Living on a homestead means you’re inherently flirting with the elements. Thunderstorms, blizzards, heatwaves—you name it, I’ve probably had to dodge it while balancing a bucket of water and a cranky chicken. But nothing quite elevates farm life from “rustic charm” to “post-apocalyptic survival” like a sudden power outage. One minute you’re binge-watching barn renovation tutorials, the next minute you’re Googling “how long can you survive on coffee fumes alone?” Spoiler: not long.
After more than a few blackout-induced panic sessions—some involving headlamps, spilled kerosene, and a very intense game of “find the backup generator switch”—I’ve got a system. It’s not perfect. My kitchen floors will forever have that one scorch mark from the emergency stove. But it works. Here’s my go-to guide for weathering the inevitable dark times on the homestead, all in real-time, goat-approved, Nichole’s-P.O.V. style.
1. Embrace the “Light” Side of Things
Stock Up on Lighting Options
Candles are cute until you realize you’re using them to herd goats at midnight. Do yourself a favor: invest in a few sturdy LED lanterns and rechargeable headlamps. I keep one lantern in the kitchen, one in the mudroom, and one by the barn door. My headlamp lives clipped to my belt—because nothing says “I’m a modern homesteader” like looking like a cave explorer who forgot to emerge for 10,000 years.
Don’t Forget the Batteries
Rechargeable devices are great, but sometimes you need good old AAAs and D cells. I have a “battery bin” in the pantry that’s half-AAA, half-lazy-lightsaber-heard-you-couldn’t-find-batteries. Whenever I buy batteries, I immediately drop a handful in that bin. It’s my version of edible stash—except you can’t eat them. And you’ll thank me when the lights go out at 2 a.m.
2. Keep the Fridge and Freezer Ticking—Sort Of
The Ice Chest Hack
When the power flickers, I fill a cooler with ice packs from the freezer—ideally before the forecast looks ominous. Everything that absolutely must stay cold goes in there. The rest? Well, if your leftover casserole warms up, it’s technically a new culinary style.
Thermometer Vigilance
I keep a fridge/freezer thermometer on the top shelf. If it hits 40 °F in the fridge or 0 °F in the freezer for more than two hours, it’s time to decide whether to eat the ice cream now or pour it over your head in solidarity. (Hint: eat it.)
3. Water, Water Everywhere (…Except for Your Tap)
Fill All the Buckets and Jugs
When I hear a storm rumbling, I top off every container I own: pitchers, 5-gallon buckets, my oddly large colander (don’t ask), and the kitty litter scoop. You’ll need water for drinking, washing dishes, flushing toilets, and maybe even rinsing goat feed pans. I keep a tarp on standby to collect rainwater off the barn roof—for non-potable uses—but I don’t rely on it for my morning coffee ritual.
Know Your Well Pump Plan
If you’re on a well like me, the pump’s dead without electricity. I have a small gas-powered generator dedicated just to the pump. It lives next to my garden shed and runs on unleaded plus guilt when I forget to top off the tank all winter. (Pro tip: store stabilized fuel and run the generator monthly, or you’ll end up with a sad, carb-clogged engine.)
4. Cooking Without Power (No, You Don’t Have to Survive on Cereal)
Propane and Wood Stoves Are Your Friends
Our kitchen has a dual-fuel setup: electric range for everyday, plus a small propane burner and our trusty wood stove. When the lights go out, I’m not fumbling for cans of beans. I’m firing up wood coals and sautéing onions like a boss. If you don’t have a backup stove, consider a camp stove—just make sure you use it outdoors or in a well-ventilated area, because carbon monoxide is the absolute opposite of homestead charm.
One-Pot Wonders
Keep a list (and ingredients) on hand for one-pot meals: soups, stews, and chili are my go-to. They’re forgiving, save dishes, and warm both kitchen and soul—crucial when the wind is rattling the windows and you’re wearing three layers of flannel.
5. Communication & Entertainment (When Netflix Is Betrayal)
Charge Your Electronics Early
I have a ritual: tomorrow’s chores get scheduled, but tonight’s real priority is charging my phone, tablet, and that one e-reader loaded with homestead manuals and 90s rom-com ebooks. After all, you need something to do once the generator’s run out of gas and you’ve already told the chickens your life story.
Keep Some Analog Fun
Board games, cards, puzzle books, even a notepad for writing down goat-inspired haikus—have a stash. When the world goes dark, there’s something beautifully grounding about a paper deck of cards and someone next to you saying, “Stop cheating, I saw that move.”
6. Emergency Power: The Generator Strategy
Size Matters
I learned the hard way that a tiny generator will not run your entire homestead. Mine runs the fridge, a few lights, and the well pump—full stop. If I tried running the oil furnace or microwave, the thing would sputter like a toddler on a tricycle. Choose a generator based on your essential loads, not your aspirational ones.
Fuel Storage
Keep at least 10 gallons of stabilized gasoline in approved containers. Store them in a well-ventilated, cool area away from sparks and small children who like to play firefighter. Rotate every six months. If you let the fuel go bad, the generator will mock you with trunk rattle and smoke.
7. Animal Care When the Grid Is Down
Backup Lighting in the Barn
Nothing is more disorienting than stumbling around in the chicken coop with a single flickering flashlight. I keep a rechargeable solar barn light on the ceiling and a small clip-on lamp by the nesting boxes. That way, I can make sure everyone’s fed, watered, and still alive before heading back to my cold, dark house.
Feed and Water Redundancies
Automated waterers? Fantastic—until they shut off. Have a few buckets of fresh water in the barn and a manual feed scoop ready. Sometimes I even hose down the heat-lamp bulb (when I still remember which socket it’s plugged into) to keep chicks cosy until power returns.
Final Thoughts: Weathering the Storm with Style
A power outage on the homestead isn’t a crisis—it’s an opportunity to channel your inner pioneer, flex your problem-solving muscles, and maybe even bond with your family by candlelight. It’s also a reminder that our modern comforts are built on sketchy infrastructure and, yes, that generator you keep forgetting to maintain.
So, the next time the weather forecast looks ominous or the stars wink suspiciously, take a deep breath and follow this playbook. Stock those batteries, stash the dry goods, top off the water buckets, and remember: the goats don’t care about your Wi-Fi status, but they will care if you’ve prepped right.
And if all else fails? You can always light a lantern, make a cup of herbal tea, and watch the chaos unfold, knowing you’re the kind of homesteader who doesn’t just survive the dark—you thrives in it.
