Before you think this is just another sales pitch for something you may or may not need (like a log rack), let me tell you a story about my growing up in California – where snow is a four-letter word. Growing up in the Wild West was quite an experience: endless summer all year long, and sunshine and warm weather on Christmas Day. Of course, living in California meant that I grew up on a constant diet of barbecue, and spent my evenings on the beach enjoying bonfires while gazing across the beautiful Pacific Ocean. Of course, this required some of the finest woods known to man, including pristine red oak, and even cedar.



As a strapping young man growing up on a small farm, it was my job to not only help split the logs, but also stack the wood once split. Wanting to protect my father's hard-earned investment, I built a makeshift log rack out of old cement slabs and rebar. It helped to keep the wood in a neat and orderly fashion, but it didn't do much to protect the quality of the wood itself. As my family used nearly two cords of wood every year, we would find that the logs towards the top would be crisp and full of fresh fuel, while those towards the bottom would house bugs of all kinds, and promote the growth of dry rot. This resulted in firewood that was doomed to the beach burning pit – and not the Santa Maria Style Barbecue.

The moral of the story: regardless of where you live, if you have large quantities of wood, you need a log rack. Once thought a staple of those who live in the great north, log racks are not just good for those who need to protect their wood from the wind, snow, and humidity. Its also necessary for those who want to make sure their firewood stays of the highest quality – after all, a cord of red oak costs a pretty penny these days.

Those who live in the west know what I'm talking about when I say “El Nino:” a weather phenomenon that brings weeks of rain to the west coast. When the rain comes, your wood is soaked to the core in water. And as it takes a long time to dry out, the moisture retained by the logs can result in the growth of mold and rot from within. This is how dry rot starts – and once it begins, it can eat away and ruin your logs. By keeping your wood in a log rack, you will be ensuring the quality of your wood, from start to finish.

Of course, this doesn't exclude the fact that bugs, spiders, and other creepy crawlies that love the dark, secluded places your wood piles offer them. Spiders indigenous to the west (including the often fatal Black Widow) love to hang out in dark, cool places. And the wasted space in your wood pile is the perfect breeding place for them. If you don't pay attention while selecting logs, you could easily be bitten by a black widow, or many other things, which could result in death. By putting your logs in a log rack, you are eliminating the wasted space that bugs can create a home in, you are ensuring the safety of your family for years to come, and keeping your logs organized and easy to access wherever you need.

Log racks are no longer a necessity for those who live in the cold weather areas. In fact, anyone who stores wood for any reason should have them. Not only do they keep your logs stacked and ready for your use whenever you need, but they keep your investment safe and secure for when you are ready to use them.