Heating with Wood

by Doug Smith

I wake early on a Saturday morning to a chill in the air, the thermostat on the wall showing a cool 56 degrees. I step through the door into the furnace room where my bare feet meet the cold painted concrete floor. A lift of the handle and the furnace door swings open. Waiting inside is a teepee of kindling flanked by two sticks of cordwood. Nestled deep inside the teepee is a fire starter made of compressed wood fiber and a flammable binding agent. I prepared the setup a couple days ago anticipating a planned cool down according to the television weather man. I crack open the small metal ammo box which holds my store-bought fire starters, a large box of "strike anywhere" matches and a couple butane lighters. I strike a match and thrust the burning stick beneath the kindling and ignite the fire starter. Close the fire box door and adjust the thermostatically-controlled draft, and I walk back into the house to prepare the morning coffee.

Not all wood is created equally. A mix of seasoned and less seasoned can work well, and different species offer different heating properties.

By the time the first water makes its way through the basket of grounds and touches down inside the carafe I hear the near-silent wisp of the blower and feel the warming heat beginning to fill the room. For some people heating with wood is the only option available. For me it is a personal choice, and I'm thankful for the decision each winter month when I receive my utility bill. But it goes much deeper than that. On a cold winter day when I walk into the furnace room on the back of my house and I feel the warmth and smell the faint scent of wood smoke in the air I'm instantly taken aback to my grandpa and grandma's farm house and suddenly I'm six years old again. On cold winter days the Ben Franklin stove which stood proudly in the living room of the tiny house was always going, working in tandem to keep the place warm along with the wood-fired cook stove in the kitchen. In the mornings the house always smelled of fresh-cured bacon, thick slabs grandma had carved herself from the belly of a hog raised right there on the farm and now sizzling in a black cast iron skillet. Nowadays, as a special treat sometimes, on a Saturday morning when we're working around the place my wife will fry up some salt pork and make a big "farmer's breakfast" for the family. There's few things in life that I can think of that would smell any more inviting than a wood fire burning in the furnace or fireplace and salted bacon sizzling on the stove.

But like so many basic things in life, heating with wood isn't nearly as easy as it might appear. Anyone who's ever relied on wood for heat can testify it's a lot of hard work. Still, it's one of the most cost-effective and renewable ways of staying warm known to man. A stand of timber can renew itself in about 20 years on average. Just a few trees can provide enough wood to heat an average-sized home for an entire winter. In many cases firewood can be scavenged for free at logging locations, or from landowners looking to remove some treFIRST, KNOW YOUR FUEL

Just like men, not all wood is created equal. As an example, seasoned oak is ideal for heating but I wouldn't want to drive a nail in a dry oak board. Hickory makes good ax handles and is also ideal for fire wood. Cedar is a good bet to line a closet or dresser drawers but I wouldn't want to fill my stove with it and try to sleep through the night. The fire would be dangerously hot for an hour or two and then the house would be freezing by sunup.

Fuel wood should be considered based on recoverable British Thermal Units, or BTU's. As a brief explanation, BTU's are a measure of energy and one good way to compare woods for burning. We also want to consider ease of finding, harvesting, lighting and the amount of creosote each produces. But back to BTU's, scientists say one unit is the amount of energy needed to heat one pound of water from 39 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. A fair comparison can be made by looking at the heating capability of equal amounts of the more common species of wood. For this comparison let's use 128 cubic feet, an amount commonly known as a "cord".

Here's where things can get squirrely. The measure of a quantity of firewood, and the name by which it's referred to, changes based on geographic location and local traditions. Where I live in the Ozarks a rank is a stack of seasoned wood four feet tall, eight feel long and made up of 16-inch long pieces. But some folks call that a "rick" of wood. Using that amount as a reference, three "ranks" or "ricks" totals what is commonly called a "cord" of wood. Following that train of thought, a cord equals 128 cubic feet of wood. But not only are the names different from place to place. In different areas wood is bought and sold in different ways. Where I live most wood is sold by the rank, but sometimes a wood cutter will sell by the pickup truck load. The buyer has to be able to look at the load and tell if he or she is getting a fair price. Each year I cut a portion of my own firewood and buy the rest. If I'm purchasing from a new supplier I will have a rank or two delivered, or one truckload. I'll go the extra step and stack that first load to assure I'm getting what I'm paying for. Honest wood suppliers will give you an accurate amount and a little bit more for good measure. In the early years of our marriage my wife and I cut and sold firewood for extra income. We'd always give the customer a little more than promised, and we quickly grew a customer base that stayed with us until we moved on to other endeavors.

