Get 4 wooden shipping pallets and two 8 foot steel fence posts. Lay two of the pallets on the ground away from the house. Have someone hold the other pallet on end then drive one of the steel posts into the ground about three feet. This will leave five feet sticking out above ground. Do the same at the opposite end leaving the pallets standing against the post. Now you are ready to stack your firewood.
When you have the wood neatly stacked take a measurement about halfway down from the top on each side and over the top. This is the size of the poly tarp you will need to cover the wood.
You're not done yet. You will need to get an "S" hook for each of the eyelets (grommets) in the tarp. You will also need a one gallon milk jug for each of the "S" hooks. Fill the milk jugs about 3/4 full of water, DO NOT put the top back on, leave it open so the water can expand and freeze without splitting the milk jug. Now hang a milk jug from each of the eyelets using the "S" hooks.
When you need wood just remove a couple of the milk jugs and throw the tarp back. After getting the wood, cover the pile back up again and replace the milk jugs.
This works really well, it give you good dry wood for burning. The bottom pallets allow air to circulate on the bottom of the pile so you won't have any rotten wood to remove in the spring. Try it you like it.
Source: I read this in a Popular Mechanics magazine many, many, years ago.
By Herman from Midland, MI
