Preparing for the long winter months on the homestead

[homesteadmamma]

Its soon going to be August, in fact in 2 more days. As I look back on July I wonder where the month has gone and I think about how quickly it went by and know August will be the same.

This is the time of year when I begin to prepare for the long winter months. There are many times I can't get out to the city because of severe weather and I don't like travelling when its extremely cold.

Here are a few things I do to start preparing for winter.

~I begin to look for winter clothes at thrift stores. I bought a number of sweaters for all of us yesterday at 50¢ a sweater because they were having a special day to celebrate our Hopper days. Watch for sales at thrift stores, especially now that school will be starting soon. At least here, thats when we get some super sales and especially the bag day sales.
~I begin to stockpile, meaning not just my pantry but my stockpile, such as grain, rice, oatmeal and such.
~we look at our budget and begin planning for the added expenses and we look to see what last years bills were and look at ways to cutting back. For instance, this year we plan on having a timer for having our van plugged in during the cold days.
~we have 2 small windows in our bathroom that will need plastic over them. I'll be purchasing some plastic now rather than waiting until the stores are all sold out. Its amazing even though its only Aug. the stores are getting ready for winter.
~dh will be re-doing the caulking of a couple windows outside this month, rather than waiting for the cold months.

These are only a few.

What are you doing to prepare for the long winter months on your homestead?

[sunshine]

Stockpiling supplies-- foods (homecanned as well as store bought), making the emergency kits for all the vehicles ( extra hats, gloves, socks, candles, matches, buddy burners, high energy foods, extra cell phone batteries, blankets)

Washing all the quilts, afghans, blankets.

Making sure we all have usable winter coats- repairing what needs repaired and replacing what is not fixable. Shopping garage sales and clearance sales for those.

Buying crafting supplies at yard sales or sidewalk sales-- for making Christmas gifts or keeping boredom at bay while trapped indoors.

Buying or trading lots of books and magazines at yard sales. I got a whole box of various magazines free at a yard sale- will read these when the cold weather sets in later.

[mustang80]

Funny you mention this, CJ I was just thinking the same thing today.

I'm going to start with my pantry. I already bought Courtney a new snow suit at a yard sale for a song (less than $1.00!)

[guest2]

~going through our winter things and seeing what needs to be replaced
~building up our stockpile of canned goods, beans, rice, macaroni, peanut butter, etc.
~replacing windows (have to find a weekend to do this before the cold weather hits)
~checking batteries in the vehicles to see if they are getting low
~going through my cookbooks and dreaming of those lovely winter stews, etc.
~growing squash that will keep through the Fall
~planning my apple harvest quotas for eating and for sauce.

[canadian gardener]

something Strawberry said to me some years back about pantry stocking in late summer.

She said, it's also REALLY easier to heave a 25 to 50 lb sack of rice, beans, sugar, flour, grain etc etc

into the house in summer or early fall than trying to bump a cart over the ruts in the ice in the parking lots of winter as you try to heave that sack of flour homewards.

And then struggling from your own icy driveway, up your icy steps, etc etc.

Sure makes sense to this woman!

[slowtypinwoman]

~We have been canning foods for the winter months and freezing supplies for baking.
~Alex and I went through all her clothing yesterday to see what still fit and what we need to buy yet.
~ Not quite yet, but soon we will be cutting wood for the stove.
~Looking at all the clearence fabric for Christmas gifts to make. O.K. I'm just a fabric hog
~ Buying clothing at yard sales for the coming months.

[sunshine]

Forgot to add that I'm buying my medicine about a week ahead, so that by winter I'll have a months supply built up- just in case I can't get to the pharmacy

[QuilterMom]

No ice and snow to prep for here, but I do want to take advantage of cooler weather and do lots and lots of baking so I'm looking to stock up on supplies for that.

[crdurham]

I haven't even thought about it.... thanks for the reminder and the great ideas on things to do to prepare!!

[Darlene]

We have our wood all split & stacked and the heating oil all paid for.

Pretty soon I'll be harvesting things out of the garden for the freezer.

[forestdale]

I'm prepping for the opposite season, soon it'll be summer. My preparations will be to mulch all the gardens with straw to conserve moisture, I'll clip the dogs with the horse clippers we bought a few years ago. That saves heaps on grooming too, we do it instead of having the pooch pamperer come to do it.

