Free wood etiquette...?

[thombat4]

On a few occasions when picking up free unsplit wood, I would ask the donor if they too burn wood and if they answered yes I would ask if they would like some of their donation brought back to them split. The looks of surprise on their faces always amazes me! Usually they give away their rounds because of bad backs or no chainsaws or splitters. I've gotten some very nice seasoned quantities of wood for free and I just naturally figured the right thing to do was offer to split and bring some back for them. They always give me that look that says "You would really do that? I may be new to this wood burning thing but isn't that the right thing to do for crying out loud?

 

[woodbooga]

On a few occasions when picking up free unsplit wood, I would ask the donor if they too burn wood and if they answered yes I would ask if they would like some of their donation brought back to them split. The looks of surprise on their faces always amazes me! Usually they give away their rounds because of bad backs or no chainsaws or splitters. I've gotten some very nice seasoned quantities of wood for free and I just naturally figured the right thing to do was offer to split and bring some back for them. They always give me that look that says "You would really do that? I may be new to this wood burning thing but isn't that the right thing to do for crying out loud?

Good for you. A favor made and a favor returned. Most people are so resigned to a lack of ettiquette and graciousness that extending a common courtesy is met with a surprised reaction.

All my free wood comes from folks who don't burn, outside the occasional campfire or fireplace fire, so this doesn't come up too often. Occasionally, if I see a downed tree from the road, I'll go doorknocking and ask they'd like it removed. Oftentimes, I'm invited back to harvest other deadfall elsewhere on the property.

 

[dolmen]

On a few occasions when picking up free unsplit wood, I would ask the donor if they too burn wood and if they answered yes I would ask if they would like some of their donation brought back to them split. The looks of surprise on their faces always amazes me! Usually they give away their rounds because of bad backs or no chainsaws or splitters. I've gotten some very nice seasoned quantities of wood for free and I just naturally figured the right thing to do was offer to split and bring some back for them. They always give me that look that says "You would really do that? I may be new to this wood burning thing but isn't that the right thing to do for crying out loud?

My hat of to you :yourock: doing good deeds is what makes the world a better place.

Cheers

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

Depends on the situation. So far, most of my wood comes from people who don't burn. I have shared with a neighbor some wood that came from a third neighbor. She's a single gal in her 50s, and can't split any, so she grabbed the small stuff, and I gave her a few loads of the bigger stuff I split.

 

[CharlieG]

:agree2: and to your efforts!

 

[thombat4]

Thanks fellas,

I was beginning to think the old saying that "one good turn deserves another" didn't apply anymore!! It's becoming such a me me me world that folks are shocked when you do something nice for them. I'm old school...wasn't raised that way.

 

[woodbooga]

Thanks fellas,

I was beginning to think the old saying that "one good turn deserves another" didn't apply anymore!! It's becoming such a me me me world that folks are shocked when you do something nice for them. I'm old school...wasn't raised that way.

Thanks for raising the level of discourse here.

I created all sorts of havoc when I posted a thread on roadside woodgathering a few months back. Some property owners who'd had wood poached aired their opinions. My rule of thumb is to always ask. Lots of time, the wood is wanted but the property owner hasn't gotten around to it. In that case, you're not pi$$ing someone off. Oftentimes, asking leads you into a conversation that might result in even better things down the road. Later today, I'm going to grab a pickup load of maple rounds from a guy. He hooked me up with 2 p/u loads of 2x4 ends from a construction job. A win-win. He doesn't have to pay the disposal fee and I'm set for kindling for the whole heating season.

 

[thombat4]

woodbooga,

You sound like the kinda guy I'd like to meet...never mind the fact that I really like that handle of yours!!

 

[avalancher]

It really is sad in a way. You say your thanks by trying to do a good dead, and they look surprised by it like they are not accustomed to an act of kindness. Makes you wonder what our world is coming too, doesnt it?
I will say one thing, I dont know a lot of woodcutters, but by far all the guys(yes, this means all of you guys) really can be lumped into a swell bunch of people. Its been rare that I have posted, IM, or chatted with someone on this board that didnt come across as a real nice person. Hats off to you all, and esecially to the OP.
You all have been an inspiration to me, and a great example to the rest of the world.

