buildmyown
ArboristSite Operative
So are there rules to scavenging wood that has been downed my a storm? Specifically wood left by the road side. We got hit pretty good by Irene and she took down a lot of trees in my area. So the day after the storm I grab the truck saws and fuel and hit the roads around my area. First day struck out second day was decent small load of maple already cut to firewood size stacked at the curb with a free sign. Third day saw an uprooted oak about 18" and 25 feet long with free spray painted on it. Score I thought jump out grab the saw and go to work get it all cut and loaded and the brush stacked by the curb. I didnt know anyone was home till I was finished and loading the saws and haveing some water. The homeowner comes out and says thanks but arent you going to take the stump and rake up the saw dust. I was hot tired and a little on edge my reply was do I look like a tree service. The way I see it I just did this guy a favor now call a tree service and have the stump ground and get a rake for the saw dust. I dont think I was out of line at all. So what say you guys what are your normal rules for this I have never had the chance to get wood from a storm.
Case number 2 Kinda long but have to set up the scene.
I have/had a very large oak that was at the end of my driveway but across the street not on my property. If you want to get technical it was really on the towns property since they own so many feet in from the center of the road. This tree was 40 inches plus at breast height then about 12 feet or so up it split into two main stems and had a hugh canopy it was a very large very old beautiful tree till this storm the winds broke the rear stem off. That stem feel into the guys yard across the street i have no problem with him and as far as I know they dont have a problem with me. The extent of out conversations have been "hi" and a friendly wave in passing. I know they do not use wood but his brother in law who lives next door to him does. Well the day after the storm the BIL had that whole stem cleaned up and brush stacked. No harm no foul were not friends and they are related and its not my tree. The BIL and I get along and have helped each other out in the past when we need it. Fast foward to yesterday I come home from work and see 3 white X's painted on the tree I know this tree is now marked for removal just dont know when. Come home from work today and the tree is down. Turns out the town has big orange running around doing all the removals of the damaged trees. All they did was bomb this whole tree down into the guys yard and left a hugh mess. Taking my mailbox out in the process. Walk over to the BIL house and they are on vacation for the long weekend according to the house sitter. So I think about it for a few and say screw it grab the saws and the truck and head over. Get a lot cut in about an hour before rocking the hell out of a chain. Im in the process of swaping chains when the guys wife and daughter pull in they get out of the car and smile and wave and into the house thye go. Cool they dont seem to have a problem so I go about cutting and loading when the daughter was nice enough to bring me out a big jug of ice water. Sweet I was dying and about to walk up to my house for a drink we chat for a few and that was that and oh to be 16 again but thats another story. So I finish loading and head home. There is still a ton of wood im guessing at least 3 cords in the main trunk and then all the limb wood. I have no problem spliting wood with the BIL when he gets back he is better equiped to deal with the large wood has a tractor. I just dont want to see this tree end up in a land fill or tub grinder so a made a crude sign and stuck it to the butt end of the trunk that you can see from the road that says. "Please leave will use for firewood thanks the home owner" Yeah I know a little fib but cant hurt. So what does a town do in a situation like this wil they send log trucks and chippers around to pick this stuff up or will it fall on the homeowner. I would take tomorrow off to get more done but then I wouldnt get paid for the holiday on Monday.
Oh and in this case I have no problem cleaning up in case I do screw them out of a free yard cleanup.
Case number 2 Kinda long but have to set up the scene.
I have/had a very large oak that was at the end of my driveway but across the street not on my property. If you want to get technical it was really on the towns property since they own so many feet in from the center of the road. This tree was 40 inches plus at breast height then about 12 feet or so up it split into two main stems and had a hugh canopy it was a very large very old beautiful tree till this storm the winds broke the rear stem off. That stem feel into the guys yard across the street i have no problem with him and as far as I know they dont have a problem with me. The extent of out conversations have been "hi" and a friendly wave in passing. I know they do not use wood but his brother in law who lives next door to him does. Well the day after the storm the BIL had that whole stem cleaned up and brush stacked. No harm no foul were not friends and they are related and its not my tree. The BIL and I get along and have helped each other out in the past when we need it. Fast foward to yesterday I come home from work and see 3 white X's painted on the tree I know this tree is now marked for removal just dont know when. Come home from work today and the tree is down. Turns out the town has big orange running around doing all the removals of the damaged trees. All they did was bomb this whole tree down into the guys yard and left a hugh mess. Taking my mailbox out in the process. Walk over to the BIL house and they are on vacation for the long weekend according to the house sitter. So I think about it for a few and say screw it grab the saws and the truck and head over. Get a lot cut in about an hour before rocking the hell out of a chain. Im in the process of swaping chains when the guys wife and daughter pull in they get out of the car and smile and wave and into the house thye go. Cool they dont seem to have a problem so I go about cutting and loading when the daughter was nice enough to bring me out a big jug of ice water. Sweet I was dying and about to walk up to my house for a drink we chat for a few and that was that and oh to be 16 again but thats another story. So I finish loading and head home. There is still a ton of wood im guessing at least 3 cords in the main trunk and then all the limb wood. I have no problem spliting wood with the BIL when he gets back he is better equiped to deal with the large wood has a tractor. I just dont want to see this tree end up in a land fill or tub grinder so a made a crude sign and stuck it to the butt end of the trunk that you can see from the road that says. "Please leave will use for firewood thanks the home owner" Yeah I know a little fib but cant hurt. So what does a town do in a situation like this wil they send log trucks and chippers around to pick this stuff up or will it fall on the homeowner. I would take tomorrow off to get more done but then I wouldnt get paid for the holiday on Monday.
Oh and in this case I have no problem cleaning up in case I do screw them out of a free yard cleanup.