How early is too early to start putting wood in for winter?

[JerryK]

I used to cut after the leaves are off. Last few years I have started after they turned color, and was lucky because winter came on fast both times. Takes me awhile because I only work on cool days and chip most of the tops during the process. I only split/stack the good straight stuff and donate most of the chunks/odd pieces to neighbors that want it for their boilers. I usually have more trees I want to take out than have use for the wood. I cut two years ahead, and bring in about 5 face cord into the barn in the hot dry summer weeks. Have about 10-11 face cord in the barn. About that much stacked/covered out in a clearing in the woods about 1000' behind my barn to keep the critter nests away from my buildings. Spread dry diazon or other bug killer onto the piles as it is stacked. Use about 5-6 face cord each winter in my shop. I burn a few pieces of green wood sometimes, but don't make a practice of it.

 

[4570Man]

I always cut minimum 1 year ahead. I prefer 2 years or longer. I've currently got enough wood for 5-7 years ( 120 rick ) I'm going to have to sell some of that to make room for incoming wood. I have more incoming wood than I have room to store and I can't stand to let it rot. I've never cut a tree purely for firewood. I have a high efficiency stove and it won't even burn green wood. Any stove suffers a huge efficiency drop burning green wood. I've burned wood as old as 9 years. It's amazing how well that stuff burns. I wish I had the resources to store all my wood that long.