 cup at a time, just be sure you keep track of how much you use. You will need to add the same amount of water to rehydrate it.

This packet makes 3 cups of broth.

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Making your own silage on a small scale

2011-04-22T07:12:00.001-05:00

Now is a good time to start making and storing your own silage. It is rather easy on small scale.

The simplest is for those that mow their grass. Simply mow, allow to wilt, bag in a large zip type plastic baggy, or trash bag, and press out as much air as possible. If mold grows on it, the silage is ruined and should never be fed to your animals.

Depending on the animals that you are making silage for, you will need different plant materials. Crops suitable for silage are non-leguminous fodder crops rich in soluble carbohydrates, such as maize, oats, sorghum, pearl millet, and cultivated grasses are most suitable for ensiling. Materials can be grasses, legumes, fodder crops (sorghum, maize), crop residues or by-products. These items need to be harvested in the young age, before flowering, to help ensure that you have enough sugars for proper fermentation.

And don't forget your tree and shrub fodder. Just restrict the amount of tannins. And be cautious of the type of plants you are harvesting for your animals. Tannins has been shown to help with worm problems in sheep and goats, still restrict the amounts though.

If you are growing legumes, harvest leaves before your dry season, allow them to dry in the shade, then mix in with your silage.

If you wish to do it on a slightly larger scale, a pit works good for storage as well (cover with black plastic and weight it down with tires), as does a buried deep freezer. Place your silage in it in layers, then walk on it, pressing the silage down removing as much air as possible. Keep it cool and dry (plastic and weights work here as well).

Be sure that the fodder you are saving hasn't been sprayed with herbicides or insecticides.

Come winter, you can feed a nice nutritional "fresh" meal to all your lovely critters.

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Sandhill plum wine recipe

2011-04-17T14:05:00.001-05:00

http://winemaking.jackkeller.net/wildplum.asp

This says Texas plum but also Chicksaw plum which is another name for sandhill plum.

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recipe for dandelion jelly

2011-04-16T23:28:00.001-05:00

http://www.simplycanning.com/dandelion-jelly.html

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Steam juicer

2011-04-16T08:44:00.001-05:00

http://www.canningpantry.com/a12.html

Had to download a new browser but am back to posting. This handy item beats the old fashioned way of getting juice from your fruits for jams and jellies.

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reusable canning lids

2011-03-07T05:48:00.002-06:00

I'm not trying to endorse any product but the idea of being able to use canning lids over and over is a great idea. I just placed an order so will see how they work. With all the concern over food prices and availability canning lids may be in high demand this year.

http://shop.reusablecanninglids.com/

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Kansas Preppers Roll Call - All Preppers Please Check In

2011-03-06T23:22:00.002-06:00

The American Preppers Network is conducting a network-wide roll call. Whether you are a member or not please check in and let us know what you are doing to prepare.

This is a good opportunity to network with other preppers near you.

Kansas Preppers, to respond to the roll call please follow this link:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=325&t=9258

Reply to the Roll Call and let us know what you have been doing to prepare.

If you are not yet a member of the forum you can register here for free:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/ucp.php?mode=register

Thinking about prepping

2011-02-27T07:39:00.003-06:00

Unlike most of my posts on here this is not a link. On the parent website APN one of the longest lasting posts is the "what did you do to prep this week?" post. Sometimes it seems that I've done little in terms of buying or storing.

Finally it has come to the point where I believe that the mental plans we make are as much a part of prepping as the material or physical things we do. That is the plans that always run through our minds about what we need and how to accomplish our goals. Things like what you have on hand and what it would be nice to add. Things like what you want to go into your garden this year, plans for apartment dwellers to begin to use window gardens. Add to that list things like learning to can or learning to weave, knit, sew etc and then you realize that part is every bit as important as what we buy.

Just some thoughts early on a Sunday morning.

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instructions for wind turbine

2011-02-19T08:48:00.001-06:00

http://www.mdpub.com/Wind_Turbine/

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starting a sourdough starter

2011-02-05T11:09:00.001-06:00

http://www.sourdoughhome.com/startingastarter.html
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preserving eggs

2011-01-25T18:12:00.001-06:00

I haven't tried these methods but thought they were worth a look.

http://www.oldandsold.com/articles11/miscellaneous-recipes-13.shtml

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little oil lamp that would be handy

2011-01-25T18:11:00.001-06:00

http://osmungifts.com/products/Herodian-Bible-oil-Lamp.html

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Using hops yeast to make bread

2011-01-16T07:02:00.000-06:00

http://hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Make-Soft-Hop-Yeast-and-How-to-Use-it-in-Bread-Making

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some good prepper recipes on this site.

2011-01-08T05:43:00.000-06:00

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/category/recipes/bread/corn

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one stop eating...Ezekiel bread

2010-12-28T20:51:00.001-06:00

This is a recipe for Ezekiel bread. It is supposed to have all the nutrients that you need (except for one and I don't remember what its lacking).

https://www.pleasanthillgrain.com/ezekiel_bread.aspx

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Food storage for $10 a week

2010-12-23T05:54:00.001-06:00

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles/hagan59.html

This site shows you how to start your food storage even if you don't have much money to spend.

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Picture of sandhill plums growing.

2010-12-18T12:57:00.001-06:00

You might need to enlarge this to see the plums clearly. It shows the thickets and the plums. The plums are about the size of a cherry and quite nice just to eat when fully ripe but it would take a lot to fill up.

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/cowgirls-photos_album/031-3.jpg
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Kansas recipe-sandhill plum jelly

2010-12-18T12:50:00.001-06:00

Sandhill Plum Jelly

5-1/2 cups prepared Sandhill plum juice
1 box Suregel powdered pectin
7-1/2 cups sugar

• bring the juice and pectin to full boil in large 6 quart pot. Dump in all of the at once and return to a full rolling boil and boil for one minute. Skim off the foam and pour into 10 sterile half pint jars. Seal with sterile 2 piece lids and process at least 15 minutes in a boiling water bath.

I made 19 jars of this last summer using this recipe. It works fine.

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Make your own solar oven

2010-12-18T05:38:00.000-06:00

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/10/two-cardboard-boxes-and-a-lick-of-paint-a-6-solar-cooker-to-save-the-world/

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Kansas lets show our strength win the state challenge!

2010-12-12T08:25:00.000-06:00

http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6453

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how to-making a bicycle generator

2010-12-11T08:32:00.001-06:00

http://www.pedalpowergenerator.com/#FREE

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Kansas edible plants

2010-12-07T16:30:00.000-06:00

http://www.kansasforests.org/conservation/function/edible.shtml

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how to make your own corn oil

2010-12-01T17:48:00.000-06:00

http://www.ehow.com/how_5040521_make-corn-oil-home.html

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making an olive oil lamp

2010-11-29T19:51:00.000-06:00

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/Make-Olive-Oil-Lamp.aspx

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Bannock/trail bread recipe

2010-11-28T09:04:00.001-06:00

http://www.survivaltopics.com/survival/bannock/
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coffee can cookstove

2010-11-28T07:31:00.001-06:00

This is for a very simple stove from a coffee can. It takes minimal supplies to make.

http://www.ehow.com/how_6659089_make-tin-can-pack-stove.html

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Kansas Preppers Roll Call

2010-11-27T12:01:00.000-06:00

The Kansas Preppers Network is conducting a Roll Call on our forum. If you are a prepper please check in.

* Here is a link to the Roll Call:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=325&t=6206

You have to be registered to check in. If you aren't registered please join here:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/ucp.php?mode=register

* If you are a HAM Radio Operator check in here:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=143&t=6219

* If you are an A.N.T.S. member please check in here:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=618&t=6220

2010-11-04T19:32:00.002-05:00

Hi, I asked for and was allowed to become a moderator. I hope we can get the Kansas forum lively as I know there are several Kansas members.

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Welcome New Members

2010-11-04T15:03:00.003-05:00

Welcome our new member:

myshull

Hi to everyone,

We are new members getting started. Looking forward to learning along with everyone else

Please welcome our new member by following the link below:
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=563&t=6143&sid=4eaf

stopper

Hey all, just wanted to say Hi! Been prepping for a few years now and for some reason just finding this site and the APN site.......
Anywayz, Hello!

Please welcome our new member by following the link below:
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=325&t=5753&sid=d7a0d

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UN says hand them over, will you?

2010-09-29T11:32:00.002-05:00

Author: cherokeenut

On another site I saw a poll asking what will you do when the blue helmets come to your door asking for your guns. 57% responded "what guns?" 35% responded "go out in blaze of glory". So here's the topic for discussion, realisticly what will you do? Your family is safe and you knew this was coming, do you hand over your weapons thereby opening yourself up to robbery, lie and say you don't have any, or that they were stolen, or pull out the semi-auto from behind your back and give the grunt 5 or 6 rounds?

To comment on this post please follow this link:
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=4829

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How to Join The Kansas Preppers Network

2010-09-14T15:13:00.001-05:00

Come learn survival, preparedness and sustainable living with us!

The Preppers networks are all about volunteering our knowledge and skills with each other. We share ideas, tips and basically network with each other to survive any type of disaster whether natural, man made, or economic. Information that you learn and share with others will help everyone learn how to find "Freedom Through Teaching Others Self Reliance."

Joining the Kansas Preppers Network is simple, and most of all, it's Free! To join, just follow these few steps.

1) Register to become a member of the American Preppers Network www.AmericanPreppersNetwork.net The registration page is here: http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/ucp.php?mode=register

2) Once you have your account, go to the index page of the forum and do your first post by introducing yourself in the new members area. http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/index.php

3) Once you know how to do posts, visit the Kansas forum and introduce yourself. The Kansas forum can be found by scrolling to the lower section of the index page where you will find a list of states, or you can go directly by following this URL: www.KansasPreppersNetwork.net

4) After you've visited the Kansas forum, follow this link to learn how to join the Kansas Preppers Network group:
http://americanpreppersnetwork.net/viewtopic.php?f=564&t=2738

APN's success depends on your contributions. If you would like to donate to our organization by becoming a Gold Member you can join the APN Gold Members club by following this link:
http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/page.php?p=apn-gold-membership&sid=5b241e92a767cdfbe7a345c54dd55127
Gold Membership is only $5 per month. For a list of Gold Member benefits go here

Thank you for your support!

Free Speech Anyone?

2010-07-19T11:17:00.003-05:00

From Prison Planet;

A viral You Tube upload of one of Alex Jones’ most popular feature films ‘The Obama Deception’ has been censored following a spur of the moment campaign to elevate the movie to the top of the major Internet search engines.

Watch Alex explain the situation in the following emergency broadcast: See here>>>

From Helium;

The United States Government shut down about 73,000 WordPress blogs on a single Web site in a move that some fear signals an increasing disregard for individual free speech rights. The action follows the high profile government seizure of seven online movie sites weeks ago. The U.S. move dwarfs current Chinese government activity that shut down only “dozens” of blogs in China.

Read entire article here>>>

Make you're own decision about what is happening here.
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Take a moment to remember

2010-05-30T23:03:00.001-05:00

Remember why we have today, and remember who made it possible to spend the day at the lake with your family.
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In an Emergency

2010-05-20T10:32:00.001-05:00

Almost anything that swims, walks or crawls can be eaten.

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Win a Go Berkey Water Filter System

2010-05-19T11:11:00.001-05:00

M.D. Creekmore over at the The Survivalist Blog – a survival blog dedicated to helping others prepare for and survive disaster – with articles on bug out bag contents, survival knife choices and a wealth of other survival information is giving away a Go Berkey Water Filter System (a $139.00 value)! To enter, you just have to post about it on your blog. This is my entry. Visit The Survivalist Blog for the details.

