Persistence Pays

[GM_DaddyMac]

A month or so ago there was thread about how to access wood for those that do not have wood lots or their own property to acquire. There were suggestions of tracking CL and word of mouth, etc. One suggestion was to send a note to the homeowner asking if you can come and cut on their property -- versus coming to the door unannounced. Well I thought I would give it a try.

A homeowner adjacent to my sub has a small section of wooded property with several standing dead trees and from what I could tell while driving by at 45mph several dead fallen trees. So I did some research via online resources and was able to get the family name. I sent a personal note explaining what I would like to do -- nearly two weeks later she called, we set up a time to meet and she told me I could cut and take what I want and come any time I want. In addition to the free pass, the abundance of wood to cut and harvest it is literally 3 minutes from my house. So the lessen -- persistence is rewarded.

Although an ideal scenario it is not without it challenges. As you can see from the pictures the blow downs are a bit of a tangled mess. I have spent much of the last two days clearing access ways and carving off sections of trees and staging them where they can be easily bucked and loaded. There is ash, maple and a mystery species (see thread): http://www.arboristsite.com/firewood-heating-wood-burning-equipment/168452.htm

All and all I am quite pleased. My cutting buddy and I will buck up what I have already prepped and move on to two large ash trees deeper into the woods.

I took three 20' sections off ash off this pile. This stands close to 30' tall -- looks like tornado damage.
<a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv142/GM_DaddyMac/?action=view&amp;current=Wood_ID_2006.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv142/GM_DaddyMac/Wood_ID_2006.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>


Ash ready to be bucked.
<a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv142/GM_DaddyMac/?action=view&amp;current=Wood_ID_2004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv142/GM_DaddyMac/Wood_ID_2004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

More ash staged for bucking
<a href="http://s678.photobucket.com/albums/vv142/GM_DaddyMac/?action=view&amp;current=Wood_ID_2005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv142/GM_DaddyMac/Wood_ID_2005.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[TMFARM 2009]

nice, that will give ya some work...

 

[aandabooks]

Good score. Make sure you take care of the landowner and let them know you really do appreciate it.

One word of caution however, make sure you take with you whatever you cut on any given day. Never know when a landowner might decide that cut wood is worth money.

 

[Dalmatian90]

Nice score...whadda mess.

Town north of me got hit by a very strong microburst a few years back...they had a fairly narrow (maybe 500' to 1000' wide) swath several miles long just get devastated. Looked a lot like that in the worse sections.

It was so bad the town which is normally pretty penny pinching hired tree crews to help out their highway department, and it still took three days before they had all the affected town roads re-opened.

 

[GM_DaddyMac]

Good score. Make sure you take care of the landowner and let them know you really do appreciate it.

One word of caution however, make sure you take with you whatever you cut on any given day. Never know when a landowner might decide that cut wood is worth money.

I have been in regular contact with the homeowner -- expressing my gratitude and letting her know my plans -- i.e. make some pathways to be able to cut and stage, buck and remove.

Much of this has been there for several years -- just a domino of blow downs so rather tricky to maneuver. I guess I will have to trust that she respects the effort and would not try to profit from my efforts, but anything is possible.

Thanks for all the feedback guys -- I will add a few more pictures as we progress and a picture of the full wood racks.

 

[Beefie]

Good score and close too home too bootway to go , now get out there and cut and take plenty of pics for us junkies.

Beefie

 

[Circle B MN]

Looks like it will keep you busy and warm for some time. Sharpen up your wood scrounging skills an you will be surprised what opportunities you can find around you.


:msp_smile:

 

[Muffler Bearing]

Clean the place up and she'll tell her friends and you'll be flooded with woodlots. Also let the HO see your Stihls...Than she/they will know you have class!!:cool2:

 

[1harlowr]

A few years ago I was looking and looking for 30-50 acres to buy and build on. I bought a plat book in the township. I sent everyone with 30-50 acres, that didn't have a house on, a short handwritten note. Within 3 weeks one of the people with 30 acres called me. Closed within a couple months of sending the letters.

 

[turnkey4099]

Just a word of warning. I almost lost cutting rights to my last year's work over it.

Be sure, if you work on Sundays, to ask the landowner if it is all right. I didn't think to ask and was told in no uncertain terms that evening never do it again.

Harry K