Now back to the comparison of woods based on recoverable BTU's per cord. According to Hearth.com, hickory offers the most heat by volume. Cottonwood is the poorest choice for heating. Here's a comparison of the most common wood species.es. Most times the trees are already down and the owner of the wood simply wants it removed from the property. Just keep in mind that all free things aren't necessarily gifts. All wood will burn, but not at the same rate and efficiency.

Species Recoverable BTU's per cord (in millions)
Hickory 19.39
Apple 18.55
White Oak 17.99
Sugar Maple 16.8
Red Oak 16.8
Yellow Birch 16.52
Paper Birch 14.21
Cherry 14
Elm 13.65
Red Maple 13.09
White Pine 10.01
Cottonwood 9.45

In general terms you want to avoid using softwoods for heat.  They burn too hot and fast, leaving you with a dangerously hot fire at first and not as much as a decent bed of coals an hour later.  We'll discuss stove safety later, but just know that a fire that's too hot can crack the metal or glass of a heating stove and, more importantly, permanently damage a masonry flue.  And burning softwoods puts too much sap and creosote into the chimney which can make your system more prone to a flue fire in the future regardless of whether the flue is masonry or metal.

The only softwood I use is pine and cedar lumber scraps I cut and split into small pieces for kindling.  I cut the pieces about six to eight inches long and split to about the thickness of a pocket knife and smaller.  When I have an available hour or two in the fall of the year I cut my pine and cedar lumber scraps to length on the table saw or with a circular saw.  Then I sit in the garage or outside under a shade tree and split the kindling with a hatchet.  I've even invited a buddy over, who also heats his home with wood, and we work together at splitting enough kindling for each of us while at the same time shooting the bull.  I fill a couple five gallon buckets with the pieces and seal with lids.  One bucket sits near the furnace at the ready until empty, at which time I replace it with another.  Two buckets will usually last me through most winters.

Another use for pine is as a fire starter.  Sap-rich pine knots can be busted into small pieces and used to ignite kindling.  Grandma used to keep a dozen or so pencil-sized strips of kindling soaking partially-emerged in a coffee can half filled with lamp oil to use as fire starters in her wood cook stove.  While I'm a big fan of the traditional ways, I tend to go the more modern route and rely on store bought fire aids.  Each fall I buy two boxes of fire starters made of compressed sawdust.  They come in roughly four-by-eight inch slabs perforated to be broken into smaller squares of about two-by-two inches, and each square will burn for about five minutes - plenty of time to ignite dry kindling and wood.  I keep the fire starters with my matches and a butane lighter or two in a waterproof Army surplus ammo container that sits beside the furnace.  In nearly 20 years of heating with wood I've never had the fire starters or matches draw moisture inside the sealed box. 

HOW TO LIGHT

Any good Boy Scout can name a half dozen designs of stacking tinder, kindling and wood to start a fire.  It's been a while since I went through Scouts, and even a dozen years since my son was in a troop, but I assume earning one of the badges still requires starting a fire with one match.  Fortunately starting a simple fire in the heating stove doesn't require that level of survival skills, but still, using a few proven techniques makes it more of a sure thing.

A warming fire starts with good kindling. Pieces split from discarded pine lumber works well and costs nothing. A hatchet works well for making small pieces out of bigger ones.

