A Prepper Mandate - Inventory and Organization

What's the difference between a prepper and a hoarder?  Inventory and organization of course!  A preparedness lifestyle requires copious amounts of "stuff", both inside and out.  Pantries overflow with foodstuffs, cupboards are packed to the brim with medical supplies, batteries and radio equipment.  Sheds, barns and garages are filled with tools, vehicles, fuel and every manner of odds and ends that may come in handy "when the balloon goes up". 

One problem that plagues most preppers is organization.  With so much stuff taking over their lives, they struggle to contain it all.  We have found the key to preparedness is painstaking organization.  I regularly inventory and organize everything we have so that in the event of an emergency I can lay my hands on whatever is needed  - immediately.  Really, if you can't find something, you may as well not have it.  

Glove in two sizes

PPE at the ready

Trays for quick access

Recently I inventoried and organized our medical supplies.  Because we live in a small "shouse", I use every square inch to the best of my ability.  In an ongoing attempt to make our shouse work for us I rearranged our bathroom and added a 4 x 6 foot shelving unit to hold all of our medical equipment and, for now, our radios and batteries.   

Our new shelving allows us to organize medical supplies in labeled tubs for easy access and also allows for larger bulk storage.  Within easy reach we have oral hygiene and fever reducers, along with allergy medicine and cough drops.  We have personal protection equipment (gloves, face shields and surgical masks), cold packs, elastic bandages and co-flex, in addition to betadine, alcohol and gauze.  All of the tubs are labeled and easily accessible.  

Tubs of necessities

Easily accessible for every member of the family

Larger bulk items

The shelves go on and on....

Newly rearranged space

As I organized, I also took an inventory of what we had and what we needed.  With young children, we still go through more medical supplies than I care to admit, and never seem to have enough band aides or co-flex.  I've found that taking inventory once a year generally maintains our standard of readiness.  Every spring I inventory medical supplies, followed by food stores in the summer and fuels in the fall.  Every winter I inventory seeds and gardening equipment.  This constant schedule of inventory and organization keeps us well supplied and ready for whatever may come our way.

We keep a trauma tray in the table in the living room.....

For everyday emergencies!

Ultimately, your preps are only as good as their location - if you can't find it, you may as well not have it.  Inventory and organization will not only save you time and money, it may well safe your life.

Renaissance Medicine

As I mentioned a few posts back, I spent the early part of last week sick.  Really sick.  In fact, I don't remember the last time I felt so poorly!  In fact, I didn't get out of bed for almost two days!  Two days!  That, my friends, is a first for me.  Ever.

I noticed, a few days before I succumbed, that my legs were sore.  Weird.  I didn't give it much thought and just got on with life.  By Saturday afternoon, was feeling pretty run down, but not ill, so I retired early, hoping wake up refreshed and rejuvenated.  It was not to be.  Instead of sleeping well, I tossed and turned, alternating between fever and chills, but worse than that, my muscles were on fire and my joints ached.  By two in the morning, nausea had forced me out of bed and to my knees on the bathroom floor. 

The rest of the night was a blur of fever and pain, nausea and chills.  By the time the sun shone through our bedroom window, I was too ill to get out of bed.  My fever rose throughout the day, barely kept in check by Ibuprofen.  All I could think of was "Ponderosa Plague" - the name I had come up with for an illness that had been sweeping through a small town to the south of us.  It had dreaded connotations.  The Ponderosa Plague had a fierce reputation, keeping people home from work for upwards of three weeks at a time!  It had even infected a young man at the butcher shop where Master Hand Grenade worked - keeping him home for more than two weeks.  And when he returned he was pale and weak and not fully recovered.  My symptoms matched those infected with the Ponderosa Plague perfectly.  I had to do something drastic!

The first day (Sunday) I was unable to even get out of bed, much less keep down any home remedies.  By Monday, I was still feverish and achy, but I did get out of bed long enough to have a half a glass of our homemade Elderberry wine (which was a feat - I hate wine!).  Back to bed I went, to spend another night tossing and turning with pain and fever.  Tuesday morning I slept in, enjoying my first pain-free hours in two days.  After I got up, I decided to go on as long as I could without Ibuprofen (for the fever) and it was my intention to at least do some basic school with the children.  Not only did I go all day with no fever, I finished school with the kids, did three loads of laundry, helped make dinner and baked a batch of cookies! 

That evening, I settled in with another glass of Elderberry wine (yuck!), spent a blissful night of sleep and resumed my normal schedule the next day.  Two days of sickness, one day of recuperation and the Ponderosa Plague had been defeated!  Amazing!

A number of years ago the kids and I spent time learning to identify local plant life.  We researched local edibles along with plants that had medicinal value.  One of the medicinal superstars that we found living in our back yard was the humble Elderberry bush.  Elderberry bushes are plentiful in our area and produce both flowers and berries that are edible.  The bark and the seeds, however, contain cyanide and therefore are NOT beneficial for human (or animal) consumption.  Many of my friends harvested Elderberries every fall and made and canned juice from the berries, which they kept specifically for treating colds and flu's.  Following their lead, Sir Knight and I decided to experiment with Elderberry wine.  Our reasoning was, that if used for medicinal purposes, the alcohol in the wine would encourage much needed sleep and therefore speed up the recovery process.

