BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: maeve
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 08:54 AM

Hmmm. Most of my post didn't take.

Gnu, we've found such treasures, too. Raccoons and their mess are right up there on the list of hazardous heat generators.
                      *****************
Here's what I tried to say earlier:

Useful link, Sandra.There are several forms of "natural" insulation.

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: maeve
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 08:55 AM

What?? One last try:
Hmmm. Most of my post didn't take.

Gnu, we've found such treasures, too. Raccoons and their mess are right up there on the list of hazardous heat generators.
                      *****************
Here's what I tried to say earlier:

Useful link, Sandra.There are several forms of "natural" insulation.

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: maeve
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 08:56 AM

We already have a contract for installation of the 5 1/2 inches of blown cellulose for the exterior walls. Whatever we choose for the interior walls will be for sound insulation more than any other purpose. We could easily and quickly install the cotton batting I've described, over a span of time if necessary, and it would be fairly easy to change wiring as needed in those walls.

Patio...Funny, gnu. I imagine we are providing much entertainment for neighbors and passers-by...judging by the number of cars and trucks that speed down our road only to craaaawl past our place.

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: maeve
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 08:58 AM

Thank you to whomever tidies up the last few incomplete posts. I've never before had that much trouble posting the whole entry.

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: Maryrrf
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 09:11 AM

I don't post much Maeve, but I too am following your journey. This has to have been an awful winter, but you've made it more than halfway through and seem to have kept up your good cheer and positive attitude. Spring is coming, and thing's will be sooo much easier!

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: maeve
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 10:15 AM

Thank you, Mary. It has been difficult. I did notice while we shoveled out (again) at dawn that one audacious Black-Capped Chickadee was singing the spring song.

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: Bobert
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 10:19 AM

Ratsulation???

Hmmmmmmmm???

I don't recommend it... The house I grew up in was built in 1840 and it had rats... Lot's of rats... So when I got to be about 10 years old my dad appointed me "Rat Sheriff" which I thought was a purdy good job 'cause it paid well... 25 cents per rat... Dead, of course... So I made a trap from a Popular Mechanics magazine design outta heavy chicken wire and wood and the rats loved it... It'd put it in the dirt cellar and about every other day there would be a rat in it waiting to be taken out back in the trap and, well, ahhhhh, shot with my .22 rifle... On a good week I'd net 75 cents whioch was good money fir back then...

But the down side of havin' rats was when they would pick anotheer way to die they would become ratsulation and lemme tell you that dear rats don't smell too good... I mean, once you smell a dead rat that smell like never goes away... I mean, it's like U-237 uranium... It has no half life to speak of so Mr. Rat just keeps on smellin and keeps on smellin'...

I ride by the ol' homestead now and then an wonder if all the ratsulation is still stenkin' up the joint... Probably is...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 01:39 PM

Wiring in walls with cotton insulation does not sound so great to me. In fact, I have never ever understood why we bury wiring and piping in walls...something goes wrong you have to rip out the wall...and it takes longer to notice problems, and fire hazard etc. besides. mg

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: maeve
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 01:50 PM

It does sound odd, Mary, but in fact both types of insulation we're looking at are highly rated for its fire resistance.

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: gnu
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 01:54 PM

mg... I had a home design that was great... all the electrical and mechanical were run easily accessible chases. Never got a chance to use it.

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: maeve
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 02:08 PM

Here are a couple of general information site allowing comparison of different insulation materials:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Building_insulation_materials

Safest, most effective insulation...

Gnu- Yes, we've pondered the possibility of a wiring channel to be placed where the wall molding would usually go. I've never seen it done, but find it a sensible notion. Right now, for example, we're being asked to decide where all of the exterior wall wiring will go, and we don't even know what we need yet. After the cellulose has been blown it will be a heck of a job to wire or rerout wiring.

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: maeve
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 02:13 PM

This cotton batt insulation is mostly made of recycled denim. http://www.bondedlogic.com/ultratouch-cotton.htm

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: Janie
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 02:21 PM

recycled denim?   Cool!

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: gnu
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 02:43 PM

"Safest, most effective insulation..." link no work.

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: maeve
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 02:50 PM

Try the link as a copy/paste, gnu. I can't get it to stick as a blue clicky- there's a syntax problem.

http://www.re-nest.com/re-nest/good-question/the-safest-and-most-effective-insulation-for-our-attic-crawl-space-good-question-129545

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: maeve
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 03:36 PM

One more link; more technical and informative. http://www.inspectapedia.com/interiors/Cotton_Insulation.htm

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 04:22 PM

I think a wiring channel sounds like a great idea and that is where it seems to make the most sense, but I am not a carpenter...mg

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: gnu
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 04:24 PM

Still no work.

