Sassafras

[Ashful]

If you have never cut/split this stuff, go find one now, and cut it down. I don't care if its in your neighbors front yard. ;-)

Most wonderful smelling wood... ever. Can't wait to see how it smells when burned!

 

[Woody Stover]

I burned a little of it a couple of years back, but just a split or two mixed in with the load. Didn't go out to smell it, though. Probably smells good; I think they use it for BBQ...
It will pop and toss embers out of the stove--Watch it!
It is supposed to be fairly rot-resistant so I'm stacking wood on dead Sass poles. I'll also make some half-round splits to hold pallets up off the ground.

BTW, split some White Oak rounds that have been sitting a few years, then you will have a new "most wonderful-smelling wood...ever."

 

[USMC80]

agree, split about a half cord this year. Great smell and easy split

 

[bogydave]

Great wood.
Late fall, a few weeks after the leaves are off, get some roots & boil them in the house .
Great tea & sweet odor.
We used to shave the roots with a pocket knife, dry & use it for tea all winter

 

[PapaDave]

I have a few boards of that which I got from an Amish mill almost 20 years ago.
Just for the heck of it.
It smells great when cut.

 

[flhpi]

There is a lot of it around where I live. Mostly in fence rows but also along the trails in the woods. I like to snap off a twig from a branch and chew on it while I am romping around.
The old timers made tea out of it by boiling the roots.

 

[paul bunion]

Sassafras is good but I think fresh cut green black birch smells better.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Ah sassafras! I've said for years that it is the most pleasant smelling wood there is. Sometimes I'll just cut a tree just to enjoy the odor.

As for all that popping and snapping, that is just some termite turds exploding.

 

[osagebow]

Black birch were used for "Birch beer" Sass roots used for root beer back in the day. Both considered medicine, hence the soda fountains in the old drugstores. Pepsi was sold as cure for dispepsia! I can only guess coke cured disco fever...
We have a drugstore/soda fountain down the road with the old giant lime green shake mixer. Milkshakes just taste better there!

 

[Paulywalnut]

The little tiny leaves just sprouting on the tree are tender and good for chewing.

 

[osagebow]

The little tiny leaves just sprouting on the tree are tender and good for chewing.

Sure are-tried that this morning on my walk. Nice way to decoffee my breath!

 

[bogydave]

The little tiny leaves just sprouting

Sure are-tried that this morning on my walk. Nice way to decoffee my breath!

Eat a few handfuls. Aids digestion

 

[Clyde S. Dale]

It does smell great when you cut and split it. I had about 2 cords of it last year that I burned/donated. I like it for shoulder season because it does not produce a lot of ash. I had enough that I was mixing it in with harder woods as the days got colder. It also dries fast.

Enjoy!