If you’ve been gardening for any length of time, I’m going to go on and assume that you use compost on the regular. And if you don’t, you should! Compost is one of the very best ways to help any plant grow and thrive. Best of all, it’s darn near free to make and requires ... Read more
9 Tips to Make Super-Quick Compost (in just 30 Days) can be read in full at New Life On A Homestead- Be sure to check it out!
5 cans of beans I would stock. If you’re building a pantry that can carry you through a busy weeknight, a tight budget, or an extended emergency, canned beans deserve a permanent place on your shelf. They’re shelf-stable, affordable, rich in plant-based protein and fiber, and endlessly versatile in the kitchen. Whether you follow a plant-based diet or simply want to eat more whole foods without a lot of effort, canned beans are one of the smartest investments you can make at the grocery store, especially when building your pantry inventory and food storage stash.
How To Build A Food Storage Supply You’ll Use
Here are the five cans I would always keep stocked, why each one earns its spot, how to use them, and what nutritional value they bring to the table. You can always purchase bags of beans, but in an emergency, canned beans will be a blessing. Can Openers, one is none, and two is one when it comes to essential kitchen tools. I have manual ones, but I use this one right now. Electric Can Opener.
Why You Need Them
Black beans are the backbone of countless cuisines, from Latin American cooking to Southern American comfort food. Their earthy, slightly sweet flavor goes well with a wide range of ingredients, and their dense, creamy texture holds up beautifully in everything from soups to salads. They’re one of the most widely recognized and loved beans in the world, and for good reason. A can of black beans can become a complete meal in minutes, making them indispensable for anyone who values both nutrition and convenience.
How to Use Them
Black beans work wonderfully in tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, and enchiladas. They can be mashed and spread onto toast or used as a base for black bean burgers. Stir them into rice for a classic combination, simmer them into a hearty soup with garlic and cumin, or toss them into a fresh salad with corn, avocado, and lime juice. They also blend smoothly into dips and can be added to brownie batter for a protein-rich dessert with a surprisingly fudgy texture.
Nutritional Value
A half-cup serving of cooked black beans provides approximately 114 calories, 7.6 grams of protein, 20 grams of carbohydrates, 7.5 grams of dietary fiber, and less than 0.5 grams of fat. They’re an excellent source of folate, which supports cell growth and DNA repair. They also deliver magnesium for muscle and nerve function, iron for healthy red blood cells, potassium for heart health, and zinc to support immune function. The high fiber content promotes digestive health and helps maintain steady blood sugar levels.
Why You Need Them
Pinto beans are among the most widely consumed beans in the United States and a foundational ingredient in Mexican and Tex-Mex cooking. Their mild, nutty flavor makes them incredibly adaptable, and their naturally creamy texture means they can be used whole or mashed without losing their appeal. When you keep a can of pinto beans in your pantry, you have the makings of a satisfying, protein-packed meal available at any moment. They are economical, filling, and remarkably nutritious.
How to Use Them
Pinto beans are the traditional choice for refried beans, where they’re cooked down with fat and spices into a smooth, savory spread for tacos, tostadas, and quesadillas. They can be served whole alongside Mexican rice, added to chili, or simmered in broth with onion and garlic for a simple but deeply satisfying side dish. They also work well in soups, stews, and grain bowls. Try mixing them with smoked paprika, chipotle, and tomatoes for a quick smoky bean dish that tastes like it was cooked all day.
Nutritional Value
A half-cup serving of cooked pinto beans contains approximately 122 calories, 8 grams of protein, 22 grams of carbohydrates, and 7.7 grams of dietary fiber. Pinto beans are particularly rich in folate, thiamine, and manganese. They also provide a meaningful amount of iron, phosphorus, magnesium, and copper. The combination of protein and fiber makes them one of the most satiating foods available, supporting weight management, stable energy levels, and long-term cardiovascular health.
Why You Need Them
Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are perhaps the most versatile legume in existence. Their mild, slightly nutty flavor and firm, satisfying texture make them a natural fit in cuisines from the Mediterranean to the Middle East to South Asia. They hold their shape remarkably well during cooking, which means they can be roasted until crispy, simmered into stews, or blended into silky smooth hummus. A can of chickpeas opens the door to an enormous range of dishes and cooking techniques, and their nutritional profile is nothing short of impressive.
How to Use Them
The most well-known use for chickpeas is hummus, a creamy dip made by blending chickpeas with tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil, perfect for bread or vegetables. They’re also the main ingredient in falafel and can be tossed with olive oil and spices and roasted in the oven until crunchy for a satisfying snack. Add them to curries such as chana masala (a popular Indian chickpea curry), toss them into pasta with garlic and greens, or include them in grain salads with feta and cucumber.
