Every year, we get a couple of slammin' blizzards, usually lasting a couple of days or more. Last year, it was December, this year, it's right now! Blowing snow, drifting, getting stuck, and snow, snow, snow everywhere.
Since we now have three vehicles, I figured at least one would start. I knew that there would be snow packed into the engine block by the wind, which there was, but I managed to get my truck started, and put the belt back one after it slipped off (happened last year too). Then, I made the driveway run. And, I got stuck. So, about 20 minutes of shoveling later, I'm out! It's obvious though, that there won't be any car getting out of that. The snow is still falling, and blowing. Any tracks I make today will be filled in tomorrow.
We haven't had to run the generator for a day and a half, which is good because it was buried under 4 feet of packed snow. The wind has been driving the wind turbine hard, and we have more than ample power.
I took a couple "snowcation" days, but I'm back to work tomorrow. Bye!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
Deep winter report
It's almost hard to believe, it's already January 7th! All the fun bits of winter are over, and now the waiting for spring sets in. Worse yet, we've had snow on the ground for 2 months, and I haven't been skiing once!
HOUSE
My wife and I have been spending a lot of time looking at houseplans, and discussing what we want to build. I've been investigating using a kit, which means that the house wouldn't be a strawbale building, but a kit would be much faster, has a set price, and comes with all the relevant documents. All of that would allow us to get a home up faster than we would otherwise, which is kind of important. If I hire out the basement pouring, and use a kit, we could have a house up in a few short months, rather than a year or longer. It will cost more to hire it out, but we will also save money by not having to rent in another town!
Am I compromising my dream of having a super insulated house? No, because I have a few tricks that I intend to employ when building that will help. Reflective foil on the inner, and outer walls should add some heat retention. The basement will also be heavily insulated. Having an ultra-insulated house isn't really that huge of a benefit, when you don't pay for heat already...
AGRICULTURE
It seems every time I post, my garden plan has changed. Well, this is no exception, but it's only one small (large) change. I still plan to have a large garden with a few main crops that I will sell, but I've added one thing. A greenhouse. I can buy the 6mil greenhouse poly for about $250, which gives me 2000 square feet of plastic. That would be enough to build 2 50 foot hoophouses, for a total growing area of 1000 sq ft! I'll need a pile of either rebar, or electrical conduit, whichever is cheaper. Bend those in an arc, stick into the ground, add a straight piece on the top, tie together, and done! Well, almost. The poly will have to be attached, which probably takes about 4 people to do well.
Hopefully this will give me a 4 week headstart on growing, and I can totally control all moisture, exclude pests, and work in the garden even when the weather is poor.
I have also decide to tone down my cattle plans, mainly because of lack of money. To really get some cattle going would take a lot of money, which would be tied up for 18 months while the cattle grow. We need that money available to do other things, like put up solar panels!
DARK TIMES AHEAD
I've been reading, listening to podcasts, and trying to look into the murky future. It doesn't look good, at least for America. I would not be surprised to see a major bond default by the US within the next 24 months, maybe longer. American is living on borrowed time (as are we all), and she can't continue to run 1.2 trillion dollar deficits without breaking the bank. Literally.
I am expecting the following to occur here:
1. Oil prices hit the stratosphere - Solution - As much solar, wind, and gasoline storage as I can manage. I'd like to have 6-8 months of gas in 200 gal tanks. That will give me time to come up with some kind of alternative transportation, probably something with woodgas. I'd also like to have 2 years worth of firewood put aside.
2. Food prices follow oil - This will benefit us, and might be the catalyst for my eventual departure from working for the Man.
3. Interest rates rise...a lot - 15 %? 21%? It's happened before! I know that I need to lock in at my lower rate for 5 years, and get rid of any unsecured debt with variable rate. Then, when rates rise, we need to have a plan to be out of debt by the end of the term.
