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Here's some cedar logs in my- not so raised, actually sunken, raised bed garden. Seems like a lifespan of 5 years here in very wet conditions. http://s231.photobucket.com/albums/ee194/johnelarue/?action=view&current=stitch.jpg

Born in Hudson County, raised in Bergen County, presently WAAYYY out west.

eat lots of rice;) try to eat simply- rice , miso soup, cucumber and tomato salad, meat portion 2-3 times per day try and buy/get veg. from locals eat lots of chicken grow and eat as much veg as possible get venison from neighbors/friends grow potatoes grow herbs take the scooter to work/town...

excellent link there sweetcorn! Germany- 20 bottles of beer and 4 bottles of wine, my heroes!

This is a great thread! I agree nothing worse than paying for firewood or chimney cleaning. According to the University of Missouri, a cord of oak is equivalent to about 180 gallons of fuel oil. http://extension.missouri.edu/xplor/agguides/forestry/g05450.htm If you have a newer stove that is...

It's down to 125 yen per liter here, or roughly 1.25$ per quart. So down to 5$ per gallon, from a high of $6.70 per gallon. Sounds crazy but it's all relative, cars are smaller get good mileage, distances closer. But because of my commute 20 miles one-way, still spending 200-250$ per month on...

Hi and thanks tfpets, FarmerChick and punkin, So far we're only self sufficient in heating, which goes from Oct/Nov to Apr/May, but it saves a bunch. The other big bills: food, hot water and lighting are the next targets. Food being the toughest. I admire all of you that produce some or most...

Great pics all, Like everyone, trying to be more self sufficient, still a long way to go, I'm on the right by the way.

Hi and thanks for all the great replies everyone, (not) Very surprised to see how expensive wood has become. Here's a pic of my latest score. 14 loads in my mini-mini-van = about 5-6 cords of cedar and cypress with a little zelkova tree in there for good luck. So far it cost, 6 coffees, 2...

I think it's best to prepare for the worst but hope for the best. Meaning stockpile some food and cash, but don't go overboard. The food can always be eaten and the cash, well you know....used in the outhouse, or firestarter... just kidding. Maybe some barter items batteries, tobacco, booze...

Hi all, I'm interested in hearing what kind of wood you burn, how do you get it, how much if anything does it cost etc etc... I burn mostly softwood, mainly Japanese cedar and cypress. Basically the same as red cedar. Some years I get lucky and score a lot of hardwood, but not lately. Cedar...

Great posts everyone, looks like solar is a favorite, My dream home would be circular cordwood, maybe earth bermed and living roof, with masonry heater. Like this. http://www.cordwoodmasonry.com/Cordwoodphotos.html Micro-hydro as main power, wind and solar as back-up.

Hi Farmer Chick and The Simple Life, I live on the edge of a small village, in a small mountain town an hour and a world away from a city. I'm the only one in my village with any animals, but lots of people down the valley have chickens and goats. Most people in my village have always lived...

That is the solution my friend needs. He keeps complaining about how expensive it is to heat his B&B, and I keep telling him to put a stove in his basement. He's always saying " where's the heat gonna go?" up my friend, up Thanks, johnE

Hi MorelCabin, Great idea on the floor vents with fans. I have kinda the opposite problem though, also use bathroom vents to move air. My stove is on the south side, so the north side is always 10 degrees or more cooler. 2 floor house, no basement. (no central heat) I had 2 bathroom exhaust...

Hi dacjohns and all, looks like we got the same stove model Using single wall pipe for the lower, great heat radiation, and double in the roof of course, no spark arrestor though, maybe should add some screening?

Not at all, this is my down time, insteada watchin TV, besides I teach mostly English conversation. I'll be the one of the worst offenders here doncha worry, oops there goes my carefully hidden New Joisey accent again!

Nice pics Uncle Joe, Spent most of my adult life cooking and climbing trees, Still do a little climbing and a lot of cooking. Now I'm an English teacher.

Yeah I don't see what the big difference is, they're a bit less bright, but you get used to it. Been here 9 years now, we go back to the states every 2 years for vacation, visit the family, re-charge the cultural batteries, and eat, eat, eat, haha. Thanks for the welcome.

Here's one you may not of thought of, When it's raining or very humid you can hang clothes in a large closet and use a small, low power dehumidifier or low watt circulator fan inside the closet. This is what we do May- November. Usually at off peak electric rate times, 11pm-7am, cause it's...