PeakOil is You
The winter of my discontent due to the price of crude!
Re: The winter of my discontent!
by Mechler » Wed 12 Dec 2007, 14:33:08
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('FoolYap', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Mechler', 'I')n New England the rule of thumb is 1 cord per acre per year - so 20 acres would be fine for just about anyone.
Unfortunately, in the most populated areas of New England, 20 acres is unaffordable for most of that population. DW and I bought 11 acres of timber in 2002, but we're two white collar professionals who live below our means and consequently had high savings.
Maybe the mortgage fiasco will depress land prices in a major way, but I don't think most of my living-at-their-means co-workers will find themselves with any spare cash to buy it then either.
--Steve
Well, if you have an efficient house, 5 cord a year should be plenty. So 5 acres of woodland would suffice. But your point is valid - it's tough to find or afford that much property in southern New England. I'm from Maine, so it's a little easier. But the job market isn't nearly what it is in Mass, so there is a definite trade-off.
"It is certain that free societies would have no easy time in a future dark age. The rapid return to universal penury will be accomplished by violence and cruelties of a kind now forgotten." - Roberto Vacca, The Coming Dark Age
- Mechler
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Re: The winter of my discontent!
by FoolYap » Wed 12 Dec 2007, 15:17:17
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('wisconsin_cur', 'I') have both. The fan that runs on the heat was not worth the money. It makes for a fun conversation piece but that is it.
Interesting. Do you have the Lehmans / Stirling-engine type, or the thermoelectric type? I'd be happy to avoid ever wasting my money on either, if they're junk.
--Steve
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FoolYap - Coal
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Re: The winter of my discontent!
by FoolYap » Wed 12 Dec 2007, 15:21:44
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Mechler', 'W')ell, if you have an efficient house, 5 cord a year should be plenty. So 5 acres of woodland would suffice. But your point is valid - it's tough to find or afford that much property in southern New England. I'm from Maine, so it's a little easier. But the job market isn't nearly what it is in Mass, so there is a definite trade-off.
I suppose it works out to the same thing. Earning a lot in MA but not enough to afford the expensive acres, or earning little in ME but not enough to afford the cheap acres.
We're in central MA, far enough from Boston to be able to think of buying 5+ acres. Our house is pretty efficient, so 11 acres (about 10 of which is still timber, not cleared when the house went in) should be easily sustainable.
I have plenty of co-workers who wondered why on earth we wanted that much land?
I had one who asked, "You gonna mow all that??"
I have many who raise eyebrows when I tell them we have no lawn at all. They're not quite sure what to make of us.
--Steve
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FoolYap - Coal
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