Matthew Wagner

Great work, Paul.  I totally agree with this great content.

My wife and I have gone “pooless” for a while now.  It’s amazing how long soap and shampoo bottles last when you hardly ever use them.  $$$AVINGS!!!

I’ve been trying to apply that principle to dishwashing where possible.  I agree:  grease and oil are the only things that need soap (or something else).  

Our septic system has been getting weird this summer and we’re trying to help out the bacteria.  Hopefully we don’t need a major, costly intervention to get it less soggy and boggy (and stinky) down there.

December 25, 2023 - Foundation layout almost complete.  Ready for a chimney installation.  Waiting on our Amish installer.

download the video attachment for a video explanation I recorded.

Well, I guess this post needs many updates…

Here is a photo timeline of progress on our project:

I needed to take some measurements of our mocked up system outside for the foundation layout.

thomas rubino wrote:Hi Matthew;
A cfb core would not require extra insulation on the sides but on the bottom, I would bed it on 2" of insulated cob just to be safe.
The sides of your core should have a "support" backer such as clay bricks.

Thanks, Thomas, for your answer.  I have a few more questions (and some progress images):

By “backer”, do you mean multiple courses of clay bricks up to the top of the CFB firebox?

If so, would clay slip be sufficient between these clay bricks, or would I need mortar?

Thanks for your (or anyone else’s) help on this.

We are still working on our RMH build.  We were thinking a pebble-style would be the way to go but changed our mind and are going with cob.  We are working off of Erica & Ernie’s “Bonny Convection Bench” 8” plans.  

This plan is good for a suspended floor and has the convection aspect which will help heat more of our home.

The original plans use a firebrick firebox with 2” of perlite & fireclay beneath and around the sides of the firebox.  We are using the Walker SuperHot J Eight Inch ceramic fiberboard firebox.

My question is:  How much perlite/fireclay is needed beneath and on the sides of a ceramic fiberboard firebox, if any?

WOW!!!  This is so awesome!!  We watched the first half of LTLM1 last night and are on board for the nail-biting sequel!  Bring it on!  Yay earlybirds!!!

The site looks great Nicole!  Way to go!  It makes me want to buy a DVD that I previously wasn't interested in.  

The only thing I noticed was that the first box to the right of the text (the video container), was just a white box for a minute or so until the video thumbnail actually loaded.  I have DSL internet (slow).  I'm not sure if there's a way to have an image in there until the video loads.  I was wondering why there was an empty white square there for a while.

Keep up the great work.  Miss ya!

The earlybird bonuses are almost gone!  Don't miss out on these amazing bonuses.  They can be yours for as little as $1.  Can't decide how much to back?  Do $1 now and decide your final amount later!  Yay for procrastination!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/paulwheaton/low-tech

Stretch goal announced!



Click here for details on this awesome reward...

https://permies.com/t/211622/Greenwood-Apprenticeship-Mortise-Tenon-Magazine

A local farmer in my area created this great spreadsheet for tracking the productivity and expenses of his layer flock.  He has a few videos that explain how it works.  



Let me know what you think...