Lou White

Great information, Thekla, thank you! I have a bit of room behind and at the side of my wood stove so will experiment with adding mass. There's some concrete blocks laying around outside and definitely some rock. My wood stove is soap stone with a catalytic converter, so never actually gets very hot.

Perhaps I should just experiment with what I've got this year instead of forking out for something new.

Some of the wood I have to burn is a wee bit wet so I can also stack that around the fire - not sure how close is too close.

I don't have to worry about overheating my home - the opposite is true due to insulation issues that are far too expensive to fix.

So much to learn. And still the garden harvesting and processing is waiting for me!

Thank you so much, Thekla! I did a brief tour of the Liberator - I'm intrigued for sure. One potential sticking point for me, if I am understanding correctly, is that if using wood it has to be refueled "anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and a half " but on pellets much longer. I'll be using wood because it's free.... please correct me if I'm misunderstanding.

We don't have many codes here where I live, at least at the moment.

Thanks again - I appreciate the input!

Hi Michael - thank you for sharing this video, and igniting more excitement about getting one of these since I tap a few trees here.

Which brand of woodstove do you have there? Sorry if I missed it. And it sounds like it puts out enough heat for you in chilly Zone 1b!

Many thanks!
Lou

Hello there,

There's so much fantastic information on this site - I'm fairly new here and completely addicted! Thank you!

I'm looking for some advice about heating & cooking with wood. I live in Vermont on 18 acres (lots of wood) in a 2-story, 1000 sq ft barn that loses quite a bit of heat,  and currently have an older Palladian Soapstone Wood Stove (plus a Rinnai). It's a great little wood stove but even if totally loaded, doesn't make it all the way through a cold winter night.

I feel it's important to be ready to be off grid - at least with heat - with everything that's going on in the world. I understand that the Rocket is likely my best bet, but I can't find anyone nearby to help me build one.

To that end, I'm pondering the following two options:
1. adding mass and cooking abilities to my existing wood stove
2. purchasing a wood cook-stove

For #2, I'm thinking it makes sense to get one that can also heat water (reduce the electricity bill and have hot water if SHTF/grid goes down). A couple of (supposedly) good options for that are:

A. Tim Sistem North Hydro Wood Fired Oven with Boiler (linklink)
B. ABC Concept 2 Hydro Wood Fired Oven with Boiler Link

Any recommendations, thoughts or advice very much appreciated!

Cheers,
Lou

Nicely done! I'm wanting to try this but wondering if it will work in Vermont (Zone 4b/5 with sometimes very heavy snow and temps can go down to minus 18).

Thank you, Thomas! Me too! I did have the property up for sale but had a big change of heart, and change of (relationship) circumstance so making the most of it here. Fingers crossed.
Warmly,
Lou

Hello!

I'm hoping to find someone (or a couple) with a yurt/tiny home/RV/dome/what-have-you to share, nurture, and homestead the land with me here. As a single woman, the skills most needed are the ones I don't have, such as tree cutting/wood splitting for heat, creating new spaces for campsites, anything involving heights (!), handy-person skills/building/carpentry, (hunting?...) plowing (snow) dealing with rodents, etc. but, after that, the usual homesteading skills.

At present, there are fruit trees, blueberries, raspberries, extensive veggie, flower & herb gardens, garlic beds, grapes, hoop-house, barn, bees, chickens, ducks, an old horse, and my two dogs on the land. I would like to add a mini-cow or two for milking and milk products. There are lots of wild mushrooms growing in the woods (I just picked some shaggy mane today!) which could be further cultivated.

My long-term vision is to create a sanctuary based on permie/regen practices as much as possible, where people can come to stay, connect with nature, themselves, others. I just completed a BioGeometry foundation class which I'd also love to incorporate into the mix. I've gained a bit of a prepper mentality over the past couple of years, so want to become as resilient as possible. I would love to go off-grid completely or as much as possible over time. I'm looking into grants, and in the process of creating vision/mission/plan document which I'm happy to share/add to when it's ready.

