First, some background
I'm a hesitant New Englander. Northeast Massachusetts to be more specific. I was born and raised in the much warmer SW corner of Ohio, USA. I was also a Boy Scout and in the military for 21 years. I can't help myself but to be prepared!
The weather here in Massachusetts can vary a lot from hour to hour and day to day. We loose power occasionally especially during ice storms and when it's very wet and we get high winds like hurricanes and even tornadoes, though they are rare. The utility companies around here have greatly improved their tree trimming to try and prevent trees from taking down power lines, phone lines and cable wires etc. For me, the only way to be prepared is with a generator and a Natural Gas, Heating Oil, Propane, Wood or Pellet Stove, etc. (think I listed them all)
I have a generator, a woodstove and several propane grills if I need to cook outside. My house was built in 1978, on a slab, no basement due to granite and the high water table. The house has electric baseboard heat that we use only minimally as it is usually the most expensive means of heating a home in the Northeast USA.
We have a gas water heater that requires no electricity. We have cell phones and cable tv. We have numerous rechargeable and portable led lights in the house for the darkness. Our generator usage is limited to the fridge and the tv, cable tv/ internet and charging lights, phones etc.
I grew up in a somewhat warmer climate and after living here for nearly 40 years I can tell you that I don't like the cold. I worked outdoors for many years and managed my way through it, but I never truly liked it.
We have been heating a long time with our woodstove. Continuously the same stove since 1991. I have burned a LOT of firewood. At a minimum somewhere in the area of 90 to 100 cords of firewood. We use 2-4 cords per year, depending on the weather.
More about alleged seasoned wood...
Some is and some isn't and most is no where near as seasoned as advertised. The Moisture Checker is an invaluable tool. It led me to fire several wood sellers. I have found many sellers of wood to be honest, hard working people who earn every penny they make! I no longer ask for seasoned wood. I ask them when they cut it and split it and then I go from there.
I keep about a half cord of wood right outside my back door, stacked and top tarped. I keep another 2-3 cords out along my driveway. I don't have room here to store more than 3 cords of wood at any one time.
When it comes to firewood, I have found this method to be very effective. I have a firewood rack about 2 feet away from my woodstove. My stove requires 18" of side clearance. The rack holds 2-3 days worth of wood, depending on the weather.
I try and stay 2 days ahead of my stove. I keep that little firewood rack as full as I can rotating the bottom to the top after the top has been used. In this way my wood has 48 hours plus in a warm, dry environment and I have found the moisture content drops significantly with this method.
I'm not looking for recommendations for changing my electric baseboard heating or anything else. Because we are on a slab and have no masonry chimney we are limited as to what we can do and for the time being, it will work. We have other priorities that require our attention for the foreseeable future so that isn't even on our radar.
I'm interested in hearing what others are doing. I'm not a prepper per se, though I have other implements such as dry food and water for a month and also the abilities to hunt, fish and protect ourselves. We also have a dog. An 85 pound Lab mix. He's not much of a guard dog, unless your a rabbit or squirrel.
Maybe we should start a thread for show us your dog? haha Have a great day and stay warm!
I'm a hesitant New Englander. Northeast Massachusetts to be more specific. I was born and raised in the much warmer SW corner of Ohio, USA. I was also a Boy Scout and in the military for 21 years. I can't help myself but to be prepared!
The weather here in Massachusetts can vary a lot from hour to hour and day to day. We loose power occasionally especially during ice storms and when it's very wet and we get high winds like hurricanes and even tornadoes, though they are rare. The utility companies around here have greatly improved their tree trimming to try and prevent trees from taking down power lines, phone lines and cable wires etc. For me, the only way to be prepared is with a generator and a Natural Gas, Heating Oil, Propane, Wood or Pellet Stove, etc. (think I listed them all)
I have a generator, a woodstove and several propane grills if I need to cook outside. My house was built in 1978, on a slab, no basement due to granite and the high water table. The house has electric baseboard heat that we use only minimally as it is usually the most expensive means of heating a home in the Northeast USA.
We have a gas water heater that requires no electricity. We have cell phones and cable tv. We have numerous rechargeable and portable led lights in the house for the darkness. Our generator usage is limited to the fridge and the tv, cable tv/ internet and charging lights, phones etc.
I grew up in a somewhat warmer climate and after living here for nearly 40 years I can tell you that I don't like the cold. I worked outdoors for many years and managed my way through it, but I never truly liked it.
We have been heating a long time with our woodstove. Continuously the same stove since 1991. I have burned a LOT of firewood. At a minimum somewhere in the area of 90 to 100 cords of firewood. We use 2-4 cords per year, depending on the weather.
More about alleged seasoned wood...
Some is and some isn't and most is no where near as seasoned as advertised. The Moisture Checker is an invaluable tool. It led me to fire several wood sellers. I have found many sellers of wood to be honest, hard working people who earn every penny they make! I no longer ask for seasoned wood. I ask them when they cut it and split it and then I go from there.
I keep about a half cord of wood right outside my back door, stacked and top tarped. I keep another 2-3 cords out along my driveway. I don't have room here to store more than 3 cords of wood at any one time.
When it comes to firewood, I have found this method to be very effective. I have a firewood rack about 2 feet away from my woodstove. My stove requires 18" of side clearance. The rack holds 2-3 days worth of wood, depending on the weather.
I try and stay 2 days ahead of my stove. I keep that little firewood rack as full as I can rotating the bottom to the top after the top has been used. In this way my wood has 48 hours plus in a warm, dry environment and I have found the moisture content drops significantly with this method.
I'm not looking for recommendations for changing my electric baseboard heating or anything else. Because we are on a slab and have no masonry chimney we are limited as to what we can do and for the time being, it will work. We have other priorities that require our attention for the foreseeable future so that isn't even on our radar.
I'm interested in hearing what others are doing. I'm not a prepper per se, though I have other implements such as dry food and water for a month and also the abilities to hunt, fish and protect ourselves. We also have a dog. An 85 pound Lab mix. He's not much of a guard dog, unless your a rabbit or squirrel.
Maybe we should start a thread for show us your dog? haha Have a great day and stay warm!
![[Hearth.com] Seasoned Firewood & New England Weather](/talk/data/attachments/341/341550-aa456614876a1cb2f19384de70c9f38c.jpg?hash=Pd_kcNhIqr)
![[Hearth.com] Seasoned Firewood & New England Weather](/talk/data/attachments/341/341551-f6c3974194c90d4773f011b89b196f54.jpg?hash=lvdeujfb8e)
![[Hearth.com] Seasoned Firewood & New England Weather](/talk/data/attachments/341/341552-a744c45d9bf177060a3af91f34237f48.jpg?hash=0_IkNcwlMJ)
![[Hearth.com] Seasoned Firewood & New England Weather](/talk/data/attachments/341/341553-49416416cb684d68156e74592aee3e79.jpg?hash=B9bEKG9ick)
