PREPARE Magazine - End-of-Year 2012

Year-End Issue 2012

I want to

Prepare but can’t afford Prep On A Shoestring

Bartering is Back

Fall Garden & Free Seeds Downsizing by

Design

Letter from the Editor As 2012 draws to a close and many people face the holidays with far more financial stress than years before, the ideas of planning, preparing and putting back for ‘some day’ may be more daunting than it is reassuring. After all, if you’ve been out of work for the average 40 weeks many Americans have experienced or have faced mounting medical bills, even buying a little extra food to have on hand may feel out of the question. Especially as we come upon the holiday gift-giving season. We want to encourage you. It can be done. You can prepare on a tight budget. That is the focus of this issue.

From finding out where to get free seeds in the article “Fall Gardening with Free Seeds” to getting great tips on how to stretch your money in the article “I want to prepare, but I can’t afford to!” Our contributors offer some firsthand knowledge and tried and true ideas to encourage you to make the most of this journey even on limited income. Perhaps you can gain encouragement by simply investing in yourself and learning a free skill, such as in “Need-toKnow Knots”. Maybe you are looking at a way to stretch your overall living expenses and moving to a smaller place while liquidating your belongings as the author of “Downsizing by Design” is doing.

No matter what you may be going through – you are not alone! All the contributors and staff of PREPARE Magazine want to be able to share their journey along with you.

When it comes to gift giving and receiving this time of year, I’d like to suggest that you rethink both in light of a tighter budget and desire to prepare.

Reframe your gift-giving to be something you feel better having spent your time or money and give a gift that will help someone who is unprepared, get more prepared. When it comes to your ‘wish list’ – don’t be shy to ask for things you need. You can get freeze dried food for the same price as the tie you’ll never wear or a package of heirloom seeds instead of that picture frame that makes its way around each year. There are many great gift ideas that can be used for your own preparedness planning within the pages of this magazine. Don’t be locked into the typical ‘wish list’ when what you really may want and need is more toilet paper.

Table of Contents Letter from the Editor Survival Prep On A Shoestring Budget Bartering is back I want to prepare, but can't afford to! (Feature) Downsizing by Design Need-to-know knots Fall Gardening with Free Seeds Does Herbal Medicine Work What do YOU do about a Wildfire Considering a Solar Water System Product Review_GlobalSunOven Becoming Spiritually Self-Reliant

Survival Prep On A Shoestring Budget

By Ken Youngquist

There's nothing like the right tool for the job, but some tools take quite an investment. There are some "outfitter mega stores" that seem like Disney Land to the outdoor enthusiasts who enter their doors. I encourage everyone to assemble a Bug-Out-Bag or GoBag so that they are prepared for an emergency, but you don't have to start with the best of everything.

Yes, you want reliable tools, but my approach is to obtain what you can afford and upgrade as you go along. Meanwhile, you can use the items that you have to familiarize yourself with their application and performance, thus gaining an experience base to better guide your choice for the next equipment upgrade.

Probably the simplest form of survival preparation is carrying items on your person, what some

folks call "every day carry". I have a simple toolset on a keychain that I always carry. It has a small Swiss Army Knife, ferrocerium rod, whistle, cobra-stitch braided cord key fob, Nano-Light, and a P38 can opener. I also carry a solar fire starter (plastic freznel lens) and bandages in my wallet. Sometimes I expand this toolset by carrying a coin shaped canister of dental floss for cordage, a thumbdrive for data and a dongle (blue tooth) for portable device - to - computer connection, all carried in a spring lipped coin pouch. It's amazing what all these small simple tools can do. And yes, bigger IS better in most cases and can be planned for your next upgrade.

One of the underlying themes of my website is "what can you do with what you have in an emergency situation". This means,

take stock of what resources are available to you and in what ways can you use them? For instance, in my primitive and emergency cooking class I show how you can take a tin "can" and with a P38 can opener turn it into a cooking "pot", complete with it's own handle.

Probably the simplest form of survival preparation is carrying items on your person Ultimately, having a stainless steel cookset is great, but it's not the only game in town. In fact, claybaked fish is wonderful and requires NO tools. So, in this case, it's KNOWLEDGE and SKILL that equips you the best and in the end, that's your greatest investment.

Negotiating is a learned skill that should be practiced just like any other skill

By Lynette Fry

Bartering is back!

Many people are finding themselves cash-strapped in these lean times and are resorting to the business of barter. Bartering enables you to save your hard earned cash – and more. According to James Hartley, an economics professor at Mount Holyoke College, in South Hadley, Massachusetts, “Bartering is about communities. It fosters human contact.”

In the prepping community, the word is commonly used. Some prepper’s go to the extent of stocking piling goods; intended solely for barter in an emergency situation or they spend time learning a valuable skill to use for barter.

But what about the skill of

bartering itself; do you have the skill set to barter effectively?

Bartering is the basic sales and negotiation technique – it’s the same principle. One person has something another one wants or needs and an exchange agreement must be reached to satisfy both parties.

The first thing you must do is decide what you will barter; will it be a service or goods and then decide on quantity, and price. In a barter deal, price relates to what you are getting in exchange for your goods or services, because no money exchanges hands.

Negotiating the deal can be the most difficult or the most fun. One party will start the negotiation by

stating the terms of the trade. By watching the other party’s body language, you can tell if the terms are going to be readily accepted or if further negotiations will be needed. For example, if you make an offer and the other person flinches, rubs their forehead, or rolls their eyes – you are probably going to keep negotiating. A person’s body language will be a clear indication of their thoughts on the offer.

Negotiating is a learned skill that should be practiced just like any other skill and flea market and yard sales are an excellent place to practice bartering. It’s an assumption these venues are strictly buy-and-sale, when actually they are great places to practice your negotiation skills.

