Learn 5 ways to survive a power outage in the winter. These simple steps will bring you closer to becoming self sufficient!
When we first moved to the country we had a rude awakening. Within our first year, our power went out for a week. Our neighbors never skipped a beat, but us? Well, let’s just say that was our initiation into the country.
We struggled through that week, but learned a lot. We are now very familiar with outages ,and it is not uncommon for our power to go out for more than a couple of days.
I can’t speak for the city because our power never went out in the city. But, there are a few simple things anyone can do to prepare for a power outage, particularly in the winter.
In the winter, ice and snow can disrupt power lines. Now, I am aware that not everyone may be able to relate to all of these things. So, glean what you can. In my experience, I have found 5 simple ways to survive a winter power outage. So, let’s just dive in!
Number 1: An alternative light source
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Obviously when the power goes out, the amount of light you have is based on daylight. In winter, it gets dark around 5:30. Having an alternative light source is key. Many people think flashlights and candles, but have you ever tried Olive Oil Lamps?
I discovered Olive Oil Lamps in the process of researching an alternative to kerosene lamps. It was a cleaner, more natural alternative. They are super easy to make, give off a good amount of light, and last longer than candles. We have about 6 or 7 olive oil lamps on hand at all times, plus a stock of cheap olive oil to fill them. Check out the tutorial here.
Number 2: Fill Bath Tubs
Now, I know in the city this may not be a problem. But, when you have well water and the electricity goes out, so does the pump that brings the water. Filling a bath tub full of water is a great way to flush toilets during an outage. Just place a bucket beside the tub and use it to flush down the toilet yuckies!
This is probably the fastest preparation for an outage. It takes no time to fill up the bath tub, and makes it soooo much easier when the power is out.
Number 3: Invest in a Berkey
Wait, what? Yep, a Berkey will ensure that you have access to clean water when needed.
Let’s back track a little and discuss the Berkey. What is a Berkey? Well let’s just get it straight from the horse’s mouth shall we? Per the Berkey website, “Berkey systems equipped with Black Berkey Elements remove up to 99.999% of viruses and 99.9999% of pathogenic bacteria, while also removing or dramatically reducing protozoa, trihalomethanes, inorganic minerals, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, VOCs, petroleum products, perfluorinated chemicals, rust, silt, sediment and even radiologicals.
Berkey filters produce the most Healthful Drinking Water available. Berkey Water Filter can remove hundreds of contaminants such as viruses, bacteria, cysts, parasites, pesticides, chlorine, fluoride, VOC’s and more from the water and purify more than any other gravity filters available!“
To sum it up, it is a powerful water filtration system that is used in third world countries. This system is no joke, it can even filter pee and purify it for drinking. And no, I have not tried it.
Investing in a Berkey is just that, an investment. The cost might seem a little high, but well worth it! We have had our Berkey for over 5 years and would buy it again in a heartbeat. It comes in very handy during power outages. We can use rain water that has been collected outside, take the snow/ice and melt it, or pull water from the pond, filter it all through the Berkey and we have clean, safe drinking water.
We have this one, known as the Royal Berkey, and it does well for our family of 8.
Number 4: Bake bread
This one is actually during a power outage, not necessarily before a possible outage. In winter we have our wood stove going everyday and it can be quite useful when the power goes out. For one, it is how we heat our house, we are no longer reliant on a company to heat our home. Instead, we rely on our guns to chop the wood. Well, we rely on my husband’s guns to chop the wood, we just stack it 🙂
A couple of years ago we had an ice storm hit and it forced me to figure out how to cook bread without an oven. I began experimenting with baking the bread on top of our wood stove. After a few trial and errors, I got the hang of it. Now, it won’t look as pretty as it does coming straight out of the oven, but it taste just as good.
My Quick and Easy Homemade Bread Recipe knocks it out of the park on the wood stove. So how did I do it with such direct heat on one side?
Using a cast iron pot with a lid, I raised the pot with a few mason jar rings, so that it was not directly on the heat source. I also allowed the pot to heat up before I plopped my dough in. Once the dough was in, I cooked it for fifteen minutes and just kept an eye on it. Then, I carefully flipped it over and baked it for another 5-10 minutes to ensure it was fully cooked.
Number 5: Canning And Dehydrating
This would be preparation way in advance. Once canning and dehydrating became a part of our lifestyle, I was no longer worried about outages. The idea that I could be self-sufficient, not relying on stores, was very freeing.
I have canned everything from meat to fruit. So, when everyone is rushing to the grocery to buy food in case a winter storm hits, I just relax. Well, you know, as much as you can with six kids. But, I don’t have to go to the store, because we are developing a life style of being self sufficient. So, can, can, can!
Need some inspiration? Check out my canning page for lots of recipes and canning instructions.
As far as dehydrating, this is another great way to rely less on my freezer. I use this dehydrator, dehydrating everything from meat (beef jerky) to vegetables. One of the pros of dehydrating food is that it takes up no space in your cabinet. I can fit at least 30 dehydrated tomatoes in one jar! So if your short on space, this is a great option!
For more inspiration on dehydrating, try some of these post. I walk you step by step on how to dehydrate…
- How to Dry Herbs
- 2 Ways to Preserve Peas
- 4 Ways to Preserve Strawberries
- Blackberry Powder From Scraps
- 3 Easy Ways to Preserve Zucchini
Why prepare?
Honestly, the goal for us has always been to create a lifestyle where we no longer depend on companies to meet our needs. This goes for everything from electricity to food. The more we develop a lifestyle of self-sufficiency, the more freedom we have and the less stressful disruptions, like power outages, become.
I encourage you to start small and begin your own journey on becoming more self-sufficient. Maybe it is no longer buying your herbs at the store, but instead growing them. Or maybe it is finding a local farmer that you trust, to buy your meat, milk and eggs from. There are many ways we can begin the journey of becoming self-sufficient. The biggest thing you can do is take a step, and enjoy your new found freedom.
~Amanda
