It is a tradition in August to talk about what we are doing to get ready for winter here at the Holler Homestead. Why? Because waiting until that first frost to have things set is a terrible idea and leads to several days of no sleep and lots of activity. Today, I will share how we plan activities for a busy fall, in advance of winter, to be better prepared for the harsh realities of below freezing temperatures in a state ill prepared for its weather patterns.
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Up this week:
Tales from the Prepper Pantry
- Broth using strategies in August
- Hitting the bean patch this week under the hopes we get another round for canning
- Initiating the prepper pantry redo – using basecamp as a root cellar
- Testing new freezer sensors
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Frugality tip: Add on from Christian
After hearing the tip from Anna about the watered down dish soap I had to reply to expand on it, this might not warrant sharing on the show.
I have been using watered down dawn for a few years and it never even occurred to me that it might be saving me money. I mix it even thinner than Anna, more like 1/4 or 1/5, and I put it in used foaming hand soap bottles from bath and body works. It dispenses from them no problem once watered down. I use this almost exclusively when hand washing dishes as I use them, and I use it to wash my hands a lot too. Since it’s good on food grease it works well on oil and grime from mechanical work, so I use it regularly to wash my hands while working in the garage and I set myself up another bottle at work. It’s way more gentle and I personally find it just as effective, if not better, than the gritty mechanic’s soaps (like gojo orange, if you’re familiar). Come to think of it, this has probably saved me a bit of money there since I don’t buy that stuff at all anymore, probably more than I might save on dishes.
Weekly Shopping Report from Joe for 8/28/2022
We made four stops on our weekly shopping run. The first stop was Community Chest to donate a box of books, an exercise chair we have not been using, and some miscellaneous other things. Second was Dollar Tree, where I grabbed a drink and we picked up a few other items. I wanted some ointment from the Health aisle, but there was none left. I saw a lot of empty hooks in that section, which is a big change from a month or two ago, when they were very well stocked.
Stop #3 was Home Depot. A 2x4x8 is $4.75. I know not long ago it was $4.98, but I don’t remember if that was last week or a little longer. They have plenty of stock of lumber, tools, batteries, and LED bulbs.
Aldi was last. The store was very crowded, but I think just because it was late Saturday morning; I didn’t see people panic-buying. Inventory looked good, except for limited quantities of meats. For example there was pork loin, but no tenderloin. Beef looked pretty sparse too, but there were enough different cuts of various meats to at least cover all the shelves.
I don’t recall seeing any face diapers. I think the Kung Flu narrative is finally collapsing. At my last fill during the week, I paid $4.399/gallon for untainted regular gasoline.
I understand the sixth largest refinery in the country has been shut down due to an electrical fire. They’re in Indiana, and they and a few surrounding states (Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin come to mind) have declared states of emergency, and the parasites at DOT have waived hour restrictions on truckers so they can bring in fuel.
Operation Independence
Main topic of the Show: Winter Is Coming
Why now?
Steps: Brainstorm, categorize: No Kill, Comfort, SHTF
Livestock
- Rabbits: Water, food, heating lamps
- Sheep: Water, hay, shelter with sides, minerals
- Pigs: Water, feed, shelter, bedding
- Goats: Water, feed, bedding
- Ducks: Water, feed, bedding
Humans
- Water
- Shelter
- Firewood
- Food
Pets: backup plans
Gardens
- Spring bed preparation
- Mulching figs and bananas
- Cover crop
Water Gardens
- Tear down
- Stock tank heater in ap system
Fuel and Backups
No kill list:
- Water
- Firewood
- shelter
- Food
Comfort list
- Winter clothing upgrades
- Automated antifreeze systems
- Backup heating (Kerosene, etc.)
- Automotive supplies turn over
- Solar Water Heater and outdoor shower/kitchen cleanout
SHTF Plans
- Generator/fuel storage
- Extra food
- Tarps, etc
Membership Plug
MeWe reminder
Make it a great week!
GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.
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