Why do we call it "scrounging"?

[Bigg_Redd]

Why don't we call people who buy wood "lazy, unambitious suckers"?

 

[raybonz]

Why don't we call people who buy wood "lazy, unambitious suckers"?

Mooching or leeching might better describe this?

 

[Lumber-Jack]

The term "scrounging" is often referred to when people go get wood out of other people's property that they don't want. I have only actually done this once in my life so far. Although I recently topped a few trees in two of my neighbor's yard and will be keeping some of the larger branches and trunks.
I only ever bought firewood once as well, this happened when I inadvertently cut some standing dead trees on someone's (un-fenced, unmarked) property, and when they approached me and made me aware of it I simply offered to pay for the wood rather that dump it on the ground. Problem solved. At the same time I made them aware of the legal fact that if they don't want people trespassing on their property it is up to them to post signage, which they did. Problem solved.
Mainly I cut all my wood on crown land with a free permit. Since this isn't buying wood, nor is it scrounging, I think it would properly referred to as logging, unless somebody has a better name for it?

 

[jeff_t]

I prefer to call it 'harvesting'.

Not everyone has the physical ability, access, space, time, etc to gather and process firewood. If I had to pay for heat, I would happily buy wood over fossil fuels.

 

[loadstarken]

I was telling my father in law about some of my "scrounges" and he told new that they called it "gleaning" back in the day.

He used to gather his firewood after a logging company has moved on so that would technically be gleaning.
I like to consider the word that I gather here and there scrounging because "gathering" sounds dumb.
Hey check out my gather!
vs.
Hey check out my scrounge!

 

[raybonz]

I prefer to call it 'harvesting'.

Not everyone has the physical ability, access, space, time, etc to gather and process firewood. If I had to pay for heat, I would happily buy wood over fossil fuels.

View attachment 101300

I usually buy 3 cords a year C\S\D for under $600.00 and it is well worth the cost compared to oil! I did process an additional 3 cords this year but it takes lots of time and it's a hit or miss thing as everyone burns around here..

Ray

 

[bogydave]

Why don't we call people who buy wood "lazy, unambitious suckers"?

Because:
"Lazy" for a wood burner, at what ever level, don't apply. IMO

Lazy is "no pictures" LOL

 

[tigeroak]

We may be lazy, unambitious suckers -Mooching - leeching -scrounging - gleaning - late for supper. What ever you call it , if it is free I will be there to get my share or all.

 

[Beetle-Kill]

"Scroungers" will work for it, "buyers" just pick up the phone. There, are you happy?

 

[ScotO]

I'll call my wood gathering "raking".......
That's because I get paid to remove the trees......and I usually end up "raking" in a little 'dough' for the work....

 

[jeff_t]

Lazy is "no pictures" LOL

 

[chvymn99]

Cause sometimes you have to scrounge through their pile to get what you want. Never been to stuck on a title anyways. Its the end result that matters.

 

[milleo]

I am a hunter/gatherer...I hunt for wood that I can gather and take home, also buy some....

 

[Paulywalnut]

Come on now. Buying or scrounging, you can't pass up red oak or locust lying on the roadside.
You gotta scrounge it up!

 

[Seanm]

I have so much crown land around me with wood for the taking with a free permit that I dont have to scrounge but thats more an advantage of geographic location then anything else. Never heard of the term scrounge before I joined the forum. That being said I was at the dump yesterday dropping off an old dresser in the wood burn pile and in front of me was a three foot piece of birch that I just couldnt leave there. I guess it was a scrounge!

 

[Jon1270]

When I first started reading and posting here, I was a bit dismayed to see the word 'scrounge' everywhere. I couldn't have given an accurate definition without looking it up, but in my head it had negative connotations which, it turns out, the dictionary supports; It often equates to freeloading:

1. to borrow (a small amount or item) with no intention of repaying or returning it: to scrounge a cigarette.
2. to gather together by foraging; seek out: We'll try to scrounge enough food for supper from the neighbors.
3. to borrow, especially a small item one is not expected to return or replace.
4. a habitual borrower; sponger.

I was telling my father in law about some of my "scrounges" and he told new that they called it "gleaning" back in the day.

'Gleaning' has an antiquated but noble feel that I find really appealing, like something that might pop in 19th century poetry. On top of that, it actually means what we need it to mean:

1. to gather slowly and laboriously, bit by bit.
2. to gather (grain or the like) after the reapers or regular gatherers
3. to learn, discover, or find out, usually little by little or slowly
4. to collect or gather anything little by little or slowly.
5. to gather what is left by reapers.

That said, there are a couple of problems with 'gleaning.' It evokes a quiet, meticulous activity rather than something involving back strain and two-stroke motors, and its vintage feel, smacking of Emerson or Thoreau or maybe Blake, could mark one as a hipster. I'm having trouble deciding between 'freeloader' and 'hipster,' as to which I'd rather not be thought of as.

 

[Jack Straw]

It is what it is.....

 

[geoff1969]

i dont look at it as scrounging , i look at it as collecting a unwanted resource that others have chose to ignore , waste not want not .. and my collecting and hard physical work rewards me by keeping myself and my family nice and warm in the colder months , cheers

 

[schlot]

I think of it as recycling - the reuse of discarded material - we are the greenest of the green

 

[BrotherBart]

Why don't we call people who buy wood "lazy, unambitious suckers"?

Because they aren't.

 

[Bigg_Redd]

Because they aren't.

Thank you for the super-helpful tautology

 

[Paulywalnut]

Somebody has to buy wood. That' s how we know how much we're saving collecting, gleaning, and scrounging
our firewood.

 

[osagebow]

i dont look at it as scrounging , i look at it as collecting a unwanted resource that others have chose to ignore , waste not want not .. and my collecting and hard physical work rewards me by keeping myself and my family nice and warm in the colder months , cheers

True Geoff, just like fishing or hunting for food, or the wife clipping coupons. It's all about effort and frugality. I should say "check out this yard debris I repurposed!" next time.

 

[blwncrewchief]

Why don't we call people who buy wood "lazy, unambitious suckers"?

Maybe because we don't know what they are doing to get the money to buy the wood? Also sometimes it could be said that some of us are not necessarily smart to spend several thousand dollars on wood processing equipment and waste dozens of hours a year scrounging wood when we could have it delivered for $150 a cord. In 9 years I will have my saws and splitter paid back in savings if I don't take out the cost of fuel, wear/tear, and count my time. If I count those I should have them paid back in 33 years.

 

[Hills Hoard]

the "scrounging" part is half the fun. it should be called prospecting because when you are out scrounging and you spot a pile of pre chopped wood it is like finding gold! At least i behave the same....eyes wide open, fast breathing patterns, sweaty palms, shouting..