Yep, its getting there for me as well. Saving the nicer splits for later in the stove. Burn the pallet, 2x4's, lumber stickers(separators for large loads), knotty wood that splits like a bear, lumberyard trimmings, mill cuts and any other wood that doesn't fit it most likely will go for outdoor burning. Its like you're in a tobacco store, To the amateur, it looks like its overwhelming which one to choose?? The wood variety is the spice of life.
There is a huge difference between the aspen you have and the aspen we have. It looks pretty much the same but yours is a better quality wood than the junk we have here.
Think so? Im a little curious about it so maybe the next time I find an option to get it, I'll see about that. Can't be bad during the ends of the season.
One thing that is a sure give-a-way is the way they grow. Around here it is odd to have them grow much larger than about 12" diameter before they start to rot and fall over. I've seen some huge aspen out in the NW; much, much larger than what we have here.
We have lots of aspen around here. I was walking the dog earlier today and was thinking about this conversation and noticed all around me within easy reach was standing dead aspen. No one takes it because you can find lodgepole pine that is a little bit denser and makes way less ash. Like any wood if you can find an abundance of it or you have nothing else to burn then go for it. Do your best to stay away from the willow tree though.
You wouldn't happen to have your chainsaw with you would you? The 4 legged creature might like the entertainment.
Chainsaw is still tucked away since November. With how quickly the snow is melting Ill likely be out within the month. I have my eyes on a bunch of trees, some down and some standing. My first victims are in low elevation areas where the snow will be gone first. One is a lodgepole I can drive right up to and another one is a downed doug fir that is hidden just off a trail. Ive been working on that tree from last year. Big rounds so Ill have to noodle so I dont throw out my back.
That is the worst thing about aspen/poplar around here, the standing dead. It might be good trunk to top, it might be rotten for ten feet, and then good, or just garbage that didn't fall over yet. I try to cut either green, or deadfall that's propped up off the ground. You'd think the deadfall would be garbage, but a lot of times it's not. And very true about abundance. I cut it because it's everywhere, and close. I'd still use it with other woods available, as it doesn't take much to warm the shack anyways.
I was writing that post knowing you would probably chime in so no insult intended to your impressive stacks! Id have no problem burning it if thats what was prevalent around me, after all its not to far off in btus from the lodgepole pine that makes up a big portion of my stacks. Thats interesting that many of those standing deads are junk. Ive often wondered. Maybe its like a lot of standing dead birch but I dont think the bark is water tight like birch bark is. I get spoiled with pine, fir, larch that is standing dead, much of which is ready for the stove
