Aging woodburner

[hilly]

As many times as I can I mountain bike up a local mountain. Three years ago I was riding up and this old guy was coming down rolling a furniture dolly with three or four decent sized rounds.On his back he had an old pack with two or three hand saws and some wood in the pack. During a lengthy conversation he told me that he had permission to take firewood off the mountain. He cuts it all by hand and carries it off the mountain by cart... every day. I still see him when I ride up and he's still cutting and hauling, though I have noticed his loads have decreased somewhat. I guess that's to be expected when you are 93!

 

[AmbDrvr253]

I would keep wood cutting as its what keeps you younger and since you have more time on your hands as a person gets older just slow down and do it over a longer period of time. I think we all get in a hurry

Agreed

 

[Nosetotail]

It is very nice to see the posts here. I am 42 and bought my first house with a fireplace last year. Even though I live in Florida, I am completely consumed with finding and splitting good wood. It is encouraging to see that I should be able to enjoy this for many years to come.

Even though I don't burn very much, I am still trying to get ahead of the seasoning curve. Just scored about a cord of green Red Maple yesterday. Went to my son's friend's house and the friend's dad took me out into the back yard to show me the tree he just cut down. I had to take what the good lord was providing. He had a homelite saw, with the original chain not sharpened, and no bar oil. I knew he was struggling, so I got my saw and bucked all the bigger pieces and took everything over 3" off his hands. This will have me set for the better part of the winter next year. Now I'm off to my search for rounds to stow for two years from now.

 

[velvetfoot]

I just put an order in for another log load. It usually takes him a while.

 

[mellow]

For the first time this year I bought 4 tons of compressed wood bricks (got a great deal) and have been using them with my existing wood mixing in 6-10 bricks per load, I think I will end up with 3 tons of bricks for next year, it is nice to watch my racks dwindle down slower this year.

For the older ones looking to get rid of the leg work I would seriously look at switching to wood bricks.

 

[velvetfoot]

I think they might even have been cheaper than pellets at the hardware store earlier this winter.

 

[embers aplenty]

Im getting ready to turn 55. The tree company has been cutting all around where I live. I just scored 2 good loads of locust and plan to get some more. One of the young tree guys spoke to me as I was coming in from work and said "man you've got enough wood for a nuclear winter". I just smiled and said, yea I've got a stick or two.

I've burned for about 25 years and have no plans of stopping. I've never bought any wood, I guess if I had to start buying I might rethink it.

 

[tae111]

I'm 62. I have been burning wood for 34 years. I used to cut and split my own but the last few years I have been buying seasoned split wood. This year I burned only pressed bricks. They are called envi8 and I love them. I have burned 3 tons this year so far and the convenience is amazing. Not as cheap as cutting your own but still better than turning on the electric heat.