13 Winter Homesteading Activities for Modern Homesteaders
When we think of homesteading, visions of backyard chickens, bountiful veggie gardens and jars of home-canned foods lining pantry shelves are usually the first things that come to mind.
We think of pulling weeds and planting seeds; Of long, hot days gardening and farming livestock; Of evenings spent steaming up the kitchen windows while the canner runs steadily.
We think of collecting fresh eggs on a dewy summer morning and snapping green beans on the front porch on a warm summer night. And of course we think of eating fresh food, made from scratch with ingredients grown and plucked from our own land.
Indeed, these are all noble homesteading activities in the fair-weather months, but what about when winter sets in?
What happens once the first hard frost comes to claim any life that remains out in the garden? What do we do when the snow starts falling and the hens stop laying? How do we fill our days and nights after the canner gets put away?
Homesteading is a Year-Round Lifestyle
For whatever reason, homesteading is most often thought of as a three-season โactivity.โ Planting season begins in the spring, gardening and farming season runs from spring through the summer and canning and preserving season takes us from summer into fall. Winter often only gets mention when we talk about how best to use the other three seasons to prepare for it. So much of homesteading centres around preparing for winter. But what happens when winter finally arrives?
Sure, we could just hunker down and relax, enjoy the fruits of our labour and rest until spring returns and the really busy seasons begin again. But the very nature of most homesteaders is that we tend to enjoy keeping busy, working hard and creating as much as possible with our own two hands. In other words, we tend to go a bit stir crazy sitting around on the couch for too long.
Now, let me just make this clear before we continue: I am not at all suggesting that you shouldn’t take a well-deserved break in the winter. On the contrary, I think itโs VERY important to take time to rest whenever possible so that you can feel rejuvenated and be more productive when you really need to be.
But if youโre looking for some (mostly relaxing) homesteading activities that you can do throughout the winter months to help keep you occupied, save you money, ward off cabin fever and keep the pioneering spirit alive all year long, Iโve got a few suggestions for you.
Letโs begin with my personal favouriteโฆ
1. Cooking & Baking
Although it could be argued (with sound reason) that cooking and baking are year-round activities, thereโs no time like winter to fire up the oven, the slow cooker or the wood stove and create amazing comfort foods to fill the belly and warm the soul on cold, snowy days and nights.
Winter is all about cozying up and filling the house with the warm, comforting smells and tastes of home-baked breads, biscuits and desserts. Itโs about creating hearty soups and stews, slow-cooked roasts and meals that stick to your ribs.
Related: Homemade Honey Brioche Bread Recipe
Itโs also the perfect time to put some of that home-canned food you worked so hard on to good use. Use your home-canned green beans in a comforting green bean casserole. Enjoy some home-canned tomato sauce over a hearty pasta bowl. Make soups out of home-canned stocks and broths. Make your own homemade flaky pie crust and use the home-canned fruit pie filling you put up in the summer. And of course savour every pickle, preserved fruit and jar of jam, jelly, relish, chutney, salsa and sauce you worked so hard to preserve in the summer and fall. After all, there is no better way to enjoy the fruits of you labour than to literally enjoy the fruits of your labour!
2. Winter Gardening & Farming
While many plants won’t survive the winter, there are a handful of cold-hardy veggies that you can grow throughout the winter.
Greens like kale, collards, bok choy and Swiss chard grow well even in cold, snowy conditions. Although you will still need to protect them from getting crushed by the weight of the snow. You can do so by building your own DIY Hoop House. Or better yet, you can use a heated greenhouse to extend your growing season right through the winter and keep your root vegetables growing while extending the life of summer veggies and getting an early start on spring planting.
Related: 3 Ways to Protect Your Plants from the Cold
For an even simpler winter “gardening” project, try growing your own sprouts or microgreens indoors!
And of course if you have livestock they will need to be cared for all throughout the winter. Be sure to keep them safe, dry and warm with extra bedding and always make sure they have enough liquid water to drink as water can easily freeze during winter. We use heated water dishes like these in the winter for our chickens and rabbits.
3. Knitting & Crocheting
If you like to keep your hands busy, there is no better way to accomplish this in the winter months than to start a knitting or crocheting project.