Nutritional Value
A half-cup serving of cooked chickpeas provides approximately 134 calories, 7.3 grams of protein, 22 grams of carbohydrates, and 6 grams of dietary fiber. Chickpeas are a strong source of manganese, folate, copper, iron, phosphorus, and zinc. They contain moderate amounts of several B vitamins, including thiamine and B6. Research has consistently linked regular chickpea consumption to improved blood sugar regulation, reduced cholesterol levels, and better digestive health. They’re also among the more protein-dense legumes, making them a favorite in plant-based diets.
Why You Need Them
Kidney beans are built for hearty, robust cooking. Their deep red color, firm texture, and rich, slightly earthy flavor make them the ideal bean for dishes that simmer low and slow, where they absorb the flavors of everything around them without falling apart. They are the classic choice for chili and are widely used in Creole, Indian, and Italian cooking. Keeping a can on hand means you’re always prepared to add substance and nutrition to whatever meal you are building.
How to Use Them
Kidney beans are most famously used in chili con carne, where they beautifully absorb the spiced tomato broth. They are also essential to red beans and rice, a Louisiana classic traditionally served with smoked sausage. Stir them into minestrone soup, add them to a three-bean salad with green beans and cannellini, or mix them into a spiced Indian rajma curry served over basmati rice. Their sturdy structure means they also hold up well in cold pasta salads and grain bowls, where you want beans that keep their shape.
Nutritional Value
A half-cup serving of cooked kidney beans contains approximately 112 calories, 7.7 grams of protein, 20 grams of carbohydrates, and 5.7 grams of dietary fiber. Kidney beans are among the richest plant sources of iron, providing a significant contribution toward daily needs. They’re also high in folate, thiamine, potassium, and phosphorus. Their antioxidant content, including anthocyanins that give them their deep red color, supports cardiovascular health. The combination of slow-digesting starch, protein, and fiber makes kidney beans particularly effective at stabilizing blood sugar.
Why You Need Them
Cannellini beans, sometimes called white kidney beans, are the elegant choice in this list. They have a delicate, mildly nutty flavor and a buttery, creamy texture that makes them feel refined even in simple preparations. They’re a staple of Italian cooking and bring a sense of comfort and richness to dishes without heavy cream or butter. Their neutral flavor profile allows them to adapt to a wide range of seasonings, making them one of the most culinarily flexible beans you can keep in your pantry.
How to Use Them
Cannellini beans are the classic choice for Italian white bean soup, often paired with rosemary, garlic, olive oil, and crusty bread. They are essential in pasta e fagioli and make a wonderful addition to ribollita, the Tuscan bread soup. Mash them with olive oil and lemon for a creamy white bean dip, or toss them whole with sauteed greens such as kale or Swiss chard for a quick and nourishing side dish. They also work beautifully pureed into soups to add body and creaminess without dairy, and they work exceptionally well with roasted garlic and fresh herbs.
Nutritional Value
A half-cup serving of cooked cannellini beans provides approximately 110 calories, 8 grams of protein, 20 grams of carbohydrates, and 6 grams of dietary fiber. Cannellini beans are a notable source of iron, folate, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. They contain meaningful amounts of calcium compared to other beans, supporting bone health. Like all legumes, they’re cholesterol-free and very low in fat. Their high-fiber, high-protein combination promotes satiety, supports healthy digestion, and helps maintain stable blood sugar levels over time.
Black beans, pinto beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, and cannellini beans each bring something distinct to the kitchen. Together, they represent a comprehensive foundation for plant-based eating, emergency preparedness, budget cooking, and everyday convenience. They’re among the most nutrient-dense foods you can buy at any price point, providing substantial amounts of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals per serving. If you’re going to prioritize five items for your pantry shelves, these five cans should be at the top of your list.
Canned beans are one of those rare pantry items that deliver on every front. They’re inexpensive enough to buy in bulk, nutritious enough to anchor a complete meal, and simple enough to use on even the most exhausting evenings. The five varieties covered here, black beans, pinto beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, and cannellini beans, represent a range of flavors, textures, and culinary traditions that’ll keep your cooking interesting and your body well-fed. You don’t need a complicated meal plan or an expensive grocery haul to eat well. You just need a few good cans, a little creativity, and the knowledge that these humble legumes have been nourishing people around the world for thousands of years. Stock them, use them, and enjoy every bite. May God bless this world, Linda
The post 5 Cans Of Beans I Would Stock appeared first on Food Storage Moms.
Estimated reading time: 18 minutes
Knowing wild plants that are both edible and medicinal can save your life. If you are actively pursuing outdoor adventures like camping and hiking, this skill set is especially important. Part of nature-love-101 is understanding that the wilderness is unpredictable and even the most avid outdoors enthusiast can find themselves in unexpected survival situations.
Even without being deep in nature, it is helpful to know the way that nature can be your medicine cabinet and a source of sustenance.
Plantain is a common yard ‘weed’. It is so common that most people never even notice it, yet it grows in much of North America and around the world. If you don’t use pesticides at home, it may be as close as your backyard.
