In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

The slow road back

Discussion in 'The Wood Pile' started by EODMSgt, Nov 16, 2025.

  1. Canadian border VT

    Canadian border VT

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    EODMSgt I have ash, maple, yellow birch, tulip poplar basically everything BUT oak. I find most of my lower parts of stack get most degraded, I assume it was from weeds that grow up and keep bottom row wet even with mowing etc.. my humidity is being 2 miles from lakes is always high
     
  2. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

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    I'm 1/4 mile from the Delaware bay, Yup! Humidity nearly 100% all summer long.... :picard::dennis:
     
  3. EODMSgt

    EODMSgt

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    Humidity can be high here as well. Part of my property is naturally swampy due to a spring that runs through it (the state doesn't consider it wetlands however the deed does note that the lot is a 'green' area and is supposedly considered non-buildable). I'm also only a few minutes walk from the Saco River (not as much humidity from a fast mover compared to a lake but still adds to the relative area humidity).
     
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2026
  4. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    I understand...we live 1/2 hour-ish from Ravenna Ohio...with has the Ravenna Arsenal, which supposedly was put there specifically (among other reasons) due to prevalent low clouds.
    Ravenna Arsenal - Clio
     
  5. Canadian border VT

    Canadian border VT

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    EODMSgt yes I have a swamp also, during drought I brush hog it; Bota is not a WeldrDave pavement princess, but I buried it so deep in swamp needed bucket to back out.. lots of natural springs in da swamp because no rain in months and in 5 foot of mud which then fills up with high nutrients black swamp water.. If no drought ya leave swamp alone until there is… a prolonged dry spell
    Also learned the hard way
     
  6. JDU

    JDU

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    For what it is worth, I'm a big fan of direct sun for drying firewood, but don't have the property to get all my stacks there.
    For quick drying standing dead oak which is what I burn a lot of, direct sun is the ticket, CSS in March, burn it in January, but agree with others,if you are on the 3 year plan, oak will dry well in the shade.
     
  7. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    Here's an older stack that you might have seen but being unsure, I posted it now so you can see it. It is not the largest one I've ever had but decent. No problem drying it like this. This one even got sun.
    Woodpile-1 2014.JPG
     
  8. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

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    Dennis, as I remember from your land tour, you have enough wood dried for 176 years!:thumbs::tip: :rofl: :lol::yes:
     
  9. ReelFaster

    ReelFaster

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    Same, my property has a heavy canopy of tree cover, limiting sun exposure to maybe an hour or two a day late in the evening.

    Time and air are my only friends.
     
  10. eatonpcat

    eatonpcat

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    :rofl: :lol::rofl: :lol::rofl: :lol:
     
  11. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

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    My stacks get 36 hours of sunlight a day! o_O :whistle: All Day..... And HOT too! :rofl: :lol: No shade for my stacks.
     
  12. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    What, you stackin in Nashville now?!
     
  13. yooperdave

    yooperdave

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    :thumbs:
     
  14. WeldrDave

    WeldrDave Military Outpost Moderator

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    Come'on man.... o_O I Ain't THAT good. ;):rofl: :lol:
     
  15. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    Well, we're not hurting yet.
     
  16. EODMSgt

    EODMSgt

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    Came across this old Norse skidding winch today and I remembered your post. There are some places in the state that deal with logging companies, but I've run into the same thing where most equipment retailers have no clue. And I don't know of anyone else that has a tractor-mounted skidding winch around me (outside of actual logging companies and their full-blown skidders). I see a lot more up for sale over in Maine.

    Norse.jpg
     
  17. EODMSgt

    EODMSgt

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    Seems that mud season has shown up about a month early this year and we went from full winter to muck in less than a week. Temps dropped for a couple days so took advantage of the ground being (mostly) frozen to do a little bit of splitting. Too soft to get the tractor out back so had to break these frozen oak rounds out with a sledge hammer, peavey, shovel, and pickaroon.

    Got one trailer full for the stacks and another with uglies, pieces, and shorts for the bins. Chipping away at the rounds I have left before I start tackling all the piles of logs. I'll say it again, glad to have the hydraulic lift on the splitter...those oak rounds aren't getting any lighter.

    Will hopefully get this stacked tomorrow and cover everything up (again) due to potential incoming snow (dusting tonight, more tomorrow night, and possibly 1-11 inches Sunday into Monday).

    20260319_123025.jpg 20260319_132746.jpg 20260319_142142.jpg
     
    Last edited: Mar 19, 2026 at 3:40 PM
  18. T.Jeff Veal

    T.Jeff Veal

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    Fine looking farwood. Well done, sir.