What we learned in a 69 hour Power Outage!

[@sherthom5672]

I've lived without power for several days after an epic flood, a week after a hurricane, and an entire month after a severe ice storm. Some hardships but I did fine. Amazing how much the community comes together after these things. But now before any predicted storm, I clean house, do dishes and laundry, cook, change sheets, make sure the frig and gas tank are full, etc. plus take a shower and wash my hair.

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

We were fairly new to the neighborhood..and our neighbors..well..people keep to themselves around here!

[@moseleereadingroom8267]

Sher ----- I loved your post! I do all those same things, PLUS make sure that every pot and empty jar has water in it! My dogs and cats are NOT going without water.

[@WendyPowellClarinet]

moselee reading room Good idea! I save my cat litter plastic containers and bleach them out for that very purpose.

[@sherthom5672]

It's funny how I just automatically do these things. By far the best asset to have is a sense of community. There truly are good people out there.

[@JenninKanata]

great advice

[@lynsmith2698]

This is a great video Bev. Because we have lived off grid for many years in the past, and now in a area where the power goes off every time a mouse farts….we are prepared. We were just talking about canning the contents of the freezer if we ever had too. It’s always a good idea too, to have milk jugs full of frozen water in the freezer so you can fill a cooler with the. To make a fridge, or to drink if need be. Anyways great video. Cheers 🇨🇦🌷

[@brooksiereinhard5339]

This is why I want to have a fire place or wood stove (prefer wood stove) in my new house. Also want an outdoor kitchen with a rocket stove.

[@carolperkins8344]

Years later I am watching this, I did not have a computer when this was made, so I am having fun catching up! Really good info!

[@anniekochera]

Dear Mrs. Volfie, you did great. Here in the Pacific North West, winter power outages for days are a common occurrence that as soon as a 'wind warning' is announced, the kids fill all water bottles with filtered water, and water containers with sink water, charge everything, and get all 'house work' done. Pantry is always full and propane is filled at end of summer with extra small bottles. we've been out for days in the winter ice storms, one always has to be ready. thank you for showing canning on grille in emergency. I have older caners for just that purpose. Great Job on all that you do. God Bless

[@krzykatldy8688]

Thank you so much .I didn't know how to use a pressure cooker untill you told me on your show. Mine is old and just like yours. But I've done cooked the handles off from useing it to make beans , soup and stews. I was afraid to try canning without knowing the things you taught me here . Thanks again!

[@janethair2433]

Bev, you are so awesome...if I were a high school teacher, your videos would play and we would do what you taught us. Keep 'em coming!

[@apronacres7292]

great - I wasn't watching you-tube back then, so it's wonderful to see how you all have grown and taught us so much along the way! note to self - watch your archived videos!

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

This was a lost video I found in the back of beyond in a file within a file within a file!

[@CAMMET1973]

Lesson learned after hurricane Michael last year. 21 days without power. Generator, pool and IBC containers with water for animals. Canned foods in freezer on propane stove. We learned much from this experience.

[@SusanRogersMakingItWork4Me]

Loved this vid the first time, this time when I watched it made me think of what I just recently went through. My freezer bit the dust. I lost some food, but managed to save some too. I canned it. I'm just happy I had extra jars and lids!

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

Good Job Honey!!!

[@OurLittleHomestead]

Great video! I'm sorry of the circumstances in which you had to make it! UGH! But, we do learn a lot from your courageous homesteading adventures! I get power outages here, longest was 50 hrs in a blizzard (town under a no travel except emergency vehicles) ... Even with a wood burning fireplace, we were living within feet of it for the entire time! I have since moved farther out of town, made sure that we moved to an area with underground lines (we get high winds and tornadoes, earthquakes, blizzards, ice and droughts here; I can enough food for 1 year for four people or six months for eight people... or, so I thought! ...lol... We ended up eating less canning goods than normal ...BUT...we still went through storage (snacks) faster than I had expected or planned. Even with pwdrd eggs, I still ran out of eggs in the one weekend! Yikes! My son got chickens after that! :P Milk was the other issue. I had stocked up but four ppl run through milk when enclosed in a house from a blizzard and 'snack' a lot more than usual, so now, I buy pwdred milk for storage. I learned to keep bread in freezer for back up all year long...that buys me time to make some in our NEW pizza/bread baking oven outside...yes, I too made adjustments from that horribly cold, shut-in weekend. Wish we could have animals here, but city says were on the agricultural line and won't allow it. Just 40' from my house is the city/country line. Oh...it is torture, girl! I so want goats and sheep and a hog or two. The good news; my hubby told me today more land for sale across the road! OH BOY!! Now, if only I had money in my wallet! Buahaha!!!

