Nolan Zemanski

It is forced air currently and there is a chimney. There may end up being living space in the basement, which would lead to whoever is down there having the responsibility. It would also act as a dehumidifier/mold combatant, it is a bit damp down there at times- which is being worked on.

It would be for a 5 bedroom house; about 2200 sq ft including the basement (where it would most likely be located, although it could also be ground level) which has 2 stories above it. The wide surface on the top would probably also be used as a stovetop. Do you have any suggestions? Any idea how much wood/time it would take to heat the space? I think it would make more sense to cover some of the exterior for storage to reduce the amount of trips between floors. We could also have a smaller heater for the upper floor.

I found a free oil tank on craigslist that looks like this :



Would it work well as a stove and/or heater? Most designs I've seen use a more cylindrical oil barrel.

Thanks Glenn-- Maybe it would just be best to go with a convential wood stove. What do you think about this Gamera John posted?

John-- do you know where I might be able to buy one of these and how much they are? Not sure this is the best idea for me though, I tend to need a bigger cooking surface. Maybe I could improvise a better top.

I don't know much about RMH's, so maybe all I need to do is watch a video to answer some of my questions.

I'm trying to plan the construction of a tow-able, off-grid tiny home, which I think will eventually end up somewhere in New England. I cook basically every meal (so a stove is essential) and get cold relatively easy.

I'm wondering if there are any DIY or relatively inexpensive RMH design's out there that combine a RMH with a stove and oven, that is also lightweight.

I found this https://ecozoomstove.com/products/zoom-plancha which doesn't have an oven, thats fine, but I read this in the FAQs:

"Can I use my stove indoors?

No. We have talked to the EPA about whether or not our stove is safe enough to use indoors and they said no. If you do use the Plancha indoors, proper ventilation prior to use, during use, and after is required. Our stoves are not UL rated, the Plancha model should be used at your own risk indoors.

And:

Can my stove be used as a heater?

We do not recommend our stoves for heating. They were designed to be used outdoors and because they are fully insulated they will not transfer heat effectively, unless you are able to make your own heat exchange adapter."

I'm not sure if this is just the EPA over-regulating or if by proper ventilation they simply mean having the chimney lead to the outside of the structure? Any reason why this would be? Also any idea on how I could make a heat exchange adapter for one of these?

This is essentially what I'd be looking for, minus the price and weight:
http://www.bearriverrocketstoves.com/pricing.html

But if something like this was possible without it being lightweight, or having an oven (but not without both) I would be open to it.

R Ranson wrote:
With my garden and my pension, I have just enough food to feel comfortable.  I rely heavily on my other income for luxuries like clothing... to the point where I'm now cutting up my drapes because I need a new jacket... it's drapes or jacket, not both.  This gives you some idea where my income bracket is.  It would be lovely to give everything away to charity like most of the other craftspeople in my circle.  But sorry, I HAVE to charge for my creations.  I depend on it for the luxuries like salt and (if I can afford it next spring) sweet potato starts.  My health prevents me from holding down a wage job but I've taken the opportunity to improve my skills and make things when I can.

I think that makes sense and I guess my statement was a bit general. It should entirely depend on your situation.

R Ranson wrote: For me, I feel that social responsibility is a huge element to any pricing.  I would love it if people could consider this.

I remember a bit on Fukuoka's book One Straw Revolution where he was furious to learn that people were putting a high price tag on his oranges because they were organic.  He refused to sell to that shop anymore because his oranages took less effort, less expense, less environmental impact to make - therefore they should cost less to buy than regular oranges.

 

This is great.

R Ranson wrote: I don't know Joseph's situation, but in my ideal view, he is charging the true price of mustard seed.  If he charged the going rate to make up for other losses then that wouldn't teach the customers the true value of things.  If he charges what they actually cost him to make, then maybe it will influence the greater marketplace and all over the world, people will stop gouging for mustard seeds.  One tiny spice, I know, but a huge step in the right direction.  

I wonder, as crafspeople, maybe that's what's most important.  Teaching our customers the true value of things.