There is plenty of anecdotal evidence to support the use of  Elderberry concoctions in the treatment of colds and flu's, but until recently, nothing clinical.   As of January 2006, Retroscreen Virology, a leading British medical research institute, associated to Queen Mary College, University of London, announced that Sambucol (made with Elderberry) was at least 99% effective against the Avian Flu Virus, H5N1, and in cell cultures significantly neutralized the infectivity of the virus.  Studies conducted in Israel have shown Elderberry to be THE key ingredient in flu-fighting Sambucol.  In fact, their unique formula was tested on patients during the Israeli flu epidemic of 1992-3.  The results were amazing.  Within 24 hours, 20% of the patients taking Sambucol had dramatic improvements in symptoms like fever, muscle aches and pains and coughing.  By the second day, 73% were improved and by day three, 90%.  In the untreated group, only 16% felt better after two days.  The majority of that group took almost a week to begin to feel better.

Just to be clear, I don't believe there is any one cure all.  But, I do think that God gave us so many things right in our own back yards to heal and strengthen our bodies.  He gave us every good thing! 

Elderberry wine has been a great gift to our family.  Sir Knight and I have made Elderberry wine every fall for the last number of years.  We have supplied our family and friends with a large supply so they will be well guarded against a potential epidemic.  We also keep a healthy stock on hand - just in case.

Prayer, followed by Renaissance Medicine, and the Ponderosa Plague is but a memory!

Best Cough Syrup Ever!

 

Recently Princess Dragon Snack developed a lingering cough that had the nasty habit of disappearing during the day only to appear with a vengeance the minute everybody was safely tucked into bed.  Water didn't help, cough drops didn't help and even lemon-honey tea didn't stem the tide of the constant coughing. 

Finally, in a late-night desperate attempt to get some sleep, I mixed up a cough syrup concoction that I found on the internet (tweaked to include ingredients I had in my kitchen).  Within minutes, I had a warm, spicy-rich syrup ready for Dragon Snack's consumption.  I gave her a spoonful, which she loved, and waited hopefully.  Dragon Snack coughed and coughed a few more times, but within 5 minutes her coughing ceased.  I sent her to bed expecting to be awoken by coughing in short order only to wake in the morning with the realization that Dragon Snack had not coughed.  Once.  All night! 

Dragon Snack didn't cough all the next day.  Before she went to bed, I gave Snack another spoonful of cough syrup, tucked her in and didn't hear a cough all night.  This went on for a few days and then one night I forgot to give her the syrup.  Just about the time we all drifted off, the coughing started.  I called Dragon Snack down, gave her a spoonful of syrup and sent her to bed.  Another 5 minutes of coughing ensued and then blissful sleep.

Slowly warming the honey, oil, vinegar and water

Since then, Master Calvin has developed a similar cough and I have been giving him a nightly dose of the syrup.  He too coughs for a few minutes and then settles into a comfortable sleep.

We are sold.  As far as we can tell, one spoonful of syrup lasts for 24 hours!  We did, on one occasion, give Snack two spoonful's of syrup in a 24 hour period, but that was during a particularly bad spell. 

With the spices added

The difficult part seems to be keeping the kids out of the syrup until they need it.  They love the way it tastes!

As winter closes in and the cold season descends upon us, I will be sure to have a supply of the Best Cough Syrup Ever in my fridge!

Best Cough Syrup Ever
2 T Olive Oil (or Coconut Oil)
4 T raw Apple Cider Vinegar
4 T raw Honey
2 T Water
1/2 tsp. ground Ginger (fresh would be better)
1 tsp. Cinnamon
2 tsp. Lemon Juice (or 3 drops of lemon essential oil)

Combine the oil, apple cider vinegar, honey and water together in a small saucepan and heat very gently and slowly until just melted and combined.  Shut off heat.

Add in the ginger, cinnamon and lemon and stir to combine.

Dosage:  Adults 1 T as needed.  Children 1 tsp. as needed.

This syrup can be stored at room temperature for a few days or in the refrigerator for a few weeks.

 

Preparedness Essentials - Ebola

Recently, I received an email from a reader asking me to blog about Ebola (thanks Don - just what I wanted to write about!).  It is a subject that I have stayed away from because, quite frankly, it is a terrifying prospect.  And really, there are no good answers.  In spite of all of that, we are preppers, and I know that it is always prudent to asses risks and prepare for potential threats - and so, I present Preparedness Essentials - Ebola.

There is one, critical, preparedness essential, that if neglected, renders every other precaution useless and without effect.  That essential is a strong, living, personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Without preparing your soul for eternity, every other preparation you make is of no consequence.  Make no mistake - Jesus is your only salvation.  Preparing for Ebola has everything to do with your soul and little to do with your body.  Without your soul your body is nothing.

WHAT IS EBOLA
Now, on to the nuts and bolts.  Ebola is a virus that causes hemorrhagic fever.  It is hallmarked by severe bleeding, organ failure and most often, death.  Ebola is native to Africa and lives in host animals such as fruit bats, monkeys, chimps and other primates.  Scientists believe that Ebola is transmitted from infected animals to humans via bodily fluids such as blood (during butchering), eating infected animals and coming into contact with animal waste.

