The joys of being ahead....finally!

[FWWARDEN]

Been burning for the past two seasons; this time of year I was felling, bucking and splitting like a mad dog, to have reasonably suitable wood for the following season. Acting under the sage advice of the good folks on this forum, I got a year ahead of the game last summer. I've dropped most of the trees I'll need for two seasons from now, and I have the luxury of busting and stacking at my own convenience now. Now to get a couple years ahead of the game is my next goal. Anyone who is not at this point yet, and has the room to stack the extra wood, I can tell you it comes highly recommended. I much prefer swinging the fiskars as a leisure sport.

 

[Ductape]

I've gotta agree on your outlook. I try to keep a full season ahead (two winter's worth of wood), and you are right. Its so much nicer to be able to cut / split / stack at my liesure. It keeps the fun in working with firewood.

 

[PA. Woodsman]

That's the key-stay ahead of the game and you'll enjoy the woodburning experience even more. Smart man....

 

[savageactor7]

Yup, it's a nice feeling being so far ahead you can just putter away at gathering more without being behind the 8 ball.

 

[wsorg]

Definitely, get that stuff stowed and seasoned!

 

[Flatbedford]

I just started splitting and stacking my 11/12 wood. I agree it is a good feeling to be ahead. I have about 1/2 of my 11/12 wood on the property and that should be split and stacked by May. The rest of my 11/12 wood has been located, I just have to get it home. One of the nicest thing about being ahead is that I can affford to be somewhat of a wood snob. I can wait for the better species and pass on the lesser stuff. Being a hand splitter, it is nice to only work with the easier splitting woods.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Been burning for the past two seasons; this time of year I was felling, bucking and splitting like a mad dog, to have reasonably suitable wood for the following season. Acting under the sage advice of the good folks on this forum, I got a year ahead of the game last summer. I've dropped most of the trees I'll need for two seasons from now, and I have the luxury of busting and stacking at my own convenience now. Now to get a couple years ahead of the game is my next goal. Anyone who is not at this point yet, and has the room to stack the extra wood, I can tell you it comes highly recommended. I much prefer swinging the fiskars as a leisure sport.

You have the right idea although I'm not so sure about that fiskars splitter. I guess they work good for a lot of folks though. But you definitely have the right ideas on getting ahead on wood.

I'm wondering if you also fly that bird pictured in your avatar?

 

[Deere10]

Same here. Loaded boiler shed full this past weekend for the 2010-2011 season. 2011-2012 all bucked just got to get up on pallets and let nature take it course..What a relief it is to be a little ahead of the game. Though I will be searching for wood throughout the summer season,in between golf and riding the Harley..Its a warm cozy feeling to know you are a little ahead of the burning season..

 

[firefighterjake]

The funny thing is when you get ahead doing firewood is very relaxing . . . although all your friends and neighbors start to wonder about you . . . seems like I'm always being asked if I have enough wood or how many years ahead I figure I'm at . . . one friend is even convinced the world will in fact end in 2012 as the Mayans predicted . . . he is convinced my woodpiles will have grown so tall and heavy by that point that they will fall over and crush the Earth.

 

[Flatbedford]

Once when I was out splitting a neighbor called out to me "Do you have enough wood?" I responded "I sure hope so".

 

[Deere10]

Just think it will be that neighbor who may come over in Jan looking to get some wood. Then you can ask him if he had enuff wood?? Because it may happen

 

[FWWARDEN]

Backwoods, I was a crew chief on the Jayhawk til 2005, my screen name indicates my current employment.

 

[Gunks]

Totally agree that it's nice to be ahead. I am two seasons ahead at this point. I also enjoy leisure splitting with my Fiskars.

 

[clinkerstinker]

Two more stacked rows and I'll be done for 2012. Trouble is I won't stop there but have no room under cover.

 

[Henz]

yeah I her yeah, I am getting there myself..just have one more large bucked up pile to spit and quite a bit of stacking to do, have this coming seasons wood stacked, a solid 4 cord. Have lots of hardwood laying around from being knocked over while logging the pine....I cant even venture a guess but I would definatly say a years worth of wood (4 cord). Will be workign on that throught the summer mixing in with more pertinent chores around the house.

 

[NH_Wood]

Almost done splitting/stacking 2013/2014 wood. Next 3 years already done. Managed to get 4 years ahead during the past ~ 15 months. New stove delivered about a month ago, so was able to keep gathering and gathering. I agree with other posts that being able to collect and process wood at my leisure. Putting up the 20 or so cord in about a year was a tad much - wouldn't want to do that again, unless delivered in logs direct to house. Had to buck and haul all but about 2 cord of the 20. Cheers!

 

[Jack Straw]

The good thing about being ahead is that I burn 4 cord a year, so all I have to do is cut 2 cord in the spring and 2 cord in the fall. Pretty easy.
Side note: I am now working a ton of OT so I am really glad to be ahead.

 

[Got Wood]

Getting ahead is very rewarding. I really worked hard and enjoyed the whole process - its become more fun than work for me. I am now up to 16 cord C/S/S and burned approx 5.5 Cord this season so I have about 3 winters worth seasoning. I prefer not to spend much time on wood processing when the weather is warm so try and limit it to Oct through April. This "processing season" I C/S/S a little more than 10 cords. Space will limit me going forward to a pace of keeping up with what I use.... unless I get generous and give away or sell some....
This was my 2nd year burning and I found this years wood was in much better shape than last year. Next year and going forward I will have atleast 2 summers of seasoning on all wood.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I agree. The wood season if during the winter months. Sap is down, no bird nests to concern you, no skeeters to slap, feels good to be able to do some hard work and not have sweat running down into your eyes, etc. I wait until spring to do the splitting and stacking and do it in my leisure. I still have a bunch of stacking to do but now it is pretty wet after some hard rain we got. Looks like this whole week might be wet for us with falling temperatures. So, it can just wait. I'm in no hurry.