Bringing the Harvest Indoors: Preparing the Homestead for the Cold

This is our first real year homesteading, and November has already been such a teacher. The garden beds are nearly empty, the mornings are colder, and we’re learning what it means to shift from growing season into prep mode.

We’ve been busy cleaning up the yard, hauling off garden debris, and getting the animals ready for the colder months ahead. The goats are getting extra bedding, the ducks’ pond gets checked every morning, and we’re slowly figuring out how to keep everyone (including us!) warm and comfortable as the temperatures drop.

Inside, I’ve been finishing up the last bits of canning and freezing what’s left of our harvest. Each jar on the shelf feels like a little victory — a reminder that even as beginners, we made it through the growing season, learned a ton along the way, and have something tangible to show for it.

This time of year feels different now that we’re living this lifestyle. It’s no longer about the rush of harvest, but the rhythm of preparing and caring. There’s beauty in the slower pace — in making sure the animals are cozy, the pantry is stocked, and our family is ready for the season ahead.

Even as the days grow shorter, there’s a quiet peace in the work. God has shown up in every lesson, every small success, and every challenge we faced this first year. And as we bring the harvest indoors, I can’t help but feel grateful for the new life He’s led us into — one step, one season at a time.

“She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.” — Proverbs 31:17