This plant is nutritious, but also one that can be a regular part of your first aid kit. For minor scrapes and burns, you can simply crush the leaves and apply them directly to the wound. It works best crushed to the point the leaf moisture is brought out, so this has become one that some use as a chew poultice. This may seem gross, but chewing the leaves helps draw the helpful and healing properties out and might be your best option if you find yourself in a survival situation.
The crushed leaves are an antiseptic, antibacterial agent and a painkiller that can stop bleeding and even support skin regeneration. As someone who gets topical hives a lot, I’ve stopped a trail run to apply crushed plantain to itchy skin and had relief within minutes. Rashes and sunburn can be soothed this way. Plantain can also help effectively pull foreign objects from the skin from splinters, dirt in wounds, glass, and bug bites.
Plantain’s flowers are edible and when the plant goes to seed, the seed is harvested as psyllium. Psyllium is a bulk fiber that is used to treat diarrhea and constipation in products like Metamucil. The seed heads are edible and are especially tender while the plant is young in the season.
Eating plantain is an easily harvested survival food. Young leaves in spring are tender enough to be eaten as salad. Firmer leaves later in season can be steamed, and very late in the season leaves can be used to make tea. Plantain leaves contain the mineral silica which acts as a gentle expectorant that can help cough and congestion from a common cold, making plantain tea or tincture a great sick season remedy.
Yarrow is in the Aster/Daisy family, and it is another plant that can be found in much of the world. Growing along roads and fields, it is not hard to spot. Yarrow leaves and flowers are edible, and the plant has multiple medical uses.
The leaves are a bit bitter but mixed in a salad that is less noticeable. You can add leaves to a soup or sauté. The flowers are best used in a floral tea, though you can add them to meals as well. Yarrow in large quantities can be toxic due to the chemical composition of thujone, so it is best to not make yarrow a daily part of the diet; however, it is safe in moderation. It is recommended that only white and pink yarrow flowers be ingested.
Yarrow can be used topically. It is a great plant to be aware of in case you have a significant wound while in nature because it quickly stops bleeding and helps blood clot. It is also antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory. Because it promotes healing and clotting quickly, only use yarrow on clean wounds. Dirt can be trapped in a wound and cause infection if you use yarrow on a wound that has dirt embedded because of the quick healing when yarrow is used.
You can use a yarrow leaf poultice on bruises and swollen injuries to help promote healing. Yarrow tea can help menstruation issues whether it is a heavy menstrual cycle or a lack of menstruation. It also helps sooth cramps.
Burdock may sounds familiar because the common ‘bur’ that you get stuck on your clothes from a hike or time in the woods, is from this amazing plant. Burdock is edible and medicinal, but it does often grow alongside of poisonous plants like belladonna and has look-a-likes, so be sure you’re able to identify with certainty.
Burdock roots, shoots, and leaves are all edible. Young roots are most tender and a bit like a parsnip. Mature roots can be enjoyed like other root vegetables. Burdock root provides energy through protein and carbohydrates, fiber, several vitamins, and amino acids.
The shoots are delicious prior to flowering. If you catch the shoots before they flower, they taste like an artichoke, but once a flower bud starts to form, the shoot hollows. The leaves are edible but can be tough and bitter so cooking them is the best way to eat them.
Burdock root is used in many herbal medicines, as common as your local grocery store. Burdock is a regular ingredient in many detox teas.
To reap the benefits of this plant you can enjoy the root in your diet, create a tincture, infuse foods or vinegar, make teas, or even encapsulate powdered burdock root.
Burdock is known to cleanse the liver and promote bile production, cleanses the blood, and has diuretic qualities. It promotes blood flow in skin tissues to help with conditions like eczema. It’s also anti-inflammatory and antibacterial so it is helpful to apply to skin conditions like acne, or an irritated scalp.
A dandelion needs no introduction, and while many look at it as a pesky yard weed it is much more. The entire dandelion plant is edible and very nutritious. The leaves can be added to a salad or any other dish you’d use greens, they are high in vitamin A, K, C, and E and a source of minerals like calcium, iron, folate, and magnesium. Young dandelion is the least bitter and tender to eat.
Dandelion root has been used as a coffee substitute, and really tastes just like coffee. If you’re looking to cut down on caffeine this is a beneficial way to do it, as even the root has medicinal benefits like detoxifying organs (liver, kidneys, gallbladder), offering a relief to oxidative stress, reducing inflammation, aids digestion and toxin removal.
Dandelion leaves are a natural diuretic and blood purifier.
Wild lettuce is found in the United States and much of the world. It is also known as prickly lettuce, and opium lettuce due to its pain-relieving abilities. It does not contain opium. The leafy plant typically grows on a single stem and has a milky substance inside that turns tan when exposed to air.
