Winter is a time for winter homesteading. If you’re new to the concept, winter homesteading is all about keeping your family safe and warm through winter with as little energy expenditure as possible. This article will provide tips and insights on how to winterize your home and live well during these cold months!
Winter Preparedness Checklist
A checklist of winter preparedness steps is useful for winterizing your home and keeping you safe during the winter months. Some important items on this checklist include:
– checking the chimney flue, taking stock of winter clothing supplies, stocking up on winter baking ingredients, winter hunting, and harvesting, keeping your woodpile full and dry
– checking the chimney flue again to ensure it is clean and safe for use
– winter clothing supplies: make sure you have a winter jacket, winter boots, winter hat/scarf/gloves, etc., gloves; be sure that everything is warm and waterproof
– winter baking ingredients: be sure to have enough winter baking supplies, such as flour and sugar
– winter hunting/harvesting: stock up on meat from your freezer or local butcher; make sure you know how to hunt safely; buy some extra deer feed for the animals in wintertime (hay) if needed. It is also a good idea to have winter gardening seeds in case you need to plant something during winter.
Building an Ice Home
One winter homesteading idea is to build an ice home. This amazing feat of winter engineering can be accomplished with a little teamwork and some winter supplies, such as:
– saws for cutting the lumber
– thick plastic sheets or tarps to cover any gaps in your construction
– hay bales (for insulation)
Chimney Cleaning
A dirty chimney can be very dangerous. It’s important to have your chimney cleaned before winter, so you don’t put yourself at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning or breathing in soot particles from an unclean fireplace flue.
Take Stock Of Your Winter Clothing
Make sure you have winter clothing that is warm and durable. Your winter jacket, winter boots, winter hat, gloves, scarf, and long underwear should all be thick enough to keep you safe from the cold winter temperatures.
Take Stock Of Your Winter Food Supplies
Make a list of everything in your pantry or freezer that needs to be used up. Then, take stock of all your winter baking supplies as well as winter produce and meat stockpiles to determine how much food you have on hand to get you through the winter months.
Winter Hunting
Now is the time to start winter hunting if you plan on doing some winter harvesting. When winter comes, animals will be naturally drawn toward food sources for survival, which means more game can easily be harvested close to your home!
Shooting Practice
If you plan on winter harvesting, now is a good time to practice shooting. You’ll want to have your winter hunting gear ready and be able to protect yourself from the elements if you’re going out into nature for winter hunting!
Harvesting Winter Produce
Your produce can also be harvested at this time of year as well. Some winter produce options to consider include winter squash, cabbage, garlic, onions, beets/turnips/carrots, kale, and other winter greens.
Winter Gardening Seeds
Seed packets are useful for winter gardening in case you need to plant something during the winter months! Having seeds on hand can also help cut down your food costs if you
The Importance of Winter Water Supplies
Make sure you have enough clean water stockpiles on hand in case winter storms make it impossible to get out and refill your winter water supply.
Keep Your Woodpile Full And Dry
A well-stocked woodpile is one of the most important things you can have on hand in winter, so be sure that yours is full and dry throughout the winter months. A damp or wet pile will not burn efficiently when winter strikes, which can lead to increased winter heating costs.
Weatherproof Your Home
Use winter weatherproof caulk to seal any cracks in your home’s exterior. If you have a basement, make sure the water heater is on an insulated platform and dried out completely before winterizing it for use during the winter months. Use insulation around pipes that are vulnerable to freezing temperatures. Weatherstripping doors can help keep winter drafts out.
Chill Out With Homesteading Activities And Entertainment
When winter weather hits, it’s easy to become stir crazy and cabin feverish! Plan winter homesteading activities that keep your family engaged during the cold months. Board games are a great way to pass the time during winter days indoors. Make sure you have blankets on hand for winter movie nights or snuggling up with a good book.
Homemaking Skills
The winter months are a great time to learn essential homemaking skills. Plan winter tasks for your family that will help you maintain and sustain your winter lifestyle, such as making homemade laundry detergent or making candles from scratch. You can even make winter crafts with the kids! Make sure all of those supplies are on hand before starting any winter homesteading activities.
