If you aren't already. I am burning 4+ year old red oak, overnight. It burns so well. 3-4 splits and there's still plenty of coals 8hrs later for easy morning re-lights. Some of you may recall the threads from 2018, where we had oak trees taken down. If not - Oaks to come down...hopefully Three oaks - Endgame. I've been fortunate to have quite a bit of red maple, and a few other species, for shoulder wood. Given this warm heating season, I've burned more SS wood, than the good stuff. I figure I'll have 4+ red oak for another few years. If not on the plan, please do so. To get on it, I bought 3 cord of wood and CSS'd myself. Now, it's a matter of restocking. Another benefit of being ahead, is the unforseen. As in me breaking my wrist March '22. I knew there was plenty of wood.
Excellent advice Mike! Im trying to get my landlord off the three week plan! He loves burning green oak.
Yes, without a doubt the 3-year plan is the way to go. As you mentioned Mike it is the unforeseen that can get you. I am burning a lot of elm this year that is at 5 years old and dry as a bone. I love it.
Ya we aren't at the 3 year mark yet. We are getting there. With Chaz hurting his ribs and also his knee surgery put us behind a bit. He likes working at it in the barn. Need to get a heater for winters.
I can't decided whether I'm on the 3-year or the 4-year plan this year. We're burning so slowly due to the warmer winter that we may actually have 4 years' worth. That said, we're still wooding... small wood pile in the driveway waiting for the splitter, and the 24 inch trunk of the tree yet to come!
Mike , you nailed it. I am burning stuff that is about the same era as yourself. Well worth the time and effort.
Just split and stacked about3 cords red oak. Just put in stove right before thanksgiving. I’ll have to buy for couple more years. Have a friend gonna start dropping off wood for me.
I'm on the three year plan. Signed up here 3 years ago today, does that count. Been a great time and looking forward to the years to come.
I didn't know about the 3 year plan until I joined here in April of 2020. With all of the uncertainty and the nagging feeling that I had to "do something" I hit it hard that year. That whole spring/summer pretty much every week I'd bring home more and more. Then August came, and a tropical storm hit that took down trees all over my area, and a few right in my backyard. That kept me busy and got me over the hump to where now all I have to do is maintain inventory levels. Nice spot to be in
I had gotten to the 3 year plan with my big Black Locust score Memorial Day weekend. Then my 2 neighbors offered lots of dead elm. I have burned some and added to the hoard with the rest. I think I'm at about 3.5 years now with more elm to get when the weather is better. Three year old wood sure burns nice.
This past summer I just started the firewood plan. I set aside almost 8 cords of firewood here in Wyoming and I'm close to 5 cords burned. It's been a tough winter so I doubt any will be left over going into Spring. Hopefully I can set even more aside going into next winter.
March will be the start of my 4th year here and I don’t think I’m on the 3 year plan yet. Seems like the more I have, the less conservative I am with it. Also, we are having the most winter that we’ve had for decades and much of what I’ve used is more of a shoulder season wood. Definitely on track to burn quite a bit more than last year. And to top it off, I was asked yesterday evening if I sell firewood. Told him I didn’t really think I had enough dry stuff to let loose of any this year. He was wanting a cord or so it sounded like. Thinking about it today though I have a bunch of silver maple that should be good to go, need to measure up the stack and put a price on it and see what he thinks. If I don’t sell any and get what I have processed I might be on the 3 year plan, kinda driving me nuts that I’m not there yet
So apparently you’re starting to find some suitable wood out there. Good job I know you were having trouble earlier
I hear ya, I have enough wood here for the next two years just can’t seem to get the third. Most guys seem to like processing in the winter I simply do not I see that as my issue. This reminds me I gotta call my log guy.
Buying saws is less painful when you sell a little firewood more saws=more firewood it’s simple math. A cord of wood where there’s not many trees has got to be extra valuable.
You’re in a great position to price high. He doesn’t have to accept it if he thinks he can get a better price. You put a lot of work into it AND it’s seasoned! Worst case, you keep it!
Burning 5 year old wood here this winter. Did not get to cut much last year with a bum knee but still on the 3 year plan at least. Been cracking at again now.