Understand Best By Dates

Stop throwing away perfectly good food! Here's your cheat sheet to what's still good—and what needs to go.

Confused by “best by,” “sell by,” and “use by”? You’re not alone. In fact, a Harvard University study found that more than 90 percent of Americans throw away perfectly good food due to label confusion—resulting in 398,000 tons of food waste each year. Because, as it turns out, those eggs with a sell-by date don’t suddenly turn rotten at midnight.

Understand what those labels really mean. “Sell by,” “use by,” and “best by” are actually all dates determined by the food manufacturers, and they’re the manufacturers’ best guess as to food quality—not food safety. Basically, they indicate how long a food producer will guarantee their product will still be at peak quality to enjoy.

And there’s no governmental authority policing how those dates are used—though Congress has tried (and failed) to pass legislation in recent years to try to standardize this labeling and clear up the confusion. Depending on the product and how it’s been handled, it is likely perfectly safe to eat for days or weeks after that sell-by, use-by or best-by date has passed. Check out which foods you might be throwing away too soon.

Ignore the sell-by date. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, “the sell-by date is literally just for the stores themselves,” so the manufacturer can let them know when a product may be past its prime and need to be taken off of store shelves. (Again, it may still be perfectly tasty and perfectly safe for long past that date.)

Inspect your food. You can usually tell quickly when a product’s gone bad—there’s mold on the bread, or the milk smells sour. “Check the quality of the specific product by smell, taste, if it’s visually okay, if there’s no mold or discoloration,” says Stacey Antine, MS, RDN, founder of HealthBarn USA. Keep in mind that bad things can “happen even before the use-by or sell-by date,” especially if it’s a perishable food that may have spent time at an unsafe temperature. See which foods you should definitely toss by the expiration date.

Stop the clock. Have food that you know you won’t finish before it might go bad? Just chill. “If you are getting close to the indicated date…put it in the freezer,” Antine suggests. “It sustains the product, extends its life, and reduces food waste.” Next, read on for 50 more secrets food manufacturers won’t tell you.

To read the original article, visit Readers Digest HERE

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Happy Children

At this point it seems the evidence is overwhelming—new studies seem to arrive on our desks each week that suggest simply spending time in green spaces can improve our health, both mentally and physically. As avid outdoors people, we instinctively know that, but it’s always nice to have science confirm our suspicions. And recently, researchers from Aarhus University in Denmark published yet another study about the outside/good health connection that may provide the most conclusive evidence yet. Getting outside, walking around, hearing the rustle of trees, feeling the wind on our face, the rain on our backs, the sun on our skin—the more we do that as kids, the happier we are as adults, their study suggests. And this was one heck of a study.

From 1985 until 2013, the researchers combed data from one million Danish residents. They looked at everything from income to educational level, history of familial mental illness, as well as how much green space surrounded where the residents had grown up. Because they had so much data to work with, the researchers were able to try and control for socioeconomic factors—kids who grow up wealthier probably have more access to green space, for example. Yet even factoring those discrepancies in, researchers found that being raised surrounded by nature as a child meant a 55 percent lower incidence of developing mental health issues as adults. Even better, it seemed that the more time children spent in nature, the better as far as mental health outcomes were concerned.

If we were talking about a new medicine that had this kind of effect the buzz would be huge—these results suggest that being able to go for a walk in the park as a kid is just as impactful.

The researchers were able to use satellite data to examine how much green space surrounded the residences of the subjects in the study. It was as simple as noting that kids who grew up in areas surrounded by more visible vegetation meant better mental health outcomes as adults. Wilderness, public parks, even urban green spaces, it didn’t seem to matter. The ramifications could be massive for future city and regional planning.

“There is increasing evidence that the natural environment plays a larger role for mental health than previously thought,” said Kristine Engemann, who led the study. “Green space seemed to have an association that was similar in strength to other known influences on mental health, like history of mental health disorders in the family, or socioeconomic status.”

What the study can’t show, however, is why this should be the case. Is it simple proximity to trees and vegetation? Or is it likely that kids who had access to more natural environments were more likely to be outside, getting excercise, perhaps doing so in groups and forming strong social bonds that they carried with themselves to adulthood? Maybe spending time in nature taught self-reliance, resilience, patience.

Or could it be that something in nature speaks to us in a way that won’t show up on a scientific study? Doctors are prescribing nature walks for patients to help with chronic physical ailments. Mountain biking groups are healing mental illness sufferers. Surfing is a very real salve for veterans with severe PTSD and physical ailments. It probably shouldn’t be so surprising that growing up in a natural environment would also have powerful health benefits.

Perhaps there’s simply a real physiological connection to being more in tune with the natural world. It’s certainly something we feel when camping, when in the middle of the sea, when scaling a mountain peak, or even when lounging next to a lake.

“If we were talking about a new medicine that had this kind of effect the buzz would be huge,” said Kelly Lambert, a neuroscientist at the University of Richmond. “But these results suggest that being able to go for a walk in the park as a kid is just as impactful.”

 JR NOTE:  Look at a Red/Blue Political map and you can clearly see that people in large over populated cities vote (and think) differently from those who live in the country.

Great article from www.adventure-journal.com 

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Pandemic Scenario

Modern Science has brought about significant medical advances during our life time, with many more being studied.  While our scientific knowledge is at the highest level in history, we also realize, that so is our level of ignorance. The more we learn, the more we realize how much we don't know.  For every question answered, many more are raised. 

Today, Flu Vaccines are becoming mandatory in public schools, for hospital workers and many other places.  Often however, these people still get the flu. So why is it so critical to force everyone to take the vaccine?  They are the ones who will feel bad, so it should be their decision. If the vaccine works, then they won't infect those who do get vaccinated, so what business is it of theirs.

