My current major project is putting in a supply of firewood to last for years.
I have about 30 trees to fell in my pasture. I built a rack for cutting them up and it speeds the process.
I also got a deal on a wood splitter. Best therapy ever! I enjoy hours of watching that big hydraulic ram split the toughest logs.
However, I am learning also how much physical labor our forbears had to put into simply having wood to burn for cooking and heat. It's a lot of work even with a chainsaw and gasoline powered splitter! It would take me an hour or so daily of heavy labor with a hand saw and axe just to keep up. It would be worse in a cold climate.
Quoting: darth Any means of using less wood? Like a rocket stove or more insulation in the house?
We are far enough South that cold weather is not normally a big problem. The problem is surviving the hot, humid Summers.
As we have done upgrades to the house, we added insulation to the walls. The attic has plenty. Need to seal doors and windows better, though.
We use most of our wood right now for The Queen's outdoor oven where she also cooks things like Dutch ovens of beans.
We live a very basic life with a lot of beans, rice, tortillas, veggies from our garden, and eggs from our chickens.
BTW, I tried "candling" some goose eggs in the incubator tonight. As far as I can tell, we are going to have a lot of baby geese in a month or so.
I have found that geese are a low input type of livestock. Mine seem to live mostly on grass and mud. They also recycle the cow manure when fresh. They actually stand expectantly behind the cow to see when lunch will be served.
I DO throw them some grain each day and they clean up any spilled grain feed that the cow misses.
Hope that did not gross anyone out.
BTW, full grown geese are not very vulnerable to the raccoons and possums that attack my chickens. As long as I can keep coyotes and dogs out, my geese are safe.
