We were told even before we came to Alaska that we would need to cut wood for heating our house. It is the best way to heat your house. Shortly after we arrived Jason got a permit (it is a free permit you just have to register with the forest service) and then we started looking at where to cut wood. We have found three different spots one at the school, another called Red Fox, and the last is on a mountain side. The Forestry dept makes these piles of trees (called decks) and then you can come in and cut off of them.
At Red Fox
When Jason first started cutting wood he would go out by himself. Then we found out that you could pick blueberries and cut wood on the mountain near us. One day we had a picnic up on the mountain after picking blueberries when Peyton asked if he could watch a movie in the truck and that is how we both could cut wood and have the kids with us.
Peyton and Nolan watching a movie. It is like going to the movie theater because you get popcorn. and juice.
One time when we went to up the mountain a tree had fallen on the road so Jason pulled out the chainsaw and away he went.
It is harder cutting wood this way. I had more branches that I hacked off.
The bed of the truck full.
Peyton playing in the wood shed before we started cutting wood.
The wood shed as of today
Some of the larger logs we call sleepers because in the middle of the night you don't have to get up and throw some more logs into the stove. I would remind myself that as a I lugged them into the truck.
We have lately be cutting 8.5ft lengths of wood. We before had be cutting wood that would fit into our stove. The lengths are smaller in diameter but we can fit more into the truck.
Our stove and the woodbox.
Oh my goodness, Joni. I feel like I'm seeing something right out of 'Little House on the Prairie.' Was the wood stove in your house when you bought it? You are getting your hand at all sorts of new things. And you've made great progress at cutting and hauling lots of wood already. I would venture to guess it'll take a lot to get through the winter. Better to be cutting and hauling now before there's mountains of snow, right?!
ReplyDeleteWow, I am impressed. Is the wood burning heater the most economical way to heat your home....it certainly seems to be labor intensive. As Ginny would say, 'consider it your workout - for free'. She always put a positive spin on labor. :)
ReplyDeleteOh my,so that's been your weekend entertainment!!! It all looks so neatly cut, stacked and organized! It should make for LOTS of warm cozy nights!
ReplyDeleteIt has been a learning experience for the both of us.
ReplyDeleteBecky: We are renting this house and the wood burning stove was in it when we came here. It was one of the reasons we decided to rent this one. I did have a Little House on the Praire moment when the power when out close to supper time and I opened a can of chili and warmed it on the wood burning stove. Shortly after the chili was ready to eat the power can back on.
Judy: Burning wood is the most economical way to heat your house. You can spend BIG BIG bucks keep your house warm. Almost everyone has a second source of heat. If you buy wood it is about $200 a cord. We have cut about 10 cords of wood. Jason makes sure to measure it everytime we bring more home. We do try to think of it as a workout and boy did my muscles hurt the first few time we went out.