Day 4 ... Eaten Alive!
You've taken the first vital steps in surviving after the apocalypse ...
You got away from towns and cities because the people there have become savage and "civilization" is kill or be killed.
You were smart enough to put together a decent basic survival kit (what goes in that? I'll write more about it later).
You found water and established reasonable shelter with a defensible boundary.
And now ... tiny blood sucking beasts are eating you alive!
Common mosquitos, fleas, ticks, flies and ants are all trying to kill you. At least that's what it feels like.
What can you do???
White mountain sage is a hardy desert plant that produces a pungent smoke when burned. Many Native Americans believed the smoke was a strong ward against dark energy and illness. Their belief isn't all hocus pocus ...
Burning the sage leaf (or applying its oils to your skin) repels all manner of blood sucking bug that could transmit horrible illness like lyme. The plant is a member of the salvia family meaning that inhalation of the smoke, or consumption of teas made from the leaves, has a similar effect to that of plants containing thujone (it is generally relaxing and may encourage lucid dreaming).
The seeds of white sage can also be crushed into a spice for seasoning fish, snake, deer, rabbit, and other meats that you will be able to trap and survive on.
Living off the land doesn't have to be boring ...
Original photography by @timeshiftarts (Beau Beach). California White Mountain Sage [Salvia apiana]
The Sage plant is a wonderful thing! Interested to see what you will include in your go bag..
I should be able to gather that stuff together to photograph it tomorrow or Friday ...
Admittedly, my "go" kit has not been ready to go for a while
Sage is an incredibly useful and fragrant herb. Roasting it with pepper is supposed to fill your home with a calming scent.
I would imagine it would be quite energizing as well