Every year around this time I kick myself for not having better prepared for the winter months. Must be a personal failing. We got our first snowfall yesterday and it will be snowing on and off for the next 3 days. So, it appears that our snow will be here to stay until spring.
Here is a small list of things I should have taken care of before the first snowfall....
- I should have pulled out all the batteries from my riding lawn mowers and the golf cart. I can still do that, of course, but it will be colder now and I'll have to use a sled to carry the batteries back to the garage. Would have been easier to pull those batteries in warmer weather and use my gorilla cart with wheels to carry the batteries back to the garage.
- Failed to complete the raised beds I started. All the wood is cut up in the garage, but now it's just taking up space. Won't be able to place the raised beds in the yard until next spring. Probably have to pile up the cut wood outside and finish the project next spring.
- Need to clean out the garage car stall to get my car in out of the weather. I have been using that stall for DIY projects all summer. Got it half cleaned out yesterday, but should have started before the snowfall. Dear Wife has her stall cleared, year round. At least I know enough not to mess with her space.
- Snowblower needs a new electric starter. Should have tested it out a few weeks ago when I did not need it. The starter worked fine last year when I put it away, but I should have tested it before now. New starter now on order and expected to be delivered next Thursday. Hope me don't get too much snow till then.
- Should have moved my cement mixer compost sifter into a place for winter. As it was, heavy wet snow fell on the mixer and it fell over. No damage, but had to pick it up and slide it through the snow to get it stored away for the winter. Would have been a lot easier to do if I would have just rolled it on the grass instead of pushing/pulling through the snow.
I did manage to prepare a few things in time...
- I got the metal heater base for the chicken waterer plugged in and made sure it was working.
- I moved the snowblower from the shed into the garage, so even though the electric starter needs to be replaced, I call still pull start it as long as the garage stays warmer than outside.
- Got my portable propane heater and gas grill tanks ready to use in the garage in case I need to heat it up. Don't use that heater very much, but if the snowblower breaks down in the winter, I like to have a warmer garage to work in. My old hands don't like the cold anymore.
Oh well, just sending out a shout to those of you, like me, that put things off maybe a bit too long. Please share your winter prep experience/failings if you have any. Take care.
Here is a small list of things I should have taken care of before the first snowfall....
- I should have pulled out all the batteries from my riding lawn mowers and the golf cart. I can still do that, of course, but it will be colder now and I'll have to use a sled to carry the batteries back to the garage. Would have been easier to pull those batteries in warmer weather and use my gorilla cart with wheels to carry the batteries back to the garage.
- Failed to complete the raised beds I started. All the wood is cut up in the garage, but now it's just taking up space. Won't be able to place the raised beds in the yard until next spring. Probably have to pile up the cut wood outside and finish the project next spring.
- Need to clean out the garage car stall to get my car in out of the weather. I have been using that stall for DIY projects all summer. Got it half cleaned out yesterday, but should have started before the snowfall. Dear Wife has her stall cleared, year round. At least I know enough not to mess with her space.
- Snowblower needs a new electric starter. Should have tested it out a few weeks ago when I did not need it. The starter worked fine last year when I put it away, but I should have tested it before now. New starter now on order and expected to be delivered next Thursday. Hope me don't get too much snow till then.
- Should have moved my cement mixer compost sifter into a place for winter. As it was, heavy wet snow fell on the mixer and it fell over. No damage, but had to pick it up and slide it through the snow to get it stored away for the winter. Would have been a lot easier to do if I would have just rolled it on the grass instead of pushing/pulling through the snow.
I did manage to prepare a few things in time...
- I got the metal heater base for the chicken waterer plugged in and made sure it was working.
- I moved the snowblower from the shed into the garage, so even though the electric starter needs to be replaced, I call still pull start it as long as the garage stays warmer than outside.
- Got my portable propane heater and gas grill tanks ready to use in the garage in case I need to heat it up. Don't use that heater very much, but if the snowblower breaks down in the winter, I like to have a warmer garage to work in. My old hands don't like the cold anymore.
Oh well, just sending out a shout to those of you, like me, that put things off maybe a bit too long. Please share your winter prep experience/failings if you have any. Take care.
Sounds like you are better prepared than I was. I grow fodder in the winter, too. It's the only greens my chickens get for about the next 5-6 months.
Take care
Well, the idea of this post was to send out a reminder, an alarm, or whatever, to get those little things done before you get snowed under. Hope you get your winter prep done now while it is easier. I should have done my winter prep a few weeks ago. Maybe next year....
