In my experience, it is always wise to have a new tarp on hand. You never know when a window is going to break, a limb is going to land on a shed, or a roof is going to spring a leak. You may be in the middle of an outside project that can't get wet and unexpected storm clouds are quickly gathering! Whatever the reason, a new tarp in an easily accessible location will be appreciated, and much preferred to scrambling for a used tarp that is covered with dirt and has a few really annoying tears in the material, or finding that mice or insects have taken up residence in its folds.
When I say 'tarp', I mean any water proof material that you can cover something with and keep it dry. It can be a regular blue woven tarp, a canvas tarp, silage plastic, or my favorite...a clear, 6 mm, 10' by 25' piece of plastic sheeting. These are sold in the painting section of hardware or large department stores. They are economical and lightweight, and handy as all get out for many uses beyond emergency water-proofing. Economy tarps are limited due to their tendency to deteriorate rather quickly with rough use, weather changes, and sun exposure. They do not solve any problem permanently, but weren't meant for that purpose. They generally are a band-aid until a better solution to a problem is able to be implemented.
On a homestead, we must try to be as pro-active as possible in being prepared for the unexpected. Having a new, decent-sized tarp available is one of the things that can make a big difference on a day when an unexpected need arises!
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