We can get seasoned ash here for $50 a rick (which is a face cord or 1/3 of a cord). Hickory is the expensive one at $80 a rick. Most hardwood here will go for $50 a rick or $150 for a full cord, no surprise since it's mostly forest in this part of the Hoosier state.

Those are great prices. I was just stuck buying in the wrong season. I kind of knew I was going to get hosed.

There are folks in this neck of the woods (literally) who'll offer you free firewood just to haul it off their property. You just have to cut it to size, haul it, split it and stack it -- still a lot of work. I saw a few more stacks of those electric company cut wood piles on the way home today. I could pick them up, but my woodpile is still kinda high and it'll take time (and space) to season it.

Why wouldn't a gas log be a better idea? Real wood is expensive and/or takes a lot of work, invites termites, and gas is at all time cheap levels. And the gas logs are very realistic, except for the ash part. Which is another argument against wood.

I had the gas fake logs in the house I rented before moving to our new home. They look pretty, I guess, but the heat output doesn't compare to a good wood fire. My fireplace is dual-use wood and gas and I opted for the wood fires instead of installing gas logs. Wood also carries a nice scent which gives the living room a cozy "homey" feel.

It's more work, no doubt, with the sawing, hauling, splitting and stacking, but (for me, anyway) it's worth it.

*bump*

A Fooner bump parade.

not to take away from this thread but bump