This book is meant to be uplifting and helpful throughout disastrous times, now and ahead. It serves as a guide to store necessities and replenish them, to create your own earth medicines, to grow a garden and use the produce. Within are ideas about how to cook nutritionally for a family while spending a very small amount of money. Additionally there are ideas for stretching your dollars or even doing without cash and still receiving goods or services. Other topics are mentioned, such as sun and wind as energy sources with excellent references for further study.

Recession, Depression, Catastrophe

Ways to SurviveBy Yvonne Daily

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2009 Yvonne Daily
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4490-1130-7

Chapter One

Taking a Step Forward

We can help each other as we prepare for the worst. Start by getting to know your neighbors. I know, I know, some people aren't too friendly, but sometimes you have to be the one to break the ice. The best way to do that is by wanting to make a difference and saying so. You might think about sharing your home for neighborhood meetings, adding a potluck now and then for your enjoyment. In the comfort of your domain, you can discuss how to handle different situations.

In spring of 2008, I met Fred and Cathy who live down the highway from me. I had stopped to ask them about king snakes. They have a traveling snake show and answered my questions. I also learned their house had been broken into six times with everything imaginable stolen. One time an item was returned. Hmmm, I'm thinking a little guilty conscience maybe? But they didn't know what else to do to stop the breaking in and thievery. They had nailed up the place, put shutters on the windows, and locks on the doors to no avail. I mentioned the neighborhood watch signs in Fayetteville and said, "Now why can't we put those up in front of our homes?" Cathy said, "Well, I guess we could call the law and find out who we can talk to." I replied, why not right now?

So the project started. I spoke with an officer from the Washington County Sheriffs office. He instructed me to speak to as many neighbors as possible and plan a meeting at a church, school, or someone's house. My daughter Tiffiny and I went door to door inviting neighbors. Arrangements were made to meet at the community building in Brentwood. Sergeant John Woods came out, and gave us suggestions on how to be better neighbors. We all have to be a little nosey about each other. It's necessary to know who lives where, what they drive, and the usual routines that occur, coming and going. You know, really keeping an eye on each other. He added that we should take turns watching each others' houses when on vacation. The training was beneficial; to say the least, we learned a lot. I for one appreciate law officers. We should be eyes and ears for them also. They stick their necks out for us everyday, often facing true monsters in the dark.

The cash was collected, the signs and poles ordered, which were shipped to my house. I then called everyone to pick them up. At a meeting I stood up said, "I am blessed to finally get to know all of you."

There were no break-ins at Fred and Cathy's house this last summer. Bottom line is, we can't sit still and expect to get through this. It takes a little effort and when we band together, we move with more strength.

Chapter Two

Water

Aside from clean air the most essential substance for life is potable water. It's very important to figure how much is needed per person for drinking, cleanliness, cooking, and don't forget flushing the toilet. We use more than we realize. The human body is about 90% water. It cannot continue without a minimum daily intake of approximately 1/2 gallon (most state and federal agencies recommend 1 gallon).

Our first concern is drinking water. I use mobile, water filtering systems that are made of stainless steel or lexan, the material that is used to make bullet proof glass. Inside the top half, 2 to 4 ceramic filters purify your water from rain, pond, stream, or damaged water mains. It gravity flows to the bottom half giving you safe water.

I want to stress that even spring water may not be safe. Deep-water springs usually are, but there is the possibility of contamination from distant septic systems, agricultural fertilizers, or large commercial producers of animals (to name a few). When you are not sure of the source of your water, it is always safest to boil, treat with chemicals, or filter through a certified water filter (I might do one or all three treatments, if water is really questionable). Bottom line is, be prepared several ways, for different situations.

Chemical treatments (chlorine and iodine), should be used very carefully ensuring the correct concentration and contact time for the temperature of application. Most (with the possible exception of AQUAMIRA products), do not protect you from CRYPTOSPORIDIUM cysts, which have survived a 24 hour soak in un-diluted chlorine bleach.

Portable filters can turn surface water into potable drinking water, but some may not do as well as the labels have you believe. I'm inclined to believe the companies listed below, have stayed in business for a long time, by selling quality products. Use your own personal judgment.

Boil It

Heat sterilization seems to be the safest answer over any chemical method. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend boiling water vigorously for at least 1 minute at sea level. At altitudes above 6,000 feet they recommend 3 minutes (it takes water longer to boil as the altitude increases). Disease-causing microorganisms cannot survive the heat of a sterilizing boil (boiling won't take care of chemical or radioactive pollutants and would have to be dealt with differently).

