permaculture

[Keith Johnson <keithdj@mindspring.com>]

Soapstone is lovely to work with. I got 1/2 a ton from an old quarry in 
Virginia in Nelson county. I cut and polished it to use as heat sink 
mass around a woodstove that I sank 8  inches below floor level in our 
clay/straw (or light clay) house at Earthaven Ecovillage (the pit 
handily confines the wood and ash mess around the stove). With the 
soapstone I built a fairly massive surrounding shelf which I use for 
drying stuff. There's insulation behind it and it holds heat quite well. 
The stone is easy to work and takes a polish with finer and finer 
sanding. I finish with 3 subsequently finer wet sandings and, apply a 
simple beeswax and linseed oil blend to give it a rich gloss and bring 
out the complex deep colors.
On sunny days no wood heat is required as the solar gain is quite 
sufficient. As long as I close the insulated drapes, the solar heat 
keeps me warm through the night and into the next day. I can go a long 
time without burning wood as long as the days are sunny. My 300 square 
foot, zone 7 home consumes about a third of a cord of wood per winter.
Keith

David Neeley wrote:

> Andrew,
>
> It appears that the last commercial production of soapstone
> in Greece was in 1994.
>
> When you search for it, there are several other words to
> look at, by the way: talc (since soapstone has a high talc
> content, they are often found together), and steatite
> (perhaps the most common form of soapstone).
>
> Considerable production appears to be done in Italy, and
> there may also be some in Bulgaria or Romania. You may have
> to inquire at the stone merchants in the nearest larger
> city to determine if and how you can get it.
>
> David
>  
--

Keith Johnson
Permaculture Activist Magazine
PO Box 1209
Black Mountain, NC 28711
(828)669-6336

also Patterns for Abundance Design & Consulting
Culture's Edge at Earthaven Ecovillage
http://www.permacultureactivist.net
http://www.earthaven.org
http://www.bioregionalcongress.org