 

[thombat4]

It really is sad in a way. You say your thanks by trying to do a good dead, and they look surprised by it like they are not accustomed to an act of kindness. Makes you wonder what our world is coming too, doesnt it?
I will say one thing, I dont know a lot of woodcutters, but by far all the guys(yes, this means all of you guys) really can be lumped into a swell bunch of people. Its been rare that I have posted, IM, or chatted with someone on this board that didnt come across as a real nice person. Hats off to you all, and esecially to the OP.
You all have been an inspiration to me, and a great example to the rest of the world.

Thanks for the kind words avalancher. I'm 48 and I remember when it was ok to help your neighbor if you saw he needed help. Or when a handshake was enough to close a deal. Nowadays folks are so wary of each other and hesitant to get to know each other. The world is in a sad state but like you said the folks on this board come across as very helpful, very knowledgeable, very hard working, very funny sometimes, and very friendly. Looking at some of the pictures some of you guys post of where you live really makes me long for the country life away from all the noise and calamity of the city.
Oh well...maybe one day.

 

[woodbooga]

woodbooga,

I really like that handle of yours!!

thx for the kind words. A woodbooga is a woodscrounge - a term used quite a bit here. Not sure if its regional to northern new england. Is it used out your way?

It really is sad in a way. You say your thanks by trying to do a good dead, and they look surprised by it like they are not accustomed to an act of kindness. Makes you wonder what our world is coming too, doesnt it?
I will say one thing, I dont know a lot of woodcutters, but by far all the guys(yes, this means all of you guys) really can be lumped into a swell bunch of people. Its been rare that I have posted, IM, or chatted with someone on this board that didnt come across as a real nice person. Hats off to you all, and esecially to the OP.
You all have been an inspiration to me, and a great example to the rest of the world.

Nice post. Moderators need to give us a smiley for "time for a group hug."

 

[avalancher]

Thanks for the kind words avalancher. I'm 48 and I remember when it was ok to help your neighbor if you saw he needed help. Or when a handshake was enough to close a deal. Nowadays folks are so wary of each other and hesitant to get to know each other. The world is in a sad state but like you said the folks on this board come across as very helpful, very knowledgeable, very hard working, very funny sometimes, and very friendly. Looking at some of the pictures some of you guys post of where you live really makes me long for the country life away from all the noise and calamity of the city.
Oh well...maybe one day.

Speaking of wary to get to know each other, here is a very sad tale.
When I lived in Alabama, Hurrican Ivan hit us a mild blow. We were without power for 9 days. I had a generator, and so did the guy across the street who was an electrician. I did not know how to wire my generator into my panel to power the house, but I could see that he had his in so we made do with power cords strung all over the place. In the evenings I could see that his lights were flickering, his generator was constantly loping causing the flickering. My wife told me that I should go across the street and fix his generator and maybe he would come across and wire our generator in to our house.I was hesitant, we had been on the same street for 5 years and never even spoke to one another.
After five days i couldnt stand listening to his generator loping along and went over to talk to him. Within an hour we were like friends that had known each other for years. He mentioned that he knew I was a diesel mechanic and had been trying to work up enough nerve to come across and ask for help.
I fixed his generator, the governor spring was shot and I made due with one that i had in my shop, and he wired in my panel for me.
We both agreed that it was a real shame that we didnt have enough nerve to approach a neighbor in a time of need, either his or mine.

 

[thombat4]

thx for the kind words. A woodbooga is a woodscrounge - a term used quite a bit here. Not sure if its regional to northern new england. Is it used out your way?

First time I ever saw or heard of it was your handle! I like the sound of that!

 

[thombat4]

Speaking of wary to get to know each other, here is a very sad tale.
When I lived in Alabama, Hurrican Ivan hit us a mild blow. We were without power for 9 days. I had a generator, and so did the guy across the street who was an electrician. I did not know how to wire my generator into my panel to power the house, but I could see that he had his in so we made do with power cords strung all over the place. In the evenings I could see that his lights were flickering, his generator was constantly loping causing the flickering. My wife told me that I should go across the street and fix his generator and maybe he would come across and wire our generator in to our house.I was hesitant, we had been on the same street for 5 years and never even spoke to one another.
After five days i couldnt stand listening to his generator loping along and went over to talk to him. Within an hour we were like friends that had known each other for years. He mentioned that he knew I was a diesel mechanic and had been trying to work up enough nerve to come across and ask for help.
I fixed his generator, the governor spring was shot and I made due with one that i had in my shop, and he wired in my panel for me.
We both agreed that it was a real shame that we didnt have enough nerve to approach a neighbor in a time of need, either his or mine.

