10 Things I Did This Winter That I Should Have Done A Long Time Ago
This Video is from the Youtube channel: “Off-Grid with Curtis Stone”.
About Curtis Stone:
Curtis is one of the world’s most highly sought-after small farming educators. His book, The Urban Farmer, offers a new way to think about farming𑁋 one where quality of life and profitability coexist. Today, Curtis spends most of his time building his 40-acre off-grid homestead in British Columbia. He leverages his relationships with other experts to bring diverse content into the homes of gardeners and aspiring small farmers from around the world. Learn more at FromTheField.TV.
I like to clean and then put floor wax on all the snow shovel blades. The floor wax makes the snow slip off fast and easy, especially wet heavy snow. // Mini-rant: Packaging from the store, should be returnable to the manufacturer via the store. Manufacturers have imposed their conveniences on the public and environment long enough. Yes, return all packaging to the store, cleaned of course. Trucks leave empty from stores and could haul clean packaging back from whence it came–If I were King! Love what you share!
Much more organised this year Curtis I can see that. What I think is a great idea you showed is the tennis balls on rebar for noticing where the edge of the drive is, super idea. I find my ISO container so useful, especially for storage with stuff I don’t want every day keeps the area tidy. We did the same with logs this year & got ahead, mind you it helped with my youngest is a tree surgeon ☺. Great video TY.
Great that you’ve got your place so stream-lined; it’s looking wonderful! Not much snow in central Alberta either. I’m on a rural lot so have wrapped (with burlap) a few trees that the deer tend to browse too much but my little forest gardens have gone dormant. I mulched them with barley straw bales this year so that should help my Seabuckthorn through the winter. Have a great week & blessings to everyone 🤗💕🇨🇦
Thanks for the “list”. I am working on some of the same issues. You are right abt the burn piles! I had one that became too large to safely burn where it was, so made a smaller one further away & working away at it all summer & fall (weather permitting). Just when it might be reasonable, storms brought down a large tree next to “old” pile. We make plans, God laughs!😂
PS: love the winter coop/high tunnel idea!!
It’s raining here on PEI. It has been a wet fall so far. I have rebar (fences) everywhere but I wouldn’t use them on my driveway similar to yours. Experience has taught me that they are hell on snowblowers, when, not if they get bent over and hidden from sight. Fibreglass fence poles with reflectors are far better. They tend to bounce back up better.
I wish I had gotten my electric fencing done sooner. I wish I had put my garden to bed sooner. Mostly fencing though I wished I got further along on. But I did get further than I expected, lol. I wished I had the hundreds of fallen trees cleaned up from a hurricane that took out my electric fences.
Great video Curtis, always lots of prep work to do before old man winter shows up. This is what rugged individualism is all about, working hard and intelligently following plans.
Being prepared before you need to be is key. That’s the way brother, the homestead looks great!
You should add refective signs with Arrows for you and guests to see the driveway when the road curves left or right. I drive every Summer through the moutains of Western PA , US and the roads are very dark with no lights except if your are lucky you can follow the tale lights of the car or truck ahead of you. In the mountains, they have several signs arrow signs pointing to which direction the road curves. What about those boulders on the ground do something so you know where they are under feet of snow.
I am adding more outside lights so I see my house after dark.
Bring that firewood closer to the house !!!
I enjoy watching your videos and the Twitter space with Dr.Kek was great 👍
Some lay down in winter, you obviously stand tall, that’s why you’re happy and blessed
🔴Shout outs from north Michigan, 🔴 love your analytic thinking’s and planning
Excellent podcast with David Dubyne yesterday Curtis. The both of you bring the set of current realities to the table. I’m still looking forward to you having a major podcast with Dean,Nathan, David Dubyne, Diamond and Green Greg’s (Rocketman) Greg Allison.
It probably won’t transpire because you all have so much to say and it wouldn’t be beneficial for those who are polite and would rather be silent.
But all have intelligent view points to contribute to the advancement of the viewers .
May God continue to bless you, your family and friends.
5:45 Love the tennisball-red-rebar stakes! Popped into mind, using reflective hi-viz utility cord to tie between each of them. That would light up in the dark with headlights and provide a clear sense of road borders. Might be extra, too much cost or “visibility”, but eh, who knows, it looks affordable. Animals moving through might snag on it, or fallen limbs so it could just become more work. Hiviz paint all up and down the poles might work…? I love when the lights hit hiviz materials, really lights up the night!
Hey, Curtis, there’s a good vid called “Stop Stacking Firewood” by Hometown Acres. Not sure if it would be helpful for your system as is, but it makes a good point about manhours in for what benefit. Sometimes the sloppy way saves you tons of time with little different outcome, Pareto Principle, basically.
Another great vid: Kirsten Dirksen (amazing channel for DIY houses/ideas): “Homestead Paradise: got barren land, boosted it at profit”. Check his tree management system: overplant to compat plant disease, strongest survive, and cattlegrass-cashcrop boulevards. Inspiring stuff!
Good stuff Curtis!
Seeing you build your homestead (wich is becomming great really fast, congrats) makes me respect you northen snow guys much more, as well as feeling blessed because i live in a 10 a (midle coastal california style) zone. The land is less then half the price, and, most of all, the infrastucture and tools needed are 10 x less (no blowers, no heaters, less solar and batteries, less insulation, not even greenhouses are absolutely necessary) and the growing season is double! Its simply easier and less expensive. No rest season thou..
It’s rainy for the last month here in central Europe. I can’t finish my constructions because of the mud everywhere 🙂 This is what I underestimated. Probably because last years were very dry, I got too much fooled by the “global warming = dry seasons overall” 🙂