Our Seasoning Process
At West End Firewood, seasoning is a practice in patience – and we take it seriously. Similar to aging fine wine, we allow our logs to season and harden in their natural environment for nearly a year before they're even considered for the splitting process. Yes, you read that right – we meticulously select logs that meet our stringent criteria before they make it into our coveted "Hearth Warmer" Package. Our selection process considers:
- Wood species
- Girth suitable for our cutting and 12-way splitting wedge processor
- Ensuring the logs are "straight and narrow"
- Vigilance against diseased, infested, or moldy logs
We rely on healthy forests for our product and prioritize replenishing them. That's why we collaborate with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, who oversee our process and certify our kiln efficiency using temperature probes to ensure all insects are eradicated.
In 2006, we undertook a complete rebuild of our old kiln, making it larger, more energy-efficient, and eco-friendly. This upgrade increased our capacity by 50%, enabling us to fulfill more orders during peak seasons while improving efficiency.
To further enhance sustainability, we installed a wood-burning boiler, allowing us to utilize our own scrap wood for fuel. This move ensures that 100% of the logs we purchase are utilized, making our process even more efficient and environmentally conscious. Wood is a renewable resource, and by repurposing our scrap and chip waste, we minimize waste.
In 2016, we expanded our capabilities by adding another double-kiln, connected to the same refuse/wood scrap furnace used for the first kiln, thereby boosting efficiency even further.
By splitting the wood into more manageable pieces than our competitors, our wood dries more effectively in the same kiln time, resulting in a well-seasoned, high-quality product.
Get a "Perfect Peter".