Sheds in the snow

OK so winter's here...

Back again

Well here I am again. Temperatures in double figures when it should be freezing. Heating off, doors open. All very pleasant but also a bit weird.

I seem to have eaten my way through all the carrots and leeks but still have plenty of fresh sprouts and some kale.

I realize I threatened to stop blogging but that doesn't seem to have happened so happy new year to us all is what I say.

Sprouts: not just for christmas

Rocket stove

 
These seem to be all the rage at the moment so I thought I'd have a crack at making one. It's basically just cooking over a chimney but is meant to use less fuel than an open fire.

Starting with an old five gallon cooking oil drum...

...cutting the top off:

Chimney parts from old stove pipe cut to size and ready to assemble:

The chimney will be joined like this inside the stove:

Parts assembled and drum insulated with sand:

Fire started:

Sticks are then fed in at the bottom on a bit of metal shaped to fit inside the chute:

Kettle on, job done: