Storing fuel safely
| Fuel | How long it stores | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Propane | Doesn't go bad | Inspect tanks for rust. Store outdoors, upright, in shade. |
| Gasoline | A few months; longer with stabilizer | Add stabilizer when you fill. Rotate into your car. |
| Kerosene | Years if sealed and clean | For kerosene heaters and lamps. Use a CO detector. |
| Butane canisters | Years | Easy for tabletop stoves. Keep out of heat. |
| Firewood | Years if kept dry | Season at least 6 months. Cover the top, not the sides. |
Sizing a solar generator
- List what you need to run: phones, lights, a radio, a fridge, a CPAP, a fan.
- Find each one's watts (on the label) and how many hours a day you'll run it.
- Multiply watts × hours for each, then add them up. That's your watt-hours per day.
- Pick a battery bigger than that number, and solar panels that can refill it on a cloudy-ish day.
Generator safety
Long-haul gear
55-gallon water barrel
Bulk water storage, food-grade.
My pick: Augason Farms 55-Gallon BPA-Free Water Storage Barrel
Barrel siphon pump
Gets water out of drums.
My pick: TERA PUMP Emergency 55-Gallon Drum Water Siphon Pump
Food-grade 5-gallon buckets with Gamma lids
Easy-open, airtight lids for daily-use staples.
My pick: 5-Gallon Food-Grade White Bucket with Gamma Seal Lid
Oxygen absorbers 300cc
Pair with Mylar bags.
My pick: Wallaby 300cc Oxygen Absorbers, 100 Count
Hand-crank grain mill
Turns whole wheat and corn into flour without power.
My pick: Victoria Manual Cast Iron Grain Mill
Hard red wheat berries
Stores for decades once repacked in Mylar or buckets. Grind for bread.
My pick: Augason Farms Hard Red Wheat, 50 lb Bag
Heirloom seed vault
Seeds you can save and replant.
My pick: Survival Garden Seeds Homesteader 50-Pack Seed Vault
Big Berkey (Katie's own)
I have a Big Berkey and plan to use it for lake water if all else fails. Pre-filter muddy water through a cloth first.
My pick: Big Berkey 2.25 gal (the one I use)
Portable solar generator
Battery power station with solar panel.
My pick: Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 with 200W Solar Panel
Fuel stabilizer
Keeps stored gasoline usable longer.
My pick: STA-BIL Storage Fuel Stabilizer, 32 oz
Propane adapter hose
Run a camp stove from a 20-lb tank.
My pick: GASPRO 5 ft Propane Hose Adapter, 1 lb to 20 lb
Multivitamins (bulk)
Fills gaps in a long-term pantry.
My pick: Centrum Adult Multivitamin, 200 Count
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