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Preparing yourself for the long winter months takes time on the homestead, so we are doing it now before we get colder weather. Here are some tips for preparing the homestead.
Winter comes often quickly and with a fight in it ready to stay for a long period of time. The Farmer's Almanac says two different things if you talk to more than one farmer. Were either going to have a cold winter with lots of snow or a warm winter with no snow. So I can't go by the Farmer's Almanac.
So I begin to prepare now with the belief that winter will be harsh, cold and lots of snow. That way were well prepared.
- Have lots of lights, be it oil lamps, flash lights, camping lights. You never know when the electricity will go out. Have matches where you can get them in a moments notice.
- pick up extra quilts/sleep bags when they go on sale. We always have extras and I made quilts so each of the kids have 2 quilts. All I need now is to make an extra quilt for us rather than giving them away.
- look at your windows and doors. Are they air tight so has not to let the drafts in. We just got our new windows and doors so were okay there, but will need to look at our basement and see where the drafts are. Make sure you've taken care of that before the winter comes!! If you have to, cover your windows with plastic. It helps cut down the heat bill.
- begin now to climatize yourself for the colder weather. We wait until the very last moment to turn on our furnace. We start adding extra clothes now and get use to having a cooler house. Also since we've cut back on our thermostat, everyone of us has been without colds throughout the winter months. Were far healthier than we were when we had our heat at 72 degrees or higher.
- put out your Christmas lights if you plan on using them. There is nothing worse than putting them out when its cold and windy.
- finish your garden up. Look at plants in your flower beds that need care for the winter months. I always protect my roses with leaves and I've never lost one yet. Pull out old plants that have died or been hit by frost. Cover up annuals that might need protecting.
- rotill or dig up the garden, putting the compost you've made over the summer months on it and then til it all up. Makes for a more lush garden in the spring.
- If you use weed and feed, do it now. I don't because we don't use any chemicals, but if you do then plan on doing it soon.
- empty the rain barrels. We just did that this morning so that if we get a early and hard frost, the water doesn't freeze and crack the barrels. Store them until next spring.
- look at your strawberry plants. Will they need covering. Here they do so I'll cover them with leaves. Also look at raspberry plants and see if any old ones need to be cut back. Check your fruit trees, are they healthy. If not, trim them or get rid of them before they spread the disease to other fruit trees.
- begin preparing your winter clothing. I always wash everything fresh and hang out on the line. I wash all our blankets and hang out also so that they are fresh for the fall/winter months. Do you have your hats, mitts, scarves and winter boots that you'll need. Its a disaster if you wait too long and go to get them and can't find the size you need. Ask me how I know this one.
- make sure you have a good supply of emergency items, band aids, aspirin, rubbing alcohol and the likes. You never know when you'll need them in an emergency and you might not be able to get out, weather permitting.
- also make sure your pantry is stocked at least for a couple of weeks. We were snowed in once in the city we lived in for 4 days. We couldn't get out until the roads were plowed. We had lots of groceries so were fine and helped the neighbours also.
- if you have a snow blower, make sure its been checked and ready to go. Have a supply of gas on hand for it.
Hope this helps prepare the homestead. I'll probably think of more later and add. If you have any suggestions, add them here.
Winter comes often quickly and with a fight in it ready to stay for a long period of time. The Farmer's Almanac says two different things if you talk to more than one farmer. Were either going to have a cold winter with lots of snow or a warm winter with no snow. So I can't go by the Farmer's Almanac.
So I begin to prepare now with the belief that winter will be harsh, cold and lots of snow. That way were well prepared.
- Have lots of lights, be it oil lamps, flash lights, camping lights. You never know when the electricity will go out. Have matches where you can get them in a moments notice.
- pick up extra quilts/sleep bags when they go on sale. We always have extras and I made quilts so each of the kids have 2 quilts. All I need now is to make an extra quilt for us rather than giving them away.
- look at your windows and doors. Are they air tight so has not to let the drafts in. We just got our new windows and doors so were okay there, but will need to look at our basement and see where the drafts are. Make sure you've taken care of that before the winter comes!! If you have to, cover your windows with plastic. It helps cut down the heat bill.
- begin now to climatize yourself for the colder weather. We wait until the very last moment to turn on our furnace. We start adding extra clothes now and get use to having a cooler house. Also since we've cut back on our thermostat, everyone of us has been without colds throughout the winter months. Were far healthier than we were when we had our heat at 72 degrees or higher.
- put out your Christmas lights if you plan on using them. There is nothing worse than putting them out when its cold and windy.
- finish your garden up. Look at plants in your flower beds that need care for the winter months. I always protect my roses with leaves and I've never lost one yet. Pull out old plants that have died or been hit by frost. Cover up annuals that might need protecting.
- rotill or dig up the garden, putting the compost you've made over the summer months on it and then til it all up. Makes for a more lush garden in the spring.
- If you use weed and feed, do it now. I don't because we don't use any chemicals, but if you do then plan on doing it soon.
- empty the rain barrels. We just did that this morning so that if we get a early and hard frost, the water doesn't freeze and crack the barrels. Store them until next spring.
- look at your strawberry plants. Will they need covering. Here they do so I'll cover them with leaves. Also look at raspberry plants and see if any old ones need to be cut back. Check your fruit trees, are they healthy. If not, trim them or get rid of them before they spread the disease to other fruit trees.
- begin preparing your winter clothing. I always wash everything fresh and hang out on the line. I wash all our blankets and hang out also so that they are fresh for the fall/winter months. Do you have your hats, mitts, scarves and winter boots that you'll need. Its a disaster if you wait too long and go to get them and can't find the size you need. Ask me how I know this one.
- make sure you have a good supply of emergency items, band aids, aspirin, rubbing alcohol and the likes. You never know when you'll need them in an emergency and you might not be able to get out, weather permitting.
- also make sure your pantry is stocked at least for a couple of weeks. We were snowed in once in the city we lived in for 4 days. We couldn't get out until the roads were plowed. We had lots of groceries so were fine and helped the neighbours also.
- if you have a snow blower, make sure its been checked and ready to go. Have a supply of gas on hand for it.
Hope this helps prepare the homestead. I'll probably think of more later and add. If you have any suggestions, add them here.
