I had a covered stack on a rack for almost a year, a load of mice made it their home. The wood got soaked in mouse urine and droppings. Stench was driving me nuts as I was moving that wood about
Great video with a lot of good tips. Back east (we are in North Dakota now) we would let the trees 🌲 leaf out then cut them down in late May or early June. this way the tree would use up it's moisture to feed the leaves and it draws out the moisture from the tree.
here in NC a old mtn man told me "the best time to cut a tree for fire wood is the 1st week of July, he said cut it and let her lay there leafes and all said the leafes will draw the sap out of it and you can burn it by xmas and it wont soot up your chimney" ive tried it with poplur cut 1 in January and the one next to it july 4 and and the one from july was dryer then the one I cut in winter
I always take a bucket with me while I split and when I run into a log that’s infested with bugs I just sweep them into the bucket and dump em in the chicken pen.
termites wont eat ceder thats one reason ppl use ceder siding, but i am curious if spraying with a ceder oil (which moths and termites dont like) would help when bring wood near the house
Another benefit to bark removal....leaves behind very little ash when burning. In other words, your firewood burns much cleaner and will dry much faster without the bark.
When I split my wood I separate the bark and bark less then after a few months I take thebark less wood and put in the basement with dehumidifier running seems to work for me great video
All good tips, thanks Eric. Here in southeastern PA we don't, at least I don't, see a ton of termite or wood ants, but I, like you, am also very rough with my wood. I can't stress enough how important banging your wood around is. I find that it knocks most of the bugs, often times the bark and a TON of DIRT! Dirt is my issue. Not the occasional moth or spider. Its the dirt that gets brought into the house that "bugs" me. Thanks again Eric.
Good tips. I’ve always kept the bark as kindling more to keep from being wasteful, not because I don’t have enough actual kindling. If getting rid of the bark cuts back on the bugs then I won’t be using it anymore. Thanks.
Wow. Great tips. Some of those things you mentioned I do. My problem is space for a 2-3 yr supply of wood. I can get about a year and a half. I had extra from last year so I was already prepped for this year. It came in handy like you said... I had a hernia so I could cut and split wood. Therefore , the wood from last winter carried me through this winter without stress.
I also stack all my wood on pallets. I can get them free most of the time. It is a stable base and keeps the wood dry. I cut about 15-20 cords a year in 16 inch pieces. I try to stack them about 8 feet high and keep them nice and straight. I get some wasp issues but no other bug problems here in northeast Kansas.
Cutting wood in the winter is the best time as long as the snow isn't too deep as it can be in some parts. I always enjoyed big campfires to keep the chill off while working in the cold. You should have your wood drying in the spring for the following winter, always being a year ahead to get the most heat out of the wood. Piling on pallets works the best for drying. I never worry about the bugs too much because they don't hang out in dry wood.
Since we will be heating with wood this next year we thought we might stack our fire wood around our chicken coop/run that is up close to the house. That way the chickens would help keep the bug population down and give them a nice wind break from the north wind... it's a win, win. At least in theory. Another great video Eric! Thanks for sharing!
Eric you are an absolute wealth of knowledge. I’m so grateful for the info you share. It’s really helped me be more productive with my storage. Thank you. Blessings ~Lisa
Here in south Mississippi, it’s roaches and spiders. I build my racks several inches off the ground and 12 ft long. My chickens spend lots of time working the ground around the racks, so it works out. If you want to hear me scream like a little girl, though, let me walk into one of those banana spider webs hanging between two of the racks. I swear those spiders are as big as your hand. LOL!!!
Great video as always!!! Love my Logox, best money I have spent recently….. Lent mine to my neighbor yesterday….wife order him one during break from splitting wood. Hey I get on the couch like that also ( when I trip over the dog lol ) Very cute moment to share with us Thank you I realize how much work goes into make these videos
Pretty Cool Video. I enjoy your video's you seem very humble and down to earth. I'll try it here in the Pacific Northwest but we get much more rain here in Seattle Washington. I got 3 -50ft trees that was cut down to be put away Tomorrow. It took me 20 hours long hours to slit all that wood up. My neighbors probably hate me and that 37 ton log splitter during this Pandemic.I got no yard now oh well plus the wood is Hella heavy because the treez were about 45 years old. I'm so glad "Dominant Tree Services" Matthew cut them down in 16" rounds. Anyways enough I'm rambling! Thank you for sharing I really appreciate it! That was a pretty cool trick that your daughter did! 🙌🏾
Great tips as usual, Eric! Here in California, bark beetles are the big evil. We have to be careful to segregate any wood we bring onto the property from our live pine trees to avoid infestation. Btw, that's quite the gymnast you've got there!
