A Basic Herb Wheel

With warmer weather it’s time to get those herbs that have been basket-bound all winter out into the fresh air!

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Winter is in full swing!

As winter marches on and on and temperatures drop deep this season, we hope to keep the tips coming to keep your homestead humming!

Around the Home – Check Foundations:
Rake away all debris and edible vegetation from the foundation of your home.
Seal up entry points to keep small animals from crawling under the house.
Tuck-point or seal foundation cracks. Mice can slip through space as thin as a dime.
Inspect sill plates for dry rot or pest infestation.
Secure crawlspace entrances.

Around the Garden – Time to Mulch:
Apply winter mulch to perennials where winter temperatures generally fall below minus 10 degrees F.
Simply lay lightweight cover of organic mulch, such as shredded autumn leaves, pine needles or straw, over beds to protect plants from winter’s extremes.
Avoid more compact mulches and whole leaves (which can mat), since they can suffocate plants. This leaves slimy ground and is not a good cover.

For the Animals – Extra Comfort:
Lay down extra bedding so that animals can rest in warmth and comfort.
Straw, tree bark or wood shavings provide a soft surface to sleep on as well as additional insulation.
Don’t use rugs or rags–they can absorb liquids and freeze. Those are not comfortable when wet!

So….now that you’ve braved the weather to check around the homestead…go grab some hot cocoa and snuggle by that fireplace! Take care of yourself too!

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.

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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.

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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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If you have livestock of any form, you know they need just as much care, if not more, in the winter. If you have wood heat, well then you are hauling and chopping and cleaning ashes.

But the days are shorter and the weather harsher so many on the homestead keep busy inside with more projects that require staying by the fire. Here are some ideas:

1. Plan and draw out the spring garden and planting schedule.
2. De-seed any wildflowers from last year’s bed to re-use.
3. Knit, crochet or sew.
4. Cabinet, closet and drawer cleaning for that spring garage sale
5. Inventory the canning supplies.
6. Order your spring seeds on line.
7. Keep composting and turning it into the ‘dead’ garden.

There are many more ideas of winter homestead projects that can be done indoors or out. Please feel free to leave a comment and we can expand this list for more people to see! Thank you!

Best Blessings.

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