We're looking here at some more major home improvements. Thank God they're not emergency repairs like last year, so I'm getting to look and research more and make some solid decisions.
Today's campfire, courtesy of our big dead mulberry tree and yours truly, the pretend lumberjack 😉
One improvement we're looking into is installing a wood stove. It'd be a literal lifesaver in another major winter storm, and in a normal winter it'd save us money on our heating bill. I haven't confirmed for myself, but I've heard the Farmer's Almanac is calling for another winter blast in Texas like last year. Maybe we won't get be so blessed not to lose power this time, so I'm thinking ahead.
Right now in the US, wood stoves come with a 26% tax credit. So think of that as a discount on your purchase.
I'm looking at things to increase efficiency, and there's heat exchangers, heat reclaimers, and heat powered fans to make the whole operation more efficient. It looks like we'll be spending another $1,000-1,500 when we replace our roof. Looking at those products, the reviews sound good. They seem like they'd work well together too. I bet the whole thing would pay itself off within a few years, while adding to the comfort and quality of our life.
Concerning the roof, I've decided to register as a general contractor and do the labor myself, billing the insurance company so that I'd get all my money back. The goal is to do insulation and a metal roof myself for the same price a company would charge to slap new shingles on. Where they would look to profit, I'd just be looking for a quality increase. That way I (or whoever buys the house from us) wouldn't need to replace the roof ever again. If it doesn't work out that way, I'd settle for insulation and shingles with a little pocket money to go towards the stove, but I always prefer an increase in quality when I'm doing such projects.
The two projects go together because I'd install the stove chimney while replacing the roof. It'd just be a convenient time to do so. They'd both add to our quality of life and decrease our cost of living, which are two big goals here for us. While refinancing our home and making a few other financial adjustments, we're setting up to where we need less money to pay our bills, increasing the money we can save and decreasing the need for my current high paying job. If our bills get low enough, I'll be able to afford to do more rewarding work like farming. Eyes on the prize, Nate.
Campfire cooking with friends recently. Fall is campfire season.
I've started asking everyone I know if they know anyone that owns or works at an orchard. No luck yet, but there's still the other 8 billion folks out there to ask, and I'm bound to bump into an orchardist before I get to the last one. If not, I can always start my own. @foxfireorchards, start your engines...
I've started collecting the used up molasses tubs from the farm I've been working at. I'll be planting trees and blackberries in them from now on in anticipation of getting some more land to grow on and start up another project. I saw someone on YouTube having great success with blackberries in wicking beds made out of molasses tubs, which gave me the idea.
Well, I'm off to bed. Gotta be up in the morning to take the kids to school. Hope y'all had a blessed Lord's day.
Back shortly.
Nate
Spend the little extra and go with double wall insulated wood stove piping when it comes time to install the wood stove.
That's what I keep hearing. What does it do?
Mostly it is for the creosote build up thus reducing chimney fire events. Also the wall clearance is is reduced so you can have the fireplace closer to the wall. You want the heat to be from the fireplace not from the chimney pipe. The double wall pipes also offer better air flow and less smoke because of the airflow.
Interesting.
The heat reclaimer I saw is designed to vent that later of insulated chimney pipe. The reviews said it contributed to more creosote but worked very effectively for what it was made to do. Does the cooling of the chimney pipe cause condensation of creosote, is that how that works?
I am not totally sure. I know up here in Alaska that most people use the double wall pipping. Chimney pipes can get burn through in hot spots and cause fires, I am sure that happens with double wall pipping also.
There are so many choices and options and recommendations for chimneys and it does depend a lot on what type of stove, wood, pellet, coal, excetera. I don't know if you have ever heard of them, Jotul wood stoves from Norway. Check a lot of wood stove manufactures and see what the majority of tem say pipe wise.
Also some of the colder areas, like Canada, Russia, Poland, Iceland and see what those countries recommend.
We had a little Jotul Little Bear stove in one of the houses we had, worked pretty good and had a plate on top for a pan of water or coffee pot. There are so many wood stoves out there, shopping for the right one can be a nightmare just based on choices available.
Congratulations @nateonsteemit!
You raised your level and are now a Minnow!
Check out the last post from @hivebuzz:
We put a metal roof on the barn back 20+ years ago, but opted for 50 year shingles on the house.
What made you switch back to shingles for the new construction?
I think the many angles/cuts needed, the 12/12 pitch somewhere, and he liked the look of shingles on the house. Also perhaps cheaper?
Your level lowered and you are now a Red Fish!
Check out the last post from @hivebuzz:
First, I love campfires!!! Where is my invite? haha jk
Secondly, We installed (by we I mean a roofing company) a new metal roof last year this time. I wish I had the know how to have done it myself but these are skills I am learning one small project at a time. It was work the insane investment though. Sadly it was all out of pocket because the insurance covered several roof damage repairs and with these winds out here the shingles kept flying off so they said NO MORE FUNDS for any repairs or new roofs. I will say I have never had so much peace of mind during high winds and heavy rains.
Furthermore, I have been looking at fireplace or wood stove installation recently myself. Please let me know if you need any assistance or a spectator to help hold stuff if you don't mind me in the way. I have decided this is the year I am really going in on the homestead and learning things I've been wanting to learn. I have a nice tool collection started to get started on these projects I am finally getting to around here.
I have a set date for some Kune Kune and Mini Cattle to the farm! Only thing stopping me is getting in my own way.
I'm going to have to look into those wicking tubs because I grow lots of things in those used tubs just one way or another they dry out in the summer months unless I dedicate my life to watering or set up drip irrigation. Which is also a project this fall/winter to have ready and in place for spring. So many projects, so much brain overload.
Oh my gosh, IDK how I missed this comment a couple months back!
It's deep winter now and I've got no wood stove or roof to be seen 🤣 go figure!
How's the pigs and cattle project going? I'll tell you what, I don't think there's anything more rewarding to have on the homestead than pigs. Tony's seed and feed in Muenster is where I was buying feed, give em a call at 940-759-2241 and see about the Ratliff Hog ration. It's soy free non-gmo and sold by the half ton. I think it was something like $250 a half ton when I got it. Really inexpensive for soy free non GMO feed.