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How Much Wood Can Annie Chuck, if Annie Could Chuck Wood?
Well, I can and I did.
When we moved here in 2006, there was a small wood room already here on the far side of the driveway, used by the previous owners. We enlarged it to about double the size. We have found that in a very cold winter here, we use just over half of the total wood stored here. The room holds about 6 cords, so that means we use around 3 cords or so. We use a wood splitter, which really makes quick work of getting the room full. We still say it was the best investment we have made for our homestead work!
We only use electric heat when the weather gets really cold here, about -20C. That is when we turn on a few heaters down in the basement, to keep water lines from freezing. Aside from that, we heat solely with wood. It’s a wonderful warm heat and it’s free to us as there is so much wood in the forests here.
Each year we like to fill the wood room completely, so that we are assured of having two Winters worth of wood. This gives us some peace of mind, in case something should happen and we can’t get out to gather wood. The very first Winter we were here, Graham hurt his back, which put him out of commission for a couple of months.
As soon as he started feeling better, I slipped on some ice (where was I going? To get firewood from the wood room!) and badly sprained my arm. We quickly learned that things can go wrong and we are better off being more prepared in the first place!
We still have to go across the driveway to get wood for the stove. One day we want to build a wood room closer to the house. But for now, Graham built a rack in our mud room. Now we can fill that up all at one time, instead of going across the driveway every single day. It takes about 10 wheelbarrows full of wood to fill our mud room.
He took the back porch railing off, so we don’t have to climb the stairs with each load.
We just chuck it in the door instead! Then I scamper over the pile and start stacking.
Filling up the two rows in our mudroom gives us enough wood for 2 weeks in very cold weather. That’s a good thing.
R.Mueller says
I LOVE IT….Knowing that someone else goes thru the same crazy wood chopping, splitting, heating process as me!!!!!!!!!!!! Good job!!! Happy Heating!
Robyn
Annie says
Isn’t wood heat awesome? I sure missed it while we were away, electric heat is Nothing like Wood heat.
Robin says
We heat with wood too. It’s much warmer and cozier than the forced air propane furnace that we have for backup. It’s nice to put a pot of soup on to simmer while I’m sitting by the wood stove with a stack of seed catalogs.
Annie says
That IS wonderful, we just did that theother day. And, if the power goes out here we hardly blink an eye, we just get a large pot of soup going on the stove. Being able to both stay warm and eat during power outages is such a bonus, I wonder why more people don’t have woodstoves.
Linda says
I LOVE wood heat! All we have to heat our new place is an old Fisher wood stove. It is worth every bit of ‘inconvenience to get, split, and carry it to the house! Of course when you can find ways to make it easier, then the wood heat is even better!
Annie says
And you will never have a heating bill, Linda, which is a huge bonus!
Robin says
If we had to buy heating oil we’d be cold for months. Wood heat saves on our electric bill because I’m drying laundry on a rack by the wood stove. Lots of advantages!
Annie says
Robin, have you ever estimated the amount of money you save by using wood heat? I would think for us here it must be close to $250 per month in the Winter, maybe even a bit more. We have a large house though, so that would make a difference. You are so right, there are lots of advantages to using wood heat!
Kari says
Welcome home, Annie! The joy of wood heat is irreplaceable! We love our woodstove too. We spent 6 days in Alaska this past week and they use only a natural gas furnace. We were certainly warm enough, but missed the wood heat. Your wood is beautiful, dry and looks ready to warm your toes! Thanks for the gorgeous Northwest Coast basketry art too!
Annie says
It’s amazing the differences between types of heat, Kari, isn’t it? In Rupert with just electric, I almost always felt “cold”. Electric is nothing like the coziness of wood heat.