Firewood as an energy source

Before launching into a discussion on firewood, thought to ask if anyone harvests wood to heat their homes or cook with?

Or, anyone interested in pursuing a discussion on this renewable resource?

As an fyi, we heat our home with firewood. Instead of paying approx $300-600/mo in the winter which is average for this area (old, homes built in the 1890s to 1930s around here), we average about $20/mo for the fuel bill.

Of course, we need to go *get* the wood which I do. Approx 8 cords give or take each season. Cut it with chain saws and split it by hand. Fantastically well worth it for many reasons. One being that is my equivalent of a Ballys fitness membership.

It also benefits the area for another reason. The state has been hit with beetle kill, a direct result of sprawling mankind so the forests pay the price for man's propensity to transport everything across environments. Result is there are vast areas of forests dead and down. Harvesting these trees in a minor way helps reduce fire hazards.

But realistically, the only real fire prevention is nature doing it thing, called forest fires, then rebirth of forests. It is folly for man to think we can shape the course of what nature is going to do on her own anyway, especially when encroachment ensures these things will happen.

Still, harvesting of these diseased trees is a source of heat.

Anyone else interested in opening up a discussion of firewood for heat and cooking? Can get into all kinds of themes like wood types, curing, saws, stoves, economics, etc.