The next time you go to the flea market or local yard sale, take an item from your house with you, for trading purposes. As you peruse the items on display, locate one you feel would be a good trade and simply ask the vendor if they’d be interested in trading. You may get turned down, but you are developing your bartering skills.

On the other hand, you may strike a deal and walk away with something you really need, with no monetary exchange.

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“I want to Prepare, but can’t afford to!”

By Lynette Fry Two years ago I started PreppingOnABudget.com in order to explore the affordability of preparedness and to document the journey. My desire was a result of my husband approaching me with the idea of preparedness. You see, we haven’t always lived a prepared lifestyle! My own gut reaction to his comment/ suggestion was, “How are we going to afford THAT?” The top objection to preparedness that I hear is primarily money. We all associate the word ‘afford’ with cold hard cash. When you add ‘budget,’ the brain all-of a-sudden says, “There’s no way we have enough cash to add preparedness items to the budget!” And the brain, being a very powerful organ, shuts the thought-process down and the body never makes a move to become more prepared.

But, wait a minute, what does afford really mean? According to Dictionary.com, the word afford is a verb which means; “to be able to do, manage, or bear without serious consequence or adverse effect.” Luckily, the definition says nothing about having an abundance amount of cash on

hand! Why is this a blessing, you ask? Not all things ‘preparedness’ costs a lot of money and some are actually free!

While reading the list below please keep the definition in mind… ‘able to do, manage, no serious consequences or adverse effects.’

Here are some tried-and-true tips for you to start your preparednesson-a-budget-journey or to increase it!

List – List are great! If prioritized they will keep you on track and keep you moving forward. You must own your list and not become victim of it. An effective list will act as an action-item list.

You will control the list because it is controllable. If you don’t have an action-item type list, you’ll surely become overwhelmed by your list and walk away; thus becoming defeated and never moving forward.

For much more detailed information here is a link to the January, 2012 blog talk radio program I did with Donna Miller where we discuss this very subject: The Prepper’s List.

Say ‘No’ to full-price – The price of most everything has consistently gone up since I started tracking prices two years ago; however, there are ways to combat the everincreasing retail prices we’re all faced with. Here are several I use: End-of-Season Sales: I was in a major homeimprovement store in the early Spring and noticed these cute decorative lanterns that could have been very useful in a power-out situation. It was well made, about 12” tall, and made of glass and metal and the retail price was $29.50! I gingerly sat it back on the shelf.

I was in the same store a couple of weeks ago and these were on sale for only $7.00! By shopping the end-of-season sale I could have bought four of these lanterns for less than the full price of one just a few months ago.

Grocery Store deep discounts: There are two places in the grocery store I always check out – the ‘must sell now’ produce bin and the ‘over baked’ bakery goods rack.

The ‘must sell now’ produce bin or shelf is normally produce that is cosmetically challenged but still perfectly good to eat. You may have a brown spot on a banana or two but you can normally get them for 60-70% off the retail price.

‘Over-baked’ bakery goods are the same way. I purchased an artisan type loaf of dinner bread the other day for a dollar and honestly couldn’t tell it had been overbaked! The retail price was $3.99.

Flea-Markets, Yard Sales, Local Trade Publications, Produce Stands: Flea-Markets are great places for deals right now.

I’ve bought and sold at flea markets for years and enjoy being on either side of the table. Due to current economic times fleamarkets have become a buyer’s dream.

Recent preparedness items I’ve seen have been Coleman stoves for $10, gas grills with tanks for $25, charcoal grills for $5, cast iron pieces from $1 to $15 and much more!

Yard sales and estate sales are normally great places to pick up canning jars, canners, pots/pans, and garden tools. I recently found a deal on wide-mouth canning jars and paid $7 for a dozen quart jars, saving me $3-$4 per dozen.

Trade publications can be found online or in most communities. A

search for food grade barrels last year netted us barrels for only $2 each.

And finally learning to utilize a produce stand not only will save you money, but in some instances put you directly in touch with the person responsible for growing the food! I’ve shopped and compared three local produce stands this year and I’ve been awestruck at the savings potential (up to 50% cheaper) not to mention the beauty of buying fresh, truly local produce! Local growers that have a local produce stand don’t have many of the costs associated with produce like the larger stores have

which in turn is savings to the consumer and much fresher food!

Discount Stores One of my favorite discount stores in the southeast is Dollar General.

Discount stores operate on a cheaper no-frills type budget which equates to savings for the consumer. Why pay $1.79 for an item at the grocery store if your local discount store sells the very same item for $1.25. You could save .54 per that item if you know which store sells it cheaper. Those

cents add up!

As you can tell from my “Say No To Retail” section I am a bargain hunter but at times we have to create our own sales and bargains.

This is where effective couponing comes in!

Coupons Sales cycle about every 12 weeks in most major grocery chains and normally there are coupons to couple up with the sale! This means a much greater savings to you – the buyer!

Although we grow and preserve a lot of our own food now, there was a time when we didn’t and I had to fall back on store sales. One of my most memorable purchases was Progresso Soup on sale for $1 a can; automatic savings of $1.69 per can at that price! I also had a $1 off 4 cans coupon. I purchased 4 cans for only .75 each! By combining coupons with sales you will notice your grocery budget drop significantly and you’ll see your emergency food supplies start building nicely.

Another budget trick I use is what I call ‘Trading Coupons for Cash.’

I’m not talking about anything illegal here – it’s a simple process of using coupons and then putting exactly that much money in a jar for later use.

Here’s an example: if I use $2 of coupons this week at the grocery I take $2 cash and put it in a jar. I’ve

“Afford: to be able to do, manage, or bear without serious consequence or adverse effect.” found that if I leave the money in the bank account – I never really realize the savings! I like realizing and seeing my savings. Last month I acquired $42 by doing this and I had $42 cash in a can, stuck in a cabinet. I took the $42 out and looked on our list – gasoline storage was where I decided to spend the coupon money! I purchased 10 gallons of gasoline to store away and had $5 left over which went back into the can.

