The Rule of Three says...

The rule of three says that you can live .. 3 minutes without air|3 hours without heat | 3 days without water|3 weeks without food

It's one theory where I hope I'm not in on the testing.. but it does make water pretty darn important. For that reason and lots more I'm putting my stamp of approval on the Paratroopers Water Purifier.

I love this product. Our well is 650 feet deep an the nearest source being miles from us, even if it was useable water, its a long way to travel for water, so for my family it's a concern... As I think about needing that water for drinking and cooking, I support Solutions in Science as they bring us Solutions to our needs.

Here is some basic information.

Without a doubt special ops paratroopers endure some of the harshest conditions on earth. And when they need clean water, elite soldiers are choosing the Paratroopers Water Purifier -- the smallest, lightest, and most durable water purifier on earth!

It’s so small and lightweight you can easily carry it in your pocket or purse, backpack or glove box. What’s more, it’s just as effective at purifying water as larger, more expensive units!

The Paratroopers Water Purifier removes 100% of harmful water-borne bacteria, including E.coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Vibrio cholerae, and Legionella pneumophila... and completely removes suspended contaminants like dust, algae, and organic particles.

Crystal clear water!

Here's what to expect
Significantly reduced concentration of heavy metal ions so your filtered water tastes fresh, crisp, and clean.

Surprisingly fast filtration! Filters one third of a liter of water per minute. Just three minutes fills a full liter bottle.

Small size... HUGE filtering capacity. Filter up to 2,000 liters of water before replacing the filter.

Comes in a heavy-duty camouflage pouch with drawstring to protect against accidental damage.
Say Goodbye to Bacteria... Even E.Coli

Small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, yet can purify even the dirtiest lake, river, and rain water, removing 100% of harmful bacteria -- even E.coli bacteria!

Skeptical?

That’s why Solutions for Science sent the Paratroopers Water Purifier to an independent lab to be tested against one of the best selling filters in America (you'd recognize the name instantly) to see how well they removed E.coli from contaminated water.

The Paratrooper passed the test with flying colors. The independent lab confirmed that 100% of E.coli bacteria was removed. In spite of it’s compact size, the Paratrooper matched the effectiveness of the full-size water purifier. (exact same results - and for much less money)

The Perfect Portable Water Purifier

The Paratroopers Water Purifier is ideal for...

Camping and backpacking - Quickly fill empty bottles at any stream, river, or lake.

Outdoor work - you could have enough clean water to drink all day long.

Emergency water filtration - put one in your car and on in your Bug-out Bag... a few days without water and you are pretty dysfunctional .. a few days with disease and you could be dead.

Make Your Own Cleaners

I've used some of these, others I've borrowed and collected.. try and enjoy… but watch the warnings (at the end)

Frugal Green Household Cleaners

DUSTING: 
Re-use dryer sheets for dusting instead of the Pledge or Swifter cloths

FABRIC SOFTENER:
Add vinegar to the rinse cycle


MICROWAVE CLEANER: 
Mix 2T baking soda or lemon juice and 1 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave five minutes or until boiling and condensation builds up inside the microwave. Wipe down.

CHROME CLEANER:
Toothpaste is great for cleaning chrome


DISHWASHER RINSE:
1 1/2 white vinegar added to the rinse compartment of your dishwasher

THE FOLLOWING ARE SAFE AND NON-TOXIC:

WOODEN FLOOR CLEANER: 
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup vegetable oil. Mix well


ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER: 
1 tsp. borax
1/2 Tsp. washing soda
2 Tbl. lemon juice. 
Combine In a spray bottle with 1 cup of hot water and shake. 


FURNITURE POLISH: 
 Mix 1 cup vegetable or olive oil
1/2 cup lemon juice
In a spray bottle . Shake well and apply a small amount to a cloth. 


VINEGAR GLASS CLEANERS (choose your favorite)
1) 1/2 cup vinegar 
1 gallon warm water 

2) 1 gallon water
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon liquid dish detergent 
 Combine in a spray bottle. 
Shake to blend.

3) 1 cup rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol 
1 cup water
1 tablespoon white vinegar
Combine in a spray bottle.
Shake to blend.


AMMONIA GLASS CLEANER
1) In a gallon jug mix:
1 tsp dishwashing detergent, 1 pint rubbing alcohol,
1/2 cup ammonia. Fill the gallon with water.
2) in a spray bottle: 1/2 cup ammonia, 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol 
1/2 cup water. 
 Shake to blend.


GENERIC TILEX: (mix and use in a spray bottle) 
1 part bleach 
9 parts water 1 part Dawn Dish Soap (or brand with surfactants and NO ammonia) 


CARPET DEODORIZER: 
Fill a jar with baking soda. Add essential oil (your choice of fragrance and amount), one drop at a time. Stir so it doesn't clump. Sprinkle on carpet and leave for 10-20 minutes before vacuuming. 


ALL PURPOSE CLEANERS (choose again)
Convenient in a spray bottle

1) 3 tsp liquid soap & one gallon water
2) 1/4 cup vinegar & one gallon water
3) 1/4 cup lemon juice & one gallon water
4) 1/4 cup Borax & one gallon water

DISINFECTANTS (choose again)
1) 1/4 cup Borax plus 1/2 gallon water
2) 1 part bleach plus 9 parts water 


DRAIN CLEANER: 
1/4 cup baking soda
1/2 cup vinegar
Pour baking soda, then vinegar down the drain. Close drain until bubbling stops. Pour boiling water. If the clog remains, use a plunger or snake. If all else fails, take the elbow off the pipe. 


