Today we will look at a number of alternative ways to provide heat/warmth. As many will know heat is the most costly energy wise. Those that live offgrid will want to find the most efficient ways of warming spaces, water and so on without expending too much power.
This nifty idea keeps your chicken's water from freezing. Basically take a cinder block and put a lightbulb inside with a flat brick for covering and set your chicken waterer on top. I have done it myself and it works well. Have yet to try it with an LED bulb which I would like to so as to conserve energy.
When it's sunny a window or glass pane can help warm up a chicken waterer as well, painting the waterer black would further increase the sun's ability to keep the water from freezing.
Biomass heating refers to the process of generating heat from living organisms. Most of the time the living organisms are plant based as in compost, straw, sawdust etc. Some of the simplest biomass heating systems are nothing more than a pile of manure, leaves, wood chips and small sticks with multiple coils of pipe inside used to heat water or a pile of compost inside a green house constantly generating heat.
Here is a smaller version with a diagram of the contents inside
https://permaculturenews.org/2010/01/11/free-hot-water-from-compost-wheelie-bin/
A method of heating a greenhouse with compost
Here is an interesting trick to keep your seedlings warm if there is an unexpected overnight frost using christmas lights!
A DIY slowcooker that uses no power
How cute! Using feather dusters you can simulate the warmth of momma hen for chicks
Build a DIY heated outdoor bath!
By wrapping copper piping around a wood stove chimney you can heat water that can also be directed to radiators at different locations within the buildings generating more heat for your home as well.
I hope you enjoyed today's Homestead Hacks! Happy Steeming <3