The leaves, like lettuce, can be eaten raw but tend to have a bitter flavor. Cooking like a sauteed green like spinach is a more palpable preparation.
The white milky sap is where the opium name comes from. This sap has sedative effects, and very effective pain relief like a morphine, or opium, but non-addictive nor disruptive of the gut. Because of the sedative effects, this is a plant to be mindful of the dose.
The sap also calms anxiety, restlessness, and helps when struggling with shock. If able, this substance is good to make a tincture to help be able to measure dosing.
WARNING: Those who are allergic or sensitive to latex may have a reaction to wild lettuce as well.
Wild violets grow in much of the United States and Canada as a perennial plant staying close to the ground from early spring through summer. Like the name suggests, they’re a purple flower. Pansies are in the same family and are edible in the same way.
The young plants are best for edible purposes. While young, the leaves and flowers are tender, though skip the roots and seeds which may make you feel queasy. As the plant matures, cooking the leaves and flowers will soften them and release some of the bitterness that acquires as the plant matures. There are a variety called sweet violets which stay a bit sweeter than the rest. The leaves and flowers contain vitamin A and C and antioxidants.
Medically wild violets have analgesic (pain relieving) and antiseptic properties to help pain and prevent infection in scrapes and burns. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and a soothing effect so it can be applied on rashes and insect bites.
The leaves have the flavonoid rutin which has anti-inflammatory and blood thinning properties. Eating the leaves can help act as a blood thinner but also help with ailments like varicose veins or hemorrhoids. Because violets are also a mild laxative, they can help hemorrhoids both by relieving the pressure and helping to relieve constipation.
Bee balm, sometimes known as Oswego Tea, is a wild plant growing in much of north America, this perennial is actually in the mint family.
The name Oswego tea developed because it was frequently used by the Oswego tribe The flowers and leaves are edible. Oswego tea is made from the dried leaves and flowers.
This natural herb should be avoided in pregnancy as it can cause miscarriage. It is an anti-spasmodic and heavy dose can cause uterine contractions. Though, this can be an herbal remedy for an absence of menstruation.
Because this plant is a mild diuretic it has been used to help reduce fever through sweating. The vapors can also open sinuses during congestion.
Bee balm is a soothing plant for minor injuries and rashes. Because it’s in the mint family, it is similarly soothing and refreshing for headaches and stomach upset.
Mullein is another common weed in much of North America, especially abundant in the eastern states. It is edible, both the flowers and the leaves, though it is most used in a tea.
Mullein is an expectorant and antispasmodic making mullein tea very helpful for conditions like asthma and sickness like bronchitis. You can also drink Mullein tea for muscles spasms or use infused oil topically on spasming muscles.
Because of the anti-inflammatory, calming affects, and anti-bacterial properties mullein-infused oil is helpful for ailments like sunburn and other inflammatory skin conditions.
Also known as sunchokes because this nutritious and medicinal edible is part of a plant in the sunflower family. They’re noticeable by their beautiful yellow flowers, but the magic is in the tuber-root that tends to resemble ginger knobs. Less starchy than a potato, but with much more protein, vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, and prebiotics.
This perennial is easy to grow and maintain. They spread, so once you find a patch it’s safe to assume that there will be more since this plant is sometimes considered invasive.
Jerusalem artichoke can help lower high blood pressure and help glucose levels in the blood. One cup contains 643 mg of potassium and 6 mg of sodium and the prebiotic fiber inulin. Potassium helps the body metabolize extra sodium, which is a common trigger of high blood pressure. Inulin helps lower blood sugar and can help reduce fasting insulin.
Inulin is a prebiotic fiber, which means that Jerusalem artichokes can help relieve constipation and promote a healthy gut. The prebiotic elements are non-digestible but ferment in the digestive track feeding the good bacteria in the gut. Also full in B vitamins, like thiamine, which helps stomach digestion.
Full of antioxidants and helpful flavonoids, Jerusalem artichokes also can give your immune system a boost and relieve oxidative stress. It is also a great plant-based source of iron and cooper which supports blood health.
Another backyard weed that is simply under-noticed and under-known for its medical properties. Spreading like a ground cover, this plant is tasty and nutritious with a great crunch when added to salads.
Purslane naturally tastes salty and a bit sour. Best when young, the leaves are crisp, but grow in bitterness through the later season. You can eat the leaves raw or cooked. The stems and flowers are also edible raw or cooked. Purslane has lots of vitamin, minerals like iron, plant-based omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants.
Purslane improves pulmonary function when eaten. For people with airway disease, or asthma, regular consumption of Purslane can help open bronchial tubes and increase oxygen levels.
There are many different types of studies that have shown an improvement to patients with diabetes who regular eat Purslane. The seed can improve insulin levels and reuse triglycerides.
Purslane (both leaves and seeds) offer cancer fighting antioxidants, but there have also been studies suggested that they have anti-cancer properties.
