Sunday, January 21, 2018

The costs of free firewood

Living in a suburb of a densely populated State, I don't have access to a ready source of firewood. I like to have enough of a stockpile of dry, seasoned hardwood for loss of heat in winter, but also fireplace and firepit fires. I can buy firewood for $325-$400 per cord. That is more expensive per BTU than oil heat. 

I choose to be an opportunist, collecting free wood on the side of the road. With free wood, it is fresh cut, green wood. It often needs additional cutting, plus splitting, stacking and drying. Often, the wood is full of rot, full of knot clusters and twisted wood that doesn't split easily. There is also the potential for insect infestation. However, for about 2.5 hours of work, I have 1/5th of a cord of maple that will be ready to burn next Fall.