Elder. Any good to burn?

Jimmy Garlic

The recent storm brought down a few fairly big Elder trees on my land. Is it any good at all for firewood? I have never used it before.

sawdoubters

http://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/burning-box-elder.84924/

Jimmy Garlic

sawdoubters wrote: »

http://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/burning-box-elder.84924/

That's box elder, a north American tree a bit like sycamore.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_negundo

Not what I have.

Genghis Cant

The old folks used to say it was unlucky to burn elder. Or to use it as a stick to drive cattle.
However that sorta talk never held any water with me. I burned plenty of elder, cut it up, season it and mix it with turf or other timber and there's not a bother on it.

Brown Podzol

Genghis Cant wrote: »

The old folks used to say it was unlucky to burn elder. Or to use it as a stick to drive cattle.
However that sorta talk never held any water with me. I burned plenty of elder, cut it up, season it and mix it with turf or other timber and there's not a bother on it.

Because Our Lords cross was supposed to have been made from elder. That's what I remember my mother saying anyway.

Jimmy Garlic

Genghis Cant wrote: »

The old folks used to say it was unlucky to burn elder. Or to use it as a stick to drive cattle.

Really? A neighbour of mine said someone will die if I burn it. I was thinking he was off his head.

moy83

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

Really? A neighbour of mine said someone will die if I burn it. I was thinking he was off his head.

Sure people are dying every minute of the day anyhow ! Ive burnt it and found it good , but needs plenty of air to dry it first

Genghis Cant

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

Really? A neighbour of mine said someone will die if I burn it. I was thinking he was off his head.

Tell him you'll be thinking of him when ya burn it, see how nervous he gets:D

Genghis Cant

Brown Podzol wrote: »

Because Our Lords cross was supposed to have been made from elder. That's what I remember my mother saying anyway.

Elder was hugely important in Pagan times, and because of this was demonised by the church, who put out these old yarns of lads bein crucified and hung from Elder trees. They'll be telling us the world is only 6000 years old next;)

on the river

dONT MESS WITH THE ELDER TREE.

One story i heard was a family would burn these tress for years .

one day a wise old man who new anything about everything told the family to stop as it may result in been unlucky or even worse.

Anyway a few years later the family died out either thougho emigration or death.

Today the house is locked up and the land unfarmed .
Nobody in the area will buy it.

The strange thing is the elder is growing beside the house .

ganmo

Jimmy Garlic wrote: »

The recent storm brought down a few fairly big Elder trees on my land. Is it any good at all for firewood? I have never used it before.

Is not great. needs a hot fire and won't keep it going by itself and will eventually just smoulder.

You'll need to hit whats left of the elder in the ground with something or it'll re-sprout

gk5000

Genghis Cant wrote: »

Elder was hugely important in Pagan times, and because of this was demonised by the church, who put out these old yarns of lads bein crucified and hung from Elder trees. They'll be telling us the world is only 6000 years old next;)

I'll go with this, mainly. Seemingly in Brehon laws, elder was only in the third division of trees. http://www.forestryfocus.ie/social-environmental-aspects/cultural-heritage/trees-and-folklore/brehon-laws/

I have burned it and would say
- it is very good if well seasoned..for several years (unless dead standing)
- is is very bad /wet / useless until it has been fully seasoned

TopTec

As a child I was always told that Elder wood smoke is poisonous and when burnt the smoke is used by the Devil to come into your house.....:eek:.

I have never burnt it .... horrible wood.

TT