Now that we have this property, I enjoy and respect the seasons more than I ever did.  We’re not farmers who do this for our livelihood and we aren’t homesteaders doing this for our survival (yet!). But we bought this little slice of land so that we could reconnect with the Earth and so far the magnificence has left me awestruck.  

We’ve nearly lived here a year so I’m only starting to learn about how the bugs and the birds make our entire food supply possible, how planting certain crops near each other results in protection and a greater bounty, how the waste of one creature who eats off the land replenishes the nutrients of the soil.  How it all connects in this wondrous circle. It really makes me see the bigger picture, the elaborate perfection of this planet. And it reinforces that we made the right choice moving here.  

So as a newbie, I have been wanting to make sure I set myself up for even more success next year.  By no means is this a comprehensive list but it is a good start for things to take care of.  

Garden

1. Rotate your compost pile.  My approach to this is actually more of a ‘flip’ than rotating.  I shovel everything from one pile into the next section on the right.  We have three squares that are divided by some left over fencing. I put my freshest stuff in the square all the way to the left, flip it every 3-4 months to the next square on the right, and then by the third square it is very ready for use anywhere I need it.
2. Add manure to your garden and a layer of compost.  Tip: I saw a posting on craigslist by a local horse rescue that had aged manure all ready to go in bags for $3 each.  I picked up 12 bags and was happier than a clam (does anyone understand that expression?!?).  

3. Plant cover crops (rye, buckwheat, etc.), onion, and garlic.  I’ve read in a few books and blogs to get a jump on onion and garlic by planting in the fall. I think you can also do it in the Spring. 

4. Prune your berry bushes as long as they look truly dormant.  If you aren’t sure, I’d say wait until the Spring to be safe.

5. Store any stakes, garden tools, and other accessories that you may have left near the garden for easy access during the growing season in a dry place. 

Chickens

1. Clean out your chicken coop and put their droppings in a compost pile to age over the winter.
2. Set up a water heater for your hens so they have water to drink even when it’s freezing.
3. I’ve also been contemplating a heat lamp.  Is that necessary? I don’t know.   

Yard

1. Trim your azaleas and any other perennials that need it.
2. Plant bulbs for the flowers you want to see come up next Spring and Summer. We have canna plants in a few places on the property so I pulled up those last fall, kept them in the root cellar, and put them back in the ground in late May and they were gorgeous.
3. Empty buckets, flower pots, and store your wheelbarrows so they don’t collect water that will freeze.
4. Store the cushions for any lawn furniture and even the umbrella in a dry place.

Feel free to add any of the obvious ones I’m sure I’ve missed.  Of course if you have outdoor water, I would shut that down pretty soon since it’s getting colder quickly (at least here in the Mid-Atlantic).