Incredible Food Dehydrator Makeover

Please go over and check it out:Pellet Stove Dehydration Unit.

It is a blog I found a while ago and have in my blog favorites. Please swing by and check out this wonderful blog: Subsistence Pattern!

Jennifer
Double Nickel Farm

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Food Storage Series

This is a photo of a batch of popcorn I made the other day. I want to share that the popcorn was 4 years old and tasted delicious!

The thing about this 4 year old popcorn is that I did not buy longevity items, nor expensive buckets to secure the popcorn. I did what I always saw my mom do. I always put any flour, sugar, rice, beans, wheat, or popcorn in the freezer for 48 hours. This kills off any bugs that may be in the product. Then I pack my long term food storage in food grade buckets that I get for free from a local restaurant. The buckets still have the o ring in the lid, and once I close the lid and stand on the bucket to make sure it is closed, I label and date the bucket and into the pantry it goes. Result: spending no money, aside from the actual food, the stored item is as fresh as when packed~now how is that for practical doable food storage?

I believe maintaining a rotating pantry filled with foods you and your family use is a way that you can stretch your money. When an item goes on sale you can get several items and slowly but surely your pantry is ready for you when you have a need.

Since no one can predict when or what type of crises will occur, it is a good idea to have a pantry to hold you over. Last February, almost the entire nation suffered from a blizzard and bitter cold temps. Many people were stranded in their homes. For me, that is reason enough to have food storage on hand~before a crises arises.


I must put this rule I live by~I am very frugal but~if I think a food item, whether newly purchased or older, is off, or I am concerned a tad~ I throw it out. I never would risk the health of my family over an item in my food storage. Food safety and product awareness is key to keep you alive!

Jennifer
Double Nickel Farm
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Simple Thought

Supplemental prep item: Manual Sweeper!

All of my life I had used an electric vacuum. I never thought of it as being a luxury item and if one broke I tossed it and bought another as they are so inexpensive.

When my last vacuum died, I wished to learn how I could do without, as a vacuum uses electricity and bags etc. So I looked for the push Bissell. I found the Bissell Sweep Up.

photo credit Bissell

I paid $12.99 total as Bissell did not charge shipping. They have several models that are manual. Check here.

I am not being paid by Bissell. I am sharing a simple tip to slowly ween yourself from so many things that you think you need. In a crises, cleanliness is critical-especially to keep disease down yet, how many situations occur where power is off for a good while? Perhaps a prep item should be a manual sweeper as it is for me!

Jennifer
Double Nickel Farm

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Use it Up

What a wonderful WW II poster! As a prepper I find this my theme of 2012. Jump over to my farm blog to see how incredible an orange is, and how much you can do with it...The Incredible Edible Egg Orange.

Remember the time is now.

Jennifer
Double Nickel Farm


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What do apples have to do with prepping?

First off, forgive me for my lack of prep blogging. This has been a crazy year with things like my oldest in Afghanistan, my mothers illness then death, two teens graduating, crossing the country twice, my father-in-law kind of moving in, my husbands issues and surgery all have been contributing factors to life and not posting.

Secondly, I plan on posting more of my day to day life which is no longer a life of one of a prepper, as I have changed over the years. Instead I have been transformed to a life that many will never understand, and others, perhaps like you will read and nod, or aspire to do as my life is the life of a blending of long ago skills with modern innovation...which will be coming soon to a more regularly scheduled weekly format.

For now I wish to share that I have been researching Kimchi.

The apples are what I put in some batches of Kimchi.

I am going to dive in more and share about Kimchi and how I use it in my life and the farm soon. My question to readers is this: Do you know what kimchi is, and if you do what are your thoughts on it?


Please share as that is what a real prepper is...one that listens, studies, and learns from those that have done something. A prepper appreciates that it is not what we accumulate that will get us through a crises, but what we learn and are able to cart in our mind are the real tools of prepping and survival.

Take care,

Jennifer
Double Nickel Farm


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The Record Heat Waves

With the record heat waves and drought across the nation, the American Preppers Network hopes that you have been prepared.  Disasters of any type can and do happen anywhere, at anytime, and without warning.  We are now witnessing and will continue to witness a prime example of how one disaster can cause a chain reaction leading to other disasters.  Here are some potential disasters to be aware of as a result of the drought and heat waves.


1) Water shortages.  Water is the number 1 most important necessity to survival.  The average human can only survive 3 days without water, and even less in a heat wave.  I hope you've stored some.  If the water system shuts down or does not have enough, you could turn on the tap only to have a few drips.  If you run into a situation where there is not enough municipal water supply to your home, start looking for other sources of stored water.

