You ever notice that if you lite a candle in a cold room that candle isn't enough to heat up the entire room? I know that sounds kinda obvious, but it is something to remember when buying a wood stove. A single small wood stove with only a 40,000 BTU EPA rating is not going to be enough to heat your entire house in Whitehorse, Yukon. However, it might be enough to heat up your bedroom. (*BTU = British Thermal Units, EPA = Environmental Protection Agency)

That's what it feels like. For the last couple of years we have been doing everything we can towards buying a farm, some of that goal setting has been setting up a date to have certain things done by, including buying the farm itself. We've had countless set backs including part of an un-paid student load that really took a bite out of the money we saved up for the farm, and almost three months of unemployment this last year that ate up most of the rest.

I look outside and all I see is snow. I know that for most of you this is not an odd sight to see this time of year, nor does it sound like something that should be an odd thing for a Canadian like myself to suddenly notice. But believe me, it's odd. We are only a couple of weeks till the first day of spring and this is the first real snow we have seen all year here in the greater Vancouver area. Fourteen years ago we had a similar downfall of snow that ended up caving in our roof while we were just getting ready for the spring run as Caravaners, and although this year there is no risk of that, as a prepper I look out and think about the worse case scenario we could find ourselves in.

What has happened so far....

OK, here's the update and post of all posts you have been waiting for. About five years ago my wife and I started settlement proceeding against a branch of the Ontario Government for money owed .. The details as to why are known among our friends, but the bottom line is that is that this is the money we were going to use to move back to Ontario, or else where and buy a farm.

Ok, 48 days to go and I just wanted to post a quick update.

I was reading “Dies the Fire” by S. M. Sterling, when it hit me. Farming without Oil is going to be living hell. If you happen to have a farm in the most ideal spot on earth the total number of days from planting to harvest is 260. If it takes a newbie like myself to use a horse and plow one full day to get a single acre ready for planting for the first time, the max size farm I should be looking for now is 30-60 acres of fertile land for planting. OUCH. That's full time sweat, blood, and tears of work for two months, without a day off, and the only climate zone in Canada that would allow that, is right here in British Columbia, not counting the crappy soil that is available to buy. For the Amish, whose farming methods we might find ourselves stuck with, a 70 acre farm is the larger farm. I think I'll go cry for a minute.

Well, the count down continues, 93 days to go. Talk in this house has increased on the subject of the farm, and all the things related to it. Although it is not high on our priorities, the desire to have a couple of horses on the farm is a very hopeful prospect. In either case, it is very likely that we will have at the very least some interaction with horses again, and the general care and keep of horses is part of a skill set we should have.

Here it is, the final count down for us, barring an appeal, to the farm. In less the 100 days we will either already be on the farm, or signing the papers for such.

'Twas the night after Christmas, and all through the house.
Not a creature was stirring, except for Wolfe's Mouse;
The stockings were empty and tossed the without care,
In hopes that Nicoli would lay in his lair;

Thanks to Kymber of the Ontario Preppers Network for this post on CPN, I would like to give due notice to all those who have shown interest in moving onto our farm after we move to Ontario. I would like to give due notice about a few things you should be made aware of, in addition, I have posted this on my blog so that there is no excuse for not knowing them in advance.