Herb of the week - Sunflower (well plant of the week)

I am setting this up on a separate blog that will eventually 

be an easy to use resource down the line.

So click the link below to see it uses and bookmark the blog for weekly installments.

I will be posting an herb of the week every Tuesday. I find it is easy to remember things like this when you get them in small doses.

 Common Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. )
They are annuals that grow to 9ft at a fast rate. Bloom Color: Orange, Red, Yellow. Main Bloom Time: Early fall, Late summer, Mid summer. Form: Upright or erect.

Monday Movie - Blue Gold World Water Wars

Wars of the future will be fought over water as they are over oil today, as the source of human survival enters the global marketplace and political arena. Corporate giants, private investors, and corrupt governments vie for control of our dwindling supply, prompting protests, lawsuits, and revolutions from citizens fighting for the right to survive. Past civilizations have collapsed from poor water management. Can the human race survive?

Totally Digging

Totally digging is my way of saying thanks for linking back to my page.

So today's totally digging goes out to.....

 (And show some love and click on an ad or two on their sites.)

If I missed your link send me a message on FB and I will get ya next week.

Remember people when you view a website and like or use some of the info...do a common thank you click on one of their ads. I always do!

 

Prepper Website Click Here

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American Preppers Network Click Here and Click Here - See more at: http://urbanprepperchick.blogspot.com/p/totally-digging.html#sthash.PG6SbqF7.dpuf

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Song for this post is  Jimmy Page & Robert Plant - Thank You

 

 

The Baah-ndaid plant for boo boo's

Crazy week for me so just doing a quick post....

Lambs Ear for your boo boo's

A useful, edible, hardy, drought tolerant, attracts bees like nobody’s business kinda plant....that grows like freakn' crazy!!!

 NO NOT THIS KIND OF LAMBS EAR!!!!!!!

This is an easy to grow plant. I actually use to take it from a neighbors garden because it was out of control and she was weed whacking it down. 

And I love it even more now because it is the BEST plant out there for boo boo's!
Not just because it is soft and fuzzy.

It is the band aid of all band-aids!!!  It is an antiseptic, antibacterial, anti inflammatory...and it actually is absorbent!!  All of this adds up to uber bandage!

Because of it is super absorbent...it is mother natures large bandage...wrapping a bunch of these on larger wounds helps absorb the blood and helps clean it.  So now that spring is almost upon us...start the seeds for this plant. It is a garden must!

• I can also be used in place of paper towels and pads (sorry dudes had to mention that) and even toilet paper.

•  A cold water infusion of the freshly chopped or dried and powdered leaves makes a refreshing beverage, while a weak infusion of the plant can be used as a medicinal eye wash for styes and pinkeye.

•  It is taken internally as a medicinal tea in the treatment of fevers, diarrhea, sore mouth and throat.

This plant has many uses which I will address in on of my weekly herb posts.

Perfect song for this post has to be   The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway - Genesis

Fantastic Friday - URBAN SURVIVAL:SPECIAL FORCES GUIDE TO ESCAPE AND EVASION

Every Friday I will be sharing a post that I came across on my journey's for the week.

One's that impress me with  information, ideas, or just a great read.

Have any suggestion message me on FB

This weeks post is by Bio Prepper

URBAN SURVIVAL:SPECIAL FORCES

 GUIDE TO ESCAPE AND EVASION

 

 In the military it’s called “E&E” or Escape and Evasion, and it has to do with what to do if you are captured or separated from you unit, or an airman downed behind enemy lines. But E&E comes very much into play in “urban survival” situations too.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Song for this post is going to be  What's Left of the Flag by Flogging Molly

Groundhogs, Woodchucks -How to deal with them

I live in an area where everyone dumps groundhogs they trap...(in the woods) across from my house. So we have a ton!! It is a state park so we can not touch them...and it is illegal to kill them. (why I have no clue).  So we have learned slowly what they will eat and what they will not...lots of my herbs they have not touched....flowers...their are a few I can grow,  and the rest are in raised pellet gardens, and potted gardens. It works. I use to weed whack the area across the street to make it look nicer but that seemed to get them in our yards more so I leave it now as a grazing area for them...that and many of the edible weeds I write about are now growing there. I throw the flowers from ones I find along the high way and now some of them are starting to grow...and I have a source for them in a healthy place. ANYWHOOO...

Right now I have 2 brave baby groundhogs going after stuff the adults do not. And I am looking for a repellent to at least help with deterring them .

So here are some of the ways to deter groundhogs from eating all you have that I have found.

• You can uses things like a fence around your garden (making sure that some of the fences is at least 6 inches to a foot underground.