If you’re grocery budget is $100 per week and you save $10 by using coupons, don’t leave the savings money in the general funds account. You’re grocery budget is already set, so take out the $10 you saved with coupons and put aside somewhere. By doing so, you will use your savings wisely!

By learning to coupon and coupon

wisely, we’ve paid for several smaller preparedness items around our house and it was financially painless!

Gifts - At various times throughout the year someone will most likely ask you, “What do you want for ________? (fill in the blank with birthday, Christmas, anniversary, etc.” This is a perfect opportunity to request a bread making book, a survival book, a case of canning jars, a pressure cooker, a gardening book, etc.

Never waste a great “gift moment!”

Skills – Skills are essential to any emergency preparedness plan. Whether you take a CPR class at your local red cross, participate in a bread making class, learn to preserve food, learn to garden, learn to barter – it doesn’t matter – once you learn a skill it can’t be taken from you! Invest in yourself and expand your skill set!

At the beginning I asked you to remember the definition of afford; ‘to be able to do, manage, or bear without serious consequence or adverse effect.’ Now at the end of the article, I hope I said something which resonates with you, gives you new ideas, or helps you encourage someone else!

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“If I am what I have and if I lose what I have who then am I?” ~ Erich Fromm

By Donna Miller

Downsizing by Design

Picture if you will, the Typical American Dream: The home of your own being paid for by your stable income, a fairly new car or two in the garage /carport with perhaps a well adjusted child (or two-point-six of them) playing with the perfectly obedient family pet. Now, wake up from that dream and see the news, the economic climate of America and your own bank account and you may become discouraged. Don’t lose heart. Just change your typical American Dream into one that is uniquely yours!

Many of us either had or thought we were on the way to the typical American dream not too very long ago. Due to many circumstances not within our control and perhaps some that may have been – this picture may have been altered.

Either way, it’s not just a few of us anymore who are in this position.

When we were living through a year without income, we had already been prepared with some food storage, some skills and creative stretching habits. But downsizing was soon placed upon us as another piece of the preparedness puzzle.

I will never forget sitting at afternoon tea with a friend of mine

in her beautifully decorated home.

She has always been a joy and such encouragement to me. As she shared a recent set-back her family had gone through and was aware of ours, she made mention of a one-of-a-kind piece of furniture that she simply could not part with because she would “never be able to replace it”. At the time, the statement made sense to me. I had often thought that way of things in my own home. However, as the days of no income went on and the stress and worry for my husband began to rise, that statement came to mind more often as a measuring rod than a reason to hold on to inanimate objects. It was shortly after that time I began to list most of our household goods for sale.

“Anything you cannot relinquish when it has outlived its usefulness possesses you, and in this materialistic age a great many of us are possessed by our possessions.” ~ Mildred Lisette Norman “I could never replace it” began to resound louder to me as I thought about my husband. I did not associate it with the leather sofa set, piano, extra kitchen utensils or any item we had around the house. We then began to liquidate

over 60% of our possessions. It was freeing and relieved the immediate cash flow and stress associated with the loss of income.

Liquidating objects gave us much needed cash to replenish food, pay car payments and get gas. It helped take some of the pressure off the man I loved. The man I can never replace.

Then the hardest hit of all happened, we lost our home. The trickling in of cash from our sold goods had been no match for the monthly house payment.

“If I am what I have and if I lose what I have who then am I?” ~ Erich Fromm When a family loses their home it puts many things into a new perspective. We moved into a rental that was 1/3 the size of our previous home and put 2/3 of what possessions that were left in storage. By the Grace of God, and much credit to my strong and loving husband, we managed to keep our family not only intact and together, but we also grew closer in many ways through the transition.

We spent over a year without 2/3 of our possessions. It’s amazing

what you don’t really need when it’s not readily accessible. This gave us even more of a desire to downsize.

An unforeseen bonus to downsizing was that cleaning a home that was 1/3 the square footage of our previous home is that it is far faster! I actually had time left to do more important and enjoyable things. What a silver lining to downsizing!

“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” ~ Jesus in Matt 6:20 When we were able to move to another home, it happened to be larger so we brought back all of our storage possessions, most of which are actually still in boxes.

But a surprising thing happens when you have the space to fill.

You tend to fill it. Usually with stuff that is of little value. So we are once again on the road to designing our downsizing adventure.

We are now deliberately, this time by choice rather than circumstance, making the move to a home which is even smaller than the rental to which we first moved.

Thus we must permanently get rid of all the unopened boxes that had gone to storage, and about half of our current household goods, again. But it has become a joy, a game and even a challenge to see what we can do without.

“How many are the things I can do without!” ~ Socrates Here are some of the thoughts and phrases we have used and are

using on our downsizing by design.

Ideas for coping as you part with an object: •If it is merely sentimental, but of no use and the next generation does not want it, take a photo and write a synopsis for a photo album. Then sell it.

Sell an item if: •There are multiple of them and you only need one or two.

•It is simply a space-filler of no sentimental value.

•It is big enough of a sale to make a difference, but won’t need to replace it.

•If it is something you don’t use, but hope to pass on to a child, start a hope chest for those keepsakes.

•It is not of use any more.

Clothing that is outgrown, hobbies you dropped, etc.

•Keep remembering as you hold it, “This is just an item, it’s not a person.”

Free to Low-cost places to sell items:

Keep an item only if it meets one or more of the following: •It is used almost every day or repeatedly at specific seasons.

•It has historical heirloom qualities that the next generation will appreciate.

•It has more than one function and does not currently need any repairs.

