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A New Year's Checklist for the Rural Homestead

Lehman's
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The beginning of a new year is all about both traditions and new beginnings. One tradition I’ve found helpful is to revisit my “monthly checklist” of things that need addressing around the home and property during the coming year. Checklists are a great way to keep tasks from slipping through the cracks when life gets busy. So much of rural life depends on being prepared with the change of seasons, weather, soil, etc. You need to cut firewood ahead of time so it can adequately dry by the next heating season, but not while the sap is still up in the trees. You want the garden tools to be ready – handles tight, blades sharpened, gas tiller tuned up – before the final frost and planting season. Come winter, you need the well house and other outbuildings properly winterized depending on their use, any chimneys cleaned, coolant in any water-cooled engines suitable for the below-freezing temps, and any new cracks in foundations sealed tight to keep out moisture and winter’s freeze and thaw. Admittedly, everyone has to tailor such a month-by-month checklist to their own home, land, livestock, and geographical location. If you don’t already have such a checklist, but you’d like to give the organization method a try, I’ll share a few items from each month’s list so you can begin to create your own. JANUARY: Cut firewood for next winter Trim brush in fencerows Mow the lawn once (chops fallen leaves and pine needles) Consider planting new shrubs FEBRUARY: Final small game hunting for season Prune/trim trees (including fruit trees) Process previously frozen venison into sausage Finish cutting firewood for next winter Check fences and foundations for any freeze/thaw heaving Pick up downed limbs from winter MARCH: Sharpen/tune up gardening tools Trout season opens (in my state) Plan out/price spring home improvement projects Test soil and lime as needed Check exterior for peeling paint, loose shingles Clean debris from gutters and downspouts Freshen wildlife mineral licks

APRIL: Plants in the garden Mulch around shrubs and ornamentals Clean, sharpen, shelf chainsaws and related gear Spring clean garage and outbuildings Hook up garden hoses and check for leaks Wash undercarriage of vehicles to remove salt residue Pick up remaining downed limbs from winter Spring turkey hunt [caption id="attachment_25156" align="aligncenter" width="400"]

Secure dirty or hot fly ash and prevent messes and stray sparks in our heavy-duty steel ash carrier. At lehmans.com and our store in Kidron, Ohio.[/caption] MAY: Wash windows Clean ashes from wood stove/furnace/fireplace Brush chimney Fertilize lawn Final pruning of fruit trees after trees bud Clean driveway culvert Look for morel mushrooms JUNE: Freshen wildlife mineral licks Garden Keep up with watering outdoor plants/shrubs/young trees Apply new thin layer of mulch where needed Summer home improvement projects

JULY: Adjust mower cutting height for taller cut to aid during dry summer Garden Summer home improvement projects Gather wild berries [caption id="attachment_25158" align="aligncenter" width="800"]

Pick small berries like blueberries much faster with this cleverly designed picker. At lehmans.com and our store in Kidron, Ohio.[/caption] AUGUST: Freshen wildlife mineral licks Garden Complete summer home improvement projects Gather wild berries SEPTEMBER: Clean driveway culvert Fill cracks and reseal asphalt driveway (if applicable) Sharpen knives/butcher equipment before fall hunting season Check foundation and exterior walls for cracks, gaps Touch up exterior paint as needed Gather fall nuts [caption id="attachment_25159" align="aligncenter" width="800"]

Our ingenious nut wizard tools help clear your yard and property of messy nuts and seeds. In 3 sizes, at lehmans.com and our store in Kidron, Ohio.[/caption] OCTOBER: Start sweeping fall leaves from lawn and place on compost area Tune up generator Winterize gardening, mowing/lawn care equipment Check all roofs for loose shingles, metal Plant fall greens Freshen wildlife mineral licks Fall turkey hunt Gather fall nuts Search for edible fall wild mushrooms [caption id="attachment_25160" align="aligncenter" width="800"]

Build a log rack to your precise needs and specifications in just a few minutes. Durable steel brackets are easy to assemble. At lehmans.com and our store in Kidron, Ohio.[/caption] NOVEMBER: Sweep new leaves from lawn and place on compost area Small game hunt, scout for deer Clean gutters Fall deer season (rifle) Work on next winter’s wood supply wood-2

DECEMBER: Work on next winter’s wood supply Pick up any downed limbs from fall storms Small game hunt Prepare for Christmas Revisit month-by-month checklist Editor's Note: This post was first published in December 2015.

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