Land & Lifestyle Tips to Combat the Heat
5 Summer Essentials for the Homesteader
Getting You Through Seasonal Heat Peaks
By Dana Benner
Without a doubt, the summers are getting hotter. According to the National Weather Service, the last few years have been the hottest on record. It would be nice if we all could stay in air-conditioned areas, but sadly, that is not the case. If you live this lifestyle, then you have to be out there in the heat, tending livestock or working in the garden. What follows are five things you can do to make it through the“ dog days of summer”.
1: Hydration
According to the U. S. Department of Labor, dehydration is one of the top things that takes people out of the game. Staying hydrated sounds simple, and it is, but many of us don’ t do it. In the heat of summer, numerous sources say that we should be drinking two and a half liters of water per day.
For that reason, I always have water available. I’ m not talking about a couple of bottles of bottled water. In my pack, I always carry a WDS Wide 3L Hydration water bladder put out by 5.11 Tactical, and in my truck, I have water containers made by Reliance Outdoors.
2: Rest
Working in extreme heat will sap your energy. OSHA recommends frequent breaks in order to recoup. You may feel that you can push on( I know, I’ ve been there), but you need to take breaks. Without breaks, you can stress your body to the point of no return.
Try working in the early mornings and the late afternoons. Doing so, you may find that you are more productive. Watch what the animals are doing. They aren’ t active in the heat of the day and neither should you.
Two of my Reliance water jugs that I carry in my truck. You can never have enough water.
Though I am working under cover, the shirt is still a good idea. Photo by Sarah Zackowski.
3: Shade
Have you ever noticed that cattle seek the shade during the middle of the day? There is a reason for this. This combines with rest. Relaxing in the shade will help to reduce your body temperature, thus reducing strain on your lungs and heart. When you take breaks, seek out the shade. That shade could be a grove of trees or just the side of your truck. The key is to get out of the sun.
4: Clothing
Clothing is rated by UPF codes, which are industry standards that measure the amount of UV rays that go through clothing and reach our skin. These ratings range from 15 to 50, with 15 being the lowest rating with any sort of protection, and 50 being the very best. According to the American Cancer Society, a plain cotton t-shirt has a rating between five and eight UPF.
Most UPF clothing is made from a polyester blend fabric. Cotton absorbs sweat and dries slowly, unlike the polyester blend. When cotton gets soaked with sweat or water, the already low protection rating goes down even further. This is one of the reasons why whitewater canoers, kayakers and rafters don’ t wear cotton. The drawback is that synthetic fibers, such as polyester, will melt when they come into contact with a hot object, like a muffler. For that reason, if I plan on doing any work
24 AcreageLife July 2026 AcreageLife. com