This is usually the time people start preaching about the poor children who get the flu and suffer because of their parents choice and the CDC Estimates that somewhere between 37 to 172 children die each year from the flu.

IF mothers loose their choice on flu vaccines, should pregnant women also loose their choice on abortion? 

Should it be required for women seeking abortion or on welfare having children to get sterilized so it doesn't happen again?   

How far does it go?

But we haven't gotten to the worst part yet.  What happens when everyone is taking the vaccine and it gets contaminated with something bad like AIDS, intentionally or accidentally?  

Would a radical Islamic suicide bomber contaminate our vaccine intentionally? Of course they would.

What happens when the flu vaccine mutates like in the show I am Legend? where the measles virus was used to create a cure for cancer, but mutated causing deadly & highly contagious side effects.

According to the World Health Organization, AIDS is the worst Pandemic in modern history, with over 70 million deaths.  This is far less than abortion which has claimed over 1.72 Billion.  The problem with AIDS, is that the patient can be infected for 5-10 years before they even realize they have it, while infecting others.

What would the AIDS fatalities soon become if the MANDATORY flu vaccine was contaminated for 5-10 years? NOW we are getting to the bad part when Americans begin to die from AIDS at record numbers.

But the survival rate of AIDS is improving.  So instead of AIDS, suppose the Flu Vaccine is infected with something worse, that kills people after 2-3 years when everyone would have taken it.

Americans have just become extinct to save 37 to 172 children per year. Low probability, yes, but extremely high severity. 

In a country where the citizens are supposed to be free, we should educate the public as to the benefits of vaccines AND to the risk of getting and not getting the vaccine.  The risk will be shocking. We must present both sides accurately and let informed people make up their own mind. 

If you have been vaccinated, and it works, why should you care?

Being exposed to common illness and developing our own natural immunity will enable us to over come disease and help our species to survive.  Granted there are things like Polio and Small Pox that may require a vaccination, but these were rare exceptions that everyone was eager to get treated for.

God Bless America, land of the free, home of the brave.  Lets keep it that way.

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Sewer disposal when the SHTF

Here is a TEST for you.  After this test, the importance of this topic will be obvious. 

Go 7 days without toilet paper or flushing your toilet.  How long before it is intolerable?

Or try to bring in water from a creek or swimming pool in a 5 gal pail for every toilet flush you do.

Now suppose that every time you go out for a pail of water, that your life is in danger from Looters.

Consider the rule:  when it is brown, flush it down; if it is yellow, let it mellow.

For many, it may be difficult to imagine how dark and violent the world can become.  City Survival could become dangerous, especially without a Neighborhood Watch Program.

But our focus here is on waste disposal, which is an often overlooked consideration.  Imagine what the neighborhood will be like when everyone starts dumping their poop in different places.  Is there a vacant lot, or empty space away from everyone and water sources for dumping waste? Perhaps a business dumpster, or even an abandoned business.

Burning some waste and burying the rest (got shovels?) in 8" deep catholes could be a solution, although the smoke from burning could draw undesirable attention to you, putting your life in danger especially if you don't have Security &/or Intruder Detection.  Even if you detect intruders, do your people have  Shooting Training, or even Gun Safety Training?


The US Department of Conservation offers the following:

Shallow holes for human waste

Dig a shallow hole for human waste; but not just any hole, anywhere. Choose an appropriate place to dig the hole.
How to do it:

• Keep human waste well away from waterways. Dig shallow holes at least 50 m from water, tracks and campsites.
• Select a site where other people are not likely to walk or camp, such as next to thick undergrowth or near fallen timber. If possible also dig your hole where it will receive plenty of sunlight. Heat from the sun helps decomposition.
• Use a trowel to dig a hole 150 - 200 mm deep (about the length of the trowel blade) and 100 -150 mm wide. Deposit your solid human waste. Then back fill the hole with dirt and disguise it with leaf litter or other natural materials.
• If camping in an area for more than one night, or if camping with a large group, agree on a single toilet place and dig a hole deep enough for the group for the length of your stay.

Toilet paper

• If you have to use paper, use only plain, unbleached, non-perfumed types.
• Use toilet paper sparingly.
• Do not burn toilet paper, as this can result in wildfires. Bury paper in your shallow hole or carry it out with you in a plastic bag. 
• Try using natural materials such as bark or leaf vegetation (non-prickly!) or snow instead. Natural ‘toilet paper’ is as sanitary as processed toilet paper and blends back easily into the environment.

While a topic of debate, using human waste, a.k.a. bio solids or night soil for fertilizer, has been done for centuries.  In the absence of commercial fertilizer (and pesticides), it may be necessary to use anything possible.  Human urine is sterile and contains Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium which are essential plant nutrients.

Your Neighborhood Watch Program could help organize a safe, sanitary latrine location a minimum of 200 feet away from water, trails, and campsites, in organic soil.  Your latrine should be about 12" deep and one foot long for each person that will be using it each day.  Then as the first one foot is used, the waste is covered and then the next foot is used.

By the middle of the 1800's cities, life in big cities was hazardous to your health.  The air was polluted, the streams were open sewers and the streets were covered in horse manure.  This led to disease and the death of many people.  We must manage waste to prevent this from reoccurring and a small amount of planning can help achieve this.

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Making Penicillin

Possibly save the life of your loved ones with home-made Antibiotics.

1. Put some bread in a plastic bag or container
2. Once it begins to form spores, break it up into small pieces
3. Mist it lightly with water and reseal it.
4. Remove it once the mold culture turns obviously green

As the mold begins to grow and develop it will take on white, blue and green stages. The green mold you see in the picture above illustrates this point. The green color is going to contain doses of penicillin. As you can see the green areas are where the mold has grown the largest, essentially where it has matured. Now that you have this green mold, you can actually begin to use it as treatment. There are a few ways to go about this.

