Coffee Club

[Meg-in-MT]

The only problem we have had is finding insurance that will cover the house with only wood heat in it. We tried everywhere. One agent came out, wrote out a bunch of demands, handed us the list and then told us we had 10 days to do all the revisions on the list or they wouldn't cover us. The house was needing a lot done to it at the time and there was no way we were able to get it done in 10 days so we told him not to bother coming back. Somebody told us to try our local farm bureau. When we told them the house was Amish built and needed updating and remodeling, they told us no problem and insured us on the spot.

It's a bit pricey as all insurance is for using wood heat but they are nice people to work with.

I'm the same though, Meg. When we are somewhere in the winter where they are heating with gas, at some point in time DH and I will look at one another and say, how fast can we get home to our wood heated house?

There is just something nice and 'warm' about wood heat.

As for harvesting wood. We get a lot of flack from some of the people we know for harvesting our own wood but we have 22 + acres in hardwood trees. DH drops the trees with me acting as spotter, he chains, I load the tractor bucket. He or I trundle it back to the barn and we take shifts running it through the splitter. We tell folks that we are pushing 70 and logically we know we can't do this forever but for now it is keeping us active and in shape.

We thought we were going to have a problem with insurance for the shop if we had a wood stove. I was adamant about looking into it, mostly because of the shear cost of heating a building that size. Luckily we were able to pull natural gas and not have to use propane. Even more lucky, the wood stove added nothing to the insurance bill The wood stove was made by my husband and an older fella he once knew and is pretty good size. You can fit probably a 3' x 15" (or bigger) log in it with no issue. Heats the whole darn place.

I'm glad you found someone that would work with you. Insurance of any kind is such a money making racket. So frustrating. I think it's great that you guys still go out and get your own wood. If you can, then why not? That's respectable, not flack-worthy But you're also built differently than the younger generation who can't seem to do anything on their own. I know that's a lump-one-and-all statement, but it seems to be more of a rule than an exception to it, anymore.

 

[igorsMistress]

Meg, I'm glad that your hand is feeling better. Same here. I had to wait 4 months to get in to see the only Rheumatologist in the area. I told DH I'd either be better or dead by then. As luck would have it I held my own till I got in to see him.

We heat with a Century EPA wood stove. We were worried about durability but it's a rock. We've had to replace worn fire bricks on the inside but other than that it's been running hard for the past 8 winters and doing it's job without complaint.

I don't tolerate cold at all. Heat, no problem but I'm most comfortable when the temp in the house is 78-80 degrees in the winter. Lower than that and my hands and feet get cold and I am wrapping up in blankets. Night time can be cooler but we sleep on a heated mattress pad which, if you have a bad back or achy joints, I highly recommend.

I love that cup in your avatar MC!

 

[Shadrach]

The only problem we have had is finding insurance that will cover the house with only wood heat in it. We tried everywhere. One agent came out, wrote out a bunch of demands, handed us the list and then told us we had 10 days to do all the revisions on the list or they wouldn't cover us. The house was needing a lot done to it at the time and there was no way we were able to get it done in 10 days so we told him not to bother coming back. Somebody told us to try our local farm bureau. When we told them the house was Amish built and needed updating and remodeling, they told us no problem and insured us on the spot.

It's a bit pricey as all insurance is for using wood heat but they are nice people to work with.

I'm the same though, Meg. When we are somewhere in the winter where they are heating with gas, at some point in time DH and I will look at one another and say, how fast can we get home to our wood heated house?

There is just something nice and 'warm' about wood heat.

As for harvesting wood. We get a lot of flack from some of the people we know for harvesting our own wood but we have 22 + acres in hardwood trees. DH drops the trees with me acting as spotter, he chains, I load the tractor bucket. He or I trundle it back to the barn and we take shifts running it through the splitter. We tell folks that we are pushing 70 and logically we know we can't do this forever but for now it is keeping us active and in shape.