If youโve never knit or crocheted before, there are some great videos on Youtube to help you get started. Thatโs where I began, and although Iโm still not great at either, itโs a skill Iโm working on. Itโs also something I find I only have time to do in the winter when I have more time to sit and devote to it.
4. Sewing & Quilting
Winter is also the perfect time to for sewing and quilting projects. If youโve been wanting to try a new sewing project, finish a quilt thatโs been sitting in your closet for ages or even just mend some clothing, winter is a great time to break out the sewing machine (or a simple needle and thread) and get to work!
Likewise, if you’ve never sewn anything before but you’d like to learn, winter is the perfect time to focus on learning and acquiring these skills!
5. Candle-Making
I don’t know about you, but the long, dark winter days and nights would be a lot more depressing around our house without the light and beauty that emanates from the plethora of candles that we burn throughout the winter months. There’s just something about natural candlelight during the winter that makes this this time of year just that much cozier and more enjoyable.
But candles aren’t just beautiful luxuries; They’re also essential items to have on hand during the winter months in case the power goes out or if youโre living off-grid. But the cost of buying candles from the store can add up pretty quickly. Not to mention, store-bought candles are often made with ingredients that you might not want to be burning and breathing in. By making your own candles at home, you can control exactly what goes into them and do so at a fraction of the cost of buying store-bought.
Processed with VSCO with a5 preset
The best options for homemade candles are beeswax or soy. You can make them scented or unscented. Using essential oils is usually your best option as the fragrances are natural, but you can use fragrance oils as well. I have used both and enjoy each for different reasons, but the choice is yours.
–> Click here to learn how to make your own scented soy wax candles with essential oils.
6. Making Soap & DIY Body Products
Just like candles, you can whip up your own homemade soap and body products at home in your kitchen (mostly). Of course if you are making soap with lye you will want to go outside due to its caustic nature. But otherwise everything can safely and easily be made in your kitchen.
Choose from cold-process or melt & pour soaps, DIY body butters, healing salves, lotion bars, salt and sugar scrubs, bath salts, perfumes, hair products, milk and herbal baths, bath bombs, lip scrubs, chapstickโฆ the list goes on and on. In fact, anything you can buy at the store you can pretty well make at home, including most makeup.
The basic ingredients for some of these projects can cost a little bit of money up front, but will almost always save you money in the long run while using safer, healthier, more natural ingredients. You can even make some things with a few simple ingredients you probably already have in your home pantry, like white sugar and olive oil. Just mix these two ingredients together and add a few drops of essential oil to make a beautiful homemade sugar scrub!
7. Making Homemade Cleaning Products
Winter is a great time to restock your cleaning supplies by making your own safe and natural homemade products. Just like bath and body products, the list of DIY cleaning products you can make at home is seemingly endless!
Make your own laundry detergent at home using a few simple ingredients. Infuse white vinegar with the rinds from citrus fruits that are in-season in the winter and make your own multi-purpose surface cleaner. Or blend together some baking soda with some dried, grated lemon peel and lemon essential oil to make a homemade sink, tub and toilet cleaner.
You can even make your own potpourris with dried herbs and flowers and chemical-free homemade room sprays with essential oils and alcohol. These double as Christmas gifts as well!
Related: DIY Christmas Scented Room Sprays with Essential Oils
8. Building & Crafting
Whether youโre a skilled carpenter or just enjoy breaking out the hot glue gun and getting creative, winter is a the best season to devote some time to all of those DIY projects youโve been wanting to tackle but never seem to have time for.
Having a basement workspace or a heated garage is handy when it comes to woodworking and other building projects in the winter, but a simple craft room or even a dining room table is enough to do most DIY-ing. Whether youโre making your own homemade Christmas ornaments or building a bookshelf, winter is the time to break out the craft supplies and get making!
For more simple winter woodworking projects, be sure to check out the Winter 2021/22 issue of Modern Homesteading Magazine, which includes a step-by-step beginner woodworking tutorial for making your own versatile wooden crate at home, as well as tips from professional woodworker and homesteader Anne of All Trades who walks you through how to source green wood for carving.
9. Reading & Writing
I’ve always loved to write, which is why I chose to start this blog in the first place! If you love writing too, winter is a great time to focus on journalling, blogging or maybe even starting the manuscript for that book you’ve always wanted to write!
