What Preps are you doing this week

[jansman]

As soon as I have had a fry-up and more tea, I shall muck out the fowls, sow more lettuce, and dig some new spuds up for dinner. At some point I have to split more firewood. I have been lazy where that is concerned, and as it is our primary heat source, it is important.
During this week I have to bottle some beer I have brewed, and a red wine too. Important preps .

[Decaff]

Has anyone here used the machine that makes logs from old newspapers? If so is it any good and can they be burnt on any type of fire?

[diamond lil]

Had one years ago Decaff, and soon got rid of it. Took a helluva lot of newspapers and mess and I just didn't have the patience for it. Maybe others will say different, just depends on your faff levels

[Decaff]

Had one years ago Decaff, and soon got rid of it. Took a helluva lot of newspapers and mess and I just didn't have the patience for it. Maybe others will say different, just depends on your faff levels

Oh I was hoping for good reviews. Sis in law has open fires and on very tight budget, a trip to collect unwanted free newspapers from local shops was the plan and make them up during the warmer months to save on logs/coal. Oh well saved money not buying the machine thing I suppose.
Thanks DL.

[FEISTY]

Had one years ago Decaff, and soon got rid of it. Took a helluva lot of newspapers and mess and I just didn't have the patience for it. Maybe others will say different, just depends on your faff levels

Oh I was hoping for good reviews. Sis in law has open fires and on very tight budget, a trip to collect unwanted free newspapers from local shops was the plan and make them up during the warmer months to save on logs/coal. Oh well saved money not buying the machine thing I suppose.
Thanks DL.

I don't know about the logs, but why don't you ask on Freecycle for the machine and try it that way. If it doesn't work, it won't matter. You can use newspapers in your composter (the bigger composters help to maintain the heat) to counteract the wetness of grass clippings. The composter needs a mixture of wet stuff (veg peelings, grass clippings, etc) and dry (shredded paper) to stop it turning into a slimey, smelly mess). I put in cardboard egg cartons (not flattened - the gap inside helps to keep air in the compost), shredded newspapers and shredded documents I don't want to go into recycling for security. I don't bother forking or turning it and it seems to turn into lovely fresh compost all by itself. If you are siting raised beds in the garden you can use up the newspapers by laying them in a thick layer over existing grass as a multh/weed membrane and topping up with compost. I'm actually using up giant cardboard boxes for that right now (but they have to be the plain cardboard type). Just been reading that wine bottle corks can re-invigorate the fire when it's dying down. You could develop a relationship with your local pubs and restaurants to get a lot of them. I use the corks for garden cane/house plant support toppers to stop eyes being poked out. You have to drill a hole big enough for whatever size of cane you have and we're still trying to perfect the art without doing ourselves a mischief. One method I'm experimenting with is for the thick canes only. Using a sharp knife paring the narrow end to fit INSIDE the cane, leaving the bulbous bit outside, as opposed to drilling a hole in the cork to fit over it (this leaves it quite fragile). Very small packs of cane toppers can be quite expensive and they always end up being lost in the soil. This way, you're not going to get too annoyed if another one goes missing. It's a pity you don't live around here, because I would pay you to take the logs/branches away that we cut down every year. While you're on Freecycle, why not ask for logs, etc - I see lots of Offers and Wanteds for logs/firewood.

[Decaff]

Good post! Thanks so much for lots of good information I will pass on all these to her and I'm sure she will use most if not all of them. Forgot about freecycle...

[FEISTY]

Was just thinking as well that I would be delighted if someone would come and remove the two large sycamores in my garden and the ones in my neighbour's which are a pain in the nether regions, but is an expensive wood to buy and burns really well. The prolific seedlings from them every year are a major headache . Probably, if I do get them removed, I'll have them sawn up to a usable size just in case I can convince my DH to invest in a multi-fuel burner . Every time I put a piece in the burner I'd be revelling in revenge for the years of extra work .

[Decaff]

Was just thinking as well that I would be delighted if someone would come and remove the two large sycamores in my garden and the ones in my neighbour's which are a pain in the nether regions, but is an expensive wood to buy and burns really well. The prolific seedlings from them every year are a major headache . Probably, if I do get them removed, I'll have them sawn up to a usable size just in case I can convince my DH to invest in a multi-fuel burner . Every time I put a piece in the burner I'd be revelling in revenge for the years of extra work .

I thought revenge was best served cold?! But in thus case, the hotter the better

[jansman]

Feisty, if I were nearby, I would have those trees down in a heatrtbeat!
Locally, my neighbours come to me if the have trees to take down, or scrap wood. A nice little system.

And speaking of neighbours. My plan earlier was to split logs. Not a chance! My neighbour two doors down had her shed broken into last night. A few tools and a bike were taken, but the scum wrecked the door. She reported it, and then came and asked if I could help. So tool kit to the rescue, along with some of my 'crap ' as Jan calls it. I stash metal, timber-all sorts. I rebuilt the door and frame, put in 2 new hasp and staples-one top, one bottom. It makes it harder to prise a door open.
On top of that I put a hinged metal bar across the middle of the door, which padlocks. On the insistence of my neighbour, I 'boarded' the window. Actually I put aviary wire over the outside, so light still gets in. The whole incident has, understandably, freaked her out.
When I had done I checked the window locks on the house, and made sure the lock on the entry gate was ok(this is where the creep(s) got in. Job done. She tried to pay me, but I believe in Karma-what goes round, comes round. Then, Lo and Behold, Jan and I are invited to dinner next week. One other plus point is that this Lady is a Nurse, who specialises in A and E. A useful friend in a crisis I would say.
Karma.

[nickdutch]

Has anyone here used the machine that makes logs from old newspapers? If so is it any good and can they be burnt on any type of fire?

I saw on a website somewhere fire log bands. They are rings that you put the rolled up papers in and then just throw the whole lot on the fire and maybe that would be an easier less time consuming solution?

I have never used them myself, but they could take the drag out of making briquettes.