firewood and the thermette.

When we switched our power source for cooking and heating from electricity to firewood, we obviously needed suitable utensils. There is no place for example for an electric toaster. Nor an electric jug. They need to be replaced.
You have to have skills to plant, nurture, harvest and process wood, as well as curing and burning it.
It is a complex life, nothing at all like a simple life doing a nine to five job, getting paid and driving to the supermarket for survival.


We have inherited a well stocked woodlot.


These trees are about seven to eight years old and ready for harvest.


These eucalyptus trees are chosen for coppicing. In another seven or eight years, this will be ready for harvesting again.

And here is one of the most efficient water boilers we have come across. Much more efficient than a billy. Our neighbour could not believe it, but we had never seen this in Australia before, but here in New Zealand, it is a household name. Indeed, we are informed that it was standard issue for NZ soldiers during the war.



It looks like a steam engine, but it is a kettle. All you need is to light some paper at the bottom and toss in a handful of twigs. In minutes, water is boiled. We are planning to set up a dedicated outdoor fireplace for the thermette.