Like ships that pass in the night, my husband and I sometimes barely have time for conversation. Today we finally had a short discussion on a topic that was concerning me: what should we do if there is some type of emergency that prevents him from being able to get home? I don’t expect major tornadoes or a devastating earthquake, but civil unrest in the central part of our city, in particular, is easier to imagine, along with major flooding. …
Guest post by Janet Liebsch, co-author of It’s a Disaster Planning is a fact of every day life. We plan and make lists for our chores, the kids’ activities, shopping trips and vacations. But when it comes to planning for a disaster, many of us don’t do it. According to Lynne Eicher with the Mid-South Chapter of the American Red Cross, “Research shows that fewer than 15% of the population in this country is prepared for any disaster.” Unfortunately disaster …
Baby Step #3: Get smart about potential disasters Read More »
I’ll admit that I haven’t exactly combed through every gardening and alternative medicine book out there. Who has that kind of time? But Amazon recommended this book to me: A Kid’s Herb Book: For Children of All Ages. As a total newbie to the field, I’m very favorably impressed by it. Since an elderly gardener I know who grew up using herbal remedies in China also really likes it, I think it’s safe to say it’s good for a wide …
One aspect of the “prepper” philosophy is “Common Sense.” After all, it is just common sense to plan for the future, regardless of what may or may not happen. That’s why we have retirement funds, car, home and health insurance and regular well-checks with the doctor. Planning ahead is also why you may stick an umbrella in your brief case or carry a light jacket on a sunny day. And it would be stupid to not carry a spare tire …
Make a Common Sense Urban/Wilderness Survival Kit Read More »
Baby Step #1 was all about being ready for a one-week emergency at home. Most emergencies are short-term, and getting ready for just one week is being more prepared than most of your neighbors. If all emergencies occurred while we were safe and snug in our cozy homes, then we would always be prepared. It’s just as likely, though, that an emergency or crisis will occur when we’re out running errands, at work, or traveling. It’s important to have your …
I’ve always been afraid of tornadoes, even before I heard of the Wicked Witch of the West and, “Surrender Dorothy!” Tornado survival is something that took a while for me to learn. Anybody who grew up or lived near Gilbert, in Central Iowa, is familiar with the destructive, whirling wind patterns. The movie “Twister” was filmed about 40 miles away from our family farm, and all the locals can tell storm stories. One year, our neighbors lost their house to …
Beginning Saturday, May 1, 2010, Nashville and surrounding counties in Tennessee received one-fourth of our yearly rainfall in about 48 hours. Since I now view everything through survivalist eyes, I’d like to share what I observed and the lessons that were reinforced and pass along a few tips to help you survive a flood. Lesson: Good neighbors can help prevent loss of life during a disaster. While our emergency responders were great, they couldn’t be everywhere. The greatest good was …
“It’s an emergency!” How many times have I heard one of my kids yell during any given week? Sometimes it really is an emergency, but just as often, they only want me to see a new toy advertised on TV or listen to a newly discovered knock-knock joke. Knock-knock! Who’s there? Don’t you recognize me? (groan) In real life, emergencies and emergency planning are no joke, but too often we get caught up in the day to day busyness of our …
The Baby Steps, #1: Plan for a short-term emergency Read More »
Whenever one of the kids is sick, I prepare the blandest possible food for them — something like unflavored oatmeal. They eat it because they’re hungry but they certainly don’t enjoy it! What would it be like to eat bland food every day? It wouldn’t be fun, and it sure wouldn’t be enjoyable! But eating bland food for a while could happen to those ill-prepared for a disaster, especially if supplies were difficult to find. And, because naturally bland foods …
28 Survival Spices & Oils, or How to Avoid Tastebud Fatigue Read More »
I have discovered a recipe that takes simple black beans and rice so far beyond boring that you might actually look forward to the day when it’s all you have left in the pantry!