•CraigsList.org •Flea Markets •Yard/Garage Sales •Local Paper •Consignment shops If you feel you are ready or need to downsize, look upon this as a freeing and enjoyable journey and soon, you’ll enjoy a new American Dream! A dream in which you gain freedom from possessions and appreciation for what matters most.

Need-to-Know Knots

By Seth Johnson There are countless knots, both complex and simple and each has their place. For basic life applications it is not necessary to know all these fancy knots. It is however, important to know how to tie some specific knots. If you are moving furniture, camping, or doing any other activity that require ropes it is important to know how to best tie knots that will secure and fasten these ropes.

Knots Used to Connect One Rope to Another

Two specific needs may be to connect two ropes together or how to make loops in rope.

Rope parts: Figure eight knot The figure eight knot is a very strong knot that is often used in rock climbing. Because this knot is doubled over itself several times it is very trustworthy and does not come loose very easily.

How to tie this knot:

Although it is not necessary to know the parts of a rope when tying them it does make it easy when describing how to tie them. Any long section of rope is called the “standing part”. The end of the rope is just that the “end”. Making a kink in the rope is called a “bight”.

Lastly any full cross over is called a “loop”. Now we are ready to tie knots.

Thumb knot: This is one of the most basic knots that can be tied. It is simple and has many uses. It can be used as a stop on the end of a rope and can hold objects well. The Thumb knot is also the base of many other knots.

People that don’t know any other knots commonly use this knot for every application and when it does not hold they simply double up the knot by tying it once again on top of the first.

How to tie this knot: 1. Make a loop in the rope that crosses over and pull the end through the loop.

1. Start by making a loop

2. Take the end and pull under the standing part.

3. Now take the end and place it into the loop from the top.

3. Now tie another thumb knot but this time in rope #2 making sure to tie around the standing part of rope #1.

4. This makes the first figure eight.

Now to connect rope #2 to rope #1 you will retrace the figure eight so that both ropes end in the figure eight.

Fisherman’s knot This knot is very useful in joining two ropes together of any size although it works best with the same size rope. Often it is used to tie fishing line together. Two thumb knots are tied and when they join they lock together.

4. When these two knots are tightened and brought together they should lock onto each other and make a secure knot.

Reef knot or square knot This knot is often used by sailors to tie sails. Also in martial arts this knot is used to tie belts. By pulling on the two ends, this knot allows rope to tighten in the holding knot.

How to tie this knot:

How to tie this knot:

1. Make a bight in rope # 1.

1. Tie one thumb knot in rope #1 2. Take the end of rope # 2 and place it into the middle of the bight.

2. Take the end of rope #2 and stick it into the middle of the thumb knot of rope #1.

3. Take the end of rope # 2 and go under and around the bight of rope #1.

4. The end of rope #2 now goes back into the bight of rope #1 and tighten.

3. Take the end and make a thumb knot around the standing part of the rope after the first thumb knot.

4. Tighten both knots and pull on the loop. The knots will lock together and you will have a strong loop.

Knots Used to Make a Loop in One Rope Fisherman’s eye knot

Overhand eye knot This knot is very useful and very strong when you need a loop in rope. But be careful this knot can bind up and becomes difficult to untie.

How to tie this knot:

This knot is used to make a loop in the end of a rope.

This is a similar knot as the fisherman’s knot only it does not connect two ropes but makes a loop. Two thumb knots are used to make this knot just as the fisherman’s knot.

How to tie this knot:

1. Make a bight in the rope.

1. First make a thumb knot a few inches away from the end of the rope.

2. Make a bight and place the end into the middle of the thumb knot.

2. Move a few inches down the rope holding both parts make a loop.

3. Take the end of the bight and pass it into the loop and pull.

These knots are basic but they are very useful. It is recommended that you practice them several times before using them in important situations.

Fall Gardening with Free Seeds

By Kathleen Roberts

One way to save money on your preps is by growing your own food, but since it is fall already, you may not think that is a relevant topic to help you now.

Would it surprise you to know you can grow things now, in the fall?

A fall garden is a great way to supplement your food preps. You may find that, if you live in a hotter climate, that a fall garden performs better than a garden planted in the spring. And with the temperatures cooling, you will find that caring for your garden isn't quite as difficult as it was during the summer.

Most areas of the country suffered from drought this year, making it extremely difficult to keep a garden going. The lack of rain and sweltering temperatures made harvests seem not worth the effort.

Now that things are cooling down, that effort may be rewarded with plenty of fresh food for your family.

Fall Gardens for Every Region In the deep south, fall is the time to grow vegetables that are normally grown in the summer in the rest of the county, like peppers and

tomatoes. Take advantage of this opportunity to grow as much as you can. Your local Extension office will have lots of information of specific varieties of vegetables that will thrive in your area.

If you live in a frost-prone climate, there are still a variety of vegetables that will do well if you plant them now. See if you can find plants at a local nursery or look for heirloom seeds. Before you buy seeds, call your local Extension service and find out what the first hard frost date is for the area you live in. Now look at the package of seed to determine how much time you have from planting until harvest. This will give you an idea if you will have enough time to harvest your vegetables before your area is hit by frost.

Grow Hardy and SemiHardy Vegetables Fall is perfect for semi-hardy and hardy vegetables that thrive in cooler temperatures. Semi-hardy vegetables, such as peas, beets, lettuce, radishes, Chinese cabbage, cauliflower, potatoes, green onions, spinach and parsnips, do very well even when temperatures dip repeatedly into the 30 to 32 degree range.

Hardy vegetables like cabbage, Brussels sprouts, turnips, kale, broccoli, carrots and leeks still do great even when temperatures plummet to 20 degrees. These vegetables are actually improved by a light frost, because they get sweeter. Many root vegetables can be covered with straw when the temperatures dip and you can continue to harvest them throughout the winter months.

