It’s winter around here...sorta. After a month of dry weather, we’re finally getting some rain to start the new year. During winter we use two sources to heat ourselves. The #1 source is burning wood. This is a common way to get warm in rural areas esp. areas that don’t have inversion layers. Our second source of heat is a propane wall heater we had installed in the wall between the living room and our bedroom. We use that to take the chill out of the bedroom, then use our wood stove primarily after that. We stay nice and warm and dry. Wood heat is dry. Ummm.
Where I grew up we used natural gas. Our home had a modern radiator system wherein water was heated then went through pipes into each room of the home. Once it was warm it stayed warm with little expenditure of natural gas as the hot water retained heat for a long time. This was an efficient and less expensive way of heating vs. forced air systems.
We have a modern wood stove which is extremely efficient. Once you get a fire going, no smoke comes out of the stack. It’s rated at 3.2 grams of “stuff” spewed into the atmosphere per hour of use. That’s really efficient. The inside of the stove is made so it swirls all the “smoke” back around into the burning chamber over and over so that all the carbon is burned thus resulting in no smoke going out the stovepipe. It’s really pretty to watch the vortex of plasma rolling around inside the stove being completely combusted for maximum heat production and minimal waste.
To make a good fire you have to use several types of wood. You start with pine, fir or cedar (cedar is best) for kindling. On top of that, you place medium-hard wood. I like walnut. Once you get a bed of coals going, you can place your hardwoods. I like almond. Oak is good too. Any fruit tree wood is good as is eucalyptus. When you build a fire the right way, it’s a thing of beauty. Sidepocket will attest there is real satisfaction in doing that.
I don’t feel bad about burning wood for heat as we get our wood from old orchards in the valley that are being chopped down so new plantings can go in. It’s a cycle that continues. Old wood is burned and new orchards pull that carbon out of the air. I’ve seen studies that show this woodburning cycle actually is pretty carbon neutral in the long run. Since we can’t live without putting our own carbon into the atmosphere anytime we use energy, at least I can feel OKish about how we heat our home.
How do you heat your home? I’m just curious. I think there are still parts of the country that use coal and even oil for heating. Most of the country uses natural gas which is probably the best way to go overall. Wood stoves are not an option in urban areas where the air just sits around and lots of wood stoves are horribly inefficient. They pump out way too much smoke.
What do you want to talk about today?
WOMAN'S MARCH NYC 2017
Footage compiled from the 2017 Woman's March on New York City, directed by Joan Brooker, with support from the SVA community.
Organizers, remember to choose a place to meet in advance and that cell phone service will shut down before the events get started. Consider a sign to hold up above the crowd for people to find you with. Check with your local march organizers to find out what materials are not permitted, such as balloons or sticks.
NEW YORK RSVPS
1. joanbrooker, organizer (kosmail her to connect)
2. belinda ridgewood
3. gchaucer2
4.
MAYBEES :
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LONG ISLAND RSVPS TO RALLY AT THE INTERSECTION OF RT. 112 AND 347 IN PORT JEFFERSON STATION AT NOON
1. grannycarol, organizer (kosmail her to connect)
2.
MAYBEES :
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RSVPS
1. EagleOfFreedom
2. Bleeding Blue
3. DoingBusinessAs
4. momomia
5. ptressel
6. Kay3295
7.
MAYBEES :
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Netroots Nation 2018