Wow avalancher, what a story! You guys could have been buddies five years ago!! I try to talk to people like they're my friend and if they're turned off by that then I'll leave them be. But that won't stop me from offering to help them if I'm able. People aren't as nice as they used to be...the daily news confirms that fact all the time.

 

[Circle B MN]

Last week I went to look at a site generated from a Fireweood WantAd I had placed in the local papaer. Nice guy, few miles down the road. Has lots of dead oak from wilt. Say he has to pay to get rid of them, so if I want them for free, have at it. Nice enough and all was good. As we were leaving I noticed he had an old water heater settng by the shop. Tells me he just had it replaced and has to figure out where to get rid of it. "No problem, lets toss it on my truck". Kind of simple, but one good deed deserves anotherno matter how small it may be.

 

[mga]

Wow avalancher, what a story! You guys could have been buddies five years ago!! I try to talk to people like they're my friend and if they're turned off by that then I'll leave them be. But that won't stop me from offering to help them if I'm able. People aren't as nice as they used to be...the daily news confirms that fact all the time.

maybe true, but the daily news doesn't talk much about the great bunch of people like the ones you can find here in the forum, as the guys above have shown.

avalancher has shown there are nice people out there...you just have to be willing to take the first step to find them.

 

[Wood Doctor]

Larry, a neighbor down the block, was trying to use a saw that would not run to cut a small tree that was blown down in his yard. I had not met Larry before, but his saw would not start or cut anything. Then I noticed he had the chain on backwards. I fixed that and started it for him and then he turned it off. Then Larry said, "Say, I want to give you all of this wood from this tree for firewood."

I said, "Well that would be nice, but now that your saw is running, let's test it out and cut the tree into firewood lengths together."

So, we did. I cut some with my saw and he cut some with his. Then Larry asked, "Where do you and your wife like to have for dinner?"

I said, "Well, I'm not sure, but I'll load the truck up, and then we'll discuss that."

He went inside the house while I loaded up the truck. Then he came back out while I was putting away my saw. He showed me two tickets to dinner at one of the best restaurants in town.

I said, "Shucks, Larry, it was nothing. You don't have to do that."

He said, "Not in my book. You're a pro. It's the least I could do."

Well, guys, sometimes etiquette works both ways.

 

[Blowncrewcab]

My Wife sometimes gets mad at me cause I'll stop and help anybody, one day we where going out, all dressed up and I saw an older guy (with a bad back) who was helping his daughter whos car had a flat and fell off the jack. I stopped, Layed in the dirt and gravel, got the jack out from under the car, changed the tire and put all the stuff back in the trunk for them. Smiled and told them to have a nice night. No Big Deal, thats how I am

 

[husky455rancher]

great stories guys. ive met some good people throiugh wood cutting thats for sure. funny thing about neighbors, ive lived here 5 years now i guess it is and im a quiet guy i generally keep to myself. but we got to know one of the neighbors a little bit over the years and they always kinda badmouthed the neighbor to the right of me. so we just kinda assumed what they said was true we figured their old what do they have to lie about. well i dont remember how it happended but we got to know "the bad neighbor" and turns out shes single with 18yo son. her husband was a pos she left him years ago because of it. she works a ton thats why shes not hiome alot and kinda lets the yard go. turns out shes quite a nice lady, my wife talks to her and goes for walks with her quite often and even my kids go over to see her sometimes if shes outside.

well i guess what im saying in my lengthy post is dont believe what people tell you about neighbors sometimes it may be true. but i think its worth it to check it out for yourself.

 

[retired redneck]

It is sad,people don"t neighbor anymore it seams like the older you get the less anyone comes around.I thought i had some nice friends, but most just came for the free meal,I am sure there are other older members on this site in the same boat.........