Wood becoming more attractive heating option

Josh Vavra wants a cord of hardwood firewood so badly, he's offering tickets to a Red Sox-Yankees game to get it.

Vavra has used oil to heat his home in the past, but the 30-year-old Derry resident switched to using a wood stove last winter because of rising oil costs.

So far this year, he has found local dealers couldn't supply him with the dry hardwood he needs, which prompted him to turn to the online classifieds Web site Craigslist to trade what he calls one precious commodity for another.

"I've cruised Craigslist, and have seen people trying to trade hardwood for other things, or vice versa," Vavra said. "People are trying to trade vehicles and Jet Skis for hardwood. I don't have any of those toys to barter, and the (baseball) teams seem to frown on ticket scalping. . . . It seems like a win-win."

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