Homesteaders

[shortgrass]

"Claptrap" about animals evolving into another species? Holy cow just erase the last few hundred years of scientific endeavor... and do it with a citation to the Dailymail of all publications.

I don't think the argument was on our beliefs.... I don't believe any ofvthe "claptrap" about evolution either, but that's because of my faith. That's not part of the discussion, I don't think. And I would hate to think that it's about religion

To me, its about science vs science lol. Now they're changing their tune on carbon dating, scientists can't agree. They argue in creation vs evolution, again, scientists can't agree. Paleo, Triassic, blah blah blah... They just like to guess and then publish articles about their guesses.

Don't get me wrong. I am a scientist, we all are. But we all have our own "theories" as well. That's what makes us human; the ability to rationalize and think things through.

And the ability to agree to disagree.

 

[CLSranch]

Good morning everybody. Today let's try talking about chickens and ways to save time and money homesteading. On things we agree and can learn. You know the purpose of this site. If I had just started reading this forum yesterday I'd be done with it. Have a most wonderful day everyone, and stay warm.

 

[GardenNut]

I'll jump in @CLSranch!

Does anyone use an outdoor wood furnace? The property I moved to in August came with a Mahoning outdoor furnace. I grew with an indoor wood stove, so this this is my first experience with an outdoor wood furnace. It heats hot water which heats the house and the hot water heater water. Since it's dropped down to below-freezing temps the last couple days, it seems like it's really going through the wood. I was told to "pack it full" of wood, so that's what I'm doing. It still uses electricity for the blower and the compressors, so I'm wondering how this is saving me electricity. I'm enjoying the warmth though! My last electric bill definitely didn't reflect any savings. But then perhaps people use these things not to save electricity but to be truly warm, something I never enjoyed with a heat pump!

 

[duluthralphie]

I'll jump in @CLSranch !

Does anyone use an outdoor wood furnace? The property I moved to in August came with a Mahoning outdoor furnace. I grew with an indoor wood stove, so this this is my first experience with an outdoor wood furnace. It heats hot water which heats the house and the hot water heater water. Since it's dropped down to below-freezing temps the last couple days, it seems like it's really going through the wood. I was told to "pack it full" of wood, so that's what I'm doing. It still uses electricity for the blower and the compressors, so I'm wondering how this is saving me electricity. I'm enjoying the warmth though! My last electric bill definitely didn't reflect any savings. But then perhaps people use these things not to save electricity but to be truly warm, something I never enjoyed with a heat pump!

I no longer have and outdoor furnace, because we sold and moved from the place 20 years ago. BUT when we were there I loved it. I would pack it full of wood and it would burn for 2 days. It gave us all the hot water we wanted and heated the house for nearly nothing.

I never considered my getting wood from my own land as an expense. I had hot water heat in the house so I only had a small pump on the water jacket to bring the heat into the house. There was no smoke or smell in the house. It was perfectly safe, not chance of a chimney fire. My stove was basically a 1,00o gallon steel tank with a 8 inch well casing as a chimney. It did have a blower and a damper that were electric and would open and close as the thermostat called for heat. The small amount of electricity was worth it to me for no oil or gas to buy.

I wish I had one here now. I have tried to figure out how to hook one up here without spending the tom of money to buy one.

The only problem we had was the "electrolysis" that would pop occasional holes in the fire box causing the water jacket to leak. I think they solved that problem with zinc or stainless. This was 30 years ago but we loved it.

 

[CLSranch]

Garden Nut. I've never used one and it doesn't make since to me to heat the outside to make the house warmer but everyone I've talked to that had one loved it and said it was the only way to go like Duluth said. It may be something else (in my case assisted heat my electric heaters) that is causing the electric bill.

 

[duluthralphie]

Garden Nut. I've never used one and it doesn't make since to me to heat the outside to make the house warmer but everyone I've talked to that had one loved it and said it was the only way to go like Duluth said. It may be something else (in my case assisted heat my electric heaters) that is causing the electric bill.

You really are not heating the outside. I would have 6 inches of snow or more sitting on the top of mine all winter. They are that well insulated.

Also when the thermostat is not calling for heat the stove is not burning. It is like a banked spark waiting for air so it can burn again when the blower starts.

 

[GardenNut]

You really are not heating the outside. I would have 6 inches of snow or more sitting on the top of mine all winter. They are that well insulated.

Also when the thermostat is not calling for heat the stove is not burning. It is like a banked spark  waiting for air so it can burn again when the blower starts.

It's true that you're not heating the outside. The outside of my furnace is actually cool to the touch or very lightly warm. It's definitely well-insulated.

Once I learned to treat as a "furnace," rather than a "wood stove," it's done better. I may need to adjust the blower again. I think the stove may be getting too much air, and it's burning the wood too fast. But as I noted earlier, I'm still learning how to use it!

Unfortunately I have to buy my wood, at least this first winter. I don't have enough trees to supply my own wood. Hopefully next year, I can team up with someone to help them cut wood in exchange for my firewood.

Regardless, I'm enjoying the heat!

 

[duluthralphie]

It's true that you're not heating the outside. The outside of my furnace is actually cool to the touch or very lightly warm. It's definitely well-insulated.

Once I learned to treat as a "furnace," rather than a "wood stove," it's done better. I may need to adjust the blower again. I think the stove may be getting too much air, and it's burning the wood too fast. But as I noted earlier, I'm still learning how to use it!

Unfortunately I have to buy my wood, at least this first winter. I don't have enough trees to supply my own wood. Hopefully next year, I can team up with someone to help them cut wood in exchange for my firewood.

Regardless, I'm enjoying the heat!

I have no idea what Maryland is like, but here you can check with the Federal forestry, Parks and State foresty/parks/DNR and they may have trees they want removed and you can get a permit for free or next to nothing. We even got a permit for 15 acres of dead cedar for siding (I have a sawmill) for 5 bucks. The junk wood will become fire wood at my cabin.

 

[Maeschak]

I don't think the argument was on our beliefs.... I don't believe any ofvthe "claptrap" about evolution either, but that's because of my faith. That's not part of the discussion, I don't think. And I would hate to think that it's about religion

To me, its about science vs science lol. Now they're changing their tune on carbon dating, scientists can't agree. They argue in creation vs evolution, again, scientists can't agree. Paleo, Triassic, blah blah blah... They just like to guess and then publish articles about their guesses.

Don't get me wrong. I am a scientist, we all are. But we all have our own "theories" as well. That's what makes us human; the ability to rationalize and think things through.

And the ability to agree to disagree.

Unfortunately, to me it seems like religion was the basis for the disagreement- talking about God's intentions for animals based on how God made the animals yada yada.
One reason I like this site so much is the lack of political and religious discussion- it looks like that is changing.

 

[1cock2hens]

Unfortunately, to me it seems like religion was the basis for the disagreement- talking about God's intentions for animals based on how God made the animals yada yada.
One reason I like this site so much is the lack of political and religious discussion- it looks like that is changing.

I feel like it's always been this way, moderators just used to be faster about censorship and banning accounts/

Too bad you are all the way in Maryland garden nut/ have 15 acres of trees and I would gladly give you all the wood you could haul