Part of what makes people fall in love with a homestead is the ability to care for themselves and their land. A special kind of pride comes along with caring for plants, animals and people.

When you’re not out multi-tasking around your homestead, you’ve probably noticed little things here and there that need to get done. These small tasks quickly add up if you’re preoccupied with the daily routine.

Instead of letting things pile up, beautify your homestead through year-round maintenance. These easy tips are simple to schedule, helping you stay on track all year long.

Spring Maintenance Tips

Spring is a busy time of year on a homestead. You have to start planting and caring for crops, and animals begin to reproduce. If you work in the time, however, these maintenance tips will help kickstart your homestead after a long winter.

Clean Out All Buildings

Animals and equipment are cooped up in the barn or during the winter. In the spring, clean out all of the buildings and re-organize. A new system will transform your homestead and ensure it’s easier to run.

Make Needed Repairs

During the winter, your homestead likely faced storms that caused damage, such as holes in the walls and fencing. Make needed repairs, such as mending your fence or resealing windows. Inspect all the structures on your property and ensure nothing gets overlooked.

Summer Maintenance Tips

During the summer, you’re busy making sure your homestead is on track for the harvest. However, it’s vital to find time for these major maintenance tips.

Set a Cleaning Schedule

You can clean a homestead in many ways, and all of them are important. Clean out spaces where animals live to prevent illness and injury. You should also clean out storage spaces where people come and go frequently.

Check Your Gutters

Without clean gutters, your roof system won’t work correctly. Inefficient drainage can lead to damage to your shingles and your siding. Check after every rainstorm or round of wind gusts. Clear out debris and look for damage in case you need repairs.

Fall Maintenance Tips

Fall is a pleasant time of year, especially on a homestead. Enjoy the weather while you take care of last-minute chores.

Seal Your Chicken Coop

Chickens have protective feather layers to stay warm as the temperature drops. You won’t need to add a heat lamp to the coop to keep them warm. Instead, seal the structure to prevent cold drafts and melting snow from leaking in.

Prune the Fruit Trees

By the middle of fall, all of your apple and pear trees will produce fruit and begun to lose leaves. Now is the ideal time to prune trees and ensure they grow strong in spring.

Winter Maintenance Tips

It may be cold and snowy outside, but a homesteader’s routine never slows. Try these maintenance tips in the winter for a smooth cold season.

Stow Your Equipment

Properly store all of your farming and animal care equipment before the first snow of the season. Think about using a fuel stabilizer to prevent machinery from degradation while it waits.

Inspect Your Chimney

Traditional homesteaders may have a chimney in their home they use over winter. Have it inspected to the reduce risk of carbon monoxide poisoning or fire. It’s best to let a professional come out and handle this since they’re trained to spot current and potential issues.

Stay Flexible With Year-Round Maintenance

Everyone has a day-today routine they stick with. However, as the seasons change, it’s essential to stay flexible. Think about how or when future problems may occur and try to be proactive. Any maintenance you do can only help your homestead succeed.