Julie Beck - Personal Revelation

"The ability to receive and act upon personal revelation is the single most important skill we can acquire in this life.

With it we can not fail.
Without it we can not succeed."

Julie B. Beck

A sure-fire strategy for keeping an organized pantry inventory

My husband has told me many times over the years, “Lisa, you always manage to make things more complicated than they need to be.”

When we have friends over for dinner, I want to make ALL NEW recipes for multiple dishes. Before we go on a vacation, I want everyone in the family to have ALL NEW outfits! If we need to make a major purchase, I will research it to death until I’m so confused that I don’t care what we buy!

When I decided to create an inventory of my food pantry, I tied myself up in knots just trying to figure out how to organize it. What categories should I use? Should it be a paper/hard copy inventory or should I use Excel? 

After much, much thought, I decided to not re-invent the wheel and I used the same categories found on Shelf Reliance for their food products. I figured that the people at Shelf Reliance must have spent a lot of time determining these categories, and if they work for Shelf Reliance, they’ll certainly work for me and my humble inventory.

I also decided to use Excel. I created a separate page for each category (see below) and then entered the name of the food, the size of the container, and how many I had on hand.

Boy, was I surprised to find out that we have 15 #10 cans of freeze-dried bananas. See what happens when you don’t keep an ongoing inventory? You will almost certainly end up with too much of one thing and not nearly enough of another.

You might like to check out the categories used by Shelf Reliance* or another food storage company as an assist when setting up your own inventory or reorganizing what you have.

Yes, it’s  important to know what you have so you don’t repeat my banana mistake. I’m not working on making sure that I have a bigger variety of fruits and plenty of recipes that call for bananas!

By the way, I saved my Excel inventory and have it stored in Dropbox as well as a printed hard copy here at home. There are issues with saving documents in Dropbox, but I can’t tell you how many times Dropbox has saved my bacon.

Categories

• Grains
• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Meats
• Dairy
• Beans (I separated beans from meat.)
• Desserts
• Drinks
• Basics
• Entrees
• Survival supplies (candles, matches, etc.)

THE REASONS FOR (EATING BY) THE SEASONS

What does spring taste like?

Fresh asparagus dripping with butter. Small, sweet early strawberries. Tender, delicate baby lettuce. Sweet cobbler offset by tart, tangy rhubarb. Fresh dainty peas blanched for just a few seconds so that they burst in your mouth.

Right now the local markets are abounding with these delicious spring-time treats, and if you’re lucky, you may have many of them coming up in your own gardens. The season for these goodies is short and sweet, and soon the veggie patch will be bursting with tomatoes, zucchini, and green beans.

If you aren’t already concentrating on eating seasonally, there are a lot of great reasons to do so.

It’s more self-reliant
When you eat seasonally, you are consuming food the way our ancestors did. Since people managed to survive for thousands of years before boxed foods, refrigeration and the long distance transport of fresh fruits and vegetables, it’s a sure bet that we can too.

Eating the first fresh greens in the spring, the juicy produce off the vine in the summer, and digging roots from the frosty soil in the cooler months, as well as harvesting and saving those hard-shelled foods that store well over the winter – this is the way it’s always been done. If you farm or garden, by planning your menus seasonally you can eat delicious healthy food from your own property without a weekly trip to the store.

It’s less expensive

If you aren’t fortunate enough to have the space to grow at least some of your own food, then rest assured that eating seasonally is still the way to go. If you don’t insist on fresh asparagus in November or acorn squash in March, then you won’t be paying that huge premium that the grocery store charges for those out-of-season delicacies. To get those foods at those times, they either have to have been coddled along in a green house or shipped from the other side of the planet, both of which tack on hefty price increases.

Generally speaking, if you watch your fliers, you’ll notice that whatever fruits and vegetables are in season locally are the least expensive options at the store. As well, your farmer’s markets are also laden with local bounty. You’ll notice that at the height of every harvest, there is a point at which certain fruits or vegetables are sold in larger containers for less money. This is the time to buy as much as you can afford, partake of it generously, and do some home-preserving. Make jellies and jams when berries are at their ripest. Can homemade sauce from a bushel of tomatoes in the fall. Shred and dehydrate some peppers. This will give you some variety during the long winter ahead without paying a trans-global premium for it.

Nature provides what your body needs.

First of all, as mentioned above, when you demand produce that is out of season, it’s coming from across the globe. This means that the items were picked before they were actually ripe, which means that the nutrients had not fully developed. The vitamins and minerals contained in produce begin to decrease the minute the food is picked. The harvest item immediately begins to die and decompose. By the time the food arrives at your local grocery store, it might already be 3 weeks old – and sometimes it’s even older.