Anyone who has been near a pond or other wetland has seen the common cattail. The rhizome is edible whether powdered, or boiled, or steamed, like a potato. Young shoots of the plant are edible peeled and sliced. Early in spring the young plant itself can be eaten raw or cooked. The green flower spike can be eaten boiled like corn on the cob. You will remove the outer layer.
Cattails are a great natural remedy for treating skin conditions, and this includes any part of the plant. You can use the root as a poultice for burns, rashes, bug bits. The fuzzy flowers can also be used for minor injuries and skin irritation.
The lower part of the stem has a sap that can be applied for pain relief and antiseptic. This can be applied externally or taken internally. If stranded in the wilderness with oral pain or tooth ache, this is a good option for some immediate pain relief applied on the spot.
Coming across a wild strawberry is always exciting. Keep an eye on the ground in summer and it’s easy to spot the red berries that look exactly like you expect, just a bit smaller. The plant’s white flowers bloom in April and May with fruit arriving through June and July.
Seeds can be widespread by birds, and because it’s a perennial, once you’ve found them, you will know where to look the next year. It’s not just the fruit that is edible, though that might be what you much first. You can use the entire strawberry plant.
Wild strawberry leaves can be used as an astringent when applied topically. They have antiseptic and some anti-bacterial properties. You can also dry the leaves to use as a tea. The leaf tea can sooth a sore throat. Add in dried roots to the tea and it also help with stomach conditions and diarrhea. The leaves and roots are also a natural diuretic.
If you find yourself having a bout of gout, strawberry fruit is anti-inflammatory and prevents uric acid crystals from building up in the body. These crystals are what can lead to gout.
Mushroom identification can be tricky because many edible mushrooms have poisonous lookalikes. Take considerable care when harvesting mushrooms to eat or to use medicinally.
Lion’s mane mushroom gets its shaggy hair appearance that is much like a lion’s mane. This mushroom grows on dead trees like maple, oak, and beech. They grow from late summer to early fall, and they are edible and medicinal.
Lion’s mane can be eaten raw, cooked, or used for tea. The flavor is exceptional and has a texture or lobster.
Lion’s mane mushrooms are incredible for the brain. They are known to enhance memory and boost regrowth and recovery of nerve function. Patients with brain disease like dementia, Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis may use this mushroom for the brain boosting and healing support it offers. Studies have been limited, but many patients have spoken of the support they have felt in using this mushroom.
Because Lion’s Mane stimulates Nerve Growth Factor, this remedy is helpful in regenerating the Nervous System for a variety of illness and injury.
There are multiple studies that show the Lion’s Mane is a good support for treating multiple cancers. It slows and stops cancer growth, prevents it from spreading and stimulates the immune system.
Lion’s Mane Mushrooms also lowers bad cholesterol, acts as an anti-inflammatory, improves mental health, rich in antioxidants, and naturally reduce lactic acid build-up.
Turkey tail mushrooms are a wonderful medicine and incredibly medicinal, but they do have some look-a-likes. Only harvest these fungi if you have certainty or an expert to verify.
Turkey tail are nutritious with loads of vitamins and minerals but they’re tough to digest. They’re not easily chewed, and fairly empty when it comes to flavor. They’re best used dehydrated, powdered, tincture, and in teas.
Because of the nutrients and antioxidants in Turkey tail, this is an immune booster. Turkey tail also is anti-inflammatory and anti-viral.
Turkey tail is often used as an enhancement therapy for cancer patients as it boosts the immune system and helps kill cancer cells. It is also used as an immune booster commonly for patients with HIV and AIDS.
Because of the prebiotic and probiotic compounds within Turkey tail, this mushroom also helps gut issues like leaky gut and digestive disorders.
Reishi mushrooms are easy to identify, and don’t have a perfect poisonous look-a-like making this a good one to be familiar with. Like many fungi, it’s found on dead and rotting logs and stumps.
Reishi mushrooms are edible when cooked, but they tend to be bitter. In a survival situation, it’s beneficial to know that it is edible though you typically would look for alternatives.
Reishi mushrooms are an incredible anti-inflammatory medicine both inside and out. Topically they work better than many over-the-counter meds. Taking internally as a tea, powdered or tincture, Reishi mushrooms are a great anti-inflammatory for immune diseases or injury.
Rich in antioxidants, Reishi’s help relieve oxidative stress and other stressors in the body. There is long tradition, as well as current use, of Reishi mushrooms for life longevity in cancer patients. It also enhances the immune system, and is anti-tumor/cancer.
Because of the immune system boost with Reishi mushroom use, it can promote healing. It also is anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-microbial.
Originally published on Urban Survival Site.
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The post 15 Wild Edibles That Are Also Medicinal appeared first on Homestead Survival Site.
