Aspirin, ibuprofen, 2 sugar packets, bandaids of different sizes, butterfly steri strip type bandages, one Sam Splint, white medical tape, Swiss Army knife, 2 maxi pads - I carry these in place of gauze bandages because they can meet several needs, double acting antibiotic cream, and sterile gloves. I am sure that I have forgotten something but this is a quick list to get started. I tend to carry water with me outside of a first aid kit and that is necessary as well.
Thank you for this beautiful piece. Also - I highly recommend the Luminaid solar lanterns that can also charge cell phones. Maybe something to consider adding to your kit!
As a Boy Scout leader, we always talked about the "10 Essentials" when going outdoors. Most of those 10 Essentials also are in our vehicles at all times. Here's the list:
Weather can take us by surprise! It is always a good idea to be as prepared as best we can for it. I am glad that all was well at the farm. A short power outage is much preferred than destruction and harm. Where I grew up, the power went out all the time, sometimes for days and weeks. We had a generator to run the freezers, and a fireplace and wood stove as heat and a source for cooking. Our water came from a gravity flow spring, so we always had water. So many memories around storms, power outages and being without electricity.
Thank you for the recommendations, the butterbean story, and farm news. Congratulations on your writer-in-residence invitation! Otters are one of my all time favorite animals.
Excellent post covering so much. It gave balance to my perception: the storm, the blooming and fruiting, the fledging and the otters! Lovely. Just ordered The Light Eaters. Looks like you might enjoy it.
I appreciate your reminder to prepare for extreme weather events. I live in Colorado, so it's usually wind and fire/smoke that threatens. On December 30th, 2021, 1028 homes burned down. The first week of April this year, the power company preemptively shut down. Here's the poem I wrote afterward:
I live in Oregon so I prepare for earthquakes. I started small and have increased my knowledge and preparation over time. To build knowledge I took Red Cross first aid classes and from that I put together a portable first aid kit. When I learned that I was not the person who was going to make a split out of tree limbs, I purchased a Sam Splint for my kit. I keep in a stocked backpack that I can pick up quickly in an emergency situation. I also keep water on hand as well as some freeze dried meals and a camp stove. Most recently I purchased a portable power station which I used this winter when the power was out for a significant amount of time.
So helpful. You don't happen to have a list of what's in the first aid kit, do you? Don't re-create it. I'm just wondering if you have it already written down & could share it with me/us.
So many great points here about the storms. I’m going to evaluate my plan. I love the feel of the newsletter-so warm and caring. I like the farm report and recipes, too.
Friday late afternoon, we were on a boat headed to Little St Simons Island. The storm was coming our way. The clouds were ominous. The crew got us there and into the lodge, just as the skies opened up! I think the rainfall was about 4.5””, and the lightning was awesome. As we were traveling, we never checked the weather report. This came as a complete surprise. From now on, we will check the weather anytime we are traveling. I am so thankful you arrived home safely and than your property was not damaged. My heart goes out to those who suffered losses. It seems we now need to be prepared for stronger storms and changing temperatures. Your idea for the car is a good one. Be prepared! The peaches look delicious……hard for us here in the north to imagine they could be ripe already! I wish I could share a photo of the storm cloud, but I guess you saw plenty on your drive home. Stay safe! Thank you for sharing your beautiful writing. Linda
So glad you made it home safely. We keep raincoats in the car. That sounds silly for most of the year in Northern California but when you need them, you need them. They not only keep you dry, they’re useful to lie on, cover a wounded critter, and serve as a tarp. We’ve kept what in CA is called a “bug out” bag for each of us with a change of clothes, water purifiers, and other things that might be all you have if you’re stranded for a few days.
On another topic, do you think fava beans would work for your Lima bean salad? The favas seem to all come at once even when I stagger plant them. They’re bigger and meatier than limas but that recipe sounds like a possibility for them.
Stay safe! Thankful we installed solar panels and a backup battery!
Janisse, I hear the collective sigh of relief...so glad you got home safely.
Here, just east of Asheville, tornado warnings came over the phone at midnight. In seventeen years, that was a first. Moments later, the power went out. Small tornadoes went through town; no one was injured. But yes, a wake-up call.
