August Homesteading To-Do List

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Get more done with our August homesteading to-do list. An easier way to stay up to date with your homesteading projects. Get a quick overview of what you can do in the garden, barn, and with your livestock to ensure everyone is handling the hot summer.

Keep this list with all your homesteading tips so you can refer to it every summer, ensuring you stay on top of all the things that need your attention and care in August.

August is a hot month, even in northwestern Pennsylvania. The air is thick, the temperatures are high, and there seems to be little to no breeze. This can make it difficult to work outdoors an you might be tempted to stay inside until things cool off.

Our gardens have other plans because August is when production hits it’s high and that means we need to care for things whether we want to or not.

This is when I try to remember all the work I put into planting and growing seeds in the spring. The payoff may not be timed well, but the benefits are worth the work.

tips to help deal with the heat

Here are a few things you can do to take advantage of cooler times even on the hottest days.

#1. Mornings

Do as much as you can in the early morning. I like to be out as soon as the sun starts to come up. This is a great time to get work done outside, such as harvesting. It is cool, quiet, and peaceful.

#2. Evenings

The same is true when the sun starts to set. This is a good time to do any weeding and planting if you have a fall garden.

#3. Water

Finally be sure everyone has enough water to stay cool. This includes you as well as your livestock. Chickens, ducks, goats, horses, alpacas, rabbits, all need water to stay cool and healthy. To help give them plenty of sources and do what you can to keep it cool.

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August Homesteading To-do list

This month is all about harvesting. If you have a garden you may find yourself either there or in your kitchen for most of this month!

Be sure to grab the FREE August Homesteading to-do list below!

Garden Tasks for august

Harvest season is here, and to make this job easier, you will want to have a great container to hold and carry your produce safely into your home. I just bought this harvest basket, and I love it! It is a nice big size, is made of sturdy plastic making it light weight and easy to carry.

#1. Replenish Mulch

Be sure to keep mulch around your growing plants this month to help keep moisture in and around the roots.

#2. Inspect for Pests

With so many plants ready to harvest, be sure you not feeding anyone other than your family. Watch for signs that deer, rabbits, or other pests are not getting to your food. If so you can install a temporary fence to protect your plants.

#3. Water

Water your plants as early as possible in the morning. This will help your plants absorb more water before the sun evaporates it. You can install a drip irrigation system along with an outdoor water timer that you set up at the faucet. It’s a bit of an investment, but it’s a great way to ensure your plants produce at their maximum.

#4. Encourage Growth

Towards the end of August, pinch back tomato plants to give all the energy to the fruits that are already growing.

Use shade cloth to protect plants from very hot temps such as lettuce, greens, and tomatoes.

#5. Fall Garden Prep

If you grow a fall garden, now is good time to plant crops. Turnips, carrots, beans, and parsnips are all good options.

#6. Harvest

Watch any pumpkins that are ready to pick. Be sure they are the color you want before harvesting as pumpkins will not continue to color once picked.

Be sure to pick squash and zucchini before it gets too large to prevent bitter seeds.

Livestock Tasks for august

This month is the start of winter prep and there is quite a bit that needs to be done. Remember the earlier you start, the less pressure you will feel in October.

#1. Hay

If you grow your own hay, cut a second crop to use during the winter months. This is usually about 4-8 weeks after the first crop is cut. Second, crop cuttings are richer and good for animals that need the energy to endure cold temperatures.

#2. Pasture

Use rotational grazing to ensure your pasture is holding up well as fall gets nearer. Rotational grazing means moving your livestock around your pasture using temporary fencing to create paddocks within the area.

This helps to keep your livestock healthier as well as keep your pasture growing longer in the fall seasons.

#3. Breeding

August is the start of breeding season for many goat and sheep owners. Now is a good time to get your routine mapped out and started. Here are a few tips.

1. Choose your buck – If you have more than one breeding buck, decide who will be breeding whom this season. Make a list and a schedule so you can keep on track with successful breedings.
2. Method – Decide on what method of breeding you will do this season so you can get prepared. You can choose pen breeding, driveway breeding, natural breeding, or artificial insemination.
3. Housing – If you have goats or sheep that you do not want bred, have an area where they can stay until breeding season is over.

#4. Worm Checks

Fall is a good time to do herd checks for parasite or worm issues. You can run a fecal test on stools in your herd or take in a few herd samples to have the vet test for worm eggs.

You can also check body condition for unexplained weight loss and eye membranes to see if they are a nice watermelon color both are signs there may be an issues with worms.

If you do seasonal worming, you can do it now.

#5. Milk Production

Check the milk records on your milking goats to ensure consistent milk production. If you see a drop, do some research to determine whether there is a medical issue or a feed issue that you can adjust.

#6. Heat Help

August is hot for livestock but there are things you can do to help them handle the heat.

