The timber industry has been around for millennia, and so it is no surprise is that there are a great many antique and ancient timbering tools that have been forgotten and swept into the dust bin of history. Most of the time, there is good reason for antiquation. Who wants to cut trees with a…
As any experienced fire builder knows, a good fire depends on good tinder and good kindling. Thus, the ability to split kindling from the proper species and to the proper size is crucial to building great fires that establish more quickly with only one strike of a match. Personally, I’ve been building fires and splitting…
There are many considerations to be had when cutting your own firewood. Among them is the question of how long to cut the pieces of firewood. Well, ponder no longer! I’m here to tell you that 16″ is the best firewood length by far. It is a standard length that can fit in every wood…
Heating your home with firewood can be incredibly rewarding. It’s cheaper, arguably more effective, and more comfortable than any other method of heating a home. More than anything, however, it is simply more satisfying, particularly if you grow, harvest, and process your own firewood. Unfortunately, the benefits come at the cost of increased planning and…
From west to east, cedar is an iconic species peppering lowland forests around the world. Known for its rich fragrance and towering trunks, cedar is a species like no other. But how does cedar stack up as a firewood? In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about burning cedar. First, let’s…
Beech is a lesser-known but extremely common tree in the forests of Europe and North America. Often growing in tandem with maple, beech’s smooth bark and straight stems are known for its production of beech nuts–a staple for wildlife that depends on hard mast. However, the American beech has fallen victim to beech bark disease,…
Birch trees are some of the most identifiable trees in the world. With a huge range circling around the earth’s polar region, they are one of the most abundant species in the world and have been used for everything from canoes to toothpicks. But what about firewood? How good is birch as a firewood, and…
Maple is an iconic tree in the forests of Europe and North America. Its leaves adorn the Canadian flag, and its syrup adorns the top of our pancakes. It is one of the most valuable (and beautiful) hardwoods in North America for the wide variety of products it can produce, including beautiful veneers and stunning…
It’s a clash of titans! Maple vs. oak: Which is the best firewood? Oak burns hotter than maple, but oak’s longer drying time probably makes maple more desirable. Let’s look into the qualities of each type of wood so you can make the best decision on what species of wood you would like to burn….
Let’s face it, firewood can be expensive. Luckily, for the enterprising and motivated individual, there are several ways one can find free (or close to it) firewood. Ultimately, it requires resourcefulness and a willingness to put in some time and effort, but even so, there are opportunities abound. If you are one of the select…