My first eco-decision was to move to this mountain ridge from the shores of Rhode Island. Improvements were bit by bit: insulation, new plumbing, a well, a garden, and removing trees too close to the house (after the ice storm in 2009). My to do list for preparedness is long, and getting longer. Solar, a pump for the well when the power goes out, medication for the dogs, and better foul weather gear. I did invest in a battery charger that will jump start my 2011 Jeep. If I have to evacuate, I can charge my car battery without another vehicle. (I did not know such a thing existed!) in kinship, katharine
I was dismayed to see Susan Cerulean also hit by the tornadoes in Tallahassee last week, mere hours before I'd seen an IG acquaintance, Lilly Anderson-Messec, lose her home during the storms, too. If you love native plants and especially Florida native plants, she's one to follow on Instagram. What a mess...but then here in Texas some areas nearby are still reeling from devastating floods from two weeks ago. We're still soggy. I've long thought about doing more "prep" type work for having gear in my car when needed but still haven't made a priority.
Your harvest looks beautiful! I'm harvesting tomatoes and blackberries right now. My son is still pulling mulberries off the tree.
Aspirin, ibuprofen, 2 sugar packets, bandaids of different sizes, butterfly steri strip type bandages, one Sam Splint, white medical tape, Swiss Army knife, 2 maxi pads - I carry these in place of gauze bandages because they can meet several needs, double acting antibiotic cream, and sterile gloves. I am sure that I have forgotten something but this is a quick list to get started. I tend to carry water with me outside of a first aid kit and that is necessary as well.
My power was out for more than 48 hours after the storms. I'm glad for my camp stove and lantern.
I hear you.
If you find a reliable contractor for solar, please let me know. I’ve been talking about it for years, but I feel a greater sense of urgency now.
I have three weather apps, but Wunderground is my favorite.
Thank you.
Thank you for this beautiful piece. Also - I highly recommend the Luminaid solar lanterns that can also charge cell phones. Maybe something to consider adding to your kit!
I'll add it.
As a Boy Scout leader, we always talked about the "10 Essentials" when going outdoors. Most of those 10 Essentials also are in our vehicles at all times. Here's the list:
10 Outdoor Essentials
Pocketknife
First Aid Kit
Extra Clothing
Rain gear
Water bottle (filled)
Flashlight
Trail food
Matches and fire starters
Sun protection
Map and compass
We added an 11th Essential:
Toilet paper or facial tissues.
Hope this helps. Peace.
Yes, this helps tremendously. I'll be editing my list to add these. Thank you, Matt.
Weather can take us by surprise! It is always a good idea to be as prepared as best we can for it. I am glad that all was well at the farm. A short power outage is much preferred than destruction and harm. Where I grew up, the power went out all the time, sometimes for days and weeks. We had a generator to run the freezers, and a fireplace and wood stove as heat and a source for cooking. Our water came from a gravity flow spring, so we always had water. So many memories around storms, power outages and being without electricity.
Thank you for the recommendations, the butterbean story, and farm news. Congratulations on your writer-in-residence invitation! Otters are one of my all time favorite animals.
Here's a big hug back to you❤️
Excellent post covering so much. It gave balance to my perception: the storm, the blooming and fruiting, the fledging and the otters! Lovely. Just ordered The Light Eaters. Looks like you might enjoy it.
I always enjoy the farm report, which reminded me that I had decided to name the coming full moon, Rat Snake Moon.
I think I'll adopt that name too. So apropos.
I appreciate your reminder to prepare for extreme weather events. I live in Colorado, so it's usually wind and fire/smoke that threatens. On December 30th, 2021, 1028 homes burned down. The first week of April this year, the power company preemptively shut down. Here's the poem I wrote afterward:
The Web in Wind
Because of high wind speeds,
We lost power for 26 hours.
In its absence, we learn
That almost all of our activities
Are reliant on electricity–
Our laptops, lights, heat pump,
Stovetop, microwave, refrigerator,
Even our car.
It’s a delicate life,
But a thread in a vast web
Of interbeing.
