Monthly Archives: February 2014

5 Naturally Occurring Salt Sources For When the SHTF

Salt is a life-saving, multifunctional preparedness item that all households should have stored for long term emergencies. This essential prep contains natural medicinal sources and also serves other tasks as well, including being used as a natural electrolyte, meat curing, assists in tanning hides, and can even be added to boost soap recipes.

Our Survival Depends on Sodium

Our bodies are dependent on small amounts of sodium to perform biological tasks. Specifically, sodium helps muscles and nerves work properly by assisting muscular contraction and transmission of nerve signals. It also helps regulate blood pressure and volume. MayoClinic.com reports having the proper amount of sodium in the body maintains an appropriate overall balance of bodily fluids. Sodium also helps sustain a regular blood pH level, an important indicator of health.

As previously mentioned, salt in small amounts is good for the body. The amount of sodium you should consume daily varies, however, based on a number of health factors.

Table salt is the most common dietary source and contains 40 percent sodium.

On average, one teaspoon of table salt contains 2,300 milligrams of sodium, which is the recommended maximum intake of sodium per healthy adult per day, according to government nutrition experts.

However, there are ways to get your sodium from means other than table salt. From a preparedness standpoint, salt can be found naturally in many different substances.

5 Naturally Occurring Salt Sources

1. Sea Water – Louis and Clark spent many days boiling down salt water to get salt. Salt water on average carries about 35 grams of salt. 2 tablespoons of seawater is your recommended daily salt intake. You want to mix this with at least 1/3rd with fresh water before intake (or your body cannot absorb it properly due to the sodium concentration). Or, you can do what Louis Clark did and make your own sea salt.

2. Blood. Ok, I’m not telling you to go vampire, but there are traces of salt in fresh blood. Those of you who are butchering your own meat can make blood sausage, a European specialty.

3. Fresh foods. That’s right, folks, some fresh foods that are nutrient dense also possess naturally occurring amounts of sodium. Although the vast majority of fruits and vegetables, in their natural state, do not contain high levels of sodium; there are a few exceptions. Some variety of beans are good sources of sodium. For example, 100 g of mung beans contain about 820 mg of sodium, whereas 60 g of garbanzo beans contains 850 mg of sodium.

Green leafy vegetables and roots naturally contain trace amounts of salt, as well. Some of the top contenders include Swiss chard, which contains about 158 mg per 1/2 cup; beet, collard, dandelion, mustard and turnip greens contain about 174 mg of sodium per 1/2 cup; artichoke hearts contain about 80 mg per 1/2 cup, while spinach contains about 80 mg per 1/2 cup. Some other vegetables moderate amounts of sodium are peanuts, lemons, celery.

Further, vegetables and roots that grow in salty ocean water, such as seaweed and sea kelp have natural salts, as well as, omega 3 and essential amino acids and other nutritional benefits.

4. Edible roots. Some roots, such as the root from the hickory three contain higher amounts of sodium. Parsley root is an exceptional root with moderate amounts of sodium. Further, red and gold beets contain around 65 mg of sodium per beet, and make a viable salt substitute. Similar to celery, potatoes have trace amounts of sodium as do carrots which possess 50 mg of sodium.

5. Mineral deposits  – Many preppers have discussed purchasing salt licks typically used for livestock to use for long term emergencies. Although they are cheap and contain 50 lbs. of compressed salt, there is some concern with this however, due to the binders in the salt lick. Further, salt licks contains additives such as selenium, magnesium, iodine and other mineral amounts that may not be safe for humans. In this case, it may be better to purchase salt licks to lure deer and other wild animals for hunting purposes. Although this is typically forbidden in many states, in long term disasters, I imagine that those laws will be null and void.

Naturally occurring salt deposits are often found near springs and streams. However, in many areas there are natural salt caverns.


This could give a greater advantage to accessing salt for long term survival – if you are lucky enough to live near these areas. Salt Lake City, UT has a great advantage to accessing salt thanks to the naturally salt water lake present.

To Conclude

Salt in an important preparedness item to store for long term disasters. Along with its importance from a biological standpoint, it will also serve multiple functions in a SHTF environment. Knowing where to find naturally occurring sodium, sodium-rich foods or how to harvest it from sea water will give you a greater advantage for survival.

