Firewood

Absolutely! By buying locally you're promoting healthy forestry practices, and preventing harmful diseases and species from spreading and killing local trees.

Buying prior to the season is the best way to ensure you have an adequate supply when you need it. In addition, buying earlier and not during the peak season is a great way to save money. Buying and storing green firewood until it is dry is also a great way to save money as green firewood is generally cheaper.

First, it is crucial that your firewood is stored in a dry location, off the ground with adequate airflow to ensure proper drying and to prevent rot.

A common mistake is storing wood on the ground with a covering such as a tarp this often leads to the spread of mould and decay as it keeps in moisture and condensation coming from the drying logs.

The ideal way to keep firewood dry and dry the fastest is to store it in a firewood shed or other structure that has good air circulation. Usually a structure with a roof and 3 sides, with the sides not going all the way to the ground to let air underneath. A good way to keep the firewood off the ground is to use pallets, as this also helps air circulation.

The standard unit of measure for firewood is called a bush (full) cord, which usually measures 4 feet tall, by 4 feet deep, and 8 feet long. Firewood is commonly sold by the face cord (8 feet long, 4 feet tall, and only as deep as the wood is cut).

Most firewood is cut between 16 and 18 inches in length. If you need a special size to accommodate your firebox, expect to pay more.

Greenwood is generally fresh cut and has a higher moisture content (around 40-50%) to be considered "seasoned" greenwood needs to reach a moisture content of 20% or less before being burned.

A moisture meter is a helpful tool that can give you a reading of how much moisture is inside your wood. You can generally find a meter at your local hardware store!