This never happens to me

I'm in a low tree area so free wood isn't that common. I stopped by a tree service work area yesterday and worked up the courage to ask, "I'll gladly take any of that wood." They gave me the okay. The wood is already cut into rounds and will need to dry. Looks like some sort of willow and an occasional chunk of Russian Olive, and I never fired up a chainsaw!
Time for a second helping.

gzecc said:

Nice load. Interesting, I am considering a move to the Boise area. Where are you?

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I'm not to far from Boise, I'm by Twin Falls - so about 150 east of Boise. Boise is really nice.

You know how I learned about trailers? Yes I bought someone's homemade job. It was big - 16' X 6'. I loaded it with a cord+ of dry wood. The next thing I know the trailer's back tires are bending at some funny angle and I am hearing that dreaded scraping noise. This would have been a great trailer if all I was hauling were something like feathers. So I spent a little more for the next one and made sure I got a solid trailer.

I went back out today and loaded up again. The wood was a longer haul to the trailer so I didn't get as much. I figured I could come back tomorrow. But as I was getting ready to leave, a guy and his wife drive up in their van and ask if they could get some wood. So I showed them where the wood was and helped them load the back of their van.

The husband tells me that wood is they're only source of heat and they've been burning pallets to keep warm - ouch! This wet wood isn't going to do them much good this year. Chainsaw and maul/wedges required for rest of the wood. This couple is going to meet me in the morning and we're going to take care of the rest of the wood. Maybe I'll bring along some dry wood.

Yesterday's haul offloaded.


Today's haul still waiting to be offloaded.

Backwoods Savage said:

Excellent. I don't see any willow there but that could be russian olive. Not the best but for sure I'd get it where you are located.

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My 3rd and final trip done this morning. The first 2 photos are Russian Olive for sure - I got some big heavy rounds of this. But, the last photos are? Western cottonwood? I asked the young tree guys and they said willow. Maybe they said willow because they didn't want to say cottonwood. The owner showed up and sent his 4 or 5 young employees off to another work site. He turned to me and said, "You have all weekend to get the rest of this."

I offered him my phone # and he said, "No thanks, we usually keep the wood to sell as firewood." Well then, why weren't they keeping these rounds? They also dropped a good sized fruit tree but they wanted to keep it. Even if it is western cottonwood (little higher btu than its Eastern sibling) it was free.

Russian olive, flaky bark, spines, dense, and water retentative - no strong smell like in other areas




Unknown, was told willow - not dense, splits really easy