Tired Of All The Bad Luck Scrounging!

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Todd

Minister of Fire
Nov 19, 2005
10,323
NW Wisconsin
It's been a crappy year so far scrounging firewood around here. Usually Craigs list has some good deals or I can go down to the city recycle center for a cord or two. My next door neighbor had a huge Oak taken down and said I could have it, but when the tree service showed up they told me no, the owner said haul it away! No more homebrew for him! >:-( I even looked into the County Forest firewood permits but all the areas they have listed are cleaned out.

I need about .5 cord to refill my shed so I'm just going to the local firewood dealer to buy it. They want $50 per 4x8' face cord for Green Oak or $45 per face for Ash/Maple. Pretty good price I think, I might just give up on scrounging or look into full logs.
 
All is not lost, the season is young.
 
Todd, maybe this is payback from all the good luck you had last year, but I do hope you find some good stuff. I would have double checked with the homeowner as maybe there was a mixup in communications there. For sure no more home brew for them though.
 
Todd said:
It's been a crappy year so far scrounging firewood around here. Usually Craigs list has some good deals or I can go down to the city recycle center for a cord or two. My next door neighbor had a huge Oak taken down and said I could have it, but when the tree service showed up they told me no, the owner said haul it away! No more homebrew for him! >:-( I even looked into the County Forest firewood permits but all the areas they have listed are cleaned out.

I need about .5 cord to refill my shed so I'm just going to the local firewood dealer to buy it. They want $50 per 4x8' face cord for Green Oak or $45 per face for Ash/Maple. Pretty good price I think, I might just give up on scrounging or look into full logs.

Same here, Todd. I've been told no, had emails ignored...and Craigs List is about worthless in my area. But I'll keep looking. Bummer about the oak...I'm sure that tree company also deals in firewood. Best of luck.
 
I think I might look into a load of logs, but they have to drop off about 8-10 cords worth to make it worth their while and I don't have the room for that much.
 
Todd said:
I think I might look into a load of logs, but they have to drop off about 8-10 cords worth to make it worth their while and I don't have the room for that much.

Do you have a friend or family member nearby who burns and has more room? That be a good deal if you could have the wood delivered to their house and you share the wood.
 
Todd said:
I think I might look into a load of logs, but they have to drop off about 8-10 cords worth to make it worth their while and I don't have the room for that much.

You might need to get creative with the stacking, but nothing says ambiance like a cord of oak in the dining room...!
 
Todd said:
No more homebrew for him! >:-(

Maybe just give them any infected batches.. I've had my share of failures. As others have said, sounds like there may have been a miscommunication.

Do not despair as spring storms bring downed trees and CL ads for free wood. I'm seeing a lot in my area as people are cleaning up their yards after a long winter. Also splitting the log length by with friends, as someone suggested, is a good idea.
 
Simple way is to buy some firewood in.

The combined law of murphy and sod means you are bound to come by some freebies a week later.............
 
Also check to see if you have a local Freecycle chapter...between that and CL I can usually find wood to keep me busy, but patience is a virtue!
 
Keep looking...I look on Craigslist everyday. I scored this weekend with 4 pickup truck loads of Locust, Ash, Cherry, Maple......
 
I don't know I've been looking all Winter and there just hasn't been any scores. Now with the fuel prices going through the roof it's going to get even tougher.

That tree service guy was an azz, even the neighbor lady told him I could have it and he said "no, I was told by your husband to haul it away". Maybe he changed his mind after I talked to him but it would of been nice to tell me or his wife. I haven't talked to him since, still pissed!
 
Homeowners in my area are keeping any wood they have trimmed, cut down, etc. Just had a landscaping company across the street at my neighbors yard, strolled over and asked any plans for the wood, guy said the homeowner is keeping it - never knew or noticed he burned wood before. Also called a bunch of tree service companies to see if they need a spot to dump wood, same thing..."Oh the homeowners are keeping it." But then I see a lot of small wood piles sitting there in peoples yards for ages turning into mulch...
 
Hang in there it tends to go in waves. I have had a dry spell for awhile and now have 3 different possibilities that I am working on.
 
I would think with Spring the tree cutting will be picking up.....hang in there....
 
Hi -

I've got several of the youngsters in the nieghborhood on the lookout. Leads that pay off are rewarded one way or the other. One lad just wanted me to diagnos the cause of his suspension issue with his 'new' used truck.

I've noticed that quick, careful removals often lead to more business from nieghbors. I removed one I didn't really want from the a prominant church last week. Gave the wood away, but it will likely lead to more calls.

Hang in there,
Mike
 
dannynelson77 said:
I would think with Spring the tree cutting will be picking up.....hang in there....

Not just that, quite a few people may well forget the importance of scrounging wood once it warms up a bit.
 
Just when it is bad it gets better...

Co worker called me and let me know there was a 20yd container full of wood on the project. $250 for them ti dispose of...so it was mine if i wanted it. Hmm...let me think about it..
 
woodchip said:
dannynelson77 said:
I would think with Spring the tree cutting will be picking up.....hang in there....

Not just that, quite a few people may well forget the importance of scrounging wood once it warms up a bit.

Yup. It's easier to score in the summer. Less competition. Can kick your a$$ working in the heat though.
 
Post your own add and cherry pic....They will contact you before they list there add...Easy Peasy!
 
Todd, if we have to, maybe we can float some logs across that pond that is between us. I could send you some nice ash but you'll have to guide it across the water.
 
town dump/transfer station/recycle area let folks bring all kinds of logs there this weekend as special event due to the tough winter - there is a motherload of scroungable wood but wife was hit from behind and her wheels (the SUV with my trailer hitch) in body shop until tomorrow or Thursday - I am hoping they don't get to it for awhile - it is a MOUNTAIN of bucked up wood just waiting for me
 
If you only need a half cord you're not sitting too bad. Murphy says you aren't getting any 'cause you feel like you need it. The best scores come when you're running out of room. I say buy the Ash/maple at that price. There's no shame in it... er, okay, a little shame in it :) but you're sure to be swamped with freebies after that. I'm a small lot scrounger too (don't even have a truck). I say you just gotta make hay while the sun shines ie. take it all when it comes & make it fit so you can ride through the lean times.

Jays add idea sure is working for him. Also can use an RSS reader to get quick notification on adds from CL, Freecycle, Kijiji...
 
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