Lessons from the reasonably recent past: firewood.

[SPM]

A lot of folks look to the past and the ways we lived before industrialization for clues about what a post-economic then societal collapse may look like.

Back in colonial America, firewood was Life.

If you lived in a village, town, or city, it had to be brought in where it would then be sold. In fact, before the 18th century even began, there are letters from city dwellers complaining that they had to go five miles out of town just to find enough trees to cut and bring home.

Most Colonial homes would use about 40 cords of wood per year.

And before anyone shrugs because they don’t like in a city, Boston’s population in 1760 was only 15,631….only 44% the size of modern day Salisbury, NC (35,760 in 2021) which can hardly be called a major city.

Considering a cord of wood weighs 2,000 to 3,000 lbs (though depending upon the type of wood, could be as high as 5,000 lbs/cord), that means the average household in colonial America was using between 80,000 and 120,000 lbs of wood per year.

And considering all of that wood had to be felled, transported, split, stacked, and seasoned - it’s almost incomprehensible in the 21st century to understand how much work is saved daily because of modern technology.

There were still fields to be tended, game to be hunted, home maintenance…..

So if this is a consideration you’re making as part of your preps - understand the sheer magnitude of work that’s required and take that into account.

 

[Average Joe]

A lot of folks look to the past and the ways we lived before industrialization for clues about what a post-economic then societal collapse may look like.

Back in colonial America, firewood was Life.

If you lived in a village, town, or city, it had to be brought in where it would then be sold. In fact, before the 18th century even began, there are letters from city dwellers complaining that they had to go five miles out of town just to find enough trees to cut and bring home.

Most Colonial homes would use about 40 cords of wood per year.

And before anyone shrugs because they don’t like in a city, Boston’s population in 1760 was only 15,631….only 44% the size of modern day Salisbury, NC (35,760 in 2021) which can hardly be called a major city.

Considering a cord of wood weighs 2,000 to 3,000 lbs (though depending upon the type of wood, could be as high as 5,000 lbs/cord), that means the average household in colonial America was using between 80,000 and 120,000 lbs of wood per year.

And considering all of that wood had to be felled, transported, split, stacked, and seasoned - it’s almost incomprehensible in the 21st century to understand how much work is saved daily because of modern technology.

There were still fields to be tended, game to be hunted, home maintenance…..

So if this is a consideration you’re making as part of your preps - understand the sheer magnitude of work that’s required and take that into account.
View attachment 583576

Firewood is something often overlooked in survival. Great reminder for us all.

 

[cubrock]

Elmer Keith writes about taking a month every fall to partner with a neighbor rancher to cut the wood they needed for the winter for both ranches, using a 2 man buck saw. A whole month.

 

[AirForce85]

Wood!

 

[hinkak]

I used to heat my home up north with 2 efficient small woodstoves, 1625 sq feet. It was always warm inside and I used maybe 3.5 cords per year. Red Oak seasoned for 3 years. Fireplaces are almost zero net gain. We have a small gas fireplace in the kitchen that right now is more economical for our little house but if you have access to wood, the energy rules have changed.

The progressive marxists are going to enslave you through your wallet... I remember those "big" houses up north spending $5k a year for oil heat.

 

[MacEntyre]

I'm on pace to use about one cord this winter. Heat pump hasn't been on at all, so far. I'm years ahead acquiring fire wood.

 

[Leadchunker]

I usually keep two years worth on hand. You can’t beat wood for cheap heat.

 

[railsplitter]

I found this couple's YouTube channel a while back and have really enjoyed watching them. Among other things, the videos demonstrate how life back then revolved around a fire. Kinda sucks to know the 3-4 cords I cut each year wouldn't put a dent in what was needed back then.

 

[BrettB]

I have chainsaws , fireplace, log splitters and always keep a pile of wood.
Befriend a tree service and tell them where they can dump wood for free - most tree services have a problem getting rid of wood. Unfortunately they chip everything up to 16” in diameter- but they will dump loads of big rounds whenever I ask.
I have a load of red oak and a load of maple that was dumped last year - will be split and seasoned for next year

 

[cchioda3]

Great reminder! I have a few trees in the yard that need brought down. Good reason to quit dragging my feet and get ‘em cut n split.

 

[Pop N Shots]

I found this couple's YouTube channel a while back and have really enjoyed watching them. Among other things, the videos demonstrate how life back then revolved around a fire. Kinda sucks to know the 3-4 cords I cut each year wouldn't put a dent in what was needed back then.

I am subscribed to this YT couple also. Good info provided.

 

[Jp8819]

Get it split up and up off the ground in a dry place and it will keep a long time. Key is keeping it dry so insects are not atracted to it. Yes it will get really dry and burn fast if stored a long time but it can be blended with some not seasoned to slow burn and help cover your gap to restocking your supply if need be. Burn prob 3 cords a year just because I am usually cleaning up the wood anyway from downed trees around and enjoy a good fire so its cheap heat.

 

[Slacker]

I also process firewood. It's amazing how many people have solar stoves and similar here in town. @.25 a stick it's an absolute steal of a deal to many.
Gas station is $1.00 a stick.

Of course it must be seasoned and split small.

 

[Slacker]

 

[llaht]

LIKE your harbor freight grapple ! neat idea.

 

[Gray]

I have an arborist buddy what has his lot 3 miles from the house. I’ll pull a trailer up to a pile of wood and toss rounds in. Come home and unload. I unload one round at a time and split in log splitter. Wood pile is right there and it gets stacked.

I’ve never had it so easy to get firewood.