Option A: Take the bread clumps, fill up a large cup full of them and add warm water (not boiling water). Mix together and consume. Repeat as necessary, essentially as daily doses of penicillin. It is important to note that while you are growing the mold, you are most likely growing other things. Not all of them helpful. And when you consume the bread will be getting both penicillin and that bad stuff. Yes, it will also taste terrible. Does the bad outweigh the good? In the scenario above, diarrhea or upset stomach are much less serious problems compared to a major infection. So it can be worth it. This remedy has been used for thousands of years in ancient cultures and has also been seen in many folk remedies around the United States for centuries.

Option B: Take your time and carefully separate nothing but the green mold from the bread. Clean the wound, take your ‘scrapings’  from the bread and topically apply them over the whole would. Dress lightly and repeat this process regularly.

An interesting fact I once learned studying Egyptology. Dating back to Imhotep, ancient doctors used to dress wounds with honey. Why is this? It is actually extremely hard for bacteria to grow on honey. If a wound is fresh and clean and infection free, you can apply honey to the area to preserve it from harmful bacteria. Believe it or not, medical grade honey bandages are still used in modern emergency rooms to this day. For home use simply cover the entire area in honey, and wrap the wound to both keep the honey in place and everything else away.

There are of course more advanced ways to make penicillin from bread and oranges that go beyond what I mentioned above. Perhaps if you have more time, more resources available at hand, you can indeed make potentially pharmaceutical grade penicillin using the same basic process I mentioned above. With the relatively low cost and the wide availability of penicillin in the healthcare marketplace today, this may not be practical. But find yourself in the middle of the zombie apocalypse, this information might just save your life. If you wish to know more advanced means of processing penicillin I recommend reading up on it further.

FULL DISCLOSURE:  I AM NOT A DOCTOR NOR PHARMACIST. 

To read the original article, click HERE

http://realfarmacy.com/homemade-penicillin/

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Uses for Baking Soda

One of our Grandparents most trusted names

Personal Care Uses for Baking Soda

1. Make Toothpaste
A paste made from baking soda and a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution can be used as an alternative to commercial non-fluoride toothpastes. (Or here’s a formula for a minty version.) You can also just dip your toothbrush with toothpaste into baking soda for an extra boost.
2. Freshen Your Mouth
Put one teaspoon in half a glass of water, swish, spit and rinse. Odors are neutralized, not just covered up.
3. Soak Oral Appliance
Soak oral appliances, like retainers, mouthpieces and dentures, in a solution of 2 teaspoons baking soda dissolved in a glass or small bowl of warm water. The baking soda loosens food particles and neutralizes odors to keep appliances fresh. You can also brush appliances clean using baking soda.
4. Use as a Facial Scrub and Body Exfoliant
Give yourself an invigorating facial and body scrub. Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Rub in a gentle circular motion to exfoliate the skin. Rinse clean. This is gentle enough for daily use. (For a stronger exfoliant, try one of these great 5 Homemade Sugar Scrubs.)
5. Skip Harsh Deodorant
Pat baking soda onto your underarms to neutralize body odor.
6. Use as an Antacid
Baking soda is a safe and effective antacid to relieve heartburn, sour stomach and/or acid indigestion. Refer to baking soda package for instructions.
7. Treat Insect Bites & Itchy Skin
For insect bites, make a paste out of baking soda and water, and apply as a salve onto affected skin. To ease the itch, shake some baking soda into your hand and rub it into damp skin after bath or shower. For specific tips on bee stings, see Bee Stings: Prevention and Treatment.
8. Make a Hand Cleanser and Softener
Skip harsh soaps and gently scrub away ground-in dirt and neutralize odors on hands with a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water, or 3 parts baking soda to gentle liquid hand soap. Then rinse clean. You can try this honey and cornmeal scrub for hands too.
9. Help Your Hair
Vinegar is amazing for your hair, but baking soda has its place in the shower too. Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda into your palm along with your favorite shampoo. Shampoo as usual and rinse thoroughly–baking soda helps remove the residue that styling products leave behind so your hair is cleaner and more manageable.
10. Clean Brushes and Combs
For lustrous hair with more shine, keep brushes and combs clean. Remove natural oil build-up and hair product residue by soaking combs and brushes in a solution of 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a small basin of warm water. Rinse and allow to dry.
11. Make a Bath Soak
Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to your bath to neutralize acids on the skin and help wash away oil and perspiration, it also makes your skin feel very soft. Epsom salts are pretty miraculous for the bath too; read about the health benefits of epsom salt baths.
12. Soothe Your Feet
Dissolve 3 tablespoons of baking soda in a tub of warm water and soak feet. Gently scrub. You can also make a spa soak for your feet.

Cleaning with Baking Soda

13. Make a Surface Soft Scrub
For safe, effective cleaning of bathroom tubs, tile and sinks–even fiberglass and glossy tiles–sprinkle baking soda lightly on a clean damp sponge and scrub as usual. Rinse thoroughly and wipe dry. For extra cleaning power, make a paste with baking soda, course salt and liquid dish soap—let it sit then scour off.
14. Handwash Dishes and Pots & Pans
Add 2 heaping tablespoons baking soda (along with your regular dish detergent) to the dish water to help cut grease and foods left on dishes, pots and pans. For cooked-on foods, let them soak in the baking soda and detergent with water first, then use dry baking soda on a clean damp sponge or cloth as a scratchless scouring powder. Using a dishwasher? Try these energy saving tips.
15. Freshen Sponges
Soak stale-smelling sponges in a strong baking soda solution to get rid of the mess (4 tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in 1 quart of warm water). For more thorough disinfecting, use the microwave.
16. Clean the Microwave
Baking soda on a clean damp sponge cleans gently inside and outside the microwave and never leaves a harsh chemical smell. Rinse well with water.