We have a couple of chainsaws here. I mostly use a bow saw. I try to cut the holm oak trees here that don't break the canopy up so that's mostly young trees. I cut 4 and 5 inch diameter preferably. this way I don't have to split them and because the logs have to be carried or dragged out, they can be moved manually without too much strain.
I use a bow saw for the rough work on my lamps as well.

 

[microchick]

Well a lot of them think they are supposed to make a great salary without working for it.

Or step into an executive position straight from high school....

 

[microchick]

We have a couple of chainsaws here. I mostly use a bow saw. I try to cut the holm oak trees here that don't break the canopy up so that's mostly young trees. I cut 4 and 5 inch diameter preferably. this way I don't have to split them and because the logs have to be carried or dragged out, they can be moved manually without too much strain.
I use a bow saw for the rough work on my lamps as well.

Some of the trees we harvest are dead standing and can have a circumference over 36" (91+ centimeters). DH has a big moose of a chain saw that he uses on those and then smaller lighter saws that he uses on cutting out the tops and harvesting the smaller limbs and trees.

The bulk of our timber is shag bark hickory, White and Red oak, with some Honey Locust, Black Locust and Elm thrown in.

 

[microchick]

I love that cup in your avatar MC!

Thanks. DH got it for me for Christmas two years ago. He said it was art imitating life.

 

[sourland]

Well a lot of them think they are supposed to make a great salary without working for it.

The greatest part of retiring was that I no longer had to search for people who were willing to work for a living. Once the pool of 'farm raised' folks was gone I was in trouble.

 

[Ladies-Eight]

The only problem we have had is finding insurance that will cover the house with only wood heat in it. We tried everywhere. One agent came out, wrote out a bunch of demands, handed us the list and then told us we had 10 days to do all the revisions on the list or they wouldn't cover us. The house was needing a lot done to it at the time and there was no way we were able to get it done in 10 days so we told him not to bother coming back. Somebody told us to try our local farm bureau. When we told them the house was Amish built and needed updating and remodeling, they told us no problem and insured us on the spot.

It's a bit pricey as all insurance is for using wood heat but they are nice people to work with.

I'm the same though, Meg. When we are somewhere in the winter where they are heating with gas, at some point in time DH and I will look at one another and say, how fast can we get home to our wood heated house?

There is just something nice and 'warm' about wood heat.

As for harvesting wood. We get a lot of flack from some of the people we know for harvesting our own wood but we have 22 + acres in hardwood trees. DH drops the trees with me acting as spotter, he chains, I load the tractor bucket. He or I trundle it back to the barn and we take shifts running it through the splitter. We tell folks that we are pushing 70 and logically we know we can't do this forever but for now it is keeping us active and in shape.

It's not like you're cutting down every tree. My hats off to both of you, keep it up. My husband and I are well in to our 70's and we would not be able to do it. Plus it is your trees not theirs.

 

[aart]

My brother is 73, and has heated his homes with wood for 50 years.
He has had some major injuries in the last 5-6 years,
and is now building a house with all electric heat,
provided by a solar cooperative.
He's looking forward to not chucking wood.

 

[Ladies-Eight]

We thought we were going to have a problem with insurance for the shop if we had a wood stove. I was adamant about looking into it, mostly because of the shear cost of heating a building that size. Luckily we were able to pull natural gas and not have to use propane. Even more lucky, the wood stove added nothing to the insurance bill The wood stove was made by my husband and an older fella he once knew and is pretty good size. You can fit probably a 3' x 15" (or bigger) log in it with no issue. Heats the whole darn place.

I'm glad you found someone that would work with you. Insurance of any kind is such a money making racket. So frustrating. I think it's great that you guys still go out and get your own wood. If you can, then why not? That's respectable, not flack-worthy But you're also built differently than the younger generation who can't seem to do anything on their own. I know that's a lump-one-and-all statement, but it seems to be more of a rule than an exception to it, anymore.

It seems the young generation of today is one of take, take, and take. For some reason they feel they are entitled and want it served on a silver platter. Children are not raised today to understand that they have to work if they want something. Get off your soap box Karen.