Using Season Extenders If you think you may not have quite enough time, but you still want to try to grow vegetables that need warmer weather, consider using season extenders in your garden. Your semi-hardy veggies will stay nice and toasty in a cold frame or cloche, or under row covers and hoophouses that keep frost off of tender plants.

Cold frames can be made simply, often with scavenged materials.

Old windows are typically use, however, if you go this route be sure the windows you use do not have lead-based paint. Put hay bales around your plants to create a frame or box and put the windows over the top, creating a mini-greenhouse of sorts. Be sure

to open the windows on nice days so you don't cook your plants. You can also build a frame with cinderblocks or scavenged wood.

Individual greenhouses can be created for smaller plants using plastic bottles or milk jugs, as long as you remember that the plants need to be vented when it is nice out. A floating row cover can be something as simple as an old sheet thrown over delicate plants when a frost is expected. Be sure to anchor them down with some bricks so they don't blow away!

A hoophouse can be made by creating hoops with PVC and attaching plastic over the top. This gives you a greenhouse of sorts that will keep warmth around your vegetables even when it is cold outside.

Seeds on a Budget If your budget is very tight, you may be concerned about getting seeds. If this is the case, you may find that your friends and neighbors have an abundance that they are willing to share, so be sure to ask around. You can also save seeds from heirloom vegetables

that you find at the grocery store or farmer's market. Saving seeds from non-heirloom vegetables is not usually a good idea. Because these plants are hybrids, you really don't know what you will get once the seeds germinate - if they germinate at all.

Other sources for seeds that are budget-friendly include The Dinner Garden, a site that gives free vegetable seeds to families through various distribution centers nationwide. Their goal is to end hunger in the United States through family and community gardens.

Another affordable seed source is the Seed of the Month Club which, for roughly $3 per month, sends out packets of heirloom seeds to your

Individual greenhouses can be created for smaller plants using plastic bottles or milk jugs

home.

Finally, check out WInter Sown.org. Not only do they offer free seeds for individuals and groups, but they offer tons of information on how to grow a healthy garden by sowing seeds in the winter for the following year. learn more and get started so you have a thriving spring garden next year!

Does Herbal Medicine Work?

By Donna Miller Herbal medicine is an ancient form of treating sickness, but it's making a comeback. Instead of using expensive, chemical drugs, a growing number of people are opting for medicinal herbs.

However, even herbs have to be treated with care as they can have serious side effects. In this article, we'll discuss some common herbs used to prevent or treat disease and/or promote health and wellbeing.

Herbal medicine is available in several different forms, such as herbal teas, syrups, oils, liquid herbal extracts, tinctures, and dry extracts in the form of an herbal supplement. Teas come in a wide variety and are simply dried herbs left to soak for a few minutes in hot water, while other teas are the herbs boiled in water and then strained for consumption. Syrups, made from concentrated extracts and added to sweet-tasting preparations, are frequently used for sore throats and coughs. Oils are extracted from plants and often used as rubs for massage, either alone or as part of an ointment or cream. Tinctures and liquid extracts are solvents (usually water, alcohol or glycerol) that contain the active ingredients of

the herbs. Tinctures are typically a 1:5 or 1:10 concentration, meaning that one part of the herbal material is prepared with five to ten parts (by weight) of the liquid. Liquid extracts are more concentrated than tinctures and are typically a 1:1 concentration. A dry extract form is the most concentrated form of an herbal product and is sold as a tablet, capsule or lozenge.

Ginkgo biloba seems to be the herb that kicked off the renaissance in herbal medicines. Gingko is a standardized extract known as EGb 761, and is believed to improvement awareness, judgment and social function in people with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Randomized controlled studies assessing the use of ginkgo supplements for Alzheimer's disease in individuals older than 65 years have produced positive results. The most commonly used herbal supplements in the U.S. include echinacea to reduce the risk of getting the common cold and shortens its duration, St. John's wort for treating mild to moderate depression, garlic to reduce blood cholesterol levels and to lower the risk of heart disease, and ginger to

relieve nausea and vomiting. Saw palmetto, ginseng, goldenseal, valerian, kava, chamomile feverfew, evening primrose and milk thistle are also very popular.

Herbal medicines can have serious side effects when not used properly. Kava kava is commonly used to treat anxiety, but recent reports have traced liver damage back to this herb. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning regarding its use, while other countries, such as Germany, France and Canada, have taken kava off of the market. Saw palmetto is used by millions of men for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, the pharmaceutical drug finasteride provides similar results with fewer side effects.

Standardized herbal supplements are the best way to ensure proper dosages and effects similar to human clinical trials. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about which herbal supplements are the best choice for your health concerns. St. John's wort causes sensitivity to the sun's ultraviolet rays, and may cause an allergic reaction, stomach upset, fatigue and restlessness.

Clinical studies report that St.

Ginkgo biloba seems to be the herb that kicked off the renaissance in herbal medicines.

John's wort also interferes with the effectiveness of many drugs, including warfarin, protease inhibitors for HIV, birth control pills, certain asthma drugs, and many other medications. In addition, St. John's wort should not be taken with prescribed antidepressant medication. The FDA has issued a public health advisory

concerning many of these interactions.

When used correctly, many herbs are considered safer than conventional medications.

However, because they are unregulated, herbal products are often labeled incorrectly and may contain undeclared additives.

Some herbs can cause allergic reactions or interact with pharmaceutical drugs, so it is important to consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking any.

Herbal medicine can have a

wonderful effect on your body, but make sure that you take them safely.

What do YOU do about…a Wildfire?

By Bill & Janet Liebsch

According to the National Park Service, as many as 90 percent of wild land fires in the United States are caused by humans. Some human-caused fires result from campfires left unattended, the burning of debris, negligently discarded cigarettes, recreational vehicles, target shooting (including exploding rifle targets), and intentional acts of arson. The remaining 10 percent are started by lightning or lava.

