Keeping Warm in a PEI Winter
Posted on 07. Feb, 2010 by Laura-Jane - Whimfield in Life Dream, Outdoors, Prince Edward Island
Most of the time, when we stay home in our wam, cozy home, we don’t even realize that it’s cold outside. This is because our little house is now very well insulated, and we heat with wood heat.
For us, living on a large acreage, we have enough wood to sustain us with a ton of firewood for the next hundred years. We aren’t afraid to keep our house warm because, well, heat is free.
Cameron likes to gush about heating with wood.
“We don’t pay anything for heat. Because we heat with wood from our own property, it’s free,” he likes to say.
To which I roll my eyes and say, “Yes, technically, you’re right. But we have to cut it and collect it and stack it and deal with it everyday. We spend days collecting our wood for the next year. And what is your billable hourly rate? See, if we just purchased wood and you worked on those days, we might actually be ahead if we bought wood. Plus we have to pay for fuel for the chainsaw, and we had to buy the chainsaw itself, too. So if you crunch the numbers then you’d see that–”
He interrupts me and grins,”But we get to spend time together being outside on our property, and we know that every piece of wood that keeps us warm was cut and hauled by us. We look at each piece and remember where it came from. Plus we’re getting exercise and we don’t have to pay for gym memberships!”
Who could argue with that?
Bradley
Feb 7th, 2010
The logic is there and so is the business view. But it is exactly that counter-balance which lets your lives together and Whimfield itself become works in progress.
Meg S.
Feb 7th, 2010
I love this post! Especially because our house is always cold due to the high cost of heating it – we keep our thermostat low! How many acres of trees do you have? Do you replant trees each spring for the trees that you cut down for wood? Reading this makes me want to visit PEI in the winter time! Although next time there will be a baby in tow with us – so winter may not be the best season to visit! :)
Mom Marjorie
Feb 8th, 2010
Hi Meg,
Your question about replanting to replace the trees cut down was in the forefront of my mind, too. Yet, uUnless the trees replanted by humans were the perfect choice for each specific site, they might not “take” to the site (for example, without extra water in dry spells). So I’m wondering if carefully spacing out the cut trees to leave room for the tiny little trees which are (hopefully!) already growing there is Cam and Laura-Jane’s intention.(?)
Gary Gray
Feb 8th, 2010
Hi LJ
Nother great post. Logic vs value. lol Very good basic arguments from both sides.
What is the true value of time? Billable hours, spending time together, doing what we love, making memories or simply the cost of a cord of wood?
More and more people are finding the value of time is not at all what we thought it was. Minimum wage @ $8 something an hour.
Time is finite and we spend it at the rate of 24 hours every day. When we are young and seemingly time rich we pay no notice to time. When we are old and we can see that our supply is running out. Then we realize that if we had given more consideration to the manner in which we valued our time earlier in life, we might be more content in our later years.
Here is my question: Is there value in logic or does logic have value? If we were always to do the logical thing would we always gain the most value for our lives and the ones that we share our lives with?
Have you considered the highest and best value for an hour of your time? (an open question)
A topic for contemplation maybe…
Smiles :o)
Gary
sayantanee.mishra@gmail.com
Feb 8th, 2010
I don’t know what it feel’s for you to live in such a snowy place!
But i do know that it looks beautiful through your camera!
Have fun.
John Quimby
Feb 8th, 2010
Beautiful.
Julie K
Feb 8th, 2010
I think you two provide a perfect balance to each other!
You could always sell us firewood once we move there and get a wood stove installed :)
Mort
Feb 8th, 2010
I would speculate that a smart guy like Cameron would mostly (always?) be cutting the standing deadwood?
And unrelated, is that a snowman I see ahead on the trail between Laura-Jane and the house in the last pic?
Andy Collier
Feb 9th, 2010
The term “Billable hours” makes me want to go home right now and snow shoe through our woods planning which trees will be cut next year….
Andy Collier
Feb 9th, 2010
Mort;
Cutting only deadwood would not be the best for your woodlot’s health. You need some deadwood for wildlife/insect habitat, and some live wood clearing let’s other trees prosper with less competition.
A forest stripped of only it’s deadwood would not be very healthy at all!
ira
Feb 9th, 2010
was also checking the snowman in photo : )
and beautiful woodwall you have there!
Mom Marjorie
Feb 10th, 2010
Before enlightenment; chop wood, carry water.
After enlightenment; chop wood, carry water.
Liz
Feb 10th, 2010
We aren’t able to cut our own wood where we live, but we do heat our entire home with a woodstove. There is no other heat like it. I find I am cold whenever I go to another person’s home and the heat with electrical or forced air. Brr. Just thinking about it -and then there is the savings as well. So much cheaper to heat with wood.
PS I was down in Montague visiting my sister a couple of weeks ago, And ended up seeing your home on her road. Small world.
Brianne W
Feb 10th, 2010
Dont forget to plant a new little tree for every tree you take down… otherwise in a 100 years there will be no wood left to chop down lol for the next generation :) Sustainable energy!!
Vicki
Feb 11th, 2010
Haven’t been on here for a while. Another beautiful post. Just makes me miss you guys more! Have you checked your mail lately?
warren
Feb 11th, 2010
Awww…Cameron is sweet on you! And saving the gym membership is a big savings in itself!
Heather
Feb 11th, 2010
Wood heat is the best heat ever and cutting, chopping, and stacking wood is very therapeutic.
If your woodlot is properly managed you would never need to plant any trees. Most bush like this is so thick you can’t even walk in it. It sustains itself. It is healthy for the forest to harvest trees, as noted above.
As I recall, you guys moved here to get away from the 9 to 5 and to work less, so….billable hours be gone. :)
Kim
Feb 12th, 2010
I wonder if natives of PEI contemplate their wood supply as much as we ‘from away’ folk!
Cameron’s logic is irrefutable, lol.
Bradley
Feb 13th, 2010
It seems the 2 year anniversary of taking possession of Whimfield is coming up towards the end of this month. Any celebrations? Any special way to mark this time? Reflections?
Ally
Feb 14th, 2010
Hi Laura Jane. I found your blog by mistake;I was researching our,up coming, driving trip from Victoria BC to Halifax. While my husband has been busy creating spread sheets and doing comparative analysis regarding hotels vs trailer, rental vs purchasing etc, I read your entire blog!
I was captivated by your story-your bravery,energy and adventurous spirit are inspiring. Of course you are a fabulous writer too!
I have lived in Victoria for almost 20 years and have always resisted the urge to return home. I’m not really sure why? Anyway, here we are, a displaced Maritimer and a lifelong BC boy leaving careers, house and friends to ‘go home’.
I imagine our 1st year will have ups and downs,nothing like your plumbing, insulation,heating ups and downs but ours just the same.
I have considered witing a travel blog – you inspired me to document history…ours. Thank You. Ally