17. Polish Silver Flatware
Use a baking soda paste made with 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Rub onto the silver with a clean cloth or sponge. Rinse thoroughly and dry for shining sterling and silver-plate serving pieces.
18. Clean Coffee and Tea Pots
Remove coffee and tea stains and eliminate bitter off-tastes by washing mugs and coffee makers in a solution of 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart of warm water. For stubborn stains, try soaking overnight in the baking soda solution and detergent or scrubbing with baking soda on a clean damp sponge.
19. Clean the Oven
Sprinkle baking soda onto the bottom of the oven. Spray with water to dampen the baking soda. Let sit overnight. In the morning, scrub, scoop the baking soda and grime out with a sponge, or vacuum, and rinse.
20. Clean Floors
Remove dirt and grime (without unwanted scratch marks) from no wax and tile floors using 1/2 cup baking soda in a bucket of warm water–mop and rinse clean for a sparkling floor. For scuff marks, use baking soda on a clean damp sponge, then rinse. Read Natural Floor Cleaning for more tips on avoiding toxic floor cleaners.
21. Clean Furniture
You can make a homemade lemon furniture polish, or you can clean and remove marks (even crayon) from walls and painted furniture by applying baking soda to a damp sponge and rubbing lightly. Wipe off with a clean, dry cloth.
22. Clean Shower Curtains
Clean and deodorize your vinyl shower curtain by sprinkling baking soda directly on a clean damp sponge or brush. Scrub the shower curtain and rinse clean. Hang it up to dry.

23. Boost Your Liquid Laundry Detergent
Give your laundry a boost by adding 1/2 cup of baking soda to your laundry to make liquid detergent work harder. A better balance of pH in the wash gets clothes cleaner, fresher and brighter.
24. Gently Clean Baby Clothes
Baby skin requires the most gentle of cleansers, which are increasingly available, but odor and stain fighters are often harsh. For tough stains add 1/2 cup of baking soda to your liquid laundry detergent, or a 1/2 cup in the rinse cycle for deodorization.
25. Clean Cloth Diapers
Dissolve 1/2 cup of baking soda in 2 quarts of water and soak diapers thoroughly.
26. Clean and Freshen Sports Gear
Use a baking soda solution (4 tablespoons baking soda in 1 quart warm water) to clean and deodorize smelly sports equipment. Sprinkle baking soda into golf bags and gym bags to deodorize, clean golf irons (without scratching them!) with a baking soda paste (3 parts baking soda to 1 part water) and a brush. Rinse thoroughly.
27. Remove Oil and Grease Stains
Use baking soda to clean up light-duty oil and grease spills on your garage floor or in your driveway. Sprinkle baking soda on the spot and scrub with a wet brush.
28. Clean Batteries
Baking soda can be used to neutralize battery acid corrosion on cars, mowers, etc. because its a mild alkali. Be sure to disconnect the battery terminals before cleaning. Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water, apply with a damp cloth to scrub corrosion from the battery terminal. After cleaning and re-connecting the terminals, wipe them with petroleum jelly to prevent future corrosion. Please be careful when working around a battery–they contain a strong acid.
29. Clean Cars
Use baking soda to clean your car lights, chrome, windows, tires, vinyl seats and floor mats without worrying about unwanted scratch marks. Use a baking soda solution of 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart of warm water. Apply with a sponge or soft cloth to remove road grime, tree sap, bugs and tar. For stubborn stains, use baking soda sprinkled on a damp sponge or soft brush. Here’s how Sustainable Dave washes his car.

Deodorizing with Baking Soda

30. Deodorize Your Refrigerator
Place an open box in the back of the fridge to neutralize odors.
31. Deodorize the Cutting Board
Sprinkle the cutting board with baking soda, scrub, rinse. For how to more thoroughly clean your cutting board, see How To Clean Your Cutting Boards.
32. Deodorize Trashcans
Sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of your trashcan to keep stinky trash smells at bay.
33. Deodorize Recyclables
Sprinkle baking soda on top as you add to the container. Also, clean your recyclable container periodically by sprinkling baking soda on a damp sponge. Wipe clean and rinse. Learn about how to recycle everything.

34. Deodorize Drains
To deodorize your sink and tub drains, and keep lingering odors from resurfacing, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain while running warm tap water–it will neutralize both acid and basic odors for a fresh drain. (This a good way to dispose of baking soda that is being retired from your refrigerator.) Do you know what you’re not supposed to put down your drains?
35. Deodorize and Clean Dishwashers
Use baking soda to deodorize before you run the dishwasher and then as a gentle cleanser in the wash cycle.
36. Deodorize Garbage Disposals
To deodorize your disposal, and keep lingering odors from resurfacing, pour baking soda down the drain while running warm tap water. Baking soda will neutralize both acid and basic odors for a fresh drain.
37. Deodorize Lunch Boxes
Between uses, place a spill-proof box of baking soda in everyone’s lunch box to absorb lingering odors. Read bout safe lunch boxes here.
38. Remove Odor From Carpets
Liberally sprinkle baking soda on the carpet. Let set overnight, or as long as possible (the longer it sets the better it works). Sweep up the larger amounts of baking soda, and vacuum up the rest. (Note that your vacuum cleaner bag will get full and heavy.)
39. Remove Odor From Vacuum Cleaners
By using the method above for carpets, you will also deodorize your vacuum cleaner.
40. Freshen Closets
Place a box on the shelf to keep the closet smelling fresh, then follow these tips to organize your closet in an eco-friendly way.
41. Deodorizing Cars
Odors settle into car upholstery and carpet, so each time you step in and sit down, they are released into the air all over again. Eliminate these odors by sprinkling baking soda directly on fabric car seats and carpets. Wait 15 minutes (or longer for strong odors) and vacuum up the baking soda.
42. Deodorize the Cat Box
Cover the bottom of the pan with baking soda, then fill as usual with litter. To freshen between changes, sprinkle baking soda on top of the litter after a thorough cleaning. You can also use green tea for this purpose!
43. Deodorize Pet Bedding
Eliminate odors from your pets bedding by sprinkling liberally with baking soda, wait 15 minutes (or longer for stronger odors), then vacuum up.
44. Deodorize Sneakers
Keep odors from spreading in smelly sneakers by shaking baking soda into them when not in use. Shake out before wearing. When they’re no longer wearable, make sure to donate your old sneakers.

