This is our second year going into winter on the farm and we learned ALOT last year. Some preparations we will repeat...others, not so much. It is so hard to think of winter as this fall time is my favorite time of year and I am still relishing in the smell of apples, the bright colors of leaves and the warm days and cool nights.
But, the winter will be on us before we know it and I often think of a book that was from one of my favorite series as a child, the book is Little Mouse on the Prairie by Stephen Cosgrove.
But, the winter will be on us before we know it and I often think of a book that was from one of my favorite series as a child, the book is Little Mouse on the Prairie by Stephen Cosgrove.
The book is about a mouse who, while all other friends are out playing, she is preparing for winter and storing away food. Its a cute little book but has very real lessons. I am trying to teach my children that it is important to be ready for whatever life throws at you. Whether that be having yourself prepared for winter, have savings set aside for a day when you have an unexpected expense (or expenses!) or just being prepared for the unexpected.
So with that thought we are going to have to thin our chicken flock and prepare their coop for winter which includes putting up plastic sheeting to help stop the cold wind from blowing straight into the coop. Right now we have 20 hens and are only getting 4-6 eggs a day. Many of our hens are molting right now and have stopped laying so it is about time to start making chicken stock to can for winter when we thin the flock.
The garden needs attention as I still have to finish pulling out the dead plants, collecting the last straggling peppers and tomatoes as well as harvesting any other seeds that are still going to be able to be dried for viability next spring. This is also only our second year doing the lasagna style or "Back to Eden" style of gardening so I am still trying to figure the best way to "put the garden to bed" for the winter.
As for our family I have our canned goods from the garden put up and ready to be eaten through the winter. I take great satisfaction in knowing that when the inevitable snow storms hit (or the forecasts thereof) I will not be running to the grocery store to snatch up food and supplies, I will be cozy and drinking a cup of cocoa hopefully by the fire.
But then that reminds me of another thing, we still need to buy a cord of wood for the fireplace...hmmm better get on with some of these winter preparations before I end up like the mouse's friends. Read the story sometime, you'll see!
So with that thought we are going to have to thin our chicken flock and prepare their coop for winter which includes putting up plastic sheeting to help stop the cold wind from blowing straight into the coop. Right now we have 20 hens and are only getting 4-6 eggs a day. Many of our hens are molting right now and have stopped laying so it is about time to start making chicken stock to can for winter when we thin the flock.
The garden needs attention as I still have to finish pulling out the dead plants, collecting the last straggling peppers and tomatoes as well as harvesting any other seeds that are still going to be able to be dried for viability next spring. This is also only our second year doing the lasagna style or "Back to Eden" style of gardening so I am still trying to figure the best way to "put the garden to bed" for the winter.
As for our family I have our canned goods from the garden put up and ready to be eaten through the winter. I take great satisfaction in knowing that when the inevitable snow storms hit (or the forecasts thereof) I will not be running to the grocery store to snatch up food and supplies, I will be cozy and drinking a cup of cocoa hopefully by the fire.
But then that reminds me of another thing, we still need to buy a cord of wood for the fireplace...hmmm better get on with some of these winter preparations before I end up like the mouse's friends. Read the story sometime, you'll see!