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: Janie
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 04:55 PM

Gnu,

go to www.re-nest.com. In the search box, type best and safest attic insulation.

(I could get the cut and paste to work, but like maeve, the clickifier can't do it.

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: gnu
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 05:11 PM

Thanks.

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 05:15 PM

maeve's link. (I code them myself, don't use the blue clicky thing - there was an extra space at the end of the line).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: maeve
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 05:46 PM

Thanks, Stilly. I see it now.

We covered another window with shrink plastic film; what a difference! We also have a blanket to hang over the door when it's bitter cold.

Thanks for all the questions, ideas, and explorations!

Maeve

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: maeve
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 07:46 PM

Mother Earth News has long been a source for interesting and economical notions. I love the plaster tree on this link: How-to-Make-Earth-Art

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 08:23 PM

That is a wonderful tree! I've been wondering how you are staying anywhere close to warm tonight..hearing the weather reports makes me shiver!

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: gnu
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 08:31 PM

Cool tree.

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: maeve
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 08:31 PM

We're wearing many layers of warm clothing, kat, we installed a double layer of shrink plastic on the coldest window, and we have a doubled blanket from the village recycling center hung over the door. :)

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: Maryrrf
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 08:47 PM

Do you have any source of heat in the camper?

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: maeve
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 08:53 PM

Good evening, Mary. Yes, our camper has a propane heater.   We'll be fine. I've also wrapped heavy plastic around the door and ceiling to the chicken coop, gave them extra warmed water, cracked maize, layer pellets, and a suet/seed cake this afternoon.

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: SINSULL
Date: 24 Jan 11 - 09:18 AM

It was brutally cold last night and this morning. Hope all is well in the chicken house as well as yours, maeve.

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: maeve
Date: 24 Jan 11 - 12:46 PM

Thanks, Mary. The chickens are ok. I took them extra servings of warmed water and food a little while ago.

We're managing. I think we're both at the edge of "Enough", and TL just used a rock hammer to clear ice from inside and underneath the door. I'm struggling with intensified claustrophobic feelings, we still have no water source other than buying it bottled as possible, and when we run the propane heater we don't sleep; kind of hard to think clearly right now.

Beyond all that, the day is frigid but full of sunshine, the stars and moon were beautiful late last night, and one chickadee was yelling his spring song yesterday.

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 24 Jan 11 - 06:40 PM

does one chickadee make a spring?

sending warm hugs

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 24 Jan 11 - 10:11 PM

Can you take turns leaving for a week? Sounds like you need a break..or both together would be better if you didn't have the chickens...mg

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: Janie
Date: 24 Jan 11 - 10:46 PM

Sending warm thoughts of warmth!

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: maeve
Date: 25 Jan 11 - 06:49 AM

Besides the little flock of chickens, Mary, we can't let our camper freeze, we cannot leave the yurt unwatched, and life here is too hard for one person alone. We "can't go around it, can't get over it, must go through it!" :)

Keeping warm enough for safety, and we've already finished the most severe cold of the winter (we hope.)

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: My guru always said
Date: 25 Jan 11 - 08:06 AM

Thinking warm thoughts towards Maine!

The shrink plastic on your windows sounds great, we've just used it on a warped metal window at the Cottage and it really does make a difference. I'm sure you have enough ventilation in the camper not to worry about heater fumes etc.

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: SINSULL
Date: 25 Jan 11 - 09:03 AM

Hopefully, we are past the worst of the cold. More snow coming. If I can can get up your way this weekend or next, I will, maeve.
There was no way I was going to share my bronchitis.
Mary

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: Bobert
Date: 25 Jan 11 - 09:08 AM

Spring is right around the corner, maeve...

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: SINSULL
Date: 25 Jan 11 - 09:39 AM

and the world is always turning towards the morning.

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: maeve
Date: 25 Jan 11 - 10:36 AM

Thanks. We're fine, just not having much relief.

And yes; one chickadee makes a spring.

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: maeve
Date: 27 Jan 11 - 06:44 PM

Truelove dug the old water heater out of the snow, cleaned it up, dragged into the yurt basement, hooked it up and plugged it into the generator. Result: we have a somewhat dependable water source for the first time in a couple of months.

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jan 11 - 07:16 PM

Bravo!

What a luxury, reliable hot water! (Do you have a sink or a tub, or will it run through a hose or simple piped system to the trailer?)