Here's how I do it. With all but the first fire of the season (at which time the stove has been completely cleaned following the previous winter) I'm usually dealing with a furnace fire box that contains a bed of ashes. My furnace has a fire grate that holds the wood up well above an ash box with a separate draft and cleaning door below. The goal is to build a fire that will burn hot enough but not so hot as to waste fuel. To do so I'll start by using a fire poker to scrape clean a small area of the fire grate, about eight-by-eight inches or so. That gives me a good area for the draft to move past the flames. The remaining bed of ashes helps nestle the fire wood and cause it to burn slower.

On the cleaned grate area I'll put two fire starter squares down. Then I'll grab a handful of kindling from my bucket and build a simple teepee or lean-to shape over the starter squares, leaving plenty of space between the sticks for air flow. I'll lay a couple regular-sized pieces of firewood down each side of the kindling teepee, and span the gap between the two with a couple smaller pieces of wood hovering above the teepee. Now my fire setup is ready to ignite. Oftentimes I'll build the setup in the stove the night before I intend to light the stove. The next morning it's a simple as sticking a match to the fire starter, closing the fire box door and cracking open the draft. Within minutes the fire will catch up and the stove's blower will kick on pumping cozy warm air into the house.

Just like no to woods sharing the same potential BTU's, not all wood ignites the same either. Woods that ignite fair to good include hemlock, ash, white birch, elm and hickory to name a few. Wood that is hard to light includes cherry, black locusts, beech, apple, red oak and sugar maple. As mentioned earlier, not all free things are necessarily gifts. I often see ads in the newspaper or on local blogs or hear someone on the radio giving away free wood for the cutting or hauling. While that can be a great way to get in the winter's wood, just realize that if the trees you're getting for free are sugar maple, apple, beech or some other ornamental "yard" tree it might not be the best option for heating.

WHAT TO HEAT WITH

Options for using wood for heat haven't changed too much in the past 100 years. While stoves are not the primarly focus of this article, let’s talk briefly about what’s available. Efficiency has improved with newer designs, but we're still left with the same few options … open fireplace, fireplace insert, free-standing space heater, or a furnace connected to duct work. Sure there are pellet stoves and multi-fuel combination heaters that burn pellets or corn, but for this article we're focusing on burning sticks of wood.

Of those choices, the space you wish to heat will best dictate the heater you choose. Homes with basements are great for wood furnaces with attached ductwork. Not only does such a system effectively move heat up and through the house by the air in the ducts, but you also can capture some of the residual heat that radiates from the furnace and flue pipe as well to heat the main level floorboards. Our home was built in the 1880s and has a thick stone foundation crossing beneath the middle of the house where the original back wall stood. I've never been a big fan of carrying firewood into the house, so we opted for a wood furnace installed on an attached, glassed-in sun porch. We ran the lines through the attic with the ducts in the ceiling. It's not the best situation, but it's what suits our situation the best. Homes with open floor plans or other heat sources with the intention of using wood only as a supplement in one area can be good candidates for free-standing stoves. And positioning the stove in the correct area of the home can send heat up a staircase to heat upstairs rooms as well. Open fireplaces are romantic (my wife tells me), but nearly any fireplace can benefit from an insert to maximize efficiency.

For guidelines on locating and installing a wood-burning unit consult your home insurance provider. Companies will have mandatory guidelines on setbacks and materials used, and failure to install a wood burning unit the right way could result in having your insurance policy cancelled, or invalidated in the case of a heat-related incident. And it goes without saying that you should clean the chimney at least once a year, at the start of the heating season, and more often if your system is prone to creosote buildup. I have my own brushes and rods and do the chore myself, but even hiring a chimney sweep for an annual cleaning and inspection would still be cost-effective protection against a costly and potentially deadly fire.

There's an old saying that "He who cuts his own wood warms himself twice … once when he cuts it, and once when he burns it." My research hasn't revealed who actually made that statement first, but I assure you whoever it was knew something about heating with wood.

Cheap: A pair of plough-ready oxen cost $3,000 (£1,800) - roughly the same as a second hand tractor

Their instructor was former peace core volunteer Dick Roosenberg, 64, who learned the trade while working for the UN in West Africa.

He took the skills he had honed back to Michigan and set up Tillers International.

