Tips to Homesteading

Archive for December, 2009

In this Wednesday’s Winterizing Tips to Homesteading we will go up, under and around to keep the winter chill at bay!

For the home, go up and Inspect Roof, Gutters and Downspouts!

• If your weather temperature will fall below 32 degrees in the winter, adding extra insulation to the attic will prevent warm air from settling inside through your roof. If you have ceiling vents, this will decrease the cold draft coming in from them as well.
• Replace worn roof shingles or tiles to avoid icy build up.
• Clean out the gutters and use a hose to spray water down the downspouts to clear away leaves and debris. If it is rainy and the debris holds water, gutters will get heavy and potentially damaged with ice.
• Consider installing leaf guards on the gutters and extensions on the downspouts to direct water away from the home to avoid icy build up close to doors and pathways.

Around the Garden, it’s time to go underground!

• Dig up any tender bulbs. Cannas, tuberous begonias, gladiolus, dahlias and most other summer-blooming bulbs don’t survive winters in USDA Zone 9 or colder. Store freshly dug up bulbs in vermiculite in a paper bag in a cool (65 degrees F  or cooler), dry spot.

For the Animals and Livestock protection is just around the corner.

• Add at least one solid wall around the pen if there isn’t one already. This will provide a wind break. Ideally one wall should be on the north side to block the bitterest wind.

 Now go inside and Warm UP!!!

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Best Blessings!

The Millers

Donna Miller is an author, teacher and entrepreneur. Her favorite roles are that of wife and mother to three home-school graduates. The Millers own and operate Millers Grain House which offers Chemical Free and Organic Grains, Grain Mills, Bread Machines, Grain buckets, Bosch Mixers, the NutriMill, instructional tutorials, recipes and more.

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This Wednesday’s Winterizing Tips cover fireplaces, flowers and feed. 

Clean and cozy!

Around the home, check your fireplace and set up:

• Cap or screen the top of the chimney to keep out rodents and birds.
• If the chimney hasn’t been cleaned for a while, call a chimney sweep to remove soot and creosote.
• Store firewood in a dry place away from the exterior of your home.
• Inspect the fireplace damper for proper opening and closing.
• Check the mortar between bricks and tuck-point, if necessary

Around the yard, flowerbeds and perennials need tending:

• Pull up any annual flowers or vegetables felled by frost. Dispose of these in the compost heap; if you suspect disease, throw them in the garbage.
• Cut back almost to the ground any perennials whose foliage has become unsightly. The seed heads and dried foliage of some perennials add interest during the winter months, while others just look plain old messy.
• Weed. This action prevents weeds from getting a head start next spring, saving you work in the long run. If they are hardy enough to last through the first frost, they will be big pests if left alone until spring.

For the Animals, Winterizing Feed is important

• Feed your animals more than usual in the winter. Animals exposed to harsh winter weather need extra calories and body fat for warmth.
• Make sure the storage of the feed is good and there is no condensation or icy build-up.
• Check on the water trough every day. The water supply should be designed in a way that prevents freezing in the line, which could cut off the animals’ access to water. Hydration is very important to all live creatures in the winter. Us too!

Donna Miller is an author, teacher and entrepreneur. Her favorite roles are that of wife and mother to three home-school graduates. The Millers own and operate Millers Grain House which offers Chemical Free and Organic Grains, Grain Mills, Bread Machines, Grain buckets, Bosch Mixers, the NutriMill, instructional tutorials, recipes and more.

Technorati Tags: feed, fireplace, flower, homestead, winter, winterize

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