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Yellow Leaves in your Garden

2010-05-19T09:46:00.000-05:00

If your tomatoes are yellowing, it is a good time to start fertilizing. Your soil needs a bit more nitrogen. Another problem is the rain, all the rain that we in the Heartland have been getting is not a good thing. Tomato plants are not swamp plants and it is never a good idea to water the leaves. All I can tell you is to clip off the yellow, fertilize and hope for the best.

With your pumpkins doing the same thing, it is the start of a disease known as Pseudoperonospora cubensis. It thrives in damp, cool weather. This is not something we are use to here {Heartland} You need to spray your vines with a compost tea, now, while conditions are right for the fungus to thrive. If you don't your quality and quantity of your gourds will be reduced.

Yellow leaves in pepper plants are also a nitrogen deficiency.

Your potatoes plants are suppose to turn yellow and die, that's when you know they are done.

If you are concerned about your plants and have a question, ask. I will do my best to answer.

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when the slightest dissatisfaction arises over any exercise of social power, the aid of the agent least qualified to give aid is called for

2010-05-13T08:15:00.002-05:00

"The general upshot of all this is that we see politicians of all schools and stripes behaving with the obscene depravity of degenerate children; like the loose-footed gangs that infest the railway-yards and purlieus of gas-houses, each group tries to circumvent another with respect to the fruit accruing to acts of public mischief. In other words, we see them behaving in a strictly historical manner. Professor Laski's elaborate moral distinction between the State and officialdom is devoid of foundation. The State is not, as he would have it, a social institution administered in an anti-social way. It is an anti-social institution administered in the only way an anti-social institution can be administered, and by the kind of person who, in the nature of things, is best adapted to such service. "

Albert Jay Nock

Written in 1935, this essay gives you a clear understanding about how social governance came to being.

As far back as 1789, many felt that we had to be saved from ourselves.

Our Enemy, The State.

Thanks to The masteroftheUniverse for this link.
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For The Love of Goat

2010-05-12T08:32:00.003-05:00

It was requested that I write up a tutorial for goat neophytes. Not sure about a tutorial, but I can give you a basic run down of being a goat herder.

By now you all know that goats are quite handy to have around a homestead. They are used for milk, meat, fiber, lawn mowers and companions.

There are more than 200 goat breeds out in the world, I can't cover them all (I could, but than I might bore myself to tears)

Meat goats to look at;

Boers, Kiko and Spanish (more info on these and others here)

Milk goats;

Alpines, La Mancha, Nubian, Saanen ( more info here)

Fiber Goats;

Angora, Cashmere, ( having a difficult time finding a link to fiber goats, I know there are more out there like the pygora)

There are lots of mixed breeds out there as well. Some mutts do just fine, like my Nubian/ Alpine mix. Do a little research, don't take a breeders word that their breed is the best, and decide what breed or breeds would be best for you and your family.

Now that you know what breed you want, how many of them do you need? When it comes to dairy goats, you want 1 per person to fill all your dairy needs. Meat goats you are looking at 35-60 lbs of meat per goat. How many of those you want to butcher is up to you and your families taste.

What to ask;

When answering an ad for a goat, there are some things to ask.

If you don't know already, ask what breed it is.

How old?

Is she Bred?

Yes? To what type of goat?

Has she kidded before?

How many kids did she have?

How long has she been milking and what is her temperament when being milked? (ask if you can see her milked)

How many teats does she have, and how much milk does she give?

Is she an escape artist? Easy to catch?

Does she bite? Butt?

Udder health? (tumors/abscesses)

Has she been tested for TB or Bruccelloisis? Can I get that in writing? (those are rare in goats)

If you can watch her being milked, check the stripping and see how the milk looks. No strings, clots, blood. (blood can happen if she has recently kidded, and hadn't been milked for awhile before hand. Test for mastitis anyway)

Remember that goats can be hard on one another. New goats will be mistreated by your established herd, but usually will get along over time. If you have a sick goat, separate it out. The other's might not allow her to eat.

Goats should get 1/4 acre each. Check your fencing, the height should be no less than 4 1/2 feet in height (although they have been known to clear a 6 ft fence) Wrap any trees you wish to keep in chicken wire. Keeping them well fed should keep them in their pens, but sometimes they will get out, just 'cuz. Make sure your fence doesn't lean, that there isn't a step up too close, and that there isn't a vertical gap greater than 14 inches and no horizontal gap greater than 8 inches. Solid wood fences (like privacy fences) work well. Make sure the "bark" side is facing out. If they can get a hold of it, they will destroy it. They can loosen up just about any nail.

Goats don't need anything fancy for shelter, just something to get them out of the wet. Goats are hardy, as long as the shelter is draft free, they will be fine in the cold. However if your temps drop lower than 20F below, a heat lamp is a good idea.

Lots of fresh water, and a mixture of grass, hay and grains for feed. Goats need a variety of food stuff, including vegetables. Do not give them any chicken layer mash, it could be fatal. Goats are actually very finicky about their food. I know it doesn't seem like it, as my Mother had a goat that ate nuts and bolts. Goats will nibble on everything, just to taste. Grain should be fed 1 lb to every 3 lbs of milk produced.

That would be the basics for starters. I will cover more on goats tomorrow. Any questions so far?

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Visit My Forum: A Homesteading Neophyte Forum

Nashville Flooding

2010-05-11T10:02:00.001-05:00

A story about neighbors and not famous people.

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Tomato Talk

2010-05-07T08:42:00.001-05:00

The federal government has sponsored research that has produced a tomato that is perfect in every respect, except that you can't eat it. We should make every effort to make sure this disease, often referred to as 'progress', doesn't spread.
~Andy Rooney

Mr Rooney knew it, but progress doesn't have to be all bad. Selective cross breeding of heritage tomatoes can also be considered progress, one that I feel comfortable eating.

Some of you have said some things to me that make me wonder if I am being too preachy. Yes, I think that you should plant heritage tomatoes rather then GMO's, but that doesn't mean I am going to look down on you if you buy your tomato plants from a popular store. The point is your trying your hand at something. And that's what I enjoy seeing. So run out, now is a great time in the Midwest to get those tomatoes plants into the ground, and buy your tomato plants. Once you find that growing your own is enjoyable and taste so much better than store bought fruits, you'll be hooked and want to try different fruits. And nothing beats the flavors that come with the different types of heritage tomatoes.

Before you buy your plants, you need to take a moment to think about what you want them for. Snacking, slicing and dicing, canning whole, making ketchup? This is important because different tomatoes are better for certain things. Once you have that figured out, it is just a matter of reading the tags on the plants, most the time they will say what the produced fruits are best used for. Even the names will clue you in on what they should be used for. Roma's are my favorite for sauces.

Soil prepping will not take most of you 10 hours to do. I have a large variety of tomato plants, because we need to have enough canned sauces, stewed and cut tomatoes to last a year. Most of you will only eat your tomatoes seasonally. One or two plants will be enough, so prepping soil will be simple. You will want lots of hummus in your soil, it needs to be porous and fairly light. If you, like me, have too much clay in your soil, add peat moss or compost to lighten it up. I live by the Garden Claw, have had it for years. This thing has out lasted all my potato forks, and I do suggest using one to break up and mix your ground soil with. If your soil is poor, it is important to feed them with compost.

Your location is also important, you do not want an area that is poorly drained, this will promote disease. You will also need full sun and an airy area.

Staking seems to be the most popular way to train the tomato plant. I trellis mine on field fences. Training your plants will produce larger fruits than allowing them to grow naturally. If training them, the plants should be about 2 feet apart. You will need to drive a 5 foot stake into the ground next to the plant, tie a piece of soft yarn or cotton cloth tightly around the stake and loosely loop it around the stalk. This will help reduce any damage to the rapidly growing plant. Pinch off all but two of the stems, these will be the main stems. This will help keep your plants off the ground.

I cheated this year, and placed a weed barrier around my plants. And have filled the path with straw. If using straw to insulate or as weed barrier, you need to be warned that you will have a carpet of green on top of the straw. Not to worry. It grows only on the straw and will not compete with your plants for food and water. The green grass will die before reaching maturity.

If allowing your tomatoes to spread out naturally, you need to give them about 4 feet from each other. Here you will need to use straw or dried grass to keep the fruits from coming into contact with the ground.

Cutworms are your enemy. To help prevent them from damaging your crop, place a thinly messed wire or a paper cuff around the base of the stem.

Cut worm damage and weeds grown too close

You need to mulch around your plants well. This is important to help keep moisture in and weeds out. Be careful when weeding, you do not want to weed up against your stalks. Pulling the weeds that grow right against your plants can cause root damage.

Harvest is simple, most the time the fruit will pull away cleaning from the plant. Either eat or preserve your harvest.

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Feds Raid Amish Farm

2010-04-23T09:23:00.001-05:00

This needs to be spread around a bit.

Feds invade farm for 5 a.m. inspection
Serve warrant on farmer up to milk cows
Posted: April 22, 2010
10:55 pm Eastern

By Bob Unruh
© 2010 WorldNetDaily

Federal agents invaded an Amish farm in Pennsylvania at 5 a.m. to inspect cow-milking facilities then followed up the next day with a written notice that the farmer was engaged in interstate sale of raw milk in violation of the Public Health Services Act.

A failure to correct the situation could result in "seizure and/or injunction," the warning letter from Kirk Sooter, district director of the Philadelphia office of the Department of Health and Human Services, told farmer Dan Allgyer of Kinzer, Pa., on Wednesday.

The farm invaded Tuesday is the one agents visited in February, driving past "Private Property" signs to demand Allgyer open his property for their inspection, saying, "You have cows. You produce food for human consumption."

The case is being publicized by the National Independent Consumers and Farmers Association, which promotes traditional methods of linking farmers with consumers.

Spokeswoman Deborah Stockton told WND Allgyer "is the type of farmer who exemplifies what we are trying to restore." On her organization's website is the commitment "to promote and preserve unregulated direct farmer-to-consumer trade that fosters availability of locally grown or home-produced food products."

She reported she got details directly from Allgyer of Tuesday's early morning inspection, which highlights the growing conflict between farmers who want to provide health food locally and federal regulators.

Allgyer could not be reached immediately for comment.

read entire article here>>>>>

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US flags no longer flying in Haiti

2010-04-22T08:22:00.002-05:00

What do you think about this?

From the Navy Times

The many nations helping Haiti recover from the devastating earthquake that struck there have set up their own military compounds and fly their flags at the entrances.

France's tricolor, Britain's Union Jack and even Croatia's coat of arms flap in the breeze.

But the country whose contributions dwarf the rest of the world's — the United States — has no flag at its main installation near the Port-au-Prince airport.

The lack of the Stars and Stripes does not sit well with some veterans and service members who say the U.S. government should be proud to fly the flag in Haiti, given the amount of money and manpower the U.S. is donating to help the country recover from the Jan. 12 quake.

The Obama administration says flying the flag could give Haiti the wrong idea.

"We are not here as an occupation force, but as an international partner committed to supporting the government of Haiti on the road to recovery," the U.S. government's Haiti Joint Information Center said in response to a query about the flag.

Read entire article here>>>

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Waste Not Want Not, Roses

2010-04-22T07:39:00.001-05:00

Here is my rose petal Jam from last year.

