I put some fresh Alder in the wood shed last Spring. Figured I would save some handling time by doing so. I’ve just started burning that portion of the supply the past couple of weeks. The result of this is it is harder to get started and although it lasts longer, it doesn’t burn as hot as wood that has been seasoned in the sun and wind before moving into storage. So much for taking the easy route. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The reward for taking the extra time is well worth it. Burning wood that is not ready yet is like peeing into the wind.
On a similar note I had a bunch of pine that my sister had gathered. Been sitting there in rounds for three or four years. 50% was punky crap and I kept telling her let’s haul it all out in the woods and dump it. NOPE!! That’s good wood we’re keeping it. Finally got around to splitting it so we could clean that area up and let it revert to hay. Asked my sister if she was ready for a load of HER pine. NOPE, I don’t want any pine. Grrrr Some of it was so light and looked dry I put a small load on my deck. Tried burning some that night. Yeah, no. It’s crap LOL Loaded up the trailer and dumped it at the town skating pond. Maybe they’ll like it.
There is a reason we stack wood outdoors then move it indoors later. Yes, it is a bit more work but really, it is not that much work to make a big story of it. Just one more chore to do and it gives you exercise. It is sort of like what we do here. I put wood in the barn in the fall then all winter long we take from the barn and put on the porch as needed. From the porch it goes into the stove. Just a bit of needed exercise in winter.
Ran upon an ad myself that was with wood stacked in a shed and became bone dry though. Depends on where it dries and how good the airflow is. Some really work well, others not so much. I’ve got wood sitting above ground in an overhang and that area just gets flooded yet it’s all open. The wood has begun to show mold and it was all kiln dried lumber. Rain has been our enemy and without circulation, it becomes a broom vs ocean. We can only maximize our minimums so much until they are beyond our control. Eastern spots of the state sound great and all but different environments from the West.
I started seasoning wood in the back corner of my yard because it was more out of the way. I used to season it in a better, sunnier side of the yard but I didn't like how it looked. I figured a little shade wouldn't be that bad. Yeah I was wrong. I had to add an extra year to the seasoning time. Some of the wood gets mushrooms growing on it and it always stays slightly damp. Back to the old spot...
I have some wood in the shade but its really windy here most of the time so not that big of a problem. In the sun is much better though.
