Daily Survival: August 2024

Saturday, August 31, 2024

What To Stock Up On In September

Are you ready to hear what to stock up on in September? This is the month to replenish your canned tomatoes or soups! You may also want to buy a bag or a bushel of apples to preserve for later. I love to update this post every year.

You can dehydrate some apples, make applesauce, or even pie filling. Who doesn’t love apple slices dipped in caramel? The list is neverending for apples.

The weather in September is usually not cold early in the month, but it could quickly turn cold where many of us live. It’s a great month to stock up on foods we know we will use that are marked down drastically. What a great way to save us a lot of grocery money. I call it my stock-up on soup ingredients month.

If you need to replace camping supplies or garden tools, this is a great month to look for sales.

What To Stock Up On In September

Seasonal Produce

Apples

Apples will be priced at deficient levels because the trucks are now delivering the in-season apples! If you haven’t done it before, you may want to learn to dehydrate some apples. They are one of the easiest fruits to do. Here is my post with pictures: How to Dehydrate Apples. This is my favorite Apple Peeler/Slicer.

You may want to stock up on frozen apple pies because they will be marked down with coupons or online ads. If you love making applesauce, this is the time to use freshly picked apples. Apple butter and apple juice will also be on sale.

If you want to buy apple-related products in jars or cartons, look for markdowns galore. Also, look for additional sales in your mailbox flyers on everything made with apples.

Note that with some supply chain delivery issues and drought in sections of California, although prices will be lower this time of year, they MAY not be as low as we’ve seen in years past. Do some comparison shopping to see which store has them priced the best.

Nectarines

Oh my gosh, the nectarines today were so beautiful, and when we cut into them, they were so juicy and sweet! I love buying fruit in season.

Avocados

I saw these beautiful avocados today and grabbed a few to eat on toast and some for sandwiches.

Onions

It’s a great month to dehydrate onions and make onion powder. In case you missed this post, Dehydrating Onions and Making Onion Powder, these onions were beautiful today!! Remember that onions come in various colors, so get a variety and spice up that salad or casserole.

Fresh Green Beans

If you were lucky enough to grow green beans this year, you know how delicious fresh green beans taste. When our girls were young, we had a huge garden, and one whole section had bush beans. We had them with dinner just about every night and also canned a bunch to eat throughout the winter months.

White Rice

If you can afford it, please stock up on rice. White rice can be stored for 4-5 years in an airtight container in a cool, dark location. Brown rice is only good for 5-6 months. I don’t store brown rice; it’s not worth it to me based on its short shelf life.

Pasta Boxes

Please stock pasta if your family likes it. Remember that unopened packages have a shelf life of 2 years from the date of purchase. Also, note that Gluten-Free pasta has a very short shelf-life, depending on the ingredients. Store them in an airtight container, or use your FoodSaver. Using your FoodSaver or airtight containers doesn’t change the shelf life. It’s two years from the date of purchase, or whatever the boxes state on the box ends.

Granola Bars

Granola bars are a great snack or a quick breakfast on the run. Keep in mind that they have a shelf life of 12 months or less. Please look at the boxes before you buy them. Yes, you can freeze them to extend the shelf life, but using your FoodSaver will not extend the life of these products you store on your pantry shelves.

Fresh Eggs

Today, I stopped at the grocery store and was surprised to see the egg shelves almost empty. Those of you who have chickens are so lucky! In case you missed this post, How Long Are Eggs Good For? This has been a tough year for the egg supply. I try to pick up eggs in 5-dozen packages when I can. Costco often has them available that way, but they may limit how many packages you can buy.

Labor Day Snacks like Chips and Dips

This month is great to stock up on a few bags of chips and dips your family will enjoy! College football has started in several conferences, and preseason NFL football is already in full swing. We’ll soon see MLB playoffs and the World Series, so don’t get caught short on treats. Stock up when you see these items on sale.

Don’t forget Labor Day is this weekend; we’ll get together with friends and family.

Stock Your Freezer

If you have room in your freezer, please stock it with the frozen vegetables you see on clearance. You can always dehydrate them for soups and stews later.

Wheat is still in Short Supply

I went to Costco today to look for my favorite Lehi Mills Wheat buckets. They are still not available, so we must be patient. I know it’s hard, but start saving for a wheat grinder if you don’t have one. We’ll get wheat, but I’m not sure when. If you have that wheat grinder, you can always trade grinding their wheat if they’ll share some with you.

In the last couple of years, so many people have rushed out and purchased wheat, wheat grinders, and flour without any idea how to make bread. Check my archive for several posts outlining how to use wheat and make my no-fail bread. There’s nothing like hot bread right out of the oven, especially with honey or your favorite jam.

Garden Seeds

I’m trying to expand my garden each year. I feel strongly that we need to grow our own food; we can do it. If you have access to a Farmer’s Market, that is awesome.

I purchase all of my garden seeds from this company: SeedsNow

Camping Supplies

As summer ends and schools start back up, family vacation time draws close. Stores need to clear out this summer-oriented gear, so watch for camping gear to go on sale. If you have had an eye on that tent you want, sleeping bags, lanterns, camp stoves, etc., this is the month to buy them.

You may want to give your family some camping equipment as gifts to use for vacations in the future or some emergency prep efforts. If they have any coolers left, this is the month to buy one or two. This picture will remind all of us to stock up on flashlights and batteries. My sweet friend, Harry from Texas, sent me some C and D batteries because I mentioned I couldn’t find any. I’m so thankful for my readers, like Harry, who have blessed me in many ways.