To use rose petals; Gently wash and drain rose petals. Carefully remove the white/yellow part of the petals.

Rose petal Butter

1 cup of fresh rose petals
¾ cup of butter

Set butter out at room temperature just long enough to soften up for mixing.
Once soft, chop rose petals finely and stir into the butter.
Cover, and refrigerate. Let it sit for 24 hours so the rose flavor can settle into the butter.

Home-made rose butter will last about 2 weeks in the fridge, or freeze for several months.

Crystallized Rose petals

1 egg white, room temperature
48 Red Rose Petals, washed and drained
3/4 cup Sugar

Beat the egg white until foamy. do not over beat. Use a small pastry brush, coat each petal with beaten egg white. Brush lightly removing any excess. Immediately dip in sugar and place on a rack. Repeat with remaining petals. Refrigerate overnight to dry.

Rose Petal Sauce for Poultry

2 cups water, plus 1 cup
2 tablespoons butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon aniseed
12 red or pink roses with open blooms, petals removed
1 peeled red cactus fruit or 2 red plums, skinned
12 fresh chestnuts
2 tablespoons honey
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Bring the2 cups of water to a boil, while in a separate large skillet, melt the butter and cook the aniseed and garlic together for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. Place the rose and cactus fruit in a food processor and puree until smooth. Set aside.

Using a knife, cut an X over the flat ends of the chestnuts. Use a hot cast iron skillet to toast them for 5 minutes. Once the shells open, toss them into the boiling water and allow them to cook for 15 minutes. Drain, and allow to cool. When cool enough to handle, peel the chestnuts and add them to the pureed rose mix. Slowly add the remaining 1 cup of water while pureeing the mixture.

Reheat the skillet with the garlic/butter, add the rose petal puree and simmer for 10minutes. Whisk in honey, salt and pepper. Strain through a sieve or several layers of cheese cloth to remove any solids. Keep the sauce in a pan, and keep warm, drizzle over your pan roasted or oven roast poultry.

Rose Fritters

Use you favorite beer batter recipe, dip in rose petals, then fry until golden. Drain then sprinkle with powder sugar.

Rose petal Vinegar

2 cups white wine vinegar (heat to near boil)
1 cup rose petals
3 or 4 whole cloves

Gently crush the petals to bruise a bit.In a sterilized canning jar, place the rose petals and cloves. Pour hot vinegar over top, roughly mash the petals with a wooden spoon and seal. Set aside for 10 days at room temperature and in the dark. Shake one a day. Strain vinegar and discard the cloves and rose petals.

Rose petals can be added to every freakin' salad you can think of. Add them to just about any dessert, and so forth.

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Chicken Feed

2010-04-21T08:19:00.001-05:00

does anyone have experience with growing their own feed for winter or buying whole grains-something other than the expensive 50# bags from the feed store?

Just so happens, I do. Black Sunflower, cow peas and popcorn make great scratch. Depending on the size of your flock, will dictate how much you need to grow. I also feed my birds leftovers. Just be careful what you give them. They love rotting milk and meat. Watch out for the green peppers and onions, even though they seem to really enjoy eating it, their eggs will taste like an omelet. Dry greens, like clover, for a winter feed as well. Jerusalem Artichokes are a great sustainable plant to grow in your chicken yard. Bugs love this plant, the birds love the bugs, the plants love the poop, and you'll love the tuber.

As for the expensive feed, I go to my local co-op and spend a lot less on my egg layers mash than I do at the chain feed stores. You can also look around for a local mash maker. My b-i-l buys his from a man relatively cheap. Hope this helps you.

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Apologies all around

2010-04-14T08:15:00.002-05:00

I am running myself a little thin lately. This is my excuse for the slow down of post here.

We are running a 5 acre homestead, at the same time trying to rebuild a 120 acre farmstead.

Not only do I write for APN and KSPN, but I also write for several e-zines, have two books that have to be finished by June and keep a personal blog.

Busy busy busy

Kansans, please keep an eye out on the weather. I have seen many people already taking out their warm weather seedlings because of the 80F temps. Just remember don't trust the month of April. We have killing frosts up until the last week. If a hard frost is called for, cover all tender plants with plastic or sheets.

No Sales Tax Day Shopping

2010-04-09T06:35:00.003-05:00

Saturday April 10th 2010, Atwoods, is having a no sales tax day. No city, county or State taxes.

I know what you are saying, they just jack up the regular price. In the past, we have not seen this happen. The store has this sale for one day, yearly. And this is when we buy our big ticket items, it does save you a bit o' money if you have to buy a bottom plow or a plethora of fruit trees.

Atwoods weekly specials

Atwoods store locator

Waste not want not; Dandelion Jelly

2010-04-08T09:50:00.006-05:00

With spring comes weeds. However the dandelion, although invasive, is a beneficial plant to your yard (helps worms). you can eat the leaves in your salads, or make wine, but a great way to use all those gorgeous little yellow heads, and keep a burst of spring around is to make
Dandelion Jelly

1 quart tightly packed ripe yellow Dandelion flowers
6 cups water
6 cups sugar
juice of one lemon
8 tablespoons Pectin

make sure your flowers have not been sprayed, pick and wash. remove the ends, and as much green as possible.

Place petals, water and lemon juice large heavy bottom pot, bring to a boil, then transfer to a bowl. Place a piece of waxed paper over top and refrigerate until morning.

Return to pot, and sugar and bring to a hard boil. Stirring occasionally. Boil for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool until hand able. Strain through a sieve, discarding petals.

Add pectin to the liquid and return to a boil for 5-10 minutes, until it begins to set.

Pour into hot sterile jars, and process in a hot water bath for 5 minutes.
Tastes a bit like honey

Have a recipe to share, why not post it in the Kansas State Forum.

Waste not want not; Pea Hulls

2010-04-06T08:54:00.005-05:00

With cool weather veggies popping up, it might be a good idea to think about some of the edible things we tend to throw away. Like the pea hull.
Don't throw them out or to the chickens, instead, make some Jelly

Pea Hull Jelly

4 cups juice from cooked hulls
5 cups sugar
1 package pectin

Wash pea hulls well, use as many as you wish.

Cover with water. Boil until tender.

Drain juice through several thicknesses of cheesecloth, reserving the liquid. Add pectin to measured liquid. Bring this to a boil.

Add sugar and return to a hard boil (can't be stirred down). Hard boil for 10 minutes.

Pour into hot sterile jars and seal. Water bath for 5 minutes.

You don't have to use purple, green works just as well.

Kansas = Straight line winds

2010-04-02T08:22:00.002-05:00

The severe storm warns are stating up. Welcome to spring in Kansas. This is the time of year that we have to stay on our toes, and be aware of what the weather is doing. If you haven' yet, you should seek out a storm spotters meeting near you.

Micro-bursts and straight line winds are common here in the open prairie. Meteorologist Jeff Haby has a good article about What Are Straight Line Winds. Included in the article is some advice on keeping you and your property safe this time of year.

There are several terms that mean the same as straight-line winds and they are convective wind gusts, outflow and downbursts. Straight-line wind is wind that comes out of a thunderstorm. If these winds meet or exceed 58 miles per hours then the storm is classified as severe by the National Weather Service. These winds are produced by the downward momentum in the downdraft region of a thunderstorm. An environment conducive to strong straight-line wind is one in which the updrafts and thus downdrafts are strong, the air is dry in the middle troposphere and the storm has a fast forward motion. Read entire article here>>

The advice he gives is common sense, pick things up keep things pruned and have a safe room.

Spring Planting

2010-04-01T07:14:00.002-05:00

Don't be fooled by the wonderful temperatures we have been having here in Kansas. Resist the urge to plant your warm weather vegetables.

When the overnight lows are 60F or more for at least 1 week, then you may plant outside. You can help the process by leaving a black landscaping tarp over the area you want to plant. The soil has to be warmed up. Leave the tarp for a week, before planting.

If you do this now, make sure you mulch over the tarp and keep milk jugs, plastic sheeting or pop bottles handy to cover the plants when the temperatures dip again.

The Sovereign State of Kansas; Guns exempt from Federal Laws

2010-03-31T10:05:00.003-05:00

TOPEKA - Firearms that are made and stay in Kansas would be exempt from federal regulations under a bill that sets the stage for a federal constitutional challenge under the 10th Amendment.

House Bill 2620 passed the House 95-27 on Tuesday and now goes to the Senate for consideration.

The firearms would be stamped “Made in Kansas.” No manufacturers are producing firearms that would fall under the act now.

The bill has much broader implications, said Patricia Stoneking, president of the Kansas State Rifle Association, before the bill was debated on the House floor.

Read the entire article here>>>

TOPEKA, Kan. - Kansas legislators have given final approval to a resolution asserting the state's sovereignty against what many of them see as an overly intrusive federal government.

The Senate adopted the resolution on a 36-4 vote Monday, accepting a version approved by the House two weeks ago.

Read the entire article here>>>

Fire Weather Warning

2010-03-30T09:03:00.004-05:00

A Fire weather warning is in effect for most of Kansas, and parts of Ok, Co and NE until 7pm central time tonight (Tuesday, March 30th 2010.)

What you should do before a prairie fire.

First you should have a emergency evacuation plan. Your plan should include your

72 hour kit or bag.
A list of phone numbers
2 ways to escape each room of your home
at least 2 ways to escape your neighborhood
A place to stay away from the fire area
and preps to transport pets and or livestock

Make sure you have all id and other important paper work with you, documentation for your animals, and back up discs for your computers.

During the fire, if you feel that you are in danger, LEAVE.

If caught in your vehicle;

Stay in your car, don't run on foot.
roll up all windows and shut the vents
keep lights on a drive slowly though smoke, however you shouldn't drive through very heavy smoke
you might have to wait out a fire storm in the car until it passes, this will cause your car to stall and not restart. Make sure your 72 hour kit as water, temperatures inside the car will increase.

If you are caught outside and a fire storm is headed toward you, lay down in the road cut or ditch, belly side down, up hill facing and cover your face. Breath through your shirt. If hiking, find a depression in the earth and lay there. Stay put until the fire passes.

After the fire

do not cross any official barriers
watch for flare ups
burnt poles can fall, watch for them

Check for structural damage of your home before entering it
check for embers, in and around your home for several days following a fire
Check for any gas leaks.

WildfireZone.org has an interactive program to help homeowners learn about reducing the risk of wildfire.

If interested in more disaster preparedness, check here;

It's a Disaster; the book

Plants you should know: Indian Woodoats

2010-03-26T18:01:00.002-05:00

The seeds can be used as a cereal in making bread, biscuits etc, or can be ground into a flour and used as a mush.

It has no known medicinal properties.

Speechless

2010-03-26T10:41:00.004-05:00

I do apologize for my lack of posts lately. I have not been wanting to cause a scene here, though I have been on my personal blogs. I don't feel the need to explain where I stand on things here on the Preppers Network, many of us are in agreement on that already.

Though I must say that I am livid that Our President had the nerve to walk out on a Meeting with Netanyahu.

Fox News

For a head of government to visit the White House and not pose for photographers is rare. For a key ally to be left to his own devices while the President withdraws to have dinner in private was, until this week, unheard of. Yet that is how Benjamin Netanyahu was treated by President Obama on Tuesday night, according to Israeli reports on a trip viewed in Jerusalem as a humiliation.

After failing to extract a written promise of concessions on settlements, Obama walked out of his meeting with Netanyahu but invited him to stay at the White House, consult with advisers and “let me know if there is anything new”, a U.S. congressman, who spoke to the Prime Minister, said.

read entire article>>>

Times online;

“The Prime Minister leaves America disgraced, isolated and altogether weaker than when he came,” the Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz said.

