My neighbor has mentioned on multiple occasions that I could fell whatever trees at the back of my property, but I've been kind of leery, though not sure why. But, over the previous 4 months a relative of his had a load of logs delivered which I helped in the splitting and stacking. The thing was those had a moisture content of about 34% which was far to wet to burn. I told them if they had a load of logs dropped of in the spring, I would go over myself, buck, split, and stack them on my own. It's usually about 2 to 3 cord so not really a big deal. I figure with me working alone I could have it done in about a week. Fast is one thing I'm not, but I get the job done. This got me thinking. I could fell the trees within 20 to 25 feet of the property line which would consist of cherry, black birch, maple, and black locust to name a few. To get the wood out of that area would be a PITA, but I could limb and buck, even split the rounds so I could just toss the splits to where it would be easier to retrieve. It's on a fairly steep slope. He also has a few black locust, a couple river birch, at least one ash, and a few poplar either in his yard or at the edge that I think he would like removed as well. I'm thinking in return I could fell all of the pine along another property line as well as fell a few fat poplar's. There's one poplar about 5 feet across being at least 125 feet or more tall. Maybe even take the other few pine he has along the edge of his yard. I'm not sure about one pine he has. The thing is at least 8 to 10 feet across at the base. (yard bird) All of the pine and poplar would be for me. I figure with all the work, his relative might even end up being a few years ahead for firewood, his yard would be cleared of a few eye sores, and I would be another 8 to 12, maybe more years of firewood ahead. It might take me quite a few months to complete though I would do the hardwoods for him first. All would be directional felling with quite a few against the trees natural lean and some heavy leaner's. There are some where precision is a necessity due to some structures, but that's not that big of a deal. I can usually fell a tree to within a foot of the center of the target with a tree being 100+ feet tall. The other part though, I have noticed when he has anything done, he wants it done in a short period of time. Like I said, fast is one thing I'm not. So, what do y'all think, should I make the offer?
Can't hurt to offer, you're helping him & his family out while benefiting so on balance perhaps he'll be cool with it being a gradual thing in this instance. Good luck with it if it happens...
I would, but I would also be clear that it's not getting done in a hurry. I too have had the experience where you do something for someone but then they want it done post haste. The work itself sounds like a lot of fun to me!
I think that's my problem. I didn't want to do the cutting behind my property even though he said I could on multiple occasions. Now after knowing of a need, I can offer my services in trade. Cut whatever hardwoods and process them down to the size they need, and in turn take the softwoods for myself. He saves having some tree service come in to remove the offending softwoods while gaining plenty of processed hardwood for his relative. The next time I see him outside, I'll wonder over and present my offer. The worst he could say is "no."
I would definitely emphasize the time factor in getting the work done. The hardwoods behind my property would take the longest since I would be doing everything right there, but that is also pretty much out of site of his house so that might not be an issue. Taking care of the pine and poplar I should be able to get done in the matter of a few weeks at best. Just fell, limb, and buck into four foot rounds, then bring the rounds over to my place as well as the branches and stack. Even use some of the branches to stack on and repeat the process until finished. I could finish bucking the four foot rounds down to 16 inches, then split and stack, all at my leisure. Even with the hardwoods, I could just pile the branches onto my property and process them into kindling at a later date. Last year, it took me a few days shy of 2 months to process a little better than 7 cord of ash, elm, walnut, cherry, and pine, but that was at my leisure. That was the end of July to almost the end of September. He does know my work since I have felled trees for him before. The most recent was an 80 foot red maple, 2 feet across at the base last April. All I can say is I hope he takes me up on the offer. I'm even excited at just the prospect of doing it. It'll be fun with plenty of adrenaline rushes to boot.
I would be very cautious about making a precision drop at someone else's house without some kind of liability waiver in hand.
