Tried an experiment the other week, turned on the electric furnace in the house and just heated the shop (4000 sq ft) with the boiler, wow! What a difference! Burnt thru about half the wood Got me thinking about doing some serious air sealing and insulating in the house (1100sq ft)
Looking at the long range forecast it should be temporary, but been eyeing the kitchen cabinets and some old furniture
Just don't burn any bridges. Man, you had us worried for a minute. Sounds like you've got a pretty good handle on things going forward.
Running out or running low on wood sometimes can give a person enough of a wake up call to get things done before next winter. But 14 cord is a lot of wood!!!! Sounds about like Rope and his situation.
My back hurts just "Thinking" about 14 cord... 4 a year for me and I'm toast. "But" i usually try and do it with in a weeks time when I can.
I managed a whole 1.3 cord last year from logs sitting in the drive. I've done a lot more, but more than 5 would kill me nowadays.
Yes Sir, its a tall order to get that much wood and a three year plan. I am in that boat myself. I have come to realize I need to move to having a small scale logging equipment for my firewood needs.
Hoping to get out in the bush in about a month, have about 6 large poplars to get that should yield about 4 cords and after that to some land being cleared for field, all ash and oak My folks should be able to help out this year as my dad got some health issues sorted out recently, my mom usually looks after food/snacks but has on occasion ran my dads ms170
For sure, I have a 35 hp John Deere tractor with FEL, bucket, forks; snow machines, sleds, splitter. It takes some equipment just to keep our head above water. I have my cousins Cat 518 grapple skidder at the house. I need a bigger truck to pull it @25,000 pounds. I want a forwarder with processor head for cutting to length right on the bunks. And a firewood processor. I figure that 100k would put me right where I need to be to buy what I need. I plan on selling firewood when I retire. No one is doing any meaningful logging in these parts. I just need some toonies and time, I will be all set.
Nah, I'm gooder for now. With the new furnace , I'm using 1/2 the firewood, so I'm back on the 3-4 year plan as of right now. Bought a new B&C combo (old bar was waaay worn and chain wouldn't stay tight...might have needed a new sprocket too), and plan to hit that pile hard the next couple months in case the tree guys show up with more. I may tap out at some point though.
With the BTU calculator and what we pay for home heating fuel the estimate for winter fuel is right @ $8,600 per year. As far as change...no intention of doing that...Alaska is my home.
Yeah, I knew that, but wow. You either spend time makin' that money, or time processing wood. I'd rather do the firewood thing. Can't argue the scenery and lifestyle.
Well regardless, perhaps some weekend in the next few months I can head up your way. Want to come up there anyway so this would be another excuse. I'd just happen to throw the saw in for company.