HOW EBOLA IS TRANSMITTED
After contracting Ebola, it is further transmitted through direct contact (via broken skin or mucus membranes) with blood, secretions (snot, spittle etc.), organs or other bodily fluids of an infected person.  Not only are the bodily fluids infectious, so are any surfaces (clothing, beds, tables, the ground) that have come into contact with infected fluids.  Ebola remains infectious on dead bodies, rendering the care of the dead risky behavior.  A man who has contracted Ebola and recovered can still transmit the virus through his semen for up to 7 weeks after recovery.  There is no evidence that Ebola is transmitted via insect bits.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF EBOLA
Signs and symptoms of Ebola manifest within 5 to 10 days of infection.  Early symptoms include fever, severe headache, joint and muscle aches, chills and weakness.  Basically, Ebola's early symptoms are those of a really bad flu.  As the disease progresses so do the symptoms.  These increasingly severe symptoms include nausea and vomiting, diarrhea (may be bloody), red eyes, raised rash, chest pain and cough, stomach pain, severe weight loss, bleeding (usually eyes), bruising and internal bleeding.  People near death may bleed from other orifices such as ears, nose and rectum. 

As Ebola progresses, it can cause multiple organ failure, severe bleeding, jaundice, delirium, seizures, coma and shock.  If a person does recover, the recovery is long and arduous.  Survivors may experience hair loss, liver inflammation, weakness, fatigue, headaches, eye inflammation and testicular inflammation.  It may takes months to regain strength and weight.

CONTAINMENT
Immediate and complete quarantine is essential if there is suspected exposure to Ebola.  If exposure is confirmed (or even suspected) personal protection equipment (PPE) needs to be immediately deployed.  PPE includes non-latex gloves (up to 3 pair at a time), surgical mask, eye shield or goggles and a clean, non-sterile long-sleeved gown (or Tyvek suit).  Along with PPE, basic hygiene rituals must be maintained, which include stringent hand-washing, respiratory hygiene (putting surgical mask on infected patients as well as potentially infected people), and safe burial practices.

Caring for the dead is another critical aspect of containment.  The dead must be immediately buried or cremated.  If buried, the body must be encased in at least two body bags and buried in a deep grave (away from any water source).  Any personal items such as clothing, pillows, linens - anything that came in contact with the infected person must either be buried with the person or burned.  The people tasked with caring for the dead must practice rigorous personal hygiene throughout the burial or cremation process.  For their own protection, they must wear 3 sets of gloves, masks, goggle, coveralls and boots.

TREATMENT
There are no drugs currently available for the treatment of Ebola.  Supportive care includes pain and fever management (pain relievers and fever reducers, ie. Tylenol, Ibuprofen, etc.), providing fluids (oral rehydration fluid - can be administered with a baby bottle if required), providing oxygen, replacing lost blood (if possible), treating secondary infections. *

Specific treatments include:

NAUSEA, VOMITING, DIARRHEA

Oral Rehydration Fluid I 
1 liter (quart) boiled water
1 tsp. salt
8 tsp. sugar
1 mashed banana (for potassium) if available.  Otherwise substitute potassium chloride (salt substitute).

Before adding the sugar, taste the drink and make sure it is less salty than tears.

Oral Rehydration Fluid II
1 liter (quart) boiled water
1/2 tsp. salt
8 heaping teaspoons of cereal (finely ground maize, wheat flour, sorghum, or cooked and mashed potatoes).

Boil for 5 to 7 minutes to form a liquid gruel or watery porridge.  Cool the drink quickly and start administering. 

Caution:  Taste the drink each time it is used to be sure its not spoiled.  Cereal drinks can spoil in a few hours in hot weather.

* To either drink add Potassium Chloride or a half a cup of fruit juice, coconut water or mashed, ripe banana.  This provides potassium, which may help the person accept more food and drink.

COUGH
Constant hydration.  Hot drinks.  Chicken soup (which has anti-viral properties).

FEVER

• Put the person in a cool place.
• Remove Clothing.
• Fan patient.
• Pour cool (not cold) water over patient or put cloths soaked in cool water on chest and forehead.  Fan the cloths and change often to keep them cool.
• Give plenty of cool (not cold) water to drink.
• Administer medicine to bring down fever.

If a person with a fever cannot swallow the tablets, grind them up, mix the powder with some water and put it up the anus as an enema or with a syringe without the needle. **

Treatment for Ebola is limited.  Make sure that you know the symptoms and be prepared to treat each individual symptom.

The medical aspect of Ebola is sobering, but there are other things to consider as well.  If nobody in your family contracts Ebola, but it has reached the North American continent, you'll want to quarantine your own family.  The requirements for such an action are many.  Be sure to have adequate food, water and other basic necessities.  Make sure that you have alternative sources for cooking, heating and waste disposal (in the event public services are temporarily interrupted). Maintain an adequate emergency medical supply cabinet, complete with personal protection equipment, medicines and more importantly, medical knowledge. 

Ebola is a threat, along with so many other things in this world.  We don't have to be afraid, just prepared. Prepare to the best of your ability, but put your faith and hope in Christ alone.


* Information gathered from WHO International and the Mayo Clinic.
  **  I am not a doctor!  Please see your personal physician for specific treatment options!