Best machine: Oxen only eat grass and can work for up to 14 years. They are also a handy source of fertilizer and can be eaten when they die

The only downside is that they are slow and are not viable on a large farm. They are however perfect for 'small farms, with high-value garden crops', said Mr Roosenberg.

Todd Juzwiak, 42, bought two oxen after learning how to command them with Mr Roosenberg.

He told the Times: 'We are definately saving on fuel. Though it's not necessarily easier. Tractors don't often jump over fences.'

Old times: Two teams of oxen dig ground for the foundation of a school in Whitley, Kentucky, in the early 1900s

There are very few subjects that are not covered by a book anymore, written by a professional in their field or a writer that can make words sing. Reading is the one enjoyment that can always take your mind to far-away places, learn a new craft or just allow you to drift off into the life of a fictional character.

Cooking, mechanics, poetry, mystery, the subjects are endless and the Internet is one of the best places to browse when considering a book as a Christmas gift. Using expansive websites such as Amazon, you can search by subject, category, writer, best-seller, age group, fiction or non-fiction just to name a few, in order to make your selection of the best reading material to give as a gift.

It can be fun searching for the perfect book from the leisure of your home. No crowds to fight, no products found gone from the shelves and by ordering early, you can be guaranteed a delivery safely before Christmas Day. Sales and deals can also be found on books that have been overstocked by warehouses and have been marked down to move out. This doesn't mean that the quality of the book is any less, only that space is needed for new material.

E-Bay can be a good option for shopping for books online. Care must be taken, however, in checking the ratings of sellers and to make sure that your book is new or used, depending on what you are looking for. Wholesale lots often offer a series of children's books so you can have a complete set of children's stories to surprise any child, nieces, nephews or charity so many children can enjoy opening a meaningful gift.

'How to' books are becoming quite popular as DIYers are delving into repairs, new building projects and decorating in order to save hard earned money. Several popular manuals are available that give step-by-step instructions on a particular home project. 'How to' books for home decorating can also be an inspiration to a new homeowner in learning the blending of colors, styles and textures to create their own personalised modern homestead. Hobbies are extensive in the detail of the subject at hand and are a great way to get started.

Biographies have always been an exciting read by revealing the real life experiences of well-known individuals. Being able to step into someone else's world can give you an entirely new perspective that you never imagined. You can learn many enlightening facets of your favorite people, places and things.

Works of poetry, motivational guides and inspirational stories are great gifts to give to someone who loves life while puzzles, the unusual and incredible can captivate someone who just needs an entertaining book to read.

Make a Christmas list and pry into everyone's interests to learn how you can give them the gift of words. By using the Internet, you can usually have books shipped in less than a week. This will give you plenty of time to wrap and enjoy sitting under your tree.

About the Author

Vincent Norman is a freelance writer living in the UK. He regularly contributes articles for The Online Shopping Centre, who offer the best range of Online Book Shops.

Were getting a lot of fruit and looking forward to harvesting more soon!

This article is essentially a case in point of a undemanding still, brilliant advertising design. Disburse proximate concentration to how I operate absent and achieve new-found small business at a period of the time when idea are ordinarily dense, and not solitary did I manufacture ,148.00, my comrade Frankie also arranged ,060.00.

For the reason that I picked to hold myself out of the battle of life of landscaping modern homestead, I operate like a promote that was additional of a hasty kind promote. Recent house setting is very nearly a must, after all modern house don't have some shrubbery or lawn. Not simply that, numerous housing growth truly want public to have their setting ready in a specific numeral of months from the period they turn into their original house. Accordingly, as the house is done, citizens are worried to make it landscaped.

After all I wasn't in that promote, and largely hasty agriculture conclusion are built in the season following winter, my small business as a rule restrict down through the exact burning heat months. So single time I certain to resolve a petite examination advertising, to find out if I could gather up selected creation through the heat.

I certain to work out a examination mailing to 350 proprietor in an place where I understand information the public could able to have setting utility, but were not particularly landed. I mailed a dispatch to these 350 homestead, and the dispatch primarily said I could support them with any setting activity that required made, and for the reason that my small business was slow through the heat I could present them a actually quite good rate.

