Embracing Winter on the Farm: Seasonal Tasks and Cozy Moments

Winter on the farm brings a unique rhythm. The landscape changes, the pace slows, and the work shifts from planting and harvesting to preparation and maintenance. You don't have to live on a farm to shift gears this time of year; for all of us, winter is not just a time to pause but a season to embrace with practical tasks and moments of warmth. This guide explores how to make the most of winter no matter if you live in an apartment or on a farm, balancing essential chores with cozy breaks that recharge both your environment and your spirit.

Braving the weather to go riding with my daughter!

Reflection

Winter is the perfect time to assess and plan for the upcoming year. I don't like being housebound, but winter is invaluable because it makes me reflect on the past, present, and future:

• Past: This isn't time to beat myself up, but just to ask questions of myself and my close people. What worked really well? What didn't? What do I want to give more room to grow? What needs to go in order to make room for better things? Am I staying true to our mission statement? What questions did customers have? Where did customers struggle? And many more...

• Present: This is a big one, too, surprisingly. Every year I age a little more, so I have to be real and recognize my body, and how can I help it do it's job. I also look at the farm in the same way: where is it healthy and where does it need some TLC. And the business end of things get examined like that as well.

• Future: This is where I really set priorities and plan my action steps based on what the past and present revealed.

  
  

Taking these steps now saves time and frustration when spring arrives. And this time of refection really frees me to do all the things I love when spring, summer and fall arrive.

Preparation

I use these quieter months to prepare for the active months. Key tasks include:

• Cleaning up my mess: I really use this time to bring a little more order to the chaos. Since I tend to be an "all or nothing" person, that sets me up for failure/inaction/guilt. But since I know that about myself, I try to do little jobs toward a big goal. For example, my office got trashed last season. So instead of cleaning it all up at once, I decided to do a little at time and that motivated me to keep going instead of procatinating and feeling overwhelmed and guilty for not doing anything about it. I'm using this approach all over my house and barn, and it's really helping.

• Learning: I use this time to tackle something new like taking a class or learning a new business practice. This year I switched web hosts, and I was determined to do it all myself. I also try to research suppliers, products, and other farmers during this quiet season. It really helps me to have that knowledge handy when I barely have time to eat in the summer!

• Rest and Play: This is so important. During these months, I try to enjoy life. I love to cook, so I try new recipes. I get to have lunch with friends more often. I spend more time with neglected hobbies like painting and ride horses with my daughter. I catch up on movies and series on television. I take naps!

  
  

How do you use this quiet, cold season to enhance your life?

Closing up the greenhouse vent so it won't blow off in the winter wind!

One last thing:

Winter has been a struggle for me as long as I can remember. And frankly, I can get downright negative about it. So several years ago, I read a great book called, One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voscamp. I have to say it truly helped me practice gratitude during harder times. And winter is one of those "harder times" for me every year. Now I don't deny what I don't like about winter, but God has taught me to focus on the good things that are present if I just take time to look. And good things are everywhere - even in the cold, dark months of winter.