I was surprised to see folding chairs today at the store because I had heard there was a shortage of them.

Canned Soups

You will see canned soups marked down a couple of months each year. September is a great month to buy a case or two of your favorite soups. My favorite cases to buy are cream of chicken and cream of mushroom. Here in Utah, many of the local stores have case lot sales. What a great way to increase your storage inventory.

If you can’t use a whole case, split it with neighbors. You’ll all have some food storage, and you’ll save money along the way.

Canned Tomatoes

If you are low on canned tomatoes, this is the month to buy a case or two of diced tomatoes, tomato paste, or stewed tomatoes. Just think of all the soups, spaghetti, chilies, and stews you can make. Watch for coupons to purchase green chilies, too—you’ll love the savings!

Man, it feels good when I can make several meals from my pantry. With winter coming, get your slow cooker ready. Life is good when dinner is cooked in the kitchen, right?

Children’s Clothing

The department stores are clearing out the back-to-school kid’s clothing, so you may want to stock up on the sizes you will need in a few months. Summer clothes are drastically reduced but with limited supplies. The stores are preparing to stock winter apparel like heavy coats, sweaters, hats, and gloves.

So, if you can gauge the sizes you will need, it’s a great time to stock up on sandals for next year. Swimming suits will be priced down big time, so it’s a great time to snag a few sizes for next summer. I have seen some summer clothing marked down to pennies on the dollar.

You may want to consider stocking up on items you can give as Christmas gifts or for birthday parties; who doesn’t love a new shirt or blouse?

Breakfast and Lunch Items

Keep an envelope with those coupons because you will save so much money. Typically, cold cereal is on sale this month, and sometimes, with coupons, you can buy one box and get one free. Cereal is always on sale in September. If you have some coupons from your weekly mail delivery, I would use them and save even more.

The kids will return to school, so you will see bargains on peanut butter and jelly at lunchtime. Also on sale are frozen breakfast items like waffles, bagels, French toast sticks, and burritos.

Gardening Supplies

My favorite thing to do in September is to plant Daffodils or Tulips and wait for them to peek through the dirt in February or March. I love flowers!!

Watch for clearance prices on hoses, garden hand tools, gloves, grass clippers, seeds, potting soil, and pots—a lot of pots! Look around your home for damaged garden tools and replace them now.

The stores are gearing up for the holidays, including Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas decorations. This is when I buy 10-12 garden glove sets for less than $1.00 each, so I’ll be ready for some heavy-duty gardening next spring.

Grills and Meat

This is the month to replace your barbecue if you think it’s time for a newer model. The stores are clearing them out to make room for fireplace units and portable heaters.

If you need ketchup, mustard, or relish, grab them while they’re marked down. Stock up on the ones you need now and in the future. It’s a great month for a neighborhood party, with hot dogs, hamburger patties, buns, and steaks marked down big time.

You will see big clearance prices on bags of charcoal briquettes, it’s an awesome emergency fuel product! Please store them in airtight containers. I try to buy the briquettes without the chemicals since they will last indefinitely. How To Store Fuel

Personal Hygiene Products

Be sure and watch for online coupons and mailers in your mailbox. You will see great buys on toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, shampoo, and conditioner. This is the month I stock up on bars of soap, big time.

Look for everything you may need in your home for emergencies, including personal hygiene products. Stock up when the prices are at their lowest.

These items seem to last forever, literally. Hand sanitizer containers will be marked down so you may want to donate a few to your local school teacher’s stash. Let’s do our part by helping cut down the sickness this time of year.

If you can get facial tissues cheap enough, donate a box or two to your favorite school or teacher. I promise they will appreciate it. Here again, stock your Home Pharmacy and emergency first aid kits.

What to Stock Up On Each Month:

Unique September Holidays Besides Labor Day

September 1: National Cherry Popover Day
September 2: VJ Day, WWII
September 3: Skyscraper Day
September 4: Bring Your Manners to Work Day
September 5: Cheese Pizza Day
September 6: Read a Book Day
September 7: National Salami Day
September 8: National Ampersand Day
September 9: Teddy Bear Day
September 10: Sewing Machine Day
September 11: 911 Remembrance
September 12: Chocolate Milk Shake Day
September 13: Fortune Cookie Day & Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day
September 14: International Crab Fest Day
September 15: Make a Hat Day
September 16: World and National Play-Doh Day
September 17: National Apple Dumpling Day
September 18: National Cheeseburger Day
September 19: International Talk Like A Pirate Day
September 20: National Pepperoni Pizza Day
September 21: World Gratitude Day
September 22: Elephant Appreciation Day
September 23: Checkers Day / Dogs in Politics Day
September 24: National Cherries Jubilee Day
September 25: National Comic Book Day
September 26: Johnny Appleseed Day
September 27: Crush a Can Day
September 28: National Public Lands Day
September 29: Confucius Day
September 30: National Mud Pack Day

Final Word

I hope you enjoyed my post today on what to stock up on in September. It’s all about buying the items we need when they are at bargain prices. Please keep prepping, we must do it. We can sleep at night knowing we are prepared for what comes our way. May God bless this world, Linda

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Friday, August 30, 2024

What to Plant in September

While gardens start to wind down in the northern states in September, it is the perfect time to start a garden in the southern states. However, depending on where you live, autumn is the perfect time to grow some veggies that do well in cooler weather. You may be surprised at all the vegetables, fruits, and herbs you can plant in September.

