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Oh, Autumn…how I’ve missed you. I’ve officially decided that fall is the season of my soul. Yes, summer has sunkissed days, but the heat just wears me out. Fall, on the other hand, has mornings just chilly enough for sweaters while the days are still sunny and warm, and the whole world bursts into color. I’m eager to trade the heat of summer for the cozy of fall.
Living on a homestead, the to-do list seems never-ending this time of year. But there's a sense of accomplishment in each task as we prepare for winter. One of the first lessons I learned when we moved to our homestead is that how well your winter goes will depend on how well your fall preparations were done. So, with that in mind, we’ve put together a list of 10 things to do for the homestead in September to ensure your winter months go smoothly.
1. Organize the Garage
The summer months are often filled with projects and activities. But tools and other things don’t always get put away in all the hustle and bustle. September is a great time to reorganize everything so you won’t have to search for them when the snow is piled up. Take stock, and replace any items that were used up over the summer, such as screws, shop towels, cleaning supplies, oils, lubricants, etc.
2. De-Clutter the Yard
Particularly if you live in a place that gets snow, now is the time to collect random tools and equipment that may have been scattered during summer projects. Once the snow piles up, these items will be hard to find, and all the cold and damp can damage tools.
3. Time To Plant Cold Crops
September is the perfect time to get in the crops that need to overwinter for a season. Things like garlic and other bulbs often require a freeze to grow in the spring. Remove all plants and debris from garden beds, prep the soil with fresh nutrients such as compost or manure, and plant your cold crops so that they have time to establish themselves before the first freeze.
4. Process and Preserve Your Harvest
Fall is the time to get all the produce processed and stored for the winter months. From canning tomatoes to dehydrating, freeze-drying, and freezing your produce, the work you put in now will determine how bountiful your winter diet will be.
5. Prepare Your Livestock For Winter
September is the time to start preparing the barn, stables, coops, and other animal enclosures for those cold winter months. Tasks here will vary, depending on the types of livestock you keep. For us, this means giving the coop a thorough cleaning and switching over to deep litter for the season. This is also a good time to check over fencing, gates, food, and water dishes. If you live in a cold climate, ensure your water dish heaters are in good working order.
6. Make Your Christmas Shopping List
Whether we want to admit it or not, Christmas is just around the corner. Particularly if you like us make most of your Christmas gifts, now is the time to make your list and get started. Even if you prefer to buy rather than DIY, starting your shopping early can take the strain off of the hectic days leading up to the holiday, and give you a sense of organization and control.
7. Seal Windows and Openings
As the weather takes a decidedly cold turn, don’t forget to give some attention to your windows, doors and other openings. Inspect door jams to ensure weatherproofing strips are intact. Consider adding clear plastic insulation for the season if you have single-pane windows. Check for cracks or openings in foundations and attics and get them sealed. Winter-proofing your home in September can help cut down the heating bill and prevent pests from seeking shelter in your home when the nights turn cold.
8. Stockpile Wood For the Stove
This is actually a task we work at all year long, cutting down trees and leaving them to season over the summer before splitting and stacking it in September. Wood chopping is essential since we rely on a woodstove as our primary heat source. This is also a good time to clean your chimney or have it professionally swept.
9. Machine Maintenance
Some tools and equipment have worked hard all summer, and others, like the chainsaw, are about to be put to some serious work. For those summer tools, give them a cleaning, an oil change, sharpen any blades, and grease anything that needs greasing before they go into storage for the season. Don’t forget to empty fuel reservoirs or treat them for winter storage. Sharpen chainsaw blades, and make sure the snow blower, plow, shovels, and roof rakes are in good working order. And remember, even the best-laid plans can fail.
In our second year on our homestead, both plow trucks, the plow attachment for the ATV, and the snowblower all failed when we got five feet of snow overnight! Needless to say, we were snowed in for three days before we finally hand-shoveled nearly a mile of driveway to get out.
10. Start Your Cold Season Herbal Remedies
Colds, flu, and COVID-19 can all stop your home or homestead in its tracks. Help keep your immune system functioning at its best throughout the season by getting your herbal remedies prepped now. Since tonics such as Fire Cider, Four Thieves Vinegar, Elderberry Syrup, and even tinctures take up to thirty days or more to complete, September is the ideal time to get them prepped to have on hand.
Happy Fall Ya’All!
I’m not even Southern, and I just can’t resist saying it!
September days are golden and warm, the nights and mornings cool and crisp, and each day brings us closer to winter, but I love fall, even knowing what comes next. Remember that the key to a successful winter on your homestead starts with the preparations you make in September. So, let's get started! May your harvest season be bountiful, your winter preparations be effective, and, as always, until next time,
