JCO Campground at Lee Baysden Pond in Chinquapin, Nc would like to explain further why we ask and have joined the DON'T MOVE FIREWOOD Movement.
The Why...
The biggest reason for the DON'T MOVE FIREWOOD movement is because of tree-killing insects and diseases that can hitchhike in firewood. These insects and disease cannot move on their own very far but when guests move and bring in firewood, they can travel hundreds of miles. New infestations can destroy trees, forests, property, and can be a huge cost concern to get it all under control. We ourselves in maintaining the property over the last three years have had to cut trees that were damaged by bugs, storms, and humans. We really want to preserve the trees and vegetation on our property so that they can grow and flourish. The lands here were not fully maintained for the last 20 years, and it is a big process that takes time and requires just a little help from guests to help maintain our progress. You should also not be moving untreated firewood long distances, and it is illegal in many places.
Native trees have built up immunity and defenses against the native insects and diseases that they have been fighting for years. Native predators eat the native insects that keep their numbers in check. A balanced ecosystem. When a non-native insect or disease is brought into the area the local trees and vegetation have no way of fighting them. The new non-native insects and diseases can than rapidly multiple and reproduce. (Just like diseases for us, as humans!)
Campground and Campfire Etiquette
Please take these tips and rules into consideration on your next camping experience.
Please do not scavenge firewood or logs from around the property of JCO Campground and/or another campground you visit. You may not realize or take into consideration, but we sometimes have "green" wood or downed trees that we are currently working on or letting dry, for firewood purposes. Green wood is recently downed trees that are not dry enough to burn. They will not make for good firewood and will smoke heavily. We have recently had guests scavenging logs that are too big for firepits that then totally destroy firepits and leave a mess for us to clean up. Then once the wood is attempted to be burned, we cannot then dry it and chop it into firewood to sell. This is also considered stealing if you are not purchasing our bagged firewood.
Please do not burn pallet wood. This not only can omit chemicals into the air but can also leave nails behind in the firepits.
Please do not bring a chainsaw. I know, I know, common sense, right? I should not have to say this, however, we have had three guests now fire up a chainsaw to either cut wood that they brought in or cutting our trees and logs around the property. This is extremely rude for other guests and goes against all our rules and camping etiquette. Do not harm trees and vegetation when visiting any property or campground. Do not chop on any live trees.
Some logs may also be left around the property set as borders and or for soil erosion around the lake. So please leave them where they lay.
Firewood For Sale...
JCO Campground at Lee Baysden Pond, like many other campgrounds, sale firewood. We are a small, family owned and run business. This is not just a hobby for us, this is our passion, and this is our livelihood. Much of the firewood comes from the property in downed and damaged trees, from sawmill slabs, and/or from downed trees within our community. We stack and bag the firewood ourselves, many times with our young four-year-old helper! He's a great employee, by the way, and cannot wait to get old enough to use his gator, to chauffeur camping guests to their sites, himself. Currently, we sell our firewood for just $6 a bundle/bag. That's a better deal than most convenient stores or big box stores like Walmart. We just ask that you recycle the firewood bags and drop them off to the office when you are checking out.
We have free firewood starter that we give guests who buy our firewood bundles. (Gathering twigs, pinecones, and materials for fire starter is okay) We have a policy that if you have any trouble with our firewood for any reason, please let us know. We can exchange it or help with getting it started. (We can't fix, what we don't know) We have excellent ratings for hospitality and are here to host you. As always, we look forward to hosting you for your next camping adventure.
We were just out at your place this past weekend. We did pick up some limbs for kindling. Maybe at some small stuff to the wood bundles to use as kindling.