the sas survival guide recommends getting salt from critter blood.But what if you can find no critters?where do they get salt?

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), July 10, 1999

Answers

Go to the ocean. Fill up a pot with sea water. Boil out all the water. Scrape out the salt.

-- walt (longyear@shentel.net), July 10, 1999.

I'm planning on being in new mexico

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), July 10, 1999.

zoobie:

Around here we have scattered "salt licks" [salt water bubbles from the ground]. They were used by the Indians and early settlers to make salt. I know the NM area well. There are surface salt deposits scattered all over the state [more common in some areas than others]. The only thing is that some contain compounds other than salt. If there a lot of bones around a deposit; avoid using it. That's my rule of thu

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), July 10, 1999.

buy some now!salt is cheap!! keep dry and it will last forever!! eddy

-- eddy (xxx@xxx.com), July 10, 1999.

That's why there were "salt traders" long ago. I also have pondered about whether that was why we became meat eaters..... Buy lots now - only about $5 for 50 pounds!

-- Kristi (securx@succeed.net), July 10, 1999.

zoobie;

If I remember right, you're from Wi. So it would be quite a walk to the ocean. While there are a few salt licks around here, thats not real "plain" salt --- its mixed with metals and organics --- you'ld be hard pressed to purify salt from it.

In the upper midwest, you really need to have a supply. All the coasts, the west and south probably have a means of getting some naturally occuring salt--- very difficult if not impossible here.

-- Jon Johnson (narnia4@usa.net), July 10, 1999.

New Mexico!

Well, I have a friend there who says there ARE naturally occuring salt deposits there --- I suppose you should find out where. Either from the locals or even state "soil surveys".

-- Jon Johnson (narnia4@usa.net), July 10, 1999.

zoobie,

at the coast after the dry season evaporates the sea water that surges onto the rocks from the winter storms, the hollow areas are left with bowls of salt. It's very strong, full of magnesium I believe. The natives used it for money in the old days. There is not near enough created to support a smidgeon of our population. Remember that in medieval Europe, servants sat 'below the salt' at the table. It's cheap & useful, squirrel some away now.

-- flora (***@__._), July 10, 1999.

Solar salt, sold for water softeners is a very inexpensive way to get and store salt. Get the kind without additives. If you have a softener a several year supply will make very good barter, and is not perishable. If you don't have a softener, and Y2K problems end up being only a bump in the road, you can sell or give the salt later to someone who does have a softener. You may need lots more salt than you use now. Hard work & stress will use it up, and you may also need some for food preservation, to help in making strange foods palatable, or to help in hunting wild animals. Even grocery store salt is amazingly inexpensive, so there's really no excuse for not having salt. Remember... salt is an essential mineral, i.e. you cannot live without it.

Y2K, ` la Carte by Dancr near Monterey, California

-- Dancr (minddancr@aol.com), July 11, 1999.

Why do you think that salt traded for SEVERAL times its weight in ANYTHING, including GOLD???

trappers would buy salt FIRST then other food and ammo

Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), July 12, 1999.

Remember that most commercial salt is "iodized". Iodine is extremely important for your thyroid. If your thyroid function is otherwise normal, you'll develop goiter without it.

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), July 12, 1999.

zoobie,

I'm not sure, but I though you said on an earlier post that you were a vegitarian (?). But for what it's worth, a good source of sodium is from harvested blood from hunting, if you are in dire straits. If you are in a survival situation, you would want to use all available resources, and leave nothing to waste. This is one good source of salt you shouldn't pass up, if it helps you and yours to survive. It can be an additive to soups, to make it more palatable.

-- Spindoc' (spindoc_99_2000@yahoo.com), July 13, 1999.

You might check with your state agricultural service /department /bureau as to whether there are any nearby areas with soil salinity problems. If there are, then low-lying areas there will be natural salt licks. Areas with bad salinity problems will actually have salt coming to the surface when the water table rises after rain, then crystallising (white!) when the water dries out.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), July 15, 1999.

Sorry - another thought. Halophytic (salt-loving) plants can concentrate it. Anything called saltbush is a good bet. We have saltbushes in Australia whose (fleshy, juicy) leaves can be used in salads - particularly like Greek salad. Too salty for many tastes, but are also said to be good boiled (which removes the salt - the cooking water might be worth re-using). Another possibility is "New Zealand spinach". Adapt as necessary for your local situation.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), July 16, 1999.