I didn't expect it but I have mold growing on my firewood. Can it be saved? Should I just toss it? Ways to prevent but store away inside a shed or storage space?
Mold needs moisture to grow. Is your wood covered? Wet wood moldering in a pile in the woods in the shade and high humidity is one thing - it will continue to get worse. A little mold growing on the ends of fresh-cut wood recently placed in a shed is not too unusual in high humidity and is another thing - the mold will die as soon as the wood starts to dry out, and causes no harm. Either way, get the wood under cover and aired out, and the mold will go away. Unless it has gotten completely rotten from the same moisture that caused the mold, the wood will still be useable. Good luck!
You could always burn it ... Usually a top cover of some sort deprives it of the moisture it needs to thrive. Top cover only so the sun and wind can hopefully dry it up . It might already be dead if it brushes right off easily . Inside a shed, depending on the shed, might only make it worse . You really want a lot of air flow, to carry moisture build up away. A little mold growing on the ends is kinda normal, especially during rainy periods. It usually gets wet, grows a little mold, especially on the cut ends, dries up and the mold dries up as well. Rinse, repeat.
If the mold is dry a stiff bristled brush can be used to get rid of it when ready for use. Kind of a given with firewood and you being from the deep South where its humid a lot i'm sure the problem is a lot worse than it is for us folks up North. Maybe Yawner dougand3 and/or T.Jeff Veal can chime in. Keep the wood off the ground, with air flow and top covered (not wrapped) and it should lessen the mold factor. Mold needs moisture to thrive. Once you dry it you can put it in a shed, but putting fresh cut green wood in a shed will slow down the drying process quite a bit. Remember wood comes from a plant and in nature anything dead is food for anything living including microorganisms. Keep it outside until ready for the fireplace/stove. I don't store wood in any living space. Hope this helps.
Occasionally I'll find a moldy piece and its always elm. I just throw it in the fire with everything else. Don't keep it in the house obviously and try not to hit it on anything inside your house.
