Читать книгу The Self-Sufficiency Handbook - Alan Bridgewater - Страница 27

Wood is a good traditional option both for space heating and cooking, especially if you live in the country and are attracted to the back-to-the-land methods. But what if you live in the suburbs? Wood is a viable option for some part of the population because they live near forests, but it is not an option for the majority, if for no other reason than that it would be impossible to turn that amount of land over to sustainable forestry.

ADVANTAGES

• Wood-burning stoves and boilers are intrinsically attractive and appeal to our back-to-basics traditions.

• Using wood involves a lot of physical effort, and some people like the hands-on activity.

• In some areas, wood burning is a very good option because wood is available, low in cost, and sustainable.

DISADVANTAGES

• Even at its best—if you live in the country and wood is readily available—it is still messy and dusty.

• You must have plenty of storage space, such as sheds and covered areas.

• Wood involves a lot of physical effort, including moving it from the shed, cutting it to a usable size, taking it into the house, lighting the fire, removing the ash, and so on.

• Wood is anything but instant; its use involves a lot of advance planning.

A vintage wood-burning range for cooking.