DVD Review: HOMESTEADING FOR BEGINNERS

HOMESTEADING FOR BEGINNERS is just the video for those who are considering the possibility of moving to the country. This video gives a delightful overview of life on a small family farm. Erin and Mark Harrison invite the viewer into their home to learn and laugh with them and their five children through the many adventures of homesteading.

You gain insight into all that it takes to get a REAL chicken dinner onto the table from the ground up – literally, from seed to supper. All of the scenes are filled with a beautiful rural setting and happy, healthy, helpful children keep popping up into almost every scene.

Learn how to make butter and cheese using kitchen tools you likely already have on hand. See how this family raises and harvests chickens and eggs. Get an introductory demonstration on wood splitting, building a simple chick pen, learn how to start seeds and tend a low-maintenance garden. Mama takes the time to show you how to freeze and can your produce and meat, gives you the recipes, and then shows you how to prepare the meal. Pamper your inner flower-child and learn how to make a wild-flower crown to adorn your head. If you watch carefully, you might spot Mike and Gabriel Pearl giving a knife-throwing demonstration.

The attentive viewer may even pick up some tips on how to incorporate child training and education throughout the busy day. Washing eggs becomes a math and chemistry lesson taught by a curly blond-headed little girl that needs a step-stool to reach her mama’s kitchen sink. It’s one of my favorite scenes in the film. A take-charge big brother is happy to demonstrate how to use scraps of wood to make signs for the garden. Listen carefully as Papa patiently explains how to milk a cow while little voices comment on the condition of the barn floor (you’ll have to rewind here as your laughter might drown him out).

Grandpa and Granny loved watching with us as little ones stole scene after scene. Grandpa said, “I can see now, if I wanted to homestead, I’d have to find some little helpers.”

HOMESTEADING FOR BEGINNERS should come with a warning label for parents that are used to children sitting peacefully in front of the television all day. After viewing this video, those children could be inspired to go enjoy the great outdoors more often. They might begin asking for some chickens or a cow of their own . . . possibly even some pigs to ride!

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Available at Bulk Herb Store.

Click on the image to order.

Review an excerpt from the video here:

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CRUCIAL DECISIONS ABOUT YOUR CHILD’S HEALTH

While the US medical system is one of the most advanced in the world, it is fallible. Health care workers have the same human weaknesses as the rest of us.

Regardless of their personal beliefs about the best course of care, many health care professionals are limited in the practice of medicine by treatment protocols which have been established by their medical practice, liability insurance coverage or the hospital where they have privileges. These guidelines can even restrict whether they are able to discuss alternative courses of treatment with you -- even if they believe these courses to be safer or more effective. Rather than freely administering treatments they deem best, doctors must abide by these protocols or jeopardize their employment.

Understanding the limits of medicine and medical professionals is never more important than when you are deciding upon a course of treatment for your little ones.

According to a CNN Health report, the US has the second worst newborn mortality rate among developed nations. It is more likely that a newborn will die within the first month of life in this country than babies born in Japan. US babies die at a rate 2.5 times higher than those born in Finland, Iceland and Norway. We have more neonatologists and neonatal intensive care beds than Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. Even so, the United States’ infant mortality rate is tied with Hungary, Malta, Poland and Slovakia at five deaths per 1,000 births, near the bottom of the rankings of industrialized nations. Only Latvia has a higher death rate than the US at six deaths per 1,000 live births. This is according the 2006 annual State of the World’s Mothers report.

Infants in the US are injected with three times the number of vaccines to prevent childhood illness and death than other first-world countries. After the implementation of the Center for Disease Control’s mass vaccination programs, this country fell from 2-3 on the international infant mortality list to 41-42.

According to the CDC’s 2010 report, autism affects 1 in 110 children. Two years ago, the rate was 1 in 150 children. Medical authorities continue to insist that they cannot locate a link between this cluster of neurological symptoms and the increased volume of vaccines being injected into children. This epidemic is robbing children of their intellectual potential and our nation of its brain trust. The US government openly acknowledges that approximately 13% of the children in our nation have a developmental disability. Where else in the world is there an instance of a population with more than 10% of its children developmentally impaired?

Being proactive in the preservation of good health is far better than depending upon a flawed medical system to restore it once it has been lost. It’s time to look critically at the cost of relying upon recommendations that are dictated by something other than a calling to promote healing.