I have a small Vermont Castings wood stove in my living room. It keeps my 2000 sq ft house comfortable. Watching cold rain switch to snow off and on all day while the stove chugs along on some locust.

Pot of water on the stove with an orange full of cloves. Makes a great smell in the house.

 

[DurhamDad]

I have been doing a bunch of research on masonry stoves/heaters lately... They look to be amazingly efficient, reduce wood consumption, and all while being a good bit safer than metal stoves.

I think I'd like to build one someday so that I could have a place that only uses wood for heat, but that doesn't have to be burning most of the day.

The biggest downside seems to be that they are more expensive to build and not something you can readily move to another spot!

 

[tanstaafl72555]

A lot of folks look to the past and the ways we lived before industrialization for clues about what a post-economic then societal collapse may look like.

Back in colonial America, firewood was Life.

If you lived in a village, town, or city, it had to be brought in where it would then be sold. In fact, before the 18th century even began, there are letters from city dwellers complaining that they had to go five miles out of town just to find enough trees to cut and bring home.

Most Colonial homes would use about 40 cords of wood per year.

And before anyone shrugs because they don’t like in a city, Boston’s population in 1760 was only 15,631….only 44% the size of modern day Salisbury, NC (35,760 in 2021) which can hardly be called a major city.

Considering a cord of wood weighs 2,000 to 3,000 lbs (though depending upon the type of wood, could be as high as 5,000 lbs/cord), that means the average household in colonial America was using between 80,000 and 120,000 lbs of wood per year.

And considering all of that wood had to be felled, transported, split, stacked, and seasoned - it’s almost incomprehensible in the 21st century to understand how much work is saved daily because of modern technology.

There were still fields to be tended, game to be hunted, home maintenance…..

So if this is a consideration you’re making as part of your preps - understand the sheer magnitude of work that’s required and take that into account.
View attachment 583576

I cut and delivered firewood as a part time biz my senior year in HS (my SECOND Sr year... I got expelled from school for my first, but that is a different story for a different time). I was an athlete, worked out with weights, was in GREAT shape. That job beat me like a yard dog. Wore me slap out. I would leave school at 2 (had last period pe as athlete and no one cared if you left), go to where my wood was, and run the chain saw till 3.30 or 4. About 45 mins of daylight left, and begin loading wood into the trailer. Go deliver a load and stack it. By the time I was finished, it was dark, cold, and the muscles in my arms were all jumping. I was soaked with sweat.

I have worked a lot of jobs and a lot of HARD jobs. Wood was the hardest thing I have ever done, and that INCLUDES being in a pit with a 400 degree diesel boring rig throwing shovels of dirt 7 feet out of the pit as the rig bored under the road in late August in Alabama (98 degree heat, 98% humidity). Wood will also hurt you if you are not careful.. in a hundred different ways.

 

[tanstaafl72555]

I have been doing a bunch of research on masonry stoves/heaters lately... They look to be amazingly efficient, reduce wood consumption, and all while being a good bit safer than metal stoves.

I think I'd like to build one someday so that I could have a place that only uses wood for heat, but that doesn't have to be burning most of the day.

The biggest downside seems to be that they are more expensive to build and not something you can readily move to another spot!

We just stayed a week in a rural cabin near Boone. It had one of these, which is stupid cheap. I was amazed at how efficient it is.

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[Burt Gummer]

We spent spring and summers when I was a kid cutting, splitting and stacking wood. It was our sole source of heat, and mom and dad used the wood stove to cook on a lot during winter in a dutch oven since it was hot anyway. They’d put stuff in the pot and let it cook all day while they were at work.
I haven’t done it in a long time. But I’ve actually got a wood cook stove in the building for “later” use. I acquired a wood splitter a couple years ago. It has new wheel bearings, hoses, hydraulic leak fixed, and just a couple weeks ago got a new engine. We keep wood around to burn in the Firebowl and to cook with. But the main reason I wanted it was for later. It’ll help us get a lot of firewood up in the short term. After that when we can’t find gas anymore, we’ll have to split by hand. But just like all the propane tanks I’ve acquired for the grill, they’ll be nice to have u til I can’t replace it

 

[Ikarus1]

Burned wood in our home for 16 years. Dear wife and I got tired of tracking in bugs, dust and ash all over, etc. My next stove will be outdoor and the heat will come in thru water pipes. I miss cranking the little dial on the fan control and blasting hot heat all over the house. Many a night I checked the temp upstairs and it would be 80 degrees inside, 30 deg outside

 

[6mm250]

Enjoy it while you can.

I have heated all or part of my home with wood for over 20 years , 15 of those years I also sold fire wood. I used to keep "Firewood For Sale" ads on the internet

Age and health issues are bringing the fire wood ''hobby'' to a close. The thing is , part of my present home (1/3) has no other heat but a woodstove & I've gotten to the point where I can't keep up with it.

Mike

 

[spcomerderp]

I used to heat my home up north with 2 efficient small woodstoves, 1625 sq feet. It was always warm inside and I used maybe 3.5 cords per year. Red Oak seasoned for 3 years. Fireplaces are almost zero net gain. We have a small gas fireplace in the kitchen that right now is more economical for our little house but if you have access to wood, the energy rules have changed.

The progressive marxists are going to enslave you through your wallet... I remember those "big" houses up north spending $5k a year for oil heat.

I’m from the north too. MA. Firewood is still a big deal up there and I absolutely agree- wood stoves are a thing of beauty. Most homes now have no alternate means of heat. If they do have a fireplace/chimney , it’s ornamental and, as you said, useless for heating.