When the winter chill sets in and the season for growing food outdoors comes to a close, it might seem like homesteading activities are on hold. However, the truth is that there are plenty of tasks to tackle and skills to develop during the colder months. Let’s explore how you can make the most of winter by engaging in various winter homesteading activities. From indoor gardening to food preservation and natural living projects, there’s a lot you can do to stay productive and connected to your suburban homesteading lifestyle.
Winter Gardening Tasks
Grow an Indoor Vegetable Garden
One way to stay connected to your love of gardening during winter is by growing an indoor vegetable garden. You can achieve this even with limited space by using a countertop planter and grow lights. This allows you to nurture fresh, homegrown vegetables year-round.
Ahopegarden Indoor Garden Hydroponics Growing System
The Ahopegarden Indoor Garden Hydroponics Growing System is perfect for beginners and experienced indoor gardeners alike. With its efficient LED lights and user-friendly controls, it makes growing fresh produce a breeze.
Key Features:
- Full-spectrum LED grow lights
- Automated watering system
- Adjustable light intensity and spectrum
- Space-efficient design
- Suitable for a variety of vegetables and herbs
Plan Your Spring Garden
While the ground is frozen outside, take the time to plan your spring garden. Map out your vegetable garden layout, order seeds, and consider starting seeds indoors. By getting a head start, you’ll be well-prepared for the upcoming growing season.
Related Article: Saving Seeds For Next Year: How to Do It The Right Way
Winter Food Preservation Projects
Continue Canning and Freezing
Don’t let the winter months deter you from preserving your harvest. Whether it’s store-bought produce or the last of your garden’s bounty, canning, dehydrating, and freezing are valuable skills to hone. Enjoy the taste of summer even in the heart of winter.
Related Article: 7 Perfect Christmas Gifts for Canners and Food Preservation Enthusiasts
Try Your Hand at Making Jerky
Meat is often in abundance on homesteads during winter months, particularly following hunting season and the holidays. That’s why making homemade jerky is a great way to preserve that excess meat. It’s also a nutritious and delicious snack that’s perfect for winter adventures.
Learn the art of making jerky from your favorite meats and experiment with flavors that tickle your taste buds.
Winter Natural Living Projects
Make Homemade Natural Cosmetics
Embrace the winter months by pampering yourself with DIY natural cosmetics. Create nourishing skincare products using simple, natural ingredients, and your skin will thank you for it during the dry winter weather.
Make Homemade Soap
Making homemade soap is not only a fun and creative project but also a practical one. Customize your soap with scents and ingredients that suit your preferences and skin type. It’s a fantastic natural living practice that reduces your reliance on store-bought products.
Make Homemade Candles
There’s something magical about the warm glow of candles during the dark winter evenings. It’s a great time of year to try your hand at making homemade candles! Experiment with various scents and colors to create candles that fill your home with coziness and comfort.
Making your own candles is also a great practical prepping project since you never know when the power will go out and you’ll need an abundance of candles to stay safe in the dark.
SoftOwl Premium Soy Candle Making Kit
Why We Love It:
- Kit includes aluminum pouring pot, extra wax, and all materials needed to make homemade candles
- Uses natural soy wax
- Includes fragrances, dyes, and dried flowers and herbs
- Ideal for beginners
Create Herbal Remedies for Winter Ailments
Harness the power of herbs and other holistic ingredients to create natural home remedies for winter ailments. Whether it’s soothing herbal teas or natural remedies like Fire Cider for colds and coughs like, this skill is both practical and empowering.
Related Article: 7 Natural Home Remedies for Common Ailments
Mend or Make Your Own Clothes, Blankets, and Winter Gear
One of the best homesteading ideas is to learn to sew, knit, or crochet during the winter months. Not only can you mend worn-out clothes and blankets to save a ton of cash, but you can also create cozy winter gear such as scarves, mittens, and hats. It’s a sustainable way to stay warm while adding a personal touch to your winter wardrobe.
Cook Things From Scratch!
Homemade Flour
Discover the satisfaction of making homeade flour. Whether you’re grinding wheat, rice, or other grains, homemade flour is a game-changer in your kitchen.
Homemade Bread
Nothing beats the aroma of freshly baked bread on a cold winter’s day. Learn to how to make homemade bread, experiment with different types, and savor the delicious results.
Related Article: What is Hardtack Bread and How Do You Make It?
Homemade Butter
Take your homemade bread to the next level by pairing it with easy homemade butter. It’s surprisingly simple to make, and the taste is unmatched. You’ll even get fresh buttermilk out of the project, too, which can be used to make your very own ranch dressing from scratch!
Homemade Salad Dressings
Elevate your leafy greens by crafting your own salad dressings. Experiment with herbs, oils, and vinegars to create dressings that tantalize your taste buds.
From-Scratch Meals
Challenge yourself to prepare entire meals from scratch. From pasta to sauces to desserts, cooking from scratch is a rewarding — and delicious — culinary adventure.
Related Article: Is Homesteading Worth It? Cost, Savings, and Earnings Study
Learn Basic Survival Skills
Learning basic survival skills during winter on a suburban homestead is invaluable. It equips you to tackle the unpredictability of winter weather, handle emergency situations effectively, and foster self-reliance.
Common among practical prepping enthusiasts, these five essential survival skills provide a safety net in case of unexpected challenges.
- Building a fire for warmth
- Making water potable
- Building a shelter
- Basic first aid
- Foraging for food
They also empower you to navigate the colder months with confidence, ensuring that you and your homestead thrive even when the temperature drops.
Related Article: Winter Foraging: A Guide to Finding Edible Plants During the Coldest Months
Ready for Winter Homesteading?
Winter homesteading is an opportunity to expand your skills and stay connected to the land even when temperatures drop. From indoor gardening and food preservation to natural living projects and cooking from scratch, there’s a wealth of activities to explore. Embrace the winter season, and let your homesteading journey continue in full swing.
FAQs
Can I really grow vegetables indoors during winter?
Yes, with the right equipment like a countertop planter and grow lights, you can successfully grow vegetables indoors.
What are some easy herbal remedies for winter ailments?
Simple herbal teas like chamomile and ginger can help soothe common winter ailments like colds and sore throats. You can also go a bit bigger and try making Flu Bombs or Fire Cider for cold and flu season.
Is it cost-effective to cook everything from scratch?
Yes! Cooking from scratch is one of the biggest money savers in the homesteading lifestyle. This is particularly true if you and your family usually eat out or order in for multiple meals per week and plan to switch to homemade meals.