Bark Up or Down? Firewood Splits Norwegians

[fhdz]

I have a bit of a fondness for skills that would help me live independently of the trappings of modern society, so I kinda agree with Mongers. It's probably why I like to cook. Some things are universal.

Oh, I agree with you. But it doesn't mean technology has no value or is somehow less real, as Mongers is indicating. I mean - all the power could go out tomorrow, but for all we know all the trees could disappear tomorrow too, which would make firewood stacking a pretty useless skill.

My point is that there's value in all sorts of things. What you do for a living might not immediately be useful after an apocalypse, but the critical thinking skills inherent in your job would.

[Grinning_Colossus]

I agree with Mongers. When I take 15 minutes to get a fire going in the aluminum wood stove that serves as the only source of heat in my English classroom -- and all the kids are watching me and judging me since they've been out chopping wood and setting fires with their fathers since they were old enough to stand -- I feel like less of a man.

[derspiess]

I have a bit of a fondness for skills that would help me live independently of the trappings of modern society, so I kinda agree with Mongers. It's probably why I like to cook. Some things are universal.

What I do for a living would be of no utility or value whatsoever after the zombie apocalypse.

Can I sell you a bunker?

FOOD INSURANCE

[garbon]

I have a bit of a fondness for skills that would help me live independently of the trappings of modern society, so I kinda agree with Mongers. It's probably why I like to cook. Some things are universal.

What I do for a living would be of no utility or value whatsoever after the zombie apocalypse.

Can I sell you a bunker?

FOOD INSURANCE

Food insecurity.

[garbon]

I agree with Mongers. When I take 15 minutes to get a fire going in the aluminum wood stove that serves as the only source of heat in my English classroom -- and all the kids are watching me and judging me since they've been out chopping wood and setting fires with their fathers since they were old enough to stand -- I feel like less of a man.

Which of course, is tangential to my criticism of his comparison of starting a fire to the latest iPhone app.  Mainly that the people who are on their iPhones are less likely to be in places where an aluminum wood stove is their only source of heat.

[11B4V]

You see, your're not prepared now........tisk...tisk.

I'm prepared by living somewhere it doesn't go below freezing 

If you say so.

[mongers]

I agree with Mongers. When I take 15 minutes to get a fire going in the aluminum wood stove that serves as the only source of heat in my English classroom -- and all the kids are watching me and judging me since they've been out chopping wood and setting fires with their fathers since they were old enough to stand -- I feel like less of a man.

Which of course, is tangential to my criticism of his comparison of starting a fire to the latest iPhone app.  Mainly that the people who are on their iPhones are less likely to be in places where an aluminum wood stove is their only source of heat.

Well my point was about learning and improving certain basic skills, there's nothing to stop those iphone users from also having the ability to light and maintain an efficient fire.

Somewhat tangentially, throughout most of recorded history and for perhaps thousands of years previously a large proportion of people have know hown to tend fires, yet it's almost within our lifetime that that knowledge is becoming less widespread, in some ways quite a change.

Garbon, did you learn how to make afire as a child ?

[garbon]

Well my point was about learning and improving certain basic skills, there's nothing to stop those iphone users from also having the ability to light and maintain an efficient fire.

Somewhat tangentially, throughout most of recorded history and for perhaps thousands of years previously a large proportion of people have know hown to tend fires, yet it's almost within our lifetime that that knowledge is becoming less widespread, in some ways quite a change.

Garbon, did you learn how to make afire as a child ?

But you're missing out on the need factor. Besides something like the fun of camping, barbecue, and fireplace - most of those iPhone users don't need to know how to light a fire. As such is unnecessary that's why a large proportion of people don't know how to tend them - as what's the point? People don't practice unnecessary skills unless they find them fun.

Well I was taught how to make a fire in a fireplace and a fire using a charcoal grill. If I was suddenly in the woods and needed a fire - I would be screwed but then the likelihood of me being in the woods (let alone in danger if I didn't have a fire) is pretty low.

[mongers]

Well my point was about learning and improving certain basic skills, there's nothing to stop those iphone users from also having the ability to light and maintain an efficient fire.

Somewhat tangentially, throughout most of recorded history and for perhaps thousands of years previously a large proportion of people have know hown to tend fires, yet it's almost within our lifetime that that knowledge is becoming less widespread, in some ways quite a change.

Garbon, did you learn how to make afire as a child ?

But you're missing out on the need factor. Besides something like the fun of camping, barbecue, and fireplace - most of those iPhone users don't need to know how to light a fire. As such is unnecessary that's why a large proportion of people don't know how to tend them - as what's the point? People don't practice unnecessary skills unless they find them fun.

Well I was taught how to make a fire in a fireplace and a fire using a charcoal grill. If I was suddenly in the woods and needed a fire - I would be screwed but then the likelihood of me being in the woods (let alone in danger if I didn't have a fire) is pretty low.

Depends who's chasing you.   

[derspiess]

Robots

[Malthus]

You guys are missing the important part of the discussion: bark up or down?

bark up, so the rain will flow around it instead of penetrating the wood.
You either put planks at the bottom of your stack, or you put the first row bark down.

We put planks under and old roofing on top and pile the wood any old way. 

If you don't cover your stacks, wood will get wet no matter which way you put the bark.

Mind you, you can cover a stack pretty well with birchbark weighed down with stones. My dad had a big campsite in a remote place near Lake Kippawa in the 1950s and build a few stacks covered in that way. We visited the same site in the 1980s - 30 years later - and found his old stacks; wood was still good. We used it. 

[mongers]

You guys are missing the important part of the discussion: bark up or down?

bark up, so the rain will flow around it instead of penetrating the wood.
You either put planks at the bottom of your stack, or you put the first row bark down.

We put planks under and old roofing on top and pile the wood any old way. 

If you don't cover your stacks, wood will get wet no matter which way you put the bark.

Mind you, you can cover a stack pretty well with birchbark weighed down with stones. My dad had a big campsite in a remote place near Lake Kippawa in the 1950s and build a few stacks covered in that way. We visited the same site in the 1980s - 30 years later - and found his old stacks; wood was still good. We used it. 

That's uber-cool, craft knowledge FTW.   

[Viking]

You guys are missing the important part of the discussion: bark up or down?

With Birch wood and properly split and dried logs bark up. Though.. dried bark can be used as kindling..

[Ed Anger]

I turn my thermostat to "70"

[mongers]

I turn my thermostat to "70"

Thanks that's reminded me to go and turn mine down, it keeps comming on this evening, I guess there's a high temperature gradient.