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What does #FREEHEAT really mean, and why does it make people so uncomfortable?

At a glance, it looks like trolling or rage-baiting.

A wood boiler roaring on a cold Wisconsin morning. A stack of firewood. A hashtag that seems to claim something impossible. But this is not about pretending wood heat costs nothing. It is about something far more valuable: independence. 

This is a deeply personal look at why heating with wood is a mindset as much as a method. From preparing firewood by hand to staying warm through power outages, fuel shortages, and winter storms, the essay explores self reliance, preparedness, and what it means to take radical responsibility for your family’s comfort and safety. It challenges the idea that convenience is always better, and makes a compelling case for systems that work when everything else fails.

Consider these “worst case scenario” numbers: In southern Wisconsin from November 2013 through March 2014 (during which temperatures reached record lows for several weeks), it took 7 cords of mixed hardwood to heat a 2,200 sq. ft. home.

Assuming a cord of firewood is valued at $210, this home’s heating costs for the entire season would have been $1,470. Some folks may pay double that for propane or natural gas, with no guarantee the price will remain constant.