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: maeve
Date: 27 Jan 11 - 07:24 PM

Thanks, Stilly.

No hot water, no sink or tub or hose. We take containers to the old water tank on a stand in the basement, and use the spigot to fill them. Mostly it just functions as a container for water pumped from the well, with the generator to power the well pump.

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: gnu
Date: 27 Jan 11 - 07:34 PM

Good show. Not having to buy bottled water is a GOOD thing.

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: Bobert
Date: 27 Jan 11 - 08:02 PM

I love it...

This is pioneer spirit... Hey, next thing ya' know TL will have some 'lectricty hooked up to the hot water heater and ya'll have hot water...

What ya'll doin'??? Just energizing the pump to fill the tank??? Hmmmmmm??? (Bobert wheels spinnin' here a little"...)

Okay, seems like if ya'll can do that then, then, ahhhhhhh, maybe a wall switch to the pump... (No, BObert, the pump is 220 volts...) oh, I got it... I got a 220 volt disconnect on my air compressor... Little handle on the side of the box and, and, and.... hmmmmm? yeah, it will work... Tell TL that all he needs is a cheap disconnect box and then you can have cold water from it and route another CPVC line to the hot water tank and, and, ahhhhh, hmmmmmmm???? Yeah, I think ya'll have hot and cold water...

Sheet fire... I understand it... I really do... Have TL email me and we can get you up and running... BTW, I'm sure that you have a 4 inch pipe in the basement that goes to yer ceptic & drain field and I can see a makeshift shower and sink... I really can...

When we moved up here we had to shut everything down... Well almost everything... And I had an old heavy plastic lavatory sink that seemed to get moved every day... Same as when I was doing a renovation on an old (1826) building in Winchester... Seemed that we were always movin' the toilet around... Never bolted it down... Just pick it up and move it where it would work but wouldn't interfere with the job...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: maeve
Date: 27 Jan 11 - 08:23 PM

Exactly, gnu. Costs way too much of what we haven't got to buy those bottles of tasteless water.

Hey, Bobert, you're on a roll. Only thing is, we can't heat the yurt yet and haven't had the slab poured. I'll ask TL to read your idea in the morning. I think we'll have to settle for what we have for now, but what do I know?

If only we could shake this below freezing nonsense we could get the work done on the yurt exterior, so we could get the yurt ready for the next steps.

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: Janie
Date: 27 Jan 11 - 09:26 PM

Not entirely related, maeve, but a question for you or any of you folks in New England and Canada (my mind is zinging off on tangents tonight,) how do chickens and livestock tend to fare in such deeply bitter nighttime temps in unheated coops or drafty barns?

May you soon have a day or a night when the temps moderate enough that for a little while, at least, you feel warm and cozy to the core.

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: Bobert
Date: 27 Jan 11 - 09:47 PM

If TL has figured out how to get water to the old hot water heater and it ain't freezin' then ol' hillbilly can get you hot and cold sink and perhaps a makeshift shower... Might take just a little lumber for the floor and maybe some cheap PVC to act as as a frame for a curtain???

B~

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: SINSULL
Date: 28 Jan 11 - 08:19 AM

Water on demand - a luxury.
Maybe Bobert can help you get hot water on demand. Then some hot water pipes around the yurt so you and the chickens can move in - maybe not.
Hang in there maeve and TL. January is almost over. There is spring at the end of the tunnel.
M

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: maeve
Date: 28 Jan 11 - 08:22 AM

Janie, the answers to your question depends upon each situation. Our bantams are a flock of eleven, in a coop within a shed. We've put in a large insulated window for light and heat. They have a thick layer of regularly refreshed pine shavings and the coop floor is raised several feet above the shed floor. We use a double layer of clear plastic over their door, again inside the shed, to reduce drafts and a double layer of heavy black plastic retains heat that would otherwise be lost through the top of the coop. They are content and lively during the day, and content and packed in together as they roost at night.

Many who keep chickens use a suspended light in the coop to both provide heat and to fool the chooks' metabolisms into producing eggs long into the winter. Our bantams get a break from egg production in winter, and we reckon it helps the hens live better lives. By sometime in February, the eggs begin to arrive again as daylight lengthens, and I know it's a good time to start seeds for the vegetable garden.

As for other livestock, I've cared for sheep, pigs, and horses. All produce a fair amount of body heat. Some need more cover than others. My Chincoteague loved to be out in the winter storms. Sheep and pigs need some cover.

Subject: RE: BS: New Beginnings - new foundation (maeve & TL)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 28 Jan 11 - 08:34 AM

Chincoteague?