Hi Leslie, yes most of the wood comes from sustainable forests. As you say, for green reasons...and there are seasoned logs, kiln-dried logs, free wood – so lying around and collected, but the most efficient, and becoming more popular every year, are briquettes. These are made from recycled wood or paper and are brilliant with a very high heat output.

These days German Chimney sweeps do far more than sweep chimneys though, as it says in the article their job has become very complicated indeed compared to what it used to be. The only thing that has stayed the same is their uniform...so cute - love it. cool.

Francine A. McKenna - German Culture Editor

German Culture Site - German Culture Facebook

Avatar: HOHENZOLLERNBRÃœCKE Cologne with CATHEDRAL and LUDWIG MUSEUM. The Bridge a symbol of how Germany was rebuilt after WWII, it was left in ruins, the Cathedral with roots in the 13th century represents the country's history, Museum of Modern Art the present day.