Self Reliance Tip of the Week - Warm Fuzzy (And Sometimes Slightly Itchy) Wool Dec 12, 2013

Before I get started with this week's tip, I thought I'd share a question and answer about last week's tip - here is the question that was sent to me:

In case of an EMP, municipal water and gas systems would be down also.  Do you have suggestions for water procurement during a prolonged power outage?

Here is the short answer: You are correct. One temporary solution is water storage, another is to have a well drilled near your property that you could have a hand crank pump available to mount on the well.

Here is the slightly longer answer: I have been told by a local fellow self-reliance guru...that our local water is gravity fed, so according to him, we wouldn't need pumps if the electricity went out. I personally wouldn't count on that in the instance (he will have to forgive me) he is wrong. 

@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@

Many of you know that I love wool. It has blessed my life in so many ways. I am slightly obsessed with wool socks! There is no comparison with any other fiber! 

When my grandmother was the Relief Society president in her ward many moons ago, they were encouraged by their stake to keep 3 wool blankets in their home at all times...Now why is that? The summer is hardly the time to cuddle up with a nice itchy wool blanket, pop some popcorn and sit down to watch the news....

It is an excellent fire retardant. They didn't have fire extinguishers back then. I have purchased three wool blankets from this site (the best price and quality I could find).  

http://shop.vtarmynavy.com/russian-grey-wool-blend-blanket-p1035.aspx?__utma=1.950576363.1295969052.1295969052.1295969052.1&__utmb=1.10.10.1295969052&__utmx=-&__utmc=1&__utmz=1.1295969824.1.2.utmcsr=google|utmccn=(organic)|utmcmd=organic|utmctr=wool%20blankets%20military&__utmv=-&__utmk=257642763

Wool is awesome in more ways than a fire retardant. Wool will keep you warm even if you're wet. My husband's grandfather who attributed his survival on the German Death March to intervention from Heavenly Father and the over sized wool jacket given to him by the Germans the day the march began. The Death March (or Shoe Leather Express) began the day after Christmas and lasted for 3 months in the coldest winter that area of the world had seen for over half a century! So, needless to say, it was COLD! 

If you are on the look-out for socks, jackets or anything else made of wool for its warm and fuzzy benefits, be sure to look at the label. Many manufacturers say "100% Wool!", but if you look at the tag, only 10% is actually 100%...they can be sneaky...10% won't do a whole lot for you if the rest is acrylic.