I try to update this list each year so it is as current as possible. This year food prices have shown an increase, with much of the increase due to the flood conditions in the Midwest and Southeast and the ongoing drought in the West. If you want to keep a step ahead of price increases going forward, you really should consider trying to grow more of your own food, it only makes sense. This is where I buy all of my seeds: SeedsNow

How I store my garden seeds:

Plastic Photo Container and Label Maker

I highly recommend these products for your seedlings: CowPots and Organic Seedling Soil. This way you plant your seeds indoors and then place the CowPots in your garden when the temperatures are right.

Why Have a Fall Garden?

Planting crops in September allows you to continue growing and eating fresh healthy foods at home. Not only is this a great way to continue to eat your own food, but there are a lot of interesting cool-weather plants to try.

While you might miss your sweet peppers and tomatoes of summer, fall veggies offer you healthy, flavorful foods you can enjoy just as much or even more.
You also get a lot of benefits from your fall garden. Here are just a few you may enjoy:

Water your plants less. With cooler temps, you won’t have to water your garden as much. This means less sweat and cost for you.
Fewer pests. Fall offers your garden a respite from many garden pests you get in the spring and summer. That means fewer treatments to rid the garden of pests.
Frost Sweetens some veggies. While the summer heat can make arugula and lettuce bitter, frost actually sweetens their flavors.

How to Have a Fall Garden

Almost everything that you plant in the spring can be grown in your fall garden, too. Spring-sown seeds are cool-season plants. This means they can tolerate a light frost, thrive in less light, and perform best in mild temps.

Before you can get started on your fall garden, you will want to know what the frost dates are in your region. Check here to find your zone.

What is a Frost Date?

Frost dates are defined by the day on which there is a 50/50 chance of frost. You will want your plants that are planted in September to reach maturity about 2-weeks before this date to be on the safe side.

When to Plant Your Seeds

You’ll want your plants to be at maturity before the first frost. Here is what you will need to do:

Check the seed packet for maturity information.
Check your region’s frost dates. You can look up the dates by zone. See the link above to save some time.
Count back from the frost date to a suggested plant date to see when the best time to plant your garden is. Of course, this is based on how long it takes for particular plants to mature.

Give Basic Care

Just like your spring or summer garden, fall vegetables have four basic needs. These needs include:

Sunlight

You still need to make sure what you plant in September receives the right amount of sunlight. Although fall veggies can tolerate shade, you’ll want to plant them in an area where they can get quite a bit of sun as well.

Soil

No matter where you live, plants need great soil. Soil needs to be rich in nutrients and well-draining. You can improve your traditional garden with garden-specific soil. Please try adding some mulch to your soil. I buy Organic Raised Bed Mix

Water

Although you may not have to water your plants as often, you still need to water your plants consistently. A good rule of thumb is to give your plants an inch of water per week. You can use an inexpensive rain gauge to see if you need to add more water during the week.

Food

When you feel hungry, you don’t perform your best. The same is true with plants. In order for plants to flourish, whether in spring, summer, or fall, you’ll need to provide your plants with a good top-shelf fertilizer. You can also put natural ingredients such as earthworm castings, kelp, and bone meal into your garden as a needed nutrition for your plants. Quality fertilizer should be available at your local garden store. They also should be able to advise you which nutrients are best for this time of year.

Are you ready to find out what you can plant in September?

What to Plant in September

Arugula (the image below) is one of my favorite items to plant this time of year! I could eat a fresh salad every night! My dream would be to grow my tomatoes year-round. Mark and I would love to have room for a small greenhouse, but it probably isn’t in the cards.

Once you have determined when your frost dates are, it is important to know what you can and can’t plant in your region. Below, you will find out what you can plant in your region/state in the month of September.

What to Plant in September by Zone

Please keep in mind with Climate Change, or whatever, the weather has changed in the different zones. We have droughts, flooding, hurricanes, wildfires, and tornadoes. Please follow your local weather channel for temperatures.

Zones New England Region

The New England Region of the United States is the easternmost part of the U.S. The states in this region include Maine, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. This region is characterized by bitterly cold winters and semi-humid summers.

Due to the climate of this region, the vegetables that do well here in September include: (The image below is Bok Choy). In case you missed my post, Healthy Bok Choy Salad Recipe

Arugula
Bok Choy
Lettuce
Mache
Radishes
Spinach

Zones Mid-Atlantic Region

The Mid-Atlantic region is south and west of the New England States. The states in the Mid-Atlantic are New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Although the Mid-Atlantic region is quite different than the New England region, they have common climates. Some plants to consider are:

Arugula
Bok Choy
Lettuce
Mache
Radishes
Spinach

Therefore, for the most part, the same vegetables that can be grown in the New England States can be grown in the Mid-Atlantic states in September.

Zones Southern Region

States in the southern region make up the third region of the United States. These states include Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Delaware, Maryland, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. The southern region states are characterized by humid subtropical climates that include mild winters and hot, humid summers.

In September, you will want to plant the following plants:

Arugula
Beets
Bok choy
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Carrots
Cauliflower
Collard greens
Kale
Lettuce
Mustard greens
Radishes
Spinach
Turnips

Zones Midwest Region

States in the Midwest are considered Interior Plains and part of the Interior Highlands regions. The states that encompass the Midwest region include Michigan, North and South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Missouri. In the Midwest, you will find that temperatures can be drastically different from summer to winter, and the temperatures can vary from state to state.

