I’m frequently asked for a list of items that I consider “essential” for any preparedness lifestyle. I’ve created this list over the years as some of the items were obvious to me as a beginning prepper; but the wisdom of having some of these items had to knock me on the head before I added them to my list.
The pharmaceutical industry has long practiced singling out one particular component of a plant in order for them to duplicate it chemically and then qualify for a patent. Regardless of how perfectly the chemical component matches the original portion, it still is sorely lacking in one of the most important factors of the original effective compound—the synergistic effect that the other portions of the plant have which makes up the whole. It’s no different than someone taking the cello out of the symphony and trying to pass it off as a full symphony by itself. A piece of lettuce isn’t a salad and an orphaned child isn’t a family. While beans and rice each on their own can taste wonderful, the combined effect of the two of them together comprise a perfect protein for our bodies. This principle is also true when you look at the effect which botanicals have in impacting our health and well-being. The part is more effective when joined with its counterparts.
Can you imagine walking along the shores of a fresh water lake, seeing some fossilized algae and saying to yourself, “Hmmmm. I think I’m going to try and eat this?” Or worse, how about someone who notices that this fossilized algae kills insects and then decides to eat it? Crazy, huh? I don’t know how things like Diatomaceous Earth ever get discovered, but I sure am glad they do.
[caption id="attachment_4846" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Diatomaceous Earth--a microscopic view. photo c/o www.holocaust-history.org"]
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With Diatomaceous earth, you have one of the most wonderful natural remedies for removing all kinds of toxins in your body AND a highly effective remedy at eliminating pesky bugs from your home, garden, and stored grains. Allow me to take you into the world of Diatomaceous earth today.
Last night I was begrudgingly up until 1:45 a.m. Finally I resorted to a sleeping aid so that I could get some much needed rest. (Thank goodness it kicked in at 2:00 a.m.) In spite of being reasonably comfortable in my personal preparedness efforts to be independent and thrive regardless of the scenario, I do have a nagging thought that plagues me and won’t let me sleep at night. What keeps the Preparedness Pro awake at night? It’s YOU.
Recently we posted the Ten Components of Emergency Preparedness. There’s a reason these ten components are in the order that they are. It’s not about ease or difficulty of storage or preparation. It’s about what you can and can’t fix down the road when an emergency arrives. Allow me to explain.
[caption id="attachment_1338" align="alignright" width="169" caption="Prepare Physically. Photo c/o thesealquest.com"]
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The top three areas of preparedness on the list of ten components of emergency preparedness are preparing spiritually, mentally and physically. Whatever level of preparedness you possess when an emergency happens, that’s what you have to work with. It’s not like you’ll be able to go and read 30 preparedness books when a disaster strikes and immediately be up-to-speed.
When most people think about eating from their food storage, they think about mundane wheat, rice, and beans. If I had to live on that, I may very well starve to death out of boredom, also known as “appetite fatigue.” There are two key ways to avoid this from happening to you and your family if you’re forced to live off of food storage.