Bee Venom Therapy - Pain Relief from Your Own Back Yard

We have raised honey bees for a number of years, keeping them specifically for pollination and their wonderful honey crop.  They are incredible creatures, industrious and gentle - perfect homestead companions.  They are so docile that one summer when Master Calvin was just a little lad we found him flat out on his tummy intently looking into a mud puddle in front of our shouse.  Upon further inspection we realized that it wasn't the puddle that held his interest rapt, rather it was the honey bee that he was gently stroking with one tiny finger as it sipped a bit of water.  The bee didn't sting him, she just flew away when she was properly hydrated (and he had finished petting her).

For years I have had intermittent sciatic nerve problems.  Generally it is not bad, just a bit achy from time to time, but one spring, while playing on the teeter-walker with the children, I injured my sciatic nerve to the point that I was immobile.  I had never been in so much pain in my life!  After numerous trips to the emergency room and various doctor visits, I was scheduled for surgery.

Although the surgery was very successful, I was more than a little hesitant to begin the prescribed pain pill regime.  I have read account after account of people suffering from intense pain only to have a successful surgery and then become addicted to the pain killers.  I didn't want to become such a statistic.  And so, we went in search of another answer.

Smoking the bees

One evening, as we were discussing various methods of pain relief, Sir Knight recalled a television show he had seen while visiting my parents.  He remembered very little about the show, other than the elderly woman they were interviewing had survived hundreds of bee stings after knocking down her back-yard bee hives while mowing her lawn.  Almost as an aside at the very end of the show, she mentioned that the hundreds of stings had been terrible, but, on the positive side, she hadn't suffered from arthritis since.

Hearing this, Maid Elizabeth went to work.  She began to research bee stings and their effects on arthritis.  Suddenly, she stumbled upon a whole new (to us) method of pain management - Bee Venom Therapy.  It turns out that BVT is practiced frequently in Europe and many practitioners carry portable bee hives from appointment to appointment, stinging patients for any number of ailments.

After doing a bit of research, we decided to give it a try.  What sold me?  Actually it was a combination of anecdotal evidence and scientific research.  Most of the people I read about had proclaimed BVT to be nothing but helpful, in some cases curing them, and the science involved seemed to support their conclusions.  Bee venom contains Mellitin, and anti-inflammatory that is 100 times stronger than Cortisone!  It also contains Adolapin, which is also an anti-inflammatory and pain blocker.  Bee venom is also said to increase blood circulation and reduce swelling.

Very lethargic girls

Our research indicated that the most effective place for stings coincided with acupuncture points.  Because I had already had surgery, we decided to sting on my lower back, on either side of my surgical scar.  I have to admit - we had no idea what we were doing.  We certainly had no one to ask!  What follows is our basic method of administering BVT.  REMEMBER:  We are not medical experts.  We have no scientific data backing up our findings.  We are nothing more than simple country homesteaders who would like to take care of ourselves and our family members.  Here goes....

• About 1/2 an hour before being stung, I took 2 ibuprofen (just to dull the sting a bit - not necessary). 
• I then iced my lower back (over my scar) for about 20 minutes.  
• While I was icing, Maid Elizabeth scooped up a few bees (about 4) from our hive, put them in a jar (with air holes poked in the lid) and put the jar in the freezer.  The bees become lethargic when they are cold and it is easier to capture one to use - they don't try to fly away when you take the lid off the jar.  
• When the bees were ready and my back had been properly iced, I laid on my stomach while Maid Elizabeth capture a bee with a pair of tweezers.  Holding the bee (stinger side down) next to the scar on my back, Maid Elizabeth gently squeezed the bee.  In the process, the bee responded by stinging me.  Leaving the stinger in, Maid Elizabeth stung me again on the other side of my scar.  If you look at a honey bee stinger closely, you will notice a little venom sack on the top of their stinger.  The venom sacks pulse, delivering their venom, for about 10 to 15 minutes.  
• I lay still until both venom sacks quit pulsing, after which Maid Elizabeth removed them with her tweezers.

That's it!  The area around the sting burned slightly and raised a small welt that got rather itchy.  I noticed a lack of pain almost immediately.  I DIDN'T TAKE ONE PAIN PILL!  I had no pain.  None at all.

My surgery was over 5 years ago.  I have had twinges of pain (and I mean twinges) about 3 times since then.  Each time, I've asked Maid Elizabeth to fetch a couple of "the girls" and sting me.  Each time, I have gotten up with NO pain.  None!  I, my friends, am a true believer.

Pulling a frame

Do I think BVT will work for everything?  Of course not.  Do I think it will work on everyone?  Nope.  Do I think it worked for me?  Without question.  I do know that a woman in our church was hunched over with chronic sciatic nerve pain.  She had had at least 3 surgeries and finally decided she would just live with the pain.  Watching her in agony every Sunday was terrible, so finally I mentioned BVT and what it had done for me.  Within the week she way laying on my couch with two bee venom sacks pulsing into her sciatic nerve.  Within the hour she was standing upright (which she hadn't done since we'd know her - over a year) and within a week she was asking how to keep bees of her own.

My understanding is that BVT is just beginning to emerge in the United States as a viable medical procedure.  Apparently there have been tremendous results for MS patients using BVT.  It has become more common to use BVT for the treatment of arthritis.  And, it is indicated for patients suffering from sciatica (go figure!).

