I've found other firewood myths and old sayings and folklore here on FHC, but want to know about two specific ones. One is about a cord of a type of firewood that "lasts forever." (Actually, it just seems like it does because it is so hard to split). The other one is about some type of firewood that folklore says using will increase fertility, perhaps because it burns so "cold" that folks find another way to stay warm. Does anyone know the sayings or proverbs that match these? Thanks in advance.
Welcome ShoreSuz to the best firewood site going, I'm sure others will have some good sayings. The only one one I've got is the most common one "the fuel that heats you twice" nothing new there.
Hmmm, I've never heard of those. There is the sayings about pine and how it shouldn't be burned but that's not really folklore. The one NH mountain man told you is almost gospel around here Off hand the ones you're are asking about remind me something that is perhaps Scandinavian. I wonder if Minnesota Marty would have heard something like that up in his neck of the woods, with all the Norwegians around him? Good luck and welcome to FHC!
While I don't know the official answer, I would like to state that green firewood increases fertility because after spending an hour trying to get the fire going we had to find another way to keep warm.
You're right@schlot, That's the other one I always grew up with. "You can't burn pine in a wood stove" I know better now.
My Grampa always used the term " Harder then a Pizz Elm Club" although he pronounced elm as elem. Gary
Yes; "Burning Hackmatack will warp your stove"...because it burns so hot. (In Maine Hackmatack is also known as Juniper and Larch)
Another: "With wood you want the air on top of the fire, with coal you want the air going underneath". This is true, get air going on top of a coal fire and it will go out.
The hardest wood I've ever split was sweet gum...never again. That could be the wood that lasts forever. The wood that is said to help with fertility is jamacian dogwood.
He, he, he...I'll tell you a story, but I will try and be PG about it; but one time on this date night with my wife, I came home and the fire had sizzled out. In order to resurrect a dead fire I opened the ash door, and being a date night, we proceeded for the bedroom. Normally I would have been back out in...well let's be honest...3 minutes or less, but having her little red dress on, I was preoccupied this night. So I came back out an hour later and I kid you not; the entire pot bellied stove was glowing as red as her dress!! I had some sand I used on the icy walkways and throwing it on the stove, it literally turned to glass that was how hot it was.
I actually do somewhere, I will see if I can find it. As for Katie in the red dress...I am not sure the ole loggers on here could handle it. A hulking ole maul...yes. Katie in a little red dress...no!
little red dress, little black dress, little or no dress ? Yep been missing out on that for some time now.
Welcome ShoreSuz - You're gonna like it here, I guarantee it-if you've got the addiction, we'll counsel you along-First session recommendation=CUT MORE!!! Nice to meet you, lots of good peeps here...
Beech wood fires are bright and clear, If the logs are kept a year. Chestnut’s only good they say, If for long it’s laid away. Birch and fir logs burn too fast, Blaze up bright and do not last. It is by the Irish said Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread. Elm wood burns like a churchyard mould, Even the very flames are cold. But Ash green or Ash brown Is fit for a queen with golden crown. Poplar gives a bitter smoke, Fills your eyes and makes you choke. Apple wood will scent your room, Pear wood smells like flowers in bloom Oak and maple if dry and old, Keep away the winter cold. But ash wood wet and ash wood dry, A king shall warm his slippers by. These hardwoods burn well and slowly, Ash, beech, hawthorn oak and holly. Softwoods flare up quick and fine, Birch, fir, hazel, larch and pine. Elm and willow you'll regret, Chestnut green and sycamore wet Oak logs will warm you well That are old and dry Logs of pine will sweetly smell But the sparks will fly Birch logs will burn too fast Chestnut scarce at all sir Hawthorn logs are good to last That are cut well in the fall sir Holly logs will burn like wax You could burn them green Elm logs burn like smouldering flax With no flame to be seen Beech logs for winter time Yew logs as well sir Green elder logs it is a crime For any man to sell sir Pear logs and apple logs They will scent your room And cherry logs across the dogs They smell like flowers of broom But Ash logs smooth and grey Buy them green or old, sir And buy up all that come your way They're worth their weight in gold sir Logs to Burn, Logs to burn, Logs to burn, Logs to save the coal a turn, Here's a word to make you wise, When you hear the woodman's cries. Never heed his usual tale, That he has good logs for sale, But read these lines and really learn, The proper kind of logs to burn. Oak logs will warm you well, If they're old and dry. Larch logs of pine will smell, But the sparks will fly. Beech logs for Christmas time, Yew logs heat well. "Scotch" logs it is a crime, For anyone to sell. Birch logs will burn too fast, Chestnut scarce at all. Hawthorn logs are good to last, If you cut them in the fall. Holly logs will burn like wax, You should burn them green, Elm logs like smouldering flax, No flame to be seen. Pear logs and apple logs, They will scent your room, Cherry logs across the dogs, Smell like flowers in bloom But ash logs, all smooth and grey, Burn them green or old; Buy up all that come your way, they're worth their weight in gold.
