As summer draws to an end, we got to thinking about our favorite off grid resources. We’ve compiled a few over the years and thought it would be a great idea to share them, because we think you will like them too!
Our off grid prep focuses on three primary areas – portable solar / stored energy, food (often meals ready to eat), and pre-made emergency kits. Here are some great resources for information in each of these categories.
I. Portable Solar Panels and Power Stations
We have already published a few articles that discuss both portable solar panels and power stations. The real question is – how much power are you going to need in the event of an emergency power outage at home? What do you need to keep powered up and how much energy will it take? Read Power Out? Stay Charged with Solar Power for some ideas. For a comparison look at portable solar panels, check out NITECORE vs. Eco-Flow: Compare Foldable Portable Solar Panels. And to determine how many peak sun hours you can expect in your area, visit the interactive photovoltaic map provided by National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Be sure to click on the tab for “legend”. Mouse over any location in the US to discover the monthly average solar photovoltaic value, which will display as the value kWh/m2/day (that’s kilowatt hours per day per meter squared). The color-coded legend is the number of peak sun hours you may expect, on average, in your area.
II. Food – time to eat!
There are multiple versions of emergency meals on the market, and we won’t bore you with a review of them. Instead, our focus turns to grow your own and/or pick your own! Gardening is a pastime enjoyed by many. In recent years growing your own food and preserving it has become a kind of fashion niche among the downright serious home growers. Take a look at our favorite 2 resources (neither of which are owned or managed in any way by Solar Sporting Goods)
- RAISED BEDS GARDENING - IDEAS & PICTURES This Facebook group is the bees knees of back yard gardeners. In this group you will find the most amazing and creative solutions for raised bed gardening that we’ve seen anywhere! Members are full of helpful advice in all areas of gardening. It is simply a wealth of gardening info that can’t be beat!
- Pick Your Own Regardless if you grow your own food, preserving farm to table is a wonderful and healthy way to prep for emergencies! Canning has gained immense popularity over the past several months while most people stayed closer to home for long periods of time dealing with the COVID pandemic. There are tons of resources available for preserving all manner of fresh fruits and vegetables. You only need one. Pick Your Own has it all. It teaches correct and safe methods for freezing, water bath canning and pressure canning. It offers the best recipes you’ll find anywhere. The website has nationwide farm resources, harvest schedules, local farmers markets and so much more.
And, of course, if you would rather keep some freeze-dried meals that can last up to 25 years, Solar Sporting Goods offers an excellent selection of meals ready to eat from ReadyWise and Nutrient Survival.
III. Emergency Prep Gear
This is another area where you can find resources in all corners of the internet. It can be hard to narrow down unbiased information and resources. That’s why we turn to the experts. Visit www.ready.gov and you will find realistic, focused information on getting ready for the next emergency that comes your way. The bottom line is that you a) need a kit, b) need a plan for your family, and c) be informed as to which disasters are likely in your area. This map is a great resource.
Don’t forget! Solar Sporting Goods sells pre-made emergency kits comprised of all necessary items as recommended by industry and government experts. Consider these kits as a “one-and-done” solution for your basic emergency prep gear.
Now, are you ready for the next big weather event in your area? If not, start now and cover the 3 primary needs.
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