What if we have a really harsh winter? Will you be ready?
As I write this, it is mid-October and the cold is starting to move in, here in Ontario Canada.
Hindsight is 20:20
So, let’s imagine.
Imagine that it is January and it is really cold.
Imagine that the snow is as high as it was when I was child.
Imagine another ice storm like the one in 1998 and you are without power for seven days.
Imagine that you are unable to get to a store or have delivery services.
Imagine your list of “shoulda’s”
This is what our great-grandparents did every year as part of life. They planned ahead so that they were ready.
What are your “shoulda’s”?
Gardens
Animals
Outdoor Structures
Tools & Equipment
House
Water
Food
And ?
Community-Efficiency
I’m a firm believer in community-efficiency where we work together, support each other, and utilize each other’s skills and resources.
Perhaps on your planning list should be “having a conversation with neighbours”. How can you work together if times get tough? What resources can you pool together and/or share?
For me, we have a generator but our neighbour doesn’t. When our power is out, we attach power cords to the generator, with one going to our house and one going to the neighbours and we both provide the fuel to run it. Community-efficiency.
We also have a big snowblower but it is too much for these aging bodies to handle. Our younger neighbour does the snowblowing using our machine. Community-efficiency.
Water Storage
Just recently I wss given a reminder that we need to have a back-up plan for water in case we have no power to run the pump that brings water from our well.
My water storage
I have a quality camping container for water, filled and stored.
I have a little camping water filtration system that will get us through the winter and we have water in the fish pond that we can use if push comes to shove.
Also, on my list, is to use the canning jars that didn’t get filled with food and fill them with water. An empty jar and a jar of water both take up the same amount of space.
On my planning wish list is a Birkey filtration system, so, if needed, I could get water from the creek and filter it. Back-up plans.
Food Storage
I’ve preserved all of my extra garden harvest.
I have purchased meats, flours, and grains in bulk and preserved the extras.
My preserving does not rely on a freezer or refrigeration.
My Hoophouses
This will be our first winter with our hoophouses/greenhouses. I imagine that winds will be hard on the structures as will heavy loads of snow.
On our list of preparing for winter is to cover the hoophouses with another layer of sturdy greenhouse plastic and secure it the best that we can.
The Fish Pond
I can’t forget the fish. It will be rough for them as there are too many for out little 4’ deep hole that we have for them to cozy down in.
The biggest resource we can give them is a good pond heater to keep an open space in the ice and to provide heat to the water that is not below the frost line.
I also have to remove all of the plant material, so it doesn’t die off and fall down into the 4’ hole and take up much-needed space. The plant material is going to be a wonderful addition to the gardens, turning into compost over the winter.
The Gardens
As I talked about in my blog about preparing for spring, now is the time to add a layer of mulch to the soil, giving it time to break down over the winter, nourishing the soil for the spring planting.
Outside water faucets need to be shut off; watering hoses responded, and rain barrels emptied. We don’t want anything to split over the winter months.
Wildlife
I don’t have farm animals to think about but I do like to watch the winter birds.
I have lots of trees in my yard that have berries that the birds eat in the winter and plants and weeds with seeds naturally stored for winter eating.
I also have some bird feeders. These need to be prepped and the birdfeed needs to be purchased so it is all ready to go.
This Old Farmhouse
This old house is not airtight.
Heating costs skyrocketed last year and closing off rooms is one of our strategies for conserving energy.
Bathrooms and the kitchen need to be heated. We don’t want water pipes to freeze.
And we need our main living space to be warm. As seniors, we shouldn’t have to sit with coats and hats on.
So, I cover the two doorways to the living room with plastic “doors”. It is not pretty. It is not convenient. But it definitely helps to reduce the cost of heating our home. It works for us and the grandkids love walking back and forth through the plastic.
I think that is it. I think I have checked off all of my shoulda’s. We will have done our best and that’s all we can do. That’s empowerment and it feels good!
Planning ahead is very freeing as we eliminate the possibility of panic situations.
Ok winter .. we are ready! - Debbie
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