how to heat a bicycle co-op?

Greetings Permies Forum!

My name is Aaron Wilson and I'm the head bicycle educator at the Armory Bike Union in Jackson, MI. We're a bicycle co-op that helps to get transportation to those in need while also teaching them about cycling safety. We also provide work trade for bike parts as well as a work shop for personal use.

A little history about the building we're in: In in the middle of the courtyard that was built for the original State of Michigan prison, and was converted to a truck garage for the Michigan National Guard. The building was scheduled for demolition and was taken off of the electricity grid because of that (fine by us). It's a huge space, and it's completely non-heated. Sometimes we do use a generator to power lights, but we're trying to get a way from that. We want to continue further into the winter, but when it gets bitterly cold it's difficult to do that.

My big question is, how do you go about trying to heat a giant truck garage in a responsible way? Do you guys have any idea?

The old way is a double barrel stove burning pallets and scrap wood. http://www.cabelas.com/barrel-stove-adapter-combo.shtml?WT.tsrc=CSE&WT.mc_id=Bingshopping&WT.z_mc_id1=03435959&rid=40&mr:referralID=a945f943-0f15-11e2-8751-001b2166c2c0

Available everywhere, that was just the first link I found with a complete stove. You have to supply your own barrels and firebrick or sand for the hearth.

They have been THE standard for heating shops in northern climates for as long as I can remember, usually with junk wood from the shop or tree trimmings.

The RMH is a much better way to get long slow heat from a little wood, but the barrel stoves put out heat FAST so they are great for shops that are not always occupied.