I’m of the opinion that decisions regarding our health should be made with an understanding that life is a gift and our bodies are magnificently designed. Take the time to become as informed as possible about ALL of your options before deciding upon a course that hasn’t taken these things into account.

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Below, Michael Pearl discusses how his family dealt with a health care crisis after one of his children was vaccinated. His account of his experience begins at the 6:20 mark.

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The video below is the story of Adam and Lana. They tell of their experience with their son and his recovery from a stroke. Conventional therapies offered them little hope for improvement and disrupted family life.

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ABC News 20-20 1999 report on Hepatitis B vaccinations offered to children Part 1

ABC News 20-20 1999 report on Hepatitis B vaccinations Part 2

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LISTEN TO MY DREAM BY DEBI PEARL – A TRIBUTE TO DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is the subject of Debi Pearl’s latest book, LISTEN TO MY DREAM. The poetic text is filled with colorful illustrations produced by Debi and her husband, Michael Pearl. This book is one that is well suited to reading aloud to little ones. A summary of the Civil Rights movement and Dr. Kings leadership in it is included at the end of the book.

During the 1960s, Debi Pearl lived near Memphis, Tennessee. She observed how Jim Crow laws dictated how people could treat each other based on the color of their skin. She listened to the speeches, heard the arguments and knew the turmoil and upheaval that occurred when Dr. King was assassinated. She was there to see the ‘Whites Only’ signs disappear. Debi knew what life was like before Dr. King led the way to change; she had lived it.

When she had children of her own, she told them about what she had experienced and the children wanted to know more about this man. These children had never encountered the restrictions that had been Debi’s reality. These children had not encountered the widespread hatred she described. For all his work, the local library was only able to produce one children’s book about this man. Because of this lack, Debi wrote LISTEN TO MY DREAM for her own children more than 20 years ago. After an attempt to publish the book that went awry, the book was placed in storage where last year another child found it and began to ask some of those same questions she’d heard years ago. This time, Debi determined the book would be published, and this newest generation of children would hear about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

But there was more to Dr. King than his work to change society. He was a preacher, a husband, a father and a man. Michael Pearl, Debi’s husband, is a preacher also. “What will you say,” I asked her, “If someone points out areas of faith where you disagree with what Dr. King taught? How do you offer this tribute to a man that questioned things your husband preaches are basic, foundational truths?”

Debi replied simply, ‘My issue is that things changed because he spoke out. This man wasn’t perfect. He was used by God to change history. He made a difference. Children need to know what a difference one man can make.’

And that is a timely reminder for all of us, whether or not we are children.

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Now is the time to order your copy of LISTEN TO MY DREAM during the AMAZON BLITZ, JANUARY 5th, 6th and 7th. With your proof of purchase from Amazon.com, you’ll receive a 25% off discount code on merchandise from these high quality retailers: www.AncientHealingOils.com, www.BulkHerbStore.com, www.CFishClothing.com, www.KingstoneMedia.com, www.MoreThanAlive.com, and www.NoGreaterJoy.org.

Additionally, you’ll receive the following free ebooks: Herbal Alternatives (More Than Alive), African American Faith in America. For those that order in quantities of 8, 16, or 24, additional free gifts will apply.
See www.DebiPearl.com for details.

Email your dated receipt from Amazon to Mel Cohen to receive your coupon codes. Your book must be purchased January 5th, 6th or 7th in order to qualify for this special offer. All coupon codes expire 1/11/10 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.

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PARENTAL PREPAREDNESS

Parents want to protect their children when surprising circumstances arise. Being prepared helps whether the electricity is out or you’ve been stranded unexpectedly.

PREPARED, NOT PANICKED
The temptation to panic is dangerous when in an emergency (reference: RULE OF 3'S TO SURVIVE). Young ones will mirror your feelings. Your efforts to be prepared will give you the confidence you need to reassure your children.

RELEVANCE OF ROUTINE
Look for creative ways to implement a daily routine for the sake of your children. This is comforting and offers a sense of stability from the parent to the child.