45. Freshen Linens
Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the rinse cycle for fresher sheets and towels. You can also make homemade lavender linen water with this formula.
46. Deodorize Your Wash
Gym clothes of other odoriferous clothing can be neutralized with a 1/2 cup of baking soda in the rinse cycle.
47. Freshen Stuffed Animals
Keep favorite cuddly toys fresh with a dry shower of baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda on and let it sit for 15 minutes before brushing off

Miscellaneous Uses for Baking Soda

48. Camping Cure-all
Baking soda is a must-have for your next camping trip. Its a dish washer, pot scrubber, hand cleanser, deodorant, toothpaste, fire extinguisher and many other uses.
49. Extinguish Fires
Baking soda can help in the initial handling of minor grease or electrical kitchen fires, because when baking soda is heated, it gives off carbon dioxide, which helps to smother the flames. For small cooking fires (frying pans, broilers, ovens, grills), turn off the gas or electricity if you can safely do so. Stand back and throw handfuls of baking soda at the base of the flame to help put out the fire–and call the Fire Department just to be safe. (And, you should have a fire extinguisher on hand anyway, here’s why.
50. Septic Care
Regular use of baking soda in your drains can help keep your septic system flowing freely. One cup of baking soda per week will help maintain a favorable pH in your septic tank.
51. Fruit and Vegetable Scrub
Baking soda is the food safe way to clean dirt and residue off fresh fruit and vegetables. Just sprinkle a little on a clean damp sponge, scrub and rinse. Here’s another way to clean your vegetables as well.

For more great common sense tips on how to use everyday household items instead of expensive chemical based products, see www.care2.com

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Acorn Flour Pancakes
Pemmican Recipe
Hardtack Recipe
Corn Bread
Sour Dough Bread
Corn Fritters
Apple Cider Vinegar
More on making Vinegar
Backing Soda vs Yeast
Baking Soda uses

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First Aid

There are a wide range of First Aid kits so lets talk at a high level about what you need to have.  Some supplies may be Salvaged but it is best to plan ahead and have what is critical.  Here is what I suggest:

1. Have a few small but good First Aid Kits with non perishable contents for personal use in your Auto, back pack, and at work.  Also have some small inexpensive kits as well as for Barter. 
2. Then get at least one larger first aid kit preferably that is OSHA compliant.
3. Be sure to have things like ace bandages, disinfectants, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, antibiotic creams, Listerine mouthwash - rotate them as they will expire over time (their Achilles heel). 
4. A Trauma Kit and Surgical tools plus needles, dental floss, nylon (fishing line), silk or surgical thread for sewing wounds is good to have.
5. Have a still to make your own disinfectant (alcohol) and purify water.
6. Antibiotics are great but have a shelf life to keep up with; listed on this link are a few good ones that last longer.
7. Some inexpensive vitamins which can help boost your immune system, especially when on a limited diet. 
8. Get a good First Aid book (not e-book).  The American College of Emergency Physicians has a good ACEP First Aid Manual and The Survival Medicine Handbook: A guide for when help is not on the way, is another good book.  When there is no Doctor/Dentist are also good books.

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Antibiotics

 In 1199, King Richard the Lionhearted was struck by an arrow in his left shoulder. Today we would classify this is a minor injury, but with out antibiotics, it proved fatal for the King. As recent as the nineteenth century, doctors still amputated limbs for minor injuries because of their fear of gangrene.

So I think it is safe to say that Antibiotics are a MAJOR life saver.

The problem with many antibiotics is the shelf life is so short, but there are some that are reportedly good for up to 10 years after the expiration date, if stored in the refrigerator.

Some of the best all around antibiotics are available from pet supplies. If you buy them for Dogs it requires a prescription from a Vet, but if you get this same one for “fish” it does not.  Herre are the best from my research (see disclaimer at bottom of the page).

1. Cefalexin also spelled Cephalexin is a broad spectrum multi-purpose antibiotic costing $30 to $50 per 100 for 250/500mg respectively or about 40 cents each making these the lowest cost option. Common brand names include Keflex and Ceporex. Cefalexin can treat certain bacterial infections, including those of the middle ear, bone and joint, skin, and urinary tract. It may also be used for certain types of pneumonia, strep throat, and to prevent bacterial endocarditis
2. Amoxicillin is the most common antibotic. Vetdepot.com sells FishMox 250 mg at $14.27 for 30 tablets which is about 50 cents each.  At this cost, having a few in case the SHTF might be advisable.  This is a slightly higher price per tablet, but the lowest investment cost due to the small bottle (30 cnt).  So this might be my first purchase  if on a tight budget.
3. Sulfamethoxazole, Trimethoprin, SMZ/TMP, aka Bactrim aka Fish Sulfa is used for urinary tract infections, MRSA skin infections, travelers' diarrhea, respiratory tract infections, and cholera, among others. It may be used both to treat and prevent pneumocystis pneumonia in people with HIV/AIDS.  This is an expensive product at over $1.00 per 960mg capsule.

