50 Days!!! Hard to believe it's been that long!!!
It's been over a month since my last posting, too! I don't know what it is about my life that keeps it running at such an insane pace! This too is all part of what I'm working to change. I want a quieter life. I want a simpler life. I want a healthier life.
Instead it seems to still be out of control... what I personally do on any given day follows the needs of all those around me.
Progress on the "green" front is moving slowly. We are remembering the cloth bags more often than not, so we've cut down on how many plastic shopping bags we use. The formerly perpetually overflowing stash of such bags under the kitchen sink is actually shrinking now! :) I'm buying more organic foods too - not all - not even half; but it's averaging about 10% of my grocery money lately. It's harder cutting down on processed foods for the whole family than I'd hoped. Many "say" they are all for it but then when they are buying something they bring so much of it home. :( I am doing better personally at not eating it however. That, at least, is only going to go in one direction, eventually eliminating all of it, for me. Now when I choose to eat something prepared from one of the many processed food selections here my body reacts by feeling ill fairly quickly.
It's much like when I was working on cutting down sodas... all kinds of carbonated drinks. At the beginning it was hard to just cut it down to one can or bottle of soda per day. At the same time I was cutting quantity I was also cutting caffeine, so the sodas I did drink were caffeine free. It probably took close to a year to get to the point where I cut it down from 3 to 6 sodas a day to just one in a week. It was an 'up and down' thing - but once I got to just one a week it was a lot easier to go without soda for two weeks, then three weeks, and a month. One day, about a year and a half into it I was out with some friends and we stopped somewhere for something to drink. My choices were coffee (which I don't drink), milk (which I also don't drink), various sodas, and tap water (which I also don't drink). No juices or teas or bottled/filtered waters. So I ordered a soda. When our drinks arrived, without giving a thought at all to the fact that I hadn't had a soda in close to six months, I swallowed a good-sized gulp... and nearly choked! Not only did the taste so totally no longer appeal to me, but the fizzing carbonation actually felt like it was burning all the way down! I never took a second swallow and I've not even considered trying any soda again since then. It's been three years now. I'm hoping cutting out processed foods, at least for me, if not for my whole family, will follow a similar course.
We have also been very busy preparing for a garden this summer! There are over 200 small containers with little seedlings all over my house right now awaiting the day they can be safely transplanted into the backyard garden. We live in the northern regions of the U.S. Midwest so spring is just barely here. Grasses have only been green a little over a week. The early flowers - tulips, irises, daffodils - are now blooming, bringing color to yards that were still quite bland just a week ago. The leaf buds on many trees aren't quite ready to open but it shouldn't be much longer. With all this in mind, our plan is to begin planting the garden this weekend and have it all in by the end of May. We will be praying for success in this first gardening for food endeavor! Considering my lack of a green thumb we will need lots of prayers! LOL
Friday, May 9, 2008
Monday, April 7, 2008
Colloidal Silver (Day 19)
This morning I woke up to some requests for how I make colloidal silver. Now, I realize that there are some people that don't believe in this - some are worried they will turn silver, or blue, if they drink this - some say it only works due to the "placebo effect" - and some will swear that it cures everything!
All I can say is in making this for our own use, we have seen many times that it has increased the speed of healing or decreased the time of illness. We have seen absolutely no harm coming from using it either externally nor internally. The most any of us may have actually consumed in a day was about 2 ounces, but on average we usually use just about a tablespoon.
But I'm not writing this to convince you to use it. I'm writing this for those who are already convinced of it's benefits and are looking for a way to reduce the cost of it for their own personal use.
This form of colloidal silver, or silver water, is very inexpensive to make. We feel it has saved us hundreds of dollars in medical care visits and tests every year that we have used it. For us it is but one step in reducing how much we spend, how much we must use our car (to get to doctors), and tends to increase how healthy we are which is to everyone's benefit. :)
We are now closing Day 19 in our quest for creating healthier lives!
THE MAKING OF COLLOIDAL SILVER
This is for those people who believe colloidal silver has healing properties and would use it more if it didn’t cost so much to buy it already prepared.