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: readynutrition

Commercial Food Prices on the Rise

California, one of the most populous states on the West Coast, continues to suffer serious and significant drought conditions. Amid growing concern over water resources, farmers in the state of California were recently informed they would be getting little, if any help, in the form of water relief, from the U.S. government. This has caused many experts to predict a drastic rise in commercial food prices in the coming months.

Farmers in California’s Central Valley, home of some of the best soil conditions for growing crops in the United States, now face difficult decisions in which crops to grow, or whether to consider growing crops at all. With a drastic reduction in supply, the demand for fresh produce will more than likely result in a sharp increase in commercial food prices, not only for Californians, but for the entire nation. Are you growing your own food to combat the potential increase in commercial food prices?

SFG:

“Central Valley farmers took a crippling blow Friday when U.S. officials made the unprecedented announcement that they would get no irrigation water from the federal government this year because of the drought.

But growers in a region with the country’s most productive soil said the loss of one of their chief water supplies won’t be their problem alone: Consumers will be hit hard in the form of higher prices at the produce market.

California’s unusually dry weather is forcing producers of fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains to make tough decisions about which crops to plant, and which ones not to plant due to a lack of water, leaving harvests that are likely to fall short of demand.

A recent estimate by an industry group, the California Farm Water Coalition, suggested that as much as 600,000 acres of land, or about 8 percent of the state’s total, could be left fallow in the coming year.

“Before, when people asked me whether prices would rise, I’d say no,” said Paul Wenger, president of the California Farm Bureau Federation. “But over the last two to three weeks, things have gotten so severe that it’s got to affect the market.”

While the announcement wasn’t unexpected, it was more bad news for an agricultural industry in California that is the nation’s most valuable, and is still reeling from last year’s low water allocations.

The state’s agricultural yield was estimated to be worth $44.7 billion in 2012.

In 2013, most Central Valley farmers who contract for federal irrigation water got just 20 percent of their normal water allowance. This year, their allocation is projected to be zero for the first time.

Growers will have to rely on local wells and stored water. Farmers in some parts of the state are in a better position to do this than others.

Officials at the State Water Project – which provides a lesser amount of irrigation water – said last month that they were also likely to provide nearly no water to farmers.”

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: survivalist

Plan Your Escape Routes Before Disaster Strikes

Many emergencies will either leave you trapped at home, or else are best weathered in the shelter of your own abode, where you have resources of food, water, shelter, defense, and a familiar habitat to fall back on. Sometimes, however, a disaster can occur that obliges us to flee far and fast, and you should have escape routes planned in advance in case this happens.

Examples of disasters that might oblige you to run for your life include major hurricanes, the advance of an enormous forest fire into your town or the city suburbs where you live, or nuclear contamination (such as a leak or explosion at a local nuclear power plant). Evacuation orders can also be issued in advance of hurricanes or the possible threat of tsunamis.

In a situation like this, having several options for getting yourself clear of the area will raise your chances of successfully leaving the area many times over. It is not enough to have one, obvious route – that is the route everyone else will take, too. It may become clogged by vehicles to the point where it’s impassible, or the emergency itself might damage it or close it in some way.

For example, if the main escape route from your town happens to run straight through a forest which is being ravaged by an advancing forest fire, then obviously a different exit is needed.

Find Multiple Escape Routes

Finding good escape routes from your area is not too difficult, since few towns are “dead ends” that a road runs to and stops. Both main roads and back roads provided ready egress in various directions. However, it behooves you to explore your area, with the aid of both your car and a good road map, to learn these potential routes thoroughly.

Drive the routes several times, and take a “refresher drive” every few months. You don’t want to take a wrong turn and end up blundering around on unfamiliar back roads as the tsunami rolls in.

Your escape routes should be chosen both to be as easy to follow as possible under adverse conditions (at night in the rain, for example) and to lead somewhere.

Preferably, they should go to a large highway that will give you more options, rather than a tangle of back roads that will take many hours to finally let you reach somewhere where you can drive effectively away from the danger. You should also practice a few night drives on your routes to prepare you for an early-morning evacuation.

Ideally, you should find escape routes that go in all four cardinal directions, so that you’ll have several getaway options regardless of the direction the danger is coming from. However, the arrangement of topography and roads often makes that impossible.


