Yellow Birch Firewood

Yellow Birch doesn't always get the respect it deserves, people hear "birch" and think Paper Birch, which honestly isn't great firewood. But Yellow Birch is a completely different animal. At 22.1 million BTU per cord and 3,570 lbs dry, it's a legitimate heating wood that'll hold its own against a lot of popular hardwoods.

The coals are good, it throws few sparks, and you'll notice a slight wintergreen-like scent if you scratch the bark. Smoke level is medium, so proper seasoning matters. A cord calculator can help you figure out how much to stack up before winter.

Splitting Yellow Birch is moderate difficulty, nothing terrible, but the grain can be a little stringy. A sharp maul does the job. The bark is tight and papery, and once it starts peeling during the drying process, the rounds season from the outside in pretty nicely.

Give it 18 to 24 months to season. Yellow Birch holds moisture well, so don't cut corners. Check it with a moisture meter. If you're above 20%, keep waiting. A few extra months makes a real difference in how clean it burns.

Overall, Yellow Birch earns a good rating. It's moderately available throughout the Northeast. If you're in the northern hardwood forests, you'll find it. Not quite as hot as Black Birch firewood, but easier to find and still very much worth burning.