Farm labour follows the weather, from 10-15% of working adults on agricultural tasks in December and January to 65-80% in August, the busiest month, so in a community of 55-65 working adults the farm needs about 6 to 10 people in midwinter and about 36 to 52 at the peak. Plan the year in four seasons of work: preparation from January to March, planting from April to June, harvest and preservation from July to September, and final harvest and winterising from October to December.
A monthly task breakdown lists the main farm jobs for each month and the share of working adults they need.
The Shape Of The Year
The carrier’s calendar is for a temperate northern-hemisphere community of 30-150 people. The shares below are the carrier’s estimates of working adults assigned to agricultural tasks; the headcounts are this article’s arithmetic for a community of 100 people with 55-65 working adults (the carrier’s own figure), multiplying 55 by the low share and 65 by the high share.
| Month | Share of working adults | About how many people | Main work |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10-15% | 6-10 | Seed testing, repairs, planning |
| February | 15-20% | 8-13 | Seedlings, pruning, maple syrup |
| March | 25-30% | 14-20 | Cold frames, soil prep, lambing |
| April | 35-45% | 19-29 | Planting begins |
| May | 50-60% | 28-39 | Busiest planting month |
| June | 45-55% | 25-36 | Weeding, early harvest |
| July | 50-60% | 28-39 | Harvest begins, winter garden sown |
| August | 65-80% | 36-52 | Everything at once |
| September | 55-70% | 30-46 | Main harvest, cellar loading |
| October | 45-55% | 25-36 | Last harvest, winterising |
| November | 20-30% | 11-20 | Curing, canning of meat |
| December | 10-15% | 6-10 | Inventory, rest |
Worked example for August: 55 × 0.65 = 35.75, about 36; 65 × 0.80 = 52. For December: 55 × 0.10 = 5.5, about 6; 65 × 0.15 = 9.75, about 10.
These are planning figures, not measured ones. The percentages assume a particular mix of crops and livestock, and the headcount depends on how many of the community are working-age adults (Children, Pregnant, and Elderly Adjustments). Use them to see the shape and replace them with your own records after the first year.
What “All Hands” Means In August
The carrier calls August “all available hands” while giving 65-80%. The two can be reconciled. The fixed crews that run all year (animals 4-6, kitchen 4-6 and infrastructure 4-6 people) take 12 to 18 adults out of 55-65, leaving about 37 to 53, and that is the 36 to 52 of the table. So “all available hands” means everyone not on a crew that cannot stop. See Work Crews and Rotation Schedules.
Four Blocks Of Work
- January-March: preparation. Test seed, repair tools, prune, start seedlings (January-March).
- April-June: planting and early maintenance (April-June).
- July-September: harvest and preservation (July-September).
- October-December: final harvest and winterising (October-December).
Move The Calendar To Your Place
The month names belong to a temperate northern climate. In the southern hemisphere shift the calendar by six months; in a different climate anchor to the last spring frost and the first autumn frost, which set the planting window (Planting and Harvest Windows). The spring peak of labour also falls when stored food is lowest and the extra food needed by heavy workers is highest (Seasonal Labor Calorie Spikes).
Common Mistakes
- Scheduling construction for August. The labour is not there.
- Treating the calendar as exact. Weather moves every date.
- Planning for the peak with the average crew. August needs several times the people of January.
- Forgetting the quiet months. Winter is for repair, teaching and rest.
What’s Next
- Learn next: January-March: Preparation and Planning — the first block
- Combine with: Seasonal Calendars — mapping all community work across the year