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BUY THE VISION & SAVE -- 2 DAY LIMITED OFFER!!
Readers of this blog will be glad to know that the publishers of THE VISION have partnered with 6 companies to help promote the new novel by best-selling author Debi Pearl. THE VISION has been on the Amazon’s Top 100 a total of 5 times since its release on 7/1/09 and has earned the right to be called an Amazon Best Seller. Now you can be part of the push to reach #1 on Barnes and Noble.
When you to order THE VISION from Barnes and Noble on 11/3 or 11/4, SIX companies will offer a 25% discount off of merchandise purchased from their web store (no other discounts apply). This is just in time for the Holidays!
As a thank you for your purchase of THE VISION, it is possible to save hundreds of dollars, depending on the products you decide to purchase. In addition to the savings, the purchase offer includes free downloadable EBooks. **
Now is the time to start your Holiday Savings! Follow the links to visit these fine merchants prior to receiving your coupon codes. REMEMBER: the purchase date must be 11/3 or 11/4 to qualify for 25% off savings and free EBooks. **
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OFFER!
Order THE VISION by Debi Pearl from BarnesandNoble.com on November 3rd or 4th, 2009 (offer good on these days only) and you will receive coupon codes from the following companies offering 25% discounts from their webstores. Discounts cannot be combined with other discounts.
1. Ancient Healing Oils
2. The Bulk Herb Store
3. College Plus!
4. More Than Alive
5. No Greater Joy
6. The Mission Ball
PLUS! You will also receive free downloadable ebooks and bonus gifts from Gary D. Foster Consulting (see details below).
HERE’S HOW TO ORDER!!
On November 3rd or 4th...
1. Visit www.DebiPearl.com
2. Click the Barnes & Noble link to place your order.
3. Email your receipt immediately to Mel Cohen to receive your coupon codes.
Coupon codes expire on 11/9/09.
<<>>**FREE E-BOOKS FROM GARY D. FOSTER CONSULTING**<<>>
Distance Learning for the 21st Century-
These days, you don't need to spend years on a college campus to earn your degree. In fact, you can cut your tuition costs by 50% and graduate in two years or less through CLEP exams and online classes. Read this EBook and start your distance learning degree today!
Earning Dual Credit: How to Combine High School and College-
High school students may not realize it but the study they're doing in high school can actually count for college credit through CLEP exams. In fact, they don't need to wait until graduation to do college-level coursework either. Find out how high schoolers can graduate college by age 18 for a fraction of the time and cost of the traditional college system.
Herbal Alternatives-
You will discover how herbs can be used as healthy alternatives. This book provides “How To” directions for numerous home remedies for adults and children. Discover the use of herbs as; Antibiotics, Tinctures, Oil Extracts, dosages and more. Learn to make your own Salves and Ointments. The secrets of building immunity in your children are reveled. This is a MUST READ!
FREE 3-MONTH SUBSCRIPTION The Foster Letter-
The Foster Letter is a biweekly publication that will be sent to you via email. It provides a Religious Market Update, and is An Executive Marketplace Intelligence Report for Business and Ministry Decision Makers.
COOKING WITH A DUTCH OVEN
You needn’t forsake your favorite roasted or baked foods when cooking over an open fire. It is possible that your favorite recipes are given an enhanced flavor when using this method. For open fire cooking use a Dutch oven with feet and a lid with a rim.
STIR WITH A WOODEN SPOON
Metal spoons shouldn’t be used on the inside of a seasoned cast iron pot. Metal will damage the seasoned coating, so use wood instead.
A COOK’S FIRE
Build a hot fire using hard wood at least an hour prior to the time you wish to begin cooking. Avoid commercial charcoal or resinous (soft) wood as a fuel. Pine is an example of resinous, cool-burning, soft wood that produces a quantity of black soot when burned. This residue makes a mess of your cookware, builds up a hazardous film inside your chimney, and isn’t very pleasant for the cook. I don’t use charcoal briquettes for my cook fire because of the chemical additives and binders used to manufacture the product. Learning how to build a hardwood fire will keep you from dealing with either of these difficulties. Check to be sure you’ve gotten a good bed of red hot coals laid. An oven mitt or heat resistant cloth can serve to protect your hands from the heat while a curved piece of iron can serve as your lid-lifter.