All of these above are reportedly usable for up to 10 years refrigerated but Tetracycline shelf life is firm with what is listed on the label. The good point of Tetracycline is that the price for on hundred 500mg tablets is only about $10 from the VetDepot making them appear to be the lowest cost option at 10 cents each.  But since you must replace them each year, the 10 year cost is $1 each.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_antibiotics

Antibiotics by class

Generic name	Brand names	Common uses[3]	Possible side effects[3]	Mechanism of action
Aminoglycosides
Amikacin	Amikin	Infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Effective against Aerobic bacteria (not obligate/facultative anaerobes) and tularemia. All aminoglycosides are ineffective when taken orally as the stomach will digest the drug before it goes into the bloodstream. However aminoglycosides are effective in Intravenous, intramuscular and topical forms.	Hearing loss Vertigo Kidney damage	Binding to the bacterial 30S ribosomal subunit (some work by binding to the 50S subunit), inhibiting the translocation of the peptidyl-tRNA from the A-site to the P-site and also causing misreading of mRNA, leaving the bacterium unable to synthesize proteins vital to its growth.
Gentamicin	Garamycin
Kanamycin	Kantrex
Neomycin	Neo-Fradin[4]
Netilmicin	Netromycin
Tobramycin	Nebcin
Paromomycin	Humatin
Streptomycin		Tuberculosis
Spectinomycin(Bs)	Trobicin	Gonorrhea
Ansamycins
Geldanamycin		Experimental, as antitumor antibiotics
Herbimycin
Rifaximin	Xifaxan	Traveler's diarrhea caused by E. coli
Carbacephem
Loracarbef	Lorabid	Discontinued		prevents bacterial cell division by inhibiting cell wall synthesis.
Carbapenems
Ertapenem	Invanz	Bactericidal for both Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms and therefore useful for empiric broad-spectrum antibacterial coverage. (Notes: MRSA resistance to this class. All are active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa except ertapenem.)	Gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea Nausea Seizures Headache Rash and allergic reactions	Inhibition of cell wall synthesis
Doripenem	Doribax
Imipenem/Cilastatin	Primaxin
Meropenem	Merrem
Cephalosporins (First generation)
Cefadroxil	Duricef	Good coverage against Gram-positive infections.	Gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea Nausea (if alcohol taken concurrently) Allergic reactions	Same mode of action as other beta-lactam antibiotics: disrupt the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls.
Cefazolin	Ancef
Cefalotin or Cefalothin	Keflin (discontinued)
Cefalexin	Keflex
Cephalosporins (Second generation)
Cefaclor	Distaclor	Less Gram-positive cover, improved Gram-negative cover.	Gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea Nausea (if alcohol taken concurrently) Allergic reactions	Same mode of action as other beta-lactam antibiotics: disrupt the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls.
Cefamandole	Mandol (discontinued)
Cefoxitin	Mefoxin (discontinued)
Cefprozil	Cefzil
Cefuroxime	Ceftin, Zinnat (UK)
Cephalosporins (Third generation)
Cefixime (antagonistic with Chloramphenicol)[5]	Cefspan (Fujisawa)	Improved coverage of Gram-negative organisms, except Pseudomonas. Reduced Gram-positive cover. But still not cover Mycoplasma and Chlamydia	Gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea Nausea (if alcohol taken concurrently) Allergic reactions	Same mode of action as other beta-lactam antibiotics: disrupt the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls.
Cefdinir	Omnicef, Cefdiel
Cefditoren	Spectracef, Meiact
Cefoperazone [Unlike most third-generation agents, cefoperazone is active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa], combination Cefoperazone with Sulbactam makes more effective antibiotic, because Sulbactam avoid degeneration of Cefoperazone	Cefobid (discontinued)
Cefotaxime	Claforan
Cefpodoxime	Vantin
Ceftazidime (Unlike most third-generation agents, ceftazidime is active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but less active against Staphylococci and Streptococci compare to other 3rd generation of cephalosporins)	Fortaz
Ceftibuten	Cedax
Ceftizoxime	Cefizox (discontinued)
Ceftriaxone (IV and IM, not orally, effective also for syphilis and uncomplicated gonorrhea)	Rocephin
Cephalosporins (Fourth generation)
Cefepime	Maxipime	Covers pseudomonal infections.	Gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea Nausea (if alcohol taken concurrently) Allergic reactions	Same mode of action as other beta-lactam antibiotics: disrupt the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls.
Cephalosporins (Fifth generation)
Ceftaroline fosamil	Teflaro	Used to treat MRSA	Gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea Allergic reaction	Same mode of action as other beta-lactam antibiotics: disrupt the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls.
Ceftobiprole	Zeftera	Used to treat MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and enterococci	Gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea Nausea (if alcohol taken concurrently) Allergic reactions	Same mode of action as other beta-lactam antibiotics: disrupt the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls.
Glycopeptides