•  You can get store bought repellents like fox urine. (I read in one garden blog the guy used his own and it worked.) NOT IN THE GARDEN around the garden area.

• I also read that you can use your kitty litter (dirty) around there den and they will leave.

• You can try setting up a sprinkler around there area...the water will go down into the hole and they will think it is flooding and move...I like this one because you can use the sprinkler every night and it will keep them away and from just building in another area in your yard

• Then you can do things like smoke or burn them out of there dens.I am not a fan of these two. But the smoke can help you see where other openings are that you may not know about.

• and this one  Sudsy ammonia   Click Here (not a fan but I am not that frustrated yet 

• I would say hire someone to trap them...but those are the fudgerss that are dumping them in my area...so don't give them the business!!  at least in CT please :) 

• There is the incredible edible egg. crack them open at the doors of their den and little cover it with dirt....must freak them out when the step in it. Not sure

• Castor oil, mix it with water and spray your yard with it. Or do the same thing as you did with the egg with straight castor oil

• You can sprinkle any kind of pepper in their den but I have read they come back it is a short lived deterrent

•  A scarecrow that makes noise....many hang some wind chimes on it. Also  move it around every so often. Try hanging steamers off it the movement will help keep them away
• And pin wheels....why not its worth a try.

Because I have so many,  more always move in as soon as you get rid of some. I am trying to live with the little fudgers. Because again more will just move in and or they will just move to the neighbors yards and still be an issue.

But I am going to try the cat littler on the weekend....I would like to get them gone before winter...because again there are babys....and the are cute :(

BUTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!

Me being a prepper the positive is they are a meat source. :)

                         Song for this post has to be John Lee Hooker, Ground Hog Blues

Herb of the week - Curly Dock

I am setting this up on a separate blog that will eventually 

be an easy to use resource down the line.

So click the link below to see it uses and bookmark the blog for weekly installments.

I will be posting an herb of the week every Tuesday. I find it is easy to remember things like this when you get them in small doses.

- See more at: http://urbanprepperchick.blogspot.com/2015/04/herb-of-week-sumac.html#sthash.eCupflTB.dpuf

I am setting this up on a separate blog that will eventually

be an easy to use resource down the line.

So click the link below to see it uses and bookmark the blog for weekly installments.

I will be posting an herb of the week every Tuesday. I find it is easy to remember things like this when you get them in small doses.

Curly Dock  ( Rumex crispus L.)

Leaves with curled edges and  course texture. They Grow 2 to 4 feet tall. The  taproot is sout with a pale yellow interior. Small green flowers bloom in summer. Dark brown winged seeds distributed by wind or water,.......

 

Monday Movie - Earth Under Water

Miami, New Orleans and New York City completely under water it's a very real possibility if sea levels continue to rise. In Earth Under Water we'll see these events unfold as leading experts forecast how mankind will be impacted if global warming continues. They'll break down the science behind these predictions and explore ways humanity could adapt, including engineering vast dams near San Francisco, or building floating cities outside of New York.

Totally Digging

Totally digging is my way of saying thanks for linking back to my page.

So today's totally digging goes out to.....

 (And show some love and click on an ad or two on their sites.)

If I missed your link send me a message on FB and I will get ya next week.

Remember people when you view a website and like or use some of the info...do a common thank you click on one of their ads. I always do!

 

Prepper Website Click Here

Prep knowledge Click Here

The Prepper Times Click Here

 Active Response Training Click Here

The Bugout Network Click Here

#Bushcraft Instincts Click Here

 #Aus Extreme Weather & Disasters Click Here

Song for this post is going to be Simple Things -Jim Brickman

 

Black oil sunflower seeds and endless cooking oil

A cheap garden filler and a great add to you prep's Black Oil Sunflower seeds. You can get these by the pounds in the bird seed section of the store (CHEAP).

These beauty's can be planted in that empty area of your yard....they even attract all kinds of birds.

But why am I telling you to plant them ....because they are a high oil seed!!!

These plant can provide you with your cooking oil for the year and after the first bag of seeds...you will not have in invest any more money in this...(always making sure to save seeds for the next crop.  

Simplest method: Fill a cloth bag with ground seed pulp and hang the bag to drain. The free run oil will flow out and the rest must be squeezed. This will not work with all seeds but I know it works with sunflowers.
This can be done by any of the following methods:

• Place heavy rocks on the materials.

• Place bags of oil seed pulp, one above another, in a box or cylinder and apply great pressure.

• Create a press with any available materials, such as wood or metal, placing the seed material in the press in layers, separating each layer, by a press cloth. Slowly apply pressure, gradually increasing pressure as oil is expelled.

• Create an expeller or continuous Screw Press by means of a rotating auger inside a closed barrel with one hole for oil drainage.

