Our garden did not do well this summer. Our freezer has more bottles and jugs of ice in it than it does food.
This is hurricane season. In my lifetime, I have been through 3 hurricanes and we lost electricity for a couple of days. Keeping the freezer full, not only saves electricity but in case we have a storm and lose power for a few days, the food will stay frozen if the freezer if it is not opened until the power is restored.
When we are expecting a lot of wind and a power outage, I transfer the frozen food in the freezer portion of my refrigerator to the larger freezer. I take jugs of ice from the large freezer and put them in the refrigerator freezer.
During the power outage, if needed, the jugs of ice can be used in coolers to keep our food fresh. Also, the jugs of ice come in handy to use in the cooler when we travel.
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Here is a way to be green and prepare for an emergency at the same time. I rinse out 2 liter soda and juice bottles and fill them 2/3 full with clean water. I then lay them almost on their sides (without the lids on tight), leaning against something, in our large freezer.
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Help keep your freezer from running constantly by keeping it full.
If the empty spaces are large enough to accommodate large plastic bottles (2-liter or milk), fill the bottles 3/4 with water and place in the freezer.
Being single, I don't have my freezer full of food all the time. Keeping your freezer full saves money on your electric bill.