How To Pick Firewood Trees From Your Woods

[thechronicgeneralist]

You only need about 4 dead trees per acre to act as habitats and improve wildlife. If the wood isn't rotten, it's perfectly fine to harvest. If not it's just wasted firewood... That is usually much drier than green wood by the time you harvest it! They're also a great solution if you're running behind on firewood collection for that year for that reason.

[fionam]

Standing dead drop branches.. if they are near trails, they should be cut - loggers call those dropping limbs widowmakers for a reason.

Pine works fine if you let it dry. All those people out West can burn it. And it is much better kindling than oak - drop a piece or two on hot coals to restart your stove, and put the oak or hickory on top. Both hardwoods and softwoods have a place in your woodpile. It's also good for shoulder season in fall and spring - when you just want a little heat from the stove

[orochikaiba]

Thank you for that easy to remember way to discern the trees. I'm learning and it is really helpful

[globy]

I only cut dead standing that isn’t too rotten when im on bushcraft outings

[adjustablehammer]

What do you think about replanting where you cut or just let the existing trees grow bigger?

[jamisgood]

I wouldn't quite agree with avoiding conifers...just choose hardwoods before soft if you have the choice. I just split up a load of spruce. It'll burn just fine. Got a bunch of red pine too, but that stuff splits terribly. Spruce is preferred in that case.

[calebthomson]

But green wood doesn’t burn that well, right?

[gageackerman]

Dead trees good to stick a knife in it, if it’s hard it’s still good.

[davidkeitel]

I'll cut dead fir and Larch and Madrone. The birds and bugs will do just fine.

[jaromejacksan]

You can use woodglut to build it in the cheapest way.