Because of the inconsistency in temperatures throughout this region, you’ll want to check your frost dates by zip code. Plants that do well in September in this region include:

Arugula
Collard greens
Lettuce
Mache
Mustard greens
Peas
Radishes
Spinach
Turnips

Zones South-West Region

Part of the Atlantic Gulf Coastal Plain, the states in the South-West region includes Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. Most of the South-West region is an arid desert climate, so, very hot and dry.

Although the climate is very hot and dry, there are still a lot of vegetables you can plant in September. If you live in this region, you can plant the following:

Arugula
Beets
Bok choy
Broccoli (transplants)
Brussels sprouts (transplants)
Cabbage (transplants)
Carrots
Cauliflower (transplants)
Collard greens
Kale
Leeks
Lettuce
Mustard greens
Radishes
Spinach
Swiss chard
Turnips

Zones Rocky Mountains Region

This region is made up of states that run through the Rocky Mountains. States that run through the Rockies include Montana, Idaho, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and Nevada. The climate through the mountains becomes colder as the altitude gets higher. In some locations, the climate tends to be wetter than the surrounding flatlands.

Because temperatures can change in the mountains by the hour, we only have a few plants that can be planted in September. These include:

Arugula
Lettuce
Mache
Spinach

Zones Pacific Coastal Region

The Pacific Coastal Region is made up of the states that lie beside the Pacific Ocean. The states found in the Pacific Coastal Region are California, Oregon, and Washington. These states generally have a Mediterranean type of climate with rainy winters and dry summers.

You can plant the following in this region in September:

Arugula
Bok choy
Collard greens
Lettuce
Mache
Mustard greens
Radishes
Spinach

Perennials to Plant in September

Another option to consider when planting in September is perennial vegetables and fruits. Perennials come back year after year, which is a great option for those of us who don’t want to plant stuff every year. The cooler fall temperatures give the plants a chance to become established and take root. Perennials, such as asparagus and strawberries, can be planted in the fall and harvested in the spring.

Planting perennial herbs such as mint, thyme, oregano, sage, chives, lemon balm, lavender, and rosemary in September allows the plants to develop a good root system while avoiding heat stress. To find out if these plants are perennial in your region/zone, check here: USDA Hardiness Zone

What are you planning to plant in September? If you are worried about the cold, see if these Cloches (Plant Protectors) would work for you. A cold frame would work as well, depending on the temperatures you get in your area. Cold Frame

Greenhouse

How many of you have a greenhouse, big or small? I would love one. What do you like about it, does it work as well as you had hoped? Do you have to heat it? I know we need to place them where they get full sun.

What flowers are good to plant in September?

In September I always plant daffodils or tulips. Watch for the sales and get ready to sow those little bulbs! I dig the holes about 4-6 inches deep and place the bulbs in the holes and cover them with soil. Next spring you’ll see little green tips start to grow and pop up through your soil. My favorite daffodils are Lily Lent

Can I plant onions in September?

Typically you harvest onions in the fall and let them dry so you have onions year-round.

Can I use leaves to mulch my garden soil?

Fall is a great time to use a tiller or a shovel to mulch your leaves into your soil. They should break down by next spring. I highly recommend turning the leaves under your soil surface.

Clean Out Your Weeds

In the fall it’s a great time to clean up your yard and pull the weeds and debris leftover from your harvest.

Winter Squashes

If you planted some winter squash, you should be able to harvest it and let it cure over the winter to eat until you plant it next year. Winter squash has a thicker rind and therefore should last for several months. I’m talking about Acorn, Spaghetti, and Butternut squash. My mouth is watering right now, I love winter squash!

Please Check Out What To Plant Each Month:

Final Word

I hope you enjoyed today’s post on what to plant in September. There is something about digging in the earth that just makes me smile. Many gardeners don’t consider themselves as preppers, but what better way to help prepare for challenges in acquiring food than having your own garden? If you haven’t got a garden right now, consider making it part of your efforts to be self-sufficient in these challenging times.

You know when you plant those seeds, and you water them in and you wait for them to sprout, the anticipation is just fun. Life is so awesome when you start eating your harvest of healthy vegetables. May God bless this world, Linda

This is where I buy my garden seeds: SeedsNow

Copyright Images: Lettuce Growing Your Own Deposit photos_7522318_s-2019, Bok Choy Deposit photos_308249330_s-2019, Arugula Lettuce Deposit photos_130604196_s-2019, Radishes in the Garden Deposit photos_71340343_s-2019, Garlic Ready To Plant Depositphotos_225888192_s-2019

The post What to Plant in September appeared first on Food Storage Moms.

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15 Ways to Kill Weeds Naturally

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

While some weeds can be very good to have in your garden, most will steal nutrients from the soil—nutrients your plants need in order to thrive. You could try pulling them, but pulling weeds by hand is endless, backbreaking work.

All that work can be in vain because many weeds have deep roots. Oftentimes, what you are pulling is just the visible surface weed, leaving the roots intact, free to continue thieving nutrients from your crops.

Chemically manufactured weed killers can take care of your weed problem, but they may do more harm than good. Potentially harmful chemicals in popular weed killers, like those in Monsanto’s Roundup Ready that have recently provoked health lawsuits, may cause damage to the human body, beneficial insects, and the soil in your growing plots.

Using natural ingredients gives the gardener complete control over what is being sprayed on the weeds, as well as what is being infused on the plants which they'll be feeding to their loved ones after the harvest.

Most of the weed killers on this list will cost less than $1 to make, and you'll have enough to treat several large rows of weeds.

Want to save this post for later? Click Here to Pin It On Pinterest!

