really old style living?

carriebradshaw

csarina wrote: »

We are lucky in that we are able to get wood from the estate we live on, we can also use the farm ute to collect it. There is a lot of wood 'on the floor' and from time to time trees are cut down for various reasons so we can get what we want.

we can do this too (have permission) but I tend to just pick up fallen sticks and cones as a rule when out with the dog these days. There has been an increase in woodcutting up here this year though, so when they're all done I may take a walk through and pick up the odd wedge for next years fire,as many of them are just the right size for our small fireplace and do help to eke out the coal a bit. :T

ThriftyFelicity

ceridwen wrote: »

I certainly agree with that. Theres absolutely LOADS of apples growing in peoples gardens in my area and many of them falling onto the ground and rotting. I havent asked - partly because I'm still trying to summon up the nerve to do so and partly because I would have to find the time to make up something with those apples that I could give the homeowner as a thank you for letting me do so. Maybe when I come up with a couple of VERY quick/easy/cheap for other ingredients recipes that I could use to make up the "thank you" gifts. Hmm...now if anyone has an absolutely scrummy recipe for apple cake thats quick and easy to make/one can use either cookers or eaters/the other ingredients are cheap - then please let me know and I might just summon up the nerve to ring on a doorbell and ask:). A similar recipe with pears would also be useful - as I can spot some of them going to waste in gardens as well.

Well, we make cider from the apples & crabapples, it's cheap as you only need a bit of sugar and yeast, but of course it has to be something you're interested in, and there is also the initial investment in equipment. We'll be making wine from the plums, so same deal with that.

How about apple butter & pear butter? They should be pretty easy & cheap to make. Hmmm, I think I may try apple butter myself...

ThriftyFelicity

For those who have a woodburner, how about using broken-up pallets as firewood? Many places will give them away free.

Also a warning for anyone who may have thought of using driftwood as firewood... don't... it releases dioxins, which are bad news.:(

csarina

ThriftyFelicity wrote: »

For those who have a woodburner, how about using broken-up pallets as firewood? Many places will give them away free.

Also a warning for anyone who may have thought of using driftwood as firewood... don't... it releases dioxins, which are bad news.:(

There are issues with using pallets, the bits that joint them together on a lot of the modern ones are made with pressed wood chips which do not burn well, they tend to smoulder rather than burn which can cause problems with sooting and tarring. We do use the slats etc for kindling, they do burn quite quickly.

Janeryan

Have been following this thread with interest but yesterday it all became much more real as we had a total power cut across the city which made me realise how unprepared I am. It was only for an hour between 3.30 & 4.00pm and luckily it was warm and sunny so the only incoveniences were not beng able to make a cup of tea or watch TV and not beng able to start cooking dinner untill later than normal-we are all electric powered-but things could have been very different eg dark/cold/lasted for ages etc.

Have now located the camping gas stove and candle supply in the cupboard for a start off and hoping to get more organised!!

ginnyknit

Strangely enough Jane I had no power today whilst Dh was doing a repair job ob Ds's new bedroom and I was lost for half an hour! I had been sowing but obviously had to stop then what could I do? I needed to iron some curtains I had made - nope, couldn't even veg out in front of the tv or have a shower. Need to re-assess what to do in a power cut - make up a box of puzzle mags, pen and paper, tealights and kettle etc. It had not occured to me the problem would be keeping busy. Sorted out my water colour paints and pads and a couple of jigsaws. Glad it happened actually as it focused my mind better! its not just the practicalities of a power cut

seasalt_2

Wonder what it is about driftwood that makes it release dioxins - about the only wood available here and has always been collected for firewood - that and old fences (larch/chestnut) - modern fencing material is all tanalised and advised not to burn that either - but our old fences are well over 20 years old - some much older - and well weathered, so hoping they are OK. We have got 2.5km to replace this autumn/winter! I am also now growing a few willows but not enough to yield more than a couple of baskets of wood as yet. Intend to plant a whole coppice with pegs from the ones that have stood up to the wind and salt.

ThriftyFelicity

seasalt wrote: »

Wonder what it is about driftwood that makes it release dioxins - about the only wood available here and has always been collected for firewood - that and old fences (larch/chestnut) - modern fencing material is all tanalised and advised not to burn that either - but our old fences are well over 20 years old - some much older - and well weathered, so hoping they are OK. We have got 2.5km to replace this autumn/winter! I am also now growing a few willows but not enough to yield more than a couple of baskets of wood as yet. Intend to plant a whole coppice with pegs from the ones that have stood up to the wind and salt.

Full explanation is available here:

Is It Safe to Burn Driftwood in a Stove?

seasalt_2

If I am honest, I really did not want to know that. Sigh! One of my favourite things to do with the children used to be to collect driftwood. Have got several fishboxes of it in the shed I was hoping to use this winter. Thanks for the link though. Will have to be the old fence/old pallets etc and willows for the future.

ThriftyFelicity

seasalt wrote: »

If I am honest, I really did not want to know that. Sigh! One of my favourite things to do with the children used to be to collect driftwood. Have got several fishboxes of it in the shed I was hoping to use this winter. Thanks for the link though. Will have to be the old fence/old pallets etc and willows for the future.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news

You can still collect driftwood for making stuff, though...