What’s more, the packing plants take great pains to be sure that the fresh fruits that grace your table at Christmas look pretty. Many packagers add a waxy, glossy coating to the produce before shipping. The coating not only looks shiny and inviting, it slows down the decomposition of the fruit or vegetable. Some foods are sprayed with preservative chemicals, as well, to help them survive the arduous journey to your supermarket.

Reducing the distance your food travels isn’t the only health reason to eat seasonally. Nature provides certain foods at certain times because that is when your body needs them the most. They are also less likely to be drenched in pesticides, fertilizers and fungicides if the plants are growing as nature intended them too.

For example, in the spring, those tender leafy sprigs like lettuce, kale, peas and pea shoots, and asparagus provide vitamins K and folate, which support blood health, bone health, and cell repair. The cool delicate foods are light, low in calories, and rejuvenating to the body as you gear up for the upcoming warm weather. Feasting on these waistline friendly foods is a great way to get rid of that insulating layer of fat that you may have acquired during the winter.

In the fall, you should begin to look for foods that provide more warmth – carrots, sweet potatoes, apples, and pumpkins, to name a few. As well, the beta-carotene in many of these autumn treats will boost the body’s germ fighting cells to strengthen your immune system for the upcoming cold and flu season.

Finally in the winter, you should consider eating more carbohydrates like those from root vegetables – they help the body to sustain a little more weight, which is needed to insulate against the cold weather. Warming vegetables like potatoes, cabbages, carrots, onions, rutabagas, and winter squash all store well in cool, dark places, providing energy and comfort throughout the winter season. Adding more fish to your diet during this time of year is also beneficial for the warming effect, the higher calories, and the high levels of vitamin D (the vitamin you get directly from the sun during the warmer months). Vitamin D is important for good mental health and a strong immune system. Nuts, which store well for the winter, are loaded with Omega 3 fatty acids, which help moisturize your body from the inside out – this helps to fight that dry winter skin so many of us suffer from.

It’s early here in Central Ontario to have local fresh veggies, but there are some tasty choices that haven’t traveled terribly far. We are having a mixture of winter foods and spring foods right now. In our refrigerator, we have fresh asparagus, some strawberries, some baby spinach, red cabbage, carrots and sweet potatoes. We’ll be chowing down on asparagus from now until early June, and I’m making an interesting, crunchy lemon-dressed salad from the cabbage, carrots and spinach. The strawberries are dipped in a homemade sweetened yogurt for a protein-rich, delicious snack.

What decadent spring-time treats are you enjoying right now? What do you have coming up in your garden?

A Easy to Make Solar Wagon

Yesterday one of our readers sent in pictures of a solar system he built using two 180-watt solar panels. This should produce a maximum of a 108 amp hours of power on a good sunny day. You can see that he is using three deep cycle marine batteries. There is a controller located between the panels and the batteries.

The inverter is a 2000-watt unit that is now on sale at Harbor Freight and Tools for $159.00.

With this cart, he can move it around the yard to take advantage of the sun. You will notice that he has left room for additional batteries to be added in the future. This unit has the capacity to support several more batteries. This would give it more reserve power in case of bad weather. This unit should run a refrigerator for 3 hours or so a day without any problems.

Here you can get a look at the batteries, controller and the inverter. The controller is located at the top on the right .The inverter is located on the bottom left.

He stated that he uses his ATV to move the solar wagon. In the future, he intends to put larger wheels on to make it easier to move over uneven ground.

This is very similar to the type of unit I am building. The big difference between his and mine will be that I am using one 300 watt solar panel and mine will be designed for a more permanent installation

Essential Oils as Medicinal Survival Aid

As a medical doctor/registered nurse practitioner team, we received conventional medical training at university hospitals while getting our degrees. Since that time, however, we have explored various alternative methods of healing; this is not to replace our education, but as a supplement and as an additional tool in the medical woodshed. Before you say this is all a bunch of hooey, take a look at any conventional medical text from 100 years ago. All the old-time standard medical books refer to essential oils, herbs, and all sorts of treatments involving the use of natural substances. What was conventional medicine then is considered alternative medicine now. You have to expect that a major disaster will limit (or eliminate) your access to pharmaceuticals; therefore, you should be well acquainted with other means of keeping your people healthy.

One class of alternative remedies that are commonly used is Essential Oils. These substances are called “essential” because they capture the “essence” of the plant. Unlike cooking oils, such as olive or corn, these oils are less fixed and more volatile. That means that they tend to evaporate easily, unlike the “fixed” oils, which don’t evaporate even in high temperatures. As such, essential oils are popular in aromatherapy.

Although you might not realize it, you’ve been using essential oils all your life. You’ve no doubt used them in soaps, furniture polishes, perfumes and ointments. Although it only takes a few leaves of peppermint to make a tea, it takes 5 pounds of leaves to make 1 ounce of essential oil. One source states that it takes an entire acre of peppermint to produce just 12 pounds. The same source says that 12,000 rose blossoms are required to produce a tablespoon of rose oil! These concentrated versions are the ones you see marketed in small, dark bottles.

