Every year I have to cut back my bushes to keep them from getting too big and every year I set those branches out at the curb for the city to haul away and chip up to sell for mulch. Same goes for fall leaves.
Not this year! When I cut back the bushes I'll strip the leaves off, stack the branches into piles and bundle them with twine. I'll then stack them in the floor of my shed to be used next spring, summer and fall in my rocket stove. The leaves will be used for compost and mulch.
Why keep giving the city all these resources so they can make more money while I have to go buy straw and wood chips for mulch? It's bad enough that I have to pay for them to collect the stuff that Mother Nature provides us even if I don't put them out for them to collect. We also have a big old redbud tree in our yard that died this year. We're going to cut it down and save it to use in a fire pit that I plan to build next spring.
It will take a couple of days work to get all this done but then think of all the free resources I'll have that will help me save money on our energy bill next year. I'll be able to cook and can out on the fire pit for free and won't have to pay for gas to use my stove. Meals can be cooked for free on the rocket stove. More savings on the gas bill.
And if for some reason the whole power grid goes down I will have a way to cook and can foods for my family. Waiting for a time when the power grid goes down before making sure you can survive it is not the right way to go about prepping. The time to start preparing is NOW or you may be at a loss to find what you need because too many others will need it also.
"Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today" is the best advice anyone can give when it comes to being prepared. It's a golden rule that preppers live by. It's how they survive bad storms, sudden job losses, power outages, a bad economy and just about anything else life throws at them.
So take some time to sit down and think about all the curveballs life has thrown at you through the years. I'm sure you've had some; I know I sure have. And remember how you got through them, everything you had to do to survive that time. Remember how hard it was to take care of your needs and those of your loved ones. Make a plan now for what you'll need to survive an emergency and write out a list. Start working on the list today! Don't wait until tomorrow or next week as it may be too late by then. You may be surprised to find that you already have some of the things on hand that you'll need for survival but they are scattered through out the house. Gather them all in one spot and make a written list of what you have and what you still need to get.
Tomorrow I'll start giving you a topic by topic list of what you should have on hand to help you survive short term and long term power outages, sudden job losses and the other things life throws at you.
Prepping Granny