We have been making it at home for many years now, thanks to a dear friend who told me how he did it (he’d been making it for us for some time) before he moved away, and additional thanks to another couple I knew that were also making it. My one friend forgot to tell me where to get the needed supplies. But the couple I know gave me that info and included tips on making the “generator” (for lack of a better term).
Essentially, you get colloidal silver by creating an electrical circuit that allows for minute silver particles to be disbursed into distilled water... thus the nickname "silver water" in our home. :)
So you need the following supplies:
Silver – best form is like a heavy wire; must be .999 pure silver (we buy it online, on ebay, 1-foot length for about $7 cut in half) (so far we’ve made at least 70 quarts with the same silver rods)
30 volts in battery power – we use four 9-volt batteries that snap together (you can buy them anywhere – for 4 it might be close to $10; a single 30 volt battery at Radio Shack was $15 I think) This is probably the one thing you will buy fairly often if you make silver frequently. (4 9-volt batteries are usually spent with making 20-25 quarts)
Insulated copper wire – we use cut up electrical cord with 1-inch of insulation cut away exposing the copper wires (we simply bought a replacement cord for a lamp for about $2 or $3 at the hardware store and cut on two 1-foot sections of it) (we’re still using the first cut; have enough left for 2 more new starts; so far 70 quarts and counting)
2 Alligator clips with colored insulated ends (one black, one red) (we bought them at radio shack, but probably a hardware store would have them too – didn’t cost too much, $1 or $2 maybe) (we’re still using original clips – 70 qts & counting)
Duct tape (we used about a foot or so each time we’re making CS)
2 Wooden sticks – popsicle sticks or tongue depressors (my son has a huge supply of “popsicle” sticks bought over several years for various “building projects” and we just took 2 of those) (still using original sticks – 70 qts & counting)
1 – nylon scrubber – the kind of thing you use to scour pots, soap-free (you can buy a pack of 12 for $1 at the dollar store) (still using the first one – 70 qts + but may switch out soon)
1 – Quart size glass jar – wide mouth if possible. It’s important that it be glass. It must be clean. It must be clear so you can observe the process when needed. (You can opt to buy some canning jars, or you can just use a clean empty jar from spaghetti sauce or something similar)
Distilled water – I buy it by the gallon for about 70 cents. Make sure nothing is added back in!
Something to store it in… needs to be glass (NOT PLASTIC EVER), should be dark colored – or take clear jars and decorate them with paint so light doesn’t penetrate. :) Lids should be metal (it’s ok to have a rubber seal within the lid but it’s best if it doesn’t have that). Contents should fill jar so that colloidal silver needn’t be in contact with the lid too much. In a pinch we’ve wrapped the tops with aluminum foil. Consider your needs here too. We use a bunch of half-pint jars so each family member can have their own jar from each batch. We also use quart jars to give to family members away from home for awhile.
OK – my best guess, rough estimate of initial costs would be $30. But it would depend too on what you might already have on hand. The batteries and the water are the most consumable.
HOW TO PUT IT TOGETHER
Cut two 1-foot lengths from the insulated copper wire cord. It could be shorter, but start with this and you can adapt it as you learn your own needs. Trim off the insulation about 1-inch on both ends of each length.
Attach one end of each cord to each of the alligator clips. Wrap the copper wire around the conducting screw at least once. Tighten screw. (Optional: we secured this further with a small piece of duct tape wrapped around just the part of the clip where the copper wire and screw are)
Attach other end of each cord to one of the four 9-volt batteries. On the end of the battery that you’d usually snap into the appliance there are two different snap ends – wrap the copper wiring around one of each. Secure each copper wire with a small piece of duct tape (or electrical tape can be used here too; we’ve just switched to that as it seems to last longer; but we did many batches using the duct tape)
Snap the four batteries together.
Fill the batch jar with distilled water to about an inch from the top.
Using the popsicle sticks to stabilize the alligator clips secure clips to rim of batch jar with narrow strips of duct tape.
We’ve found duct tape to work best as it usually keeps sticking even when it gets wet.
Once you’ve secured the clips over the filled batch jar all that’s left is closing the circuit by putting a length of silver in the water from each clip. You MUST prepare the silver wire!
You’ll need to cut the 1-foot length of pure silver in half. Straighten each length if necessary; the straighter, the better. Take each half and scrub from end to end all around with the nylon scrubber. Then using a clean, white paper towel, dampened with distilled water, wipe down each “rod” and rest each rod on a clean towel until ready to place in water.