[@cbass2755]

Theirs nothing like a crisis to teach you a lesson. Thank God it was a short lesson Bev. Can you imagine if it was months? Or even weeks….Thank you so much for the teaching moment! I’m so sorry you went thru that! But look!! It’s 2022 and we’re all wondering if we’ll lose power one day, or have to conserve. We’ve come along way baby! 🤣🤣. And not in a good way at all. So if people are prepared for these things, their really isn’t anything to worry about…unless your in that situation (whatever that may be) and realize where your gaps are at. I’ve did a experiment….I went without turning my lights on. I used what I bought for that exact purpose. What a lesson!! I’ve got to do it without using heat. I think I’m prepared for that, but I haven’t put myself thru the test yet. But I will. It’s not comfortable, but you’ll live if your prepared. Where my worry is is how long I can go? One day regardless of how prepared , you’ll run out, but I’m trying to extend that discomfort. Blessings from Michigan….Connie. Great video!! ♥️

[@JenninKanata]

Great advice, I am never caught up on laundry but always have clothes that are clean. I need to reduce my closets as I don't wear 1/2 of them anymore. and I should really make sure I have a clean sink each night I'm not always good at that either.

[@cherylsigler]

So glad you got a wood stove to heat water and keep warm, You got yourself a good hard working keeper there * The old log cabin we had gas , unfortunately this place doesn't,t except for the wall gas heaters we installed for heat . Some day I will get another gas stove. We do have a generator now but I am liking the idea of using the grill . as well, incase I want to use the generator for running other things. Here in Michigan we have list power for 2 weeks before. The neighbors wold come over when I lived in the cabin and we used my gas stove to share coffee and stories along with playing cards under oil lamps . We all pitched in and had cook outs with the grill in the winter. The people whom had power was gracious to offer showers.But I was still at that time able to boil water, so all was good ,to bathe and do dishes. BUT NEVER WOULD THOUGHT TO CA.N * NOW I DON'T HAVE GAD this is a GREAT IDEA. / THANK YOU*** The good thing about winter you can THROW YOUR BEER IN THE SNOW AND EVERYTHING ELSE TO KEEP COLD ,LOL I USED THE SNOW to melt to flush toilet, etc..Thanks AGAIN ALWAYS LEARNING GOOD IDEAS LOVE IT*,,

[@nicholeperkins1856]

We have a lot of very tall trees in our backyard here in South Carolina, and the minute things start swaying I will fill up my bathtub to the brim to have on hand for water. Definitely helped during the hurricanes this summer!

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

sometimes it takes finding out HOW unprepared we are..when SHTF so we CAN be more prepared next time! Live and learn right?

[@omanita7289]

This is a great canning lesson and life lesson, rain water. Also for waterbath canning good too. Pressure canners not available here. To expensive shipping it from the US or UK. Thank you Bev 😊

[@sagawang5]

Found your channel again today & binge watched all day. Love u as u share so much

[@peaches36067]

SO GLAD you found this video, thank you for searching and finding it! This will be new to a lot of people. You went through a lot in those 96 hours and I remember that your fear was that it could happen in the winter. A word to the wise is sufficient for sure!