PASTIMES
Amusements help pass the time when you are unable to travel. It is unlikely that you will have access to a source of power to operate electronic games. Craft supplies are wonderful to have on hand; this includes play dough, scissors, paper, tape, markers, glue and other assorted items. Take the time to introduce your children to board games, dolls, toy cars, blocks, puzzles and reading in order that they will be welcomed ‘old friends’ should they need entertainment. It is also wise to keep educational materials stocked (items such as work books, flash cards, pencils, reference books, etc.) in the event you find organized schooling is no longer an option.

HEALTHY ON PURPOSE
While access to remedies and treatments are available, utilize them to maintain your dental and overall health. It is far better to meet unexpected events with well-maintained health rather than ailments worsened by neglect. Stock any medicines required by your family members. Get into the habit of observing the sleeping, eating and toilet patterns of your family members so that you will detect illness early and be able to deal with it proactively. Train yourself to be observant of the impact circumstances are having on your loved ones. Otherwise, it will be easy to remain focused on your own challenges to the exclusion of others.

AVOID FAKE FOODS
The foods you consume today will affect your health tomorrow. Without proper training children could refuse to consume proper amounts of nutritious foods. Taste buds can be trained to appreciate a variety of tastes and textures available in real foods, but this can be difficult if the pallet has been compromised with processed foods and sugars. Take time to introduce new foods gradually in the diet. Learn about nutrition and basic food preparation -- and teach your children about these things also.

INFANTS & BABIES
A baby doesn’t require lots of gadgets for proper care. Just as yesterday’s mothers didn’t require music players, pacifiers, disposable diapers, bouncy seats, carriers, cribs and other accoutrements for infant care, neither are they necessities today. Babies need to be kept fed, clean, dry and warm.

Nursing an infant is a skill that can be learned. Breastfeeding is worth the time investment as it is beneficial to both mother and infant. This can help insure that the smallest family member has a ready supply of nourishment. For bottle-fed babies, you will need to keep formula in stock.

Infants require protection from extremes of cold and heat as their bodies aren’t yet able to regulate temperature. Babies need to be shielded from the summer sun. Umbrellas are useful for this application. Layering clothing in the winter will help protect little ones from the cold. Zippered fleece sleepers can be placed over long thermal underwear for nighttime warmth. Two or three persons sharing a single bed helps to retain warmth during the night. Wool socks, hats and zippered fleece jackets can keep babies warm during the day.

SANITATION
During cold temperatures or when water is scarce, there is no need to expect that baths will be a daily occurrence. Select the warmest area you can find and show children how to quickly wash their face, hands, genitals and feet each day. Become diligent about washing hands before meal preparation and before eating. This becomes even more important when conditions are primitive. Take the time to teach older children about latrine construction, placement and proper disposal of waste.

USEFUL ABILITIES
Learning life skills gives children more confidence in uncertain circumstances. Teaching your children how to shop, stock a pantry, pitch a tent, build a camp fire, sew, repair small engines, perform CPR, first aid, garden and swim is an investment. Understanding what to do during a fire drill, how to fend off an attack and having practiced other scenarios are real confidence builders. Prepared children aren’t as likely to fall apart emotionally.

When preparedness is made part of your daily living, your children will be better equipped to deal with emergencies. Rather than be fearful, your young ones will understand what is necessary to manage a crisis. Strengthen your family today with these measures.

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HICCUP REMEDIES

The easiest way I’ve found to stop hiccups is to take a small spoonful of honey. It has worked every time for my family and usually within five minutes.

A very full stomach can cause hiccups and these usually go away on their own. Things that contribute to hiccups include eating too quickly, swallowing too much air, changing the stomach’s temperature by drinking a cold and then a hot beverage or emotional excitement.

The reason that honey works to stop hiccups is that it helps to increase the level of carbon dioxide in the blood. Other remedies include taking a teaspoon of maple or agave syrup, eating a teaspoon of sugar, taking a teaspoon of peanut butter, holding your breath while counting slowly to 10 or higher, drinking a cold glass of water, or breathing into a paper bag.

While hiccups are not often painful, they can be a nuisance. It’s nice to have simple and effective remedy.

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NOTE: This article presents ideas and information designed to enrich the reader. This is NO substitute for personalized professional care. The opinions and ideas expressed are fallible and that of the author. Readers are encouraged to be well-informed and draw their own conclusions.

