Sustainability

6 Ways to Find Free Firewood

Gathering firewood can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience, especially if you can find it for free. Here are six ways to score some free firewood:

1. Look in Your Local Area

Online marketplaces like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and Freecycle are great places to find people who are giving away firewood. You can also post an ad yourself or keep an eye out for print ads in your local grocery store, post office, or community center.

2. Clean up After a Storm

Heavy storms can often bring down branches or even entire trees, providing you with an opportunity to gather free firewood. Be sure to get out there quickly after the storm has passed, as most towns begin their cleanup efforts rather quickly. You can also visit designated drop-off points for tree branches to see if there are any extras you can use.

3. Hit up a Construction Site

Construction sites are another great place to find free firewood. When new homes or businesses are being built, trees often need to be cleared away. You can offer to haul away the debris in exchange for the firewood. Just be sure to get permission from the construction company or individual first.

4. Offer Tree Trimming Services

If you have the expertise and equipment to prune tree limbs or branches, you can offer your services in exchange for firewood. Many people are happy to have their trees trimmed back, especially if they can get free firewood in return. You can also contact local tree trimmers to see if they have any extra wood they are willing to sell or give away.

5. Visit a Sawmill

Sawmills produce lumber from tree logs, but they typically don’t use 100% of the tree. You can ask the sawmill if they have any scraps or extras that you can take away for firewood. Sawmills often have to pay to dispose of this waste wood, so they may be happy to give it to you for free.

6. Use Wooden Pallets for Firewood

Wooden pallets can be a good source of firewood in a pinch. However, it’s important to make sure that the pallets you use are safe to burn. Avoid pallets that have an abundance of nails, screws, or staples. Also, steer clear of pallets that have visible stains or that have been marked with “MB,” which denotes the presence of a dangerous treatment known as methyl bromide. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and only burn pallets deemed “safe” outdoors.

Additional Tips

Not all trees are good for firewood. Some burn hotter, others slower, some clean, and some smoky. Oak is generally considered to be the best firewood because it burns long and slow.

A cord of wood is a stack of firewood that is 4 by 4 by 8 feet (128 cubic feet). The average price for a cord of wood is $300, but you can find prices between $120 and $900 depending on the wood type, source, and if it is dry or seasoned.

You should cover a stack of dry firewood with a tarp to protect it from the elements, but make sure that the sides of the stack remain open to allow for air circulation. This will help prevent mold and rot.

Creative Ways to Repurpose Plastic Around Your Home

Reduce Household Waste and Live Sustainably

April is Earth Month, a time to reflect on our environmental impact and find ways to live more sustainably. Recycling plastic is a simple yet effective way to reduce household waste. But why stop at recycling when you can also repurpose plastic items into useful and creative objects?

Reuse Bottles and Containers in the Garden

Spring is the perfect time to start seedlings and pot plants. Instead of buying new containers, repurpose plastic bottles and food containers. Simply cut the top off a plastic water bottle to create a mini greenhouse incubator for seedlings. Larger plastic food containers can serve as planters, just remember to poke drainage holes in the bottom.

Use Shopping Bags for Garbage

Plastic shopping bags are not just for groceries. They can also be used as garbage bags for smaller cans, pet waste, and diaper pail liners. This simple switch can save you money and reduce your plastic consumption.

Weave an Outdoor Rug

If you’re feeling crafty, you can weave plastic bags into a colorful and water-resistant outdoor rug. It’s easier than it sounds. Gather plenty of plastic bags, find a pattern online, and follow the instructions. You can also start with smaller projects like outdoor placemats to get the hang of it.

Use Milk Jugs as Scoops

Empty milk jugs are perfect for making DIY scoops. With a utility knife or scissors, carefully cut off the bottom of the jug, leaving the handle intact and the lid on top. Use it to scoop pet food, bird seed, soil, or even pantry items like flour and sugar.

Create a DIY Bird Feeder

Repurpose a plastic water bottle into a simple bird feeder. Remove the labels, cut an opening for birds to access the seeds, and add perches below each opening. Fill it with birdseed and hang it in your garden for feathered friends to enjoy.

Craft a Vertical Garden

Plastic bottles and pop bottles can also be used to create a charming vertical garden for small flowers or herbs. Cut openings in the bottles, fill them with soil, add your plants, and secure them to a vertical structure like a piece of wood or a ladder. Vertical gardens maximize space and add greenery to patios and small yards.

Repurpose Containers as Drawer Organizers

Old food containers, takeout containers, and empty yogurt tubs make great drawer organizers for small items like paperclips, pens, and kitchen utensils. They help keep drawers tidy and organized.

Reuse Soft Plastic as Packing Materials

When moving, save soft plastic items like grocery bags, bubble wrap, and cling wrap to use as packing materials. Crumpled-up plastic bags provide protection for fragile items, and wrapping containers in plastic helps prevent spills during transit.

Additional Tips for Repurposing Plastic

Clean and remove labels from plastic items before repurposing them.
Be creative and experiment with different ideas.
Use plastic items for purposes other than their original intended use.
Repurposing plastic not only reduces waste but also saves money.

6 Ways to Find Free Firewood: A Comprehensive Guide