You might be surprised to learn that the Food and Drug Administration only requires 10% essential oil in the bottle to be considered “Pure Essential Oil”. Beware of claims of FDA certification; the FDA has no certification or approval process for these products.

Essential oils are produced by plants to serve as either an attractant to pollinator insects (hence their strong fragrance) or as a repellant against invading organisms, from bacteria to animal predators. These substances usually contain multiple chemical compounds, making each plant’s essential oil unique. Oils may be produced by leaves, bark, flowers, resin, fruit or roots. For example, Lemon oil comes from the peel, Lavender oil from flowers, and Cinnamon oil from bark. Some plants are sources of more than one essential oil, dependent on the part processed. Some plant materials produce a great deal of oil; others produce very little. The strength or quality of the oil is dependent on multiple factors, including soil conditions, time of year, sub-species of plant, and even the time of day the plant is harvested.

The manufacture of essential oils, known as “extraction”, can be achieved by various methods:

Distillation Method: Using a “still” like old-time moonshiners, water is boiled through an amount of plant material to produce a steam that travels through cooled coils. This steam condenses into a “mixture” of oil and water (which doesn’t really mix) from which the oil can be extracted.

Pressing Method: The oils of citrus fruit can be isolated by a technique which involves putting the peels through a “press”. This works best only with the oiliest of plant materials, such as orange skins.
Maceration Method: a fixed oil (sometimes called a “carrier” oil) or lard may be combined with the plant part and exposed to the sun over time, causing the fixed oil to become infused with the plant “essence”. Oftentimes, a heat source is used to move the process along. The plant material may be added several times during the process to manufacture a stronger oil. This is the method by which you obtain products such as “garlic-infused olive oil”. A similar process using flowers is referred to as “Enfleurage”.
Solvent Method: Alcohol and other solvents may be used on some plant parts, usually flowers, to release the essential oil in a multi-step process.

As each essential oil has different chemical compounds in it, it stands to reason that the medicinal benefits of each are also different. As such, an entire alternative medical discipline has developed to find the appropriate oil for the condition that needs treatment. The method of administration may differ, as well. Common methods include:

1) Inhalation Therapy: This method is also known as “aromatherapy”. Add a few drops of the essential oil in a bowl of steaming water (distilled or sterilized), and inhale. This method is most effective when placing a towel over your head to catch the vapors. Many people will place essential oils in potpourri or use a “diffuser” to spread the aroma throughout the room; this technique probably dilutes any medicinal effects, however.

2) Topical Application: The skin is an amazing absorbent surface, and using essential oils by direct application is a popular method of administration. The oil may be used as part of a massage, or directly placed on the skin to achieve a therapeutic effect on a rash or muscle. Before considering using an essential oil in this manner, always test for allergic reactions beforehand. Even though the chemical compounds in the oil are natural, that doesn’t mean that they couldn’t have an adverse effect on you (case in point: poison ivy).

A simple test involves placing a couple of drops on the inside of your forearm with a cotton applicator. Within 12-24 hours, you’ll notice a rash developing if you’re allergic. Mixing some of the essential oil with a fixed or “carrier” oil such as olive oil before use is a safer option for topical use. Another concern, mostly with topically-applied citrus oils, is “phototoxicity” (an exaggerated burn response to sun exposure).

I have some reservations about whether applying an essential oil on the skin over a deep organ, such as the pancreas, will really have any specific effect on that organ. It is much more likely to work, however, on the skin itself or underlying muscle tissue.

3) Ingestion: Direct ingestion is unwise for many essential oils, and this method should be used with caution. Most internal uses of an essential oil should be of a very small amount diluted in at least a tablespoon of a fixed oil such as olive oil. Professional guidance is imperative when considering this method. You can always consider a tea made with the herb as an alternative. This is a safer mode of internal use, although the effect may not be as strong.

Essential oils have been used as medical treatment for a very long time, but it’s difficult to provide definitive evidence of their effectiveness for several reasons. Essential oils are difficult to standardize, due to variance in the quality of the product based on soil conditions, time of year, and other factors that we mentioned above. An essential Eucalyptus oil may be obtained from Eucalyptus Globulus or Eucalyptus Radiata, for example, and have differing properties as a result. These factors combine to make scientific study problematic.

In most university experiments, a major effort is made to be certain that the substance tested caused the results obtained. As essential oils have a number of different chemicals and are often marketed as blends, which ingredient was the cause of the effect? If the oil is applied with massage, was the effect related to the oil itself or the therapeutic benefit of the physical therapy?

The majority of studies on essential oils have been conducted by the cosmetics and food industries; some have been conducted by individuals or small companies. Standard studies for medicinal benefit are usually performed by the pharmaceutical industry, but they generally have little interest in herbal products. This is because they have few options in patenting these products. Therefore, serious funding is hard to find because of the limited profit potential. Despite this, essential oils have various reported beneficial effects, mainly based on their historical use on many thousands of patients by alternative healers. Although there are many essential oils, a number of them are considered mainstays of any herbal medicine cabinet. Here are just some:

Lavender Oil: An analgesic (pain reliever), antiseptic, and immune stimulant. It is thought to be good for skin care and to promote healing, especially in burns, bruises, scrapes, acne, rashes and bug bites. Lavender has a calming effect, and is used for insomnia, stress and depression. It has been reported effective as a decongestant through steam inhalation. Lavender oil may have use as an antifungal agent, and may be used for Athlete’s foot or other related conditions.

Eucalyptus Oil: An antiseptic, antiviral, and decongestant (also an excellent insect repellent), Eucalyptus oil has a “cooling” effect on skin. It also aids with respiratory issues and is thought to boost the immune system. Consider its use for flus, colds, sore throats, coughs, sinusitis, bronchitis, and hay fever. When exposure is expected, it has been reported to have a preventative effect. Eucalyptus may be used in massages, steam inhalation, and as a bath additive. Although eucalyptus oil has been used in cough medicine, it is likely greatly diluted and should not be otherwise ingested in pure form.

Melaleuca (Tea Tree) Oil: Diluted in a carrier oil such as coconut, Tea Tree oil may be good for athlete’s foot, acne, skin wounds, and even insect bites. In the garden, Tea Tree oil is a reasonable organic method of pest control. In inhalation therapy, it is reported to help relieve respiratory congestion. Studies have been performed which find it effective against both Staphylococcus and fungal infections. Some even recommend a few drops in a pint of water for use as a vaginal douche to treat yeast. Tea Tree oil may be toxic if used in high concentrations, around sensitive areas like the eyes, or ingested.

Peppermint Oil: This oil is said to have various therapeutic effects: antiseptic, antibacterial, decongestant, and anti-emetic (stops vomiting). Peppermint oil is applied directly to the abdomen when used for digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, heartburn, and abdominal cramping. Some herbalists prescribe Peppermint for headache; massage a drop or two to the temples as needed. For sudden abdominal conditions, achy muscles or painful joints, massage the diluted oil externally onto the affected area. As mentioned previously, definitive proof of topical application effects on deep organs is difficult to find.

Lemon Oil: Used for many years as a surface disinfectant, it is often found in furniture cleaners. Many seem to think that this disinfecting action makes it good for sterilizing water, but there is no evidence that it is as effective as any of the standard methods of doing so, such as boiling. Lemon oil is thought to have a calming effect; some businesses claim to have better results from their employees when they use it as aromatherapy. Don’t apply this oil on the skin if you will be exposed to the sun that day, due to possible phototoxicity.

Clove Oil: Although thought to have multiple uses as an anti-fungal, antiseptic, antiviral, analgesic, and sedative, Clove oil particularly shines as an anesthetic and antimicrobial. It is marketed as “Eugenol” to dentists throughout the world as a natural pain killer for toothaches. A toothpaste can be made by combining clove oil and baking soda; when mixed with zinc oxide powder, it makes an excellent temporary cement for lost fillings and loose crowns. Use Clove oil with caution, as it may have an irritant effect on the gums if too much is applied.

Arnica Oil: Arnica oil is used as a topical agent for muscle injuries and aches. Thought to be analgesic and anti-inflammatory, it is found in a number of sports ointments. As a personal aside, I have tested this oil on myself, and found it to be effective though not very long lasting. Frequent application would be needed for long term relief. Although some essential oils are excellent as aromatherapy, Arnica oil is toxic if inhaled.

Chamomile Oil: There are at least two versions of Chamomile oil, Roman and German. Roman Chamomile is a watery oil, while German Chamomile seems more viscous. Both are used to treat skin conditions such as eczema as well as irritations due to allergies. Chamomile oil is thought to decrease gastrointestinal inflammation and irritation, and is thought have a calming effect as aromatherapy, especially in children.

Geranium Oil: Although variable in its effects based on the species of plant used, Geranium oil is reported to inhibit the production of sebum in the skin, and may be helpful in controlling acne. Some believe that it also may have hemostatic (blood-clotting) properties, and is often recommended for bleeding from small cuts and bruising. When a small amount of oil is diluted in shampoo, it may be considered a treatment for head lice.

Helichrysum Oil: Thought to be a strong analgesic and anti-inflammatory, Helichrysum is used to treat arthritis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and fibromyalgia as part of massage therapy. It has also been offered as a treatment for chronic skin irritation.