Here are some tidbits from me to you. This post covers practical war preparedness steps for everyday families: building a pantry, securing finances, making a communication plan, protecting your health, and keeping your household emotionally steady, all written from the perspective of someone who has lived through the Cold War, Vietnam War, the Gulf War, 9/11, and beyond. As newlyweds, Mark was sent to Basic Training in Fort Ord, California, in 1969, during the Vietnam War.
I’ve been alive since Harry Truman was president. I grew up practicing duck-and-cover drills in an elementary school classroom, not entirely sure what ducking under a wooden desk was supposed to accomplish against a nuclear weapon, but doing it anyway because the teacher said to. I watched the Vietnam War unfold on our first color television set. I’ve lived through more national emergencies, more moments where the whole country held its breath, than I can count on two hands.
So when people around me start asking what they should do to prepare for a potential war, whether it touches our shores or not, I feel like I have something useful to say. Not because I’m an expert with credentials on the wall, but because I have been paying attention for a very long time.
Here is what I’ve learned. Take what fits your situation. Leave what doesn’t.
The single most practical thing any household can do is build a steady, rotating supply of food and water. This isn’t about survivalist fantasy; it’s about being the kind of family that doesn’t need to sprint to the grocery store the moment something scary happens on the news.
Aim for four to six weeks of shelf-stable food that your family actually eats. Canned goods, dried beans, rice, pasta, cooking oil, salt, and whatever else is on your regular table. Rotate it: use the oldest cans first, replace what you use. Water storage matters too; one gallon per person per day is the standard guidance. I sure wish the world would realize one gallon per person isn’t going to cut it. I get thirsty just thinking about it. Please store four gallons per person per day. Let’s get real, you want clean underwear, water to provide hydration, water to do your cooking, and we need to maintain proper personal hygiene?
A manual can opener is not optional. Neither is a battery-powered or hand-crank radio. Manual Can Opener and Battery-Powered Radio or Hand Cranked Radio.
Buy a little extra food each week rather than doing one large panicked purchase. This is calmer and cheaper, and it means your pantry grows organically without drama.
“A prepared family doesn’t look like chaos. It looks like a full pantry, a written plan, and people who know what to do.”
This is the step most people skip, and it’s one of the most important. Know where your vital documents are. Birth certificates, Social Security cards, passports, insurance policies, medication lists, health records, account numbers, all of it should be in one place you can grab quickly, ideally in a waterproof bag or a fireproof box. Waterproof Bag
Make digital copies and store them somewhere accessible, a secure cloud folder or a thumb drive kept with a trusted family member in another location. If you have ever tried to replace a birth certificate in the middle of a crisis, you know why this matters.
While you’re at it, review your finances. Carry a small amount of cash. ATMs go dark in emergencies. Credit card systems go offline. A few hundred dollars in small bills tucked somewhere safe isn’t paranoia; it’s the same logic as keeping a spare tire in the trunk.
Be Prepared for a Hurricane + Free Printable Emergency Binder Contents
When I was raising my children during the Cold War years, we had a plan. Everyone knew it. If something happened and we got separated, we had a meeting place, a backup meeting place, and a phone number for a relative in another state who could act as the family relay point.
That structure still works. Designate an out-of-area contact; someone in a different city or state, whom everyone in your household knows to call if local lines are jammed. Agree on two meeting places: one near home, one farther away if the neighborhood is inaccessible. Write it down. Put it in every person’s wallet or phone case. Children old enough to read should know it by heart.
Don’t assume your cell phone will work. Texts often go through when voice calls can’t. Know the difference, and have a backup.
If you take prescription medications, talk to your doctor about keeping a small emergency supply. Many physicians will work with you on this, particularly for maintenance medications. A 30-day buffer can make an enormous difference if supply chains are disrupted or pharmacies are overwhelmed. 90 days is even better.
Keep a written list of every medication, dosage, and prescribing physician in your emergency documents. If you wear glasses, have a backup pair. If anyone in your household uses medical equipment, understand its power requirements and have a plan for outages.
First aid supplies are basic and often overlooked: bandages, antiseptics, over-the-counter pain relievers, a thermometer, and any allergy medications your family needs. Know how to use what you have.
In most scenarios, including economic disruption, localized conflict, civil unrest, and even certain natural disasters, staying in your own home is the safest option. Know which room in your house would serve best as a shelter space if needed: interior rooms away from windows are generally recommended. Know where your utility shutoffs are. Understand your home’s vulnerabilities. 4 in one Tool and Carbon Monoxide-Natural Gas-Propane Detector
If evacuation ever becomes necessary, know your routes. Have two planned. Understand where you would go and how long it would take to get there. Fuel your car when it reaches the halfway mark rather than waiting for the low-fuel light; gas stations have lines during emergencies.
I raised children during some genuinely frightening times in this country. What I learned is that children aren’t protected by ignorance; they’re protected by calm, honest adults who give them age-appropriate information and something useful to do.
