Burning Wood

“The fire is the main comfort of the camp, whether in summer or winter, and is about as ample at one season as at another. It is as well for cheerfulness as for warmth and dryness.” — Henry David Thoreau

Why burn wood in a wood burning stove? I want to share 8 points on why I like burning wood in my wood burner.

1. Burning wood is cost-effective. Wood can often be obtained free or for a cheaper price than alternative heating methods. I rarely will cut down a healthy tree. Where I live there are plenty of trees that have died or have come down in storms. I have my work cut out for me just getting these trees cleaned up. Burning wood actually helps keep forests clear of deadfall.

2. Wood is a renewable energy source. Where fossil fuels are limited, seedlings can be planted to help renew this natural resource.

3. Burning wood does not contribute to global warming. Seedlings capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere a gradual process that occurs constantly as part of the tree’s life cycle. When the tree dies and it rots or is burned, the carbon dioxide is released. This carbon cycle is repeated as new trees grow and die. Wood is considered “carbon-neutral”. It doesn’t add additional carbon dioxide to the environment.

4. Burning wood provides independence from energy suppliers.

5. Wood burning can be relaxing and provide you with a little piece of sunshine on an otherwise gloomy day.

6. Cutting and gathering firewood is good exercise. Some might say hard work. Aren’t they one and the same? Seems like I work up a sweat either way! My grandfather had a tile with a saying on it… “He who cuts his own firewood is twice warmed.” It certainly has been true in my experience.

7. You can save money burning wood by heating the space you are in and leave the rest of the house cooler. (I heat my living room, kitchen and den… the bedrooms are kept cooler which makes for better sleeping.)

8. Burning wood allows one to heat a home even if power outages occur. Many wood burning stoves come in designs that allow for food to be prepared and water to be heated in a kettle.

So there you have it. 8 reasons why I like burning wood in my wood burner.

Did you notice the rust on my wood burner in the picture above? Watch for a future post on how to clean up a rusty stove and make it almost like new. Spoiler alert… my wood burner doesn’t have that rust on it anymore!

“To poke a wood fire is more solid enjoyment than almost anything else in the world.” — Charles Dudley Warner