The thing about fuel is that it goes bad quietly. You do not get a warning light or a friendly reminder. You just pull the cord on a generator during an ice storm and get nothing but coughing and confusion. I learned this the expensive way after the power went out in February of 2019 and the gas I had stored since the previous summer had turned into something closer to varnish than fuel. The generator ran for maybe eight minutes before it choked and died, and I stood there in the dark garage feeling like an idiot.

That night I started what I now call the Fuel Rotation Calendar. It is a plain lined index card tucked into a plastic sleeve and magneted to the side of our chest freezer in the garage. Every fuel container in our possession is listed on that card with a purchase date and a rotation date. Gasoline gets rotated every four months. Diesel gets six months. Propane does not spoil, but the cylinders still get inspected twice a year for rust or damage.

The calendar is not complicated, but it is specific. March 1, June 1, September 1, December 1. Those are my fuel rotation days. On those days I pour old gas into the truck and refill the cans with fresh fuel and treated stabilizer. I do not wait until I feel like it. I do it on the date, every time, because systems only work if you follow them.

I keep six five gallon gas cans on a wooden pallet in the corner of the shed. They are the metal kind, not plastic, because metal does not degrade in sunlight and does not crack when it gets cold. Each can has a strip of white duct tape on the front with the fill date written in permanent marker. The oldest can is always in front. When rotation day comes, I use that one first. It is the same principle as stacking canned goods in the pantry. First in, first out.

Every can gets treated with PRI-G fuel stabilizer the moment I fill it. I use one ounce per five gallons, which comes out to about two capfuls from the bottle. Some people skip this step and regret it later. Stabilizer is cheap. A ruined generator is not. I shake the can after adding stabilizer, then I write the treatment date on the duct tape label right under the fill date. That way there is no guessing six months later.

The gas cans live on that pallet because concrete can wick moisture and cause the bottom of metal cans to rust. The pallet keeps air moving under them. I learned this from a man named Eugene who used to run a small engine repair shop in Battlefield. He told me he had seen more fuel system failures from bad storage than from bad fuel, and he was not talking about people who stored gas for years. He was talking about people who stored it for months in the wrong conditions. I built the pallet that same weekend.

I also keep a red plastic jug specifically for two stroke mix. It holds one gallon and it is labeled in big letters with a paint marker. Two Stroke Only. That label matters because pouring straight gas into a chainsaw will seize the engine in about thirty seconds. I have never made that mistake myself, but I have watched it happen, and it is an expensive thirty seconds. The two stroke jug gets the same rotation schedule as the regular gas, four months maximum.

Propane is easier to manage than gasoline, but it still needs a system. I have twelve one pound cylinders, the kind you screw onto a camp stove or a Mr Heater Buddy. They live in a plastic milk crate on the same shelf as the gas cans. Twice a year, in April and October, I pull them all out and check the threads and the valve stems. If a cylinder has any green corrosion or if the valve feels sticky, it gets marked with a red X and taken to the hazardous waste drop off in Springfield. I do not mess around with damaged propane.

The big propane tank for our backup generator sits on a concrete pad behind the shed. It is a hundred gallon tank, which is more than we would ever use in a single outage, but I like the margin. That tank gets visually inspected every six months. I check the regulator, the hoses, and the fittings. I also check the gauge. If the tank drops below forty percent, I call for a refill. I do not let it run low because propane delivery can be slow during winter storms when everyone else is thinking the same thing.

I made a mistake a few years ago with diesel storage. I filled two five gallon cans with diesel and left them in the shed for almost a year. When I finally went to use that fuel in Darlene's cousin's tractor, it had algae growing in it. Actual algae. I did not even know that was possible until I opened the cap and saw green sludge floating on top. Diesel needs a biocide additive if you are storing it long term, and it needs to be kept in opaque containers because sunlight accelerates breakdown. I use Biobor JF now, and the diesel cans are the same metal type as the gas cans. Problem solved.

One thing I did right from the beginning was keeping a Fuel Log. It is a small spiral notebook that lives on the shelf above the fuel cans. Every time I rotate fuel, I write the date and which cans were rotated. Every time I add stabilizer or biocide, I log it. Every time I refill the big propane tank, it gets noted. This log is not for my memory. It is for Darlene. If something happens to me, she needs to know what has been done and when. The log is also useful for spotting patterns. If one can keeps developing rust faster than the others, I know to retire it. If propane usage spikes during a particular season, I can plan for that.