HOW TO PREHEAT
Use a clean cloth or paper towel to coat the inside of your pot and lid with olive oil. Set the lid onto the pot and set it near the fire to warm while you prepare your ingredients. This is pre-heating your Dutch oven just as you would a modern standard oven. The oil penetrates the iron as the pot is warmed, making the vessel ready to cook. Securing the lid will keep ash out of the interior of the pot. If onions or peppers are part of the recipe, add them to the oven while it warms so that they may simmer and create a barrier between the rest of the food when it is added and the bottom of the pot.
PLACING FOOD INTO YOUR OVEN
Assemble the ingredients for your recipe. Remember the seasonings. The pre-heated oven should be moved away from the heat of the fire. A curved metal rod is useful as a tool to carefully remove the hot lid.
The remaining ingredients should be layered into your oven at this point. If rice is part of your recipe, add it and the water or broth at this point. Vegetables are next to be added. The meat rests on top of any vegetables, rice or potatoes so that it may flavor them as it cooks. Take care that the pot is not overfilled so that the food touches the underside of the lid. If cooking a bread or desert, layer the ingredients in the same way you would if using a conventional oven. Place the lid back onto the pot.
PLACING THE OVEN TO THE COALS
Shovel a small pile of hot coals to the edge of the fire. This method is less hazardous than attempting to set the pot over leaping flames or into the middle of the fire pit. Rest the Dutch oven on this small pile and then shovel more hot coals onto the lid. After you’ve gotten a good even coating of hot coals beneath and on top of your oven shovel some ash around the base and sprinkle it over the top. This procedure is known as banking the fire. The coals will retain their heat and burn slowly as they aren’t exposed to the air.
Your cooking time should be similar to the time used in a modern kitchen oven or a little longer if your coals are cool. When finished, remove the live coals from the lid of your pot using a shovel. Use a fire-resistant brush to remove any remaining debris. Remove the pot from the hot coals and move it back from the fire. Raise the lid and set it aside using a heavy piece of curved metal. Examine your food for doneness. Serve with a wooden spoon if the food has finished cooking. If more time is needed, recover the pot with the lid and replace it onto the small bed of coals scooping more coals back onto the top. After a few minutes, check the food.
It’s okay if your first effort results in a few burnt edges. With practice you’ll learn how to avoid this. A few burnt edges will quickly be overlooked by those that have been enjoying the aroma of your food during cooking. Seldom are there any leftovers. Your guests will be more than ready to eat.
CLEANING AND STORING
After removing the food from your Dutch oven, wipe residue from the inside using a soft sided scrub pad, paper towel or wooden spoon. As your pot becomes better seasoned, you’ll find that a paper towel will likely be enough to remove any bits of food. In the event you find that you have some food that has become glued to the pot, set the oven next to the fire to reheat and cook those to ash. Dutch ovens should not be run through dishwashers or submerged in dishwater. Heating the metal in hot water and detergents will strip it of its protective seasoning. Wipe your cleaned pot with oil to recoat it between uses. You will know you’ve done a nice job when you can see your reflection in the bottom of the pot. Seat the lid on the pot for storage.
>>---> WANT TO GAIN MORE SKILLS? <---<<
PRIMITIVE WILDERNESS SKILLS, APPLIED will provide you with information for HARD CORE survival in the wild. The Bulk Herb Store offers this DVD for sale in their online store, and it’s a great gift for the survival enthusiast. In addition, Debi Pearl’s latest best-selling book, THE VISION, is packed with information on herbal medicine. You could combine both purchases during THE VISION Barnes & Noble Blitz on the 3rd and 4th of November. By purchasing THE VISION from Barnes & Noble on these dates, you will be eligible for free gifts and a 25% off coupon off of any product offered by The Bulk Herb Store. In other words you could have PRIMITIVE WILDERNESS SKILLS, APPLIED at a drastic discount! Not only that, but you’ll receive this same drastic discount towards purchases at five other online retailers. Make your Barnes and Noble purchase of THE VISION November 3rd or 4th and email your dated receipt to melcohen@hughes.net for the details. The blitz is NEXT WEEK! Mark your calendar to purchase THE VISION November 3rd or 4th from Barnes & Noble!