Of the 350 public that expected the dispatch 3 appeal to me. I as soon as taken two professions, and the third work was yet exposed for debate. On single of the basic two professions I built about 0. And on the additional I built about 0. That's net benefit. That's how much I got to maintain. Since the mailing charge fewer than 5., my actual benefit on the mailing was 5. Not awful at all bearing in mind this was only a part-time small business for me. But don't fail to remember about that third caller. I had not similar met this human being still.

The logic he called is as he comes to pass to own a 60 unit residence building in the Cleveland place, and he required a few pulp or bush grow nearby the stand quantity. The engineer that he had been operating with advised Taxes Hicksi, which is a conifer that is definitely cut shorter and care for to a specific size. Anyhow, all the landscapers he had verbal with in Cleveland wanted about .00 all to establish these creeper. Admitting a quite good rate, that adds up to ,664.00 as he considered necessary 106 creepers.

He communicates with me as he was eager I might discover a lesser amount of costly works to benefit from. In imitation of on a visit the work location I appreciate that Taxes Hicksi truly was about the most excellent well-chosen for this location, so I spoke him I would see if I can make a more excellent cost on the creeper. I appeared in a comprehensive list that the general cost was .00 for each bury, but refer to that I might be capable of performing to discover an added point of supply.

I understand information that my comrade Frankie did at single period become larger this specific bury, so I gave him a call. Turns out he did have 106 creepers vacant, and was tense to turn a number of them, he copied me .00 apiece, balled in burlap. I appeal to my buyer of goods and spoke him that I achieve gain creeper at a lesser cost, and that I could essentially convey and bury them for .00 for every bury, which is accurately partially of what others had copied him. He was making happy, and I did the work. At the same time as a be relevant of verity he truly asked me to establish various added creeper during I was there.

I contracted 3 guys to support me work out the work, and we had it ready in single time. With I paid for the creeper, and paid my support, I in reality built ,148.00 on that single time work. My buyer of goods was so pleased with the operate we did that he asked me to approach back the being next or after week and work out about any more 0.00 value of creation. I arranged an added 0.00 the being next or after skip he contracted me to re-landscape an elder house that he had bought, and I built a new 0.00.

Keep in mind the 5.00 that I spent to mail those 350 mails? The after deductions benefit on that mailing bowed out to be about ,973.00!!! And my supporter Frankie pulled out up ,060.00 for the creeper I purchased from him. Were these 350 public I pick out particular? No they weren't. Each city in America has at smallest amount 350 public very soon choose them, as the case may be thousands additional.

Nearby are a few atypical method to manufacture property with creeper, this is now single of them, I can agricultural show you profusion additional. I've been making property with creeper for over 25 years.

About the Author

To Know More Visit Now <a href="http://www.workathomewebjobs.com" Work at Home Jobs To Make Money OnlineVisit here to get answer about Make money online Home based business work

I've been told that you can get out of the rat race (become a homesteader) or be a city dweller; the only difference is you'll either be trading your time working to be more self sufficient (self employed, gardening, getting wood in for the winter, etc.) or trade time away from home, at work, to pay for the conveniences and bills (Overtime). The person who told me this didn't see the difference in the quality of life; to this person, you exist here or you exist there, the price you pay is the same, it was all a wash in the end - and they call me the boring one.

I've had conversations with my brother in law - a dairy farmer - that have been very liberating and extremely frustating at the same time; being of the old school of thought he believes in hard work, being self employed and wouldn't have it any other way. That's the liberating part, the frustrating part is when he insists that in order to keep his lifestyle he must always juggle the bills and have that second mortgage to pay for new equipment. The same path, that many dairy farmers took, that eventually ended in failure, it's almost predictable just because of the sheer number of failed farms in my area.