The main thing is to have several routes available, with at least two of them leading in very different directions, to keep your escape options as open as may be.

One of the vital, but often overlooked, matters that is involved in emergency preparedness is acquiring a good set of maps for yourself. In fact, if possible, you should keep one set in your house and one in each of your cars, so that you will always have these maps on hand regardless of whether disaster catches you at home or on the road.

Get a Good Set of Maps

You should get an up to date road atlas, a detailed road map for your state, and a topographical map of your area. GPS (global positioning system) type devices are very handy, and you can certainly get these as well, but you shouldn’t rely on them. GPS systems are heavily dependent on other people to function, as well as data provided from remote locations.  A disaster can easily disrupt the necessary communication and turn your GPS into an inert, static filled paperweight.

You should get a general road atlas of the United States so that you will be ready to find routes and get to your destination regardless of where you are in the country. Whether you are just going to the next county or traveling across many states in search of safety (or to return in haste to try to rescue relatives in a disaster-struck area), an up to date atlas will let you plot out a route, and correct for wrong turns as quickly and effectively as possible if needs be.

Read more of this article and find other worthy stories here at doomsdaynews.com

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: survivalring

Disaster expert warns against generic safety plans (Plan for YOUR threats)

Disaster expert warns against generic safety plans

NOTE: I share this article, because I want YOU to think…think about YOUR safety plan…YOUR worries…YOUR threats. The story below is a national level program for national level preparedness. You need to make sure your plans are specifically for YOUR KNOWN needs and threats. In other words, a basic plan, customized and tuned by you to work for your potential threats and emergencies. Think about that, while reading, or listening, to this short segment.

Source: radionz.co.nz

Disaster preparedness expert says Pacific businesses and communities cannot afford to rely on generic emergency plans when disaster strikes.

Duration:  3′ 8″  Play now  Ogg  |  MP3

TRANSCRIPT

A disaster preparedness expert says Pacific businesses and communities cannot afford to rely on generic emergency plans when disaster strikes.

Graham Nel is part of a New Zealand-based team that provides workshops in the Pacific to businesses about how to best prepare for disaster.

Mr Nel, who specialises in earthquake safety, told Amelia Langford that hopefully business owners and staff will pass on what they learn to their families and communities.

GRAHAM NEL: What we look at doing is actually empower businesses to train their staff  what to do in an emergency who can then go out and share that knowledge with people in the community so it’s not really just focussed on the business itself, it’s about getting that information out to the wider community. We are looking at things specifically like Tsunamis are absolutely deadly they can come without warning [but] people need to know what the warning signs are, what to do and where to go. I think tsunamis are pretty much the worst case scenario, we also look at earthquakes, what to do, and how to prepare. There are a few basic things people can do to minimise their risks and then obviously cyclones are a big issue and its about making sure people are prepared for cyclones in terms of storing water and having systems in place whereby they can interact as a community and with their local civil defence organisations.

AMELIA LANGFORD: Okay, I would imagine that most businesses would have some sort of general disaster plan but is that not enough?

GN: Yes, most businesses do have a general disaster plan which usually revolves around a fire evacuation plan. A good example there would be coastal resorts that in the case of emergency and earthquake people resort to their fire evacuation plan. Generally that means they are assembling outside the building but that assembly point is usually in a tsunami zone so we need to be very clear with the businesses about when a fire evacuation plan is not appropriate and have some specific plans in place to deal with specific emergencies. The resort community particularly have a duty of care to a large number of guests so it is really critical that the resorts have suitably trained people who can actually lead their guests to safety in an emergency.

AL: It seems amazing that some of these resorts would tell people to gather in an area that could be prone to a tsunami…

GN: Unfortunately, some of the resorts are well-resourced and well-oganised [but] some of the smaller resorts – I do not think a lot of thought has gone into the planning and this is where we form part of that solution by educating people about what exactly the risks are. I think a lot of people are under the sort of misapprehension that tusnamis could take a while to arrive. In Tonga, for example, after a major earthquake, you have got about 20 minutes and I don’t think people realise the short time-frames they have got to get to higher ground. So, we look at what to do to survive the first few seconds, by securing heavy goods, what to do to survive the next few minutes, and that’s about making informed decisions and evacuating quickly, and then we look at what people need to do to survive the subsequent hours and days in terms of having emergency kits, water and supplies stored away. From a business perspective, we then look at what does a business need to do to in the subsequent days, weeks, months and years to rebuild their business to get back up and running.