With winter just around the corner, it’s time to winterize your home and plan for a successful winter season with as little energy expenditure as possible! If you follow these tips, winter will be nothing but snuggly days indoors with all of your family by your side.
Composting
If you have a garden, composting is an essential winter homesteading practice. Compost will keep your soil rich throughout the winter months and make it easy to get your garden up and running come springtime! If you don’t have a garden, consider purchasing some worms for home composting. These little guys can break down food scraps in no time at all, and they’ll keep your winter homesteading practice sustainable.
Canning
Canning is another winter homesteading practice that will keep your family fed throughout the winter months. Make sure you have a fully stocked pantry and use up any winter veggies or fruits before they go bad to ensure nothing goes to waste!
A Winter Survival Kit
Winter survival kits are essential to winter homesteading. Make sure you have all of the winter essentials on hand, like extra lighters for your fireplace and wood stove, warm blankets, winter clothes that will keep you dry and comfortable during cold winter months indoors or outdoors.
Roof Racks
If you live somewhere with harsh winters, it’s probably a good idea to buy roof racks or winter tires if you don’t already have them. You want to make sure that the snow doesn’t get too thick on your roof, but winter tires will help your car get through snow and ice with ease. Your winter homesteading journey should include some time to research what options are available for you!
Garden Maintenance
If you have a garden, winter is the time to winterize it. Pull any plants that are still alive and move them into your greenhouse or garage for winter storage. If they’re not in pots, simply leave them where they grow and cover them with mulch and sheets of plastic (be sure there’s some airflow). This will help protect your winter garden from the cold.
Be sure to also winterize your greenhouse by covering it in plastic, too! Leave a space at the top for airflow and make sure that any vents are covered in plastic as well. This will help trap heat inside of your greenhouse so you can get an early start on spring next year.
Preserve Seeds
If you’re winter homesteading, it’s probably a good idea to preserve your seeds for the next year. This will save you money and time come springtime when winter has passed but before summer planting begins! You can easily dry out winter squash (like pumpkins or acorn squash), store them in an airtight container with some desiccant packs, and use them during winter to get a little taste of summer.
Tractor Maintenance
If winter weather has really hit your area, you might need to winterize your tractor before putting it in storage. Generally speaking, this means draining out all of the fluids and storing gasoline separately from the engine when you’re not using it for winter homesteading purposes. If you have a gas-powered lawnmower or snowplow that you use in winter, you’ll need to winterize it as well.
Foraging
Foraging is a winter homesteading practice that can be dangerous. Be sure to research where you’re foraging before heading out into the winter wilds! If you’ll be hunting, fishing, or trapping during winter months as part of your winter homesteading adventure plan ahead and stock up on ammunition/fishing line/nets so they’ll be on hand when winter hits.
Egg Collection
Egg collection is a winter homesteading practice that can be dangerous. Make sure you have winter boots and winter clothes on before going out to collect eggs from your chicken coop! Be careful not to slip, because accidents happen easily in the wintertime when it’s slippery outside.
Making Butter
If you’re making butter during the winter months, winter clothes and winter boots are a must. You’ll also want to have some ice on hand so you can chill your butter-making mixture as quickly as possible once it’s all ready!
Milking Animals
Milking winter animals can be a bit tricky. You’ll need to make sure your winter clothes and boots are on tight before you go out, otherwise, you might end up with wet socks! It’s also important that there isn’t snow everywhere where the animal is kept because it will get trampled into their food.
Fence Repair
If you have animals wintering on your homestead, it’s probably a good idea to check fences before winter comes. You don’t want any of your animals getting loose during the winter months!
Tool Sharpening
It’s winter, which means lots of winter homesteading tasks. It also means that your tools are going to get quite a bit more use than in the other seasons, so it might be a good idea to sharpen them before winter starts! You can do this yourself with an angle grinder or by taking them somewhere (or you could always watch a YouTube video to learn how to do it yourself).
Blogging During Winter
It’s winter, which means winter homesteading. Wintertime is great for blogging! You may have more free time on your hands during winter because of shorter days and cold weather keeping you inside, so now might be the perfect opportunity to start publishing posts.
