As the leaves begin to change colors and the crisp, cool air of Fall seep in, we are reminded that winter is only a few months away. Not getting your homestead ready for winter is the first step to disaster.
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Getting the Homestead Ready for Winter
This means it’s time to start getting the homestead ready! Prepping for winter is crucial for maintaining the farm home and your belongings. Here’s your complete guide for getting the homestead ready for winter!
Clean out the gutters
Leaves and debris left in gutters during winter can weigh down your gutters causing them to work ineffectively or break. It is important to clean out your gutters before the first snowfall.
Stock up on firewood
If you have an old farmhouse, you probably have a wood stove. Stocking up on firewood before the snowfall is crucial in keeping your home warm for the winter. You want to have at least 2-weeks’ worth of firewood stockpiled in case you get snowed in.
Turn your water heater up
It can take longer to heat up water when the weather outside gets cooler. To ensure you have hot water ready to go during the cold months, turn your water heater up, slightly.
Start weatherproofing the house.
Old farmhouses have lots of drafty areas. Whether you have new windows or old windows, the brisk, cold air of winter is sure to make its way in. Get a weatherproof window kit, and start getting the plastic on your windows. Make sure to place the plastic securely above and below the window seal for optimal results.
Check for Drafty doors
During summer months, doors are opened and shut more and swell with the heat. This means your weather stripping could be cracked or ruined. Check and replace weatherstripping in your doors to prevent drafts in the cooler months.
Check Your Winter Clothing
Now is the perfect time to start transitioning your warm-weather clothes with your cold-weather clothes. Wash, dry, and store your summer clothes. Replace your summer clothes with your fall and winter clothing.
Set up barriers around small trees
The winter weather can take a toll on small trees. If you just planted a tree or you have a tree that isn’t sturdy in your yard, set up barriers to prevent it from falling over in the heavy snow. Do this with any other shrubs or plants you don’t want to be ruined during the winter months.
Check your roof
Even if you have a fairly new roof, it is important to inspect it for any loose shingles, holes, or problems before winter. Once winter hits, it is nearly impossible to get a roof fixed. Ensure your roof is in tip-top condition before that first snowfall.
Stock up on food
When you live out in the country, it can be tough to get to the store if a snowstorm hits. Prepare for winter by stocking up your cupboards with food and supplies. Here’s a good list of items you will want a month’s worth:
- Canned goods.
- Toilet paper
- Water
- Rice
- Non-perishable items
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Prep your garden
Your garden is where you get most of your food and you want it to be well-maintained over the winter. Remove all the dead plants, rake up leaves, cut any perennials back, and make sure your garden is ready for spring.
Prepare your livestock
If you have animals on the homestead, it’s important to start preparing for them to make it through the winter. You will want to clean your barns, sheds, coops, and other animal housing and lay fresh hay.
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Clip your animal’s hooves, deworm them, vaccinate, and make sure they are healthy before the cold weather sneaks up.
You will also want to consider buying heated water trough and heated buckets to make sure the water doesn’t freeze before the animals can drink it.
Put all the farm equipment up
The last thing you want to happen is for your tools, equipment, and supplies to get ruined during the winter months. Do a clean sweep of your land and pick up hoes, rakes, shovels, and other gardening supplies you may have left out.
Get your mowers, tractors, and other heavy machinery up in barns and sheds so they don’t get rusted during the winter months.