The peace and stillness of this time of year lends itself to being a great time for reflection and contemplation, which is best expressed in writing. The quiet of a winterโs evening is the perfect environment to let your thoughts flow onto paper (or a keyboard).
Likewise, the same qualities about winter make it a great time to get some reading done as well. Iโve never understood those people who lay by the pool all summer reading their books. Even before I began homesteading, I still never had time to read in the summer! There was always so much else to do. But in January, after the rush of holiday madness has passed and the long-haul of winter really begins, I love to curl up with a hot cup of tea and a good book or magazine.
If you’re looking for some great reading material that will keep you inspired this winter, subscribe to Modern Homesteading Magazine and gain instant access to our entire library of issues!
Over the past 2+ years we’ve covered everything from organic gardening and backyard chicken keeping to herbal medicine, home canning, fermentation and sourdough bread (and SO MUCH MORE!)
Get exclusive articles, interviews, recipes and resources in every issue, and get brand new issues delivered right to your inbox!
Whether you use the time to write your autobiography, start your own blog, get lost in a story or learn something new from a non-fiction book, winter is the best time of year for busy homesteaders to slow down enough to really sink into some reading and writing.
10. Playing an Instrument
This is one thing I donโt do but really wish I did. Thereโs something about playing an acoustic instrument for entertainment in the winter that harkens back to times of old.
Whether you play Christmas carols on the piano, strum folk tunes on your guitar or organize a sing-along with the whole family, making music with your own voice and hands, without the need for electricity, follows in the tradition of the pioneers.
I always think of โLittle House in the Big Woodsโ when Laura Ingalls Wilder describes her favourite time of day: When Pa comes home and strikes up his fiddle.
Playing an instrument is truly old school entertainment, and definitely something you should consider learning if you ever plan on living off-grid!
11. Seed Shopping & Garden Planning
Winter is also a great time to do a little dreaming. Usually by January or February, we begin longing for the warmer, brighter days of spring to return. One way we can help get out of the dark, winter mindset and brighten things up a bit is to browse through seed catalogues and start planning our spring and summer garden.
February is usually the time when we begin starting some of our seeds indoors as well. Let the summer dreaming begin!
Related: How to Read and Understand Seed Packets
12. Self-Improvement/Personal Development
Winter and the New Year in particular is THE time to reflect on whatโs working and what needs improvement in our lives, and to set new goals for ourselves to improve some areas of our lives that need some attention.
Whether you want to quit a bad habit, start a good habit, improve your physical body, get your finances in order, organize your home or learn a new skill, the New Year is the best time of year to set new goals, make plans for the future and take the time to focus on yourself and your dreams.
If you’re looking for some inspiration or ideas to help you get started with your own goal-setting, check out this list of 25 self-sufficiency goals to set (and smash!) this year!
I love to start each new year by creating a vision board full of things that I want to do, be or achieve. I hang it somewhere where I will look at it every day (like in the bathroom) to help keep my goals and dreams fresh in my mind each day. Itโs amazing watching the things on my vision board materialize!
I truly believe in the power of visualization and the law of attraction, and have achieved many of the things I’ve put on my vision boards in the past. I encourage you to make your own vision board too! Visualization and goal setting combined with intentional action is a winning combination for achieving anything you set your mind to!!
13. Family Time
I almost didnโt add this one as family time should be a priority all year long. But winter allows us the time to reconnect with family and friends and the seasonal celebrations and traditions to do so.
Itโs the time of year when we open our homes to extended family, friends and neighbours or when we travel to see relatives we donโt visit with every day. Itโs a time to make merry and celebrate the love we share with others. Itโs the time to let others know we love them and to make plans to get together and enjoy their company. And of course itโs a great season to spend quality time with our immediate family playing board games, building snowmen, going skiing, reading books and enjoying hot chocolate in front of the fire.
As homesteaders, spending time with our families is often at the top of our list of priorities. But throughout much of the year, that time is often spent working together. While that is excellent bonding time, itโs also nice to take a load off and simply enjoy each otherโs company and revel in some good fun together. Play a board game, go for a winter walk in the woods, or just enjoy each other’s company as you linger a little longer over meals together. Whatever you do, put your phones down and give each other your undivided attention. Be fully present and enjoy every moment together.
