Making Apple Cider Vinegar in a Post-Apocalyptic World

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) has dozens of uses beyond making a salad tasty. And, because its production requires no modern conveniences, knowing how to make it is a great survival skill.

Now, I will make a confession:  In my last novel, Obliterated 3: Beyond Survival, I have the characters talk about apple and pecan orchards in their region. There is a glut of apples, of course, because most of the world’s population has been… you guessed it…obliterated. I had meant to have a discussion between some characters about how they could use those excess apples to make gallons of ACV. Then the discussion was to go on about some of the uses in a post-apocalyptic world. Well, I totally missed that note card and the vinegar discussion didn’t make it into the book.

So, I am putting the basic information here along with links to a couple of sites that do a good job of showing you how to make it yourself.

Benefits and Uses of Apple Cider Vinegar

ACV is a disinfectant (with a high enough acidity), a deodorizer, a cleaner and grease cutter, a skin and hair tonic and, some say, an energy booster.

[Disclaimer:  I am reporting information I have read for years, but I do not claim to be able to verify all uses though I have successfully tried most. Because ACV is acidic, it may cause throat irritation in some people or it may interfere/interact with some medications (check with your doctor before trying the internal uses).

ACV is a people- and pet-friendly cleaner that absorbs odors and has antibacterial properties. Mix half water/half ACV for general cleaning such as windows and hard surfaces. If you want to use a spray bottle, you might want to filter the solution so that fine fiber in the ACV does not clog the spray mechanism.

Dabbing a solution on your armpits will act as a deodorant to kill smelly bacteria. And it is an astringent for the face and other skin if one is needed. A more gentle mixture can be used in a bath to help alleviate sunburn sting.

Taken internally, a little splash in water (about a teaspoon per cup of water) may help constipation, bloating and (some claim) even food poisoning. Sipping it may help fight sore throats and sinus problems by stopping bacteria growth.

Because ACV contains potassium, it may act as an energy booster in water and even thin some mucus.

Making it with raw honey or sugar:

http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/make-raw-apple-cider-vinegar/

Countertip simple:

http://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2015/02/how-to-make-apple-cider-vinegar.html