In their meeting Mr Obama set out expectations that Israel was to satisfy if it wanted to end the crisis, Israeli sources said. These included an extension of the freeze on Jewish settlement growth beyond the ten-month deadline next September, an end to building projects in east Jerusalem and a withdrawal of Israeli forces to positions held before the second intifada in September 2000.

Newspaper reports recounted how Mr Netanyahu looked “excessively concerned and upset” when he pulled out a flow chart to show Mr Obama how Jerusalem planning permission worked and how he could not have known that the announcement that hundreds more homes were to be built would be made when Mr Biden arrived in Jerusalem.

read entire article here>>>>

If you haven't seen it yet, check out the Zombie Time Hall of Shame. The above is a photo at an anti-Israel rally in Berkly California in 2004. The photos get worse than this, and all from so called . . .. I am so happy I am no longer one, I would NEVER be proud of something like this.

a Sovereign State

2010-03-23T08:02:00.003-05:00

“the State of Kansas hereby claims sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States over all powers not otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal government by the Constitution of the United States”

I can't believe I missed this. It didn't get much attention. But it has passed out of the committee

The bill reads in part;

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION claiming sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States over certain powers; serving notice to the federal government to cease and desist certain mandates; providing that certain federal legislation be prohibited or repealed. Read the entire bill and all the watering down that has happened to it here.

You can see the vote here

Unfortunately this is a non-binding resolution. We need to contact our local government and tell them how you feel about this.

Kansas Senate to consider amendment blocking federal health-care reform

2010-03-22T13:29:00.003-05:00

TOPEKA — A proposed constitutional amendment aimed at limiting the impact of potential federal health care reform measures is on its way to the full Senate.

The Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee on Wednesday moved out Senate Concurrent Resolution 1626 without recommendation on a voice vote. Sen. David Haley, D-Kansas City, Kan., was the only recorded no vote.

The resolution would add a new article to the state’s constitution to say that no person or business in the state could be required to participate in a specific health care system or purchase health care.

Read the entire article here>>>

Update; Bill defeated by 9 votes

Plants you should know

2010-03-22T07:45:00.003-05:00

Culver's Root

also known as black root.

The root of this plant needs to be dried. Do not eat it fresh! Dry it, and then ground it up. Used for constipation and signs of jaundice.

Decoction: Put 1-2 teaspoonfuls of the dried herb in a cup of cold water and bring to the boil. Simmer for 10 minutes.

Tincture: take 1-2 ml of the tincture three times a day.

Combinations : Black Root will combine well with Barberry and Dandelion. For hemorrhoids combine with Stone Root

If pain develops in the lower abdomen, stop using it!

Caution should be exercise when using this herb. It contains eptandrin, a very strong purgative and emetic. Use

only with medical supervision. Do not drink more than a cup of the tea per day

Cover those plants

2010-03-19T08:04:00.002-05:00

If you put your cool weather plants in the ground, remember to cover the leafy ones if their is a threat of a hard frost. They are ok in the cold, it's the frost that will do them in. a bed sheet works just fine.

Make sure your potatoes are well mulched.

It's Time

2010-03-18T10:28:00.001-05:00

Alright those in garden zone 6, now is the time to get those potatoes and other cool weather veggies outside and in the ground.

Finish that, and start your warm weather seeds indoors.

Statewide Tornado Drill

2010-03-11T06:27:00.004-06:00

The State of Kansas will hold a tornado drill today at 130pm central time.

Tornado Sirens are for outdoor warning only.

When my mother moved here from California in '77, she had no idea that tornado sirens were tested every Monday a 12 noon. The first time she heard them, she thought they were air raid sirens, and panicked. If took the neighbor with the bomb shelter to calm her down. So those of you new to our State welcome! And it is only a test.

Also APN and the State Networks have join up on People String. A program like Facebook, but pays you for using it.

Ks Real ID

2010-03-10T06:12:00.003-06:00

The state of Kansas shall protect the privacy of its citizens when handling any written, digital or electronic data and shall not participate in any standardized identification
system using driver’s license and nondriver’s identification card records.

Awwwwww Kansas!

HB2727 is yet another step that our Great State is taking toward sovereignty. This 1 1/2 page bill throws Real ID in the face of the federal government.

This bill is to be voted on in the next few days. Tell your rep what you think about it.

HB2727 pdf

Find your legislator

Storm Spotter Meetings

2010-03-09T07:44:00.004-06:00

On APN today I have a post about Kansas Severe Weather Awareness Week, and prepping for tornado season.

If you are interested in Becoming a Storm Spotter, here is a list of classes taking place here in Kansas, and a few for Co, OK, and NE;

March 9:

Wichita, NW High School, 7 pm

Hoxie, Bowen Scout House, 6:30 pm

Ulysses, Fair Grounds, 7 pm

Mankato, County Courthouse, 6:30 pm

March 10:

Hill City, Frontier Stage, 6:30 pm

Syracuse, High School, 6:30 pm Mountain

Phillipsburg, Fire Station, 6:30 pm

Marion, High School Auditorium, 6:30 pm

March 11:

Newton, Chisholm Middle School, 6:30 pm

Eastborough City Building, 7 pm

El Dorado, Civic Center, 6:30 pm

Colby, Community Building, 6:30 pm

Dighton, Courthouse Community Room, 7 pm

Smith Center, Courthouse, 6:30 pm

March 15:

Kechi City Hall, 7 pm

McPherson, Community Building, 6:30 pm

Scott City, EMS Building, 7 pm

Benkelman, NE, High School Learning Room, 6:30 pm Mountain

March 16:

Hutchinson, Fire Training Facility, 6:30 pm

Clearwater Fire Station, 7 pm

Yuma, CO, Ambulance Building, 6:30 pm Mountain

Larned, JA Hass Building, 7 p.m.

Ponca City, OK, Clubhouse, 7 p.m.

March 17:

Viola City Building, 7 p.m.

Cimarron, Library, 7 p.m.

March 18:

Derby Police Department, 7 p.m.

McCook, NE, Senior Center, 6:30 p.m.

Kinsley, 4-H Building, 7 p.m.

March 19:

Sharon Springs, CAB Building, 6:30 pm Mountain

March 22:

Leoti, Firehouse, 6:30 p.m.

Liberal, Fairgrounds Activity Center, 7 p.m.

March 23:

Andale City Hall, 7 p.m.

Hugoton, EMS Training Center, 7 p.m.

Russell, Dream Theatre, 6:30 p.m.

Cheyenne Well, CO, City Complex, 6:30 pm Mountain

March 24:

Jetmore, King Center, 7 p.m.

Oaklawn Community Center, 7 p.m.

Grainfield, 4-H Building, 6:30 p.m.

March 25:

Oakley, Courthouse Basement, 6:30 p.m.

Greensburg, Location TBA, 7 p.m.

Great Bend, Crest Theater, 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

March 29:

Sublette, Location TBA, 7 p.m.

Beloit, North Central Kansas Tech Student Union, 6:30 p.m.

March 30:

Stratton, CO, St Catherine Catholic Hall, 6:30 p.m. Mountain

Maize City Hall, 7 p.m.

LaCrosse, County Extension, 7 p.m.

March 31:

Pratt, Community Center, 7 p.m.

Palisade, NE, Legion Auxiliary Building, 6:30 p.m.

April 1:

Minneola, Civic Center, 7 p.m.

April 5:

Garden Plain Senior Center, 7 p.m.

Holyrood, Fire Station, 6:30 p.m.

St. John, Courthouse Annex Building, 7 p.m.

April 6:

Cheney City Hall, 7 p.m.

Meade, Fire Station, 7 p.m.

Kingman, Hospital, 3 p.m.

Cunningham, Community Center, 7 p.m.

April 7:

Ashland, Community Center, 7 p.m.

April 8:

Sedgwick Community Center, 7 p.m.

April 15:

Bel Aire City Building, 7 p.m.

April 22:

Elkhart, Location TBA, 7 p.m.

Homemade Ravioli

2010-03-08T08:23:00.002-06:00

Mushroom ravioli in a light Alfredo sauce

This dish can be made with all Kansas grown ingredients.

Pasta dough:
2 cups flour (about 350 grams)
2 large whole eggs

Filling:
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons for boiling water { I will be using sunflower oil to keep it local}
6 ounces baby portobello mushrooms, sliced
1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1/4 cup cream cheese
1/3 cup grated Parmesan, plus extra for garnishing

Sauce
2 cups Whipping Cream
1 cup Parmesan Cheese, freshly grated
4 Tbsp Butter

To prepare the mixture by hand, place the flour on a clean counter top or rolling board and make a well in the center.

Break the eggs into the well and using a fork, beat the eggs, gently drawing in flour from the sides. Continue dragging flour into the center well, stirring the ingredients together until the dough begins to form a mass.

Begin kneading the pasta, first sprinkling the surface with flour. Knead until the egg has become well incorporated.

If the pasta is too dry or crumbly, spray with a little lukewarm water. When the right texture has been reached, form a ball and leave to rest under an inverted bowl for 10-15 minutes. The heavy your flour is the more water you will need.

Using a knife slice a small part of the dough away from the ball. If you do not have a pasta machine you will need to use a rolling pin to flatten the dough as thin as possible. I can not find the handle to mine, so this will take awhile.

Make sure your surface is floored, as well as your pin. Cut shapes out with a knife or cookie cutter.

In a large saute pan heat 1/4 cup of the olive oil. When almost smoking, add the mushrooms and salt and pepper to taste. Cook until all the liquid has evaporated from the mushrooms, { 6 minutes}. Add spinach and cook for another 2 minutes. Remove from heat and place mixture into a food processor. Pulse until you get a coarse texture. Stir in cream cheese and Parmesan cheese. taste for seasoning and set aside.

Line up your wrappers or pasta dough shapes. Brush with the egg and water mixture. Using a tablespoon, dollop the filling on each wrapper Place another wrapper directly on top, pressing around the filling and sealing the edges. Using a fork, flute the edges. Place ravioli onto a floured baking sheet and keep covered with a linen towel. Set aside.

boil your pasta 20-30 minutes

Over low heat, melt butter in a skillet. Stir in whipping cream and blend well. Add Parmesan cheese and stir until sauce thickens. Do not boil. Thicken sauce with more cheese, or thin with more cream. The Alfredo sauce should generally be very creamy.

Drain the pasta, plate, and pour the sauce over top. Serve hot.

Rustic Country Bread

2010-03-06T08:25:00.003-06:00

I have posted over on American Preppers Network about how to make Rustic Country Bread.

enjoy!

good place to pick things up

2010-03-04T07:47:00.004-06:00

If you live in Kansas, Yoder, is a great place to pick some of your hand cranked needs up.

The hardware store, has all different sorts of items, that you can get for less then internet browsing. Of course if you live 3 hours away from there, look more local first.

They also have a Bulk food store, where I found some things that I wasn't able to in Wichita.

Plants you should know; Cup Plant

2010-03-01T10:07:00.004-06:00

This plant grows 4-7 feet in height. In August, it goes into bloom.

You can chew on the root to sweeten your breath.

Steep the root for a long time, making a tea. This as used by Native Americans to help with intermittent fevers, internal bruises, ulcers and liver affections. It is a stimulant and an antispasmodic. The tea is also claimed to help with enlarged spleen.

Always talk to your doctor before using herbal remedies.