4. Pay rate freezes, or even salary rollbacks - I don't expect to lose my job, but I do expect a reduction in pay. We already live beneath our means, and by the time this hits, I'm hoping to be at a monthly surplus of $1000 - $1200.
5. War? - You have to admit, there is a lot of chest puffing, and bluster from around the world, particularly from some shorty Asian dictators, and bearded Muslim guys. Historically, major economic crisis is usually followed by a war or three. This one ought to be a jim-dandy, what with everyone possessing nukes and all.
Should we all worry? I can't change anything by worrying. We'll try to be as ready as possible when stuff happens. I have to trust in God, because my neighbors certainly aren't ready!
HOUSE
My wife and I have been spending a lot of time looking at houseplans, and discussing what we want to build. I've been investigating using a kit, which means that the house wouldn't be a strawbale building, but a kit would be much faster, has a set price, and comes with all the relevant documents. All of that would allow us to get a home up faster than we would otherwise, which is kind of important. If I hire out the basement pouring, and use a kit, we could have a house up in a few short months, rather than a year or longer. It will cost more to hire it out, but we will also save money by not having to rent in another town!
Am I compromising my dream of having a super insulated house? No, because I have a few tricks that I intend to employ when building that will help. Reflective foil on the inner, and outer walls should add some heat retention. The basement will also be heavily insulated. Having an ultra-insulated house isn't really that huge of a benefit, when you don't pay for heat already...
AGRICULTURE
It seems every time I post, my garden plan has changed. Well, this is no exception, but it's only one small (large) change. I still plan to have a large garden with a few main crops that I will sell, but I've added one thing. A greenhouse. I can buy the 6mil greenhouse poly for about $250, which gives me 2000 square feet of plastic. That would be enough to build 2 50 foot hoophouses, for a total growing area of 1000 sq ft! I'll need a pile of either rebar, or electrical conduit, whichever is cheaper. Bend those in an arc, stick into the ground, add a straight piece on the top, tie together, and done! Well, almost. The poly will have to be attached, which probably takes about 4 people to do well.
Hopefully this will give me a 4 week headstart on growing, and I can totally control all moisture, exclude pests, and work in the garden even when the weather is poor.
I have also decide to tone down my cattle plans, mainly because of lack of money. To really get some cattle going would take a lot of money, which would be tied up for 18 months while the cattle grow. We need that money available to do other things, like put up solar panels!
DARK TIMES AHEAD
I've been reading, listening to podcasts, and trying to look into the murky future. It doesn't look good, at least for America. I would not be surprised to see a major bond default by the US within the next 24 months, maybe longer. American is living on borrowed time (as are we all), and she can't continue to run 1.2 trillion dollar deficits without breaking the bank. Literally.
I am expecting the following to occur here:
1. Oil prices hit the stratosphere - Solution - As much solar, wind, and gasoline storage as I can manage. I'd like to have 6-8 months of gas in 200 gal tanks. That will give me time to come up with some kind of alternative transportation, probably something with woodgas. I'd also like to have 2 years worth of firewood put aside.
2. Food prices follow oil - This will benefit us, and might be the catalyst for my eventual departure from working for the Man.
3. Interest rates rise...a lot - 15 %? 21%? It's happened before! I know that I need to lock in at my lower rate for 5 years, and get rid of any unsecured debt with variable rate. Then, when rates rise, we need to have a plan to be out of debt by the end of the term.
4. Pay rate freezes, or even salary rollbacks - I don't expect to lose my job, but I do expect a reduction in pay. We already live beneath our means, and by the time this hits, I'm hoping to be at a monthly surplus of $1000 - $1200.
5. War? - You have to admit, there is a lot of chest puffing, and bluster from around the world, particularly from some shorty Asian dictators, and bearded Muslim guys. Historically, major economic crisis is usually followed by a war or three. This one ought to be a jim-dandy, what with everyone possessing nukes and all.
Should we all worry? I can't change anything by worrying. We'll try to be as ready as possible when stuff happens. I have to trust in God, because my neighbors certainly aren't ready!
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