Firewood

As far as camp fires go...everybody ought to experience roasting hot dogs over a sage brush fire at least once!!!! Done that many times...flavors and cooks at once!!! :D Don't try it in Oregon, though! My understanding is that burning sage brush is against the law statewide...even if it's dead!
 
M3mphis said:
....everybody ought to experience roasting hot dogs over a sage brush fire at least once!!!!
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I've done that. I grew up in Central Washington - sage brush country. We had 10 foot tall sage in the field next to the house. I used to climb it as a little kid. Doubt it would carry me now.
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This past weekend, I acquired a small load of split black locust from my daddy-in-law. He claims it was a standing dead tree that he had cut down and split recently. I loaded all that I could get in our small SUV, then got a cargo carrier and loaded it up too. (I plan on going back for the the rest with the work truck, but he is a few hours away) much of what I have has little to no bark on it. It's already fallen off mostly. Much of it needs split again into 3 pieces or so to fit into my smaller fireplace as well.

Here is my question: does locust really need to be seasoned or not? I have been told by some rural living friends of mine, that they often cut green locust and burn it with no problems. What I have doesn't seem wet, it's not sizzling or hissing in the firebox. But, it doesn't really seem to burn either. It just sits and smolders for a long time while the rest of the wood burns away. Is this common? Recommendations? Should I just split the rest and leave it for next year?
 
Yeah, it sounds like it must be a bit wet. Take a couple pieces and let them sit next to the wood stove for a week or two and see how they burn afterwards. When really dry locust gives off great heat and makes awesome coals.
 
schmittie said:
He claims it was a standing dead tree that he had cut down and split recently.
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Standing dead wood is a great fuel but it's likely to still be moist on the surface. Split it into smaller pieces as you were planning and then stack it in cross-wise stacks in a dry place. It should be ready to burn in just a few weeks.
 
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