A Homesteaders Seasons

2010-02-24T07:06:00.002-06:00

This is a repost from this summer.For those of you just beginning to get into homesteading, this is what you have to look forward to mentally.

The Hat Wears Me.

The heat has been almost too much to be bearable this summer. 108F can make the most optimistic person lose any and all enthusiasm. Can you imagine what it has been doing to me? Lucky enough we got a break, the temperature has dropped into the high 80's, making it possible to think again. Yesterday the rain drizzled and occasionally spewed down the entire day, making pleasant work for all of us. The boys ran around, screaming joyously until they fell in the mud, dizzy from the excursion.

The heat of course is bad on thoughts. You wonder why on Earth you do the things you do. Wasn't there joy in all of this at one point? Perhaps. Even after doing it for years, the heat wears on you, questioning what it was you actually thought you would accomplish by being this type of person. Once upon a time you were a suburban lounge about. Content in the central air and fruit smoothies. Then you went and pulled this stunt. Pushing yourself, hoping that in some way it all works the way you want it, but most of the time, it blows up in your face. But even in the heat, you must admit that those mistakes made you a better person, that you no longer harp on those mistakes and you no longer fear rejection. Some time ago, those things slipped away. Unfortunately the heat can bring it back in sweeps of emotional turmoil.

Then it cools, and the world looks and feels so much brighter. You have accomplished so much, you know this, you recognize it. And it no longer matters that you don't have an audience to applaud you. Did it ever really matter? Of course it did. There is just something about another person patting you on the back, telling you that you had done a good job. You can always get your accolades from the drool that suddenly appears dribbling from the mouths of the cattle you have spent months working with. When you see that, you know that what you have done was good. You accomplished something that hadn't happened before in these animals lives. You watch as your children no longer begrudgingly take on their chores. It doesn't matter to you that many of their friends have fewer or no chores, and it clicks with your children, it no longer matters to them either.

Babies are born, and you swell with pride, no matter what this creature's future holds. For you, in a very small way, helped this animal into being. It doesn't matter that you put hardly any work into it, this is your baby, it would have never come to be if it wasn't for you. You give it a name, and protect it fiercely, not once thinking what the future is for your baby. It sits there in the back of your mind, but you do what needs to be done to make sure that your baby has a wonderful life, healthy and happy until the future creeps up.

The heat always returns. The flies come back in full force, gnawing at your animals and biting you as you sit in the over heated barn. Thoughts turn dull again, you go through the day on autopilot not really caring about much except finding a breeze or maybe stripping down completely and sitting in a cattle tank. Modesty goes away in the heat, and who cares if the neighbors can see, it will give them something to talk about over their iced tea. And you can be assured that you will get a sly smile and a wink when you see them in town.

With the heat so persistent, the vegetables come in. Much more than you can safely keep in a fridge. Canning season rushes up on you. And of course you find yourself slightly unprepared. Are we ever truly ready for the canning frenzy that is about to commence? Sometimes, but never mentally. You know it's there, you do it every year. But that heat! You only make things worse by turning every burner you have on. It maybe only 101F outside, but the house reaches 115F before you know it. Now the thrill of canning season is sucked out of you. It becomes a chore. You knew all along you would have to do this, but you behave as though it is the bestest thing evah! You forgetful fool.

Fall descends and you finally get to sit back and take in everything you accomplished. Pictures are taken and the Internet is full of gorgeous jars of food. Every where you turn, one person is attempting to out do another. Look at my shinny jars of food stuff! Aren't I amazing? I wasn't when I created it, but now that the heat is gone, I am. The coolness of the fall brings in all the optimism you had lost in the summer. You are amazed at the things you did through that heat. It doesn't matter if it was old hat, and you have a foggy recollection of doing it.

Winter, and the brutal cold emerges. You curse and spit at mother nature for constantly preforming this cruel joke. You go about your chores, bundled against the elements that thrust their bitterness at you, and you long for the spring and the summer's heat. Seed catalogs arrive in the coldest of January, and you picture yourself in your bountiful garden, your skin no longer the winter pale, but the color of clover honey. The sun radiant on your face, but you neglect to remember that detail of sweat and heat exposure. We like to forget, and only remember the good parts of it all. The heat will return, and you fall right back into the rhythm of autopilot and lose the focus of the actual bliss that is happening around you. But you know, it's ok. You will remember when the cold assaults you, as we always do.

War between Israel and Iran in the next 6 months?

2010-02-23T06:23:00.004-06:00

Abd Al-Bari 'Atwan, editor of the London daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi, wrote in a February 13 editorial that if Israel attacks Iran, Syria is likely to respond with a brutal attack against it: "[Iranian President Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad's declaration that his country is a 'nuclear nation'... and that it can enrich uranium to above 80%, exposes the real aim of Iran's nuclear program – that is, to produce nuclear warheads.In a phone conversation with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, he demanded that Syria wage war against Israel and eliminate this country if it launches an attack in the region (on Iran). In my view, this is the most important development, particularly in light of the fact that [Ahmadinejad's] demand comes at a time of stepped-up preparations for war [by Israel]...

"I don't know how President Assad responded to the requests of his Iranian colleague and ally, but according to Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al-Mu'allem, it appears that he felt that the explosion was imminent...

Egyptian MP Muhammad 'Ali Ibrahim, editor of the Egyptian government daily Al-Gumhouriyya, wrote in his editorial that Iran has already made the first move towards war, but that only U.S. President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu know when it will actually break out and what it will entail.

"Iran is interested in this war, because it sees it as an opportunity to suppress its [domestic] opposition and accuse it of cooperating with the West. [It also hopes that] the shared sense of danger will prompt the Iranians to unite around their leadership. The U.S. is also interested in the war, because it will enable it to sell advanced weapons to the countries of the region, to impose its air defense umbrella on the Gulf states, and to determine oil prices independently of OPEC...

"The most salient element in Iran's responses is Ahmadinejad's assessment that a war will break out in the spring or summer, and his threats that if Israel attacks, the resistance and the countries of the region will crush it. He has also threatened that if new sanctions are [imposed] on his country in response to its nuclear program, he will cause the superpowers to regret it.

Read the entire article here at MEMRI>>>

From ABC News;

Israel's air force on Sunday introduced a fleet of huge pilotless planes that can remain in the air for a full day and could fly as far as the Persian Gulf, putting rival Iran within its range. Read entire article here>>>

Unfortunately, no matter what these two Countries decide, we as the US, will be forced to be involved. If our Presdent will actually stick up to our core beliefs and that we as a Country have always supported Israel. The Arab Countries are very concerned about this war, and in turn, so should we. We are of course talking about nuclear war. Let us hope that it ends before it really begins, but personally I have my doubts, and we will see a war. Iran seems set on bringing about Armageddon. Keep your eyes open.

What if Nothing Happens?

2010-02-21T10:04:00.001-06:00

A great post from the American Preppers Network Homepage.

Here's an excellent article submitted by our member Cin

What if nothing happens?

My husband asked on a long drive one day. He was speaking rhetorically of course, but it is something that made me think. We had miles to travel and nothing else to do, so we talked about it for a while.

We’ve prepped enough that we can make a stand or bug out if needed. We have the beans, bullets and bandages. We’ve modified the homestead to take care of our needs, on-grid or off. We have a running creek that shouldn’t dry up, but have stored water, just in case. We have a woodstove and firewood. We have enough food in the pantry to take care of ourselves and a few others. I’ve experimented enough with cooking from storage that I’m comfortable with it. There are plenty of simple medications and herbals to take care of colds, injuries and even a few life-threatening wounds. (However, I still need to update my Red Cross certification).

We have BOB bags in the car, the garage and good camping equipment kept in an easily reachable area in case we have to move quickly. Even our dogs have packs to carry.

Last year, a major hurricane in Houston , Texas took out thousands of homes, left people in Red Cross shelters for several weeks, and resulted in people still working to this day to repair all the damage done. A friend on the ground there called with updates. She was prepared for 2 weeks. After that, her life became a round of driving around looking for gas, food and water. Rumors flew and she was often hopping in the car to run down to another store to get water/food. She managed to make it to work, and found tips on where gas stations were that still had gas. Roof damage in her apartment complex put water in her ceiling lights, and caused mold to grow down her walls. A crack in the walls appeared above her fireplace due to the weight of a tree on the roof. It took over 6 months to have the damage repaired, when the power came back on. Why? Because every contractor and subcontractor was tapped out. Maintenance people were worth their weight in gold.

She volunteered at one of the shelters. People had nothing, they didn’t have extra clothes, or food…nothing. Because the shelter didn’t have facilities beyond toilets and washbasins, she said no one bathed. The shelter eventually set up portable showers but they were inadequate for the number of folk being sheltered. Businesses donated T-shirts and pants so the people could change clothes, at least. She came home exhausted and discouraged by how unprepared those people were.

Read the entire article here>>>

Tools used for Seed Saving and Starting Seeds

2010-02-18T08:32:00.001-06:00

This is a repost of an article I wrote in 2007 from my blog, A Homesteading Neophyte

This is part 4 of the Tools series. Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 can be found by clicking the links.

I proclaimed yesterday that I was going to talk about tools used for an orchard. Yet I noticed one thing missing from the Garden series, and no one called me out on it!

Seed Saving is a very important part of homesteading. We can not be self reliant if we are forced to buy seeds year after year. When it does come to seed saving, the tools used are very primitive. Nothing fancy needed here.

The most important tool that you have on hand is your own garden. And it might be a little difficult, but you know that perfect vegetable or fruit you just plucked, DON'T EAT IT! It is the best ones of your crop that you will want to seed save.

Depending one the veggie, you will either need to cut it open, wash the guts off of the fruit, and set out to dry completely {completely is important, otherwise you will get mold}. This is a great way to save your melon and gourd seeds. You may go ahead and eat those.

Tomatoes need to be gutted. Sometimes you can still use the remaining tomato depending on the recipe you are using. You need a jar, water and a window sill. Place the guts in the jar of water, then into your window. A spoon will be needed to stir the contents occasionally. After a few days, a white moldy foam will appear at the surface. Skim it off with your spoon. Use a colander to strain, the seeds that sank to the bottom of the jar are the ones you need to keep. Allow them to dry out completely on a newspaper. If you smoke, use the cellophane wrapper to store the seeds in and place in your freezer until ready to plant. Non smokers, well go make friends with a smoker.

Potatoes need a dark dry area and a paper bag. Use what you can and if roots start growing on them, leave them for seed later. Sweet potatoesneed the vines cut and placed into a jar of water to form roots.

Items like carrots

or onions, need to be allowed to flower. Seed saving is a mater of cutting (shears) the flowers after they have gone to seed, into a paper bag.

Sunflowers and other edibles seeds and root nuts {ok peanuts} need to be cured in a dry warm place, separated from one another. Sunflower heads should be hung upside down in your barn or equivalent (string and rafters needed) with a cheese cloth/bed sheet hung underneath them to catch any fallen seeds. Peanuts after being allowed to cure out of the ground for several days, should be placed in a used nylon stocking to keep.

I use old envelopes to store my seeds.

Seedlings

Starting your seeds is a devastating accomplishment. You might lose half to all of your seedlings. An old milk jug, small cardboard boxes, a hot frame, cold frame, window sill, grow lamp, hydroponics system, soil, and water are tools that might be needed.

We each have our own variation of how we do these things. Experiment a bit to see how and what works well for you.

