solid fuel stove.

One of the reasons we decided to move here was the fact that the previous owners had planted a generously sized wood lot which is ready for harvesting. We included an Australian made solid fuel range for cooking and domestic hot water in our freight container.



It has been frustrating because it took us nearly twleve months to find a plumber to install it, but, thanks to Mr. King of Moeraki, we finally got it done. This will in theory reduce our power bill (and greenhouse gas emissions) by half. We will keep monitoring.



Kate decorated the hearth using some pebbles we collected at Kakanui river mouth and some tiles from the Resource Recovery Park in Oamaru.



Of course, it is a work in progress, and unlike an electric or gas range, we have to go out to harvest, dry and rack our domestic fuel. There may be some places for more trees too.


we need a constant supply of well dry firewood.



All firewood is not the same.
Some burns faster than others, some emits more heat than others.
Some people mistakenly consider this to be a 'simpler lifestyle', but it is quite the opposite.
This kind of more energy independent life is more complicated.

So far, the range has been working brilliantly. It cooks well, the oven works well and it heats up the water nicely.