Spring cleaning can go a bit differently when you’re a homesteader. Check off these spring tasks from your list to ensure you’re ready for homesteading this season!
Spring Cleaning Checklist For Homestead New Beginnings
As a homesteader, I am always really excited to plow through in the spring clean up and chore list. Even if it’s still winter, I am already brainstorming about what I should do when spring comes. For me, and my family, spring clean up lasts a week at most, and we work together as a family and make it fun! Here is a list of what I do on my homestead, and tips on how to make it fun and efficient:
1. Plant Some Seeds
This is the most important thing to do, as your summer crops will rely on this. I would recommend using the seeds you preserved from last summer, but, of course, if that is not possible, store-bought seeds are perfectly fine.
This job is so easy to do, you could completely give the task over to your kids and let them handle it. (I let my kids do this almost every year and the crops are just as good as the ones I’ve planted myself).
TIP: Label your seedling once transplanted!
2. Prune Your Trees
Spring is the perfect time to prune some trees on your homestead. Some free-growing trees such as oaks, wild maple trees, and others. don’t necessarily need to be pruned, but fruit-bearing trees such as apples, pears, lemons, and others do need trimming once a year to help their branches remain strong and sturdy. Prune the top tree branches just a bit (about five inches). If you’ve never pruned trees before, I just want to warn you, it’s not an easy job. Be sure to purchase high-quality pruning shears to help you with the job.
Make hearts flutter with this #hummingbird feeder #recipe! https://t.co/OdSF4wpcsf pic.twitter.com/hIWmUXPGxT
— Homesteading (@HomesteadingUSA) February 21, 2017
3. Get Your Livestock Checked Out
From cattle to pigs, make sure to get them checked out by a livestock vet in the spring. I noticed that mostly during the spring, farm animals get sick the most. If it so happens that one of your animals is unwell, make sure to bring all the other same types of animals to the vet as well, as the disease could have spread.
4. Order Bulk Soil
There are several landscaping companies that sell bulk soil, and even offer delivery for under $10! I purchase soil at a local supplier and it costs little over $10 for one square meter. Cool, huh? Most suppliers sell plain garden mix, but some even offer variety—river bottom soil, forest soil, cacti soil, even the tree growing soil!
5. Get the Grill Ready
Make sure to clean the outdoor grill or BBQ before summer! Put on some rubber gloves, and get scrubbin’! Make sure that if you are planning to use soap or other disinfectants such as Fantastic Spray make sure to wash it off really well—or else you’d be serving soap-flavored burgers at your next barbecue!
Spring cleaning doesn’t just mean the homestead. Don’t forget the rest of your house. See how you can spring-clean your bathroom here from Dulce Candy:
Spring is for new beginnings, which is why spring cleaning is so popular. Is there anything better than to a cleaner and more improved homestead? We clean our homes on a daily basis. However, there is a great deal more to be done past the domain of standard day-by-day cleaning. Spring offers an impeccable opportunity to do the homestead tasks that has been put on hold during winter. I can’t wait to get started with my spring cleaning. Wish me luck!
Are you ready to get started on your spring chores? Let us know what you think below in the comments!
Want another cleaning tips? Check out this Weekly Cleaning Schedule to make cleaning a lot easier and more fun!
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Editor’s Note – This post was originally published in March 2016 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
