Do You have Russian Olive on your land?Contact Amanda Kuenzi Some states have made the sale of Russian olive trees illegal, to prevent their spreading. Russian olive wood is not known to give off a smell when burning when it is fully dry. It is surpassed by 13 other varieties that have as much as 37% more BTUs per cord! 4 years later I still come here when I need to cut a load of firewood. Have a friend with a fireplace?, bundle about a dozen of the fat lighter sticks with a ribbon and this makes a great gift. A hot and dry climate will help speed up olive firewood seasoning. It is a dense hardwood providing above average heat thats suitable for the coldest winters. WE MADE BARTOPS, SHELVES, AND FENCING OUT OF IT (PRIMO FOR THOSE, AS THE GRAIN IS VERY PRETTY AND CONTRASTING). But its tendency to take on more water in certain settings means extended seasoning time. When the temp gets to about 450 I damp down the output and the input and it rarely increases by more than about 25 burning very dry oak or juniper. ), I am reduced to asking neighbors or builders if I can haul away their downed trees. But since softwoods are usually so much less dense than hardwoods, the total energy in softwoods are usually much less than hardwoods. I like burning Birch in fireplaces but getrun away fires ( read relief valve blows @ 100 c) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utECDaIoBFU, Too Much Charcoal Building Up in a Wood Stove, Does Burning Softwood Cause Creosote in a Chimney, Soaking Wood Chips for Smoking and Grilling. With an abundance of Apple orchards in the area, Apple wood is also readily available. Stay warm and dont worry about it so much. All of them burn well. In central MN (east Metro) that stuff is thick and burning the roots gives green-brown smoke. If the Russian olive woods content is still too high after a year, give it a few more months to season. I enjoyed the story about his neighbor that let his oak fire wood dry for a whole week and it wouldnt burn LOL !!!! Greenwood is wood that has just been cut and not seasoned. Burning green wood is bad for any number of reasons, but especially so when the wood has a high sap content. When its cold out, I seem less lazy to get up in the middle of the night to keep the fire hot overnight. I live in Mn and it smells just like fresh cut oak. We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues. The coals cook a mean hot dog after a few brews. Beautiful wood, but until it is thoroughly dried, while working with it, it smells awful my brother was making 10 inch boxes out of it and said smells like cat piss. As a result, a cord of wood may only have 70-90 cubic feet of actual solid wood. At ~$75/ton which is about the same dimension size as a cord of wood, it has about 6-7X the btu value of any cord of wood. I own 60 acres here in upstate NY, 2 hours north of NYC. I have the square footage of space in the house but what zone do i need so I can purchase the right sized wood stove? It burns clean and hot. In mid-summer, after the sap has risen and saturated the stump, cut it. Due to being more shrub-like than other trees, Russian olive trees have very little sap. When he's not working on axes, he's probably camping, hunting, or honing his survivalist skills. Russian olive produces very few sparks as it burns, so you can light the fire and relax. It will burn longer than softwoods and will be just as effective as hardwoods. We raise pecans, and they burn cleanly and well, as do prunings from our apple trees. Try to fell a Russian olive tree and split the wood between winter and early spring. ), You can help support the site by buying one of these resources, designed and published by The Wood Database. Happy burning C. I have 30 acres in northwest Missouri. In most cases, wood that has little sap build-up is easier to chop and quicker to dry. Its wood is excellent for woodworking projects or turning. A cord is 128 cubic feet but in any stack of wood there will be air space between the pieces. must be mangable So you are probably not going to find much information about it as far as btu or about its wood in general since it is not a common source of firewood outside of Asia. It burns as hot as h_ll . they r clean , no bark or bugs, hard as a rock & burn hot! Someone asked about Avacado. Toss in a large log; itll give off heat for much longer than options like pine. Throw the Ailanthus away. They are considered noxious plants in some states, such as Colorado. The branches are straight-grained and pop apart easily. Russian olive does have a very strong and distinctive fragrance when sawn or sanded. https://firewoodresource.com/firewood-btu-ratings/ try this RLB. Or would it be worth the heat and not having that pile to look at anymore? Coals are to fire as fuel, to keep it going and provide lasting heat. Whatever temperatures you face, olive will keep you warm. By assessing the fire characteristics of Russian olive firewood, it will be easier to identify which scenarios and settings the firewood is best suited for. Olive wood is a great hardwood, it burns much like pecan or oak. The average efficiency rating is around 19.9 million BTU per cord. Enjoy your fires! I dont know how that changes as it