As you place each rod into the water you want placement to keep it from touching the glass walls or bottom of your batch jar. You also want each silver rod to NOT touch the other. The only thing besides water that should be in contact with the silver is the teeth of the alligator clip.
Adjust the position of the rod to keep them as parallel to one another as possible.
As soon as you close the clip on the last silver rod your batch is “cooking”! Check the time! One quart typically takes about 15-20 minutes. You can check on progress after 5-10 minutes. Usually within 5 minutes you’ll notice some “cloud activity” between the rods. By about 15 minutes you should see lots of dark trails extending from both rods (one more than the other – opposite polarities). If you notice some dark “pieces” breaking away on their own, your batch is done! Even if you don’t see this, stop “cooking” by 20 minutes. Holding the top end of one of the silver rods, release the clip, pull the rod out of the water.
When you remove the rods you will notice they are darkened from the water line down. You may dry the rods with the paper towel. Scrub each rod with the nylon scrubber again and wipe with the damp paper towel before storing away until next batch! :)
Pour batch into appropriate containers for storage.
If you ‘taste’ the silver and would prefer not to, try chilling it in the refrigerator. For those who do taste it I can attest to eventually getting used to it.
For most internal applications all you need is a swallow or two. You can repeat that a few times a day if you feel the need.
For most external applications a little dab on a cotton gauze or soak the end of a cotton q-tip to apply.
Now that you can make your own you’ll find all sorts of uses for it.
Any questions?
All I can say is in making this for our own use, we have seen many times that it has increased the speed of healing or decreased the time of illness. We have seen absolutely no harm coming from using it either externally nor internally. The most any of us may have actually consumed in a day was about 2 ounces, but on average we usually use just about a tablespoon.
But I'm not writing this to convince you to use it. I'm writing this for those who are already convinced of it's benefits and are looking for a way to reduce the cost of it for their own personal use.
This form of colloidal silver, or silver water, is very inexpensive to make. We feel it has saved us hundreds of dollars in medical care visits and tests every year that we have used it. For us it is but one step in reducing how much we spend, how much we must use our car (to get to doctors), and tends to increase how healthy we are which is to everyone's benefit. :)
We are now closing Day 19 in our quest for creating healthier lives!
THE MAKING OF COLLOIDAL SILVER
This is for those people who believe colloidal silver has healing properties and would use it more if it didn’t cost so much to buy it already prepared.
We have been making it at home for many years now, thanks to a dear friend who told me how he did it (he’d been making it for us for some time) before he moved away, and additional thanks to another couple I knew that were also making it. My one friend forgot to tell me where to get the needed supplies. But the couple I know gave me that info and included tips on making the “generator” (for lack of a better term).
Essentially, you get colloidal silver by creating an electrical circuit that allows for minute silver particles to be disbursed into distilled water... thus the nickname "silver water" in our home. :)
So you need the following supplies:
Silver – best form is like a heavy wire; must be .999 pure silver (we buy it online, on ebay, 1-foot length for about $7 cut in half) (so far we’ve made at least 70 quarts with the same silver rods)
30 volts in battery power – we use four 9-volt batteries that snap together (you can buy them anywhere – for 4 it might be close to $10; a single 30 volt battery at Radio Shack was $15 I think) This is probably the one thing you will buy fairly often if you make silver frequently. (4 9-volt batteries are usually spent with making 20-25 quarts)
Insulated copper wire – we use cut up electrical cord with 1-inch of insulation cut away exposing the copper wires (we simply bought a replacement cord for a lamp for about $2 or $3 at the hardware store and cut on two 1-foot sections of it) (we’re still using the first cut; have enough left for 2 more new starts; so far 70 quarts and counting)
2 Alligator clips with colored insulated ends (one black, one red) (we bought them at radio shack, but probably a hardware store would have them too – didn’t cost too much, $1 or $2 maybe) (we’re still using original clips – 70 qts & counting)
Duct tape (we used about a foot or so each time we’re making CS)
2 Wooden sticks – popsicle sticks or tongue depressors (my son has a huge supply of “popsicle” sticks bought over several years for various “building projects” and we just took 2 of those) (still using original sticks – 70 qts & counting)
1 – nylon scrubber – the kind of thing you use to scour pots, soap-free (you can buy a pack of 12 for $1 at the dollar store) (still using the first one – 70 qts + but may switch out soon)
1 – Quart size glass jar – wide mouth if possible. It’s important that it be glass. It must be clean. It must be clear so you can observe the process when needed. (You can opt to buy some canning jars, or you can just use a clean empty jar from spaghetti sauce or something similar)
Distilled water – I buy it by the gallon for about 70 cents. Make sure nothing is added back in!
