'Radical Living' sounds extreme, but for our family it started in a very gradual way. I became very knowledgable of the the health industry when I was pregnant with my babies. I had my four children in 5 years, so I spent a concentrated amount of time in doctors offices and hospitals. These years opened my eyes to truths about the healthcare industry that I may not have learned any other way.
Following the birth of my 3rd child, we began doing major research about the foods we were consuming, sustainable agriculture, and we learned about the truly unbelievable ways "big agra" was/is contaminating and poisoning our food. I won't go into politics here, but suffice it to say, we're blown away by the brokenness of the system, and the way people choose to lash out before they've ever researched a topic. IT'S. A. MESS. So what does this have to do with you? If you're reading this I'm assuming that you're at least a little interested in natural living. Probably a little wary of certain industry/government things... But you're also a real person who has real life going on. You're going to buy the Doritos and disposable diapers if that's what needs to happen for this season to make your life run smoothly. But you're always trying to do better. And guess what? Me too. I'm a completely regular person, who is trying a little bit every day to reconcile the life that I live with the crazy truth about this world we're living in. So here's how I'm tackling 2020, and how I can help you:
Check out the focus features from 2020 so far:
Water Filtration for Beginners Building a Holistic First Aid Kit
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Welcome to the place where regular people can begin to explore the ideas of radical living. There may be (i.e. definitely are) affiliate links in this post. Should you purchase something through them, you will be personally helping our family of 6. Thank you for your support, shares, comments, and pins. <3 Full disclosure here.
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If you find yourself in a situation where you may want hand purifier, but can't find any at the store, here are a few substitutes.
DIY Hand Purifier Gel
DIY Hand Purifier Spray I love this liquid spray option! So easy to put together, and the witch hazel is gentler than alcohol (even though it may contain some alcohol) Ingredients
DIY Foaming Purifier This is actually just foaming hand soap, but in a pinch will work for sanitizing.
Want more DIY's? There are several HERE. Want to know more about how we stock our mostly holistic first aid kit? Read that HERE. Interested in how to have clean water in an end-of-the-world situation? Try HERE. Subscribe to my email newsletter to get the latest from Hearth and Caravan.
Welcome to the place where regular people can begin to explore the ideas of radical living. There may be (i.e. definitely are) affiliate links in this post. Should you purchase something through them, you will be helping a family of 6 pay for things like groceries, or maybe a night out bowling... Thank you for your support, shares, comments, and pins. <3 Full disclosure here.
Why Holistic?
I like using holistic first aid as much as possible. If we can fix something naturally, we always try that first. So that's how we build our first aid kit--we start with natural and holistic options, and build up to high emergency last resort options. I choose to use homemade/DIY options often, certain purchased items from companies I love that work for us, and a few store bought /prescribed options. Having kids has taught me a TON about administering first aid, and what I haven't learned by trial and error, has usually been found at youtube university..
First Aid at home
At home we have a huge amount of first aid remedies.. In the kitchen, in the bathroom, in the bedroom.. there are oils and salves, teas and tinctures, and anything we could dream up, really. There are a couple of reasons we've decided to collect our first aid into a "kit" that we can take with us.
Watch the walkthroughWhat's Included?
Top Row:
Middle Row:
Bottom Row:
Essential Oils:
You should know that I have a lot of oils, but for my first aid kit, these are the absolute MUSTS. I will always have other certain oils in my purse with me, and they are tucked all over my house, but like I said, these are definite must-haves.
This kit will change and grow over time. I'd still really like to add:
Tips for creating your own first aid kit
When creating your own holistic first aid kit, there are some good things to remember!
PLANTING A GARDEN FOR FIRST AID
While I am not an expert at gardening, this is the year to do better in this department with the foods that we eat, and with the herbs that we use. I've heard that gardening is a common hobby among the people that live the longest in the world, so I'm going to try to do better with it! There are so many plants, flowers, shrubs, and herbs to grow to use in creating balms, salves, tinctures, and teas that are perfect for our holistic first aid kit!
