Got the old chainsaw fired up this week and took down a few trees to fill the wood store. Nothing unusual in that but this year they were trees I planted myself.

When I bought this house in the mid 90's we bought a wee adjoining field and because I wanted a quick growing windbreak I opted for fast growing Eucalyptus and went for a frost / wind hardy variety. Each year I've added a few more followed years later by Silver Birch.

It's taken a while but this year I've taken the largest ones down which should be enough for next winter (left to air and dry) after which the next ones will be ready etc etc.

It will always need to be suplemented by other wood and coal and there will be trees I want to keep (for photographing birds) but it's very satisfying to know that a % of what i burn is my own wood.

Hi This where we got our log burning stove Early is the manufacturing name

http://www.naturewise.org.uk/page.cfm?pageid=nw-home

Gemini54

Here is our fire and fireplace.







Boys in the chimney.

Lynn that is fab, I love it

Now that's a Santa chimney...........

Omg that looks awesome Lynn!! Need to see more pics of the house too - it looks fantastic!

Our log burner is similar to Lynn's. Its had more use this year already compared to previous years and so far haven't used the central heating which used to be oil and since converting to gas that's increased in price! I find keeping it fed with wood (does take coal) a faff as the log store is a trek down the garden across the lawn. Today, since lighting it at 4pm it's burnt 2 dog food sized sacks of logs. Recently we had a new liner fitted and the chimney has been swept so its just hungry!

It's nice to see a fire but, if, like this one it only heats one room you don't get any benefit upstairs.

Hi the one we got,was the most Eco on the market last year,it burns twice,and you have very little waste,but its only logs not coal,but the best thing is to get a Rayburn,where you can use anything and keep the fire going,for cooking and warming the whole house Gemini54

Twix - what size dog food bags? The big 15kg ones?

Gem... omg I want a Rayburn! Heating, hot water and cooking!

My open fire has a back boiler, I get my wood free, I just have to go and fill my shavings bags when I want