Wednesday, September 3, 2008

The price of oil is continually going up. Have you ever wondered why? The oil is getting harder to reach, that is a simplistic way to explain it. Once the oil was readily available, easily accessible and cheap to extract.


Something like when you open a jar of vegemite. The vegemite is right there at the top, doesn't take much effort to get it out. As the jar empties you have to reach further in, wriggling your knife around to get the bits at the bottom. Its getting harder to get out. Eventually you resort to using your finger to scoop out the very last bit from in under the neck of the jar and that's hard work. I think the oil companies are using their fingers now.


What does that mean? Well it's hard to say but what we can be sure of is that things will change. So much is reliant on cheap oil. When you think about it nearly everything that's manufactured, fertilised or harvested on a large scale is relying on affordable oil. Imagine if oil production stopped tomorrow. How long until it affected your every day life? This is something I've been thinking about quite a bit lately.


I recently purchased a wood heater. At the heater shop I looked through what seemed like hundreds of pamphlets, big shiny fan forced things. Eventually I found one that works with or without a fan and has a top on which you can cook.

Why were these a consideration? If the price of oil continues to go up...and it will. Eventually the cost of everything will rise and in some circumstances the supply of some things will be interrupted. If the supply of electricity becomes unreliable I will still be able to heat and cook. Might not be a concern for you but it is to me.

6 comments:

Lucy C said...

My mum has a heater just like that.
It crates so much heat my kids can toast marshmallows with the glass door closed.
Brilliant!

Anonymous said...

Peak Oil is a very real issue, I agree. I think that is why it is so important to try to be make sure we have the skills and resources to look after ourselves if something drastic happens.

Elizabetha said...

Great move Kirsty. Do you have a good source of firewood?

Woody said...

We have just bought a new wood stove for this winter. Our long term plans are to add a new solar hot water heater and more insulation. We hope to make our propane a seldom used back-up system.

peace

Anonymous said...

Nice heater Kirst and love the Vegemite jar analogy ;-)

~Tulls~

Val said...

I totally agree that things are going to change. We all need to get ready and prepared.