MILDEW & LIME DEPOSIT REMOVER: 
1/2 cup white vinegar 
Warm water 
1/2 cup Borax 
Dissolve borax in water, add vinegar. Make a fresh batch for each use. 


ANT KILLER! … (NOT child safe!! Use any poison with caution!!!) 
Combine in equal parts Powdered Sugar and Borax and sprinkle in places where ants crawl. 
(I mix with water to make a thick liquid and dip a paper towel in it. Then put it in a glass jar with nail holes in the lid. This way the ants can climb in and out but your kiddo can't.)


Before You Begin…
* Mix in well-ventilated areas
* Label containers
* Store in a safe place
* Don't reuse containers from other cleaners
* NEVER mix bleach and ammonia. NEVER!
* Don't store in food containers
* Test a small area before using any cleaner

REMEMBER: NEVER mix Bleach and Ammonia…

How Does Your Garden Grow? (After The Chaos)

Are you planning on your garden one day supplying a portion of your food? If so, you know that to bring in a good crop you need plant food and fertilizer and when you're counting on vegetables for the table it’s not a time to experiment.

If we ever need our gardens to produce we will want knowledge on our side. I love my garden, it’s a great source of pleasure and nourishing crops, but as part of a survival plan there’s much to learn.

I’ve done some research on fertilizers and soil amendments you may not have thought of, but first I have a few suggestions. First: have a few bags of your favorite fertilizer and insecticides as a back-up, and a few books specifically written for survival gardening. Then print this article and others like it and keep them in a binder.

OK.. now for a few Gardening hints you may not have thought about.

NPK stands for Nitrogen/Phosphorous/Potassium. These are the big three that plants need to grow. I'll include those letters where applicable for more experienced gardeners.

We live in Idaho and usually this is a dry time of year. We have several large dogs and often have large brown spots on our lawn. This year is different. We have had an extraordinary amount of rain. This year our lawn has big deep-green spots. We wondered what happened until we read the following.

Human Urine:
Human urine contains nitrogen, phosphates, and potassium (NPK 12/1/3). It is sterile when it comes out of the body. By itself it is far too concentrated to use directly on plants. It can be used directly in a compost pile or diluted with eight parts water and used on your plants. You may need to dilute even more, but heavy rain was perfect for our lawn. You don’t want to lose a row of plants so test the mixture on a single plant to insure that the mixture is not too strong.

Use immediately or store it in a sealed container as it will allow bacterial growth if left exposed. Only urine from healthy individuals who are NOT on medication should be used. Once diluted and in the soil, bacterial growth is no longer an issue.

For those who are grossed out by this or question the idea of using urine as a plant food, consider that most well-known plant foods contain urea.

Bone meal: 
Bone meal contains phosphates and nitrogen (heavier on phosphates than nitrogen (NPK 4/12/0). Bone meal can be easily made at home. Use bones ONLY from animals you know were healthy.

First boil for about an hour to remove any fat or meat, think: Beef/chicken soup. Dry the bones in an open fire or oven. Once completely dry crush them to a powder, or as close as you can. If they’re very dry they will crush easily.

A second method is to boil the bones for an extended period of time (maybe 24 hours), then you can simply crush them down to a mush. Allow the mush to dry if you want a powder or use them as a mush.

Dig the bone meal into your soil. It is a long acting, slow release fertilizer. Very useful used at the bottom of potato trenches or dug into the soil near fruit trees/bushes. use bone meal at about five pounds per fifty square feet when first preparing the garden, slightly less the following season.

Blood Meal:
Blood meal is a perfect nitrogen source and may contain some trace phosphates and/or potassium (NPK 12/0/0) depending on source. Blood meal has the alternate names of dried blood and powdered blood. Commercially available types are typically made from cattle blood although other animal blood works as well. Again only use blood from animals you know were healthy.

Blood meal is made by dehydration, preferably to a powder. If you don’t have the patience for the drying time, it can be used while still relatively clumpy. This can be done in a solar dehydrator or, if you live in a non-humid area by leaving a container out with a thin layer of blood. The quickest way is to put a thin layer of blood in a heat-safe container, next to a cooking or heat source. Keep the blood inaccessible to insects. Caution: this causes a nasty smell indoors and pans may need extensive cleaning.

Blood meal is a quick acting source of nitrogen and can be used in powder form or mixed in with water.

Blood meal is good for your compost and, if sprinkled around the perimeter of a garden, may keep some of the four-footed garden critters away. Caution: Do not apply blood meal to seedlings and in warm, most climates use less than recommended. Application rate is 5-10lbs per 100sq ft. One application lasts up to 4 months.

Wood Ashes:
Wood ashes are a good source of potassium when dug into the soil (NPK 0/1/3). You have to be careful with Wood Ash as it turns the soil alkaline. In an area of acidic soil a moderate treatment of wood ashes shouldn't be a problem. If you live in an area with more alkaline soil, you'll want to find a different potassium source.

Be sure any ashes you use are from trees that did not receive heavy pesticide or other problematic chemicals. Wood ash application rates will range, depending on the ash used and the soil. Start small and slowly increase the amount.

In the coming weeks, well talk about other fertilizers, composting and heritage seeds and how to store them.. stay tuned.