Herbal Remedies
It’s winter and winter homesteading season, which means that winter colds are going to be passing around! Keep some herbal remedies on hand so you can take care of yourself while staying warm inside.
Heating
If you have a fireplace or woodstove, make sure that it’s ready for winter by cleaning out the ashes from last season, kindling a new fire, and buying some winterized kindling. If you don’t have access to either of these heating sources, consider purchasing a wood-pellet stove or electric heater for your winter homesteading journey!
Enough Food for Animals
If you winterize your home for winter, it’s important to make sure that there is enough food available for your homestead animals. It might be a good idea to purchase some extra hay or grain so they don’t go hungry in the winter months!
Enough Water for Animals
Water is important for winter homesteading. Make sure that your animals have enough water available in the winter months, and if they don’t you might want to consider purchasing a heated water bucket so it won’t freeze when winter arrives!
Rabbit Hutch Winterization
If you winterize your rabbit hutch for winter, make sure that there is enough hay available to keep the rabbits warm! If it’s too cold out in the winter months to go check on them frequently, consider purchasing a heated water bucket so they won’t freeze.
Winter Homesteading Gear
It’s winter and winter homesteading season, which means winter gear is a must! It’s important to make sure that you have winter boots and winter clothes before going out into the snow. You’ll also want some ice for making butter because your mixture will need to be chilled quickly once it’s ready!
Pre-Gardening
Winter is a great time for winter homesteading, but it’s also an excellent time for pre-gardening. You can start some seeds and get them growing before the warmer weather starts up again in spring!
Winter Gardening
If your winter homestead has a greenhouse or cold frame that protects plants from winter weather, then winter is an excellent time for winter gardening. You’ll be able to grow a winter garden and get fresh food throughout the winter months!
Snow Shovels
If you live somewhere that gets heavy snowfall during the winter months, be sure to have enough outdoor winter gear to make sure you can get out to shovel the snow if necessary. It’s a good idea to have winter boots and winter clothes on, as well!
Food Dehydration
Food dehydrators and winter weather make a great combination. If you like to spend winter homesteading outdoors, then you’ll be able to enjoy some tasty winter treats that your food dehydrator has made for you!
Winter Apple Picking
Apple trees are an excellent addition to any winter homestead because they produce delicious fruit all year round! You can winter apple picking and then use them to make your own winter preserves – yum!
Sledding
Winter is a great time for sledding. There’s nothing like taking the kids out on the hill in the wintertime to enjoy some fresh air while sliding down the snow-covered mountain (or modest incline). Just remember that you’ll have winter boots on, so don’t go too crazy!
Making Soap
Winter homesteading is a great time to make soap. You can use winter ingredients like winterized lye and winter herbs, or you could try making some all-natural skincare products during your winter journey!
Laundry on the Homestead
Doing laundry might not be something that most people think about when they imagine winter homesteading, but winter homesteaders can still do laundry! You just have to think about winterizing the process and using cold-water detergents for winter clothes.
Yogurt Making
Yogurt making can be complicated, but winter homesteading is the perfect time to learn how! If you are looking for winter activities or winter chores that will keep your kids busy during those colder months, then yogurt-making might just fit the bill.
Winter Floor Care
There’s nothing worse than stepping out of bed onto a cold floor in winter. That’s why winter floor care is so important! You can winterize your home by laying down some rugs or installing heated floors – whatever works for you and what makes winter homesteading easier during the colder months of the year.
Winter Beauty Tips
If you are looking to give yourself a ‘winter beauty treatment’ this winter, then winter homesteading is the answer! There are plenty of winter beauty tips and winter cosmetic recipes that you can use to keep your skin smooth and moisturized during those cold winter months.
Winter Fireplace Use
Using a fireplace in wintertime might not always be safe or practical, but it’s still something many people enjoy doing in wintertime. If you are winter homesteading and use a fireplace, then winter fire safety tips are important to keep your family safe during those winter months!
Tonic Syrup Making
Winter homesteading is the perfect time to make winter tonic syrup! You can use winter spices like winter cinnamon and winter gloves, along with other ingredients that help you feel better during those cold months.
