Happiness is....

[KenL]

Up here in the High Rockies it's all pine, aspen, and cottonwood. Not the best firewood, but there's plenty of it.

Our snowiest month is March, so we've got a ways to go before wood burning time is over.

[foxo]

... a warm gun

[RP]

Originally Posted by Glennwillow

I cut my own firewood every summer, about 5 cords, and it's always a lot of work and it involves some risk of getting hurt, so I am always extremely careful and deliberate about how I work. It takes me at least two months to cut and split and stack that much firewood, but it gets us through the winter. We have electrical heat in my studio and a heat pump in the house, so we can get by without any wood heat, but having a fire makes things so much more comfortable. And, it saves on electricity by a significant amount every year. All my wood comes from my own property, all downed trees, so there is no waste and I'm not denuding my own forest property.

- Glenn

That's really impressive, Glenn......

[RedJoker]

I grew up with wood heat and we had enough property to be able to sustain ourselves. I always enjoyed cutting / splitting wood. Now, I don't have enough woods to sustain my own use so I installed a pellet stove. Not quite the same but there are pros and cons.

[RP]

Originally Posted by RedJoker

...I installed a pellet stove. Not quite the same but there are pros and cons.

Did a little research and came up with the following...

If you are still unsure of which direction to go, perhaps learning some of the pros and cons of each type of stove will help you decide. If firewood is readily available and economical—and you don't mind the splitting, stacking, and wood/bark mess that comes along with burning wood, a traditional wood heat stove may be cheaper to install and operate (even cheaper if you salvage free firewood). Pellets are sold in 40-pound bags which may create a challenge when carrying to the stove, while firewood can be carried in smaller batches if necessary.

If you expect that your firewood and pellet costs will be similar, you can handle the heavy pellet bags and provide adequate storage, and you want a clean form of heating where you can set it and leave it for the day, a pellet stove would be a good choice.

If your main concern is having a heating source during power interruptions a wood heat stove would be best. In the event of a power outage, a pellet stove—which requires electricity to operate—will shut down. A traditional wood heat stove or fireplace will continue to provide heat during a power outage, while a pellet stove will require a generator to operate, and this may be an important consideration for your family. In addition, some wood stoves have cooking surfaces, which can be very useful during emergencies.

[Mr. Jelly]

I didn't find burning wood for heat to be cost effective. But, hey, that's me.

[imwjl]

I see work, pain or happy when it's done!

I'm a board member at a sizable ski club with 3 chalets, ski jumping, biathlon range, alpine, Nordic and MTB trails. Supervising firewood has been one of my responsibilities for several years. At this point there's not much fun about it except an occasional warm up. It's Feb 19 and my left arm's not fully recovered from an October incident in the annual firewood cut, split and stack weekend.

It's a topic with our very basic cabin too.

At age 60 firewood and shoveling snow are mostly measures of when will I officially be over the hill. One of these days I'll no longer be laughing at the people using more gasoline to get the job - just the youngsters being lazy. My stubbornness includes a 94 foot driveway that gets cleared by muscle and shovel. I use chainsaws and rent splitters doing the wood at scale but still practice using a wedge and swinging a tool too.

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by Steve DeRosa

Never played an Esteban, have you...?

No I haven't is that like a Presto-guitar

[valleyguy]

That's a nice pile of firewood, at a decent price.

I'd like to add that a fireplace provides a nice ambiance, and is actually a form of entertainment. Love watching the flames and the sounds of a crackling fire. The heat is a nice addition.....

[ahorsewithnonam]

All that work! Cutting, stacking, delivering.

I have a remote. I click the button......poof.....fire. Click again, and it goes off.

[RP]

Originally Posted by ahorsewithnonam

...I have a remote. I click the button......poof.....fire. Click again, and it goes off.

In a more perfect world, I'd be doing the same on Sanibel...

[marty bradbury]

Yep, I have electric heat, cadet heaters, totally useless. Got a woodstove installed about 20 years ago and love it. Stays warm all night. Maple and fir mostly what I buy.

[ziapack]

Wood in the shed, and hay in the barn...life doesn't get any sweeter. Granted, you have to live that life, to understand it.

[ahorsewithnonam]

Originally Posted by RP

In a more perfect world, I'd be doing the same on Sanibel...

I thought you would get a kick out of it! Lol

[ahorsewithnonam]

What about Fahrenheit 451?