There are so many activities that are perfect for winter, and I could probably make a list a mile long full of everything you could keep yourself busy with in the โoff-season.โ But these are my personal favourites and are the perfect activities for homesteaders to focus on.
I know that homesteading appealed to me in large part because I love keeping busy, creating, learning new skills and improving all the time. And while I love to relax in the winter, I love to feel like Iโm still being productive while enjoying life at a slower pace than the rest of the year.
Winter offers us the gifts of peace, quiet and time that we donโt always get to enjoy during the other three seasons. So let us not wish it away, but embrace it and use it to our full advantage. After all, spring is just around the corner;)
Save
CATEGORIES
6 Comments
Submit a Comment
ABOUT ANNA
You Might Also Like
My Favourite Things – 2022 Edition (aka. The Modern Homesteader’s Christmas Wish List)
* This article contains affiliate links. For more information, please read my Affiliate Disclosure. Every year around this time, I compile a list of my favourite things: Things that I love, use or covet for my own homestead, and things that I know other modern...
Homemade Beef Jerky Recipe (Dehydrator + Oven Instructions)
* This article contains affiliate links. For more information, please read my Affiliate Disclosure. Homemade beef jerky is a delicious way to preserve meat for food storage and for easy transport to take on hikes, camping trips, road trips and to pack in a...
For many, wood heat and wood burning stoves conjure up nostalgia and cozy feelings. But more importantly, wood heat is reliable, affordable and gives us the ability to heat our homes without relying on the grid or on other types of energy, which are currently in short supply.
While we typically think of wood stoves and traditional fireplaces when we think of wood heat, there is an even MORE efficient and sustainable way to heat our homes with woodโฆ
Introducing the Rocket Mass Heater: A slow release radiant heating system that consists of a fire box, an insulated combustion chamber that burns fuel at very high temperatures, and a thermal mass -typically made out of cobb and stone- attached to the exhaust pipe, which snakes through the thermal mass before connecting to the chimney pipe.
Due to their highly efficient design, rocket mass heaters emit more heat for longer than conventional wood burning stoves and fireplaces, and are more energy efficient and environmentally friendly than other types of wood heat.
They burn at a higher temperature, emit practically no smoke at all, and charge the thermal mass around them, which continues to emit radiant heat long after the fire goes out. Not to mention, rocket mass heaters require much less fuel than conventional wood stoves or fireplaces. Some estimates even say rocket mass heaters can reduce fuel consumption by up to 90 per cent!
If youโve thought about going off-grid or youโre simply looking for alternatives to expensive, unreliable electric heat and youโre in a position to build and install one of these bad boys at home, I highly encourage you to consider a rocket mass heater for your homestead, Earthship or otherwise humble abode.
Thanks to guest contributor Sunflower Craig from Permies.com for this insightful article on rocket mass heaters! Click the link in my bio @anna.sakawsky or go to https://thehouseandhomestead.com/rocket-mass-heater/ to learn more!
#woodheat #rocketmassheater #woodstove #energycrisis #alternativeenergy #homesteading #modernhomesteading #offgrid #sustainableenergy
โNot eating mushrooms is like not eating an entire food groupโฆ And a healthy one.โ
Mushrooms have had a bit of a bad rap in the west for a long time. Depending on the type of mushroom in question, theyโve either been regarded as something to turn your nose up at or even something to be afraid of.
But in recent years mushrooms have started gaining momentum as both medicine and superfoods, and with more and more people looking for natural alternatives to conventional (and often harmful) prescription drugs, psychedelic mushrooms are even being legalized and used in small (micro) doses to treat mental health issues with promising results.
The story of mushrooms and the entire fungi kingdom is as complex and captivating as the mycelium networks they fruit from, and the potential health and wellness benefits of adding more mushrooms into our diets and lives are only just beginning to be understood.
I sat down with Louis Giller of @northsporemushrooms for the winter issue of Modern Homesteading Magazine to talk all about the wonderful world of fabulous fungi, how to get started foraging or growing mushrooms at home (even if you live in an apartment!), and why mushrooms of all kinds (edible, medicinal and psychedelic) are rightfully having a moment right now.
If becoming more self-sufficient and optimizing your overall health and wellness is part of your master plan for 2023, mushrooms should definitely be a part of your approach.
Start by checking out my full interview with Louis in the winter issue of Modern Homesteading Magazine - Link in bio to sign in or subscribe.
And while youโre there, be sure to check out our feature on medicinal mushrooms, as well as our elevated mushroom recipes, all of which make perfect winter meals for your family table.
Link in bio @anna.sakawsky or head to https://modernhomesteadingmagazine.com
#mushrooms #medicinalmushrooms #eatyourshrooms #fantasticfungi #homesteading #modernhomesteading
When I first started growing my own food at home, the gardening world seemed pretty black and white to me: plants grow in the dirt, outdoors, in the spring and summer. Thatโs what us city kids always learned in school anyway.โฃ
โฃ
And obviously thatโs not wrong, but once you get into gardening and growing food, a world full of endless possibilities starts to open up, including growing food indoors year-round.โฃ
โฃ
Sprouts are considered to be a superfood because of how nutrient dense they are and when we eat them, we get the health benefits of all of those nutrients in our own bodies.โฃ
โฃ
If you live in a climate that remains colder half the year or more, sprouts can be an excellent way to get the benefits of gardening even when it's not "gardening season". โฃ
โฃ
I've got a full list of tips & tricks on growing sprouts indoors all year round that includes: โฃ
โฃ
-How to grow sproutsโฃ
-Different ways to use them โฃ
-Where to buy seeds and more! โฃ
โฃ
Visit this link https://thehouseandhomestead.com/grow-sprouts-indoors/ or check the link in my bio to see all the details.
Living a slow, simple life isnโt easy in this fast-paced world.
No matter how much I preach it to everyone else, I still struggle with the guilt, shame and โnot enough-nessโ that I feel every time I choose rest, relaxation, stillness, disconnectedness or being โunproductiveโ when I feel I SHOULD be working, hustling, moving, checking emails and being โproductiveโ (which is almost always).
We all know that our culture praises productivity and busy-ness, and most of us know itโs a scam that keeps us stressed, burnt out and focused on the wrong things in life. Ultimately many of us end up feeling unfulfilled even though weโre spinning our wheels every day working to keep up with the demands of the world and our never-ending to-do list. Most of us would rather be resting, relaxing, spending quality time with our loved ones and doing things that light us up rather than simply keep us busy. But itโs hard to break free from the societal pressure to do more, produce more, earn more, acquire more and ultimately BE more.
So while I still struggle with this daily, and I donโt have any easy answers for how to overcome this, I wanted to share that today Iโm choosing slow; Today Iโm choosing to be present in the here and now rather than worrying about yesterday or tomorrow; Today Iโm choosing snuggles with my baby boy over emails and deadlines, and while I still feel that guilt rising up inside me, Iโm making a conscious effort to remind myself that the world wonโt end because I chose to slow down today, and at the end of my life I wonโt regret taking this time with my son, but I might regret NOT slowing down to enjoy it.
I encourage you to apply the same thought process to your own life and give yourself permission to slow down and enjoy the gift of time youโve been given today. After all, you never know when it might be your last day. And if it were your last, how would you wish youโd spent it?
In the dark, bitter cold days of midwinter when weโve been deprived of quality time in the sunshine and the trees are all bare, it can be easy for almost anyone to feel depressed and to overlook the tiny miracles that are happening all around us.โฃ
โฃ
Signs of life abound, even in the dead of winter! โฃ
โฃ
Connect with nature and enjoy the little things to help beat the winter blues. Go for a walk in the woods or the park and really pay attention to the natural world around you. Watch the songbirds flitting back and forth, gathering winter berries. Look for signs of greenery and new growth; Maybe even some snowdrops or crocuses have begun to emerge from the ground where you live. โฃ
โฃ
If you're feeling the effects of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) right now, please check out my full list of Natural Ways to Combat SAD and additional resources to seek out help from various care providers here https://thehouseandhomestead.com/natural-ways-treat-seasonal-affective-disorder/ or visit the link my bio. โฃ
โฃ
Spring is coming!
