BHM Newsletter
Volume 11      Number #9

September, 2009
 

INSIDE BHM

BHM's 20th Anniversary

How did 20 years go by so fast? I guess when you run a magazine business, have kids going to soccer games, band practice, and golf tournaments, the days slip by and quickly become years.

To celebrate and raise a toast to 20 years of Backwoods Home Magazine, we decided to make the upcoming issue bigger than ever. The November/December issue that will soon be hitting mail boxes is a whopping 132 pages!

Dave thought it would be a good idea to look back on these past 20 years and write his perspective on how it all began, with the building of his cabin east of Ashland, Oregon, and how that became the springboard for the beginnings of the magazine. He worked long hours on that article, spreading pictures next to his computer at the BHM office, and then working more on it at his home office. It's a great walk down memory lane, and we hope our readers will enjoy taking that walk with us.

You know how people say timing is everything? Well, here's a little story that happened just a few days before sending the magazine off to the printer.

While writing the article, Dave left a place-holder for a current picture of the BHM crew. We wanted to take the picture outside the office underneath our sign. In order to include everyone in the picture, we obviously needed an extra pair of hands to take the picture for us. So as we were milling around trying to get everyone outside at the same time, we saw a couple walking down our sidewalk in front of the building. We asked if they'd stop and do us the favor of taking our picture. The woman agreed, took Dave's camera, and after a few quick pointers from Dave, took some excellent shots of the crew. When viewing the pictures Dave exclaimed, "Hey, you must be a professional! These are great!" The woman smiled warmly, and then to our surprise asked, "Are you Dave? I'm Sylvia Gist." Serendipity!!! One of our mainstay writers had come to visit us. Funny how things work out.

We're sure you'll enjoy the upcoming special issue, beginning with Dave's historical piece, and then moving on to Massad Ayoob's article on the All-American 1911 pistol. Jackie Clay writes about bottle raising a calf. Linda Gabris has two articles....one on hot meals from India and the other on raising cash selling your household junk. Some of the most poignant writing in the issue is by Claire Wolfe as she talks about her transition to living in the high desert. There was a lot to squeeze into a 20th anniversary issue. In fact, there are so many articles, they barely fit on the table of contents.

--Lenie

Special Offer

SELF-RELIANCE TIPS

Small Wind Systems

By investing in a small wind system, you can reduce pollution and reduce your exposure to future fuel shortages and price increases. Deciding whether to purchase a wind system, however, is complicated; there are many factors to consider. But if you have the right set of circumstances, a well-designed wind energy system can provide you with many years of cost-effective, clean, and reliable electricity.

What are the benefits to homeowners from using wind turbines?

Wind energy systems provide a cushion against electricity price increases. Wind energy systems reduce U.S. dependence on fossil fuels, and they don't emit greenhouse gases. If you are building a home in a remote location, a small wind energy system can help you avoid the high costs of extending utility power lines to your site.

Although wind energy systems involve a significant initial investment, they can be competitive with conventional energy sources when you account for a lifetime of reduced or altogether-avoided utility costs. They length of the payback period — the time before the savings resulting from your system equal the system cost — depends on the system you choose, the wind resource in your site, electric utility rates in your area, and how you use your wind system.

Is wind power practical for me?

Small wind energy systems can be used in connection with grid-connected systems or in stand-alone applications that are not connected to the utility grid. A grid-connected wind turbine can reduce your consumption of utility-supplied electricity for lighting, appliances, and electric heat. If the turbine cannot deliver the amount of energy you need, the utility makes up the difference. When the wind system produces more electricity than the household requires, the excess can be sold to the utility. With the interconnections available today, switching takes place automatically. Stand-alone wind energy systems can be appropriate for homes, farms, or even entire communities (a co-housing project, for example) that are far from the nearest utility lines. Either type of system can be practical if the following conditions exist.

Conditions for stand-alone systems

• You live in an area with average annual wind speeds of at least 9 miles per hour
• A grid connection is not available or can only be made through an expensive extension. The cost of running a power line to a remote site to connect with the utility grid can be prohibitive, ranging from $15,000 to more than $50,000 per mile, depending on terrain.
• You have an interest in gaining energy independence from the utility
• You would like to reduce the environmental impact of electricity production
• You acknowledge the intermittent nature of wind power and have a strategy for using intermittent resources to meet your power needs

Conditions for grid-connected systems

• You live in an area with average annual wind speeds of at least 10 miles per hour.
• Utility-supplied electricity is expensive in your area (about 10 to 15 cents per kilowatt-hour).
• The utility's requirements for connecting your system to its grid are not prohibitively expensive.
• Local building codes or covenants allow you to legally erect a wind turbine on your property.
• You are comfortable with long-term investments.