If you are interested in homesteading, preparedness, survival or simple homemade medicine then you shouldn't be without your own hive of bees.  I know that having "the girls" in my backyard means so much more to me than simple pollination or sweet honey - it means living without pain.

NOTE:  If you decide to try BVT, make sure you have a sting kit on hand and  or an Epi-pen.  1 to 5 percent of the population is allergic to honey bee venom.

Apple Cider Vinegar - Good for What Ails You

Years ago we had a neighbor (he was rather old and crotchety) who was a master farrier.  He took a shine to Maid Elizabeth and offered to trim and shoe her horse's hooves in exchange for her doing odd jobs around his homestead.

One day, as Elizabeth was filling feed bunks with hay I watched as the farrier filled buckets with grain. Into the feeder he dumped a scoop of steamed oats, followed by a half a scoop sweet feed.  On top of that he poured a ladle full of amber colored liquid.  Never having seen anyone feed their horses quite like that before, I asked what he had poured over the feed.  He looked up at me, one eyebrow raised and said "its apple cider vinegar".  He might as well have added "you dummy", but he just shook his head instead.

I didn't want to seem foolish, but I just couldn't let it go.  I had to know why he fed his horses vinegar.  And I was REALLY interested to see if they ate it!  Well, I didn't have to wait long to find out if vinegar was offensive to the horse palate - they ate it right up, just like it was a bucket full of molasses grain.  I hesitated a moment and then blurted "why did you feed them vinegar?"  Master Farrier rolled his eyes, sighed and said "it's a dewormer, of course".

I wasn't about to ask him any more questions, but I did tuck that nugget of information away for further research.  Although I have never come across any "scientific" evidence that ACV (apple cider vinegar) works for deworming, the web is full of anecdotal evidence which goes far beyond treating animals for worms and includes fly control, skin/coat problems and anti-bacterial solutions.

I became even more intrigued with the amazing properties of ACV when I read about spraying it on weeds to eradicate them.  We have a problem with thistles and hawk weed and although commercial weed killer will kill them, the hawk weed especially, always seems to come back the next year.  Eager to put the vinegar to the test, I poured some (full strength) into a spray bottle and sprayed both hawk weed and thistle plants and waited to see what would happen.  It took about 4 hours to notice any difference.  At first, the plants just looked a little poorly.  After 4 hours they looked positively droopy.  The next day....both the thistle and the hawk weed were shriveled up masses.  Some of the larger plants required another spraying the next day before they succumbed to the ACV, however, everything I sprayed the vinegar on gave up the ghost - eventually.  I didn't do a mass spraying of all of the invasive plants in my 30 acre yard simply because I didn't have enough vinegar, however, it really does keep the weeds down in my little garden areas.  And I would prefer to use ACV over commercially produced weed killer any day.

Ready to strain and rebottle

As if I wasn't sold on ACV already, I came across a little book called "Folk Medicine".  It was written by an old country Doc in Vermont back in the '50's by the name of D.C. Jarvis, M.D.  Dr. Jarvis spent a lifetime treating rural Vermonters and, being equipped with an inquisitive mind, began to notice a connection between the use of ACV in his patients and their overall health.  His book is chock full of both anecdotal and scientific evidence as to the efficacy of ACV in not only promoting good health but also treating sickness and disease.

Just for the record, I do not believe that Apple Cider Vinegar (or anything else, for that matter) is a cure-all or a miracle drug.  I think it works great for some things and not for others.  I think it works differently with different physiological make-ups.  That being said, I think ACV is an absolute requirement for any homesteader/prepper/survivalist.  I think the list of its benefits it too long for one small blog post and its potential uses are beyond measure.  The fact that you can make it in your kitchen, in sufficient quantities to keep your animals healthy, your family healthy and your weeds unhealthy is merit enough to make it worth your while.

Here is the best part of all.  Apple Cider Vinegar is a snap to make.  There are numerous methods of making vinegar - simply Google it and find the method that is most convenient for you.  I made ACV last fall, after partaking in a friends apple cider pressing.  My method of ACV is possibly the most simple and the most effective.  I started with 6 gallons of fresh apple cider.  Although we originally put all of the cider into a 6 gallon carboy, to make ACV we poured it into 7 (1) gallon jars (leaving room to stir).  We did strain the cider as we poured it into the gallon jars to get most of the big apple chunks out, so that the ACV would be a little clearer.  After putting the cider in the jars, we put a bit of "mother" into each jar of cider.  The "mother" is the icky looking stuff that floats at the bottom of the apple cider vinegar that you buy at the health food store (Bragg's).  It almost looks like a human organ, a big flat matt of a thing - but, this is the good stuff!  My "mother" came from a friend who had made her own vinegar the year before.  She just separated a big clump from her "mother", put it into a pint jar and sent it home to become my "mother".  There is no measurement required for your "mother".  I just divided the "mother" that I had (it turned out to be about 2 T per jar) between the 7 jars of cider and called it good.

