Fall is my favorite time of year. The leaves turn colors, the temperatures start to cool, and preparations start for the winter months. It is also the time I start on my fall homesteading chores. From the tiny house to the animals, to the gardens, and fields there is a lot to be done before winter.
My list of things that need to get done is honed in on my southern homestead so they may be different if you live in a different climate than me. However, it is a good way to get you started on thinking about what needs to be done on your homestead. Make a list, set a plan into action and do those fall homesteading chores!
Fall Homesteading Chores Around the Homestead
Fall Homesteading Chores in the Garden
This time of year is all about planting for us Floridians. From August throughout October, we plant our late summer and early winter crops. I try to concentrate on planting crops that I am able to can and preserve, mostly.
Vegetable crops I plant include:
- beans
- corn
- eggplant
- squash
- onions
- peppers
- tomatoes
- pumpkin (Click here for a roundup of pumpkin recipes)
- watermelon
- cabbage
- celery
- broccoli
- cucumbers
- lettuce
- radish
- kale
- spinach
- strawberries
I also start new herbs in the garden including:
I take cuttings from my stevia and other herbs that get hung and dried as well. I also start new seeds and bulbs for flowers at this time.
Fall Homesteading Chores in the Coop
Fall homesteading chores here starts with the chicken coop. The straw bedding comes out and is used for mulch around my new fall gardens. New hay is replaced. The nesting boxes are also cleaned and new hay is placed in them also. I will be installing automatic feeders and waters since the number of chickens has increased. We are now up to 40!
The roof of the chicken coop will be sealed again and any maintenance issues will be addressed such as fencing or structural issues. The meat chickens will go to slaughter soon and that will be the start of the freezer inventory for the winter months. We also install the heat lamps in the coop ahead of time. We probably won’t need them here in Florida. But they are there if we do. This means no searching at the last minute for them if it does get too cold.
Fall Homesteading Chores Around the Property
Part of my fall homesteading chores includes sealing up and checking on the rest of the animal pens also. We replace their hay, seal any open cracks or holes, and rake out their pens as needed. We also stock up on hay to get us through the winter. Learning the hard way that locals do run out here was a lesson learned last year. It’s always better to be prepared!
Now is also the time of year that the sheep get bred so their house will be expanded to allow for mama and her babies in the spring. We also check the fencing around the pens for any damage and do repairs as necessary.
Fall Homesteading Chores Around the House
Fall is decorating time here on my homestead and since it is my favorite time of the year I go nuts! All of my fall wreaths and all my scarecrows go up. I replace all my spring and summer yard ornaments with fall ones.
This time of year is also used to clean and do any maintenance on and around the house, the patio, and the area immediately surrounding my home. I clean the windows inside and out, I pressure wash the patios and decks and address maintenance issues as needed. We check the house roof, bring out the heaters, and seal any drafts. Doing these fall homesteading chores allows us to prepare for winter better.
This time of year I have all the trees trimmed of any old, dead or dangerous branches. I also replace the mulch as needed around my plants. My final part of our fall homesteading chores is to plant millet and rye as cover crops to add nitrogen to the soil for spring.
Fall is a busy but productive time of year on this homestead. Therefore, I make a list that I print out for my homestead binder of all the chores I need to do. Then I plan out when to do each task in my planner. Click here to learn how to use a planner on your homestead. It really helps me to stay organized. By the end of October, I am prepared and ready to start my winter homestead chores.
What fall homesteading chores do you do on your homestead? What tasks do you accomplish for fall?
This post has been updated and is done in collaboration with other Homesteading and Natural Living Bloggers! Please click the links below to visit their sites, read their fall posts and let them know how you found them!
Julia @ Julias Daily Tips
Kristi @ The Stone Family Farmstead
Marla @ Organic 4 Green Livings
Frank @ My Green Terra
Candy @ Candys Farmhouse Pantry
Rosie @ A Green and Rosie Life
Valerie @ Living My Dream Life On The Farm
Chelsea @ The Green Acre Homestead
Shawna @ Home Grown Self Reliance
Joyce @ Natural Bliss Podcast Blog
Joy @Bean Post Farmstead
Katheryn @ Farming My Back Yard
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I am in France and our winters are much colder that what you have so my autumn planting list is nowhere near as extensive as yours – but I can still plant quite a lot in the polytunnel for winter crops and to give other crops a real head start in the spring. Outside though it is more about preparing the soil for next year, planning what changes I need to implement and harvesting pumpkins and other tender crops before the first frosts arrive … oh and simmering soups and stews on the woodburner! And thank you so much for organising this collaboration post – I am loving reading all the linked up posts and will share them over the next week or so.
It is awesome that you use a polytunnel to extend your growing season. We are in the process of turning an old addition into a greenhouse to extend ours also even if our winters are milder.
I am so glad you participated! We are part of a growing group that will continue to help each other grow and prosper!
Fall is my favorite season as well!
I have to say that I am envious of what you get to plant in the fall/winter! Tomatoes and tender herbs!! That’s so wonderful!
Enjoy your cool garden!