I also keep a printed Fuel Safety Sheet taped to the inside of the shed door. It lists flash points, proper container types, maximum storage amounts, and what to do if there is a spill or a fire. That sheet came from the Missouri Extension Office, and I laminated it so it would not fall apart from humidity. Safety information is only useful if you can find it when you need it.

The generator itself gets a maintenance schedule separate from the fuel. I run it under load for fifteen minutes on the first Sunday of every month. Not just a quick start. A real load test with the transfer switch flipped and actual circuits pulling power. I want to know that generator works before I need it to work. During that test I check the oil level, inspect the spark plug, and make sure the air filter is clean. The maintenance log for the generator is clipped to the fuel log with a binder clip. Everything related to backup power stays in one place.

One tool that has earned its keep is a clear plastic siphon pump. It cost maybe eight dollars at the farm supply store, and it has saved me from dumping bad fuel a dozen times. If I am not sure about the quality of gas in a can, I can siphon a small amount into a glass jar and inspect it. Fresh gas is clear or slightly amber. Bad gas looks cloudy or has visible particles. If it fails that test, it gets poured into the truck and burned off rather than risking it in the generator. The siphon also makes rotation day easier because I can move fuel without lifting heavy cans.

I keep a fire extinguisher mounted on the wall next to the shed door. It is a ten pound ABC extinguisher, and it gets checked every six months when I inspect the propane. I flip it upside down and tap the bottom to keep the powder from clumping, then I check the pressure gauge. The needle should be in the green. If it drops into the red, the extinguisher gets recharged or replaced. A fire extinguisher in the shed is not optional. It is the cheapest insurance you can buy.

People ask me sometimes if storing fuel is dangerous, and the answer is that it can be if you are careless. But so can driving a car or using a kitchen stove. The danger is not in the fuel. It is in the lack of respect for what it can do. Keep containers sealed. Keep them away from heat sources. Keep them in a ventilated space. Label everything. Follow the rotation schedule. Those rules are not complicated, but they are not negotiable either.

The Fuel Rotation Calendar has been running for almost six years now, and I have not had a single problem with bad fuel since I started it. The generator starts on the first pull every time I test it. The propane equipment works when I need it. The chainsaw runs clean. That reliability does not come from luck. It comes from writing things down and doing them on schedule.

Last winter we lost power for two and a half days during an ice storm. The generator ran perfectly. The propane heater kept the living room warm. The chainsaw cleared the driveway. None of that felt like a victory because it was not supposed to be hard. It was supposed to be routine, and it was. That is what a good system does. It makes the hard stuff routine.

Recipe of the Week: Cold Weather Chili Mac

This is the meal I make on the first cold night of the season, and it is the same meal I fall back on when the power is out and I need to use the camp stove. It reheats well, it keeps people full, and it uses ingredients that store for months without refrigeration.

I keep the ingredients for this recipe in a gallon Ziploc bag on the Seven Day Shelf in the pantry. Everything is dated with a marker, and I rotate the bag every four months.

Ingredients for the bag

Ingredients not stored in the bag

Cooking instructions for normal conditions

Cooking instructions for camp stove use

I have made this dish during three separate power outages, and it has never failed. The smell of it cooking settles people down. It is warm, it is filling, and it does not require much attention while it cooks. Those are the qualities that matter when you are dealing with a stressful situation and you still need to eat.

One adjustment I made after the first time I cooked this on a camp stove was switching to a wider pot. A tall narrow pot does not heat evenly on a single burner, and the macaroni on the bottom can scorch while the top stays undercooked. A wide shallow pot solves that problem. I use a stainless steel stockpot that is ten inches across and maybe five inches deep. It heats evenly and it is easy to stir.

If you do not have ground beef and you do not have canned beef, this recipe still works. It just becomes a bean and macaroni dish. I have eaten it that way and it is fine. Not exciting, but fine. You can also add a can of corn or a can of green beans if you want more vegetables. I do not because Darlene is not a fan of corn in chili, but that is a personal preference.