As our population continues to grow, more and more people are building homes in places that were once pristine wilderness areas.

Homeowners who build in remote and wooded areas must take responsibility for the way their buildings are constructed and the way they landscape around them.

Wildfire Mitigation Tips Use Fire Resistant Building Materials The roof and exterior structure of your home and other buildings should be constructed of noncombustible or fire-resistant materials. If wood siding, cedar shakes or any other highly combustible materials are used, they should be treated with fire retardant chemicals.

Landscape wisely Plant fire-resistant shrubs and trees

to minimize the spread of fire and space your landscaping so fire is not carried to your home or other surrounding vegetation. Remove vines from the walls of your home.

Create a “safety zone” or defensible space around the house • Mow grass regularly.

• Stack firewood at least 30 to 100 feet (10 to 30 m) away and uphill from home.

• Keep roof and gutters free of pine needles, leaves, and branches and clear away flammable vegetation at least 30 to 100 feet (9 to 30 m) from around structures.

• Thin a 15-foot (4.5 m) space between tree crowns and remove limbs within 10-15 feet (3 - 4.5 m) of the ground.

• Remove dead branches that extend over the roof.

• Prune tree branches and shrubs within 10 feet (3 m) of a stovepipe or chimney outlet.

• Remove leaves and rubbish from under structures.

• Ask the power company to clear branches from power lines.

• Keep combustibles away from structures and clear a 10-foot (3 m) area around propane tanks, boats, etc.

Protect your home • Install smoke detectors, test them each month and change batteries once a year.

• Install protective shutters or fire-

resistant drapes.

• Inspect chimneys twice a year and clean every year.

• Cover chimney and stove pipe flue openings with 1/2 inch (1 cm) or smaller non-flammable mesh screen.

• Use same mesh screen beneath porches, decks, floor areas and home itself. Also screen openings to attic and roof.

• Soak ashes and charcoal briquettes in water for two days in a metal bucket.

• Keep a garden hose connected to an outlet.

• Have fire tools handy (ladder, shovel, rake, ax, etc.)

• Put your address on all structures so it can be seen from the road.

Campfire Safety Campfires are a common cause of brush fires or wildfires so please be careful when you’re out in deserts, mountains, or any other heavy vegetation areas.

NEVER leave a campfire burning make sure it is completely out using plenty of water before leaving the area. Stir the coals around with a stick or log while pouring water over them to ensure all the coals get wet and they are no longer hot. Any hot coals left unattended can be easily ignited by wind since they can stay hot for 24 - 48 hours.

When building a campfire, always choose a level site, clear away any branches and twigs several feet from the fire, and never build a fire beneath tree branches or on surface roots. Also, build at least 10 feet (3 m) from any large rocks that could be blackened by smoke or cracked from a fire’s heat.

See your local Forest Service office or Ranger Station for more information on campfires and permits or visit www.fs.fed.us or www.pc.gc.ca

AFTER A WILDFIRE: Don’t go there - Never enter firedamaged areas until authorities say it’s okay and watch for signs of smoke or heat in case the fire isn’t totally out.

Critters - Don’t try to care for a wounded critter -- call Animal Control.

Utilities - Have an electrician check your household wiring before you turn the power back on and DO NOT try to reconnect any utilities yourself!

BEFORE A WILDFIRE (FIRE SAFETY TIPS): Prepare - See Mitigation tips above.

Learn fire laws - Ask fire authorities or the forestry office for information on fire laws (like techniques, safest times to burn in your area, etc.)

Could they find & reach you? Make sure that fire vehicles can get to your property and that your address is clearly marked.

Safety zone - Create a 30-100 foot (9-30 m) safety zone around your home.

Teach kids - Explain to children that matches and lighters are TOOLS, not toys... and if they see someone playing with fire they should tell an adult right away. And teach kids how to report a fire and when to call 9-1-1.

Tell authorities - Report hazardous conditions that could cause a wildfire.

Be ready to evacuate - Listen to local authorities and leave if you are told to evacuate.

DURING A WILDFIRE: Listen - Have a radio to keep up on news, weather and evacuation routes.

Evacuate? – If you are told to leave do so ... and IF you have time also…

• Secure your home - close windows, vents, all doors, etc.

• Turn off utilities and tanks at main switches or valves.

• Turn on a light in each room to increase the visibility of your home in heavy smoke.

• See WILDFIRE MITIGATION at front of this section.

Head downhill – Fire climbs uphill 16 times faster than on level terrain (since heat rises) so always head down when evacuating the area.

Food & water - If you prepared ahead, you’ll have your Disaster Supplies Kit handy to GRAB & GO… if not, gather up enough food and water for each family member for at least 3 days or longer!

Be understanding - Please realize the firefighters main objective is getting wildfires under control and they may not be able to save every home. Try to understand and respect the firefighters’ and local officials’ decisions.

Damage - Look for structural damage (roof, walls, floors) -- may be weak.

Call for help - Local disaster relief services (Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc.) can help provide shelter, food, or personal items that were destroyed.

Insurance - Call your insurance agent or representative and…

• Keep receipts of all clean-up and repair costs • Do not throw away any damaged goods until an official inventory has been taken by your insurance company.

If you rent - Contact your landlord since it is the owner’s responsibility to prevent further loss or damage to the site.

Move your stuff - Secure belongings or move them to another location.

Additional Resources: Firewise Communities www.firewise.org National InciWeb www.inciweb.org Smokey the Bear (includes a kid’s page) www.smokeybear.com

Considering a Solar Water System

By Trent Powers If your preparation plans include alternative energy, you may want to consider a solar water system. In fact, many people who are drowning in the cost of their monthly utility bills, have made the decision to invest in a solar water heater to save money.

have an additional outlet and inlet connected to and from the collector. In two-tank systems, the solar heater preheats water before it enters the conventional water heater. In one-tank systems, the back-up heater is combined with the solar storage in one tank.

