Preparedness Nuggets Part 1

Preparedness Nuggets Part 1Return to Preparedness Nuggets Index Better Times Cookbook V | Justpeace | Better Times | BobWaldrop.net | Access to Energy Conservation | On Pilgrimage in Oklahoma City | Bookstore | Better Times II | Bulgar Bugle | Mutual Aid (Grassroots home and community scale disaster preparations) Preparedness Nuggets A Cyberbook of Practical Wisdom for Daily Living Part the First Beer Sourdough for Bread Bread and Flour Dutch Oven Baking Outdoor Brick Ovens Several Guys Shopping Lists in Several Categories Solar Cooker

-----------------------------------------------------SOLAR COOKER [top] From: <[email protected]> Date: Wed, 5 Aug 1998 16:01:21 EDT << Another issue to address is the amount of time it takes to cook dried beans. A LONG time! >> A great solution is a solar cooker. I have just put the finishing touches on mine, made completely from things I had on hand...cardboard boxes, aluminum foil, newspaper and a piece of glass I got from an old picture frame. Needs no fuel, except a sunny day, and will work summer and winter. At first I was disbelieving that it would work, but I was reminded of how you can start a fire with a magnifying glass and the sun's rays. The sun is amazing!! This particular cooker is supposed to be able to even bake bread, which is at about 450 degrees. Beans will take 3-4 hours, depending on the sun. Missionaries have developed these little wonders so that people in third world countries don't destroy their greatest economic asset (their forests) for cooking fuel. There is also the added benefit of no smoke/ashes/exhaust to deal with. Tomorrow is the test drive...we are having "solar day" at the office. I will be cooking pot roast in the solar oven, which we will position down in the parking lot. After an impressive demonstration :-) people may be jazzed about making one for themselves. Looking forward to a "solar cooker" party, where we can all make them together...B.Y.O.C.B. (bring your own cardboard boxes.) I think I saw a link to a solar cooking site once, but if anyone wants these plans, I will be happy to post them. The one we made and use is http://www.accessone.com/~sbcn/minimum.htm The "Minimum" Solar BoxCooker. You can also check out these http://sorrel.humboldt.edu/~ccat/sub/slinks.html Solar cooking links A very simple, inexpensive and effective design for solar ovens can be found in both the Brownie and Junior Girl Scout handbooks. If you can locate both current, and older handbooks for both Girl Scouting and Boy Scouting, you'll be pleasantly surprised at the resources contained in them that will be useful to anyone looking to become self-sufficient. Here are some solar cooker sites: http://www.accessone.com/~sbcn/minimum.htm http://www.accessone.com/~sbcn/easylid.htm http://www.eren.doe.gov/solarnow/activ_3.htm http://www.accessone.com/~sbcn/cookit.htm http://www.accessone.com/~sbcn/newpanel.htm

