Here in the mid-west we have been hit with some cold weather. I mean REALLY COLD. Halloween was a few weeks ago. The temperatures were so cold with snow flurries and heavy winds. The “official” trick or treating hours were re-scheduled for a later date! I have had to get ready for Winter temps a little earlier than I had planned.
I knew the temperatures were going to be dipping some. My husband is very good at watching the weather and making sure we are prepared for whatever is coming. This is the first Winter we will have animals here on our little farm to think about.
We not only have to keep us humans warm, but we have to make sure the chickens have everything they need as well. We have a new puppy too, but he spends a majority of time inside with us. Less concerns about keeping him warm!
Here are some things we completed around our farmhouse to get ready for winter. This is not a complete list. I am sure we will do more as we go along. This list just gives you some areas to think about.
Heating System Ready for Winter
The first thing we did to prepare for that colder weather was to make sure out heating system was up to par. We use a gas-forced air furnace as our primary heat source. My husband did a quick visual inspection of the furnace and made sure the air filter had been changed. A more expensive filter was necessary because I have asthma and multiple seasonal allergies. We chose not to do a formal inspection by a heating specialist due to the cost involved and the fact that the furnace is newer.
Our wood pellet stove is used as a secondary heating source. This was in the home when we purchased it and comes in handy to warm up the main living areas quickly. My husband does a basic maintenance check before we use the pellet stove. This is combination of cleaning recommended areas and visual inspection of the stove and chimney itself.
Gardening Areas Ready for Winter
We cleaned up all of our previous gardening areas. The old plants were removed. Most were placed on the compost heap. We haven’t decided yet about adding mulch to the garden and flower beds. It is hard to see these areas bare, when just a few months ago they were overflowing with flowers and vegetables. I look forward to spring when we can start anew with the garden.
This year we did not have one dedicated garden space. We had a septic system being replaced and we did not know exactly where the septic would be located. Instead we used small areas all over our property to plant flowers and vegetables. This was successful in some areas (tomatoes were over-producers), and not successful in other areas (only grew 1 pumpkin).
I think this a part of the learning process that happens as we transition from living on a golf course to a five-acre parcel of land with very few close neighbors. We are learning as we go along.
Animals Ready for Falling Temp's
It was necessary to make sure the chickens had everything they needed for winter. We have 12 hens that we get eggs from every day. We expect their egg production to slow down in the coming cold winter months. My husband was able to make sure their coop was secure but still had adequate ventilation to decrease the chances of sickness.
We are still supplementing their chicken feed with vegetables. We used our fresh farm vegetables till they were gone. Then we started using leftovers given to us. These leftovers were destined for the dumpster. We received them for free. A couple of area grocery stores allow us to pick up their expired produce.
These leftover vegetables are often in great shape. Our girls really love the extras they get. The best part is : this is food that is not put in the dumpster. This food was used instead of being placed in the trash.
Vehicles Ready for Cold Weather
I am still working on getting all of our vehicles ready for winter. My husband will handle the mechanical aspects of winterizing our vehicles. I try to make sure we have a box of Winter supplies in each vehicle.
Our supplies at minimum usually include ice scrapers, gloves, boots, coat, flashlight, and blanket. We usually stock some granola bars or some other snack that travels well. If we are traveling long distances in the winter we usually beef this supply list up a bit.
These are just a few of the items on our prepare for Winter checklist. This is a simple list that can be improved upon depending on your unique circumstances. I hope this helped you think of what you need to do before Winter temperatures hit your area.
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