Archive for November, 2009

TIPPING

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

Not a reference to the traditional act of compensating restaurant servers, but a source of income for timberland owners.  In Maine tipping is the harvesting of balsam fir brush or “tips” to make Christmas wreaths and other holiday decorations. 

 Many landowners in Maine have an over-abundance of young fir growing on their property.  There is a cottage industry of folks buying and selling fir tips.  This can be income for the landowner.

 The season lasts a month or so and Thanksgiving Week is the peak of tipping season.  Tippers go out on woodlots and pick the first 16-18 inches of fir branch tips as high as they can reach.  The tips are threaded on a stick which can be easily hauled about the fir stand.  When the stick gets too heavy, it is time to start a new stick.  Fir tips are sold by weight.

 There are large, commercial wreath makers in Downeast Maine as well as smaller operations scattered around the State.  There are hundreds of one person basement operations as well.  Landowners get paid a fee by tippers or actually go out and tip themselves and sell the brush. 

 Tipping is such a big business that there are State laws in place protecting the resource and those landowners who do not wish to have their fir tips harvested.  Tippers must have written landowner permission on their possession while plying their trade.  Fines are steep.

 A few passing notes.  Tipping does not harm the fir trees as long as the trees are tipped in moderation.  Most fir stands can withstand annual tippings.  The most profound response of the fir tree to tipping is to produce more tips the next year.  Eventually the trees grow too tall and the lower branches die back making bigger fir trees un-tippable.

 Fir tipping is but another example of income potential for Maine timberland owners.  The list keeps on a growing.

Posted in LAND ECONOMICS | No Comments »

FIREWOOD

Friday, November 13th, 2009

One valuable asset that is inherent to most land tracts in Maine is firewood.  Even recently harvested land has sufficient volumes of firewood to heat one’s home.  As energy becomes more costly, owning timberland with a firewood component can be worthwhile.

 It takes about 6 cords of wood to keep most Maine homes warm in the winter.  About 8 good sized hardwood trees make a cord of firewood.  Sugar maple, oak, yellow birch and beech produce the most heat per unit of volume.  Red maple, ash and white birch burn fine but do not give as much heat.  Don’t bother with popple or softwood; these species are not worth the time and hard work.

 The most difficult task is to get your firewood “from stump to your house”.  The use of an ATV is probably the most efficient vehicle to accomplish this.  Many people have one of these machines for recreation; just put it to work for a few weeks.

 The best time to get firewood is early fall until the snow gets too deep.  No bugs and cool temperatures make this chore a bit more pleasant.  When you get your firewood in during this time and under cover; it will be plenty dry for the following winter.

 Generally there is a lifetime supply of firewood on 40 acres for the average landowner; even if the land was recently selective-harvested.  Even less acres with mature wood would support the average homeowner’s heating needs.

 Check out Wilderness Realty’s website for land tracts that would make ideal firewood lots.  In particular, the 45 acres in Dover-Foxcroft, 88 acres and 91 acres in Fairfield and the 49 acres in Jackson.      

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MOOSEHEAD WATERFRONT

Friday, November 6th, 2009

Even though the days are getting shorter, the leaves are off the trees and the temperatures are falling; this is still a good time to inspect the properties in the lakeside village of Burnt Jacket Shores at Moosehead Lake.  Wear winter cloths and a good pair of boots to keep you comfortable.  Don’t forget the gloves!                                            

This is an interesting time to look at land; just before everything is covered up with a heavy snowpack.  First of all, it seems easier to get around.  With the leaves off the trees and the underbrush killed back by the frost, the visibility in the woods is at its maximum this time of year.  One’s perception is that the woods do not seem so claustrophobic.  The only other time of the year to experience this phenomenon is in early spring just before leaf-out.  You can really get a good sense of a property under these conditions.

 Another good reason to look now is scheduling.  By the time all the paperwork has been reviewed and the deal is closed, you still have a few months to plan the construction phase of your investment before spring arrives.  You can have all the permits ready, contractors lined up and materials ordered during the winter months and get an early start for the upcoming construction season.  An early start means that you can be living in your new residence on your newly purchased land towards the latter part of next summer.

 Finally, an end of the year purchase can translate into a substantial discount.  Currently, many economic indicators point to an improving economy and an end to the recession.  This means more people will be spending.  Regarding Moosehead real estate, there will be an increase in demand for the limited number of properties on the lake.  This means higher prices.  The adage “buy now before the next bubble” may be blunt but aptly describes the potential market conditions for next year.

 Pick up the phone and make that call (207-947-7957).  Brokers at Wilderness Realty are available to show these beautiful properties weekdays or weekends.

Posted in BURNT JACKET | No Comments »