Tips to Homesteading

Posts Tagged ‘indoors’

More tips to winterize around your homestead…

Inside the home:
Specific to your Furnace…

• Call an HVAC professional to inspect your furnace and clean ducts.
  Stock up on furnace filters and change them monthly.
  Consider switching out your thermostat for a programmable thermostat.
  Remove all flammable material from the area surrounding your furnace.

Outside the home:

• Trim trees if branches hang too close to the house or electrical wires.
  Ask a gardener when your trees should be pruned to prevent winter injury.
  Plant spring flower bulbs and lift bulbs that cannot winter over such as dahlias in areas where the ground freezes.
  Seal driveways, brick patios and wood decks.
  Don’t automatically remove dead vegetation from gardens, as some provide attractive scenery in an otherwise dreary, snow-drenched yard.
  Move sensitive potted plants indoors or to a sheltered area.

In the Garden:

• It’s time to rake leaves and dispose of them, preferably in a compost heap. Failing to rake leaves can result in a dying or diseased lawn and garden.

For the Animals:

• Clean the floor of the pen daily or design it in such a way that it drains properly.
  Consider using translucent fiberglass roofing to allow maximum heat retention, if your budget allows.

Until next tip –
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.

Technorati Tags: animals, furnace, garden, homestead, indoors, livestock, outdoors, plans, winter, winterize

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The weather is changing in many parts of the US.
Time to decide what to do with the herbs.

Lovely Fresh Parsley

We like to have fresh herbs year round so I traditionally plant them in window boxes for the inside. A few tips before planing:

1. Make sure you get something that has a drip tray or pan to keep furniture safe.
2. Always add ample drainage such as rocks or broken pottery to the bottom before soil
3. Lightly transplant and only slightly disturb the roots before re-potting – a little is good.
4. Keep in a sunny window, but be sure to close drapes or shades at night when the temperature drops.
5. Keep an eye on watering and don’t over-water.

Having your own herbs indoors and on hand year round is a real treat! It brings the freshness of spring to your table and livens up those dull winter windows. Next spring, just transplant again and move outdoors!

EnJOY the journey!
Donna

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 Organic and Chemical-free Whole Grains, Bosch Mixers, the NutriMill, instructional tutorials, recipes and more.

Technorati Tags: Herbs and Herb Gardens, indoors, spring, transplant

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