Due to supply and demand, some of our items might be freshly harvested. I often note the harvested date and weight for reference. The moisture content of fresh wood is high and it shouldn't be sealed with a film-forming finish until it is dried or seasoned. How long does this take? It all depends on size, species, temperature, air movement and relative humidity among other factors. A softwood or poplar, for example, will dry out faster than a hardwood. If it is placed in a hot, arid enviroment with good air movement it'll dry out faster yet. For a small cane or staff it might dry enough in a matter of weeks, for thicker items it could take a few months. The term "seasoned" is typically used for firewood or air dried lumber. The old timers say an inch a year to properly season, but it can be a lot faster or slower depending on conditions. For furniture making, kiln dried lumber is used that typically has a 5 to 8% moisture content. When I air dry wood, 10-15% might be the best I can expect around here. If you live in an arid climate it might be as low as 6% when seasoned.