Winter wood from trees taken down in neighborhood

 Burning wood can save a lot of money on fuel and electricity. Obtaining the wood at no cost is a another matter intirely. Offering to take trees that have been cut down in the neighborhood helps both the owner and the one burning wood. Many times the company or person cutting down the tree appreciates not having to pay the disposal fee to haul it away.

We have acquired much of our firewood by asking if we could take tree that have been cut down and they dispose of the branches. Buying wood may be as expensive as gas, fuel or electricity. Many do not have the equipment to cut into stove length and splitting for managable size.

 Another cost concern is how is the wood delivered to your home. Are you hauling it or having it delivered? If you have a pickup or trailer the most cost effective way is getting yourself most of the time. You still have to take into consideration how far you might have to travel to get the wood and bring home. Gas to and from may just as expensive. Locally is a savings.

 Drying wood before burning is important. Wet wood is much harder to keep burning and hot as it has to dry itself out before it will burn warm to emit heat. Once the wood drys it burns hot, slower and more efficiently. That brings back the subject of stacking so air can circulate around and through the wood. It will start showing cracks in the ends as it drys.