Plants you Should Know; Touch-me-not

2010-02-17T07:29:00.004-06:00

Jewelweed, also known as Touch-me-not is a soft fleshy herb, standing 2-5 feet. You can find them in wet shady areas.
When the plant stands under 6 inches, they are edible, discard the leaves and boil the shoots. The ripe seeds can be eaten raw, they are banana shaped.

This plant is very high in minerals, so don't eat a lot, mix it with other herbs or vegetables.

This is also a great plant for soothing poison ivy (before the rash) bees stings and other skin issues. Any part of the plant can be crushed and rubbed on the infected area.

Pigs for the homestead

2010-02-16T09:45:00.002-06:00

The Berkshire: a first class black pig with excellent lean meat . Occasionally, when commercial white pork becomes too bland and tasteless, some Berkshire genes are used to improve it.

The Tamworth: a red heritage breed producing the best bacon in the U.S., a direct descendant of the wild boars which roamed the forests of Staffordshire. Was introduced to North America around the 1870's. Very outdoorsy and athletic.

The Red Wattle: this one's really in danger of extinction, it has dark, lean tender meat. It originally came to New Orleans via New Caledonia and developed in Texas. He went out of fashion when people wanted pigs for lard.

The Duroc: Its genes appear in many modern breeds. One of the juiciest and tastiest.

The Gloucester Old Spot: a.k.a. The Iron Age Pig, this breed is a cross between the domestic and wild pig. Excellent meat, at one point there were great numbers in the U.S.

The Yorkshire: They originated in Yorkshire England, home of the famed All Creatures Great and Small stories. Yorkshires do very well on pasture and are excellent mothers weaning large numbers of piglets. They are a foundation breed crossed with other breeds to create modern commercial pig genetics.

The Large Black: A pasturing pig, small shoulders but very tasty lean hams. There are fewer than 200 in the U.S

Plants you Should Know; Yellow Pond Lily

2010-02-15T10:49:00.003-06:00

Obviously this plant is aquatic, the leaves (heart shaped) float on the surface, and have yellow waxy looking flowers.

The seeds can be parched, winnowed, then ground up into a flour, or you can fry it like popcorn.

While the root stock can be eaten like a potato. Change the water after the first boil, then boil an additional 3 minutes to help tame the flavor.

Winnowed- to blow off the chaff from the grain.
parched- drying with heat (dry roasting)

On the Radio

2010-02-12T10:57:00.002-06:00

I will be on blogtalkradio tomorrow, Saturday 13th on the Family Preparedness show.

You can listen live here.

You can also call in and ask questions or ask them in the chat room they have available.

The show starts at 1pm central time.

Heritage Cattle

2010-02-09T06:52:00.007-06:00

When building your homestead, one of the things people will think about is owning their own cattle. Small landowners that decide a cow is the best animal to suit their needs, should think about getting a dual purpose heritage animal.

When deciding what animal is best for your family, make sure you do all the research you can. How much milk to you go through, what dairy products do you want to make, how much meat are you willing to deal with? How much time to devote and so forth.

Here is a list of heritage Cattle you should think about. (Clicking on the names will take you to the associations) All breeds are considered multipurpose. Milking/beef/work

Small Sized Cattle (dual purpose)

Dexter

Kerry

Randal Lineback

Pineywoods

Medium Sized Cattle (mainly used for Milking)

Gallows

American Milking Short horn

Large Sized (mainly used for Beef)

Devon

Dutch Belted

English Long Horn

Red Poll

There are more types out there. It just takes a lot of searching to find them. If you have questions, please ask. I will do my best to answer them. I own Kerries and American milking Shorthorns.

Severe Winter Storm Watch

2010-02-06T09:49:00.003-06:00

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WICHITA KS
346 AM CST SAT FEB 6 2010
...SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL COULD IMPACT THE AREA LATE SUNDAY THROUGH
MONDAY...
.ANOTHER POTENT WINTER STORM WILL AFFECT THE AREA BEGINNING SUNDAY
AFTERNOON AND CONTINUING THROUGH MONDAY. THE MAIN RISK WILL BE
HEAVY SNOWFALL POTENTIAL...WITH A PERIOD OF FREEZING RAIN AND SOME
ICE ACCUMULATION ALSO POSSIBLE FOR AREAS CLOSER TO THE OKLAHOMA
BORDER.
KSZ049-051>053-068>072-083-092>096-098>100-061800-
/O.NEW.KICT.WS.A.0002.100208T0000Z-100209T0600Z/
SALINE-MCPHERSON-MARION-CHASE-HARVEY-BUTLER-GREENWOOD-WOODSON-
ALLEN-SEDGWICK-SUMNER-COWLEY-ELK-WILSON-NEOSHO-CHAUTAUQUA-
MONTGOMERY-LABETTE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SALINA...MCPHERSON...MARION...
COTTONWOOD FALLS...NEWTON...EL DORADO...AUGUSTA...EUREKA...
YATES CENTER...IOLA...WICHITA...WELLINGTON...WINFIELD...
ARKANSAS CITY...HOWARD...FREDONIA...CHANUTE...ERIE...SEDAN...
COFFEYVILLE...INDEPENDENCE...PARSONS
346 AM CST SAT FEB 6 2010
...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH
MONDAY EVENING...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM
WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY
EVENING.
* TIMING...ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ACROSS THE
AREA BY SUNDAY EVENING...AND CONTINUE UNTIL MONDAY EVENING. THE
HEAVIEST SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH
EARLY MONDAY AFTERNOON. THE SNOW MAY BEGIN AS A PERIOD OF
FREEZING RAIN ON SUNDAY EVENING FOR THE OKLAHOMA BORDER
COUNTIES OF SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS.
* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...OF 6 INCHES OR GREATER ARE POSSIBLE BY
MONDAY EVENING.
* WINDS...GUSTY NORTH WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WILL DEVELOP BY LATE
MONDAY AFTERNOON...WHICH COULD RESULT IN AREAS OF BLOWING AND
DRIFTING SNOW.
* IMPACTS...TRAVEL COULD BECOME VERY DIFFICULT AS SNOW QUICKLY
ACCUMULATES ON ROADWAYS SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT
WINTER WEATHER THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE
LATEST FORECASTS FOR UPDATED INFORMATION.

While we live, let us live!

2010-02-05T22:53:00.004-06:00

I was just watching a program, and something occurred to me, too many people take too many things too seriously.

Now I am not saying that you shouldn't take preparedness seriously. You have your kits in your trunk, you have the routine of checking and rechecking things, you buy a little extra food to store away, but what about your emotional preparedness?

If you harp too much on what you are preparing for, you might miss out on the adventures of it all. You might get depressed, or angry. You might loss faith in people or in yourself.

What is the point of preparing for something that may never happen? It is never about what might not be, but what it could be. Prepping itself can teach you life skills that you would not have ventured to discover in another way. Preparedness is full of educational skill, lost arts, and personal fulfillment, if only you play your cards right. If you only buy the foods or ammo, plan your escape routes, dig out a shelter, what is the purpose to life?

When you are on you path to preparedness, take a moment to discover a hobby besides food buying or map memorizing. (although I must say that there is a sadistic pleasure in map reading)

Play

Look

Listen

Breath

Life is happening full force around you, do you want to miss any of it just because something may happen? Of course not. Balance is key to it all. Make prepping a habit, but take on learning new skills with a flourish of excitement and energy. Do not learn a skill that you find tedious or boring. When canning, try new things to create gourmet masterpieces that can be stored away.

There are some great old school skills that you can learn, and perhaps it will lead to you making a little money on the side.

For example, I make chainmaille. Not much use in this modern world, but I can make a great fishing net. I make jewelry and garments for people and animals. But I also cook and bake, desserts are my specialty, using turn of the 20th century recipes, only modified and I use only locally grown ingredients (except chocolate). I grow many of the ingredients I use, gardening is an interesting hobby to say the least. Top that off with animal husbandry and good like minded friends and I would say my life is hardly boring.

Weather you are interested in blacksmithing, candle making, cooking/baking, weaving, or cobbling, it is never too late to learn and enjoy.

Never fret over what may never be, for you will never be happy. And above a, prepare for the worse, and foresee the best.

Preparedness on Iron Horse Back

2010-02-04T07:22:00.006-06:00

Aw the feel of sweet clover or alfalfa filled air rushing at your face the cool air from cattle ponds and creeks making the experience even more enjoyable. Oh but wait, are those thousands of needles pricking at my skin?

Many of us drive cages, and some of us are on two wheels. As a motorcycle "enthusiasts" there are a few things we can do to be prepared.

Most know that leathers are wonderful to have in storms. Helmets help in the freezing cold, and you should have a small flare around somewhere. Simple, but what if your ol' lady starts smacking your back as you are doing 90, I mean the speed limit, trying to get you to pull over because she just heard that SHTF over her headphones? Or if you pull in a small town to get gas, and the entire village is there gossiping, and taking all the gas available?

Time to get your riding boots firmly planted to the ground, and think what to do before it happens.

Saddlebags, if you don't have any, I suggest getting even a small pack.

Your motorcycle emergency (prep) kit should include (if you can fit it all wonderful, if not pare down to what you need the most. Make sure all items are compact in size)

a canteen
basic wrenching tools (mechanic)
a tarp and rope, if not a pup tent
Small first aid kit
prepaid calling cards( phone booths tend to come back quicker then cells)
zip ties
A hip knife
A utility tool
Duct tape
A compass with magnifying glass
wind-up (no batteries) radio/flashlight/signal beacon
A flint and steel
Matches
Cloth (usually a hand towel or other)
Space blanket
A GPS or paper maps
A cell phone
and your ICE tag (In Case of Emergency Contact numbers)

Now motorcycles can go where other vehicles can't, you might want to include a tire patch kit just in case a little off roading is necessary. Remember to keep a cool head, and always know where you are, and where you should be going.

And I know a great little shop that can help you with some of these needs, as well as an awesome mechanic that can prep your bike for the long haul. In fact the mechanic for Broadway Street Bikes, is a Prepper.

Tools for Maintaining Lawn and Garden

2010-02-02T07:32:00.000-06:00

This is part 2 of the Tools series. Part One; Tools for Planting a Garden, can be found here

Now that we have set the seeds into the ground, and our hoses are in position, maintenance of the garden is in order. Repuprosing items can con in real useful at this time. Such as use a broken fan stand to hold a sprinkler, allowing the water to get over the tops of your taller vegetables.

There is no miracle tool that we use being homesteaders. We do not have a secret store somewhere selling us goods that you are not entitled to. So our maintenance tools will be just like yours. However, we may use a less variety of tools then others. At least what I have seen, here at the Neophyte homestead, we use about half the tools that friends in the city that have gardens, use.

Maintenance of the garden is mainly dedicated to weeding. Even if you have used a weed barrier of some kind (newspapers, straw, store bought black stuff) weeds will still pop up everywhere. That is the nature of the weed. To propagate themselves at any cost. This is your enemy. Pulling weeds by hand are your best bet. Wear good gloves if you have to deal with stickers. Good heavy boots for the occasional surprising mud hole or kamikaze snake.

Aerating the soil isn't a bad idea either, even though it seems to encourage new weed growth. A small claw cultivator, the before mentioned claw or a simple garden hoe is all you really need. At times there are weeds that have managed to dig those roots down so deep or hold fast to the area that additional help is needed. We use a Cat-paw. Yes they are meant to be used to pull nails, but we found that a good quality cats-paw is multipurpose and long lasting. Plus you don't have a need for a plethora of tools that claim to be for specific jobs.

