Rocket stove experiment

[goatgurl]

@sumi i have seen a lot about rocket stoves and think one would be great, especially in an emergency and you just proved it to me. and i really love that skillet by the way.
@baymule you'll be amazed at the things you have that you don't really need. when i built this little house last year i went from 2500 sq ft down to about 800 sq ft. i would be lying if i said it was easy but after much groaning and gnashing of teeth i paired way down on my "things" after you have your giant yardsale remember that things that are in good repair can be donated to charities in your area. i sent furniture, clothes, dishes, knickknacks and all sorts of things to the veterans thrift store, habitat for humanity and a couple of other charities in this area. i have become a poster girl for getting folks to donate instead of throw away. remember you may not want or need it but someone else may. just don't get rid of any of your canning or preserving equipment for a while, even if you think you may want to quit.

 

[Joel_BC]

We had a maintenance power out lasting most of the day last week Thursday, so DH started playing around with an alternative cooking method:

3 Small logs provided enough heat to cook breakfast and the "stove" stayed quite hot for a few hours afterwards. This is definitely something I'm going to look into for my next home.

I like your story about the make-do rocket stove. Looks simple and sounds like it was pretty effective.

Can't tell on this detail, but it looks like your hub put a steel rod across the top of that stove-pipe section and under the pan, to allow smoke to escape. Is this correct, and if so, how did it work out? okay?

 

[wyoDreamer]

I would like to build a rocket stove into the greenhouse when I build it. Use it to heat the planting beds.

 

[sumi]

@Joel_BC Yes, he did and he said it worked very well.

DH is cooking a stew on the stove today. I asked him to take pics and make notes and I will post all the info he gathers from today later.

@wyoDreamer That is why we're experimenting with the rocket stove at the moment. He's been talking with me about using something like this to heat my future greenhouse economically and that got him thinking about doing a basic one, to show me how it works and try it out himself. He's having fun cooking on it Today's meal, the stew, would take a few hours on the stove top, so we're saving a load of electricity and using a few small pieces of scrap wood instead. It's wonderful when you think about it.

 

[baymule]

@goatgurl I would never give up my canning equipment or my myriad of kitchen gear! I am on kitchen stuff like I am on tools-you never have too much! Planning on a bigger garden, planting fruit trees and becoming a little more self sufficient.

I donate all garage sale leftovers to the Senior Citizens Country Store, here in town. They cook a hot meal 5 days a week for senior citizens for $2 and even deliver to shutins. They have a resale shop that relies on donations, so that is where my extras go.

 

[goatgurl]

@sumi. you are going to make me try to build one aren't you. ask DH if it is as simple as it looks.
@baymule i do hear that. kind of a kitchen/tool hoarder myself. i still have and use the all American pressure canner i got back in the '70's. and i can't keep myself from adding more if i see it at a good price.
way cool on your senior center. ours does the meal thing too which is so important to so many but they don't have a resale store. may have to bring that up to them, hmmm

 

[baymule]

@goatgurl the senior citizen center gets a lot of free labor from the county-people on probation have to do community service. The senior citizen center utilizes probationers to help sort and price things for the country store and to help prepare the meals. There is also a big plywood box outside to put donations in after hours.

 

[goatgurl]

@baymule, so it is a win win for everyone, good deal! wish yours could do something like that

 

[Denim Deb]

I want to figure out a way to make some type of RMH in my green house. Then if I can rig up a light, I can grow stuff all winter long.

 

[sumi]

@goatgurl Yes, it is quite simple. DH used a few small pieces of wood and some reeds and kept a hot fire going for hours. It's so economical to use. He took some pics, I must get them on here.

@Denim Deb we're thinking along the same lines. He's got some ideas, with a longer pipe and maybe some blocks around the pipe, that will soak up the heat and slowly release it at night when you're not there to stoke the fire.