[@peaches36067]

Sorry 69 hrs instead of 96. No need for me to exaggerate! lol

[@Puttingby]

What a great video! We also have a wood stove, for 'fun' in the winter, but we also have hotwater heating so we know the stove will be enough to prevent our 'miles' (lol) of copper pipes from freezing! Not a joke after what you went through in '11 and Manitoba got it last year, even the pipelines blew from the deep freeze. I have cooked & made coffee on the top of the regency wood stove; also like to keep manual kitchen devices in a box, percolator, etc. Being a city mouse, I need to work on a water stash, but we have cupboards full of food we have put up this year. Everyone guffaws at me, yet they all say "I know where I am coming in an emergency". Hmmmmm....who will help me plant the wheat, asked the little red hen. Thanks for a timely reminder. Our weather, northwestern Ontario, has been cold & crappy since last October!!!! Dreading this coming winter, was only 2'C this morning! Well, at least our ground doesn't shake. :)

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

Little red hen EXACTLY...When People say..I know where I am coming if things get bad..I say.." Please Don't...I wouldn't want to have to shoot you!" lol

[@angelikabertrand4045]

Greetings from Ut. Its our last nice day of Fall. Chilly temperatures. We are ok. Having groceries and variety of healthy foods is awesome. My veggie garden did not produce well. It s because of climate change. I m 56 with same health problems like you. Thank you for explaining fibro/osteo arthritis... Stay safe. Soon next year well hopefully have a chicken coop. See yeah soon.

[@pamelacourtney8998]

Excellent video . Very informative. Thank you. Blessings.

[@wandablackston564]

Thanks to watching your videos I have started to dehydrating some foods and I truly thank you so much for making videos on dehydrating.

[@lynhanna917]

I live in a small town and we loose power and water a couple of times a year. The first time the power went out all I wanted was coffee, took me three hours to realize I had a gas stove (yes, just moved in). I now keep bottles of water stored, have a kerosene heater and fuel, a rocket stove and of course home canning. I loved looking at how far you two have come in four years - it gives me hope - keep up the good vids.

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

Thanks Darlin! God Forbid I ever stop learning! I think I would die!

[@bebebutterfield1]

There's something magical about these rough times. You realize how efficient you really are, you realize how strong you are, you erase any doubt about whether you are capable of making it in hard times. You come through stronger and confident.

[@robynwilliams5928]

In 2017 Hurricane Irma hit our town. We were also without power for 3 days. It was terrible and we weren’t prepared at all. Now we are prepared.

[@mistypines1]

loved this video...with our grid system being so old and anything can happen we have to get back to basics and using the brain power to use it without what we depend on ..those old ways have been forgotten my grandmother came to saskatchewan in the early 1900 s and lived in a soddy as a child those stories were told i saw their home they build on the land where newspapers were pasted to the walls with flour and water and painted it is amazing when u dont have what u can do..we are not helpless ..we have to get back to that kind of brain power but apply it to all ways we have added with knowledge in todays setting ...thats why i love your video s ... thanks i never thought of the bbq lol i would have just used open flame which would be harder to keep a even heat ...thanks

[@teriruiz8292]

You are ABSOLUTELY AMAZING MAMA! I would have been too afraid of melting the black handles on the sides of the pressure canner to even consider putting it on an open flame. Guess I've had only electric appliances for too many years, lol. But lady you are fabulous! Thank God you had the pool there and filled with water, AND your dishes were done! I too, am kinda freaky about leaving dirty dishes for too long, but it's not from a possible power outage...it's more like if anyone comes into the house by the back door, which most do, they'd see my dirty dishes and I feel they'd think I was a slob or something, lmao. Ah, the joys of the guilt trips we all experienced when we were young...!

[@mh3rdwheel]

Bev another good thing is if you have a turkey fryer you can you it to heat up water, cook food. We hooked ours up to a propane tank (one from your gas grill.) We have a large generator, and I love my coffee (I get really nasty wthout it) you know the regular coffee pots you plug in and the coffee comes out. We have the same thing but it sits on a grill (it takes longer but takes great). Bev when our refrig went bad we put out freezer meat in the chest freezer then put the other food in one of the many coolers we keep around we put the food in and then a bottle of ice on top. Or when you loose power we put a bag of ice on top.

[@essemsween818]

I think this is a timely nudge to even those of us who don't homestead. That was a serious power cut. Thank You.

[@jennjeffs4893]

In august our town had a major flood. We had red cross disaster relief here and many ppl lost homes. My oldest daughter and I were the only ones awake to watch it happen. Last week a nearby town flooded too. Its been a scary few months, it was several days till we could get out of our driveway and im so happy I had food and water stored for my family and animals.

[@marcialindsey6993]

What a blessing to have this knowledge. I wanna get the things I need to go solar on my own and I know how to cook over a wood fire. But have taught me a lot. I'm not able to do much but I'm gonna try.

[@terriabowling]

Wow! It's 2021 and this happened 6 years ago. I remember you posting this! Doesn't seem that long ago. How time passes. I need to get me a rain barrel.

[@TheTinybubbles1]

thank you for all the great videos learning a lot

[@barbarannie]

Many thanks Bev. I LOVE your videos. They have helped me more than I can tell you. We have a wood burning stove, rain barrels. You taight me how to can all foods and that has saved us from certain starvation. Love to you Bev.

[@tallcedars2310]

wow, great points you have mentioned. I lived in the city for 50 years and never experienced outages of much more than 12ish hours but today, it's another story. So it never occurred to me to have dishes/laundry done and to cook on a BBQ to save meats in the freezer etc. Now we live off grid, power outages are even less of an issue. but that doesn't mean I won' pay attention to your video's as they are chalk full of what I refer to as "old fashion survival livin'" that may come in handy some day. All the best from out west!

[@Ladygreencrochet]

You are so right, it is hard to get really prepared. We have had outages of hours/days, but never weeks. I find it amusing that even after several hours of a power outage I still turn the light on in the bathroom. Unreal how many things we take for granted. I am working towards being better prepared...taking baby steps to preparedness.

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

I think most of the younger generation today really does not realize how fast things can go downhill when the power is out more than a couple days!

[@WendyPowellClarinet]

OurHalfAcreHomestead When Wilma blew through Florida, my mom was on an oxygen machine and was highly panicked. We HAD to have a generator strong enough to run her oxygen machine and a wall shaker air conditioner for her. (As well as the fridge). Some of my students (I teach college) had no power for 3 weeks and were showering at their gym, using public libraries to cool off etc.

[@steppingstone6797]

I was happy in was summer not winter love wood stove we was out of power in Arkansas due ice strom just before husband die the next year I married a mon from the hill I would like to thank you teaching me so much this year we had very small granden but with you at my side I learn how to dry next year I am canning I help my mom a little girl but that was many moons ago you down to earth thanks for all you do

[@Ken0604]

That's one nice thing about living in a RV I can run my fridge off of propane or electric. I have set up the RV with a 200 gallon propane tank next to it. I also have a generator that can run everything else. I keep 3 50 gallon drums full of water at all times and several cases of bottle water. I also keep about 25 gallons of gasoline on hand to run the generator. I change out the gas about every other month so it stays fresh and do the same with the water. I plan on drilling a well in the spring and getting some solar panels. It just takes time to get enough money together to do everything.

[@chipwright6193]

This is good advice. I have been without power for an entire week from an ice storm taking down power lines before. It's easy to take utilities like electricity for granted until they are interrupted one day. You don't realize how much you rely on them until they are gone.

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

EXACTLY! Now we have a wood stove...a two burner propane table top stove..the well pump is on solar and so is part of our living room and bedroom..and we have a small generator to top up the batteries if need be! We learned a LOT from this experience!

[@chipwright6193]

It sounds like you're prepared now. I'll bet it feels great not having to worry about weather the power is going to go out. I have a little gas generator wired to power my well pump and other things, but that is only good as long as I have gas to run it. Between the vehicles and gas cans I imagine that I have at least 20-30 gal. on hand at any given time. I think going to solar and wind power would be a fun project to take on.

[@velocityakaslothmom8083]

Don't Panic! Can It! this is what brought me to u. I had a 5 day power outage this July with a freezer with a lot of food in it ( 60lb Beef 200lb chicken and turkey pork 70LB and veg 30or so) we lost half. i will get my 1st Pressure Cooker/Canner (All-American 30-Quart) today!!!!!!! the fun starts this weekend (the old parable when the student is ready the teacher will appear thanks bev)

[@velocityakaslothmom8083]

thanks

[@DixieGirl9876]

Always good to review, and help others that haven't lived through these things. Back when I was newly married and had a newborn we experience a blizzard for the first time, a huge one! (I'm in the deep South USA, so it was definitely a learning experience!) There was roofs collapsing all over (a heavy wet snow), and we were without power and water for 10 days. The experiences we learned during that time help shape us and how we went forward, like when we finally built our own home (no electric stove or heat for this woman!) and water collecting, that's just a few lessons learned. Those tips you mention about having the wash and dishes caught up, ones I learned the hard way. During the winter I always catch up water, for we are forever having issues with the local water works then. (A well is on my wish list.) Even with the lessons learned, their is always new things to add. Thanks for the reminder.

