Spring Action Items

Warmer weather means we can finally be outside again, which also means projects.

Love them or hate them, now is a great time to get your lists of action items together, and begin planning for spring and summer, if you haven't already.

The lists below expand if you click the headings.

Home Maintenance List

A good maintenance routine is the best way to keep your home and appliances from giving you a nasty surprise when you least expect it.

Spring Checklist

• Air Conditioning - schedule or perform annual service. [Services Near You]

• Attic - check for signs of leaks, mildew, condensation.

• Basement - check for signs of leaks, cracks, rot, mildew.

• Bathroom Exhaust Fans - clean grill and fan.

• Clothes Dryer - clean lint from duct and unit. [Tutorial]

• Crawl space -check for good ventilation to remove excess moisture.

• Gutters & Downspouts - clean, make sure clear of debris.

• Humidifiers - turn off unit and water supply. Change duct damper from Winter to Summer as needed.

• Refrigerator - clean coil, clean drain pan, change any filters if needed. [Tutorial]

• Roof - visually inspect for damage, trim trees as needed.

• Sump Pump - test to ensure proper operation. [Tutorial]

• Water Heater - draw sediment from tank as needed. [Tutorial]

Take a walk around your house and property. Low lying areas near your foundation may have appeared over winter. Fill these with topsoil and tamp down until level. Keep water away from the edges of the house!

Deep Pantry

Food security is a high priority that members should be actively working on, whether you are a living alone, or raising a family. This isn't doomsday prepping, it is common sense. Natural disasters, pandemics, even ice storms, can cause major disruptions to local supply chains, making access to food, water, and medicine difficult or impossible.

Groceries are expensive, yes. But a properly planned and maintained deep pantry can be built over time, and work seamlessly with your current pantry.

I've included a guide in the Resources section so that others may begin or adjust their own stocks. Again, this isn't a panic hoarding thing, it's a contingency for the unknown that is purpose-built. Stock only what you know you or your family will eat, buy extras of your current non-perishable or longer shelf-life options. Start with an extra month, then build to 3 or 6 months from there.

Practice FIFO- First In, First Out. Rotate your aging items into your weekly meal planning, replenish used items as they are depleted.

Deep Pantry Guide

Plant A Garden

Gardening should also be a high priority for Sentinels. Spring is the perfect time to start if you have never done this before, but you will need to start planning now.

Perks of a Home Garden

•  Access to fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables

• Reduced grocery cost with high yield plants

• Extras can be preserved, supplementing your deep pantry

• A closer connection with nature

• Excellent self-sufficiency skill

You do not need to have indoor starters, in many cases you could get seeds today and begin. Gardening also doesn't need to occupy a ton of precious space. Vertical gardening and urban gardening solutions are becoming more available and creative.

There is a great collection of links to get started in the Resources area over in Real World Action.

I will also be making some posts in the Gardening group to help break down getting started, planning, preserving, and detailing some options with smaller footprints.

Here's to a Productive Spring

Now is a great time to get started on new projects. This is also the best time to begin making changes to your routines and lifestyles that have better impact on you, and your communities.

If you are an expert in a field and can share skills and knowledge with beginners, make sure to connect with people interested in learning about your field. If you are new and don't know where to start, ask questions and make mistakes. Experience is the best teacher.

If you have any questions, want to share resources, or organize events, reach out to me here in the group pages, or email me at SentinelInAction@gmail.com