Gallons of ACV at the ready

Apple cider vinegar needs all of the good stuff floating around in the air (yeast) to get good and frothy and strong.  Rather than putting lids on my cider I cut pieces of cheesecloth, placed them on the jars and secured them with big rubber bands.  I set the jars on the shelf in my kitchen and let the "mother" and the yeast do their thing.  Every so often, I would take the cloth off the tops of my jars and give them a stir.  I should have done this every week, however, I got to it about every three weeks.  It didn't really seem to effect the vinegar.  The jars sat on my shelf for about 3 months when I noticed that the liquid was starting to evaporate.  At this point I taste tested it (wow! - it was super strong vinegar).  I strained the vinegar out of the 1 gallon jars (making sure to save the "mother) and bottled it in more manageable bottles.  The "mother" I put in a liter jar and covered with apple cider vinegar and put in a cool place.  It will wait there until next fall when I make another batch or until someone needs a bit of "mother" for themselves.

At this point we have no large animals to feed ACV to, however, we do have children.  Every morning, the kids and I line up for our glass of apple cider vinegar (just a bit of vinegar in the bottom of a glass filled with water).  It is an invigorating way to start the day!  Although not a miracle cure, ACV comes pretty close!

What's old is New

For the last couple of decades, we have rested easily in the knowledge that we had virtually eliminated most serious childhood illnesses.  No longer did we contend with Measles, Mumps or Rubella.  Whooping Cough, Scarlet Fever and even Polio has been relegated to the pages of history.  We rejoiced in our modern medicine, knowing we would never have to watch our children suffer the ravaging effects of these wasting diseases.  And then, just as we were beginning to forget even the names of our old enemies, they began to strike anew.

The CDC has just issued a warning indicating that we may be in for the worst Whooping Cough epidemic since 1959.  Now I know everybody has differing opinions as to the "why" of the recent resurgence of childhood illnesses (most believing that the un-immunizited population is at fault), but I would like to offer another theory.

As our family slogged through the Whooping Cough last fall, I had a lot of time to think about our situation and the possible causes of our predicament.  As I looked for immunization patterns in the people we knew who had the Whooping Cough, I was astonished not to be able to find any.  One family (with quite a number of children) came down with the illness.  Half of their children had been immunized and half of their children hadn't (personal choice).  Interestingly, three of their un-immunized children contracted the Whooping Cough and three of their immunized children also fell ill.  The other three children where not immunized and did not contract the disease.  The mother (who was immunized) had a terrible case (and in fact relapsed) and the father (also immunized) did not contract Whooping Cough.  The immunizations appeared to play little to no part in whether the person came down with Whooping Cough.  Interesting.

Our family was very similar.  Roughly half of us had been immunized and half had not.    One of our immunized people had the worst case of all and two of our un-immunized people had a very mild case.  Again, interesting.  Another thing to note is that we contracted Whooping Cough from some dear friends children, who had, in fact, both been immunized.  They were quite ill for months and one even developed Pneumonia.

As I nursed my family through this horrible illness, I thought a lot about the current resurgence of previously eradicated diseases.  One thing, in particular, struck me that I think is worth consideration.  In the case of Whooping Cough (Pertussis), the disease is caused by a bacteria - Bordetella Pertussis.  We know, from the fact that antibiotics become useless from improper and excess use, that bacteria can overcome our modern interventions, rendering them useless and in turn, the bacteria becomes more resilient.  That being the case, wouldn't it stand to reason that, perhaps, these crafty little bacteria have found a way around our defenses?  Couldn't they have adapted to our immunizations, gotten stronger and redoubled their efforts?  

Obviously I am no medical researcher or great scientific mind.  My theory may be so far off base as to not even be in the ball park, but, to this little country girl it seems to be just plain, old common sense.  

So, what to do.  Being the Chief Medical Officer in our family (also known as Mother) I am educating myself on various childhood diseases, learning to recognize the signs and symptoms of disease, storing equipment and medicines needed for diagnostics and treatment and preparing to care for my family in any number of medical emergencies.  Does that mean that I have all of my bases covered?  No.  I wish.  There are so many uncertainties in life that it is impossible for me to know everything and be prepared for every eventuality.  I do know that dealing with the Whooping Cough made me more aware.  It made me unspeakably thankful that I had put pen to paper and came up with "The Prepared Family Guide to Uncommon Diseases".  It made me want to further educate myself so that I can properly care for my family.  It made me realize that our old enemies haven't really been vanquished, just pushed into hiding, quietly gaining strength.

A few things we learned from our Whooping Cough experience;

• Early diagnosis is key.  The quicker you get a nose swab (yuck!) and are prescribed antibiotics, the less severe the illness.  The swab is only effective in diagnosing Pertussis in its early stages, when the disease it too far progressed the swab will give a negative test.  Although the disease will still run its course, the coughing will be greatly reduced with antibiotics.
• Fluids, fluids, fluids.   The mucus buildup with Whooping Cough is horrible.  Constant fluids are essential in thinning the mucus, making it easier to expel.
• Changing positions (from horizontal to vertical) causes massive coughing.  We found that propping our patients up (almost vertically) while they slept significantly reduced their cough spells.
• Support your coughs.  Sir Knight had particularly violent coughing spasms - violent to the point of breaking two ribs.  We came to know that placing a pillow around the front of Sir Knight's chest and having him wrap his arms around it while coughing, supporting his diaphragm, greatly reduced the rib pain and may very well have kept him from breaking ribs had we begun the support earlier.
• Pneumonia is a very common complication of Whooping Cough.  Regularly taking onion syrup and drinking lots of water (reducing mucus) will help tremendously.
• Cold air triggers coughing spasms.  Months after our bought with Whooping Cough a blast of cold air would double us over with coughing fits.
• Take it easy during recovery.  After such a long illness, you will be winded and exhausted - expect this and prepare for a long recovery.

