It was a little warm today working outside but it had to be done, have been putting off the chores for a while but the realization that our last snow was in mid June and our next snow will probably be in late Sep got me off my butt. By warm I mean it was probably in the low 80’s but something about the sun up here just makes it especially brutal when there is no breeze. Thankfully there was a slight breeze but that also brought in some of the smoke and smells from the major fires burning to our west, not the greatest.
The task list was pretty simple:
- Move and stack another cord of wood
- Pick up and bag pine cones for wood stove kindling
- Pull pine needles out of gutters
- Organize equipment outside (ATV Plow, trailers, tires, etc)
- Run generators
It struck me today just how much work it is to live up here compared to suburbia. There is always a list of things that need to get done and beyond that, the harsh environment just breaks things down quicker. I have a 2016 Toyota Tundra and I cannot tell you how many things have rattled loose on that truck because of all of the daily driving on harsh / washed out dirt roads. Even using loctite bolts rattle out, I had to replace part of my grill because all of the plastic clips broke. The hood latch rattled out, the splash guards on the motor tore, little bolts on my airbox were AWOL, LED fog lights broke, winch mount broke a few times and other things I probably forgot to list. Before you start wondering about Toyota rest assured that’s not the only one. My buddy’s Ford practically fell apart up here, our older GMC had issues and I had to replace most of the front end on my daughter’s Jeep because the components just got rattled to pieces.
Besides the roads the wind is the other destroyer up here. If it’s not heavy, tied down or made from Kevlar it’s probably going to get blown down the mountain or ripped to pieces. Those “heavy duty” tarps that you buy at the hardware store don’t stand a chance up here. They get shredded in a matter of a month or so, I’ve found that canvas tarps are really the only material that can hold up. I’ve had to take down several flags because they got ripped up, even my flagpole rope recently snapped. With as much wind as we get up here I sometimes wonder if a little windmill might produce some power but since I have generators I have yet to truly explore that option.
There was a nice feeling of accomplishment getting some winter preps done today, before I know it we’ll be enduring lower temps and dumps of snow. I gotta be honest in that my plan is to buy another 2 cord of wood to have it delivered probably around Dec time frame. I know, I know. But I should be felling trees and doing all that myself because – won’t be able to buy during SHTF etc etc. I’ve done the whole chop trees down thing / limb / buck / split / stack and quite honestly I’ve got other things to do, wood is relatively cheap and having a trailer dump 2 more cord next to where I stack it is super convenient. Call it lazy, I call it a good allocation of resources. For what it’s worth I do have a few more things on my list for the next few weeks like cycling through all my gasoline (I have nine 5 gallon Safety Cans), beefing up my water storage and draining / refilling containers as necessary and getting some good maintenance done on our vehicles (specifically tires).
I think all of this highlights an important point that preparedness doesn’t have to be crazy, it can be practical and it must also be a lifestyle. Plenty of people throw 5-10k on a credit card, stack stuff in their basement and call themselves prepared. While they might have a little more stuff than their neighbors that might not guarantee them success, this is something we all know to be a reality. Stuff is necessary in many instances but it doesn’t build skills or the right mindset to get through adversity, especially if those trying times last months or even years.
Do anything productive this weekend? Hit me up in the the comments section and let me know.
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Canned 10 pints of fig preserves. Headed back to the fig trees to get more. Bartered figs for some canning pears soon as they are ready. Looking at some free apples for jelly if the deer don’t beat me to them. Stocked up on some OTC meds. Went thru my First Aid box & made sure everything was up to date. Biggest chore, inventory of my supplies stash! Big splurge, a Big Berkeley water filter. Got lots of lake water so it will be handy if power goes out. All our water is from monopoly well water company! So, no power no water. Got filter on house but excited about the Big Berkley!
My husband good at rotating gas, winterizing equipment, etc. Got lots of firewood stacked for fireplace, again if no power! Thankfully our paved roads are just a little better than dirt (been there). County has them marked up. Are they finally going to fix the axel breaking pot holes??
I’m still isolating due to asthma & bronchitis in the past. Hubby gets all the groceries & takes precautions. Schools open in our county. Worried about the virus spread. Other grandkids schools doing virtual classrooms.
All kids still working from home except one who is a teacher. Worried about her as she is health compromised. Praying for them all!
Looks like a week coming of severe storms. Will have to sedate the dog!!!
