How to Find Firewood
If you live on a farm or in a rural area, getting firewood may not be much of a problem. Most farms have some sort of woodlot where trees can be felled for wood. In rural areas, people generally know somebody with a farm or woodlot. Larger communities and big cities are a different matter -- finding firewood in a city may be a challenge. Firewood availability also will vary by region. The Northeast, Midwest and mountain areas have a lot of accessible wood. South Texas and the Gulf Coast have fewer wooded areas. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Start your firewood search by looking around the community. See where utility companies or construction companies are trimming trees from power lines or clearing space for buildings or residential development. Many such tree-trimmers and cutters will be happy to have someone else haul off some of their wood, to save them the trouble and expense of disposing of it. Call utility companies if you don't see trimmers at work; almost all now have some regular power line trimming program.
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Check out local park and public works departments and inquire of any state or federal parks or land management agencies. The U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and Corps of Engineers all manage vast areas with woods; some sell wood-cutting rights, some may allow residents to carry off wood that has been trimmed from storms or ice damage. State park and forestry departments also may allow wood-cutting or removal.
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Enquire of local commercial tree-trimming and arborist services. Those that are not saving firewood for their own sale may be happy to have someone help remove the logs. See if your community or one nearby has a "green waste" facility where tree trimmings and similar material is deposited, usually to be chipped into wood mulch. Bigger logs often are set aside for residents to cut and haul away.
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Ask friends and neighbors if they have or know of places to cut wood. Many city dwellers have or use country places, which may have woodlots. Look for fallen limbs and trees after any kind of storm, wind, ice or snow. Clearing storm-felled trees may get you both firewood and compliments from neighbors who otherwise would have to do it or pay to have it done. Take a walk in some woods near where you live and look for downed trees or limbs, which might supply enough wood for a campfire or enough to cut and haul off to fuel a home fireplace.
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Be selective of your wood. Look for hardwoods like oak, ash, walnut or birch; these burn hot and produce good coals. Avoid softwoods like pine, cedar and fir and especially sycamore and willow. The conefirs, like pine, burn easily, but produce few coals and create creosote, which can be a fire hazard in chimneys. Sycamore and willow burn quickly and just produce ash without much heat. Avoid elms and hickory, which burn well but are almost impossible to split without a hydraulic splitter. Check local forest agencies or a library or online for a guide to firewood in your area.
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Tips & Warnings
Have a pickup truck or trailer and a good chainsaw available to take advantage of available firewood.
Make sure you are comfortable with using a chainsaw and observe safety precautions.
References
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