Rosemary Oil: Represented as having multiple uses as an antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-parasitic, Rosemary oil is proven to control spider mites in gardens. Use a few drops with water for a disinfectant mouthwash. Inhalation, either cold or steamed, may relieve congested or constricted respiration. Mixed with a carrier oil, it is used to treat tension headaches and muscle aches.

Clary Sage Oil: One of the various chemical constituents of Clary Sage has a composition similar to estrogen, and has been used to treat menstrual irregularities, premenstrual syndrome, and other hormonal issues. It is also believed to have a mild anticoagulant effect, and may have some use as a blood thinner. Clary Sage also is thought to have some sedative effect, and has been used as a calming agent.

Neem Oil: With over 150 chemical ingredients, the Neem tree is referred as “the village pharmacy” in its native India. The majority of Ayurvedic alternative remedies have some form of Neem oil in them. Proven as a natural organic pesticide, we personally use Neem Oil in our vegetable garden. Reported medicinal benefits are too numerous to list here and seem to cover just about every organ system. It should be noted, however, that it may be toxic when the oil is taken internally.

Wintergreen Oil: A source of natural salicylates, Wintergreen oil is a proven anticoagulant and analgesic. About 1 fluid ounce of Wintergreen Oil is the equivalent of 171 aspirin tablets if ingested, so use very small amounts. It may also have beneficial effects on intestinal spasms and might reduce blood pressure in hypertensives.

Frankincense Oil: One of the earliest documented essential oils, evidence of its use goes back 5000 years to ancient Egypt. Catholics will recognize it as the incense used during religious ceremonies. Studies from Johns Hopkins and Hebrew Universities state that Frankincense relieves anxiety and depression in mice (how, exactly, was this determined?). Direct application of the oil may have antibacterial and antifungal properties, and is thought to be helpful for wound healing. As a cold or steam inhalant, it is sometimes used for lung and nasal congestion.

Blue Tansy Oil: Helpful as a companion plant for organic pest control, Blue Tansy is sometimes planted along with potatoes and other vegetables. The oil has been used for years to treat intestinal worms and other parasites. One of its constituents, Camphor, is used in medicinal chest rubs and ointments. In the past, it has been used in certain dental procedures as an antibacterial.

Oregano Oil: An antiseptic, oregano oil has been used in the past as an antibacterial agent. It should be noted that Oregano oil is derived from a different species of the plant than the Oregano used in cooking. One of the minority of essential oils that are safe to ingest, it is thought to be helpful in calming stomach upset, and may help relieve sore throats. Its antibacterial action leads some to use the oil in topical applications on skin infections when diluted with a carrier oil. Oregano Oil may reduce the body’s ability to absorb iron, so consider an iron supplement if you use this regularly.

Thyme Oil: Reported to have significant antimicrobial action, diluted Thyme oil is used to cure skin infections, and may be helpful for ringworm and athlete’s foot. Thyme is sometimes used to reduce intestinal cramps in massage therapy. As inhalation therapy, it may loosen congestion from upper respiratory infections.

Many essential oils are marketed as blends, such as “Thieves’ Oil”. This is a combination of clove, lemon, cinnamon bark, eucalyptus and rosemary essential oils. Touted to treat a broad variety of ailments, studies at Weber State University indicate a good success rate in killing airborne viruses and bacteria. Of course, the more elements in the mixture, the higher chance for adverse reactions, such as phototoxicity.

Some important caveats to the above list should be stated here. Most of the essential oils listed are unsafe to use in pregnancy, and may even cause miscarriage. Also, allergic reactions to essential oils, especially on the skin, are not uncommon; use the allergy test I described earlier before starting regular topical applications. Even though essential oils are natural substances, they may interact with medicines that you may regularly take or have adverse effects on chronic illness such as liver disease, epilepsy or high blood pressure. Thorough research is required to determine whether a particular essential oil is safe for you.

Having said that, essential oils are a viable option for many conditions. Anyone interested in maintaining their family’s well-being should regard them as just another weapon in the medical arsenal. Learn about them with an open mind, but maintain a healthy skepticism about “cure-all” claims.

How To Keep Warm When Power Is Out

When Sandy hit, more than 8 million homes were left in the dark. But with a superstorm of such proportions, that was to be expected. However, no one expected the power to stay down for 3 straight weeks!

Unless you`ve got a reliable energy source, your home is going to become your living hell, especially when you have to go through many long, cold nights. And even if you do have a backup energy source, you may never know when something goes wrong and suddenly you`re forced to rethink your survival plan from scratch. In this case, knowing how to keep yourself and your family warm with just a few resources can be lifesaving. So read this carefully and then send it to your loved ones. One day, they may be thanking you for keeping them alive.

