How to make lights in a long-term emergency?
Can I make a light??
I have solar panels… but if there’s no sunlight for a few days…
Campfire!! Every day!!
Remember, the sun was the natural source of light in our ancestors’ time. We think a prolonged blackout is a worst case scenario for us, but our ancestors would not think that. Our lives today are made so very easy by modern conveniences. We are lucky, but what have we lost? It is slightly sad that we have sacrificed life skills in exchange for convenience.
If we have skills to make a lamp from scratch, we might worry less in an emergency situation that lasts longer than expected. You might have prepared a large emergency stockpile, but if things are really bad, and the disaster goes on for a prolonged period, you might use up all of your supplies.
Please keep in mind, it’s best to use supplies from your long-term stockpile and prepare future supplies, simultaneously. It’s very important!
Lamps & plant oil
Making an oil lamp will help you a lot, even if it’s a small light. It can be a lot of work, but if you know the process for making an oil lamp, you can apply your knowledge in other areas, too. I’m not saying you need to hunt animals for their fat, or go fishing for the fish oil; I recommend focusing on plants. Check out this webpage this webpage, showing common plant oils and where each plant grows, globally.
There are many vegetable oils available in grocery stores. Can you imagine growing these vegetables, nuts and seeds by yourself, and then extracting the oils from them? And then using those oils to make oil lamps? Yes! That’s the idea! We can use these oils to make oil lamps. Unfortunately, if we have a serious, long-term emergency, we will not be able to get these oils easily. Then it’s time for your skills to shine! You will extract your own oil from real plants.
Check your neighborhood, which real vegetables, nuts and seeds you can get?
For example, in my area, I can find almonds, avocados, corn and acorns. If I plant a sunflower and an olive tree, it may be possible.
Do you know how to grow vegetables or a tree?
It’s time to try to start a home vegetable garden. When I was kid, I grew a sunflower, in school. One of our science class activities was to grow the sunflowers. Learning to make sunflower oil would be a good place to start. (I will share my attempts at making sunflower oil, in a future post.)
Different foods have different harvesting seasons. You always need to plan ahead. Do not miss the correct harvest time for your plants.
Do not forget that you might not have the correct tools during a long-term emergency.
Try to think of ways make oil, using the fewest tools possible. I know, you’ll feel like you’re living in The Stone Age. But you will be surprised that you can live without electricity. You have access to the best insurance policy in the world: knowledge!
How to get oil for a lamp?
For my first attempt, I tried to make lamp oil from avocados. I don’t have a good flat stone handy, so I took advantage of modern kitchen tools. …Sorry.
★ Avocados – part 1
Many people use a cloth, like a cheesecloth, to squeeze out the oil from the avocado. But I imagine, in a long-term emergency, it would be more sensible to utilize a reusable metal tray and spoon, than to use a cloth that you might have to throw away afterward. I opted for the tray and spoon. Just tilt the tray and press the avocado. It’s enough. I realize now that a spoon can be a really important tool in an emergency.
★ Avocado Part 2
To make avocado oil, in the skin, it takes time to fully dry out. At the same time, the avocado skin dries out, too.
If avocado skin gets too dry, it might become flammable, and burn too. You should not try this in areas prone to fires.
Now we know how to get avocado oil and how to make an avocado candle. I will explain how to make an avocado lamp, in my next post. I’m looking forward to it!!
See you next time.
Remember, “Protect your life by yourself” （自分の命は自分で守る). You need to survive first, and then you need your emergency supply. No matter how well you prepared your emergency supplies, if you die, then all of your preparations will have been for nothing. First and foremost, keep your health up all the time. Build your stamina so that if you need to, you can evacuate as quickly as possible. Stay healthy.