Being forewarned is being forearmed.  Educate yourself.  Prepared.  Take the precautions that you deem necessary.  Just don't be caught unawares.  What was old seems to be new again.

After Action Report

As you know, last week Sir Knight, Master Hand Grenade and I were pin cushions for Maid Elizabeth and her classmate as they practiced starting I.V.'s for their Advanced EMT course.  Well, the practice paid off and I am pleased to announce that Maid Elizabeth is now an Advanced EMT (also known as an EMT-I) and is qualified to intubate and administer intravenous fluids, among other things.

Maid Elizabeth is in the process of trying to finish all of her qualifications to become a CPM (Certified Practical Midwife) and may be heading off to Northern California to complete her training.  In order to take her CPM test, she must have attended 20 births (she has attended well over 50), been the primary midwife at 20 births (she has been primary at 17) and have 4 continuities, which means she needs to have conducted prenatal visits, been primary midwife and conducted a post natal exam with the same client (she has had 3 continuities).  So close, and yet so far!  Without having her CPM she cannot accept clients, but without accepting clients, she can't get her CPM!  And so, she has been in touch with a midwife in California that is extraordinarily busy and is in need of an apprentice for a  month or six weeks.  If she were to work with this midwife, she would be able to finish her requirements and test - finally.  I'll keep you posted on her progress.

I am excited for Maid Elizabeth to finish her training, however, I am also somewhat apprehensive.  Our healthcare is changing.  What was legal yesterday may not be legal tomorrow.   When Maid Elizabeth began her training, I thought she would use it to help ladies rediscover the intense, beautiful bond between mother and child.  Now, I wonder if perhaps she will use her training to bind the wounds of the remnant and ease the path of the dying.

What have we done....

Off-Grid Autoclave

One of the greatest advancements of modern medicine came with the invention of the autoclave.  Historically, more people died of infection than died from medical intervention itself.  Knowing that the sterilization of surgical instruments, suture needles and cord cutters is of paramount importance, we decided practice this skill now, before we are confronted with the need in less than desirable circumstances.

The first thing that we required were sterilization pouches.  Not only are the pouches necessary for sterilizing, they provide a sterile field once the instruments are opened.  We bought our pouches through a medical supply house, however, they are available on-line.  They come in different sizes, depending on your needs.

After gathering our equipment (shears, rubbing alcohol, sterilization pouches and pressure canner) we did an initial sterilization by submerging the shears in rubbing alcohol.  (Alcohol will sterilize an article for up to 24 hours, but requires additional sterilization after that time has elapsed).  Once the shears had been dipped in alcohol, they were slid into the sterilization pouches and the pouches were sealed.  The next step is the actual autoclaving process.

Dipping the shears in rubbing alcohol

Slid into the sterilization pouch and sealed

A non-electric autoclave is little more than a pressure canner with a basket in it to keep the instruments from being submerged in water.  In fact, the best non-electric autoclave on the market is manufactured by All-American Canner Company!  Because we don't have an actual autoclave (darn!) we used our All-American canner (that we sterilized per the instructions in "A Book for Midwifes".   We put the canning rack on the bottom of the canner, with a pie pan on top of that (to raise the instruments up and out of the water) and topped that off with a second canning rack.  Once the second rack was placed in the canner, we set the pouches of shears on the rack, screwed down the lid and started heating the canner.  First, we evacuated the steam for about a minute, flipped the steam relief valve down and began building pressure.  An autoclave works at higher temperatures than required for typical pressure canning, so we allowed the pounds of pressure to settle in at 20 pounds (the book says that it can be anywhere from 15 to 20 pounds of pressure).  We autoclaved the shears for 20 minutes at 20 pounds of pressure.

Pouring water into the autoclave....errr, pressure canner

Inside the autoclave

Process for 20 minutes at 20 pounds of pressure

The guys were a little concerned with the pressure, hence the helmets

Removing the pouches from the canner

We allowed the canner to cool down and removed the lid.  Although somewhat moist (we will use even less water next time), the process worked perfectly.  We are certain that if we ever have to live a worst-case-scenario lifestyle, we will most certainly need to know how to sterilize surgical instruments.  Practicing now will enable us to perform our duties quickly and efficiently when the need arises.

With a few basic items, autoclaving in an off-grid setting is easily accomplished.  Although none of want to think of having to perform medical techniques outside of a hospital setting, it is comforting to know that in a pinch, we can. Sterilizing your equipment increases your success rate exponentially - now is the time to learn.  With a little knowledge and a pressure canner, you too can make your own off-grid autoclave.

I.V's, Madeleines & Pasta, Oh My

Never a day goes by that isn't filled with necessary things.  Today brimmed with busyness (how can it not when you have five children?) and we had to run to keep up.

Maid Elizabeth is finishing her advanced EMS course and she and another student needed a few more I.V. starts in order to qualify to take the test.  We offered our veins to science and so we spent our teatime having needles inserted into our arms.  In anticipation of our working afternoon, Maid Elizabeth and I prepared tea treats and dinner early in the day.

