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Q-talk *ON TOPIC ONLY* QUALITY ON TOPIC discussion of Backyard BBQ, grilling, equipment and outdoor cookin' . ** Other cooking techniques are welcomed for when your cookin' in the kitchen. Post your hints, tips, tricks & techniques, success, failures, but stay on topic and watch for that hijacking. |
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02-10-2013, 07:18 AM | #1 |
Full Fledged Farker
Join Date: 12-17-12
Location: Richmond, VA (Pittsburgh PA native)
Name/Nickname : "Hey, YOU!"
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Growing your own firewood?
I keep cutting, cutting ... but I don't re-plant.
I still have many years' worth of oak and maple to cook with, but I still have to buy my apple & cherry. It would be nice to plant some fruit trees, and other fast-growing hardwoods, so I can have a self-sustaining stash of wood. Cutting what I grow. I Googled for fast growing hardwoods, and the Empress tree came up a few times. Can grow 8 ft/year, so I'm thinking I'll have usable empress wood in no more than five years. Has anyone cooked with empress?
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Brinkmann Southfork. Grill Dome. Ooni Karu. VacMaster 220. Thermoworks Smoke and its infuriating Gateway. And a 22" Weber with GrillGrates and a Vortex. KCBS member ... primarily so I can get into Restaurant Depot. Purple and pink Thermapens. The slow ones, as I'm not competitive. |
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02-10-2013, 07:29 AM | #2 |
is Blowin Smoke!
Join Date: 06-23-07
Location: North Berwick, ME
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A large tree doesn't necessarily mean a mature tree. Most trees take 10 to 20 years to fully mature. And from what I understand, a mature tree is what you want for cooking wood. I was taught that 20 year old and up in age was the best wood for cooking. I have found that younger cherry trees don't put off a very good smoke, even after drying for a couple of years.
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Tim [COLOR=darkred]“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.”[/COLOR] - Mark Twain - Beautiful family - Home made trailer mounted reverse flow offset w/ vertical chamber, Weber OTG and an ECB |
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02-10-2013, 07:50 AM | #3 |
is one Smokin' Farker
Join Date: 02-21-11
Location: Old Town, Maine
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It's not about how tall trees grow but how thick they get, it is going to take many years for any tree to grow to a usable thickness. Cut down a 6" maple(trunk diameter), if you have one, and count the rings. You'll be surprised at how old it is.
I duplicated your search and the best cooking wood I saw listed was nutall oak. |
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02-19-2013, 04:42 AM | #4 |
Full Fledged Farker
Join Date: 12-17-12
Location: Richmond, VA (Pittsburgh PA native)
Name/Nickname : "Hey, YOU!"
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>> It's not about how tall trees grow but how thick they get
Sounds like something an old girlfriend mentioned to me many years ago. Sigh. I'm agreeing with the consensus, it will take MANY years (not to mention I can't move away) to make a project like this practical. And I have never seen 'empress' or 'nutall' mentioned when favorite woods are discussed. Project on hiatus. J
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Brinkmann Southfork. Grill Dome. Ooni Karu. VacMaster 220. Thermoworks Smoke and its infuriating Gateway. And a 22" Weber with GrillGrates and a Vortex. KCBS member ... primarily so I can get into Restaurant Depot. Purple and pink Thermapens. The slow ones, as I'm not competitive. |
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02-19-2013, 10:52 AM | #5 |
is one Smokin' Farker
Join Date: 01-15-12
Location: Kalama Wa.
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Wild Cherry grows extremely fast!!
I have 10 year trees that are already 40' high with 8-10" on the butt.
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[URL="http://tombstonebbq.com"]"Tombstone BBQ"[/URL] PNWBA Board Member and Certified Judge. KCBS Custom 72" reverse flow smoker, 18" WSM, Weber Elite, ECB. and misc grills. [URL="https://www.facebook.com/TombstoneBbq?ref=hl"]Tombstone BBQ on Facebook[/URL] |
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02-19-2013, 11:33 AM | #6 |
is one Smokin' Farker
Join Date: 02-21-11
Location: Old Town, Maine
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02-19-2013, 11:54 AM | #7 |
is one Smokin' Farker
Join Date: 01-15-12
Location: Kalama Wa.
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__________________
[URL="http://tombstonebbq.com"]"Tombstone BBQ"[/URL] PNWBA Board Member and Certified Judge. KCBS Custom 72" reverse flow smoker, 18" WSM, Weber Elite, ECB. and misc grills. [URL="https://www.facebook.com/TombstoneBbq?ref=hl"]Tombstone BBQ on Facebook[/URL] |
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02-19-2013, 01:28 PM | #8 |
Full Fledged Farker
Join Date: 09-27-12
Location: Birmingham, AL
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We cut most of ours too, hickory and the such, but yeah we don't have access to Alderwood, pecan wood or fruitwoods. Well, I could get some of those wood varieties but I'd either make someone very sad they don't have their pecans anymore or I'd get shot for ruining someones fruit tree! I'll probably have to keep resorting to buying those kinds from Wally World unless I find someone that will let me hack their trees down. I'm too impatient to try and grow my own that's for sure.
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Weber Spirit E-310, Weber Performer, Weber Smokey Joe, Mini-WSM, ECB Electric. |
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02-19-2013, 03:04 PM | #9 |
is One Chatty Farker
Join Date: 10-11-12
Location: Jonesboro. AR
Name/Nickname : DHQ
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i have cooked with all kinds of woods and I can't tell a difference at all in mature trees and smaller trees.. i am burning the wood for fuel... All that about burning a mature tree... i don't listen too.. i just burn small hot fire with dried wood.. I have been doing so for 15+ years... and have always had great results..
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02-19-2013, 08:27 PM | #10 |
is one Smokin' Farker
Join Date: 02-21-11
Location: Old Town, Maine
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02-19-2013, 08:31 PM | #11 |
Take a breath!
Join Date: 03-11-12
Location: phoenix,arizona
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i only use hickory i love the smoky flavor-here in arizona wild mesquite is all over but i prefer hickory. tell us more about your homemade mortarless bread oven
thank you http://thebarbecuemaster.net
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alan weber smoker,one touch,go anywhere,masterbuilt |
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02-19-2013, 08:45 PM | #12 |
On the road to being a farker
Join Date: 10-07-12
Location: Western KY
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Here is some cherry I got from an 80 ft tree earlier this year. Nice splts and the discs will be split into chunks.
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02-19-2013, 09:28 PM | #13 |
Quintessential Chatty Farker
Join Date: 12-31-09
Location: Hernando,MS
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02-19-2013, 10:18 PM | #14 |
Full Fledged Farker
Join Date: 12-06-12
Location: Cyn Cntry Ca.
Name/Nickname : Duke
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Olive Wood
I use wood from a 30+ year old olive tree growing out back. About a 24 inch trunk. I chunk up pieces from about 3 inch diameter branches.
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02-20-2013, 08:42 AM | #15 |
On the road to being a farker
Join Date: 10-07-12
Location: Western KY
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