Firstly I wanted to just express how beautiful your intro sequence is which I could happily watch several times! Some excellent advice not just about bugs but about wood preparation in general and you're making me think about negotiating with my brother about re-stacking his current woodpile. That LogOx might be a back saver but I daresay my attempting to emulate that couch mount would definitely not be so. I dread the noise that I and my back would probably make! ;)
You should see the mess we deal with, I was desperate when we moved in so we are now nearly depleted of the rotten sap wood hardwood firewood. The stack spot in the loft is a MESS. Sometimes wet upon arrival, it is the loft in the A frame of the "attic" so its very dry wood chips and dust. The only bugs we have issue with are stink bugs but i feel like its unrelated to the firewood. We do have flying squirrels in the ceiling of the A frame but we somewhat enjoy their presence once we learned they don't do damage. Those things are pretty darn cute. You may be interested in one of my upcoming videos. It will demonstrate how we supply my living space (3rd floor) 40' up, with firewood without having to use stairs!
You put your right hand in and pull a stick of wood out, put your left hand in and bees sting it all about! Sometimes they find just the right amount of space between rows to build fairly big nests but thank goodness it's not a wintertime bringing wood into the house problem.
This was just what i needed I just got my property in colorado 8000 feet in the forrest lots of dead treesneeding cleaned up looking at your wood pile gives me somthing to look up to. I hope I win that log ox so bad !
Charlie Smith, if alligators can inadvertently be transported in firewood, we're all in trouble! Not that firewood should ever be transported more than 5 to 10 miles from where it was cut at the most, because you can inadvertently transfer Emerald Ash Borers, pine-bark beetles. blights and fungi, and other invasive insect species.
Good video. A suggested topic is culling firewood. What do you leave behind on purpose, or worse dump. I am so far behind on loading, I have some cut up rounds that spent the winter on the ground. Now they feel like they doubled their weight with the water they absorbed. I have so many stacks of firewood, I am considering taking out the premium like Beech and leaving/putting all of the gum and pine into ravines I want to fill.May be a good topic for a future video
For sure, after splitting 6 rounds of 22-24 inch diameter American elm I'm thinking of just chucking the rest in a ravine! I honestly don't think it's worth the wear and tear on the splitter.
Ya, there's so few large American elm around, one forgets how tough they are to split. Some pieces looked like they were blown apart with dynamite after I was done with them!
don't burn elm, carve it...........mine smells like creosote really bad, and it have the lowest BTU rating...........it is the worst firewood.......look up btu ratings for firewood and don't throw out laurel hedges........the wood it very good hardwoodl
What was that tool called picks up logs? Oh I would love to know where i can find one. After a tree fell last spring and my back injury finally healing. I just cant lift anything more that 65lbs.
Hi Eric :-D Bugs in firewood is an EXcellent topic! I live in the northern midwest as well. I find alot of "tank bugs" aka "roley poleys", and BEES. I have my firewood on racks which are 18" off the ground which keeps it nice and dry & provides air flow for my garden. Good idea about stripping the bark! Now I have another good reason for buying a draw knife. ;) Just watching your daughter do that back flip on the couch made my back hurt! Looks like her hair is growing nicely since she got it cut. I bet it's alot easier to take care of now :-D Love & prayers
good stuff, Eric I think your daughter needs her own weekly video series to compliment the "Wood Heat Wednesday" series..... You could call it, "Friday Flips With Felicity" (uhhh, her name is Felicity.......right????) :-)
Great video, Eric ! I'm struggling with finding a more permanent place to store our wood for next winter. I built two of TexasPrepper's cattle panel and tarp hoop houses, but they both lost the battle to the heavy wet ice/snow we had this year. I'm hoping to find some free utility poles or other free lumber to make a wood shed.
the bugs just let you know it is warm in the house. Ha Ha Cut wood any time Cuz when the water freezies time for ice fishing. Have a great day! Thous that dont live inNorthern U.S.(MN) mite not get it.
