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Episode 356: 2020 Winter is Coming

Today we have a reminder about winter. Winter is nigh. Soon the plants will go to sleep, bare root trees will beg to be planted, and the cold times will be upon us. With the cold comes a need to keep our water from freezing, our animals from taking sick, and ourselves ready to get snowed in. This looks a bit different on a homestead than in the city and we will talk through what we do at the Holler Homestead to prepare.

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Tales from the Prepper Pantry

  • Winter perspective: Auditing everything to make sure we are ready
  • Use up vs Put Up
  • Moved canning out of the kitchen’
  • Drying more herbs
  • Mushroom season

Operation Independence

  • Made it home with the roaster, saw friends

Main topic of the Show: 2020 Winter is Coming

Usually, we start our winter preparations in August and I do this episode on the hottest day ever. Not this year. Cold temperatures have hit us a bit sooner than normal an caught me without things in order for winter.

Goal of winter preparations:

  1. Livestock taken care of
  2. Humans covered
  3. Water systems secured
  4. Preset spring growing

This year, we are taking a catch up approach

  • 10am-12pm WINTER IS COMING blocked time

Heat: Firewood and fire organization, chimney sweep and stove repairs, kerosene and propane heaters checked on, finishing the rocket mass heater

Livestock: Increase feed on hand, first aid audit, bedding needs, water antifreeze systems, shelter update

Humans: Audit first aid, add winter preps to the pantry (like milk), winter clothing & comfort audit

Food storage: move roots to the root cellar, reset kitchen to use up rather than put up

Systems: prepare the gas things for overwintering, remove window AC units, take in summer water things, secure the pump house against cold, drains

Gardens: reset the hydro system, drain the AP wicking beds, row cover, prepare the ground gardens for spring, plant the garlic, fall bulbs, row cover

Winter Festivities: Handmake gifts, start special foods, decide what will be “held” for holiday meals.

There is so much to do when winter is coming — this is why I usually start in August. But not this year. This year, it is not to be. But despite all that, it will get done. It always does. And the time will come so fast when I am tucked in by the fire, brandy in hand, planning the spring gardens…

Make it a great week!

Song: Grandpa’s Song by Sauce

GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. 

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