Losing power can be so unsettling. Your normal routines and comforts are disrupted leaving you feeling anxious and at a loss of what to do with the time. When my generator is down and solar is minimal, I have found a few handy items that can help to keep me sane. Sort of.
You may already have solar lights along your walkways or porch. If not, I recommend getting them because having lighting outside keeps you safer. I love the bright Zookki motion sensor solar lights. I installed them around the outside of my cabin, by the generator box, and along my driveway. They are waterproof and can be installed easily with one screw. They light up instantly when sensing motion, which is helpful when wild animals wander by. No, that never happens, it’s just the dogs.
For indoors, I have found that using dusk-to-dawn lightbulbs is great. They work like a regular lightbulb but stay on for hours after the power is cut. Even though they are advertised for outdoor use, they work in most lamps. They are bigger than a standard lightbulb so you need a large shade or no shade. The light is bright enough to read by or work on your crafts.
Another good off-grid lighting option is oil lamps. Old-fashioned yes, but absolutely a lovely way to add ambiance and warmth during blackouts. I purchased a vintage-looking oil lamp from my local hardware store. I haven’t used it much this winter, because the mice ate my wick and I keep forgetting to get a new one. It’s on my shopping list now. The only other thing you need is lamp oil and you can get scented oil. They also make a nice addition in the summer to your outdoor space.
Moving on from emergency lighting, I recommend having a weather radio. If you grew up with a parent or grandparent who seems to listen to the repetitive weather reports all day, then you know what I mean. It can be addictive listening to the reported roll through current temperatures, wind speeds, wave heights, and snow accumulation, but it can be a lifesaver when the internet is out.
I actually don’t like the one I have. It was a cheap one and the antenna isn’t very long so the weather channel doesn’t come in strong out here. I had one from LLBean that was a powerhouse and lasted for years until I broke the antenna off. Additional features to have on a weather radio is an emergency light, a hand crank, a solar panel, and a USB plug. Get the best one you can afford and try not to get addicted to listening to the weather reports.
Other items to have on hand that are easy to forget are matches. Not only for lighting the wood stove, I need them to light the gas stove and the oil lamp. It’s much easier than using a lighter. I buy the long matches, which used to be so common but now are hard to find. They keep your hand a safe distance away so you don’t lose all the hairs on your arm.
One item I could not live without is my Zippo. Preppers often talk about having dozens of disposable lighters in storage. I disagree. One (or two) Zippos will last much longer, years even, and are refillable. One can of Zippo lighter fluid lasts well over a year and a package of flints will keep it operating just as long. Not only do they have the cool factor, they are much more environmentally friendly. I saw them recently as inexpensive as $10, so next time you see them, buy them and be cool too. Ha ha.
Last but not least, don’t forget to stock up on candles. All kinds. And I know a great place to get them! Check out my shop here. Very soon I will be introducing a whole new line of stone candle vessels that I have been making by hand this winter. I am so excited to share them! 😊
Thanks for reading! ❤️
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