Dont want to come across as disrespecfull, but why are you worried about bugs in firewood? It is going to be burned for heat or whatever else, so the bugs are going to die anyway. Not understanding the logic behind this.
I had a covered stack on a rack for almost a year, a load of mice made it their home. The wood got soaked in mouse urine and droppings. Stench was driving me nuts as I was moving that wood about
Great video with a lot of good tips. Back east (we are in North Dakota now) we would let the trees 🌲 leaf out then cut them down in late May or early June. this way the tree would use up it's moisture to feed the leaves and it draws out the moisture from the tree.
here in NC a old mtn man told me "the best time to cut a tree for fire wood is the 1st week of July, he said cut it and let her lay there leafes and all said the leafes will draw the sap out of it and you can burn it by xmas and it wont soot up your chimney" ive tried it with poplur cut 1 in January and the one next to it july 4 and and the one from july was dryer then the one I cut in winter
I always take a bucket with me while I split and when I run into a log that’s infested with bugs I just sweep them into the bucket and dump em in the chicken pen.
🐔🐓
Sevendust used to work. Sprinkle it on the ground around your wood pile.
I stack my wood on pallets. I coat my pallets with used motor oil and it seems to keep all bugs and pests away from the woodpile.
termites wont eat ceder thats one reason ppl use ceder siding, but i am curious if spraying with a ceder oil (which moths and termites dont like) would help when bring wood near the house
Another benefit to bark removal....leaves behind very little ash when burning. In other words, your firewood burns much cleaner and will dry much faster without the bark.
Don't accuse me lolly gagging while cutting firewood, when I was clearly Dilly dallying. Lol.
You whippersnappers with your lollygagging and dilly dallying. I might dawdle occasionally, but you'll never catch me lollygagging.
When I split my wood I separate the bark and bark less then after a few months I take thebark less wood and put in the basement with dehumidifier running seems to work for me great video
All good tips, thanks Eric. Here in southeastern PA we don't, at least I don't, see a ton of termite or wood ants, but I, like you, am also very rough with my wood. I can't stress enough how important banging your wood around is. I find that it knocks most of the bugs, often times the bark and a TON of DIRT! Dirt is my issue. Not the occasional moth or spider. Its the dirt that gets brought into the house that "bugs" me. Thanks again Eric.
R.B. Pray I'm in central PA, only had Carpenter Ants in a Red Oak log that was on the ground. Dirt? Yes, big problem here too.
Good tips. I’ve always kept the bark as kindling more to keep from being wasteful, not because I don’t have enough actual kindling. If getting rid of the bark cuts back on the bugs then I won’t be using it anymore. Thanks.
Wow. Great tips. Some of those things you mentioned I do. My problem is space for a 2-3 yr supply of wood. I can get about a year and a half. I had extra from last year so I was already prepped for this year. It came in handy like you said... I had a hernia so I could cut and split wood. Therefore , the wood from last winter carried me through this winter without stress.
I also stack all my wood on pallets. I can get them free most of the time. It is a stable base and keeps the wood dry. I cut about 15-20 cords a year in 16 inch pieces. I try to stack them about 8 feet high and keep them nice and straight. I get some wasp issues but no other bug problems here in northeast Kansas.
Great tips. I never heard of damaging the bark of a pine with a chainsaw to hurry up the breakdown later.
I'll have to remember skipping the chain on the bark ... nice trick. Almost as impressive as your daughters approach to sitting on the sofa!
Cutting wood in the winter is the best time as long as the snow isn't too deep as it can be in some parts. I always enjoyed big campfires to keep the chill off while working in the cold.
You should have your wood drying in the spring for the following winter, always being a year ahead to get the most heat out of the wood.
Piling on pallets works the best for drying.
I never worry about the bugs too much because they don't hang out in dry wood.
Since we will be heating with wood this next year we thought we might stack our fire wood around our chicken coop/run that is up close to the house. That way the chickens would help keep the bug population down and give them a nice wind break from the north wind... it's a win, win. At least in theory. Another great video Eric! Thanks for sharing!
Fantastic idea and tip. Chickens getting a free snack while the wood dries. :)
Great tips - keeping wood dry and off the ground seem to work for us as we have never really had issues with bugs.
