"Things to Ponder" , cutting firewood observations

I see this in person every 2 weeks or so in the cold months as my neighbor gets another pickup load of wood delivered, most of which was probably standing in the woods with leaves on it a few months ago. This is the same guy who doesn't understand why I come home with wood in the summer 'when it's hot out' among other things. I just smile and say that I like to be ready when the cold comes.

 

There is nothing mere about being a scrounger.

 

A lot of us use wood heat as a sort of "backup" plan, which is a great feeling, but the best feeling is when plan b suddenly is by necessity, plan a. That's when all the work really pays off. A C

 

I enjoy heating with wood, but for me it's relatively easy. I'm not retired, so i don't have a lot of time on my hands, but between my wife and two boys we can easily fall, cut, and transport all the firewood we need for the year in 4-5 days. We could probably do it in half that time if we made two trips a day instead of the usual one trip a day, although I'm sure that would take some of the fun out of it.
There are lots of wood burners that live around me, most of them buy their wood. Some of them even take the time to make sure it's properly seasoned too. The others,,, not so much. Of course even the wood that isn't seasoned properly is still generally standing dead trees, so it's not totally green either, and since a lot of these people still burn in old smoke dragons it's not like they are all that concerned with burning super efficiently anyway. The trade off is that the not so seasoned wood around here can be purchased fairly cheaply.
I can understand why most people don't get their own wood though. It's not the easiest thing in the world to do. You need special equipment to do it that not everybody has or knows how to operate, including a chainsaw and some form of spliter. You'll need some sort of vehicle to transport it too, and not everyone has a truck or trailer. Then you gota know where to get the wood and that can be a bit tricky. Lots of trees around, but most are inaccessible because they are on private land or they are just too far off the road to reach. Even I generally have to drive a ways of road to access the trees I cut, but I have a 4x4 truck so it gives me a little more confidence knowing that I probably won't get stuck. Then comes the part of falling the trees, it has taken me a few years to get the confidence to do that with a degree of safety, and I certainly don't recommend it for the totally inexperienced.
Certainly a lot safer and easier for most people to just flip a switch and pay the extra cash when it gets cold, but I can tell you this, almost all the switch flippers who visit our home when it's cold out, always comment on how nice the wood heat feels. That's not something people generally say when they go over to someone's house with electric or gas heat. That tells me that there's something special about wood heat that other forms of heating just can't duplicate.

 

+1 Something special about wood heat
....&
Something special about those who heat with wood, & do it "right"

 

Good post here bogydave. I couldn't agree more with all of you. I look around my neighborhood and see all these big homes and I know they're paying a fortune for heat. Why don't they burn? I suppose the work, the equipment, the time, the mess. It really is easier in today's world to just get to a good paying job and then swipe the plastic. I myself, I was raised in a family that believed in being self reliant. Looking back, they were poor but I never knew that. No complaints, just work harder. Eventually good fortune comes along and they were always ready to respond to it. As for wood heat, nothing beats it, nothing. It makes me feel good to know I did this and I did it without having to work another job first to pay for it. As for the work involved. You should have been with me when I was kid. Talk about work. I remember when I grew up and saw my first Maul. I thought wow what an invention. I did all the splitting with a sledge hammer and wedges. Had lots of friends that would come over to try it because they thought it fun. I thought to change my name to Tom In today's world with the spliters, the good saws, tools to move wood, gloves that work, and an internet site like for a resource and social company so I know I'm not nuts for doing this, I think it's easy in comparison. All you need is a brain and some will power to do it and always remember, you never know it all and always look for an easier and better way to do it. Every year I go out I improve on my system. The more ahead I am in supply, the more freedom I find I have to try new things, places or tools.

Safe cutting everyone

 

I bet you can "ring the bell" at the fair

 

I enjoy the work and enjoy the heat but realize it's not for everyone. I like it this way, if everyone wanted to heat with wood it would probably end up cheaper heating with propain for those of us who don't own a wood lot.

I find with a young family I do spend more time than I want away from them processing firewood. I'd much rather spend a day at the beach or a day out sledding with my wife and kids rather than processing firewood. It's a balance that I'm always trying to perfect, I haven't gotten it just right yet but I'm pretty close. I do a decent job of keeping the wife, kids and myself happy with the time that gets spent on things. My 4 yo is getting to the point where he is somewhat helpful with some aspects of wood processing but he has some years before I'll be able to let him go on his own.

 

Sounds like your doing just fine. You realize your never perfect and always room to improve. All I'll tell you to think about is that it also your job to be an example of what it takes to provide for your family. Your son will see this and thank you for it one day, you future daughter in-law will really thank you.

 

I have to admit that I am not the most ambitious guy on the planet, that said, I love to cut firewood. It doesn't even seem like work. I guess the saying is true "do something you love and it's not work"

 

Isn't it amazing that the oldest way to heat your house is still the best!

 

Need a "like" button that returns, so we can hit it several times.

 

That's the oldest way to steam up the windows.

 

The world's oldest profession may involve wood, but no saws and axes are usually employed.

 

You do it your way, I'll do it mine

 

Good point Dave. Many Americans are spoiled and lazy, heck it's been proven that you don't have to work in America these days, "someone" will support you.