---------------------------------------BREAD AND FLOUR [top] Sam's Club sells 25 lb. containers of baker's flour in heavy paper bags for about $4.50. This amounts to 18 cents a pound or 18 cents a loaf for the flour. Shelf life is shorter under these packaging conditions though. You can store white flour in a galvanized garbage can with bay leaves in it to discourage the 6-legged brethren 'n sistren. You may also want to consider adding some soy flour to your bread and instant nonfat dried milk. By doing this you are providing a protein/carbo complete meal! Especially with little kids this is so important. I've begun baking this "Cornell" Bread and we are eating this exclusively for two weeks now. I have six kids (2-15) and they all love it. The aroma is incredible. French toast is yummy!! I also am adding wheat germ or a proportion of whole wheat flour. Here is the recipe. Place in a large mixing bowl and let stand: 3 cups of warm water 2 pkges or 2 Tbs. of active dry yeast 2 Tbs. honey 2 Tbs. oil 3 tsp. sea salt In separate container ( I use a big Tupperware, measure then shake!) 6 cups unbleached flour 2 cups whole wheat flour 1 cup full-fat soy flour 1 cup non-fat dry milk Stir the liquids and add 1/2 to 3/4 of flour mixture. Beat vigorously. Add remaining flour. Work with hands till its ready to knead. Knead for 5 minutes or so. Place in an oiled bowl and rub little oil on top. Let rise in a warm place till double in size (1-3 hours - test by seeing if fingerprint remains in dough). Punch down, fold over edges, turn upside down to rise for another 20-30 min. (test again). Turn onto board, divide into 3 portions. Let rest 10 minutes. Make 3 loaves. Place in oiled pans. (81/2 x 41/2 x 21/2). Let rise till double (45 min). Bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes. Check doneness by tapping bottom of loaf - if it sounds hollow its done. Now....about the Dutch Oven baking . [top] This recipe will work in two 12" ovens. Just form into two round loaves and place in greased oven for final rising. When it "ALMOST" doubles its time to bake. Bake with both top and bottom heat for 2/3's of the time and finish with only top heat. So for 350 degrees that's 17 coals on the top and 8 on the bottom. Since it takes about 45 minutes, after 30 minute take oven off bottom heat and continue with only top heat. Rotate oven every 15 min 1/4 turn for that first 30 minutes and for the final 15 minutes check to see if bread is evenly browning. Adjust coal position accordingly. For more detailed info and recipes there are two books I'm using for help. The Cornell Bread Book (I got this from Lehmans) by Clive M. McCay and JeanetteB. McCay Lovin' Dutch Ovens by Joan Larsen. I got this book from Chuckwagon Supply (along with my ovens) http://chuckwagonsupply.com/ For the outdoor brick oven plans see: http://shell10.ba.best.com/~ovncraft/ Also The Bread Book by Thom Leonard Both The Bread Book and The Cornell Bread Book can be gotten from Lehmans. Lehmans 330-857-5757. -----------------------------------------------

BEER SOURDOUGH FOR BREAD [top] Mix one can of beer with one cup of flour. Stir and cover lightly and let sit on the counter for few days till its got that great sour smell. Stir it a few times a day while its sitting. Then refrigerate and use in any recipe. -------------------------------------------------

SEVERAL GUYS' SHOPPING LISTS [top] [I combined several lists here, so there's a lot of duplication. Never mind: it's still useful to scan through and make sure you didn't completely forget something important.] Food: Dried beans, peas, and lentils 6 cases Power Bars/Survival Bars Rice, Pasta Peanut Butter Powdered Juices, Gatorade, Iced Tea, Milk, Cocoa Powdered/condensed milk, cheese Canned/Dehydrated Fruit, Vegetables, Meats, Tuna Flour Vegetable Oil/Lard Spices, Salt, Pepper Whole Grains (Corn, Barley, Millet) Sugar Multi-vitamin/minerals - you can buy now with expiration dates of 01. Seeds for Gardening: Eggplant, Tomato, Green Pepper, Squash, Spinach, Lettuce, Green Beans, Radishes Herbs to grow indoors in a sunny window: Basil, Parsley, Oregano Toiletries: Soap, Shampoo, Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, Fluoride Rinse, Deodorant, Disposable Razors, Combs, Hair Brush, Sanitary Pads (good as pressure bandages), OTC pain relievers and medications you use now. Warm, Waterproof, Windproof clothing. Think wool, Gore-Tex, Thinsulate, Polarfleece. Spare pairs of shoes/boots, gloves, hats, socks, underwear. Lots of that stuff is on sale now that it's summer time. If the power goes out in January lots of people will be cold. Equipment: Some type of water filtration/purification and storage system. I'm using a Katadyne(tm) water filter/purifier. Can Opener Food-Grade Airtight Containers Camp stove and Coleman Fuel (White Gas) Meat Grinder HD Aluminum Foil, Oven Roasting Bags, Dutch Oven

