January 31, 2026|Farm Life, Gardening, Homesteading, Sustainability, Tips
Happy New Year from Lange Girl Farms! As January comes to a close in Southeast Michigan, it’s the perfect moment for our annual homestead inventory and spring planning session. Taking stock of feed, seeds, tools, and supplies now helps us avoid last-minute rushes when the weather warms. We’ve made this end-of-January tradition a staple on the farm, and it sets us up for a smooth, productive season ahead. Today, I’ll share our simple inventory process, planning tips, and how our Custom Slate Plant Markers make organizing garden beds a breeze. Let’s turn winter quiet into spring readiness!
Why a January Inventory & Planning Session?
The slower winter days are ideal for this intentional check-in.
- Spot low stocks early (e.g., feed or potting soil).
- Catch seed and tool sales.
- Practice good stewardship of what YAH has provided
- Reduce spring stress when chores increase.
It’s a small habit with big rewards.
Step-by-Step Homestead Inventory
Here’s our straightforward approach:
Gather Tools
- Notebook or printable sheets.
- Pen for lists.
- Camera phone for quick photos of low items.
Animal Feed & Supplies
- Count bags of chicken/duck feed, rabbit pellets, llama/alpaca hay.
- Check supplements and bedding stocks.
- Note expiration dates.
Seed & Garden Stock
- List saved seeds and purchased packets.
- Check viability (sprout test old ones).
- Plan crop rotation and new varieties.
Tools & Equipment
- Inspect pruners, hoses, pots, trays.
- List repairs or replacements.
Pantry & Preserves
- Inventory canned goods, dried herbs, frozen items.
- Plan to use oldest first.
Table: Simple Homestead Inventory Checklist
Category
Current Stock Example
Needs for Spring
Animal Feed
8 bags chicken, 4 bales hay
Order 15 more bags
Seeds
Marigold (40), lettuce (80)
Add onion sets
Tools
3 pruners, 12 pots
Sharpen pruners, buy trays
Bedding
10 bales shavings
Stock 8 more
Preserves
15 jars jam, dried mint
Use jam first
Spring Planning Tips
- Crop Layout: Sketch garden beds—our Custom Slate Plant Markers are perfect for permanent row labels.
- Animal Prep: Plan health checks or breeding (Misty the mini horse due mid-May!).
- Budget List: Separate must-haves from wants.
- Prayerful Focus: Seek YAH’s guidance for the season.
Our Favorite Organization Tool
Custom Slate Plant Markers—durable, reusable with chalk, and beautiful for garden beds or indoor starts.
Wrapping Up
A January inventory and spring plan turns winter downtime into purposeful preparation. It’s satisfying to know we’re stewarding YAH’s gifts wisely for the year ahead.
A few of the items we mention link to things we actually use around the farm. Buying through those links sends a little support our way at no extra cost to you — thank you for helping keep Lange Girl Farms going!
Shop our farm-made goods → https://langegirlfarms.com/shop
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