10 Things Homesteaders Do in the Winter

Homesteading, particularly the plant-based variety, reaches its peak action when the weather is warmer. Much of it revolves around gardening which is done best when the temperatures aren’t freezing and the days are longer. More sunshine equals happier vegetable plants.

That said, homesteads don’t shut down in the wintertime. There are still plenty of tasks to do, and homesteaders on the ball roll right into a new mindset not so focused on growing and picking fruit and vegetables.

Hobbyist homesteaders might do well to do the same. These are some of the things that homesteaders do in the winter. They’ll keep production up in the winter, as well as ease the burden of what needs to be done in the spring, summer, and fall.

1. Can Fruits & Veggies

Canning fruits and vegetables in the winter makes much more sense. First of all, it takes a long time, time which might be better spent elsewhere when the gardens are at their peak. Secondly, the heat created from having the stove on will help to warm the house when warming the house makes sense. So, rather than processing all the summer and fall harvest right away, freeze some of it and wait until the winter sets in.

2. Clean Deeply

During the winter, lots of days are too fierce to be outdoors, and when they aren’t, there’s no lawn to mow or squash to harvest. It’s the perfect time to give everything a proper scrub, particularly sheds, gardens, garages, and those types of spaces.

3. Concoct Home Remedies

As with canning fruits and vegetables, (early) winter is the right time for concocting home remedies. Freeze those elderberries, dry those herbs, and let the apple cider vinegar wait a minute. Home remedies like elderberry syrup, fire cider, and throat coat tea can all be prepared in early winter, just into to start warding off colds and such.

4. Cook in Abundance

Cooking long and slow in the winter is awesome because not only is hot food cozy but also the incidental heat from cooking helps out the HVAC by adding warmth and steam to the room. This is a great time to cook soups and stews, as well as meals to freeze for later.

5. Dehydrate Fruits & Veggies

Lots of fruits and vegetables can be frozen or stowed in the summertime to be used later. Some of those can be pulled out to make dehydrated blueberries, apples, pears, and figs. Others can be pulled from storage to make onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne, and so on. Again, the warmth from that dehydrator will go into a home that welcomes it in the winter rather than rages against it in the summer.

6. Grow Cold-Hardy Crops

While the gardens won’t heaving in the winter as they do in the summer, using a small, power-free greenhouse or some cold frames will allow for some fresh produce without using electricity. Plant cold-hardy crops like leafy greens, broccoli, carrots, parsley, leeks, beets, radishes, turnips, chives, and… hey, that sounds like a pretty full garden!

7. Maintain Tools

While the tools will get some time off in the winter, that doesn’t mean we should ignore them altogether. These months off are the perfect time for cleaning up and sharpening blades, replacing broken handles, and tightening up loose bits. Then, they’ll be ready to roll when it’s time to get back to work.

8. Make/Repair Textile Items

It’s nice to get snuggly under a blanket, next to a fire, with a nice cup of tea in the wintertime. Luckily, there are things that can be done this way. Evenings putting on patches, darning socks, and knitting new hats are perfectly productive. And, they are tasks that need to get done, too.

9. Plan the Next Garden

Unlike spring, summer, and fall, when there are seemingly a million things to do right now, winter affords us time to reflect and go about things methodically. That’s just the time to come up with a garden plan, seed order, and source for compost/mulch.

10. Rest & Relax

Finally, just as important, winter is also a time for homesteaders to get some rest and relaxation. Revisit the bookshelf for something to read. Watch all the movies/shows we’ve been waiting to see. And, take a moment to chill. Spring is just around the corner.

Suggested Products:

Here are some product suggestions that promote sustainable gardening and organic practices.

1. Organic Seeds:
   • Garden Republic: Herb Garden Seeds for Planting – 10 Medicinal Herbs Seed Packets Non GMO
   • Garden Republic: Indoor Herb Garden Seed Starter Kit –  Tea Growing Kits, Grow Medicinal Herbs
2. Natural Pest Control Solutions:
   • Neem Oil Spray
   • Cute Farm Neem Spray Oil for Plants
3. Compost Bins:
   • Cooler Kitchen White 1.3 Gallon Steel Compost Bin 
   • Spigo Indoor Kitchen Compost BIN
4. Organic Soil: Organic Bokashi Bran for Quick and Easy Composting
5. Gardening Tools: Sustainable Hand Tools (e.g., trowel, pruners)
6. Soil Test Kits: Soil pH Test Kit.
7. Organic Mulch: Organic Mulch (e.g., straw or shredded leaves).
8. Gardening Books: Many can be found here