Every year, around October or November, we like to start prepping our homestead for the winter months to come. It helps to be prepared, so we are not caught off guard when that first frost or cold snap arrives.

One of the attributes of our homestead's successful and relatively smooth running is being prepared and planning in advance. This makes daily and seasonal tasks so much easier to do and manage.

Running a homestead is already hard enough, so being organized makes it just a bit easier!

HERE is our checklist for winter prep around the farm.

When winter has arrived in all its glory, some tasks need to be checked and done regularly to ensure that all still runs smoothly during the colder months. 

Below are some of the most important winter homesteading chores

Farm Animal Winter Care:

1. Check all your animals' shelters. Are the roofing and structures still in good condition? Does it need maintenance and securing? Replace their beddings with clean hay (add a little extra for heat)

2. Top up the coop and nesting boxes with mulch or straw. Check for electrical problems which can cause a fire and cracks where predators can enter. Ensure the ventilation and airflow is just right so that there is no build-up of gasses but that it is also not too cold for the chickens.

3. Use the ‘deep-litter’ method in your chicken coop. Instead of cleaning out poop, pile on straw or hay and continue to do so throughout winter. It will generate heat and make nice compost for your garden come spring.

4. Consider investing in a heated waterer or check that your's is still working. Many animals such as goats and alpacas need to drink a lot of water, and this will help you when their water troughs keep freezing up.

This is the one we use and it’s amazing! GET IT HERE

6. Your animals will burn more calories trying to stay warm. Give them some extra treats such as pumpkin seeds, mealworms, alfalfa, pellets, etc., to supplement their feed. And make sure there are enough feeders for everyone.

7. Keep giving fresh grit and oyster shells to your chickens.

8. Offer an area inside the coop or a shelter where your chickens can still enjoy their dust bath.

9. Monitor your flock and other animals closely for any signs of sickness or risk of hypothermia in freezing conditions. Also, keep an eye out for storms, should you make any preparations.

Garden Tasks During Winter:

10. Keep removing weeds from garden beds, pots, and any indoor/ greenhouse plants.

11. Do your garden planning for the year and order seeds now. Remember that it can take some time for your seeds to get to you, so don't wait until the last minute. Most seeds need to be started between February and April, depending on where you live. THIS blog post explains all on how to order seeds.

12. Get your greenhouse and seed trays ready, so you are prepared when needing to start your seedlings.

13. Get plant beds or seedboxes ready for growing plants such as tomato, pepper, and eggplant. 

14. Remove yellowing leaves from winter brassicas and other plants - they take away energy from the plant's roots and can even harbor pests and diseases.

14, Turn the soil in your garden beds. It will enhance the soil’s quality and expose any pests or insect eggs, where the freezing weather will (hopefully) kill them.

15. Prune fruit tree’s now in winter. It's best done during the winter while the plants are still dormant. Aim to create an open frame of branches in a goblet shape.

16. Check if your winter protection is still sufficient — inspect any garden covers, stakes, supports, or ties that might have been damaged in bad weather.

17. Work on your compost pile. By adding to and turning the compost pile regularly from December through March the natural ingredients will have time to process and be immediately ready for use when planting season finally rolls back around.

General Winter Homesteading Tasks:

18. Continue gathering firewood.

19. Make sure you have enough gas for your generator.

20. Clean all your garden and workshop tools, so they are ready when you start to use them again.

21. Check all your fences and gates and repair where needed. Searching for an escapee during icy or snowy weather is no fun! Goats can be pretty curious and are great escape artists!

22. Do some bulk cooking for home freezing. A frozen meal works like a charm when you have no time to cook or have unannounced guests.

When you have a plan, a checklist, and stick to your do-to list, managing your homestead during the winter will become something that you don’t dread anymore.

Doing regular small tasks will help you to get to everything and ensure a smooth transition when spring arrives!

Love, Annette xx