It is clear to me that you possess a peace that passes all understanding. You are blessed indeed to have such serene happiness. There are many people in this world who are lonely in a crowd
Hi Maya. I arrived in BG (appx 100km West of Varna) in late 2020 and like you I'm having "fun" renovating a cottage. Fortunately, I was able to take a retirement package early so have a little spare cash to help with renovations. The first thing I did when I got here was built a wood store, which has proven to be a blessing. This year, for the first time I was able to buy (almost) enough already dry wood for the winter, and left it to season in the sun, in the wood store, through the summer. It's been an absolute blessing. In previous years, due to not having the cash I was stuck with recently cut wood and it was a devil for gunking up the chimneys. This year I'll buy wood early to make sure it's absolutely bone dry for winter, plus make another wood store because the 12 cubes I bought isn't quite enough. I converted a 10m x 4.5m barn into a large living area and while it's lovely and cosy, it is harder to heat than the smaller rooms. If you have a choice, I can highly recommend purchasing beech (they call it boch here). It burns hot, the ashes are hot and they break down really small. It's light, splits pretty easily and catches fire really easy too (when it's properly dry).
Some people may try to sell you pine for firewood, but it's much worse than beech or oak. Also YMMV but 12m3 of firewood per winter is on the high side. Make sure you have good insulation. And change the windows if they're old. As for temperature.. during my urban years, I used to heat up to 25 degrees and walk around in a t-shirt. But I figured out that dressing warm and keeping a room temperature of 16-18 degrees improves my health big time. It's nice having people like you and Maya in Bulgaria. Keep on with the cottagecore life and it'll pay back.
@@todorsamardzhiev144Funnily enough, I got the last of the windows replaced last week :) On the downside, due to how I've arranged things the 12 cubes wasn't enough for the big room, but I've got plans in place for that before next winter, which includes finishing insulating the rest of the house. Thanks for the kind welcome, Todor.
@@todorsamardzhiev144 even living in the UK we only have our heating 17/18 degrees and wear more layers. when it's cold The problem is when we visit family it's usually far too hot for us!! 😀 When we lived in Bulgaria before, we only got through 7-8 cubic of wood.
I'm really enjoying the videos! I plan to move to Bulgaria in a few years after saving up some money, and these little snippets of life there really help keep the (seemingly) distant dream alive :) I'm interested to see your food forest progress, I've got a qualification in Organic Horticulture, and already have a million plans for the land I don't even own yet :P
When we move back to Bulgaria, we're hoping to re-wild the land, no idea how but that is our plan, would love some ideas. Hope your dream isn't too distant for you.
Wet wood on the threshold of winter - bad. Place a few logs around the stove when you light it. That way, by the time you get to them, you'll have dried them. Always put wood logs next to the stove when you light it, that way you will ensure that the next ones you put in it will be at least a little dry, so they burn better.
Dear Maya, burning wood that has not dried out properly is NOT a wise thing to do. Logs usually take about six months to a year to dry out (season) properly. We had a very nasty chimney fire as the result of burning wood that was not dry.
@MayainBulgaria Maybe you should consider buying thick nylon and cover the wood for the winter. Once rain/snow starts, wind will blow it right on top of all the logs and make them wet (as you have already experienced). Another option is to be able to enclose the patio with nylon but i advice against this in case of very strong winds. p.s. Don't you have room in that little basement room to store some of those that are already dry ?
I don’t use the basement room. It’s so difficult to access atm. Hoping to create a trap door to it in the future! Yes absolutely yes for the nylon covering the logs 🙏🙏🙏
@@MayainBulgaria Also once you solve long term wood storage, consider buying up 2 years worth of firewood (only need to be done once). This way you can start the cycle of always having well dried up wood to use for the year while your next year batch is drying.
I was thinking - why is she spreading the wood, what if it starts raining?.... Then surely it started raining. Cover the storage woods stack with nylon from now on and leave them like this. As others suggest, put as many wood, as you can around your burning stove. But not too close and in general avoid leaving your stove burning without your attention and/or presence. Keep in mind that in bad situation if you lack experience, wood stoves can make carbon-mono-oxide, which will kill you if you sleep around without anything open to the outside. So better do not sleep in the same room with a wood stove. And one more thing - visually I don't think you have enough wood for the winter, if you plan to heat with it this old poorly isolated house. I would invest in doubling the amount, maybe tripling. Ask your neighbours how much wood they need and draw conclusions.
Thanks so much for your insight! Yes I do have more wood in the shed, so it’ll be enough for this winter 💯🙌 Absolutely keeping an eye on everything near the burner and luckily have some airflow so I won’t perish too soon 🙏✨
It is clear to me that you possess a peace that passes all understanding.
You are blessed indeed to have such serene happiness.