Keep the cold outside your home

First thing you need to do is keep your home as warm as it can be. Which means you`ll have to turn your home into a greenhouse.

Here`s what you`ll need:

• Plastic wrap
• Duct tape
• Towels
• Old clothes

1. Start by shutting all doors and windows. If you have interior and exterior windows, make sure they`re all perfectly shut.

2. Cover interior windows with clear plastic wrap and secure them with duct tape. The plastic wrap will create a greenhouse effect, capturing sunlight during the day and keeping your room warm longer. The duct tape will prevent cold air from leaking in the house. However, be careful about carbon monoxide leaks! I suggest you get a carbon monoxide detector before sealing up your home this way.

3. Now roll up some towels and old clothes and cover all drafty areas, especially along the bottom of your doors. A good way to check for draft is to hold a lighter close to the the wall or door that may be leaking air from the outside. Pay attention to the flame. If it flickers, then you`ve got to draft-proof that spot.

Keep yourself warm

To keep your body temperature high, you`ll need:

• Clothes (for multiple layers)
• Warm socks
• A wooly hat
• Food
• Water
• A hot water bottle
• Hand and feet warmers (the ones you squeeze and they instantly start producing heat)

1. First thing your should know: you lose most heat through your head and feet. So if you`re thinking a couple of warm sweaters will do, you`re wrong. If you don`t have at least one pair of thick wooly socks and a hat, you`re likely to keep freezing. Gloves will help, too. The whole point is to cover as much skin as you can.

2. Wear multiple layers of clothing: an underlayer, a midlayer and if it`s really cold, an outerlayer. Something like this:

• Underlayer - Two-ply long johns and undershirts (cotton on the inside for comfort, wool on the outside for warmth).  Two pairs of socks–a thin pair of cotton socks beneath a heavier wool pair–are warmer and more comfortable than a single thick pair.

• Midlayer – For warmth and ventilation, wear a tightly woven wool shirt that opens down the front and a quilted jacket over it that also opens in the front.  Pants should be of tightly woven wool, cuffless, with plenty of room in the seat and legs, and flaps over the pockets to help keep snow out.  For added ventilation use suspenders rather than a belt. A woolen stocking hat or mask-like hat will greatly reduce loss of heat from the head.

• If it doesn`t make you uncomfortable, you can also wear an outerlayer, for example a parka that covers the hips and has a hood with a full-length zipper. Usually, you`d wear this outside to protect you from snow, wind and rain, but since it conserves body heat very well, you can wear it during very cold nights, too. (www.care2.com)

3. Wrap yourself and your loved ones in blankets. It`s best if you can all cuddle under the same blanket, to keep yourselves and each other warm. Make sure your heads are covered as well, because your breath will warm up the air underneath the blanket faster.

4. Move. I`m not saying you should start running around the house until you collapse on the sofa, but you should at least tense and relax muscles while sitting in bed, all covered up in blankets. Physical activity produces body heat, that`s why you start shivering when you get cold. So don`t just sit there like an ice sculpture, get your muscles busy so they can warm up.

5. Try a hot water bottle. If you can heat some water, it could help you keep your feet warm longer. An alternative would be running a hot pan over the blanket, to warm it up.

6. Light a few candles.Candles can produce a lot of heat, but you`ll have to be extracareful where you place them. Don`t leave them unattended, check them once in a while and never fall asleep without putting them out first.

7. Eat. If you haven`t eaten in a few hours, your body finds it harder and harder to produce heat. You`ll need to eat fatty foods, preferably warm. You`ll feel much more relaxed and warm after having a good meal, you`ll see.

8. Drink lots of water. When your body isn`t hydrated properly, your muscles might have trouble contracting. So drink water constantly, to “feed” your muscles, but don`t overdo it. Trips to the bathroom and back can get you shivering again and you`ll want to keep your body heat constant. However, don`t hold it in if you need to go to the bathroom. You body will use energy to keep the liquid warm inside your body and that`s just wasted heat.

9. Try to relax. Don`t think about how cold it is, try to picture yourself sunbathing or sitting in front of a fireplace. Being stressed about the cold will only aggravate the feeling, so think positive. It`s very important.

Strengthening the Family and the Church through the Priesthood

How to Use This Training

#1 The Power of God

22 Things That You Might Consider Doing To Get Prepared

The following are 22 things that you should do to get prepared.

#1 An Emergency Fund
Do you remember what happened when the financial system almost collapsed back in 2008?  Millions of Americans suddenly lost their jobs, and because many of them were living paycheck to paycheck, many of them also got behind on their mortgages and lost their homes.  You don't want to lose everything that you have worked for during this next major economic downturn.  It is imperative that you have an emergency fund.  It should be enough to cover all of your expenses for at least six months, but I would encourage you to have an emergency fund that is even larger than that.

