Preparing for winter IV

[Deleted User]

my winter prep at the moment is food and drink, food that is easy to prepare in case of power cuts, problems re Russia and now Libya so pretty inevitable. I have loads of home dehydrated foods and have spent hours this morning, tidying and checking. I have a new massive (3 x 8m) fully insulated shed/maybe could even call it a building, it has soft flooring so nice to kneel on for rooting and I set up a 12v solar lighting system. Everything got dumped in there some weeks ago but now nicely shelved and tidy. I was amazed at how much dehydrated food I have got, that plus a pressure cooker used with outside emergency cooking facilities and I am set, we are all electric so I have to think ahead plus miles from any shop.

Lots of chocolate here but my stash is reducing by the week and I am today making 5 gal of a lovely wine, from a kit this time and a really good make, still only £1.50 a bottle. Winter power cuts can be pleasurable with choc and wine

Pasta already bought and more rice ordered also various wholefoods like apricots, lentils, oats, nuts and so on. Larger packs, which I will vac pack as they keep really well and the shed temperature is constant and cool.

Hobbies are also sorted, spinning, knitting, weaving, sowing for me. Battery operated radios, etc anything that does not need power

For me it isn`t just about keeping warm but preparing for rapidly changing weather, energy shortages, world problems that could disrupt food etc and also about hunkering down

pollys

Kittie I love your posts. I have a lovely image in my head of the winter howling, the electricity flickering on and off but everything is fine because we are so well prepared. I feel all warm and cosy. Thank you, I have felt a bit off colour today but you have cheered me up.:)

DH and I have just been discussing our kitchen roof. Part of it is an extension (flat roof) and it doesn't drain properly. If it leaks the consequences will not be good. We have decided to get a quote to have it redone before the winter sets in. It has needed doing for years, the rest of the roof, including two dormers have all had attention so once this is done we should be ok.

I'm going to defrost the freezer tomorrow and then start to refill it. Does anyone know how long I can keep homemade frozen lasagne and sausage casserole for. I usually use within the month but would keep longer if it was safe to do so.

Happy prepping everyone

Pollys

[Deleted User]

ahhh polly, I logged on just to say thank you. People like you make it so worthwhile. Here`s an image, my 12v shed battery will give me 70 hours of pretty good led light so I can take my spinning wheel in there, I mean who wants too spend too many hours in bed at my age

Anyone wanting any outline info re rigging up a 12v solar lighting sytem, just ask. Not hard but patience needed, especially when soldering and not cheap but free energy use for years ahead. 12v gel eisure battery, 40w solar panel and a total of 150 led lights in 3 permanent separate circuits, each with a switch. Happiness was the day I tested it and they all worked. Lol shed is big enough to sleep in and cosy too, in spite of the big and essentiall vents

Re the freezer, I will be making space to freeze large cool packs for winter and also filling any empty space with plastic containers of water for 2 reasons ie cheaper to run and will retain the freezer temperature far longer if there is a power cut

alice-mary

Morning Preppers!
Chimney Sweep told me last week that he would be here late morning today but he has been and gone already! Am glad I was ready in plenty of time as he HAD said that I could have a lie-in for once. Anyway, that's another tick on my list of preps...... plenty still to do to keep me busy!

Alice
xx

Cheapskate

Today I bought some new knitting needles and a bigger crochet hook, plus some bargainous wool - very chunky, soft, pure wool, half price to £5 for a 200g ball (I know nowt, but it seemed a bargain to me! ). Plus the shop was offering a free pattern with said wool, so the lady found me a simple hat/scarf/gloves pattern. I may return for another ball or two (on separate occasions!) for another free pattern!

kittie, I have shed envy, too, sounds a marvellous way to spend carp days!

It's beautiful here today, seems mad to be thinking of winter, but I'm hoping to sort out all the woollies today, and making meal plans to use up food from the freezer. Some stuff's been in there for ages, but we're also having a delivery of locally raised beef in early autumn, and I need space to put it all; should be most of our winter meat in one go!

A xo

moments_of_sanity

Definitely getting cooler in the mornings now. I was out hanging the washing at 6.30am and there was a little bit of a nip in the air.

Still trying to find some curtains for the back door but no luck so far, still onwards and upwards. Living room still need taking down and cleaning

Freezers are stocked full thanks to the Morries vouchers last week and I have a pasta and plain flour mountain in my under stairs cupboard!

pollys

The garage is ready for winter. We have enough grit and de-icer. We have defrosted the freezer so it is ready for refilling. It has taken most of the day to sort out but it's worth it.
I have washed a throw ready to put in my car. My youngest plays football so I use the throw to cover the car seats after muddy games.

Lots of informative posts - thank you:)

Pollys

bossymoo

nicki wrote: »

Thank you! That is a brilliant idea. Adding it to my winter prep list. We have no hallway so its through the front door and straight into the livingroom and we end up leaving our wet shoes on a mat on the floor and then the floor ends up wet, a tray to put them in is a great idea

I don't know if you already have a tray, nicki but home bargains had some big boot trays for a couple of quid. I had one last winter, really useful and a good size. DS has now pinched it for playing with his lego so all the tiny bits don't vanish. But happily, I managed to get another 2 (front and back doors!) recently.

It is this one but heaps cheaper!

Lucy5781

dawn_rose wrote: »

Its not altfest is it?

I need to dig wellies out and buy some for kids yet .

Yup. We're now taking OH's DS with us camping at a holiday park on the North Kent Coast near my Mum's. Cheaper

Lucy5781

Another bonus is we're not as likely to use all the little gas canisters for the camping stove now we're at a resort (some tea etc but not living off it!) so should this winter bring power cuts we have that to use, outside the back door of course!