Fun Family Chores to Prepare the Homestead for Winter

There are plenty of chores that need to be done to prepare a Homestead for Winter. Even when your homestead is in or near the suburbs, winter weather can change in an instant and be devastating no matter what area you live in.

Splitting Firewood

One of the most important chores done on a homestead is cutting, gathering, and splitting firewood for winter.

For those with a wood burning heater, you know the importance of having enough firewood prepared for a rough winter. When your burning wood all day and using the embers to keep the home warm at night, you want to be prepared for any weather.

Using an ax and wood stand might be good for splitting a small amount of wood, and teaching kids the importance of work and hard labor. I’m a believer in learning the value of hard work.

But if your relying on wood for warmth throughout the winter, your going to need something to save your back, arms, and other major muscles.

A person operating a wood splitter, preparing to split a log for firewood. The scene includes a backdrop of stacked firewood and the wood splitting machine.

A person using a wood splitter to prepare firewood outdoors, with logs stacked in the background and a wheelbarrow nearby.

Person using a wood splitter to cut firewood in a backyard setting, surrounded by logs and wooden planks.

The best tool for this job is the wood splitter. We were fortunate enough to find a used one we could fix up, and its been a life saver.

Storing Firewood for Winter

Storing firewood is a decision based on location, wood usage, and preference. Some people prefer to store it in their garage to keep it dry and easily accessible. Most people I know have a covered area outside to store firewood for a couple of reasons.

In this part of California we do have insect difficulties especially around wood, so we keep the firewood shelter at a distance from the house and bring small loads to the house. At least enough to last a week in case of a bad storm.

A person adjusting a wagon attached to an ATV while a child sits on the ATV, surrounded by trees in a gravel area, with a load of firewood in the wagon.

Child riding an ATV while pulling a wagon loaded with firewood, near a wood storage shed in a forest setting.

We use our ATV and a wagon to transport the wood from the shelter to the house, and from the log splitting area to the shelter. It’s been one of the best investments we made towards our homestead.

Turning Chores into Family Memories

As crazy as it sounds, gathering and storing wood for winter is one of our favorite family chores. Everyone gets involved, kids, parents, and grandparents. Everyone has a job and it makes the work fun and easy.

We use the ATV to transport equipment and materials all over the property. It has really helped support our elderly family members who live in a more rural area and allows use to access areas that would typically be inaccessible to vehicles.

A scenic view of a mountainous landscape with lush green trees and a cloudy sky, framed by branches in the foreground.

A person in camouflage clothing stands in the woods, looking up at cloudy skies and trees, suggesting a setting for hunting or outdoor exploration.

Hunting: Another Family chore to Prep for Winter

Another chore that has become a family tradition is hunting. Now, living in suburbs of California hunting is not necessity, but its part of our families traditions.

The hunt is not always successful, but it brings the family together and connects us to our roots, putting into practice some forgotten homesteading chores.

But we do throw some modern technology in the mix. We use the ATV during the hunting season to access areas that can’t be accessed by a truck or even four wheel drive. Allowing for a better chance of finding prey. It is also used to transport the catch from the hunting grounds back to the truck and home for preparation.

Have Fun with Homestead Family Chores!!!

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are ‘affiliate links’. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission.

Suburban Homesteads LLC