dries out. Im still retrieving all the down stuff and will continue for a couple years, at least. Anyone who thinks its crappy has either failed to keep it dry, not split it small enough or burned it green. A kilowatt-hour (kwh) of electricity is equivalent to 3,400 Btu. I would like to burn this wood but dont want any chimmney problems either. I have some upstate PA, that often is recovered when down, and used for firewood. Its abundent where I live Northern MN. Last night I was turning and sanding a natural edge bowl from this wood, leading to a pronounced and long-lasting allergic reaction in the airways (runny nose, asthma, ..). --. Getting sufficient heat while using minimal wood is valuable, whether relaxing at home or huddling around a campfire. We just called them hedge trees. I dont know how they compare split and dried. Just curious what kind of energy we are getting from them compared to the cords of hardwood we buy. I have found that when dried, it is very hard and not easy to carve but, when green, it is very easy to carve! Selecting the Right Firewood Firewood heat output is measured in "British Thermal Units" or BTUs. Other names for the Russian olive include oleaster, wild olive, or silver berry. I burned some buckthorn in 1.5 to 4 diameter unsplit and that stuff burns HOT in our wood stove; it stinks and its not the easiest to start. That being said, it is a wood that is mostly sold to hobbyists, so it can be hard to find a firewood seller who supplies Russian olive as firewood. In regards to Splitters, I have a homemade hydraulic 28 Ton that had cycle issues. Douglas fir is Pseudotsuga, menzizii for the man who identified it. Many black oaks lost big limbs in the surprise snow of Nov 2010. Don't burn it until it has seasoned for at least one year. How Much Sap Content Does Russian Olive Have? Any wisdom out there? so I could lift it, I like oak ,maple birch locus mulberry etc hard woods, any body have any hard woods thay dont want or need contact me With a BTU of 23, Russian olive firewood can produce substantial heat over a long time. I used to have a orchard in San Diego and it doesnt do anything, but turn to ash. First find you a steel bucket with a metal lid . Resinous wood has more BTU per pound because the resins have more BTU per pound than wood fiber has, Live Oak,Chinquapin,and Dogwood are eastern species,not Western.Live Oak is limited to Southeastern States. Lit my first fire of the season. 4) White birch (Betula papirifera) and Paper birch are used replaceably locally for the same species. Eastern Hardwoods Compiled from various sources Consistency between charts will vary due to different variables between different data sources. Its hard, shock-resistant, Read More Is Dogwood Good Firewood? The live oaks did just fine since they have such small leaves (unless they got in the way of a falling black oak). Members volunteered about 40 hours of time to collect wood, move it to the staging location, and stack it. White alder was favored by the local tribes for pit roasting salmon. Russian olive trees were recommended for many years as natural windbreaks, but have fallen out of favor in recent years. or should I stay clear.Phil. Russian olive is medium-quality firewood. One BTU is the heat required to increase the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. Is Magnolia Firewood Worth Burning? - Axe Adviser Your plants roots will love you for it! Russian Olive | The Wood Database (Hardwood) Have a lot of ancient dead manzanitas that also burn fantastically in the fp. I live in Northeastern Pennsylvania, where I have 20 acres of mixed hardwoods. I think many of us are a little envious of the river bottom land you have and the great hardwoods you have access to. Im here in S.E. Its BTU is just as high as birch which varieties produce a BTU of 23.8 million per cord and higher than douglas fir, which has a BTU of 20,7. Russian olive will mostly produce a lot of ash but will burn for a long time regardless. Sounds like my neighbor would get along great with yours. dyson ball animal pro plus hard to push. Coals produced by firewood impact how long it will burn before needing more wood added. My comment doesnt pertain to btus so much, but would like to say that here in central Ind., I look for elms,not sure if there rock, red or slippery elms.But easy to spot cuz they die avg. If this site is still monitored I wonder if you could answer some questions. Dogwood, apple and the smaller trees burn good but are only for small fires (late spring or early fall when you dont want a fire to last all day) If you are serious about heating your home with wood just stick to these trees for the max in BTUs..they burn hot and clean. The Ultimate Firewood Storage Guide For 2023, How Good Is Walnut Firewood? Ive only ived here for the last 4 years, It should have been pruned back many years ago but now to late and needs to be cut down. I live in WI. I live on the west slope too and have found that oak, even when protected, doesnt keep that well, unlike cedar, pine, fir, or lodgepole. Mild food is best as it doesnt overwhelm the subtle smoky taste. Some have more heat than others but if you already have it you might as well cut it up and