woodbooga
cords of mystic memory
I've been thinking about starting a thread on this subject for a little while.
Given the sheer antiquity of burning wood for heat - as well as the hands-on nature of gathering and preparing the fuel - there is a lot of lore out there. Sayings, traditions, time-tested practices passed from one generation to another.
We're the continuors of a living legacy with a long history. Let's hear the bits of folk wisdom you've encountered in firewooding and talking with other burners. Sometimes folk wisdom is true. Sometimes not - or is at least ill advised (see my 3rd example below).
I'll prime the pump with a couple.
On burning poplar: A poplar fire in a newlywed's home was said to be good luck in promoting pregnancy. (Because of its low btu content, poplar was an ideal wedding present from relatives eager for grandchildren. Part of a machievellian plot to force the newlyweds to find alternative ways of keeping warm).
On the ideal mix in the firebox: "Burn 'em as they grow" is an expression I've heard some old timers use. Specifically relating to white pine and red oak, which often occupy the same forest habitat side by side. One ignites the other and makes for a bright and lasting fire.
Burn time:Some of the old timers in the hills here keep a bucket of water by their stoves. They dip each end into the water to help extend the burn time of a given stick of wood.
Given the sheer antiquity of burning wood for heat - as well as the hands-on nature of gathering and preparing the fuel - there is a lot of lore out there. Sayings, traditions, time-tested practices passed from one generation to another.
We're the continuors of a living legacy with a long history. Let's hear the bits of folk wisdom you've encountered in firewooding and talking with other burners. Sometimes folk wisdom is true. Sometimes not - or is at least ill advised (see my 3rd example below).
I'll prime the pump with a couple.
On burning poplar: A poplar fire in a newlywed's home was said to be good luck in promoting pregnancy. (Because of its low btu content, poplar was an ideal wedding present from relatives eager for grandchildren. Part of a machievellian plot to force the newlyweds to find alternative ways of keeping warm).
On the ideal mix in the firebox: "Burn 'em as they grow" is an expression I've heard some old timers use. Specifically relating to white pine and red oak, which often occupy the same forest habitat side by side. One ignites the other and makes for a bright and lasting fire.
Burn time:Some of the old timers in the hills here keep a bucket of water by their stoves. They dip each end into the water to help extend the burn time of a given stick of wood.
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