Posted on 10/27/2022 6:53:07 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — Tudor Popescu swings his ax down on a log, then feeds the split wood into a stove that heats his home in the capital of Moldova. As the nights turn chilly, the stack of firewood has been growing higher around him — his provisions for the coming winter.
Europe’s poorest country, with pro-Western aspirations but part of its territory controlled by Russian troops, has seen Russian energy giant Gazprom slash natural gas supplies by 30% recently and threaten more cuts.
The clamor for firewood is not limited to poorer nations like Moldova but has surged across richer regions of Europe, too. Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic’s state-owned forests are seeing much stronger demand for the limited amounts of firewood they sell as part of their sustainable forest management.
Often it’s coming from people who have never ordered firewood before and seem unaware that it needs to be purchased two years ahead so it can dry out enough to be burned in wood stoves, according to the forest service in southwest Germany’s state of Hesse.
German forest rangers also are seeing more people gathering fallen wood in forests, often not knowing it’s illegal.
Czech state forests, which sell wood only for household consumption, have had to limit the amount of firewood sold to individuals to prevent speculative purchases.
In Poland, demand for small firewood from state forests grew 46% and larger firewood was up 42% through the end of August from a year earlier. This was even before fall, when demand for firewood is highest.
In Denmark, the demand for wood-burning stoves is growing along with firewood itself. The Danish sales site DBA said searches for wood pellets have exploded by over 1,300% in the past year.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
“theft fears”
Not to attack preppers, because I’m one also, but people should keep in mind that when they grow food, and then ‘it’ happens, there may have to defend their crops...and so, in addition to trying ride ‘it’ out, you’ll also need some type of 24/7 security.
They will be burning their own homes to stay warm before this is over.
Bull market for chainsaws...if they can afford the gas to run ‘em.
Well, that's helpful. Can't even pick up old fallen wood. There's a bureaucrat somewhere in a nice heated office smiling over their powers over the people.
A guy I knew told me that he suspected that his neighbor was stealing firewood from him. The neighbor denied it.
The guy said he drilled a 3/4” hole in a piece of wood and stuff a 12 gauge shotgun shell in it, then used wood filler to plug the hole. He then put the piece in his woodpile.
While the neighbor never admitted anything, his wood stove was in the trash a week or so later
It will be a long cold winter in much of Europe…
I think we have a couple FReepers who live in those countries.
> in addition to trying ride ‘it’ out, you’ll also need some type of 24/7 security <
I’ve often thought about that. A hungry man hiding in the brush with a rifle has a great advantage over a prepper gathering vegetables in his garden.
I guess small communities must band together. But that community had better not include a hungry man with a rifle.
One of my all time favorites!
“I guess small communities must band together. But that community had better not include a hungry man with a rifle.”
Yep...and unfortunately there are a lot more people with rifles than serious preppers, so most typical communities, other than possibly Mormons, will have a lot of leachers running down the supplies of the preppers.
Comedian Bill Burr did a bit on that.
He said many are just growing and storing things for the baddest dude in the area.
(The bit is on him buying a gun)
You have summed up the reason for militias.
In the USA there is a tradition of spontaneous organization of militias in time of need.
“He said many are just growing and storing things for the baddest dude in the area.”
Prepping is still good, as it buys you time, so if society does recover, the ride you take through the bad times, can be a lot better if prepped...PROVIDING you look like you’re suffering along with everyone else (lower chance of ‘visitors’ showing up).
Lol Good for that guy.
I agree, just thought it was funny.
I would assume most preppers have weapons.
Europeans can use Greta Thunbergs new book for heat.
That Greta Thunberg should be put in the corner and sent to bed without her dinner. Or, bitchslapped until she can’t see the ER Triage team. I can’t decide which.
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