Harrowsmith – September 2019

Harrowsmith Fall 2019 | 201

for shelter. Another layer or two
of wood on top holds the tarp
down and keeps the pile dry.

STEP 5: SEASON YOUR FIREWOOD
The fresher the better for
vegetables and fish, but not so for
firewood. My rule is to allow at
least one year of drying before
burning firewood. Two years
is better. The tarp I install as
part of my round wood piles
is especially effective because
it’s protecting a wider width
of stacked wood than in a
conventional narrow, straight
pile. This tarp is also sloped.
Storing firewood in a well-
ventilated, covered woodshed
is the very best option because
it yields noticeably hotter and
cleaner-burning fires. That’s the
reason old-time homesteaders
usually had a woodshed near
the house. H

ESSENTIALFIREWOOD

SAFETYGEAR

• Earandeyeprotection.
  Importantbutoften
  ignored.


• Steel-toebootswith
  tarsal(metatarsal)guards.
  Protectstoesfromlogsand
  sawchain.


• Chainsawchaps.Essential
  forprotectinglegs.


• Leather gloves (optional).
  Good except in hot
  weather.

HOME & DESIGN: TREE CUTTING

STEP 4