I use farming as an example because I feel it closely parallels a homesteading lifestyle; where I see a difference is the farmer will go out and get a mortgage to build their homes or purchase equipment, while homesteaders will do without the mortgage and build their home as money allows, in the end they will have their homes built and paid for in far fewer years than the 30yr. mortgage holder. Other areas that show a vast difference is utilities, in my brother in laws case he has a problem with manure; he liquifies it, gives it away, buries it, throws it at the cows - from time to time. The natural resources exist for him to implement methane production, but, he doesn't have the inclination to do so. Countries like India and China have proven the concept of a small biogas plant (methane) and have used it in energy deficient areas (methane producers on individual farms) of their country, why isn't its use more widespread here - I don't know, but, homesteaders that deal with very limited resources on a daily basis wouldn't let that kind of potential go to waste.

It becomes difficult to maintain your drive and direction when family becomes your harshest critics. Two people have been supportive of my homesteadng dream, my father and my wife; my father has always shared the same sentiment and my wife shared the same ideals of this new life right from the start (I feared she might have thrown me out or have me committed when I first mentioned it). My brother in law - my wife has a large family - makes a 6 figure income and is buried in debt, he is also the most vocal opponent to homesteading; the arguement goes, him: "There's only one way to make a living today, you have to put in the hours at work because you can't raise a family on less than 6 figures", me: "Bullshit", and then it just kind of degenerates from there. If the previous statement were true then the world population would be under a billion, easy, since that isn't the case then the rest of us must be doing the impossible - kinda makes you feel special, you look at it that way. One more thing, to my family, we're doing it, if you need a place to stay or hard times fall on you, our door is always open.

The other thing that nobody is immune to is "complacency"; how can someone that works 14 to 16hrs. a day be complacent about anything? easy, if that person doesn't recognise changing trends in their business, or if they simply have contempt for any ideas that deviate even a little bit from "conventional business practices". This will lead to deterioration in the business and eventually failure. What I've found in the homesteading community is even though the life style is considered "low tech", my favorite kind, this doesn't mean that a homesteaders mentality is stagnant, if anything it's the opposite, when faced with changing conditions and limited resources a flexible, inquizitive mind is a must, if a serious problem presents itself, a solution has to be found or your lifesyle may suffer or die completely.

Lastly, but not least, is my personal observation of homestead politics, and that is one of a "Libertarian" outlook; maximizing individual rights while minimizing government encroachment. My only addendum to this would be, all personal responsibility be shouldered by the individual (not look to the state to create laws to force others to comply, i.e. - cut your grass it's 1 inch longer than my grass). Freedom is highly prized in the homestead community, conversations with many homesteaders reveal that it isn't freedom to do anything, i.e. - freedom to do harm, but, the freedom to act reasonably and responsibly that marks the true homesteader. Now that I've touched on a potentially explosive topic, as politics is always contentious, I felt it was necessary because it strikes at the heart of homesteading; If so much is taken away or put under so much regulation that it makes it impossible to sustain yourself, then how long will you be able to live a homesteading life?

It's just my opinion, but, it seems that the less we have to do with modern conventions i.e. financing (mortgages), utilities (electric, natural gas), the more unfettered we are and we have more of that precious commodity, time - NOT MONEY; that will allow you to investigate different ideas and better ways of doing things that could save money and enhance your life, instead of the other way around - working all the time and only using what spare time you have to dream about a better life.

About the Author

Husband and father, one time itinerate merchant and story gatherer, that has settled down to live the simple life and recount some of the experiences that have led me here. Author and Admin. at www.homesteadarticles.com You can contact me here.

Texas offers a unique application of homestead protection. The protection is very substantial but has its limitation on the ability of the homeowner to mortgage their homestead.

The Texas Homestead Exemption began as a protection for the wives and children of early settlers in the state. This was established as protection should the husband become involved in activities that could lead to the financial devastation of the family. The wives and the children would also be secure in their home in the instance of the death of the husband and would not be able to be removed because of an improper or manufactured claim of debt owed by the husband. The exemption remained virtually unchanged.

There are newer applications of the act that aid in more modern situations. The homestead law prevents creditors from forcing the sale to satisfy debts, except in the case of a mortgage holder, taxing authority, or holder of a note for home improvements. It is also difficult to give up homestead protection to borrow against its equity. An owner who desires to maintain property ownership and be able to borrow against its equity requires the individual to move out of the property and demonstrate that it is being used to generate income as a rental and that they have established homestead in a different home.