That seems like a lot of work to only get the softwood out of the deal. I helped a neighbor out a year and a half ago (he was cutting too) and I got half of the hardwood and all of the softwood out of the deal. His half of the hardwood (mostly oak) is still sitting in rounds uncovered while my portion of the wood (white pine and black birch) is running through my stove this winter. Don't be afraid to start your negotiations from a position that is a little more beneficial to you.
But of course! I do tend to use more safeties when working on someone else's property, especially if the tree is to be felled within range of a buildinge. So I'm not really concerned about damaging anything. As for me being hurt or potentially killed, yep, a liability waiver is a necessity as a just in case sort of thing. Though I don't cut stupid, accidents can and do happen. I study and plan every tree I fell from which side of the tree has the most weight, to lean angle, to hinge width, safety placement, and exit to list a few things, long before I make my first cut. Being careless could result in severe injury or even death. No one is responsible for me or my actions other than me as it should be.
You bet! It might be a couple of weeks before I see him out though since the weather here is turning much colder than it has been. We will be lucky to get into the low 30's for the coming week or so.
I know it's going to be a lot of hard work, and hopefully I'm not biting off more than I can chew. But I think the deal is pretty even since I prefer pine and the soft hardwood (poplar) over the other hardwoods. I'll probably end up with more cubic feet of firewood, but close to the same BTU wise. And, I will continue to benefit through out the years to come because the removal of some of those trees will result in my having more sunlight coming onto my property just for starters. That will allow me to have a decent sized garden where I can get at least 8 hours of sunlight where now I'm lucky if I get 6 hours a day through better than half of my property, usually less. Add to it that a number of those trees could fall in a windstorm which we have many, and damage or destroy some of the structures on my property. See, I benefit, they benefit, and it seems pretty balanced in the long run.
I am in the same boat as everyone else. I would take half the hardwood and most or all the softwood. That is a lot of free labor, c/s/s. are you sure he wants all those trees gone?
maybe you could offer to help him cut and split that way he gets it done and learns the effort involved. then maybe, just maybe he will opt out and let you have all you want.
Firewood is worth about $10-15 dollars a cord to a land owner when it is on the stump. A logger gets about $60-65 at the landing for a cord and the trucker is looking at $20-30 to haul and deliver. That's before you cut it to length and split it which would bring its value to $150-250 depending on the local market. With you doing all the work a fair deal would be 1 cord for him and somewhere between 10-25 cords for you. (And loggers don't clean up their mess. )
The pine and poplar we had discussed at length, even the potential direction of the fell. Those are along the west side of his property. We also discussed felling some of the trees at the back of his house. The only one that might be questionable is an ash, but I would imagine he would want that one taken as well. The trees behind my property, he has mentioned on multiple occasions that I could remove them. So ummm, yup, he wants them gone.
Here's the thing, I could have ALL of the wood for myself! That's ALL of the hard and softwood! But the key to start my saws is that I be able to cut all the hardwood, and process it down to firewood for his relative. That includes branches that are thicker than the width of my hand (3") Of all the wood I've helped process in the past for my neighbors relative indicated a preference for hardwood. So in doing this, they can get several years ahead in firewood that is actually seasoned instead of trying to burn unseasoned wood like they have been this season. I suppose from their point of view, just my removing the trees would save them the expense of hiring a tree service to have it done, and that could cost in the thousands. But from my point of view, I NEED to be able to do something for them from my side. I see all this free wood, okay, maybe not free when your talking about all the work involved, and if I were to take it all, it somehow seems wrong. But if I can process all the hardwood for them, for their benefit, I'm giving something useful in return. I would also like to be able to start as soon as possible to at least get some of the hardwoods somewhat seasoned before next season. (the ash, cherry, and maple since that seasons the fastest) I also would prefer the trees not start leafing out. So in essence, as stupid as it sounds, I won't start my chainsaws unless I get to remove the hardwoods first, for them, process them down to firewood, and get them stacked as soon as possible. The softwoods are secondary and are my preferred wood. That plus I'm at least 7 seasons ahead already.