While most people run to the store every time they need something, you and I are not most people. Oh no friendโฆ We are modern homesteaders.โฃ
โฃ
Weโre a special breed, and one thing that sets us apart is that we are always thinking about preparing for the future and about stocking up when the things are abundant (and cheap!) which they aren't so much right now. โฃ
โฃ
When it comes to citrus fruits, if you live in a place where you can grow them yourself, then youโll probably have more than you can handle fresh when theyโre in season. Knowing how to preserve them will help ensure nothing gets wasted.โฃ
โฃ
Whether you're a seasoned homesteader or this is your first season preserving, I've got a hearty list of ideas of how to get the most out of your citrus fruits for the year to come! Visit the full list here https://thehouseandhomestead.com/12-ways-use-preserve-citrus-fruits/ or check out the link in my bio. โฃ
โฃ
What do you usually do with your extra citrus fruits? Have you tried any of these preservation methods?โฃ
โฃ
Let me know in the comments below!
Checking in on all my #homesteadpantrychallenge participants today :) โฃ
โฃ
During the pantry challenge I always find it pretty easy to make my way through the canned items. A side dish here, a breakfast there, but what about bulk items that we have on hand like bags of sugar and flour?โฃ
โฃ
Well have no fear, this bread recipe is a game-changer! Not only does it only require 3 simple ingredients (plus water), it can be whipped up in a bowl using an ordinary kitchen spoon and it comes out perfect every time. It will help you make your way through that 5lb bag of flour just sitting on the shelf, and it only takes a couple minutes to prepare. โฃ
โฃ
This is a really nice bread to dip in olive oil and balsamic vinegar or as part of a spread or cheese board. For the full recipe click here https://thehouseandhomestead.com/easy-no-knead-homemade-bread/ or visit the link in my bio. โฃ
โฃ
Let me know how it turns out and if you decide to add any herbs or other toppings to spice it up, I want to hear about it!
Iโve tried my hand at many skills and tackled my share of adventurous projects over the years. Along my homesteading and journey Iโve tried everything from candle-making to cheesemaking, sourdough bread to fermented vegetables, canning and dehydrating to rendering lard and more. When it comes to home medicine, Iโve learned how to make may useful concoctions, from herbal teas, tinctures and syrups to poultices, salves, ciders and more. But encapsulating my own placenta after the birth of our son was definitely a first, and by far my most adventurous โkitchen projectโ and foray into home medicine so far.
I have to admit, I was a bit squeamish at first, but Iโm fascinated by this kind of stuff and love learning skills that allow me to take my health and well-being into my own hands. I also love challenging myself to try new things and pushing myself out of my comfort zone.
A few of the possible benefits of consuming placenta after birth include:
โข Hormones in the placenta can improve mood and lessen symptoms of postpartum depression
โข Can reduce postpartum bleeding
โข Provides a natural source of iron and other micronutrients
โข Can help boost milk production
And did you know, around 99% of mammals are know to consume their placenta after birth? Only humans and marine mammals do not typically consume their placenta.
But more and more humans are opting to consume their placentas after birth to reap the potential health benefits. The most popular way to do so is through encapsulation.
First the placenta is steamed, then it is sliced thin and dehydrated before being ground up into a fine powder. The you add that powder into some capsules using an encapsulator and youโre done!
Iโve been taking 2 capsules 4x/day for the past week. Any real results are yet to be seen but I didnโt want to pass up the only chance Iโll probably get to try my hand at this home medicine project! I mean, you just never know when this skill might come in handy;)
So tell me, whatโs the most adventurous thing YOUโVE tried in the name of homesteading and/or natural health? Comment below and let me know!
Since the weather is often cold, dark and gloomy, there arenโt as many fun, free things to do outdoors, so itโs easy to blow your budget on other things that will help you beat cabin fever like eating out, going to the movies and even going shopping just for something to do.โฃ
โฃ
But the flip side to this is that, once January hits, many people are motivated by the fresh start the new year brings and are ready to hunker down for a while and get their finances on track after the holidays. So in many ways that makes winter the perfect time of year to adopt some frugal habits. โฃ
โฃ
Visit this link https://thehouseandhomestead.com/12-frugal-living-tips-for-winter/ or the link in my bio for the full list of Frugal Winter Living tips, and if you're already looking and planning towards Spring you'll also find more frugal living tips for every season linked at the bottom of the list!
