Our heating bill on the other hand is another story. In an avg month our heating expense can be upwards of $260. Propane isn't cheap and it is an expense I have been trying to figure out how to eliminate for sometime and though I have several ideas, most are pretty labor intensive and when SHTF or I finally move completely off grid I have a feeling I am going to have enough to do with out having to cut and chop enough wood to keep me warm all winter too. I hate being cold so that is an awful lot of wood. There is no getting around the fact that I will have to get the chainsaw and splitting mall out but I have been searching for a way to supplement that with another heat source. Today driving through the endless farmland dreaming of the day I can get away from it all I think I came up with an idea.
As a child my grandparent had horses and of course a manure pile. That pile would stay reasonably bare through out the winter and in spring and fall I can remember steam lofting from it. I never really understood back then but now I do, decomposition creates heat. And in that moment I had an ah ha moment, there is my supplemental heat!!!!
My plan for my bug out/off grid home includes animals and a large garden, hmmm there is my fuel source, manure and organic matter from the garden and food wastes. So now I have more research to do but it is a start and I have already found a few interesting articles to help get me started. Have a look for yourself...
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