My favorite medicinal plant that I believe everyone should start with is Aloe Vera! It's such a versatile, and relatively easy plant to grow. And, BONUS! it's not hard to find. I use aloe in my after sun spray which is a DIY version and close kin of the lavaderm from Young Living that's already in my first aid kit. Most herbs you cook with also have a medicinal purpose and use. Oregano, basil, and thyme are all great to have for both culinary and medicinal applications. Ditto for onion, ginger, and garlic! Some perennial options for zone 7 include, oregano, thyme, mint, chives, and lavender (among many more, I'm sure!) We have had some issues growing herbs from seed, so this year we will try to start with plants. I'd like to try some Golden Oregano, as I've read it it's hard to kill--that's the kind of plant life I need! We grow cilantro (which is the champion of our garden) and basil in with our vegetables, and they both do well from seed. This year we are trying some new plants and I am so excited! This year we will add calendula, lavender, lemon bee balm, and echinacea. Preserving these flowers should be simple in the dehydrator (cross your fingers!), and then we can make all sorts of holistic wellness products with them. I'll be sure to share those with you as the garden grows. Are You Prepared for your family's medical needs?
I am so relieved to have our first aid kit in fantastic working order. It will be wonderful to grab it to take with us as we go camping and on vacation, and even as we go on day trips! Being prepared is becoming more and more important to us as we get a little older and wiser, and see the world around us. Every little bit of preparation takes a bit of the weight off. Will you do yourself the favor of preparing for the first aid needs of your family? You'll be glad you did.
Get your free checklist!
I created a free checklist to help you build your own first aid kit! Go grab it here.
Welcome to the place where regular people can begin to explore the ideas of radical living. There may be (i.e. definitely are) affiliate links in this post. Should you purchase something through them, you will be helping a family of 6 pay for things like groceries, or maybe a night out bowling... Thank you for your support, shares, comments, and pins. <3 Full disclosure here.
Water Purification isn't new
Water has it's own nifty water purification system built right in. The water cycle has been doing it's thing since the beginning, recycling water through the process of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation to purify and cleanse every drop we use.
Surprisingly though, citizens of earth have been purifying and clarifying their drinking water for a really long time. Medieval times, ancient Indian civilizations, and Hippocrates (among others) all have records of water purification systems being used to filter water for purity and taste. (source) Why Water needs Filtration
Simply put, there are contaminants in our water supply that we don't want to ingest. Pharmaceuticals in trace amounts may be found in our water and we have no idea what effect that may have on us (and especially our children) in the long run. (source) Fluoride isn't for drinking, so we definitely want to filter that out. Not to mention, our tap water tastes pretty much exactly like a chlorinated pond.
4 Basic Reasons to Filter Your Water: Sediments, Contaminants, Parasites, and Taste.
Water Filtration for Everyday Use
When I found out residual pharmaceuticals were popping up in water supplies, that was the final straw for finding a water filter for our family. I had also been vaguely concerned about fluoride in our local water supply, but after looking up the details on fluoride it lit a fire under my behind! I found out that a water filter could help remove the heavy metals, residual pharmaceuticals, and fluoride from our drinking water, and provide purer water for my family and I. The best water filtration system for our family is the Berkey Water Filtration System. We like the Travel Berkey, as we can pack it up and take it camping with us. If you are planning on using your water filter at home for more than a couple of people for all cooking and drinking needs, I recommend the Big Berkey. While the Travel Berkey can work, having the larger capacity for mealtimes would make life just a bit easier.
We chose the Berkey Water filtration system over all the others for a few good reasons:
Drawbacks to choosing the Berkey filter system:
Water Filtration for Hiking
Hiking and Backpacking have recently come into my life, and I was so curious how people could hike for weeks, months, or even a few days and still have plenty of water to drink! The answer is--they filter their water as they go--and it is unbelievably affordable and efficient. There are several portable water filtration systems that many prefer, but the most widely available, affordable, and lightweight options are the Sawyer Squeeze ($30~), and the Sawyer Mini ($20~). Both provide thousands of gallons of filtration in a simple handheld device that attaches easily to a water bottle. It is the single item in my house that gives me the most confidence about emergency water filtration for hiking and beyond.