Due to this, home equity loans were not valid in Texas until an amendment to the constitution was made in January 1998. These loans are restricted by a variety of requirements because of this. Many other states may not have these restrictions. The amount of the loan plus the balance of the first mortgage is not allowed to exceed eighty percent of the property value. This leaves twenty percent as an equity cushion at the time of the second lien.

You may be able to apply for homestead exemptions on your principal residence. Because of this, the homestead exemption removes a part of the home taxation value and will then lower your taxes. To qualify the home, a homeowner must be an individual and use the home as their main residence on January 1 of the tax year. This is not required if you are age 65 or older. The homestead may also be a separate structure such as a condo or manufacture home that is located on leased land, as long as the individual in the home owns it. The homestead may include up to twenty acres. The land must be owned by the homeowner and be used as a yard or other purpose related to the use of the homestead.

Individuals may also be eligible for an exemption if they are unable to gain work due to physical or mental disability or you are 55 years old and blind and unable to work due to the blindness. You must meet the Social Security definition for disabled in order to qualify.

In order to qualify for the disable veteran exemption, the individual must be a veteran who was disabled while serving in the armed forces, the surviving spouse or a child under 18 and unmarried of a disable veteran or of a member of the armed forces who was died during active duty.

About the Author

Ameen Kamadia aims to help Texas homeowners face the difficulties of foreclosure. That's why he has created an informational site that lists all the options homeowners have. Get an unbiased, educated opinion at http://www.foreclosure-stoppers.net

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The concept of "green" living has become quite ubiquitous today, both in the media and our everyday lives. Virtually everything has green possibilities and implications, from diapers to dry cleaning to dental sealants. Needless to say, going green is not the sole motivating factor behind the popular trend of creating new homes from pioneer homesteads, but it certainly is a big one. "By building new houses from antique barns, cabins, homesteads and the like, we're leaving a significantly smaller environmental footprint," says Charlie Ball, developer for Whisper Mountain in Marshall, North Carolina. Along with wife Troy, Charlie is responsible for Whisper Mountain: a community of North Carolina mountain homes just outside of Asheville, which features some of these environmentally-friendly buildings, crafted from antique materials. The basics of such an approach are rather simple: locate an antique structure in a state beyond repair--a farmhouse, perhaps, or a log cabin--carefully disassemble it, piece by piece, then use those pieces--the logs, the beams--as the basis for a carefully-constructed and new North Carolina mountain home. "It may not seem significant, but such an approach is tremendously eco-friendly," says Ball of the western North Carolina real estate for which he is responsible, as well as the trend as a whole. "By using less new lumber, you're taking a smaller toll on our natural woodland resources. What's more, by using antique materials, you are, in no uncertain terms, recycling. This doesn't even take into account the fumes and emissions you're reducing by not taking down trees with gas-powered chainsaws and similar tools."

North Carolina Mountain Homes Offer Wide Appeal

But "greenliness" alone does not explain the appeal of Ball's western North Carolina mountain property. More eye-catching, certainly, is the aesthetic beauty of those antique materials, and indeed, the NC mountain properties of Whisper Mountain are among the gems of western North Carolina real estate. The gorgeous North Carolina homes combine natural beauty, breathtaking views and a rustic setting; it's a stunning combination. Of course, many potential homebuyers balk at the concept of antiqueness with regards to purchasing a home--they often think they're falling into a money pit, committing to a "fixer-upper" that will claim all their free time and weekends, and never truly be fixed up. To be clear, this does not in any sense describe Ball's NC mountain properties, nor the trend to which he refers. "These are new houses, period," says Ball. "They are made with antique materials from pioneer homesteads, because those materials are strong and durable; they are unique and beautiful, and they are environmentally friendly. But these are all new homes. We don't use any weakened, infested or damaged material. In fact, these homes are not just as good as new, because really, they're better than most new homes, by virtue of the materials being used. It's that simple." To that end, the North Carolina homes of Ball's Whisper Mountain community feature state-of the-art comforts and amenities: sauna, spa, exercise room, and so on. To the casual onlooker, this may seem counterintuitive, even clashing, but in fact the juxtaposition is a winning one. By blending these materials, it is possible to build homes that appeal to a certain consumer: one who is Earth-conscious, one who appreciates the rustic aesthetic offered by antique materials, and one who is looking for modern luxuries and amenities. What else? One who is looking for a sound investment at a good price--something offered by western North Carolina real estate. "Western North Carolina mountain property is one of the best buys in the market," says Ball. "The prices of NC mountain properties aren't especially daunting or prohibitive, yet we're talking about a fast-growing economy here, located nearby the thriving city of Asheville with a solid arts community." Given these considerations, you'd be forgiven for forgetting the Earth-friendliness--the "greenness"--of these homes. But again, that doesn't make them any less significant, for the homeowner or the land on which the home rests.

