That has happened to me right about going into the 6th winter when I realized some of my wood was "mushy", "and" it was well cared for and ventilated. I also want to mention I live in a "VERY" humid enviroment so that is one large contribution.
She would kill me if the wood ran out, she loves the woodburners! It's looking at the heaps of firewood everywhere that irks her.....lol
This is where I'm at in my hoarding career......anymore, I only keep oak, hickory, locust and hard maple for firewood. I do keep some other stuff for using in the maple syrup evaoprto and in the firepit, but I get so much of it I just give alot of it away. We gave away TONS AND TONS of ash, maple and pine this past winter. In fact, we just did a huge black walnut tree last week and gave it all away. The homeowner had the trunk milled by my buddy Tony, there was 5 trailer loads and several truck loads of firewood that I gave to my brother-in-law.
I like this in terms of just being picky but seems like the snobbery is a strong label. When oak and hickory is mentioned here, its only the best considered wood amongst a lot of our members. When I got some I was elated so I grabbed what I could. Looking back , Oak sure does have its own connotations and prerequisites before making it to the stove. Since the majority of the members here have a lot of cold winters, the kind where you just lay low, its enough... yeah? So when getting some of these hardwoods, its a treat both ways granted. A friend of mine has black locust trees in her yard in Tacoma, I was at her house, her kids were working outside so that prompted a fire. That burned then I started finding scraps of BL in her garage, dry and chunky pieces. Those got thrown in... After about 20-30 mins she went ahead to start pushing the pile in and noticed when she got close, the heat was very high. It was unbelievably hot, I took a turn and the same issue especially to my face. I should mention that it was about 75 degrees out but the wind was blowing a great breeze to help the fire stay hot. It was started with some Doug fir blocks and whatnot, much more manageable! The fact that she noticed a difference in the heat gave me a bit of pause, I am Elated! At the same time though, cautionary. Being that winter could be mild or could be cold constantly enough for WA, I had to put this in perspective of burning high BTU wood in an already warm small house. I hope its snowing and icy when I choose that kind of wood. Pine and stuff will do the toasty good job but I can't help but think it'll be like Arizona in July ( average 110 degrees) in the house and that's with the windows open by burning some of these hardwoods. Boy this topic in the summer sounds hot alone! Being picky with wood is good to know that you're aware of what you have and need knowing your window of winter. Providing its prepared to burn that is. Just with the winters here, it does want me to throttle down and save the best for when that COLD Slams. Ive got Madrone, BL and maple, cherry and birch, while the former may not be ready as much as the latters the options still have credible heat and likely best for bedtime. Sorry if it sounds like I hijacked this thread, choosing wood wisely does sound better but knowing to plan how your shoulder seasons last to the bone chill then back to the shoulder (if that really even happens to some of you!) I read some of these temps and I know of single digits having lived in E-Wa but it doesn't hold a damm candle to a constant 4-5 cord winter!
OK, I have to chime in on this! After reading the above, put's a few things into a perspective: First, unless you are a logger or have unlimited supply of wood, don't take "any" wood for granted. I have had years where I begged and scavangened for wood because I ran out and burned more than I figured for the year. I didn't care if it was a petrafied turd, it was going into the stove! Second, the "only" thing I will turn away from is pine. I had a chimney fire once "many" years back before I became educated on correct burning and it cost me big time!!! Over the years I have probably gave away 25+ cord of wood and it's usually what is ready to burn so it won't rot. Where I live, it's not a pick and chose game and I'm grateful for every log, if it just so happens the good Lord graces me with Oak, I say Thank you! If it's Maple, I say Thanks again! BTU's are BTU's, some folks have the luxury of picking, some of us don't but I'm always on the hunt! Storms "sadly" are my best friend here in Southern NJ, sandy soil makes for trees going over easy and I've lived here long enough that I know where the "killing fields" are. Anyway sorry for the small novel, I take what ever I can get and just say Thank you to the Big man!
Amen Dave! I give thanks to the big man for every stick on my land, and I'll burn it all, sure I love my oak and hickory and locust and sugar maple lol. But at the end of the day btu's are btu's. I don't care what it is, as long as it's dry. On the other hand... Ifn I had as much tree work as Scotty Overkill and had it comming out of my ears, then yes I would be a complete snob.
Sorry I think I got a lot of people to misunderstand me, you included. I've been very thankful to anyone who has given me wood, I have also been thankful when its a win win, I took a load of dry alder for someone who couldn't keep it for they needed storage space. I even kept their number so I can return the favor in the future. This isn't my intent to "bash wood" I just figure if someone is that far ahead, they can allow themselves to scrounge a different sort of wood. I apologize for anyone who I've offended here. Not my intention. Please forgive me
Im fairly certain you did not offend anyone, Sir. ... my advice brother, slow your roll.. you are going to give yourself an aneurysm
I don't think "anyone" took it wrong! I was merely making an observation, wood is wood, wether it's free, bought, or you labored to cut it. Everyone's situation is different, and all I was stating is that sometimes "you" don't get the luxury of choosing! I am a true hoarder and my wife and daughter can attest to it!!! I've been going to the mall shopping and see wood on the side of the road, hit the brakes, pull over and load the truck! In the mean time my wife is boiling!!! No worries on this end, I understood you just fine!
You mean not not pre-synthetic, elasticfabritemalistic, polymorphidited, compressedgopherturds? Are you kidding me? Whats this world coming to?
I'm sure my daughter either is going to join me or groan at me. Depends on how well the need goes. So far she hasn't argued and helps me carry it around the yard
Yeah sounds like one log of this stuff and it might power 30 skyscrapers and 50 blocks of residential territory!
