Predicting a LONG HARD WINTER

**homesteadmamma** · 09-19-2005, 09:56 AM

Forecasters are predicting a long hard winter. I've been feeling the urgency to stockpile and to get ready. Its not going to be an easy winter for anyone. In reading Rhonda's one thread, she said no matter how much you prepare, something always comes up.

Here are the reasons forecasters and economists are giving:

~gas prices
~higher heating costs
~higher transportation costs due to gas prices, thus groceries will be costing more
~higher building supplies. Lumber and gyproc are going to be in very short supply and what is around will cost way more.
~interest rates creeping up
~more people living on less and using credit cards more.

Here are some questions for you to ponder and think about.

What are you doing to prepare for the long winter months?

Are you ready for having a more difficult winter than normal?

Are you just a tad bit worried about it?

Do you think going through a "hard season" will make you a better person?

**sunshine** · 09-19-2005, 10:27 AM

What are you doing to prepare for the long winter months? Pretty much my usual stuff-- putting up all foods I can get. . . stockpiling loss leader groceries. . .. making sure we have plenty of candles, batteries, books, etc.

Are you ready for having a more difficult winter than normal? I think so. . . we've anticipated this all summer, and we've planned for it.

Are you just a tad bit worried about it? Sure. . . gas prices scare me, the rest I think I'm ready to handle.

Do you think going through a "hard season" will make you a better person? I've been through more than a few "hard seasons" in my life. . and yes I thought I came out a better person. . . sure not looking forward to going there again though.

**Valerie in WA** · 09-19-2005, 10:42 AM

How interesting that you posted this! Just yesterday my internal monologue was marvelling at the strong nesting urges I'm having.

Here are some of the things I've done:

As you probably know, from my other thread, I've gotten in my bulk order that I expect to last 3-4 months (dry goods & frozen meat, no produce). Rather than waiting until Dec or January to order, I'm going to place a 2nd order in November for items to last us until about March.

I've gotten our disaster kits in order, which includes items to evacuate or stay home without services (again, you can see my other thread for more info).

I'm researching some alternative form of heat, in case we are without electricity.

I have markedly reduced my driving - basically cut it in half.

I have purchased a lot of yarn at garage sales & thrift stores and have already begun making Christmas presents. I'm slowly implementing a campaign to convince dh not to buy the dc a bunch of toys for Christmas.

We do not use natural gas. I anticipate that our electricity prices will remain stable, as our power is supplied by hydroelectric dams. Drought is what increases our costs, and the last couple of years have been okay.

The debts we have are on (very low) fixed interest rates. We do not use credit cards (well, once in a while for convenience, but we pay off immediately).

We live BELOW our means. We are paying down our debts above the minimum payment. We are currently saving money in an EF and toward a kitchen remodel. If the produce, milk and gasoline I have to buy thru the winter REALLY go up in price, we could take from those savings to get by.

The building materials is slightly concerning as dh is a general contractor. Fortunately, he primarily works in commercial remodels (such as downtown office spaces belonging to large or 'rich' companies-banks, lawyers, vets & dentists). They use metal studs (not wood). Although they do use the same drywall as residential. I suspect that businesses will continue to access loans or whatever means it takes to pay for their remodels. There seems to be a strong drive to maintain the proper 'image.'

I am an RN, taking care of sick and premature babies - if dh isn't working, I can ALWAYS work more. Not that I want to.

I am not worried. Money comes and goes, but the Lord is always in control.

I don't see any huge opportunities for character growth for me this winter, as I don't think things will be that hard for our family. I think the past few years of simplification will put us in a better place than many other people who are the big consumers in our country.

Great questions, CJ!

**babetteq** · 09-19-2005, 10:58 AM

B]What are you doing to prepare for the long winter months? [/B]

Well, I've jarred, froze adn dryed everything I could get my hands on. Although I'm not far from a supermarket.

I've almost finished darning all the woolen socks from last year. If I have time I will make a few more pairs.

We're moving to a more weatherproof house. We've been collecting that plastic stuff you hairdryer onto the windows.

B]Are you ready for having a more difficult winter than normal?[/B]

As ready as I can be.

Are you just a tad bit worried about it?

Not really. The house we're in and the house we're moving to are pretty save from both rogue waves and falling trees from wind. Those are our main concerns. It is water tight and has alternative heat sources (electric & wood). The house we're moving out of is just propane [

Do you think going through a "hard season" will make you a better person?

I think going through trying times can bring out a character. It does for me mostly (I believe), but I know poeple for whom trying times just make complainers.

I love the winter. I love the power outages, the wind storms, the cozy inside/cold outside. I love the soup always in a pot, bread made fresh everymorning just to heat up the house!

Babs

**jlxian** · 09-19-2005, 04:00 PM

What are you doing to prepare for the long winter months?

~I've been freezing/canning more than recent years and stockpiling when I am able to do so.

~We were given access to some tree tops from a logging operation and DH spent most of the weekend cutting firewood.

~I've been cruising the web looking for new ideas on how to weatherize the house on the cheap --- looks like newspaper is the cheapest insulator available, but I don't know if I'm ready to tack it up on my walls yet. We'll see how I feel about that come January. I did see a very novel idea about stuffing polyester fiberfill (for pillows) into the cracks around your windows --- I will give that a try.

Are you ready for having a more difficult winter than normal?

Not yet --- I have a lot of work yet to do --- caulking/weatherstripping, stockpiling, etc

Are you just a tad bit worried about it?

Yes, I've been worried ever since last November's election actually.

Do you think going through a "hard season" will make you a better person?

