{"id":1741,"date":"2015-08-17T11:55:47","date_gmt":"2015-08-17T11:55:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/2015\/08\/17\/cutting-and-storing-firewood-on-your-farm-2\/"},"modified":"2018-06-15T15:05:34","modified_gmt":"2018-06-15T19:05:34","slug":"cutting-and-storing-firewood-on-your-farm-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/cutting-and-storing-firewood-on-your-farm-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Cutting & Storing Firewood on Your Farm"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re fortunate enough to own or have access to forestland, you have free fuel all around you. Proper firewood harvesting can actually improve the quality of the forest, both for wildlife and the trees. Removing trees\u2014either because of the form, the species or the crowding of more desirable trees\u2014is part of a practice known as forest stand improvement. Where I live in the Missouri Ozarks, the best and most valuable trees were harvested several times, each time leaving the poorest trees to regenerate. To reverse this trend, we cut the poorest trees, leaving the best ones to regenerate. Some of the logs go on our Norwood portable sawmill, but most are converted to firewood.<\/p>\n

Here are some tips for helping you cut and store your own firewood, too.<\/p>\n

Tools for Chopping Firewood<\/span><\/h2>\n

To safely and effectively get firewood from the forest into your chimney<\/a> or woodstove, you need the right equipment.<\/p>\n

Chain Saw<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Find a chain saw<\/a> that suits you in terms of weight and power. One in the 50cc size range is fine for firewood\u2014remember, bigger is not always better! You\u2019ll be lugging the saw through the woods, so get the lightest one that will do the job. A 14- to 16-inch bar is ideal for firewood\u2014a longer one is more likely to hit dirt or a rock and kick back and has more teeth to sharpen.<\/p>\n

Safety Gear<\/strong><\/h3>\n

To go with your chain saw, gather all the necessary safety gear: a logger\u2019s helmet, steel-toe boots and chaps. In 2008, the average emergency room visit from chain saw cuts took 112 stitches and cost around $12,000. Enough said.<\/p>\n

Additional Equipment<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In addition, bring along chain saw tools for tensioning and sharpening the chain, a couple of plastic felling wedges (I use 8-inch wedges), a short-handled axe, a first aid kit, food and water, gas and oil, a tape measure, and insect repellent. There\u2019s also a tool called the timber jack, which lifts a log off the ground and makes it much easier to cut to firewood lengths. I highly recommend it. In many cases, a battery-powered winch can help safely pull a tree in the desired direction, and is great for pulling wood out of tight placers to the trail or landing.<\/p>\n

Safety First<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"firewood
Dave Boyt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Safety is of the utmost importance when you go out to the forest<\/a> to cut firewood. Here are some of the basic rules you need to know:<\/p>\n