The holzhausen, a Scandinavian woodpile.
Slate••world
Key Points:
- The author reflects on the charm and efficiency of wood-burning stoves, highlighting their warmth and practicality, especially in cold climates like Maine.
- Wood stacking is described as both a necessary chore and a folk art, with the Scandinavian-style holzhausen—a cylindrical, hollow woodpile—being a particularly admired and effective method for drying wood.
- Building a holzhausen requires careful technique, including using a large diameter for stability, leaving the center hollow for airflow, and inserting shims to prevent outward tilting; the author successfully constructed two with friends.
- Experienced wood stackers, like a local named Chris, apply creative and structural methods inspired by ancient Roman architecture to build stable and aesthetically pleasing woodpiles, which also serve as
