OUR STORY
Black Wattle Firewood is a family owned business supporting 4 other hardworking gentlemen and their families too. We care about the environment and we want to enable you to make ethical firewood choices and keep warm whilst doing so. We are based in Johannesburg.
WHY
BLACK WATTLE FIREWOOD?
Black Wattle ( Acacia Mearnsii ) in South Africa.
When Europeans started establishing farms in South Africa over 100 years ago, one of the first tasks was to plant Black Wattle Trees.
Black Wattle was seen as a fantastic product which had many uses. This plant was first and foremost used as it created large shaded areas. Economically it could help produce fence posts, poles for farm structures, crude rope and tannin from its bark. Tannin was found in the bark of the Black Wattle which became a profitable export as it was used for tanning leather.
THE BLACK WATTLE PROBLEM
- Black Wattle is a fast growing tree and therefore uses a lot of ground water which our environment cannot afford.
- No other plants will grow under a Black Wattle and because of this there is nothing holding the soil together. Which in turn causes soil erosion.
- Our endemic/local trees have to fight to survive when there are black wattle in the area. Black Wattle are thieves and steal water and sunlight away from our endemic plants.
- Black Wattle are incredibly invasive plants. Their seeds remain dormant for many years and this makes it very difficult to eradicate.
INDIGENOUS / LOCAL FIREWOOD
Most of the firewood bought from the side of the road has been poached. This is a crime and truly destroys our natural habitat. This poaching takes place in and around the Magaliesburg mountains and bushveld.
M Net’s Carte blanche has highlighted this as a huge problem. “Magaliesburg Firewood Mafia” – as they are known, will go and illegally cut down / poach our indigenous plants. They do not only “cut a few trees down” they will totally destroy that area and remove all the trees. Some of these trees are over 100 years old. The wood is then bagged and distributed it to vendors. Although the wood looks dry and the person selling it to you will assure you that it is dry, it is not. Most of the time the wood is “green” and wet wood and would have only been cut a few days before being bagged and sold to you. Green wood will produce a great amount smoke and won’t burn at all.
The problem is exasperated by the public purchasing this poached wood. This wood may seem like the cheaper option, but it is not only going to create smoke in your house it is also damaging our environment. This beautiful region forms part of the Magaliesburg Biosphere and is in fact a World Heritage Site.
The Magaliesburg area is driven and kept alive by tourism. If this poaching of the Magaliesburg landscape continues we will be left with baron mountains and infertile soil. This will not only be an eye sore it will decrease tourism in the area and thousands of people will be without jobs.
Black Wattle is the far better and more ethical choice for firewood. It is a medium to hard wood which is perfect for braaing and excellent for keeping everyone warm in an open or closed fireplace.
