Knowledge Weighs Nothing

How To Make Natural Homemade Ginger Ale

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Do you know, I picked up some ginger ale the other day and when I read the ingredients, there wasn’t actually any ginger in it… Just artificial flavors.

I love traditional ginger ale, but in addition to tasting great, ginger ale also has many medicinal properties, with the most popular use being to sooth stomach ache and alleviate nausea.  Many people swear by ginger for travel and sea sickness. If you’d like have a go at making your own natural and healthy ginger ale, head over to ‘Wellness Mama’ and get the recipe.

How To Natural Homemade Ginger Ale

(Photo from: Wellness Mama)

40 Awesome Food Preserving Links: Beginner Tips, Pro Tricks & More…

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This is a great resource for both canning/preserving novices and old-hands. Aimée from ‘Simple Bites’ has written this great post featuring links to 40 of the most useful canning and preserving websites and posts around…

Seriously, there is so much great information and advice here, it really is awesome; if you do any canning or preserving, I highly recommend checking it out. I guarantee you’ll find something new and useful here.

40 Awesome Food Preserving Links: Beginner Tips, Pro Tricks & More…

(Photo from: Simple Bites)

4 Common Wild Edible Plants That Could Save Your Life

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So you’re in that survival situation in the wilderness and you remember all the TV shows and you are immediately thinking about hunting/trapping/fishing for food. In some ways this is correct, in a long term survival situation, animal protein and fat are vital for survival. That said, it might surprise you to know that most of a wilderness survival diet will be made from plants, nuts, seeds and berries…

Below is a great post from ‘Tactical Intelligence’ which lists 4 of the most common wild edibles, all of which are capable of saving your life in different situations. And hey, I hold my hands up, I did not know that about grass!

4 Common Wild Edible Plants That Could Save Your Life

(Photo from: Wikimedia Commons)

How And Why You Should Plant Fruit Trees In The Fall

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If you are going to be truly self-sufficient, you are probably going to want to plant some fruit trees.  Apple trees are a great choice as apples are so versatile, many varieties store well and stay fresh for months, they can be eaten fresh, cooked, canned, made into cider and hard-cider, you get the picture…

If you are thinking of planting some fruit trees, it is usually the case that they will want to be planted in the Fall. This will give the tree the best chance of establishing itself and getting its roots out before the growing season the next year. Click the link below to find out more on how and why to plant fruit trees this Fall.

How And Why You Should Plant Fruit Trees In The Fall

(Photo from:  highbury orchard community)

15 Secrets to Dutch Oven Cooking

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There is something special about Dutch ovens, I can’t put my finger one what it is but there is just something very satisfying about cooking in a large, heavy cast iron pot with a lid, especially when that cooking is done outdoors on a campfire or over hot coals. Many people think Dutch ovens cost $100, this doesn’t have to be the case, the Lodge Pro Logic Cast Iron Dutch Oven costs $63 on Amazon and it is a nice Dutch oven that will likely outlast you…

For something so basic, there are some tips and techniques to learn, to get the most out of your Dutch oven and this is especially the case if you are cooking outdoors with your Dutch Oven… Below is a great post by ‘Design Mom’, which lists 15 secrets to Dutch oven cooking.  It’s a great read for newbies and seasoned Dutch oven cooks.

15 Secrets to Dutch Oven Cooking

(Photo from: Design With Mom)

Water Bath Canning Cheat Sheet

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If you are thinking of getting started with water bath canning, but you don’t know your lid-lifter from your air-bubbler, you need to check out the post below from ‘Canning Across America’. The post covers water bath canning tools and equipment, and there is straightforward advice on the actual water bath canning process.

Additionally, I highly, highly recommend the book: Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving (click to view on Amazon), it may well be the best $14 you ever spend, as it will likely become your canning and food preserving bible.

Water Bath Canning Cheat Sheet

(Photo from: Canning Across America)

Everyone Should Know About Medicinal Uses Of These 22 Common Foods & Spices

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If you would prefer to use natural remedies instead of pharmaceutical medicines, this is something you don’t want to miss out on. This information is also particularly important for preppers and those concerned about what the future may bring… If there is ever a total collapse or SHTF event, it will become difficult, if not impossible, to get hold of medicines from the pharmacy/doctors etc.

This list details the medicinal properties of 22 common foods and spices and it also includes advice on dosage and preparation of many of the remedies

Everyone Should Know About Medicinal Uses Of These 22 Common Foods & Spices

(Photo from:  Chugy)

Sage: The Must-Grow Plant (Find Out How & Why To Use It)

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Wow, I knew sage was good for you, but it didn’t realize how many medicinal properties and medicinal uses it has. I did however know that sage plants are very easy to grow, as we grow our own sage as a herb for recipes… I think I might have to grow several more sage plants now so we can make our own homemade remedies.

I am particularly interested in making the sage tea now that I know about its sedative and relaxation properties. It could be just the thing after a stressful day. Anyway, check out the link below and find out more about the many uses for sage.

Sage: The Must Grow Plant (Find Out How & Why To Use It) 

(Photo from: Wikipedia)

Food Security 101

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Food prices have shot up in the last two years, I would say that our weekly grocery shop costs around twice what it did a few years back. The current high price of food is a major problem for millions of people, and this is happening right now.  We are not even considering (I guess we are now!) food security relating to future events such as a total economic collapse, peak oil or any other SHTF scenarios.

Below is a food security 101 post which covers preparing to prep, canning and dehydrating food at home. It’s not a tutorial as such, but more of an eye opener to get you thinking about how secure your food supply is, whilst explaining what you can do to help insulate yourself to some degree.

Food Security 101

(Image from: Wikimedia Commons)

Make Ahead Complete Freezer Meals On The Cheap

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Last year we did a post about complete dry/dehydrated meals stored, ready to use in jars. These complete freezer meals are a similar concept, but with more of a focus on saving money and creating convenience and saving time down the line, by taking an afternoon out and to create the meals in one go, to store in the freezer until they are needed.  When a meal is needed, just defrost and cook!

Natalie says it is possible to make 46 meals, in four hours, for just $95. This is not a substitute for emergency food storage, as if the SHTF, the power will likely go off and then your freezer isn’t going to work… That said, this is a good idea for people who work long hours, or those with kids.  Make ahead when you have the time and then you have your own healthy freezer meal when you need it.

Make Ahead Complete Freezer Meals On The Cheap

(Photo from: A Turtle’s Life For Me)