If you burn wood to heat your home, you are saving money. Even with the recent low cost of fossil fuels like natural gas, coal or oil, wood is still the least expensive. There is no doubt that labor is a factor when using wood for heat, but if you could get your firewood for free, the savings add up even more.
AS LONG AS YOU ARE ABLE TO CUT IT, MOVE IT AND STORE IT, I’VE GOT SOME GREAT SUGGESTIONS ON WHERE TO GET FREE WOOD FOR BURNING.
Below are a few of my top picks on how to get free firewood.
WORD OF MOUTH.
Talk to your family, friends and neighbors. Let them know you are interested in obtaining trees or any clean scrap wood they may have lying around. You will be surprised how many of your friends know someone that would like wood or trees cleared from their property. You will be doing them a favor and getting free fuel at the same time.
GO “SOCIAL”
Get in touch with your online friends.
Post a note on your favorite social media network. Give a few details on exactly what you are looking for, and how you plan to get it. Then prepare for the flow of responses to your request!
ADVERTISE IN FREE PUBLICATIONS
In my hometown there are a few local newspapers referred to as “merchandisers”. Most of these papers are published on a weekly basis and offer a “free” section in their classifieds. Often, I would see an ad from a homeowner, contractor, or woodlot owner offering wood or downed trees for free takeaway. But make sure to place your own ad too. Offer to haul away any clean wood scraps or trees. Mentioning “free”, “quick”, and “no hassle” removal will get more responses!
HOME and BUILDING CONSTRUCTION SITES
I still can’t believe the amount of clean lumber that is hauled away and dumped into landfills. Contractors often cut down or bulldoze trees to clear lots where a new home or business is to be built. Often times there are so many trees, they have to “contract” a third party to remove them. Also, when the actual building begins, they bring in large dumpsters to toss away their unwanted wood scraps. Contacting the builder is a good start to see if you could claim the trees and scrap wood…for free, of course.
FARMERS AND WOODLOT OWNERS
This is by far my best tip for getting free firewood. I’ve personally heated my home for years with trees that came from a farmer’s property. It was simple. I introduced myself to the landowner, let them know I could remove all their downed trees and before you knew it, I was cutting and hauling more firewood than I knew what to do with.
Take a drive in the country or any rural area. Trees are everywhere! And where there is standing timber, there are downed trees too. Talk to the landowner, become friends. Let them know you are able to remove any of the trees that have fallen and cluttered their property. Bingo. Now all you have to do is move the wood from their property to yours!
A FEW THINGS TO CONSIDER:
Once you commit to removing trees or wood from a property, it would be wise to remove promptly, without leaving a mess (They may recommend you to friends!).
It helps to know what type of wood or tree species you are dealing with. Soft or hardwood? (Here’s a tip: Get our free “Trees We Need” e-book. It provides information on how to identify trees!)
Don’t be afraid to say NO to situations where trees are in hard-to-get-to locations, near power lines or close to homes.
Safety first!
Trees are plentiful. Why pay for wood?
BZ
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