Beehive Preservation
If you have a beehive, winter is the time to keep your bees alive for the next season. All bee colonies go through winter in some form or another and this is just part of the process – but it’s also very possible that they will die if not properly taken care of! If you’re going to winterize your hive, make sure that your winterized honey is ready for when the bees wake from winter hibernation.
Honey Processing
Honey processing can be winter homesteading or winter chore, depending on what kind of honey you are making. If you are winterizing your home for the winter months and there’s a lot of extra time on your hands, then this might just fit in perfectly!
Honey Harvesting
If your winter homestead has an apiary or hives (or if you take part in beekeeping activities), then winter is a great time to go out and get your honey harvest! Come wintertime, the bees are too cold to fly outside for their primary source of food. Instead, they rely on what you provide them with inside the hive.
Lighting
If you’re not already using candles as part of your winter lighting practices, now is the time to start! You can buy winterized candles that will stay lit even in the wind and rain, and they’re a great way to keep your winter homesteading journey sustainable.
Learning
A winter homesteading journey is all about learning how to live sustainably. You might want to join an online community of other winter homesteaders or take up winter classes at your local college! Winter can be a great time for self-discovery and innovation, so don’t miss out on this opportunity if you’re interested in winter homesteading.
Organizing and Decluttering
If winter is a good time for anything, it’s winterizing your winter homestead. You can organize and declutter during winter so that you have more time to spend on other fun activities in the springtime!
Repairs
Winter is also an excellent time for repairs – whether they’re related to your home or garden equipment or not. You can winterize your winter homestead by repairing all of the little stuff so you don’t have to worry about it in the spring!
Saving Money
Winter is a great time for saving money. You might even want to stay inside and save on heat or invest that extra cash into winterizing your winter homestead with new equipment and supplies. Whether you winterize your home or winterize your winter homestead, this is a great money-saving opportunity!
Make Your Own Hand Warmers
As winter approaches, you might be looking for fun winter activities to do. One of the best winter homesteading ideas is making your own hand warmers! They’re very easy and only require a few simple ingredients. They’re also a winter homesteading supply that you can make yourself instead of buying them from the store!
Winterizing Your Home
When winter comes around, think about ways in which you can winterize your home. If you have a sump pump, make sure that it’s working and pumping water away from the house; if not, consider purchasing one for winter homesteading purposes! These little guys can be lifesavers when winter hits hard and prevents drainage in areas like Florida where hurricanes are common during winter months!
Don’t Go Outside Without Gloves
During the winter months, it might seem like a good idea to go out without gloves sometimes because nobody likes cold hands. However, winter days are short and it’s easy to slip and fall if you don’t have winter boots on! Be careful out there in the wintertime so you can stay safe while doing winter homesteading tasks!
Benefits & Drawbacks
There are many benefits of winter homesteading, including cutting down on energy costs throughout the winter months! On the other hand, you’ll have to winterize your home and make sure that you can keep yourself warm through winter.
– You’ll save on energy costs throughout the winter months!
– Make sure your roof stays clear of snow during winter.
– Buy winterized candles for lighting.
– Ensure that you’re able to heat your home without using too much energy in the winter.
– Winterized compost will make winter gardening easy!
The Conclusion
As you can see, winter homesteading is all about making your winter months sustainable and energy-efficient throughout the coldest season of the year. Follow these tips to ensure that you’re prepared for winter this year!
FAQ
What Do Homesteaders Eat in the Winter?
Many winter homesteaders eat winter crops like cabbage, greens, and root vegetables during the winter months. Winter is the perfect time for harvesting these kinds of foods because they keep well and can be stored to last through winter!
How Do You Homestead in the Suburbs?
Suburban winter homesteading is becoming increasingly popular. There are many winter classes that you can take up at your local college or community center to learn how to farm sustainably!
Why do People Become Homesteaders?
Many winter homesteaders become winter farmers because they want to live sustainably and produce their own food. You can also winterize your home with winter farming, which allows you to grow plants that might not survive the colder weather during winter!