How You Can Get 5 Standard Cords of Wood for $20

Many Michigan homes are heated with a wood burner, and buying wood can get expensive. Here is how you can get 5 standard cords of wood for only $20.

Michigan Heating Options

Michigan gets all 4 seasons, so for 6 months of the year, residents need some type of heating source in their homes. Most have a furnace that is electric, runs on natural gas, or runs on propane. Some systems run on wood pellets, and others burn firewood.

Read More: Non-Native Trees Planted in Michigan to Improve Air Quality

👇BELOW: These Five Tips Will Help You Save Money On Food👇

When I was searching for a home to buy, I tried so hard to get a home that was heated by natural gas because it is the most affordable way to heat your home. Unfortunately, I got stuck with the propane tank, and it's expensive. The only more expensive way to heat your home is with an electric heater.

My last home's heater and stove ran on natural gas. To give you an example of how much cheaper it is to live in Indiana than Michigan, my natural gas bill and home taxes combined were less expensive for a year than one filling of my propane tank.

Many people in Michigan heat their homes or cabins with a wood burner. You either have to buy the wood or save big money by gathering the wood your self.

How to Get 5 Standard Cords of Wood for $20

If you heat your Michigan home with wood, then you need access to get firewood to burn. You can buy it, but to save money, you can cut the wood yourself, but you need legal access to wood.

A standard cord of wood can cost you anywhere from $120 to $380 for a standard cord of wood. If you have a chainsaw, truck, or trailer, and a wood splitter, you have everything you need to get the job done cutting firewood. With the equipment and some hard work, you can save a ton of money by gathering and cutting your firewood.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources offers fuelwood permits for $20. The permits are limited to one per household per year. This would allow you to gather 5 standard cords of wood for $20. Depending on the size of your home or cabin, 3-5 cords should heat your home for the season.

If you need more than 5 cords of wood, the DNR has increased the amount of wood you can collect to 10 cords. You will need a permit for the following counties that were hit with the ice storm damage; Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Mackinac, Montmorency, Ocoda, Otsego, and Presque Isle.

Get our free mobile app

For any county fuelwood permit, you cannot cut down living trees. All wood must already be dead and on the ground and must be within 200 feet of the road. Permits are good for 90 days after they are issued. The good news is, they don't expire until December 31. Click here to get your fuelwood permit.

Information for this story was taken from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources press release.