In this blog post, we created a video which explains how we use thermosiphon to heat our domestic hot water through our wood cook stove. We have received requests to create a video post which walks through the process. We hope you enjoy the video and our attempt at creating a Youtube presence. Our channel … Continue reading Thermosiphon equals free hot water
Wood Cook Stove
Another Firewood Season Coming to a Close *Note sigh of relief…
Wearing my grubbiest, holiest t-shirt, toughest Walls jeans, a pair of worn out hiking shoes or rubber boots, and skip a shower until evening because I am about to sweat through every pore of my skin; I head out to fell, buck, transport, split, and stack firewood for the 2016 season. Gathering wood this season … Continue reading Another Firewood Season Coming to a Close *Note sigh of relief…
When the Electric Log Splitter Dies…
The great thing about an electric log splitter is the energy used to split the wood is free when living with solar energy. I would never trade my electric log splitter for a gas one. I don't want another gas motor to maintain and pay for the fuel to operate it. My electric log … Continue reading When the Electric Log Splitter Dies…
A Birthday Challenge Turned Tradition: Zesty, Orange, Double Layer, Birthday Cake
For the past eight or so years, I started a tradition for my wife's birthday. Before this epiphany, I would ask my wife what she would like for her birthday cake? I would then, like most husbands, go hunt down the desired cake and purchase it from a bakery or sometimes an ice cream parlor. … Continue reading A Birthday Challenge Turned Tradition: Zesty, Orange, Double Layer, Birthday Cake
Wrapping up the Fall Harvest
These past few weeks we have wrapped up the fall harvest. We salvaged what we could from the garden and took the hoop houses down. Our back room has the tomatoes strewn about, so they can ripen. Our garden did not produce much this year. We planted late, the heat wave shocked the plants, and … Continue reading Wrapping up the Fall Harvest
Firewood: Cut, Split, and Stacked
As of early August, my wife, son, and I stood happily before our woodshed and admired our work this past season. We had successfully cut, split, and stacked 9 and half cords of wood. Those who don't burn firewood a cord is 4' x 4' x 8' or 128 cubic feet. We succeeded to get … Continue reading Firewood: Cut, Split, and Stacked
Chim, chimney, chim, chim, cher-oo, a chimney sweep too.
As luck would have it, on the property during the summer, I am also the chimney sweep. Every year during the month of August, I steadily climb the roof and bring my bristly brush with me. I climb to the summit and remove the cap and begin my sweep. Since I sweep the stove pipe … Continue reading Chim, chimney, chim, chim, cher-oo, a chimney sweep too.
Domestic hot water from a wood cook stove, now that’s a hot idea.
All domestic hot water in our home currently is heated by the wood cook stove and stored in the tank behind the stove for later use. Since we have been using the wood cook stove to heat the home and cook meals, there has been plenty of hot water for showers, dishes, and laundry during … Continue reading Domestic hot water from a wood cook stove, now that’s a hot idea.
Dutch Ovens are the BEST, and my Moroccan Chicken cooked great in it!
Sturdy, durable, heavy, and oh, so useful, is what I think of when I think about my Dutch ovens. I use mine often. I find myself making soups, stews, and what I call “one dish wonders” with my Dutch ovens. They work great on the wood cook stove too. I have the 5 Quart and … Continue reading Dutch Ovens are the BEST, and my Moroccan Chicken cooked great in it!
Introducing our wood cook stove
Our wood cook stove has several functions; it heats the home, cooks our meals, dries our clothes, and heats our domestic hot water at all our sink facets like a regular hot water heater. The wood cook stove is basically the heart of our home because of its multifaceted use. We chose the Kitchen Queen, Amish … Continue reading Introducing our wood cook stove
Living a Sustainable Dream 