Don't Waste Your Winter
Fall is here and ole’ man winter is not long behind. The time of the year we all look forward to, where we spend time with our families and are reminded of what we should be the most thankful.
For us homesteaders, winter provides a break from some of the labor our land demands. The garden is at rest, our chickens stop laying, we may not attempt to breed our rabbits, and we all do our best to stay warm!
We all know, however, that spring will sneak up on us. Keeping this in mind, we suggest that you take some of the down time you now have to plan for next spring and summer.
While relaxing in front of the fireplace, do a little planning too!
As a young soldier, many years ago, I would constantly be reminded, “failing to plan is planning to fail.” This idea was reiterated endlessly. In the run up to any major unit activity, it was heard several times a day. There is a reason for this. As with most things in the military, we have learned the hard way. If you try to undertake any great endeavor without planning, you will very quickly learn the error of your ways.
Many of you have almost certainly already had general conversations about how you may approach your spring garden, specifically what you will plant and how you may combat weed and pest pressure. But we all know the truth. About two weeks before the last frost, many will be scrambling to solidify their garden plans. Some may realize that seedlings should have been prepared a few weeks prior.
We are not proponents of New Year’s Resolutions because we believe that if you want to do something bad enough, there is no need for a special date or occasion. You will just do it. We ask, “why not now?” Why not take some of the down time we are about to have to really take a look at our homestead, our processes, our practices, our goals, and our long-term desires.
One thing that we are thinking more and more about is the one thing most 30-somethings don’t really like to think about, aging. We don’t fear it and we don’t really fret about it either… but we damn sure don’t want the clock to move any faster. Specifically, we are thinking more about aging-in-place.
In an earlier article, we wrote about the importance of ‘improving your fighting position.’ This is an adage that is used in the U.S. Army to remind soldiers to take a second, third, and forth look at their position. Take the time to make improvements before you need them. Try to identify vulnerabilities in your position and sure them up if possible.
Some of you may be thinking, “you have time to think about that… you’re only in your 30s.” Enter another adage I was taught when I wore the uniform, “failure to plan on your part does not constitute and emergency on mine.”
Our thought process for next year is, how do we not only do things better but how do we make things easier. I think, “if we were 60, could we do things the same way?” The obvious answer is ‘No’. We don’t want to wait until our bodies are protesting homestead work to make the changes we need to. As my old Platoon Sergeant used to say, “work smarter not harder, Airborne.”
As the cooler weather comes and mother nature takes her annual slumber, we plan on going into our planning room and strategizing how to best attack the next year. This is not to say that changes in weather or the domestic situation may not force us to make some alterations to our plan, but having a plan puts us a step ahead.
Be prepared for next year before it gets here! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