Top 15 Homemade Weed Killers

Baking Soda

Sprinkle baking soda directly onto weeds in the growing area. Apply liberally enough to fully coat the entire weed.

While the baking soda will not kill either harmful or beneficial bugs, it can kill or scorch plants. Carefully sprinkle directly onto the weeds on days when there is barely any wind and rain is not in the forecast.

Boiling Water

This weed killer is probably the simplest on this list, but it's really only designed to rid raised beds or container plants of weeds due to the need to heat water to boiling and then tote it to the area to be treated before it cools.

Avoid splashing the boiling water onto plants when pouring; the boiling water will kill them as quickly as it will kill weeds.

Borax and Vinegar

Mix one cup of borax with one gallon of distilled white vinegar, pour it into a spray bottle, and spray your weeds.

This one works incredibly well, but I can only use it in growing plots that neither our domestic pets nor our livestock have access to. Borax is NOT boric acid, but it is toxic to animals when ingested. That's why I often mix it with sugar to attract and kill ants and mice.

Cayenne Pepper

For this one, start by mixing two tablespoons of cayenne powder with a gallon of water. Stir until it's fully mixed, then add a teaspoon of Ivory dish soap to the mixture.

This combination works as a weed killer due to the capsaicin in the cayenne powder, which can burn and damage weeds. The dish soap enhances this effect by making the solution stick to the leaves. This method is especially effective on sunny days.

However, you have to be careful not to spray it on your garden plants.

Corn Gluten Meal

This is a pre-emergent herbicide that can prevent weeds from establishing. Spread corn gluten meal on your garden beds in the early spring before weeds germinate. It inhibits root formation in seedlings but won't harm established plants.

Dish Soap and Salt Solution

Mix a few drops of dish soap with a gallon of water and a cup of salt. The dish soap helps the solution adhere to the weed leaves, while the salt dehydrates them. Be cautious, as this can affect the soil salinity.

Essential Oil and Vinegar

Combine 1 tablespoon of either orange essential oil or clove essential oil with one cup of distilled white vinegar. Simply spray it on the weeds. But again, be sure not to get it on your other plants.

Lemon Juice

The acid in the lemon juice will kill even the strongest weeds. Saturate the entire plant, paying particular attention to the stem area when spraying.

For particularly strong weeds, mix one part lemon juice with one part distilled white vinegar. Add one tablespoon of cooking oil or any carrier oil you have on hand to make this weed killer even more potent.

Listerine and Water

Mix one cup of Listerine with one gallon of warm water and spray onto your weeds. This weed killer recipe also helps to ward off aphids.

Mulch Overlays

Though not a ‘killer' in the traditional sense, a thick layer of organic mulch can effectively suppress weed growth. It blocks sunlight, preventing weed germination, and also enriches the soil as it decomposes.

Newspaper and Cardboard

This simple gardening hack is entirely free if you are recycling (or upcycling) old newspapers and cardboard. Use a weed eater or your hands to pull the weeds and then put several layers of newspaper or a sheet of cardboard over the now vacant space. Shovel some mulch or compost on top of the newspaper or cardboard to hold it in place.

Both types of paper products will eventually disintegrate, but since both of them are quality composting materials (as long as the newspaper only has black and white ink) you are enriching your soil while protecting the crops.

Rubbing Alcohol

To do this, mix two tablespoons of rubbing alcohol with one quart of water. Then you can pour it into a spray bottle and start spraying your weeds. This works because the alcohol removes moisture that weeds need to survive.

Salt and Vinegar

Mix two cups of table salt with one gallon of distilled white vinegar. Stir and/or shake vigorously to make absolutely certain the salt has completely dissolved in the vinegar.

Spray the entire weed, especially the stem, to get rid of the unwanted wild vegetation. Caution: Salt “sterilizes” the dirt, so it is unlikely anything at all will grow in that space for an incredibly long time. Any vinegar used to kill weeds should be at least five percent acetic acid to be effective.

Vodka

This one is easy. Just pour vodka into a spray bottle, then liberally spray your weeds with it. However, make sure you do this on a sunny day. The vodka uses heat from the sun to burn the weeds. If it gets cloudy or rainy, you'll have to reapply the vodka.

White Vinegar and Dish Soap

A classic combination. Mix 1 gallon of 5% white vinegar with a squirt of dish soap. The acetic acid in the vinegar burns the weed leaves, and the dish soap helps the solution stick. This works best on a sunny day.

What Makes Weed Killer Ingredients So Powerful?

Citrus Essential Oils

Using citrus essential oils (orange, grapefruit, lime, and lemon) will help “burn” or “scald” the weeds due to the natural acid they contain and their highly concentrated nature.

Oil

Oil cannot be used alone as a weed killer, as both salt and vinegar can, but it can be a valuable component to add to any of the weed killers above.

The oil breaks down the waxy and protective coverings on weeds and allows the vinegar and salt concoctions to work far more effectively. Once the protective coatings are stripped away, vinegar or salt (or both) cannot fully saturate the weed stems and help kill the unwanted vegetation.

When oil is added to a weed killer recipe, it thickens it. While this means that using an agricultural sprayer to deliver the solution to the weeds won’t be possible, it also means the ingredients will have far less runoff.

Delivering the weed killer recipe via a sprinkling can instead a sprayer should also help prevent any unwanted splattering onto your growing groceries just a few inches away. The longer the solution remains on the weeds, the better the chances are that it will soon be a dead weed.

Salt

Common table salt has a sodium chloride base. This base ingredient is also a desiccant that will suck moisture from the stems and leaves of weeds—or any plant it touches. When vinegar and salt are combined, you usually get astonishingly rapid results.

