Apartment Prepping In A City

No longer living beyond the sidewalks!

What the heck is this blog about? Darned, if I know! It has been a transition period for me, moving in May of 2018 to an apartment in......cough, cough......a city! Downtown, at that! Well, sometimes you have to make those choices. I saw many people over the years who were living in off-the-grid homes that were full sized houses operating completely off solar or wind. Some used hydro. Many, as they got older, due to health reasons or marriages ending or spouses dying, had to move into senior communities or nursing homes. For me, it wasn't exactly that situation. That is water under the bridge now. I am trying to figure out how to do things at my age (in my sixties). The biggest concern I have had is that after so many years of learning how to be a "modern homesteader" where do I go from there? Now? Alone.

My first garden was a success

People who have never lived off-the-grid glorify it. Well believe me, it does take money, unless you are living totally off-the-grid with no alternative energy system. As I got older, I found it harder, as I found myself doing many hard jobs that I could not do any longer. Instead of pouring our money into owning horses, which as much as I loved them and still do, they were a drain on the homestead finances. Putting money into vehicles and setting up an alternative energy system was also another hole in the homestead progress. My belief in setting up that homestead would start first with putting in your garden. When I researched the history of my local area, I found that was always the first thing the settlers did. They slept in the coldest winters in three sided lean-to's with their families because they had spent the spring, summer and fall procuring food first.

kat's Studio

Back to my life now, as a retired modern homesteader living in a small studio apartment in a city. No garden. No forest to forage for wild plants and food. No wood stoves. Living alone with my house rabbit. Sounds like I must be miserable, huh? Absolutely not! I am much more happier than ever before! The most important thing I have here is my freedom and independence. My son lives a block away and we see each other almost daily. I am in a relationship with a wonderful, caring man. So life is good!

Apartment prepping in my building

Back to the new term I have been researching lately, Apartment preppers. Yes, that is a real term that is used for people who live in apartments and are preparing for emergencies. I have thought and thought about that and just today, I started searching online. There is a lot out there about it. After all, look at how many people actually live in apartments. Many! Huge amounts! In the US alone about 26,484,199 according to the National Multi-Family Housing Council.

Outside my building

Heating is a big need in the winter in a cold climate. If the electric goes down here, my whole building is without it. One thing that is in my favor, especially in my apartment, is that I am on the second floor with apartments above and below, and on each side of me. I have windows on only one side of the apartment and they face a courtyard with another building opposite. I am protected from cold winds coming toward my windows. I have warm clothing and many hand crocheted afghans that my mother made for me. They are very warm!  I do not know if my building has a back-up generator or not but will be finding out.

My electric kitchen

Cooking is done with electric here. This apartment complex is all electric. No wood stove here. Nor can any apartment in my city use kerosene heaters for safety reasons. Any cooking appliance has to be smoke free or it would set off the smoke alarms. Every apartment is equipped with smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, as well as a sprinkler system that is built into our ceilings, including the closets. There are some options I am researching at the moment on this and will be writing a new post about it as soon as I figure it out. I will post the link here.

Water in bottles

Water is not the best in a city. I wrote about my water supply on this post recently, Using A Bottled Water Dispenser. I could store more downstairs in my storage area if I need to. Not sure I need that much water. They say to store a gallon a day for every person. That may include water for personal hygiene and cooking also. I do not use the water that I bring in for cleaning or hygiene. Just for drinking and cooking. But in a pinch I could use it if I had no other choice. I am not wasteful with my water at all. I only pay for hot water from my tap so it just makes sense to be frugal with it. I got used to being mindful of water use by living in my house that had no running water.

That toilet topic........

Toilet flushing is a big deal in a power outage. I remember a time some years ago when my landlord had to borrow my Porta-Pottie during a power outage. He had little kids and a wife that needed that convenience. He was getting sick every time he had to clean it out. I know about living with an outhouse or a sawdust toilet, which is an easy thing to use and maintain. Living in an apartment complex in a city makes those not an option. I think keeping a supply of the smaller garbage bags, the size that fits into your toilet and under the seat would be the best option. You could toss some pine shavings, hay, straw or even potting soil on top during the day. Between uses close the toilet lid. At the end of the day remove the bag and fasten it. I have a dumpster outside for my garbage and I would need to take it down there.

Emergency Essentials' Candles

Lighting at night in an emergency can be flashlights or candles. I have some odorless ones that be burned inside with no smoke or toxic fumes. I also have a solar flashlight that is very bright and works good, as well as a battery operated one. I do also have a USB light that I can charge with a phone charger on my computer. It clips onto a table or a window ledge. I have been using it for lighting on my rolling walker. There are a big variety of those types of lights available online. One is the LED light bulbs that fit in any lamp and if the power goes out they light up automatically. Their battery is kept charged when you are using your lamp and when the power goes out and the lamp is turned on, they go on automatically. Very energy efficient when used as a regular light.

Available from Emergency Essentials

Food is the thing that most people worry the most about. I don't really worry that much about it. Just make sure you have items that are easy to prepare or eat cold. Instant coffee is good as long as you have a way to heat the water. Canned tuna, chicken, ham, turkey, beef, pork and evaporated milk are some of the foods I keep in my cupboard. I also buy from Emergency Essentials the larger cans of freeze dried and dehydrated various foods. I will be writing more about this as I do it and share my information. Just get started a little bit at a time.

Copyright © 2019 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2019  Kathleen G. Lupole