These hot water systems can save you a bundle on heating water for your home because it uses sun energy as fuel. Unlike fossil fuels, sunshine is free, clean and there is an infinite supply. In this article, we'll explain how these systems work and how it can save you money.

Solar water heating systems almost always require a backup system for cloudy days and times of increased demand. Conventional storage water heaters usually provide backup and may already be part of the solar heating package. A backup system may also be part of the solar collector, such as rooftop tanks with thermosyphon systems. Since an integral-collector storage system already stores hot water in addition to collecting solar heat, it may be packaged with a backup water heater.

Sun powered water heating systems include storage tanks and solar collectors. There are two types of these heating systems: active, which have circulating pumps and controls, and passive heating systems, which don't.

Passive heating systems are typically less expensive than active systems, but they're usually not as efficient. However, passive systems can be more reliable and may last longer. For active systems, discuss the maintenance requirements with your system provider and consult the system's owner's manual.

Most water heaters that run on sun power, require a well-insulated storage tank. Solar storage tanks

Before you purchase and install a solar powered water heating system, you should consider the economics of solar energy systems, evaluate your site's solar resource, determine the correct system size and energy efficiency and check into your local codes and regulations. The proper installation depends on your solar resources, climate, local building code requirements and safety issues. It's best to have a qualified, solar thermal systems contractor install

your system. Regular maintenance on simple systems can be as infrequent as every 3–5 years, preferably by a solar contractor.

Systems with electrical components usually require a replacement part after 10 years.

While there are minor problems with current solar water systems, the technology is rapidly improving. As a consumer, these systems are a smart investment because they will pay for themselves in a short amount of time, therefore reducing your utility bills. Also, many governments offer rebates to people who invest in environmentally friendly solar power products. While saving money, you can also be environmentally friendly by reducing the need for fossil fuels.

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Product Review: Global Sun Oven

by Vickilynn Haycraft, Real Food Living The Global Sun Oven takes the age-old method, introduces improved, effective (made in the USA!) materials to create an extremely efficient solar cooker and oven. The tempered glass lid, combined with the gasket surrounding the well-insulated cooking chamber creates an actual “oven” environment that other solar cookers do not achieve. The Global Sun Oven can achieve higher and longer sustained temperatures which is essential to successful solar cooking and allows this solar oven to be effective even during the Winter – as long as there is sunshine.

Field testing: The Global Sun Oven performed extremely well in all our tests, even baking whole grain yeast breads and whole grain quickbreads. Meats, vegetables, soups and stews were cooked quickly and completely, without losing any moisture when refocusing the Sun Oven. When we chose the slow cook option, (not re-focusing the Sun Oven), our foods were cooked beautifully, without using our slow cooker.

The removable leveling shelf kept our foods from spilling when we moved the oven. This came in handy several times (see *side-by-

side testing in the full review.)

Overall: The Global Sun Oven exceeded our expectations and outperformed the other solar cooker in every side-by-side test, as well as a comparison of materials, workmanship and longevity.

Conclusion: The Global Sun Oven is our #1 recommendation.

This is an excerpt from the review which can be read in its entirety here.

The Global Sun Oven takes the ageold method, introduces improved, effective (made in the USA!) materials to create an extremely efficient solar cooker and oven

Becoming Spiritually Self-Reliant

By Jason Hunt

Just a fair warning; this article may step on some toes and possibly fracture others.

When we begin our journey to becoming more self-reliant we typically begin by focusing on the carnal needs of food, water, shelter, and the equipment which will enable us to rely less on “the system” and more on ourselves.

This is all fine and well for the Bible tells us in 1 Timothy 5:8 “But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever."

However, the majority of us seeking to be self-reliant overlook the spiritual aspects of life when it comes to our training and preparation. What will we do when we can no longer attend our weekly church meetings or get advice from our pastor or spiritual elders due to our decision to go off grid or perhaps due to some other crisis situation?

understand the Word of God and apply it to our daily lives while still meeting with God on a personal level. It’s no news to most people, the religious institutions we recognize as churches are broken and not a true expression of Biblical Christianity, they never have been. By definition the word church (ekklesia) means “called out ones”- that is a person or group called out from a system, in this case the man-made religious system. Yet, we’re not living up to the definition of the word. Once again the Bible tells us in Romans 12:2 “Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.

Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Thus, by making the leap of faith to come out of the current religious system, we’re actually taking a step to becoming more spiritually selfreliant.

Spiritual Self-Reliance therefore would mean being able to rely less on the traditional religious structures we’re used to and it would mean gaining the ability to

Once we’re born again, we no longer belong to the world’s systems and we are thrust in the midst of a great spiritual battle as we strive to learn about God’s will

for our lives. Jesus confirms this in John 15:19 “The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.” Because we’re not part of the world’s systems, we shouldn’t be relying on them for our spiritual development, but this is what over a billion Christians do by attending an hour of church on Sunday each week; they hand their spiritual lives over to hired men The majority of us seeking to be selfreliant overlook the spiritual aspects of life when it comes to our training and preparation. that give them the motivation they need to make it through until the next when they meet again. We’re warned of this type of Christianity in 2 Timothy 4: 3-4 “For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers that will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.”

Friend, come out of the system and be the church for your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19) and we as individuals are the living stones that make up the true church (1 Peter 2:5). Now, you’ll be amazed to discover what the true church is like. Do you realize that there are seven Biblical holidays (Lev. 23), all of which are outdoor festivals that include various aspects of self-reliance? Growing and harvesting your own foods, harvesting your livestock, building natural shelters, camping and survival are all part of true Biblical Christianity! You’ll never hear about these things in the mainstream churches because they’re man-made institutions looking to grow their organizations instead of making

true disciples- we must study the word of God ourselves to show God we care and are His and we must learn to know the true from the false. (2 Tim 2:15) Until we study to show ourselves approvedwe’ll never get to where we want to be.

