Preparing for hard times, times of sickness, and times of madness can be an incredible buffer. While there are many fearful Youtube, podcasts, blogs and TV shows that focus on the extreme side of prepping, our ancestors lived a similar lifestyle, and they were not doing so with the end of days in mind.
The idea behind prepping is to not be caught with your pants down.
In the past people would do grocery shopping and stock their pantries for a month, but now they shop day to day, mostly because the supermarket shelf is so convenient but also because it lets people be a little bit more spontaneous with their meal preparations.
The downside to this approach to grocery shopping is that you end up with a very limited supply. If you were to get sick or if something else were to prevent you from going to the store, you’d find yourself in a very tricky spot.
South Africans are in a unique and undesirable position when it comes to prepping.
We are faced with record high unemployment, debilitating inflation, hidden but necessary costs like medical aid expenses, and of course, the rolling blackouts. All of this means we have to become masters at not just prepping a pantry but we also need to figure out how to live comfortably in a society that is degenerating and essentially collapsing around us.
Through all of these tough times and challenges that we face, I believe that South Africans are some of the hardest, most resilient and most innovative people on earth. Our ancestors (no matter what background yours come from) lived through discomfort and worse, and they clearly survived, because here you are.
I feel the need to prep, and I have felt the call since about mid-2020.
And I have spent a lot of time learning old and new wisdom, and while I am not an expert and this guide won’t cover everything you need to know, it is a good start for those who are looking for practical prepping that they can do on a budget.
I’m going to be covering the following:
- Power Blackouts
- Food
- Water and Sanitation
Before we get into my story and advice, please set aside an hour to watch this Livingseeds Youtube video on the subject. There is incredible, far more in depth and authoritative advice in Sean’s talk. (I am not affiliated with Livingseeds, I just feel this is a video everyone should see)
Surviving And Thriving Without Eskom
I hate the term Loadshedding.
To me this word makes light of what is really happening, because what we are in fact dealing with is a number of small blackouts to prevent a bigger, more prolonged blackout.
Whenever I talk about the blackouts with people, I generally get a shoulder shrug along with “But the government will fix it. They said they have a plan.”
The other train of thought I encounter far too often is that people think these blackouts, at most, only affect their comfort.
People don’t seem to consider the really worrying ramifications that these blackouts have on our economy, our farms, our food cold chain, or that should we end up with a grid collapse, how life as we know it will come to a grinding halt. No banking, no money withdrawals or payments, no petrol pumps, no food transportation, no water pumped into homes, and the list goes on.
At Stage 6 loadshedding, we face water shortages and waterborne illnesses, because the water supply can’t be pumped fast enough and it also can’t be sanitised correctly.
Now imagine life should we have no power for more than 14 hours a day.
If you look at Eskom’s power generation capabilities over the past two or so years, it has broken down to about 50%.
There are no improvements which means that while winters could be tough, there is no light at the end of this tunnel come summer. In fact, it could well become worse in summer, as power stations overheat and breakdown. If you look at our loadshedding record, the power capacity availability often gets worse in summer.
Now, I am not a doomsday person. I hate pessimism and I really hate being told there is no hope. There is always hope, and being prepared can be what gives you that hope.
While some are investing in huge solar systems for their homes, I personally fear being robbed of such a system, and besides, shining like a beacon in the dark is only going to attract the sort of attention I don’t want. I also feel it is unfair to suggest such expensive investments when most of our fellow South Africans either rent or simply can’t accommodate the extra expense.
Now, should you sit in the dark? No, that’s not what I am saying. I absolutely believe in solar power for homes and small businesses, if only because it makes you less reliant on Eskom and the government, but in this strange little limbo we currently inhabit, it is just not an option for many. And so we need viable solutions for those who are not willing or able to install a full solar setup.
In December 2022, during the last week of the year, the week that we were supposed to be enjoying some downtime after a very stressful year, we suffered through 110 hours (just over 5 days) without electricity.
Our ordeal started on December 26th when we woke up to the most magnificent Lowveld summer thunderstorm. Water rained down on cables which had been left exposed the night before during a cable theft incident and the main substation which powers a huge section of our suburbs quite literally blew up.
To restore the electricity, the power had to be rerouted and, in doing so, countless faults were found in the ring, which should make you think about just how damaged or just generally badly maintained our electrical infrastructure really is.
After power was restored to the biggest section, the local council lost interest in the plight of the rest of the neighbourhoods, and each day we were promised power just after the scheduled loadshedding, only to be left bitterly disappointed and told to wait even longer.
On the second last day, the local politicians pulled a selfie stunt and enraged the already angry community further.
But it didn’t matter, no amount of anger helped. We were ignored and told to suck it up. And more insultingly, we were told to be grateful.