Graham Nel, who conducts workshops in the Pacific in collaboration with the New Zealand company Learn Fast.

Read more of this article and find other worthy stories here at radionz.co.nz

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: survivalring

Iran Launches EMP Strike off East Coast??

According to what you read, and what you believe, “Iran Launches EMP Strike off East Coast,” could become an international news grabbing headline before too long. The threat of an EMP strike is something we take seriously in the prepper community, and news of Iran sending warships to the maritime waters off the East Coast of the United States has some experts theorizing these ships could successfully launch an EMP strike if allowed to get anywhere close to the mainland.

The discussion over Iran launching an EMP strike off the east coast has caused many to fear that Iran might launch such an EMP strike from a commercial vessel while America and her allies are preoccupied with monitoring the warships Iran plans on staging off the east coast. Iran having the capabilities to launch an EMP strike might sound like an impossible theory; however, as preppers it may be a serious concern for us to consider. When we think something ‘can’t happen here,’ we leave ourselves unprotected and unprepared.

WND:

“National security experts have expressed alarm over the announcement by Iran that it will position its warships off the coast of the United States, from where they could launch a nuclear warhead to explode at high altitude to create an electromagnetic pulse.

That could knock the American electrical grid out of commission, disrupting supplies of energy, food, communications, fuel and more for a long period.

These experts agree that there would be no warning and that the U.S. missile defense system would not be able to respond in time to prevent the high altitude nuclear explosion. They also believe that if such a missile were launched, it would not be from an Iranian warship but from a commercial vessel sailing along the East Coast or in the Gulf of Mexico.

Last month, the Iranian Fars News Agency announced that the fleet would undertake a three-month mission and would consist of a destroyer and a helicopter-carrying vessel.

While the Iranian deployment may consist of two vessels, the commander of Iran’s Northern Navy Fleet, Adm.l Afshin Rezayee Haddad, said that Iran would send a “fleet” to the Atlantic Ocean.

These ships undoubtedly would be under constant U.S. Navy observation while trolling along the U.S. East Coast and possibly in the Gulf of Mexico.

Iran’s decision to place its warships off the U.S. East Coast was prompted by the U.S. decision to place warships of the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet at Bahrain, not far from Iran. And there are U.S. carrier task forces constantly patrolling through the Strait of Hormuz, which skirts Iranian territory.

This deployment to the U.S. East Coast would be the first time Iran has stationed ships outside the Persian Gulf. For the past three years, it has been sending its warships through the Suez Canal and into the Mediterranean to show its capabilities.

The coastal deployment plan comes as the United States and its allies again meet on Feb. 18 with Iranian officials in Vienna to come to a comprehensive agreement on Iran’s nuclear program.

Iran wants to end Western economic sanctions while the U.S. and its allies seek to halt any effort by Iran to develop nuclear weapons, which Iran claims it is not doing with its nascent nuclear program.

Some national security experts are worried that Iran could park is warships outside U.S. territorial waters and be in a position to launch an EMP attack should the U.S. decide to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities.”

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: survivalist

United Kingdom Disaster Duress

Dealing with wild winter weather is not something reserved just for Americans in the southeastern United States. While America and many of its warm weather residents are getting firsthand knowledge of how brutal Mother Nature can be, people across the pond in the United Kingdom are having a heck of a time dealing with a deluge of water this winter season. Several places in the United Kingdom are under duress due to flooding, and there appears to be no relief in sight.

For weeks now residents in the United Kingdom have suffered intense flooding of the Thames River basin. Over the weekend warnings were issued alerting residents of the United Kingdom to expect a sheeting of ice. The increase of intense storms over the United Kingdom has crippled the country and caused massive damage to road and railway infrastructures. The United Kingdom is an island nation, which makes evacuation an impossible consideration, leaving many to shelter in place until the weather and water subside.

TELEGRAPH:

“Two people have died in the in the storms that have wreaked havoc across Britain, but as they finally ease the Met Office warn that the country will be gripped by ice.

