Survival List

Survival List

I've been going down the list on the main site for 100 items likely to disappear in an Emergency(posted on Asamom.org). I went through the list the first time with the mind of what do I have now? I checked items off the list. My family camps, so we had quite a few items. I craft, so there were more to check off. I've begun stock-piling essentials like toilet paper and paper towels, only because I'm brand concious and when mine goes on sale, I buy it whether I need it or not. I've always done that. Then I started at the top again with the mind-set to research what I could do home-made.

I found an article on line, and don't know if this is a double post or not, on how to make your own filtration system for drinking water. I'm wondering how many more I can compile in one site, so here goes:

Portable Water Filters

One other type of homemade water filter is far more portable and personal. The materials for this style of water filter are readily available and can be found easily in most households.

A two-liter plastic water bottle with the lid will serve as the housing for the filtration system. An ordinary plastic straw will serve as the spout. The filtration system will consist of cotton batting, fine and large grain gravel, fine and large grain sand, and a coffee filter. Activated charcoal granules may be added for an extra level of filtration. The filtered water can be captured in a mug or jar.

To create this style of homemade water filter, cut off the bottom of the two-liter water bottle. Create a hole in the lid of the bottle so that a straw may fit snugly. The straw must sit half way through the opening in the lid. This housing configuration will sit on the jar or mug with the straw end of the housing inside the jar.

Place the cotton batting at the bottom of the two-liter bottle, this will serve as the lining for your filtration system. Start with a layer of activated charcoal granules.

Next, place a layer of fine grain sand followed by a layer of large grain sand. Follow the layers of sand with a layer of fine grain gravel then larger grain gravel.

Alternate these layers until you reach the top of the bottle.

Top the filtration system with the coffee filter. Once the filtration system is in place, pour in the unfiltered water through the coffee filter. The untreated water will work through the layers of sediment to wick away the impurities in the water. The cotton batting catches particulates from the sediment and acts as a final buffer. The filtered water will flow through the straw spout into the jar for drinking. Adding a couple of drops of chlorine can add another level of filtration to the process.

How to Make Homemade Soap

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer

This soap is a pleasure to give - and to receive.



Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You'll Need:

Soap Coloring
Soap Fragrance
Soap Molds
Colored Crayons
Thick Bath Towels
Coconut Oil
Distilled Waters
Non-virgin Olive (not Virgin) Oil
Vegetable Oils
Vinegar
Vinegar
Fragrant Essential Oils
Lye
Rubber Gloves
Rubber Gloves
Crisco Shortenings
Candy Thermometer
Measuring Cups And Spoons
Mixing Spoons
Plastic Bowls
Rubber Spatulas
Stainless Steel Stockpots
Stirring Spoons
Mitre Boxes
Safety Goggles
Safety Goggles
Rubber spatulas

Soap Making 101

Step 1Dissolve 12 oz. lye in 32 oz. softened water in a plastic or glass bowl. If at all possible, do this outside or under an exhaust fan.

Step 2Add the lye to the water, not vice versa. Pour the lye slowly and in a steady stream, and stir constantly with a plastic spoon.

Step 3Set the mixture aside to cool. The mixture will heat up considerably due to the lye reacting with fats in the oils. This is called saponification.

Step 4Melt 24 oz. coconut oil and 38 oz. solid vegetable shortening in a stainless steel pot.

Step 5Add 25 oz. olive oil (not virgin) and any fragrance oils you want to use.

Step 6Allow the oils to cool.

Step 7Grease the soap mold with Crisco.

Step 8When both the oil and lye mixtures have cooled to room temperature, slowly combine them, adding the lye to the oils.

Step 9Stir slowly and constantly. If you see bubbles, stir more slowly.

Step 10Drizzle the soap into the pot once in a while. When it keeps its shape momentarily before sinking into the rest of the mix (tracing), it's time to add whatever extras you want.

Step 11Stir your botanicals, grains and coloring into a cup of soap taken from the mix.

Step 12Combine that back into the original mixture.

Step 13Pour the soap into the mold.

Step 14Wrap the mold in a towel and leave it undisturbed for 18 hours. The soap mixture will heat up and then cool down. Avoid uncovering it until it's cooled.

Step 15Allow the soap to sit in the uncovered mold for another 12 hours.

Step 16Loosen the sides by wiggling the mold a little.

Step 17Turn the mold over onto a clean counter.

Step 18Cut the soap into bars with a knife. Some people use a miter box to make square corners.

Step 19Allow the bars to cure for three to four weeks before using. Smaller bars cure faster than larger ones.

Additives
Step 1Mix candle coloring into the oil solution. If it's wax-based, melt it first in a couple of tablespoons of oil and then add it to the rest of the oil mix.

Step 2Realize that you can also use crayons for coloring. Experiment with colors. Note that purples are very difficult to keep true.

Step 3Use 1 tsp. per pound of soap of the following ingredients: cocoa powder for brown, cayenne pepper for pink-peach, liquid chlorophyll for light green, turmeric for yellow, paprika for peach and titanium dioxide for white.

Step 4Use 1 oz. essential oil to scent a 4-lb. batch of soap.

Step 5Know that 2 tsp. ground cloves makes a great-smelling soap. Try grated orange or lemon peel or ginger, too.

Step 6Use rose water instead of regular water for rose soap.

Step 7Oatmeal makes a great complexion soap. Use 8 oz.

Step 8Add 4 oz. cornmeal for a gritty texture.

Step 9Make soap with 1/2 oz. geranium oil for dry skin.

Step 10Use tea tree oil - 1/2 oz. - for problem skin.

Natural Repellents (For Mosquitoes)

It's very easy to make your own natural mosquito repellent. These natural products will effectively repel mosquitoes, but they require more frequent reapplication (at least every 2 hours) and higher concentrations than DEET. Because of the differences between types of mosquitoes, products that contain multiple repellents tend to be more effective than those containing a single ingredient. As you can see, natural repellents tend to be volatile plant oils.

•Citronella Oil
•Lemon Eucalyptus Oil
•Cinnamon Oil
•Castor Oil
•Rosemary Oil
•Lemongrass Oil
•Cedar Oil
•Peppermint Oil
•Clove Oil
•Geranium Oil
•Possibly Oils from Verbena, Pennyroyal, Lavender, Pine, Cajeput, Basil, Thyme, Allspice, Soybean, and Garlic
Another plant-derived substance, pyrethrum, is an insecticide. Pyrethrum comes from the flowers of the daisy Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium.

Things that Lower Repellent Effectiveness


•Many Sunscreens
•Dilution from Rain, Perspiration, or Swimming
•Absorption into the Skin
•Evaporation from Wind or High Temperatures

Keep in mind that 'natural' does not automatically imply 'safe'. Many people are sensitive to plant oils. Some natural insect repellents are actually toxic. Therefore, although natural repellents provide an alternative to synthetic chemicals, please remember to follow the manufacturer's instructions when using these products.
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There are also books out on natural remedies. I have one called Green Pharmacy. I am checking into natural remedies for the major maladies of my family. It's funny because we had considered this a few years back because we didn't want the chemicals in our bodies and now we can't afford to go all vegetarian. At one time our family was 70-80% raw, with the rest vegan (and it was a diet, we weren't a green nut), and we gave up most families meds. My husband and I didn't need our blood pressure meds, my youngest didn't need his adhd meds... but we had to go off the diet because I developed Cancer, and then we moved to a different state, long story. Now we can't afford it. Buying all vegetables is expensive. The liberal left has a racket. Don't let them tell you they're looking out for your health, and aren't capitolists. They're totally in it for the money.