The taco seasoning packet can be replaced with homemade seasoning if you prefer. I keep a small Mason jar of homemade taco seasoning in the pantry just in case. It is two tablespoons chili powder, one tablespoon cumin, one tablespoon paprika, two teaspoons onion powder, two teaspoons garlic powder, one teaspoon oregano, one teaspoon salt, and half a teaspoon of cayenne. Mix it all together and store it in a jar. Two tablespoons of that mix equals one store bought packet.

This meal costs maybe six dollars to make if you are buying everything new, and it feeds four adults with leftovers. During an outage, leftovers are valuable because they mean one less meal to figure out. I have reheated this chili mac on a camp stove the next morning and eaten it for breakfast. It is not traditional, but it works.

Wendy's Corner

Hi everyone, Wendy here. It has been a smoky season out here in central Oregon, and that has changed how we think about preparedness in ways I did not expect.

Last August the air quality got so bad that the kids could not play outside for almost two weeks. School sent them home with instructions to keep windows closed and avoid outdoor activity. Steve was working ten hour shifts at the mill, and I was managing two kids who were bouncing off the walls because they were stuck inside.

That experience taught me that preparedness is not just about having supplies. It is also about having a plan for boredom and stress when routines get disrupted.

We put together what I call the Stuck Inside Box. It is a clear plastic tote that lives in the coat closet, and it only comes out when we are stuck inside for reasons beyond our control. Wildfire smoke. Ice storms. Illness. Whatever keeps us home and disrupts normal life.

Inside the box are things the kids have not seen in months. I rotate items in and out so there is always something new. Right now the box has a thousand piece puzzle of a mountain scene, a set of Lego instructions we printed from the website, a pack of modeling clay in six colors, two Mad Libs books, a deck of Uno cards, and a bag of craft supplies that includes pipe cleaners, pom poms, and googly eyes.

The goal is not to entertain them all day. The goal is to give them something to look forward to when they are feeling cooped up. When I pulled that box out during the smoke, Luke spent an entire afternoon building a Lego spaceship, and Charlotte made a zoo out of pipe cleaners and pom poms. It bought me enough peace to make dinner and return some work emails.

I also keep a separate Air Quality Plan taped inside the coat closet door. It lists the steps we take when the AQI goes above 150. Close all windows. Turn on the box fan with the furnace filter taped to it. Check the school website for closure announcements. Limit outdoor time to essential trips only. Having it written down means I do not have to make decisions from scratch every time the smoke rolls in.

Steve built the box fan filter setup last year, and it has made a noticeable difference. He used a twenty inch box fan and a twenty inch MERV 13 furnace filter. He taped the filter to the back of the fan with duct tape so the fan pulls air through the filter. It is not as good as a real air purifier, but it is a lot cheaper, and it works well enough. We run it in the living room during bad air days, and it keeps the worst of the smoke smell out.

One thing I did not anticipate was how much the smoke affects Jasper. He gets anxious when he cannot go outside for his usual walks, and he paces around the house whining. I started keeping a bag of extra dog treats and a couple of chew toys set aside for smoke days. It helps. He is not happy about being inside, but the treats distract him long enough to settle down.

We also started doing indoor scavenger hunts when the kids were climbing the walls. I write out a list of ten things they have to find around the house. A red sock. Something that starts with the letter B. A book with an animal on the cover. It keeps them busy for twenty minutes, and it burns off some energy. It is not a perfect solution, but it is better than listening to them argue with each other.

I learned during the last smoke event that routines matter even more when everything else is disrupted. We kept the same bedtime. We kept the same meal schedule. We kept the same expectations for homework and chores. The smoke changed what we could do, but it did not change the structure of our day. That structure kept the kids from feeling like everything was falling apart.

One small thing that helped more than I expected was keeping a jar of change on the kitchen counter during the smoke days. Every time Luke or Charlotte did something helpful without being asked, they got to put a quarter in the jar. When the jar was full, we used the money for a family treat once the air cleared. It gave them something to work toward and it kept them focused on being helpful instead of complaining.

