Independence Days & Sandy
After watching Super Storm Sandy unfold hit it really drove home to be how important it is to keep on top of things. Even little things, like keeping the gas tank full, BEFORE a storm hits, is critical. It is kind of shocking how little thought went into planning on the part of some in the storm-affected areas. With all the warnings before-hand some people didn't have any simple, cheap supplies on hand- batteries, water, gas, simple foods. I really feel for the victims, but it can also be a learning experience for the rest of us. I did get 2 two buckets of freeze-dried foods from Costco last wek! They looked good, nice seals, etc. A good variety for the price and I got them in 3 days buying online-
1. Plant Something- Nothing til spring.
2. Harvest Something- Eggs, herbs, leaves for the flower beds for winter.
3. Preserve/Store Something- Still stocking up the pantry, especially after Sandy. I check the freezer regularly, and keep an eye on reserves. That includes the 2 x 55 gallon rain barrels. Gotta have water. We have a good filter if we needed it for drinking water. 2 new buckets from Costco.
4. Manage Reserves- Get A Good Deal/Barter/Stock Up/Prep- Lately soups, more no-cook foods with winter coming. After getting a cold and minor cough I made sure I refilled the homeopathic stuff in the medicine cabinet closet, it really nipped it in the bud! :) Almost all gone!!! I used Coldcalm and Chestal Cough Syrup. Before I found these two items (at Walgreen's) I used to get REALLY sick, now it's about gone and no side affects. We finally bought a Sazall for various jobs, only $25.00! I bought a couple of warm, polar fleece tops and a pair of sweat pants for the cold weather. After Sandy storm I kind of did a mental inventory of what kind of warm pants I had, besides jeans or cords? I have sweats now, will buy a few more pairs soon. The forecast is in the 20's at night by the end of the week...
5. Eat the Food- Try New Foods/Recipes- Tried some new, Progresso chicken noodle canned soups for my cold, yummy! Not as good as homemade but I wasn't up to making some. Been working on lots of acorn squash, great with some butter, brown sugar and cinnamon.
6. Build Community Food Systems- Selling eggs to 2 co-workers. Got some free fruit from 2 friends.
7. Recycle/Re-Use- Scraps to hens. We put the chicken sun room back up, put some of the leaves into compost pile, rest in the garden.
8. Skill Up- Reading new recipes to try. Will start sprouting for the girls soon.
9. Regenerate What is Lost/Salvage Something- Dave took out a fairly dead, big shrub in the front yard. It will open up some space for another fruit tree (dwarf) or maybe some raspberries in the spring. Opening up more planting space is always good!
I hit a local thrift store yesterday and found this, for $4.00, added new batteries, works great!
The globe is actually glass, and it's a very heavy resin. It's be great for the holiday/winter season :)
Love the lantern. Super cute.
ReplyDeleteI love the thrift store find. By the way, we are now sprouting mung beans for the chickens (and maybe us). Thanks for the post on that.
ReplyDeleteThat lantern is just too darn cute!! I like your fall display on the shelf too. :)
ReplyDeleteI was really surprised how NOT prepared a lot of people were with Sandy and I really, really think they expected the government to show up 2 hours later with food, water and restored electricity...
You are always such a good voice in the preparation movement. We are trying to beef up our prepping projects too after watching the storm. I would love to get some of those buckets from Costco.
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