Reasons to Go with a Sawyer Mini (or Squeeze):
Drawbacks to a Sawyer water filter:
emergency preparedness and water filtration
We aren't "preppers" in the way that we have a bunker and our own underground grocery store... but it is on our minds that there may be a natural or unnatural disaster that may cause us to need an emergency supply of water and food. Have you ever had a day when the water main breaks and you don't have access to clean water? It really highlights how unprepared you may be in a SHTF type of situation. We have a combination of methods that give us a little security about having clean water should some disaster transpire.
DIY Water Filter
If you find yourself in a Swiss Family Robinson situation, you may want to know how to construct your own water filtration system from things found in nature. This video is a very basic attempt to share that idea, so that we're not roaming around the palm trees with no idea of our next steps. I'm not going to use this filter unless I'm in a situation where there's no other choice, but it's always good to know the basics.
The items you are going to need are:
Take a moment today to assess your water filtration needs. Choose a water filter that's right for your budget before the month is over. Set a deadline to get your water purification house in order. Then pin your favorite graphic from this post on Pinterest!
Fried Shepherd's PieHere at the Hearth and Caravan Homestead we love Japanese Culture and food. We had searched for a good recipe for a Japanese favorite, Korroke, which is a fried potato croquette. We found a few recipes and tweaked them to come up with our own simple to follow recipe. As we were making them, we decided that korroke is basically fried shepherd's pie! Beware: You do not want to use runny mashed potatoes. You want firm mashed potatoes! Firm I tell you! Also, I hate reading a book before I get to the recipe on blog posts, so we'll hop to it. Ingredients: 1 cup prepared mashed potatoes. We used instant, made with chicken broth instead of water. Always use broth if you can--it tastes so much better. 1 cup cooked, crumbled ground beef. Season simply with salt, pepper, onion powder, and quite literally a dash of Mrs. Dash. 2 Eggs Flour Panko Oil for frying Directions: Mix 1 cup prepared mashed potatoes with 1 cup ground beef. Add 1 egg to the mixture. Drop heaping tablespoons of mixture into flour. Coat and shape into ovals. Beat the other egg and dip or brush your floured ovals. Dredge in Panko. Don't be afraid to use a LOT of Panko. It really helps hold everything together. If you're feeling ambitious, you can repeat those steps and dip in everything twice for additional stability (we skipped doing that). Fry in an inch of oil at 350*. One side should brown in about 30 seconds. Homemade KorrokeIf you like this recipe, subscribe to our YouTube channel to get more of what you love! Hear all about essential oils, traveling, home life, and adventure! Plus grocery hauls and hiking.