burn it. Remove them last to prevent the tree from rolling. The wood is not easy to turn but looks great if you stick with it. Lots of oak available here, but I still take what I can get. Quick AnswersContinue, A crackling fire is a great way to stay warm in the cold months, but using the right firewood is essential. However, as a downside, it tends to spit embers from time to time and produce a fair amount of ash. I have a Russian Olive that I cut down about 4 months ago and has been sitting in 100F weather for three weeks. For dirty steak Ive used these same woods plus these additions: choke cherry (prunus virginiana), manzanita, Oregon Ash (Fraxinus latifolia), and white alder (Alnus rhombifolia). Northern Cal checking in, renovated an old homestead 5 years ago and have been clearing doug fir and california bay laurel for fire safety zone around the house. If one falls on your truck its like having a bowling ball hit it. Russian Olive firewood - Smoking Meat Forums Yet it will not burn, just smoke. How do you burn and what type of stove do you use? We have 2 cast iron wood stoves and a drafty 200 year old house in central new York state. . Hi! The density of Russian olive means that it can burn slower without losing heat. There is nothing wrong with burning well seasoned softwoods, but care should be taken not to over fire with ones that tend to burn fast and hot. I take that to mean that seasoned wood, with the same moisture content, will be pound for pound equivalent in terms of heating value but you may need to burn to 2-3x pine vs hickory. Is Russian Olive Firewood Good To Burn? - Axe Adviser This comparison has live oak at 36.6 and Eucalyptus at 34.5 BTUS Eucalyptus is a very broad term does this refere to the gum species that grow in California ? Something not mentioned yet that I bring from my Georgia heritage is Fat Lighter. I grew up on a homestead and I am here to share the knowledge I have and things I learn while living in the countryside. 1. But the common name aptly applies due to its obvious high density and/or hardnessprobably how it got the common name in the first place. Can the latter possibly split 36 diameter 2 drums? Mulberry burns wonderfully, but gets so hot it put a crack in our first cast-iron stove when it was used as a full load, so we only use one piece at a time with other woods. What Are The Physical Characteristics Of Russian Olive Wood? This can mean much longer burn times and less loading. Because Almond has as many varieties as the fruit in which the bare! It is recommended that you use a mixture of firewood when starting a fire instead of relying solely on Russian olive to get it going. The wood is dense, like ironwood, meaning it burns slowly, and you wont have to keep adding more to the fire. Very hard to split, but more importantly it doesnt burn well at all. A lot of them were planted during the dust bowl times to prevent wind erosion. Burns hotter than any wood I have ever seen, is becoming rare and may be protected in some areas. They are 6-8 in diameter at the base and ~15 long. I am a latecomer to this site. We also leave the basement door partially open so as not to encourage the water pipes to freeze. Has anyone heard of this problem? (Sir Douglas Menzizii) He really didnt know how to classify it because it had characteristics of fir and also of hemlock so he called it Pseudo(false) tsuga (hemlock)so it is really not fir at all or hemlock? I live in southwest Oregon. I forgot to mention that I cut and split a Catalpa. 10 24 inche in diam. We used to call them hedge apples. However, the destructive habits of these non-native, invasive species were quickly discovered by residents in the valley. I note that quaking aspen is rated higher than aspen in your West chart. And Sandy brought down a dozen beech trees in our town. The wood from these oak trees is prized for its strength and density, and that density makes it one of the best at producing heat. The wood will not keep very well even on a rack I have had it rot out. Can Russian olive trees be used for firewood? My grand dad swears beech is king. Originally, Russian olives were planted in America to act as a windbreaker and soil stabilizers. Dried. We have a Jotul wood stove that we cook in. In these states, selling or planting them is often illegal. Coals are to fire as fuel, to keep it going and provide lasting heat. Some people find this unsettling, while popping embers can burn carpets and rugs. Like other fruit trees, this firewood gives off a mild, sweet scent that many enjoy. Or the thousands of different genus found in Australia . It burned very hot with big blue-yellow flames and gave the best aroma . The issue is that Russian olive is hard to buy as firewood and difficult to process in large quantities as opposed to hackberry for example. Green and I feed it one or two times per day. Compiled from various sources. Thanks! Anyone know the best way to seal it? Wood that gives off a lot of smoke causes sore, red eyes and isnt enjoyable to sit next to. I have also burned green osage orange. Dimensions Length: 95.0" Min width: 13.0" Max width: 21.0" Surfaced Thickness: 1.75" Services. Thorny, tough wood makes splitting difficult. How to Grow Rosemary