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The leaf of the Stevia Plant is called “honey leaf” by the natives of Paraguay, where it has been used for centuries as a sweetener, and Japanese food companies have been using Stevia for over 25 years.   However the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) banned the import of Stevia to the United States because it had not undergone expensive testing.  A change in the law in 1994 allowed Stevia to be imported into the United States but it could only be sold only as a supplement, not as a sweetener.

The Stevia plant is tropical, and will not survive a light freeze, and will struggle in dry areas.

It is widely believed that cooking with Cast Iron leeches very small amounts of iron into the food (trace amounts). This can be a benefit when there is a risk of iron deficiency due to diet. In an emergency there may be limited amounts of red meat or other sources of iron in the standard diet. Although the iron from the cookware will not help those with severe deficiencies, it may help those with an average diet.

   Keep several Aloe plants in pots.  If possible get plants from different sources to have a variety in the gene pool. They require very little water, and are a great natural remedy for burns and abrasions.

   Do not plant Aloe plants outside (in the ground) unless there is no chance of freezing, as even a light freeze can kill them.  Well protected Aloe plants can survive a light freeze, but the risk of loosing the entire plant is high.  If an Aloe plant is killed by a frost, chop off the entire plant just above the ground. Then cover the roots with mulch or some other method of protecting them for the rest of the winter. In the winter, water lightly until the plant re-sprouts (if the roots were not killed by the freeze as well).

Feminine hygiene products are a sensitive subject, but a vital one.  Keep several months on hand for every woman (or teenage girl) that is likely to be a member of the household during an emergency.  Watch for sales, and when they can be purchased for a discount buy several years worth (if budgeting allows).  If money is tight, try to buy an extra pack every other purchase and store them away.

Feminine hygiene products are technically a luxury, but in modern society are so integrated into the daily life that they are looked upon as a necessity.  Before feminine hygiene products were invented, women would isolate themselves during menstruation. This isolation will probably not be an option during the days, weeks and months following an emergency – having adequate supplies on hand until better alternatives can be found is vital.

Stock extras if possible!  Feminine hygiene products will make great barter items in emergencies where shipping is disrupted: They are highly desirable, consumable and can store virtually forever.

Sealed apple cider vinegar should not need to be refrigerated, but needs to be stored in a dark and relatively cool place. Officially the shelf life of apple cider vinegar is five years from the bottling date, however many people report that if kept cool and in a dark location it will remain safe and usable for an indefinite period of time.

It is reported that apple cider vinegar (not juice) may be used as a wart remover. Take a small piece of cotton swab and fully soak it in apple cider vinegar. Put over the wart until the liquid stops coming out of the swab. Keep the swab on, and carefully wipe dry the rest of the area. Apply a band aid to keep the cotton swab in place and leave on for 24 hours. Remove the old swab, and immediately replace with a new one also soaked in apple cider vinegar. Repeat these steps 3 times (for a total of 4 swabs over 4 days). After about one to three days after the last swab is removed the wart should begin to dry up and come off.

Although Boric Acid is an item that is typically stored in bulk by rural survivalists (and ignored by those in the cities), having some on hand in suburban environments is recommended (although is a lower priority). Fortunately Boric Acid is very inexpensive and has an indefinite shelf-life.

Boric Acid is typically used to control roaches, termites, ants, silverfish, bedbugs and fleas: If an emergency continues for over six months, insect control will be very important. Boric Acid is easy to use, as it is just sprinkled under (or behind) cabinets, in attics, or under base boards. It is simply used as a ‘barrier’ that the insects will have to cross. For fleas, it typically is powdered into the carpets, bed linen or pet areas.

A homemade ant and roach bait can be made by dissolving 1 teaspoon boric acid powder and 10 teaspoons sugar into 2 cups of water. Dip cotton balls into the liquid to absorb as much water as possible, and leave the homemade bait where ants or roaches (but not humans or pets) may find them. Although not as effective as commercially made baits, if no other bait can be found this can be made cheaply and with items typically stored in survivalism based home.

