Tips to Homesteading

Posts Tagged ‘equipment’

So how long before a child starts taking his/her first steps (at about 10 months to a year old) before you expect them to be in the Boston Marathon? Tomorrow?

If you think about it, that’s what we do to ourselves. We take huge leaps past some vital steps that are needed in homesteading. We think we need all the equipment, land, livestock and THEN we’re homesteading.

This is not the case. If we are taking ‘baby steps’ we’re still walking.  If we are doing a little of ‘this and that’ we are still homsteadING. Notice the ‘ing’ – it is a process.

Only if we give up on the process do we cease stepping in the homesteading direction.

Keep walking, taking baby steps and keep working out that dream of homesteading. Don’t be so hard on your self if you’re at least taking steps.

EnJOY the journey!

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. Living with a Homesteading Mindset in the country, the city and suburbs has been an adventure! The Millers own and operate Millers Grain House  which offers Organic and Chemical-free Whole Grains, Bosch Mixers, the NutriMill, instructional tutorials, recipes and more. Listen to her Radio Show – Live or Archived at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/millersgrainhouse

Technorati Tags: baby steps, equipment, homesteading, land, livestock, tips

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It won’t be long until many of us who live on homesteads will be facing the winter in full force. Over the next few posts, we would like to give some ‘tips’ to help you winterize in the areas of your home/house, your garden and your animals (pets & stock).

If you’ve not started, or you are new to an area that has harsher winters, or new to homesteading, these will be some ‘bite-sized’ tips to get the ball rolling. There’s no time to waste, though, because ole man winter is soon to come a-knockin’.

First tips:

In your Home:
Check the Exterior, Door and Windows
•Inspect exterior for crevice cracks and exposed entry points around pipes; seal them.
•Use weather stripping around doors to prevent cold air from entering the home, heat escaping and caulk windows.
•Replace cracked glass in windows. If you end up replacing the entire window, prime and paint exposed wood well before the wet freezing weather arrives.
•If your home has a basement, consider protecting its window wells by covering them with plastic shields to keep weighty snow from crashing in.
•Switch out summer screens with plexi-glass replacements from storage. If you have storm windows, install them now.

In your Garden & Lawn Equipment:
Now is the time to look a head and plant spring-blooming bulbs such as tulips and daffodils. Plant them any time from September in colder regions through December in warmer climates – as long as the ground can be easily worked.

A thorough cleaning of equipment to remove dirt, grass clippings, etc. will prevent rust and corrosion and will reveal any damaged or worn parts that may need replacing.

For your Animals:
Make sure the pen is located in an area where the animals will be protected from harsh winds and, preferably, exposed to the early morning sun. You may want to consider building a special winter pen for your animals in a better location if necessary. South- or south-east facing shelters are ideal in the winter.

Until next tip –
Best Blessings!
The Millers

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