Our homesteading goals this year are meant to keep us on track and productive throughout the year. Most of these are actions that we have consistently done in the past. A few are new endeavors, such as bees and a bigger garden.
This is in no way an exhaustive list of homesteading chores or tasks. The list does not include everyday chores like feeding animals, cleaning out the coop or watering.
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Also, keep in mind that this year we only have chickens, rabbits and bees on the homestead. Therefore, we don’t have the care and upkeep of larger livestock or extensive pastures.
12 months of homesteading goals for 2017:
January
-set goals for new year
-work on inside projects
-learn a new skill (baking bread, sewing, etc.)
-finish canning/processing food in freezer
-build a beehive
February
-learn a new skill (herb gardening, carpentry, etc.)
-design garden area
-get rabbits
-get bees
March
-start seeds
-yard cleanup
-get compost boxes ready
-fix rabbit cages
-get chicks
April
-turn on irrigation/fix breaks
-plant early crops (direct seed cool season crops)
-continue building new garden boxes
-clean up/fix chicken coop
-get new water spicket installed
-plant potatoes
May
-move chicks to coop
-transplant seedlings
-get firewood
-put wood chips/rocks in paths for pathways
-get more fruit bushes from neighbor
June
-continue planting last of summer plants
-harvest spring veggies
-organize pantry for new food storage
July
-harvest
-preserve harvest
-get firewood
-lots of weeding
August
-preserve harvest
-breed rabbits
-get firewood
-harvest fruit from orchard
-reduce watering so veggies will ripen
September
-take care of baby rabbits
–harvest/can or freeze tomatoes
-build cold frames
-organize cold storage pantry
October
-plant in cold frames
-clean up garden area
-finish harvesting pumpkins, tomatoes, etc.
-put compost/manure in boxes for spring
-turn off irrigation/drain lines
November
-breed rabbits
-butcher new rabbits
-let chickens free range in garden
–prepare chickens/rabbits for winter
December
-harvest veggies in cold frames
-go over notes for year (successes/failures)
-enjoy the holiday season
Edited: Here is how the year went: Homesteading Heartbreaks and Breakthroughs: A Year in Review 2017
Does this list look like yours? A homestead can be pretty busy, especially in the spring and summer. But it is a good, fulfilling busy that makes you appreciate the good things in life.
How are you preparing for the new year on your homestead? Please let us know in the comments below. And if you found this post helpful, please share. Thanks!
Don't know where to start with homesteading?
Grab our checklist to show you how to make your dreams a reality, step by step.
When you sign up for our email list, you will get this PDF for free, along with weekly emails covering topics on gardening, homesteading, etc. Don't worry. We won't spam your inbox. You can unsubscribe any time.