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RE: Homestead Hacks

in #homesteading7 years ago

Sounds like good times! I think I'd still do that as an adult xD That's sweet you've seen the turbine & pond filter & beehive!? Those are the ones I may make in the future. I had to do something more elaborate for my goat kid born this winter since I don't have the kind of power required to run heat lamps being offgrid.

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I haven't seen the beehive or turbine in person, but second-hand, if that counts :) I saw a similar pond filter in WI. Yeah, those heat lamps use a LOT of power! I am cringing right now at the thought of mine running. We are slowly transitioning to off grid, our barn and garage are on the list to be converted this summer. What do you mean by "something more elaborate"? My current barn plan is to insulate better and install a small wood furnace or stove. But, I'm all ears!

It counts! Was curious how well those 3 work from first-hand account though :P I've always been nervous at the thought of using a stove near rambunctious goats and flammable straw. Managed to make a propane heater work safely though. The shelter I built to keep baby goat & mom warm in the winter I explained in a post last month here:
https://steemit.com/homesteading/@wisewoof/goat-baby-selfies-and-heated-shelter-hoorayy

That looks like it would do the trick! I have plenty of barn space that is not accessible to the goats so I am really leaning towards some sort of wood-fired rocket mass heater system. We have access to plenty of wood on-site, but propane is not so renewable on our property. The flammable straw is definitely a problem though. There have been many barns lost in these parts due to a misplaced or tipped heatlamp coming into contact with straw, so nothing is really foolproof unless the operator practices safe handling and considers all the potential possibilities. Throw goats in there and those possibilities grow exponentially!