So you have wooded acreage...

ET1 SS · #21 01/31/11, 02:13 PM

I have 150 acres of forest, it was clear cut in about 2000. It will not be ready for cutting again for many years.

I have a few maples that I tap, I produce very little syrup.

I bulldozed an acre and planted an orchard. I have bee hives, and I am working on developing a 'forest garden'.

I bought a professional chainsaw and in 2009 our eldest son spent the summer cutting, splitting and delivering firewood. We learned that one man doing firewood can earn about 1/2 minimum wage.

There are 5-man crews with a skidder, harvesting trak-crawler, logging truck, pto splitter, excavator and dump-truck to use. These crews keep a few piles of split firewood ready to be delivered. Piles the size of a barn. If you can get on one of those crews you can earn $100/day. But with these crews and their piles around, it keeps the price of cord wood low.

Paul Wheaton · #22 02/01/11, 11:08 AM

I think you will be charmed to the bone if you look at Ben Law's books. Get them from the library to start.

I have designed a sort of log structure that requires no heat in the winter - and can make for good root cellar that would be even colder than most root cellars. This is in my wofati eco building article.