Is my site right?

To get a general idea if your region has good wind resources, look at the Wind Powering America Wind Resources page, which has state wind maps. The maps will show you if wind speeds in your area are strong enough to further investigate the wind resource. Of course, the maps are just a starting point — the actual wind resource on your site will vary depending on topography and structure interference. And a localized site with good winds, such as a ridgetop, may not show up on the maps.

Another source for wind data is the National Climatic Data Center, which collects data for selected sites and makes area wind data summaries available for purchase.

You will need site-specific data to determine the wind resource at your exact location. If you do not have on-site data and want to obtain a clearer, more predictable picture of your wind resource, you may wish to measure wind speeds at your location for a year. You can do this with a recording anemometer, which generally costs $500 to $1500. The most accurate readings are taken at "hub height" (i.e., the elevation at the top of the wind turbine tower). This requires placing the anemometer high enough to avoid turbulence created by trees, buildings, and other obstructions. The standard wind sensor height used to obtain data for Department of Energy maps is 33 feet.

You can have varied wind resources within the same property. If you live in complex terrain, take care in selecting the installation site. If you site your wind turbine on the top or on the windy side of a hill, for example, you will have more access to prevailing wind than in a gully or on the leeward (sheltered) side of a hill on the same property. Consider existing obstacles and plan for future obstructions, including trees and building, which could block the wind. Also realize the power in the wind is proportional to its speed (velocity) cubed (v³). This means that the amount of power you get from your generator goes up exponentially as the wind speed increases. For example, if your site has an annual average wind speed of about 12.6 miles per hour, it has twice the energy available as a site with a 10 mile per hour average (12.6/10³).

What about legal, environmental, and economic issues?

In addition to reviewing your site and particular situation and goals, you should also

• research potential legal and environmental obstacles
• obtain cost and performance information from manufacturers
• perform a complete economic analysis that accounts for a multitude of factors
• understand the basics of a small wind system, and
• review possibilities for combining your system with other energy sources, backups, and energy efficiency improvements.

Establish an energy budget to help define the size of turbine that will be needed. Since energy efficiency is usually less expensive than energy production, making your house more energy efficient first will likely result in being able to spend less money since you may need a smaller wind turbine to meet your needs.

Potential Legal and Environmental Obstacles

Before you invest any time and money, research potential legal and environmental obstacles to installing a wind system. Some jurisdictions, for example, restrict the height of the structures permitted in residentially zoned areas, although variances are often obtainable. Your neighbors might object to a wind machine that blocks their view, or they might be concerned about noise. Consider obstacles that might block the wind in the future (large planned developments or saplings, for example). If you plan to connect the wind generator to your local utility company's grid, find out its requirements for interconnections and buying electricity from small independent power producers.

Pricing a System

When you are confident that you can install a wind machine legally and without alienating your neighbors, you can begin pricing systems and components.

Approach buying a wind system as you would any major purchase. Obtain and review the product literature from several manufacturers. Lists of manufacturers are available from the American Wind Energy Association; however, not all small turbine manufacturers are members of AWEA. Manufacturer information can also be found at times in periodicals. Once you have narrowed the field, research a few companies to be sure they are recognized wind energy businesses and that parts and service will be available when you need them. Also, find out how long the warranty lasts and what it includes.

Ask for references of customers with installations similar to the one you are considering. Ask system owners about performance, reliability, and maintenance and repair requirements, and whether the system is meeting their expectations.

The Economics of Wind Power for Home Use

A residential wind energy system can be a good long-term investment. However, because circumstances such as electricity rates and interest rates vary, you need to decide whether purchasing a wind system is a smart financial move for you. Be sure you or your financial adviser conduct a thorough analysis before you buy a wind energy system.

Grid-connected-system owners may be eligible to receive a small tax credit for the electricity they sell back to the utility. The National Energy Policy Act of 1992 and the 1978 Public Utilities Regulatory Policy Act (PURPA) are two programs that apply to small independent power producers. PURPA also requires that the utility sell you power when you need it. Be sure you check with your local utility or state energy office before you assume any buy-back rate. Some Midwestern rates are very low (less than $.02/kWh), but some states have state-supported buy-back rates that encourage renewable energy generation. In addition, some states have "net billing," where utilities purchase excess electricity for the same rate at which they sell it.

