We’ve been working for a few days cutting, splitting, and hauling wood into the back porch for winter. David was off work and helped us one day and Will and I kept up after that. Spencer, our Labrador, loves helping carry wood. He’s even learned to drop it into our living room’s wood box! So while we were wheelbarrowing wood in, Spencer shuttled back and forth, bringing “his” wood, too. By the smile on his face, you can see he really loves his job!

Yesterday, we had snow on the wet ground, so Will went out and started the brush piles on fire in the new pasture. Surprisingly, they burned quite well and this morning they are still burning. (They are safely surrounded by dozens of yards of wet, bare ground and there is no wind.) Besides that, it’s raining today as it did yesterday. It’s great to see those piles going down. When they’ve burned out, the remainder will compost down over winter and there should be very little left.

Now that’s being optimistic, considering winter is just starting!

9 COMMENTS

  1. Michelle,

    We weren’t too happy about the political happenings this year, nor have we been over time. The only affect they’re having on our homestead is that we feel pressured into accomplishing our “big projects” just as fast as we can possibly get them done so that if and when TSHTF, we’ll be all the more ready for near total self-reliance. But we don’t bite ourselves with worry, either. We prepare mostly out of joy, not fear of the future but DO keep our eyes open and try to continue to be able to provide for our family in the best way possible.
    God has helped us out a whole bunch, so far.

    Jackie

  2. Jon,

    We average storing about 8 cords per year, but try to have two years’ worth up every fall. Just in case. We burn wood in both our living room stove and the wood cookstove. We also burn scrap wood, as it becomes available, throughout the spring/fall/winter, a little at a time.

    Jackie

  4. What a wonderful companion! I can’t wait to have a dog again. Isn’t it a great feeling to have that wood stacked? Security is an awesome thing

  5. Jackie, just wondering if the political happenings of our country are affecting you negatively or positively, and if they are influencing your homestead plans, decisions, and outlook. Love reading your column, and not seeking your political leanings, just how your life is adjusting to what’s going on.

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