The following video is a demonstration of bread-making using a Dutch oven. While the footage shows use in a conventional oven, the technique is the same -- except for the fact that you'd be using fire as your heat source as described above:
PREPARING TO BARTER
When currency is in short supply, trading for goods (bartering) is another method by which you can secure goods. Another benefit of bartering is that traded items can help you generate goodwill from others and secure needed services. However, in order engage in a successful trade, you will need to be prepared.
When determining the best items to have on hand, consider these guidelines.
REMEMBER THAT THIS IS AN INVESTMENT
Try to keep in mind that the items you use for trading are not necessarily the same items you would use yourself. These goods are items you invest in to secure a high yield later – you want a good profit at the point of trade. The goal is to purchase good items at a low price -- usable, but not junk.
Tools can be found in varied quality. When purchasing for yourself, you’ll want the best tools you can afford, but when purchasing for trade, good quality at a discount price is preferable. Collecting junk won’t help you secure good trades so you should learn the art of finding quality products at consignment shops, garage sales, estate sales, flea markets, yard sales and other outlets.
WHEN NEEDED, REPAIRED ITEMS ARE JUST AS GOOD AS NEW
Take inventory of your skills as you consider items for trade. If you know how to make simple repairs, you could purchase slightly worn items at a deep discount and refurbish them yourself.
ITEMS WITH MORE THAN ONE USE
Look for things which can be used for more than one purpose. This will increase your trading opportunities and save storage space. A partial list of such items include: assorted cloth, soap, basins, buckets, rubber bands, blankets, twine, string, tarps and duct tape.
It’s a good idea to learn a skill that will allow you to make your own goods for trade. One valuable skill is the ability to produce ammunition. Research bullet swaging for more information on what you’ll need. Foraging, candle making, soap making, masonry, pottery, sewing and metalworking are all skills that will enable you to produce products for trade.
KNOWLEDGE
Books on self-sufficiency are a valuable resource. Vary your collection with entertaining fiction. Even more valuable is literature that teaches while it entertains. Shop discount outlets for used books.
The ability to think creatively will be your most valuable asset. Re-purposing used items into useful goods is a greatly beneficial ability. You can practice this skill now, learning to recognize opportunities. Debi Pearl has written a wonderful work of fiction called THE VISION that promises to get your imagination reeling with possibilities. Read this adventure novel and follow the characters through political, social and economic upheaval as they utilize their skills to deal with difficulties and danger. Read it today and enjoy learning how to make your own way.
HARVESTING & USING GOLDENROD
Solidago virgaurea is the botanical name for goldenrod. This adaptable plant can be found in Asia, North America & Europe. Found in areas with good sun exposure, goldenrod will reach a height of 2-3 feet in open areas, mountain ranges and along hillsides. The leaves alternate along the stem which is accented with branches of golden flowers.
In the late summer and fall, this plant blooms and is ready to harvest. If goldenrod grows in your area, the feathery yellow blossoms are easy to spot in patches beside the road. However, you won’t want to use these plants because they’ve been coated in fumes from passing cars.
The choice places to locate goldenrod are those with good sun exposure, near water. We were able to locate a patch growing near an abandoned footbridge in an open area. The little patch was filled with pokeweed, leggy grasses and splashes of goldenrod. Use sharp garden shears to harvest, removing the 2 or 3 feet of stem, leaves and blooming tops. The bruised parts of the plant will offer up a pleasant smell similar to wild carrots with a hint of citrus. A yellow dye can be made from the flower tops.
HOW TO DRY HERBS
Use a string to tie the cut stems in groups of five to ten. Make a loop in the tail of the string in order that you may hang the plants with the flowers downward and a box lid or tray beneath. Find a place to hang the plants where they will not be disturbed: a closet, cabinet, storage room, ceiling beam. Hooks and coat racks can also be used. If it fits, a paper bag can be secured over the plants to shield them from sun and catch loose plant parts. In one to three weeks the plants will be dry. This method is also effective for preserving flower arrangements.