Tell them the truth in words they can manage. Reassure them that adults are paying attention and taking care of things. Give them a small job: filling the water jugs, knowing the meeting place, and helping organize the pantry. Children feel safer when they feel capable.
Limit the news that plays in front of young children. You’re allowed to turn it off. In fact, you should.
Every serious crisis I have lived through has confirmed one thing: neighbors matter. The people on your street are your first line of mutual aid. Know who among them is older, who lives alone, who has young children, and who has medical needs. Check on them. Let them check on you.
Community isn’t a soft word; it’s a survival strategy. In every disaster I’ve read about, and some I’ve witnessed, the neighborhoods that fared best were the ones where people already knew each other before anything went wrong.
This is the one nobody wants to talk about, so I will. Watching frightening news around the clock is not preparedness; it’s punishment. It doesn’t make you more ready. It makes you more anxious, more reactive, and less capable of clear thinking.
Set news limits for yourself. One or two check-ins a day from reliable sources is enough to stay informed. The rest of your day should still include meals with people you love, work that matters, sleep, some form of movement, and whatever makes ordinary life feel like life worth living. Don’t sacrifice those things on the altar of constant vigilance. They’re the whole point.
I’ve lived through genuinely terrifying moments in history. We are still here. The thing that got families through hard times wasn’t perfect information or perfect preparation; it was steadiness, practicality, and the decision to take care of each other. That’s still the whole game. Start Small. Start today. A full pantry and a written plan are worth more than any amount of worry.
I’ve lived through a great deal in my 76 years, and if there’s one thing I know for certain, it’s this: the people who come out the other side of hard times are not always the strongest or the wealthiest or the best equipped; they’re the ones who had adequate preparations, stayed calm, stayed connected, and took care of each other. That’s what I’m asking you to do. Don’t wait for the worst to happen before you start paying attention. Get your house in order, check on your neighbors, hold your family close, and don’t let fear dictate your decisions. You have more in you than you think. We all do. Thank you for reading, and thank you for caring enough to prepare, not just for yourself, but for the people around you who are counting on you to show up. Now go do something about it and help others do the same. May God bless this world, Linda
The post If We Have A War: Tidbits From Me appeared first on Food Storage Moms.
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
If you've been gardening for any length of time, you've probably heard the term companion planting. It's simply the practice of growing certain plants together so they can help each other thrive.
Some plants repel the pests that plague their neighbors. Others attract beneficial insects that do things like pollination and eating pests. Some plants improve the soil, others provide shade for smaller plants, and a few can even improve the flavor of plants growing beside them.
Done right, companion planting can help you minimize pests, prevent disease, and use your garden space more efficiently. The best part is how easy it is. You don't need any skills or experience. You just need to know which plants to put together.
In this article, we put together a list of the 10 best companion planting combinations to start with. These are all tried-and-true pairings that are popular, proven, and easy for any gardener to pull off.
As carrots grow, their roots naturally loosen and aerate the soil around them, which is great news for pepper plants, whose roots thrive in well-drained, breathable ground. In return, pepper plants provide light shade that helps keep the soil cool and moist, which carrots appreciate during the heat of summer.
There's a pest-control benefit here too. Carrots attract beneficial insects like parasitic wasps and lacewings, which prey on the aphids and spider mites that love to target pepper plants. It's a great partnership that keeps your soil healthy and pests to a minimum.
If you've ever struggled with poor cucumber or squash yields, the problem might be a lack of pollinators. Sunflowers are one of the best pollinator magnets you can plant, drawing bees and other beneficial insects to your garden in large numbers. When planted near cucumbers or squash, that boost in bee activity can make a big difference in your harvest.
Sunflowers also pull double duty as a living trellis and trap crop. Vining cucumber plants will naturally climb their sturdy stalks, freeing up ground space and improving air circulation. At the same time, sunflowers tend to attract aphids, drawing them away from your cucumbers and squash before they can do real damage.
Lettuce is one of the easiest vegetables to grow, at least until summer hits. As temperatures climb, lettuce bolts quickly, turning bitter and going to seed before you've had a chance to enjoy it. That's where tomatoes come in. By planting lettuce at the base of your tomato plants, you give it the shade it needs to stay cool, slow down bolting, and extend your harvest window by several weeks.
The benefits go both ways. Lettuce acts as a living mulch around the base of your tomato plants, helping the soil retain moisture and suppressing weeds that would otherwise compete for nutrients. Tomatoes are heavy feeders, so anything that helps keep their root zone cool and weed-free is a win. If you don't have tomatoes, this same strategy works beautifully with other tall plants like corn, sunflowers, or pole beans.
If you've never grown borage, this combination might be the perfect excuse to start. Borage is a fast-growing, easy-care herb with beautiful star-shaped blue flowers that pollinators absolutely love. Plant it near your strawberries and you'll notice a significant uptick in bee activity, which translates directly into better pollination and bigger, more abundant fruit.
