Prepping for food shortages

[Binky]

Ours is wee Draper 1.6Kw, four-stroke petrol jobbie.
You need to do your sums as it what you need to power, and what you don't. My rough calculations where;
- Light bulbs at 10w each (say 200w)
- 3 freezers / fridges at 100w each (300w)
- Central heating pump (100w)
- TV, laptop, WiFi etc (100w)
- Klargester (100w)
Just keeps things going for a few days doesn't need much.

The things we can't run are electric kettles, cookers, toasters, washing machines etc but the cooker is gas so that's not an issue.
If the clothes need washing I send the wife off down to the river to beat my clothes against the rocks in time honoured fashion 🤣

After Storm Arwen and Northern PowerGrid's almighty cock up we all got some compensation which covered the cost of the generator. To be honest it would have been worth buying anyway, the feeling of smugness last winter when everywhere else was dark but my outside Christmas lights were on was priceless 👌

We have electric cooker so that's a no-go of course but if can have lights and heating system working along with fridges/freezers then sorted.

Definitely worth considering.

 

[fossyant]

Just get into camping, and you'll be reet. We can easily do 5 days off grid in a tent. Solar panels to charge a battery bank, that keeps the fridge going is the main use.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

We can easily do 5 days off grid in a tent

I'll rather go live in my work until the emergency is passed
I might take Alfie the cat with me too

 

[SteveH80]

Just get into camping, and you'll be reet. We can easily do 5 days off grid in a tent.

Not between December and February I'm not, I'm way too old for that winter camping lark.
Been there. Done that. Trying to make coffee by chipping away at a 5 litre block of ice.
Jeez, I did some stupid stuff... 😆

 

[Jameshow]

I'll rather go live in my work until the emergency is passed
I might take Alfie the cat with me too

We don't have big enough sofa for good nap!!

 

[annedonnelly]

We don't have big enough sofa for good nap!!

One of the places I worked had a fitted kitchen complete with microwaves & dishwasher and there were at least three showers. Milk, fruit and biscuits were delivered a couple of times a week. We all had key fob access at anytime of day or night. I wouldn't have been at all surprised if someone had decided to stay there overnight - or even for a few days

 

[Dogtrousers]

My wife accidentally ordered four boxes of shredded wheat in our latest supermarket delivery. Does that count?

 

[Pat "5mph"]

One of the places I worked had a fitted kitchen complete with microwaves & dishwasher and there were at least three showers. Milk, fruit and biscuits were delivered a couple of times a week. We all had key fob access at anytime of day or night. I wouldn't have been at all surprised if someone had decided to stay there overnight - or even for a few days

Oh yes, we have all that: I work in a hospital
There are plenty of places to sleep too, nice and warm, sockets for charging your phone, spare chargers, free Wi-Fi
Years ago, when I was working at the Scottish Event Campus, any of us could have stayed overnight (with permission, of course) in one of the disused artist's suites.
They are small flats inside the centre that were used by artists and/or crew before the hotel next door was build.

 

[classic33]

My wife accidentally ordered four boxes of shredded wheat in our latest supermarket delivery. Does that count?

Only if you can eat three.

 

[esoxlucius]

If you watch as many doom and gloom you tube videos as I do (currently the AI situation is blowing up), then stockpiling foodstuffs isn't as crazy as you might think. We're living in a strange old world at the minute that's for sure.

I haven't started stockpiling anything at the moment but only last night, perhaps for the first time ever, I did a bit of tentative research on foodstuffs that will basically last for years if stored in optimal conditions.

I'm really not sure what to do at the moment.....fill up the loft with an Aladdin's cave of goodies.....or stop watching you tube videos!!

 

[Punkawallah]

If you watch as many doom and gloom you tube videos as I do (currently the AI situation is blowing up), then stockpiling foodstuffs isn't as crazy as you might think. We're living in a strange old world at the minute that's for sure.

I haven't started stockpiling anything at the moment but only last night, perhaps for the first time ever, I did a bit of tentative research on foodstuffs that will basically last for years if stored in optimal conditions.

I'm really not sure what to do at the moment.....fill up the loft with an Aladdin's cave of goodies.....or stop watching you tube videos!!

Perhaps a little bit of both?
Doom scrolling. . . doom is probably not a healthy hobby - you might end up with unwanted hair. And a box of tinned meat + veg soup and tinned mixed fruit will not come in wrong. They can be eaten cold if needed.
A wise man once said ‘knowledge is always there’. So rather than worrying, learn how to be more self sufficient?

 

[SteveH80]

... I did a bit of tentative research on foodstuffs that will basically last for years if stored in optimal conditions ...

Whisky or wine are what you want, they last for years and years if stored correctly.

 

[esoxlucius]

Whisky or wine are what you want, they last for years and years if stored correctly.

I'm way ahead of you on that one, but I can't fit the barrels through the loft hatch!!

 

[SteveH80]

I'm way ahead of you on that one, but I can't fit the barrels through the loft hatch!!

Even if you could it would end in disappointment, you'd be horrified how much the angels snaffle as their share of the years 😁

 

[wakemalcolm]

Even if you could it would end in disappointment, you'd be horrified how much the angels snaffle as their share of the years 😁

I used to think that was a term invented to disguise acceptable employee theft.