Since we use the woodstove, I have had to locate good supplies of firewood that I can access cheaply. The first couple of years I took my chainsaw to tree service dump lots and where land was being cleared of trees to make way for new home construction.
But this year I discovered a fantastic place to get premium white oak for $20 a cord! I only have to drive 60 miles west of my home to a saw mill that produces staves used in barrel making. They cut off the ends of big white oak logs during production and these pieces go into a waste pile. Another company called Missouri Mulch uses this pile to make mulch in a big tub grinder. The public is welcome to purchase the log ends. I take my Aerostar minivan and fill up the cargo section with this fabulous wood for $5 per load.
When I get the log ends home I split them with a maul and load them into my woodshed to dry out for the next few heating seasons. The log ends I bring home are usually two to six inches thick and up to 18 inches in diameter, so I no longer have to use my chainsaw.
