Labels. for yourself for your spouse for your plants for your trades for your car (so people can drop plants off, even if you're not there) for plants you are happy to see disappear for plants you intend to keep cardboard boxes are handy for packing up your loot a gallon jug to tote water can be handy If you have an unusual plant to offer, a color photo of it with some cultural info can be a great sales tool - especially for newbies. Saturday is the day to clean the garage/basement. Any non-plant garden related items will likely find new homes at the swap.

I love the idea of using the hair conditioner for shaving legs. I need to try that one. My husband has used dryer sheets in his pockets when he is out camping and it does work to keep the mosquitoes away. Baby oil is great to remove the oil sludge from your skin that you sometimes get down at the beach (and most of us are avoiding many beaches along the Gulf for that very reason!) We found this out last summer when we were down by Corpus Christi and one of my boys had it on his legs. Brunettes - Use soy sauce as a rinse in your hair to enrich the natural color. Comb it through your hair and let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse. I need to add this list of helpful hints link to my favorites so I can pop back and refer to it later. Thanks everyone for posting these great ideas!

Too funny, Kellie! At just 3 weeks post-op, I am still frustrated that putting on a regular bra is impossible! I can only manage the step-in stretch ones. * I part my hair on the right side and can't seem to do that either now. * Cutting anything with ANY pair of my scissors is totally impossible! * I've taught myself to write with my left hand, as it will probably be 4-5 more weeks before they pull the pins out. I'm proud to say that I can now print and write in cursive as well as any second grader! * I still clunk DH in the head and shoulders with my cast while we sleep, poor guy! *My long-time dentist would have a fit if he knew what chores I use my teeth to help me with these days. * I can't tie my shoes, button buttons or zip up my winter jacket, so I spend most days in yoga pants and sandals. Socks are a nightmare to get on! * DH has to cut much of my food and I eat like a toddler, aiming my food straight into my mouth which, I'm sure looks so strange! * My wonderful, ingeniously designed (expensive) arm cast cover works like a charm when taking a shower. I just pray all arm circulation is not permanently damaged by using it. Still, I'm staying clean and I don't stink (LOL)! * I 've learned the hard way to check if my cast will fit through a sleeve BEFORE I slip a top or sweater over my head and try to shimmy my cast through! But, it's getting a bit easier every day, so I can't complain too much. In the whole grand scheme of things, life could be a whole lot worse. I'm just glad that I can laugh at myself. Lynn

A lot depends on for what events/contingencies you're preparing. Some of the list is humorous. "Big dogs"? Kind of goes with goats & chickens? Liquor for bribes! And seeds? Probably should include an alternate mate to repopulate the world! LOL Ease up folks, some of it clearly was for entertainment purposes. But there are basic items I can't excuse people for not having in stock. If you don't have a supply of batteries in your refrigerator drawer, purchased when free or cheap, you deserve to suffer during a power outage. Again I endorse the crank flashlights/radios (until analog radio is turned off of course). I would suggest going with propane for lantern and stove fuel rather than the white gas ("Coleman" type) fuels. That stuff is explosive. If you doubt it, take a tablespoon and throw it on a campfire sometime. But be back a ways when you do it. A 20# propane tank can have splitters on it to run multiple lanterns and a stove, even a heater, much more safely than the white gas. Heavy garbage bags make excellent makeshift raingear. And don't forget about firestarters. If you're talking emergency situations, I'd suggest waterproof matches. Make your own by dipping the wooden matches in paraffin wax. Firestarters are many different kinds. Save some dryer lint. Works great. Keep it in a coffee can. Dip some cotton string in paraffin wax. Some books of matches waterproofed (with? yes, paraffin) works too and even the end pieces from candles you use in the house at holidays. A hatchet is a good idea to keep handy too. Essentially, camping fans will do fine in a lot of emergencies. Other cooking sources are your propane grill, kettle grill if you have charcoal and starters. A good alternative to thermal underwear is sweatpants and shirts. Even southerners often have these. Depending on the clothes sizes you can put a pair under and over a pair of jeans. Or the flannel lounging pants under and sweats over them. A few cans of waterproofing spray like Scotchguard will help keep them and you dry. Another little camping tip. Oh, and instead of a dedicated toilet, a portable toilet is made easily from a 5 gal pail, seat if you want to get fancy or even a folding camp stool or a lawn chair! A camp shovel and squat will work too. And if truly an emergency, modesty goes out the window. Fasten the toilet seat to the 5 gal pail and you won't have to argue about who left the seat up! :) Wire clothes hangers can be versitile tools. Use them to make your own lantern hangers, repairs, tie things together, and you can even hang clothes! (To dry and more.) Can also be used as a weapon to beat off people trying to steal your rats, chickens, goats and big dogs! ;) Personally, I think I would use duct tape instead of stockpiling screen patching but the idea of all of these suggestions is to get you thinking. I really think that doing some research on camping tips and tricks would be of great benefit to a lot of people. I live a rather modest life, austere to the view of many. But when the power was out for a week here the last time, I survived quite well. Comfortably under the circumstances and even had some luxuries that many others didn't. I had tv, radio, light, food, water, telephone... Not a huge disaster compared to some, but being prepared not just with supplies, but also in a state of mind. My last suggestion. On these ideas, why not put together a 3 ring binder or something with lists of what to do in certain situations? For instance, power outage, turn off as many breakers as you can, the crank flashlights are located in the hall closet, 1st aid tips, important phone numbers, insurance info, etc. Even ideas for food, crackers & PB (sans-salmonella, eat first from the frig, etc.) and how about including notes like check on the handicapped neighbor, your elderly relatives, etc. Could be helpful. Even though I disagree with some of the ideas, I do like these lists minnie_tx. Keep 'em coming. I like going through them and see how they compare to my checklists and I get ideas from most all of them. I appreciate your efforts.