October Homestead Checklist
An October homestead checklist helps you get ready for winter without the rush. Clean up the garden, plant garlic, check on your chickens, stock the pantry, and get the house ready for cold weather. Spread the chores over four weeks, and do a little each week.
October is a busy month on any homestead. The garden is winding down. The nights are getting cold. And winter feels close.
It's easy to feel like you have to do it all at once. You don't.
This checklist is made for small spaces, like a backyard, a few raised beds, and a handful of hens. Take what fits your home and leave the rest.
What should you do on a homestead in October?
In October, focus on four areas: the garden, the chickens, the pantry, and the house. Each one gets you a little more ready for winter.
I like to start my chore mornings with a hot mug of tea. Lately it's been Gingersnap Cookie Rooibos Tea with a spoon of honey. It's warm, spicy, and just right for a cold porch.
"She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet." — Proverbs 31:21 (KJV)
I love that verse in the fall. The Proverbs 31 woman wasn't afraid of winter because she got ready a little at a time.
What garden chores should you do in October?
In October, clear out spent plants, plant garlic, and cover your beds for winter. These small jobs make spring much easier.
Pull spent plants. Remove tired tomato and squash vines. Toss any sick-looking leaves in the trash, not the compost.
Plant garlic. Push single cloves 2 inches deep, pointy end up, about 6 inches apart. Plant a few weeks before your ground freezes.
Cover bare beds. Spread shredded leaves or straw over empty soil. It keeps the soil from washing away.
Save a few seeds. Dry seeds from your best beans or flowers. Store them in a paper envelope.
Bring in tender herbs. Pot up rosemary or bring potted herbs inside before your first frost.
Dry the last herbs. Cut mint, sage, and thyme and hang them in small bunches to dry.
Not sure when your first frost comes? Look up your zip code with your local extension office. They know your area best.
How do you get chickens ready for fall?
In fall, make sure your hens have a dry, draft-free coop and a steady supply of fresh water. Many hens also lose feathers and lay fewer eggs this time of year.
That feather loss is called molting. It's a normal yearly cycle. Your hens grow new feathers before winter, and egg laying slows down while they do.
Check the coop for leaks and drafts.
Add fresh, dry bedding.
Plan how you'll keep water from freezing.
Be patient with fewer eggs.
I'll share a full guide to winterizing the chicken coop on Sunday. Look for it here.
How do you stock a homestead pantry for winter?
Start by checking what you already have. Then fill the gaps with staples, home-canned foods, and a few cozy extras.
Take stock. Count your jars and cans. Write down what's running low.
Rotate. Move older jars to the front so they get used first.
Fill the basics. Flour, oats, rice, beans, sugar, and salt.
Make one batch of something. This week I'm making slow cooker apple butter.
Stock your tea shelf. A few jars of dried herbs make winter evenings cozier. See our home apothecary for beginners guide for where to start.
Want to do it on a budget? My Frugal October Pantry post comes out Friday.
What should you check around the house before winter?
Before the cold sets in, protect your pipes, clear your gutters, and check your safety alarms. These are quick jobs that save big headaches.
Drain and put away garden hoses.
Cover outdoor faucets.
Clean leaves out of the gutters.
Change your furnace filter.
Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Swap the batteries.
Stack firewood off the ground, if you burn wood.
How do you keep October from feeling overwhelming?
If a week gets away from you, that's okay. Move one task to next week and keep going. I wrote more about this in Why I Stopped Trying to Do It All.
Ginger is often asked about during pregnancy. If you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medicine, check with your doctor before drinking herbal tea.
FAQ
When should I plant garlic? Plant garlic in fall, a few weeks before your ground freezes. For many areas, that's October or early November.
Why are my chickens losing feathers in October? They're likely molting. It's a normal yearly cycle where hens shed old feathers and grow new ones.
How do you brew dried ginger root for tea? Steep 1 teaspoon of dried ginger root in 1 cup of hot water for 10 minutes, covered. Strain and add honey or lemon.
What does "cut & sifted" mean on dried ginger? It means the root is chopped into small pieces and sifted to remove dust. The pieces fit easily in a tea ball.
Do I need to do every task on this list? No. Pick the tasks that fit your home and your season. A small homestead needs a small list.
A cozy closing
Getting ready for winter doesn't have to be hard. One task, one week, one cup of tea at a time.
Put the kettle on, brew a mug of Dried Ginger Root, and pick your first task. You've got this, friend.
https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-news/using-fallen-leaves-garden
https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/saving-vegetable-seeds
https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/prepare-for-fire/smoke-alarms/
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+31%3A21&version=KJV
