Firewood Side Hustle - Worth Paying for Wood?

[jcarlberg]

Cut, split and sell as quickly as possible, In my little experience white Birch in log form rots quick.

Thanks for the tip!

 

[Wilhelm]

Well here’s the birch that showed up today! 18.5 cords.View attachment 438031View attachment 438032

Cut, split and sell as quickly as possible, In my little experience white Birch in log form rots quick.

Can't comment on storability of birch, but it burns hot as a Carolina Reaper on steroids!
The one 24ish" birch tree I cut up (it got uprooted in an unusually violent storm we had!) did let go of its bark but wasn't rotting after about 8ish months of seasoning tossed in a covered rack/box.

Still bummed I didn't have my CSM back then, that trunk would have made some pretty boards.

Straight knot free pieces make for great kindling.

 

[IffykidMn]

Can't comment on storability of birch, but it burns hot as a Carolina Reaper on steroids!
The one 24ish" birch tree I cut up (it got uprooted in an unusually violent storm we had!) did let go of its bark but wasn't rotting after about 8ish months of seasoning tossed in a covered rack/box.

Still bummed I didn't have my CSM back then, that trunk would have made some pretty boards.

Straight knot free pieces make for great kindling.

It rates about in the middle of the btu scale so it is not bad wood it just is not the best.

the bark makes a mess once it starts slipping and coming off.

 

[IffykidMn]

Okay, advice time. Bought a new place last November; semi-rural; have about 3 acres of forest on the river (ash, oak, hackberry, a few others) with access to probably 10x that much on the river past our yard. I can't imagine anyone cares if I take fallen or standing dead trees from the riverbank next to a farmer's field. Harvested maybe 10 cords since last fall; burned two-ish myself and sold 8 or so (maybe 2 in bags; 6 bulk). I think pulling 15 or 20 cords out of the woods I have free access to yearly would be pretty reasonable.

Firewood harvester noticed my ad selling wood and reached out offering to sell me bulk wood in logs that I would then have to cut, split & sell. Pretty much everything I pull out now is dry; stuff I would buy from this guy would need at least some seasoning (mostly harvested last winter).

It's been a fun little side hustle and been great to work with my three sons (17, 14, 11) and see them working hard. I could still make pretty decent money if I paid for some of my wood and harvested some myself. Definitely have the time and equipment to process dozens of cords in a year; the only question is selling wood! Without really trying it was easy to sell 8 cords in about three months (only started selling in late May).

Any words of advice from you grizzled veterans out there? It's not gonna make me rich but it's not a bad side hustle that I enjoy.

Not sure about Canada law on Trespass and theft but I think I would check ownership of the adjacent property and seek permission.

 

[Wilhelm]

It rates about in the middle of the btu scale so it is not bad wood it just is not the best.

the bark makes a mess once it starts slipping and coming off.

I actually love how clean the bark comes off of birch!

Beautifully clean dry firewood in the shed for the house and stackable big bark pieces against the house wall for my shop.

That bark wants to melt down my cast iron fireplace!
Great for initial heat up and creating an ember bedding so I can burn any junk wood I encounter over the winter.
No reason to store sub par firewood when the shop fireplace can eat it unseasoned once it is up to temperature.

I have a couple birch bark pieces left, gonna take a picture tomorrow.
Not as thick as Turkey Oak bark, but probably about an inch plus.

What surprised me was there were no bugs in nor under the birch bark.
The cherry that seasoned mixed with the birch was infested with bugs.
I did not promote the cherry to the shed as I did with the birch.
It went into a bucket and straight into the stove & fireplace without storing it in the house.

 

[Wilhelm]

Not sure about Canada law on Trespass and theft but I think I would check ownership of the adjacent property and seek permission.

In Croatia it is illegal to harvest even trees that are rotting on the ground without a permit.
The permit will be valid only for a small specified area and You'll be expected to pay for however much firewood You process.

If You have Your own forested property You can do as You wish.

 

[jcarlberg]

Birch we get here is white birch. Super clean bark; very papery; burns like a Roman candle. It’s the most preferred firewood by most ppl although some like oak better. Very nice to work with; splits easily & straight grain like the green ash we have here.

 

[IffykidMn]

Birch we get here is white birch. Super clean bark; very papery; burns like a Roman candle. It’s the most preferred firewood by most ppl although some like oak better. Very nice to work with; splits easily & straight grain like the green ash we have here.

Guess as long as you and your customers prefer Birch over Oak sell them what they want.

 

[Wilhelm]

Birch bark from a fairly large tree