In addition to my house-hold I like to keep extra filters and spigots in storage for unexpected damage. The following companies also have backpack units that will filter up to 100 gallons of water. I keep one of these in my vehicle in case I get stranded. It is a strong possibility that our economic collapse may last not only months but could extend into years. Preparation is vital.

Sources for Units:

Lehmans, One Lehman Circle, PO Box 270, Kidron, OH 44636

Toll free number: 1-877-438-5346 to place orders, (there's a fee for a catalog, but worth it). Or: www. lehmans.com (to shop online)

The Berkey Light; made of Lexan, 2 3/4 gallon capacity, and filters up to 4 gallons an hour. Price: $209 (filter prices vary, depending on your choice)

Big Berkey Tabletop Water Filter is packaged with 4 ceramic elements, but may be operated with 2 elements if desired; 8 quart capacity and filters up to 31/2 gallons an hour. $269 (filter prices vary, depending on your choice)

H2O Distributors Inc., 1061 Triad Court, Marietta, GA 30062 Toll free number: 1-800-955-8561 (for a free pamphlet) and to place orders. Or: www.h2odistributors.com (to shop online)

Prices in the $200 range. (The ceramic filters are very reasonably priced)

Emergency Essentials, 362 S. Commerce Loop, Suite B, Orem, UT 84058-5119 Toll free number: 1-800-999-1863 (for a free catalog) and to place orders or: www.BePrepared.com (to shop online)

Alternatives

The above may not be affordable at this time. Save washed out Clorox jugs, large plastic juice bottles, or 2 liter soda pop bottles for storing water. Do not save a "scented" Clorox jug. It will retain the smell and taste in your water.

Clorox jugs are very durable, basically sterile to start with, making them easy to wash and rinse out. They have kept water up to a year in my car without any problems. When living in Phoenix Arizona, I always carried water with me in the desert! It came in handy one time when out on a dry dusty road. The water in my trusty Clorox bottle was hot to drink, but at that time the temperature didn't concern me. The fact that it was just wet, relieving my parched mouth was all that mattered.

Circumstances can be different, and let's imagine the only water available is questionable, such as from a stream. If you don't have a backpack water filter system, start by filtering it through layers of cloth. Boil it and then use water purifying tablets according to directions.

You can purchase chlorine tablets that contain the required dosage for disinfecting drinking water. They can be purchased from a variety of places such as, army surplus, sporting goods, backpacking, and survival supply stores.

Make sure you store extra water before any disaster happens. This eases the stress of having to prepare it when you may be facing other major challenges.

Water for washing, and flushing that toilet:

One thought is "catching rain water" in barrels meant for that purpose. Make sure your rain gutters are free from trash for easy drainage. Stock tanks with a hose connection, can be placed under the eave of a building, with a wire screen braced on top to eliminate debris. If set on cinder blocks to raise the tank, an attached hose can gravity feed the water. Stop the gravity flow by simply hanging the hose (with wire wrapped at the nozzle), to a nail that is set higher than the tank. Both types of containers collect a considerable amount of useable water.

On a smaller scale use large laundry detergent and kitty litter containers, milk jugs, or buckets with lids for general storage. Use your imagination.

Emergency and Short Supply

Once you've made the effort to purify and store water, please take care to conserve it. It is possible though, at home or away, you could somehow be caught with a smaller amount than needed. Therefore it is just as important to conserve the water already in the body. Water is lost through urination, breathing, excretion, and sweating.

Sweating of course increases if the temperatures are high. Wear a hat and loose clothing that covers the skin preventing sunburn while trapping a layer of still air around the body. This air acquires increased humidity from evaporated sweat and slows down the evaporation rate.

Stay in as much shade as possible, and try to avoid sitting directly on the ground. Use branches, folded clothing, wreckage, or anything that can raise you up even a few inches. The temperature will be appreciably cooler with this simple procedure.

Strive to avoid movement but if it is necessary don't rush about. You will generate the least amount of body heat and hang onto the body fluid that would have been lost otherwise. Talk only when necessary, and breathe through your nose avoiding loss of moisture through evaporation from your mouth. Drink during the cool of the evening, and make every effort not to gulp, but sip your precious water.

Someday you may have to stretch your water supply. Having the knowledge to safeguard body fluids is essential to water conservation.

If you are near questionable water sources, do not underestimate the danger of disease inducing organisms found in many surface waters, especially if stagnant or muddy. If your only source is impure, or even suspected to be, do not drink any until it has been filtered and made pure. If you can collect water from a fast flowing stream, try and collect it from as near the center as practicable. You need to filter the water first to remove as much debris, mud particles, critters, and any other foreign objects that could be detrimental to your health.