Technically Boric Acid is a poison, and should never be inhaled or taken internally; however it takes considerable amounts to cause death in adult humans. The dry powder is abrasive to the insects’ exoskeleton, and if the insect ingests the poison, it affects their metabolism. There may be long term effects on humans that have as of yet gone undiscovered.

There are other uses for Boric Acid that will be less useful for the Suburban Survivalist, but make it a commodity that may be traded in a long term disaster: It is a mild acid, an antiseptic, flame retardant, can be used for minor burns when mixed as a salve, can be used as a eye wash, treat vaginal yeast and fungal infections, a preventative for athlete’s foot, can be used to treat certain types of ear infections (in humans and animals), and can be used in curing cattle and sheep skins.

In a disaster most cities and suburban environments may cease any insect control, and the likely hood of standing water in diverse places will increase greatly. This will lead to a massive mosquito population explosion during the warm seasons. Military mosquito nets are a great prep item for both health reasons and for sanity’s sake. Try visiting a local military surplus store to invest in a couple mosquito nets. They can be hung over a bed for sleeping, as a screen for a door or patio.

Those who are dependent on cigarettes often assume that they will be able to quit smoking when an emergency occurs. While others believe that storing several months’ worth of cigarettes will get them through the tough time.
However, consider that a massive emergency will be an extremely stressful time, it will probably be the worst time to consider kicking the nicotine habit.

In an emergency, a clear head is needed to survive. Being forced to quit smoking ‘cold turkey’ will prevent a clear head, cause shaky hands, increase stress levels for everyone and very likely cause rash (and unwise) decisions.

Rash and unwise decisions can be fatal.

Having several fire extinguishers in the home is critical, even in non-emergency times. Some homes have a single fire extinguisher somewhere under the kitchen sink, but most homes do not have one in every room. Small ‘kitchen’ fire extinguishers can be purchased from $10 to $20 easily, and every major room should have one.

People often think of a tipped over candle or grease fire while cooking as possible concerns, but think they can easily be handled by ‘stomping them out’ or finding the baking soda and throwing it on the fire. Both of these are true, if you have experience doing this it is easy… if not it can be quite a challenge the first time. Then a small fire can turn into a lost home easily. How long will it take to find the baking soda: Just a minute or two? A small fire can expand to an entire room in that time frame. When a small fire starts, the time frame to take quick decisive action is 10 to 15 seconds at the most. This means (1) Knowing where the fire extinguishers are; (2) Knowing how to use them; (3) And acting.

In a teotwawki scenario, running water and fire fighting services may not be an option. Having a way to put out a fire when it is small would be a critical preparation between loosing a residence or not. But in these scenarios, there is an added risk of flames inside the home for heat, light or cooking. There is also the added risk of a jealous neighbor or neighborhood thug throwing a small fire bomb at the home (on the porch or through the window. Again, the fire extinguisher can make the difference between loosing the home or not (which could be life or death in a teotwawki scenario).

When making a list of items to stock up on, do not forget to include socks, underwear and bras. Although these would not be as big of a priority as food, water, firearms, ammo or medical supplies have a good stock of these items will help in the longer term survival situations. Undergarments do wear out, and clean functional undergarments add a level of hygiene, dignity and modesty that may not be had otherwise.

Every household should have a three to four weeks supply of all undergarments (for use during normal times). Having a larger stock stored away can be a good idea, after taking the following into account: Growth rates, weight changes, charity and second hand use.

(1) Growth rates - A three to four week supply of undergarments will probably out-live a growing child or young adult.
(2) Weight changes - If some members of the family are over weight, during a long term emergency, individuals may loose weight. However, some individuals may gain weight, especially if they eat calorie loaded foods as a mechanism for dealing with stress. Either way, the same problem with out growing applies to weight loss or gains but is not as predictable.
(3) Charity - Having clean underwear as a barter item, payment for work, or a charity item for neighbors (especially those with kids) can go along way.
(4) Second hand use - Most people do not like the concept of second hand undergarments, for understandable reasons. However, in a long term emergency prejudices like this may become less prevalent. Consider what types of hand me downs from one person to another may be used when planning on what items to purchase.