Cris
Spring Homestead Chore List
After a long cold winter, you are probably ready to get things growing again and getting ready for warmer weather. You know there are a ton of things that need to be prepped, but where do you start? For me looking out over everything, it seems so overwhelming. I start each year with a spring homestead chore list.
Also, I start to get antsy when the weather starts to warm. Typically, I start to itch to get that garden started, it’s time to sow some seeds to get food growing. Waiting is always better, but some do well with winter sowing. Certain chores need to be done first, which helps ease my mind about the garden.
What exactly are the chores that need to get done before spring is in full effect? It is a laundry list that seems a mile long. I take it one day at a time and keep crossing things off the list as I go. The first step is to actually survey the land and make the list.
Annual Springtime Chore List
Clean Out the Coop
If your chickens and ducks are like mine, they don’t like to be out in the snow and cold. They like to stay in the warmth of their coop in the winter much more so than in the summer. As the days start to warm, they will venture out giving you the chance to completely clean it out.
Rake out all of the old bedding, change out straw in nesting boxes, scrape the floors clean. Don’t forget to add that to your compost to give it a big boost as well. It’s a good time to wash all the feeders and water containers as well.
Check for leaks in the roof and holes in the walls and floor, make repairs as necessary. This might be a good time to build on to expand the coop if you plan on expanding the flock too. Make sure the chicken run is secure from predators, you need your flock to be safe through the season.
Muck Out the Animal Pens
Just like the chickens, the animals have been hunkered down through the cold. They will need their pens cleaned out and inspected as well. I actually keep a separate compost just for animal bedding, so this is another great source of composable material for that bin.
Look for wet spots in your pens where water has pooled and fill them in with fresh dirt. Lay in new bedding and make your livestock happy. This is also when you check their roofs and enclosures as well. Make sure fence panels are still secure, and gates are working.
Start thinking of what worked well last year and be ready to make changes for this year if you need to. Check shade structures and trip trees over the pens if needed. Keeping the animals clean and safe is the priority here.
Check Out All Farm Structures
You checked the coop, and the barns, what’s left? The pump house for the well, the tool shed, the root cellar, the shop, the any and all outbuildings you have. Check for signs of water leaking in, look on walls and the roofs. Check for signs of rodents that have set up house in the corners.
Clean out unused items that are taking up space. Organize your tools and make sure everything is put away where it belongs. Winters can be harsh, and maybe you just put the screwdriver on the work bench because you were in a hurry. It’s time to get set up for serious spring work on the homestead, and you need to be able to find what you need.
Clean out the greenhouse and get it set up for planting. Wash the pots you will be using in a mild bleach solution to sanitize them before using this year. Get your supplies together and make a list of anything you will be needing.
Property Maintenance
Check all of your fences thoroughly, make sure they are secure so that you can turn your animals out to pasture. Clean up branches that have fallen from trees, check drainage ditches to make sure they will flow when they need to. Did your seasonal creek overflow due to a clog? Time to fix that too. Leave no stone unturned when checking the property to see how it fared under the snow.
Home Maintenance
Don’t forget about making sure your home is still intact. Check the roof for missing shingles, look for signs of leaks in the attic too. Clean out rain gutters while you are up checking the roof, there’s nothing worse than clogged gutters in a storm.
Do you need to check the air conditioner or swamp cooler? How about getting that chimney swept once you are done with firewood? These are essential springtime chores you don’t want to put off. I did one year, and I dearly regretted it.
Do you have leaky windows or doors that could use some new weather stripping? Check your paint all the way around and scrape and repaint where it needs it. Snow and ice after a sunny summer really take their toll on outside paint. Check your deck for sturdiness and replace boards that have broken or become warped.
Prep Garden Beds
Were you in a hurry before the first snow and didn’t get all of those stalks into the compost? There should be room now for them so get those last few plants pulled and composted. Rake out any old leaf litter that may be hiding things like squash pugs or other pests in them.
