I figured it was time to start another thread in my “march to” series. For 3 years in a row, I set a personal record for number of cords cut, split, and delivered. I am not expecting to keep that streak going but I am off to a good start. I had two college kids home from break looking for work so I got to my moms and cut just about every chance I could to keep them busy. I have 6 different piles I’ve been working on. I prefer to make 1 windrow pile at a time but due to where logs where dropped off and mud issues a few weeks ago it just made sense. There are 3 mixed hardwood piles and 3 oak piles. I have about 55-60 cords cut and split so far and have probably 60-70 cords of logs waiting for the saw. Let’s see what 2022 brings.
We’ve had about 8-9” inches so far this winter which is fairly typical for us. Also have had 50 degree days since then
jrider Is it ok to ask questions here or would it be easy enough to find info in an existing old thread? Memory is failing me with your 'story.' Wondering... how long do you allow logs to be on the ground? Any degradation in your time period and is it a non-issue or what? Do you buy truckloads of logs or how do you get them? How long do you allow splits to remain in piles? I think you do not stack splits, is that correct? Do you just have a big firewood business or what is your general story with such big numbers? Thanks, is certainly impressive.
Best of luck in 2022. Always enjoy watching your progress through the year Joe. Cut safe and hoard on.
I think there’s a few of us that cringe when we see wood left on the ground for storage. If this to be sold next heating season or beyond?
jrider , to infinity and beyond I say! Sounds like you have a great start and will tie last years record. Also nice to hear about kids/young men who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty. Good for you on may levels.
The march to 400 jrider , I just knew you couldn't help yourself. Some answers to questions as I remember them from previous threads. 1: Logs come from tree services mostly. 2: Cut split & piled in windrows 3: Sold the following fall/winter, iirc Joe is usually sold out & finished delivering by Christmas or thereabouts. 4: Anybody that will buck logs in 90 degree heat & humidity in July as a side hustle, load deliver & sell 300+ cords & then do it over again is one hell of a man!
All questions are fine. I am a high school teacher and started selling firewood 26 years ago. It started out as just a little Christmas money and I did less than 10 cords. Through the years it has grown. I upgraded saws, splitters, got a dump truck and made connections with 2 local tree companies. That's where the logs come from in the pictures. I still cut offsite from time to time as many know I'm always looking for wood. I do have the advantage of only taking the easy scrounges at this point though. There is no noticeable degradation of logs sitting on the ground as they typically are never there for more than a year with most of them being there much less than that. The split piles that I am making now will be sold next fall. Being out in a field and exposed to full sun and wind go a long way in seasoning wood here in south Jersey. Yes, I know it's not the 3 year plan but I sold and delivered 265 cords before Thanksgiving this year and could have easily sold at least another 100. This is all done through the local town pages on Facebook, repeat customers, and word of mouth. I also burn all of the shorts/uglies in my OWB to heat my house so it's a great way to keep the quality of what I'm selling at a high level and get basically free heat as a bonus. I love cutting and splitting wood. I don't like stacking much and it takes too much time if you're trying to make money. Those windrow piles work about as good as they can but the key is full sun and wind. 8 hours of summer sun isn't enough....I learned the hard way years back. If you have any other questions, fire away. Hope you follow along on my progress as the year goes by.
Yes, I know it doesn't meet the standards in here. Does it help that it's not in contact with the dirt but a nice thick layer of bark and splitter debris? Just too much time involved in stacking if you're trying to make money.
Thanks but it keeps me fit and out of trouble! And if you want to talk about a hell of a man, I think buzzsaw brad has it on me. He never stops hoarding...I like breaks once in a while! He also has to carry rounds to his truck, hand load, hand unload, and splits most by hand. That is impressive! Amateur cutter, you get after it pretty darn good yourself
Had these logs dumped here so I could cut them without having to move with the tractor for when it got muddy. Today was that day. Our foot of snow from last weekend melted during our warmup and rain the last two days. It got cold again last night but not enough or for long enough to make the ground hard again for the tractor. I got these cut up and I cleaned up some piles of short splits and long splits. Always try to stay on top of keeping things neat or it just become too much.
You split 265 cord with just that one hydraulic splitter? How much do you sell your wood for if you don't mind my asking? How do you load and transport the wood and how do you determine how much wood you are selling? Do you stack it inside the truck to measure?
