ReelFaster , has anyone tried to steal your wood yet? DON'T leave it out there! I had some S.O.B. pull up with his pick up and start loading up till I caught him. Anyone down here believes that, (If it's on the curb, it's fair game)! If you remember, I had to put out the plywood painted sign saying "DO NOT TOUCH"!!!
I've had signs up (not that it will do much) when it was cut smaller in manageable pieces because like you said most folks around here if its on the curb it fair game. I have a tarp over it with a sign on it now. I don't like it sitting there already split. Initially I didn't have anything up, I figured if you can lift it without blowing a gasket out, you can have it.
Those rounds are BTU's and $$$! How long are your splits, or better said; How long can you get into the stove? I'm happy at 16" to 18" I can take 20" but it's tight.
I've spoke to numerous different tree companies while they were woeking. Usually just driving by, chat em up give em a card and never hear anything. Maybe i should call the office instead of talking to the guys in the field. Had one load dropped from an old neighbor once. It was the whole tree. Limbs, sticks, mulch, rakings all in one pile, then the good stuff after. Charged me 50 bucks. Haven't called him again. It was black locust full of wood borers though. We do live 12 miles away from the nearest town which is why I think we don't have a lot of luck. I do offer to drop off my dump trailer or a pick up bed trailer to guys, but that doesn't happen very often either. Last I knew there are no fees to dump brush and wood at any of the local county landfills. Unless I'm on the way or it's after hours I'm probably out of luck.
I've spoke to one closest to me and he said once it hits the ground it had to stay. It's a state ran landfill. I haven't asked the other one yet. There is a city brush pile on my way home I peruse through once in a while, no luck usually there either.
I honestly have no idea why people complain so much about a state and take their sweet old time moving out. That goes for any state. If a person is that miserable where they are, move on. Life is short. This isn’t meant toward you in particular just people in general.
For many it's the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. You can also be penny wise and dollar foolish. If you have nothing to lose, then it makes sense to haul A$$ fast. For me personally, I'm not going to take a beating on a house sale to only rebuild at a higher cost of what I have. Also, if you have looked at other states there are many with much better financial benefits and not having your brains taxed out, or having to pay for water, sewer, trash pick up, and house taxes on top of it all along with the highest cable bills on the planet etc...
They really produced a lot of splits. I always wanted a big drop like that to put me ahead and a bit and closer to the 3yr plan. Was taken back by the size at first but I managed better than expected. Noodling really helped and I split a few by hand w/ a wedge. I was able to roll some big ones under the splitter and split with ease. Same here I can fit 20", but I normally like to cut them 18". Length of some of the logs were awkward so I had to do like 14, 16, on some which is fine, it all goes in and makes heat.
Not that easy to just pickup and move when your entire life is rooted in the area. Kids, family, aging sick parents, jobs, etc.... Kudos to those that just do it, more power to them. And as Dave said it cost $$.
My wife would kill me! I'm gonna guess between 1-1.33 cord, once split and stacked. Kinda hard to tell from the pics. That's primo wood, being a chestnut oak (one of my top three faves), give it plenty of time to season.... Good score buddy
I need 4 solid cord a year to stay on the 3 year plan. Last year I burn't about 2 and the year before was warm if you remember, I only burn't about 1/2 of a cord. I'm just on the edge of 8 cord now/drying and 3 ready to burn, just under my norm. My saving grace is I have a lot of Oak from the last few years, maybe 6 cord, the mild winters I've burn't off all my Maple, (which is fine) I generally get a $#!T ton of it when I "Don't" want it, but it burns and keeps us happy. I'll never turn down wood unless I have no place to put it or it's pine. (Ok, some hairs on the necks of a few just stood up)
To me you can't stay for the money and complain about everything else. Paying for water, sewer, and trash are all local taxes that have nothing to do with the state as I have none of those where I live. Maybe you just hate the Cape May region and after a few visits, I can see why. We still raise animals, shoot guns, hunt, pee outside, ride quads/dirt bikes, and have bonfires on my mom's property. Are property taxes high? Of course they are in this state but as you basically stated, it's a great place to make money but you just need to find a different area to live in.
Everything costs money but you can't put a price tag on your happiness. My sister is in HR. She tells people who complain about work all the time, it's not a sentence. Nobody is forcing you to stay.
Its just not that simple as you make it out to be. Perhaps you , your sister are in better places to make be that simple. Am I happy, very!! Do I like NJ, NO I can be happy and make the best of situation. This state does not align my core values. Getting way off topic here so I'll let it be and get back to firewood.
Both these statements are VERY true, and you are correct. I will not, at all disagree with that. My situation is a bit different due to some medical issues, but once that passes, (should be in 2023) we're gone. You need to pay attention to this point though; My first given price for a new home built was $246,000.00 "BAM"!!! Covid hit, NEW President in office. House went too; $399,000.00. Inflation now, prices a went out of control, shipping issues, gas prices went INSANE, House now went to $499,000.00 for the same DAM house! It's that OK now? Understand...