Dry firewood supply in the NE - prices?

[kdxken]

Hello,

Curious as to what others are finding as to availability and prices for seasoned (really) firewood in the Massachusetts/NH/ME area. I run a hobby operation outside of Boston and sold every stick last year. Given all the snow I was unable to work through the winter and got a late start on this year's supply. Knowing I had a short season I concentrated on fast drying woods, cherry, maple and standing dead trees. Even with that I am probably 30 to 40 cords shy of dry wood. I can't imagine that there is a lot of seasoned wood ready for sale?


Look forward to hearing from others...

 

[jehu]

Im in N.W. R.I. a mile from C.T. and 3 from Mass, around here iv'e seen a best of $180.00 per cord, cut split deliverd, green,
and $290.00 cut split deliverd dry, Im a scrounger so this isn't what iv'e paid just going by adverts in the local Bargain buyer and CL.
My FIL did buy 2 cord from the guy at $180.00 green, turned out to be a good deal.
Haven't seen a whole lot of seasoned wood out there.

 

[kdxken]

Im in N.W. R.I. a mile from C.T. and 3 from Mass, around here iv'e seen a best of $180.00 per cord, cut split deliverd, green,
and $290.00 cut split deliverd dry, Im a scrounger so this isn't what iv'e paid just going by adverts in the local Bargain buyer and CL.
My FIL did buy 2 cord from the guy at $180.00 green, turned out to be a good deal.
Haven't seen a whole lot of seasoned wood out there.

Thanks for information!

 

[bunfoolio]

350 a cord north of boston. Seasoned.

 

[kdxken]

350 a cord north of boston. Seasoned.

Are you the seller? delivered price?

 

[mr.finn]

I get 310 a cord south of Boston, and from what I learned I need to go up on price.

 

[Wood Doctor]

I get $310 a cord south of Boston, and from what I learned I need to go up on price.

That's possible, but it's supposed to be a warm winter. Firewood prices in New England always amaze me. In Nebraska, I could deliver two truckloads of split, dry hardwood that would equal 1.5 cords and never receive more than $240. What do you people in Massachusetts do to jack up prices of anything so effectively?

 

[kdxken]

I get 310 a cord south of Boston, and from what I learned I need to go up on price.

I am getting 300.00 (pick up only) near Framingham. I have had people coming from Medford, Andover, Westford and as far away as Plymouth.

 

[stratton]

KD. im getting $250.00 down here in fairfield ct.I may need to think about an increase....One of the problems i have is the sound of dead air on the other end of the line.

 

[TMFARM 2009]

it averages $125 a full cord here.
not many folks still use wood to heat here.
seems the pellet is easier.

 

[Lander]

What do you people in Massachusetts do to jack up prices of anything so effectively?

High cost of living causes prices to go up, and there are many people willing to pay 350-450 per seasoned and stacked cord. I was offered the "good guy deal" 2 cords dumped for $400.

 

[olympyk_999]

High cost of living causes prices to go up, and there are many people willing to pay 350-450 per seasoned and stacked cord. I was offered the "good guy deal" 2 cords dumped for $400.

this is the first time I have ever heard of anyone one stacking around here before...must be the east of 495 group...(you know, the only part of the state that matters to the "commonwealth")

 

[Lander]

this is the first time I have ever heard of anyone one stacking around here before...must be the east of 495 group...(you know, the only part of the state that matters to the "commonwealth")

yes, east of 495

 

[CentaurG2]

Supply and demand are primarily responsible for the increased prices. Along the NE seacoast, fire wood is relatively scarce. If you are a seller, you are very lucky to find log length wood for $140 cord, delivered. Buyers around here usually purchase a half or one full cord for fall heating or for the holidays. Few actually heat full time with wood. We sold just under a 100 cords for $370 delivered this year. Sold out second week in October. We have never stacked a cord of wood for a buyer.

 

[svk]

I figured break even is about 300 a cord to heat with wood vs other sources. I can't see someone paying more than that unless you use a fireplace occasionally and want ambiance. For the guys getting those prices, more power to you!

 

[Wood Doctor]

I figured break even is about 300 a cord to heat with wood vs other sources. I can't see someone paying more than that unless you use a fireplace occasionally and want ambiance. For the guys getting those prices, more power to you!

Good point for us midwesterners who have natural gas and now cheap propane available. However, the New England crowd in semi-rural areas may not have NG or propane. So, their only alternatives are fuel oil and electricity, both of which can cost nearly twice as much as NG. As such, their break even might be as high as $400 a cord.

 

[zogger]

That's possible, but it's supposed to be a warm winter. Firewood prices in New England always amaze me. In Nebraska, I could deliver two truckloads of split, dry hardwood that would equal 1.5 cords and never receive more than $240. What do you people in Massachusetts do to jack up prices of anything so effectively?

Been a lonngg time since I was there, but even back then wages were decent there.

 

[Dalmatian90]

What do you people in Massachusetts do to jack up prices of anything so effectively?

Well, to start off you have more people within 1o miles of Fenway then live in Nebraska.

Route 128 is the 10 mile point, and I-495 is the 30 mile radius...and while once you get out of 128 it's not really house-on-house, the pattern of land use is such you don't have a lot of opportunities for every dumb, strong fella to clear fence rows. (And that land use continues down along the seacoast and Cape Cod.)

Try trucking in wood inside of Route 128 any operator with half an iota of common sense is going to jack his per-mile rate up by two or three times, and will only do it as a favor to a friend. Too much traffic, going too slow, and you're only going to get one or maybe two runs in during a day from outside of that I-495 circle where wood is much more plentiful. Way too unpredictable traffic, too. Friend was just complaining the other day he hates when folks in downtown Boston set a 9am meeting, because he has to drive into downtown by 7am to make sure he will be on time for 9. Even jacking up the rate, you'd still want to avoid being on the road inside of 128 between 7am-10am and 3pm-7pm every weekday, or you'd be losing your shirt.

So if you want wood in those areas, there isn't a lot of supply...and because of traffic you're going to be paying a premium for all the time folks delivering wood (either wholesale or retail) are going to be sitting around.

 

[Wood Doctor]

Well, to start off you have more people within 1o miles of Fenway then live in Nebraska.

Route 128 is the 10 mile point, and I-495 is the 30 mile radius...and while once you get out of 128 it's not really house-on-house, the pattern of land use is such you don't have a lot of opportunities for every dumb, strong fella to clear fence rows. (And that land use continues down along the seacoast and Cape Cod.)

Try trucking in wood inside of Route 128 any operator with half an iota of common sense is going to jack his per-mile rate up by two or three times, and will only do it as a favor to a friend. Too much traffic, going too slow, and you're only going to get one or maybe two runs in during a day from outside of that I-495 circle where wood is much more plentiful. Way too unpredictable traffic, too. Friend was just complaining the other day he hates when folks in downtown Boston set a 9am meeting, because he has to drive into downtown by 7am to make sure he will be on time for 9. Even jacking up the rate, you'd still want to avoid being on the road inside of 128 between 7am-10am and 3pm-7pm every weekday, or you'd be losing your shirt.

So if you want wood in those areas, there isn't a lot of supply...and because of traffic you're going to be paying a premium for all the time folks delivering wood (either wholesale or retail) are going to be sitting around.

Dalmation90, I used to live in Storrs, CT and sold firewood that I cut and split myself. To my knowledge, there still is no natural gas or propane sold in rural Northeastern CT and many areas of New England. Electricity and fuel oil are the only two alternatives there for heating houses, apartments, etc. Much of this problem exists because (1) the railroads were abandoned 50 years ago as the tracks were torn up and (2) the terrain and geology of NE makes it virtually impossible to build natural gas pipelines.

And, having more people packed into a metropolitan area solves few problems. California is in a mess, so please do not throw population data into the picture here. Starting out with that sentence on your post was ridiculous. I understand your costs and traffic snarls. BTDT and perhaps that's why I enjoy living here and look forward to moving yet another 20 miles from Omaha, where it more and more resembles a sprawling metropolis like Boston, Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, LA, NY, DC, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, etc., etc.

 

[row.man]

My latest scrounge the property owner invited two of us. The other guy scrounges and then sells it. $250/cord "semi-seasoned. He's in the Manchester NH area and all his wood is spoken for.
Lucky for me he moved on after the first weekend. He didn't want to tackle the row hanging over the pool and house.
For some reason more of my scrounges are in MA than NH, I live on the border near the seacoast area.