There are many people in this world who are lonely in a crowd
♥️♥️♥️
Hi Maya. I arrived in BG (appx 100km West of Varna) in late 2020 and like you I'm having "fun" renovating a cottage. Fortunately, I was able to take a retirement package early so have a little spare cash to help with renovations. The first thing I did when I got here was built a wood store, which has proven to be a blessing. This year, for the first time I was able to buy (almost) enough already dry wood for the winter, and left it to season in the sun, in the wood store, through the summer. It's been an absolute blessing. In previous years, due to not having the cash I was stuck with recently cut wood and it was a devil for gunking up the chimneys. This year I'll buy wood early to make sure it's absolutely bone dry for winter, plus make another wood store because the 12 cubes I bought isn't quite enough. I converted a 10m x 4.5m barn into a large living area and while it's lovely and cosy, it is harder to heat than the smaller rooms.
If you have a choice, I can highly recommend purchasing beech (they call it boch here). It burns hot, the ashes are hot and they break down really small. It's light, splits pretty easily and catches fire really easy too (when it's properly dry).
Some people may try to sell you pine for firewood, but it's much worse than beech or oak. Also YMMV but 12m3 of firewood per winter is on the high side. Make sure you have good insulation. And change the windows if they're old. As for temperature.. during my urban years, I used to heat up to 25 degrees and walk around in a t-shirt. But I figured out that dressing warm and keeping a room temperature of 16-18 degrees improves my health big time.
It's nice having people like you and Maya in Bulgaria. Keep on with the cottagecore life and it'll pay back.
@@todorsamardzhiev144Funnily enough, I got the last of the windows replaced last week :) On the downside, due to how I've arranged things the 12 cubes wasn't enough for the big room, but I've got plans in place for that before next winter, which includes finishing insulating the rest of the house. Thanks for the kind welcome, Todor.
@@todorsamardzhiev144 even living in the UK we only have our heating 17/18 degrees and wear more layers. when it's cold The problem is when we visit family it's usually far too hot for us!! 😀 When we lived in Bulgaria before, we only got through 7-8 cubic of wood.
I'm really enjoying the videos! I plan to move to Bulgaria in a few years after saving up some money, and these little snippets of life there really help keep the (seemingly) distant dream alive :) I'm interested to see your food forest progress, I've got a qualification in Organic Horticulture, and already have a million plans for the land I don't even own yet :P
When we move back to Bulgaria, we're hoping to re-wild the land, no idea how but that is our plan, would love some ideas. Hope your dream isn't too distant for you.
Wet wood on the threshold of winter - bad. Place a few logs around the stove when you light it. That way, by the time you get to them, you'll have dried them. Always put wood logs next to the stove when you light it, that way you will ensure that the next ones you put in it will be at least a little dry, so they burn better.
Yes 💯 luckily I realised this is the best way forward cause of all the rain coming up now 🫣😆 it’ll be perfection 🙌
Dear Maya, burning wood that has not dried out properly is NOT a wise thing to do. Logs usually take about six months to a year to dry out (season) properly. We had a very nasty chimney fire as the result of burning wood that was not dry.
Oh gosh that’s terrible and I’m So glad that you’re ok!
@MayainBulgaria Maybe you should consider buying thick nylon and cover the wood for the winter. Once rain/snow starts, wind will blow it right on top of all the logs and make them wet (as you have already experienced). Another option is to be able to enclose the patio with nylon but i advice against this in case of very strong winds.
p.s. Don't you have room in that little basement room to store some of those that are already dry ?
I don’t use the basement room. It’s so difficult to access atm. Hoping to create a trap door to it in the future! Yes absolutely yes for the nylon covering the logs 🙏🙏🙏
@@MayainBulgaria Also once you solve long term wood storage, consider buying up 2 years worth of firewood (only need to be done once). This way you can start the cycle of always having well dried up wood to use for the year while your next year batch is drying.
Hi Maya,drying the logs then letting them get wet,i dont know 🤣 should not take long to dry out
I know I had such a good giggle about this 😂 but then I realised I store the logs next to the fire for a few days too so it’ll probably all be ok 😆
@@MayainBulgaria it should be
Dry or wet you needs?We dont understand?😂
Looool exactly! I totally confused these poor logs 😂
I was thinking - why is she spreading the wood, what if it starts raining?.... Then surely it started raining.
Cover the storage woods stack with nylon from now on and leave them like this. As others suggest, put as many wood, as you can around your burning stove. But not too close and in general avoid leaving your stove burning without your attention and/or presence.
Keep in mind that in bad situation if you lack experience, wood stoves can make carbon-mono-oxide, which will kill you if you sleep around without anything open to the outside. So better do not sleep in the same room with a wood stove.
And one more thing - visually I don't think you have enough wood for the winter, if you plan to heat with it this old poorly isolated house. I would invest in doubling the amount, maybe tripling. Ask your neighbours how much wood they need and draw conclusions.
Thanks so much for your insight!
Yes I do have more wood in the shed, so it’ll be enough for this winter 💯🙌
Absolutely keeping an eye on everything near the burner and luckily have some airflow so I won’t perish too soon 🙏✨
@@MayainBulgaria For myself I personally have concluded that I should never underestimate my ability to do stupid things.
Aren't u lonely?
Why do you ask? I have such beautiful friends I talk to every day. I feel so blessed 🙏