The sun rose in a cloudless sky for once, and the forecast promises more of the same with slowly rising temps. It’s nearly nine ayem and there’s still an inch of frost on the ground, but it’s still and bright…
That’s the cliff outside my front window, sort of my personal barometer. The sky above it looks just the same for 360o.
Wood supply’s holding out better than feared, not quite as well as hoped. I’d hoped not to start hitting the second tier until January, missed that by three days. These extended cold snaps are hell on a woodpile, but a normal winter only has one or two of them. If I hadn’t quit cutting when I threw out my back, I’d be sure of getting through the whole season on what I already have. But at some point I’ll probably cut more out of mere boredom anyway.
I’m from Michigan so winter is not a big mystery to me, but I’d never seriously heated with wood before moving into the Lair in the winter of ’11-’12. It has been a learning experience.
Some people told me that you can’t heat with pine, you must heat with oak or even wood I wouldn’t be able to identify let alone acquire like locust or petrified TSA screeners or something. That’s not strictly true, but like so many improvements hardwood is such an improvement as to be almost a necessity in hindsight. All those old weathered hardwood pallets I cut up over the summer make a helluva coal bed in my little stove. Definitely produces better heat and makes less ash (and less chimney mess) than juniper. So far I haven’t burned a single stick of juniper, and I’m not nostalgic for it.
I may have cleaned out the neighborhood’s supply of hardwood, though. It now looks like I’ve got enough pallets stacked to get me through this winter and the next, but before they’re gone I need to get entrepreneurial and find another source. This works pretty well.
It’s pleasant to reflect that my attitude during my first couple of winters alone was that what doesn’t kill me is good enough. “Necessity,” at first, meant “necessary for life.” I grew to dread winter because it was just so damned uncomfortable. But I can’t beat this…
Looking good Joel, nice photos. Our winter storm warnings (heavy snow & freezing rain) have finally ended. Have to say I’m happy not to have to drive in that crap any more if I don’t want to. While we don’t have the clear blue sky that you do it’s coming. 🙂
I’m surprised that you are using the amount of wood you are given the work done on the secret lair. I would have thought it would be less. Just goes to show how little I know about wood heating. Stay warm.
The only real problem with pallets is that so much of it is thin wood that doesn’t burn very long, so you end up using quite a lot.
pallets are a renewable resource. Local stores are always getting more and throw them away. They grow faster than real trees.
Joel, Maybe you’ve thought of this already,in which case I’m just talking to hear myself talk,but years ago I knew a man who (nights and weekends) had a part time gig rebuilding/repairing pallets,which he would then sell back to a freight company.
He accumulated a huge amount of broken pallet boards,which he would give away for firewood.Maybe there’s one of those guys in the next town?
Not that I know of, Billf.