Want to give Walmart grocery pick-up a try for the first time? Use this link to save $10 (and it helps me out too at no cost to you!) Want to try Sam's Club out? Become a Member through this link and get a $20 gift card :) I'm here to help you, friends. Want to hear more from Hearth and Caravan? Get On The Newsletter List Week One-Teen and Tween WeekWeek one has come to an end and it was full of excellent DIY projects you can create with and for your teens and tweens. Below you'll find a video and written recipe for each DIY project we made this week, and a link to each individual blog post. It is my hope that this month of DIYs inspires you to kick the toxic chemicals out of your home and create some of your own household and beauty products! Affiliate links are included in this blog post, which means I'll make a small percentage from anything you actually purchase at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our small business and family of 6 <3 See full disclosure HERE. See full blog post HERE that includes a comprehensive list of all natural ingredients that can help you make all these recipes and more. Oily Skin Face Mask I/2 tsp. Bentonite Clay 1/4-1/2 tsp. Apple Cider Vinegar (until desired consistency) 1 Drop Frankincense 1 Drop Lavender 1 Drop Tea Tree Simply mix these ingredients all together and apply to face for a nighttime mask treatment. Let dry 10-15 minutes before washing off with a damp cloth. This is EXCELLENT on teen and troubled skin, and still gentle enough to be great for most all skin types. Test in a small area if you're concerned about how your skin will respond. BONUS: You can use this exact same recipe as an armpit detox which helps when using an all-natural deodorant. When using as an armpit detox, simply apply to the armpits and let dry about 10 minutes. Follow up with a shower and your natural deodorant and stay fresher, longer. Lip Balm 3 Ways Tinted Lip Balm 1/4 tsp beeswax pellets 1/2 tsp coconut oil 1/4 tsp olive oil OR sweet almond oil 1/2 tsp cocoa powder or hibiscus powder or mineral makeup A drop of honey 5 drops essential oils (Here's how you can get them) Melt beeswax and coconut oil together. Add remaining ingredients, working quickly, and pour into a small pot. Makes 1-2 lip balms. ___________________________________________________________________________ All-Natural Lip Plumper ( I am obsessed with this stuff!) 1/4 tsp beeswax pellets 1/2 tsp coconut oil 1/4 tsp olive oil OR sweet almond oil 1/2 tsp cocoa powder or hibiscus powder or mineral makeup A drop of honey 10-15 drops Cinnamon Bark essential oil (Here's how you can get it) Melt beeswax and coconut oil together. Add remaining ingredients, working quickly, and pour into a small pot. Makes 1-2 lip balms. ___________________________________________________________________________ Glitter Roll On Lip Gloss 1/2 tsp. Sweet Almond Oil Glitter 3 drops Citrus Fresh essential oil (Here's how you can get it) Add glitter to small roller bottle and top with sweet almond oil (or olive oil). Shake well and enjoy! May need to roll back and forth a few times to get glitter started. See full blog post HERE DIY Toy Surprise Bath Bombs Ingredients: 1 Cup Baking Soda 1/2 Cup Citric Acid 1/2 Cup Epsom Salts 1/2 Cup Arrowroot/Corn Starch 4 Tbsp Coconut Oil 1 Tablespoon Water 20 Drops Essential Oil (Here's how you can get them) Directions: Mix together all ingredients. Divide if desired to create color/fragrance layers. We used yellow/green and lemon/lime in ours. Gently press enough mixture into your mold into your mold of choice to fill halfway. Add surprise toy and cover with more bath bomb mixture to cover and enclose toy. Place in the refrigerator to help coconut oil harden and bath bombs set, about an hour. Store in a cool, dry location. See full blog post HERE Eyelash Serum 1 teaspoon (5ml) Jojoba Oil 2 Drops Lavender Essential Oil (Here's how you can get them) 2 Drops Cedarwood Essential Oil 2 Drops Rosemary Essential Oil Mix the above ingredients together into an empty mascara tube and apply to lashes daily. See Full Blog Post HERE DIY Geode Bath Bombs Ingredients:
Directions: Mix up 1/4 cup epsom salt, baking soda, citric acid, and corn starch (or arrowroot) and stir well. Add in 1.5 Tbsp. coconut oil, 1/2 Tbsp. Water, and essential oils. Fill in molds and press well to compact. Try to make the shape a bit concave to keep that "geode" shape. Chill in the fridge while you're making the geode topping. Geode "Topping": Take 3 small bowls and add 1/4 cup epsom salts to each. Add natural dye to each bowl, starting with a small amount, then medium, then large. (1 drop, 3, drops, 5 drops of the same color, to make 3 of the same color from light to dark) After mixing up your 3 colors, add some of the lightest color to your bath bomb and top with melted coconut oil and spread out over the bath bomb. Add the medium next, and the dark, last, leaving a space in the middle, each time coating with a bit of the melted coconut oil. Place in fridge to set for a few hours or overnight. See Full Blog Post HERE Don't forget to visit us here:
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