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

My Pleasure darlin!

[@theoriginalkeepercreek]

I know this is an old video, but wanted to see it again. Something to think about Bev, is having a hand pump for your well. That is one of the items on my To Get List. Just a thought - maybe you already thought of that or better yet, got one. I survived 8 days with no power with 2 men and 2 big dogs. Boy did I learn where our weakness were, what we needed and what we aren't going to do again. Life lesson. Tip: Because flushing the toilet every time was out of the question (we didn't have a pool) and I needed to save water I now know to always keep an can of air freshener with my emergency supplies. Silly maybe, but in times like those, small comforts are really appreciated too! Absolutely an invaluable video! Thanks again.

[@madamesophia2004]

This reminded me of the bad old days when I lived in America, Kansas to be exact, and we had monster ice storms. Luckily when I was with my parents we didn't have major power outages because they couldn't plan from one day to the next so we just went hungry and cold to bed a few days. As an adult I lived thru more and was more prepared but cold canned food isn't yummy. My most recent ice storm of about 13 years ago knocked power out in the coldest part of winter for 4 days. My husband was prepared with kerosene heaters, camping stuff and our water was gravity fed into the house. Our water heater was gas. I got hooked on prepping. Now I learn from you that I need more stuff like a way to water cattle and goats and probably a gas bbq grill. Thank you for sharing so I could learn my oversights. This may have saved my Jersey cow darlings. In a pinch I could get buckets of water from the well for them. Thanks again Mrs. Volfie. :)

[@GardeningWithPuppies]

That had to be rough. We went nearly a week without electric once from Hurricane Charley. Two more major hurricanes hit that month. Thank God we had that generator. We were able to keep ours and of our neighbors refrigerators running. Glad you were able to can the food. .

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

The only REAL shame would be if I had not taken this chance to learn FROM IT..IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A WASTED OPPORTUNITY! ( oops caps locks..I really was not yelling)

[@MBFModernHomesteading]

We use pressure cookers to cook meals in the field sometimes in the army....the food is mediocre at best that we cook in them though haha.

[@Ladyshystar]

This is a great thing to bring up again Bev. Very Good!

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

Thanks Hun!

[@Ladyshystar]

OurHalfAcreHomestead No thank you lady. FOLKS SHOULD THINK ON THIS STUFF NOW. Flipping E floating around and what nots... GEESE. THANK YOU.

[@Ladyshystar]

OurHalfAcreHomestead Back to you and yours. :-)

[@beckyladd8302]

We went without power for 8 days in 2012. Temperature was around 100 everyday.

[@kardiaheart]

Back in 1975 (when I was still living at home with mom and dad of course) we were without power for a week. Luckily that was the year my parents invested in a woodstove so we had somewhere to cook. Dad went out and bought a brand new huge garbage can and we melted the snow in it near the stove for the toilets and to boil to drink and give to our pets. We ended up using coolers, snow, and ice, to keep what we could cold. Needless to say we ate far too much and too well. I am so glad you put up this video because it reminds me what I need to get accomplished before winter hits here in Ohio. Thank you Bev.

[@cheryl121152]

I remember that storm. I was living in Baltimore, Maryland. My power was out for almost 72 hours. I took stuff from the fridge and put it in a cooler with a jug of frozen water from my deep freezer. I tried getting dry ice from the local ice house. I was home for 30 minutes when the power came back on. I was lucky have a gas stove so I could at least cook something. It was an experience to say the least.

