Common Sense Preparedness Link Up #3

 Uncategorized  4 Responses »
May 222013
 

Common Sense Preparedness Link Up

Now that the weather’s finally warmed up, planting is in full gear. August and the boys put in 25 new evergreens in the tree line (windbreak) last weekend, and the boys and I have been working on the garden. Lots more to do yet, but that’ll happen when you’re planting over an acre.  The boys sure can eat now that they’re teenagers.  I tend to be a little slow getting things in, too, compared to some of the neighbors.  I’ve found that planting in warmer soil leads to faster germination, and many late planted crops easily catch up to their early planted counterparts. Continue reading »

Common Sense Preparedness Link Up #2

 Preparedness  1 Response »
May 142013
 

Common Sense Preparedness Link Up #2 @ Common Sense Homesteading

Life goes on, and preparing should, too.  We had a serious shake up last week when my husband was involved in a car crash during rush hour traffic.  Thankfully he was only banged up, but my heart just about leaped out of my chest when he called and I couldn’t tell if he was okay or not.  Our auto insurance will make a dent in replacement costs for the car, and we had been saving up because we knew his vehicle would need replacing.  We just didn’t figure it would be quite so soon.  Just so thankful that he is okay.

Meanwhile, on the home front, the boys and I have started putting the cold tolerant crops in the garden.  (We had temps in the upper 20s last night.  Brrrr….)  The bulk natural food club order is coming in this week from UNFI, and I tidied up the canning pantry to see how many canned goods are left from last season.  It looks like we should have made more salsa, because we are running low.

Grandpa and grandma

Grandma and Grandpa Were Preppers Continue reading »

PurifiCup Water Filter Review and Giveaway

 Preparedness, Product Review  72 Responses »
May 132013
 

PurifiCup Water Filter Review @ Common Sense Homesteading

As part of our ongoing preparedness discussion, this week we’ve got a review and giveaway featuring the PurifiCup® water filter.

What is the PurifiCup® Water Filter?

The PurifiCup water filter is a compact, easy to use water filter for personal use.

Each orange tap water filter provides up to 24 gallons (330 cups, approximately 91 liters) of pure water. The green and purple filters, designed for natural water sources, filter approximately 12 gallons.  The PurifiCup’s absolute 1 micron filter  (recommended by the CDC) will more consistently remove bacteria such as cryptosporidium (Crypto) than a nominal filter. Continue reading »

Preparedness – Storage and Shelf Life of Over-the-Counter Medication

 Preparedness  1 Response »
Oct 042012
 

Storage and Shelf Life of Over the Counter Medications @ Common Sense Homesteading

This is a guest post by Lily Pearce.

Most households have supplies of certain non-prescription medications, such as painkillers, anti-diarrhea tablets, laxatives and antacids.  However, most people give very little thought to the storage and shelf-life of over the counter medication, beyond keeping things out of the reach of children.  If you have an emergency medical kit, you may stock up and end up storing items for longer periods of time.  How long is too long to store over the counter medication, and what’s the best way to store it? Continue reading »

Emergency Water Storage – What You Need to Know

 Preparedness  21 Responses »
May 062012
 

Berkey Water Filter

Water is life.  In case of emergency, a reliable water supply is critical.  If power is interrupted due to storms or other events such as solar flares or grid overload due to high demand, for most of us, our water supplies are also interrupted.  Municipal water supplies could also be a likely “soft” target for terrorist attacks.  Emergency water storage should be a part of any emergency preparedness plan.

How Much Water Do I Need to Store?

FEMA recommends a three day supply with one gallon per person per day, half of that just for drinking.  Age, physical condition, activity level, foods consumed and environmental conditions will influence those requirements.  Hot, humid weather, illness, pregnancy and lactation, increased physical activity levels will all increase the amount needed.  The Crisis Preparedness Handbook recommends 20 -30 gallons per person for a period of two to three weeks without water.  This allows water for drinking, cooking, hygiene and some reserve.  If you plan to rely heavily on dehydrated food, store an extra 2 to 5 gallons per person. Continue reading »

 Older Entries