We were in the dark and while we were immensely frustrated, it gave us a unique opportunity to see how we’d react to a prolonged power outage.
Even the greatest optimist can see that Eskom is crashing and little is being done to prevent it.
Before the final curtain falls, here’s some realistic things you can do to survive a power outage on a budget.
- Backups
If you have a little setup to generate or store power, consider how long it will last and what could go wrong. If you are still skating by on candles and prayer, start looking for a reliable energy source now not later.
Batteries and an inverter, depending on the size, are great for short term blackouts but without a solar backup, they won’t help long term. And since most solar systems are not off-grid, chances are good that even with your full system, you might not be able to power everything you need, all the time.
Gas is another alternative and it is excellent when used to power a stove top and a geyser. You’d be amazed at how much you take a hot shower and boiled water for granted. Think about shopping around for a small stove top or even a two plate portable stove. You can also find amazing one plate appliances that run on LPG gas. And long term, if you convert some of your appliances, especially a geyser to gas, it will cut your electric bill.
People tend to think they have to fork out huge amounts of money in one go to invest in an alternative energy source, but let me remind you that you can do things little bit by little bit, we are proof of that.
- Preserving
Ice is great, we used it in cooler boxes and in the fridge and deep freeze to save our meat, but it is not fail-safe.
You need to think about what you would do if you couldn’t get ice.
You should also learn how to (safely) can your veggies and even your meat. This will prevent spoiling and it will also give you peace of mind, because you will always have food in the cupboard.
Salted and cured meats like biltong are also a fantastic option. You can eat for a couple of days on a braai’d, smoked roast. Breads and hard cheeses are equally great foods that will fill you up.
While on the topic of a braai, keep in mind that if we are faced with a long term blackout, the delicious smell of braaied meat will travel and attract people. Sounds very zombie movie, but we have to think about these things.
- Communication
Our local municipality is pretty useless at providing consistent information and by the morning of day 5, the whole situation turned political and instead of worrying about the people still without electricity, the focus was on creating a PR stunt.
This lesson in this is that you should not rely on only one source of information and don’t look to the local government to give you answers or to sort out your situation.
You should think about connecting with the local community social media groups and Telegram groups to stay informed. Also, don’t try to be an island. Reach out if you need help. Now might be a good time to get to know your neighbours.
- Light
I don’t care what anyone says, sitting in candle light, night after night, is not just downright demoralising and insulting, it is dangerous.
I believe solar lights are the best solution to any lighting problems. These lights cost between R250 and R1000 per light, and they are more than capable of fully lighting up rooms for up to 8 hours or more. In fact, when we are up at 5am, the lights are still on, from 6pm the night before.
This is not only wonderful for blackouts, since you won’t have to stumble around for candles or paraffin lamps, but also because since they are on all night they are a great crime deterrent.
Invest in one a month or one every second month, if you are working on a budget. Opt for the kind advertised as a ceiling light or flood light and look for one that has a panel that can be extended to your roof.
These are not just amazing for blackouts but they can reduce your electric bill too.
Most are remote operated and some even come on automatically. We don’t use any of our home’s lights anymore, we only use solar lights.
If we should experience a grid down situation or should the blackouts get longer, you should think about minimising your use of lights at night, because you will be showing the world that you have an energy source, and that could attract the wrong people.
But for the current blackouts we have, some solar lights can make your night’s a little more comfortable.
- Entertainment
The mind is one of the many things you will have to conquer when faced with a long term blackout.
We’ve become so horribly reliant on technology that we even turn to our phones and computers to relax and to distract ourselves.
When the lights go out and there is no word on when they will come back on you will need to conserve battery power for emergencies and to stay in contact with the people in the know, so that you know what is going on.
This means you’ll need to find other ways to keep busy.
Reading books can only get you so far until your eyes are sore and your mind is tired. The same can be said about puzzles and anything else you are doing for long periods of time.
(I am writing this on the assumption that in the event of a full blackout, you are not likely to be at work.)
Having a mixture of entertainment will make things easier, and it also brings me to my next point in this prepping guide.
Growing and Preserving Your Own Food
The wonderful idea to grow all of your own food is fun to daydream about, but it can be hard to achieve.
In reality, most of us simply don’t have an unlimited amount of garden space (and free time) in which to put in and take care of a couple of crops, especially if you are hoping to grow absolutely everything yourself.
I am not writing this to discourage you, because there are some things you can do.
South Africans are the most innovative, make-things-happen kinds of people. All you need is some know-how to put you on the right path, and a plan.
Growing your own food doesn’t have to cost you a fortune either and you don’t need Instagram worthy garden beds to get you going.
