Around 10 months ago we stored a few cords of firewood, and now the pile is looking pretty small. So we got back to cutting some logs and will make some more seasoned fire wood. The trees that were cut down were at risk of falling, and it was were by building went. So these large trees have been producing lots of fire wood for us. We plan on filling up the barn with enough to to get us through another year.
Got myself a headache rack for my truck, really liking it. It protects the back glass from getting hit and broken, hence "saving you a headache".... or something like that.
The wood is a bit wet, it has been laying out by the building waiting to be cut for months now. So we must lay it up and let it dry for a few days or a week or two. Then we can split them and properly stack them in the barn.
I put my truck in 4WD before we got started, but I think with a stack of firewood in the back it may get enough traction with the mudders not needing it. But I find if the truck is cold its harder to get it into 4WD so better to just leave it in that mode and when I turn it on its ready to go.
We recently got the chainsaw blade sharpened, was the best $40 we have spent on it and its now a great tool again.
Loading up my truck, we did around 2-3 loads a day for 2 days. I think I want to take a break for a few days before we get back to cutting more, maybe half way done if we want to get all those wet logs set up in the barn.
These were some old oak trees, sucks to see them go. But if they fell on my building it could cost magnitudes of what it just cost to remove the trees.
We will put the wood to good use, for the last year we have used it for campfire cooking. But now I have a central wood furnace on the way. I am in the process of getting the infrastructure installed to heat my workshop and two homes using a outdoor firewood fueled furnace. It heats water pipes that runs through the buildings central air handler that heats the homes and workshop. That way we do not need to depend on propane or costly electrical usage to heat the spaces we work and live in.
This pile was only the start, its almost roof high now after many more loads.
With this addition, the wood usage will greatly increase as the winter sets in here in Virginia. Last year our central heater did not handle the extreme cold and we had a few really cold days in the upstairs zone of the house. So we hope with this wood fueled heat we should have more reliable heating. When temperatures drop below 20F the heat pump based heat does not work well. And the cost of propane to heat the main level is quite substantial. So offsetting this with alternative heating would be great long term.
So with this central wood furnace on the way, we have lots of wood to split and season. But really excited at the prospect of heating the homes and workshop using firewood instead of propane and electricity.
We loaded the truck up a half dozen times or so with cut logs, soon it will all cure and start drying. Also known as seasoning, but soon enough we can split them into smaller pieces to help them dry faster.