December in West Virginia
layout: base.njk title: "December - WV Homesteading Calendar" description: "Homesteading tasks for December in West Virginia" category: seasonal-calendar month: 12
Theme: Rest
Weather: Cold, avg highs 42-45°F, lows 28-32°F
Daylight: 9h 50m → 9h 35m (SHORTEST DAY: December 21, Winter Solstice)
Frost Risk: Hard freezes constant, ground frozen
🌿 Phenology Signs
- No outdoor blooms (dormant season)
- Indoor forcing possible: Paperwhites, amaryllis, hyacinths
- Winter-blooming witch hazel may continue in protected spots
- Winter residents only: Mixed feeding flocks (chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, woodpeckers, cardinals, juncos)
- Bears in deepest hibernation
- Groundhogs fully dormant
- Deer in winter yards (less active to conserve energy)
- All pollinators dormant (queens underground, honeybee cluster)
- Frogs buried in pond mud (can freeze and thaw)
- Salamanders under leaf litter
- Snakes in dens
- Wildlife scarce (most animals hibernating or minimizing activity)
✅ Task Checklist
Garden
- [ ] Prune apples, pears, grapes (dormant season pruning)
- [ ] Order seeds from catalogs
- [ ] Plan garden layout and crop rotation for next year
- [ ] Maintain and sharpen tools
- [ ] Check stored produce weekly (remove any rotting items)
- [ ] Feed wildlife if maintaining feeders
- [ ] Plan and build infrastructure improvements
- [ ] Read, study, learn (permaculture design, gardening techniques)
- [ ] Service greenhouse equipment
- [ ] Build raised beds, repair fencing
- [ ] Attend farm conferences and workshops (virtual or in-person)
- [ ] Write in farm journal, document lessons from past year
- [ ] Rest and recover (farming is a marathon)
- [ ] Winter sowing in cold frames: Milkweed, coneflower, other natives
Orchard
- [ ] Dormant pruning of apples, pears, stone fruits
- [ ] Prune grape vines (dormant season)
- [ ] Remove diseased wood and crossed branches
- [ ] Plan spring spraying schedule if needed
- [ ] Check tree guards and protections
Animals
- [ ] Check water sources daily (prevent freezing)
- [ ] Provide extra calories in feed (cold weather)
- [ ] Ensure wind breaks and shelter are adequate
- [ ] Monitor animal health closely
- [ ] Keep egg collection frequent (prevent freezing)
Preservation
- [ ] Use stored vegetables from root cellar (carrots, beets, potatoes)
- [ ] Use stored winter squash and pumpkins
- [ ] Use stored apples and pears
- [ ] Check mulched root crops (carrots, parsnips under 12" straw)
- [ ] Inventory seeds and gardening supplies
- [ ] Review preservation successes and failures from past year
🌱 What to Plant
Direct Seed: - None (dormant season) - Winter sowing in cold frames: Milkweed, coneflower, other native wildflowers
Transplant: - None
Start Indoors: - Late December: Some start onions for early spring (grow lights needed) - Otherwise, wait until January
🐛 Watch For
- Winter solstice (December 21) - shortest day, sun at lowest point
- Days beginning to lengthen - imperceptibly at first, but happening!
- Ground frozen solid - no digging until spring
- Bare trees - dormancy complete, time for pruning
- Wildlife scarce - most animals hibernating or minimizing activity
- Coldest temperatures - often occur late December through January
- Stored produce - check weekly for rot
- Water sources - check daily for freezing
📅 Key Timing
- Winter Solstice (December 21): Shortest day, sun at lowest point, days begin lengthening after
- Ground frozen solid: No digging until spring thaw
- Bare trees: Dormancy complete, ideal pruning time
- Wildlife minimum activity: Conservation mode
- Coldest temps: Late December through January typical
- Daylight: 9h 35m at solstice, begins increasing after
- Growing season countdown: ~115 days to last frost (mid-May)
- Seed catalog season: Order now for best selection
- Planning season: Review past year, plan improvements
Rest well, homesteader. The Wheel turns, and spring will return. 🌱