Next simplest method

• First you have to store the seeds so they dry out.

• Make sure you have not stones or foreign stuff in the seeds (This can be done by screening and washing)

• Then the hard part they have to be shelled.....yes sadly.  But if you are making oil for just you consumption it will not be that bad). I would just lay them on a flat area and gently crush them with a rolling pin and pick out the seeds.

• Then you need to grind them to get that inner shell  off. (you can use a grain mill, even a juicer, I tried it with my bullet and it worked fine.

• Next you should heat the seeds...now you do not have heat them to get the oil..but with all that hard work above you want to make sure you get every drop of oil out of these seeds that you can. Heating them up does that.

Now here is the part you have to decide do you want to buy a press.....I would hold off till you are sure that you will be using it a lot and that you will have the crop to make it worth it.

You can simply use a wooden mortar and pestle at first.  I got mine at the dollar store. And I drilled a small hole in the side/bottom part so the oil just comes out into a pan I have under it.

Some county's still do it this way with a much larger mortar

 I did come across this great diogram of how to build a larger press

Or you can again simply buy the press.







Song for this post is going to be Lenny Kravitz Feat. Drake SUNFLOWER (this is not one of my fav's of Lenny's song but what the hey figured I post it anyway. 

Fantastic Friday - Great PDF on Moonshine!

Every Friday I will be sharing a post that I came across on my journey's for the week.

One's that impress me with  information, ideas, or just a great read.

Have any suggestion message me on FB

This weeks post is by Not sure

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE 

Song for this post is going to be “Copperhead Road” – Steve Earle

Canning in a water bath

Ok so I have yet to dive into canning…mostly because the cost of all the do-da’s some to a be a bit high for something I may end up never using. But I came across this option..which seems to be a great beginner canning thing.

Note:  This kind of canning is not for vegetables or meat…it is more for jams and jellies, applesauce pickled veggies and tomatoes.  If you get good at it and want to dive into the meats and veg’s then you can do some research into pressure canning. 

First here is a great PDF on it...just in case I forgot some thing Click Here

So what you will need:

• A large Pot Click Here

• A canning rack for the pot Click Here …but you can use a folded towel in the bottom of the pot

• A jar lifter

• A canning funnel, Click Here ..But I am going to wing this what I have around the house

• And of course Jars, they sell varitiey pack on the sizes that may be a good start.

• Lids and flats also call snap lids and Rings. The nicer ones are reusable so they are the better deal but I am goning to hold off on them till I get more into it. 

Ok so lets get on with this……

Step-by-Step Guide to Water Bath Canning

• Step 1 : make sure to sanitize you jars lids and rings….If you do not have a dishwasher then you will need to boil them for 10 min.

• Step 2: place the rack or towel in the bottom on your pan and fill it till you have only 4 or 5 inches at the top (for from when you add the jars). And now bring the water to a boil.

• Step 3: Fill the Jars use that funnel…I am going with a ladle to pour my sauce in (I am doing tomato sauce) You can do jellys or pickled what ever.  (leave a little room at the top do not fill them all the way….just safer.

• Step 4: Now it is time to put flat on make sure it is centered right and press on it to make sure it is sucure. And then put the ring on…BUT make sure they are dry and make sure around the top of the jar is dry to! 

• Step 5: Time to place you jars in the water! This is where the jar lifter will come in handy.  Place slowly in because the boiling water may bounce the jars around a bit.  Try to make it so the jars do not touch because they can break each other.  

• MAKE SURE THE JARS ARE COMPLETELY SUBMERGED UNDER WATER! (at the least make sure there is water over the lips…they do not have to be cover in 10 inches of water just enough to cover them. And then cover with the pots lid. ( Now timing will all depend on what you are canning….so it is best to a recipe that will give you that.

• Step 6: Once you the time is up turn the pan off let the jars sit in the pot while the water cools a bit….this will help prevent the jars from breaking due to temp. change. Then  use your jar lifter, carefully remove the jars from the boiling water.  Tip the jars to the side to allow the hot water to drip off the top.  Then place the jar on your towel or heat-proof surface.

• Step 8:  Using your jar lifter, carefully remove the jars from the boiling water Towel pat any water that is on the top of the  jars or tip them to  the side to allow the hot water to drip off the top

• Let them be…..  Allow 12-24 hours for the jars to cool and seal.   You will hear a a popping while the  the jars seal in the cool air. The lids are getting sucked down and forming a seal to the lip of the jar.

You can remove the rings when you store the jars, it keeps the from rusting because of mostture stuck between the glass and the metal. I have left them on with no issues.  

• Last but not least make sure to store the jars in a cool dry place.

Song for this post is going to be  Canned Goods by Greg Brown