The Wood Hounds

Dan and Joe ramble on today about a number of things on their minds. They also reflect on their recent interview with Paul Grenier of iDry Kilns and list a number of items they wish they would have thought of to ask. Lastly, they speak of the kind and giving nature of the firewood community on social media.

What is the big deal about kilns? Are we missing something?? Well, today we begin our official deep-dive into the subject matter and speak with Paul Grenier of iDry Systems LLC. iDry is a kiln manufacturer from Barre Vermont. We will do our best to ask the burning questions and turn up the heat to learn as much as we can about kilns and a new product brought to market by iDry! To learn more about iDry kilns please check out their website https://idrywood.com/ For specific inquiries for iDry please contact Paul at his email paul@idrysystems.com

Dan and Joe spend time discussing a recent Facebook post that garnered widespread angst from the firewood community. Can't we all just get along? The duo follows up that discussion by answering questions posed in a very nice email written by a loyal listener.

Today Dan and Joe talk about how life could be much easier and their business much more profitable if they would actually hire help. Really? Wouldn't this just cause more headaches? Really? No, seriously. Really?

Dan and Joe really go off the reservation in today's discussion about the many ways people create their own problems by not controlling their emotions. In most instances the things in life we all want are attainable if only we could remain focused on our goals and identify exactly what we want.

Dan and Joe revisit their previous episode involving an interview with Laurel Downs of The Nature Conservancy and their national Don't Move Firewood campaign. The discuss some things that are still "bugging" them about invasive species and how firewood can be an unwitting contributor. Hilarity ensues! Please visit www.dontmovefirewood.org for more information and to check out invasive species in your state.

In this episode, Dan and Joe interview Laurel Downs of The Nature Conservancy and their national educational outreach program, Don't Move Firewood. Laurel teaches us about harmful bugs and invasive species and how they can hitchhike on firewood and damage healthy forests. This is a topic near and dear to everyone who camps and who appreciates our forests. Please visit their website www.dontmovefirewood.org If you have specific questions please email Laurel at laurel.downs@TNC.org

Today the dynamic duo discuss a new product that Dan created and is now selling on the internet...Mini Firewood. If you haven't noticed there is a growing trend in mini fire pits that are small enough to sit on a table top. These new fire pits are a big hit by apartment dwellers and city folk looking for a wood burning experience but cannot have a large open fire. Dan saw this as an opportunity to bring a new product to market and, with it, demonstrates how creative thinking can bring new opportunities to an old industry. Here is Dan's website for mini firewood. www.back40minifirewood.com

Dan and Joe both have something in common...they both work from home. While working from home is an excellent way to live a low-stress life there are still some down-sides to the practice. One thing for sure, the 1 hour daily commute is much better spent sleeping in bed.

Now that is a roof you can look up to! How can a major expense like a 12 foot roof ever pay for itself? Probably never but today Dan and Joe discuss spending money to improve your area of operation despite not making total, financial sense. The bottom line is, it is nice under a roof, and perhaps that is priceless!

Today Dan and Joe discuss an email they received about cherry firewood and possible poisons in the smoke. After a day of internet searches and phone calls to dietitians the duo are ready to disclose their findings.

Dan and Joe take time to celebrate their 100th episode of The Wood Hounds Podcast! There were questions if a podcast about firewood could ever succeed and after a modest goal of four episodes was surpassed the podcast was well on its way! Dan and Joe discuss their favorite past episodes, discuss their biggest failures, and talk about future ideas for the next 100 episodes.

Dan and Joe sit down with Richard Heby, the owner of Woodbourne Boys Firewood from Brooklyn New York. Richard gives a fascinating peek into how he operates his firewood delivery service in and around NYC. Richard shows how, when he is not sitting in traffic, he procures his inventory and how he delivers kiln dried firewood to the many pizza ovens and townhomes in the largest city in the country. You can learn more about Richard's firewood delivery service by visiting his company's website at https://woodbourneboys.com/

Today, Dan and Joe discuss relationships and how peoples feelings for each other can evolve over time. There is a special connection subscribers can have with a social media personality and sometimes these relationships can face a rocky road. Can a happy medium be found? Can everyone just get along? Stay tuned to find out!

Dan and Joe sit down with Bob Nelson of the Wolfe Ridge MFG log splitter company. Bob has created a name for himself in the firewood industry as one of the early pioneers in utilizing social media to market and drive sales. Bob had his start at Metsa Machines where his actions positioned the Japa firewood processors as one of the best selling machines in the USA. Can Bob have the same success at Wolfe Ridge? Listen in and draw your own conclusions. Word to the wise, don't bet against Bob!

Dan and Joe dive into the world of YouTube monetization and discuss the ups and downs of trying to run a profitable channel. They both conclude there are A LOT of things out of a YouTuber's control but the best thing to do is to keep at it!

You may think you own the biggest, meanest log splitter in the world but can it split (mythical wood species)? Yeah your chainsaw really did a good job cutting up that rotten balsa wood! Today Dan and Joe discuss various firewood machines and how rating their performance on what they "CAN" do vs what they "CAN'T" do may be the better way to look at them.

Dan and Joe begin 2024 with an exciting episode discussing two separate emails from listeners. It seems that firewood production creates a lot of mess that has to be dealt with eventually. Our favorite Wood Hounds discuss their waste problems and how they deal with it. Maybe a New Year's Resolution is in order?

Dan and Joe spend some time looking back upon 2023 and how their endeavors from the year led them to their current situations. Both are passionate firewooders and have successful YouTube channels but they take different approaches to their craft. One of the great things about firewood is you can be a major producer or a small hobbyist (cue the music) and still find common bonds that bring us all together.

Dan and Joe enter the 2023 holiday season by revealing their "wood yard wish lists" for the coming year. What will Santa bring? Would they rather have a new truck? Log splitter? Chainsaw? It's hard to guess but one thing for sure they will enjoy the discussion.