Eucalyptus Can Replace Oaks for BBQ and Heating Wood

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The uses of oaks by the construction, furniture, mining, and firewoodindustries in California have changed considerably over the years. The clearingof oaks to accommodate buildings and roads, or to expand the cultivationof agricultural crops or grazing also has changed for various reasons. Inmost instances, the practice of cutting oaks has been greatly reduced. Also,natural reproduction of native oaks in California has been reduced, so thatcontinued non-use of the trees is desirable. To this end, eucalyptus canreplace much of the oak wood used for barbecue and heating wood.

One of the largest uses of California oaks today is for barbecuing meat.The "professionals" of barbecuing generally agree that the oakwood imparts a desirable flavor to the meat. A number of people who useoak to barbecue meat now are using broken pallets or other "trash wood"and wood of tree species other than oaks such as eucalyptus to provide abed of hot coals. They add a layer of oak wood on top of the coals to providethe desired smoke and flavor.

Another present-day use of oak is for house heating. To reduce the consumptionof oak wood for heating, a change can be made to another wood that is fast-growing,yet, when well-seasoned, produces as many BTUs per unit volume as oak. (BTUstands for British Thermal Unit, a measure of the energy given off whena substance is burned.) That wood is from the eucalyptus species that arebest adapted to wood production in certain climatic areas. Groves of eucalyptushave been planted in various parts of the world, principally for the productionof wood pulp to make fine, bond-type paper. Existing groves of eucalyptuscould supply some of the products that have been supplied by the oaks inCalifornia, and thereby conserve oak trees and habitat. Contrasted withthe growth of California oaks, blue- and red-gum eucalyptus can grow asmuch as one foot per month on the Central Coast, depending on the site andcultural practices. When they reach the desired diameter for fuel wood,they can be more easily and cheaply harvested compared to oaks, using inexpensiveharvesting machinery.


prepared and edited by Richard B. Standiford