Vinegar

There is good reason vinegar is at the base of many homemade weed killers… it works.

Vinegar alone can work just fine on some weeds, but the addition of table salt, Epsom salts, or dish soap is often needed to kill particularly difficult weeds and Bermuda grass. You can use any dish soap, but I have had the greatest success when using Blue Dawn. I also use Blue Dawn dish soap as a base ingredient for many of my garden insect killer recipes.

The reason vinegar works so well to kill weeds (and likely insect pests, as well) is its acetic acid content. Most distilled white vinegar sold at grocery stores contains three to five percent acetic acid.

Acetic acid is a desiccant, meaning it removes moisture from what it touches. This acid is also the reason it is used to preserve food. When distilled white vinegar is prayed upon weeds, it draws all of the above-ground moisture from the weed.

While the vinegar can also wreak havoc on roots, such a prime result should not be expected. If the weeds being sprayed have a wax coating or similar protective covering, a vinegar-based spray will not have as potent of an effect.

Whenever possible, use vinegar that has a 10 to 20 percent acetic acid content. While a concentration this high is usually not necessary to kill young or weak weeds, it can vitally boost your eradication efforts when treating tough and fast-growing weeds.

Apple cider vinegar can be used in weed recipes also, but it can be slightly less effective against strong weeds.

One More Tip

Always wait to make homemade weed killers when you are ready to use them. The potency of the mixtures or even single ingredient weed killers will diminish once they are exposed to air and sunlight.

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12 Sneaky Tricks to Camouflage Your Shelter in the Wild and Stay Invisible

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20 Clever Ways to Stay Connected When All Else Fails

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10 Epic Tornado and Storm Movies That Will Leave You Breathless

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Places You Should Never Hide a Gun in Your House

When living in a dangerous place, owning and knowing how to operate firearms are paramount. Anyone who has ever stared down the barrel of a gun while being unarmed will know this very well. This brings me to the next point: when circumstances call for an armed reaction, you must be able to access your […]

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Thursday, August 29, 2024

How to Stock Your Pantry

Emergencies can happen at any time and without warning. Many can be terrifying, and things can worsen if you aren’t prepared. This is why you should have a pantry stocked with food before the emergency event so that your family has something they can fall back on until your situation improves. Follow these tips to learn how to stock your pantry.

Please note I continually update posts sometimes more than once. I will add new information and change out old information because things change. The last time this post was updated was 4-5-2021. I have new readers every day and I’m grateful I can teach them new items I learn.

I call my pantry my in-home grocery store. There is something about not having to run to the store for a can of this or a bag of that. Whatever, it helps me stay out of the grocery stores. I still have to go get milk and bananas for Mark’s cereal each morning, but that’s it for most days. In case you missed this post, Cooking From Scratch 101

How to Stock Your Pantry

Are you afraid of being labeled a “doomsday prepper” like the people you see on TV? You shouldn’t. Having an emergency food pantry is pretty smart and has nothing to do with living in fear. Get to work stocking your pantry with these tips. I updated this post, which was written a few years ago, as requested by some of my readers.

1. An Established Pantry Takes Time

For most of us, we simply can’t afford to buy an entire pantry’s worth of food with only a few trips to the grocery store. It’s not a logical decision because you have other expenses to account for in your budget. Stocking a pantry takes time and planning. You need to make notes of what your family prefers to eat and how to organize things based on preferences and meal plans. I’d start with pantry staples and add to your inventory over a few weeks.

Remember that you will also be paying a lot more if you choose this route, which brings me to my next point. In case you missed this post, Canned Foods I Highly Recommend You Store

2. Look For Deals

I love a good bargain, whether it’s when I’m shopping for a new pair of shoes or when my local grocery store has an awesome sale on all of its canned goods. You can save a lot of money by waiting for those deals and then stocking up instead of buying everything at full retail.

Just try not to wipe out the entire grocery shelf by hoarding those items because that won’t be fair to other customers. Please ask your grocery store managers to have “case lot sales” if they don’t already. If we can have them here in Utah and in the surrounding states, other states should also have them. They seem to be most common in late summer or early fall. It could be they are based on harvest and related manufacturing schedules.

It all depends on supply and demand, I’m sure. You may be wondering where I put all this food, and I have some closets that I use to stock different foods. I have a small home, so that’s my life right now.

3. Only Buy What You Will Eat

You know your family better than anyone, so don’t waste your money on food your kids won’t touch, even if their lives depend upon it. Those canned mushrooms may seem like an excellent deal at the time, but if you’re the only one eating them, it won’t do your family much good. Stock your emergency pantry with foods that everyone enjoys. Get the family involved in the emergency stash shopping trips, and don’t be tempted to make impulse buys. Stick with the basics as outlined here and make the most of your food budget.

4. Keep Allergies in Mind

For those of you who have family members with food allergies, I’m sure that you take their needs into account every time you’re at the grocery store. You’ll want to do the same when creating a stockpile for your pantry so that they have something healthy to eat without allergy concerns.

That doesn’t mean you can’t still stock up on some of those food items for your other family members, but you will want to keep them in your pantry separately so there’s no mix-up. You may want to make a list of the foods you’re concerned about so if others prepare a meal when you’re gone they understand the issues.

5. Have a Variety

It’s a big deal to have a variety of foods your family can eat during an emergency. Your situation may already be challenging and tedious enough, and if all you have are cans of fruits and vegetables to hold you over, that will be one more reason for your kids to complain.

