I Have Nothing Intelligent to Say

NoSmoke · Post by **NoSmoke** » Sun. Oct. 16, 2016 7:30 pm

I have nothing intelligent to say, except that after retiring on May 27th 2016 from the shipyard where I worked, I have been cutting my woodlot off and prepping my little farm now that I have time for bigger projects. Basically I am clearing land to make for more fields and have sold a lot of firewood...........................................so...I had an affair on you guys, and might have joined a logging forum. Okay, so I did...I admit it.

But after seeing some of these guys boast about how many cords of firewood they burn through in a year I just had to come over here where things are a lot more logical.

My goodness I just don't get it. I saw coal prices at $250 a ton here in Maine, and yet firewood prices are at $220 a ton still. Am I the only one that does the math on this stuff? And the mountains of work involved in 43 cords of firewood. I am not lazy, but I just don't get it.

freetown fred · Post by **freetown fred** » Sun. Oct. 16, 2016 8:12 pm

Indeed NS, been there done that!!

warminmn · Post by **warminmn** » Sun. Oct. 16, 2016 9:36 pm

I'll be burning more wood than normal here as I keep a friends pasture cleaned up. The nice part was there are about 3 loads of locust, green, for next year. thats as good as it gets here for wood. But I do agree, I don't understand people either, why they spend so much on wood plus all the work.

Congrats on retiring.

rberq · Post by **rberq** » Mon. Oct. 17, 2016 4:08 pm

NoSmoke wrote:I have nothing intelligent to say, except that ...

Me too, but I continue to say it.

NoSmoke wrote:My goodness I just don't get it. I saw coal prices at $250 a ton here in Maine, and yet firewood prices are at $220 a ton still. Am I the only one that does the math on this stuff? And the mountains of work involved in 43 cords of firewood. I am not lazy, but I just don't get it.

As a fellow Mainer I have wondered the same thing. All I can say is, tradition ... And wood is a lot more work, so they can feel more virtuous doing it.

P.S. Best of wishes for your retirement. I am 3 years ahead of you. I loved my work but had done enough of it in 43 years, haven't missed the office a single hour since I walked out the door.

rberq · Post by **rberq** » Mon. Oct. 17, 2016 4:13 pm

warminmn wrote:The nice part was there are about 3 loads of locust, green, for next year. that's as good as it gets here for wood.

I had to pay to have two large locusts taken down -- afraid they would fall on the house. Knowing the tree guy burns wood, and knowing how good locust is, I almost thought he should pay ME.

NoSmoke · Post by **NoSmoke** » Mon. Oct. 17, 2016 5:45 pm

Retirement is great, but I think I am more busy now then I was when I worked!!

No joke. My wife and I volunteer at a Christian Kids Camp and for the next month they got me running excavator on the side of a mountain stumping it for their expanded horse program. It is pretty rough country, but I got a big digger so we are making a bit of progress. I also do a lot of long range planning for them and serve on their Facilities Committee.

That led into meeting a guy that is involved in Moldova. If you do not know where Moldova is, do not feel bad, no one does. It is the question everyone asks, and while my wife and I have decided to work within our church to help people recovering from divorce, and with a that local Christian camp on several levels; those are local Christian Outreaches. The Pastor of our church wants his congregation to act "Glocally" which is Local AND Globally. After talking at length with the founder of Ag Connect Ministries in Pennsylvania, as well as a lot of prayer these past few weeks; we know God wants us to take the knowledge that we have in raising sheep, fixing farm equipment, and bring it to the people of Moldova.

Moldova is tucked between Romania and the Ukraine and is the poorest nation in Europe. The average worker makes $5 a day, and a great paying job will net a Moldovian $300 a month, though the cost of living is the highest in Europe so filling up the car will consume 1/3 of it. The unemployment rate alone is at 60% making it more poor than most African Nations. However they have the best soil in the world, yet due to socialist ways for decades, do not know how to farm it. A case in point is that they dump their animal manure into the municipal dump because they do not know it can help them raise their crops. I did not feel qualified to help in this endeavor until I was told that.

However serving God in Moldova will be a sacrifice upon our end as our dream has always been to have a larger sheep farm. However I know for now that is not what God wants. I wanted to do a local adult education class on sheep farming, but God said no rather plainly. Upon reflection I see that the people in the US have ample resources for information; the Moldovan people...not so much. Katie and I want to help people, locally and globally, and while there is nothing inherently wrong with having a large farm, we would much rather help others across the world who are struggling with their flocks of sheep thrive; with a profitable sheep farm, and with the understanding that Jesus loves them.

It has been suggested we go and visit Moldova in May when the country is at its spring prime and when lambing season has begun. At first we were disappointed the date to go was so far out, but upon reflection also know that times passes quickly and we need to get a lot of stuff done before any of this can happen. It will only be a 2 week trip then, and the Lord willing, after that, perhaps 3-5 times a year. It is a lot of commitment, however Katie and I are committed to being "Glocal" Christians, at our home church, at Fair Haven Camps, and soon for the people of Moldova.

So in a nut shell that is my retirement plan! Farm, church, a local christian camp, and missions in Moldova...yep busier then I ever was while working!

grumpy · Post by **grumpy** » Mon. Oct. 17, 2016 5:54 pm

I had to pay to have two large locusts taken down -- afraid they would fall on the house. Knowing the tree guy burns wood, and knowing how good locust is, I almost thought he should pay ME.

No Kidding, it's almost as good as coal....

Larobpra · Post by **Larobpra** » Sat. Oct. 29, 2016 10:16 am

NoSmoke wrote:
That led into meeting a guy that is involved in Moldova. If you do not know where Moldova is, do not feel bad, no one does.

My youngest son married a very nice girl from Moldova! She became a US citizen last summer.

Post by **Richard S.** » Sat. Oct. 29, 2016 12:35 pm

Sell the firewood, buy coal with it. LOL You won't be the first person that came to this conclusion.

Post by **CoalJockey** » Mon. Oct. 31, 2016 8:27 pm

I can semi-understand burning firewood if you cut off your own land and split yourself...

however....

The ones that I really do not understand are the wood pellet users. Half the BTU's as hard coal but yet the same price or much more depending where you live.

It is so much cleaner though they say??? PLEASE!!!

Makes me want to burn my eyes out with hot irons.

Post by **coaledsweat** » Mon. Oct. 31, 2016 9:19 pm

The average person has a hard time getting their head around heating with coal. They just don't seem to understand the concept. It is something they have neither heard of or experienced. I notice they catch on fast when standing next to a running appliance.

Post by **Richard S.** » Tue. Nov. 01, 2016 6:27 am

The biggest problem with coal is the perception which is no where near the reality. When someone hears coal heat that has no idea what they see in their head is the sweaty guy covered in black shoveling coal into some monstrosity and black smoke belching out of the chimney.