Shhh.... I have a source of recent BL blow downs, within a mile away. I'll get to them in a week or three. They ain't going anywhere but in my racks.
I d I didn't know of those species of white oak. I've heard of swamp chestnut, bur, chinkipin... I wish I had the recipe for the perfectly seasoned...how much salt, pepper, thyme....
Now Jeff, homeless don’t need good dry firewood, (thinking most stoves go in houses) Widows, families of service men deployed, victims of injuries or accidents.. need firewood But I get the gist of what your saying
Rain day here so I was able to meet up with the guy. Most of the BL he had cut was too short. Four other trees which turned into three were well over 16" DBH so I offered $200 for everything. "Were way off" he states which is why I always ask what they want. I guess someone had offered $75 for his fresh cut stack which was roughly a face cord. One tree was a good leaner which he was taking down next. He seemed to want to make a deal but I held firm. Hilly yard but id be able to back up to the tree. He was a burner and I didn't educate him on its heat value. He seemed afraid to use it being a newbie. Showed me his insert which was going. Drove home a little deflated but glad I stuck to my price. Tine to get to work on my annual BL scrounge-a-thon.
I ain't split a round of Blocust for at least a couple years. Have a few around property, but not many. Going to a buddy's place soon to see what's left after he had a cut done. IIRC his property is a red oak situation...NW facing slopes. May or may not take some wood depending on how difficult to get out. My 'on the hoof' (on the ground) stock is a little low this year as far as trees go.
Have you thought about posting an ad for free clean up of fallen BL, or maybe someone has a patch they want cut down? Maybe a nah eastah knocks some down this winter, or a TS next summer. Offer a reward to your utility right of way connections for leads on BL. That rick looks like it has meth problem.
Ive contacted three local tree companies inquiring about BL. One said I couldn't cut on their property, the other took my number and the other a flat out no. I should just call the guy across the street from my wood storage as he has offered me some during the Summer. Ive been considering just asking to cut in his yard. Work out some sort of a deal for wood rather than hunt it down all the time.
I can’t imagine putting in the time and effort you do for wood. Had a guy complain about my price and I just told him that with the time, fuel, materials, time and more time to create a dry ready to burn product, I don’t make minimum wage. He still bought and tipped. Time to obtain wood Time to unload Time to move wood Time to split Time to move again Time to stack Time to gather pallets Time to lay pallets Time to stack Time to cover Time to fill truck with wood Time to deliver Time to unload Time to stack Time to get back home Time to refuel the truck Time to refuel splitter Time to refuel tractor Time for maintenance on splitter Time for maintenance on tractor Time for maintenance on truck Time to recover stacks after filling load Time for saw fluids Time for saw sharpening Time for saw maintenance $ for the fuel for all the equipment involved $ for all the maintenance involved $ for stack covers $ for specialty tools $ for saws Yup pure Benjamin profit in firewood
After reading this thread I may give up selling firewood! I tell folks for what I go through to obtain barkless BL I should charge a lot more. Not in our Nashville's friend league but more than what they pay. I do get a premium for it and folks are happy with it.
