Learning To Use A Wood Stove

Doing something new is not supposed to be easy.

My new stove

We finally installed our wood stove last month, and we could use it on January 12th. The bricks, cement, and dirt had to dry for a month before use.

I have not used a wood stove in a few years. I used one when volunteering in Argentina on an off-grid farm, but the stove was mostly used to heat my room. I also would heat water on top of it, so there was no cooking.

My wood stove sits outside on my porch, just off the kitchen. My current kitchen is screaming for a makeover, and it is tiny. It fits one person and a dog since there is always one under my feet. So the idea of cooking outside, with more space, is ideal.

However, the learning curve is quite steep.

I grew up with a wood stove when I was a little kid. I never cooked on it; my mother and father did; I observed. Looking back, I think about them a lot and how what they did seemed so easy, and then there is me floundering to cook the basics.

My mother always baked homemade bread, cakes, cupcakes, and muffins. Everything was so tasty, I thought it couldn’t be that hard.

It’s not that hard, but it takes patience and practice.

Figuring out how much wood is needed to bake versus cook on the top. I like to bake, which was the main reason for getting the stove; it has an oven.

I have been baking bread, banana bread, brownies, and repeat. The first banana bread I made was delicious; however, one part was cooked more. I didn’t realize I had to turn the bread halfway since one side of the oven was hotter.

The side with the fire, now I think about it, and it’s so obvious.

Then, I made regular bread; it was a flop, but I still ate it. The bread turned out hard, so I made toast. I have also made brownies; now that I know I have to turn them halfway, they are tastier.

I am slowly learning.

However, not only do I have to remember to turn the pan, but I also have to adjust the fire and the oven’s temperature, which is difficult since I do not have a thermometer. I will get one in the city this weekend.

So it’s either too hot, too cool, or who knows what.

Each time is getting better. Cooking on top is not as challenging. If it’s too hot, I move it to another burner. The stovetop has four burners and four different temperatures, which is pretty straightforward.

Luckily, I have tons of wood from the trees I have been cutting down, and since it is dry season, it catches on fire fast.

Then, I use the wood ash in my garden.

I have been making sourdough bread, and that is also challenging. It may not be the oven, but it is my process. I plan to make more next week and eventually perfect it.

Everything looks so easy online and on social media. All the experts are making bread. They have had a lot of practice.

Like anything, learning to use a woodstove takes practice; one does not wake up and know exactly how to do everything in life.

The most important part of taking on a new challenge is having patience and accepting that if you have never done something, how are you supposed to know how to do it unless you start and practice?

So, I am practicing baking in a wood oven, which I have never done as an adult. Objectively, it is not hard, but learning a new skill and using other parts of your brain and skillset can be challenging.

It is the same as learning to live on a farm, taking care of animals and bees, and growing a garden. Objectively, it is not hard, but it does take energy, patience, and the willingness to fail.

So many people are looking for a fast fix, a quick result of zero to 1 million overnight. That is an unrealistic expectation, and you set yourself up to fail.

Instead, I see life as a game, and just like in a game or a good series, there are always challenges and roadblocks.

One may look and think that it is easy and a stupid challenge, and someone else might think it is impossible. However, we each have our way of doing things.

Some things come easier than others; the grass is never greener. We only look at most people’s results instead of the long nights and dedication.

We didn’t see the 100 burnt breads or failed sourdough starters; we only saw the end result. The reward.

So, as I continue to burn bread and play with fire, remember that everyone starts somewhere. There are no shortcuts.

XOXO

S