I see some of BuzzsawBrad's post mention about storing wood at a friend's place, or something like that. I came across an add on MP for free ash, lots of it. One of the comments was asking if anyone can help a disabled man about 9 miles from me. I replied that I possibly could. So far nothing back yet. But it got me to thinking, since it is hard for me to put my truck through my backyard for a few days after rain, I am going to ask if I haul it there, does he have room for it, and I can split there. Give him what he needs, plus some stacked for next year, and I could use his property to store and split on, or maybe even arrange for tree service drop offs there. Anyone else done this kind of arrangement?
Only problem I can see is if he decides he doesn't like the arrangement and tells you that you can no longer work on his property. You would lose all your wood. But in reality, with you processing all the wood that he will be using, why would he not like the deal. I would ask.
If you think about it, it is a huge imposition. It would be easy for the landowner to tell you that "what he needs" is to be on a three year plan for firewood. All of a sudden, it's not so inviting, huh? But, to answer your question of "anyone else done this kind of arrangement?" I haven't heard of it. Personally, I would invest/improve my own property by adding some gravel to the wet areas to make it accessible during those wet times.
Good thinking. Liability is always a concern. His family members might object. He might be fine with the arrangement today, but what about tomorrow? buZZsaw BRAD may have a few thoughts.
I haven't heard of anyone around here doing that and I don't think I would ever do it with someone I haven't known for a long time. Too many things can change down the road and you could be the one on the short end of the stick.
I would ask. Might work, might not. Could be the start of a friend, if the old boy needs help with wood now he has probably been burning for years. Maybe has a couple old saws lying around. Or stories to share. I don’t think I would press the opportunity by having others (tree service) dropping stuff off. If you get the go ahead be aware that the arrangement could change suddenly and you could loose some wood. liability, .... I know it’s a part of our society that must be considered in this day and age. But I think worrying about about it before every move makes one’s world a little bit smaller each time. I believe I’m here to grow, not make my life smaller but seemingly safer. My $.02 Go ahead and ask
A buddy lives in a Mobil home community, he doesn’t have space to get log deliveries. We get the wood delivered here to cut and split then he brings it home in his pickup. It works. I wouldn’t do it with someone I don’t know tho.
On one hand you want to help someone in need, on the other hand you don't want to get burned. Sounds like you don't know the guy. I'd be very cautious on making such an arrangement. Tell us more about your property. How big is it? Usable land? Etc. Guys like Lordoftheflies has 38 full cords on .55 acres. Anything is possible. You need to be very organized and have a good system with your wood. Do like they do in the cities with limited real estate, go up!!! You could always bring the guy couples cords of wood still if you wanted to.
My landlord lets me store wood for free in a secluded area of his yard. My main PA is there as well. His house is a couple down from the house we rent. I filled that up and havent processed wood there in some time. I bring small amounts of splits there to stack. I give my a friend a cord of unsplit rounds so i can store wood there for an annual "rent". Not all at once either. He has a hydro splitter. Lives ten minutes away. I do him other favors too...built him a wood lean to out of my pocket. Just gave him some kindling. Let him borrow my truck. He recently gave me more room in his back yard, but same issue...muddy yard with high water table. Keeping longer seasoning wood there. Moved a bunch of one year oak and hickory from his front yard to the back. Have oak rounds back there as well. I think i wont be able to drive back there until the ground freezes if it does. Water table is high and honestly i hate driving back there. Im free to come and go for the most part and will park and walk back there to CSS. Still have room in his front yard too. I try to keep my processing to a minimum in his front yard. Wood customer of mine offered me storage in his back yard....under a "carport" behind his garage. I took him up on it during the Summer. 1/4 mile down the street from me. I have brought nothing but black locust there. He is a burner and ive helped him split on his hydro, organize etc. Im free to go there anytime, but i go just to stack. I just give him a heads up when i am. Ill give him some wood too. My MO for the last six months is to bring rounds to my house and split ASAP in my driveway. PITA but im right on the splitting duty as i see the wood is here and not "out of sight" waiting for me elsewhere. Convenient to go out after Supper and split for a bit. If i get a couple PU fulls of rounds out of sight i get really overwhelmed when it comes splitting time especially being a handsplitter. My advice...ask. Ask the old gents kids too if he is not in his full mind. Make sure both parties have a complete understanding of what will happen. And if, god forbid, he or you pass away! Ive told them both if i die the wood is theirs! If you need advice or have any questions PM me Pricey106
I would reach out to the man. If he is disabled maybe he needs help what can 15 minutes and a cup of coffee hurt? Then go with your gut.
I have a little over .60 acre. Ok, here is my setup. Red square is my processing area, along with where I keep rounds. Orange is my stacks, purple is future stacking areas, Green square is garden, Yellow is where I currently drive. I can access the area which is a cemetery road, only if there isn't any snow. They don't plow the roads there. That spot I can only back up to the property line because of a 2 foot high berm. I then chuck the rounds over that onto my property. When it's dry I can drive right up through the yard (yellow route), and back right into processing area. Light blue lines are where the water flows from the hill behind me. Dark blue is what I should really have traveled. Money is tight right now, so I am trying to use what I have. I can dig the berm out by hand, just haven't gotten to it. That will improve my access by alot. I just wish I had the money to bring in an excavator, level the back area of the property where the trees are, and have a proper driveway put in right up where the dark blue line is. I don't want to do anything half arse, and I don't need to hear the wife anymore than she already complains that I took up the whole yard with my wood and garden. clearly there is plenty of yard left. I told her I can really take over the whole yard if you want me to.
Thanks for all the input so far guys. I don't think I will be working out anything with him. I got a message back saying she got wood delivered for him yesterday, at a good price. I will definitely have to work on my property. I just wish I had more money to work with to get it properly done. Hell, I don't even have a couple hundred laying around to get gravel, little own have the trees dropped that need to be, dead ash that I don't want to take any risk doing myself, and get an excavator in to level land, and spread gravel. I hopefully soon can make some improvement by hand in the coming months.
Can you barter some work for materials or for equipment for a day? I hear you about the money restrictions. We are doing Dave Ramsey Peace University and she accounts for every penny. I don’t mind though, I already have a lot of toys and a nice property. It’ll be worth it to be debt free, mortgage free, have 6 months of expenses set aside, college funds, more retirement funds, etc and be able to help people out who genuinely need a helping hand
