What Preps are you doing this week? Part 12

[Frnc]

Doing the opposite of food preps at the moment - using up all the frozen food I have. Main reason is none of my staples eg Quorn are on offer. Other reason is I like to get it all used up now and then, so I know stuff's not been in there too long. Especially fish, which I do eat. But I am having long life curry soon. Hopefully Quorn will reduce some prices in the new year. If not, I'll be looking at other veggie options. I have to avoid soya, so it takes a bit of planning and research. I can't read labels when I'm in there.

[Arzosah]

Extra boiling pot out ready to keep a constant supply of warm water for all the animals and our heat stones brought in which we will put in the petchka then transfer to the animal pens overnight (an old trick but it works well).

Can you tell us a bit more about the heat stones? How big are they, what are they made of, how long does it take to warm them up and how do you use them without animals burning themselves? I am always intetested in hearing about low tech solutions that actually work.

Ditto on the request for info, and on the interest in low tech that actually works.

[pseudonym]

Depleted my reserve cash preps this month.

£499 for a house radiator
£1445 for car repairs
£200 replacement tap

That's what it's there for.....

[ForgeCorvus]

Very little on my part, threw my back out putting on socks.
Not sleeping well because of it makes me grumpy and the paracetamol means no drinking rum...... Which makes me grumpier

I've got a wardrobe to shift and a couple of cabinets to assemble..... Which ain't happening

[GeeGee]

Very little on my part, threw my back out putting on socks.
Not sleeping well because of it makes me grumpy and the paracetamol means no drinking rum...... Which makes me grumpier

I've got a wardrobe to shift and a couple of cabinets to assemble..... Which ain't happening

Feel for you I've done in my rotor cuff no sleep here either
Been away again for Xmas and had to shove my suitcase with my knees to get to door ... did the 8 am scramble for docs today 27 th in queue at 8 01 but got seen at least. .
Saw the snow on the weather forecast for the first time today so will have to put on my big girl pants face the pain and attempt some shopping this week as I'd run down the preps to get newer stuff in this January

[Yorkshire Andy]

Very little on my part, threw my back out putting on socks.
Not sleeping well because of it makes me grumpy and the paracetamol means no drinking rum...... Which makes me grumpier

I've got a wardrobe to shift and a couple of cabinets to assemble..... Which ain't happening

Feel for you I've done in my rotor cuff no sleep here either
Been away again for Xmas and had to shove my suitcase with my knees to get to door ... did the 8 am scramble for docs today 27 th in queue at 8 01 but got seen at least. .
Saw the snow on the weather forecast for the first time today so will have to put on my big girl pants face the pain and attempt some shopping this week as I'd run down the preps to get newer stuff in this January

Time to make use of Iceland delivery or the local supermarkets online to do the shop for you

Went to stock up on diesel today but boat yard is shut till this Friday ... So I'll set my alarm clock and go face the 20 questions on why I'm buying red diesel


Bar the fuel and a bit more of a post Christmas tidy up the weather can do what it wants within reason both cars are fully prepped house is as good as it'll ever be in terms of cold preps

Could do with a bit more food in but I'm sure we can survive of Christmas nibbles that were "FOR CHRISTMAS!" and still sat in the lounge piled up

Might get a few more torches out just in case



Just wondering how the grid will cope should it turn really cold as Norway are struggling with domestic demand

[Adjee]

Extra boiling pot out ready to keep a constant supply of warm water for all the animals and our heat stones brought in which we will put in the petchka then transfer to the animal pens overnight (an old trick but it works well).

Can you tell us a bit more about the heat stones? How big are they, what are they made of, how long does it take to warm them up and how do you use them without animals burning themselves? I am always intetested in hearing about low tech solutions that actually work.

Ditto on the request for info, and on the interest in low tech that actually works.

Our stones are Basalt (базалт), Soapstone (сапунен камък or стеатит) and ordinary river stones (though these do crack so have to be constantly checked for faults). All easily scavenged here from deserted properties for the first two and obviously local rivers for the last.

Sizes vary but most are @ 6-10 inches long x variety of widths and depths. One massive river rock only just fits in the petchka oven and we use that when the goats are kidding.

Depending on the time of year, spring for kidding/lambing we place them in the fire pit or outside petchka whichever is in use. Winter (now) we place them in the inside petchka where they sit in the oven all day absorbing heat only removed when using the oven for cooking then put back in. I seem to recall the best temperature is @ 250c but we just leave them in the petchka oven or fire pit embers until needed. At the end of the day people never had thermometers years ago.

When we transfer them to the pens if for kids/lambs we wrap them in a goat skin and pile straw on top of it, if like now for mature animals we place them directly on the pen floors (which are mainly soil/sand) and cover with straw. The heat is radiated into the ground and straw so spreading the heat over a larger area. The animals move closer or further away depending the warmth they need.

Nothing complicated or involved, just a simple, old fashioned and effective method. Only things to take in consideration (common sense really), ensure any stones used are not wet ( they will steam), wrap/sack if young animals are involved and ensure the pen is large enough for the animals to move away from them if they need to (or put in smaller/less stones).

We learnt about using stones for heating from an old Goatsman when living in Turkey, on moving here we got talking with a very very old shepherd who remembered as a youngster when herds of goats and sheep were moved from the lowlands to the highlands and back for seasonal grazing before communism set in and destroyed that lifestyle. On the journey they used heated stones to stay warm at night (a bit like the old stone hot water bottles), the stories and knowledge he had... unbelievable and much sadly (to us) now lost.

As an aside we have also experimented using a heated metal container of sand using similar methods, it works but not as efficient/effective as using stones.

I hope the above makes sense and explains things.

[Arzosah]

That's great, Adjee, thank you so much. I've read about it - in fact, heating river stones in a camp fire was used by an American guy who used to run "retreats", and adopted shaman-type rituals from Native Americans. But he used the wrong stone/heated them incorrectly, and one exploded - a woman died as a result.

I'm housebound for the next few days, so this will be a nice little research project, you've piqued my interest with the basalt and the soapstone

[Frnc]

That's great, Adjee, thank you so much. I've read about it - in fact, heating river stones in a camp fire was used by an American guy who used to run "retreats", and adopted shaman-type rituals from Native Americans. But he used the wrong stone/heated them incorrectly, and one exploded - a woman died as a result.

I'm housebound for the next few days, so this will be a nice little research project, you've piqued my interest with the basalt and the soapstone

Soapstone is pretty rare in the UK. Basalt is common enough. I have no idea which rocks are best for this, but obviously ones that are going to explode such as from a stream should be avoided. Avoid ones with cracks. Basalt can have cracks, but presumably stones selected for house building wouldn't have. Anyway, if you find weathered boulders outdoors, it'll be difficult to know what most are just by looking, unless you know the local geology.

[Yorkshire Andy]

Been round and turned the allotment over with the rotorvator ...

Dropped the netting over the chicken coup put it up before the bod flu rules changed to more than 50 birds beats the snow fetching the fencing down .,..


Done a stock take my 10l fuel can needs a refill now and 20l of diesel won't go amis a job for tomorrow I think


Cars about to get a shot of neat minus 20 screen wash in the screen wash bottles to boost the mix up a bit more