Well, first let me say that after SHTF, is a whole different way of looking at it..
If you are only looking for wood then this would be much more tricky but for now, I got a propane stove at a farm sale of ten dollars that hooks up to a big propane bottle with a working oven and i use it as my main outdoor cooking stove for when I am summer kitchening it, its on the deck right off the door to the main kitchen/dining room area, I have a popup tent that can fit over the whole deck area (well most of it) for shelter but its rarely used on it unless really needed, wind is the major issue I find in my summer kitchen as it effect water or canner temps at times.
Depending on where I am in my canning process, light is easy, med is get up at five an work until hot and then hide in the basement, heavy duty time is 24 hours a day batches with the alarm clock getting me up to switch things in and out, so at that point, its open everything up as much as possable, and just deal with it. Thankfully that tends to happen in sept, which is already bringing cooler temps.
I also have a full sized two sink, with massive steel countertop, that was got at a farm sale (like they have at commerical kitchen for the dishwasher area).
So spring, tarps for wind and otherwise, bundle up and get it done.. heat of summer, work in the early morning/after the mid-heat breaks, as for the bugs, you use lots and lots of bug traps, and let the birds out to free range, my ducks keep the mosquitoes fairly under control and the black flies, well, they are a bugger, as for the bone chilling winter, you cook inside and let the heat keep the house warm..
Summer kitchens or dog run kitchens were meant for when its hot outside, not during winter.
Look forward to what others think and do, O and for small portable cooking, those little cast iron stoves for the fishing shacks are perfect for one large canning pot, fussy on the wood length but otherwise get the job done.
http://livingmydreamlifeonthefarm.wordpress.com/
Would you enclose the area under your deck? I'm hoping to do something similar, we have a barn style shed (old) that I fondly call my potting shed. It has a stove pipe but no stove, hoping to fix it up this summer, add some windows and screens etc. So I'm on the hunt for an old cook stove to install, maybe someday add an outdoor bread oven in future. I want to use this as a summer kitchen or all year as back up. For a sink I'm thinking I need to go shopping with Farmgal!! There is no running water in the shed or electicity so I want to rig up some kind of water tank that i can fill once in a while with the hose then a faucet at the bottom. I like Farmgals propane stove, a small one and a wood cook stove would cover just about everything.
Are you looking for something more built in or with stand alone type cupboards/cabinets that can be moved around as required - camp kitchen style?
http://www.theauctionfever.com/
Love this site as it lets you track the coming sales and if you get to be know at the regular sales, and let them know you are looking for xx, they will tell you about up coming sales that have what you are looking for..
I'm the queen of the two buck buy!
http://livingmydreamlifeonthefarm.wordpress.com/
Awesome! Thanks for the link. Cheap is always good!
I think I may have put this on another post but since we're talking cooking etc ....
Anyway, we have a Pacific Energy wood stove in the living room (heats the whole house) it's the Avonlea that has a top that opens like wings so I can cook on it. I also found an antique oven on Kijiji that sits perfectly on top so I can bake, do casseroles etc. It's like a metal box, double walled with racks similar to this one http://woodcookstovecooking.blogspot.ca/2012/11/using-stovetop-oven-on-wood-cookstove.html?m=1
this site is excellent, he has lots of info for cooking on a wood stove. So far I've done muffins, banna bread and the Christmas turkey, takes a bit longer but it works and expands what I can cook more than just what can sit in a pot on the stove.
I would still like to put a small cookstove in the potting shed for alternate cooking and for canning, syrup making etc and possibly get a propane turkey fryer too. There are animals around here too but we are fenced and with our own "pack" not too many worries.
look to history and recent history at that, most rural communities had Summer Kitchens, also look to Bush Kitchens
It appears the concept of a summer kitchen is coming back. I googled and loads come up though outdoor kitchens are more the high end BBQ entertaining areas. Mr & Mrs W, although you still plan to put the cookstove in the house there may still be a place for the outdoor option too. An outdoor bread/pizza oven for example, I have a plan here somewhere from a Harrowsmith article (miss that mag) and Motherearth has plans too.
