Tag: Emergency preparedness safety survival preppign
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Midsummer Dreams and Nightmares: Growing Food in a Changing Climate
Realizing dreams and accepting failures while building a food forest Summertime, and the living is indeed easy—especially this year, after our horrendous winter. Beginning in March, the sun’s position realigns with my solar panels, and my generator use plummets. By May, I can turn off the propane heater and use the wood stove for those…
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Action Absorbs Anxiety
Preparation is the foundation of peace of mind—and every step you take today builds a more resilient tomorrow. Spring as a Fresh Start Thankfully, spring has arrived, bringing a welcome shift after a long, challenging winter. This season always feels like a fresh start to me—not just for the garden, but for all the projects…
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Winter 2025 Just Never Stopped
Surviving an Extreme Winter as a Solo Lady Living Off-Grid (Part 2) I hadn’t planned for this to be a follow-up to my January post, but here we are. Thankfully, I made it to spring! I can’t tell you how relieved I am to see temperatures above freezing and life getting back to normal. I’m…
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Surviving Winter 2025 Off-Grid
No running water. Low on Firewood. Living without fossil fuels is hard. Oh, and how to reset a well pump It’s only January, and it’s already been a tough winter here in upstate New York. Since mid-December, we’ve had relentless snowstorms and frigid temperatures unlike anything I’ve seen in years. I was completely unprepared—and it’s…
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When the Trucks Stop: Becoming A Resilient Citizen
Hello friends! If you read my blog, it’s probably because I either forced you to (thanks, fam) or you are as concerned about our planet as I am. I started this post before the election, but I feel like a lot has changed so I have rewritten it in response. It’s been a difficult and…
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Summer Eco-Prepping Includes a New Manual Push Mower
Happy mid-summer! Is everybody warm enough yet? 2024 is already breaking heat records. Here in upstate New York, the weather has been noticeably wetter these past few years, and we have definitely had many hot days already, but I feel lucky to be in the Northeast comparatively. We are no longer bracing for climate change,…
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Chainsaw Confidence: Tips for Women on Buying, Using, and Maintaining Chainsaws
Chainsaws are powerful handheld tools primarily used for cutting through wood. They can be intimidating if you haven’t used one before. I was very nervous the first time, but with a little guidance and practice, it became a worthwhile skill to have. Since my introduction to the chainsaw when I moved onto my homestead, I…
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Cultivating Hope: A Mother’s Mission
Greetings from the Dandelion+Burdock homestead! As I hustle through various projects before the heat becomes too intense, I’m acutely aware of the severe weather predictions for this year. I sincerely hope you and your loved ones stay safe and unaffected. As an environmentalist deeply concerned with climate change, I’ve been reflecting on my efforts both…
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Portable backup generators, it’s a love/hate relationship, but one you should have.
My dream is to one day have a home that no longer needs fossil fuels. Even here in upstate New York, I do believe it’s possible. For now, I use propane for heat along with my wood stove, and I run a portable gas generator when I am not on solar. I run the generator…
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First things first, do you have a fire box?
If your answer is yes, high five and you can move on. Those who do not. Get online right now and order one. Or go to your local big box store and buy one. Right. Now. Well, after reading this post. What is a fire box? Only the most secure way to ensure that your…