How To Get Your Backyard Homestead Spring Ready

It is time to get your backyard homestead spring ready! As winter is rolling away and we are getting prepared to welcome spring there are a few chores you can do around your homestead to get it ready for spring. Get these accomplished and you’ll be ahead of the game when spring comes instead of racing to get everything done.

I’m going to cover your garden, compost, livestock, tools and even inside the homestead. So let’s get to it!

Get Your Backyard Homestead Spring Ready – The Garden

1. Finish harvesting anything left from your winter garden
2. Make Your Seed Order – Give Seeds Now a Try (use code Save10Now for 10% off)
3. Start Some Indoor Seeds for Transplanting (See What to Plant in March)
4. Amend Your Soil – give your tired soil a boost with some soil amendments
5. Check your watering system for leaks, clogs and additions needed (See Conserving Water)
6. If you use raised beds, it is a good time to check them for any damage (See Benefits of Raised Bed Gardening)

Get Your Backyard Homestead Spring Ready – The Compost

1. Troubleshoot Any Problems – too wet, too dry, etc (See Trouble Shooting Your Compost)
2. Make a new compost bin for more black gold! (DIY Compost Bin)
3. Consider starting a worm farm for vermicomposting
4. Add a Bokashi Bucket for amazing indoor composting (See Kitchen Composting)

Get Your Backyard Homestead Spring Ready – The Animals

1. Give the coop a deep cleaning and take down any winterizing (if it is warm enough)
2. Order your spring chicks for delivery (See A Simple Guide to Raising Chicks)
3. Add some new stock to your rabbitry for spring breeding
4. Considering getting quail as an additional meat and egg source (great if you can’t have chickens too)
5. Update or create a First Aid Kit for your livestock (See Livestock First Aid Kit)

Get Your Backyard Homestead Spring Ready – The Tools

1. Get your tools sharpened, oiled and ready for the spring work ahead (See 7 Things Grandpa Did to Make His Tools Last Longer)
2. Make a list of new or replacement tools you’ll need this season

Get Your Backyard Homestead Spring Ready – Out Buildings

1. Give your sheds, barns, greenhouse and garage a good cleaning.
2. Get things organized
3. Think about having a yard sale

Get Your Backyard Homestead Spring Ready – Inside

Canning

I know I like to can my harvest abundance; so this is a perfect time to get your canning supplies ready.

1. Dust off those canners or is it time to buy a new one?
2. Test your pressure canner gauge (see video here)
3. Get new lids and consider Tatler Reusable Lids
4. Do you have an outdoor canning stove? This is a great time to be sure it is functional. If it uses propane, this would be the time to get yourself a new tank so you don’t run out.

Pantry

Gearing up for spring is a great time to give the ‘ol pantry a clean out.

1. Take everything out and wash down the shelves (I use my trusty Envirocloth for this job)
2. Check canned goods for lids that have come loose or any signs of mold
3. Check the dates on any pre-packaged items, like spices
4. It is a great time to purge the junk (summer is right behind spring folks)
5. Make a list of the staples you’re going to need (See How to Stock a Pantry)
6. Donate any unopened items that you are not going to use