A cruise ship passenger died when 80mph winds whipped up freak waves in the English Channel and a woman minicab driver was killed when part of a building collapsed on to a car in central London.

As the storms which have blighted the country continued to rage, a pregnant woman and her unborn baby died in a crash in Wales and police are investigating whether mother found unconscious in her Edinburgh garden could have frozen to death after being locked out.

After weeks of heavy rain in Hemel Hempstead a giant 35 foot sinkhole opened up, threatening to engulf houses and forcing emergency services to evacuate 17 properties.

On Valentine’s Day more than 30 people had to be rescued by emergency services and the army from a seafront restaurant in Milford on Sea, Hampshire after windblown shingle shattered windows and the sea flooded it.

There was also major disruption across Britain’s road and rail networks, with hundreds of trees uprooted across roads and rail tracks.

But as the rain and the winds eased, the Met Office issued a yellow warning for ice across the entire country overnight Saturday and into Sunday morning.

The chief forecaster said: “England and Wales join Scotland and Northern Ireland in seeing colder conditions overnight. Late showers, wintry over hills, and water running over roads in some areas, will increase the risk of ice.”

The warning is in place from 8pm on Saturday night until 10am on Sunday morning.

Communities across the country have been using sandbags and makeshift barriers to protect their homes and businesses from the floodwaters. Yesterday the Duke of Cambridge and his brother Prince Harry joined in the emergency relief as they helped fill sandbags in Datchet, Berkshire.”

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: survivalist

Philips’ Sexy Urban Beehive Concept Lets Apartment-Dwellers Harvest Honey

This goes to show you even in the city there are ways to get thing done.

Philips’ just unveiled a new concept for an urban beehive that would allow anyone to become an amateur bee keeper – even those who live in apartments with no backyards. The pod-like hive attaches to a hole cut into a pane of glass. Once affixed, the glass covered pod on the inside of the window would allow you to peer into the hive while the white entryway on the outside would allow the bees the freedom come and go. Best of all, with the pull of a small cord you can have all of the fresh honey your heart desires.


Philips’ beehive concept was unveiled as a part of their Microbial Home Design unveiled at Dutch Design Week. The Microbial Home is an adventure in rethinking domestic life, with the centerpiece being a digester kitchen that turns waste into methane to provide power for the house. The urban beehive was one of many designs included in the showpiece home.

The beehive comes complete with an array of frames textured to make it easy for bees to build on them. It also comes equipped with a hole to blow smoke into — the traditional way of calming bees — in case the hive needs to be opened from the inside to be inspected. We’re sure there would be more to the keeping of these bees if the hive actually were to hit the market but so far it seems like a simple, elegant way to lend a helping hand to the bee crisis and get some sweetness in return.

+ Philips Urban Beehive

 

For another option, check these out:

Stackable Urban Beehive is Perfect for Beginner Beekeepers

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: Fast Company , inhabitat

6 Reasons You Should Own a Survival Bow & Arrow

 

I am a big fan of the bow and arrow for a variety of reasons, and I personally think that anyone who has an interest in primitive survival skills or modern urban survival should seriously consider purchasing a good bow and arrow and become proficient in using it. There are hundreds of bows to choose from.

Below are six reasons why you should consider owning a similar survival take-down bow.

1. Portability


“Take-down” simply means that the bow comes apart in three pieces: the middle grip section and the two limbs. It is simple to take down – just the twist of a couple lug screws and voila. The fact that it comes apart makes it very portable. You can stash the bow in your pack or Bug Out Bag. It’s perfect for a Bug Out Vehicle or BOL (Bug Out Location) cache as well. And, it weighs very little. My bow weighs only a couple of pounds – if that.

2. Affordable

A good take-down bow should only cost you a couple hundred bucks and if you take care of it, you can expect it to last your lifetime. Not only is the bow itself affordable, but the ammunition (arrows) are cost effective too. Once you hone your shooting skills, you should be able to retrieve your arrows after shooting and reuse them over and over again. With a little practice, you can also easily make your own arrows using wooden dowels or even natural-found wood and plant shafts.

3. Versatility


Modern arrow points vs flint arrowheads.