Eric you are an absolute wealth of knowledge. I’m so grateful for the info you share. It’s really helped me be more productive with my storage. Thank you. Blessings ~Lisa
Here in south Mississippi, it’s roaches and spiders. I build my racks several inches off the ground and 12 ft long. My chickens spend lots of time working the ground around the racks, so it works out. If you want to hear me scream like a little girl, though, let me walk into one of those banana spider webs hanging between two of the racks. I swear those spiders are as big as your hand. LOL!!!
Great video as always!!!
Love my Logox, best money I have spent recently…..
Lent mine to my neighbor yesterday….wife order him one during break from splitting wood.
Hey I get on the couch like that also ( when I trip over the dog lol )
Very cute moment to share with us
Thank you I realize how much work goes into make these videos
Great suggestions on keeping bugs out of firewood.
Pretty Cool Video. I enjoy your video's you seem very humble and down to earth. I'll try it here in the Pacific Northwest but we get much more rain here in Seattle Washington. I got 3 -50ft trees that was cut down to be put away Tomorrow. It took me 20 hours long hours to slit all that wood up. My neighbors probably hate me and that 37 ton log splitter during this Pandemic.I got no yard now oh well plus the wood is Hella heavy because the treez were about 45 years old. I'm so glad "Dominant Tree Services" Matthew cut them down in 16" rounds. Anyways enough I'm rambling!
Thank you for sharing I really appreciate it! That was a pretty cool trick that your daughter did! 🙌🏾
Great tips as usual, Eric! Here in California, bark beetles are the big evil. We have to be careful to segregate any wood we bring onto the property from our live pine trees to avoid infestation. Btw, that's quite the gymnast you've got there!
Firstly I wanted to just express how beautiful your intro sequence is which I could happily watch several times! Some excellent advice not just about bugs but about wood preparation in general and you're making me think about negotiating with my brother about re-stacking his current woodpile. That LogOx might be a back saver but I daresay my attempting to emulate that couch mount would definitely not be so. I dread the noise that I and my back would probably make! ;)
Simon B, I too love Eric’s intros. I’ve always thought he’s got film making talents every time I watch his videos.
Good day to you Eric !! 👍👍😁😁 Thanks for sharing your homesteading story and adventures with us all today 😁😁👍👍
You should see the mess we deal with, I was desperate when we moved in so we are now nearly depleted of the rotten sap wood hardwood firewood. The stack spot in the loft is a MESS. Sometimes wet upon arrival, it is the loft in the A frame of the "attic" so its very dry wood chips and dust. The only bugs we have issue with are stink bugs but i feel like its unrelated to the firewood. We do have flying squirrels in the ceiling of the A frame but we somewhat enjoy their presence once we learned they don't do damage. Those things are pretty darn cute. You may be interested in one of my upcoming videos. It will demonstrate how we supply my living space (3rd floor) 40' up, with firewood without having to use stairs!
Good info. Thanks. I've considered spraying the wood pile with insecticide, but the web-a-net says that's a bad idea.
You put your right hand in and pull a stick of wood out, put your left hand in and bees sting it all about! Sometimes they find just the right amount of space between rows to build fairly big nests but thank goodness it's not a wintertime bringing wood into the house problem.
that's what it's all a-bout ♫ ♫
Thanks for the video, I will try and apply what you suggest. Just picked up 45 acres of forested land.
Thanks for you information on BUGS. Stay warm too.
This was just what i needed I just got my property in colorado 8000 feet in the forrest lots of dead treesneeding cleaned up looking at your wood pile gives me somthing to look up to. I hope I win that log ox so bad !
Bugs? We now have confirmed alligators in SE Tennessee! Love #WHW #LogOx
Charlie Smith, if alligators can inadvertently be transported in firewood, we're all in trouble! Not that firewood should ever be transported more than 5 to 10 miles from where it was cut at the most, because you can inadvertently transfer Emerald Ash Borers, pine-bark beetles. blights and fungi, and other invasive insect species.
Great channel always informative, thank you.
Another great video the log ox looks like great back saver.
Good video. A suggested topic is culling firewood. What do you leave behind on purpose, or worse dump. I am so far behind on loading, I have some cut up rounds that spent the winter on the ground. Now they feel like they doubled their weight with the water they absorbed. I have so many stacks of firewood, I am considering taking out the premium like Beech and leaving/putting all of the gum and pine into ravines I want to fill.May be a good topic for a future video
For sure, after splitting 6 rounds of 22-24 inch diameter American elm I'm thinking of just chucking the rest in a ravine! I honestly don't think it's worth the wear and tear on the splitter.
