It is the middle of summer here in North Idaho, and many of our days have been well into the 90’s. And I was joking with Ashley just the other day that it’s time to move to Alaska so we can enjoy the cooler weather constantly.
With hot days comes a whole variety of problems. From heat exhaustion to plants and animals dying, it can be hard to combat high heat. Especially if you don’t have AC or are living entirely off grid.
But there are a few ways you can overcome some of the discomfort and live through the heat. Without losing your garden or melting into a puddle. Some are plain obvious, but others might not be. Especially if you are coming from a life lived in AC all year round.
Start by planning to get up early or stay up late. Pick one direction and shift your schedule if possible. This will allow you to cover the outside chores when the sun is not beating down on you. It also keeps the sun from burning your plants because they get wet in the middle of the day.
For those with animals, make sure you provide plenty of water and food in a cool shaded space.
This is likely not a chicken coop, or even a run. A covered run can easily amplify the heat and bake your poor birds. If you plan to shelter animals in a pen, if possible, have the opening facing away from the sun, and open on at least two sides so breezes can help cool the covered space down. Don’t be afraid of getting a fan for your animals too.
Inside our homes is just as much of a problem. While it’s not the easiest or lowest cost, make sure you have lots of good insulation in your walls and attic space. Not only will it help your house stay cooler longer, but your winter heating costs will also be a lot smaller.
Depending on the shape of your roof and attic, try to plan a way for air to pass through above the insulation. Attic vent fans can help greatly when their use is timed with cooler parts of the day or night.
Open the windows at night with lots of fans moving the hot air out and cool in. Close it up before the outside temperature matches the inside. If you wait too long, the game is over, and you lose.
Keeping the air moving in your home will also help it feel better.
I know on these hot days, we avoid cooking big meals or oven meals inside. The instant pot and crock pot are our best friends. Single pot meals are also easy and quick to keep the heat down. And don’t forget the BBQ grill and cool salads.
While you might feel like you are cooler not moving and doing nothing, keeping up with your routine will keep your mind happier. And believe it or not, sitting around doing nothing still needs lots of water in your body to combat heat.
Don’t forget to make the kids drink lots of water too! Juice can be nice, but water needs to be a key staple.
Lastly, don’t forget to keep a weather radio on hand. With hot weather and shifty temperatures can often come lightening and storms in the evening. A weather radio could give you some advance notice to bring in animals or things like flash flooding in your area. And the risk is always present in the summer for wildfires.
Summer is a time to enjoy. So don’t let the heat cook you before you enjoy it.