Teicoplanin	Targocid (UK)	Active against aerobic and anaerobic Gram-positive bacteria including MRSA; Vancomycin is used orally for the treatment of C. difficile colitis		Inhibits peptidoglycan synthesis.
Vancomycin	Vancocin
Telavancin	Vibativ
Dalbavancin	Dalvance
Oritavancin	Orbactiv
Lincosamides(Bs)
Clindamycin	Cleocin	Serious staph-, pneumo-, and streptococcal infections in penicillin-allergic patients, also anaerobic infections; clindamycin topically for acne	Possible C. difficile-related pseudomembranous enterocolitis	Binds to 50S subunit of bacterial ribosomal RNA thereby inhibiting protein synthesis.
Lincomycin	Lincocin
Lipopeptide
Daptomycin	Cubicin	Gram-positive organisms, but is inhibited by pulmonary surfactant so less effective against pneumonias		Binds to the membrane and cause rapid depolarization, resulting in a loss of membrane potential leading to inhibition of protein, DNA and RNA synthesis.
Macrolides(Bs)
Azithromycin	Zithromax, Sumamed, Xithrone	Streptococcal infections, syphilis, upper respiratory tract infections, lower respiratory tract infections, mycoplasmal infections, Lyme disease	Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (especially at higher doses) Prolonged cardiac QT interval (especially erythromycin) Hearing loss (especially at higher doses) Jaundice	Inhibition of bacterial protein biosynthesis by binding reversibly to the subunit 50S of the bacterial ribosome, thereby inhibiting translocation of peptidyl tRNA.
Clarithromycin	Biaxin
Dirithromycin	Dynabac (discontinued)
Erythromycin	Erythocin, Erythroped
Roxithromycin
Troleandomycin	Tao (discontinued)
Telithromycin	Ketek	Pneumonia	Visual Disturbance, Liver Toxicity.[6]
Spiramycin	Rovamycine	Mouth infections
Monobactams
Aztreonam	Azactam	Gram-negative bacteria		Same mode of action as other beta-lactam antibiotics: disrupt the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls.
Nitrofurans
Furazolidone	Furoxone	Bacterial or protozoal diarrhea or enteritis
Nitrofurantoin(Bs)	Macrodantin, Macrobid	Urinary tract infections
Oxazolidinones(Bs)
Linezolid	Zyvox	VRSA	Thrombocytopenia Peripheral neuropathy Serotonin Syndrome	Protein synthesis inhibitor; prevents the initiation step
Posizolid	Phase II clinical trials
Radezolid	Phase II clinical trials
Torezolid	Phase II clinical trials
Penicillins
Amoxicillin	Novamox, Amoxil	Wide range of infections; penicillin used for streptococcal infections, syphilis, and Lyme disease	Gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea Allergy with serious anaphylactic reactions Brain and kidney damage (rare)	Same mode of action as other beta-lactam antibiotics: disrupt the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls.
Ampicillin	Principen (discontinued)
Azlocillin
Carbenicillin	Geocillin (discontinued)
Cloxacillin	Tegopen (discontinued)
Dicloxacillin	Dynapen (discontinued)
Flucloxacillin	Floxapen (Sold to European generics Actavis Group)
Mezlocillin	Mezlin (discontinued)
Methicillin	Staphcillin (discontinued)
Nafcillin	Unipen (discontinued)
Oxacillin	Prostaphlin (discontinued)
Penicillin G	Pentids (discontinued)
Penicillin V	Veetids (Pen-Vee-K) (discontinued)
Piperacillin	Pipracil (discontinued)
Penicillin G	Pfizerpen
Temocillin	Negaban (UK) (discontinued)
Ticarcillin	Ticar (discontinued)
Penicillin combinations
Amoxicillin/clavulanate	Augmentin	Both Amoxicillin/clavulanate and Ampicillin/sulbactam are effective against non-recurrent acute otitis media.[7] Amoxicillin/clavulanate is one of the few oral antibiotics effective against skin and soft tissue infections. Not to be given to children less than 40 kilograms in weight; for children heavier, the dosage is same as adults, twice daily.[8]		The second component reduces the effectiveness of some forms of bacterial resistance to the first component
Ampicillin/sulbactam	Unasyn
Piperacillin/tazobactam	Zosyn
Ticarcillin/clavulanate	Timentin
Polypeptides
Bacitracin		Eye, ear or bladder infections; usually applied directly to the eye or inhaled into the lungs; rarely given by injection, although the use of intravenous colistin is experiencing a resurgence due to the emergence of multi drug resistant organisms.	Kidney and nerve damage (when given by injection)	Inhibits isoprenyl pyrophosphate, a molecule that carries the building blocks of the peptidoglycan bacterial cell wall outside of the inner membrane[9]
Colistin	Coly-Mycin-S			Interact with the Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane and cytoplasmic membrane, displacing bacterial counterions, which destabilizes the outer membrane. Act like a detergent against the cytoplasmic membrane, which alters its permeability. Polymyxin B and E are bactericidal even in an isosmotic solution.
Polymyxin B
Quinolones/Fluoroquinolone
Ciprofloxacin	Cipro, Ciproxin, Ciprobay	Urinary tract infections, bacterial prostatitis, community-acquired pneumonia, bacterial diarrhea, mycoplasmal infections, gonorrhea	Nausea (rare), irreversible damage to central nervous system (uncommon), tendinosis (rare)	Inhibits the bacterial DNA gyrase or the topoisomerase IV enzyme, thereby inhibiting DNA replication and transcription.
Enoxacin	Penetrex
Gatifloxacin	Tequin
Gemifloxacin	Factive[10]
Levofloxacin	Levaquin
Lomefloxacin	Maxaquin
Moxifloxacin	Avelox
Nalidixic acid	NegGram
Norfloxacin	Noroxin
Ofloxacin	Floxin (discontinued), Ocuflox
Trovafloxacin	Trovan	Withdrawn
