Busy busy busy.

[quads]

My little firewood business has exploded this year. In all of 2009 I sold 10 loads (a load for me is 1/2 face cord which is equal to 1/6 of a full cord). So far this winter, as of last night, I have sold 87 loads! All of my three year seasoned wood for sale.....gone! Right now I am cutting standing dead oak wilt trees, splitting by hand as always, and selling them as fast as I can haul them up to the house. I tell people that they are not seasoned and that many times there is still a lot of moisture in the trunks and they say they don't care because it's still better than the 'big' firewood sellers have and from what I've heard I'm cheaper. I tried to stop selling when I ran out of the good stuff, but they begged me for whatever I could cut for them. I've been selling 6-10 loads every weekend lately and averaging at least one load per day during the week. I have had a few calls this morning and one guy stopped by, but as of yet today haven't sold any. Some nights after milking the cows I have been delivering firewood in my old bald-tire truck until 9:00pm.

Anyway, the firewood sales may come to an end soon whether my customers like it or not. I spent much of the day yesterday stuck in the woods with my ATV and little wood hauler sled. And it's snowing again right now. I have a lot cut and split and just thrown in piles because it's too far off the path to walk it out through the knee-deep snow, load it on the ATV and haul it up (I had to walk in to get to many trees that I have cut and left lay for when the snow goes). I have been so busy that I haven't even taken many pictures this winter. Most days lately I don't even have the camera with me.

But you know what? I'm having a great time! I love it! And I just hate to say no when there is an opportunity to make more firewood!

 

[oldspark]

Sounds great quads, glad to hear its working out and you are happy with the results, I dont think the wood burning thing (or lack of) has changed much here in NW Iowa.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

Quads- I think we are in a similar situation. I work my 40 during the day and make pots at night, process wood for firing and fire the kiln on the weekend, do shows on weekends- I am very rarely not moving but I love it.

If you see us not moving- throw dirt on us, eh?

 

[basswidow]

I often think of the firewood sellers and wonder how it's even possible to make money at it. I would need a steady source of log length truck deliveries, a loader, a multitek 16 way processor, and a dump vehicle. I would want the entire process to be mechanical. Even with that - I still don't know how they turn a profit at $ 200 a cord.

One man, a saw, and an axe selling firewood........ Wow!

I think you summed it up well when you said, "I’m having a great time! I love it! And I just hate to say no when there is an opportunity to make more firewood! " This is not something you are doing to get rich. It's enjoyment. Good on you.

You're a better man than me. I'd be saving all of it for my own future heating needs and taking a break!

 

[smokinj]

Very good problems and you have your favorite saw again....Priceless

 

[bogydave]

If I was was in your area & needed wood.
I know I would buy yours. Knowing it's seasoned right. (premium wood at a cheaper price & it burns in the new EPA cat stoves , duh ;-P )
Now add in word of mouth is spreading & it's a colder than norm winter. You're gonna be busy.

The "quality & supply & demand" business factors may have just made it to your neck of the woods.
Sounds like you are having a blast, good deal. & some coin in your pocket.
If next winter is as bad, you'll have to hire a helper & a Ski-doo Skandic. (& a few new fisker's maul handles) :lol: LOL

Have fun, sound like you are!

 

[quads]

Yup, it would be very hard to make a living at it (my price per cord figures out to $150) so I just do it for fun/beer money.

I'm not sure if I will be able to get out there in the woods now that we got more snow. Will find out today, if I get time to go out and cut, I already have deliveries scheduled after milking this morning. Have been delivering so much that I keep the old truck loaded and ready to go at all times now.

 

[ironpony]

good to hear from you QUADS
glad to hear your busy


miss your pictures, though
look foward to seeing them

 

[savageactor7]

Good to hear business is good.

 

[Jags]

Quads next atv:

 

[billb3]

that's very generous of you.
does it come with a lifetime supply of fuel, too ?

 

[Jags]

that's very generous of you.
does it come with a lifetime supply of fuel, too ?

Naaa...he will be so good at makin' paper that he can buy his own. :lol:

 

[quads]

Quads next atv:

WOW! That would be awesome. Hmmmm, I wonder.....

 

[wendell]

Let me know if you need any help. I have two saws that need to be broken in and not enough wood around here to do it.

But I'll let you do all of the caveman maul swinging.

 

[maplewood]

Quads next atv:

WOW! That would be awesome. Hmmmm, I wonder.....

...Do I hear the price of firewood going up?

 

[quads]

Let me know if you need any help. I have two saws that need to be broken in and not enough wood around here to do it.

But I'll let you do all of the caveman maul swinging.

A buddy of mine said the same thing and he came over Saturday to 'run his saw a bit and get some exercise'. Although he only got to run his saw for a few hours in the afternoon. We spent the morning buying my new saw and selling firewood to customers before we got a chance to go out in the woods in the afternoon.

I was out there and cut for awhile yesterday and did not get stuck, unlike Sunday when it was warmer and the snow was soft I was stuck most of the day. I had to walk a bit through the snow to get to the couple trees I cut yesterday, and then walk/toss the splits back out to the trail to load them on my sled. The plan for today was to take a little old plastic kiddie sled out with me and use that to haul the wood through the snow to the ATV/hauler parked on the trail. But, I'm not sure if I can get out there. We only got another 2.5" of snow here last night, but some really strong winds. I even had a hard time getting down to the barn this morning walking through the drifts. This could be the end of cutting until Spring! I'll know later this morning....

 

[quads]

Quads next atv:

WOW! That would be awesome. Hmmmm, I wonder.....

...Do I hear the price of firewood going up?

I bet one of those costs a lot more than an old snowmobile! I used to have a few snowmobiles setting around, but I gave them away years ago (the newest one was 1970 and the oldest was 1964). Kind of wish I had kept one now....