About the Author

Liisa Sullivan lives just outside of Asheville in Weaverville, NC and writes for luxury living and lifestyle magazines. Visit http://www.whispernc.com or email info@whispernc.com for more information.

Goats are valuable to a successful homestead. Choose the breed of this wonderful animal that's right for you.

Since biblical times different breeds of goats have provided milk, meat, skins and lots of fun to the people who owned them. No modern homestead would be complete without at least two of these delightful animals in the backyard farm.

But how do you choose which kind you want? This brief outline will help you pick the right type for you.

What's Important To You?

Are you primarily interested in milk, or do you want to join the growing number of folks who raise Boers for meat? Or are you interested primarily in mohair?

Making this decision early on will help you choose the right one for you.

Dairy Breeds - Nubian

Nubians are popular because their milk has the highest content of butterfat.

They can be any color or color pattern, but all have the same drooping ears and Roman noses. They are designed to cope with heat and desert conditions.

They tend to be large, but timid animals and can be easily restrained. Nubians need company, and will cry - loudly - if left alone.

LaMancha

This is a great animal. The LaManchas are sweet tempered on the whole and produce a good quantity of milk.

They are also easy to recognize; they look like they have no ears.

Saanen

Pronounced SAH-nen, these are pure white goats with erect ears. They are large animals and heavy milk producers.

Saanens prefer shade, so if you do decide to keep a couple of saanens, pen them in a shady spot.

French-Alpine

The French Alpine originated in the Alps and comes in a variety of colors and markings.

Breeders have emphasized size and production rather than color, so the French-Alpine may range from pure white through gray, brown, black and everything in between.

They are generally short-haired and have a high average milk production.

Oberhasli

These wonderful animals have a red bay coat with black feet and face.

They have a very sweet temperament and produce a delicious, slightly sweet milk.

Toggenburg

These are the oldest known breed. They are slightly smaller than the Alpines.

Their hair is short or medium in length and is brown, either light or dark. They have a white stripe down each side of their faces.

They also have white on either side of the tail and a white rump.

They prefer cooler conditions, but have a high milk production.

Nigerian Dwarf

If you have a backyard farm, this is the type for you. These little girls are small, but they put out an impressive amount of milk for their size.

A Nigerian Dwarf will produce from 2-6 pounds of milk per day.

They are ideal for families who just want a couple of gallons of milk per week.

The African Pygmy

Another small goat with an impressive output of milk. They are playful and affectionate.

They are excellent with children.

Meat Goats - The Boer

If you're interested primarily in meat, the most popular type is the Boer. But be warned, the Boer are infamous for their escape tactics. They consider most fencing a challenge, and they are not much good for milking.

If you just want a little extra meat, the dairy goats should provide sufficient meat when culls and unwanted kids are butchered.

A Hairy Benefit

Finally, Angoras are bred for their long silky mohair and for their meat.

About the Author

Sue Merriam and her husband are homesteaders living the self-reliant life on a small acreage in rural Oklahoma. By living frugally, they have become completely debt free and today have no mortgage and no car payments. Visit her website at http://www.organic-gardening-and-homesteading.com.