How To Stay Warm For Winter Homestead Chores

Striving to live with the seasons is a goal of mine. However, winter can sometimes prove incredibly difficult to handle. Learning how to stay warm for chores on the homestead in the winter is hard.

I enjoy the stillness and slowness of the winter months. It affords me time to work on some other homesteading skills that I just don't have time for at the height of harvest season. I can sit back by the woodstove and read a book , enjoy a warm mug of tea and just be in the moment more than I can in the summer.

But with that stillness comes the not-so-fun bitter cold. While we aren't the coldest here in Indiana, we definitely aren't the warmest. We typically get down into the single digits and below with windchills that often reach -20°F or colder.

And since I'm in the wind, it feels really cold really quickly. Regardless of the cold, however, our animals need to be cared for. Keeping water thawed for our rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese, and goats along with keeping them fed, sheltered and comfortable is something that we have to do in rain, sleet, or snow... whether we feel like it or not in those cold temperatures.

While the goats, poultry and rabbits seem to do quite fine even with recent temps well below zero and windchills up to -45°F, we do not do as well. So, preparation and dressing appropriately are paramount.

Not only do we need to layer and dress warmly to be able to stay warm and not get frostbite or hypothermia, we also need to be able to move. Our hands need to be free enough to grab latches, we need to be able to have free movement of our arms and legs and still stay comfortable and warm.

How to Stay Warm for Winter Homestead Chores

Layering is key to staying warm in winter weather, regardless of the activities you're doing outside. However, layering properly without overheating, weighing you down, or making you immobilized is just as important as actually layering in the first place. Hopefully, these tips and recommendations will help you on your way to staying warm.

Base layer- Wool

You'll find a theme as you go through this list and that is that I highly recommend wool. I struggled to find a company worthy of my hard-earned dollar. But, thankfully I found USA-grown and made wool clothing. Wool is an expensive investment, however, it lasts a long time when it's well-cared for, it's sustainable, it's naturally moisture-wicking, it will keep you cool enough without overheating you, and it's warm without being cumbersome.

I highly recommend utilizing quality wool products for your base layer. I have included my recommendations from my absolute favorite wool company for both men and women. Unfortunately, they do not carry children's sizes.

So, if you have children that you pack outside (which I highly recommend you do) then Smartwool is also made here in the United States and carries children's base layers.

For women, I recommend this Polaris Loose Crew from Duckworth as the perfect top base layer. This is soft against the skin, waffled and made of 80% Montana wool. It's super comfy and moisture-wicking. This makes it great as a base for cold days or just as a shirt when it's a bit warmer.

For women's bottoms, these Maverick Leggings are comfortable, and warm, and stay dry without itching even on the coldest days. They are 100% merino wool.

While I don't have personal experience with men's clothing, these are the things I've purchased for my husband not only for chores but also for a base layer for hunting:

Men's Top Base Layer: Men's Polaris Crew is 80% Montana grown merino wool.

Men's Bottom Base Layer: Men's Comet Leggings are 100% merino wool.

Over layer- A good sweatshirt

I used to just wear a pullover hoodie. They're comfortable, they're not too bulky, not too tight, fit well and are fairly warm. But, once I discovered this amazing Women's Powder High Neck sweatshirt, I'll never go back to the pullover. It's comfortable, it's cozy, and I could seriously live in this thing.

For men, I recommend the Men's Comet Hoodie.

The children all still wear a simple hoodie like this.

Outer layer- A Winter Chore Coat

Being able to move with a coat on and having durability is important for a coat. So far, we all wear and own our own Berne Coat. They're functional, they allow for plenty of mobility, but they keep you warm and they're durable.

In the future, however, I hope to get a WoolCloud jacket.

Outer layer- Warm, insulated overalls

Insulated coveralls are a homesteader's best friend. They're like wearing an apron in the kitchen. It keeps all the muck, mud, and poop off of your clothes and on them.

My kids also wear theirs anytime they go roaming around the out of doors when it's cold out. It keeps the laundry to a minimum and keeps them warm and dry.

I love these coveralls. My frugalness loves that these are a little less expensive than their competitor. But they're still high quality, durable, warm, and comfortable. And in my book, that's all that matters.

Feet layer one- A good pair of wool socks

A good pair of socks can be so difficult to find. We were throwing tons of money down the drain on a routine basis for just regular socks and the occasional boot sock. However, I've found that the duckworth socks are quality, last, and are comfortable. This Midweight hiking crew sock is perfect for the wintertime. They're not too heavy, but they keep your feet plenty warm without needing two or three exra pairs.

If we're going to be out for a while, whether for chores or to hunt, we use these toe warmers to help store the extra heat in our boots which brings me to...

Feet layer two- The Best Boots

We've usually bought and worn muck boots over the past several years of having livestock. However, they're difficult to keep clean and I've found the quality severely lacking and diminishing with each passing year.

A while ago a woman suggested Bekina boots which are made in Belgium. While I strive to stick with USA made things where I can and support America, muck brand isn't made exclusively in the United States anyway.

So, we gave the Bekina's a shot. They're warm, they're durable, they seem super well-built (I'll keep you posted on the longevity, but they're reinforced), and they're super easy to clean since they are made out of polyurethane material. They're also 100% waterproof. No leaking through a crappy sewn sole like mucks. I'll stick with these Bekina Waterproof Insulated Wellington Boots until I find something made of natural fibers that ticks all the boxes (probably not likely).

Keep your head and ears warm -A good hat

I don't know about you but my ears get cold. It used to be said that you lose a good deal of heat out of your head. Some people say that is a myth, but I feel like if the rest of your body is well covered and your head isn't... you're going to be radiating quite a bit of heat off of your noggin. That's just me.

My face also gets cold so I prefer this Comet Balaclava which I can use as just a hat, just a neck gaiter, or as a full-on balaclava making it a perfect 3-in-1 solution.

However, if you don't care to wear a balaclava, this Knit Rigger Hat will keep the heat in and if you need some tighter-fitting protection for your nose and mouth than the powder high neck provides, this Maverick Neck Gaiter will keep your neck and face warm and cozy.

Keep your hands warm and dry -A good pair of gloves

Good gloves are hard to find. They're either too bulky, not durable enough, or too thin. Or, you have to pull them off every ten seconds because you're dealing with water.

I've found my favorites, though! These Kinco Deerskin drivers are lined just enough, resist water and keep my hands dry, warm, and mobile.

That's it! That's how to stay warm in the winter! It requires a lot of good layering and clothes, but it's worth it to not freeze.

How to Stay Warm for Winter Homestead Chores