Also, some states offer tax credits and some utilities offer rebates or other incentives that can offset the cost of purchasing and installing wind systems. Visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency web site, which contains a database of financial incentives for wind energy. Check with your state's department of revenue, your local utility, public utility commission, or your local energy office for information.

What equipment do I need to run my own home wind energy system?

All wind systems consist of a wind turbine, a tower, wiring, and the "balance of system" components: controllers, inverters, and/or batteries. Hybrid systems use additional equipment, like photovoltaic panels and diesel generators to ensure electricity is available at all times.

Wind Turbines

Home wind turbines consist of a rotor, a generator mounted on a frame, and (usually) a tail. Through the spinning blades, the rotor captures the kinetic energy of the wind and converts it into rotary motion to drive the generator. Rotors can have two or three blades, with three being more common. The best indication of how much energy a turbine will produce is the diameter of the rotor, which determines its "swept area," or the quantity of wind intercepted by the turbine. The frame is the strong central axis bar onto which the rotor, generator, and tail are attached. The tail keeps the turbine facing into the wind.

A 1.5-kilowatt (kW) wind turbine will meet the needs of a home requiring 300 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month, for a location with a 14-mile-per-hour annual average wind speed. The manufacturer will provide you with the expected annual energy output of the turbine as a function of annual average wind speed. The manufacturer will also provide information on the maximum wind speed in which the turbine is designed to operate safely. Most turbines have automatic speed-governing systems to keep the rotor from spinning out of control in very high winds. This information, along with your local wind speed distribution and your energy budget, is sufficient to allow you to specify turbine size.

Towers

To paraphrase a noted author on wind energy, "the good winds are up high." Because wind speeds increase with height in flat terrain, the turbine is mounted on a tower. Generally speaking, the higher the tower, the more power the wind system can produce. The tower also raises the turbine above the air turbulence that can exist close to the ground. A general rule of thumb is to install a wind turbine on a tower with the bottom of the rotor blades at least 30 feet above any obstacle that is within 300 feet of the tower.

Experiments have shown that relatively small investments in increased tower height can yield very high rates of return in power production. For instance, to raise a 10-kW generator from a 60-foot tower height to a 100-foot tower involves a 10% increase in overall system cost, but it can produce 25% more power.

There are two basic types of towers: self-supporting (free standing) and guyed. Most home wind power systems use a guyed tower. Guyed-lattice towers are the least expensive option. They consist of a simple, inexpensive framework of metal strips supported by guy cables and earth anchors.

However, because the guy radius must be one-half to three-quarters of the tower height, guyed-lattice towers require enough space to accommodate them. Guyed towers can be hinged at the base so that they can be lowered to the ground for maintenance, repairs, or during hazardous weather such as hurricanes. Aluminum towers are prone to cracking and should be avoided.

Balance of System

Stand-alone systems require batteries to store excess power generated for use when the wind is calm. They also need a charge controller to keep the batteries from overcharging. Deep-cycle batteries, such as those used to power golf carts, can discharge and recharge 80% of their capacity hundreds of times, which makes them a good option for remote renewable energy systems. Automotive batteries are shallow-cycle batteries and should not be used in renewable energy systems because of their short life in deep cycling operations.

In very small systems, direct current (DC) appliances operate directly off the batteries. If you want to use standard appliances that require conventional household alternating current (AC), however, you must install an inverter to convert DC electricity to AC. Although the inverter slightly lowers the overall efficiency of the system, it allows the home to be wired for AC, a definite plus with lenders, electrical code officials, and future homebuyers.

For safety, batteries should be isolated from living areas and electronics because they contain corrosive and explosive substances. Lead-acid batteries also require protection from temperature extremes.

In grid-connected systems, the only additional equipment is a power-conditioning unit (inverter) that makes the turbine output electrically compatible with the utility grid. No batteries are needed. Work with the manufacturer and your local utility on this.

Hybrid Systems

According to many renewable energy experts, a stand-alone "hybrid" system that combines wind with photovoltaic (PV) technologies and/or a diesel generator offers several advantages.

In much of the United States, wind speeds are low in the summer when the sun shines brightest and longest. The wind is strong in the winter when there is less sunlight available. Because the peak operating times for wind and PV occur at different times of the day and year, hybrid systems are more likely to produce power when you need it.

For the times when neither the wind generator nor the PV modules are producing electricity (for example, at night when the wind is not blowing), most stand-alone systems provide power through batteries and/or an engine-generator powered by fossil fuels like diesel.

