Power outages are supposed to be quite common and widespread this summer. (My power is out now).
All that meat you so diligently stocked up will spoil in your freezer within 2 days without power.
Power outages combined with food shortages means meat and other food that spoils will be thrown out by the tons creating even more demand for food in short supply.
Get a generator. I suggest one that can be charged with solar panels.
Whats an entry level system to keep stuff going for like a family of 6. A 1200 sqf house. Maybe I can start assembling pieces here and there. But it's tough on a really strict budget and all these mouths o feed :(
harbor freight also has 5000 W inverters that you can hook up to solar panels.
Jackery is a good brand for portable power stations, which would be the easiest.
watch some 'vanlife' channels, they have many ideas for living off grid.
Also, get a really good cooler and an icemaker, won't take up much electricity.
I used my 1000 watt Jackery to make bread with a bread maker. It still had 60 percent charge after it was done. I also used it to cook with a small electric burner. What sucks is days with no sun.
What really saved my ass during a 4 day outage was a small korean gas cooking stove with butane. Those small butane cans last awhile. That in combo with alot of wood and a fireplace during the winter.
I got a gas/propane generator as well.
For summer I have a porch with misters and shade. I would probably pop my gas propane generator every so often to keep the refrigerator going.
misters are a great idea/need to get some. sounds like you'll be fine:) also thanks for telling me about the jackery and bread. just bought a breadmaker, so good to know it's doable off grid.a lot of fun can be had with the challenges/all about mindset
Ya you can get a huge bag of flower at costco and you really dont need much to make french bread. Flower, water, salt and yeast and you got bread.
For me it is we stay in the basement with solar lamps where it is nice and cool.