Simple Solar Homesteading

Winterizing Your Homesteads!

Well the temperature at my cabin has dropped to below freezing at night but the days are still sunny and around 45 degrees so I have been busy the last few weeks getting my cabin winterized.

I am at about 4800 elevation and we can get snow 3 foot deep and -20 winters here so I have to be prepared for being snowed in for a few days until they get the roads clear.

Here is my check list:

1- Check my propane furnace and give it a cleaning. Check and tighten propane lines if needed and get my tanks refilled. I use four 20 pound tanks and I refill 3 at a time once a month. One tank lasts me a week for heating and cooking. Propane is around $1.50 a gallon so not too expensive this winter.

2- Bring in my winter hoses and check my free flow lines and empty and clean the stock tanks. I have a free flowing well with water always running in a stock tank fr the animals. It gets pretty dirty over a year so I drain it in fall and give it a scrub. I keep one hose on my covered porch handy for refilling my inside tank as needed.

3- Plastic sheeting installed over my porch. This creates a greenhouse and air lock over my porch and front door that adds heat to the cabin on sunny winter days and keeps cold breezes from rushing in when I open the door. Also creates a nice area to work on the porch for small winter projects.

4- Refill my gas cans. I use a 1500 watt Genny to run a microwve and power tools. The Genny is kept on the enclosd porch so it stays warmer and it will start on even cold days with just a couple of pulls. I have two 3 gallon gas cans I keep full and that will last me a few months generally. Refill the Genny oil and a quart of oil on hand.

6- Put the draft busters in front of the doors. High winds will cause cold leaks around old doors so I use draft busters and I made my own out of old towels and tape. You can also buy them on Amazon.

7- Sealed the chicken coop run in clear plastic. This turns the run into a mini greenhouse to keep the chickens warmer so they lay all winter. I free range my hens and they have access to the stock tank for water. Cold and drafts will kill your birds so get them into a good shelter.

8- Added straw to the dog house. My dogs are outside in he daytime but sleep inside the cabin so I put a bale of fresh dry straw in their doghouse. Good bedding and insulation and it get's composted in to the garden in spring.

9- Gather up my tools. I put away the summer tools and oiled the blades with a sprau of WD 40 so they don't rust. Got out the snow shovels and ice scraper. I have a sled for hauling wood and stuff around so the wheelbarrow goes in storage.

10- Backup vehicle gassed up and tires aired up in case my regular vehicle breaks down. I keep my tanks full in winter and I have an Inverter in my truck in case I need to use it as a power generator.

11- Food supplies stocked up. A few cases of different veggies and staples like sugar, salt, coffee etc. Enough on hand that I can go a month without going to town if needed.

12- Solar panels cleaned and wiring checked. I use AGM sealed batts so no maintenance. Installed a few new lights and DC plugs so I can get power where I need it.

13- Winter clothes brought out. Snow boots, gloves, coat, hoodies, hats and thermal long johns.  I keep extra winter clothes in my truck if I get wet and need a change and also a 12 volt blanket and emergency supplies if I get stranded somewhere.

14- Animal food. I keep a extra bag of chicken and dog food on backup in case I can't get to town that will last a month. Also have some animal anti-biotics and medicines in case they get sick. Fat animals will survive winter better than hungry animals.

OK well I think I am about ready for winter and going to hunker down and work on some inside projects and new cabin designs and videos.

You all have a happy, healthy and safe winter!

LaMar