It's another whole story to get rustic and primitive which I'm not concentrating on in this book. However I wanted to pass on a few basic ideas to stir your mind. If you want more extreme, in-depth information, military supply stores may possibly suffice.

Chapter Three

Food Stocking Up

Not a day passes that I don't think about my pantry. I keep the shelves stocked and rotated. Using a black marker I date everything when I buy it, creating a rotation system-using first those items with the older dates.

Planning my garden used to be a simple joy, but now I see it as a means for survival. Our economic crisis is further deepening. Every time I read a newspaper, another company has closed its door. Thousands are losing their jobs, homes, and most likely a portion of their sanity.

I've always enjoyed eating, but now I'm forced to view it in a different perspective. First of all we need to stock up our pantries as best we can. Next comes planning and growing a garden. Third is preserving that food. Last is saving seed and propagation. (We don't know how long we will be forced to continue self sustaining practices.)

The Pantry

In my home I'm using what would have been a small bedroom for the pantry. This is where I put the freezer, large wide metal shelves for canned goods, various herbs, garden seeds, and toiletries.

It is extremely important to keep the pantry dark and cool. Therefore I close the vents to keep it cool in the winter when the furnace is on. During summer I open them back up, keeping the temperatures cool with the air conditioner. I use old-fashioned clothes pins to hang a lightweight blanket over the blinds and curtains, blocking out the sunlight.

Where I Shop

Locally I prefer to shop at Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Chinese markets, Ozark Natural Foods, IGA store, and Aldi's. I have noted prices store to store. By saving a dollar here, and a dollar there, my money is stretched further, allowing me to stock up on extra items.

Wal-Mart has better prices than most stores, but not necessarily in bulk quantities that I want. Sam's Club (owned by Wal-Mart) sells food in bulk, such as 10, 25, and 50 lb sacks of beans, corn meal, and rice. I also buy honey, nuts, frozen vegetables, a few # 10 size canned goods, as well as necessities, such as toilet paper that comes in a large box containing 48 rolls.

Chinese markets have bulk jasmine rice that I personally love, along with economically- priced green teas, ginseng extracts, and other herbals.

Ozark Natural Foods is a source for my favorite whole wheat flour called "Golden Buffalo." It bakes up lighter than other whole wheat flours. It comes in 25 lb bags, has to be special ordered, but saves me money because it is being purchased in bulk. Sometimes their sale prices on bulk herbs and spices are quite favorable.

IGA has some good buys on their # 10 size canned goods. They have frequent sales that I take advantage of for everyday things. This also permits me to buy additional items.

Aldi's is excellent for canned goods, oatmeal, some cooking oils, and jams. I actually feel as though I get my money's worth shopping there. I prefer buying my herbs from Blessed Herbs most of the time. Their herbs are fresh, pungent, and take good care of my health. Their toll free number: 1-800-489-4372 either to order a catalog or place orders.

Foods to Store

1. Beans and peas- black beans; butter beans (the large ones cook up faster, softer); great northern beans; kidney beans; navy beans; pinto beans; red beans; black-eyed peas; split peas; and lentils.

2. Rice-brown; white; and many other varieties to choose from.

3. Corn meal-for corn bread; hot cereal; and fish coating (I use it on my salmon patties to give a crunchy coating and add a small handful to fried vegetables for flavor and texture).

4. Baking essentials-baking powder; baking soda; dry yeast; corn starch; spices; honey and syrups (my preference for sweetening); salt (iodized or sea salt); cooking oils (the spray olive oil is great for preparing pans for baking); walnuts; pecans; whole wheat flour; oatmeal (I love this as a hot cereal. It also grinds into beautiful flour that I mix half and half with my whole wheat, making fluffy biscuits, pancakes, bread, and cornbread. Another plus, it saves me money with oats being fairly inexpensive, stretching my costly whole wheat flour).

5. Condiments-mustard; catsup; salad dressings; jams and jellies; pickles; relishes; and sauces.

6. Canned goods-(fruit) applesauce; cranberry sauce (wonderful with salmon patties); peaches; pears; and pineapple; (vegetables) asparagus; beets; baked beans; chili beans; chili beans with meat; butter beans; black beans; kidney beans; pinto beans; refried beans; great northern beans; green beans; corn; sauerkraut; spinach; turnip greens; diced tomatoes; diced tomatoes w/chilies; soups of all kinds; (my choice of meats) chicken; salmon; and tuna; canned milk (good for nutritive value and is good for cooking options); I also buy the #10 size canned items for crowd-size dinners. They feed a lot of folks and are cheaper in the long run than opening a bunch of smaller cans.

(Continues...)

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