Our#homesteadpantrychallenge is in full-swing and now that our little one has arrived, simple and frugal pantry meals are a necessity to ensure we are getting adequate rest and not overdoing it during these newborn days. โฃ
โฃ
When I'm staring at the pantry wondering what to make, I love referring back to this list for a little bit of inspiration for either bringing back an old recipe, or creating a new one. โฃ
โฃ
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐'๐ ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐น๐๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฑ: โฃ
Breakfastsโฃ
Soupsโฃ
Homemade Breadsโฃ
Main Dishesโฃ
Snacks & Sidesโฃ
Sweets & Treatsโฃ
โฃ
So whether youโre trying to save a little extra money on your grocery bill, or prioritizing rest this season these 35 frugal recipes will help you get good, wholesome, delicious homemade food on the table every day, which means you have one less thing to stress about. โฃ
โฃ
Check out the full list at https://thehouseandhomestead.com/frugal-recipes-roundup/ or visit the link in my bio. โฃ
โฃ
Eat well friends:)
I hope you had a wonderful and restful end of holidays, and are also feeling ready to get back on track with your daily schedule here in the new year. It can sometimes feel like a lot to get going, but those "regular days" help us to regulate our rhythms, and in turn help us slowly, gear up for the Spring season ahead. โฃ
โฃ
In our Winter Issue of Modern Homesteading Magazine, my friend and fellow homesteader, Ashley Constance of @alittleselfreliant wrote "Breaking Your Cabin Fever" a list of ideas for staying productive over the winter months. โฃ
โฃ
If you're feeling a bit restless and up to it, this list of ideas is a perfect way to get back into a daily routine. โฃ
โฃ
From making and creating, to preparing, planning and organizing you'll be feeling ready for Spring in no time. โฃ
โฃ
To see the full list, subscribe to Modern Homesteading Magazine here at https://modernhomesteadingmagazine.com/subscribe/ or visit the link in my bio.
Homesteading is a year-round lifestyle, andโฃ
for whatever reason, homesteading is most often thought of as a three-season โactivity.โ โฃ
โฃ
1. ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ต๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ด๐ฆ๐ข๐ด๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐จ๐ช๐ฏ๐ด ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ฑ๐ณ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ. โฃ
2. ๐๐ข๐ณ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ง๐ข๐ณ๐ฎ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ด๐ฆ๐ข๐ด๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ด ๐ง๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฎ ๐ด๐ฑ๐ณ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ถ๐จ๐ฉ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ณ.โฃ
3. ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ด๐ฆ๐ณ๐ท๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ด๐ฆ๐ข๐ด๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐ต๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ด ๐ถ๐ด ๐ง๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฎ ๐ด๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ช๐ฏ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ญ. โฃ
โฃ
So much of homesteading centers around preparing for winter. But what happens when winter finally arrives?โฃ
โฃ
Sure, we could just hunker down and relax, enjoy the fruits of our labour and rest until spring returns and the really busy seasons begin again. But the very nature of most homesteaders is that we tend to enjoy keeping busy. In other words, we tend to go a bit stir crazy sitting around on the couch for too long.โฃ
โฃ
Now, let me just make this clear before we continue: I think itโs VERY important to take time to rest whenever possible so that you can feel rejuvenated and be more productive when you really need to be, but if youโre looking for some (mostly relaxing) homesteading activities that you can do throughout the winter months to help keep you occupied, Iโve got a few suggestions for you:) โฃ
โฃ
My full list of winter homesteading activities can be found here https://thehouseandhomestead.com/winter-homesteading-activities/ โฃ
โฃ
Happy homesteading!
I always look forward to the winter because I have so many interests that I love to spend time on! I spend my winters practicing instruments, sewing, baking , and catch up on reading and writing so Iโm right there with ya!
This is a good read with great Winter ideas!!! Thanks for sharing:)
What a lovely post! Iโm really enjoying your homesteading content. (As I sit inside and my husband goes outside to let the chickens out and walk the dog ๐
Homesteading grounds is in nature, draws us to quiet. Love it.
Hi Teresa,
I couldnโt agree with you more. I find this lifestyle very grounding, very humbling and very awe-inspiring all at the same time. And I totally hear you about sitting inside on a cold winterโs day while Hubby heads outside to feed animals/do chores. This is often the case around our house as well;)
Love doing most of these, and it is really nice to have a neighbour to share some of the activities ..time to get together to crochet and inspire each other..
Yes! I need your help with a scarf I’m making ๐