Plan was to split it last Fall but 2 days after i got it in, it snowed, & turned cold. Didn't want to use the splitter in the cold weather & I had to get other things done when winter snuck in on us early. Got cold in Oct & never warmed up until lately. Long cold winter with lots of snow.
Birch will rot in the rounds in 2 years, the bark is water tight, been there done that got the "T" shirt.
No need for "kindling" here, when I load the stove, when the birch is 2 years dry/seasoned, throw in a piece of birch bark & the whole stove full is a roaring fire in a few minutes.
Gotta get it split & seasoning, got some holes in the wood shed to fill.
Got a few cords of spruce beside the birch rounds ready to go for next year & the middle shed (5+ cords per section) is 2 yr + old birch. I like to season the birch at least 2 years, burns great after that.
I'm sure the inside of the wood is wet, I've seen water on the wedge of the splitter after a full winter of stacked in rounds, the checking is just on the ends but shows that our 6 month, dry, cold winters will suck moisture out of wood..
The yard turns to goo when it thaws now, I may try to get the splitter out there soon. Maybe park it on some plywood.
15 hours & change of sunshine now. Was 32° last night. Almost time to plant
Lakes & river will be thawing in a few weeks.
This AM pics:
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