Someone asked me recently if I had made a posting or an essay on the 3 year plan. No essay, yet. But if one searches they can find lots of references to it. However, perhaps it is time to look at this again and rather than me list all the benefits of it, I will ask others to add to it if they can. 1. With a 3 year supply of wood on hand that is split and stacked you will never wonder if your firewood is dry enough. It will be. 2. Sometimes bad things happen to people and it has happened to me as with others on this forum. Sometimes a person might get sick and can not put up wood. For example, I was so sick once it took me a year to get over it. In addition, I was once injured and it took me several years before I could put up wood again. So if you get sick or injured or maybe even your work keeps you out of the woods, if you have 3 years on hand, you have no worries about the wood supply and you won't have to have others do your work for you. You will have plenty of firewood. 3. You will have something you can be very proud of! This will bring much pleasure. For example, here is a picture I copied off the Internet. Super Cedars had posted some pictures and chose one of our wood stacks (top picture) to show. Here is another picture of those wood stacks as I was finishing up. Now please add your thoughts to why the 3 year plan is good.
I can't think of any reason it wouldn't be good and agree with your reasoning. I also go by the plan to take free firewood whenever it is available no matter how much I have on hand. As long as it is kept dry it will keep.
The one other reason is if you are hard up for money, dry firewood goes for premium’s mid winter. Everything you mentioned is spot on, but sometimes people lose their job, or just need a few hundred for a gift or a project etc.
This, IMO, is without a doubt the best way for someone who heats with wood to practice the firewood lifestyle. The 3 year plan not only makes sense in terms of safety and efficiency, it is also a great way to show the modern world that heating with wood can be much more environmentally friendly than ever thought possible. The more you have your firewood processed ahead, the better off you're going to be. Especially if your main staple is oak.
I strive for The Plan (as stated) because : impending injury and running mostly oak. And more importantly, piece of mind. I was wound up pretty tight when we first got this house and was in a scramble for wood...
Being ahead lets us help a friend or neighbor in need if they fall on hard times. Also allows for a reserve stash in case of extended or deeper cold than you had planned for, or increased consumption due to stove issues (bad gasket, crack, etc.)
Bad weather can put a hurt on your season of hoarding. So a few years ahead allows for a season off if need be. With my stacks being 90% red oak I try to keep on the four year plan.
Old thread, I just came across... I'm pretty new to wood hoarding/ burning, but I'm thinking that since different types of wood dry out at different rates of time, being on the 3year plan, you don't need separate stacks for different types of wood. Everything dries out for 3 years, then everything (hopefully) is good to go. Especially for those with limited space.
A similar point Patrick is that with a larger seasoned stack of wood you can pick and choose what to burn in certain conditions saving the “good stuff” for those really bitter winter days but burning some not so great stuff for shoulder season and quick evening fires. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I used to stack wood with no attention to species. Once on the 3yr plan, as well as with additional racks, I generally stack wood by oak(readily available), and other. If available, I'll stack species like locust, beech, and hickory, with the oak. if you can do it, get on the 3yr plan. After losing most of the spring wooding season due to injury, I know I can heat the house for 2+years. My empty racks will get re-filled eventually.
Thank you Patrick. If you would like more reading, look here: (2) Primer on Woodburning by Backwoods Savage | Firewood Hoarders Club
I would like to add with the 3 year plan you can also be more selective on the wood you scrounge and where you scrounge. You don't need to deal with those hard to reach or massive logs if you don't want to.
This is so TRUE.. want to be 5 years ahead at end of summer as with heating oil being so high this year. The number of children deployed, Families of Vets get first dibs..
Another good reason for someone like me who lives near a national forest and relies on it as the main source of firewood gathering via firewood permits is when they shut the forest down due to fire danger. Sometimes these bans last several months during prime outdoor weather conditions. It can set you back if you don’t have a good supply on hand already.
Yes, I read that before, Dennis, and I printed up copies for my brothers too. Excellent piece. Thanks.
I'm not a big fan of getting to far ahead. This season we will be burning wood that has been sitting to long. The maple, hickory and other species are going past there prime. Wood was left outside uncovered till this spring, I moved it into shed close to house and was not happy with the quality of the wood.