#2 Don't Put All Of Your Eggs Into One Basket
If the wealth confiscation in Cyprus has taught us anything, it is that we should not put all of our eggs in one basket.  If all of your money is in one single bank account, it would be easy to wipe out.  But if you have your money scattered around a number of different places it will give you a little bit more security.

#3 Keep Some Cash At Home
This goes along with the previous point.  While it is not wise to keep all of your money at home, you do want to keep some cash on hand.  If there is an extended bank holiday or if a giant burst from the suncauses the ATM machines to go down, you want to be able to have enough cash to buy the things that your family needs.  Just ask the people of Cyprus how crippling a bank holiday can be.  One way to keep your cash secure at home is by storing it in a concealed safe.

#4 Get Out Of Debt
A lot of people seem to assume that an economic collapse would wipe out all debts, but that will probably not be the case.  In fact, if you are in a tremendous amount of debt you will be very vulnerable if the economy collapses and you are not able to find a job.  Just ask the people who were overextended and lost their jobs during the last recession.  So please get out of debt.  Many debt collectors are becoming increasingly ruthless.  In many areas of the country they are now routinely putting debtors into prison.  You do not want to be a slave to debt when the next wave of the economic collapse strikes.

#5 Gold And Silver
In the long-term, the U.S. dollar might lose a tremendous amount of value and inflation might skyrocket.  That is one reason why so many people are investing very heavily in gold, silver and other precious metals.  All over the globe, the central banks of the world are printing money.  Many people believe this is going to end badly.  In fact, there is already a push in more than a dozen U.S. states to allow gold and silver coins to be used as legal tender including Utah.

#6 Reduce Your Expenses
A lot of people claim that they can't put any money toward prepping, but the truth is that we all have room to reduce our expenses.  We all spend money on things that we do not really need.  Those that are "lean and mean" will tend to do much better during the times that are coming.

#7 Start A Side Business
If you do not have much money, a great way to increase your income is by starting a side business.  And it does not take a lot of money - there are many side businesses that you can start for next to nothing.  And starting a side business will allow you to become less dependent on your job.  In this economic environment, a job could disappear at literally any time.

#8 Move Away From The Big Cities If Possible
For many people, this is simply not possible. Many Americans are still completely and totally dependent on their jobs.  But if you are able, now is a good time to move away from the big cities.  When the next major economic downturn strikes, there will be rioting and a dramatic rise in crime in the major cities.  If you are able to move to a more rural area you will probably be in much better shape.

#9 Store Food
Global food reserves have reached their lowest level in nearly 40 years.  As the economy gets even worse and global weather patterns become even more unstable, the price of food will go much higher and global food supplies will become much tighter.  In the long run, you will be glad for the money that you put into long-term food storage now.

#10 Learn To Grow Your Own Food
This is a skill that most Americans possessed in the past, but that most Americans today have forgotten.  Growing your own food is a way to become more independent of the system, and it is a way to get prepared for what is ahead.

#11 Nobody Can Survive Without Water
Without water, you would not even make it a few days in an emergency situation.  It is imperative that you have a plan to provide clean drinking water for your family when disaster strikes.

#12 Have A Plan For When The Grid Goes Down
What would you do if the grid went down and you suddenly did not have power for an extended period of time?  Anyone that has spent more than a few hours without power knows how frustrating this can be.  You need to have a plan for how you are going to provide power to your home that is independent of the power company.

#13 Have Blankets And Warm Clothing On Hand
This is more for emergency situations or for a complete meltdown of society.  During any major crisis, blankets and warm clothing are in great demand.  They also could potentially make great barter items.

#14 Store Personal Hygiene Supplies
A lot of preppers store up huge amounts of food, but they forget all about personal hygiene supplies.  During a long crisis, these are items that you would greatly miss if you do not have them stored up.  These types of supplies would also be great for barter.

#15 Store Medicine And Medical Supplies
You will also want to store up medical supplies and any medicine that you may need.  In an emergency situation, you definitely would not want to be without bandages and a first-aid kit.  Over the course of a long crisis, you do not want to run out of any medicines that are critical for your health.

#16 Stock Up On Vitamins
A lot of preppers do not think about this either, but it is very important.  These days, it is becoming increasingly difficult to get adequate nutrition from the foods that we eat.  That is why it is very important to have an adequate store of vitamins and other supplements.

#17 Make A List Of Other Supplies That You Will Need
During any crisis, there will be a lot of other things that you will need in addition to food and water.  The following are just a few basic things that it would be wise to have on hand...

- an axe

- a can opener

- flashlights

- battery-powered radio

- extra batteries

- lighters or matches

- fire extinguisher

- sewing kit

- tools

This list could be much, much longer, but hopefully this will get you started.

