To anwer a couple of your questions:

I have been growing 5 acres of corn. When my 1000 bushel corn crib was full I would grow soybeans. This last year I planted 1 1/2 acres of walnut an oak and will probably plant more when I figure how many acres of corn to keep me comfortably in corn. I like a simple 1040A, no selling crop, doing paper work and filing income tax. I don't mind paying taxes for living in the best country I just hate doing the schedule F and it's associated forms. It's a hobby. I could justifyably a loss every year. $450-550 seed, $800 fertilizer, $50-75 chemical, $100-150+ fuel, equipment repair and depreciation. I do it for the enjoyment.

The St Croix stoves have been very reliable for me and given very little problem that was not caused by me. My biggest problem has been sheet rock screw/deck screws stuck in the auger. (about 6 times) I have a wood ventilator in my corn crib and have left a screw used to clean the fire pot holes on the top of the stove and have had it fall in. ( I hate waking up to a cool house, it can get to 20F+ below zero here) It was a pain to get them out until:

TIP: Fasten a small piece of vaccum hose that fits tight on the back of the auger motor armature shaft and insert a tight fitting drill bit and use a reversable drill to drive the auger which ever direction you want. (Dont get carried away with speed)

TIP: I have had a draft problem a couple of times even after cleaning the normal stuff. On the St Croix's if the clinker does not drop and you put the slide back in it can shave off the bottom an plug the slide or push ash into the draft feed passage (I hate taking off the front and vacuuming even though it is not hard and does not take long) I use my vacuum to blow in the inlet draft passage with the slide pulled out if the stove is not burning or breifly (couple of seconds) if it is. It will also help burn up clumped corn if you have had a problem. Could be spider webs or whatwever in the passage, but after doing that I really had to turn my draft back down.
CAUTION If your stove is not tight it can sent sparks out of the door gasket.

I have always used propane as a back-up usually burning a small propane heater in the bathroom to have a warm shower and just in case the electricity went out. Then the elevator said their insurance company says they have to test all propane systems ($80) and they want regulators less than 10 yrs old. I used 400 gallons a year for cooking, hot water and bathroom heat. I hate insurance companies, so electric heat and no back up so far this year. I have had a new wood furnace on my deck for three years and cut wood stacked up and have a 4-5 acre mature grove it is just nicer handling corn.

I better quick before I have a Book

Sorry but I dont know how the thank you button works and I can't edit my profile

Thank you for the welcomes

I have been burning corn going on my 7th year. I run 2 St Croix Auburn's, one on the main floor and one in the basement that I don't fire until it gets down to 40F in the basement and shut down when it gets to 60F. Still running all original parts though I have used a syringe to oil the room fan bearings (I like to use 2 cycle oil). I figure if it can lube a gas engine on a 50:1 ratio it should do a good job on bearings used straight.

I am lucky in having a older farm house that has a 9 ft opening to the kitchen area and a 6 ft + entry to the living room with a common wall. I have the corn stove blowing to the common wall dividing the heat nicely.

I have the farm site from the old family farm (12 acres) so I have a few acres to grow corn to burn. Pick it on the ear (combine just sits), Shell in Fall, burn 200 bushels in winter. short carbon cycle.