Modern arrows have come a long way. Most new carbon fiber arrows are ultra-lightweight and have a tip that accepts different screw-in arrow tips. I have an extensive selection of tips to choose from: small game stunner tips, broad-head razor large game tips, standard practice tips, hook tips and line for bow fishing, etc. I’ve killed both squirrel and deer using my take-down bow with various arrow tips. A good selection of arrow tips can be easily kept in a pack or vehicle. I also practice flint knapping regularly so that if I was ever in a situation when I need to make my own arrow points, I would know how.

4. Laws, Red Tape, and Paperwork

Legal limitations and laws are much more lax on the bow and arrow than they are with guns and bullets. You don’t have to mess with paperwork and permits, even though, in the right hands the bow and arrow is equally deadly. The less you have to deal with this stuff the better.

5. Silent

The bow and arrow is a very quiet weapon. You never know when you might need the convenience of a weapon that is nearly completely silent as well as deadly.

6. Multi-Use


Some pieces of a take-down bow kit can be multi-use items, which is always a plus. I like for everything I pack to have at least 2-3 other uses. The first and most obvious multi-use piece is the bow string. Bow strings range in length from 4 feet to 6 feet and are incredibly strong. You could use a bow string in a variety of ways:

If you are packing a bow then you are probably packing a few arrows as well. Arrows can be used as spears and gigs for small game and fish. They can also be lashed to a longer shaft and used as a larger spear for big game such as wild pig. This larger spear can be used in self-defense as well. Imagine a spear with three arrows lashed to the end and each of the arrows with a razor broad-head on the tip – you can’t even buy a spear that effective. I would love to hear any ideas you have on the subject of multi-use with a bow and arrow kit!

Final Thoughts on the Take-Down Survival Bow and Arrow


Creek with a homemade hickory bow.

Pros of the Bow and Arrow:

  • Very Portable for such an effective long range weapon
  • Silent
  • Affordable
  • Multi-Use
  • Can reuse arrows
  • Can make arrows in the bush
  • Lax laws

Negatives of the Bow and Arrow:

  • Requires practice and skill to be effective
  • Arrows can be a little cumbersome to pack

What I enjoy most about the bow and arrow is that it requires skill to use. It is also a weapon that carries a certain amount of respect. Ninety-nine percent of being able to effectively use the weapon is the skill itself – not the equipment. The skill will always be with you. Even if your bow is damaged or broken in a survival situation or stolen in a bug out situation, you can even make a bow as long as you have a strong piece of cordage. I made the bow at the top of the conclusion from a hickory sapling using only my knife. I also made the arrow. Making a bow and arrow in the bush is definitely an option. However, it will do you no good if you don’t know how to shoot it. Preparation is the key. Practice now for the situation later.

Remember, it’s not IF, but WHEN.

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

This guest post by Creek Stewart first appeared at willowhavenoutdoor.com

 

Via: artofmanliness

Bill would require state to offer preparedness tips for EMP attack

A nuclear weapon detonates hundreds of miles above America’s heartland, sending an electromagnetic pulse at the speed of light that fries circuits across the U.S. The power grid, communication technologies and transportation systems collapse.

No, this isn’t the leaked plot to an upcoming Hollywood blockbuster. It’s the driving force behind legislation in which a state lawmaker seeks to require the Arizona Division of Emergency Management to tell Arizonans how to prepare for an electronic apocalypse.

“In our lifetimes the emergencies we’ve seen have been local emergencies, and really all we have to do is be prepared enough to hang on until help arrives,” said Sen. David Farnsworth, R-Mesa, author of SB 1476. “With an EMP … there’s no help coming.”

From Ready.gov:

“A nuclear weapon detonated in or above the earth’s atmosphere can create an electromagnetic pulse (EMP), a high-density electrical field. An EMP acts like a stroke of lightning but is stronger, faster, and shorter. An EMP can seriously damage electronic devices connected to power sources or antennas. This includes communication systems, computers, electrical appliances, and automobile or aircraft ignition systems. The damage could range from a minor interruption to actual burnout of components. Most electronic equipment within 1,000 miles of a high-altitude nuclear detonation could be affected. Battery-powered radios with short antennas generally would not be affected. Although an EMP is unlikely to harm most people, it could harm those with pacemakers or other implanted electronic devices.”

