Unique Gifts: Ideas for All Seasons

'We Make a Living by What we Do,
But We Make a Life by What We Give.'
-- Winston Churchill

Give a goat. How about a pig? You'll be providing food and income-producing animals (cows, chickens, sheep, pigs, water buffalo). These animals in turn provide milk, eggs, and wool. Families then share one or more of their animals' offspring with other needy families.

For care package ideas, there are 2 downloadable and printable pages of ideas here. See top of page at this link: http://www.asa.themilitary.netHere are some processes in preserving food:Exposing to ionization radiation identified as cold-pasteurization or irradiation. This process of preserving involves factors that would help in killing bacteria, insects, molds & reduces spoiling or ripening of your fruits.In the never ending battle of workspace clutter, our tools are often the number one culprit. There are scissors, trimmers, hole punches, paper piercers, bone folders, craft knives, decorative punches, rulers, templates, etc., etc. The list goes on and on; if you add adhesive dispensers to the inventory you are soon up to your neck in loose tools. What is the best way to tame all these indispensable tools? The solution.....drum roll please, ORGANIZATION!9) Lye7) Burying foodbut on my workspace you create such a clutter.Usually used for commercially and domestically preserving huge selections of various foods.Food is left within an anti-microbial and edible content in liquid form. Fermentation type of pickling actually uses actual food to encourage production of 'lactic acid'. While chemical-pickling kills or stops bacteria & microorganisms found inside the liquid.Uh oh, there it is, that dreaded word that makes most of us cringe. It takes away all hope of midnight elves coming in to put away our tools and clean up leftover scraps at the end of a long day of scrapping. It means (gulp) I have to do it. Take heart! the process can actually be quite enjoyable. The trick is start with something really fun - SHOPPING! For those of us with limited budgets, finances do not need to be a deterrent. There are ways to shop that won�t cost you a cent. One of those is to shop through your own home for what you need; another is to shop at mom�s or any other willing family member�s home.

Does your gardener like to 'can' or freeze their produce? How about providing them with canning jars, lids and other supplies.

Donate your unused frequent flyer miles. Help pay for soldiers who arrive in the states for a 2-week leave or emergency leave. These soldiers are brought into the US, but then have to purchase last-minute tickets at higher prices to travel the rest of the way back home to their families. Find more info at http://www.HeroMiles.org

A roll of Postage Stamps can last a long, long time. This is a great gift, especially for the elderly or those living on a limited income.Cheeses, beers & wines are kept within a very long period of time because their process of production will use micro organisms to stop its spoilage.This would involve the cooking of your food & they're sealed in clean & sterile cans or jars. Sometimes pressure cooking would be required as a last step in this process. Meats & veggies dishes that contain low acid content should undergo pressurized canning.11) Using controlled micro organisms

Know someone who loves to garden? Buy the seeds or plants (vegetable, flower, fruit, etc.) and tools that make it easier for them to garden. If they have a good year, they'll be able to share the abundance with family, neighbors and friends.

Look into Legitimate Charities. This site offers an alphabetical list of National Charities: http://www.Give.org/reports/index.asp 6) Picklingon projects you save me such timeyou slice through paper like butterSodium-hydroxide would stop growing bacteria by generating much alkaline.The Parent/Grandparent/Senior

8) SmokingSome processes also stop food from getting discolored like in the process of oxidation or enzymatic-browning like what we see in sliced apples. Certain kinds of foods are sealed once treatment is done in order to stop another recontamination by microbes.5) Vacuum-packing

Simple, targeted gifts mean more to the recipient -- and provide an inexpensive way for you to show your appreciation. Be different! Give a gift that keeps on giving -- and truly make a difference this year!




Author: Darlene Arechederra