by Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jan 07/98) - For most, warding off the bitter cold of winter is a matter of reaching out and giving the thermostat a nudge. But a hardy minority heat their homes the old fashioned way, with wood.

For the last group, having a healthy supply of firewood is critical to winter comfort, if not survival.

Finding cut wood, particularly good wood, is sometimes an infuriating business. Supplies and suppliers come and go quickly and the main method of marketing is word of mouth.

"I've realized the way to find it is definitely not the telephone book," said Mike Teixeira, who is down to his last month's worth of firewood.

Teixeira, who recently moved onto a houseboat, said companies listed in the phone book that he called are now apparently out of business.

His hopes are now pinned on a share of a six-cord supply from Fort Providence.

Though getting it here may involve a little more co-operation, two Hay River organizations have been steady suppliers.

"Most people put in their firewood early," said Eugene Patterson, who sells residue from the Hay River Saw Mill for $70 a cord. Of course, that does not include the price of delivery to Yellowknife.

To get wood delivered from the Hay River Sawmill to Yellowknife, you must order a minimum of 13 and a half cords, said Patterson.

For the past 20 years, the South Mackenzie Correctional Centre, also in Hay River, has been selling fire wood cut and stacked by inmates.

Though the SMCC will load the wood onto a trailer, customers are responsible for all transport costs. The centre charges $125 per cord.

But if you need wood now, don't dial SMCC. Asked how much wood is on hand at the centre, John Dillon of the Justice Department said "not a stick."

A river that has just frozen over stands between the centre and the next stand of timber it's been licensed to cut.

The hardiest of the hardy save themselves a few dollars by cutting their own wood.

The Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development issues free permits for cutting up to 16 cords a season for home use.

"They have to have an area they've checked out that we can put on a license," noted forestry and wildlife officer Ernie Campbell.

He added that green wood -- wood from living trees -- can not be cut within 60 metres of a road or water body.

During the 1996-97 fiscal year RWED's Yellowknife office issued permits for the cutting of 501 cords for home use, reported Campbell.

At the opposite end of the solid fuel spectrum are those who use artificial logs.

Neatly packaged, these long-burning logs are easy on the atmosphere and those who don't want to get their hands dirty. There are several brands of artificial logs available at hardware stores.

Synthetic logs reach full burn in about three minutes, burn cleaner than wood and last about three hours each.

But the cleanliness and convenience comes with added cost -- expect to pay more than $1.50 per log.