My dad always called going through a hard experience a "character building" experience, so yes, I guess I think I'll come out a better person --- I may be bitter and angry about the circumstances that caused the experience however. But I will have some new skills developed and will have honed some pre-existing skills.

**forestdale** · 09-19-2005, 04:15 PM

We are going into the opposite season to you but our summers are tougher than our winters so I've been working out how I should prepare. We are currently in the worst drought in a 100 years. Our long term weater forecaster says we might be in for a bad storm season this year, starting in October. There should be good rains in our area and possible some cyclones.

What are you doing to prepare for the long summer months?
We're having a 150' tallow wood tree cut down. It's right in front of our house and now we have solar panels on the roof, and with the possibility of bad storms, it's best if it goes. It's already dropping branches in moderate winds.
I'm going to experiment with growing vegetables in the front garden this summer. We have over 20 trees out front and it's cooler during the summer. I hope to plant tomatoes, lettuce, radishes, silver beet and peas. We usually stop growing vegetables during summer as it's too hot, there are too many bugs and it's just too hot to garden. It will be interesting to see if this works.

Are you ready for having a more difficult summer than normal?
Yes. It's been tough the past couple of summers with the drought so we'll see what this year brings.

Are you just a tad bit worried about it?
I'm not worried but I'll be watching for storms and hoping there are no floods.

Do you think going through a "hard season" will make you a better person?
Definately. I always learn a lot when times are tough.

**cheapgeek** · 09-20-2005, 10:56 AM

>>"What are you doing to prepare for the long winter months?"

Stockpiling. It's a little tricky without a car, but I'm taking advantage of every nice day we'll have left before winter and turning my exercise walks into walks to the store and back for loss leaders.

>>"Are you ready for having a more difficult winter than normal?"

Bring it on. The climate I live in now is nothing compared to living in ski country as I did as a teen!

>>"Are you just a tad bit worried about it?"

Just a tad.

>>"Do you think going through a "hard season" will make you a better person?"

Quite possibly. This'll be my first frugal winter. OTOH, I don't anticipate many changes. We live well below our means, have no debt, and our utilities are included in our rent, so price increases won't break us.

**Michele Annette** · 09-21-2005, 05:11 PM

Rhonda- It was good to see your post with different challenges you face on the other side of the globe!

What are you doing to prepare for the long winter months?

We may be in this apartment longer than expected...no problem we'll deal with it, but it's very leaky. We always put plastic over the windows, but I'm thinking I may need to make insulating shades...we will see how things progress.

Beefing up my stockpile with loss leaders and items/food/supples we use/eat regularly. Stocking up on medicines for cold season.

Setting aside the cash for oil when we need it. We have just a quarter of a tank right now. Good for a little while with the heat on really low. We can use road diesel as heating fuel (taxed extra) if it's an emergency and the oil truck can't make it to our house...has happened once before when it's so cold that fuel trucks have trouble keeping up with the demand in our area...5 gallons will last two weeks in below zero weather.

We have snowshoes already and love Winter outdoor sports. If I have to snowshoe to the store I will. You want a workout in the winter? Snowshoe it's really good for those butt and thigh muscles and you will have no problem getting warm!

I have needed winter clothing so badly this year. I've have had little cash, but was able to get a some great things for $104 total...I just bought a brand new pair of Kamik Nation winter boots rated for -40F for including shipping at www.Campmor.com. On my Salvation Army trips I have purchased two pairs of really nice pants, two like new sweaters, a corduroy top and turtleneck and have fabric for three Winter skirts. One I'm currently working on. I also got a really nice sweater from my friend for free. I crocheted myself a new medium gray scarf and cloche to go with items I have already.

If the power goes out, We have extra rechargeable batteries (can recharge with power inverter in van or car that both run on diesel), lanterns, cook stove (extra fuel for both), headlamps, flashlights, lots of candles and matches and charcoal for the grill. We can setup our tent in the basement with the air mattress if the power goes out, to keep warmer. Lots of non perishable foods. I have books, cards jigsaw puzzles, puzzle books, craft items to keep busy.

Are you ready for having a more difficult winter than normal?

Yes

Are you just a tad bit worried about it?

No, being prepared is helping me feel more secure and confident.

Do you think going through a "hard season" will make you a better person?

I think it's interesting to see how it all turns out. I hope to be a better person.

**canadian gardener** · 09-21-2005, 06:08 PM

hmm not as much as I should be. Dh and I are concentrating on my "affair" with Benjamin Moore LOL

and finishing up the painting and renovating.

I think with the jump in lumber/gas/gyproc prices that will probably be timely to get it done now rather than wait another year. I am glad we bought the two replacement toilets now for the same reason.

I need to concentrate on getting the bulky/heavy pantry stuff in before much longer.

In terms of a bright lining, we need a hard severe cold winter here in BC. The bug kill in the forests is bad due to a run of warmer than normal temperatures for the past 8 years or so.

On the other hand, the bug kill means that a lot more lumber than usual can be harvested without upsetting the environmental people as it's dead anyway and a real fire hazard.

Which means that if it's warm again, we won't use so much heat, and even though the bug kill is still bad, it means more lumber to rebuild New Orleans, which is needed anyway.

As for being a better person, I'm not sure I'll be much different either way.

I am a bit bothered about gas prices, since it costs me about 7$ to go to the public library (dh and I worked it out) or to go see my friends that live on the opposite sides of town which is annoying. Kamloops is a hilly town, and you use a lot just getting around.

I already have cut as much as I reasonably can in terms of driving. We own only one car, I drive dh to work one day a week and do all my visits and errands in that day, and we live close to most stuff except the library.