Last Sunday morning a close family friend stopped over to see a house guest from out of town (my wife's college roomate). I had just returned with my 3rd pickup truck load full from scrounging. Long story short, his brother has a wood stove but was caught during the power outage w/o any wood and felt kind of stupid. Apparently, they had a conversation about scrounging wood and my friend said to his brother, you really need to talk to "Gotwood" and figure this out. No time like the present I said, call him and lets go. Off we went and both came home with truck fulls. Afterwards, I sent him this email with some things I have learned from scrounging....figured I would post here as well
Hey XXX - Lunch time here and I got to thinking of ideas to share w/your brother on wood scrounging tips I have learned over the past few years...
Make sure every one you know is aware that you want wood and are willing to make it a win-win for them. All my nieghbors, family and friends know I'm the wood guy and I get most of my wood from helping them out. They can also save money if they are paying a tree service to cut down a tree if they know you will come and take it once down (minus branches).
Never say no to an opportunity. Strike while the iron is hot (like now) and act quickly when an opportunity presents itself.
When getting wood, make it clear what your willing to do and not to do. For example, you dont want to haul away the branches but are willing to put them in a neat pile or drag them into the woods (depends on the circumstance). Then exceed atleast by a little what you said you were willing to do (leave them feeling good about it).
Check Craigslist on a regular basis. Search for "Firewood" and "Fire wood". Occasionally there will be a listing for free wood.
Tree Service business - lots of these guys dont want to be bothered with hauling off the wood. They also dont like to spend the time transporting it and some even have to pay to dump it - if you want them to drop a load off when they are working near by it can be a win-win. Dont be afraid to ask. Especially when they are working in your nieghborhood.
Pallets - can be a good supplement to your fire wood, especially if your wood isnt seasoned well. Keep your eye out for them... I get them from XXX and the Beer store on 55 (They have a big pile in the back ..... just ask).
Any wood is good wood when you dont have any.... that includes PINE. Just season it.
Dont be afraid to ask someone that looks like they may have wood available... a tree down, some clue. If you dont want face to face, leave a note in the mail box saying that you burn wood to heat your home and noticed the wood in the yard, if your interested in having it removed I would gladly take it for free.... and leave your name and #. (I noticed a guy on XXX Road that has some big Ash rounds on the side of his yard that look like they have been there a while. I bet he would love to have someone remove them.... just ask. (If your brother doesnt I may do it once this current gold rush is over)
Call the Town Hall and ask them what they do with the wood clearing done by the highway dept and if there is any opportunity for town residence to get it. I did this in out town and was told they dumped it in the lot on behind the town hall, they had hours you could come get it but to stop in at the bldg first and you needed to wear safety gear if running a saw. I never did it though.
If your not interested in doing the work, buying wood isnt a bad deal - I see cords on Craigslist in the $200 ball park. Know though, it will not be seasoned and it most likely wont be a full cord. Might be a good idea to buy some now for next winter to get jump started on getting ahead.
Getting ahead is really the key. Once you get ahead, the work becomes replacing what you burn so you stay ahead.
A couple other wood burning key points:
Stacking - Ideal method would be single rows, off the ground, cross stacked, in full sun and wind, Top covered with some sort of hard material like metal or roofing. Dont side cover. Leaving uncovered isnt bad unless you plan to burn it within a short time period. I stack on pallets (usually 4' x 40") and go 2 rows using the 40" as the width.
Check your Chimney! Especially when burning wood that isnt seasoned properly. The best tool I have read about for sweeping the chimney is called the Sooteater. Currently on sale for $50 at this site
(broken link removed to http://www.smarthome.com/92311/Sooteater-RCH205-Rotary-Chimney-Cleaning-System/p.aspx)
Hey XXX - Lunch time here and I got to thinking of ideas to share w/your brother on wood scrounging tips I have learned over the past few years...
Make sure every one you know is aware that you want wood and are willing to make it a win-win for them. All my nieghbors, family and friends know I'm the wood guy and I get most of my wood from helping them out. They can also save money if they are paying a tree service to cut down a tree if they know you will come and take it once down (minus branches).
Never say no to an opportunity. Strike while the iron is hot (like now) and act quickly when an opportunity presents itself.
When getting wood, make it clear what your willing to do and not to do. For example, you dont want to haul away the branches but are willing to put them in a neat pile or drag them into the woods (depends on the circumstance). Then exceed atleast by a little what you said you were willing to do (leave them feeling good about it).
Check Craigslist on a regular basis. Search for "Firewood" and "Fire wood". Occasionally there will be a listing for free wood.
Tree Service business - lots of these guys dont want to be bothered with hauling off the wood. They also dont like to spend the time transporting it and some even have to pay to dump it - if you want them to drop a load off when they are working near by it can be a win-win. Dont be afraid to ask. Especially when they are working in your nieghborhood.
Pallets - can be a good supplement to your fire wood, especially if your wood isnt seasoned well. Keep your eye out for them... I get them from XXX and the Beer store on 55 (They have a big pile in the back ..... just ask).
Any wood is good wood when you dont have any.... that includes PINE. Just season it.
Dont be afraid to ask someone that looks like they may have wood available... a tree down, some clue. If you dont want face to face, leave a note in the mail box saying that you burn wood to heat your home and noticed the wood in the yard, if your interested in having it removed I would gladly take it for free.... and leave your name and #. (I noticed a guy on XXX Road that has some big Ash rounds on the side of his yard that look like they have been there a while. I bet he would love to have someone remove them.... just ask. (If your brother doesnt I may do it once this current gold rush is over)
Call the Town Hall and ask them what they do with the wood clearing done by the highway dept and if there is any opportunity for town residence to get it. I did this in out town and was told they dumped it in the lot on behind the town hall, they had hours you could come get it but to stop in at the bldg first and you needed to wear safety gear if running a saw. I never did it though.
If your not interested in doing the work, buying wood isnt a bad deal - I see cords on Craigslist in the $200 ball park. Know though, it will not be seasoned and it most likely wont be a full cord. Might be a good idea to buy some now for next winter to get jump started on getting ahead.
Getting ahead is really the key. Once you get ahead, the work becomes replacing what you burn so you stay ahead.
A couple other wood burning key points:
Stacking - Ideal method would be single rows, off the ground, cross stacked, in full sun and wind, Top covered with some sort of hard material like metal or roofing. Dont side cover. Leaving uncovered isnt bad unless you plan to burn it within a short time period. I stack on pallets (usually 4' x 40") and go 2 rows using the 40" as the width.
Check your Chimney! Especially when burning wood that isnt seasoned properly. The best tool I have read about for sweeping the chimney is called the Sooteater. Currently on sale for $50 at this site
(broken link removed to http://www.smarthome.com/92311/Sooteater-RCH205-Rotary-Chimney-Cleaning-System/p.aspx)
