How to light a wood stove

Firewood only costs me the fuel and partial cost of the chainsaw, and it saves huge amounts of money for electricity.  Last month the power bill for the entire farm was less that $90.  Much of that I attribute to firewood heat.

No relation to the furnace from the first Home Alone movie.

A wood stove insert is probably the least efficient way to heat your home with wood other than pouring gas on your furniture and watching the whole place go up in flames.  Inserts simply don't provide enough thermal mass to make the most of the wood that you cut, split, and chunk into the stove.  Rumfort fireplaces and rocket stoves traditionally store heat in clay or brick stacked around the heat source.  More to come on Rocket Stoves in the future.

As we find different ways to make the most of thermal heat, retrofit may not be available for some families.  For maximum efficiency a standard wood insert should have five inches of ash to maximize thermal mass - so don't worry about cleaning it out all the time.

Lighting a wood stove is another reason why people steer clear of wood heat.  It doesn't have to be a challenge.  Once a roll is established.  It is a self supporting system.

Wood choice for insert burning differs from the Friday night bonfire stash.  Hardwoods are ideal as they produce long lasting heat.  Pine tends to burn extremely quickly and is warned against for tendency to burn out the seals in a wood stove.  Drying wood for a year under a tarp will minimize creosote buildup and keep your chimney running optimally.

During the day, I bring two to three loads of wood from the dried pile to the porch.

As I bring wood into the house there are little splinters that are easily removed from the logs.  By paying attention to what breaks off easily, I can stockpile enough kindling for the fire tomorrow.

The government pays for my heat.  Virginia agricultural census provided the USDA.  Subsidized tinder.

One paper wraps another crumpled piece.

5-7 pieces concentrically balled around the previous

Caption needed?

The pieces pulled off logs from yesterday's fire.

Two big logs, the balled pieces, and kindling

Empty

Just three logs worth of splinters ready for tomorrow.

See how fast it lights up

Don't forget to open your damper.

I spent some time planting a lettuce mix and broccoli in the greenhouse.  I wish somebody wrote a book about greenhouse planting timing.  I know they have them for gardening, and I have several.  I have yet to find one that is an integrated outdoor/indoor calendar.