If the batteries run low, the engine-generator can be run at full power until the batteries are charged. Adding a fossil-fuel-powered generator makes the system more complex, but modern electronic controllers can operate these complex systems automatically. Adding an engine-generator can also reduce the number of PV modules and batteries in the system. Keep in mind that the storage capability must be large enough to supply electrical needs during noncharging periods. Battery banks are typically sized for one to three days of windless operation.

Resources

• AWEA's Small Wind Turbine Manufacturers List
• AWEA's Residential Wind Turbine Q&A
• AWEA's Wind Energy FAQ
• Your State Energy Office

FEEDBACK

Newsletter humor

Dave-

Maybe it's just me, but the last few issues of the BHM Newsletter, the humor column seemed to be a little off - I cannot articulate what was missing, just not your usual level of humor.

Well, this months humor column was- well, my wife and I still bust out laughing when we think about the jokes- good work, especially the one about the thugs wondering around in your town- that one should re-run for April Fools issue

Thanks for a great publication, and some humor to help us not take ourselves too seriously.

Bob Taylor

You are right!

Dave,

In [the September] newsletter you mention that when you give good people "free" stuff they will eventually return the favor.  I bought your magazine off the news rack and learned about your website.  I spend much more time on the website, but as soon as the magazine cover changes I head for Barnes and Noble (last night!) to purchase one because I certainly want you people to stay in business.  I have not missed a copy since I purchased the first one.

Oh - and please don't tell anyone - but there are a few of us conservatives lurking around college campuses.  We are mostly in the vocational technical areas (We have SKILLS), but so you know we are out there......

Also, you might mention to John that this morning I had to wait for a gang of antelope - a momma and twins, blocking the road, slowing traffic (1 car - me) and threatening vehicle damage if I went more than 5 miles per hour...this IS a real problem.  They must have run the deer gang off for now - that is the group I usually see.

Holly Burch
Bismarck, North Dakota

RECIPES

The Pumpkin Patch

We heard on the news a few days ago about an over 800 pound pumpkin grown by a California woman and her son. We figured they, and some of our readers who might have a surplus of less massive pumpkins would appreciate a few recipes in which to use them.

Pumpkin Smoothy

1/2 cup pumpkin puree
3/4 cup frozen pineapple chunks
1-1/2 cups orange juice
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 whole graham cracker
1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
cinnamon for garnish

Place pumpkin puree, frozen pineapple in the bottom of a blender or food processor.

Top with orange juice, yogurt, brown sugar and graham cracker.

Puree until smooth, stopping to press pineapple down into the blades of the blender, if necessary.

Pour into glasses and top with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Makes 2 servings.

Pumpkin-Cranberry Bread

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup pumpkin purée
1/3 cup melted butter
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts or pecans
1/2 cup frozen cranberries (or more, if you like)

Preheat oven to 350°F. In a medium sized bowl, sift together the flour, salt, sugar, and baking soda.

Mix the pumpkin, melted butter, eggs, 1/4 cup of water, and spices together, then combine with the dry ingredients, until just incorporated. Do not over-mix. Fold in the candied ginger and chopped nuts.

Spoon mixture into a bread pan (or a muffin pan). Bake for 60-65 minutes if making a loaf and for 25-30 minutes if making muffins. Check for done-ness with a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin. If it comes out clean, it's done. Cool on a rack.

Filled and Frosted Italian Pumpkin Mini-cakes

4 eggs
2 cups of sugar
3/4 cup canola oil
15 ounces pumpkin puree (or one can)
2 cups of flour (or whole wheat pastry flour)
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 Tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1 Tablespoon cinnamon

Combine all the wet in a mixing bowl and beat till just mixed.

Add the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture and beat till well-blended.

Fill sprayed muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake at 350 18-22 minutes. Cool on a rack.

Filling/Frosting

1 container Mascarpone cheese (or cream cheese)
Real maple syrup
Sugar
Cinnamon

Add cheese to a bowl. Add syrup and sugar to desired sweetness. Add cinnamon to taste.

With a small knife, cut and save a small, deep circle from the top of each cupcake. Stuff the cream filling inside and all over the top. Place the cut out back on top, and sprinkle with cinnamon!

Spicy Pumpkin Soup with Cinnamon Croutons

2 tablespoons brown sugar
15 ounces pumpkin puree (or one can)
2 cans salt free chicken broth, 14 ½ oz each
1 cup chopped onion
5 tablespoons softened butter
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 slices whole wheat bread
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
Handful cilantro leaves
½ teaspoon ground ginger

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Mix together the cinnamon, half the sugar, and the butter and spread it evenly over one side of each slice of bread. Put the bread, buttered side up, on a baking tray and bake for about 8 minutes or until the bread is toasted.