Instead, have a variety of pasta, grains, nuts, and snacks for emergencies so that you don’t end up with food going to waste.

6. Buy in Bulk

Purchasing foods in bulk makes a lot of sense for large families. It saves them money on items that their family eats a lot of and means fewer trips to the grocery store. Consider buying foods like bagged rice, dried beans, and peanut butter that you can keep in your pantry. By creating different dishes with these items, you’ll get several meals out of them. Bulk buying usually saves money, too!

I like to check how much items cost by the ounce. Sometimes we get caught up buying a certain brand or certain size container out of habit. Most stores now post not only the price but how much it costs by the ounce or pound. You may be surprised that an item you thought was pricey is actually a good deal based on its unit cost.

7. Preserve Your Grown Vegetables

You don’t have to rely entirely on the grocery store for all your emergency pantry needs. You could also preserve the vegetables you grew from your garden and enjoy them when needed.

They taste better, too! I have many tips on my blog for those of you who have never canned before. In case you missed this post, Home Canning-Important Do’s and Don’ts

Dehydrating Posts I have done:

8. Have a Rotation System in Place

Non-perishable foods may have a much longer shelf life, but that doesn’t mean they never go bad. You’ll want a rotation system to use up anything nearing its expiration date.

At the same time, you’ll want to replenish that item with more product so that your pantry doesn’t start to thin out.

One way of doing this is to keep the older dated items on the front of your shelf and, when you purchase more similar items with a new date, place them behind the older ones.

9. Stock Up on Non-Perishable Food Items

Now that you have a better understanding of some of the do’s and don’ts when stocking your pantry, you need to purchase foods that will last you a long time. Here’s a closer look at some non-perishable food items you should consider stocking up on.

Canned fruits and veggies
Canned soups and stews
Canned meats (beef, chicken, turkey, fish, etc.)
Canned or dried beans (great for chili if it’s cold outside)
Boxed pasta
Rice
Tomato sauce and paste
Vinegar
Oatmeal (as long as you have a heating method if the power is out)
Powdered milk
Spices (salt, pepper, cinnamon, sugar, etc.)
Condiments (mustard, ketchup, mayo, BBQ sauce, hot sauce)
Applesauce
Protein bars
Beef sticks, jerky
Nuts, trail mix ( keep in mind food allergies)
Peanut butter (most families with children can’t go without this food item)
Honey
Snack items: Chips, snack cakes, fruit snacks, candy, etc. (It’s okay to fall back on comfort foods during an emergency. Remember that most don’t store for very long, so you will want to rotate them out regularly.)

In case you didn’t know, I was asked to write a book called “Prepare Your Family For Survival.”

Final Word

As long as you follow these basic steps, stocking your pantry can be easy while saving you money. It also prevents those last-minute extra trips to the grocery store. Your family will also be left with one less thing to worry about if an emergency ever happens to you. What are some tips you have for stocking your pantry? May God Bless this world, Linda.

The post How to Stock Your Pantry appeared first on Food Storage Moms.

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17 Ways To Purify Water In A Survival Scenario

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

Of all the things we need for survival, water is one of the only necessities that we can only go without for a few days. In our everyday lives, water is also something that is extremely accessible, so it often doesn't get as much attention as it deserves.

However, there are plenty of scenarios, where fresh drinking water may not be so easy to acquire. When going to the sink for an unlimited supply of pure water is no longer an option, you’ll need to know how to purify water from less sterile sources.

If you know how to purify water, you can continue drinking from your tap even after the facilities in charge of purifying the water have ceased operations. You’ll also be able to purify water you collect from streams, ponds, rainfall, and more.

Below, we’ll take a look at some of the top water purification methods that you can use to ensure that you always have access to clean drinking water.

Note: As one commenter pointed out, the term “purify” isn't entirely accurate for many of these. Purifying means removing biological, chemical, mineral, and metal contamination. Whereas filtering only removes biological contamination (down to a certain size).

Many of the methods below will only filter water, not purify it. You may want to combine several methods to get your water as pure as possible, but it is still risky. If it comes down to dying of thirst and taking that risk, it's better to take the risk. Just keep in mind that none of these methods should be considered 100% effective by themselves.

1. Boiling Water

Boiling water in order to purify it is the oldest methods and continues to be the most commonly used water purification method around the world. Boiling water is completely effective at killing all living contaminants in just a few minutes. Boiling water won’t remove certain non-living contaminants such as heavy metals, but it can remove many chemicals through vaporization.

For more information on boiling water as a water purification method, check out this article.

2. Bleach

Adding a small amount of bleach to your drinking water can kill off living contaminants without making the water unsafe to drink. To purify your water using bleach, you’ll want to add 8-16 drops of bleach per gallon of water depending on how cloudy the water is and let it sit for at least thirty minutes.

Keep in mind that bleach will only eliminate living containments. It’s also important to keep in mind that bleach only has a shelf-life of about six months and will not be effective at purifying water past its expiration date.

To learn more about purifying water with bleach, check out these instructions from the CDC.

3. Sand Filtration

With the right supplies, you can create your own sand filter fairly easily. Sand filtration won’t do anything to remove microbes, but it can still clean up dirty, murky water and turn it into something that is drinkable.

To learn how to make your own sand filter, check out this video:

4. Iodine

Like bleach, iodine can be added to drinking water in order to kill off living contaminants. It takes twice as much iodine to purify water as it does bleach, and iodine is more expensive to purchase.

However, the key advantage to purifying water with iodine is the fact that mineral-based iodine has an infinite shelf life. This means that, if you put away enough iodine, you will always have the ability to purify drinking water.

To learn more about this method, check out this article which explains how to purify water with an iodine tincture.

5. Purification Tablets

Tablets designed expressly for the purpose of purifying water are relatively affordable and easy to acquire. Typically, the primary ingredient in these tablets is chlorine dioxide, tetraglycine hydroperiodide, sodium dichloroisocyanurate, though some water purification tablets are made with iodine as well.

To learn more about water purification tablets, check out this article.

6. Water Filters

One of the most effective ways to purify water is to make use of a high-quality water filter. Water filters come in all kinds of designs, from large filters that sit on your counter to portable filters that you can take with you and everything in-between. Best of all, many of these filters will last for an incredibly long time before they need to be replaced.

To learn more about choosing the right water filter, check out this guide.

7. Solar Distillation

Distilling water can allow you to remove many heavier substances such as salt and minerals from the water, which means that it is an especially effective method for making saltwater drinkable in an emergency scenario.

There are a number of ways to distill water, but you can distill water using just the energy from sunlight if you create a solar still.

Keep in mind that solar distillation won’t remove many contaminants such as microbes, so you may want to still boil the water after you distill it. To learn how to make your own solar still, check out this video:

8. Survival Straw

Survival straws are a relatively new product. However, they are quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to purify water in a survival scenario thanks to their convenience and effectiveness.

A survival straw is simply a very fine filter placed into a straw-like configuration. As you drink through the straw, the water is passed through the filter and is purified before it reaches your mouth.

There are a number of survival straws on the market, but you’ll want to purchase one that is high quality and easy to use. For that, I recommend the LifeStraw.

9. Water Bottle Filters

Water bottle filters are similar to survival straws in that the filtration system is built into the drinking receptacle. Like survival straws, water bottles with built-in filters make for a very convenient and portable water purification method.

There are plenty of water bottle filters to choose from, and they range dramatically in terms of both price and effectiveness, so it’s important to take your time and research the options that you have available. To learn more about choosing a water bottle filter, check out this article. I personally have a couple of LifeStraw Goes.

10. Solar Disinfection

Solar disinfection is considered a last resort water purification method. If you have the ability to boil your water instead, you should always do so.

In an especially serious survival scenario, though, where you need water to survive and boiling it first isn’t an option, you can use solar disinfection to make the water at least somewhat safer to drink.

To purify water using solar disinfection, all you need to do is place the water in a clear container and set it in the sun for a day or two. If the weather conditions are ideal, the UV rays from the sun can kill off many contaminants.

To learn more about solar disinfection, check out this article.

11. Activated Charcoal Filters

Activated carbon is an impressive material that is able to filter out a wide range of contaminants. While you can make your own DIY activated carbon water filter, you can also purchase activated carbon filter pumps that are designed to fit inside a backpack. These pumps make it easy to filter large quantities of water in a relatively short amount of time.

12. Ceramic Filters

Ceramic filters leverage the natural fine-porosity of ceramic material to trap sediments and pathogens. These filters come in various forms, from large gravity-fed units that are ideal for home use to smaller, portable versions perfect for outdoor adventures.

The effectiveness of ceramic filters depends on the size of the pores; most high-quality ceramic filters are capable of filtering out bacteria and protozoa, and some are even treated with silver to enhance their antimicrobial properties.

For maximum safety, it's advisable to use ceramic filters in conjunction with a disinfection method, such as chlorination or UV purification, especially when dealing with water sources heavily contaminated with viruses.

13. Stone Boiling

If you don’t have a fireproof container to boil water in, you can use a method called stone boiling to boil your water without having to place it directly over a heat source.

Stone boiling involves heating up a stone in a fire, placing it in the water, and repeating the process until the water is brought to a rolling boil.

To learn more about stone boiling, check out this video:

14. UV Light

We’ve already discussed how setting water in direct sunlight can kill contaminants thanks to the sun’s UV rays. However, making use of an actual UV water purifier is an even more effective way to purify water using UV light.

UV water purifiers are small, handheld devices that can be used to quickly kill most contaminants in a small container of water. To learn more about UV water purifiers, check out this article.

15. T-Shirt Filtration

Using your t-shirt to filter water is another last-resort method as it won’t be nearly as effective as many of the other methods we’ve covered. If you have no other option available, though, passing water through your shirt can remove many of the sediments.

If your water is especially cloudy, filtering it through your shirt before you boil it or adding chemicals to purify it can clean up the water and make it more pleasant tasting as well as safer to drink. To learn more about filtering water using only your shirt, check out this video:

16. Xylem Filter

A xylem filter is a simple yet highly effective design, making it one of the most promising water purification methods for people in third-world countries.

To make a xylem filter, all you need is a piece of flexible tubing, a chunk of pine or other conifer wood, and a little glue. Fixing the piece of the wood into the end of the tubing with the glue allows you to pass water through the tube and filter it through the wood, removing up to 99.9% of contaminants.

The only drawback to using a xylem filter is that it is a very slow way to filter water. To learn more about xylem filters, check out this video:

17. Ash Filtration

Ash from burnt wood can also be used as a rudimentary filter, especially for removing odors and improving taste. The ash acts similarly to charcoal by adsorbing some contaminants.

This method involves adding a layer of ash to a makeshift filter or directly into the water, allowing it to sit, and then filtering it through a cloth or other fine material. While this method won't make the water safe from all pathogens, it can be a preliminary step before boiling or chemical treatment.

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