[@roselee4445]

Aren't we going to be blessed when we are forced to have all electric stoves and heat. No cooking then, I had that in Pacific northwest , no cooking, no heating. With hurricane we have to evacuate. Everything spoils

[@cheryl121152]

@@roselee4445 I moved from Maryland to western Montana 5 years ago, so now I'm stuck with an electric stove. Not sure what powers the hot water base board heating. But I now can meat/beans. So at least I can have something for dinner. I need to invest in a sterno stove to use indoors.

[@katievdbshsh757]

Thank you for sharing your power outage with us. We didn't know about canning. When we lost power we gave everything away to neighbors and people walking down the street. Thank you, God bless you from Grandma Katie in Oregon

[@geriroberts1827]

Bev, you are some kinda gal! I only hope I could work that canner on a BBQ..that is admirable! I have learned to gather up water, and keep all canning supplies and jars clean at all times, just in case. I would have never thought of canning during a crisis situation, but I will now...thanks to you. You rock all kinds!!

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

Thank you Honey!

[@MsJaniceBell]

If you had not been able to can your green beans, you could have strung them on a string, hung them up and let them dry out. They are called leather britches. It's how the old mountain people did it to save on jars before they had electricity. When you are ready to use the green beans, you soak for a couple hours. Drain the water and soak for another couple of hours and then cook. They plump back up and from what i hear are very delicious. .

[@elaineholloman6695]

I am like you I learned the hard way. We were without power for a week 13 years ago, big ice storm. If we didn't have dogs to keep is warm we would have froze to death lol. I don't remember ever being that cold. We now have a gas furnace, we have 2 generators, we have a electric fry pan, a George Forman grill. I have lots of blankets and always keep warm gloves on hand. I never want to be that cold again. You brought up some good points about cloths being washed and dishes being clean. I was lucky our was clean.

[@jeanskilling5014]

My biggest problem would be our jars would not be clean enough to can in. We put them in the shed after using with no lid. A full freezer would stay frozen if you leave it alone in the winter. In the summer not so much.

[@maryclendenin8565]

Thank you...THANK YOU! I have a 2-burner propane BBQ on my porch already...YAY! Now I can can my brains out this spring/summer...you the best! :)

[@TheGreenPassage]

I lived through at least 2 year power outage and we relied on generators were I used to live and fuel was hard to get it was a life altering experience and i learned a lot and with all that I don't think I am prepared enough.

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

It's only a BAD experience if we don't learn from it! You Obviously got a lot out of the experience..I can only wish it had been a shorter one for you!

[@crazyldy002]

Lord have mercy woman 96 hours.!!! I just came across this video when ya'lls power went out. Ours went out for 10 days 2014, so I know what you are saying BUT I did learn some through it all, the power guy and I had a long talk and during the conversation he said most people do not realize that if they would unplug anything that they did not use all the time or seldom it will lower your bill, I did it and yes it does work, even tho it is not being used just plugged in it pulls current. That year was a really bad year because my husband was in a hospital bed electric, with a air mattress electric, and so had to get people over here to move him to regular bed. He had me call on cell phone and order a generator he said we will never again be without power, Thank God. Had to get him O2, but luckily we had several bottles of LP gas but only a turkey fryer thingy to use for cooking but I made a lot of 1 pot dishes so we did really good there. That really made me appreciate my cast iron. LOL . But with catching rain water be really careful because it will attract a lot of bugs to it for some reason. But with the generator I could plug in a slow cooker and coffee pot , kept all my freezers going and fridge. My husband passed away July of 2014 but he left me well prepared for anything like that ever happening again, also I forgot to add we cut all trees that could reach the house or out buildings. Hope ya'll don't have that to go through again, God Bless you and yours. I Love Your Videos, they are so down to earth and just fun watching, Thank You for doing them.

[@764marion]

Oh I hate when we lose power, it just sucks, and being I have a c pap machine, its worse! I heard another brutal winter is in store for us here in Michigan,,,Great tips Bev, thanks for sharing

[@minbee5849]

Bev, this is such a helpful video. Thanks so much.

[@MBFModernHomesteading]

I found it! This is the video you were telling us about!

[@BrendaC-cf7td]

Thanks Bev, we have wood stove and bought a huge key operated generator last year. ! I have learned so.. much from You! hugs!

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

EXCELLENT!

