Autumn Rose

The roses are blooming into October.  It hasn't been particularly warm but it has been sunny for the most part this first month of autumn.  As we do every year, we try to see how long we can get through October without turning on the gas heating system, keeping the kettle in the basement for hot water only.  This year has added significance as utility prices have soared, and we figure we can hold out like Ukrainians are doing against our ruthless neighbor to the east. So, it is thermal undershirts, thick hoodies and wool booties until the first frost.

It has been hard to understand, however, why gas prices should be so expensive when Lithuania long ago cut off its ties to Russia.  Lithuania is still connected to BRELL, an electrical grid that includes Belarus and Russia, although state officials claim they can connect the country to the European grid at anytime.  We remain on this grid primarily to serve Kaliningrad, as the Suwalki corridor between Belarus and the Russian oblast provides that connection.  Russia has threatened severe actions if Lithuania were to remove itself from the grid.

Fortunately Daina took advantage of a liberalization program two years ago that locked our electricity prices at the 2020 rate, although it is set to expire on January 1, 2023.  The government freed up the state-sponsored industry to more suppliers, some of which rely more heavily on wind and solar.  

We've toyed with the idea of installing solar panels, which are more affordable with the rebates and credits that are now available.  Our neighbor says he has had great savings as a result of the 30 solar panels he installed two years ago and expects to pay them off next year.  Our only southern exposure is the little roof over the sun room, which might hold 12 to 18 panels.  Apparently, it is more cost effective to buy solar panels in sets of six.  Every little bit counts.

We definitely need to rethink the way we supply heat to the house.  It used to be that wood was cheap and we were thinking of replacing the gas kettle with a wood-burning one, but that's not the case anymore.  "Cubes" of wood in any variety of form have soared in price, and there really isn't much savings anymore.  The forestry department has had a hard time monitoring illegal cutting in the woods.  Lithuania prides itself on its forest lands.

The newest rage is heat pumps combined with solar panels.  Geothermal heating systems have become a viable option as installation costs have dropped significantly and the systems require much less electricity than do heat pumps.  Both systems can work alternatively as air conditioners in summer as they essentially provide the same temperature year round.  One draws air from outside, the other from the ground.

It's been great to see Lithuania make this move toward sustainable energy in recent years.  I couldn't get anyone to listen to my ideas when I first came here.  Gas and electricity were still relatively cheap so why bother?  Now, Lithuanians pay some of the highest prices in Europe.  This has caused the country to drastically rethink its energy policy.

House sizes have also significantly reduced.  When this house was built in 2001, no one thought twice of having a home of more than 200 square meters (2000 square feet), but today the average home size is around 70 square meters.  The state now requires A++ thermal rating on all new residential construction, driving building costs up significantly.  Add to that the rampant speculation over the last two years and average price for a flat or house in Vilnius is 3000 euros per square meter.  

We found out the hard way in remodeling the garden house into a home for our son and his girlfriend the past year.  What we thought would be a 40, maybe 50 thousand euro investment has climbed to over 100 thousand euros.  We had difficulty finding anyone to take on the work as there was such great demand for builders.  Ultimately, we found a young contractor who used Ukrainian labor to rebuild the roof last summer, and have since relied on an individual Lithuanian carpenter to finish the work with our son assisting him.  However, materials have shot up enormously.  Our son calculated that we spent over 2000 euros on nails and screws alone.  Still, it is cheaper than a new home.  Construction cost worked out to around 1000 euros per square meter, and most importantly he will own the home free and clear of any mortgage.

Garden house conversions are very popular, as you have arable land to go along with it.  Many persons are growing their own vegetables and fruits these days to help cut food costs.  Lithuania is a wet country and the growing season has expanded in recent years.  I was surprised to find local sweet corn a few years ago in the supermarkets.  Tastes great on the grill. The local corn had typically been used for livestock.  

Some enterprising Lithuanians have even started making their own wines.  This was unheard of 20 years ago, as it was impossible to get grapes of any quality.  Most of these wines are from other fruits though, so-called Nordic-style wines.  Much better than Boone's Farm Strawberry Hill, which I remember drinking as a kid.

I don't know what our son and his girlfriend plan to grow.  He is sick of the apple trees. He tried to press the apples a few years ago but the cost of pressing them outweighed the value of the juice, and he didn't feel like spending the money on a press of his own for just two apple trees.  He said he would most likely cut them down.

I've suggested planting vegetables in our yard but Daina prefers flowers.  That's more than enough maintenance each year.  Her concession was a pot of cherry tomatoes, which were delicious.

Last weekend we bought over 200 liters of peat to cover the roses when we get the first frost.  Our mistake last year was pruning them in Fall.  Daina read that it is better to prune them in Spring with the first shoots.  We were trying to figure out why we lost two rose bushes. I had tried to nurse one back to life but to no avail. The climbing rose around the garage has gone wild and looks like it will soon overtake that side of the house.  Happy to see that the new roses are still blooming this late in the year.  Will be more careful with them.