[Sca-cooks] Food safe firewood

[charding at nwlink.com]

We have been clearing a lot of land as we expand our garden space and have
been making a lot of woodpiles.

We have come to the following conclusions.....don't use willow for the
medicinal taste that it can impart.  Cascara is another kind of weed tree
that we see here, it not only imparts a bad tase, but the bark is a pretty
harsh purgative, it can have unplesant consquences.

We have a friend who is allergic to hazel nuts (filburts) and the smoke
from burning hazel wood is enough to set off her allergies.  She suspects
that cherry wood may also give problems to those who react to cherries,
she even avoids bowls and utensils made with cherry wood.

We have a lot of Alder, which is really nice for smoking and roasting.  We
save the trimmings from the apple prunings and use them for roasting
chickens in the fire place.

Also up here in An Tir we see people using (in their fire pits and cooking
fires) the pressed fake logs that you can get in the stores. Those aren't
good either.

Mæva matbúðarkona
Barony of Glymm Mere
Kingdom of An Tir

> Some friends and I were trying to figure out which woods are safe to use
> around food and in general safe to burn.  And also which woods were safe
> to
> make wooden dishes out of.
>
> We know not to use because they are toxic:
> Datura plants
> Jimson weed
> Oleander
> Poison ivy
>
> We had some questions over:
> Elderberry--one person had been told the wood was toxic
> Pine--food safe but better not to use due to its resinous properties  and
> the flavor it would add???
>
> Woods that are good to use due to adding flavor to food:
> Apple
> Cedar
>
> Woods that are good to use for food but probably shouldn't be used in the
> SCA as we thought they were of North American origin:
> Hickory
> Mesquite
> Pecan
>
> Woods that are good to use with a fairly neutral flavor:
> Oak
> Maple
>
> Good for wooden dishes:
> Maple
>
> Good for wine barrels:
> Oak
>
> Good for buckets or crates that vegetables and fruit might be transported
> in
> from the garden:
>
> What can be added to this?  Anyone know of a site that has a chart of food
> safe and unsafe wood?
>
> Sharon
> gordonse at one.net
>
>
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