WORDS: Remy Raitt
Now that winter’s chill has firmed its grip over most of the country, fireplaces and chimneys are working overtime. We spoke to Ryan van Lelyveld of Timber Wolf firewood and combustion suppliers to get the lowdown on firewood.
5 steps to an eco-friendly fire:
1. Choose medium- to high-density timbers that are exotic to South Africa. Woods such as eucalyptus, wattle and oak have been classified as “obnoxious invader weeds” that are detrimental to indigenous fauna and flora. You can burn these timbers with a clear conscience.
2. Don’t buy high-density bushveld timbers such as sekelbos, mopane or kameeldoring, as they’re indigenous trees that provide homes for local fauna.
3. Only buy wood that has been harvested in a controlled manner. Don’t choose wood that’s been felled solely for firewood.
4. Buy firewood that has been sourced close to where you live. Transport is the biggest cost in the firewood business. If you buy local, you’re doing your bit to reduce the pollution that’s caused during transportation.
5. Install a slow-combustion fireplace, which burns more efficiently, resulting in the need for less firewood. It’s also more economical in the long run.
4 ways to save on firewood costs:
1. Buy firewood before winter sets in and prices rise. Store the wood in a dry place above the ground.
2. Go for eco-friendly, medium- to high-density timbers, as they’re less expensive than the local bushveld timbers.
3. Don’t buy firewood based on weight. Many suppliers sell “green” or wet wood, which is heavier and therefore more expensive, but in no way as effective. There’s a good chance it will not burn at all.
4. Buy firewood based on volume and always make sure you buy it neatly packed, as there’s far less wasted air space than in loosely bundled stacks of wood.
Top tips for a roaring fire:
– Use kindling (smaller pieces of firewood) to get your fire going. Kindling greatly enhances your fire lighting and will help revive dying flames.
– Stack your wood in either a Jenga or tepee/A-frame configuration:
Jenga: Place logs parallel to each other; then place each next layer in the same orientation at 90 degrees to the logs below.
Teepee/A-frame: Rest the ends of the wood on each other, creating a triangular A or teepee shape.
More information: sales@firewood.co.za, www.firewood.co.za
See VISI 55, on sale now, for more information about the thorny issues surrounding one of mankind’s most-used natural resources: wood.
