Preparing for Winter V

[Deleted User]

Different strokes for different folks guys, we must remember that. There are so so many rules and regulations regarding EVERYTHING nowadays. When did using good old fashioned common sense go out of the window? 

What I burn is my business, but I’m very rural with absolutely no neighbours. Maybe some bits I burn do release horrid stuff into the atmosphere - but we don’t all sit here having a go at car drivers for burning fumes do we. As Jackie says, provided we’re not hurting anyone or ourselves, and we are happy with our choices, let it lie ☺️☺️

When we had no power for over 9 days last year I would have burnt absolutely anything  to keep warm. 

I hope everyone is keeping safe, warm and well xx

Uniscots97

My parents live rurally and have kept their chimney and fireplace. It's not been used in years but they're getting it cleaned and inspected to make sure it's safe. Have they burned stuff in the past they maybe shouldn't have, probably. As asparklyblonde said, people need to use common sense. I do remember in my parents last house (just as rural and coal fires), we were snowed in and had access to some coal and some wood that hadn't got wet but we actually took apart the yellow pages and scrunched the pages up to put on the fire to help keep it going to keep warm. 

Primrose

I recall my parents on one snowy winter when they were cut off  twisting up long strips of all their stored newspapers and making them into tight knots to burn and eke out their coal supplies.

Hopefully nobody will be forced into the dire straits of Leningrad when it was under seige in the last war where people were chopping up their wooden furniture to burn to keep warm .

Effician

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Primrose said:

Hopefully nobody will be forced into the dire straits of Leningrad when it was under seige in the last war where people were chopping up their wooden furniture to burn to keep warm .

When buying or acquiring  furniture i always go for chunky solid pine or solid oak as a just in case, you never know when it might be needed 

Uniscots97

Although in the interests of prepping for winter, I advised my parents to have a supply of coal/wood for over a week, candles, batteries, and some solar lanterns. 

My Mum also has kept a few toilet roll tubes to stuff with newspaper to help get a fire going. 

Fruball

Primrose said:

I recall my parents on one snowy winter when they were cut off  twisting up long strips of all their stored newspapers and making them into tight knots to burn and eke out their coal supplies.

Hopefully nobody will be forced into the dire straits of Leningrad when it was under seige in the last war where people were chopping up their wooden furniture to burn to keep warm .

I saw on a TV programme not long ago that people here have done it too. 
Really sad when it comes to that.

I have a bookshelf and bedside cupboard surplus to requirements if necessary! 😁

I do now save all my cardboard boxes and Amazon packaging etc to boost the heat when I use the fire.  If it's just to take the chill off, a couple of boxes do the job and I don't need any wood or coal!

Freeeeeee heating is my favourite heating! 

Cherryfudge

I fully agree that in an emergency, people need to be warm enough to be safe and if that means burning treated wood, then that's less of a hazard than freezing to death or becoming ill through cold/damp.

However, we can suffer harm through things that feel safe at the time, so be aware of the science, whether it's cleaning products or food or fumes or whatever. Take the risk yourself if you wish but don't put others at risk.

Siebrie

In The Long Winter (by Laura Ingalls Wilder) Laura and her father make straw briquets by twisting a handful of straw together until it is all twisted on itself and almost solid.

tooldle

Cherryfudge said:

I fully agree that in an emergency, people need to be warm enough to be safe and if that means burning treated wood, then that's less of a hazard than freezing to death or becoming ill through cold/damp.

However, we can suffer harm through things that feel safe at the time, so be aware of the science, whether it's cleaning products or food or fumes or whatever. Take the risk yourself if you wish but don't put others at risk.

Completely agree. There are many of us with hidden disabilities. In my case it is a progressive lung disease. All sorts of airborne particulates are problematic for me. I would very much appreciate people burning only what is allowable. Two sides to every coin.

Cherryfudge

Siebrie said:

In The Long Winter (by Laura Ingalls Wilder) Laura and her father make straw briquets by twisting a handful of straw together until it is all twisted on itself and almost solid.

I remember reading that! Such a good book about really hard times.

Now we know what we should have done with all the dead plants we had during the heatwave.