New
Back to old habits or how to get firewood
08. 04. 2024
Heating
It used to be common in the lowland areas of Slovakia that people procured firewood by cutting willows growing on the banks of streams and brooks. Apart from the shade that the willow trees provided for grazing herds, the dense root system strengthened the banks, but the main benefit of the willows was in the form of wicker and wood. They could be willows, but also hornbeams, oaks, agates or ash trees.
Appropriate pruning of woody plants not only provides firewood, but also extends the lifespan of these trees, and at the same time creates unique microhabitats for a large number of vertebrates and invertebrates.
Therefore, the residents decided to revive the forgotten tradition in the village of Ivanice. The obtained firewood will be dried under the supervision of a responsible employee of the village for at least 2 years, so that only high-quality fuel that burns better and minimally harms the air reaches the people who undertook this work.
In the cadastres of many municipalities in the south of Slovakia, we do not find a high proportion of forests where people could prepare wood for the winter by self-harvesting. They are often forced to burn expensive briquettes or buy wood at the last minute. If they don't have the finances, they don't always use the right fuel.
The planting of a "middle forest" of trees that tolerate deep cutting (oak, elm, mulberry, hornbeam, willow) on municipal, city, or county land will increase the quality fuel base for residents who, for various reasons, do not have the resources to secure fuel.