There are 3 existing dwellings on the property (a barn which is my home, a cottage which is currently an air b'n'b, and the main house which is currently rented). If you are interested in renting the main house (or some kind of arrangement) that could be an option but I'm dependent on the income from the main house & cottage to keep things afloat, so, unfortunately, can't offer a financial break at this time.

There are a few spots that could work for a tiny/yurt/dome/RV - some might need a bit of clearing, others not-so-much. One spot is very close to power (just run a cord) and we could look at installing a second, back-up well with hand-pump or solar if practical/possible. In other words, we can work out the details together.

Everything I have can be shared (tools, truck, wood, everything produced).

I'm pretty laid back, unvaccinated, open-minded, and disgusted by the insane tyrannical government overreach that's going on. I enjoy my privacy and respect the privacy of others, but also enjoy getting together.

You can view pics of the property on this linkMilanote Board.

Please reach out if you'd like to explore further!

Click this link to view a board with pics and more info: Hartland Homestead

Down a quiet country road, 10 mins from Woodstock and 25 mins from Dartmouth, is where you’ll find this homesteader’s dream. Perfect for a family compound or small community, easy to expand (no zoning in Hartland), or continue with the successful rental and Air b’n’b. With a mix of forest, pasture, and gardens, there are many opportunities to realize your dreams here….forest gardening & bathing, permaculture, animals, tipi’s & tents, regenerative everything, resiliency, solar….and more.

Light & Bright Main house:

1800 sq ft, 3bd/2ba with large garage and lots of storage. Single level.

Large and bright kitchen with 12’ island, double oven, 6 burner gas stove, huge bank of windows and custom cabinetry; passive solar from the tiled sunroom (great for extending the growing season), wood flooring throughout, new siding, new deck, freshly painted in 2020. Large private lawn with raised bed veggie garden and direct access the VAST trails. Great shape but will need a new roof at some point (no leaks). South facing and already scoped out as excellent solar potential. Private 13GPM well. Private septic system. Very quiet (hear the brook running, the crickets singing, and the wing beat of a crow).



Cute & Turnkey Cottage:

1000 sq ft, 1 or 2 bd/1ba with garage. 2 story.

Kitchen & bath remodeled in 2019 plus all new windows upstairs. Currently on Air B’n’B – view more pics & reviews here:  (opens a window in a new tab)



Converted Barn:

1100 sq ft, 1-2 bd/1ba, large pantry, garden room & tool room. 2 story.

Full of warmth and character, surrounded by beautiful gardens, this is a truly magical spot. The downstairs eat-in kitchen is a perfect size, heated by a wood stove and Rinnai, with 8’ glass patio doors to the screen-room (currently used as the summer bedroom). The newly added (2021) living room with a wall of 16’ wide by 8’ tall patio doors opens to the gardens, pasture, and view of the hills beyond. Upstairs is the large master bedroom with its own living room, custom bathroom with 5×5’ open shower and radiant floor heat, and an enclosed office (or 2nd bedroom) with large windows looking out to the woods. Bring your finishing touches to make it yours.

Horse barn w/two large stalls, electricity, hayloft above and 2 smaller pony stalls and hayloft behind (could possibly convert into another dwelling). Access to paddock, pasture & outdoor riding ring.

Large outdoor riding ring – flat and mowed – currently used for a glamping tent/experience.

20 ft hoop house with new plastic to extend the growing season.

Gorgeous flower gardens, large protected veggie garden, fruit trees, and lawn areas. We have never used any chemicals or pesticides anywhere on the property. The soil in the veggie garden is fantastic.

Direct access to VAST for long walks where you’ll rarely if ever, bump into anyone.

All of this but with super-fast FIOS internet by VTel.

The price range to purchase the whole property with all 3 dwellings is $850-$950k. For just the house, very roughly speaking, $400+/-, depending on how we set things up.

If either of these options interests you or if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get back in touch with me.
(We will list the house on the conventional marketplace in roughly a month).

Please email louinvermont@icloud.com with questions.