Not everyone is getting in, but those that walk the narrow path, those seeking to know and understand God on His terms according to His rules despite the persecution and hurt feeling it stirs up are the one’s God is looking for.

(Matt. 7:13, John 4:23)

If the truth you think you have is actually wrong- how deep is your deception? (Matt. 6:23)

So, are you willing to put in your dirt time with God? As you study and train, set aside times each week (perhaps on a Saturday morning, remember the 4th commandment, hint, hint…) to focus on developing your spiritual self-reliance tool kit. Take some courses, read some books and seek the Lord regarding what you’re doing and how it fits into His plan for the ages. You may be surprised to discover you’re actually closer to Him than you initially

That’s a strong statement I know.

But ask ten people if they’ll go to heaven when they die and nine out of ten will reply with a “Yes”. Yet when you ask those same people if Jesus is the only way to heaven, only four out of ten will reply with a “yes”. Hosea 4:6 states that “My (God’s) people die due to a lack of knowledge, because they reject it.”

Bio Lynette Fry is a freelance writer and speaker with a focus on preparedness. She is the author of ‘Get Prepared – Shop Smart & Coupon,’ an e-book written from her own experiences, and is passionate in providing others with tools of preparedness.

Lynette is the owner of PreppingOnABudget.com and enjoys her rural lifestyle, with her husband and dog, in the southeastern US.

Bill & Janet Liebsch are the founders of FedHealth, a publishing and marketing company formed in 1999 to help the public focus on preparedness and health-related issues. We also are the authors, copyright owners and publishers of "IT'S A DISASTER! ...and what are YOU gonna do about it?" and are dedicated to developing programs that primarily benefit First Responders, schools and volunteers. Get a sample of the content with this free mini-ebook HERE

Vickilynn Haycraft is the hostess of the Get Real – Get Prepared radio show on PRN. She is the author of: Wrapping It Up! and co-author of Naturally Healthy Cuisine, Real Food for Real Families. Vickilynn is a sought-after independent product tester and book reviewer delivering accurate, honest, and trustworthy reviews on products and books for the whole family.

Subscribe to Vickilynn at: RealFoodLiving.com, National Product Review Examiner, National Family Preparedness Examiner.

Ken Youngquist is the creator of Survivaltek, a website dedicated to teaching the ways and means to survive. From his youth, Ken was captivated by primitive living skills, and in his adulthood was intrigued by the television Series MacGyver. The result has been the study and practice of survival skills and the desire to pass on the mantle of preparedness to others. You can visit and learn more at: Survivaltek.com.

Donna Miller is a teacher, author, sought-after speaker and trainer. She has been a both guest and host on internet and broadcast radio talk-shows and in television interviews. She is an Adjunct Instructor with Frontier Christian University and enjoys teaching online and local classes & ladies retreats. Donna is happily married and has three adult children, and a daughter in-law. She and her husband (Joseph) are the founders of both Millers Grain House and Your Preparation Station.

Trent Powers is a freelance writer and adventure enthusiast.

He spends much of his time researching and testing survival skills and techniques. As an avid outdoorsman and homesteader, Trent believes that putting skills into practice now will provide for a more peaceful future.

Kathleen Roberts is a Master Gardener with a special interest in prepping. She has also studied herbs for over 20 years.

Kathleen blogs at the Extreme Food Storage Blog about food

storage and other self-reliance topics and her work appears on various websites.

Seth Johnson is an integral member of a team launching a movement toward achieving better at-home alternative energy through do-ityourself methods for families and individuals. Seth currently resides in North Carolina and holds his A.A. in Electronics and B.S. in Biomedical Engineering. His interests include outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and kayaking. He also enjoys photography/film, computers, and building electronic devices. Be sure to visit GreenPowerGeeks.com for more information.

Jason A. Hunt is the President of Frontier Christian University and founder of Trailblazer Ministries. He's authored over a dozen reading titles including "Reasons for Seasons, Origins of the Christian Holidays" and "Walking the Narrow Path". To learn more visit: http:// www.tribulationsurvivalguide.net /

Community Connections

These groups have meetings in December & January.

PACIFIC Olympic Peninsula Preppers - Port Angeles, WA

Northwest PHX Valley Survival Preparedness Group Peoria, AZ

Alaskan Preppers Network - Wasilla, AK

Tulsa Preppers – Tulsa, OK

Survival Moms of PDX - Beaverton, OR

MIDWEST

NORTHWEST Wilderness Awareness And Survival Skills Denver, CO Denver's Urban Survival Network Denver, CO Unfolding Into Simplicity - Sioux Falls, SD SOUTHWEST The Austin Wilderness Survival Skills - Austin, TX Primitive Skills & Wilderness Living San Antonio, TX

Madison Preppers - Sun Prairie, WI Southern Indiana Preppers Sellersburg, IN Cincinnati Survival/ Preparedness Group Milford, OH Kansas City Preppers – Kansas City, MO SOUTHEAST Collierville Bible Church Survival Club – Collierville, TN WNC Preparedness Group – Asheville, NC Fort Myers Preppers – Fort Myers, FL

South Florida Survival Skills Region 6 – Miami, FL

NORTHEAST Central Michigan Preppers –Blanchard, MI Southeast Michigan Preppers Network - Livonia, MI Prepare Defend Survive - New York, NY Massachusetts Preppers Cambridge, MA Virginia Beach Disaster Prep Virginia Beach, VA Sustainable SelfSufficient Healthy Living - Sanbornton, NH