Living off the grid

[ferniesnow]

.......So here's a question for all of you.... How many Snow and Mudders does it take to fill a 10 cord woodshed????

My wood shed is 10' x 32' and the rows are generally about 6' high. It only takes 1 S&Mer and a good better half about 7-10 days to fill it for the next winter.

We only doo 1 trip a day and only cut dead wood (no green wood ever....). You have to look at wood burning as a type of recreation and a love of being in the bush as qualities required to be an avid wood burner......and a little bit frugal!

Ah, the warmth the wood stove brings on a cold winter or fall day......

 

[MOMMA]

Very True. I feel a little behind the 8 ball right now. Normally I enjoy getting wood in the spring, stacking it, then let the summer warmth dry it.. Starting in the fall is a wee bit stressful, but we'll do it!

 

[imdoo'n]

Presumably, renewed every five years!!! My 5 years are up and nobody has come knocking yet; friggin' insurance companies!

well in that case i'll send them right over

 

[mathrulz]

Very True. I feel a little behind the 8 ball right now. Normally I enjoy getting wood in the spring, stacking it, then let the summer warmth dry it.. Starting in the fall is a wee bit stressful, but we'll do it!

We always cut ours late in the fall - after it freezes but before it snows preferably. Only cut dry wood. This way when we bring it home any bugs that may be in the bark or wood will be frozen or dormant and won't start getting into other wood or buildings (or the house!).

We usually take one of the grain trucks and a pickup with a homemade trailer each year. Not sure how many cords it works out to, but it's enough for us to heat 3,000 sqft easily all winter (some left for bbq's and the fire pit usually). Never use gas. It takes 2 of us about 8 hours to cut and stack into the trucks, and another 3-4 hours to unload and stack back home. It's a busy day, but easily doable I'd say.

 

[Summitric]

haa haa... I know eh... Actually it's set up with internet. Sat tv if we want it, i dunno if we really need tv.. We only watch nat geo wild and discovery lol. As soon as we're in i'll keep a thread rolling.. The good the bad and the ugly side of living off the grid.... !

no nhl hockey or cfl or nfl football? No survivor or big brother....... I'm out

 

[Murminator]

I knew a guy years ago built a huge log house it had a full basement but half of it was 2 huge tanks that stored rain water from the eaves (with proper overflow protection and a water line to fill in the winter) and that water was use to flush all the toilets in the house. On the southern exposure of the house the roof was covered in solar panels that went down to a huge bank of batteries in a battery room and every light switch in the house was wired to this except the bathrooms and NOT the plugins and every light switch had a timer so after so many minutes it would shut off in case you forgot. Since the plugs were not wired to the batteries they had lamps if they needed a light on longer. I remember him telling us it took double the wiring and 50% more plumbing and he did all himself. He did all this 20+ years ago before the greenie thing really took off and i know he spent alot on the solar, eveyone thought he was crazy guess he must be giggling now.

**Edit** And he also use a coal fired boiler with a hopper with a self loading auger that worked off of some sort of high level switch to heat the house and shop as well as electric backup on the house because he could heat it all winter for $200 load of coal

 

[imdoo'n]

or he just moved back to town!

 

[imdoo'n]

will be a big lifestyle adjustment. have fun.

 

[snopro]

no nhl hockey or cfl or nfl football? No survivor or big brother....... I'm out

I'm with you Ric but...........................................Big Brother? Cmon! Lmao.

 

[Snow Angel]

I'm with you Ric but...........................................Big Brother? Cmon! Lmao.

He's secretly full of fruit.....................................

 

[Snow Angel]

I'm with you Ric but...........................................Big Brother? Cmon! Lmao.

Only chicks watch that ch!t! or fruitty people!

 

[TylerG]

He's secretly full of fruit.....................................

not such a secret anymore

 

[moyiesledhead]

Did u guys no the chimney pollution from each of u is more that 3 ships each.

Nope, didn't know. Don't really give a rats azz either.

 

[imdoo'n]

what size of ships is tex talkin about?

 

[Stompin Tom]

what size of ships is tex talkin about?

he's talking bullships.

 

[imdoo'n]

haha haha, now thats a gooder. bullships. hahaha

 

[MOMMA]

K so we have been getting more acquainted with our soon to be home off the grid. Some interesting things ... there is a wolverine, several Moose, Bears, Wolves and other cool wildlife that frequent our place. The lady of the house filled me in on the pack rat situation.. oh good GOD!! But if I keep a pile of spoons in one specific spot the sneaky little bastages tend to leave everything else alone and just steal the ones we set out. I hope our cats kill them.. apparently their cat made friends with them and just kind of chills out with them...
If anyone needs a couple of bigger TVs (they are the big clunky kind) a coffee machine, a microwave, and a few other things let me know.. you can come grab em... a donation of firewood would be LOVELY! lol.

this is going to be pretty cool!! We are all so excited now.

 

[MOMMA]

that better be one tuff cat lol i would buy some poison its worth it ! those things stink too, u dont want them to make a home in yer sled boot

Ewww OMGOSH I know eh...

Oooo another cool thing though.. We are getting an Inverter for the kids. They can play X Box, and watch movies.. BUT... they have to pay for the gas to power the Generator..... I have a feeling there will be No more TVs left on, and they'll think long and hard before using up the gas. It'll have to be a democracy.. I'll let the littles earn "gas money" as they don't have jobs like the Bigs...

I'll Be writing regular Articles updating our life.. perhaps some web edits too.. I think it'll be an experience that the kids will remember for a lifetime, hopefully put some perspective on Wants and Needs.

 

[Pinner]

What neighbourhood are you moving to ? I guessed earlier in the thread w/ no reply.

 

[MOMMA]

What neighbourhood are you moving to ? I guessed earlier in the thread w/ no reply.

Hi Pinner!
We're moving Way way way up the Wildhorse! otherwise known as "the most amazing place we've ever seen land... aka... heaven" lol