In the previous installment we went through tips on determining how much wood? This time we’ll talk about how all chainsaws are not the same.
When it comes to cutting firewood, the old way is not the best. Its hard on your back and arms using any kind of 
hand saw. Chainsaws are a wonderful tool for those who choose or must heat their home with wood. All chainsaws are not equal as we’ve found through experience over the years. It seems that we wasted, or overworked ourselves the first 5 or so years with my ignorance in this topic.
In our early experience, it took a long time to cut
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In the previous installment we went through tips on getting that wood stove fire started. This time we’ll talk about how much wood you need to put up for the winter.
Time seems to have wings. Thats why spring is a great time to consider how much wood to prepare for heating your off grid home this winter. Its getting nice enough round here that a sweater in the morning replaces the fire. Without a winter’s experience, the question of how much wood you will need is complicated. I’ll try to provide some useful guidelines here.
Let’s cover the variables
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In the first part of the series, we talked about using two wood stoves for heat. Now we continue the series with basic fire starting and include our best bonus tip too!
Starting your wood stove for heat on a cold day is very important. Getting it done quickly and efficiently in another story. Too often I’ve seen Jackie start fires on cold mornings that just didn’t “take” and needed a couple re-starts until the final call comes in from the house to the office shed, ” Marshall, start the fire please”.
Getting a good fire started is a combination of three things; the right wood, the right kindling or helper material, and finally the arrangement or technique of the initial setup.
Fuel and Kindling
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Will your wood stove heat the area you need? Maybe you need two wood stoves, one at each end of the house? And the really big question follows with, “how much wood will I need for a season?” In this series I’ll attempt to provide answers and suggestions for these questions and more after living with wood heat 11+ years.
Wood Heat necessity off grid
Wood burning is the most common source source for off grid living. Electric heat should not be
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As I mentioned in; Why firewood? I have this nifty little heater… , using your off grid power system to heat your home with electric heat is impractical and inefficient. Wood heat is the most practical and reliable heating source for your off grid home. Getting enough wood in under cover for each winter season does consume a good deal of effort, but is rewarding. There’s nothing like a cold snowy night, with and extra log on the fire for “comfort” heat and a good book, knowing there’s plenty of dry wood tucked away outside.
Kindling
Depending on your type and size of firewood, starting a fire in the fireplace or wood stove can be a challenge. After all these years I take it for granted, but it really is an art.
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I’ve heard from several readers who thought it would be nice to view the web cam. I’ve managed to arrange for public access to the web cam for a couple days. The web cam does full pan and tilt, so you can move it around the room. On the lower far left side of the camera view I hung up a digital thermometer to watch the coop temperature.
My daughter’s special chickens began the move into the fancy insulated chicken digs about 10 days ago. Most of the chickens you see are the Serama variety that she specializes in. Ondra was worried that I might get something wrong describing these little birds, so her paragraph is next.
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I had to make a change to the portable heater I recently placed in the insulated serama chicken shed. The temperatures here in Washington took a dive Sunday. Monday highs near 10F and nights down to 3F. This morning my daughter complained it was too hot in there, it was 78F and 4F outside! Wish our house was that warm!
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Last week I completed the new deluxe chicken shed for my daughter’s special “smallest breed of chicken” called seramas was completed This shed has to be heated since these chickens that came from Malaysia don’t do well in freezing temperature.
The Problem
By last Tuesday, we had some chickens in this insulated shed and it started to get colder outside. My daughter slept out there several nights to wake up and turn on/off the radiant heater. The crunch was coming Friday night because we’d all be gone helping with the youth group’s, all night, lock in.
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Folks new to the Off Grid lifestyle, or alternate energy, often have this notion. There are many electric heaters out there like, oil based, ceramic ones, and basic heating elements. Isn’t there one that will run well off my genverter system? Simple answer is no. The power required for any electricity based heat is too high. I often explain to friends and customers, “why would I want to {en:short circuit} my battery bank and then warm my hands over the glowing wire?”. So when it comes to heat, your genverter system is not the best source. Alternatives like firewood, or a small propane heater are much more fuel efficient.
Cheers – Marshall
UPDATE: This post is specifically about heating the air around you for a warm home. Recently, we’ve been rediscovering and rethinking about off grid cooking with small appliances.
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