I'll also reorgane my hanging baskets of ferns to make sure they're all in the shade. When all the vegetables are picked I'm going to sow green manure in most of the beds and just grow a few tomatoes and pumpkins over the summer.

I'm currently canning a lot of my garden produce but I'll make sure to make a few gallons of lemon cordial while I have so many lemons on the tree. This is my favourite drink in the middle of summer.

[Mom23boys]

I don't have much to prepare for. There is no hard winters here, but I like to make sure the coats are cleaned and they are able to wear them. If not, purchase a new one.

Make sure doors and wndows have no drafts.

We have de-icer left over from the last ice storm. No snow here, mostly ice.

[Michele Annette]

I too have been thinking about this, a lot and have started:

* building my stockplie to last us through Janurary. All nonperishable food items, garbage bags, foil, ziplocs, tissues, TP, papertowels, laundry detergent, soap, shampoo, dish detergent, etc, etc. I have also started gathering non perishable food items to donate at Christmas for the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf that I organize for my work each year...then when the time comes to donate food, I don't need to spend any money at the store, when money at that time of year is really tight for us!
*buying supplies to make all Christmas gifts.
*making pear chutney and apple butter for Christmas gifts and ourselves.
*additional baking supplies (not part of the pantry) for Christmas baking.
*getting plastic insulation for the front and back windows.
*filling the oil tank
*Went through all of our clothes and gave away 9 bags to the salvation army!
*buying a new dress winter coat(on sale and cheap)...have needed one for three years...have made due with the old one, but now I need something newer desperately!
* Buying some new and used clothing (cheap) for the Fall and Winter months.
* DH is all set on new Winter socks. I need a few new pair. We also both need some new underwear as well.(TMI- I know! )
*trying to purchase all energy saving light bulbs before Fall.
*gathering more candles for the Winter months

I know there's more to do, but I'm having a mental block! I wish I could do more if we had a house, but we live in an apartment, so we are unable to have a chest freezer or large pantry, but we do the best that we can.

[luvcatsnflowers]

I do fill up my gas tank while prices are low, winter prices are so high. I also buy fruit ,veggies ect for mother inlaw to can. She makes jellies too-yum! I also buy winter clothes at thrift shops or when out of season. I make sure the 2 of us have 2 pairs of boots and 2 coats, and several pair if wool socks. I was given a queen size down comforter, so that will keep us warm. I also have a feather bed to use if house gets cold. I do but store brands items like brkfst bars, breakfast cerals and use my seal a meal to keep fresh, and I won't need to make extra trips. Father inlaw raises beef, so I'll plenty to eat there. We just bought a bigger gas grill, it has 3 shelves, plus there is a burner to hold a pot to make water for coffee or tea, if power goes out. I will bake Pillsbury quick breads for holiday gifts, and add a homemade jar of jelly. I also make a dozen of these dessert breads for us, so we have a snack, and no going to store!Since I'm on low income, have to stretch gifts and holidays. I go to thrift shops to find plates or glass dishes or vases to give for new house, anniversary, wedding. And for baby I can find crochetted items at fleamrkets, once upon a child. I get recycled magazines from my mother and her friends-so lots to read. We don't mind store brand soda, so we stock up on those, so no need for a trip out we really need to. We put change from a meal out, or from a prescription money leftover or from whatever in a jar to help pay our winter elec bill. I hate those bills in Dec/Jan-so high. With the seal a meal, I make small bags of trail mix, then we won't make a run to gas station for candy when we are taking a day trip or going to an appt. I grow potaoes, so we will have enough til early spring when they go bad anyway. I buy family pks of pork and chicken and use my seal a meal to keep plenty of dinners on hand. I will sew catnip toys or crochet a blankie for the shelter kitties to keep me busy. I stockpile on toletries all summer, and go to Dollar general to use coupons to get cheaper items and enough to last almost a year, but of course thru winter. I do agree about buying rice, oatmeal ect now. Any ideas how to get cats thru winter? I mean food, vet visits ect. I have 3 Siamese and they stay inside all year round. Since my have medical issue I must buy the more expensive dry foods, like science diet hairball lite & science C/D for my males kidney problem. TN winters aren't too bad, but are cold and snowy half the season. I am close to NC and 2600 feet up, so I get the winds. Appreciate any more help. Tara

[slowtypinwoman]

Could you stock pile the cat food too and keep in galvanized trash can in your basement? Sound like we are all preparing for the coming winter. I'm not sure what it will bring after this summer.