Second Firewood Sale

[lukem]

There's an older couple who lives up the road from me. Around Thanksgiving they were looking for a pickup load of firewood. Since my wood stack is visible from space (at that time about 18-20 cord) they asked if I was willing to sell some. I really didn't want to, but since they are good neighbors I figured I'd do them a solid and part with some of my hard-earned firewood. The going rate around is is $50 for a "pickup load" delivered. I said I'd fill up my 4x8 trailer with as much as I could fit and stack it for $50. Deal.

The wood I delivered was mostly white oak, with some black oak mixed in, that I cut/split/stacked right around Thanksgiving of 2010. It was pretty good stuff. I figured this would last them the season since they are only "ambiance burners" in their open fireplace.

Last weekend I was driving the ATV up the road to cut some more wood and ran into them. They flagged me down and asked if I had any more. They said it burned so good and put off so much heat...the wood they bought last year "didn't put off any heat". I told them it was probably pretty wet and my wood was about 2 years old so it should be dry. Since it puts out so much heat they are considering burning even more.

I have mixed feelings about selling wood...I need time more than I need money...but these are good neighbors who can't get out there and do it for themselves. Not sure if I'll continue to sell to them, especially at this price. I'll figure that out later.

Anyway, dry wood appears to be the real deal even for those not in the know.

 

[Paulywalnut]

My stacks are visable also and occasionally I'm asked if I will part with a cord. i have not sold any for that
same reason. Its hard work obtaining a nice supply. After a weekend of splitting and stacking I'm glad to
go back to the office. I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[Lumber-Jack]

Since my wood stack is visible from space.

Better start covering your stacks or the next thing you know aliens will be landing in your backyard and begging for dry wood to heat their ship.
(broken image removed)

 

[Grisu]

Why not offer them 2/3 of a cord if they buy a cord from their usual supplier and have it delivered to your house? That way they get some really nice dry wood and you get to refill your woodstack with minimal labor. And maybe suggest that they get another cord of green wood for themselves which they can dry over the summer.

 

[lukem]

Better start covering your stacks or the next thing you know aliens will be landing in your backyard and begging for dry wood to heat their ship.
(broken image removed)

Don't be ridiculous. Aliens possess a form of nuclear power we can't begin to comprehend to power their ships. They just use wood for BBQ and baseball bats...for which there is no substitute.

 

[swagler85]

Why not offer them 2/3 of a cord if they buy a cord from their usual supplier and have it delivered to your house? That way they get some really nice dry wood and you get to refill your woodstack with minimal labor. And maybe suggest that they get another cord of green wood for themselves which they can dry over the summer.

I like this idea, but I think I would just sell them one more load and explain to them that they can have the same results from buying wood now and seasoning it for next year. Just say that since they are good neighbors you are helping them out now but you wont be able to sell any more after that. Just say you have a hard time parting with the wood you work so hard for.

 

[lukem]

I like this idea, but I think I would just sell them one more load and explain to them that they can have the same results from buying wood now and seasoning it for next year. Just say that since they are good neighbors you are helping them out now but you wont be able to sell any more after that. Just say you have a hard time parting with the wood you work so hard for.

That's probably what I will do.

 

[firefighterjake]

Don't be ridiculous. Aliens possess a form of nuclear power we can't begin to comprehend to power their ships and Blaze King Woodstoves. They just use wood for BBQ and baseball bats and their probes...for which there is no substitute.

I fixed your quote. The truth is out there.

 

[Wood Duck]

I fixed your quote. The truth is out there.

Any society advanced enough for interstellar travel definitely would eliminate the use of composite baseball bats, even in little league.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

There's an older couple who lives up the road from me. Around Thanksgiving they were looking for a pickup load of firewood. Since my wood stack is visible from space (at that time about 18-20 cord) they asked if I was willing to sell some. I really didn't want to, but since they are good neighbors I figured I'd do them a solid and part with some of my hard-earned firewood. The going rate around is is $50 for a "pickup load" delivered. I said I'd fill up my 4x8 trailer with as much as I could fit and stack it for $50. Deal.

The wood I delivered was mostly white oak, with some black oak mixed in, that I cut/split/stacked right around Thanksgiving of 2010. It was pretty good stuff. I figured this would last them the season since they are only "ambiance burners" in their open fireplace.

Last weekend I was driving the ATV up the road to cut some more wood and ran into them. They flagged me down and asked if I had any more. They said it burned so good and put off so much heat...the wood they bought last year "didn't put off any heat". I told them it was probably pretty wet and my wood was about 2 years old so it should be dry. Since it puts out so much heat they are considering burning even more.

I have mixed feelings about selling wood...I need time more than I need money...but these are good neighbors who can't get out there and do it for themselves. Not sure if I'll continue to sell to them, especially at this price. I'll figure that out later.

Anyway, dry wood appears to be the real deal even for those not in the know.

Lukem, this is great that you helped out this older couple. No doubt you also saved them some dollars which sometimes come in way to slow in our older ages.

