Norway Pine Firewood

What if I told you there's a softwood out there putting up 17.9 million BTU per cord, same as some hardwoods? Norway pine (also called red pine) doesn't get enough credit. It's one of the higher-output softwoods you'll find in the Northeast and Midwest.

At 2,890 lbs dry weight per cord, it's not a featherweight either. You'll actually feel like you're loading real wood into the stove, not just kindling. That 17.9M BTU figure means it trades blows with species like boxelder and black ash, which are technically hardwoods. Not bad for a pine.

Splitting is dead simple, straight grain, pops apart clean. That's the upside. The downside? Sparks. Norway pine throws a lot of them, so keep it in a closed stove or insert. I wouldn't burn this in an open fireplace unless you enjoy stomping out embers on your living room rug. Smoke is moderate, but the fragrance is actually really pleasant, that classic pine-woods smell.

Season it 6 to 12 months and you're good to go. Pine dries fast compared to dense hardwoods. Stack it with good airflow and it'll be ready before you know it. You can often find it cheap or even free if someone's clearing land.

Norway pine is a great shoulder-season wood or fire-starter. Mix it with a dense hardwood for overnight burns, or use it on its own during those not-quite-freezing fall evenings. If you want a comparison with another resinous pine, check out Pitch Pine firewood, similar heat, different personality.