Grepafloxacin	Raxar	Withdrawn
Sparfloxacin	Zagam	Withdrawn
Temafloxacin	Omniflox	Withdrawn
Sulfonamides(Bs)
Mafenide	Sulfamylon	Urinary tract infections (except sulfacetamide, used for eye infections, and mafenide and silver sulfadiazine, used topically for burns)	Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea Allergy (including skin rashes) Crystals in urine Kidney failure Decrease in white blood cell count Sensitivity to sunlight	Folate synthesis inhibition. They are competitive inhibitors of the enzyme dihydropteroate synthetase, DHPS. DHPS catalyses the conversion of PABA (para-aminobenzoate) to dihydropteroate, a key step in folate synthesis. Folate is necessary for the cell to synthesize nucleic acids (nucleic acids are essential building blocks of DNA and RNA), and in its absence cells cannot divide.
Sulfacetamide	Sulamyd, Bleph-10
Sulfadiazine	Micro-Sulfon
Silver sulfadiazine	Silvadene
Sulfadimethoxine	Di-Methox, Albon
Sulfamethizole	Thiosulfil Forte
Sulfamethoxazole	Gantanol
Sulfanilimide (archaic)
Sulfasalazine	Azulfidine
Sulfisoxazole	Gantrisin
Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole (Co-trimoxazole) (TMP-SMX)	Bactrim, Septra
Sulfonamidochrysoidine (archaic)	Prontosil
Tetracyclines(Bs)
Demeclocycline	Declomycin	Syphilis, chlamydial infections, Lyme disease, mycoplasmal infections, acne rickettsial infections, malaria[note 1]	Gastrointestinal upset Sensitivity to sunlight Potential toxicity to mother and fetus during pregnancy Enamel hypoplasia (staining of teeth; potentially permanent) transient depression of bone growth	Inhibits the binding of aminoacyl-tRNA to the mRNA-ribosome complex. They do so mainly by binding to the 30S ribosomal subunit in the mRNA translation complex. But Tetracycline cannot be taken together with all dairy products, aluminium, iron and zinc minerals.
Doxycycline	Vibramycin
Minocycline	Minocin
Oxytetracycline	Terramycin
Tetracycline	Sumycin, Achromycin V, Steclin
Drugs against mycobacteria
Clofazimine	Lamprene	Antileprotic
Dapsone	Avlosulfon	Antileprotic
Capreomycin	Capastat	Antituberculosis
Cycloserine	Seromycin	Antituberculosis, urinary tract infections
Ethambutol(Bs)	Myambutol	Antituberculosis
Ethionamide	Trecator	Antituberculosis		Inhibits peptide synthesis
Isoniazid	I.N.H.	Antituberculosis
Pyrazinamide	Aldinamide	Antituberculosis
Rifampicin (Rifampin in US)	Rifadin, Rimactane	mostly Gram-positive and mycobacteria	Reddish-orange sweat, tears, and urine	Binds to the β subunit of RNA polymerase to inhibit transcription
Rifabutin	Mycobutin	Mycobacterium avium complex	Rash, discolored urine, GI symptoms
Rifapentine	Priftin	Antituberculosis
Streptomycin		Antituberculosis	Neurotoxicity, ototoxicity	As other aminoglycosides
Others
Arsphenamine	Salvarsan	Spirochaetal infections (obsolete)
Chloramphenicol(Bs)	Chloromycetin	Meningitis, MRSA, topical use, or for low-cost internal treatment. Historic: typhus, cholera. Gram-negative, Gram-positive, anaerobes	Rarely: aplastic anemia.	Inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the 50S subunit of the ribosome
Fosfomycin	Monurol, Monuril	Acute cystitis in women	This antibiotic is not recommended for children and 75 up of age	Inactivates enolpyruvyl transferase, thereby blocking cell wall synthesis
Fusidic acid	Fucidin
Metronidazole	Flagyl	Infections caused by anaerobic bacteria; also amoebiasis, trichomoniasis, giardiasis	Discolored urine, headache, metallic taste, nausea; alcohol is contraindicated	Produces toxic free radicals that disrupt DNA and proteins. This non-specific mechanism is responsible for its activity against a variety of bacteria, amoebae, and protozoa.
Mupirocin	Bactroban	Ointment for impetigo, cream for infected cuts		Inhibits isoleucine t-RNA synthetase (IleRS) causing inhibition of protein synthesis
Platensimycin
Quinupristin/Dalfopristin	Synercid
Thiamphenicol		Gram-negative, Gram-positive, anaerobes. Widely used in veterinary medicine.	Rash. Lacks known anemic side-effects.	A chloramphenicol analog. May inhibit bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the 50S subunit of the ribosome
Tigecycline(Bs)	Tigacyl	Slowly Intravenous. Indicated for complicated skin/skin structure infections, soft tissues infections and complicated intra-abdominal infections. Effective for gram positive and negative and also anaerob antibiotics, against multi-resistant antibiotics bacteries such as Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Acinetobacter baumannii, but not effective for Pseudomonas spp. and Proteus spp.	Teeth discoloration and same side effects as tetracycline. Not to be given for children and pregnant or lactate women. Relatively safe and no need dose adjusted when be given for mild to moderate liver function or renal patients	Similar structure with tetracycline, but 5 times stronger, big volume distribution and long half-time in the body
Tinidazole	Tindamax Fasigyn	Protozoal infections	Upset stomach, bitter taste, and itchiness
Trimethoprim(Bs)	Proloprim, Trimpex	Urinary tract infections
Generic Name	Brand Names	Common Uses[3]	Possible Side Effects[3]	Mechanism of action

DISCLAIMER - I AM NOT A DOCTOR BUT DID THIS RESEARCH FOR MY ON NEEDS AND CHOSE TO SHARE IT WITH YOU HOWEVER I ACCEPT NO LIABILITY FOR ANY PROBLEMS FROM USING THIS INFORMATION.

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