Hi David,

My partner and I currently live in Vermont where winters are long and taxes are high. We have just put the property on the market with the hopes of selling and moving south. We do have 3 dwellings on 18 acres, so the thought of forming some kind of community here has crossed our minds, but living in VT long-term doesn't feel sustainable for many reasons.

We are looking to head south to a red state with longer growing season and lower property taxes and would love to be near good people who want to help each other out. Purchasing 20 acres or so and building a home (if indeed building is even an option these days - perhaps erecting a yurt would be more realistic!) close to folks who want to pitch in to help each other, without being in a heavily restricted intentional community that is full of meetings and rife would be ideal for us. Originally from the UK, the idea of a village comes to mind. Clif lived in an intentional community before and the structure became overbearing.

We homestead in a harsh climate on 18 acres - we are used to rolling hills and country life! Clif is a naturopathic doctor and, before that, a biodynamic farmer. We keep bees, gardens, chickens, ducks, 2 dogs, and 2 horses. I'm a former software project manager, turned web designer/brand consultant but now want to give up the screen and focus attention on land, medicinal herbs, and more natural life. I'm also loosely qualified as a nutritional & massage therapist, and am about to take a foundational class in BioGeometry. I grew up on a pig & PYO farm in England - farming and gardening is in my blood. I'm happiest when my hands are in the dirt or the fur of an animal.

I'm a 51 yo female. Clif a 60 yo male. We're both fit and strong, practical, caring, kind, honest, and with good humor.

We were looking at the Abingdon, VA area so your spot is not a far cry for us. Would love to communicate about possibilities with you if there are any, when you have time. Even if not on your land, perhaps close-by.

My email is louinvermont@icloud.com.

Cheers!

I just joined permies and oh boy, am I glad. Excited about Rocket Heaters and compelled by this thread all in one morning!

Brody - you are amazing for so diligently responding to everyone's thoughtful responses. If you happen to read mine, please don't feel you need to, but I do want to chime in. Some of this is a cathartic sob story and some I hope helpful to you or others. I am grateful to everyone who has added their own stories here. I cried as I read through them and felt much less alone.

I have chronic insomnia (if I get 3 hours a night I'm lucky) and am (touch wood) slowly seeing a light at the end of the tunnel after a 4-month mystery chronic illness and depression. I wasn't in severe pain like your wife, but achy joints and muscles. (I'm a 51 year young female who was very healthy, slim, and health-conscious). The worst of it all was the fatigue. I literally could not get up the stairs or stand long enough to shower sometimes. Then I developed severe stomach issues which resulted in not being able to go anywhere and loss of weight. I developed allergies to everything. I was losing my hair. Basically, my immune system was shot. I had several C19 antibody blood tests - all negative (even though I'm on the fence with that whole drama anyway). I am not vaccinated.

I couldn't work (self-employed), garden, care for my animals in the way they really needed, or keep up with housework. This made me even more depressed. The house became a disgusting mess - my partner couldn't keep up and I resented the additional overwhelm. I had incredible brain fog - like a black cloud of smog lived in my head. My partner is a naturopath but didn't really have the time to do the research that I did. As a former nutritional therapist, I had some key understandings but implementing what's best for yourself under these conditions is next to impossible. When you are that depressed and tired, your brain is not working right at all. You literally can't see the forest for the trees. When people would make suggestions to me, I could tell if they had experienced this same black fog or not, based on what they said. And it's a joke to tell someone who has zero energy to go and exercise. Period.

I went down many rabbit holes including:
- Mold (really scares the crap out of you and we likely have it)
- Mold avoidance (even scarier - you basically have to move to the moon)
- SIBO
- CFS (which basically means we don't know what the f$%! is wrong with you)
- Epstein Barr Virus
- Hormone testing of every flavor (highly recommend The DUTCH test, which also tests cortisol/adrenals/etc. - if nothing else do this one)
- Lyme (I am positive for)
- Parasites
- Wilsons T3 Therapy
- Testosterone Therapy
- B12 shots
- High dose C IV
- TH8? Some kind of pot that isn't pot but crazy strong!
- CBD
- Demons!
- Many others

I'm currently going down the Peptide rabbit hole which sounds very promising for many things, including mold. If of interest, be sure to only go to a qualified doc, which you can find on this site. https://peptidesociety.org/. I haven't done this yet but am considering it, now that I can leave my home without fear of embarrassing stomach issues.

