1. Build multi-function wood piles:

Hauling, cutting, splitting, and stacking wood is good exercise and it contributes to the privacy of your back yard. It's a very flexible privacy fence since each year you can place it between you and whichever neighbor (or neighboring structure) you need privacy from.

And, of course, when you heat with wood you get warmed twice. This year I have hauled, split, and stacked 6 full cords of wood (of which I will burn 4 this winter). I believe I have been well warmed.

2. Make perfectly dried apples:

For many years I've been drying apples using the 'free' heat from this stove. I would prepare the apples by peeling, quartering, and coring the apples by hand. I'd then run the quarters through a food processor slicer attachment to prepare the slices to dry.




This past fall we found this used apple peeler/corer/slicer on sale at Savers (Easter Seals) Store. It works beautifully but now the apple season is over. I've been bying the cheapest apples available (Macintosh) and drying these. They are delicious - surprsing sweet and melt-in-your-mouth tender.

3. There are certainly 99 more things -- or is that just the temperature in our living room all winter....