Not sure how much any of you get to travel, but as I sit on yet another plane I realized I watch how other people in different states manage wood. Conceptually it is all the same, but climates and wood types vary. I have seen some killer oaks in Nebraska that I wanted to fly home for example. Oklahoma was pretty sparse, but had some nice locust where I was. I did observe that most places have many that do not properly season their wood. My observation of the day.
One thing I notice is that I am one of the few that even attempts to manage wood in my state. Yes I know it is the great wide open of the prairie out here in Dakotah Territory. It leads to almost nobody using wood and the few that do are far between. Most of what I see is cut it and pile it. Most of the wood that does get burned here is in campfires and is poorly seasoned at best. I really think a huge part of it is a lack of a firewood culture here. Many times throughout the years I have heard, I wouldn't do that-It is too much work-it is too dirty-they have this thing called propane you know-ect. I have also heard, your campfire burns clean-how did you get that to start so fast-why can't I get my campfire to light/burn-the bundle was split when I bought it at the gas station so shouldn't it already be dry, ect. I realize it is just a side benefit to have campfires with nice dry wood because I heated with wood the first time 10+ years ago and have been a "wood manager" since (I finally have a management title now!)
One thing I have been surprised by in my area is how little preparation the amish make here (I live near and work in Belleville, PA). With as much wood burning as they do I would have thought they would have tremendous amounts of wood stacked ahead of time. It seems the vast majority of them are on the 'cut and split in the fall to burn this winter' program.
We've bicycled all over the U.S. most of Western Europe and parts of Eastern Europe and I've found it great fun checking out hoarders in other parts of the world. It seems the folks in the Bavairen region of Germany and Austria have the 3 year plan down. We haven't traveled the Scandinavian countries enough to know their seasoning habits. The cool thing is how long the cut the firewood in many European countries.
Ok....the winery has a store not too far from me n my cousins wife used to run it for several years. I rode up with him to pick up wine several time. Now back to scheduled programming...
I wasn't aware they had a store in a separate location. I've never actually been in to the winery I have been there at the pavilion for a wedding though. Beautiful place.
Couldn’t agree more Greenstick. I see the same stuff in southern Dakota Territory! I can’t stand seeing piles and piles of good firewood waiting to be burned in a farmers burn pile! In addition to standing dead in groves and pastures rotting away! I lose sleep wondering what the town is going to do with all the ash they have scheduled to take down, I’m guessing it goes to the dump! Good idea for a new thread!
My kid that lives in SF SD hadn't mentioned that there is scheduled ash removal. Its going to make him sick if he has to take out his. When they bought the house one of the first things he told us about it was it had nice mature ash trees around it and that helped him decide that was "THE" house. I have yet to get turned away when I ask if I can go in and cut on a shelterbelt with standing dead or a tree row that was taken down. Usually just get told don't make a mess or get hurt, but take all you want. I can't fathom the # of btu's left to rot out in feilds!
The city is marking Bulvard trees with blue #9 scheduled for removal. If your kid wants to save his ash trees they can treat them. From arborist that I talk to it sounds like it cost about the same to treat them as it cost to remove them. Depending on the size and if there worth keeping of course. If your kid needs advise on a reliable arborist PM me and I’ll get you some contacts!
I’ve never asked if I can cut somebodies dead trees... thought about a lot! Next time I’m going for it!
I like how one fellow manages his wood piles. We've passed his place before but perhaps this is the first time we've passed it in January. Where the house sits, there is nothing to block the west wind. He burns wood so he also stacks some wood ahead of time. Now he has a fence, probably 8' high built out of firewood. If I remember right it is all in rounds so he will probably split as he burns. But at least he cuts some ahead of time and is using it wisely. We've done this in the past; making a wind break out of firewood. I don't mind the looks of it, actually enjoy it and it serves a very good purpose.
