Disaster Recovery Domes

What’s one of the first things people need right after a hurricane? According to Peter Fedele, the answer is cash. That’s why he is building a Monolithic Dome outside of Houston to store ATMs, mobile banks, satellite communication equipment, and back up generators for financial institutions.
“Right after a disaster, communications are down, credit cards can’t be used, checks can’t be cashed, and people need to get their hands on cash to buy groceries and supplies and start getting their lives back to normal,” Fedele, vice president of ABC Domes, said “Banks need to get cash and get their institutions up and running so they can get their communities back up and running.”

Two more Monolithic Domes are planned on the 10-acre site to serve law enforcement agencies, local governments and others. The project is modeled after a concept that the company pioneered in Florida. “ABC Domes specializes in disaster recovery, and the domes are hurricane proof, tornado proof, fire proof and can stand a number of winds without being knocked down,” They’re designed to move in and stay there during a disaster and function like your office.”

Prepare Your Pets For An Emergency

ANIMALS ARE PART OF THE FAMILY
Prepare for your animals in an emergency. They're part of the family and they depend on us. My little dogs keep me warm at night and keep me company when I’m lonely. The last thing I’d want in an emergency is to have to worry about their safety.
I wouldn’t sleep if my animals weren’t safe.
We have 3 dogs and 4 horses, 8 goats, 14 chickens and several cages of rabbits. We really think of the goats, chickens and rabbits as part of our food storage. The chickens give eggs right now, but one day they’ll give meat. Horses may turn out to be our transportation, but my dogs, they’re my emotional security blankets
Everyone says "be prepared" but few offer advice to prepare the animals. If my dogs aren't fed... someone in the family’s going hungry, and it would probably be me.
I’ve found lots of ideas over the years working with preparedness and among them I hope you’ll find a few to make life easier on your pets if you had to evacuate your home temporarily or hunker down for a spell.

HERE ARE A FEW...
Dog need Tags...
With names and emergency numbers
Chip them
Get them a go bag
Let them loose if they're big
Think of others.. don't take them where they don't belong
Don't turn them loose in the wild
Get their shots..
Keep their shot record in your go-bag
Bring a dish for water
If you have 3 days food.. they need 3 days food
Dogs can have an aspirin
Put a neck scarf on them
let them carry something
Always have a leash
Doggie booties.. for the snow
Some animals are FOOD.. Prepare for that
Get some rabbits
Some animals are transportation..
They all need water

Laundry Soap..Making Soap and Saving Money

Homemade Laundry Soap
1 bar Fels Naptha or Ivory Soap
1½ cup washing soda
1½ cup borax powder
1½ cup of Purex Powdered Bleach

Grate the soap, Like cheese, it's soft. Mix the ingredients and WaLa… you have powdered soap.

CAUTION.. 2 TBL is sufficient for a large load of wash and 1 TBL for a small load because this has NO fillers.. ENJOY

The Soap: Fels Naptha. It is an old-fashioned type of soap usually found in the laundry aisle. Another option is Ivory Soap. If you use Ivory use more.

Washing Soda: NOT to be confused with baking soda. It’s a white powder and helps remove dirt and odors.

Borax: Borax is a naturally occurring mineral: Sodium Borate. It is a white powder. It’s purpose is as a laundry whitener and deodorizer. The brand to look for is 20 Mule Tea

Purex Powdered Bleach: was my idea.. I like the whites white. (be sure it's color safe)

How To Sprout Lentils... The Simple Way

I've been sprouting my heart out these days.. practicing to bring you some good information, but thought you'd like this short well done video on sprouting... disclaimer.. this isn't me... but I do love her accent.



let me know what you think.. and if I should do more of these.

Oxygen Absorbers.. All You Wanted To Know

Oxygen Absorbers remove oxygen from sealed containers.  Taking the air out stops oxidation.. and extends shelf life. Eliminating oxygen prevents insects.. that could be in the food when it’s sealed.  The following is what you need to know about Oxygen Absorbers.

• Absorbers are non-toxic and food safe. (ingredients: iron and salt).  

• Two 500cc absorbers are enough for a 5-6 gallon bucket. 

• The less dense the food item.. the more absorbers you need. 

• Altitude affects the air density. If you live on a mountain.. you can use fewer, if you live at sea level don’t skimp.  

• Once you open the bag the absorbers are active, use them as quickly as possible.

• A 500cc pkt. will absorb 500 cc of oxygen from your container. 

• They are single-use, and cannot be reused.

• Oxygen absorbers come airtight sealed bags. When you open the bag they begin absorbing oxygen from the atmosphere. They contain enough active ingredients to be open for 30-45 minutes before sealing in your containers. So it's important to have your containers filled and ready for lids before you open the package. 

• If you’re not using all the absorbers and want to save the rest for later, re-seal them in an airtight bag using a vacuum sealing machine. 

• You can put the absorbers anywhere in the bucket. I put mine on top so I don't lose track of which containers I put them in. 

• When using oxygen absorbers in plastic buckets, use standard hammer-on lids. Gamma Lids are airtight, but not designed to counteract the pressure created when the oxygen in the container is removed. 

• After the standard lid is removed to use the contents, a Gamma Lid can be used to re-seal the bucket against moisture, rodents and insects. A hammer-on lid (with gasket) will provide an oxygen barrier for a couple of years' storage. 

• For longer term storage, you can use Mylar liner bags inside your bucket. When heat-sealed they will block oxygen permeation for years.

•Absorbers in their original sealed bag have a shelf life of 1 year.

Making Homemade Laundry Soap

Fels Naptha.  An old-fashioned type of soap, found in the laundry aisle.  Another option is Ivory Soap. If you use Ivory use more.

Washing Soda: NOT to be confused with baking soda.  It’s a white powder and helps remove dirt and odors.  

Borax: It’s purpose is as a laundry whitener and deodorizer. Look for 20 Mule Team.

Purex: Dry Bleach .. not everyone adds the bleach .. I like it

THE RECIPE

Homemade Laundry Soap

1/3 bar Fels Naptha or Ivory Soap

½ cup washing soda

½ cup borax powder 

½ cup of Purex Powdered Bleach

DIRECTIONS:

Grate soap as you would cheese. Mix the ingredients and you have powdered soap.  

ENJOY  This is a low sudsing, but Suds don’t clean.  The ingredients clean.

SAVINGS??? 

The cost of this recipe is about $1. for about 64 loads of laundry.  About 1.5¢ / load.

PS..  Put 2 of each ingredient in long term storage. Long shelf life on soap. 

CAUTION: NO fillers … 2 TBL is sufficient for a large load of wash. 

Sprouting Live Food

Buy a large mouth mason jar. An inexpensive sprouter can be made by removing the ring from the jar and replacing the disc with plastic mesh, stainless steel screen or cheese cloth.

         Wash the seeds and soak overnight in tepid untreated water, at least two parts water to one part seed. 

The smaller the seed, the shorter the soak period.  Alfalfa seed does well with 3 hours, but will not be harmed by 15 hours, soaking.  The large seed (chickpea, mung, etc.) may be soaked for up to 20 hours.

         Drain the water, wash the seed, drain again. Place the container in a dark warm spot at to hasten growth.

         Twice a day rinse with tepid water. Seed that float should be removed.  They can cause the sprouts to spoil prematurely.