Okay, okay, it’s not the sunless winter tundra. Our apartment’s porch is in the shade year-round. The bedrooms are teeny and oft full of careening kids; since I don’t like vacuuming 4 times a day I don’t really do potted plants.
How are we trying to ensure a food supply through winter? We had a hint of fairly small supply chain disruption as covid kicked off in the beginning of this year. It is reasonable to consider what may happen if a wave hits this winter.
Turns out ANY seeds can grow in a grow-tent! It is hard to be self-sustainable in an apartment. Can’t put solar on my building or dig a well, pretty sure I’m evicted if I start keeping chickens…what is a girl to do?
We got a tent. Here is our set up.
We wanted to ensure continuity during maybe a trying time; we got a light, back-up battery, AND a solar panel for the battery.
For now, the battery can be charged on the wall. It has a universal outlet slot (so cool!) and every USB size, I’ve even used it around the house for my wired nail file or to keep the tablet going in Fort Blanket.
(Edit: Okay so Amazon no longer seems to carry my exact battery, but the link below is to what we wanted originally! Slightly more expensive than what we ended up with. If you buy a battery doublecheck your solar panel works with it!)
The solar panel is just in case charging the battery at home is not an option. We could also use it camping and homeschool lessons, no problem. If you’re looking for a foldable panel, make sure it either comes with a small battery to hold a charge, or buy one. Otherwise it only transfers power, not stores it.
Planning ahead
We are starting a few pepper varieties, some flowers, beans; whatever we can fit in there. Luckily it is warm enough to keep the bigger tomatoes on the porch where they don’t get singed. The same goes for the herbs until it gets chilly.
Winter veggies and the like will be ready to start soon; WA seems to have had a late start although if it was weather or shutdown I do not know!
This winter will be here sooner than we know it.
What was toughest for you during the beginning of the year? How could you stay one step ahead of the burn-out?
