I wondered how many folks here are able to cut wood off their own land. I get to feeling guilty or lazy reading about those who are finishing up the 17/18 or beyond wood stack. I cut just far enough ahead for good dry wood, I don't cut any oak and have mainly Beech, maple and birch, that I harvest just from thinning. It's more than I could ever burn and with my conditions it is dry to the point that my "gasser" boiler likes it best in about 18 months. The way I look at it is a tree (on my land) is only going to gain in volume in the 4,5,6 years that it's still "attached" to the ground rather than in a fire wood stack. I would like to have a years worth, about 8 cord sitting ready to go just incase of the unexpected what if happens, and completely understand that those without any land need to get what you can, when you can, especially when free or convienient! Any folks out there with their own woodland with similar guilty feelings?
How far you want to get ahead is a personal preference. I would like to be at least three years ahead, but I like the look of a full shed and some nice symmetrical covered stacks. I cut from my own 40 acre parcel and am currently focusing on dead ash before it rots. I am also managing the property for wildlife which involves moderately heavy timber harvesting. My forester has left me waiting after signing his contract--hasn't been back since. I wouldn't feel guilty about your situation. Do what works for you and sleep good at night.
I "hear ya" on the Ash. No EAB here…….. yet! I like the look's of that full shed also!!!! hence my "feelings"
I have my own wood lot and I'm 3 years ahead (12 cord). The hard part was getting ahead, once there all I have to do is cut 4 cord each year. I cut close to 2 cord each year of dead/dying trees. I also need close to a cord of Shagbark Hickory for overnight burns. The Shagbark doesn't seem to die, maybe mine are all too young. I enjoy processing wood and it's what I do in my free time during the Fall and Winter. I wouldn't feel bad if what you do works, ie. you' not burning wet wood. I know Gasifier doesn't get ahead on his wood supply he seems to do ok.
Do what you are comfortable with, not what everyone else thinks, it is your land after all. I have about 110 acres, I had 42 of mine select cut, mainly for the wildlife and because it was getting thick. Lots of the timber was getting smothered out, not able to reach full potential. Before that I cut mainly dead or trees that needed removed. I went through with my buddy that is a timber buyer and forester along with another friend that is a forester for the state, we selected sizes and what I wanted cut and thinned. This will give me the chance to get way ahead on my wood cutting and even sell some, help my remaing timber and be good for the wildlife.I am glad I did it now. The soft woods i had cut hard, my hard woods i was really picky with, they will benefit in the long run. Like I said make yourself happy my friend, not everyone else. Good Luck!!!! Tom
That might be the difference, that is I go through about 8 cord keeping the house & shop warm and keeping 24 or so cord in hand is a little Three years of wood being 12 cord is much more reasonable to have on hand.
No guilty feelings here. I kid around about it but the wood on my lot dries fine in less than a year time. Ash, Pine, and Spruce. Burn the Ash sooner and let the Pine and Spruce dry a little longer. My gasification boiler likes wood between 20-30%. Get it too dry and you get more "huffing and puffing" for lack of a better term. The White Ash around here dries very quickly. I stack in long rows and it gets some sun and some wind. I am currently working a little here and there to thin the property. I just wish I had more time to work in the woods.
Feel guilty? No way. We cut all the wood of our own land. We've been ahead on wood supply from 1-probably 10 years from time to time. Right now probably 3-4 years on hand or close to that. If I were able, I'd cut all the remaining white ash to get it out of the woods and into the stacks before it goes bad or gets any further along. I thought a few years ago that by now I'd be done with it but there is still plenty of dead ash out there. And we've even found 2 live trees not touched by the EAB. Hope the borer is gone from here and expect it is by now as not much left that is alive.
300 acres in Silver Ridge and a 540 Deere cable skidder. I go every fall and cut the wood I need as well as for my wife's, now only moms, house. Her dad always worked with me and I bought the skidder from him, but he passed in late June. Point is I cut what I use and stay a year ahead. Last years cut is still in logs and will process it soon and move this years wood to the basement. I get someone to haul down a triaxle load down every year but burn about 6 cord so I am a little ahead by about 5 cord. If it gets bad I have 46 acres here and a tractor and farmi winch I can always run and grab some.
I own 14 myself, and I can cut on a total of around 70 including my neighbor's properties. It all used to belong to my great grandparents, and it still all belongs to family. I supply myself and my sister's family, and hopefully my dad too eventually. I'm letting Ma Nature guide my chainsaw for now. I can find more dead stuff everywhere I look. The EAB hasn't really hit here yet, but there's more than a few acres of that ill have to deal with. Right now I'm trying to clean up a stand of red pines that my grandfather planted when he was a teenager. They've left me something really special and I feel I have a responsibility to preserve and improve it. Hope I'm doing a good job!
I only have about 3, maybe 4 acres of wooded land, but with that, and neighbors, and power line trimming, etc. I'm set. There's 3 walnut and one hickory standing dead in the bottom land of the neighbors. I just brought some big ash logs over from his place. I'll have to get after that standing dead stuff shortly.
You guy's make me feel a little less like a slacker, thanks. I've got just over 700ac. (woods) and between maintaining the roads & skid trails,by that I mean mostly bush hogging and clipping the trees/limbs back off the roads & trails so that the woods doesn't take over (it's truly amazing how fast mother nature will do that) I spend a good deal of time in the woods. Don't get me wrong, there's no other place or thing I'd rather do, but it surely keeps me busy.
If you own the woodlot and have the wood you need CSS ahead for a few years, I sure wouldn't feel any guilt about anything fuelrod ... those trees, still on the stump, sure will make more firewood for you. No need to take down 10 years worth of wood on your own lot for sure, if you don't want/need to.
So far all of my wood has been yard cleanup from years of neglect. It is only about 1 1/2 cords but I live on a suburban lot. I also own another 60 acres with 40 wooded so when I move out of town there will be no reason to search outside of my own property. Dead and down should easily supply my needs and the large number of ash I planted 23 years ago is right in the path of the EAB infestation so soon I will have far more dead than I do now.
I have about 7 acres of wood and rarely do I have to cut a live tree. I have enough of a problem just getting to the dead trees. I burn around 4 cords a year and have 3 years worth put up.
I got 22 of which 12 is wooded. Most of my wood is off my or neighbors land. The not a "tornado" gave me thousands of widow makers so I had to call loggers to fix. not many left on interior but 5 or 6 years left on edges. Cross next bridge when we come to it..Don't feel bad if it works for you work it!
As long as the wood you are burning is at the proper moisture level how much to stock is personal preference. Depending on the spacing, you may not gaining much wood overall by leaving the trees standing. If the canopies are touching or the tree you cut is overshadowing another tree the remaining tree will grow more than it otherwise would. Depending on the exact situation you may grow more wood in total by cutting some trees than leaving them standing
18 acres wooded here and the only thing I feel bad about is that I will NEVER be able to cut and stack all the dead standing Red and White oak I have. This will be my 6th season burning 3-4 cord a year and I have not gone more than 50 + yards from the house to cut wood.