I, too, am isolating and my husband is doing the shopping. We are in late 60’s so we have no family living with us now. It sounds like you’ve been really busy, too! I don’t know what zone you’re in; but investigate growing Moringa trees. They grow about 15’ in first 7 months! Every part of the tree is edible except the root, are known as “tree of life” and for it’s medicinal and nutrient packed vitamins and fiber, and tea. Can be powdered for smoothies and easy to grow in poor soil with little water. And bonus: I m using them for two reasons. As security to provide an unobtrusive border around my two gardens, chicken house and run, and my two sheds. I’m planting in groupings rather than straight lines. I’ll leave my house mostly visible but we only have a small amount of food and meds inside it. And almost no one knows the trees are a food source! Best wishes.
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You know, I never really got into figs. Maybe it was the fig newtons as a kid, who knows. Hope you guys make it through the storms ok and don’t lose power. That big berkey will serve you well.
Woo Hoo! You don’t know what you are missing with a Sunday morning biscuit & homemade fig preserves. My Mawmaw’s recipe!
Upped my water collection containers significantly, unpacked Berky filter and tested it. Working on amending garden beds, additional beds, and planting for my fall garden in zone 8a.
Purchased two more laying hens for a total of 6 and raising 19 meat birds with 5 already in the freezer. Added another freezer and converted a shed into dedicated padlocked pantry. Moved my preserved food, staples, multiple misc supplies into it ( it’s got a/c and heat). Bought our first dual fuel generator and a new dual fueled BBQ.Removed 80% of cash from the bank before they fail ! I’ve been prepping for 4 yrs. Still need to process new garden produce, check 4yo freeze dried meals and add security, walkie talkies, a 2nd generator, binoculars, and good butchering knives. Will order three more reference books to supplement the seven I have, finish converting my ill conceived greenhouse into an inside potting area for year round use. In process of selling 15 acres to pay for a good truck/trailer OR a pack/riding trained mule. Beginning to build a community but no luck yet and we’ve been trying for several years! Hopefully, half of this will be completed by early November, and the rest by end of year…
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Wow! Your efforts make mine look minimal in comparison. Well done, quite a list of accomplishments – please do keep everyone posted on your progress.
Maury! That sounds amazing! Got a small Prepper community here! Some BIG good ole boys on the main road coming in from the interstate! They keep a watch out & take care of their Granny who makes amazing pies. Wish we could have chickens but fox family in cave nearby. Friend with big farm barters eggs for now. Your storage house sounds amazing! Well done you!!!!!
Would love a spring house but GA Power controlled lake frowns on anything near their 25 feet!
Another storm rolling in! Time to sedate the dog!
Good post. I have two sets of solar panels that are a wonderful option. With a few changes I could probably go off grid. Had just panels on the roof, but they wouldn’t produce when much snow was on them, and it was too dangerous to try and clean them off. I then got a set that are on ground posts and clearing them of snow is a cinch. Have plenty of wind here, too. Concerned about the reliability of moving parts on a residential wind turbine (and concerned about my ability to maintain to maintain and fix them). Next challenge is figuring out the best option for keeping a mile of bad road open in the winter. Doing it myself this year. Bobcat with blower?
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I have an ATV with a plow on it, had to suck it up at get one last winter and use it with great success keeping a mile or more of road open. With the ATV plow it takes a few runs, typically 1 down the middle and 3 on each side with the blade at an angle. While a bigger vehicle with a wider plow would be less work the ATV really is maneuverable and works great.
I want some solar panels so bad! Got Hubby on board with the Big Berkley, maybe I can ease him into a couple to provide power for freezer & frig. Not much snow down south here but some high winds out on this point.
Has anyone else had a hard time finding dried garbanzo beans? Lots of protein in them.
On Lawd! We have a Mr. Jingles in the house!!!
Great homestead prep site for those of us living in the south.
Homestead Heart
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Just canned 10pints of pear preserves! Hubby onboard with solar panels to run small frige. & freezer. Yeah!!!!! Looking for some apples to dry & make jelly. Freezer run for fish coming up soon! Biggest worry….everyone moving out of big city to lake . Most work from home & home schoolkids. Bidding war on the most run down homes you can imagine. Will make friends and give them prepping tips. Most local folks already farmers & prep anyway. Oh!! Did order solar shower in case no power for local monopoly water provider to pump from wells! Big Berkley coming soon! Looking good here on the lake!
I don’t know where you guys live. I’m on the east side of the Rockies at 8000 ft. since 2015. Pop here about 3000. Hubby and I retired a few years ago, been prepping for about 7 – 8 yrs. Have food for us and small community for when the SHTF. But we’re renting. Property too expensive here, so we’re limited by income and by not owning our own property. What is CV? Its February already. Just found this website tonight. Are you guys still alright. Not getting the vaccine. Too scary. Any suggestions for us regarding prepping for renters?