growing your own firewood?

treestyle · 19th February 2008, 02:41 AM

hi,

looking to get a property out west a bit (not too far). was thinking if it would be sustainable to grow own firewood?

maybe use Euc. crebra. would have 3 or 4 denses groves and every season rotationally cut a grove leaving stumps to grow back for next 4 years.

any thoughts would be appreciated, thanks!

treestyle · 3rd March 2008, 01:34 AM

not one reply hey?

this wood will be for personal use, not looking to commercialize.

thanks

Ekka · 3rd March 2008, 03:45 AM

Well, what about fast growing and good burning black wattle, just a thought, stole the idea from a kiwi who reckons it grows nuts over there and is primo firewood.

Tree Machine · 3rd March 2008, 05:19 AM

Pawlonia? Actually, I'd like to know the correct spellling on that. The internet world doesn't seem to know.

Grow Paulownia and teak. Mill the wood into pricey stock. Use the trimmings and scrap as your personal firewood. Teak burns nice. I don't know how Paulownia burns, but it's got pretty grain.

Plant the entire perimeter of the property in fruit trees, tall macademias at the far-sun end.

Hey Treestyle, I don't mind spending your money

TreeDimensional · 3rd March 2008, 10:03 AM

OR you could buy a plane ticket, come on up here and Buy my farm and tree-care business. DON'T forget your check book!

There's more wood to deal with than you could burn in a lifetime. Surprising really cause we don't have a lot of trees.

What land worth an acre (hectare) down under?

azrael · 4th March 2008, 12:30 PM

WATTLES , EUCS, and CASUARINAS.
(Ref: Forestry Commission of N.S.W. "Trees & Shrubs for Eastern Australia")

That's about it for native trees ... except for Callitris which is a conifer and will spit like crazy ....good for kindling only.

Paulownia ...I know its pretty soft and light ... used for making plywood, musical instruments and

coffins.
Once cut, it isnt weather hardy ... and rots away quickly (at least down here it does).
Paulownia

Found this link.... It may be of interest although its for Victoria, Aust.
hhttp://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/DPI/nreni...ACBD?opentp://
Az

treestyle · 6th March 2008, 01:56 AM

cheers!

wattle is a good idea! you think it can be planted too dense? 1m spacings?

thanks!

azrael · 6th March 2008, 02:17 AM

I dunno what happened with that 2nd link ...
In it were useful specs for all types agroforestry including this one for Blackwood (Ac.melanoxylon).....
Blackwood for Farm Forestry
...which recommends 2.0 to 2.5m spacings

and this one for Ac.mearnsii (Blackwattle) ... which BTW are a very short lived species.
http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/DPI/nrenin...0808_Nov07.pdf

and preliminaries for set-up
Site preparation for farm forestry

Ekka · 6th March 2008, 02:46 AM

That black wattle grows like weeds around Brisbane and can tolerate poor soils and droughts.

Casuarinas around here (unless coastal) are slower growing and tend to get problems, rot etc. Nah, junk I reckon.

Wattle is the go, burns real hot. You prep that place right, drive a water tanker down the rows every now and then, mulch fertilize etc they'll go nuts.

And they aint gonna be some 50'+ felling job either.

Downside is they dont coppice for regrowth.

shaggs · 11th March 2008, 03:54 PM

G'day treestyle,
I used to subscribe to this woodlot magazine
Sawmill & Woodlot Magazine Online
Its not a bad magazine and you can read bits of it online, although it does mainly refer to american species/softwoods I think.
Every now and then a firewood "farm" pops up on Landline (ABC channel), may be able to find some back stories there?
I have cleared wattle off some acreages and have used it as firwood myself, it is very good burning timber......especially when it dies for you and borers provide ventilation holes!!!!
Good Luck

19th February 2008, 02:41 AM	#1 (permalink)
treestyle Fly'n Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: North Brisbane Posts: 119	growing your own firewood? hi, looking to get a property out west a bit (not too far). was thinking if it would be sustainable to grow own firewood? maybe use Euc. crebra. would have 3 or 4 denses groves and every season rotationally cut a grove leaving stumps to grow back for next 4 years. any thoughts would be appreciated, thanks!

