What You Need to Know About Homemade Cleaning Products!

My first prepping goal was to stock a year’s worth of everything we normally use that has a year plus shelf life. This took a few months but we were able to accomplish the goal. (We did allow for freezer storage for this interim goal, so we’re really more prepared to not have to buy groceries for a year than being REALLY prepared if things hit the fan.

One thing I noticed is that the storage takes up A LOT OF ROOM! We have a bedroom, a walk-in closet, an upstairs ‘landing area’ plus several other small areas for all of the storage. We want to downsize when we buy land soon, so I’ve been trying to figure out how streamline as much as possible.

Over the past several months I have also started getting more concerned about many of the chemicals we bring into our house, and decided to try some of the homemade green cleaners I’ve read about. After using a few of them I realized how much less storage space they take up. Most of the homemade cleaners utilize common ingredients, so you could theoretically make all of the cleaners you need from a pretty short list of storage items. I also realized that most of the ingredients are a lot cheaper than buying pre-made cleaners. There are a few items that require an up front investment (like essential oils) but the amount used in these is very small so they will last a very long time.They are also better for your family and the environment.

80 Incredibly Healthy & Healing Herbs You Can (Legally) Grow at Home

Tired of the perpetual barrage of artificial chemicals and questionable side effects, many individuals have turned to ancient and completely natural solutions to quell their various ills. DIY types with a bit of space to spare – even a windowsill will do! – may want to take their pharmaceutical pursuits one step further and create for themselves a garden full of traditional herbs and plants. However, it is always a good idea to execute plenty of research before committing to whipping up remedies medicinal herbs. Obviously, not every climate stands as suitable for every botanical, so be sure to discuss which ones thrive best in a given region. Second, one must always consult with a physician and/or pharmacist before committing to any herbal treatment. They are not regulated by the FDA, so caution needs to be taken when it comes to allergies, negative reactions with certain medical conditions or toxicology. Never enter into such a pursuit blindly, though responsible care and use of a medicinal plant can certainly yield plenty of hearty and healthy rewards.

Don't Just Store, Be Prepared!

Many people are setting themselves up for failure, because they are storing items that they wont be able to prepare and eat. Say that you store 200 pounds of wheat and had to get it out and use it tonight, would you know what to do? A lot of people would have no idea how to even get started. You may know how to make bread, but you may not have stored all the ingredients to produce it. You may not have realized that you would need yeast, salt, honey, etc. Even if a person had all the necessary items to make bread, they still will be ill prepared, if they did not have a grinder to make the flour. A person, who stores rice, has to cook the rice in water, but have they stored water or do they have the resources to purify water found locally? What about seasoning, herbs, spices, soups, or other items to mix with the rice? A person can only eat so many bowls of unflavored rice!

"72-Hour Kit"

Throughout many types of disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc, individuals are frequently ordered to evacuate their residence quickly. They may have to live in an emergency shelter site, such as a public school. If you are a person that this may ever happen to, you may only have a short time to grab some of your belongings and go. And of course you would not have time to pick and chose the articles in which you would want or need to bring with you. So you should seriously consider, list the items that you find important in any emergency circumstances, and prepare a “72-hour Kit” for each family member that will include items specific to each persons needs. Put the kit in a place that is easily accessible.

A “72-hour Kit” is intended to include things that a person need in a time of a disaster, to survive for a three day period. It is most likely that a disaster will last longer that three days, but three days is about how long it will take for help to arrive. Each family member should have a “72-hour Kit” tailored to his or her own needs.