Hows this for welcoming a new neighbor?

There is this family (father, mother, and several children) who moved in to a house not far from me. I had gotten to talking with them at one point and he mentioned having several wood stoves that were left behind by the previous owner. Then about trees and firewood. Well, the first thing I did was give him a couple of lists as far as how long to season the various species of firewood (oak, maple, poplar, etc.)

Then as the weather was getting cooler, I had thought about giving them some firewood, but not too much since I wasn't sure what kind of burners they are. I ran into he and his wife at the hardware store the following day. So I mentioned the possibility of my dropping off some good seasoned firewood to give them a taste of burning firewood which I delivered a few hours later. It was a hair better than a sixth of a cord with a pallet to get them started. I told him, once the pallet was no longer usable, to just cut it up and use it as firewood since it was oak. Then we got to talking about sacking and firewood racks. So I offered a firewood rack that I had taken the firewood out of. (one in my living room) He accepted, so I went back home and retrieved the Pleasant Heart Log Rack (expandable to whatever length 2x4), brought it back and positioned it inside the garage where we proceeded to stack the wood I had brought over. I re-split a couple of random splits to show the moisture content, which I do stress, and they tested out as 11.5% to 12.5%. Keep in mind this wood had been left in the house since last heating season so I knew it was nice and dry. That wood had been CSS back in November of 2012.

After more conversation he revealed he would be supplementing his heating with firewood since he was kind of afraid of having a fire in the stove overnight. He has also been scrounging firewood and probably has a cord of mostly poplar. Since he had recently moved in and was in the throws of remodeling and such, that he couldn't afford to purchase an axe or chainsaw. After some considerable thought, I gave them a Ames True Temper Splitting axe with the wavy handle. Actually, I presented it to his wife since she was the only one home at the time (with the children). I did tell her that though I have 5 chainsaws I would not be giving him one since he doesn't know how to run one and I didn't want to see him get hurt because he wasn't properly educated in it's use.

So my House Warming gift to them was the Log Rack filled with seasoned oak, a few sticks of black birch, and a few sticks of maple, along with a Splitting Axe. (the pallet doesn't count)

I also loaned him my moisture meter so he could see how his other firewood is coming along stressing the 20% or less moisture content.

Hows that for a house warming gift?

 

You done good!
Gary

 

Good job neighbor !!!!!!

 

Good man! This could be the start of a very good relationship and if not you know you did the right thing (as you walk away from it).

 

You done very good ,kudos to you

 

Well done Star Gazer!

 

Good Karma will be visiting you soon.........................

 

Um..........no.
Star Gazer's a female.......a very good neighborly one.

 

Like a good neighbor, Star Gazer 's there.

I wish I had neighbours like you.

 

Star Gazer that was an awesome thing to do...

 

Great way to welcome the new family into the neighborhood. Maybe next year you can give the young man (and his wife if she is interested) lessons on chainsaw use .

 

There - fixed if for you

 

I knew that...just not at the time I responded

 

I knew, you knew that.

 

That was a great housewarming gift! Literally.

 

I'm sure the young man will be taking me up on the chainsaw lessons. We kind of discussed that a month or so ago along with another neighbor. So I may have two pupils! Of course if their wives want to come, they'd be more than welcome.

 

Not yet! But soon! I don't want to overwhelm him, just kind of gently nudge him into the fold, get him addicted and then feed the addiction.

 

Nice!

And just want to let you know that I'll probably be moving into your neighborhood soon!