First, just a quick update to report that we had no major impact from Sandy -- no damage, and the power was out for only about 90 minutes. We had 1.5 inches of rain over 36 hours, quite a bit less than we get during some intense thunderstorms. So we are feeling very fortunate indeed.
I took the photo above on Saturday a week ago. I was hauling more firewood from the place where we cut the logs up and stacking it in the woodshed. This is a never-ending process this time of year, and continues right through until spring. We burn far more cords of wood -- about 14 to 16 -- during the heating season than we could ever stack in the woodshed, so we're always replenishing the supply of fuel for the wood boiler (whose chimney and roof you see in the background.)
We had friends visiting from Ovando, Tim and Cindy J., the previous week, and Tim remarked with some astonishment, "You know, they use hardwoods for firewood here -- we think hardwoods are too valuable to burn!" Indeed, it's a funny thing about New England -- few people here consider using softwoods, i.e., conifers like pine, fir and spruce, for firewood. New Englanders consider "real" firewood to be hardwoods like ash, maple, cherry, and birch. That's because in general hardwoods deliver more BTUs per volume than softwoods, and because they're denser, they burn longer and produce hotter coals. If you tried to sell someone firewood made of spruce or pine, you'd get run out of a town on a rail (made of hardwood, no doubt).
But out west, your only choice for firewood is softwoods, and everyone stays warm just fine, thank you. We had the same view as Tim when we first arrived in New Hampshire ... the thought of burning maple or birch for heat seemed very strange to us. Three years later, it still does, but hardwoods are what we typically burn.
In the photo I'm hauling the wood -- these are whole logs about 30 inches long, which I load right into the wood boiler -- on our Kubota RTV utility vehicle. The small bed on that vehicle can hold half a ton -- 1,000 pounds -- about the same as a Ford F-150 pick-up.
Final Contest of The Year -- Please Vote for the Farm!
The latest Shelter Challenge started Monday, October 8 and ends at midnight on December 16. Grand prize in this round is $5,000, plus $1,000 for weekly winners and $1,000 for state winners. There are also other categories ... please see the Shelter Challenge website for details.
*** You will find us listed as Rolling Dog Farm. The state is NH for New Hampshire. ***
Please remember, you can vote every day ... consider bookmarking the voting page to make it easy.
We just won $1,000 as a weekly winner in the last contest, and thousands more in the previous contests. The Shelter Challenge really does bring in a lot of money for the animals here!
You can vote in the Shelter Challenge here.
Thank you for your votes!
Looks like this post was for Rolling *Log* Farm. :)
Posted by: Philippa | November 07, 2012 at 08:55 AM
My chimney sweep told me that soft wood like pine will deposit more stuff along the inner chimney, thus increasing the risk of chimney fires. Someone who burns hardwood doesn't have to have the chimney cleaned as often.
Posted by: Lynne Parker | November 06, 2012 at 03:35 PM
So glad to hear that you are all safe and sound. We were worried!
Posted by: Shirley & dachshunds Gracie, Sunnie, Dieter | November 05, 2012 at 04:33 PM
Yes- so relieved to hear you took the superstorm in stride. I have one in the closet with a thunderstorm (and who can blame her), so was concerned amongst all your personalities that could be stressful... phew! :)
Posted by: Margaret | November 05, 2012 at 01:50 PM
Here's to a warm and cozy winter for you guys!
Posted by: Leila K. - Western Wash. | November 05, 2012 at 01:29 PM
Cassie, please see this post for more on the wood boiler:
http://blog.rollingdogranch.org/rolling_dog_ranch_animal_/2011/02/heat.html
Steve
Posted by: Steve Smith | November 05, 2012 at 11:20 AM
Steve, you probably explained it when you first moved out there, but I need an explanation on the wood boiler. What IS it??
Also, SO relieve the storm didn't give you much trouble.
Posted by: Cassie Betz | November 04, 2012 at 09:53 PM
So good to hear you escaped any damage and quite interesting about burning hardwoods!!
Posted by: Linda | November 04, 2012 at 08:26 PM
I am happy to read that RDF was spared the impact of Hurricane Sandy. Still voting.
Posted by: Evelyn | November 04, 2012 at 07:39 PM
So thrilled you were not bothered by the storm and you actually had visitors. The work that goes into running the Sanctuary is astonishing--I have energy but am exhausted after I read you post.
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | November 04, 2012 at 07:11 PM
It's a comfort to know you're all well and safe.
I found I can vote for you as many times as I shut down and reboot, which I usually do several times/day anyway.
Posted by: Moon Rani | November 04, 2012 at 05:45 PM