Is firewood selling out fast this year in your area too?

Don't worry, if they need more the firewood dealers will just start cutting some more seasoned firewood for this winter.

yeah, my reliable guy is out already.

Reverted to pallets and bricks to round out this year.

I sell firewood as a side business. I have way more people wanting wood then I can supply. When I sell wood, I give people the moisture content reading ahead of time. That clears up any questions of how well seasoned it is. Some people are buying wood for next year as well. It's stacked and measured for volume as well before it's loaded. people seem to appreciate my approach. It's supposed to be 37* here Saturday Night/Sunday Morning, that should be interesting.

Frank625 said:

I sell firewood as a side business. I have way more people wanting wood then I can supply. When I sell wood, I give people the moisture content reading ahead of time. That clears up any questions of how well seasoned it is. Some people are buying wood for next year as well. It's stacked and measured for volume as well before it's loaded. people seem to appreciate my approach.

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It's that underhanded marketing strategy of being honest and giving good value to your customers.

Reminds me of the contractor who has done all of our house repairs for years, son of a gun ACTUALY RETURNS PHONE CALLS AND SHOWS UP WHEN HE SAYS HE WILL

I don't buy firewood from them, but the landscape supply company I get dirt and rock from sells wood as well. I asked them about the market this year, and they said they received almost no logs this summer. So little in fact, that they never removed the "Sold Out" posting on their website as they expect to be out of inventory that fast.

I give them respect for not jacking up their price. They are selling it at the same rate as last year, even if it is high compared to the craigslist guys.

I'm listed on Craigslist

BrotherBart said:

Those folks that got caught in the propane shortage last year are all grabbing up firewood just in case.

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Thats what i did. Wood went from supplemental heat last year to primary this year.

Same in our area. Lots of posts on our neighborhood forum asking for sellers of "seasoned" firewood as their regular guy seems to be sold out. So far I have been patient and did not reply that they should be buying their wood at least one year in advance to make sure it is dry when they want to burn it. Not sure how much longer I can hold myself back.

BillLion said:

Wow. How much do you typically burn each season?

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Depending on how cold things are 4-5 cords. Last year was almost 6 cords but that was an unusually long cold snap. It made me use up most of my supply though so now I am trying to get back ahead.

Most wood is being chipped and sent to Europe to create electricity.

Been busy this fall inspecting heating appliances, about 50% have a wood heat source and say they can't find wood this year. " do I know of anyone"

The guy i bought some from in march. Didnt have any the first of september. My son said he now has about 8 cords out there now!!

BillLion said:

Sounds like it is a national, not local thing!

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Not just a national thing, it's up here too. Almost everyone reliable is out. And, like everywhere, the winter was brutal here last year and the previous summer was so damp that cattle corn farmers used up a lot of the propane drying their corn. Lots of guys delivering wood split right into the trailer, at seasoned rates... and people are buying it all up. I worry it might be a bad year for chimney fires.

I've run into some good luck, I married the love of my life this summer and she came complete with a father-in-law with a wood processor. I already had enough for this year and suffice it to say after a few days on that thing, I'm already good for the next two years.

It's a great deal too, for every cord I put through and take, I put another one through for him and stack it in his shed.

I haven't lived in the area long enough to know yet, but I was talking to a local farmer yesterday who said that he's seeing all kinds of woodpiles in places that he's not used to seeing them. I think after what people paid for oil and propane last year, they are all looking for alternatives this year. I recall reading in another thread that someone said that this year is likely going to see more chimney fires, due to people who will be burning more unseasoned wood who aren't experienced wood burners. I can only hope that isn't the case...

If you have the ability, order as much as you can for future years.

You'll be ahead of the game in the long run.

Around here a couple things are taking place besides a lot of people looking for wood. On the bulk supply side a lot of the fellows that were were running log loads are working out in the oil fields of the Dakota areas and such. Power plants are buying chips at a much higher rate of return than firewood brings so another reduction in log supply. Running chip loads is also paying better than log hauling as well.
Another note is the weather this summer has not been real good for drying purposes here. I only know of 2 maybe 3 guys running kilns in this area, one of those is for bug killing another is only runs his set up after landscaping is shut down by the weather or its too wet to do anything else. He hasn't been in recently so I do not know his status firewood wise but it is a secondary operation to keep his guys busy in the off times.
I have plenty of fire wood but most of it is not going to meet the 20% or less requirement ( close to 30 cords that is close haven't checked it yet) 12 cord that is green split and stacked and about 4 or so more that is bucked not split yet ( green). Only so many hours in a day and I have another business to run that pays the bills.

I went out east a couple of weeks ago. Through Ohio, WV, PA, MD, VA and DE. We did a good bit of driving on on Rt 40 and I was amazed at all the firewood for sale. Trucks parked all over on the side of the road full of wood for sale. PA and MD were impressive as far as firewood for sale. Beautiful country. My first trip to Gettysburg and it was well worth it.

Matt