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MAKE YOUR OWN WIPES

I began making personal wipes as a way to save money on baby wipes. However, the usefulness and economy of these wipes have outlasted diapering and potty training adventures. They are great for freshening up when camping or traveling.

My babies went without rashes from chemical additives, fragrances and preservatives used in commercial wipes. I have found that the anti-fungal additives and preservatives are only needed if the bucket is not cleaned with a vinegar rinse between uses and/or if tap water is used instead of filtered or distilled water.

The recipe I use is simple. There are recipes that call for adding lotions, oils and various preservatives. I don't use them and my wipes stay fresh. ~ I avoid all of those and have wipes that remain fresh.

You will need a gallon-sized plastic bucket with a snap-on lid. Cut a small hole in the center of the lid. Clean the bucket carefully with hot water and soap. Rinse with vinegar and water. This will keep mold from forming. If mold forms the wipes will have an unpleasant odor and can contribute to diaper rashes.

Use a roll of Bounty Big Roll select-a-size paper towels. You can find cheaper paper towels, but they will fall apart. Cut the paper towel roll in half. A long serrated knife works best for this. One roll will supply wipes for two buckets.

Add two tablespoons of hypoallergenic baby bath soap to two cups of filtered or distilled water (not from the tap). Stir this well and pour into the bucket.

Remove the cardboard center from one of the half-rolls of paper towels. Place the half-roll, cut side down, into the bucket, threading the first sheet from the center of the roll through the hole in the lid and then snap the lid closed. In about 5 minutes, the towels will have soaked up the water and will be ready for use.

The ratio of 2 tablespoons baby bath soap to 2 cups water doesn't leave a yucky residue on baby’s skin. Using hypoallergenic liquid baby bath soap (or homemade), my babies didn’t have a problem with rashes. The pediatrician thought it was magic. I think it’s just because I had an economical and easy way to make sure my babies were clean and dry. I saved even more money by not needing additional lotions and potions to treat irritated bottoms. As a bonus, wipes can be used in place of hand sanitizers and makeup remover wipes.

WHAT IF THE BUCKET IS TOO BIG FOR MY BAG?
Just pull several wipes from your bucket dispenser and place them into a water tight, clean re-sealable container. This can be a zippered bag or a snap-tight sandwich container. As with the bucket, clean these containers between uses with a vinegar and water rinse and dry them.

CAN I MAKE MY OWN LIQUID SOAP?
Grate a 4 to 6 ounce bar of homemade soap (or Fels-Naptha). Warm about 4 of cups of filtered (or distilled) water to boiling. Gradually add your grated soap and stir in each small handful so that you don’t have a clump of soap and the flakes have time to melt. When the soap is melted, blend this with enough filtered or distilled water to make a gallon. This will thicken as it cools. Use in place of baby bath soap in your wipes. It will also serve as a refill for your soap dispensers.

ALTERNATE BABY OILS
If your baby does get a rash, I recommend applying coconut oil to clean, dry skin. Coconut oil has anti-microbial properties and hasn’t any of the fragrances or petroleum products that are found in many over the counter products. Extra virgin olive oil is another nice oil for baby’s skin.

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This article is for information purposes and designed for the reader’s benefit. Utilize these methods at your own risk, using discretion. Readers are encouraged to be well informed and draw their own conclusions.

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DAISY CHAIN EDUCATION

Wouldn’t it be great to have an activity to do with your children that is always new, but reinforces learning skills with repetition? How about having a good reason to sit and relax while tying heart strings and making memories?

You can do all of this by making flower garlands and chains. If you have a son, tell him you are teaching him an important skill so that he can make his wife feel pretty one day. A daughter will feel like a princess with a crown upon her head.

For this project, you will need flowers with sturdy stems. Many wildflowers work well for this project, including asters, bachelor buttons, black-eyed Susan, chrysanthemum, daisies, dandelions, globe amaranth, marigolds, red clover, tithonia, and zinnias.

Practice counting skills as you collect 25 to 30 flowers. Once you have them in a bunch, let your child help you sort them into equal piles. Sort them by colors or size.

Other learning opportunities are identifying the plants and flowers. Which ones are edible? What are other uses? What are the parts of the flower? Where are the pistil (made up of the stigma, style and ovary) and the stamen? What are their functions? You get the idea.