Cut the bread slices into small squares or triangles.

Sauté the onion in the rest of the butter until tender, then add half the chicken broth. Stir the mixture well, bring it to a boil, then cover the pan, turn the heat down, and let it simmer for about 15 minutes.

Process the broth in a food processor or a blender until it is smooth, then put it back in the pan and add the other can of broth, the salt, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, pumpkin puree, pepper, the rest of the sugar and the ginger.

Stir the mixture well and bring it to a boil.

Cover the pan, turn the heat down, and let the pumpkin soup simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring it all the time.

Stir in the cream and warm it through without boiling.

Ladle the soup into 6 serving bowls and top each one with some croutons and cilantro leaves.

(Serves 6)

Savory Pumpkin Quiche

1/2 cup Gruyere cheese
1 Pie crust
1 cup Evaporated milk
3 large Eggs
1 teaspoon Thyme fresh, chopped
1/4 teaspoon Black pepper
1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg
1 cup Pumpkin

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Sprinkle cheese over bottom of piecrust

Whisk together milk, eggs, thyme, pepper, nutmeg and pumpkin. Pour mixture over cheese in crust.

Bake 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees, and bake 45 to 50 minutes more, or until pie filling has set and tip of knife inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

HUMOR

You gotta love the South...

A group of friends went deer hunting and paired off in twos for the day. That night, Will returned alone, staggering under the weight of an eight-point buck.

"Where's Joe?" the others asked.

"Joe had a stroke of some kind. He's a couple of miles back up the trail," Will replied.

"You left Joe laying out there and carried the deer back?" they inquired.

"A tough call," he nodded. "But I figured no one is going to steal Joe!"

The young man came running into the store and said to his buddy, "Bubba, somebody just stole your pickup truck from the parking lot!"

Bubba replied, "Did you see who it was?"

The young man answered, "I couldn't tell, but I got the license number."

A State Trooper pulled over a pickup on I-65. The trooper asked, "Got any ID?"

The driver replied, "Bout whut?"

A man had a flat tire, pulled off on the side of the road, and proceeded to put a bouquet of flowers in front of the car and one behind it. Then he got back in the car to wait.

A passerby studied the scene as he drove by and was so curious he turned around and went back. He asked the fellow what the problem was.

The man replied, "I have a flat tire."

The passerby asked, "But what's with the flowers?"

The man responded, "When you break down they tell you to put flares in the front and flares in the back! I never did understand it neither."

The owner of a golf course was confused about paying an invoice, so he decided to ask his secretary for some mathematical help.

He called her into his office and said, "You graduated from the University and I need some help. If I were to give you $20,000, minus 14%, how much would you take off?"

The secretary thought a moment, and then replied, "Everything but my earrings."

You just gotta love those Southern women.

You can say what you want about the South, but you never hear of anyone retiring and moving North!!!

...and women.

A woman and a man are involved in a car accident; it's a bad one. Both of their cars are totally demolished but amazingly neither of them are hurt.

After they crawl out of their cars, the woman says, "So you're a man, that's interesting. I'm a woman. Wow, just look at our cars! There's nothing left, but fortunately we weren't hurt. This must be a sign from God that we should meet and be friends and live together in peace for the rest of our days."

The man replied, "I agree with you completely. This must be a sign from God!"

The woman continued, "And look at this, here's another miracle. My car is completely demolished but this bottle of wine didn't break. Surely God wants us to drink this wine and celebrate our good fortune."

Then she hands the bottle to the man. The man nods his head in agreement, opens it and drinks half the bottle and then hands it back to the woman.

She hands it back to the man.

The man asks, "Aren't you having any?"

The woman replies, "No. I think I'll just wait for the police..."

Motherhood in the Animal Kingdom

OTHER STUFF

Did a friend or relative tell you about this newsletter? The Backwoods Home Magazine newsletter is free and all you need is an email address so we can let you know when each issue is published and where it can be found. Even better, we sometimes have special offers and discounts that are available only to BHM Newsletter subscribers. Your email address will never be sold, rented, loaned, given, or otherwise provided to any third party.

Just visit the BHM web site at www.backwoodshome.com and click on "Newsletter" in the navigation menu on the left side of any web page.

Contact Info:

Editor/Letters - Dave Duffy, editor@backwoodshome.com
Web Site - Oliver Del Signore, webmaster@backwoodshome.com