Did your soil sink in those raised beds over the winter? Top them off with new mulch and compost to get them ready. Plan out where to rotate crops to for this year’s planting and decide if there is anything new you want to grow. This is the best time to go ahead and make new garden beds to expand your garden.
Check Tools and Equipment
When was the last time you changed the oil in the tractor? Do a complete inspection of all equipment, check spark plugs, oil, air in tires, air filters and gas tanks. This means lawn mowers, weed eaters, chain saws, leaf blowers, literally every piece of machinery large and small. Check your gas cans and make sure they are full for when you need them. Check battery packs for other power tools too.
As you clean out the tool shed, you should make sure all of your tools are clean and in good working order. This means no rust, no nicks, no dents. Pruners open and close nicely, shovel, rakes and hoes have their handles firmly attached. The last thing anyone wants is to have a tool break when you go to use it. Find out early if anything needs to be replaced.
Build New Supplies
Would you lack a new automatic feeder for those pigs? How about a new chicken tractor to move them around the yard? Now is a great time to set these things up for yourself. You could make a new milking station or set up birthing stations for your animals. Anything you wish you had last year; now is the time you should be building it. Set up new rainwater collectors along the animal pens and turn them into automatic waterers.
Turn your Compost
Your garden likely went into the compost when you were done last fall. This is a great time to get in there with the pitchfork and turn it all over. This will give you access to that lovely black gold on the bottom of the pile. Take this rich compost and add it to your freshly cleaned garden beds or sprouting pots.
Prune and Trim Trees
The best time to prune your fruit trees, or any trees for that matter is when they are dormant. Early spring before they start to bud is a great time to tame those wild branches. Pruning allows for stronger growth, and easier harvest of your fruit trees. Look for any broken branches that may become hazards and remove them early.
Harvest Cold Weather Crops
Did you grow anything over the winter, it might be just about time to harvest those goodies? I like to grow things all year in the greenhouse and its usually just about time to end those winter crops anyway.
Get Ready for Canning Season
Since you just did a cold weather crop harvest, you will be needing this anyway. I prefer to keep my canning supplies prepped all the time. This means when a jar gets emptied, it gets washed and sanitized and then goes into a crate to be ready for the next use.
Make sure your jars and lids are in good condition. Check and replace lids as needed. Check the seal on your caner and inspect for any new dents or rust spots. You might ponder getting a second water bath caner while you are at it.
Plant New Seeds and Harden off Seedlings
Finally! My favorite spring chore. Decide how many tomato plants you would like and get those seeds in to sprout. Peas, beans, squash, cucumbers…it’s time to plant them all. Don’t forget to check on those that you were able to winter sow, it’s time to start getting them acclimated to the fresh air outdoors.
General Property Clean Up
While inspecting fences and ditches, it’s a good time to pick up any debris that blew in on the wind. If you have a dog, it’s a great time to pick up after them too. Do kids leave their toys out? Have them put them away.
Put up any weatherization items you may have used. Maybe not the tarps that are keeping things dry through spring showers. Things like ice scarpers and snow chains in cars can be stowed away now. Ice melt and the snow blower can be put up for the season. Those tarps will join your winter items soon enough.
Set Up Watering Systems
I love having things water themselves. A good hose timer is a must to get the garden watered on cycle every day. I set up my hoses for each bed and connect them to the timer, then set it so that the whole garden gets watered before the sun comes up. Sometimes I will set a second time for after the sun goes down too.
Animals usually get floats that keep their water full, but it’s a good idea to check the floats and the hoses. Animals will be needing a constant supply of fresh water as the weather gets warmer. Get new hoses as needed to ensure all your plant and animals are ready for spring and summer.
Finished With the List
What do you do when everything is crossed off the list? You grab a good book and relax in the hammock of course. You’ve earned a bit of relaxation after that marathon.
Don’t get too comfy though, there will be new baby animals coming soon. You will have to transplant your seedlings and weed the garden beds. Hopefully you will be able to hit those farmers markets to off load some fresh eggs or milk too. The work on a homestead really never stops, but a nice break once in a while is allowed after your chores are finished.