Picking the flowers requires your child to use fine motor skills as he or she learns how to grasp the stem and pull firmly but gently. Reaching for the gently bobbing flower heads requires eye-hand coordination.

Sit together with your child and show him how you use your thumb nail to gently pierce the stem just below the flower’s head. Place the stem of a second flower through this hole. Then pierce a hole into the second flower’s stem, below the flower’s head. Let your child help place the third stem through the second flower’s stem. Again, you are developing fine motor coordination.

Continue this process until you’ve created a chain of flowers long enough to encircle your wrist, neck or head. On the last flower’s stem, make a slit long enough to allow the first flower’s head to slip through. Then you can knot the stem and either trim the ends of the remaining stems or braid them into the wreath.

Place the finished wreath upon your head or upon your child’s head and exclaim, “Won’t Daddy be so proud!”

When someone asks your child what you did that day, they might hear about how you taught them to wear flowers, make bracelets, or that you just sat outside and had fun. You’ll know that you practiced fine motor skills, while learning about botany, counting, color identification, sorting and how to sit still to see a task to completion. All of these are valuable learning tools that every child needs, but your child will gain them while hearing you teach him songs, tell him funny stories and wonder at God’s creation.

Page 224, THE VISION by Debi Pearl

"We lay there together, our heads close and our fingers intertwining. Her eyes sparkled with delight as she handed me a long-stemmed clover and ask me to teach her how to weave a crown for her head. . . . .
“She ran about picking clover to bring to me. I poked my thumb nail into the stems to make tiny holes in order to threaded another stem through it until I had made chains of red and white clover to wind around her head."

How To Make a Daisy Chain on Howcast

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HEALTHY INFANT SIGNALS

Knowing when an infant is ill can be a challenge for new parents. Sometimes a parent's concerns can be treated as a casual inquiry by medical workers who are accustomed to soothing new-mother nervousness. Rather than trust her own instincts, a mother can begin to doubt herself.

It will come as a relief to know that there IS a way to objectively measure a baby's health.

WEEK ONE
From the start, newborns will need to nurse for no less than 15 minutes, 8 times per day during the first week of life. A mama can hear her baby swallow milk during feeding. Baby's first bowel movement will be a black paste called muconium. The texture and color will change from a blackish green to a brownie batter consistency. The color will appear yellow by the 4th or 5th day. Within 48 hours after birth, the baby will have wet diapers. The number of wet diapers will increase to two or three each day be the end of the week.

An ill baby will show definite physical signs of his condition. Nursing for less than fifteen minutes fewer than 8 times per day, showing no desire to eat and having a sucking reflex that is week are all signs for a parent to be concerned. Signs that something is wrong can include a clicking sound when the baby nurses, cheeks that pucker inward and dimple when the baby sucks, or the inability to stay awake for a full 15 minute feeding. It is outside of a healthy range if the baby's stools haven't changed and there is no urination two days after the birth. Such symptoms persisting for two days mean your child should be seen by a health care provider.

THE FIRST FOUR WEEKS
Signs of a healthy baby will be similar for the first month. Each day a healthy baby will nurse for eight sessions and produce 2-4 yellow bowel movements. Track your baby's wet diapers. You should see between six and eight of them each day with clear urine, not yellow. Along with observing some milk and hearing your baby swallow during nursing, you should see a strengthening of the suck reflex. Your baby will grow both in weight and alertness.

Continue to monitor anything out of the ordinary in weeks 2 to 4 -- infrequent or bright yellow urination, stools that are small or too seldom, fewer than 8 feedings per day. Your baby should gain weight and grow longer. A baby that has a weak suck, doesn't make swallowing noises during nursing, becomes sluggish and lacks quick responses and doesn't sleep between feedings, is a reason for concern. If you observe these behaviors for more than two days in a row, contact a health provider for assistance.

THE 5TH THROUGH THE 10TH WEEK
A baby may change from 8 to 7 feedings per day during this time. This is due to your growing baby's ability to hold more food. Bowel movements will continue to change and will settle into a pattern of either several small stools in a day or a large bowel movement every 2 days. This isn't unusual in breastfed babies as they assimilate much of the milk. Check the wet diapers to make sure the urine isn't bright yellow; there should be six to eight wet diapers daily. You should notice that your baby is increasing in his awareness, has a stronger suck, audible swallowing and a little milk dripping at feeding time.

