tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post3870751838645683407..comments2024-03-27T07:59:25.142+02:00Comments on Eco Footprint ~ South Africa: Stocking up for winterDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-42537495865257798372013-02-10T15:43:29.842+02:002013-02-10T15:43:29.842+02:00Brat - RMan and I both love the visual impact of a...Brat - RMan and I both love the visual impact of a fire in winter - somehow makes us "feel" warmer.<br /><br />Nah, we already use too much LPG to power our geyser and two plate caravan stove. I want to be more independent wherever possible. We've got double glazing to prevent overheating in summer, and retain the heat in winter. And blockout curtains - again for the summer heat Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-11405869866453448292013-02-10T09:17:11.059+02:002013-02-10T09:17:11.059+02:00I have no ramnatic notions about coal/wood burning...I have no ramnatic notions about coal/wood burning stoves. give me good ol' most effecient and easy to manage LPG gas water geyser and stove. I believe in cavity wall construction, small rooms that can be isolated, solid concrete roof slabs, good north fenestration to heat the floor slabs during the day in winter, good cross ventilation to cool the rooms in summer and a Jetmaster Gas tantalising labrathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13803418417407015265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-76590694847659859442013-02-01T09:54:22.869+02:002013-02-01T09:54:22.869+02:00Quinn - They do the same here with tree stumps - s...Quinn - They do the same here with tree stumps - seal them so they don't sprout again.<br /><br />How do you get rid of the wood from an invasive species - don't you burn it?Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-31629911212782151322013-02-01T05:34:16.962+02:002013-02-01T05:34:16.962+02:00Around here, the only way to prevent stump-sprouti...Around here, the only way to prevent stump-sprouting from many species would require treating the freshly cut stumps with poison, which would be transported into the root system. Not sure that's something you'd want those woodcutters to do, is it? Personally, I'd be thrilled if one of the invasive tree species in my area here had an actual use!Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17292701509476856967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-51736472877330146992013-01-31T16:23:09.988+02:002013-01-31T16:23:09.988+02:00Linda - LOL you've got that right - it is a ha...Linda - LOL you've got that right - it is a handy weed :) And I agree - it's burn longevity is non-existent. Nordica recommend using a hard wood i.e. (dried) blue gum. Didn't know it provided nitrogen to the soil though - thanks :)Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-86908600139584516842013-01-31T16:19:31.982+02:002013-01-31T16:19:31.982+02:00Kris - You're very handy - and inventive :) C...Kris - You're very handy - and inventive :) Clever, clever girl.<br /><br />Unfortunately, our chimney, being an aluminium sectioned pipe which is completely incorrect, is the main cause of our problems - that and the firepit section which does not seal at all!!<br /><br />Oak - oh, no! I could never burn oak - love it too much for the furniture it produces. But we should be so lucky as toDanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-34186433638954443332013-01-30T20:39:31.025+02:002013-01-30T20:39:31.025+02:00We lived with an old, unsealed fire box for one wi...We lived with an old, unsealed fire box for one winter, si I know what you mean. As for the black wattle, I'd say it's a pretty handy weed if it's keeping you warm! Do you know it also provides nitrogen to impoverished soil? I find it burns too quickly in our fire though. Good for instant heat but not good o/nite.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10975556587020883049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-61113078072879554562013-01-30T17:50:10.116+02:002013-01-30T17:50:10.116+02:00P.S. As for the W4W boys, they aren't thinkin...P.S. As for the W4W boys, they aren't thinking only of themselves, y'know. If they removed all the stumps, there would be no more local wood available for their customers. I'd say they were doing a good job husbanding some renewable resource. Beside, since the wattle is unwanted, there is no guilt at all burning it (as opposed to, say, some of the gorgeous oak, beech and hickory IKrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17822528453563683772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-6572459250496998292013-01-30T16:12:44.789+02:002013-01-30T16:12:44.789+02:00Got my finger crossed that Rman sees the light. L...Got my finger crossed that Rman sees the light. LOL<br /><br />I have a 'regular' fireplace in this house and for several years I dealt with smoke and 'chimney smell' during and after the burn. So one day I got tired of clueless chimney sweeps and puzzled brick masons and the fire pulling in cold air from every nook and cranny in the house (cooling it down). One summer day I Krishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17822528453563683772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-1280402178195160982013-01-30T15:53:35.698+02:002013-01-30T15:53:35.698+02:00Mrs Mac - We've tried everything, but the acri...Mrs Mac - We've tried everything, but the acrid smell of smoke hanging in the air the following morning is not pleasant - never mind what it is doing to us while we spend time in the room when it's lit.<br /><br />Add to that the fact that's it's too bloody cold to throw open all the doors and windows in order to air out the room and I reckon you'll have a pretty good idea of Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-48906217377705236332013-01-30T15:49:39.915+02:002013-01-30T15:49:39.915+02:00Purplepear -For me there is nothing like a visible...Purplepear -For me there is nothing like a visible fire in winter to make one feel warmer :) If I can also use it to cook with so much the better. No competition on my side - even if I'm only going to use it for 4 - 5 months of the year - must be my UK roots...?Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020970904311512357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-56935083492169082472013-01-30T14:40:34.923+02:002013-01-30T14:40:34.923+02:00Are you unable to retrofit your Dover so it doesn&...Are you unable to retrofit your Dover so it doesn't create smoke inside your home? Mrs. Machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06644129213141875138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3375887793985280500.post-31083417893075607242013-01-30T13:38:09.201+02:002013-01-30T13:38:09.201+02:00I am in a simialr predicament at the moment. tryin...I am in a simialr predicament at the moment. trying to decide wether a wood stove is worth the money, reseach, wood pile aquisition. i think so but like you I need to act now!.purplepearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17599216333749480560noreply@blogger.com