Hoop Houses

• Hoop house greenhouse kits are available over the Internet from the manufacturer. The kits come in many sizes and price ranges. They are strong enough to be used even during the winter, and can handle an initial heavy snow fall if it is brushed off. They depend upon nature to provide warming and ventilation. Large doors on either side make loading and unloading firewood easy.
  
  

Wood Stacking

• Firewood loses moisture naturally as it sits, but there are ways to help it lose moisture quicker. Stacking the firewood off the floor inside the hoop house allows air to flow beneath the wood which adds significantly to the moisture removal. Old wooden or plastic pallets laid on the floor of the hoop house allows the firewood to sit 6 inches or more off the ground. Stacking the wood so that there is space for air to flow between the pieces of wood also helps it dry faster.
  
  

Fast Drying

• Heat and airflow combine to hasten the wood drying, and under the right conditions the wood may be dry in as little as three to six months. A hoop house is designed to let the sun penetrate the clear plastic top and sides, heating the interior up considerably even during cold weather. It has vents along the sides and ends that are adjustable for air flow. This is important during the first few weeks as the amount of moisture released is considerable, and if it cannot find its way outside will drip back onto the wood from the ceiling.
  
  

Identying Dry Wood

• Dried wood is normally gray in color and has cracks in the end of the wood. A piece of dry wood weighs significantly less than wet wood. Wood such as ash dry faster than oak or other dense wood. Knowing the wood type that you are drying gives an indication of how dry it will be after a period. Even with the help of the hoop house larger pieces of oak, madrone, eucalyptus and walnut will take a long time to dry. Split a sample piece and feel for any moisture on the inside before using the rest in the fireplace.