When I started growing some veg, my goal was initially to grow it all and never visit a shop again to buy veggies but my idea was quickly brought back to reality when I realised just how much I’d have to grow in order to have a consistent supply of food for my family.
Instead of chucking in the towel on my food forest dreams, I altered my direction and now I aim to grow as much as I can for us to eat fresh, and I buy some veg to preserve.
On the one hand we get to munch on the sweetest, most flavourful fresh food and on the other, I am learning how to preserve for later on, all without putting additional pressure on myself when my garden falls short of my expectations.
Another way you can approach growing your own food is to meet like minded people and make a pact to share.
You can each grow something in abundance and then trade or swap for whatever the other has grown. For instance, I can grow 6 varieties of tomatoes and my cousin can grow all sorts of squashes, and when we have a harvest we can each get a bit of something.
You’d be amazed, when you ask around, by just how many people are growing food.
You can also shop locally by hitting the fresh produce markets or by finding farmers who are willing to sell directly to the public. With this approach you can go beyond veg and also buy fresh meat, dairy and even baked goods. Not only do you get to buy healthy and nutritious food, but you will also play a role in supporting local farmers.
Growing your own will only get you so far.
You won’t be able to grow enough oats or wheat, for instance, to keep you going, and so you need a plan to keep your pantry reasonably stocked.
When you find that you are able to spend a little more, add something extra to your trolley and put it away. By doing this, you can slowly build a food backup that will come in handy during these hard times as well as during those times when you can’t get to the shop but need food (which could be anytime you are sick or even if you just don’t feel like shopping).
When you are storing some food, always do so in such a way that bugs and other things won’t be able to spoil the food.
Being able to have some food backups also means you can temporarily protect yourself from the never ending rise in costs. As inflation continues unabated (I mean in January I could buy a packet of cake flour for R19, and now I am looking at R45 for the same bag), having those stocks can help you save money, because you are buying when the price is lower.
When you are planning your garden or stocking your pantry, make sure that you include some sweet treats. If times get tougher, reaching for that tin of caramel or condensed milk can be a huge morale booster and a reminder that things will get better.
Storing and Filtering Water
We think being without electricity is a proper nightmare, but spend a day or two without water, and your perspective of how bad things can get will change. Just ask the frustrated residents of White River who are just about every other week without water due to a problem that has been around for so long that one would assume a decent council would have sorted out by now.
You need a water backup possibly more than you need a power backup.
Because water is the ultimate resource.
Not only does it keep us hydrated, but it is also essential for hygiene. When the power cuts, especially when we get to stage 6 of the blackouts, access to clean potable water becomes a concern, because the pumps just don’t work as they should.
The best way to store water is to invest in at least 2 or 3 big water storage tanks. I’m talking those 2200 – 5000 or, even better, 10 000 litre tanks. Attach them to your roof with a piece of guttering and collect rain water as often as you can.
Ideally, when you are setting up such a water storage system, you should start by looking at your monthly water bill to see how much you use in a month. This way you can invest in big enough tanks to keep you going.
The water might not run dry in your taps, but you should always prepare for the worst case scenario. And if nothing bad happens, you can always use your tanks to water your veggie garden.
When you have your water storage sorted out, the next thing you need is a way to filter the water.
The tanks can filter out the bigger things, like leaves and such, but if you want to drink the water, you will need a finer filter. There are plenty of affordable options, from the very basic filters to large osmosis filtration systems.
Bigger systems are going to be pricey but the investment is well worth it because aside from replacing the inner filters once in a while, it will be a once off expense.
You can also buy a gravity filter, instead of one that needs to be plugged in. This will allow you to filter water during a long blackout.
Sanitation is another big thing to think about. You don’t want to put your health at risk by not washing properly. Learning how to cloth wash or making a point of keeping some wipes on hand are good ideas, and for my female readers, please consider buying a menstrual cup. They are so affordable and they eliminate the need for tampons and pads. These cups are also really easy to keep clean.
This guide is a basic one and it doesn’t include things like the various technology you can make use of, medical care or security.
If you are keen on preparing for any eventuality, you should try to think about everything you use on a daily basis, and then make sure that you have at least a month but preferably 2 months of it in stock in your home. Many of us are too reliant on shops, often shopping daily or weekly. Now is the time to get into the habit of doing one big shop once a month.
And if you have not yet started a veggie garden, please do so. You can check out my guides for growing in the Lowveld and if you ever need a friendly garden chat, send me a message. I love talking about and learning more about gardening.
On a final note, do nothing with fear in your heart or mind. Tough times will come and go, and instead of falling into despair, instead look at preppy as an opportunity to change learn old wisdom and how to be more self-reliant. The lessons you can learn will be rewarding, not just because they will teach you that you are so much more capable than you thought you were.
