20 Winter Homestead Items To Stockpile (2024)

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

I’ve been observing the squirrels in my yard and neighborhood this past week as the temperatures have become more fall-like. They are busy!

Fascinated, I did a little research on the common gray squirrel. Squirrels don’t hibernate in the winter, but they do spend far less time foraging outside their dens in the colder months. Several squirrels often share a den for the winter, a process that allows them to share food and shelter and to keep each other warm.

During the transitional months of fall, squirrels busy themselves with caching. Also called hoarding, caching is storing stashes of food for later. Squirrels often pile their food in a shallow hole and then cover it up for safekeeping until they need it.

Squirrels also prepare themselves for winter by eating more and increasing their body mass. This extra body fat will help them survive in the leaner months of winter.

Apart from being interesting, what does this information have to do with homesteaders? A lot! We would do well to prepare for winter as thoroughly as the squirrels.

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Here are 20 items homesteaders need to stockpile for winter.

1. Enough Non-Perishable Food to Last Three Weeks

Although this is a good practice for any time of year, it is especially important during winter when a storm could knock out your power. Items to consider include canned foods, cereals, peanut butter, crackers, dried fruit, nuts, rice, beans, canned juice and any other foods with a long shelf life.

Be sure you have a hand-operated can opener to open those cans.

2. Water for Three Weeks

The American Red Cross recommends that you store a minimum of one gallon of water per person per day for emergency preparedness. Keep in mind that you need water for drinking, cooking, and for hygiene purposes.

You’ll need even more water for your animals (cows and horses drink a lot.) Use five-gallon buckets to collect water and ice to supplement your water supply.

3. Firewood and Fuel

Don’t be caught in a winter storm with too little firewood or not enough fuel. Store a full tank of heating fuel and a large supply of wood for your wood stoves.

4. Lighting Supplies

You should stockpile candles, lanterns, lantern fuel, flashlights and flashlight batteries for the winter.

Consider hand-powered or solar-powered lights and make sure you have matches and lighters as well. Aim to keep at least one flashlight or small battery-operated lantern in every room of the house.

5. Common Household and Personal Supplies

What you stockpile depends on the needs of your household. Some products to consider are batteries, diapers, toilet paper, diapers, women’s hygiene products, and kitty litter.

Don’t forget other personal items or toiletries such as shampoo, deodorant, and toothpaste.

6. Bedding

Not only do you need enough blankets, sheets, pillows, and sleeping bags for your family’s needs, but you will want extras set aside to help seal off hallways, doorways, and stairways.

7. Laundry Supplies

You’ll want soap to wash your wardrobe essentials and a rope to let them hang dry. Hanging wet laundry acts as an important humidifying agent during the winter.

8. Warm Clothes, Coats, Hats, and Shoes

Keep cold-weather gear, including boots and hand-warmers, stashed in your car for emergencies. They will help keep you warm if you get stranded during a storm. You may need them around the house in a lengthy power outage as well.

9. Sand and Shovels

Having sand (or kitty litter) and a shovel can be helpful for giving your vehicle traction in ice and snow.

10. Food for Animals

Don’t forget your furry friends. Stockpile as much food, grain, and hay as you can for your pets and livestock this winter.

11. Hand-Crank or Battery-Powered Radio

One of these radios can be a lifesaver in a lengthy power outage. Hand crank radios don’t always work as well, but it’s nice not to have to worry about batteries.

12. First Aid Kit

Make sure your first aid supplies are stocked up. You may not be able to get to the pharmacy or even to the hospital in a bad winter storm. Some items to include in your kit include:

• Sterile gloves
• Adhesive bandages and other dressings
• Antibiotic wipes
• Antibiotic ointment
• Eyewash solution
• Thermometer
• Glucose and blood pressure monitoring equipment (if needed)
• Over the counter medications such as pain relievers, stomach soothers and antacid
• Scissors, tweezers

13. Prescription Medications

If you or a family member regularly take medications, it’s a good idea to have a seven-day supply on hand in case of emergency. Also consider other health-related items such as contact lenses and lens solution, syringes and hearing aid batteries.

14. Backup Power Generator

Generators are a big expense, but if you live in an area with severe weather, they can give you some peace of mind. A backup generator will help you have hot water and cold food when a storm knocks out your electrical power.

15. Gassed Up Vehicles

Aim to keep the gas tanks filled in your cars and trucks. During severe weather, not only might it be difficult to get to a gas station, but your local stations may run out of gas.

16. Plastic Sheeting and Duct Tape

These inexpensive but important supplies will help you create an emergency shelter if needed.

17. Household Chlorine Bleach and Medicine Dropper

You can treat contaminated water by placing 16 drops of household liquid bleach in a gallon of water.

18. Books and Games

Store activities your family will use to pass the time during a lengthy power outage. Don’t forget paper, pens, markers, and crayons.

19. Paper Supplies

Have a supply of paper towels, paper cups, plates, and plastic utensils on hand to use in case water is in short supply.

20. Battery Chargers for Electronics

Purchase and use battery packs for your phones and laptop and try to keep your electronics fully charged when a winter storm is nearing.

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