Our Lifestyle Blog as We Create a Homestead in Northern Ontario
So a short while ago the fellow who built our roof and mounted our solar panels came back to squirt a little more foam insulation into a few voids that were developing condensation problems. While here, I pointed out my construction techniques on my porch, and he thought it looked pretty good. He did have … Read more
And now the circle is complete. I have upgraded every single component in our original solar power system – so I have a second system in parts that I will likely try to put together on my future workshop. As exciting as it is to join the big(ger) boys club with the new system, I … Read more
Thursday was overcast, but not too badly so. I headed out to the bush early with the ATV, and pulled in what I thought was a 16′ log I had cut a few months ago. It was a rough, difficult ride, but when I got it to the mill, I realized that it was (surprise), … Read more
As I have outlined here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here, we have had no shortage of issues with frozen water lines here on the homestead. It is perhaps one of the major defining issues that we have encountered here. I have said a few times of late that … Read more
I make no claims to being very good at either picking or harvesting firewood. Probably north of 90% of the time, Grandpa points out to me a standing tree that he suggests would be good for burning “this year”, and we either cut it right away, or I return on my own to cut it. … Read more
After having completed the sauna porch first, the remainder of the summer was given over to working on the cabin porch. This allowed the sauna porch to grow into its role and begin to mold itself to its surroundings and situation. This sounds all organic and nice, but what it really means is that the … Read more
When the sauna and cabin were constructed, I wanted to ensure some cross ventilation in the crawl spaces, so I put in two vents on opposite corners of the sauna, and four vents in the corners of the cabin. On Grandpa’s recommendation, I crawled under the buildings last fall and thumped some solid foam rectangles … Read more
November 1st proved to be a bit “invigourating” as Papa would say. Our pond froze over, but I could see small “pulses” around the solar water fountain as it still struggled to aerate its small part of things. Perhaps most importantly, it reminded us that winter really is coming, and helped encourage me to finish … Read more
October found us blessed with a visit from my parents, Nana and Papa. We were so excited to be hosting them again after not having seen them since my brother’s wedding in August, and not hosting them since the spring! Kenny and I stopped at Maier Hardware to order up the new inverter, and of … Read more