Surviving Winter

“Are YOU Ready?”

Storing the fall bounty is partly a matter of frugality. Get it while it’s cheap and plentiful!

It’s partly a matter of habit. My mother put away for winter, her mother put away for winter.

It’s partly because there’s something in my bones that just deals better with the chilly mornings when I know I have a cabinet full of sweet potatoes and a shelf full of canned goods. Root crops really do make up the backbone of my food storage, and this time of year is just my favorite. A summers worth of hard work, nestled in boxes and bags. I round the vegetables out with a big pile of pasta and a 40 lb bag of rice, and I have the peace of mind that only comes with 2 months of food on hand.

Did I mention it’s getting chilly at night? The monarchs are headed south. Winter is nothing to mess around with in NW Iowa, and I have no intention of underestimating it. Not too long ago, settlers in this area could count on getting cut off once the serious snow fell. Highways and diesel trucks certainly level the playing field a bit, but nature always bats last.

I’ve been filling in gaps in the warm clothing for the two growing boys. Mostly with garage sales, I love getting snow boots and snow suit for 5$ total for the 4 year old. I even have a new scarf knitted for me, (since hubby got the one I knitted last year.) My mother in law of course leaves my knitting in the dust, she’s whipping out entire sets of mittens/hats for her various grandkids. I’ve already got something else on my needles, but I’m betting it’s going to be a Yule present for someone.

I digress. There’s still time to round up all the good food out there folks. Late apples, pears and winter squash are all super cheap and can store really well. Do you really want to be one of the idiots out slip sliding around before the first blizzard of the year closes things down? Preparation starts now!

Excuses are Lame! FEMA is Slow! Prepare yourselves to survive winter.

Got any winter preparation under way? Shout out in the comments!

- Calamity Jane