I take Ambien on occasion, usually after 3-4 nights of zero sleep. It helps for that night only, but it doesn't solve anything long-term. I took Adderal to try to make it through the day - stupid idea for insomnia but allowed me to slightly function. NOT RECOMMENDED - it screws up your dopamine levels.

I feel like my para/sympathetic nervous system is upside down. Melatonin didn't help.

I STRONGLY recommend against Kratom, which basically does the same thing to your noggin' as opiates do. It is highly addictive and creates horrible withdrawals and a whole host of issues to get off of it (trust me, I know). Much of it is contaminated with heavy metals and, possibly mold. There is a quitting kratom forum on reddit for anyone in need or in need of convincing to not try it. I realize it can be helpful for people who are trying to come off heroin etc.

When things got really bad, I told myself that if there were no improvement in 7 months I would shoot myself, and I meant it. I was keenly aware of the toll this was taking on my partner who wasn't really doing a lot to help (he didn't know how, I get it)  besides ordering tests that I requested and not offering to do the shooting of me for me!!!  I felt very alone.

What I actually wanted and felt I needed was someone  I trusted and respected to take charge, because I wasn't able to. I didn't want empathy, I wanted to hear this:  "right, this is not good and we need to get it fixed no matter what it takes. I've made you appointments here, here, and here because x, y, z.  I've done the research, spoken to these people, and want you to try this plan. I'm going to make you these smoothies every day, and we're going to hire a cleaner and someone to help with the animals. Your job is to receive and rest. When you're well enough, I'm booking you at (some kind of health clinic getaway) to help speed your recovery..." (you get the picture!). Note: I have contributed to GoFundMe campaigns for people who are going through hell, so if money is an issue, I'm sure others would do the same.

I am not suggesting the above is what your wife wants but boy, it's what I wanted and needed.

Here are some things I found to be compelling or helpful but, over everything else, the best thing to do is to find a doctor who really knows their stuff and cares. They are a rare breed for sure. My partner cares, but he is a primary care ND & too busy to really get into the weeds. Functional Medicine Doctors will go further and perform a lot of tests. Conventional doctors have no idea. Every doc has biases that have to be contended with and accounted for.
-------------------------------
EDUCATION/RESEARCH:
The Huberman Podcast  https://hubermanlab.com/welcome-to-the-huberman-lab-podcast/
Dr. Rhonda Patrick: https://www.foundmyfitness.com/ (check out her smoothy recipes)
Mycotoxins and Chronic Illness Symposium (free) where they also discuss peptides: https://spiritualgrowthevents.com/events/mycotoxins-and-chronic-illness-summit-2022/

A product I want to try and could help your wife is Red Light Therapy. The panels are very expensive, but all you have to do is lay underneath it, which is what someone who is very tired would need. This guy on YouTube has done a lot of the research and there are scientific papers coming out about how it helps mitochondria. It doesn't hurt that it can also reduce wrinkles, apparently!! https://www.youtube.com/c/AlexFergusdotcom

NMN with Reservatrol - research before buying. Helping me a little and helped others I know.

There are loads of supplements but you have to be careful - taking one can bugger up something else - best to do with help of functional medicine doc or a nutritional therapist.  

Also, you likely know that gut issues can $%@ everything else up.

If you have room on your property and wife is willing (maybe include some extra special touches, a massage, etc.), consider pitching a tent away from the house to stay/sleep in for a few nights to see if it helps. Not only do you get away from the possible mold, but also the EMFs etc. Make it a really special and sweet, no-pressure-on-her, relaxing evening where she isn't expected to do anything whatsoever.

Finally, this is so very hard on both of you. Couples or individual therapy might be very helpful too. I have a recommendation for someone I just started with - he offers free consults and is a spiritual, down-to-earth, wonderful human being so PM me if interested.

To everyone's well-being in this wild, wild world.
xoxo