How much wood is enough?

[BrowningBAR]

How far ahead in your wood supply do you have to be before you consider giving it a rest and not looking for wood? 4 years? 6? I know some of you are crazy bastards, so I am just curious.

Or is it like gun collecting: You have more than you need, but never as much as you want.

 

[vwboomer]

I've got between 12-15 cords right now probably and dont' have a good place to get it dry, but everytime someone calls me up and says they have some good wood - even if it's a truckfull - I can't say no.
I estimate that I'll go through maybe 4 cords this year - it's the first year with a Hotblast so I have nothing to base usage on.

My theory is get it while you can get it as long as it's free.

 

[smokinj]

Well if its like money in the bank when I get to far ahead the I put up the sign "FIREWOOD" and let some go to fuel the next adventure

 

[billb3]

You can always sell a cord or two here and there.
Pays for a new saw. A splitter even.

 

[quads]

Like some of the others here, I sell a little when I'm far enough ahead and just keep on cutting. I like at least 3 years for my own personal supply. I'm about 5 years ahead right now, so have been selling some and giving some away. I might be able to have enough firewood, but I don't think I can ever have too much. That would be like having too much heating oil, or gasoline, or electricity........

 

[575xp]

I have 16 cord split and stacked for next year, and about 18 cord tree length for the year after.

 

[BrowningBAR]

I have 16 cord split and stacked for next year, and about 18 cord tree length for the year after.

You go through 16 cords a year?

 

[575xp]

I have 16 cord split and stacked for next year, and about 18 cord tree length for the year after.

You go through 16 cords a year?

I use 10 cord for myself, and the rest goes to my father in law.

 

[rdust]

I have around 12 right now and figure I want to have 12-15 on hand. I'm a first year burner so I'm waiting to see how much I use this year before collecting anymore. I want to be 3 years ahead and figure I'm close.

I actually have one place I want to cut if I can still get access, but after that I'll be waiting to see how much I consume, I swear!

 

[rdust]

I have 16 cord split and stacked for next year, and about 18 cord tree length for the year after.

Real cords? OWB? If I had to process that much wood on a yearly basis I'd NEVER see my family!

 

[smokinj]

I have 16 cord split and stacked for next year, and about 18 cord tree length for the year after.

Real cords? OWB? If I had to process that much wood on a yearly basis I'd NEVER see my family!

you just buy a bigger saw

 

[575xp]

I have 16 cord split and stacked for next year, and about 18 cord tree length for the year after.

Real cords? OWB? If I had to process that much wood on a yearly basis I'd NEVER see my family!

real cords, I have a biasi wood boiler with no storage, so I go through more wood, but since I own a nice woodlot its not to bad

 

[Pagey]

In "The Winter of Our Discontent," John Steinbeck's main character was speaking to his wife about money. He told his wife that there are only two measures of money: no money, and not enough money.

I should think the same measures would apply to wood.

Edit: he was talking to his wife, not his daughter...my bad.

 

[joshlaugh]

I am good through 2011-12. I have gotten a couple of calls about tree removal this fall and have been picking and choosing which jobs to take. I have not scrounged any wood since spring. I am keeping this year's supply at my house and keep the rest at my in-laws farm about 40 miles south of me with a little bit at a buddy's place.

 

[SolarAndWood]

I have 15 cord stacked under a roof ready to burn, 5 in an uncovered heap ready to burn, 2 in an uncovered heap fresh split and 4 cord of rounds that need to be split.

I am currently burning out of a 2 cord pile of unstackworthies: too short, not straight, little punk, etc. Considering selling off some of the ready to burn stuff as my processing area is getting jammed up. Also started the process of setting aside the primo stuff for extended burns.

 

[Gunks]

I only have 4 cords for this winter and 3 cords for next year.

 

[savageactor7]

I guess it all depends on where you live (aka what will your neighbors think) and how much room you have to squirrel it away.

 

['bert]

just spent 7 hours cutting and splitting - wondering the same thing. Not sure exactly how much i have but I know it's enough for at least 4 years - maybe 6. After this load is done and the other 2 projects I committed to, I am hanging up the saws up till spring and enjoying the fruits of my labour. A nice warm house and some cold beers :coolsmile:

 

[LLigetfa]

I get my logs delivered and have over 10 cord laid up in my woodshed so I'm good for 2 or 3 years. I wont be taking delivery of any logs this Winter as I still have 5 cord stacked out by my processing area that I'll move to the shed next year.

 

[Ratman]

When you have to go to meetings in the Church basement.

 

[northwinds]

When you have to go to meetings in the Church basement.

I hope there's a wood stove down there. I hate to be cold.

 

[smokinj]

When you have to go to meetings in the Church basement.

I hope there's a wood stove down there. I hate to be cold.

lmao

 

[btuser]

I base my storage on useage. As a weekend burner with an insert I'm only planning on burning 2 cords every year. Just enough to take the sting off the oil bill.

2 cords burned a year = 2 cords seasoned 1 year + 2 cords seasoned 2 years + 2 cords just split. It looks like a lot but it ain't. I'm going to shoot for 10 cords total by next year, and if I have to wait 5 years to burn it that's a good thing. Cordwood only gets better with age.

 

[LLigetfa]

If there was any decent hardwoods on my 18 acres, I'd love to be 5 or more years ahead of the game like Quads and BWS. It would take a whole lot of convincing the wife to buy another 12 cord load when the shed is still full. In the past I have not always been successful and invariably had to burn some wood before its time. Last Winter I was able to get another load while I still had lots laid up. Next Winter I plan to get another load while the shed should still be mostly full. If natural gas prices stay down and depending on the weather, I will probably burn between 4 and 6 cord this Winter and not the 8 cord I burned last Winter.

I used to cull a couple of cord of Poplar/Aspen off my land every year to burn but the wife is complaining about the smell and the fluffy ashes. Funny thing was last Winter she wanted me to go out back and cut 12 cord of Poplar rather than order up a truckload of Ash. Now she doesn't want me burning Poplar. Go figure. Speaking of culling Poplar, I have a bunch of dead falls and standing dead that I have to clean up this weekend. Not sure what to do with it all. Maybe if I mix it in with the Ash instead of burning one species exclusively at a time she won't notice as much.

 

[schwaggly]

I have 2 years cut, split, stacked. I've got another 2 years offsite that will be split by next spring. I've got 2 more years in the works.
I just sold off some crappy wood, I kinda like getting paid to clean up my stacks.