When the plants are dried, remove the blooms and leaves to store them in a glass jar with a lid.
As an herb, goldenrod has qualities that make it symptom regulating, regenerating and detoxifying.
DETOXIFYING HERBS clear blockages and remove excesses. Known as a bitter, goldenrod contains tannin. Bitters are herbs that trigger the secretion of digestive juices by their taste. Because it helps the body release excess fluids, this herb is known as a diuretic. In times past this herb was used in applications to assist in the removal of bladder stones. Goldenrod helps remove hardened mucus and thick phlegm deposits (catarrh). Urinary tract infections are also eased by the antioxidant properties of goldenrod tea. Goldenrod is a digestive which means it strengthens digestion. A diaphoretic, this herb promotes perspiration which helps the body remove toxins.
REGENERATING HERBS help restore normal function, tone and build overwhelmed tissues. Inflamed tissues are eased with the application of goldenrod as it is an astringent. An aromatic, the volatile oils in the goldenrod give it a pleasant odor. As a powder, this herb is used to help wounds close and form scar tissue, a process known as cicatrization. Ulcers were once commonly treated in this manner. Goldenrod’s support of healing tissues classifies it as a vulnerary.
SYMPTOM REGULATING HERBS are plants which help relieve discomfort and pain. The antiseptic properties of this herb help counteract decay. Tea made from the leaves and flowers can be used as a mouthwash. Its stimulant properties increase the action of other herbs in remedies. Stomach pain is relieved by the carminative action of goldenseal which helps remove gas from the digestive tract. To reduce fevers, goldenseal tea is helpful. Pain associated with menstruation is also lessened by drinking goldenseal tea.
TO MAKE GOLDENSEAL TEA
Measure 2 tsp of dried herb into a cup. Add boiling water to the container and cover, letting it steep for ten minutes. Enjoy a cup of the tea three times each day until the symptoms lessen. Taken in quantities of ½ cup four times per day, this tea is reported to be helpful in the treatment seasonal allergies. Yet, if I felt it beneficial, I would consume it more liberally.
SINUS WASH
The tea is also good as a sinus spray. This is an effective treatment for upper respiratory inflammation and congestion accompanied by a sore throat and low fever.
SALVES & OILS
When goldenrod is infused in oil, it is a soothing topical treatment for sore muscles, strains and sprains. This oil can be applied repeatedly and liberally as frequently as every half hour, but usually every three hours. Even chronic pain and stiffness has been alleviated with this application. This does not correct serious structural damage; rather it helps with painful and inflamed tissues. Goldenrod’s vulnerary properties make this a good choice for the treatment of cuts, scratches and wounds as it speeds healing.
A tincture of goldenrod can be used to help alleviate allergy symptoms. In tincture combinations, goldenrod will help to increase the beneficial properties of other herbs. While the individual response and underlying conditions must be considered, a tincture of goldenrod, nettle and elderberry is considered a good combination for allergy relief. Another tincture combination that is useful in the treatment of kidney and urinary tract infections is goldenrod, echinacea, yarrow and elderberry. One dropperful should be taken hourly until symptoms ease. After the symptoms lessen, continue taking several drops 3-4 times a day for around 10 days. A ten day trial period is the same time used in Scripture to establish good health.* Another application for tinctures can be topical as a liniment.
Subsequent articles will deal with the procedures for making your own tinctures, oils and salves. Meanwhile, if you’d like a great resource for introductory herbal information and applications (and a great read), I suggest you purchase the latest book by herbalist Debi Pearl entitled THE VISION. In addition to herbal tips on the everyday use of herbs, you’ll enjoy an exciting story of adventure, romance and intrigue. Buy it today.
*The phrase “ten days” makes for an interesting word study in Scripture.
Information and ideas presented here are for the reader’s use and enrichment. This is not offered as a replacement for the care of a medical professional. The ideas and opinions expressed are that of the author and fallible. It is the responsibility of the reader to arrive at his own conclusions and be informed.
