I’m somewhat disappointed with my hoarding efforts. I needed to get some more wood into the house now that we’ve made it out of the prolonged intensive cold spell. Although I have been a member here for 5 years this coming March and have more firewood split and stacked than probably anyone in the county (probably everyone in the county combined). When I pulled up to the stacks out back this evening I realized I don’t have any firewood that I really consider good and dry and ready to go. Now I do have a bunch of stuff that’s good and dry, but it’s split a bit smaller and nice pieces that I want to hang onto for making bundles. I also have about the same amount of silver maple that is nice looking and dry, but I want to hang on to it also in case I need to split it smaller to supplement the bundles. I have a Holzhouzen that measures up to about 2 cords made up from honey locust on the outside with mostly black walnut filling. Pretty sure this summer will be the 3 year anniversary of building it. I don’t want it tear into it and short change my first test of burning HL by not letting it dry long enough. I think I have 6 totes full of a mix of every species that I come across. It’s all also a mix of chunks, nuggets, uglies, and cookies but mostly not nearly dry as I would like to burn in the stove. That leaves probably close to 4 cords of hackberry and elm split and stacked but none of it is as dry as what the majority of the members here would consider optimal. But probably a good bit drier than anything I burned before I joined forces with you fine folks. Im also certain that what I have is definitely more dry than the pickup load that the neighbors across the street unloaded and hauled in to the house this afternoon. and the trailer load that just showed up a day or two ago in a driveway a couple blocks down the street. But, next year I should be golden
If the 5 years younger version of you could see the scene in your yard today, I think he’d more than approve
I feel your pain. I was sitting comfortably at the 3-year plus mark, only to let my guard down and what got split we sold. Now I'm burn elm, ash, maple, hackberry, and maybe a few others that I cut and split this year. On the plus side, it has been down a few years so well on it's way plus most is under cover, okay, maybe a little less than half. I do have locust that was split back in 2016 and brought a few splits in before the cold hit. Have about 2-cords of it but will never use it when it's not needed. On the plus side, I'm sitting on 2 cords of hedge, the 2-cords of HL/BL, another 2 cords of HL spit or in the process of being split now, a cord of mulberry, and white oak, maybe 1-1.5 cords once it is all cut and split and this does not include a trunk that is an easy 2-cords by itself. Just need to stay focused staying ahead at this point. I would think 3-years for the HL will be plenty. You try a split or two and see what you think, but I've had good luck with it drying in 2-years. But that 7-year-old locust is well worth the wait and hopefully it will take a few years for me to burn it all.
Try some of that HL, but I like to let it go 3 years. Or break into the elm that might not be quite as dry as you want it to be. Just pay attention, and maybe try to dry splits by the stove before they are needing to be burned.
Not desperate enough to break into the Holzhouzen just yet. The plan is to get a bunch of the elm and hackberry inside and get a fan on it. I can get about a month’s worth of wood by the stove if’n the temperatures outside stay above zero. I’m not really worried, but to the untrained eye looking at my back yard, they seem to think I’m set for life with wood
I got into the same situation. Tons of wood, but not as much as I want that is ready to burn. We have olenty for this winter, but I need to get crackinif I want to get/stay 3-5 years ahead.
X2. I think you are doing just fine. Even if you are forced to use two year dried wood you're still way ahead of 99% of other burners.
Twice I sold wood to friends. They got 2 cords and each time I felt I got myself too close to usable “dry” wood, so I’ve stopped doing it anymore. I’m a snob.. it’s all mine. Putting some in a warm dry stove room with good airflow should get some moisture out quickly.
Excellent post Sandhillbilly. . I'm a couple years ahead, but like others have said, need to get moving on that 3-5 year ahead. I recently had some excavation done to increase the size of my firewood processing/storage area, so there is no excuse. And I would agree with you, if you have as much firewood as you say, it is probably as much as everyone in the county. In my travels through your neck of the woods, I have noticed very few firewood stacks at homes. Granted, trees are not as abundant there but there still seemed to be enough that I certainly could scrounge to burn and heat with.
I'm burning some 4 year seasoned CSS honey locust and it barely burns hot enough. Prolly could use another year. So don't bet too much on HL.
A few years back I did a bunch of cutting of dead standing red oak. Burnt the most of it while HHO was dirt cheap. At the time I kept looking at the math and it would have been smarter to sell the oak and burn HHO. Have to admit burning that oak for two Winters was a LOT more fun ......
I just cannot bring myself to sell wood. I do give some to a widow lady from time to time. I always think about the work I did cutting, hauling, splitting and stacking. I'll just hoard.
It's definitely hard to share the benefits of that much work. I could give/sell some to someone who couldn't themselves but to enable someone to be physically lazy cause they have money.... I'll pass. If they don't have the time.... wood burning ain't for them either imo.
I present highly unlikely scenario 1: Jessica Alba moves out into the country next door to you. She knocks on your door one evening, shivering. Her furnace is broken and she's begging for some firewood to carry her through the weekend until the HVAC guy can take care of her. Do you: 1) Hand her the maul and lecture her about the rewards of honest labor 2) Give her your wood Take all the time you need
Sorry I’m not buying the arguement. I think what you’re feeling is separation anxiety. You’ve grown fond of your stacks and are feeling remorse over burning them. I go through it every year albeit on a larger scale. In the fall I fill three basements with all the wood they’ll need that winter. By the time I’m done I go out in the wood lot and cry like a baby lol Ya gotta learn to just let it go