Maybe, and maybe we teach them not by charging so much to begin with, but by educating about them how much work goes into the product and why corporations can charge so little. Hopefully this will influence them and you can work out a price thats fair based off your work, your needs, and their situation and needs. But maybe that's too complicated unless you have a decent relationship with this person already, or have something written out that you can hand out to customers.

Kyrt Ryder wrote:

Nolan Zemanski wrote:I don't feel like this is truly permaculture. Permaculture should be something that's accessible to all if its what the teacher in this instance believes in. Shouldn't we be trying to spread our knowledge, that is supposedly what is going to save the world, as best we can and with permaculture principles built into the method of spreading it?
Doesn't it make more sense to make our work donation based? The people that are going to attend are most likely people that would also be putting their money towards good causes and therefore it shouldn't matter as much that their money ends up in your hands or theirs.

Sure in theory. But we live in a world with expenses. All the social capital in the world won't pay your debts. Even if you get everything paid off, there's still taxes and repairs to be made, and investments to be made into further progress.

Capital is the energy used to drive progress, so profit is a good thing so long as it isn't obtained by Extraction.

True.
Then hopefully we can reach a point in which our customers understand this and pay what they can. So by being a pioneering example and explaining the work that goes into your product maybe we could achieve this. That would of course take a lot on your part, but by following this guy's method you're only feeding the ideology of the world with high expenses/taxes, etc.

I'm just getting into permaculture so I'm not to sure about anything I'm doing, but I'd like to experiment as much as possible when I have an opportunity. I eventually want to own my own permaculture farm/edible forest garden/perennial polyculture using natives as much as possible and with the hope of growing all of my food and have some surplus.

That being said I have a small-- maybe 450 sq ft plot to work with in the suburbs in Annapolis, MD in the back of my parents backyard where we have a couple ducks. I only have a small window of time that I'll still be here so I'd like to establish something as quickly as possible to hopefully cultivate some enthusiasm for permaculture in my family members and myself.

I'm specifically wondering if there are some "exciting" edible, preferably native (to the eastern US) perennial or self-seeding annual vegetables, non-gluten grains/legumes and fruit bushes that could be planted now that would be able to establish themselves over winter. Maybe something the ducks could enjoy/help with their fertilizer and spread everywhere. Shade tolerant species would be best. I'll also be going to the fruit tree fair in Baltimore on the 5th of November so I'll take fruit suggestions as well. I did a little research on sunchokes, but I couldn't find whether they can be overwintered or where to buy seed/tubers locally.

I'm a big fan of Sepp Holzer and have been thinking of ways to mimic his chaotic style. I was thinking of making a hugelkultur bed or 2 and breaking up the compacted soil and sowing a perennial cover crop mix with clover and legumes, plus some heavy nitrogen feeders to balance things out.

Again I'm not really sure what I'm doing, so maybe there isn't really much I could do at this point so late in the season, but I don't know so I'm asking.

If theres anyone in the Annapolis area that would like to come help out or just meet and talk about good things I'm open to that as well!

I don't feel like this is truly permaculture. Permaculture should be something that's accessible to all if its what the teacher in this instance believes in. Shouldn't we be trying to spread our knowledge, that is supposedly what is going to save the world, as best we can and with permaculture principles built into the method of spreading it?
Doesn't it make more sense to make our work donation based? The people that are going to attend are most likely people that would also be putting their money towards good causes and therefore it shouldn't matter as much that their money ends up in your hands or theirs. We all have ideals we want to achieve. The ideal world would be one in which everyone was alright with others taking advantage of them. Although this shouldn't even be considered others taking advantage of another. This should be simply spreading the truth by all means necessary. There are people that are sacrificing their comfort for all of us that would have to spend a half-years worth of savings just to buy one of this guy's wine glass holders. I personally had a fortunate/unfortunate event in my life that led to a bit of financial security. But I'm still very mindful about how I spend, and sometimes the price of something is what deters me from spending--not because it is something I can't afford, but more because it seems like something that is not available for everyone, something that is not sustainable.