I always hear tell that Missouri is a Prairie state. That always struck me as funny because if you find any open land South of I-70 it's a pretty good bet it was cleared for farming and had been forest land before that. Now up North the glaciated plains are pretty open so maybe that's what they are referring to. The Small-Hold however seems to be the exception laying squarely in some prairie throwback belt which manages to be a mile or so wide by five or so long winding through thick oak forests.
Several years ago this part of Central Missouri was known as the horse lands as it seemed most of the horse people ended up buying small farms in this open area. There are still quite a few of them around here and there. A couple of big stables and smaller farms as well as some larger organizations.
Why I bring this up is because it makes the Winters in the Small-Hold extra harsh for the area. Being situated on top of some open highlands like we are the wind is a constant irritant and guaranteed to make 40 degrees feel like 20. The temps haven't been too bad here today but the wind will cut right through ya.
So today was my first test of Winter more or less. I pulled some more logs out from a clear cut the power company guys left and then focused my attention to some final steps I needed to finish before Winter really sets in. I wrapped the air conditioners in plastic, filled in some places with insulation and blew out the ash shelf on the wood furnace.
It was then time to fire her up for the first time and make sure everything was working properly.
So far so good. I have a nice draw on the flue and the blower kicked in without a hitch. One little split of heat tape had appeared on the hot air duct coming in which I fixed but otherwise all seems in order.
The forecast is predicting a low of 28 tonight with fairly strong winds so it seemed like a good time to run a full Winters test.
Next week I am going to have to purchase some straw bales to place along the foundation of the house and wrap the bee hives in cheap foam insulation to give them a little added protection against the cold and wind. I had been constructing wind breaks each year but I am kinda expanding past that being a feasible option at this point.
I still need to get the generator cover finished on the porch as well.
Keep Prepping Everyone!!!
I had some friends who lived in Missouri for a while, and they wondered the same thing of why is it considered a Prairie state.
ReplyDeleteWe did that last week with the wood furnace up at the Carolina estate. Now it is nice and cleaned out for when we are up there.
If these current cold spells are an indication, I am afraid this winter is going to be exceptionally harsh....
JuGM - Out West the state also turns into a scattered prairie kinda thing but I have traveled every part of Missouri and in my mind it is mostly old growth forest. Maybe 70% forest and 30% open prairie.
DeletePerhaps they say the trees were not original but some of these oaks are well over 500 years old so they can't blame it on humans.
It maybe a harsh one. Since i started the fire tonight I am about two weeks early from when I usually start.
I've got my windows sealed off, but I have to do the air conditioners in all the buildings yet. Fortunately, I have those little green plastic covers you just put on and they are already fitted.
ReplyDeleteHarry - Our covers fell apart years ago. I could get more but duct tape and plastic bags seem to work just as well for us. Hopefully this will be our last Winter in this house anyway as we got our new one laid out at least now.
DeleteWe have had cold temps below freezing at night for the last week. Still warm during the day so no ice on the ponds or small lakes as of yet.
ReplyDeleteRob - We had frost the other morning but it was real light. We were still getting tomatoes and peppers yesterday and tobacco blooms.
DeleteNot going to have any after tonight though.
I finished winterizing our home too. I set the a/c to 78 instead of its usual 72. it's gonna be a tough winter here in Florida - at least that's the scuttlebutt.
ReplyDeleteStephen - The starving hordes are so gonna love your neck of the woods eventually.
DeleteI will give em a bottle of water as they start migrating South when the frost hits :)
It is supposed to be in the 20s tonight. This time it may kill some weeds. The trees are turning a little but most are green.
ReplyDeleteSF - The maples here have already been turning. This frost tonight should kick the others into gear.
DeletePP,
ReplyDeleteBrrrr.......your colder than we are tonight!!! That fire looks nice and warm, glad you're testing your furnace. It's suppose to get colder here over the weekend.
Sandy - It is already hitting 80 in the house. I fed the fire a bit but I am done now. The wind as usual dropped off after the sun went down so it is getting really toasty now.
DeleteThe problem with a big wood furnace is once you fire em up you have to let em run their course.
Since I grew up in South Central Missouri the whole "Missouri is a Prairie State" thing brings a different wry amusement.
ReplyDeleteOdy - LOL I can understand that. Only thing I can figure is they are referring to the North and Very West sides.
DeleteWe have been close to freezing twice this month. The first time I had a 24 hr. stomach flu and decided the garden could die, luckily it didn't.
ReplyDeleteI'm envious of your wood stove. I'm trying to convince the hubs that we need to yank out our fireplace and put in a wood burning stove. Our fireplace doesn't put out much heat, but it works in a pinch ;)
Keely - My wood furnace is a big outside monster. I also have a small inside wood stove that I never use. It is for emergencies only. If the power goes out for a real long time I have to switch to the smaller stove because the big one has to have power on the blower or it will burn itself out.
DeleteIn a grid down situation though I would be using the small stove and not the big one.
Springfield seems sort of flat, but too woodsy to be a prairie.
ReplyDeleteRuss - Springfield is on the cusp. 10 miles South it turns into rugged Ozark mountain country. 10 miles West it is open and begins getting more prairie like. 10 Miles East and North it is wooded hills and small farms.
DeleteSpringfield just doesn't know where it wants to be.