In with the New Year

[MaryN]

I don't make New Year resolutions - I never keep them anyway - but I do use the New Year as a time to do a stocktake of my situation. It's a useful thing to do, and sets me on the right paths or puts me back on them if I have strayed.

So I've been checking things through and running a few what-if scenarios. First up for a review was water usage. I was amazed to find how much drinking water we got through in a day. I mean drinking water only, not washing up, washing clothes, showering etc. - that was extra. To check the usage I ran all drinking water through a Berkefeld filter, measuring the litres as i put it into the top filter. We were getting through 6-8 litres a day - far more than I thought. Granted there was a bit left at the bottom of the unit, but not that much. This has given me pause for thought, and I am now going to up my water collection facilities outside. More water butts and galva tanks. I may even try to press the OH into letting me pull up the carpet to take a peek at the cistern under our office. Remember, this was just drinking water, so much more would be needed for washing, loos etc.

Checking through on a what-if the power went out scenario, I found that, although I could manage on cooking, heating and lighting on alternative fuels (charcoal, wood-burner, candles etc), I am very reliant on electricity because I run 3 freezers. This is a worry as a bit proportion of my stored food is frozen - particularly the fresh stuff we grow. So, I am looking into a stand-alone solar system as an emergency back-up. I'm floundering in this a bit because I don't knowm what I want is is possible, but thanks to all those kind folks who have explained solar power to me - I'm getting there.

I did an assessment of our family situation last year when MIL came to stay (!). Fortunately that situation has resolved itself and she has been rehomed! So the necessity for the storage of steradent tablets and incontinence pads has been cancelled. OTG. There is no likelihood of other family members joining us, so I only now have to concern myself with OH and menagerie.

I am doing a review of the veggie patch in the next few weeks - some raised beds are in the offing and I am currently collecting materials. Hopefully some of the Forum members will be able to contribute details of what grew best last year in wet conditions.