19 Ways to Prepare for Winter

By Ward And Kammy Thurman
Published on December 2, 2008
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When well prepared for winter, you're free to enjoy normal thrills that accompany the season.
When well prepared for winter, you're free to enjoy normal thrills that accompany the season.
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Although a winter scene can be beautiful, failure to plan ahead can cause you a misery unlike any other season of the year; especially without cold country experience.
Although a winter scene can be beautiful, failure to plan ahead can cause you a misery unlike any other season of the year; especially without cold country experience.
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Thinsulate, Gortex, felt, wool, fleece, goose down and other materials all offer advantages and disadvantages to warding off the cold air and moisture. Read the labels on garments for their appropriate use.
Thinsulate, Gortex, felt, wool, fleece, goose down and other materials all offer advantages and disadvantages to warding off the cold air and moisture. Read the labels on garments for their appropriate use.
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Livestock will burn more calories during winter trying to stay warm, so increasing feed is a good idea, no matter the animal. Grazing out of the wind also helps.
Livestock will burn more calories during winter trying to stay warm, so increasing feed is a good idea, no matter the animal. Grazing out of the wind also helps.
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If you moved a horse from a warm climate, you will need to take extra precautions with stabling, feed and water, and use winter warming blankets.
If you moved a horse from a warm climate, you will need to take extra precautions with stabling, feed and water, and use winter warming blankets.

You finally get to follow your dream of living in the country, and with great enthusiasm you move your family and pets a thousand miles north. It’s June and life in the North Country is even better than you imagined. You enjoy a summer of horseback riding, fishing, camping and hiking. As summer comes to an end, a beautiful fall emerges, bringing with it mild temperatures and gorgeous colors. This is the next best thing to heaven.

Then … winter hits.

Your car won’t start, the water spigot outside sprays water both inside and outside the house (creating a fascinating sculpture in the yard), the air is really cold, and no one mentioned how to un-stick little Johnny’s tongue from the hood of your van. While he’s screaming and you’re panicking, you make a mental note to warn his siblings not to lick the snow off metal surfaces.

If you’re new to snow country, here are some tips to help smooth your adjustment to the winter season.

Vehicles

Have a mechanic give your vehicles a good going over, and a tune-up if needed. If you don’t know a good shop, it’s easy to figure out – look for the guy with all the vehicles parked out front. If you go in and ask to have a block heater installed (more on that later), and he says it will be two weeks, he is probably the guy you want working on your car.

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