I sat down over the weekend and made a list of tasks I need to complete in January and February around our homestead. It almost seems too late to be including January, but I want to get started on this list asap, so here it goes!
- sort leftover seeds and make a list of what I still need, and order before the stock runs out.
- Plan the layout of spring garden and make notes in the calendar for planting dates.
- clean up seed starting area.
- butcher old hens that are no longer laying well enough to keep around. This will probably be around 20 hens. Freeze or pressure can any chickens we can’t use up immediately.
- order more straw for chicken coop and garden.
- Start search for new rooster.
- learn to make cheese from raw milk (from a local farmer).
- make butter with extra cream and freeze.
- do some baking…I’ve been neglecting this lately.
- Make a large batch of muffin mix to keep on hand.
- set up straw bale cold frames for early greens.
- Prune fruit trees and berry bushes.
- Use, freeze, or pressure can remaining potatoes and squash before they go bad.
I’m sure there is more I should add to this list. The list for March should be started soon too so I can get a head start if possible.
Some Updates from our Homestead:
I’ve been getting more eggs each day from my young hens and pullets. Today I collected 20 eggs, the best haul since November. Unfortunately, my rooster, Del, has been sick and today he was worse. I realized that he wouldn’t recover so I put him down. This leaves us without a rooster again. I’ll start looking for free roosters on Craigslist. It would be nice to try hatching out our own eggs again, in the hopes of raising a hardier strain of chickens that will survive the diseases that have infected my flock. I have also noticed one of the new hens limping, so I’m pretty sure she has Mareck’s disease and will have to be put down too.
Oscar, our orange tiger, has not returned. He has been missing since December 17th. I don’t think we will be having a little kitty miracle happening with his safe return. With all the coyotes around here, it seems likely that he was eaten. Life can be pretty rough on a homestead.
Kit Kat, the rescue kitty, is on my poop list. She has been peeing in the shower and on our carpet. She is now banished to an unfinished room in the basement with 3 (yes, 3) litter boxes, and daily outdoor forays. Tomorrow I am taking her to the vet’s office to discuss possible solutions.
Tom and Joe go back to college tomorrow. It will be pretty quiet around here during the weekdays. I will miss having them home.
What tasks need to be accomplished on your homestead?
Hope you find another fine rooster soon! Thanks so much for sharing at Wednesday’s Seasonal Celebration! Have a good week:-)Rebecca@ Natural Mothers Network x
Thanks! No luck so far. No one seems to be looking for homes for roosters right now. 🙁
Sounds like a great list and will keep you busy for awhile! I have to start using up our winter squash as well. We don’t have a large amount, but enough for all of us. My biggest tasks this year are to clean and get rid of large amounts of items we don’t use anymore. We live in a very small space and all four of us have loads of hobbies so we collect lots of things. To downsize so cleaning is easier will be my top goal for this year! 🙂
Hi Lisa, check out something called Dr Elsey’s Cat Attract litter, and wash the affected areas with Nature’s Miracle. My 14 year old kitty started peeing on the floor (likely due to the dog pee stains/scents from the previous owner), but these seem to have really worked. Good luck!
I’m looking forward to reading your blog. We just bought our own homestead in June, on 2.2 acres and have a limited ag zoning so I hope to do a lot of the same things in terms of chickens and gardening!
Hi Erin,
Thanks for the suggestions. I did get the Cat Attract litter, mixed results…she still peed in the shower 🙁 But I will look for the Nature’s Miracle too.
Thanks for visiting! Congrats on the purchase of your property! 2.2 acres is more than double what I have (so jealous)!! Enjoy it thoroughly 🙂
I hear ya Lisa Lynn! Since I injured my finger, everything but the most pressing matters have been put on the back burner, and will remain there until this finger isn’t so tender anymore.
You sure have your work cut out for you!
~Kristi @Let This Mind Be in You
https://thismindbeinyou.blogspot.com
No problemo, Carol 🙂 I need to wait for this bitter cold snap to ease up before I get started on that job.
Thanks for the reminder. I sooo need to prune the blackberries.