1. Install barn fans in their shelter to keep air from getting stale.
2. Add in more water sources both in the barn as well as in the pasture.
3. Be sure there is plenty of shade to give them relief from the sun.

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Chicken Tasks for august

Next up on our August homesteading to-do list is chicken care. The chicken run can be so dry and dusty in August making it a bit unbearable for your flock. Be sure to watch over your chickens to be sure they are handling the heat okay.

#1. Heat Help

Chickens are not able to sweat and that means we need to help as much as we can when the temps soar.

1. Add a fan to the coop.
2. Be sure there is plenty of shade in the run.
3. Put a pool of water in the run.
4. Add ice to their water.
5. Give them a treat of frozen product to munch on.
6. Set up a temporary chicken run under a shade tree.

#2. Dust Baths

Help chickens relax by giving them an area for bathing. Chickens love to take dust baths and do so by using their feathers to toss loose soil or other materials onto their feathers and shaking it all off.

This helps to remove oils, dirt, and pests from their skin helping them to be healthier. Dust baths also help to reduce stress in flock that can come when the temperatures are hot and dry.

You can DIY a dust bath using a tire or make a dust bath area in the run with a shovel. Dig a few shallow holes in the run area and loosen up the dirt for your chickens.

#3. Coop Care

The end of August is a good time to clean out your coop for the fall. Use our DIY Natural Chicken Coop Cleaner for a toxic-free clean.

1. Remove everything inside so you can sweep it out from ceiling to floor removing all cobwebs, dirt, and dust.
2. Wash what you can remove, such as the feeder, waterer, and nesting boxes.
3. Scrape any debris from the roost and other areas.
4. Close up any holes where mice or other rodents can get inside.
5. Fill nesting boxes with clean fresh straw.
6. Fill and return the waterer and feeder.
7. Put in a layer of fresh bedding on the floor.

Barn Tasks for august

A barn is nice to have, but keeping it in good condition can be a lot of work.

#1. Inspect

To prevent overwhelm, it is best to do a bit of inspecting each month so you can catch issues before they become full-blown problems. Walk your barn both inside and out and make a list of anything you see that needs attention.

#2. Fans

If you use fans in the barn to keep your animals cool, check them to see if they need cleaning. We need to do ours monthly to remove the dust and cobwebs. Take them down and use a blower to easily remove the dirt.

This takes just a short time so your animals will not be without the cool air for long.

#3. Feed Room

If you have a feed room, do an inventory for any feed, minerals, medical, or supplies you are running low on.

Check the room for signs of rodents and set traps if you find evidence. It is so much better to stop them now before they decide to move in for the winter.

#4. Gate check

Check hinges and latches on gates to ensure they are doing their job properly. If you have a predator issue, invest in a video cameral to monitor what is coming around and how big of a threat they might be.

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Homestead Tasks for august

Finally, there are a few things that you will want to check off this list for your home and homestead.

#1. Monthly Projects

Look at the projects you have listed for August and make a plan to get them done. Ask for help in your family or hire help for bigger jobs you cannot get done alone.

If you do not have a project plan for your homestead, you can start one now.

#2. Trees and Shrubs

If your pasture does not have shaded areas, now is the time to order trees for fall planting. Be sure to add trunk protection around the base of the tree to keep livestock from damaging it.

#3. Machinery

Inspect any machinery that has not been used to ensure the fluids are good as well as the tires.

#4. Heat

Order the material that you use to heat your home so you area ready for the colder months. If you use wood, get your order in now so you can begin cutting and splitting. Be sure to have enough time for the wood to dry for better burning.

#3. Fencing

Fence is such an important part of any homestead. Not only does it keep our livestock inside where they are safe, but it also keeps predators out. This includes our pastures, yard, and gardens.

Walk your fence line and look for any holes, cracks, breaks, or tears. Fix each area now or make a note to do it soon.

If you want to expand your fenced-in area, take measurements and begin saving now so you can purchase a good-quality fence without upsetting your budget.

#4. Planning

Keeping notes on all areas of a homestead is important not only from a personal aspect but from a business one as well. Sure, you may not be making money from your homestead yet, but if you ever want to in the future, notes will be so helpful to have.

Set up a binder that will allow you to keep notes on each area you have on your homestead. Add notes, photos, checklists, and routines so you always know where these resources are.

Having an to do list of things to do can be so helpful and an easier way to ensure all the areas that need your attention are getting it. The most important tip I can give is this, walk your property every month. More often if you are able.

These walks have been so valuable with our own set us as we are able to see things early in allowing us to make fixes quickly and easily.

Print out this August Homesteading To-do List and use it every year to keep your homestead, garden, and livestock on track.

More Homesteading Resources:

• June Homesteading To-do List
• July Homesteading To-Do List
• Homestead Daily Schedule