What’s Your Go-To Skill If The Grid Goes Down?

[AquaFern1028]

If the grid goes down for real, I always fall back on food preservation. Canning, dehydrating, fermenting—years of practice have made those second nature and I truly believe long-term food security starts with what you can store without relying on freezers or electricity. Water management runs a close second. Rain catchment, filtration, even old-fashioned boiling if necessary.

Curious what skills others prioritize? Is it fire-making, first aid, or maybe communications (HAM radio, anyone)? With so much info out there, sometimes it’s overwhelming deciding which skill set to really double down on.

Do you focus on one or try to be a jack-of-all-trades? And if you HAD to depend on one skill for several weeks, which would give you the best shot at keeping comfortable and safe? I’d especially like to hear from folks who have tested their

 

[OrbitJazz21]

Canning, dehydrating, fermenting—years of practice have made those second nature and I truly believe long-term food security starts with what you can store without relying on freezers or electricity. Water management runs a close second.

Canning and fermenting definitely take some real know-how—I've messed up enough sauerkraut batches to respect anyone with that down to a science. You’re spot on about needing food preservation methods that don’t depend on power; I lean on solar dehydrators myself, especially during summer. Curious if you’ve ever tried preserving food with a rocket stove or other off-grid heat sources? Water’s my big focus too, but I’ve found storing and filtering rainwater is a whole different animal than just boiling it.

 

[ChrysanthiDream]

If I had to pick just one, it’d be seed saving and gardening skills—fresh food solves a lot of problems. Ever tried running a garden totally off collected rainwater?

 

[PrepperLinda65]

Gardening with just rainwater is tough! I’ve had mixed results—some veggies thrive, others sulk. Ever troubleshoot soil issues when water’s scarce?

 

[ChrysanthiDream]

Gardening with just rainwater is tough!

Absolutely, it’s tricky—plants get picky real fast when rain’s unpredictable. Do you do any mulching or use ollas to make the most of what you collect?

 

[MarigoldBreeze]

Mulching’s saved my tomatoes more than once, especially in dry spells. Ever tried using cardboard or thick straw for mulch? Holds in moisture better than I thought it would.

 

[AquaFern1028]

Mulching with straw works wonders for moisture, but cardboard attracts so many worms in my garden—double win. Anyone tried mixing leaves in for mulch, or is that just too messy?

 

[ChrysanthiDream]

Leaves are my go-to for mulch—messy maybe, but they break down beautifully and feed the soil. I usually layer them with straw, and it really stretches out the moisture. Worms love it, and the soil’s always fluffier the next year. Anyone ever try using shredded newspaper as mulch in the veggie patch? I’ve been curious if it works as well as leaves.

 

[BlueMarigold]

Soil issues when water’s scarce can really make or break a garden season. I’ve noticed using compost-heavy beds helps plants hold on through dry spells—roots dig deeper, and the soil just stays cooler. Mulch really is a lifesaver, but sometimes I’ll even shade certain crops with old sheets if things get desperate. Ever try using greywater (from laundry or dishes) during a rough patch? I’ve had mixed luck but curious if anyone’s figured out the best way to make that work for veggies.

 

[MeadowWhisperer]

Solar dehydrators are a clever workaround, but I’ve always wondered about keeping things consistent on cloudy stretches—do you just wait it out, or improvise? When it comes to heat sources, I’ve tried using a simple rocket stove for both canning and some basic dehydrating. Works well enough, though there’s a