Madeleines (a delectable French cake/cookie) were the chosen delicacy to accompany our afternoon tea.  They are light and buttery and altogether wonderful.  They are a specialty of Maid Elizabeth and a favorite of Sir Knight's.  She mixed them up late in the morning and allowed them to sit in the refrigerator until she was ready to bake them.  They turned out perfectly!  As we sat with tourniquets on our arms sipping tea, we nibbled on rich, warm Madeleines, lightly dusted with confectioners sugar.  Perfect.

Madeleines ready to go into the oven

Freshly dusted with Confectioners Sugar

Madeleines
1/2 C butter
1 C flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
3 large eggs (at room temperature)
2/3 C sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Melt butter and allow it to cool while you make the batter.

In a small bowl, place the flour, baking powder and salt and whisk until well blended.  Beat eggs and sugar until mixture has tripled in volume and forms a thick ribbon when the beaters are lifted (about 5 minutes).  Add the vanilla extract and beat to combine.

Sift a small amount of flour over the egg mixture and using a large rubber spatula, fold the flour mixture into the beaten eggs to lighten it.  Sift the rest of the flour over egg mixture and fold in, being sure not to overmix the batter or it will deflate.

Whisk a small amount of the egg mixture into the melted butter to lighten it.  Then fold in the cooled, melted butter in three additions.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or several hours, until slightly firm.

Position rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375°.  Generously butter two 12 mold madeleine pans.  Dust the mold with flour and tap out the excess.

Drop a generous tablespoonful of the batter into the center of each prepared mold, leaving the batter mounded in the center.

Bake the Madeleines for 11 to 13 minutes, until the edges are golden brown and the centers spring back when lightly touched.  Do not overbake these cookies or they will be dry.

Remove the pans from the oven and rap each pan sharply against a countertop to release the Madeleines.  Transfer smooth side down on wire racks to cool.  Dust with confectioners sugar to serve.

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Maid Elizabeth getting "flash"

Another Advanced student

After tea and an I.V., we sent our guests home with fresh, warm loaves of French Bread and began dinner preparations.  Pasta is one of our favorite summertime meals.  We especially love homemade pasta smothered in olive oil and garlic with plenty of vegetables thrown in for good measure.  My best high school girlfriend invited us to dinner years ago, and treated us to the most incredible pasta dinner we had ever enjoyed.  She is an American, who married an Australian, who was originally from Italy.  Jen spent summers with her husband's family, in Italy, cooking with his grandmother and eating Gelato.  She made a vegetable sauce that was to die for and a balsamic vinaigrette that was absolutely unparalleled.   Sir Knight and I adapted her sauce to our own tastes and now it has become our family's favorite.

French Bread getting ready to go into the oven

Adding chicken bouillon to the sauteed chicken

Adding the onions and green peppers (we left the tomato out this time)

Dousing in Olive Oil

Jen's Pasta Sauce
Saute chicken in olive oil on medium/high heat. Add a dash of chicken bouillon.  Add garlic, saute.  When chicken is sufficiently cooked, add onions (1 whole), green pepper (1 whole) and tomatoes (use fresh or 2 cans of Italian tomatoes, including the water).  Add olive oil to almost cover the veggies.  Simmer until vegetables begin to get tender.  Add Italian Seasoning and salt and pepper to taste.  Serve over fresh, hot pasta.

Ingredients for fettuccine

Kneading the dough

Gathering the dough into a ball

Covered with a damp paper towel

Through the pasta machine it goes

Getting longer

Cutting into Fettuccine

Fresh pasta awaiting the pot

Pasta
1 1/3 to 1 1/2 C flour
1/4 tsp. salt
2 large eggs
2 tsp. olive oil

Pour the flour and salt into a mound on a kneading surface or board.  Make a well in the center and break the eggs into it. Gradually draw the flour into the eggs with a fork and beat lightly.  You can add olive oil at this point.  Continue until the flour has absorbed all the egg.  Work in a little additional flour if the mixture is exceptionally moist, but don't overdo it.  If you are not sure about the amount of flour to add, push your finger into the ball of dough as far as its center.  When you pull it out, it should feel somewhat sticky, but not moist.  If it feels moist, work in a little more flour.

Let the dough rest for a few minutes to give the flour a chance to absorb the liquid.  Cover the dough with a damp towel and let it rest for at least 10 minutes but up to 30 minutes.

Lightly dust the pasta with with your hands and flatten it out with your hands.  Put in your pasta machine and flatten and knead until the dough takes on the consistency of suede.  At this point you can begin to adjust your machine one notch at a time until you have the right thickness for the pasta you are making.  Cut, boil and serve.

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Because we like this sauce so well, we actually plant a garden and can produce in accordance with Jen's recipe.  Every fall, we harvest (or buy, if our garden has failed) pounds of tomatoes, onions and green peppers.  We dice them all into bite sized pieces, mix them together and pressure can the mixture in quart jars.  We use this tomato, onion and pepper mixture for everything from pasta sauce to a soup base to salsa.  It is so incredibly versatile that we would hate to be without it.  We don't add any spices before canning so that we can tailor it to whatever we happen to be making.  Italian spices go into the pasta sauce, Mexican spices go into salsa and so on.

And now we close an eventful day, tummies full of good food and arms full of needle pricks.  What a fulfilling life we live.