#18 Don't Forget The Special Needs Of Your Babies And Your Pets
Young children and pets have special needs.  As you store supplies, don't forget about the things that they will need as well.

#19 Entertainment
This may sound trivial, but the truth is that our entertainment-addicted society would become very bored and very frustrated if the grid suddenly went down for an extended period of time.  Card games and other basic forms of entertainment can make enduring a crisis much easier.

#20 If You Have To Go...
Have a plan for what you and your family will do if you are forced to leave your home.  If you do have to go, the following are some items that you will want to have on hand...

- a map of the area

- a compass

- backpacks for every member of the family

- sleeping bags

- warm clothing

- comfortable shoes or hiking boots

#21 Community
One of the most important assets in any crisis situation is community.  If you have friends or neighbors that you can depend upon, that is invaluable.  The time spent building those bonds now will pay off greatly during a major crisis.

#22 Have A Back-Up Plan And Be Flexible
Mike Tyson once said the following...

"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth."

No plan ever unfolds perfectly.  When your plan is disrupted, what will you do?

It will be imperative for all of us to have a back-up plan and to be flexible during the years ahead.

Evaluating Back-Up Magnetic Compasses

Do you carry a back-up compass when you leave the trail head? How accurate is it? Here are some of your options.

Different models bring different values to the outdoors-man. If the primary compass got crushed, misplaced, or stopped working what model would serve as a back-up to get out of the woods safely? Generally a back-up compass isn’t as capable as the primary. People want to cut back on weight and expense.I purposefully evaluated several models many consider to be back-up options. When choosing a back-up magnetic compass, the hiker must ask himself: “What are my priorities? Is it accuracy? Reliability? Cost? Size and weight?”

For this evaluation, I selected five commonly used compass models. They are: the Brunton 9020G; a wrist watch compass “The Navigator” (sold by Country Comm); the Silva Type 3; the Silva Type 7, and a ball compass by Outdoor Product (not Outdoor Research.)

I will compare the five selected back-up units to the highly regarded Silva Ranger (CL 515), left, and Brunton 8010G base plate compasses to establish a bearing standard. The Silva Ranger and 8010G models are oriented to magnetic north as shown below:

Neither the Silva Ranger nor Brunton 8010G are adjusted for declination for this review. I did this because only the Brunton 9020G can be adjusted for declination. This provides a consistent baseline for evaluation purposes.

To begin the comparison of the back-up compass models, I chose to define them in the categories of (1) reliability (2) accuracy and readability (3) cost and (4) size and weight.

Reliability:

I picked up each back-up compass model option and turned it in place rotating the compass and magnetic needle. I then stopped and set it on a flat surface oriented to magnetic north. I quickly found that the Brunton 9020G, and the Silva type 3 and 7 settled quickly and matched the bearing of the standards. The compass needles quickly aligned to magnetic north and required little movement on my part to stabilize the compass.

The ball and wristwatch compasses were extremely finicky. Both models required time and manipulation (moving the compass housing side to side, up and down) to get them to align to magnetic north. Both required what I consider to be excessive movement to level the housing to allow the needle or ball to swing freely. This was especially true of the ball compass; frustrating. 

Accuracy and readability:

I then checked the compasses for their alignment to magnetic north. All models were in general agreement but the three base plate compasses ( Brunton 9020G, Silva Type 3, Silva Type 7) allowed for a more accurate reading with 2° increments marked on the rotating dial. Further, each base plate compass could be used for sighting on a distant object to triangulate the hiker’s position.

The ball compass and the watch compass did not provide for accurate measurement; they just aren’t built for that. The Navigator has increment tick marks every 10° and the ball compass is marked every 15°. That said, both will provide a trend of direction. Knowingly choosing a trend of direction verses specific bearing accuracy is a critical choice for the outdoors-man when selecting a back-up compass model. The impact of providing a trend of direction is that these compasses will indicate that the hiker is moving in a generally northerly direction as opposed to hiking along a bearing of 350°.
Cost:

The most affordable are the ball compass ($2.00) and the Navigator (under $5.00). The three base plate models range from $10 to $12.

Size and Weight:
The wrist watch Navigator is the most compact and is read quickly. Having a compass on the wrist takes a bit getting used to; it’s just different. The ball compass is most frequently worn on the exterior of a jacket or on a pack’s web gear. Both are quickly accessible and are feather light.

The Brunton 9020G is the largest of the group. That said, all three base plate compasses fit easily in a shirt pocket. Size and weight is of minimal concern for all five models.

The ball compass and Navigator are fine for short day hikes. Both are good choices as an introductory model and get young people interested in navigation early.

For serious back-country adventures I’d opt for one of the base plate models. The 9010G's ability to adjust for declination is a big plus for me. The base plate models are the natural progression for learning the finer points of compass navigation.