3rd March 2008, 01:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
treestyle Fly'n Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: North Brisbane Posts: 119	Re: growing your own firewood? not one reply hey? this wood will be for personal use, not looking to commercialize. thanks

3rd March 2008, 03:45 AM	#3 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 5,669	Re: growing your own firewood? Well, what about fast growing and good burning black wattle, just a thought, stole the idea from a kiwi who reckons it grows nuts over there and is primo firewood. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

3rd March 2008, 10:03 AM	#5 (permalink)
TreeDimensional Afterburner is shakin' Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 381	Re: growing your own firewood? OR you could buy a plane ticket, come on up here and Buy my farm and tree-care business. DON'T forget your check book! There's more wood to deal with than you could burn in a lifetime. Surprising really cause we don't have a lot of trees. What land worth an acre (hectare) down under? __________________ West Central Saskatchewan ISA Certified Arborist

4th March 2008, 12:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
azrael Afterburner is shakin' Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Earth Australia Posts: 340	Re: growing your own firewood? WATTLES , EUCS, and CASUARINAS. (Ref: Forestry Commission of N.S.W. "Trees & Shrubs for Eastern Australia") That's about it for native trees ... except for Callitris which is a conifer and will spit like crazy ....good for kindling only. Paulownia ...I know its pretty soft and light ... used for making plywood, musical instruments and coffins. Once cut, it isnt weather hardy ... and rots away quickly (at least down here it does). Paulownia Found this link.... It may be of interest although its for Victoria, Aust. hhttp://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/DPI/nreni...ACBD?opentp:// Az

3rd March 2008, 05:19 AM	#4 (permalink)
Tree Machine Astronaut Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 567	Pawlonia? Actually, I'd like to know the correct spellling on that. The internet world doesn't seem to know. Grow Paulownia and teak. Mill the wood into pricey stock. Use the trimmings and scrap as your personal firewood. Teak burns nice. I don't know how Paulownia burns, but it's got pretty grain. Plant the entire perimeter of the property in fruit trees, tall macademias at the far-sun end. Hey Treestyle, I don't mind spending your money

6th March 2008, 01:56 AM	#7 (permalink)
treestyle Fly'n Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: North Brisbane Posts: 119	Re: growing your own firewood? cheers! wattle is a good idea! you think it can be planted too dense? 1m spacings? thanks!

6th March 2008, 02:17 AM	#8 (permalink)
azrael Afterburner is shakin' Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Earth Australia Posts: 340	Re: growing your own firewood? I dunno what happened with that 2nd link ... In it were useful specs for all types agroforestry including this one for Blackwood (Ac.melanoxylon)..... Blackwood for Farm Forestry ...which recommends 2.0 to 2.5m spacings and this one for Ac.mearnsii (Blackwattle) ... which BTW are a very short lived species. http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/DPI/nrenin...0808_Nov07.pdf and preliminaries for set-up Site preparation for farm forestry

6th March 2008, 02:46 AM	#9 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 5,669	Re: growing your own firewood? That black wattle grows like weeds around Brisbane and can tolerate poor soils and droughts. Casuarinas around here (unless coastal) are slower growing and tend to get problems, rot etc. Nah, junk I reckon. Wattle is the go, burns real hot. You prep that place right, drive a water tanker down the rows every now and then, mulch fertilize etc they'll go nuts. And they aint gonna be some 50'+ felling job either. Downside is they dont coppice for regrowth. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

11th March 2008, 03:54 PM	#10 (permalink)
shaggs Afterburner is shakin' Join Date: May 2007 Location: sydney Posts: 459	Re: growing your own firewood? G'day treestyle, I used to subscribe to this woodlot magazine Sawmill & Woodlot Magazine Online Its not a bad magazine and you can read bits of it online, although it does mainly refer to american species/softwoods I think. Every now and then a firewood "farm" pops up on Landline (ABC channel), may be able to find some back stories there? I have cleared wattle off some acreages and have used it as firwood myself, it is very good burning timber......especially when it dies for you and borers provide ventilation holes!!!! Good Luck

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