Tag Archives: farmhouse

Permaculture, Remodeling, Rocket Mass Heater, Spring, Summer

Rocket Mass Heater Floorplans

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Article written by Dale Van Camp (co-owner Van Camp Farm)

Basic diagram of a rocket mass heater
Basic diagram of a rocket mass heater

 

Rocket Mass Heaters are an efficient and affordable way to heat cabins/homes.  After listening to Paul Wheaton (at Permies.com)several months ago on The Survival Podcast (Episode-1243- Paul Wheaton on Rocket Mass Heating) I was hooked on the idea that this is how I wanted to heat our farmhouse.

Experts in Rocket Mass Heaters
Experts in Rocket Mass Heaters
These are a great source of information
These are a great source of information

Read through some of the material here(http://www.richsoil.com/rocket-stove-mass-heater.jsp) and it will give you an idea on what they are and how they basically operated.  I purchased the 4 DVD set (Wood Burning Stoves 2.0) and watched them and took notes.  I know I can build this!
Ernie and Erica Wisner put on a great presentation all things about Rocket Mass Heaters.  Do not attempt to build one of these heaters without watching these videos and reading their books.

Building the Rocket Mass Heater
Building the Rocket Mass Heater

I already have about ½ of the materials I need to start fabricating this heater.  From what the Wisner’s say, it’s best to build the heater in the spring so that it is all hardened up by the fall when you want to start using it.

Placement of this Rocket Mass Heater will be starting where the existing chimney is in the living room and then it will extend along the wall, under the window by the kitchen/dining room table.  The barrel (the hottest item) will be located just out from the existing chimney so it is more centrally located.  Look at the following graphic of my plan.

This is basically how our current layout of our farmhouse.
This is basically how our current layout of our farmhouse.

 

Here is what I want to accomplish this spring/summer:

After knocking out some more walls, and adding the Rocket Mass Heater, I hope to have a floor plan similar to this by the end of the summer.
After knocking out some more walls, and adding the Rocket Mass Heater, I hope to have a floor plan similar to this by the end of the summer.

Here are some examples of compete Rocket Mass Heaters and how beautiful they can be:
 Beautiful Rocket Mass Heaters

Beautiful Rocket Mass Heaters
Beautiful Rocket Mass Heaters

 

Gardening, Permaculture, Spring

Map notes

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I spent a little time tonight putting some thoughts to images.  I logged onto a couple sites (Bing and Google) to get recent images of our farm.

Below are several images that will help everyone understand the scope and size of the project I am working with on our farm.  I am new at permaculture and new at growing most of the plants and trees I am planning on with my design.  I am excited to share with everyone my experiences with what I learn and my failure and successes.

The following image outline our entire farm (160 acres) with the red lines and the highway at the bottom of the image.

These are the boarders of our 160 acre farm
These are the boarders of our 160 acre farm

 

This next image displays the location of our farmhouse (soon to be remodeled) and the location of the springs in the north valley of our farm:

Location of the farmhouse and the springs on the farm
Location of the farmhouse and the springs on the farm

 

The following photo shows three colors one the map.
The GREEN color is the location of the first year project – mostly fruit trees.
The BROWN color is the location of the existing conventional garden.
The RED color is the location of the 2nd year plantings.  I hope to expand the fruit trees and black and raspberry bushes.
The BLUE color is where I predict the new pond will be located after we dam up the existing spring at the road crossing.

Green=1st Year Fruit Trees, RED=2nd Year Trees and bushes, BROWN=Garden, BLUE=Pond
Green=1st Year Fruit Trees, RED=2nd Year Trees and bushes, BROWN=Garden, BLUE=Pond

 

Permaculture, Remodeling, Seasons, Spring

Early Spring

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It’s early spring, and it is not letting the remnants of winter go.  Two foot snow drifts still block the 350 yard driveway to the farmhouse.  The only way in was on foot.  It’s too warm for snowmobiles and the snow is too deep for the ATV.

Ethyn carries his guns, ammo and a propane tank back to the truck after a day on the farm in early pring
Ethyn carries his guns, ammo and a propane tank back to the truck after a day on the farm in early pring

We carried our guns, ammo and accessories across the crusted snow.  Luckily, we mostly stayed on top of the crust of snow and didn’t fall through.

While at the farm, I took several photos of the outside of the farmhouse and surrounding land.  This was an opportunity to document the house and land before any updates are started.  Take a look through the pictures to see more.

We did a little hunting and exploring.  We found a coyote den on the north side of our gravel pit.

I pose in front of a coyote den we found on our land
I pose in front of a coyote den we found on our land