Welcome aboard Belle_Rose 😀

Hi Belle_Rose

Kinda know how you feel. I'm waiting to put my elerly grandmother (she raised me from the time I was an toddler) into a nursing home. Once that happens I free to put my final steps in place. But worry if something happens, will she still be looked after? Or will I have to go get her. I've also spent most of my life collecting info on what needs to been done and various supplies. There is always that concern about the people we love, whether they can make it to a safe Haven.

Always have a plan "B". It could be a lot of panels and batteries, you could add a wind mill or a bunch of oil lamps.

The way I am approchin this is "An experiment in 18th Century living with as many modern conveiences to make it comfortable"

Good Luck

Hello from North Bay area
That makes us darn near neighbors eh
All the best and if you figure out the magic combination of how to get family to take it seriously let me know would ya
Talk at ya soon

Hello Bella_Rose!! Welcome to the boards!! I look forward to your input!

Welcome, sounds like you have a great start for yourself, any chance that the niece could be given a book or two to read that is fiction but talks about what "could" happen but start out not to over the top in book forum just enought to make her start thinking about it?

2nd try,, my internet timed out and I lost the big answer..sigh.. o well I chat too much anyways..

Nice to meet you, walk noisily and carry a big knife 🙂

for the Niece, why not pop in a disaster movie, or mention you read an article on the Ice Storms or was listening to someone talk about the road closure on the 402 last winter, where people were stranded in their cars for a couple of days on the highway!

In a way solar might not be justifiable in most houses, due to the kitchen areas with normal elect appliances.
Swap out the Fridge for a new modern Propane one, it runs on one small bottle of propane a month and battery power.
swap out the stove for a propane and get a second backup wood burning cook stove and look for a wood burning heating stove as well.
swap out your expensive electric hogging lights for LED lights.
some fit right in the normal holders, I am switching to the LED strip lights that someone mentioned in another thread on solar/led, gotta find that one again so I can order them.
right now i am switching and adding in some 12 LED lights to run right from the battery, the LEDs take so light power even compared to the reglar 12v car light bulbls.

Two days ago I was at a business run by a family of Amish, they sell Steel Roofs and woodstoves, wood heaters and boots!
company name is Stoll Metal Sales Inc.
Simon & Joseph call between 9-9am Mon-Fri 705-887-1750 fax 705-887-1750
located just outside of Lindsay Ontario.
http://www.stollmetalsales.ca/en/ (found their website)
called them and here is the pricing

big wood heater $1400
small wood cook stove $1400
Big wood cook stove $2100
I have seen a lot of flimsy or crappy designed stoves for more $$

Cheers ~WildE

Welcome aboard Bella Rose!

Good to see another prepper, and congrats on having some decent property! Being in Huntsville too will allow you, if you have to, bug out North without having to go through the mess that will be the GTA.

The solar company was correct in saying what they said, it has to do with how far north you are and the angle of the solar rays (PM me if you want a better explanation). However, going off grid now when you have refridgerators, freezers, space heaters, TV's, computers etc. is a much different story than going off grid when SHTF, you won't have near the energy needs.

Also, I hear what you mean about being uncomfortable with telling too many people. I'm a single guy too and my hooked up friends keep saying that if SHTF they'll just come to my house with all my dried food and firearms and stuff. That's great and all, but it would be better if they prepped too, no?

Welcome aboard and I hope you find this place a good resource!

http://countrymaidstoves.com/
found a site that has some pics of the stoves
the main website page has the wood burner heater and the two cook stoves on the bottom left are the ones (very similar to what I saw)

Welcome Belle_Rose and greetings from Northern Ontario.

Welcome Belle Rose .Do not worry there are few of us just around Huntsville area.Some of us finally trying to communicate and get together .Hopefully it will all work out.
Henry