Winter is well on its way to most parts of North America. Halloween parties abound this weekend while many of us are aborting haunting plans in lieu of watching Game 7 of the World Series. In the background harried and anxious discussions regarding Thanksgiving Holiday plans are filling the air. Amongst all this, the howling cold of the north wind and some of the goat does letting us know they are ready to breed, it's time to prepare the homestead for November.
Here is what is on our list:
1. Lift and move any plants not already in the green house. Many of the citrus are fine down into the 40 degrees F range, but even though they can tolerate lower temperatures, moving them into the green house allows us to enjoy citrus during the winter months as well.
2. Heat loving herbs such as basil are lifted and placed into pots or new plants that have been started from seed in pots are moved into the green house.
3. Check irrigation systems to make sure everything is in good working order and buried or insulated well enough to avoid any breaks and bursts. Ensure all the cold weather crops such as kale, lettuce and spinach are receiving enough water. Harvest any remaining herbs that won't make it through the colder temperatures and put away for drying.
4. Clean off all the solar panels. With the dry weather we've been having, dust accumulates on the panels and can further reduce efficiency during the already shortened hours of daylight.
5. Drain water collection eliminators and clean roof washers. Although this isn't imperative, it's better to do it now and avoid having to potentially perform these tasks during bitter winter temperatures.
6. Check and repair seals on doors and windows. The summer sun and heat can be brutal on seals, and they can break down amazingly quickly.
7. In the chicken coop, we make sure the heat lamps are at the ready and power supplies and any related materials such as extension cords are in good working order. We also inspect the tarp we keep rolled up on the side of the coop. When inclement weather arrives, we simply roll down the tarp and secure it at the bottom. When the days warm again, we can roll the tarp back up. Walk the perimeter of the coop and make sure the structure is secure from animals looking to get in for some extra feed as well as predators looking for an easy poultry dinner.
8. When you rake leaves, bag them for winter goat treats or use them as bedding. If you are too lazy to rake and have portable fencing panels, simply move the panels around to where you want the goats to graze. However, if you are still milking, you will want to keep your goats off the dried leaves as it will impact the flavor of the milk. This activity is best reserved for doelings, bucks and retired does.
9. Be sure the does are getting enough exercise to avoid pregnancy toxemia.
10. Check the barn to make sure everything is in good working order and not too drafty.
11. Lastly, if you live in an area where birds migrate, beware of over-wintering birds of prey. Deciduous trees allow for easy line of sight for predators looking for free ranging poultry, so keep a careful watch on the birds in your area. If you see a bird of prey frequently visiting your place - even if they aren't looking at your poultry - it's best to prohibit free ranging for a few days and allow the predator time to learn they should move on to more fertile hunting grounds.
2. Heat loving herbs such as basil are lifted and placed into pots or new plants that have been started from seed in pots are moved into the green house.
3. Check irrigation systems to make sure everything is in good working order and buried or insulated well enough to avoid any breaks and bursts. Ensure all the cold weather crops such as kale, lettuce and spinach are receiving enough water. Harvest any remaining herbs that won't make it through the colder temperatures and put away for drying.
4. Clean off all the solar panels. With the dry weather we've been having, dust accumulates on the panels and can further reduce efficiency during the already shortened hours of daylight.
5. Drain water collection eliminators and clean roof washers. Although this isn't imperative, it's better to do it now and avoid having to potentially perform these tasks during bitter winter temperatures.
6. Check and repair seals on doors and windows. The summer sun and heat can be brutal on seals, and they can break down amazingly quickly.
7. In the chicken coop, we make sure the heat lamps are at the ready and power supplies and any related materials such as extension cords are in good working order. We also inspect the tarp we keep rolled up on the side of the coop. When inclement weather arrives, we simply roll down the tarp and secure it at the bottom. When the days warm again, we can roll the tarp back up. Walk the perimeter of the coop and make sure the structure is secure from animals looking to get in for some extra feed as well as predators looking for an easy poultry dinner.
8. When you rake leaves, bag them for winter goat treats or use them as bedding. If you are too lazy to rake and have portable fencing panels, simply move the panels around to where you want the goats to graze. However, if you are still milking, you will want to keep your goats off the dried leaves as it will impact the flavor of the milk. This activity is best reserved for doelings, bucks and retired does.
9. Be sure the does are getting enough exercise to avoid pregnancy toxemia.
10. Check the barn to make sure everything is in good working order and not too drafty.
11. Lastly, if you live in an area where birds migrate, beware of over-wintering birds of prey. Deciduous trees allow for easy line of sight for predators looking for free ranging poultry, so keep a careful watch on the birds in your area. If you see a bird of prey frequently visiting your place - even if they aren't looking at your poultry - it's best to prohibit free ranging for a few days and allow the predator time to learn they should move on to more fertile hunting grounds.
Stay warm and enjoy some downtime from the hectic chores of spring time and summer!
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