Next to saying the mortgage is due few words have such impact as The power’s out. Blackouts seem longer and more frequent these days with rural areas often the last to get service restored. But with country ingenuity, resource management and planning it is possible to comfortably wait until the switch gets flipped back on.
Dark and smoky
Food, water and shelter are never as important as when the lines go dead but fortunately our rural past is ready to help with today’s blackout problems. To cope with an extended period of powerlessness every smallholder ought to consider that underground pantry of yore — the root cellar. A well-constructed properly stocked root cellar can guarantee a stretch of no groceries won’t break you. A common misconception is that root cellars are just for vegetables but home canning, dry goods and even bottled liquids can slumber comfortably underground. Be sure to make yours bigger than needed. As far as designs, use imagination and muscle. A spacious root cellar could also be a haven for neighbours with produce and nowhere to keep it in a long term outage. Worth considering before the darkness sets in? You bet!
No root cellar is complete without a smoke house and our grandparents put up a year’s worth of meat by salting and smoking. While a basic smoking device can be store bought, you could also design your own. Preserving meats by smoking isn’t complex, but closely follow safety guidelines. And don’t be like many old timers and burn the smokehouse down!
Rotation key
Getting three meals/day can be rough on the cook once the kitchen goes cold, so why not fall back on the glass from the past? Large scale home canning is labour intensive but should the lights go out you’ll be smiling at the hard work as you spoon out supper. Canned meat is excellent and since it is already cooked it’s wonderful for a no heat feeding of the crew.
Stocking up on long storage life foodstuffs like cans or dry goods always makes sense; prepare
Lorain Ebbett-Rideout
#3. Big Stocks
Homemade preserves and a well stocked pantry, with products rotated from time to time, will ensure that you eat well when there’s no travelling to the store
an area that is cool, seldom bothered and has enough space. Anyone super serious might look into the hiker or military meals now available, but remember during any crisis you are under pressure and that might not be the time to have exotic fare. Stick to the regular diet and your mood will be steady. Deep freezers are easy to fill and convenient but once the dreaded 48 hours of food safety passes, what then? Use freezer food storage with an eye on what might happen and consider generator power to keep the ice cream cold.
Any emergency power outage supplies must be regularly rotated and replaced. In a long darkness situation you have enough on your plate without worrying what’s on the plate! I simply mark the calendar spring and fall to do a check of all items and yes it is work, but the kind that pays. Anything that is close to running out is replaced and used up. Rotation also is needed for batteries, petroleum supplies, and items like lamps or generators should be examined yearly. Store fuels in good clean sealed containers with stabilizer added. After six months swap for fresh and use the old fuel up right away. Stock up, store and rotate. Simple and safe!
What about water?
Regardless of the duration of the power outage you and the livestock are going to need a steady water supply. Buckets look great in a movie, but get old real fast especially if water is a mile off. So, how to get water?
If you’re existing well isn’t overly deep how about a hand pump? One can be installed quite reasonably, fit beside your existing pipes and pull 20 ounces per stroke. Do some prep work on your well depth, daily usage and compare this to manufactures recommendations. Many are for shallow wells but models pulling up to 150 feet are available. Another bygone barnyard fixture the well house will make the water job easier, keeping debris off the pump, and can be insulated for winter.
Speaking of water how about the toilet? Well, many homesteads are now equipped with an outhouse and some pretty awesome designs are gracing rural landscapes. In a blackout a basic outhouse will suffice. Remember to consider the distance walked, weather and worst case scenario. Will your backhouse creation stand the stress of you, well, under stress?
Cold beans and dull silence
During troubled times a crackling wood fire satisfies both spirit and stomach. Once considered quaint, the iron kitchen stove is roaring back in vogue. Quality modern wood ranges cost serious coin, might require a designated area and take some getting used to when using. But like any power outage tool they will be appreciated when needed!
Along with wood ranges there are options like propane or gas camp stoves. These are clean burning, providing large cooking surface in a manner modern cooks recognize. The only trouble is they are for outside use only and in many situations the outside is not where you want to be in a blackout. But if you have a protected area and don’t mind lugging the china outdoors it will keep the pancakes coming.
Cell service is sketchy in rural Canada and worse during any power outage but you’re never
Lorain Ebbett-Rideout
#4. Lights And Sound
Light, sound (communication) and the materials for lighting a fire cover necessities and comfort
alone with the old-fashioned telephone. How many times have you relaxed with relief to find the land line dial tone humming, awaiting your wishes? Even in power outages the faithful land line still works and if you don’t have one the neighbors do, and would expect you to come use theirs.
Speaking of communicating, once the cell towers quit you can fall back on the two way radios resembling a walkie talkie (ask your grandparents!) or CB radio to keep in contact as you survey the damage. No cell, no problem for the prepared! Extended periods of silence can work away at a modern person but a simple AM/FM radio playing can be reassuring. It means somewhere the world is ticking along normally and soon yours will be too. Any battery powered model is fine, and buy one for the outbuildings too.
No matter if it’s plowing or pickling every job needs planning, and once the lights go out is no time to be looking for lost batteries. Long term power blackouts are unsettling, but with sensible preparation they can be successfully weathered until you hear the words “The power’s on!”
Using generators to supply electricity
Everyone today is hooked on electric power and if denied our fix we soon get grumpy. A generator will certainly help, but fully understand your electricity needs first. Calculate your maximum power usage and then buy a model that exceeds this number.
Camping generators are fine for light duties but never should be expected to run a household. Large standby models crank out plenty of electricity, and for anyone serious about maintaining power it’s the choice. Cash wise, more power will cost you and don’t forget the gas when calculating your purchase. One caveat about powering your plantation is you will need a separate breaker box so this has to be factored in as well. Easy on gas and steady, a quality generator can sure take the pressure off in a dim barn or dark house.
Another possible alternative power option worth considering is a stationary engine. These simple engines offer countless power options and for anyone with mechanical ability are a joy to operate. Reliable and able to digest various fuels, a well-tuned stationary engine can produce steady efficient power. Original models are still common but modern power plants can be purchased for a reasonable cash outlay.
— Cary Rideout