This was just something I was wondering about as a drove down an endless freeway... today's mind teaser.

Let's say that for whatever reason, there is no electrical power to your town or any of the towns around you.

You used all the stored gasoline for running the generator, trips to collect water from the river, and get some basic supplies from FEMA in the nearest town. All the gas cans are dry, and you can't beg, steal or mooch any from neighbors because they're in the same fix you are.

You've got a working wood stove and a cold winter coming. How do you plan to cut wood? In The Olde Dayes, people had those long, two-man saws with handles at each end. What's the plan today, now that the chainsaw is just a decorative item?

Sue

Not that there are many trees around here -- but I would use an axe.

Depends on the size tree. Bow saw & hatchet if it's small enough or to clear limbs on a larger tree. Ax or piece together several chainsaw blades to make a larger bow saw for a larger tree.

We have numerous bow saws, axes, hatchets, and splitters, and I use them when I use my chainsaw too. It's an AWESOME break to cut down a tree or limb in silence after hours of chainsaw

Hope I owned the right tools -- or had foresight to quickly buy before gone from the shelves: good double-bit axe, trimming axe, bow saw, maul and wedges ... then hope enough time left for it to season. Oh, and several pairs of appropriate gloves!

How about Demo'ing an abandoned House/structure/barn,etc. The wood is dry & seasoned.You could split 2x4's into 2x2's & smaller,then use Loppers to cut the size that's best for your stove.A Splitting wedge & 3lb sledge will suffice for the splitting part,A 28oz.woodframing hammer&A wonderbar, can do the Demo work.It's Hard work but, It would be the least amount of Hard work,with the most Beneficial outcome,Especially with Winter fast Approaching.

Bingo! There's your reality check.

Anybody who makes quality heating wood fells, bucks and splits green trees at least 12-18 months before it will be needed.

The only stuff that will dry out fast enough to use within weeks is really small stuff. Plan to have someone feeding the stove 24 hours a day.

Alternatively, plan to burn an outbuilding. (Far from ideal.)

As others post, it would be well to be prepared with the proper hand tools for obtaining wood.
Freshly cut wood wont burn well, though it is better than nothing.
Remember though that in any widespread emergency there will be intense competion for the available wood, and the owners of the trees might well shoot people stealing them.
It would therefore be well to have several years stock of firewood.
If utility service is available, but you fear it will go off long term, then use gas or electric heat whilst available so as to conserve your wood until it is needed.

How about charcoal? I doubt it would be the first thing to disappear from store shelves.

What do you mean had? My dad usually leaves the big two-man saw up as wall decor, but it isn't rusty nor dull. He pulls it down a couple times a year with my brother or I on the otherside. There are also the axes, hatchets, hawks, mauls, wedges, smaller saws and an adze. He also mows the fenced area and around the heating fuel tank with a scythe and sickle, and is rebuilding a push mower.

Neighbor has more of all of the above, and his horses are a logging team- they specialize in nice, clean surgical cuttings in areas that are too fragile or tight to get in skidders.

And we can turn any chain blade into a one direction "pocket chainsaw".

I should point out, my folks heat with wood and they buy a year ahead. It means stacking it twice, but it means even in the spring, there is still a winter's worth of wood. Have to mix some greener stuff into it, but... *shrugs* you do what you can.