The bill would require the Arizona Division of Emergency Management to post on its website recommendations such as the type and amount of supplies residents should stockpile to be prepared for an EMP attack.

The Senate Public Safety Committee endorsed the bill unanimously Feb. 12, amending it to require the agency to update its recommendations every five years. It was headed to the full Senate by way of the Rules Committee.

However unlikely the threat, Farnsworth said that an EMP triggered high enough above the U.S. could cripple the economy, disrupt food and water supplies and take down other essentials of civilization.

“My hope is that by bringing this out, we’ll start discussions and come to the realization that as a government we can’t feed all these people, but as responsible citizens we need to do our part and make individual preparations,” he said.

Sen. Don Shooter, R-Yuma, who sits on the Senate Public Safety Committee and co-sponsored SB 1476, said the U.S. government hasn’t attempted a similar public education program before because of its price tag.

“It’s too expensive for the government to prepare on a national scale,” Shooter said. “This time around, it’s the people who can do the most to prepare. It’s even possible to EMP-proof your electronics. It just takes time.”

In the end, Shooter said, there’s only so much he and other legislators can do.

“I’ll agree that an EMP attack is a relatively small threat, but if it ever does happen, most people won’t be prepared,” Shooter said. “That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try and warn them now. God puts a watchman on the tower for times like these.”

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: survivalring

16 Sustainable Gardening Foods That Re-Grow From Scraps

The next time you make dinner for yourself and your family, you may want to think twice before you toss your kitchen scraps into the trash or compost pile…

Did you know that there are a good deal of commonly used vegetables and herbs that will actually regrow from the scraps that you normally throw away?

I had heard that you could do this with pineapple, but I was surpsied to see some of the other plants that will actually regrow.

Check out this article that I found by Andy Whiteley, over on  Wake Up World:

16 Sustainable Gardening Foods That Re-Grow From Scraps

Looking for a healthy way to get more from your garden? Like to know your food is free of the pesticides and other nasties that are often sprayed on commercial crops? Re-growing food from your kitchen scraps is a good way to do it!

There’s nothing like eating your own home- grown vegies, and there are heaps of different foods that will re- grow from the scrap pieces that you’d normally throw out or put into your compost bin.

It’s fun. And very simple … if you know how to do it.

Just remember … the quality of the “parent” vegetable scrap will help to determine the quality of the re-growth. So, wherever possible, I recommend buying local organic produce, so you know your re-grown plants are fresh, healthy and free of chemical and genetic meddling.

Leeks, Scallions, Spring Onions and Fennel

You can either use the white root end of a vegetable that you have already cut, or buy a handful of new vegetables to use specifically for growing.

Simply place the white root end in a glass jar with a little water, and leave it in a sunny position. I keep mine in the kitchen window. The green leafy part of the plant will continue to shoot. When it’s time to cook, just snip off what you need from the green growth and leave the white root end in water to keep growing. Freshen up the water each week or so, and you’ll never have to buy them again.

Lemongrass

Lemongrass grows just like any other grass. To propagate it, place the root end (after you’ve cut the rest off) in a glass jar with a little water, and leave it in a sunny position.

Within a week or so, new growth will start to appear. Transplant your lemongrass into a pot and leave it in a sunny outdoor position. You can harvest your lemongrass when the stalks reach around a foot tall – just cut off what you need and leave the plant to keep growing.

Celery, Bok Choi, Romaine Lettuce & Cabbage

Similar to leeks, these vegetables will re-grow from the white root end. Cut the stalks off as you normally would, and place the root end in a shallow bowl of water – enough to cover the roots but not the top of your cutting. Place it in a sunny window position, occasionally spraying your cutting with water to keep the top moist.

After a few days, you should start to see roots and new leaves appear. After a week or so, transplant it into soil with just the leaves showing above the level of the soil. The plant will continue to grow, and within a few weeks it will sprout a whole new head.

Alternatively you can plant your cutting directly into soil (without starting the process in water) but you will need to keep the soil very moist for the first week until the new shoots start to appear. 

Ginger

Ginger is very easy to re-grow. Simply plant a spare piece of ginger rhizome (the thick knobbly bit you cook with) in potting soil with the newest (ie. smallest) buds facing upward. Ginger enjoys filtered, not direct, sunlight in a warm moist environment.

