Woodstove working hard

Our woodstove is performing well during the colder weather. We use it to supplement the gas central heating and after a few days of continuous operation the Aarrow stove gives backgound heat to the whole house, as well as making the louge extra cosy. The lounge radiator has a thermostatic valve so the central heating balance is not upset because the room thermostat is in the hall. Wood is obtained locally from the garden and from neighbours who have felled small trees. It is stored in an old Wendy house shed and left for a couple of years to dry out.

I missed an opportunity for a load of secondhand window frames when we had our double glazing installed recently. The installer told me the old frames just go to landfill, which is a tragic waste. The only problem using old frames in the stove is that the paint burns with an awful smell which is quite unpleasant. This is also a problem when using old shelving made of chipboard or plywood. The resin burns rather too well. Better to use unpainted wood when available I think.

Windfarm share prospectus

Received a share prospectus from Westmill Wind Farm today and read it with much interest. It is a co-operative venture in Oxfordshire to build a 5 turbine wind farm. They are inviting interest mainly from local people, but because of my enthusiasm for renewable energy, I am seriously thinking of investing some money with them. The returns are projected to be quite attractive and this is a serious opportunity to do something positive for the environment.

The prime mover of the project and owner of the land has fought for over ten years to get this far and has done a fantastic job in allaying fears and objections to the project. This is a far cry from my usual alternative technology exploits but I think it is the future........!

Chickens not performing

My three hens are not laying very well now the winter has set in. It is just below zero here in Suffolk and the hens have grown fresh new feathers after their annual molt, but they are now into their second year and egg production is well down. In the summer we got 18 - 20 eggs a week, but now we are lucky to get 4. Actually only one chicken, Blacky, is still laying so it may be time to replenish the flock.

First post on my new blog

Welcome and thanks for viewing.

I will be keeping readers up to date with my small scale alternative technology projects at my home in rural Suffolk, UK. None of these projects are very groundbreaking, but I have fun doing them and every little helps to save the planet!

I recently set up a new website which details what I have done so far, so please take a look and post your comments on what you think. In the future, small home alternative technology systems will become increasingly important and the more we can lower harmful emissions the better for everyone.

Nigel