Early December Chores Around My Farm

December 2, 2025

Here at my farm, we're expecting rain, slush, and temperatures in the 30s.

So far, the weather has allowed us ample time to ready the property for the cold season ahead. My outdoor grounds crew has been especially busy blowing leaves, storing supplies, covering greenhouse vents, fertilizing the fields, mulching the garden beds, and completing other necessary tasks. Are you ready for the winter?

Here are some photos, enjoy.

: As colder weather approaches and sunlight decreases, trees that drop their leaves seal the spots where the leaves are attached, which causes them to change color and fall to the ground. Many of the trees are now bare at the farm. Here, the crew has also mulched the ground beneath them. Mulch keeps the soil warm in winter and cool in summer and prevents roots from damage caused during freeze and thaw cycles.

: All the garden beds are also mulched. This is one section of my long pergola garden, newly planted with thousands of spring blooming bulbs.

: Here’s Jimmy in my trusted Kubota tractor transporting buckets of rich mulch to the beds.

: Another big task this time of year – putting the stakes in the ground. Pete places stakes along the edge of all the carriage roads throughout the farm. These stakes are very important for guiding cars and other vehicles when there is snow on the ground. It also reminds drivers to go slowly – there’s a strict 5mph speed limit here at Cantitoe Corners.

: I also like to mark where catch basins are located. This saves a lot of time and needless digging when clearing them of snow and debris. I use stakes that are tall enough to see in the deep snow and mark both sides with black so there isn’t any confusion when it comes time to access them.

: As work is done in the woodland such as pruning and cutting down dead trees, logs and branches are neatly piled along the carriage road. They will soon be put through the chipper and thrown back in to the woods as top dressing.

: In the goose enclosure, a new shelter is being made. Geese are very resilient animals and love the outdoors in all kinds of weather, but I like to provide shelter from high winds and falling snow along with a bed of thick hay to help keep them warm.

: Cesar takes excellent care of all my birds – the geese, peafowl, pheasants, chickens, and turkeys. He’s also proving to be a very good carpenter!

: Chhiring feeds the hay fields with NPK 20-5-10, which is a specific nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potassium mix that provides essential nutrients to support healthy hay growth and development.

: Here is the spreader, which is hitched to the back of the tractor. It moves the granules and throws them about 30 feet out as it is driven through the field.

: In the Japanese maple woodland, Ryan feeds the trees to replenish any nutrients lost during the growing season. Feeding at this time also helps to maintain robust root systems. I use Miracle-Gro food in my garden beds.

: In my wood shop, Doug builds a new door for my Winter House kitchen – it’s easily the most used door here at my farm.

: The crew cleaned and organized the giant Equipment Barn. All the equipment is checked and cleaned and put away on one side of the room. Any manual tools are also cleaned and hung on designated hooks so everything is easy to find and access.

: All the telescoping sprinklers are collected, cleaned, tied, and stored away until next year. For years I’ve used hoses and sprinklers from Gilmour. I’ve always been pleased with the durability and performance of their supplies.

: Just behind the Equipment Barn, my gardeners hurry to get evergreens into the ground in the pinetum while the ground is still soft enough to plant.

: Here’s Pete wrapping the exterior vents around my small greenhouse. These vents are first covered with a layer of plastic and then burlap.

: And then a custom frame to secure the material. Pete made this frame a couple of years ago making this task very quick and easy.

: The flower cutting garden near my hoop houses and chicken yard was cleaned, tilled, and top dressed.

: Daily tasks such as blowing the cobblestones outside my stable is always on the list. Juan uses a durable battery powered blower from STIHL. Juan and Helen keep the stable complex very clean and tidy.

: And yes, it’s time to decorate for the holidays. Here’s Elvira pulling ornaments from storage. All my decorations are stored neatly by type and color. Wait and see how I planned this year’s décor around my home.