Beyond pollination, borage offers some solid pest protection for your strawberry patch. It's known to repel tomato hornworms and a number of common strawberry pests, helping to keep your plants healthier throughout the season. Borage also has a habit of self-seeding, meaning once you plant it, it tends to come back year after year with very little effort on your part.
Cabbage, kale, broccoli, and their brassica relatives are some of the most pest-prone garden plants. Cabbage worms, aphids, and cabbage loopers can devastate a brassica bed in a hurry if left unchecked. That's where dill earns its place in the garden. Dill is a powerhouse at attracting predatory and parasitic wasps, which are nature's own pest control, laying their eggs inside cabbage worms and effectively eliminating them before they can do serious damage.
The best part is how effortless this combination is to pull off. Dill is one of the easiest herbs to grow from seed, thrives in the same cool-weather conditions that brassicas prefer, and doesn't compete aggressively for nutrients or space. Just scatter a few seeds along the edges of your brassica bed at the start of the season and let it do its thing.
One important note: Once dill matures and begins to flower, it can actually have a negative effect on some brassicas, so plan to succession-sow small amounts throughout the season to keep young dill growing alongside your crops.
Carrots and onions are one of the most time-tested companion planting combinations in the garden, and for good reason. The strong scent of onions confuses and repels carrot flies, which locate their host plants primarily by smell. Meanwhile, the feathery, pungent foliage of carrots returns the favor by masking the scent of nearby onions from onion flies. It's a mutual defense system that nature essentially built for you.
Beyond pest control, carrots and onions make practical neighbors because they don't compete with each other underground. Onions are shallow-rooted bulbs that occupy the upper layer of soil, while carrots push straight down into the deeper layers, so they're essentially working in completely different root zones without getting in each other's way. They also share similar growing conditions, preferring well-drained, loose soil and plenty of sun.
Roses are beloved by gardeners everywhere, but they come with a well-known downside: they're magnets for pests and disease. Aphids, Japanese beetles, and fungal problems like black spot can take a gorgeous rose bed and turn it into a frustrating battle almost overnight. Garlic is one of the oldest and most reliable natural remedies for all of these problems. Its pungent sulfuric compounds repel aphids and beetles on contact, and its antifungal properties have been shown to reduce the spread of black spot and other common rose diseases.
What makes this pairing even better is how little effort it requires. Garlic is one of the most undemanding plants in the garden. Just plant it in fall and let it quietly go to work all season long. It stays low to the ground, so it never competes with your roses for sunlight or space, and it actually makes a tidy, attractive border around a rose bed.
Nasturtiums are one of the most effective trap crops, and cucumbers are one of their greatest beneficiaries. Aphids and cucumber beetles are drawn irresistibly to nasturtiums, pulling them away from your cucumber plants before they can do any real harm. Instead of spraying or picking pests off your cucumbers by hand, you let the nasturtiums take the hit, then deal with the pests on one concentrated plant rather than scattered across your entire bed.
What makes this combination so popular is that nasturtiums have almost no downsides. They grow quickly from seed, thrive in poor soil, require virtually no maintenance, and produce edible flowers and leaves that are a peppery, colorful addition to summer salads. They also attract pollinators, which gives your cucumber plants an extra boost when it comes to fruit production.
These two have been grown together for centuries, and the reasons are almost too numerous to count. Basil's strong aromatic oils are known to repel some of the most common tomato pests like aphids, whiteflies, and tomato hornworms while also attracting pollinators that help your tomato plants set fruit. Many gardeners swear that basil improves the flavor of tomatoes grown nearby.
Beyond the pest control and flavor, this combination is just incredibly practical. Tomatoes and basil thrive in the same conditions, which means caring for them together is no more work than caring for either one alone. Basil stays compact and low-growing, so it never shades out your tomato plants, and it fits neatly between or around the base of your tomato cages.
Few companion planting combinations in history can match the Three Sisters. This legendary trio, corn, beans, and squash, has been grown together by Native American peoples for centuries, and it remains one of the most famous and popular companion planting methods in the world.
What makes it so remarkable is that it isn't just a pairing of two plants that happen to help each other. It's a complete, self-sustaining growing system where each plant plays a distinct and essential role. Corn grows tall first, providing a natural trellis for bean vines to climb. Beans fix nitrogen from the air directly into the soil, continuously feeding the heavy-feeding corn and squash throughout the season. And squash spreads its broad, sprawling leaves across the ground, shading out weeds, retaining soil moisture, and deterring pests with its prickly texture.
Together, these three plants create something that none of them could achieve on their own: a balanced, productive, nearly self-managing garden bed that feeds the soil as much as it feeds the gardener. Whether you have a large garden plot or just a modest raised bed, planting the Three Sisters is one of the most rewarding experiments you can try. You can learn more about it in this article.
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