Maureen:
As I mentioned in the forum a few weeks ago - It just might be a good idea to be prepared in the event of a disaster, natural or otherwise. While researching various sites, here are some other ideas/suggestions I found... * Keep a package for each person of the family with supplies they will need in the first 24 to 72 hours after a disaster - medical and personal supplies, water, and quick food. * Where will you go, if you must vacate your home? Where will all your family members meet if they are in separate locations at the time of the emergency? * Can you communicate with each other once the utilities are shut down? * Emergency power sources - portable systems are best. Old Goat added some good points in the forum regarding water and food. I thought it would be a good to include his info here as well.
--- Quote ---You can start with the rule of threes. You can survive three minutes without oxygen, three days without water (okay, more than that, but it ain't pretty), and three weeks without food. Most folks have 30-40 gallons of water stored in the hot water heater, but a couple of carboys in the cellar wouldn't hurt. If you are on well water, a tsp. of chlorine bleach per gallon will keep it good, if kinda tangy.
The stuff in the deep freezer (chest style) will be fine for at least three days, depending on the temperature. After that, start cooking, drying, salting, etc.
One thing I recently learned, US military MREs only have a shelf life of five years, so beware of the bargains at the surplus store. Although I did pop open a ten-year-old pack of peanuts and it didn't kill me... --- End quote ---
Thanks to Old Goat for his info. :)
Maureen
Sites I visited for reference: http://www.sync-blog.com/sync/2011/03/disaster-in-canada-how-tech-can-help.htmlhttp://www.ccep.ca/Individuals/Individual_Preparedness.aspxhttp://www.livestrong.com/article/158885-low-budget-survival-foods/http://apocalypsegirlsguide.blogspot.com/2012/01/preparing-for-disaster-go-bag.htmlhttp://www.fema.gov/plan/index.shtmhttp://www.livestrong.com/article/535252-rotation-list-for-grocery-stockpiling/
Maureen:
On the topic of being prepared for disaster - I'd like to briefly touch on your physical and dental health.
Any aches and pains that are being put off until 'another day' for a visit to the doctor or dentist may cause grief at a time when services are down due to an emergency. :(
In the movie Cast Away, Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks) couldn't find time in his hectic schedule to see the dentist about an aching tooth. When he became stranded on a deserted island, he was faced with an agonizing tooth ache .... and his only solution was to remove the tooth himself. :o
And of course, emergency or not, it's best to keep up on our health checks.
Maureen
Maureen:
Reading many of the survival preparedness sites, one thing many of them have in common is the suggestion of stocking up on the freeze dried or dehydrated types of food which are commonly used for military purposes, or for outdoor tripping. While there are many good quality brands of freeze dried or dehydrated foods on the market, most are intended as a temporary, practical supply of food when travelling with fresh food is less than practical. Sure, they are good to have on hand to use when there is no alternative food available.
But, for the long term, is this a good idea, and is there a better choice? Should we be looking at cooking food from scratch? In the days of our grandmothers and greatgrandmothers, everything was cooked from scratch, with commercially canned or prepared foods unavailable. Today, many people still cook from "scratch", with or without the help of some canned food. But many people depend on the grocery store, and prepared foods, almost entirely, for their meals. Unfortunately, many of the prepared meals are processed to the point of having minimal, if any, nutritional value.
Homemade soups, stews, meat, and vegetable dishes, desserts and bread can be prepared with basic ingredients. The best time to learn these techniques is before you are forced to in an emergency. (then it could be too late.) If people had access to only the basic ingredients, flour, water, salt, veggies, and meat, (fresh, dried, or canned) would they be able to sustain their families on meals created with those ingredients?
For the most part, our family has eaten meals prepared from "scratch". One of our sons was diagnosed with A.D.D. - But what he truly suffered with was an alergic reaction to food additives. So, we treated his illness with a healthy diet. The entire family benefited - our sons (two young men) now cook from scratch themselves, and try to stay away from the "boxed foods" as much as possible. I hadn't realized how so many people depend on prepared foods for their regular meals, until I started to research, and speak to people about choices of foods.
I find it concerning to think that many people, especially children, will go hungry if there is an emergency which causes the stores supplies to be cut off. All because in many cases, people have not learned how to cook from the basics.
Here are a few sites that have some good information on cooking outdoors; how to cook with a dutchoven with coals; and some great recipes. :)
Old Goat:
I think it's always good to cook from scratch. We seldom--very seldom--have anything out of a box. Our meals are simple and use few processed ingredients. (Rosie just gave me a taste of the mashed sweet potatoes I'll have while she is gone babysitting :D )
I've eaten a lot of things in my life. I made flour from acorns--lotta work, and it ain't King Arthur's. ;) Groundhog isn't bad, but they can be tough. Daylily buds are good steamed with butter. Spring beauty tubers are delicious, but you gotta be hungry to go to that much work. Snapping turtle is absolutely sinfully good, but a real PITA to clean.
The main thing to remember about surviving is that it's work. You have to think. You have to plan. Those potatoes will be good for a month or so (if properly stored), but the greens will be gone in a few days. What do you eat first? Freezer full of meat? Better have some salt on hand, and charcoal or wood for the grill. I'd be salting and smoking around the clock.
If you aren't wired enough, consider this--if you have, the have-nots will find out, and they will come... Just sayin'. :o