Finishing up this year's firewood (left) while next year's waits on deck (right)

That fellow Thoreau wrote something about his firewood warming him twice; once when split and once when burned. It makes me wonder if his process was all that simple.
From start to finish, with all the handling involved, I'd say my wood warms me at least seven times over, whether I want to be warmed or not.
But it's that one time in winter that makes the other six worth the effort.

Plus it's renewable and I'm not writing a monthly check to the oil company, which in times past has warmed me considerably, but in a less desirable manner.