Homesteading during the winter...

[Lizard Lady]

I don't know about y'all, but it takes quite a pep talk to go outside when it's in the single digits. Got me thinking - what is everyone doing on/with/to their homestead now that it's cold outside?

 

[Granny Hatchet]

FREEZING, im doing the bare minimum. feed water and run! its never been this cold here. i did manage to clean out a couple brooders today but let me tell you people , my toes still hurt. be careful out there. poor babies, dont know how they take it

 

[Lizard Lady]

I do pretty much what you're doing! lol I run, do what I have to, then run back in! I was out there last night shutting them in and it took me forever to thaw out!

 

[Life is Good!]

Winter homesteading post-Christmas around here is all about gearing up for NEXT warm season! And trying to stay warm and keep waterers thawed out.

I look at photos of the gardens I took in warmer seasons - I try to catch things in bloom so I can remember where I put plants in! Then I can see where I need to add material or divide it and formulate a plan to do so.

I plot and plan for the next year's harvestable materials while we enjoy this season's put away foodstuffs. I try to gauge how much we're using (or not) and figure out what to do with surplus....give it away is my favorite thing to do! So in a few weeks, I'll have seeds starting on the windowsills, which due to new kitten in household will be interesting - but in order to get the early starts going, I first have to figure out what and how much and where it's going. One year, I ended up with a whole 8'sq bed of nothing but cucumbers! Whoops! Planning leads to success, right?!

This is also dreaming season - what I'd like to do in the warmer months. Last year was designing new coop. This year is putting together additional beehive materials, as they'll likely need to be divided come May. And likely ordering fruit trees. Last year's were sold out by the time I got an order together in March. So I've got to get that started also.

As for my time - I 'unbury' myself and our family in the cold season. Reduce, remove and get rid of stuff we're not using, don't love or need any longer. It helps keep my strength going to be lifting boxes of books to donate to library sales and boxes of outgrown clothing to the local second-hand shop. Then, I know what I need and I can shop at same stores! Oh, and the usual, 'fix it' around the house which never ever ends.

Lastly, I've come to realize this down season is a blessing - truthfully, it's short, just 12wks or so before I can be out working in the garden. But before then in February is grapevine trimming, hydrangea trimming, maple syrup harvesting.....so there's still much to do! January is truly my quiet space month. That's the only one I get and by darn, I'm enjoying putting my feet up with a warm glass of something wonderful!

Toast and cheers to you! (Oh, and I read a lot on line as well this month!)

 

[catw]

I'm planning what to plant in my containers. Also thinking how I can keep 2 or 3 banties on the patio and do I want to. I have a dog cage I can use to put them out on the grass or wherever. And what can I grow to feed them. I'm also wondering if I can have a dwarf cherry tree in a container. We've just had 3 days of the coldest weather I can remember at 12 below. If the snow ever melts I can get started cleaning up. Because of a back problem I didn't get any leaves raked.

 

[Workinthedream]

Well we aren't as cold as most of you. The low was 15F last night but we got up to 40F yesterday so I was out working in the garden yesterday. I have onions and garlic planted (I use row covers for both) and I am building the greenhouse now. Found free horse manure on Craigslist so I am going to get some tomorrow to spread out and compost in prep for the spring. I also take all of my tools and machines (lawn mowers, tractor, leaf blower, etc) and get them ready for work. The tools are sharpened and the rust taken off, then oiled. The machines get oil changed, and cleaned up good. Good time to send in soil samples too and then prep garden for spring based on recommendations. Of course the animals all still need to be taken care of...and this is the best time to cull and put some in the freezer. Whew, I have a lot to do

. What am I doing here!!!

For me every season is a joy. Hope it is the same with all of you!

 

[catw]

You are more dedicated than I am. I always say I'm going to clean up the tools but I hardly ever get around to it. I'm a bad person.

 

[newfoundland]

See to the animals and hug the fire whilst reading seed catalogues. Winter URGHHHH!!!

 

[Cluck Wild Farm]

All winter long on the homestead, I wear sweatshirt layered upon sweatshirt, and plan, plan, PLAN my vegetable garden for the coming spring! This was our first winter on our homestead, and it was difficult to say the least! C'mon warm weather

 

[MoonShadows]

Planning, planning and some more planning of what I want to do this Spring/Summer/Fall. Can't wait for Old Man Winter to go on vacation.