Poised in the web
Like a quiet spider,
We watch,
We spin structures,
We eat,
And we wait for what comes.
--Dawn Kimble
Wow, Dawn, thank you. Your car is electric? So you couldn't drive it when the power went out? THAT is something I haven't thought about.
I hadn't thought about that either. Now, we are consciously trying to keep it charged.
I live in Oregon so I prepare for earthquakes. I started small and have increased my knowledge and preparation over time. To build knowledge I took Red Cross first aid classes and from that I put together a portable first aid kit. When I learned that I was not the person who was going to make a split out of tree limbs, I purchased a Sam Splint for my kit. I keep in a stocked backpack that I can pick up quickly in an emergency situation. I also keep water on hand as well as some freeze dried meals and a camp stove. Most recently I purchased a portable power station which I used this winter when the power was out for a significant amount of time.
So helpful. You don't happen to have a list of what's in the first aid kit, do you? Don't re-create it. I'm just wondering if you have it already written down & could share it with me/us.
So many great points here about the storms. I’m going to evaluate my plan. I love the feel of the newsletter-so warm and caring. I like the farm report and recipes, too.
Warm & caring flowing your way, KW.
A piece of my heart is in Madison. Excited for you and your students!
Friday late afternoon, we were on a boat headed to Little St Simons Island. The storm was coming our way. The clouds were ominous. The crew got us there and into the lodge, just as the skies opened up! I think the rainfall was about 4.5””, and the lightning was awesome. As we were traveling, we never checked the weather report. This came as a complete surprise. From now on, we will check the weather anytime we are traveling. I am so thankful you arrived home safely and than your property was not damaged. My heart goes out to those who suffered losses. It seems we now need to be prepared for stronger storms and changing temperatures. Your idea for the car is a good one. Be prepared! The peaches look delicious……hard for us here in the north to imagine they could be ripe already! I wish I could share a photo of the storm cloud, but I guess you saw plenty on your drive home. Stay safe! Thank you for sharing your beautiful writing. Linda
So glad you made it home safely. We keep raincoats in the car. That sounds silly for most of the year in Northern California but when you need them, you need them. They not only keep you dry, they’re useful to lie on, cover a wounded critter, and serve as a tarp. We’ve kept what in CA is called a “bug out” bag for each of us with a change of clothes, water purifiers, and other things that might be all you have if you’re stranded for a few days.
On another topic, do you think fava beans would work for your Lima bean salad? The favas seem to all come at once even when I stagger plant them. They’re bigger and meatier than limas but that recipe sounds like a possibility for them.
Stay safe! Thankful we installed solar panels and a backup battery!
Janisse, I hear the collective sigh of relief...so glad you got home safely.
Here, just east of Asheville, tornado warnings came over the phone at midnight. In seventeen years, that was a first. Moments later, the power went out. Small tornadoes went through town; no one was injured. But yes, a wake-up call.
My first eco-decision was to move to this mountain ridge from the shores of Rhode Island. Improvements were bit by bit: insulation, new plumbing, a well, a garden, and removing trees too close to the house (after the ice storm in 2009). My to do list for preparedness is long, and getting longer. Solar, a pump for the well when the power goes out, medication for the dogs, and better foul weather gear. I did invest in a battery charger that will jump start my 2011 Jeep. If I have to evacuate, I can charge my car battery without another vehicle. (I did not know such a thing existed!) in kinship, katharine
I was dismayed to see Susan Cerulean also hit by the tornadoes in Tallahassee last week, mere hours before I'd seen an IG acquaintance, Lilly Anderson-Messec, lose her home during the storms, too. If you love native plants and especially Florida native plants, she's one to follow on Instagram. What a mess...but then here in Texas some areas nearby are still reeling from devastating floods from two weeks ago. We're still soggy. I've long thought about doing more "prep" type work for having gear in my car when needed but still haven't made a priority.
Your harvest looks beautiful! I'm harvesting tomatoes and blackberries right now. My son is still pulling mulberries off the tree.
Misti, I know Lilly & follow her but didn't realize she had lost her home. So heartbreaking. Thank you for letting me know.