Before long it will start to grow new shoots and roots. Once the plant is established and you’re ready to harvest, pull up the whole plant, roots and all. Remove a piece of the rhizome, and re-plant it to repeat the process.

Ginger also makes a very attractive house-plant, so if you don’t use a lot of ginger in your cooking you can still enjoy the lovely plant between harvests.

Potatoes

Re-growing potatoes is a great way to avoid waste, as you can re-grow potatoes from any old potato that has ‘eyes’ growing on it. Pick a potato that has robust eyes, and cut it into pieces around 2 inches square, ensuring each piece has at least one or two eyes. Leave the cut pieces to sit at room temperature for a day or two, which allows the cut areas to dry and callous over. This prevents the potato piece from rotting after you plant it, ensuring that the new shoots get the maximum nutrition from each potato piece.

Potato plants enjoy a high-nutrient environment, so it is best to turn compost through your soil before you plant them. Plant your potato pieces around 8 inches deep with the eye facing upward, and cover it with around 4 inches of soil, leaving the other 4 inches empty. As your plant begins to grow and more roots appear, add more soil. If your plant really takes off, mound more soil around the base of the plant to help support its growth.

Garlic

You can re-grow a plant from just a single clove – just plant it, root-end down, in a warm position with plenty of direct sunlight. The garlic will root itself and produce new shoots. Once established, cut back the shoots and the plant will put all its energy into producing a tasty big garlic bulb. And like ginger, you can repeat the process with your new bulb.

Onions

Onions are one of the easiest vegetables to propagate. Just cut off the root end of your onion, leaving a ½ inch of onion on the roots. Place it in a sunny position in your garden and cover the top with soil. Ensure the soil is kept moist. Onions prefer a warm sunny environment, so if you live in a colder climate, keep them in pots and move them indoors during frostier months.

As you use your home-grown onions, keep re-planting the root ends you cut off, and you’ll never need to buy onions again.

Sweet Potatoes

When planted, sweet potato will produce eye-shoots much like a potato. Bury all or part of a sweet potato under a thin layer of soil in a moist sunny location. New shoots will start to appear through the soil in a week or so. Once the shoots reach around four inches in height, remove them and re-plant them, allowing about 12 inches space between each plant. It will take around 4 months for your sweet potatoes to be ready. In the meantime, keep an eye out for slugs… they love sweet potatoes.

To propagate sweet potatoes, it is essential to use an organic source since most commercial growers spray their sweet potatoes to prevent them from shooting.

Mushroom

Mushrooms can be propagated from cuttings, but they’re one of the more difficult vegies to re-grow. They enjoy warm humidity and nutrient-rich soil, but have to compete with other fungus for survival in that environment. Although it is not their preferred climate, cooler environments give mushrooms a better chance of winning the race against other fungi.

Prepare a mix of soil and compost in a pot (not in the ground) so your re-growth is portable and you can control the temperature of your mushroom. I have found most success with a warm filtered light during the day and a cool temperature at night. Just remove the head of the mushroom and plant the stalk in the soil, leaving just the top exposed. In the right conditions, the base will grow a whole new head. (In my experience, you’ll know fairly quickly if your mushroom has taken to the soil as it will either start to grow or start to rot in the first few days).

Pineapple

To re-grow pineapples, you need to remove the green leafy piece at the top and ensure that no fruit remains attached. Either hold the crown firmly by the leaves and twist the stalk out, or you can cut the top off the pineapple and remove the remaining fruit flesh with a knife (otherwise it will rot after planting and may kill your plant). Carefully slice small, horizontal sections from the bottom of the crown until you see root buds (the small circles on the flat base of the stalk). Remove the bottom few layers of leaves leaving about an inch base at the bottom of the stalk.

Plant your pineapple crown in a warm and well drained environment. Water your plant regularly at first, reducing to weekly watering once the plant is established. You will see growth in the first few months but it will take around 2-3 years before you are eating your own home-grown pineapples.

View the original article here (and see a bonus tip not included in this article).

Have you ever regrown any of these?

I am really interested in the pineapple (It goes great when sliced, dusted with cinnamon sugar, and served up next to a juicy steak)!

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: survivallife