I haven't had a wood burning fireplace in years but during those periods when an ice storm got the better of local trees, it was quite easy to cruise a few neighborhoods and pick up enough firewood from homeowner's brush piles left on the curb for city pickup to last for next year's supply of firewood. Most of the time, it's already cut to a manageable size for transport and while your haul will always need a bit more trimming when you get it home, it's free and can be piled up until the weather permits a more tidy approach to stacking. I will add a word of caution here and that is if you choose to pick up firewood from curbsides, just be neat and leave the remaining pile as neat or neater than you found it...
Just an idea from someone who has never had to buy wood to burn.
Steve
Free firewood?
After hurricane Ike, came thru in 2011, here in Houston, we gave new meaning to the words, "tree-lined streets" for our streets were lined with the cut-up downed trees. People came from all over to gather the wood. It took the city a long time to get it all picked up. Im one of those children of parents who went thru the Great Depression in the early thirties so I hate to see anything wasted. It felt good knowing that all that debris could be used to keep people warm. I know all the people without power could have really used that wood.
Several years ago during one of our worst drought years, I hooked up with a preacher, non denomination, who was wanting wood for the homeless. Many would not go into shelters when it got cold so he was doing what he could. He brought out four or five homeless with him and they cut up and removed quite a few of my dead oaks. They also piled small branches and litter into very burnable piles. He ran the chainsaw, they loaded trailers. I fed them lunch even though he said it wasn't necessary. It was the most polite group I have ever dealt with.
We don't have a fire place and I hate just torching entire trees but no one wants free firewood here unless it is cut, split and stacked.
That's a shame Joy and an indicator of just how self centered and selfish some of the world has become. Kudos to the preacher and his crew though for making something out of nothing just for the price of a little labor.
Back when I had a home with a wood burning fireplace, all I saw in those brush piles was a load of free firewood for a guy that was working two or more jobs at any one time just to keep my family fed and the mortgage paid.
Later on, I think I did it not only for the free firewood but also as much for the satisfaction of knowing that what I took home wouldn't be going to the dump to be buried under tons of garbage. My current home city picks up brush and organic materials (grass clippings, etc.) from residential areas, takes them to the city's 'recycling facility' and turns them into compost and mulch which is free to city residents. In addition, city crews also use the compost and mulch to help maintain our local parks, medians, and other green areas. It's a win-win situation for both sides...
Steve
Many things get recycled here in Arlington also and that is a very good thing.
Most of these boys couldn't split wood if they had to, they just aren't accustomed to any winters... Tools are also needed for those chores. Half of em don't know how to decide how long a length of wood needs to be either. Wish I had a fire, am feeling decidedly chilly- remember to put on a pot of water when the heat dries the house out too much too
Kittriana, when you put that water on, add a half dozen or so cloves, a half dozen or so allspice berries, and a couple of cinnamon sticks. You can't drink it or eat it but it makes the house smell oh so good while you're increasing the humidity. ;o)
Steve
That sounds good Steve, I might try it.
23 degrees here this morning.
Yup, burned quite a few pots into nothing those winters-without ever running out of water...fire eats EVERYTHING- dont use a porcelain lined pan if you value the pan, by the way..
Been there, done that, Kitt.
After Ike came through here I drove the roads around here and filled my chevy S-10 short bed 3 times. As long as it wasn't pine I brought it home. I have used almost all of it now. I have a friend with some oak she said I can have but it has to quit raining so I can get back into her yard to get it. They have 2 acres and it floods.
I agree with the free. People will take it if it is cut, split and driven to their house. I know a man in a group home whom splits it for BBQ places. He almost never needs oak since the drought they always have more then enough. The chemical plants just cut down 1 huge paper shell pecan and a huge Black walnut. Wish we would have known they were doing it as my friends husband would have loved to have it for wood.
Speaking of Black Walnut I have alot of hulls if you know anyone whom would like some. A lady I met online uses them instead of tea to color her crochet, or tea towels. I hate to throw them out if anyone can use them. She dries them in the oven and stores them till needed. They can't be composted :(
I dont dye anymore- tho I have a LONG list of plants used for natural dyes somewhere at home. Have tried them with my varnishes on woodwork as well. I would have cried at missing the pecan/hickory tree wood as well. That ol smoker at my brothers home would have been a stokin! I see apple knots I think of as well for flavorings when farther northwest too. I suspect several stray mesquite trees were planted sometimes on purpose in areas I dont see them as a common wood. Sweetgums have a good aroma- but too much moisture to burn at anything less than bonfire temps. Ah!
I have 2 sweet gum trees and the balls in the yard are not fun but won't part with the shade :)
I find the cracked pecan shells to deter my neighbors cats in my flower beds :) Maybe I should brake the sweet gum balls the mulch around my trees. They probably won't like that either :)
I have 2 sweet gum trees and the balls in the yard are not fun but won't part with the shade :)
I find the cracked pecan shells to deter my neighbors cats in my flower beds :) Maybe I should brake the sweet gum balls the mulch around my trees. They probably won't like that either :)
I tried to dye with poke weed seeds and it washed out :(
Vinegar sets the dye. And some materials dont hold the dye well.
ok I will try that. It was a pkg of men's t shirt I bought from Walmart polyester cotton I think. I may try it again :)