On this week's show, we'll talk to Ben Falk from Whole Systems Design in Vermont about burning fuelwood. Ben will discuss his trial and error with his 4th generation wood heating system, providing an integrated and complete home heating solution meeting cooking, baking, and most crucially--hot water needs. Ben will also discuss why he burns in 2024, air quality issues, heat conservation, dealing with the stove pipe & ventilation, maintenance, burning tips, and wood preparation.
Ben developed Whole Systems Design, LLC as a land-based response to biological and cultural extinction and the increasing separation between people and elemental things. Life as a designer, builder, ecologist, tree-tender, and backcountry traveler continually informs Ben’s integrative approach to developing landscapes and buildings. His home landscape and the WSD studio site in Vermont's Mad River Valley serve as a proving ground for the regenerative land developments featured in the projects of Whole Systems Design.
Ben studied architecture and landscape architecture at the graduate level and holds a master’s degree in land-use planning and design. He has conducted more than 650 site development and land inspection consultations across the US and abroad, and has facilitated dozens of courses on property selection, permaculture design, and resilient systems. He has given keynote addresses and presented dozens of workshops at venues ranging from Bioneers to the Omega Institute. Ben is the author of the award-winning book The Resilient Farm and Homestead (Chelsea Green, 2013) and serves as an Advisory Council for the international regeneration group Ecosystem Restoration Camps.
Frequent Fruiting
Hickory with Gary Mead
How is Fire Ecology Different than Classical Ecology with USDA Forest Service’s Brice Hanberry
Mountain Top Arboretum with Marc Wolf
Trees for Health with Marco Garrido-Cumbrera
Raised-Bed Lumber with Gary Mead
In Defense of Firewood
Meet CFA’s Education Forester--Zahra Bellucci
What’s A Timber Tree Worth?
Hemlock with Gary Mead
Pledge to Protect Against Invasive Species with SLELO’s Megan Pistolese-Shaw
Islands in the Forest
2022 Recap
Tree Dormancy & Damage from Winter with Gary Mead
Christmas Trees & Wreaths with Mike Porter
Common Tree Myths
Restoring Oak & Chestnut with USDA’s Dr. Stacy Clark
Meet the Pileated Woodpecker
White Oak with Gary Mead
Deer to Table
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