Something to store it in… needs to be glass (NOT PLASTIC EVER), should be dark colored – or take clear jars and decorate them with paint so light doesn’t penetrate. :) Lids should be metal (it’s ok to have a rubber seal within the lid but it’s best if it doesn’t have that). Contents should fill jar so that colloidal silver needn’t be in contact with the lid too much. In a pinch we’ve wrapped the tops with aluminum foil. Consider your needs here too. We use a bunch of half-pint jars so each family member can have their own jar from each batch. We also use quart jars to give to family members away from home for awhile.
OK – my best guess, rough estimate of initial costs would be $30. But it would depend too on what you might already have on hand. The batteries and the water are the most consumable.
HOW TO PUT IT TOGETHER
Cut two 1-foot lengths from the insulated copper wire cord. It could be shorter, but start with this and you can adapt it as you learn your own needs. Trim off the insulation about 1-inch on both ends of each length.
Attach one end of each cord to each of the alligator clips. Wrap the copper wire around the conducting screw at least once. Tighten screw. (Optional: we secured this further with a small piece of duct tape wrapped around just the part of the clip where the copper wire and screw are)
Attach other end of each cord to one of the four 9-volt batteries. On the end of the battery that you’d usually snap into the appliance there are two different snap ends – wrap the copper wiring around one of each. Secure each copper wire with a small piece of duct tape (or electrical tape can be used here too; we’ve just switched to that as it seems to last longer; but we did many batches using the duct tape)
Snap the four batteries together.
Fill the batch jar with distilled water to about an inch from the top.
Using the popsicle sticks to stabilize the alligator clips secure clips to rim of batch jar with narrow strips of duct tape.
We’ve found duct tape to work best as it usually keeps sticking even when it gets wet.
Once you’ve secured the clips over the filled batch jar all that’s left is closing the circuit by putting a length of silver in the water from each clip. You MUST prepare the silver wire!
You’ll need to cut the 1-foot length of pure silver in half. Straighten each length if necessary; the straighter, the better. Take each half and scrub from end to end all around with the nylon scrubber. Then using a clean, white paper towel, dampened with distilled water, wipe down each “rod” and rest each rod on a clean towel until ready to place in water.
As you place each rod into the water you want placement to keep it from touching the glass walls or bottom of your batch jar. You also want each silver rod to NOT touch the other. The only thing besides water that should be in contact with the silver is the teeth of the alligator clip.
Adjust the position of the rod to keep them as parallel to one another as possible.
As soon as you close the clip on the last silver rod your batch is “cooking”! Check the time! One quart typically takes about 15-20 minutes. You can check on progress after 5-10 minutes. Usually within 5 minutes you’ll notice some “cloud activity” between the rods. By about 15 minutes you should see lots of dark trails extending from both rods (one more than the other – opposite polarities). If you notice some dark “pieces” breaking away on their own, your batch is done! Even if you don’t see this, stop “cooking” by 20 minutes. Holding the top end of one of the silver rods, release the clip, pull the rod out of the water.
When you remove the rods you will notice they are darkened from the water line down. You may dry the rods with the paper towel. Scrub each rod with the nylon scrubber again and wipe with the damp paper towel before storing away until next batch! :)
Pour batch into appropriate containers for storage.
If you ‘taste’ the silver and would prefer not to, try chilling it in the refrigerator. For those who do taste it I can attest to eventually getting used to it.
For most internal applications all you need is a swallow or two. You can repeat that a few times a day if you feel the need.
For most external applications a little dab on a cotton gauze or soak the end of a cotton q-tip to apply.
Now that you can make your own you’ll find all sorts of uses for it.
Any questions?
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