Surely sell it off or better yet give it away via your local charitable organisation to someone who could use it?
Elm is super stringy when wet if you can wait a year or so it splits much easier.
Ya, there's so few large American elm around, one forgets how tough they are to split. Some pieces looked like they were blown apart with dynamite after I was done with them!
don't burn elm, carve it...........mine smells like creosote really bad, and it have the lowest BTU rating...........it is the worst firewood.......look up btu ratings for firewood and don't throw out laurel hedges........the wood it very good hardwoodl
Thanks Eric! Great tips and very well explained.
How about the ants that are already there when you buy the wood? I use lime stone dust now. Maybe diatomic soil? And borax traps and Bayer ant trap
Great ideas! I use many of them myself.
Thank you. Your chanel is really great.
Great video, full of great tips. Thanks for sharing. I look forward to WHW videos. 👍🏼👍🏼
wow do i miss wood heat wednesday is it ever gonna come back??
Shredding the bark probably would be very good for your garden.
Thanks. Great tips
What was that tool called picks up logs? Oh I would love to know where i can find one. After a tree fell last spring and my back injury finally healing. I just cant lift anything more that 65lbs.
It's called the log ox
@@wyohorseman9948 i just got me a log ox. Love that tool.
Great videos. Are you still having the Log Ox giveaway?
Good stuff. Thanks for the info.
awsome ! I will use this when I win the log ox!
Hi Eric :-D
Bugs in firewood is an EXcellent topic! I live in the northern midwest as well. I find alot of "tank bugs" aka "roley poleys", and BEES. I have my firewood on racks which are 18" off the ground which keeps it nice and dry & provides air flow for my garden. Good idea about stripping the bark! Now I have another good reason for buying a draw knife. ;)
Just watching your daughter do that back flip on the couch made my back hurt! Looks like her hair is growing nicely since she got it cut. I bet it's alot easier to take care of now :-D
Love & prayers
Kathleen Zimmerman Hey sista!! Fancy meeting you here! 😘😘😘
Thanks for the information. It is appreciated.
Stink bugs my biggest nuisance bug with firewood on my farm in central PA.
here in nj too.... i hate stink bugs.
Me too!! I hate that bug!
This was helpful
Great stuff as usual!
Bark seems to create a lot of smoke when it burns.
Thx bro. Quick question: If the goal is to separate the bark from the wood underneath, what is the bark good for?
Edmondson Off Grid Homestead kindling.
Good topic!,
Good info. Thank you
good stuff, Eric
I think your daughter needs her own weekly video series to compliment the "Wood Heat Wednesday" series.....
You could call it, "Friday Flips With Felicity"
(uhhh, her name is Felicity.......right????)
:-)
Great video, Eric ! I'm struggling with finding a more permanent place to store our wood for next winter.
I built two of TexasPrepper's cattle panel and tarp hoop houses, but they both lost the battle to the heavy wet ice/snow we had this year. I'm hoping to find some free utility poles or other free lumber to make a wood shed.
As always, good info ... rub Diesel for me ... yes I love dogs ... all the best! PS: channel has grown, must be doing something
right ... just say'n.
Havent tried it yet, bit heard cedar oil runs the bugs out. Anyone had experience with that?
I have had Carpenter ants nest in stacks of Cedar plank siding, so I don't think Cedar oil will help you in the slightest.
Great tips! And I felt my back break seeing your daughter sit on that couch. Lol
here in MO all i get is Spiders!!! ugh
Good1
the bugs just let you know it is warm in the house. Ha Ha Cut wood any time Cuz when the water freezies time for ice fishing. Have a great day! Thous that dont live inNorthern U.S.(MN) mite not get it.
spiders are the biggest pest in the west
muzik to the ears 4.34
HAHAHA I sensed that, too.
Dont want to come across as disrespecfull, but why are you worried about bugs in firewood? It is going to be burned for heat or whatever else, so the bugs are going to die anyway. Not understanding the logic behind this.
How to keep bugs out of firewood for heating your home.
Step 1: burn the wood