Clearing Land (Bangor, Old Town, Newport: insurance, home, prices)

[beauty4ashes]

We have about an acre that we'd like to clear (currently forested with LOTS of trees) and we've heard that a logging company might do this for free if they can keep all that they cut? Anyone here ever heard that or had it done free? I just don't know where to start looking for something like that.

Hoping to find some references if I can --if you have names/phone #'s please send me a pm because we'd love to clear that land and plant a garden and maybe a few fruit trees--hopefully this season!

TIA!

[Northern Maine Land Man]

Where are you? Loggers won't travel very far for a single acre, but they might want what you have. Give us some more details.

[beauty4ashes]

We're in Levant - not too far from Bangor. (Hoping that is not too far.)

[beauty4ashes]

Also, we have mostly tall evergreens, but lots of regular trees (really tall though) as well. Some have white bark, some brown. That's all I can think of, let me know if you need other details.

Oh yeah, I also know that none of them are too close to our house. I've heard that the risk factor goes up if they need to fall a tree that could damage a structure. (Our home insurance agent said she was charged $2,000 for each tree she needed to be cut cuz they were right next to her house.) yikes.

[7th generation]

I'd ask some locals for references and have these jobbers come look at the lot. With the current gas prices don't expect to get paid for the wood.
If you plan to utilize a wood stove within a year, you could have them fell the trees and you could work it up.
Definitely have 2 or more jobbers look at it though-kinda keeps everyone honest.

[Maine Writer]

I think my husband is still in the office. I'll copy this and email it to him and let you know what he says.

[Maine Writer]

Steve said:
[SIZE=2]The size of the area may be a little small for a total free operation. Call the Maine Forest Service in Old Town and ask to speak with area forester and explain the situation and they may have an Idea on people who can work a small lot. Call the P+C yard in Newport and ask if they know any small loggers in the area. Ask me again later. I may have more thoughts.
P+C is Prentiss & Carlisle. [/SIZE]

[kellysmith]

There's a big difference between making land tillable and clearing it of trees. Really makes one appreciate how all the land in Aroostook Country was cleared back before all the machinery was available. If someone did come in and cut all the trees, I doubt they are going to remove the stumps and make it tillable for nothing. That's a major endeavor...and the land with all the trees cut won't be too pleasing to look at with the stumps and brush still there. Lastly, it would be a good idea to have a soil sample to see if it would make a garden spot. That's the other thing to marvel about that our fore fathers accomplished. They struck off through the woods and cleared the spots where the soils would provide for their crops. And it seems at least in Aroostook, they found the spots with the best soil long ago.

[beauty4ashes]

Originally Posted by kellysmith

If someone did come in and cut all the trees, I doubt they are going to remove the stumps and make it tillable for nothing. That's a major endeavor...

Yeah, we're planning on paying someone to come and do the stump clearing and clear whatever's leftover. If the soil's not optimum, we can help it along with compost, etc. At the very least though it will give us better use than they way it sits now.


Maine Writer, thank you for your suggestion! I will let my hubby know and hopefully this will lead us in the right direction.

[boonelsewhere]

Originally Posted by beauty4ashes

Yeah, we're planning on paying someone to come and do the stump clearing and clear whatever's leftover. If the soil's not optimum, we can help it along with compost, etc. At the very least though it will give us better use than they way it sits now.

what can they do to the stumps, can they burn them ?. to grind them would be very expensive on acre of mature tree roots.

we need to do the same, clear land for home site and garden, we need to start look into this very soon too.