From Cuttings Propagate Rosemary, Mexican Mock Orange: Everything About TheChoisya Ternata, Magnolia Shrub: Everything About The Magnolia Bush, Crape Myrtle Shrub: Everything About The Crape Myrtle Tree, Lilac Shrub: Everything About The Lilac Bush. Less dense softwoods have less BTU per cord than more dense hardwood but they also weigh less per cord. Is Mimosa wood good for burning in a fire pit or Chimenea? Is Lodgepole Pine Good Firewood? - Theyardable Theyve had time to dry out, so seasoning may only require 12 months. Russian olive does produce a lot of heat. Despite this, there are some pros to using it as firewood, as well as some cons. I have a hard time keeping up with the outdoor furnace if I use seasoned wood. I am planting osage orange, black walnut, sassafrass, and black locust. BTU rating of russian olive stihltheone Nov 23, 2009 Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment. wrightmade. Common Name BTU Months to Dry Osage Orange (Hedge) 30 12 Oak, Gamble 28 36 Olive 26.7 24 Almond 26.7 24 Hop Hornbeam (Ironwood) 26.4 24 Persimmon, American 25.8 36 Mesquite25.5 24 Hickory, Shagbark25.3 24 Tanoak25.1 12 Dogwood. should be cut and split and dry out for two years before burning. Fascinating site! To add a unique smoky flavor to food, place olive wood chips in a smoker box or wrap them in aluminum foil with a few holes, then position them over the heat source. Mullberry has a short lifespan and is very rot resistant so they are quite easy to find here in west Tennessee. Likewise, wood that does not burn clean, including unseasoned wood, produces more creosote. The smaller stuff makes a great campfire for cold weather, putting off a blue flame and tons of heat. Firewood is easier to split while it is still green. Russian olive wood tends to warp and crack as it splits. Its okay for use in the depths of winter, but this wood is super-dense and takes some effort to get started. In most cases, wood that has little sap build-up is easier to chop and quicker to dry. Audrie The wood you are looking for is Black Locust.It is a little thorny but it grows fast and burns long and hot.I sold fire wood for ten years and burned it fo thirty.Black locust was a favorite of my Amish customers. This is best done in a wood stack, a few inches above ground, with a roof but no sides. Still have some pieces, which are quite dry by now. getting mostly ash, some cherry and some oak. Oak gets borers and starts getting dusty with sawdust falling out. I live in an area surrounded by Russian Olive trees. It was a popular windbreak tree from decades past. A cord is 128 cubic feet of stacked wood. I have pictures of him with an electric pole saw (hes deathly afraid of power equipment)cutting 2 diameter branches on the ground !!! BillNole. We just felled 12 mature ash trees 12 to 24 inches in diameter, and are now bucking them up and splitting them. And if its cabinets, Id guess it to be a yellow poplar. I;M TAKING DOWN BROKEN BRANCHES ON A TREE I WAS TOLD WAS LOCUST.NOT WHAT TYPE.WOOD IS LIGHTCOLORED, CORE IS DARK. My wife and I just purchased 12.5 acres of old growth hard wood forest in Pembroke, NY (Sugar Maple, Beech, Cherry, Ash to name a few) and will be on my way there today to give the Stihl a work out !!! Speed up the drying time further by following these tips: Olive firewood rounds have a yellowish brown or cream heartwood that tends to deepen in color with age. The fireplace is not our primary heat source but we enjoy a fire each evening in the winter. Due to being more shrub-like than other trees, Russian olive trees have very little sap. I have a feeling, based on the small amount of sapwood (which is just a theory of mine) , that it is good but havent put it to the test yet. Can I Only Use Seasoned Firewood For Burning? Its the worst wood Ive ever encountered. Ive heard that burning a little cedar occasionally will help remove soot from stovepipes and chimneys. Are these possibly data for the same species gleaned from different sources? My neighbors complemented on the smell of it .Its great cooking wood too . I only found that one btu chart on the internet which says it has pretty decent BTUs. Firewood BTU Ratings Chart Best Firewood Heat Energy Content I have burned Ailanthus for several years. Here is a site for California wood ratings http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/home/heating_cooling/firewood.html Surprisingly, I found almond and eucalypt rated close to the same. Richard, Ponderosa Pine, commonly used to heat homes in this area, burns at 21.7 British thermal units (BTU), which in simple terms, means it burns hot and long. So if you remove the bark you have fewer ashes to clean out. It does make a nice fire so maybe they should call it Good Fir Fire. It does burn a little fast but it throws out the heat. Grain/Texture: Unlike true Olive (Olea genus), Russian Olive is very porous and of an uneven grain texture. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The removal process involves cutting down the trees and then spraying an environmentally safe herbicide on the roots to prevent it from growing back. If the Russian olive woods content is still too high after a year, give it a few more months to season.