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Firewood
  Firewood is the oldest and cleanest fuel for heating and
cooking known to man. It has been used since the dawn of history
and is still used throughout the world today. Still one of the
most important and easily the cleanest from an environmental
viewpoint! Its use is increasing by about 9% each year in the
British Isles, and in Ireland it is more popular now than ever
before.
Firewood is a renewable resource and in the UK is mostly
produced as a by-product of other activities. Eg. Forestry, Land
Development, and Arboricultural Operations. Environmentally it is
a clean fuel. It does not add to the "Greenhouse Effect" like
fossil fuels (oil, coal, etc.) as any carbon dioxide released by
burning is less than the tree used in growing and would have been
released anyway during decomposition.
 It is also healthier than most other fuels. How often do you
hear of someone being killed by fumes while sitting in front of a
log fire? Wood in the traditional form of logs still has a very
important role in today's Hi-Tech world.
Firewood supply can create local, rural jobs and revenue and
can play a major role in reversing rural economic decline.
Firewood is also a renewable resource and using it today will not
prevent our children and grandchildren from using firewood in the
future.
Cutting firewood through thinning and coppicing can
re-establish traditional woodland management. It is a decline in
this type of practice that has led to the loss or decline of some
of our most attractive woodland wildlife.
Seasoning and storing logs
Because trees contain a lot of water, freshly cut logs will
contain around 50% water and are difficult to burn without some
drying or seasoning taking place. Wood felled during one winter
should be seasoned over the following summer and burnt the next
winter when they should have around 33% moisture. If possible, two
years seasoning is best to bring it to 25% moisture content.
  Some trees contain naturally less water than others. Freshly
felled ash for example contains only a 33% moisture content while
fresh poplar has a moisture content of sixty six percent.
A reputable firewood merchant should only sell you seasoned
logs, unless you specifically ask for fresh or green wood to
season yourself. Logs are best stored outside but under cover
where air but little rain can get to them. If possible bring your
next weeks supply into the house and store somewhere warm like
near but not next to the fire, stove or boiler.
Burning logs
Some types of tree make better firewood than others.
Broadleaved trees are denser than softwoods such as pines and
provide more heat per similar sized bag or trailer load. In
general ash, oak, beech, birch, sycamore, hornbeam are all first
class firewoods. All conifers such as pine, plus sweet chestnut,
and turkey oak are liable to throw sparks but can be used if very
dry in a closed wood burning stove or boiler. Alder, willows and
poplars are considered poor firewoods due to their high moisture
content. |
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There is an old poem on firewood which to some extent holds
true. |
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Beechwood fires are bright and clear
If the logs are kept a year,
Chestnut's only good they say,
If for logs 'tis laid away.
Make a fire of Elder tree,
Death within your house will be;
But ash new or ash old,
Is fit for a queen with crown of gold
Birch and fir logs burn too fast
Blaze up bright and do not last,
it is by the Irish said
Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread.
Elm wood burns like churchyard mould,
E'en the very flames are cold
But ash green or ash brown
Is fit for a queen with golden crown
Poplar gives a bitter smoke,
Fills your eyes and makes you choke,
Apple wood will scent your room
Pear wood smells like flowers in bloom
Oaken logs, if dry and old
keep away the winter's cold
But ash wet or ash dry
a king shall warm his slippers by.
Author Unknown
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