Wish me luck today. I'm going to call about forest management, mine.
By writersedge
@writersedge (22563)
United States
September 20, 2010 7:06am CST
Yeah, time to try a different way to make money. When I came here, almost all the trees were tiny, spindly and not great. But now time has gone on (1998 to now) and now many of the trees are way taller than me. The last 3 years, the trees have grown like wild fire. This year, they didn't grow much due to lack of rain. But the other years, it was like living in a temperate rainforest. Crazy amounts of rain alternating with sunshine. Little trees grew feet high. Out of 9.9 acres, approx. 8 are trees. Some forest, some lone trees in a field. I did nothing before because I didn't own where I lived yet and for many years, nothing was big enough. I think it's big enough now. Many people are listed in the phone book for cutting trees for lumber, but only one talks about selective cutting and forest management. Most people come in and want to clear cut. I don't want that.
I've been putting it off because I'm not sure what to say and I hate to sound stupid when talking to people who don't know me. But I haven't gotten any work in weeks. So it's time to bite the bullet.
So has something finally happened whereby things have come together and you can make money? Have you ever hesitated to call someone you don't know? What would you say during this phone call?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
20 Sep 10
Well, I called, got the guy's wife, I think. She wanted to know how many trees. Is it at least a hundred? I don't know. I got to go out and count trees now? Geesh. He's supposed to be the forest manager that does selective cutting, isn't he supposed to tell me?
I'll have to discuss this with my husband when he comes back from his walk. He could probably estimate how many trees we could have cut. I don't want more than 1/4 to 1/5 of my trees cut because I need to be able to have money come from the wood lot every year until I retire and for a few after retirement.
I understand though, this guy is coming from a long way. Probably 50 miles, so he needs to make sure it's worth it. Maybe he can cut mine and someone else's nearby. So I guess I would have to go mark trees and see if I can come up with 100. Why can't life be simple?
1 person likes this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
22 Sep 10
I don't like to call people out of the blue either. I would much rather be approached but I would just be very professional when I called. I would say "I have some trees that I think you may be interested in and if you would like to make an appointment to come and see them, I can schedule that." Then go from there. I am always very professional when it come to business and money. It lets them know you are serious.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
22 Sep 10
I don't know them, so I was professional. I got the man's wife and they need 100 trees to make it worth their while. My husband said our woodlot doesn't have 100 the size they require, our wood lot is still too young and too many are growing into each other. Can't do much about the first, but we'll have to cull the 2nd.
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
21 Sep 10
Wow, I hope it works out for you, sounds like a fun and interesting job..Let us know how if you get it so we can celebrate..:)
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
21 Sep 10
It didn't work out. We don't have 100 trees that are big enough. So we're having a rummage sale this weekend. Then I don't know what we'll do after that. I was sooo hoping for at least a couple hundred dollars. I don't think we have that with all the stuff we have for our sale combined.
@celticeagle (189957)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Sep 10
If I can ever get my book finished I could then publish it and I think it would sell very well and make money. And I several ideas for other books as well.
I have had several occasions where I waited to make a phone call due to not being sure of what to say. I have had a lot of experience(nearly thirty years) in customer service so I know how to get the right number for the place I want to call, who to talk to and how. It does take some experience and you sound alittle dumb at first. The thing to realize is that you need to be sure of what you want the outcome to be, what you want to get across and practice, practice, practice.
@celticeagle (189957)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Sep 10
You need to know the law, and what you are doing. That always helps.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
21 Sep 10
Thank goodness, you sound like yourself again. The helpful person I usually know and love.
I got the right person, I read all the yellow pages for foresters and this guy does selective cutting and forest management. But he lives over 50 miles away and his wife asked if I had at least 100 trees of the correct size to cut. My husband said we don't. Our woods is still too young and many trees are small and killing each other.
