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

Foothillsfire woodyard growth

Discussion in 'The Wood Pile' started by foothillsfire, Oct 10, 2022.

  1. foothillsfire

    foothillsfire

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    Copied from another thread:
    Been awhile, hope all are well.
    This being my first winter burning I have not been burning constantly, trying to stretch my dry wood (barely over 1/2 a cord) over the winter. Now that we're over halfway through I might have been to conservative, probably could have burned a bit more.
    What feels great is knowing I have almost 2 cords stacked and drying for next year so I can burn to my heart's content. This spring hopefully I'll get up to a 3 year stack.

    I was out with my father-in-law picking up some crabapple wood blown down nearby. Just under a 5' bed's worth. Will have to post pictures when I get home.
     
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  2. Sirchopsalot

    Sirchopsalot

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    that's good you have some leftover. We will too. So, more for next year.
    Keep at it at the rate you are and you'll be on the 3 year plan in no time.
    SCA
     
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  3. foothillsfire

    foothillsfire

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    As the days get longer it's time to update this thread, mostly to keep track of things.
    Over last winter I figure we burned a little under a cord, which was about all we had ready to burn. This year we'll have much more and can be less conservative.
    Around the backyard a couple things have changed:

    IMG_0925.JPG
    The poplar and apple stack that used to be behind the shed has now partially moved to a small wood rack that will be right by the back door. I picked this up at a big discount a Canadian Tire and now I can tell why. Terrible design, but it will work for now. I am planning on rotating wood down on the nicer days throughout the winter so there is always a decent amount right by the backdoor.
    IMG_0924.JPG

    The remainder of the poplar was turned into kindling for this winter.
    IMG_0926[1].jpg
    Along the back fence on the West side we burned all the wood that used to be on the pallet. There is about 1/3 of a cord of ash and birch stacked to the left that will be burned this winter.
    IMG_0929[1].JPG

    On the east side of the back fence, I've got mixed hardwood, including apple, elm, maple and ash. This is where I had a small stack of poplar stacked last year. I've cut back the branches of that ornamental to make more room, now it is a much more impressive stack. Visible to the left is the poplar and elm stacked on a pallet last fall.
    IMG_0927[1].JPG

    Between the spruce trees I've started a second row. I need one more nice scrounge to finish the stack. If nothing comes up on FB marketplace I may go down to Crown land to cut some Lodgepole. All of this will hopefully to be burned two years from now.
    IMG_0928[1].JPG

    Thanks for dropping by to read the update!
     
  4. foothillsfire

    foothillsfire

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    Time for a photodump and an overdue update.
    Last fall after an unfortunate stack failure I restacked the wood in the pic directly above, this time putting all of the dark mayday wood at the top. I think it ended up looking quite nice.
    Middle stack.jpg

    This spring I have had some very lucky scrounges for the area. Started with this apple load.
    apple stack.jpg
    Then a load of manitoba maple.
    Maple scrounging.jpg
    Then a full load of birch (forgot to get a picture, oops). All awesome BTUs for the area. Unfortunately the birch was a bit too full and broke the cable on my truck canopy. Still have to get that fixed.

    After plenty of sawing and splitting (still by hand) I've got 2/3 of the remaining back fence stacked to about 6ft high. Once complete that stack will be a little over 1 cord. Add that to the ~1.5 cords and a bit I have already put up I am getting closer to 3 year plan.
    The stacks are hard to photograph with the spruce in the way.
    Woodpile 1.jpg
    woodpile 2.jpg
     
    Last edited: May 22, 2024
  5. Sirchopsalot

    Sirchopsalot

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    Man thats awesome!!
    Youve been busy since the last update.
    How much more to make the 3 yr plan?
     
  6. foothillsfire

    foothillsfire

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    Hard to say! This winter I expect we'll be burning more because my wife will be home with our baby. I'm roughly estimating 1.5-2 cords.
    If I can get 1 more cord stacked I think I'd be close to 3 years. The two current limits are space and time. The backyard is filling up, and I am prioritizing time with the baby. With 2 years comfortably stacked I'm not too worried for the moment.
     
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  7. foothillsfire

    foothillsfire

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    Hello friends,
    Its been a busy summer with the little one but I have found some time to stack up firewood as well.
    Had a great time getting out with my dad to cut some lodgepole pine nearby.
    Pine harvest.jpg
    Haven't been falling much lately so I was happy with this stump, nice clean even hinge wood. Face cut was maybe a bit too deep.
    clean stump.jpg

    The product of a morning's work:
    Stacked truck.jpg

    This wood was for my parents so won't add to my stacks. Happy to help them out though.