I'm going to go out on limb here, and make an assumption that I believe is true for a good many of us if not most of us, in saying that burning wood is just one element of being "green" (as they call it today), along with other methods of renewable energy and planet-friendliness options, that we practice.
As wood burning advocates and active participants, we are indeed practicing something that is as old as civilization itself, of course, and is as logical as getting water from a well.
Yesterday, the wife decided that our perfectly good Propane gas grill should go to a neighbor in need, (not a bad reason, in and of itself) and it should be replaced by a grill that uses only charcoal; a method that we employed early on in our marriage, for cooking outdoors.
Although I thought it a bit troublesome to be giving away something that, for us fellas at least, is like our lawn mower in terms of our familiarity with it. It got me thinking. It forced me to consider a point that I had missed, in the process of finding renewable energy sources, and reducing my environmental footprint.
That is not to say that Propane is in question really, because I'm of the belief that Propane is a natural product that is not a derivative of oil; but rather it is to consider if charcoal is a more "green" option.
I realize this is more commentary than question, and I further realize that this is a wood burning Forum, (and all of my former postings have been in that vein), but I wanted to open up the topical envelope a little, and take advantage of this more generalized section of the Forum, just to share my thoughts about other ways in which, along with our burning of wood for spiritual, economical, environmental reasons, we also do other things that fall within those same lines of earth-friendly practices.
If burning with charcoal, (which apparently was at least part of the reason why the wife disposed of the perfectly good gas grill), is what the wife prefers, for the "flavor" factor of it, I suppose I could embrace it as yet another way in which we are lessening our consumption of presumably non-renewable substances, (if indeed "Propane" is non-renewable, but I really don't know. I'll have to study up on that one. It's another "assumption" on my part).
The most logical response that I suppose this posting would generate, would be a role call of sorts, of the variety of ways in which you folks, my fellow protagonists in here, go "green" in your approach to your environmental footprint. Charcoal -vs- Propane, solar -vs- electric, wind -vs- electric, battery -vs- gas (cars).
How have YOU directed YOUR lives, so that the damage you leave behind is minimized?
Charcoal, like any other product that produces smoke, is most likely adding to Ozone depletion, presuming that there are carcinogens in the smoke it produces, so I can't say that it is "footprint" neutral. In and of itself it is not necessarily a great example, although possibly an "ok" example of environmental friendliness,
Perhaps it is just sour grapes, to be trying to place some sort of justification in using charcoal instead of Propane for cooking outdoors; but the seemingly unholy and unjust act of taking away "my" gas grill, is akin to throwing out my electric razor, in favor of a straight-edge and a bar of shaving soap in a mug (and you younger fellas won't know what THAT'S all about, but that's ok.......lol).
I'm sure some of you more scientifically-minded, and more knowledgeable individuals, will chime in about Propane, in an attempt to educate me, and I welcome that. I can't say I have a working knowledge of its renewable nature, it's environmental impact, or its cost, in comparison to charcoal.
After you're done getting me "up to speed," I'll go off to my monthly Bluegrass Jam tonight with one of my guitars, or perhaps my mandolin, and forget what I've learned from you, having been immersed in 12 different versions of "Turkey In The Straw" over and over again, all night long!
-Soupy1957
As wood burning advocates and active participants, we are indeed practicing something that is as old as civilization itself, of course, and is as logical as getting water from a well.
Yesterday, the wife decided that our perfectly good Propane gas grill should go to a neighbor in need, (not a bad reason, in and of itself) and it should be replaced by a grill that uses only charcoal; a method that we employed early on in our marriage, for cooking outdoors.
Although I thought it a bit troublesome to be giving away something that, for us fellas at least, is like our lawn mower in terms of our familiarity with it. It got me thinking. It forced me to consider a point that I had missed, in the process of finding renewable energy sources, and reducing my environmental footprint.
That is not to say that Propane is in question really, because I'm of the belief that Propane is a natural product that is not a derivative of oil; but rather it is to consider if charcoal is a more "green" option.
I realize this is more commentary than question, and I further realize that this is a wood burning Forum, (and all of my former postings have been in that vein), but I wanted to open up the topical envelope a little, and take advantage of this more generalized section of the Forum, just to share my thoughts about other ways in which, along with our burning of wood for spiritual, economical, environmental reasons, we also do other things that fall within those same lines of earth-friendly practices.
If burning with charcoal, (which apparently was at least part of the reason why the wife disposed of the perfectly good gas grill), is what the wife prefers, for the "flavor" factor of it, I suppose I could embrace it as yet another way in which we are lessening our consumption of presumably non-renewable substances, (if indeed "Propane" is non-renewable, but I really don't know. I'll have to study up on that one. It's another "assumption" on my part).
The most logical response that I suppose this posting would generate, would be a role call of sorts, of the variety of ways in which you folks, my fellow protagonists in here, go "green" in your approach to your environmental footprint. Charcoal -vs- Propane, solar -vs- electric, wind -vs- electric, battery -vs- gas (cars).
How have YOU directed YOUR lives, so that the damage you leave behind is minimized?
Charcoal, like any other product that produces smoke, is most likely adding to Ozone depletion, presuming that there are carcinogens in the smoke it produces, so I can't say that it is "footprint" neutral. In and of itself it is not necessarily a great example, although possibly an "ok" example of environmental friendliness,
Perhaps it is just sour grapes, to be trying to place some sort of justification in using charcoal instead of Propane for cooking outdoors; but the seemingly unholy and unjust act of taking away "my" gas grill, is akin to throwing out my electric razor, in favor of a straight-edge and a bar of shaving soap in a mug (and you younger fellas won't know what THAT'S all about, but that's ok.......lol).
I'm sure some of you more scientifically-minded, and more knowledgeable individuals, will chime in about Propane, in an attempt to educate me, and I welcome that. I can't say I have a working knowledge of its renewable nature, it's environmental impact, or its cost, in comparison to charcoal.
After you're done getting me "up to speed," I'll go off to my monthly Bluegrass Jam tonight with one of my guitars, or perhaps my mandolin, and forget what I've learned from you, having been immersed in 12 different versions of "Turkey In The Straw" over and over again, all night long!
-Soupy1957
! I grill on all natural hardwood due to the flavor it imparts on the meat. using wood probably produces a larger carbon footprint for me. the mesquite i burn comes from central/nothern Arizona, the pecan just above the Mexican/Arizona border (green Valley pecan orchards, used to be one of the largest in the states) and the apple from an orchard in sunny California. how carbon nuetral or green is all that fuel used to truck wood hundreds of miles just to go up in smoke. It tastes good and thats good enough for me. I'll save the world tomorrow when i wash out that peanut butter jar for recycling. Damn that takes about a gallon of water to do. wonder how "green" that just was???