[@anitaaudet8204]

Good, I was going to put one in, but my insurance would have gone up. You're one of my top videos I look up to. You're very informative, and up to date with the world around us. Thank you for that.

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

Thank you!

[@laurenpiantino626]

You are indomitable! And always so positive in your outlook. You have great strength of character. Even in such a times of adversity you just don't quit.

[@countryrosehomemaker9761]

Great timing! We just got our electricity back on yesterday after a 3 day outage here in Dallas. I so agree, I'm constantly learning new things in order to prepare for the next and/or final outage. We typically lose power twice a year though not for this length of time. We FINALLY got a generator which saved most of our meats in the freezer. Hubby's making jerky out of that which did defrost. I'm starting to dehydrate alot more vegetables and gulp! am needing to learn how to pressure can next! Thanks for the video! :)

[@CryptoNana]

Great video! Supposed to be a very bad deep snow and ice winter according to some.

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

I feel THAT in my bones!

[@SandyzSerious]

Good morning and thanks Bev. Great, informative video.

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

Good Morning Hun! I had thought I lost this video..and I have been hunting through my computer for week looking for it because someone asked where it had gone! I was so glad when I found it!

[@rosegarcia8434]

OurHalfAcreHomestead good .morning thank you berry much .I love to live like this.

[@palisaanne5096]

Thanks, Mrs. V. It’s hurricane central down here. I will follow your recommendations about readiness, clothing, dishes and bathing. I will learn to can this season!

[@AngiesPantry58]

I have learned so much from watching your channel. I can remember way back when my mom pressure caning on wood base grill in the fall. She would have her water bath caner & pressure caner going at same time. Us kids didnt know then that we should of took notes. Lol awesome video. Thanks for sharing. 🤗

[@lindabrown7374]

Have never had power out that long, 24 hours maybe. I like the idea of getting the important cleaning done. I always have some water for drinking in case of emergencies.

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

Thanks Honey! We have had it go out at least 3 times for over 24 hours...and MANY smaller outages in between

[@terriabowling]

You can also can atop a burner used for camping.

[@essemsween818]

You couldn't have ordered a more SHTF scenario if you sat down and thought about it! could you? Well Done You, talk about those pioneer women, our Bev would've been head of the caravan🙌.

[@patriciafeehan7732]

Put water in a small dixie cup and freeze solid, once frozen put a penny on top and place back in freezer. If you find it melted down, you know there was a power outage.

[@bellusnatura3991]

Thank you sooo much for your vids..You and your family seem like real people and honest...I like that..It is very rare nowdays..I suscribed tyty sooo much :)

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

***** MY PLEASURE!! Welcome to Our Half Acre Homestead!

[@RuthAnnsLife]

Such a smart and resourceful Woman you are!! Thank you so much for all the videos that teach us viewers how to cope and survive!!

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

My Pleasure Honey!

[@SureHowDoYouKnow]

Thank you for doing these great videos..!

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

My Pleasure! This isa real oldy..2010..but it shows how far we have come in Four Years!

[@NovaScotiaLiving]

Great video. I never knew what that extra red button thing on the canner was for. Now I know. Lol. Thanks for sharing~ Tracey

[@grassburner]

Awesome, just awesome advice! Your a giver!!!

[@wildchookMaryP]

Long time no see Mrs Volfie, good to see your videos and as usual they are inspiring;

[@shamasi1968]

Three years ago we lost our electricity during a storm in January. It was out 4 days, came on for 6 hours and went right back off another 24 hours. We didn't lose food since it was cold out I just froze milk jugs full of water and placed them in the top of the freezer and moved all the food down, same with the fridge. We have 6 large oil lamps and lanterns and 4 small ones that came from my grandmother, so we had plenty of light. Heat was our problem, even with electricity off our stove works so I kept boiling water in my monster stock pots on the two back burners and used the front ones for cooking, but that only heats the kitchen well. We need to figure out something that heats the living room and one bedroom decently, got any ideas? Bathroom wasn't too bad with the oil lamp in there since it is only 5 foot wide and 8 foot long..lol Our house is over 150 years old and was 4 rooms and a closet when built, the outhouse was 30 feet to the southwest of the house, so when they brought in running water and a bathroom they converted the closet...lol

[@ALWAYSLIVEIT]

Thank the lord I have a propane cook stove, and freeze very little! wonderful information, thanks sis!!! Joy

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

Thanks Darlin! I want a propane stove for sure!