You know what would be handy, a "flying kitchen" the army has, set er up when needed and store when not required - would be great for those meetups too 😉
If you're in the mood to dig through some inspiration there's lots of Pinterest boards about "summer kitchens" http://pinterest.com/search/boards/?q=summer+kitchen
I am planning one myself. We have lots of wind here because we're on a ridge so I am looking at something permanent but perhaps with screened sides that would have "glass" inserts fitted over them for cooler/windy/inclement weather. I have the spot picked but I need some work done on the house first - a window made into a door and a deck built. Hopefully it will get done this summer but my list of things to do is mighty long!
I have two canning kerosene stoves for indoor use but I'm struggling with getting the wicks to behave. I also have a Chef King two burner propane stove on legs. I have increased my canning ability x5 with two much larger canners from last year...bring on canning season!
Kitchen auction - cool.
Looking forward to hearing more!!
(`'•.¸(`'•.¸ ¸.•'´) ¸.•'´)
*´¨`•.¸¸Anita <>< *.•´¸¸¨`*
(¸.•'´(¸.•'´ `'•.¸)`' •.¸)
¸.•´
( `•.¸
`•.¸ )
¸.•)´
(.•´
Quack, Cluck, Moo, Hee-Haw, Meow and Baaaaaaa from Shalom Engedi Farm
http://adventures-in-country-living.blogspot.com/
This is such a great topic! Some of you know I have a Heartland wood cookstove in my house that I use to heat/cook on 3 seasons of the year. In the summer, when I cook I usually use my outdoor propane BBQ with the sideburner (even pizza!) or my wood fire chimnea which has a swing-out grill or ,rarely, my firepit that I have grills for (old BBQ grills) down by the water. I also have an extra full electric stove and fridge in my garage. My late husband always believed in 'back-up' lol 😀
I dream about an outdoor wood oven...... Or better yet, making/buying a Sun Oven.
PrepHer, sounds like backups to backups! I also have a military M2 burner http://www.eme421.com/m2burner.html , it runs on gas which is ok for a short time just need a stand for it. It would work great for canning or syrup boiling!
Love Pintrest! I also looked up camp kitchen and there are tons of ideas for both portable or perm set ups.
stupid question - will this be for now or after the SHTF or both. What ideas that I may offer will depend on your answer. I don't want to give you ideas if they will not help.
I know for me I would like to hear ideas for both scenerios. My one concern is in a post SHTF scenerio the need for OPSEC and security, its pretty hard to mask the smell of wood smoke and baking bread. If I do manage to build my bread/pizza oven I could start a bread club - allow friends and neighbours to use my oven in exchange for something.
However right now In my situation living on an acrege my friends and family are on board that I want to "restore" the summer kitchen to minimize use of airconditioning. Nobody is surprised since we are "restoring" many other oldtime household items etc.... 😉
Well, I seem to have become slightly obsesed with the summer kitchen plan. Hubby blames Mr & Mrs for that 😉
The plan has always been to fix up the "potting shed" but it was to be just that. I have a bunch of old windows that will replace much of the south wall, open up the loft to just a half loft and im on the hunt for an old cookstove!
Ive been combing the net for anything related to traditional summer kitchens and finding lots of ideas. hope to have photos as I go.
So I must say thanks to the Ws for the thread - this is going to be fun and oh so practical!
I cant wait to see pictures!!! yes 🙂
(`'•.¸(`'•.¸ ¸.•'´) ¸.•'´)
*´¨`•.¸¸Anita <>< *.•´¸¸¨`*
(¸.•'´(¸.•'´ `'•.¸)`' •.¸)
¸.•´
( `•.¸
`•.¸ )
¸.•)´
(.•´
Quack, Cluck, Moo, Hee-Haw, Meow and Baaaaaaa from Shalom Engedi Farm
http://adventures-in-country-living.blogspot.com/
There are a few foodie schools in the Vineland / Grimbsy area that has amazing out door kitchens but they are nothing like what you are thinking of.
My cousin built an outdoor baking oven which he says produces the best breads ever.