A Family Tradition Rooted in Wood and Memories
As far as I can remember, I have been splitting and stacking firewood. My father heated our house with wood when I was a kid. We live in New England and he had electric heat. When the energy crisis hit in the seventies, electricity shot up and the cost made it very expensive to heat our house.
Learning in the Woods
As a young kid I can remember going to the woods with my dad, uncle and cousin to cut down trees for firewood. Nothing could be better for two 10 year old boys than to be hanging out in the woods helping out our fathers. I have some great memories tugging on ropes to help pull down big oak trees as dad was cutting them down. We helped haul branches, carry logs, lug chainsaws from the trucks and had a great time horsing around in the woods pretending to be men.
The Art of Splitting and Stacking
As I got a little older, I would help dad split wood on nice cool days in the fall. I would work the lever and he would put the wood on the splitter. We would get really efficient at it and would see how much we could split. We would make some pretty big piles in an afternoon. As I grew up, I split and stacked a lot of wood. It was sort of a tradition for us that has continued on over the years. There was something special about working out in the cold and coming in to start the wood stove to heat the house using the wood you worked so hard to prepare. There is nothing like a nice wood fire on a cold winter day. The split wood smell of oak, maple, birch and their unique smoke smells bring back memories every new season.
Three Generations Strong
Time went on and I have a family of my own now. It's a three generation effort these days. Dad still heats with wood and I've carried on that tradition to our family. On a fall day, you might find my son on the log splitter controls, me loading and dad directing his grandkids on how it's all done. It is nice to watch my kids learn about hard work, have a reason to spend time outside and enjoy a little family time together in this hectic life we all lead.
If you want to learn about how Cordwood Covers was born and why our cordwood covers are the best thing your firewood will ever need, check out this blog post.
How to Use a Cordwood Cover on Your Woodpile
A cordwood cover is designed to help protect your firewood while still letting air move through the woodpile. For a round woodpile or holz hausen, place the cordwood cover over the top so rain and snow stay off the stack. When it is time to use the wood, simply remove wood from the covered pile as needed and keep the rest dry for the season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did your family start heating with wood?
When the energy crisis hit in the seventies, electricity costs shot up significantly. Wood heating became a practical and affordable alternative to keep our New England home warm during winter.
What are your earliest memories of firewood preparation?
My earliest memories involve going to the woods with my dad, uncle and cousin to cut down trees. As a young boy, I remember tugging on ropes to help pull down large oak trees and helping haul branches and carry logs—it felt like an adventure.
How did you learn to split and stack wood?
I learned by working alongside my father on cool fall days. He would place the wood on the splitter while I operated the lever. Over time, we became very efficient and could create large piles in a single afternoon.
Will firewood dry out under a tarp?
Firewood can dry out under a tarp if air can still move through the woodpile, but a tarp that traps moisture may slow drying. A cordwood cover is made to help protect firewood while keeping the stack ventilated.
How long will firewood last if covered?
Covered firewood can last through the season and often much longer if it is stacked well and kept dry. The key is using a firewood cover that sheds rain and snow without sealing in moisture.
Is firewood heating still part of your family tradition?
Yes, absolutely. My father still heats with wood, and I've carried on the tradition with my own family. It's now a three-generation effort, with my children learning the same skills and values I learned growing up.
What makes wood heating special to you?
There's something deeply satisfying about heating your home with wood you've personally prepared. The warmth of a wood fire on a cold winter day, combined with the distinctive smells of oak, maple, and birch smoke, creates memories that return with each new season.
What do you hope your children learn from this tradition?
I want my kids to understand the value of hard work, appreciate time spent outdoors, and experience quality family time together. In today's busy world, this tradition gives us a meaningful reason to work side by side and create lasting memories.
