This time last year I was only aware of one useful wood bin that supplied cut offs of white pine and hemlock at a shed builder just down my street. Then February rolled around and I discovered a lumber werehouse and distribution plant that supplied a ridiculous amount of stuff they were just giving out. Most of the time it was either a pallet of 22 “ by 12” or just mismatched cullings. Some were damaged by water so they couldnt use it as the lumber sat tight. But for others, its a great rake in. These bins make a cycle out so sometimes its one sometimes its all of them. I’ve made some trips out just to check them out, so far: a big GOOSE-EGG! I actually have no real reason to get any from this wood stash as it serves mostly as kindling grab or pit burn stuff. People must be mobbing to this place now but I have indeed slowed my visits. It’s not bracing cold but the value of burnable wood here? A scroungers’ deluxe meal can be found but if memory serves, its best to be on a 3 year plan. I realize I have enough wood to sustain me for 3 winters and then some. doesn’t mean I plan to stop... just target more preferred wood for stacks!
Around here they won't give anything away anymore. They put some twine around a few pieces, call it kiln dried firewood and sell it for over $ 6.
Ah yes very true and quite a disservice. Mainly since the measurement for these are under a cubic foot which at the range for a full cubic foot at 5-6 bucks each is anywhere from 600 to 750 a cord (if anyone desperate to buy these) and more if the bundle is less than a full cubic foot. It’s more than ridiculous at that price. Not unheard of here but if it’s from a company up in Renton... for alder at..650 a cord...sheesh!
We all know that grocery stores charge an arm and a leg for firewood, generally between .75 and 1 cubic foot. When I flew into Charlottesville Friday to drive back over the mountain to go home, I stopped at one of the “luxury” grocery stores because admittedly they have some awesome prepared food to go. Lo and behold, at the front door I saw the stacked up .75-cubic foot bag, for $6.99!!! I swear, yuppies have more money than sense. I got my hot dinner to go and hightailed it back to the working folks side of the mountain where firewood is sold by the cord or cut up in yards free for whoever will haul it away.
FatBoy85 The nice thing about your situation is that you know about this free stash and can check it out from time to time but youve gotten to that point where you only have to give it a passing glance. Youve hoarded an impressive amount of wood this year my friend! Its nice to know of a potential source of wood if you happen to be passing by. Im always looking at firewood opportunities. Many are from my wife that sees them on face book. Almost every time they are wasting my time but are good for the casual burner I suppose. If I knew about those bins I would be stopping often even if I didnt plan on taking anything. You getting the rain good right now?
Maybe for you it does and everyone is different. What it comes down to is the luxury of convenience and under what circumstances people are willing to pay for it. I’m don’t generally eat out, use vending machines or shop at convenience stores.. I’ll buy in bulk when I can and even go a bit out of my way to do so.. I just found it a bit ironic that VOLKEVIN was chastising people for paying $1192 per cord (when they are not likely using that wood as a sole source of heat and only burn a small fraction of a cord) when he was likely paying 5 times or more above the wholesale value of his hot meal at the same “luxury” grocery store the so called yuppies shop at... All in good fun of course..
I seldom eat out. I stopped and got a burger at Wendy's a few weeks back $6.99 ( i was very hungry) otherwise I would have just left. I can make my own dinner- 3 course for that kind of cash.
We sure are getting rain and its been “warm”. 40’s on the normal. Guess that wood helps keep their house dry,I do the same thing. Yes it is with a passing glance and when I have arrived to these bins, its only bare scraps since end of Fall. Fair enough to say I’ve done my homework. It’s nice that the wife does take a look here and there. Maybe one of these days, you’ll reap an apple tree you’re patiently wanting to get for the bbq. How about the weather on your end?
Its been real mild the last few days. We were up to freezing yesterday and today is light snow and about the same. I actually have a bit of dryish apple that Ive been working through with the bbq but Ill need more thats for sure!
I didn’t take anything from the hot buffet bar, but I did get the “dinner of randomness.” It was a slice of pepperoni, Italian sausage and bacon pizza from the wood fired oven, a coconut chicken sushi roll and a buffalo shrimp sushi roll, a seaweed salad, and a bag of naan crackers with some lobster dip. That’s the fun thing about going there, is being able to graze your way through and get several good things!
So VOLKEVIN did you take 64 over the mountains or blue Ridge parkway? How does a Volunteer end up in home town of the Cavaliers? For those that don't know, Charlottesville is home to UVA the Cavaliers..
Yes, sure do. Charlottesville then west on 64, and over Afton mountain, north on 81 towards Harrisonburg. I have family up there, and since I now travel almost exclusively for work all I need is an airport. It’s nice up here in VA, although Tennessee will always hold a special place in my heart. Wouldn’t mind being back there at some point.
Well, I would have to go ahead and classify that response as "Cruel and Unusual Punishment"... I've read through it twice and now I'm craving pretty much everything on there.. Can't say I've felt the same way about a .74 cuft bundle of wood..... Touche'
At 43, I have realized there is no real answer to "Why" questions, in this case "why people buy pre-packaged firewood from a grocery store." I have hundreds of acres, have all kinds of forestry equipment, and yet have bought firewood from the grocery store before. For us, we were going camping and with a wife and 4 daughters, had no room in the car to pack firewood too, so we spent $12 bucks and Katie held it on her lap for 8 miles instead of 200 miles. For others in town with a fireplace, I can see them buying it to snuggle in front of for a date night, or just for watching TV before they go to bed. What is $6 a night for a little extra warmth while watching TV while the oil furnace is keeping the rest of the house warm? As for food, it is the same way. The interesting thing is, Katie and I have found that averaged over the last 4 years, we spend about $925 per month on food for our family of (6). Here is the breakdown though, the more food we prepare ourselves and eat, the lower our fast food bill, family restaurant bills, and date night expenses are, but if we spend say $100 on going to fast food restaurants, then our grocery bill goes down accordingly. So we spend about the same amount every month on food, it is just in what category we spend it, that changes. Lately we have been doing date nights at home, and while it does save money, how much I am not sure...maybe $25? We just plain outright spend a fair amount in food in this household. Here, the poorest county in all of New England, there is a local firewood hub that gives out 1/4 cord per week to those in need. As soon as the cold snap hit, they ran out of wood. I feel bad for those that were hoping to have firewood throughout the winter as we have a lot of elderly here that like their wood heat. :-(
I think I took the insane price of packaged wood at face value. You’re probably right, that people buying grocery store wood are picking it up as a convenience item. They buy one or two packs and that’s it. Those who use wood for heat are buying it in bulk, grocery buyers are buying for a treat. In a synonymous comparison, I have paid $2.29 for a bottle of soda, when I could have bought a 12 pack for $0.71 more; but I just needed the one or was traveling, etc.