If it were me I'd look at this a bit differently. Good neighbors are worth a lot. Did I say that right. Good neighbors can be priceless. One really finds that out if they get a bad one just once. So knowing they are advanced in years and they are also good neighbors, if I could at all swing it, I'd continue selling them some wood. Putting a cap on the amount might not be bad though. But somehow I just like helping neighbors and especially if they can't do some things for themselves.

 

[fabsroman]

Lukem, this is great that you helped out this older couple. No doubt you also saved them some dollars which sometimes come in way to slow in our older ages.

If it were me I'd look at this a bit differently. Good neighbors are worth a lot. Did I say that right. Good neighbors can be priceless. One really finds that out if they get a bad one just once. So knowing they are advanced in years and they are also good neighbors, if I could at all swing it, I'd continue selling them some wood. Putting a cap on the amount might not be bad though. But somehow I just like helping neighbors and especially if they can't do some things for themselves.

Almost offered free wood to my 76 year old neighbor today. Saw him out there chopping up some green stuff and figured maybe he would like some seasoned stuff. Then I remembered how he and another neighbor were splitting green stuff in November and how they were planning on using it this winter, while I got the "it is going to rot" lecture about my stacks. What a dilemma. Might take a walk over there tomorrow and talk to him anyway.

Thing is, I don't really want to part with any of my wood either unless it is going into the furnace.

 

[Redlegs]

Lukem - good on you for helping our elders. Too many guys forget we will all be there ourselves all too soon.

As for the wood this winter, I would help them through this winter (just a simple 1 for 1 exchange ) if you can spare it, while guiding them through the process of preparing thier own future wood correctly. I've helped the older couple out on my east dise, and I know they have appreciated it.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Almost offered free wood to my 76 year old neighbor today. Saw him out there chopping up some green stuff and figured maybe he would like some seasoned stuff. Then I remembered how he and another neighbor were splitting green stuff in November and how they were planning on using it this winter, while I got the "it is going to rot" lecture about my stacks. What a dilemma. Might take a walk over there tomorrow and talk to him anyway.

Thing is, I don't really want to part with any of my wood either unless it is going into the furnace.

Sort of puts another angle to it. A dilemma is right.

 

[Woody Stover]

lukem, good on ya for helping those folks out!
My wife's new boss, new in town, has an apartment with what I assume is a ZC fireplace. She burns almost every night, and has been paying top dollar for convenience store wood. I didn't particularly want to sell any, and almost sent her to a guy I know that has some pretty dry wood. But I decided I would try to create some good will by parting with some of my stash. She already likes my wife, but what the heck. I sold a her a quarter cord today for $50. Had to drive 15 miles one way, move it about 100' and stack it. I also tossed in some Pine kindling and a box of the Meeco firestarters. What a guy! She got about half White Ash, the rest a mix of Red Oak, Cherry and Red Maple, all super-dry. She's going to splurge, and burn all day Sunday.

 

[blacktail]

For good neighbors who are older and can't cut for themselves, I'd do it. I've offered to cut a couple of truckloads for my neighbor for free now that his usual supply is out of the picture. He and his wife are semi-retired and are great people. If they take me up on the offer I won't accept anything more than gas money.

 

[mywaynow]

I have only given away wood, thankfully not too much. One truck load to the parents of a friend of my son who constantly host band practices. The other to the neighbor to my east that has some health issues and allows me use of his lane to bring in wood. Selling wood that has already been touched 6 times to get to the point of CSS on my property just seems plain nuts. Even at 250 a cord, I look at one row and think "that's about 500 bucks there. Nope. I'll keep it." 50 bucks for a 4x8 trailer is a rate that I would pay you to bring to me any day. 125 sounds more reasonable to sell it. Giving it away brings the same amount regardless and is measured within.

 

[Excavator]

my neighbors see me truck in pick up loads every week as I store it at place of construction yard where all splitting and cutting is done.
No one understands all the work that goes into the handling / cutting/splitting.
My offers to them are to donate a day with me and we will bring them a load of wood for free.
I am still doing the work and they are still burning gas or oil

 

[Ralphie Boy]

Helping those who actually need help is a great thing. I just can't bring myself to sell any wood. Too hard to get, too hard to process, too hard to replace. Many of my stacks can be seen from the road and weekly, during the early part of the burn season, someone stops to ask if I'm selling. Once in a while someone stops just to help themselves! It's astounding what a deterrent a few well placed rubber snakes can be! So far I've not lost a single split.

 

[Woody Stover]

Once in a while someone stops just to help themselves! It's astounding what a deterrent a few well placed rubber snakes can be! So far I've not lost a single split.

Guard snakes, awesome. I've not seen many snakes sunning themselves when it's 20* out, though...
Yeah, I was wondering about that as I stacked that wood on the back porch of her apt. There are a lot of chimneys but I looked around and saw only one porch with something that looked like what might have been wood on it, maybe a couple $5 gas station bundles, if it was wood. I then called her and asked her if she wanted me to put the wood in a small, empty storage room off the porch and asked "They won't steal it, will they?" She said hesitated for a moment, then said "Just go ahead and stack it on the porch." She's new there, so she doesn't know. Might be in for a rude awakening. If she calls me back wanting more wood, I think the price is going up.... Or I'll just call the other guy and throw him a bone. I'm not really far enough ahead yet to be comfortable.