November is like a bridge, offering us passage into the season ahead.  As the landscape sheds its autumnal overcoat and bares its stark and barren beauty, we linger before winter’s slumber.  We take stock of our lives, and the people we care for, and the comfort of hearth and home.

Many people augment their heat source with the use of wood burning fireplaces that not only produce heat, but also create an inviting and cozy environment.  When burning wood, there are some tips and safety measures that should be followed:

  • Make sure the wood is dry (i.e. seasoned).  There are some easy, tell-tale signs: The wood is generally less vibrant, gray, and should not be weeping sap.  Weight wise, it’s usually lighter.  When knocking two pieces of wood together, dried wood has a hollow sound as opposed to the heavy “thud” of green (i.e. unseasoned) wood.  Additionally, dried wood has characteristic split ends or cracking.
  • Wood with higher moisture content will not only produce more smoke and less warmth but can lead to the buildup of creosote in chimneys, which is a safety hazard.
  • Inspect chimneys on a yearly basis, and make sure chimney caps are in place.
  • Use screens in front of fireplaces to discourage rogue sparks.
  • Make sure smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are operational.
  • Keep a fire extinguisher on hand.
  • Ashes should be removed only after completely cooled and stored in metal, away from any heat or combustible materials, ideally outdoors.
  • If using ashes in the garden, spread thinly and sparingly.  Ashes are high in pH and not good for those plants that prefer acidic soil.

Whether you employ a fireplace or wood burning stove as your single heat source or as an added resource, make sure you’re doing so safely and responsibly. As always, feel free to reach out to Sweeney’s with any of your Winter preparation needs. We proudly serve the communities of Villa Park, Elmhurst, Oakbrook, Oakbrook Terrace, Glen Ellyn, Lombard, Wood Dale, Itasca, and more!

Sweeney’s:  A Plant Based Company

Plant of the Week

Dutchman’s Breeches

Nodding, fragrant white flowers bloom March – May on leafless stems amongst dense, fern-like foliage.  Prefers full shade, and moist, well-drained soil.  Grows 8-12″ tall and 8-12″ wide.

“When the fire on the hearth has blazed up and then settled into steady radiance, talk begins. There is no place like the chimney-corner for confidences; for picking up the clews of an old friendship; for taking note where one’s self has drifted… The best talk is that which escapes up the open chimney and cannot be repeated.:

~Charles Dudley Warner

Warm wishes,

Kim Sweeney