Vinegar is a great tool to have on hand. Pour this around the boundary of your garden to kill the grass and keep your lawn from enveloping your garden. Fencing can also be important, weather you use it to trellis or to keep the dog out. Rabbits will still get in, I recommend dried fox urine to keep them away. For Moles, use an empty pop bottle, not the 2 litters, leave the cap off and stick it half way into the ground into a tunnel. The noise and vibrations made from the wind blowing over the top of the empty bottle will scare off the moles. Don't bother spending all that money on one of those small windmills.

I did spend some money on the purchase of a good utility cart. You want your weeds far away from your garden. A utility cart will help you move large batches of weeds and dead veggies away, and out to your green manure pile.

Lawn Maintenance.

We do have a lawn. I have mentioned before that I like grass and that grass has many benefits besides looking tidy and green. But here is not the time for that debate. Our heaviest used tools for lawn up keep are the goats and geese. They can not keep up with the rate the grass tends to grow, but they do help keep the clovers and dandelions from going crazy. We own a riding lawn mower that doubles for a small tractor, as it pulls the more heftier items that need to be moved. For those tall weeds that grow (as well as future plans for wheat or another kind of cover crop) we use a scythe.
Fire is also a tool we utilize. It promotes growth for the spring when used in early winter, for your fields, lawn and ornamental grasses like a pompous. (not recommended if you live in town)

A few early spring flowers to add to your diet

2010-02-01T07:22:00.004-06:00

Eat only flowers that have been correctly Identified, eat only the part of the plant indicated as some have poisons in other parts f the plant. Make sure no chemicals have been used on them, and introduce flowers sparingly into your diet.

Common daisy (Bellis perennis)
Daisy buds and petals give a pleasant, slightly sour flavor to salads. The buds can also be pickled in vinegar and used as a substitute for capers. Daisy flowers are best picked in spring and summer thereby prolonging flowering and producing further crops.
This hardy perennial can be found in your lawn and will grow successfully in sun or partial shade

Sweet violet (Viola odorata)
Has scented small blue or white flowers. It produces the only edible flower available in winter and early spring. They have a fresh flavor and are used to flavor and colour confectionery. The flowers can also be used as a thickener in soup and stews and make a tasty, interesting garnish for salads, fruit salads and desserts. Sweet violets thrive in a moderately heavy rich soil in a semi-shaded spot. Do well in containers but need to be placed in a cool position throughout the summer and must not be given heat during the winter

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
This common weed has a yellow flower that tastes of honey if picked young. It turns bitter when mature. The flowers can be made into tea, wine and beer. They can also be used to garnish a salad. When serving a rice dish use dandelion petals like confetti over the rice.

Comments

2010-01-30T13:17:00.002-06:00

Comment moderation has been turned on. Not my choice mind you.

I do not like comment moderation because it leads to issues about "Why are you not allowing just anyone to comment", and the such. I like comments, both good and bad, as it gives me a sense of what you are thinking and what I should be sharing.

Now, how this will go about, all comments good or bad will be posted. However spam will not be. If you hate me and want to tell me so, go for it, I will post it. If you love me and you know it clap your hands. . . I mean say so and it will be posted.

Proof is in the pudding you say. Well take a look at the comment I left alone on the Post entitled The Misnomer of Civilian Assault rifles.

"You effing honkys who don't think so are ignorant trailer trash sister loving idiots."

of course this person informed us how ill educated and dangerous he is by continuing to talk, I allowed it, and chose not to respond. The quote is edited because of the family oriented status of this blog.

If you feel that your reply was not posted and you want to know why, or if maybe I over looked it, please email me. You can find the address on the sidebar, Phelan. Just please give me a day or so before the onslaught of you effing witch start coming in. I am not always around to approve messages.

The reason for the moderation is because of the shear amount of spam that we have been suffering from.

This Day in 1861

2010-01-29T07:31:00.003-06:00

Kansas became the 34th State. But of course we had to go through a very nasty period of war before that could happen. Kansas was set up not to be a Free State, but a Choice State. Kansans would have the power to decide.

A Mass. Senator Named Charles Sumner gave an interesting speech on the States behalf in 1856 called "The Crime Against Kansas" This prompted a Congressman named Preston Brooks from South Carolina to beat Senator Sumner with a cane as he sat at his desk. It took 3 years for Senator Sumner to recover from that attack.

MR. PRESIDENT:-- You are now called to redress a great transgression. Seldom in the history of nations has such a question been presented. Tariffs, army bills, navy bills, land bills, are important, and justly occupy your care; but these all belong to the course of ordinary legislation. As means and instruments only, they are necessarily subordinate to the conservation of Government itself. Grant them or deny them, in greater or less degree, and you will inflict no shock. The machinery of Government will continue to move. The State will not cease to exist. Far otherwise is it with the eminent question now before you, involving, as it does, Liberty in a broad Territory, and also involving the peace of the whole country with our good name in our history for evermore.

Take down your map, sir, and you will find that the Territory of Kansas, more than any other region, occupies the middle spot of North America, equally distant from the Atlantic on the east, and the Pacific on the west; from the frozen waters of Hudson's Bay on the north, and the tepid Gulf Stream on the south, constituting the precise territorial centre of the whole vast continent. To such advantages of situation, on the very highway between two oceans, are added a soil of unsurpassed richness, and a fascinating, undulating beauty of surface, with a health-giving climate, calculated to nurture a powerful and generous people, worthy to be a central pivot of American Institutions. A few short months only have passed since this spacious mediterranean country was open only to the savage, who ran wild in its woods and prairies; and now it has already drawn to its bosom a population of freemen larger than Athens crowded within her historic gates, when her sons, under Miltiades, won Liberty for mankind on the field of Marathon; more than Sparta contained when she ruled Greece, and sent forth her devoted children , quickened by a mother's benediction, to return with their shields or on them; more than Rome gathered on her seven hills, when, under her kings, she commenced that sovereign sway, which afterwards embraced the whole earth; more than London held, when, on the fields of Crecy and Agincourt, the English banner was carried victoriously over the chivalrous hosts of France.

Against this Territory, thus fortunate in position and population, a crime has been committed, which is without example in the records of the Past. Not in plundered provinces or in the cruelties of selfish governors will you find its parallel; and yet there is an ancient instance, which may show at least the path of justice. In the terrible impeachment by which the great Roman orator has blasted through all time the name of Verres, amidst charges of robbery and sacrilege, the enormity which most aroused the indignant voice of his accuser, and which still stands forth with strongest distinctness, arresting the sympathetic indignation of all who read the story, is that away in Sicily he had scourged a citizen of Rome -- that the cry "I am a Roman citizen" had been interposed in vain against the lash of the tyrant governor. Other charges were that he had carried away productions of art, and that he had violated the sacred shrines. It was in the presence of the Roman Senate that this arraignment proceeded, in a temple of the forum; amidst crowds -- such as no orator had ever before drawn together -- thronging the porticos and colonades, even clinging to the housetops and neighboring slopes, and under the anxious gaze of witnesses summoned from the scene of the crime. But an audience grander far, of higher dignity, of more various people and of wider intelligence, the countless multitude of succeeding generations in every land where eloquence has been studied, or where the Roman name has been recognised, has listened to the accusation, and throbbed with condemnation of the criminal. Sir, speaking in an age of light, and in a land of constitutional liberty, where the safeguards of elections are justly placed among the highest triumphs of civilization, I fearlessly assert that the wrongs of much-abused Sicily, thus memorable in history, were small by the side of the wrongs of Kansas, where the very shrines of popular institutions, more sacred than any heathen altar, have been desecrated; where the ballot box, more precious than any work, in ivory or marble, from the cunning hand of art, has been plundered; and where the cry "I am an American citizen" has been interposed in vain against outrage of every kind, even upon life itself. Are you against sacrilege? I present it for your execration. Are you against robbery? I hold it up to your scorn. Are you for the protection of American citizens? I show you how their dearest rights have been cloven down, while a tyrannical usurpation has sought to install itself on their very necks.

But the wickedness which I now begin to expose is immeasurably aggravated by the motive which prompted it. Not in any common lust for power did this uncommon tragedy have its origin. It is the rape of a virgin Territory, compelling it to the hateful embrace of Slavery; and it may be clearly traced to a depraved longing for a new slave State, the hideous offspring of such a crime, in the hope of adding to the power of slavery in the National Government. Yes, sir, when the whole world, alike Christian and Turk, is rising up to condemn this wrong, and to make it a hissing to the nations, here in our Republic, force -- aye, Sir, FORCE, -- has been openly employed in compelling Kansas to this pollution, and all for the sake of political power. There is the simple fact, which you will vainly attempt to deny, but which in itself presents an essential wickedness that makes other public crimes seem like public virtues.

It is a very long speech You can read it in it's entirety here at Furman EDU.

Of course none of this has anything to do with prepping. Or does it? Isn't there a saying out there "Those who fail to lean from history are doomed to repeat it"

enjoy Kansas' Birthday! And stay warm, I think there might be a little snow out there (4 inches here)

Personal Experience in Recalling Learned, not practiced, skills

2010-01-27T09:01:00.003-06:00

I am going to share something very personal with you. But it is relevant to prepping It is about not having the practiced skills, but reading or seeing something and recalling it at the appropriate time. I have said over and over that prepping doesn't mean that you have to learn all the skills necessary, you just need to be able to retain the info.

I found out I was pregnant with my first son on my 18th birthday. I wasn't scared or upset. I was in love with a man that was wonderful at the time. We were struggling of course, but happy none the less. I quit smoking, I quit everything that was nasty for your health. I saw my doctor regularly and did everything right

My due date was still 3 months away when I got sick. I made a doctors appointment for two days later. Then the pain started. No one had told me about back labor, so I had no idea what was happening. I suffered through it. Suddenly my water broke. We had just moved into a new place, and didn't have a phone. The man I was with ran next door to use their phone and while he was gone, I gave birth, alone, on my bathroom floor.

He was so small and sounded like a kitten mewing. I stuck my finger in his mouth, and stroked his sides keeping him annoyed to keep him crying. Crying=breathing.

The man I was with returned, and almost passed out as he saw me, and his new son sitting on the floor. I snapped at him and told him to get me something to tie the cord off with and something sharp to cut. He neglected to turn on any lights, and I could hear things being thrown around. He returned with a knife and a shoe lace.

I told him where and how to tie off the cord, and told him not to cut it. He followed my orders perfectly.

The EMS workers arrived, and the first thing they asked was how did I know to do all that I had done. I told them. . .

I watch way too much Rescue 911.

They chuckled. And later I was told that all the things I had done in the first few moments of life gave my son a better chance to survive.

He died at 1 month old.

But I did help him and did give him a better start, all because I had retained some idle time information.

And that is what I hope to bring to all of you.

( for those of you curious about why I went into labor early. I had the flu. . severe. . . and they think that my body reacted like the pregnancy was the problem and attempted to abort it)

A Simple List of Preservation Tools

2010-01-26T08:30:00.002-06:00

Preserving your harvest involves many tools. Canning your harvest is the most common way around here. You need to have a large pot to either cook and mix sauces, or to blanch (if the canning recipe calls for it). You will need several large wooden spoons and different sized rubber spatulas (or scrappers). Possibly coffee filters for draining. A funnel, strainer, and a jar lifter, as well as a kitchen towels. Jars and lids are a must! So is a very good knife.

You will also need to have a food mill, a hot water bath boiler,

a pressure canner {remember you can have the pressure tested at your local extension office, usually free.}

You need the proper ingredients for your recipe, and instructions if you don't know it by heart.