There may be reason for concern if a baby fails to produce the right amount of wet diapers without bright yellow color, or if the baby doesn't nurse at least seven times daily. Length and weight should increase for baby. Babies that can't be heard swallowing and have a weak suck are not likely to be getting enough nourishment. Seek medical assistance if your baby becomes lethargic, slow to respond or unable to sleep between nursing sessions. A couple of days in a row of these indicators mean that something is not well with your baby.

HOW TO KEEP UP WITH IT ALL
A well-rested person would be hard-pressed to know when and how often an infant ate. It can be overwhelming to expect a new mother to know this with reduced sleep. Have note paper and a pencil near the baby's bed. Write down the time of each feeding and changing along with your notes. One example of an entry might be: "10:00 a.m. -- BIG BM, brownish green, nursed 30 minutes." Start with a clean sheet each day. Write the date at the top of the page.

Your detailed list will be of great value to you and your doctor should your little one become ill. Your notes can also help you bond more effectively with your little one. By looking over her list, even a weary mama can tell at a glance if the crying is due to hunger (too long between feedings) or constipation (hasn't moved his bowels). This tool helps a mama learn to identify the different cries of her newborn. This list will then encourage a mother to trust her instincts as she learns to identify her baby's different cries and meet those needs.

Yet, BEST advice is often the most common advice, and it comes from the not-so-new mothers. Don't take for granted any of those first weeks. Other things can wait while you take the time to get to know your baby. They aren't little for long.

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Schooling Davy Crockett

"Mooooom! Can we do school yet? I wanna learn more about Jonah!"

I looked up from checking my email to see two little boys in coonskin caps, plastic rifles, homemade tomahawk, and fringed shirts. "Puhleeeeeeease? Can we start NOW?"

"Sure, Davy!" I replied.

I met him at the kitchen table with colored pencils and a printout of the text of the book of Jonah. We've been going through the short story (only 4 chapters) and marking key words. We went through the first chapter of Jonah. Every mention of Jonah was marked with a fish, mariners were marked with a boat, etc. This slowed us down and required that we looked at every word carefully.

Hidden in our 'learning how to study like Daddy' exercise were some grammar lessons: capitalization and pronouns. *wink* I've also thrown in some map reading activities. All of the questions are answered from the text, which can be a challenge when we think we already know the whole story. Davy comes by this trait honestly, unfortunately *blush.*

Davy doesn't realize that he's learning parts of speech, creative writing, study skills, etc. He thinks we are just ferreting out interesting facts that he can dazzle Daddy with when he gets home.

Each day, he writes out things he learned from the text.

His list for the first chapter included:
1. He learned a new word -- mariners -- and what it meant.
2. He learned that the mariners went from calling on several gods, to making a sacrifice to God after surviving the storm.
3. He learned that Jonah was a prophet. (Apparently, Davy Crockett didn't think God would use a rebel for that purpose. *smile*)

So, we recorded our findings sitting there at the kitchen table. Davy wore his best fringed shirt and jeans (with a hole in the knee) for the occasion. We sat there with a Bible, a map, extra paper and colored pencils, determined that every word be given careful consideration. Learning SO much -- especially ME.

I learned that if it is framed as an adventure, my never-wants-to-fail son is a happy learner. He's not afraid of a struggle. He thrives on the feeling of accomplishment that comes from seeing his own progress. He isn't a BIT interested in seeing a good grade on a test. Grammar or writing exercises for the sake of practice would just tempt him to rebel. He needs to see it all as a means to an end -- learning with a purpose.

One day, he will have a family of his own to teach. He realizes that he NEEDS to know how to study these words and KNOW their meaning for himself. He's learning how to be a teacher, to bear the weight of man-things. . . Such a HUGE task for a skinny kid . . .

Yet, when we were done, he flopped his coonskin cap back onto his head, shouldered his haversack, picked up the plastic rifle and with shining eyes said, "You think I'm doing good, mom?"

"Yes, son, you're doing GREAT!" I replied.
He stood a bit taller on his bare feet and said, "I'm going outside, okay?"

Sure, Davy -- king-of-the-wild-frontier -- go play!

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