lystn

Organization is important on the homestead, and if you're anything like me, it helps to write things down. Here are 9  lists I keep to help with my homestead organization  (Don’t want to read all the words? This blog post is also a podcast—just press the triangle play button on the little black bar at the top of this post!) Note: You'll find I haven't created these lists for you—I don't have anything for you to download and fill in. The reason why is that everyone's set up is different and the way I keep track of things might not be the way that works for you. If you're absolutely in love with the idea of me creating a set of lists for you to fill in, email me at amy@afarmishkindoflife.com. If I get enough requests, I'll pull up a chair to the computer and design something awesome. Otherwise, just take a gander at the very much pen and paper examples of what I use in my own home. Homestead organization list #1: what's happening this week/month/season? While it can be easy to look at a calendar and know what's happening this week, it's good to sit down and connect with your family about what's going on longer term. It is good to figure out what needs to be done at what point, and then work backwards to figure out when you need to start those projects! Is this the month you have to butcher the chickens? Move the wood pile? Clean the back of the barn to get ready for a new animal? Go through your pantry and figure out a new way to organize it? Maybe this is the season to watch the grapes and find that perfect moment when they're ripe but before the yellow jackets attack. It's hard to have all hands on deck when not everyone knows their hands are needed. It is so helpful to sit down with family members and make a "what's happening" list so everyone is on the same page. Homestead organization list #2 - what you need to remember for next year This is a list you make this year (as the year progresses) to help remember things you will need for next year. I usually keep this list in my farm journal. Did you end this gardening season realizing you need new tomato cages? More tomato cages? Do you need to replace the solar fencer? Do you need to start your seeds earlier? Later? Did the netting around the main garden get a huge rip in it after the last storm of the year? Do you need to fix the floor in the back chicken coop before you can put birds in there again next spring? It's no fun to be standing in the garden next year and realize oh, that's right. We were gonna... This list is very helpful to compile all the things for next year's homestead so you won't be behind. Homestead list #3 -  future plans/goals This is the long term list of things that will take more time, money, or require that something in your life changes. You may know you want to add a porch to the front of your house, but it may need to wait until your old windows are replaced and paid for. You may know that you want to build a bigger chicken coop, but that might need to wait until you fence off the back pasture. This list is for things that will take more budgeting, planning, time, and/or muscle. And it will keep your homestead more organized if you write these things down! Homestead list #4 - costs associated with what you're raising/growing Sometimes people make this list because they plan to sell what they raise or grow, and want to know they're charging enough to make a profit. But even if you don't plan to sell what you raise or grow, there are two reasons you should still keep this type of homestead organization list. First, it helps you know if it's a cost efficient adventure for you, or if you need to change something up regarding your feed, etc. But secondly, people who are interested in homesteading and raising/growing their own food will often ask you about your costs when they're in their research phase. If you don't keep track of your homesteading stats, your answers won't be as helpful to them.