by Bea Peterson
Baker’s Nursery on Route 22 has long been known for its wonderful nursery trees and plants and landscaping skills. Now they have become an outlet for alternative energy products. “We’ve been looking for something to do through the winter,” said Glenn Baker. “There seemed to be a need
for this business.” They carry wood stoves, pellet stoves, wood/pellet stoves, coal stoves and outdoor wood furnaces. The products range in price from $1,600 to $6,000 for a furnace. “With today’s oil prices, they will pay for themselves in a year,” Baker said. He’s concerned about the people he sees coming in to make purchases. Many wonder what they are going to do when their oil budget exceeds $500 a month. “Young couples are worried about making mortgage payments and fuel payments,” he said. Near heartbreaking for him was an elderly couple living in a mobile home. They purchased a wood stove because they couldn’t afford to heat with kerosene any more.
Though Baker’s has a variety of stoves in stock, Glenn said he can’t get any more of the St. Croix or Napoleon stoves until at least February. “Pellet stoves are backed up,” he said. “We carry Cumberland stoves,” said Baker. “They are a multi-fuel stove made in Wisconsin. They burn corn pellets; any biofuel pellets.” Canadian made Grolet and Bosco are popular wood burning stoves they have in stock, along with several other brands.
He hopes people will consider coal stoves. “We can get anthracite coal,” he said. “Modern technologies have made them much cleaner burning and more efficient.” One attractive coal stove is rated at 80,000 BTU.
Installation And Safety Features
Baker works with subcontractors for stove and furnace installation. Fox Hollow Construction installs the stoves and JD Conway installs the outdoor wood furnaces.
“All of today’s stoves and furnaces have good safety features,” said Baker. “It’s important to follow manufacturer’s directions. You need to burn seasoned dry hardwood, for example.”
Fuels
Baker said they have pellets for new stove buyers. “I ordered six tractor trailers of pellets,” he said. “I should have got ten.” He knows they have enough to supply their customers, but they won’t have any extra. Coal costs less than pellets, and firewood is still the cheapest, he added. They do not supply firewood. For people who have difficulty handling firewood they carry bioblocks. Bioblocks are made of super compressed wood fibers. One pallet of the blocks is equivalent to 135 gallons of oil. That’s a savings of $200 at today’s oil prices. Baker’s delivers their products.
“We want to be a one stop shop for alternative fuel products,” said Baker.
Baker’s new business is open from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm on Saturday, or by appointment.
Glenn Baker concluded, “When I was in Kuwait in March 2003 we saw tons and tons and tons of military equipment being shipped in. Then the huge yards were empty. Once President Bush said ‘the war has been won,’ then we saw tons and tons and tons of Halliburton oil equipment being shipped in. We felt misled, but at least there would be cheap oil. Well, what did we get out of it? It irks me that people are desperate for oil.”
Since talking with Glenn early in October, oil prices have fallen somewhat. For many they are still way too high and alternative energy is essential.
This week Glenn and Jason Baker said they can expand their pellet business as they have found another source for them. The only problem is they cannot get them as quickly as they would like.
Jason noted they carry A-Maize-ing Heat bio-mass furnaces that are manufactured in Iowa. They replace oil burning furnaces for boiler or hot air systems. They are automatic feed and fit in a basement or furnace room. They can be ordered and delivered within two weeks.
The stoves on display in the store are very attractive. Jason said many of their customers are updating their wood stoves. “Technology has improved since the 70s when many people made their purchases. They burn more efficiently, and there are far less emissions with the new ones.”