[Jim Ostergard]

I carried loggers insurance for years here in Maine but do not do so now. I won’t cut near a building or powers lines and so inform my landowners. Here in Maine we have a certificate that exempts us from workers comp which protects the landowner. Costs were in the $600-800 a year. A lot of the “industrial foresters,” want it as part of their contracts. I just don’t work for them. Prefer to discuss it with the landowner.

[Jim Ostergard]

Nick, I’m guessing I am not too far from you here in Appleton. Send me your mail. I use a Fjord in the woods and am looking for another. Will email details of our situation. fishgaard@icloud.com
Thanks

[Jim Ostergard]

I like what Carl and Donn are onto here. One comment in the book that has always stuck with me is that somedays one will get in into the woods and just sense that all is not right. It suggests might be best to just turn around and go home. I have experienced that and if I remember correctly Carl has talked about back in the past. Another great thing about the book is its showing various ways to layout, twitch, bunch and haul wood in woodlots. Some neat sketches of simple gear to get the job done. Wonder if DapNet could not look into getting permission to reprint the book and sell it as a fundraiser.

[Jim Ostergard]

I had a copy loaned to me many years ago and I had it photo copied and then returned it. Ran down a source in England but it was pricey as you point out. Too bad the English version is not reprinted. Much useful advice.

[Jim Ostergard]

Jared, Plowden’s rig works well and I have it so I can use the fore cart as well as the log arch. Only disadvantage is using the tugs so I am considering using chain so I can keep the two things on the harness. I really like those Swedish clips though.

[Jim Ostergard]

Its pretty bleak over here on the coast also. We went from 6 truckloads a week to zero in September. Jay was shifting the softwood/hardwood pulp mix around and now we have to ship two hardwood pulp loads for every one of softwood. As Rick says really hard to do a job if you can’t get rid of the pulp. We are investigating setting up a small pellet plant to insure a market for our own wood.

[Jim Ostergard]

I agree with Carl and look forward to trying one in the woods.

[Jim Ostergard]

I like ’em Donn! Got a pattern? Thanks for sharing.

[Jim Ostergard]

Interesting topic Stephen,. I only use the composted horse manure on our own garden but as part of a logging contract with the horses I a going to produce 125 yes of Ramial chips this spring. The organic farm I am supplying them to has a goal of 250 yards of composted material to add to the soil each year. Popple, birch and alder. Labor/horse time will be of interest perhaps.

[Jim Ostergard]

Still comes up in outline form on the iPad. Not very inviting.

[Jim Ostergard]

Payton,
Good on you for wanting to give this ago. Each region of the country is different in terms of logging, that is, available jobs, decent or not wood and markets and this forum is probably the one place you can find a perspective from each.
I am one who has jumped into about everything I have done a bit too fast and loose with money and luckily didn’t have that luxury when I shifted from skidder to horses. And the wood we have here is mostly cut over and long ago high graded. So I started ground twitching, then built a cart for logs and pulp/ firewood from an old truck frame. Then got enough money for my walking beam arch. Bought a small bobtail trailer to haul equipment and sell firewood off of and an old two horse bumper pull. All this has worked well. When I got a job a ways from home found a cheap camper trailer to live in so probably didn’t have anymore that $5K invested. Pretty much that has worked out. Don’t have the camper anymore and traded the bobtail (I do borrow it form time to time) and try and gear things so that I can get it all into the back of th pick up by myself. Work has increased here and I think word of mouth is gettin me a lot better jobs (as evidenced by some of my Facebook postings). In fact may have enough work to put a third teamster to work this year, at least hoping so.
So I Gus’s what I am offering is take it slow build up as you go and keep asking here on DAPnet.
Best of luck and keep us posted!

[Jim Ostergard]

That is a great looking wagon but for me a big price tag. Smaller but great for pole wood is john Plowdens rig and you get an arch to boot. Guess it coms down to knowing the kind of wood you are moving and especially if, you are younger, i.e. with a lot of years to pay for it left then this would be a good idea. I just picked up a set of walking beams with flotation tires off a blueberry sprayer for $400 dollars and will make that the rear end of a new log trailer, possible marrying it to the front of my old cordwood rig. Still ponder how to get the load on. On our current job we actually had an excavator load 16′ 300 bf logs on to the go-devil and that has moved big wood to the landing for the last three weeks. Pretty low investment. All that said I sure would love to import and be the demonstrator for the rig as pictured.

[Jim Ostergard]

I find my fjord is capable of pulling the Pioneer fore cart just fine. I have adapts the shafts to the Scandinavian harness and there is little shaft weight as the cart is so well balanced.

[Jim Ostergard]

Mine just started doing the above this afternoon.

[Jim Ostergard]

Nice reflections Brad. Years ago when I rode a bicycle a lot I often felt the same way. Motorized travel sure change how we relate to community. Thanks for sharing.

[Author]

Posts