Forest for home heating

M.C.Intry

Hi All,
I am wondering if it is a good idea to buy a small piece of forest for the purpose of having my own firewood?
What are your thoughts on this, number of acres needed, best species, or just more trouble than it's worth?
If you are managing a small wood for your own personal use do the same regulations apply with regard to felling licences, etc?
Thanks.

air

A far better idea would be to spend a fraction of the intended outlay upgrading the insulation in your house as near to passive standard as possible.
You'll then need to decide what you will do with all the free time you will have at your disposal.
After all you won't need to set, coppice, thin, weed, harvest, stack, transport, cut, chop & store all that wood.
You'll also avoid the joys of hauling it into your house, lighting & loading the fire, disposing of ashes & cleaning the whole house.

accidental forester

I have to agree with air, unless you're able to create some sort of income stream beyond generating your own firewood, you're looking at some very expensive fuel. On the other hand, if you have the time and energy, it's a very satisfying to sit back in front of your stove in the dead of winter warmed by your efforts.

If a suitable piece of forestry comes on the market near you, it's worth having a look. A lot of 20 year old plantations come on the market when the premimums end, sometimes at a good price. I should stress the proximity part of it, you will get a lot more out of it if it's close by. Yes, you will need a felling licence but they are largely a formality. They can take several weeks to come through.

Besides the felling and moving equipment, you'll need a processing area and storage area. Spilt timber needs a good drying area outside of the woodland. Drying conditions are usually poor within a plantation. Plan on a minimum of six to nine months to season split sitka, at least twice that for most hardwoods.

gazahayes

Just reading this book at the moment it's very interesting about tho different techniques used

http://www.dubraybooks.ie/Norwegian-Wood-Chopping-Stacking-and-Drying-Wood-the-Scandinavian-Way_9780857052551

Oldtree

Thats a coincidence, got a copy of that book on the way

BreadnBuddha

Oldtree wrote: »

Thats a coincidence, got a copy of that book on the way

An enjoyable read. Good choice.

timfromtang

M.C.Intry wrote: »

Hi All,
I am wondering if it is a good idea to buy a small piece of forest for the purpose of having my own firewood?
What are your thoughts on this, number of acres needed, best species, or just more trouble than it's worth?
If you are managing a small wood for your own personal use do the same regulations apply with regard to felling licences, etc?
Thanks.

In my humble opinion this is a fine idea, i'd suggest a 7 acre plot of hardwood coppiced. If cut on a 14 year rotation 1/2 acre per year this would produce enough to keep you warm. Coppice timber would be easily processed into firewood, possible indeed with hand tools only (but BLOODY HARD WORK), but with minimal investment say a firewood processing log horse from yer man in limerick who makes em (https://www.youtube.com/user/blkdg7) a wheelbarrow, 2 axes large and small, and a small chainsaw.

such a piece of forestry were it available nearby might cost in the region of 3000 euro /acre and would provide firewood forever.

Seasoning your produce would be easily accelerated with a cheap polytunnel on site.

some suitable species might include spanish chestnut, ash, norway maple, sycamore, ,,,,,, etc, but of course you will need to take what you can get.
these portions of forestry do come up now and again, some have planted hardwoods rather than softwoods.

tim

locky76

We did something similar 4 years ago and it's a great investment. Free fuel and an investment which is increasing in value every year that goes by. I love heading to the forest for a day or two with a chainsaw, a great de stressor!

M.C.Intry wrote: »

Hi All,
I am wondering if it is a good idea to buy a small piece of forest for the purpose of having my own firewood?
What are your thoughts on this, number of acres needed, best species, or just more trouble than it's worth?
If you are managing a small wood for your own personal use do the same regulations apply with regard to felling licences, etc?
Thanks.