Solar Oven, Solar Water Still Hammer, Roofing Nails, Wood Screws Hacksaw, Blades, Wood Saw Hatchet, Chisel/Wedge 3' Crow Bar, 10" Wire Cutters Good sledge hammer (short handle) Tow Chain/Straps 24" or 30" Bolt Cutters CO Detector, Smoke Detector, ABC Fire Extinguisher (2) Duct/100 MPH Tape Thick, clear plastic to repair/insulate windows Sewing materials (needles, thread, patches, fabric) Solar Lights Paper, Pens, Pencils Medical/First Aid Kit Candles, Matches ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

AND..PAPER GOODS Toilet Paper Kleenex Dinner Plates Napkins Plastic knives, forks, spoons Reynolds Wrap Foil Ziploc Bags - Sandwich Ziploc Bags - Storage Rubber dish gloves Latex disposable gloves Paper cups PERSONAL HYGIENE Soap Bars Liquid Hand Soap Liquid Hair Shampoo (Adult) Liquid Hair Shampoo (Child) Toothbrushes - Adult - Child Toothpaste Dental Floss Deodorant - Mens - Womens Shaving Blades - Womens - Mens Shaving Cream Mouthwash Astringent MEDICINE

First Aid book First Aid Kit Cough Drops Aspirin: Adult - Children's Pepto Bismol Cold & Allergy Feminine supplies Peroxide Alcohol Kaopectate Prescription Drug supply Vitamins Coleman metal dinner plates (to hold cheap paper plates) Dutch Oven Grain Mill (non electric) Dish soap Hot pad holders Clothes soap Various food spices Scrub pads Thermos (wide mouth type for cooking food) Electrolytes TOOLS/EQUIPMENT Gas Cans Rubber Mallet Hammer Nails 2 cycle oil (if you have a chainsaw) Stabil gas treatment Shovels Wood saws Work gloves Wood Axes - Large - Small Pry Bars - Large - Small Rope Heavy duty bolt cutters (just in case) HEAT/LIGHT Propane Tanks Coleman lantern Coleman stove or backyard BBQ Coleman lantern mantles Butane lighters Flashlights w/batteries Flashlight bulbs Candles - 7 day type Matches - Stick type Sterno cooking fuel cans

Bags of charcoal Charcoal Starter tube Lamps - Aladdin kerosene type Kerosene Gasoline Generator (if you want to use this) Newspapers for starting fire MISCELLANEOUS Wind up or solar type radio Water buckets Clothes washing buckets - 15 gallon galvanized type Metal bucket - for charcoals/ashes Clothesline Washboard - for clothes Clothes Wringer (hand crank) Clothespins Bicycle tube repair kit Bicycle tube (spare) Bicycle tube hand air pump Bike rack for carrying supplies Tire pressure gauge Disinfectant/Cleaner Sponges Watering can - (for do-it-yourself shower) 5 gallon paint bucket w/lid - emergency toilet Trash bags - 33 gallon size Trash bags - 13 gallon size (for toilet bucket) Toilet seat Ant spray concentrate Sprayer/Pumper - 2 gallon size Portable push vacuum Fire extinguishers) WATER Bleach - 1 gallon (5.25%) - to purify water (4 drops/qt. - 2 teaspoons/10 gal - =BC cup/55) Children's pool - rigid wall type - 6 ft. diameter =3D 200 gallons (for washing) Pool water testing kit Water chlorinating granules (for pool) Pool tarp - 11 x 16 ft. Water can - 5 gallon size Water bag (collapsible) - 5 gallon size Water/gas funnels Water Filter 55 gallon water drums (for drinking) Water pump for drums (hand type) [top] Go to Access to Catholic Social Justice Teachings

Better Times Cookbook V | Justpeace | Better Times | BobWaldrop.net |Access to Energy Conservation | On Pilgrimage in Oklahoma City | Bookstore | Better Times II | Bulgar Bugle | Mutual Aid (Grassroots home and community scale disaster preparations)