Steve and I also made a point of talking to the kids about why we were stuck inside. We showed them the air quality map on the computer. We explained what particulates are and why breathing smoke is bad for lungs. We did not sugarcoat it, but we also did not make it scary. They understood that staying inside was the smart choice, not a punishment. That understanding made the whole situation easier for everyone.

The Stuck Inside Box has been used three times since I put it together, and it has earned its place in our preparedness setup. It is not dramatic. It is not going to save our lives. But it makes hard days a little easier, and that counts for something.

Survival Skill of the Week: The Flashlight Audit

This week I want you to find every flashlight in your house and test it. Not just the ones you use regularly. All of them. The one in the junk drawer. The one in the glove box. The one that has been sitting in the basement toolbox since you moved in. Find them all.

Start by walking through your house and collecting flashlights. Put them all on the kitchen table. I did this last month and found eleven flashlights, which surprised me because I thought we had maybe six. Half of them did not work.

Once you have them all in one place, test each one. Turn it on. Is the beam bright or dim? Does it flicker? Does it turn on at all? If the batteries are dead, replace them and test again. If it still does not work, the flashlight goes in the trash or the donate pile. Do not keep broken tools.

While you are testing, check the condition of each flashlight. Is the lens cracked? Are the battery contacts corroded? Is the switch sticky? Corrosion can be cleaned with a pencil eraser or a bit of vinegar on a cloth, but if the damage is severe, the flashlight is not reliable. Get rid of it.

Now sort the working flashlights by location. One goes in the kitchen. One goes in each bedroom. One goes in the car. One goes in the garage or shed. One stays in your emergency kit. The point is to have a flashlight where you need it, not to have all your flashlights in one drawer.

After you have placed the flashlights, label them. I use a silver paint marker and write the location right on the barrel of the flashlight. Kitchen. Bedroom. Garage. This seems like overkill until someone borrows a flashlight and forgets to put it back. Labeled flashlights have a way of finding their way home.

The next step is to create a Flashlight Check Card. This is an index card that lists every flashlight in your house and where it lives. Tape that card to the inside of a kitchen cabinet or the pantry door. Once a month, pull out the card and check each flashlight. Does it still work? Are the batteries fresh? This takes maybe ten minutes, and it prevents the problem of reaching for a flashlight during an emergency and finding dead batteries.

One upgrade I made after doing this audit was switching some of our flashlights to lithium batteries. Lithium batteries last longer in storage than alkaline batteries, and they perform better in cold weather. They cost more, but they do not leak and ruin the flashlight. I use lithium batteries in the flashlights that sit unused for long periods, like the one in the car and the one in the emergency kit.

I also added a headlamp to our setup. A headlamp is not a flashlight, but it fills the same role, and it has the advantage of keeping your hands free. I keep one in the kitchen and one in the garage. They are useful for working on things in the dark, and they are easier to use than holding a flashlight in your teeth.

One thing I noticed during the audit was that we had a lot of small keychain flashlights that were not bright enough to be useful. They were fine for finding a keyhole in the dark, but they would not light up a room or help you navigate a dark hallway. I got rid of most of them and kept only the full size flashlights that put out real light. If a flashlight cannot throw a beam at least twenty feet, it does not earn its spot in the house.

Another discovery was that we had three flashlights that took oddball batteries. One took AAA, one took C, and one took a weird button cell battery I had never seen before. I replaced those with flashlights that take AA batteries, which is what everything else in the house uses. Standardizing battery types simplifies everything. I only have to stock one type of battery, and I do not have to guess which batteries go in which device.

After the audit, I made a shopping list of what we needed. Two more flashlights to fill gaps in coverage. A pack of lithium AA batteries. A headlamp for Darlene. One week later, those items were purchased and put in place. The audit identified the problems, and the shopping list fixed them.

The final step is to add the flashlight check to your monthly routine. I do mine on the first Saturday of the month, the same day I test the weather radio. It is written on the kitchen calendar, and it takes less than fifteen minutes. This is not a complicated survival skill. It is a basic maintenance task that prevents a bad surprise later.

If the power goes out tonight, you should be able to find a working flashlight in under thirty seconds without thinking about it. That is the goal. Not a drawer full of dead flashlights. Not a collection of broken tools. Just reliable light where you need it, when you need it.