For freezing, you need the blanching pot, waxed paper, a freezer, and jars for storage.

Drying can use different methods, so different tools are called for. The first one is your smaller herbs. A paper sack or an envelope can be used to hold your herbs as you clothes pin them to a rope in a dry airy place.

Your onions, need to be laid out in the sun and cured for a while before braided and stored. Braiding tools needed are scissors, string and instructions. I lay mine out on an old bed sheet.

Jerky and larger veggies that you want to dry, need either a dehydrator (good for fruit leathers} a Box fan and Cotton heater filters, and a window, or an oven. Drying out tomatoes need those items and for sun dried you need cheese cloth.

I do not salt cure, or smoke cure yet.

Feel free to add anything that you use.

Is your water safe to drink?

2010-01-25T06:54:00.002-06:00

In the 1840's Great Britain had a Cholera outbreak, and in the 1970's Bangladesh dealt with arsenic poisoning.

In the US, there are reports of 5 Cholera cases per year, and 400 reports of typhiod. In 2000 25 States reported unhealthy levels of arsenic in the drinking water, as many as 56 million people are drinking that water. In 1997 the City of Cheney ranked number 35 of the highest arsenic levels in the US, finding 65.1 ppb. The EPA says that 10 ppb is the highest level you can have and still be safe.

The most comon types of poisions in your drinking water are as follows;

Arsenic -- The most common source of arsenic contamination in [ground water]] is the mobilization of naturally occurring arsenic on sediments.
Lead --The only way to know whether your tap water contains lead is to have it tested. You cannot see, taste, or smell lead in drinking water.
Fluoride --The weathering of primary rocks and leaching of fluoride-containing minerals in soils yield fluoride rich groundwater in India which is generally associated with low calcium content and high bicarbonate ions.
Toxins --Road salt, toxic substances from mining sites, and used motor oil also may seep into groundwater. In addition, it is possible for untreated waste from septic tanks and toxic chemicals from underground storage tanks to contaminate groundwater.
Heavy metal -- Years of mining for heavy metals has resulted in abandoned mines that are a source of ground- and surface-water contamination in many areas.
Pesticide -- Pesticide water contamination occurs through Non-degraded pesticides migrating to groundwater. 95 percent of the rural population world over relies on ground water to meet their drinking water need.
Antibiotics -Antibiotics are widely used in human and veterinary medicines for disease treatment. They are also largely used in animal operations for growth promotion and for disease prophylaxis. They are often partially metabolized after administration and a significant portion of the antibiotic can be excreted

You can find a list of Water borne diseass at the CDC website, here>>>

In an emergency you can purify your water by boiling it for 3-5 minutes. This will kill of the micro organisms, but not so anything to the heavy metals. You can also add a bit of bleach to your water, allow it to stand 30 minutes. This too will kill the micro organism but does nothing to your heavy metal problems. Even pouring the water into a clear bottle, capping it and sticking it into the sun for 6 hours will help kill off the micro organisms.

You can use cheese cloth, coffee filters or even your socks to filter the water.

You can store water safely, in a cool dark place for 6 months. Add a pinch of salt for every 1 gallon if it tastes "flat".

There are many water purification tablets and systems on the market. Do your research to find what is best for you

And by all means, have your water tested Contact your local extension office for more info.

How Much Food Should you Store?

2010-01-22T10:30:00.002-06:00

It isn't easy to figure out how much food one should store for an entire year. I have said before that you should keep a food diary, to track how much your family eats to help you understand how much you really do go through, and give you a better idea of how much food you have to raise

Not everyone can raise their own food If you haven't yet LDS has a great resource. The Food Storage Calculator. You put in how many are in your family, click on calculate, then scroll past the ads to see the results This is just for suggestions, and is a great start so you are not hoarding and gathering blindly.

Storing Dairy Products

2010-01-21T10:54:00.004-06:00

The USDA wants me to point out that home canning dairy products is not recommended. If you choose to do it, eat at your own risk.

So you went and got yourself a cow or goat. Now what? Well once you get down the basics of milking, you start drinking and creating.

Cheese is a great way to hold on to you dairy (sharp cheddar takes 2 years to make). You can freeze it. Add a half tsp baking powder to you jar of milk, shake well. Leave enough headspace for it to "grow". The baking powder will help keep the liquid and fats from separating in storage. Or can it.

If you choose to can your own milk, do not pasteurize it first. Make sure you are working with clean and sterile equipment.

Pour the milk into your hot sterile jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace, secure lids. Process in a pressure canner at 10 lbs. Minimum time is 20 minutes for pints, 25 minutes for quarts.

You might also think about canning your butter as well. mmpaints has a great post on how to do this.

If companies such as Red Feather can sell canned butter, than why is it when we can it at home it's not safe? There's plenty of information on the web concerning the pro's and cons of canning butter. I am here to tell you that I am currently eating butter out of a jar that's been on a shelf in my pantry for a year and I'm still alive.

Read the enitre post on the APN Forums here>>>

Purchasing Land

2010-01-20T07:17:00.003-06:00

You have done your research, you know what you want in land and out of your land. Time to start looking.

However there is the issue of money. I really do suggest paying outright cash for your property, but if you are unable to and willing to get a loan and have a person or bank willing to extend you some credit, well beggars can't be choosers. Make sure you go over the details with a fine tooth comb Be sure you are not getting in over your head. And don't relay on your land to turn a profit quickly, it could but I wouldn't hold my breath over it.

There are some land auctions coming up in Kansas. You can find a listing here at Land Of Kansas

General Land for Sale can also be found at Land of Kansas

Be sure to make nice with a Real-estate agent. They can find you incredible deals that you might never have found on your own.

If you keep your eye out on all those free listing rental ads, you might be able to stumble upon a good deal. Talking with others could also lead you to a For Sale By owner situation.

What happens to our elderly?

2010-01-19T09:02:00.008-06:00

I was reading this article, and yes it is on Fox New. . .

Elderly and Abandoned, 85 Haitians Await Death -AP

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — The old lady crawls in the dirt, wailing for her pills. The elderly man lies motionless as rats pick at his overflowing diaper.

There is no food, water or medicine for the 85 surviving residents of the Port-au-Prince Municipal Nursing Home, barely a mile from the airport where a massive international aid effort is taking shape.

"Help us, help us," 69-year-old Mari-Ange Levee begged Sunday, lying on the ground with a broken leg and ribs. A cluster of flies swarmed the open fracture in her skull.

One man has already died, and administrator Jean Emmanuel said more would follow soon unless water and food arrive immediately.

"I appeal to anybody to bring us anything, or others won't live until tonight," he said, motioning toward five men and women who were having trouble breathing, a sign that the end was near.

The dead man was Joseph Julien, a 70-year-old diabetic who was pulled from the partially collapsed building and passed away Thursday for lack of food.

His rotting body lies on a mattress, nearly indistinguishable from the living around him, so skinny and tired they seemed to be simply waiting for death.

With six residents killed in the quake, the institution now has 25 men and 60 women camped outside their former home. Some have a mattress in the dirt to lie on. Others don't.

Madeleine Dautriche, 75, said some of the residents had pooled their money to buy three packets of pasta, which the dozens of pensioners shared on Thursday, their last meal. Since there was no drinking water, some didn't touch the noodles because they were cooked in gutter water.

Read the entire article here>>>

This makes me cry. And I keep hearing that we are better, that things like this won't happen here. I don't know that I trust that. Humans can panic, and things can rapidly deteriorate.

I am in a situation that keeps my mother close to me. My father died a few years ago. But many are not in a situation that can keep your older or severally mentally ill family members near them, or at home. Now, while all this is fresh in our minds, is the time to talk to the nursing home about what their preparations for a disaster situation. If you don't like their reply, their are a few things you can do.

1. Move your family member to a different home

2. Move them in with you

3 volunteer to help improve their preparations.

You as the responsible party also need to have your own plans. Find different routes from your home to the nursing home. Different ways you can get to and from in the event anything should happen. Stock up on some things you might need for that family member, diapers, special foods, meds if you can. Do research on different herbs that claim to be efficient at treating your family members illness. I don't suggest you take them off their meds. But in an emergency, when meds are unavailable it doesn't hurt to be able to sooth your family member.

From Birmingham to D.C.

2010-01-18T21:54:00.000-06:00

Don't be a victim of "Oh Ain't that pretty"

2010-01-16T15:11:00.001-06:00

Spring is coming and some of us have our sights on poultry.

One can get carried away with their chicken desires. Pretty pretty birdies. . . .

You need to take a good look at the birds you are eyeing. Right now, you really ought to think about a breeding stock that fits your needs, be it egg or meat. You can get some amazing birds that fit that criteria.

Next look at how well they breed. Some birds will be listed at only a 55% hatching rate. Not good for your long term needs. You want them to set or be good mothers. If however you are dead set on a low breeding or non setting bird, get a bantam. They will hatch out anything.

Price is of course important. Look at the values your company has, do they support the same bird related cause or farm causes you do (NAIS comes to mind)

Carefully read the descriptions of the birds you want and match them up with what you want to do, how you want to raise them and how you want to dress them out.

As to where you should buy them, local is best. However Kansas has limited supply of hatcheries, and I am picky about my birds (I tend to get birds that are critically endangered)

I suggest McMurray Hatchery (oh stop it, they are a family company and just because they are a large corp, does not mean I will stay away from them)

Ridgeway

Sandhill Preservation

I also recommend that you get them vaccinated at the hatchery.

Now that you have your orders straight in your head, go ahead and order one or two of those pretty birds. I always do.

72 hours later

2010-01-15T09:41:00.003-06:00

Although we in Kansas rarely feel or have earthquakes, the events happening in Haiti can get one wondering.

The largest earthquake happened in Manhattan Kansas in 1867 and it was a 5.1, and the States surrounding us have had large enough earthquakes to effect parts of Kansas. The last earthquake to happen here, was outside of Ark City (Arkansas City) January 1st 2008. It was a 2.7, but it happened none the less. We also have a fault line called the Crooked Creek Fault

Unfortunately I am unable to find too much info on this fault line.

Thankfully we only need to keep this info in the back of our minds. Not something that we as Kansans need to dwell on. Call it a bit o' trivia to amaze your friends with.

We do however have plenty of other natural disasters and man-made events to worry about.

In Coffey County we have Wolf Creek. Who has their Preparedness plan online in a PDF format for you to read.

During the Cold War, Wichita was on the top ten list of targets for nuclear war. Since we no longer have the B-1's I believe we have dropped off that list. However, since we do have a large community of airplane manufacturers, we might still be at an elevated risk.

Of course there are tornadoes, ice storms, severe thunderstorms, hail, floods, drought. . . oh we seem to get it all. We have Hurricane force winds, micro bursts, prairie fires. Why does anyone even live here? Because we don't have mud slides.

In any of these situations, it is suggested that you keep an emergency 72 hour kit. The thing is, if you are unable to leave your town or city, after 72 hours is when the scum start arriving. Just like what happen in Haiti last night, someone starts a rumor just to get people to drop their possessions, they come to our towns and cities, and start their scams.

The most important thing after the first 72 hours is to keep your wits about you. A portable radio could save you from fears and rumors. Remember that you have to take care of your family first, before helping the neighbor or anyone else. It's important not to fall for tricks or scams, or rampant paranoia.

In any situation you need to be aware of not only your surroundings but of the peoples attitudes. You should not be overly paranoid about those around you, but you should be cautious about what you are hearing.