January to March is the preparation block: test seed, repair tools, fences and irrigation, prune fruit trees before the sap rises, start seedlings indoors and plant hardy crops under cover as soon as the soil can be worked. Labour rises from 10-15% of working adults in January to 25-30% in March, and a maple-syrup crew can take most of February’s workers.
The January-March block of the farm year covers planning, equipment repair, seed testing and the first seedlings and cold-frame sowings.
January: Counting And Fixing
Labour is low, 10-15% of working adults, which is about 6 to 10 people in a community with 55-65 working adults. The carrier’s jobs:
- Seed inventory and germination testing (Record Keeping & Germination Testing). Do this now, because the results decide what to sow, what to trade for and which varieties need a seed crop this year.
- Equipment repair and tool maintenance.
- Milling from stored grain (Community Grain Mill).
- Firewood processing for the kitchen and for heating.
- Review of last year’s yields and the crop plan for the coming year, including the rotation map (Family-Based Rotation Schedules).
- Compost turned if it is not frozen.
February: Seedlings, Pruning, Syrup
Labour is 15-20%, about 8 to 13 people.
- Start seedlings indoors or in cold frames: onions, leeks and early brassicas (Cold Frames and Low Tunnels).
- Prune fruit trees and grape vines before the sap rises.
- Maple syrup, if the community has maple trees. The carrier says it is “all-consuming” for the tapping crew over four to six weeks (Maple Syrup Production).
- Final equipment preparation: sharpen hoes, check fencing, repair irrigation.
- Hand out seed allocations to families and crews.
Worked example: a tapping crew of 4 to 6 people (carrier) out of 8 to 13 farm workers in February is 4 ÷ 13 = 31% at the least and 6 ÷ 8 = 75% at the most. The maple crew can take between about a third and three-quarters of February’s farm labour, so pruning and seedling work must be planned around it, not assumed.
March: Cold Frames, Soil And Lambing
Labour is 25-30%, about 14 to 20 people.
- Plant in cold frames spinach, lettuce, radish and peas as soon as the soil can be worked.
- Prepare beds: clear, spread compost, turn in cover crops.
- Transplant early brassicas under protection.
- Chit potatoes by setting seed potatoes in the light to sprout.
- Lambing and kidding begin and need intense care from the animal crew.
- Repair fences so animals are contained before fields are planted.
Critical Windows In This Block
| Job | Window | If missed |
|---|---|---|
| Germination testing | January | Dead seed found at planting |
| Pruning | Before sap rises | Bleeding and disease entry |
| Fence repair | Before planting | Animals in the crop |
| Seed allocation | Before seedling start | Households short of seed |
Common Mistakes
- Testing seed in April. There is no time to react.
- Letting maple eat all the labour. Something else slips.
- Planting cold-frame crops into frozen ground. Wait until the soil can be worked.
- Skipping the plan review. Last year’s yields are the best forecast for this one.
What’s Next
- Learn next: April-June: Planting and Early Maintenance — the next block
- Combine with: Monthly Task Breakdown — the whole year at a glance