Strategies for scrounging

[Laurent Cyr]

I`ve been hearing from a bunch of people who say they scrounge for their wood. I was just curious as to what your stratégies are. How do you scrounge for wood? What is the best strategy to get free wood? What works, and what doesn`t?
Typically in one season, how much wood are you able to get by scrounging?

 

[Clyde S. Dale]

Your best bet is to start by calling all of the local tree service companies and see if they will drop log loads (full length or rounds should not matter) at your house. Others will chime in I know. There are so many tricks to the trade. We'll help you get started.

 

[Bluezx636]

Go on craigslist everyday and download the craigslist app. Jump on every opportunity you get. Don't wait it goes fast!

 

[splitoak]

Just keep your eyes open....especially after storms...alot of trees that come dwn by or on the rds...the local crews cut them to the edge...i just stop and cut em and load em..if u think they are on private property ask worst they can say is no..

 

[Bluezx636]

With craigslist I was able to get 3 cords dropped off right in my driveway for free. Not including a tip. The first cord was already cut and just needed to be split and the next drop off was 2 cords of huge uncut oak. Well worth it if you have the time to process all of it.

 

[Jon1270]

If you have a smartphone, there are several apps available that will alert you when a Craigslist search you've set up generates a new hit. I have an iPhone, and for my money the best app currently available is called CSmart. Cost for the app was $1.99. I used to use another app by a different company, but that one has spun down the tubes over the last several months and no longer works so well. The search string firewood|tree|trees|log|logs|"fire wood" -christmas|xmas works well for me.

If you're in an urban area where there aren't many wood burners and trees cost money to dispose of then a tree service may be willing to give you wood for free, possibly even delivering it to your yard.

 

[paul bunion]

Make friends with the tree guys. Seems to depend on where you live and supply/demand but many of us, myself included, get all of our wood from them at prices starting at $0 delivered.

 

[mass_burner]

also find out where your local town/city takes its stumps/logs. my town has a "secret" site where the take logs they cut while doing mainteance. just got 12 nice size 16-24" long rounds of spruce. got them cause i don't need to use my saw as they are already cut.

 

[Laurent Cyr]

I live out in the country, and everybody burns wood, so it will be a challenge to find some. I`ll call the tree guys and see if they are willing to add me to their list, but I have a feeling they are already being solicited by others. Craigslist is out for our rural area. The only craigslist that exists is for the city, which is located 60 miles away. I think I`ll post an advertisement in the local paper asking for free firewood in exchange for services.

 

[tigeroak]

If you live in the country then you should ask farmers, you have a person that takes care of the roads in your township, guys that clean fence rows with bulldozers and more. I use them all plus a few more.

 

[Driver]

Get the word out that you burn wood. All my neighbors know I burn wood, when they have trees down or taken down they call me. I also get alot of wood from people at my church, sorry to say but I've recently had to turn some down because I'm so covered up right now. Too much wood and not enough time, it's a good problem to have! But if most everyone in your area burns wood it might be tough to come by, all it takes is 1 or 2 good contacts to get the ball rolling. Good Luck..

 

[Beer Belly]

I hooked up with a tree guy in my area (lucky me !), I can usually call him and have a truck load of Log Length dropped at the end of my driveway (free !)....otherwise, tell everyone you know that you're looking for wood, Craigs List, and listen for Chainsaws, or a Chipper running in your neighborhood

 

[chris5150]

Just today I had my boss call and ask if I wanted 4 big cottonwood trees. That one I kindly said "no".

 

[WiscWoody]

I live in the country but most burners buy their wood or get it from there own lots. I just ask around and get to know the neighbors, many of them own acreage and will let you take fallen trees. I usually can scrounge around 5 full cord a year.
Another thing I tried with a nice score last year was to stop and ask a wood consolidation lot. The ones up here are for the paper mills and they hold up to 60,000 cord. One gave me many long box truck loads of primo Red Oak and Maple that weren't straight enough or were knotty and fell apart and even loaded me up for free with their big grapplers.

 

[WiscWoody]

Dang, I just remembered I was supposed to stop and help someone clear a lot today!! And I just talked to them yesterday too... Boo hoo! Maybe they'll still be there tomorrow....

 

[Laurent Cyr]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.!!

 

[paul bunion]

Sounds like you are in a pretty rural area. Finding a logging job where the landowner will let you in to salvage some tops might also be a viable option. You can offer services in the form of putting in water bars/erosion control on skid trails.

 

[WiscWoody]

Dang, I just remembered I was supposed to stop and help someone clear a lot today!! And I just talked to them yesterday too... Boo hoo! Maybe they'll still be there tomorrow....

I talked to the landowner today and they won't be clearing until late April. Too much snow right now!

 

[smokedragon]

These are all great suggestions. Between spotting down trees and tree removal jobs on my drive home, craigslist, spreading the word to neighbors/co-workers, etc. I have scrounged all my wood.

If someone has a tree fall and I see it on my commute home, I stop and ask if they would let me remove the tree for them. I have gotten a couple of REALLY nice scores out of that.

Every area is different, but if you take all these suggestions, you will find something that works.

 

[Laurent Cyr]

Thanks everyone. Great suggestions! I guess I`ll have to switch from being a grumpy old fart, to being outgoing and friendly...lol!

 

[Boiler74]

Around here we have quite a few newly developed neighborhoods with wooded lots that must be cleared before the house can be built. The excavator usually takes care of this with his machines. But they can't burn huge logs so they truck them off. If you're close and will save them diesel they might bring em to you. I have gotten quite a few tri-axle loads this way. Just have to stop and ask.

 

[WiscWoody]

Those stacks in my avatar are all scrounged wood. I had 24 racks 6 feet tall 10 foot in length. I'm down to 18 full racks now.