[@valwalsh8864]

Great Video! We all need a reminder to be prepared just in case, it only helps us get through it with minimal stress and grief(hopefully)! :)

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

Amen!

[@chowerton39]

wow... this vid came in a good time, I haven't had water since Friday... the main water pump went out and they couldn't get parts till today... and it has been challenging to keep things going... you never realize how depended you are... til you don't have it... luckily i saved water in 2 liters pop bottle since summer... i think when i lasted counted we had over 30 of them... i used it to bath and use sparingly for everything else... i am going to invest in a rain barrel soon... thanks for the vid...

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

My Pleasure!! Hang in there honey!

[@chowerton39]

thanks...

[@eckankar7756]

I was out of electricity once for 12 hours and the temp was 115 degrees in Phoenix Az. I had to get bags of ice to put on top of my bird cages (canaries). The freezer did fine. I bet you welcomed the electricity, hope it wasn't to hot where you lived. Glad the goat came through

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

It was HOT.. but not as bad as AZ! I will never forget when the power came on! I was laying on the bed at 5pm...after having a swim...and the fan started...I thought I had died and gone to heaven!

[@annrogers4157]

Thanks

[@CrystalandBern]

Thank you for pointing this video out to me. Excellent!

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

crystal bern My Pleasure!

[@anitaaudet8204]

A lot of insurance company's will not except wood stoves, if they do your insurance goes way up, or if you do put one in without informing your insurance, and something bad happens your not covered. There's a video on pop can solar heating. That looks interesting and cheap to make, compared to solar panels.

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

The woodstove is certified and IS covered!

[@fantasyreflection]

To preserve what's in the fridge, dig a hole deeper than a five gal. pail. Add fridge stuff, cover with a piece of Styrofoam and place the piece of sod back on top. The ground will keep it cool. If you have any ice cubes toss them in.

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

That is REALLY good to know!

[@OMBIC]

Over 10 years I have done scouts, boot camp, police training, bush survival training, first aid, military training, bla bla bla, nothing better then wen you can think on your own 2 feet :))

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

Thank you! I will take that as a compliment..I feel it is a tragedy when people don't take the opportunity to learn from their mistakes.

[@juliabentley377]

You are Incredible!!!!

[@noanswer2502]

Wow! I am so impressed by what you accomplished. Would love to see a more detailed video on canning using the BBQ grill.

[@lechatbotte.]

We have had 10 days to two weeks at a time. Disaster is the word.

[@michellesspicesfromthesout4983]

great video it must have been to heard for you. when the floods were on people were out for over a week.

[@ModernPioneers]

Yay! Live and learn! LOL :) thank you Lord for all the blessings and correction you give us!

[@BittyBooBrown]

Great info Bev!

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

an old video..but was glad I found it..I can't believe how far we have come!

[@BittyBooBrown]

It is wonderful to see all yalls progress. :)

[@francesgettys1966]

Thanks for video. It is very useful info.

[@alwaysteatime489]

WOW thank-you for all the great info

[@texasjones9541]

Awesome video...thanks for sharing. Being only 40 min from the Gulf coast I should be better prepared. My main thought is having to evacuate and all the best laid plans would be in vain. Last time an evaluation was called my husband could not leave his job and everything around here shut down. People ran out of gas on their evacuations and ended up stuck on the freeways. We stayed put and the hurricane ended making landfall way up the coast from us. The best decision in this case was to stay put, but you never know. My 1st to do list is fill all of the gas cans for travel and the generator...from that point could be a variable of situations.

[@OurHalfAcreHomestead]

I try to cover as many " in case" bases as possible!

[@texasjones9541]

OurHalfAcreHomestead Yes, you did and awesome job. I was just thinking out loud about how unprepared I may be.

[@shirleyb2fit]

thanks

[@SchnauzerMom]

Just found your channel and I love it 😊

[@aliciaporras1187]

Oh my god thanks for the video you got me thinking. We have a fireplace and a gas grill.