• Your hot water tank may have 30 - 50 gallons of water stored. 
• The top supply tank to your toilette is typically clean water that you can use.
• Your plumbing in your house could have a few gallons.  Open a higher faucet in your house as in a shower, sink, or upstairs source to relieve pressure, then open a lower outside faucet to retrieve water from your plumbing system.

Don't short change yourself on water!  Make sure you have plenty for personal consumption.  If you stop sweating, that means you are dehydrated!   

Got Water?

2) Heat.  Heat poses many risks, including but not limited to:

• Heat Stroke.  Watch family members closely, especially the elderly, watch for slurred speech and disorientation.  When in doubt, call for help.  Time lost is brain lost.  Never leave pets or children in a vehicle, and keep them out of the direct sun.  Drink lots of water.
• Fire.  Fires are much more common in the heat.  Things dry out and become more flammable.  Keep dry brush and trash picked up.  Do not store fuel in or around your house, and keep well ventilated in a cool area out of the sun.  Keep grass cut short, especially if your city is rationing water and not allowing watering of lawns.  Do not store any flammables in the direct sun or in your attic.  
• Vehicle breakdowns. Avoid driving unless it's absolutely necessary, or drive at nite. Check your fluid levels and make sure your oil and coolant are topped off.  Bring extra oil and coolant with you in case you need it.  DO NOT top off your fuel tank!  Make sure your tires are property inflated and not over or under inflated.  Bring extra water with you in case you do break down.  Drive with the A/C off when going uphill.  Watch your vehicles tempature when climbing grades.  If your car starts to overheat when going uphill, pull over at a safe location to let it cool.  Check to make sure your thermostat is working before you make your trip.

3) Blackouts.   The nations grids are maxed out.  With everyone using A/C, expect rolling blackouts.  If you are in a blackout, you can wrap sleeping bags around your refrigerator or freezer to help insulate it.  To conserve power, only use what you absolutely need.  Keep lights turned off and keep your A/C set to the warmest temperature that you can safely stand.  Do you have a generator?  Be prepared to use it.  Do you have plenty of non-perishable food stored?  If there is an extended blackout, you may need it.  Stores and gas stations will be shut down in a blackout.  Do you have an emergency battery powered radio and flashlights?

4) Food Prices   Expect food prices to increase.  Especially meat.  Many ranchers are butchering all of there livestock as there is not enough food and water to care for them, this means shortages in the future.  Produce crops are drying up. Prices of corn, wheat and other grains will increase.  Even produce grown in unaffected areas may increase in price as well due to demand.  If the blackouts are too severe, stores, gas stations and truck stops may close down temporarily disrupting the supply chain and preventing food from making it to the stores.

Stay safe during this heat wave and dought.  This is a serious and potentially devastating national disaster.


If you have tips, ideas, news, videos or pictures that you wish to share regarding this heat wave you can submit your article to americanprepper@yahoo.com.  If your article is chosen we will post it on your states preppers network blog.  Top articles will get posted on APN.  The top article of the week will win a free flashlantern valued at $49.95 (made in the USA).  Articles must be submitted before 7/29.

Feel free to copy and repost this article in it's entirety.  Credit source as AmericanPreppersNetwork.com

Here are some free helpful pdf files to download

Fire and Heat Waves
- ARC - Are You Ready - Fire

- ARC - Are You Ready - Heat Wave

- ARC - Are You Ready - Wildfires

- Fact Sheet: Fires

- Fact Sheet: Fire Safe

- WildFires

Water
- ARC - Food and Water in Emergency

- Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water 

- How To Make A Solar Still (Plastic Cover)

- Purification Of Water On A Small Scale 

- Simple Solar Still For The Production Of Distilled Water

- Slow Sand Filters

- Water Purification

- Water Treatment

Fire Safety 

- Fighting Fire 

- Fire Safety

Get More Free Downloads here:
http://preppers.info/Free_Downloads.html

What to do...in a Catastrophic Event?

I wrote what to do on Double Nickel Farm. We have no way to prepare for every situation, but you can read What to do...and it will give you some ideas on what a prepper can do after a crises occurs.

It appears as if this summer is going to be one for the record books. Now is the time to learn skills to prepare you for any crises that comes your way.

Jennifer
Double Nickel Farm

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Join the APN Forum at www.AmericanPreppersNetwork.net
Visit the New Mexico Forum at www.NewMexicoPreppersNetwork.net