Energy and Heating

Whether you are a homesteader who wants to live completely off the grid, or you just want to be ready for a loss of public services, a personal solar power system is a smart thing to invest in. The sun isn’t always shining, but when it is, you can always depend on it as a […]

Generators are indispensable around the homestead. If you don’t have one, you need one, and it’s only a matter of time until you have to have it. You can take that to the bank. But if you don’t know the ins and outs of generators, it can be really confusing to figure out what size

If you’re a homesteader, you’ve got to have a generator. Whether you need power somewhere out on the property for doing repairs, for countless other jobs, or you are just coping with the loss of electricity from a storm, disaster, or accident, you can’t be without one. But generators are just freaking loud! It’s enough

Everyone who has ever endured a long, dark and stormy night understands the value of a good generator. When you can get the lights on and your home back up and running with the flip of a switch, that is great capability. Or maybe you just need to power a lot of demanding tools on

If you live in an area with blistering cold winters, or perhaps you just live in a house or apartment that is drafty, poorly insulated, and always chilly, you might be tempted to try and heat your home with your gas oven. It can certainly put out the heat, but is it a good idea?

If you rely on firewood for primary or supplemental heating during the colder season, at some point your wood is going to get wet. One question that many people ask is whether or not wet firewood is safe to chop. Some people swear the wood is easier to chop, while others say it is harder.

Do candles ever go bad? This is a question that is asked more often than you might think. Candles aren’t something you eat, so it seems like you wouldn’t need to worry about it. But some candles are made from waxes and other materials that are organic in nature, and that implies there could be

Reliable sources of heat are essential for homesteaders seeking to produce their own food and power, as well as those in need of backup heating or heating for detached outbuildings. Wood for an open, traditional fireplace or a modern woodstove is generally considered the most dependable choice and available pretty much everywhere. However, if you

I have to admit admit I was stunned when a friend asked me if solar panels and chargers work indoors. My immediate reaction was no.They are solar panels and obviously, they work by the sun shining on them. Talking to other experienced solar users, however, I changed my mind, and I felt quite silly. In

For countless homesteaders in America, no matter what their location, wood is an important resource. For many, it is that feeling of coziness enjoyed while sitting before a roaring log fire. Numerous people like myself have an abundance of free wood that is available for collection. However, lots of others are not so fortunate and